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How We Might Get Better Sleep, According to Our Ancestors
How We Might Get Better Sleep, According to Our Ancestors
Losing out on glorious sleep because you woke up at 3 a.m. can feel like standing next to a running faucet while you're thirsty. But what if I told you that throughout human history, waking up in the middle of the night was a completely normal event, and that sleeping in two shifts might actually save you some stress instead of causing it?
Biphasic sleep is a pattern of sleep where people doze off during two different times during a 24-hour period. Most of us are used to a monophasic sleep pattern, or one period of sleep that lasts roughly 8 hours.
Some reports on earlier time periods, many of them thanks to the research of historian Roger Ekirch, suggest that we might actually be hard-wired for biphasic sleep. Stories of earlier humans going to sleep when it got dark, only to rouse around midnight to cook, talk with your neighbor, do a chore or more, then go back to sleep until morning offer glimmers of interest to those of us who have a hard time staying asleep throughout the night.
"It wasn't pathologized or weird, it was just what you did," said Sara Mednick, a professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at the University of California, Irvine. She's the author of The Power of the Downstate: Recharge Your Life Using Your Body's Own Restorative Systems.
"This idea that we should be sleeping in one solid dose is a pretty new phenomenon," she added.
But the reasons for that may have less to do with how our brains are hard-wired for sleep, and more to do with how we evolved as a culture and a working society.
Here's what we know.
See more: Best Mattress for 2022
Modern work patterns and everyday demands might be some reasons our sleep schedules don't follow a biphasic sleeping pattern.
Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images
What counts as biphasic sleep, and why did people do it?
Biphasic sleep is any two segments of sleep in a single day. That could mean getting 6 continuous hours of sleep at night, and then a short nap during the day. Or you could follow the more historic pattern in literature of going to bed relatively early right when it gets dark (around 8 or 9 p.m.), waking up in the middle of the night for an hour or two and then going back to sleep until the morning sunshine hits your eyes. But the latter, more sunlight-based approach might be more difficult for most people who follow a more structured 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday.
"I'm not sure how many people could adapt to that kind of schedule," said Dr. Federico Cerrone, who specializes in respiratory health and sleep medicine at Atlantic Health System. He said that while there is evidence that people once slept in at least two segments per day, the historical circumstances were very different. Homes were candlelit, so people didn't have artificial light to keep them awake, and they worked to different schedules. This was before the Industrial Revolution in the US, when our bodies' rhythms became more stitched to our work schedules.
Some people still participate in biphasic sleep regularly today, and it may be more common in some cultures.
"People have been taking siestas a long time," Cerrone noted.
While biphasic sleep is also segmented, it's different from polyphasic sleep, which comes in different patterns people might try for productivity. But it can drastically cut down the number of sleep hours and be an "unmitigated disaster" for one's health, according to CNET's Mark Serrels.
See more: Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Who should try it?
According to Cerrone, there's no big benefit to biphasic sleep over monophasic sleep -- or vice versa -- so long as you're getting the recommended amount of sleep, which is at least 7 hours for most people.
"Let's just get enough sleep," Cerrone said. He added that despite historical evidence people used to sleep in at least two segments, "there's no proof to say that's a good schedule."
But for people who commonly wake up in the middle of the night -- and then agonize over it -- embracing a biphasic sleep schedule might help unstick you from a sleep-deprived loop. People often wake up in the night, then become scared because they think they have insomnia, Mednick says. Perhaps trying biphasic sleep safely could help you break that cycle.
"It all depends on how people feel once they try to be biphasic," Mednick said. If adjusting your sleep cycle into two segments is helpful, keep using it. (Maybe you've tried the ancestral way of going to bed early, then going to bed again in the early morning.) If you feel unwell or you have symptoms of sleep deprivation, don't keep trying to make it work.
And if you do lean into biphasic sleep, listen to your body's natural cues telling you to rest. "Go to sleep the second you're getting tired," Mednick said. "Don't try to soldier on."
For tips on how to get better sleep, check out our article on the best 7 foods for sleep or consider these natural sleep aids to help insomnia.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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How to spy on your lover, the smartphone way
How to spy on your lover, the smartphone way
Perfect. Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET
Trust is like love.
You want to believe in it, but then your rational side kicks in and dents your faith.
Here at the Ministry of Failed Relationships, we understand this. There is nothing worse than committing yourself to someone who poses as your soulmate, only to discover that their soul has drunkenly mated with a passing half-sized halfwit.
One company has -- perhaps inadvertently -- stumbled upon a notion that might ease your worried brow. Or confirm your dearest fear. For it is now offering phones that have built-in spyware.
A sample of my chat with Karen, whom I trust completely. Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET
mSpy created its software with a mind to, say, help parents track their unruly teens. Now, however, with the release of preloaded phones such as the HTC One, Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S, you can merely buy your lover a gift and watch it keep on giving.
So there. Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET
Mind you, mSpy's founder, Andrei Shimanovich, told Forbes it's not actually his business how people will end up using this nifty software.
Or think of it this way: spy software doesn't spy on people, but rather people spy on other people.
Indeed, though the concept of spying has enjoyed some nuanced developments over the last few months, I was reasonably sure that spying on my lover would be illegal.
So for starters I thought I'd IM with an mSpy rep to see how easy this whole thing was. I posed as a troubled lover, and in return got what seemed to be rather canned answers.
Me: Can I really spy on my lover with this? I think she may be cheating on me.
Karen, the sales manager: You can do that once you install mSpy on her phone.
Me: Is it easy to install?
Karen: It is very easy and fast to install mSpy on the target phone.
Me: But how can I do it without her knowing?
Karen: We can walk you through installation after purchase.
I then told Karen which type of phone I'd like to track. An iPhone 5. Yes, I imagine my perfect, imaginary lover has an iPhone 5.
Karen's reply:
Dear Customer, please be advised that an iPhone must be jailbroken before the installation, but the process is very fast and easy - it takes only few minutes to jailbreak an iPhone. You can check on how to jailbreak an iPhone on http://iclarified.com/jailbreak and http://iclarified.com/jailbreak for iOS 7 +. Kindly be advised that we're the only company who assists with jailbreak. Once an iPhone is jailbroken Cydia icon will appear on the Springboard. But you can hide it after you install the app, so there will be no traces left.
I confess that there was a certain side of me that felt excited, although if I was to spy on my imaginary lover there would surely soon be no traces of the relationship left.
Moreover, the legalities were still preying on my conscience. When I asked "But how can I do it without her knowing?" I fear that my IM buddy heard only "how can I do it" and provided merely a practical response, missing the "without her knowing" portion of the question and its deeper foray into the ethics of the situation. Or maybe that was something for later in the discussion, when we got down to brass tacks.
Still curious, I wandered over to the mSpy legal agreement. It reads, in part:
It is a considered federal and/or state violation of the law in most cases to install surveillance software onto a mobile phone or other device for which you do not have proper authorization, and in most cases you are required to notify users of the device that they are being monitored. Failure to do so may result in a violation of federal or state laws, if you install this software onto a device you do not own or if you do not have proper consent to monitor the user of the device.
After these words of warning, in large blue type is, "We absolutely do not endorse the use of our software for illegal purposes."
But I always thought that all was legal in love and war.
Still, was mSpy just ever so slightly encouraging me to spy on my lover?
I've had lovers sneak into my emails and probe my phone. When I discovered them, their reply was always: "What? You thought I wouldn't? Do I look stupid?" Or expressions to that effect.
So perhaps all this spying is, indeed, quite normal. But it won't have mSpy's official seal of approval.
An mSpy spokeswoman told me:
mSpy does advocate notifying users of the device that they are being monitored. During the installation stage (which had yet to be approached), users need to tick off a few boxes confirming that they have informed the monitored party and got his/her consent. As well, customer services representatives are required to share with you this information as you navigate the process. mSpy's disclaimer clearly state that we do not approve of the illegal use of our software and in the case when the legal breach has been identified we will cooperate with relevant authorities, if required.
I leave all this, therefore, to your conscience, just as I leave national security to the consciences of those who direct it.
Most people will admit that they'd dearly wished they had evidence to back up their suspicions, when they thought their lovers were less than faithful.
But those suspicions in themselves surely described the truth of the relationship.
The difficulty, of course, is waiting for that truth to emerge. Some wait for days, months or even years to discover that what they'd feared was true. Or, more painfully, to discover that the truth was even worse than they'd feared.
Spying can never save a relationship. All it can save is time.
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Here's How a Digital Detox Will Benefit Your Mental Health
Here's How a Digital Detox Will Benefit Your Mental Health
We go about our day-to-day lives attached to our phones. They wake us up in the morning, and we check our emails and social media as soon as we open our eyes. We spend a big chunk of the day glued to a screen, be it a computer, laptop or phone. In fact, nearly half of smartphone users in the US say they can't imagine life without their phones.
According to a February 2021 survey, 46% of respondents said they spend an average of 5 to 6 hours a day on their phones for non-work-related use. Another study conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that, on average, Americans spend around 3 hours a day watching TV.
It's safe to say that we've become heavily dependent on our phones for pretty much everything. But, how is the use of technology affecting our mental health? And what can we do to offset that dependency?
Many have turned to digital detoxes as a way to disconnect from technology. Research links digital detoxes to the improvement of depression symptoms, among other mental health benefits. Ready to try a digital detox? Here's what you need to know.
Morsa Images/Getty
What is a digital detox?
A digital detox is when you completely abstain or intentionally reduce your time using electronic devices like smartphones, computers, TVs and tablets. The idea of a digital detox is to disconnect from the online world to focus more on the present moment without distractions. The most common things people avoid during a digital detox include:
Emails
Text messages
Video games
Watching TV
Smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers
What is a social media detox?
Like a digital detox, a social media detox is when someone refrains from engaging with or using social media for a period of time or indefinitely to improve their mental health and well-being. It's one of the most popular forms of digital detox.
A quantitative study conducted on college students who underwent social media detoxes that lasted from one to seven days found that most students reported positive changes in mood, better productivity, improved sleep and reduced anxiety.
Another study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that limiting social media to 30 minutes a day can significantly improve one's overall well-being.
How social media affects mental health
There's no denying we benefit a lot from social media. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok keep us connected to friends and family while also serving as an outlet to find inspiring people. However, the constant comparison, fear of missing out and highly curated content we're exposed to on social media can come with some drawbacks.
A 2020 systematic review linked social media to detrimental effects on the mental health of its users. The same study found that those people's levels of anxiety and depression are affected by social media envy -- being envious of someone else's life as perceived on social media.
"Time spent scrolling through social media has the potential to promote unreasonable expectations as we see influencers posting an often filtered and edited version of their seemingly perfect lives. This can trigger feelings that others are having more fun or living better lives than you are, potentially causing a negative impact on your mental health. The increasing popularity of photo filters has also been linked to poor self-esteem and self-image as we manipulate our photos to change our reality online," says Myra Altman, who holds a PhD and is VP of Clinical Care at Modern Health.
Georgijevic/Getty
Benefits of a digital detox
There may be personal reasons to consider a digital detox. It could be that you feel like technology is a distraction, or you just need some time away from the stressors of the online world. Whatever the reason may be, you are sure to see many benefits from taking a break from technology.
Here are some of the most common benefits of a digital detox.
Reduced anxiety and depression
According to a recent study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, a social media break of just a week can reduce anxiety and depression. The same study found causal evidence that even short breaks from social media can positively impact a person's overall well-being, life satisfaction and emotions.
Enhanced focus and increased productivity
This one should come as no surprise. When we are free from distractions, we allow ourselves to be more present. Mindless scrolling on social media, checking notifications on your phone and feeling the urge to reply immediately to emails are time consumers. When we set aside distractions, we allow more time to focus on our responsibilities.
Improved sleep
Disconnecting from electronic devices a few hours before going to sleep can significantly improve our quality of sleep. One study found that people who used social media before bed were more likely to have anxiety, insomnia and short sleep duration on weeknights.
Avoiding screen time before bed also reduces our exposure to blue light, which has been associated with disrupted sleep.
Meaningful connections in real life
Think about the last time you were anywhere alone at the doctor's office, standing in line at the grocery store or waiting for your friend at a table in a restaurant. How much of that time was spent glued to your phone? The answer is probably a lot.
A small 2019 study found that smartphones alter the fabric of social interactions. In the experiment, a group of strangers was put in a waiting room with or without their phones. The study found that those who had their phones present were less likely to smile at someone compared to those without a phone.
Setting your phone aside can help you stay engaged with those around you.
Luis Alvarez/Getty
More time for things that bring you joy
Have you ever thought about how many times a day you pick up your phone to check your emails, respond to messages and check social media? According to a survey conducted by Asurion, a global tech care company, respondents checked their phones on average 96 times a day. To put that in perspective, that's once every 10 minutes.
"One reason to consider a social media detox is to regain authority in your life and time. Many people find themselves scrolling for hours a day and then feel unproductive, leading to anxiety and depression. A detox can help put a pause on social media consumption and allow you to regain interest in other hobbies that bring happiness. The detox can also allow you the time you need to be with those you love in real life," says Raghu Kiran Appasani, MD Psychiatry and Founder and CEO of The MINDS Foundation.
Signs that you might need a break from technology
If you made your way to this page, chances are you are already considering a digital detox -- which is a sign itself that you might need a break from your electronic devices. The best way to know you need a digital detox is to check in with yourself and see how interacting with social media and technology makes you feel.
If you feel any of the following when engaging with the online world, it's time to say goodbye (for now) to technology:
Anxiety, stress or depression after checking social media
Social withdrawal
Urge to check your phone every few minutes
Trouble concentrating and staying focused on the task at hand
Imposter syndrome or feeling insecure about where you are in life
Disrupted sleep
Feeling obligated to respond immediately to emails and text messages
How to do a digital detox
If you're ready for a digital detox challenge but aren't sure where to start, we got you. It's important to remember why you're detoxing from your digital devices in the first place. The goal is to create boundaries that ensure you're using technology in a way that benefits and works for you. Ultimately, you want to feel good about the time you are dedicating online.
Set realistic goals
A digital detox can be anything you want it to be. It can be refraining from using any type of technology, disconnecting from social media or just limiting daily screen time. The most important thing to keep in mind is that whatever you want to achieve has to be realistic. For example, if your work requires you to be in front of a computer all day, it may not be wise to set a goal that won't allow you access to your computer. Instead, you can opt to set screen time limits on your free time.
Create healthy boundaries and limits
Sometimes disconnecting completely from electronic devices isn't possible, but setting boundaries is a great way to limit how much time we spend on electronic devices.
Here are some ideas of other times you can create limits for:
When working out: If you want to get the most out of your workout, try to avoid any distractions. If you like to listen to music while doing so, you can download your music beforehand and set your phone to airplane mode so that you don't get any notifications.
Before going to sleep: Smartphones were designed to keep us alert and productive, so the last thing we want is to bombard our brains with more information. Sleep experts recommend cutting off screen time 30 minutes to 1 hour before bed.
When waking up: You never know what you will encounter when you look at your phone. Seeing bad news as soon as you wake up can trigger your stress response and leave you feeling anxious all day. Allow yourself some time to wake up without outside distractions and enjoy the present moment.
While enjoying a meal: If you're scrolling through your phone while you eat, you may not be aware of how much you are eating and miss your body's cue that it is full. Instead, you can practice mindful eating and savor every moment of your meal.
When spending time with the people you love: It's good to keep your phone away or silent when socializing and spending time with people. When you limit your distractions, you can have deeper and more meaningful conversations.
Occupy yourself with things that nourish your mind and body
You've decided to do a digital detox, you put away your phone, now what? It's easy to give in to checking your phone if you are bored, so you'll want to fill in this extra time with things that make you feel good.
If you are having a hard time figuring out what to do with your extra time, here are some ideas.
Pick up a new hobby, something you've always wanted to try.
Go for a walk or a hike
Call a family member you haven't talked to in a while
Go for coffee with a friend
Read a new book (or reread your favorite one)
Journal about how you're feeling right now
Volunteer at a local charity that is doing important work
Learn to cook a new recipe
Sign up for an exercise class like kick-boxing, yoga or pilates
Meditate or practice mindful breathing
Klaus Vedfelt/Getty
Reward yourself for following through
It's easier to stay motivated when looking forward to something, so take this opportunity to celebrate your wins by rewarding yourself. It doesn't have to be something grand (though it can be if you want); it can be as simple as cooking your favorite meal or taking yourself out to the movies. Whatever you decide your reward should be, make sure it's something that excites you.
Tips for your digital detox
Some people will find it fairly easy to disconnect from digital devices, while others may find it more challenging. Luckily, there are some things you can do before you go off the grid to ensure that you have a successful digital detox.
If you're doing a social media detox, delete the apps from your phone and sign out from your account on your computer, laptop or tablet.
Let your friends and family know about your detox and the best ways for them to contact you and provide support.
Schedule activities to keep you busy beforehand.
Track your progress. You can write down how you're feeling each day, seeing tangible progress may keep you motivated.
Mute or turn off notifications on your phone and computer
Designate tech-free zones in your house, like your bedroom or dining room.
Remember why you started. If you feel the need to check your phone throughout your detox, think of how you felt before starting and why you decided to take a break.
Be patient with yourself
Deciding to disconnect from the digital world can make you feel anxious or even scared of missing out on important things, and it's okay to feel that way. As the days go by, you'll start to feel better about yourself and have a deeper understanding of your relationship with technology. Take the time to enjoy being present and do things that bring you happiness.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
Motorola Razr: 6 burning questions we still have about this foldable phone
Motorola Razr: 6 burning questions we still have about this foldable phone
The 2004 Motorola Razr is back for 2019, this time with a sexy foldable 6.2-inch screen that bends in half and a 16-megapixel camera for all your shots. After playing with it at Motorola's Chicago headquarters, I called it, "Streamlined. Utterly pocketable. Nostalgic, with a sharp futuristic edge." You might call it a flip phone for the modern age -- it even has a secret retro keyboard for nostalgia-seekers.
Motorola's Razr is the third major foldable phone on the market, after the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X, which currently only sells in China. The Razr is also the first design of its kind, a tall, narrow vertically flipping device rather than a tablet replacement that opens up like a book. Motorola's success or stumbles with the Razr could help set the direction of foldable phones to come -- maybe even Samsung's future foldable clamshell, which the company teased at a developer conference last month.
We know a lot about the foldable Razr phone. How much it costs (a princely $1,500) and when it goes on sale (Jan. 9). How its specs stack up against the Samsung Galaxy Fold's and why Motorola wanted to make this foldable flip Razr in the first place. But there are some things we don't know, all of which will be critical to the phone's success. And since preorders in the US don't begin until Dec. 26, it will be a while before we find out.
Read: CNET's in-depth review of the Motorola Razr
How durable the foldable screen really is
The Razr uses a plastic OLED (P-OLED) display with a hard plastic coating on top. Plastic isn't as rigid as glass, which makes today's foldable phone screens more susceptible to damage. Early Galaxy Fold review units suffered from screen damage before Samsung was able to redesign the flaws.
Although Motorola claims its early work on a plastic hard coat for the screen puts it in a better place than Samsung, it isn't clear how well the Razr's screen will be able to sustain the stress of repeated opening and closing throughout its lifetime, and how well it can rebuff normal wear and tear by items coming into contact with the screen, even an accidental fingernail scratch.
If the battery life will truly last all day
Motorola claims that the foldable Razr's 2,510mAh battery will last you all day, but we obviously need to test it to find out, both in our lab and through day to day observation.
But even without testing, a 2,510mAh battery is quite small to power two screens, the camera and all the rest. As one comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S10E has a 5.8-inch screen and a 3,100mAh battery. As another, the (much larger) Galaxy Fold has a 4,380mAh battery.
Part of the problem is that the Razr's total battery capacity is divided into two parts. This design helps keep the phone balanced so one half isn't heavier than the other, but using two batteries is typically less efficient than one larger battery of the same capacity. This was the case with the Galaxy Fold, which ran for less time than expected for its battery capacity -- so we'll keep a sharp eye on the Razr's total battery life per charge.
How splash-proof the screen and body are in daily life
The Motorola Razr has a 6.2-inch plastic OLED display.
James Martin/CNET
The Razr isn't rated for waterproofing, but Motorola says it's splash-proof nonetheless. The foldable phone has been coated inside and out with nanocoating, which helps protect internal electronic components from water damage.
I'll want to see whether ordinary splashes and raindrops affect the screen and camera. The Galaxy Fold came with a long list of care instructions that highlight its fragility, including limited exposure to liquids, so this will be a real test of the Razr's mettle.
If and when Motorola will sell it in colors other than black
Right now the Razr comes in one color, "noir black". If demand is high enough, Motorola may work up a new tone. The first Razr came in a rainbow of eye-popping shades beyond its original silver. I'd love to see this foldable Razr similarly branch out.
How many times the Razr was folded during testing
Motorola isn't saying how many times its Razr was folded and unfolded as part of a stress test. Since in our tests the Galaxy Fold broke after about half the time Samsung said its test was rated for (100,000 folds versus 200,000 folds), our interest is high.
Nobody wants a $1,500 investment to fall apart over the course of a year or two, even though Motorola's warranty does cover a replacement.
Here's Motorola's statement on durability:
We didn't bring the new Motorola Razr to market until we knew it was ready. We have full confidence in the durability of the Flex View display, and based on our research, it will last for the average lifespan of a smartphone. We acknowledge this is a brand new technology and we are committed to continue improving as the industry evolves. Therefore, we've created a world class service package to make sure every Razr customer has an exceptional experience.
Are we looking at the future of phone screens?
Juan Garzon/CNET
If it's worth buying -- and if so, for whom
You want to know, and so do I. Is the Razr a feather in the cap for collectors with means, or will it be a practical device for everyday people? This is unfortunately a question that only the review can answer, after extensively testing the screen, battery stamina, real-life pocketability and camera.
When the review phone arrives, I'll use the device as my one and only phone. Until then, I'll keep posting updates about the Motorola Razr as new information comes in. Feel free to share burning questions of your own in the comments section, or reach out to me at @jdolcourt on Twitter.
Motorola's $1,500 Razr goes on sale in December and arrives in January.
Juan Garzon/CNET
Updated with new information about the January 9 sale date.
2022 Mini Cooper SE Long-Term Wrap-Up: A Great SoCal City Car
2022 Mini Cooper SE Long-Term Wrap-Up: A Great SoCal City Car
People love to hate the electric Mini Cooper SE for its short driving range. But focus on that 114-mile EPA estimate and you'll miss this car's strongest selling points. No one is buying a Mini -- gas or electric -- for long-distance cruising. Put the Cooper SE into service as a daily driver in a congested city and its goodness will quickly win you over.
That's what we found after a year with our long-term 2022 Cooper SE. The whole point of CNET Cars' yearlong test was to use the Mini in day-to-day city life. For that reason, we kept the Mini in Southern California, where we have the most staff and the most plentiful public charging network. Twelve months after our initial delivery, we're still smitten with our little Mini EV. Sure, we encountered some problems along the way, but the Cooper SE's short range wasn't the burden it might seem.
How we spec'd it
The entire Mini Cooper Hardtop lineup got an update for 2022, with some styling tweaks and equipment changes that make the car more attractive overall. The electric Cooper SE only comes as a two-door Hardtop -- though Mini did recently show off a SE Convertible prototype -- and a 2022 model like ours cost $30,750 including an $850 destination fee, though that excludes any potential tax credits.
Mini sends all Cooper SEs out the door with goodies including heated seats, LED headlights and a 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. We added the $7,000 Iconic pack to our tester, which got us a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, a premium audio system, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors and some extra piano black exterior trim. We had ours painted in Mini's Enigmatic Black hue, which is actually more of a super-dark blue, and we matched it with yellow mirror caps, a white roof, and the SE-exclusive 17-inch Power Spoke wheels (read: the correct wheels). All told, our Mini came to us with a $37,750 final sticker price.
For the 2023 model year, the Cooper SE has a higher starting price of $35,075 including destination, but the car has more standard equipment (though weirdly, the formerly standard heated steering wheel now costs extra). Adding the Iconic trim is now only a $2,475 upcharge, and a 2023 Mini Cooper SE optioned exactly like our long-termer is only $50 more expensive: $37,800 including destination and excluding any tax credits.
The best wheels.
Steven Ewing/CNET
Fun and functional
The Cooper SE is powered by a 32.6 kilowatt-hour battery pack with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle. Total output is only 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, which doesn't sound like a ton, but the instant electric thrust makes the Mini super quick off the line. No, Mini's 0- to 60-mph estimate of 6.9 seconds isn't anything to write home about, but it's that initial 0- to 30-mph blast that really feels like a thrill. And we never found the Mini lacked power while passing slower-moving cars on the highway. It's as zippy as you'd expect, and way more fun to drive than similar EVs.
"Every trip in the Cooper SE is a joy thanks to the instant torque, great steering and low center of gravity," noted senior social media editor Daniel Golson. "It's easily the most fun car that Mini makes, and an actual performance variant would be awesome." Golson also wished for some kind of "artificial spaceship-y noise under acceleration," like you can get in other EVs, but not everyone on our staff agrees.
"As a city car, the Mini SE excels," wrote former news and features editor Kyle Hyatt. "Its small size and nimble handling make it a breeze to whip around in Los Angeles traffic, and it's easy to park in tight city spaces." Hyatt did note that the Mini's ride is a little on the stiff side, "but it's not overly bouncy or jarring," he said.
As a cargo-hauler, no Mini is ideal, but the Cooper SE's boxy shape and low load-in height made it surprisingly functional -- mostly. "It's great that the rear seats are able to fold pretty much flat," Golson wrote, "but if the front seats are even a little too far back then it's not possible to fold the rears because space is so tight." Still, there's a maximum of 34 cubic feet of space in the back of the Mini -- enough for a set of small tires, a few big boxes or luggage for two adults.
Our car showed no wear and tear after a year of use.
Steven Ewing/CNET
Comfy interior, but the design's getting old
After a year of use, our Mini's interior showed no signs of wear and tear. We always appreciated features like the kickin' Harman Kardon stereo, comfy seats and sunroof shade that can close while the glass is still open. Really, our main complaint about the Cooper SE's cabin is that Mini's too-cute design is starting to get old.
"Charming as the Mini's interior is, I'm ready for the next-gen model to bring a cleaner setup," Golson wrote. "The toggle switches and other analog controls are strangely laid out, and the infotainment setup feels old and laggy." On top of that, pretty much everyone on staff complained about how the small digital gauge cluster would wash out in any kind of sunlight.
It's not the range, it's the charging
For daily commuting duties, 114 miles of range isn't as bad as you think. Most EV owners have some kind of home charging solution, and the Mini's small battery is easy to top off overnight. The downsides of the Mini's setup make themselves known when you have to rely on the public charging infrastructure, something that Los Angeles does better than pretty much any other US city, but still leaves a lot to be desired.
Guess how many of these chargers actually worked.
Steven Ewing/CNET
Because the Mini's battery capacity is relatively small, at 32.6 kWh, charging it shouldn't take that long -- or so you'd think. Unfortunately, the Mini can only accept a max charge speed of 50 kW, so reaching 80% capacity can take as long as 45 minutes. That kind of time suck is fine in larger EVs with faster charging speeds, because you're gaining hundreds of miles of range per session. If the Cooper SE could handle faster speeds, going from 10% to 80% could theoretically take 10 to 15 minutes, which would be a huge advantage.
The other issue is that we rarely saw anything close to that advertised 50-kW speed. We plugged the Mini into 50-kW, 150-kW and 350-kW chargers, but usually only saw a max intake speed of about 35 kW, reducing charging times even further. Of course, America's public charging network is notoriously problematic, so the chargers themselves could be to blame in a lot of these instances, but not being able to reliably get even 50 kW was frustrating to say the least.
As for mileage, at the end of the year we observed an average range of 117 miles per charge, a 3-mile improvement over the EPA estimate. Driving the Mini in its Green mode helped eke out a few miles at a time without killing the fun-to-drive vibe, and we rarely if ever found Sport mode to be necessary -- the standard (what Mini calls "Mid") mode offered plenty of punch, but frequent use of the Green setting really helped us with overall range.
Yes, you could argue that a bigger battery with longer range would alleviate the need to charge as frequently, making longer stops easier to swallow. But none of us complained about the frequency with which we had to charge. The question was how long the charging took once we were there. We don't mind popping into a charger for 10 minutes to top off, especially if something like a Mini could hit 80% in that amount of time. But having to sit at chargers for 30 or 40 minutes is an eternity, no matter the size of the battery.
We'll miss you.
Steven Ewing/CNET
Final verdict
The Mini Cooper SE isn't perfect, but as a daily driver in LA, it's hard to fault. It never failed to make us smile, whether that be through its quirky design, small size or the fact that it's a blast to drive. Former reviews editor Emme Hall said it best: "For short trips in town, there isn't a car I'd rather have."
Like many carmakers, Mini will soon go EV-only, and our year with the Cooper SE makes us excited for that future. Fun little cars like the Mini really lend themselves to electrification, and new vehicle platforms with better battery packaging will give the carmaker more opportunities to maximize interior space. Our big hope is that the next generation of battery tech allows for higher capacity and quicker charging times. Small cars like a Mini will always be short on range, but faster charging speeds will make that a non-issue.
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Best Windows Laptop for 2022
Best Windows Laptop for 2022
Our top picks for the best Windows laptop options include models by Asus, Dell, Lenovo, HP, Acer, Microsoft and more. We've loaded this list with only the best laptops running Windows 11 we've personally tested and approved. This list, of course, focuses only on the best Windows laptops, specifically -- you won't find the best Apple laptops or Chromebooks here. If you want a wider selection, check out our overall best laptop picks.
Right now, the best Windows laptop for most people is the Dell XPS 13 for its excellent combination of performance, battery life and portability. Our favorite budget-priced alternative at the moment is the Acer Swift 3. Of course, the best part of getting a Windows PC is the amount of variety available, which is covered with the other picks on this list. This best Windows laptop list will be updated periodically when new models are tested, reviewed and made the cut.
Also, while there are a lot of laptops here, we know that your interests might be broader or fine-tuned than only what counts for the best Windows laptop options. Because of this, we have more specific recommendations for the best gaming laptops, 15-inch laptops, two-in-one and Chromebooks, as well as the best laptop for college students, the best laptop for creatives and the best MacBook Pro alternatives for the Windows set. Also, if you need to stay as low as possible on the price of a new laptop computer, we have you covered there, too. Check out our picks for budget la ptops and budget gaming laptops.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Dell XPS 13 is a perennial favorite for its size, weight and performance and just overall good looks. In 2020, Dell made the laptop even smaller, while making the laptop screen larger and increasing performance for both CPU and graphics-intensive tasks. For 2022, it made the XPS 13 even smaller and lighter, kept its sub-$999 starting price the same and dropped in the latest 12th-gen Intel processors.
While we haven't had a chance to test the new model yet, we expect it to be a strong Windows alternative to the MacBook Air. Also, if you want to save money, the 2021 XPS 13 with 11th-gen Intel chips is available for less now.
Josh Goldman / CNET
Available with either AMD Ryzen or Intel Core processors, this 14-inch laptop gives you more screen to work on than 13-inch laptops, but is still incredibly lightweight -- less than 3 pounds. The bigger display is nice, too, covering 100% sRGB color gamut (better than you typically find at its starting price under $700). It also has a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader and USB Type-C and HDMI ports, too. The 2022 version of the Swift 3 falls just under $1,000 with 12th-gen Intel Core i-series CPUs. But the 2021 models are still widely available for less than $600.
Read our Acer Swift 3 (14-inch, 2020) review.
This thin, 3-pound convertible is a solid choice for anyone who needs a laptop for office or schoolwork. The all-metal chassis gives it a premium look and feel, and it has a comfortable keyboard and a responsive, smooth precision touchpad. Though it's light on extra features compared to its premium linemate, the Yoga 9i, it does have one of Lenovo's sliding shutters for its webcam that gives you privacy when you want it. And it has a long battery life to boot at 12 hours, 45 minutes in our tests. The latest version with 12th-gen Intel processors starts at $999 (although you can find it on sale for less). The 2021 models are still available, too, at reduced prices.
James Martin/CNET
HP's Victus 16 is a surprisingly robust and powerful gaming laptop that keeps up with the latest games at a more affordable price. Compared to HP's high-end Omen gaming laptop line, the Victus is more of an all-purpose laptop but still configured for gaming with a price starting at less than $1,000. HP offers several configurations with graphics chip options ranging from Nvidia's entry-level GeForce GTX 1650 up to a midrange RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6500M.
HP Victus 16 review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Although this Microsoft Surface laptop is not the Surface Laptop, the Surface Pro continues to hit all the right notes if you're looking for a do-it-all Windows tablet that doubles as a Windows laptop. Microsoft recently overhauled it for the Surface Pro 8, which has a larger 13-inch display, 11th-gen Intel Core processors and two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. The Surface Pro 7 is still around for the time being at a discount, and an updated version called the Surface Pro 7 Plus will stay in the lineup, so you'll still be able to get the classic Pro design but with new processors.
Surface Pro 8 review.
Lori Grunin/CNET
We're big fans of the ROG Strix line and you really can't go wrong with any of them. However, Asus' $1,650 all-AMD Strix G15 gaming laptop delivers excellent performance and battery life, with a top-of-the-line Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU and Radeon RX 6800M GPU -- and that's before you realize that the performance and components are way above its price class. It runs cool and quiet, even running close to full tilt. At higher prices, it's not such an obvious call, though. Read the Asus ROG Strix G15 AA review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
There's a lot to love with the Razer Blade 14, which incorporates one of the fastest mobile CPUs available (for now, at least), the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, and top-end mobile graphics with the GeForce RTX 3070 or 3080. Its display can go pixel-to-pixel with the MacBook's. And its high-quality build is up there with the best MacBooks but, like an Apple, it's not necessarily the best laptop deal, even compared to other premium laptops.
Razer Blade 14 review.
Joshua Goldman/CNET
Lenovo launched the Yoga line 10 years ago with Windows 8 and now, with Windows 11, the flexibility of the design has only gotten better. The company's flagship 14-inch Yoga 9i Gen 7 has an updated look with comfortable, rounded edges and 12th-gen Intel processors that give it a big multicore performance jump. A beautiful OLED display and improved audio make it excellent for work, video conferences and entertainment. Lenovo includes an active pen and a laptop sleeve to complete the premium package.
The powerful speakers do add some vibration to the palm rests when turned up and Lenovo has cluttered the laptop with pitches for optional services and software. But, overall, the latest Yoga 9i is the two-in-one convertible laptop to beat. Unfortunately, its availability is limited at the moment so you might have to wait to buy one. Read our Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7 review.
Read our Lenovo Yoga 9i review.
James Martin/CNET
The XPS 17 combines the same slim, premium design of its 13-inch linemate but with increased performance possibilities. It can be configured with up to a 12th-gen Intel Core i9 processor, 64GB of memory and a 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics chip. The best part: Dell trimmed up the chassis so much that you get a 17-inch display in a body that's the size of an older 15-inch laptop. You're getting a lot of power and a big screen in the smallest possible package.
Dell XPS 17 review.
Josh Goldman/CNET
If you've ever wished for just a little extra screen space on your thin-and-light laptop, your wish is granted. The Duo 14's 12.6-inch secondary touchscreen behaves just like any other attached display except it's built into the body above the keyboard. You can use it for extending the main 14-inch display so it works like one large screen, or use it for apps that would normally be buried behind what you're working on. If that's not enough, it's pen-enabled so you can write and draw on it with the included pen. Plus, Asus' ScreenXpert software lets you turn it into a giant touchpad, a number pad or even a tool deck for Adobe Creative Cloud software.
Read our Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review.
How we test computers
The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device's aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both those objective and subjective judgments.
The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we're currently running on every compatible computer include: Primate Labs Geekbench 5, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra.
A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found in our How We Test Computers page.
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'Sonic 2' Director and Star Reveal Their Favorite Game References
'Sonic 2' Director and Star Reveal Their Favorite Game References
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 hit Paramount Plus on Monday, after a wildly successful theatrical run last month, and it follows on from the 2020 original by reuniting Sonic voice actor Ben Schwartz and director Jeff Fowler for another eye-poppingly colorful adventure inspired by Sega's iconic video game series.
The sequel sees Sonic's old nemesis Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) teaming up with an intense Knuckles (Idris Elba) to hunt down a reality-altering artifact and take revenge on our hedgehog hero. Sonic isn't alone though -- the classic game's famous sidekick Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) arrives on Earth to help stop Robotnik's fiendish plans.
From opening scene to post-credits tease, the movie pays homage to the three decades of Sonic games. That's something that Schwartz, whom you might know from beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation, and Fowler, who previously directed Oscar-nomination animated short Gopher Broke, were determined to double down on as the sequel leaned hard into the source material.
Robotnik's return delights his henchman Agent Stone, but spells trouble for Sonic.
Paramount Pictures
I got to geek out about Sonic with the personable Schwartz and enthusiastic Fowler over Zoom ahead of the movie's release, touching on Knuckles' rivalry with Sonic, the characters' heart-warming personal journeys and delicious video game Easter eggs.
Here's a transcript of our conversation, lightly edited for clarity. We avoid any major spoilers, but might reveal some classic game references. If you want to be totally surprised by those elements, come back after you've seen the movie.
CNET: Sonic 2 brought me back to being a child in the '90s, and the marketing leans heavily on the rivalry between Sonic and Knuckles -- an element I remember from Sonic 3 like it was yesterday. Ben, why is Sonic still cooler than Knuckles? Or vice versa, if you're feeling controversial. Schwartz: I'm gonna stick up for Sonic, I'm always gonna stick up for Sonic. I feel like Sonic is that kid in your class who has all this heart. He's a heart-forward-type character, and also loves making people laugh. So for that reason, I mean come on, how do you not root for Sonic?
Knuckles crackles with intensity throughout the movie.
Paramount Pictures
Jeff, why is Knuckles cooler than Sonic? Fowler: Oh, you're gonna get me in a lot of trouble with that question. I don't know if I want to pick a side, but one of the things that's so great about having 30 years of video games is that there are storylines that are incredibly popular with the fans.
Going all the way back to the early '90s, Knuckles' introduction into Sonic was as a very formidable adversary -- he's got super strength, Sonic's got super speed. It was just a really simple but very exciting clash of characters that we just felt would be great material for the sequel.
I love them both. Ben just absolutely crushes it as Sonic every time out. Then Idris coming in as Knuckles, I was just floored by what he was able to do with the character. I think fans are gonna absolutely love it.
Rewatching the first one recently and then the sequel, it struck me that it would've been so easy to make Sonic a shallow cool dude in these movies. I was amazed at how much I got into his emotional journey. Ben, can you speak to where he's at in Sonic 2? Schwartz: I love that you say that, because one of the big things we try to do in these movies is to get people to care about Sonic. In the first one, the idea that he's all by himself, and he has no friends and he has nobody to turn to, I wanted people to feel that. But when the triumphs happen or he gets defeated, you feel those the same way.
Sonic's crimefighting career isn't quite as successful as he'd hoped.
Paramount Pictures
In the second one, he's growing up like kids do and not really listening to the advice that's been given to him by his parental-type figures [Tom and Maddie Wachowski, played by James Marsden and Tika Sumpter]. And he thinks he can do everything by himself. He's a superhero now, he just defeated Robotnik, don't tell him what to do -- he can do everything.
This movie is hopefully echoing things that people go through as kids and as adults, when you think you can take care of everything and take on the world by yourself. But it's OK to ask for help. It's OK to understand that in order to get things done, you need your friends, you need your co-workers.
That's where Tails comes in. And it's very fun to see Tails come from a different planet and be the sycophant of Sonic, someone who loves Sonic so much. And so I love that dynamic of those two, and then those two together against Knuckles is video game [chef's kiss].
Tails takes inspiration from his new pal Sonic.
Paramount Pictures
Jeff, how do you balance all the classic Sonic imagery with making the characters relatable? Fowler: It can't just be all about imagery, it can't just be about action -- there's gotta be some substance to it. A lot of the material really was already there. Tails' story is very relatable. He was teased as a young fox, having two tails, and he was an outsider. And in Sonic he sees the hero he wants to be, he looks up to Sonic very much like a kid brother looking at his big brother. That's so grounded.
And it's part of the canon, it's part of what fans love about the characters, so we just lean heavily into that. If you know nothing about the game series, and you're coming into a theater, you're still going to be moved by it because those are very relatable themes.
The classic biplane image was one of the movie's visual starting points.
Paramount Pictures
What game references are each of you most proud of? Fowler: One of the most iconic images from the Sonic 2 video game is Tails flying the biplane with Sonic on the wing. It's such an iconic image of Sonic being delivered to battle by his friend. From the first day of planning for the sequel, I was just like "We have to do that. That's got to be a big movie moment."
There's so much great imagery from the 30 years of games. The level designs, the concept art -- it's an embarrassment of riches. It definitely makes our job a lot easier, to have such a great visual foundation as we make our plans.
Schwartz: I love that if you look at Robotnik's drones and droids, there's some that look like little wasps that come out. But also the backgrounds like the maze, there's a lot of different things that allude to different levels that were in Sonic. I also just like what happens to Sonic when he's underwater.
The water scene blew my mind -- the anxiety. Schwartz: Oh my goodness, there's nothing more nerve-wracking as a child than being underwater in Sonic the Hedgehog and seeing the numbers pop up with how many seconds you have left. It's terrifying.
We're always trying to make sure we're keeping the fans happy, but also never being so specific, where people who haven't seen the franchise or played the games feel alienated. Jeff does an incredible job with that.
So there's references throughout, even personal references from stuff I've done that Sonic says, and then outside of that there's references all throughout the video games. So I think people are gonna be really psyched. If you play the games, it's just gonna be full of little secrets we've left for you. And if you haven't, it's still like an action-packed, incredible, funny movie, and you'll get the references a little bit later when your friends tell you.
