Wired News Digest
Monday, 26 January 2026
Intel’s Panther Lake Chips Aren’t Just Good—They Beat Apple’s M5
I’ve tested two laptops powered by Panther Lake—pitting them head-to-head against laptops with Apple Silicon—and Intel has finally scored a much-needed win with the Core Ultra Series 3.
Why Minnesota Can’t Do More to Stop ICE
Democratic lawmakers have few options that wouldn’t trigger something like civil war.
Phonak Audeo Infinio Ultra Sphere Review: Premium Hearing Aids
This new prescription hearing aid has a special chip designed to improve hearing in noisy conditions.
No One Is Quite Sure Why Ice Is Slippery
A thin, watery layer coating the surface of ice is what makes it slick. Despite a great deal of theorizing over the centuries, though, it isn’t entirely clear why that layer forms.
How Long Should You Cold Plunge? We Asked Experts (2026)
You don’t need to Ernest Shackleton yourself to reap the benefits of cold plunging. A calm, controlled ice bath is key.
The Lego Pokémon Line Shows Toys Are Only for Rich Adults Now
Who cares about kids when adult collectors are willing to pay top dollar?
Bambu P1S Combo Review: Clean, Fast, 3D Printing
This is the easiest to use 3D printer I’ve ever tried.
The 10 Best Essential Oil Diffusers We’ve Tried in 2026 (and 2 to Avoid)
Keep things smelling fresh with these handy home gadgets. After researching and testing over a dozen devices, the Urpower Aroma is our favorite for most people.
The Instant Smear Campaign Against Border Patrol Shooting Victim Alex Pretti
Within minutes of the shooting, the Trump administration and right-wing influencers began disparaging the man shot by a federal immigration officer on Saturday in Minneapolis.
ICE Asks Companies About ‘Ad Tech and Big Data’ Tools It Could Use in Investigations
A new federal filing from ICE demonstrates how commercial tools are increasingly being considered by the government for law enforcement and surveillance.
Best Kitchen Composters and Food Recyclers (2026)
Responsibly dispose of your food scraps with one of these indoor, (mostly) odor-free, WIRED-tested devices.
What’s the Best Red Light Therapy Mask for Your Skin in 2026?
The LED devices we’d actually buy with our own money.
The 52 Best Movies on Netflix, WIRED’s Picks (January 2026)
The Rip, Frankenstein, and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery are just a few of the movies you should watch on Netflix this month.
3 Best Cheap Gaming Laptops (2026): WIRED-Tested and Approved
Most gaming laptops under $1,000 aren’t great, but these three machines stand out above the rest.
The 52 Best Shows on Netflix, WIRED’s Picks (January 2026)
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, Stranger Things, and His & Hers are just a few of the shows you need to watch on Netflix this month.
Best Portable Blenders of 2026: Ninja, Nutribullet, Beast
Cordless portable blenders have come a long way since their introduction a decade back. Here’s why the Ninja Blast Max smokes them all.
DOGE May Have Misused Social Security Data, DOJ Admits
Plus: The FAA blocks drones over DHS operations, Microsoft admits it hands over Bitlocker encryption keys to the cops, and more.
Gear News of the Week: Apple’s AI Wearable and a Phone That Can Boot Android, Linux, and Windows
Plus: Asus exits the smartphone market, and Sony partners with TCL on TVs.
Watch Party: The Best TAG in Years, a ’60s Sensation, and Omega Goes All White
It’s LVMH Watch Week, so here’s WIRED’s pick of the timepieces that made their debut—plus one notable gatecrasher.
This Autonomous Aquatic Robot Is Smaller Than a Grain of Salt
Researchers have succeeded in developing the smallest fully autonomous robot in history. It measures less than 1 millimeter and can swim underwater for months powered only by light.