RX Patient Tools
Use these quick guides before reading the article, or return to them when you need help preparing questions for a doctor.
A reliable and cost-effective smart doorbell
A smart doorbell camera should allow you to see who’s knocking at the door even when you’re not home. With the Ring Video Doorbell, you may sacrifice high-image quality and crisp audio for a lower price, but our budget pick still does what it needs to do: Show you who’s come calling. The Ring has all the basic features of a smart doorbell camera, like effective motion detection and the ability to stream live video quickly, making it a good option for anyone who wants an outdoor-only camera. Now down to $69, the Ring is currently less than half the cost of our other picks, which is a solid deal.
For the budding pianist on a budget
If you’ve been toying with the idea of learning to play piano but don’t want to commit to decorating your living room with a baby grand, a digital keyboard is a good way to start. The Alesis Recital Pro is affordable and easy to use, with an intuitive keyboard that includes buttons for modulation, chorus, and reverb effects. Though the Alesis is our budget pick, our testers found that it’s almost as good as our top pick, sacrificing only a little in feel and performance features.
A good hydration pack for day hikes
You don’t need a massive hydration pack if you’re planning to spend only a few hours on the trail, which makes the CamelBak Arete 18 a good choice to bring along on your next day hike. It comes with a 1.5-liter reservoir, enough to stay hydrated when you’re doing some sightseeing and light hiking—and if your trip takes you out of town, it’s small enough to shove into a suitcase. Discounts on the CamelBak Arete last a few weeks when it goes on sale, but the sales themselves are rare, popping up only two or three times a year—making now a great time to buy.
The best budget wireless charger
Wireless chargers make powering up your phone less of a hassle: All you need is the charging pad and your phone, no bricks or outlets required. Though a bit slower than both our top and upgrade picks, the Anker PowerWave 10W Max provides just as much convenience. As a variant of our budget pick, this charger is nearly identical to the PowerWave Pad—and at $10, it’s a nice deal on an already inexpensive piece of equipment.
Best for making big batches
If breakfast is a huge Saturday-morning affair for your family, adding a waffle maker to the mix is a no-brainer. The Krups Belgian, our budget pick, is easy to use and makes four hefty waffles at a time. It comes with a dial to adjust browning, beeps loudly to signal that breakfast is ready, and has removable plates that make for easy cleaning. But be warned: The cook time is slower than average, so have a little patience before you break out the syrup.
