Consumer Reports Magazine | January

Published: January 2013
January 2013

Cover story

Smart ways to save on smart phones
Which phone and plan are right for you? Whether you're buying for a family or shopping for yourself, we can guide you to the right ones

Features

25 great holiday gifts
Do you need an accident-protection plan for your tablet? Eighteen percent of tablet owners we surveyed bought a service contract or extended warranty
Protecting Mom & Dad's money What to do when you suspect financial abuse
What’s in that pork? We found antibiotic-resistant bacteria and traces of a veterinary drug

Cars

2013 Chevrolet Spark review
2013 Dodge Dart review
2013 Lexus ES 350 & ES 300h review
Cadillac XTS and Lincoln MKS reviews Two big, opulent American sedans fall short of expectations
Halogen headlight bulbs Higher-priced lights shine more brightly but not farther

Up Front

Claim Check: Lint Lizard Can a $10 "magic wand" make clothes dryer lint disappear?
Gotcha! Beware of ‘fast cash’ Payday loans can be pricey and unforgiving
Lost in translation: Many labels no sense make There’s no law against confusing—or amusing—wording on many goods
Sparkling wines that shine don't have to cost a lot Celebrate the holidays with one of our recommended sparklers
Spread it on: Best jellies and jams Some inexpensive brands tasted better than pricier ones
The cold facts about colds and flu Many products sold on drug store shelves don't help. But some simple steps can.
Three cleaners remove haze from dishware These film stars eliminate hard-water buildup
Yogurt taste tests show Greek is good

CR Health

5 things I learned from my patients Listening to their stories has sometimes improved my health

CR Money

Don’t get taken guarding your ID Do-it-yourself safeguards are just as effective as paid services

Departments

Biggest consumer complaints to the CPSC Appliances accounted for 2,029 complaints in the SaferProducts.gov database
From our president: Naughty and nice
Viewpoint This page highlights efforts of Consumers Union to improve the marketplace
Selling It A monthly selection of goofs, glitches, and gotchas

The January 2013 issue of Consumer Reports provides recommendations, expert buying advice, and Ratings on hundreds of consumer products. Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sources for information and advice on consumer products and services, with more than 7 million print and online subscribers. It conducts the most comprehensive testing programs of any U.S. publication or website, and the company's experts have decades of experience in testing and reporting.

Subscribe here or call 800-234-1645. Access updated information and reports at www.ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports magazine archive

Looking for a special report, investigative feature, or product review from a past issue of Consumer Reports? You can access that information and much more going back to January 2009 in our archive.

   


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Consumer News

SMART PHONE REVIEWS
Sleek BlackBerry Z10 brims with intriguing featuresVideo The gestures and swipes enhance e-mailing and text messaging.
SUV REVIEWS
At the track: First drive of the 2013 Toyota RAV4Video How will this redesign do against the CR-V, Escape, and Forester?
PERSONAL FINANCE
Do you need a broker or a registered investment pro? With tax season here, we'll help you make sense of money advisers.
NEW CAR REVIEWS
Results are in for 2013 Car Brand Perception Survey Consumers rank Toyota, Ford, and Honda above the competition.
DISHWASHER REVIEWS
'30 Rock' ends with big idea: Transparent dishwashers Jack Donaghy's vision doesn't exist, but other appliances do have windows.
appliance fires
APPLIANCE FIRES
KitchenAid KHMS155LSS and the microwave mystery Our investigation asks, When do wayward ovens warrant a recall?

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