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The Sony A7V Is the Best Mirrorless Camera You Can Buy

The Sony A7V Is the Best Mirrorless Camera You Can Buy

The second big upgrade is in ISO. I am one of those people who will shoot up to 25,000 ISO if I need to to maintain my shutter speed and aperture where I want them. Maybe this is an old-guy film-shooter thing, but changing ISO still seems like a miracle to me, and it’s my favorite thing about digital photography—when it works. With the A7V, I was completely comfortable pushing ISO as high as 32,000. With the noise-reduction algorithms in postproduction software these days, the images still look great even at these insane ISOs. And yes, I try to keep ISO down when I can, but it’s nice to know that I can go that high if I need to to get the shot.

The third upgrade is not so much an upgrade as a change for the better. Sony’s color science has improved dramatically, especially with skin tones, which are much truer to life across the range of skin tones in this world. Auto white balance is also significantly better, though I am still a fan of shooting in good old sunlight white balance 95 percent of the time.

Finally, a bonus thing I loved. I’ve always wanted to get better at bird photography, but that generally requires expensive lenses and extensive time in the field. It still requires both of those things, but with 33 MP to crop into, and the pre-burst capture, and 33 images-per-second RAW capture … even someone like me, with next to no wildlife photography skills and only a 200mm lens, can get some pretty decent images, which was fun to experiment with.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

The one thing that still sucks about the A7V and has sucked about every Sony camera I’ve ever used, and it’s only getting worse: the menu system. They are disorganized, confusing, and difficult to navigate. The only thing that saves you here is the number of programmable hardware buttons, which allow you to control things the way you want to without having to dive into the menus. Sony, seriously, hire a UX designer and fix this. Even better, steal Leica’s menu designer.

Is the A7V worth the upgrade? Yes, if you’re coming from a camera that’s below the A7IV. If you already have the A7IV, it’s less compelling. The new features are impressive on a specs table, but whether you need them depends on what you shoot.

If you’re a wildlife or sports photographer, it’s worth the upgrade to get the pre-capture and higher burst rates. If what you shoot doesn’t benefit from those features—say you mostly shoot travel images, landscape, street—the A7V is a less-compelling prospect. It’s incredibly nice for all those scenarios, but if you already have the A7IV, it might not be worth the money to upgrade for a bunch of new features you won’t use.

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#Sony #A7V #Mirrorless #Camera #Buy

#Ive #Tested #Gaming #Laptops #Decade #Buylaptops,computers,shopping,buying guides,gaming,windows pcs">I’ve Tested Gaming Laptops for Over a Decade. This Is What I Think You Should BuyLenovoLegion 7i Gen 10 (16 Inch, Intel)Now, there’s another class of high-end gaming laptop that focuses more on performance than being thin or portable. The Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of my favorites in this class, featuring a beautiful white chassis and glossy OLED display. Unlike some OLED displays, the Legion 7i’s screen can be cranked up to over 1,000 nits of brightness. The result is some really splendid HDR performance that brings games to life. HDR is a powerful way of improving the visuals of your games without a performance cost. The Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of the very best in this regard.It’s still fairly thin at 0.7 inches thick too, while a lot of the ports are found on the back. It’s the definition of a “clean” gaming laptop. It’s no slouch when it comes to performance either, offering either the RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 for graphics.Cheap Gaming Laptops That Are Worth ItNo gaming laptops worth buying are actually cheap. High-refresh rate displays and discrete graphics will always make them more expensive than standard laptops. But as you get closer to ,000, there is one laptop I always come back to: the Lenovo LOQ 15. Pronounced “Lock,” this Lenovo subbrand is known for cutting the fluff and focusing on giving gamers the performance they need at an affordable price. No laptop does that better than the LOQ 15. Many laptop manufacturers sell their RTX 5060 configurations for hundreds of dollars more. In reality, if you’re shopping around ,000, there’s no reason to not buy the LOQ 15. Just do it.If you do want to save some extra cash, there is another option that is cheaper than the LOQ 15 with a few compromises in key areas. The Acer Nitro V 16 is that laptop, which comes with an RTX 5050. This was as affordable as 0 at one point last year—before prices on laptops have risen due to the ongoing memory shortage—but it remains the only laptop cheaper than the Lenovo LOQ 15 that’s actually worth it. It’s fairly powerful for the RTX 5050, and while the screen is pretty shoddy, it’s not a bad-looking laptop. The one big caveat is that the 135-watt power supply it comes with doesn’t deliver quite enough power to keep it charged in Performance mode. Read more about this issue in my review, as it’s important to know about if you’re planning to buy it.There are other cheap gaming laptops out there I’ve tested, such as the MSI Cyborg A15, but either the Acer Nitro V 16 or Lenovo LOQ 15 are better, cheaper options. You will also find lots of gaming laptops under ,000 that use older graphics cards, such as the RTX 4050 or 3050. In general, I’d recommend staying away from these. They’re only one or two generations back, but remember: Nvidia only releases new laptop graphics cards every couple of years. So, an RTX 4050 laptop may be well over two years old already, and an RTX 3050 is over five years old. Not only do you get worse graphics performance, these laptops are much more likely to need to be replaced sooner.Experimental StuffOne of the exciting things about the world of gaming laptops right now is the experimentation. While clamshell gaming laptops with a conventional Nvidia GPU are the most standard way to go, there’s a few different ways to take your PC games on the go that stretch the boundaries. You might consider a gaming handheld, for example, like the Steam Deck or Xbox Ally X. These handhelds have their fans, and while you can’t also do your homework on these devices, they’re great on couches, trains, and planes.#Ive #Tested #Gaming #Laptops #Decade #Buylaptops,computers,shopping,buying guides,gaming,windows pcs

Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of my favorites in this class, featuring a beautiful white chassis and glossy OLED display. Unlike some OLED displays, the Legion 7i’s screen can be cranked up to over 1,000 nits of brightness. The result is some really splendid HDR performance that brings games to life. HDR is a powerful way of improving the visuals of your games without a performance cost. The Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of the very best in this regard.

It’s still fairly thin at 0.7 inches thick too, while a lot of the ports are found on the back. It’s the definition of a “clean” gaming laptop. It’s no slouch when it comes to performance either, offering either the RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 for graphics.

Cheap Gaming Laptops That Are Worth It

No gaming laptops worth buying are actually cheap. High-refresh rate displays and discrete graphics will always make them more expensive than standard laptops. But as you get closer to $1,000, there is one laptop I always come back to: the Lenovo LOQ 15. Pronounced “Lock,” this Lenovo subbrand is known for cutting the fluff and focusing on giving gamers the performance they need at an affordable price. No laptop does that better than the LOQ 15. Many laptop manufacturers sell their RTX 5060 configurations for hundreds of dollars more. In reality, if you’re shopping around $1,000, there’s no reason to not buy the LOQ 15. Just do it.

If you do want to save some extra cash, there is another option that is cheaper than the LOQ 15 with a few compromises in key areas. The Acer Nitro V 16 is that laptop, which comes with an RTX 5050. This was as affordable as $600 at one point last year—before prices on laptops have risen due to the ongoing memory shortage—but it remains the only laptop cheaper than the Lenovo LOQ 15 that’s actually worth it. It’s fairly powerful for the RTX 5050, and while the screen is pretty shoddy, it’s not a bad-looking laptop. The one big caveat is that the 135-watt power supply it comes with doesn’t deliver quite enough power to keep it charged in Performance mode. Read more about this issue in my review, as it’s important to know about if you’re planning to buy it.

There are other cheap gaming laptops out there I’ve tested, such as the MSI Cyborg A15, but either the Acer Nitro V 16 or Lenovo LOQ 15 are better, cheaper options. You will also find lots of gaming laptops under $1,000 that use older graphics cards, such as the RTX 4050 or 3050. In general, I’d recommend staying away from these. They’re only one or two generations back, but remember: Nvidia only releases new laptop graphics cards every couple of years. So, an RTX 4050 laptop may be well over two years old already, and an RTX 3050 is over five years old. Not only do you get worse graphics performance, these laptops are much more likely to need to be replaced sooner.

Experimental Stuff

One of the exciting things about the world of gaming laptops right now is the experimentation. While clamshell gaming laptops with a conventional Nvidia GPU are the most standard way to go, there’s a few different ways to take your PC games on the go that stretch the boundaries. You might consider a gaming handheld, for example, like the Steam Deck or Xbox Ally X. These handhelds have their fans, and while you can’t also do your homework on these devices, they’re great on couches, trains, and planes.

Image may contain: Computer, Electronics, Laptop, Pc, Desk, Furniture, Table, Tablet Computer, and Surface Computer
#Ive #Tested #Gaming #Laptops #Decade #Buylaptops,computers,shopping,buying guides,gaming,windows pcs">I’ve Tested Gaming Laptops for Over a Decade. This Is What I Think You Should Buy

Lenovo

Legion 7i Gen 10 (16 Inch, Intel)

Now, there’s another class of high-end gaming laptop that focuses more on performance than being thin or portable. The Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of my favorites in this class, featuring a beautiful white chassis and glossy OLED display. Unlike some OLED displays, the Legion 7i’s screen can be cranked up to over 1,000 nits of brightness. The result is some really splendid HDR performance that brings games to life. HDR is a powerful way of improving the visuals of your games without a performance cost. The Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of the very best in this regard.

It’s still fairly thin at 0.7 inches thick too, while a lot of the ports are found on the back. It’s the definition of a “clean” gaming laptop. It’s no slouch when it comes to performance either, offering either the RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 for graphics.

Cheap Gaming Laptops That Are Worth It

No gaming laptops worth buying are actually cheap. High-refresh rate displays and discrete graphics will always make them more expensive than standard laptops. But as you get closer to $1,000, there is one laptop I always come back to: the Lenovo LOQ 15. Pronounced “Lock,” this Lenovo subbrand is known for cutting the fluff and focusing on giving gamers the performance they need at an affordable price. No laptop does that better than the LOQ 15. Many laptop manufacturers sell their RTX 5060 configurations for hundreds of dollars more. In reality, if you’re shopping around $1,000, there’s no reason to not buy the LOQ 15. Just do it.

If you do want to save some extra cash, there is another option that is cheaper than the LOQ 15 with a few compromises in key areas. The Acer Nitro V 16 is that laptop, which comes with an RTX 5050. This was as affordable as $600 at one point last year—before prices on laptops have risen due to the ongoing memory shortage—but it remains the only laptop cheaper than the Lenovo LOQ 15 that’s actually worth it. It’s fairly powerful for the RTX 5050, and while the screen is pretty shoddy, it’s not a bad-looking laptop. The one big caveat is that the 135-watt power supply it comes with doesn’t deliver quite enough power to keep it charged in Performance mode. Read more about this issue in my review, as it’s important to know about if you’re planning to buy it.

There are other cheap gaming laptops out there I’ve tested, such as the MSI Cyborg A15, but either the Acer Nitro V 16 or Lenovo LOQ 15 are better, cheaper options. You will also find lots of gaming laptops under $1,000 that use older graphics cards, such as the RTX 4050 or 3050. In general, I’d recommend staying away from these. They’re only one or two generations back, but remember: Nvidia only releases new laptop graphics cards every couple of years. So, an RTX 4050 laptop may be well over two years old already, and an RTX 3050 is over five years old. Not only do you get worse graphics performance, these laptops are much more likely to need to be replaced sooner.

Experimental Stuff

One of the exciting things about the world of gaming laptops right now is the experimentation. While clamshell gaming laptops with a conventional Nvidia GPU are the most standard way to go, there’s a few different ways to take your PC games on the go that stretch the boundaries. You might consider a gaming handheld, for example, like the Steam Deck or Xbox Ally X. These handhelds have their fans, and while you can’t also do your homework on these devices, they’re great on couches, trains, and planes.

Image may contain: Computer, Electronics, Laptop, Pc, Desk, Furniture, Table, Tablet Computer, and Surface Computer
#Ive #Tested #Gaming #Laptops #Decade #Buylaptops,computers,shopping,buying guides,gaming,windows pcs

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times‘ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Tuesday, April 21, 2026:

Across

Like the name Phil Quickley, for a speedy crossword solver?

What connects these names: Al Green, Betty White, Rose Byrne

Star ___ (plant with a pointy pod)

What connects these names: Tennessee Williams, Georgia O’Keeffe, Denzel Washington

Teslas and Rivians, for short

Down

Assumed name

Washington paper

What connects these names: Chris Pine, Zach Cherry, Willow Smith

Detective’s assignment

Currently broadcasted

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Mini Crossword.

#NYT #Mini #crossword #answers #hints #April">NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 21, 2026
                                                            The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times‘ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
        
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        SEE ALSO:
        
            Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable
            
        
    

        SEE ALSO:
        
            How to play Pips, the newest NYT game
            
        
    
Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Tuesday, April 21, 2026:AcrossLike the name Phil Quickley, for a speedy crossword solver?What connects these names: Al Green, Betty White, Rose ByrneStar ___ (plant with a pointy pod)What connects these names: Tennessee Williams, Georgia O’Keeffe, Denzel WashingtonTeslas and Rivians, for shortDownAssumed nameWashington paperWhat connects these names: Chris Pine, Zach Cherry, Willow SmithDetective’s assignmentCurrently broadcastedIf you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Mini Crossword.

                    
                                            
                            
    
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                    Gaming
                    Mini Crossword
            

                        
                                    #NYT #Mini #crossword #answers #hints #April

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times‘ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Tuesday, April 21, 2026:

Across

Like the name Phil Quickley, for a speedy crossword solver?

What connects these names: Al Green, Betty White, Rose Byrne

Star ___ (plant with a pointy pod)

What connects these names: Tennessee Williams, Georgia O’Keeffe, Denzel Washington

Teslas and Rivians, for short

Down

Assumed name

Washington paper

What connects these names: Chris Pine, Zach Cherry, Willow Smith

Detective’s assignment

Currently broadcasted

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Mini Crossword.

#NYT #Mini #crossword #answers #hints #April">NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 21, 2026

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times‘ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Tuesday, April 21, 2026:

Across

Like the name Phil Quickley, for a speedy crossword solver?

What connects these names: Al Green, Betty White, Rose Byrne

Star ___ (plant with a pointy pod)

What connects these names: Tennessee Williams, Georgia O’Keeffe, Denzel Washington

Teslas and Rivians, for short

Down

Assumed name

Washington paper

What connects these names: Chris Pine, Zach Cherry, Willow Smith

Detective’s assignment

Currently broadcasted

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Mini Crossword.

#NYT #Mini #crossword #answers #hints #April
Ten years ago, Dyson kicked off the hair gadget arms race with its $400 Supersonic hairdryer. Today, it’s back with a slightly smaller and cheaper travel-size version.

As the name suggests, the $299.99 Supersonic Travel is meant for people on the go — whether that’s a business trip or a jaunt to the gym before work. Dyson claims that it’s 32 percent smaller, 25 percent lighter, and capable of fitting in purses and carry-on luggage. It uses the same basic tech as the Supersonic, though it now automatically adapts voltage to the country you’re in. And folks who already invested in the original Supersonic don’t have to worry about buying new attachments. The new hairdryer is backwards compatible. (Otherwise, the various attachments are sold separately.)

Technically, this isn’t the first Supersonic update. In 2024, Dyson introduced the $569.99 Supersonic r, which was aimed at professional hairstylists before eventually trickling down to consumers last year. That hairdryer had a much slimmer design to alleviate wrist pain, as well as RFID attachments that automatically adjusted heat and airflow.

Since the Supersonic arrived on the scene, Dyson has gone all in on hair. That includes multiple versions of the viral Airwrap curler, Corrale straightener, and Airstrait wet-to-dry hair straightener. Its various hair gadgets (and their premium price tags) have enjoyed viral popularity among beauty influencers, spurring an influx of dupes like the Shark Flexstyle. (Because of course Dyson isn’t the only vacuum maker that’s discovered hair gadgets also utilize airflow.) L’Oréal also recently got into the hair tech game with the Colorsonic hair-dye wand, plus its own AirLight Pro hairdryer and Light Straight flat iron.

Oddly enough, Dyson’s beauty journey has since expanded beyond gadgets, too. It also now makes hair oils, serums, styling creams, and scalp treatments.

#Dysons #travelsize #Supersonic #hairdryerGadgets,News,Tech">Dyson’s back with a travel-size Supersonic hairdryerTen years ago, Dyson kicked off the hair gadget arms race with its 0 Supersonic hairdryer. Today, it’s back with a slightly smaller and cheaper travel-size version.As the name suggests, the 9.99 Supersonic Travel is meant for people on the go — whether that’s a business trip or a jaunt to the gym before work. Dyson claims that it’s 32 percent smaller, 25 percent lighter, and capable of fitting in purses and carry-on luggage. It uses the same basic tech as the Supersonic, though it now automatically adapts voltage to the country you’re in. And folks who already invested in the original Supersonic don’t have to worry about buying new attachments. The new hairdryer is backwards compatible. (Otherwise, the various attachments are sold separately.)Technically, this isn’t the first Supersonic update. In 2024, Dyson introduced the 9.99 Supersonic r, which was aimed at professional hairstylists before eventually trickling down to consumers last year. That hairdryer had a much slimmer design to alleviate wrist pain, as well as RFID attachments that automatically adjusted heat and airflow.Since the Supersonic arrived on the scene, Dyson has gone all in on hair. That includes multiple versions of the viral Airwrap curler, Corrale straightener, and Airstrait wet-to-dry hair straightener. Its various hair gadgets (and their premium price tags) have enjoyed viral popularity among beauty influencers, spurring an influx of dupes like the Shark Flexstyle. (Because of course Dyson isn’t the only vacuum maker that’s discovered hair gadgets also utilize airflow.) L’Oréal also recently got into the hair tech game with the Colorsonic hair-dye wand, plus its own AirLight Pro hairdryer and Light Straight flat iron.Oddly enough, Dyson’s beauty journey has since expanded beyond gadgets, too. It also now makes hair oils, serums, styling creams, and scalp treatments.#Dysons #travelsize #Supersonic #hairdryerGadgets,News,Tech

Supersonic hairdryer. Today, it’s back with a slightly smaller and cheaper travel-size version.

As the name suggests, the $299.99 Supersonic Travel is meant for people on the go — whether that’s a business trip or a jaunt to the gym before work. Dyson claims that it’s 32 percent smaller, 25 percent lighter, and capable of fitting in purses and carry-on luggage. It uses the same basic tech as the Supersonic, though it now automatically adapts voltage to the country you’re in. And folks who already invested in the original Supersonic don’t have to worry about buying new attachments. The new hairdryer is backwards compatible. (Otherwise, the various attachments are sold separately.)

Technically, this isn’t the first Supersonic update. In 2024, Dyson introduced the $569.99 Supersonic r, which was aimed at professional hairstylists before eventually trickling down to consumers last year. That hairdryer had a much slimmer design to alleviate wrist pain, as well as RFID attachments that automatically adjusted heat and airflow.

Since the Supersonic arrived on the scene, Dyson has gone all in on hair. That includes multiple versions of the viral Airwrap curler, Corrale straightener, and Airstrait wet-to-dry hair straightener. Its various hair gadgets (and their premium price tags) have enjoyed viral popularity among beauty influencers, spurring an influx of dupes like the Shark Flexstyle. (Because of course Dyson isn’t the only vacuum maker that’s discovered hair gadgets also utilize airflow.) L’Oréal also recently got into the hair tech game with the Colorsonic hair-dye wand, plus its own AirLight Pro hairdryer and Light Straight flat iron.

Oddly enough, Dyson’s beauty journey has since expanded beyond gadgets, too. It also now makes hair oils, serums, styling creams, and scalp treatments.

#Dysons #travelsize #Supersonic #hairdryerGadgets,News,Tech">Dyson’s back with a travel-size Supersonic hairdryer

Ten years ago, Dyson kicked off the hair gadget arms race with its $400 Supersonic hairdryer. Today, it’s back with a slightly smaller and cheaper travel-size version.

As the name suggests, the $299.99 Supersonic Travel is meant for people on the go — whether that’s a business trip or a jaunt to the gym before work. Dyson claims that it’s 32 percent smaller, 25 percent lighter, and capable of fitting in purses and carry-on luggage. It uses the same basic tech as the Supersonic, though it now automatically adapts voltage to the country you’re in. And folks who already invested in the original Supersonic don’t have to worry about buying new attachments. The new hairdryer is backwards compatible. (Otherwise, the various attachments are sold separately.)

Technically, this isn’t the first Supersonic update. In 2024, Dyson introduced the $569.99 Supersonic r, which was aimed at professional hairstylists before eventually trickling down to consumers last year. That hairdryer had a much slimmer design to alleviate wrist pain, as well as RFID attachments that automatically adjusted heat and airflow.

Since the Supersonic arrived on the scene, Dyson has gone all in on hair. That includes multiple versions of the viral Airwrap curler, Corrale straightener, and Airstrait wet-to-dry hair straightener. Its various hair gadgets (and their premium price tags) have enjoyed viral popularity among beauty influencers, spurring an influx of dupes like the Shark Flexstyle. (Because of course Dyson isn’t the only vacuum maker that’s discovered hair gadgets also utilize airflow.) L’Oréal also recently got into the hair tech game with the Colorsonic hair-dye wand, plus its own AirLight Pro hairdryer and Light Straight flat iron.

Oddly enough, Dyson’s beauty journey has since expanded beyond gadgets, too. It also now makes hair oils, serums, styling creams, and scalp treatments.

#Dysons #travelsize #Supersonic #hairdryerGadgets,News,Tech

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