Aqara Announces New Thread Border Router Plug & Smart Lock U300 at CES 2024
| |

Aqara Announces New Thread Border Router Plug & Smart Lock U300 at CES 2024

Following on from the announcement of the Aqara Hub M3, which is one of the most advanced smart home hubs on the market with Matter, Thread, and Zigbee support, Aqara has also announced two additional smart home devices at CES 2024. Border Router Plug First to Add Thread Support The headline product launch was Aqara’s…

Camera vSLAM vs LiDAR Mapping for Robot Vacuums: A Comprehensive Guide

Camera vSLAM vs LiDAR Mapping for Robot Vacuums: A Comprehensive Guide

In the increasingly crowded marketplace of robot vacuums, the technologies that power these nifty devices have become more advanced and varied. When it comes to navigation and mapping—key features that differentiate a sophisticated robot vacuum from a glorified dustpan—two technologies seem to stand out: Camera vSLAM and LiDAR Mapping. As someone who has dived deep…

Aqara Camera E1 PT Tracking Home Security Camera Review
|

Aqara Camera E1 PT Tracking Home Security Camera Review

The Aqara Camera E1 was launched globally last month and claims to offer premium capabilities found in more expensive security cameras. These premium features include 2K video resolution with a wide-angle f/2.0 lens, local person and sound detection, 360-degree pan and tilt, local recordings, NAS recording and App HomeKit compatibility. Specification / Features HomeKit Secure…

Meross Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor Review – MS100FHHK
|

Meross Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor Review – MS100FHHK

Following on from my reviews of the superb Meross MSP843P Smart Fast Charging Power Strip and the good, albeit with a flawed design Meross Outdoor Smart Plug, I have also been checking out the MS100FHHK Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor. This is an innovative addition to the world of smart home devices. With its unique…

Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat Valve Review vs Aqara Smart Radiator Thermostat E1 Valve & Genius Hub Valve [Starter Kit V3+]
|

Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat Valve Review vs Aqara Smart Radiator Thermostat E1 Valve & Genius Hub Valve [Starter Kit V3+]

Tado is a smart home heating company that offers intelligent thermostats and radiator valves to provide control over heating in each room of your home. I regularly recommend Tado because they seem to offer the best balance of performance, features and price. While I did use Tado in its early days, I switched to Genius…

What’s the difference between a Thread Border Router (TBR) vs Full Thread Device (FTDs) vs Minimal Thread Device (MTDs)

What’s the difference between a Thread Border Router (TBR) vs Full Thread Device (FTDs) vs Minimal Thread Device (MTDs)

I have previously written quite a bit about Thread, the low-power, wireless mesh networking protocol designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Within the Thread ecosystem, different device roles and types, such as Thread Border Routers (TBRs), Full Thread Devices (FTDs), and Minimal Thread Devices (MTDs), are defined to cater to various use cases and…

Meross MSP843P Smart Fast Charging Power Strip Review – Smart Extension Lead with 65W Power Delivery USB-C & HomeKit / Home Assistant
|

Meross MSP843P Smart Fast Charging Power Strip Review – Smart Extension Lead with 65W Power Delivery USB-C & HomeKit / Home Assistant

While many brands out there have smart plug sockets, there are only a handful of options for smart power strips. TP-Link Kasa is the best-known brand that has a smart power strip, with the KP303, which is a three-plug strip and two USB-A ports. Many other brands are random companies that produce strips which use…

Google Pixel Tablet Review: Speaker Dock gives this an amazing twist on generic tablets but is let down by US/UK price disparity
|

Google Pixel Tablet Review: Speaker Dock gives this an amazing twist on generic tablets but is let down by US/UK price disparity

After witnessing the Android tablet market’s prolonged stagnation, with only Samsung making viable options, it is refreshing to observe a resurgence of interest from various brands. Both Oppo and Xiaomi have introduced commendable tablets that offer good specifications for their price points. However, Google has managed to reignite my enthusiasm for tablets with the launch…

TP-Link Tapo S210 Smart Light Switch Review vs Aqara Smart Wall Switch H1 – No Neutral Smart Light Switches
|

TP-Link Tapo S210 Smart Light Switch Review vs Aqara Smart Wall Switch H1 – No Neutral Smart Light Switches

This year, TP-Link Tapo expanded its product range to include a new H100 Smart Home Hub and a newer, more powerful H200 smart hub. As part of this launch, Tapo released a range of sensors, including the Tapo T110 contact sensor, T310 temperature and humidity sensor, and the T100 motion sensor. They also launched several…

Dreo Falcon S Air Circulator Smart Fan Review -Model – CF714S / DR-HAF004S
|

Dreo Falcon S Air Circulator Smart Fan Review -Model – CF714S / DR-HAF004S

I have written quite a lot of fans over the past few years. I am quite obsessive about them, depending on your needs, you can’t just buy any old pedestal fan; they are often too noisy for sleeping or even quiet office environments. Being a gadget blog, I love the idea of smart fans, but…

Philips Hue Surimu Rectangle Panel Review – A perfect alternative to expensive smart GU10 downlights  
|

Philips Hue Surimu Rectangle Panel Review – A perfect alternative to expensive smart GU10 downlights  

Philips Hue recently extended its range of panel lights with new versions of the Aurelle and Surimu. These are some of the brightest lights Philips Hue offers, and they are perfect for living areas, hallways and bedrooms. I was sent the rectangular Surimu panel to review, which is 120cm long and 30cm wide and can…

Philips Hue Bridge Review vs Bluetooth – An essential investment for any Hue equipped home
|

Philips Hue Bridge Review vs Bluetooth – An essential investment for any Hue equipped home

Over the past year, I have reviewed quite a few excellent Philips Hue products, and I am currently in the middle of reviewing the new Philips Hue Surimu rectangle panel light and the wall switch module. I have always used the Philips Hue Bridge as I started using Hue before they rolled out the Bluetooth functionality…