Smart home technology allows you to monitor and control devices and appliances in your home remotely using your smartphone or other networked devices. Connected products like smart lights, thermostats, security cameras, locks, and more can be programmed to turn on/off automatically or be controlled manually from anywhere.
Smart home devices communicate with each other and with the homeowner through wireless protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc. or through hardwired home automation systems. Cloud services and digital assistants like Alexa also enable voice control.
With home automation, you can save energy, time, and money while adding convenience and security. We cover and review the latest smart home gadgets and whole-home platforms to help you create your connected dream home. See our smart home product guides, news, buying advice, and more.
Smart door locks have been a little slow to take off in the UK. In the US they have had August for years, but that is only compatible with the less secure deadbolt style locks. In the UK, with our multi-point locks, the best solution has been the Yale Conexis L1, which is excellent and…
I am a huge fan of the Ring Doorbell 2, as someone that gets a lot of deliveries, I get notified by my watch, phone, Alexa, and Chimes when someone is at the door whilst letting me see who it is when I am away. In the future, I will hopefully integrate this with a…
As with most things nowadays, the basic smoke alarm has had an upgrade to the Internet of Things. It makes a lot of sense, allowing you to be alerted remotely if there is a problem, or hush the alarm when you inevitably burn something in the kitchen. While it is a smart home device that…
I reviewed the outdoor Kodak PTZ network camera back in July last year, it was a good camera, but it was let down somewhat with the poorly designed software compared to many popular brands such as Nest, Ring and Arlo. Most recently I have been reviewing their Cherish F685 Home Security Camera which is an indoor PTZ camera…
[Update 28/10/2019] It has come to my attention that Den Automation has almost certainly ceased trading. It has been reported that they have switched the severs off so all the smart functionality of the switches will no longer work properly. You should therefore no buy the products. I have covered the issue in more detail…
Back in November, I reviewed the JBL Link View, at first, I was not sure about it, the high cost and awkward shape were not ideal, but I grew to love it and often chose to use it over my Sonos 1 when in the kitchen. The Lenovo Smart Display is slightly different, the 8-inch…
The Smart Home Expo, the UK’s ultimate event for the smart technologies revolutionising the way we live, will be coming to the NEC Birmingham on the 26th & 27th of March 2019, and here’s what you can expect to find. We are delighted to be partnered with the show this year. It is completely free…
As a huge Philips Hue fan, I am always keen to try out new smart lighting technology. One of the issues I do have with Hue is that the individual bulbs are not very bright, and in our master bedroom with a pendant lamp, a single bulb barely lights up the room at night time….
I think smart controlled heating is one of the best smart home investments you can make. It is one of the solutions that can save you money in the long term, while also improving your home environment keeping rooms warm when they need to be, and saving money when not. Most of the smart heating…
For a while Ring smart doorbells were the only decent option on the market, but, quite likely due to their success, several other brands entered last year including Arlo Audio Doorbell and Nest Hello. Not to be left out Netatmo have just announced their own smart video doorbell at CES 2019. With the Netatmo Smart Video…
I have previously reviewed the Lightwave Generation 2, but Lightwave has been kind enough to send me one of the radiator valves to review so I thought it would be worth redoing the review of the system and see how it has improved since its first launch. For UK users Lightwave is one of the…
I have had a traditional Yale alarm fitted in my home for years but I never use it as I generally found burglar alarms annoying. I am not sure of anyone that actually responds to one going off we all just assume it is a false alarm. The new Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm brings…