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.
I reviewed the Netatmo smart smoke alarm back in 2019 and Netatmo has continued to update this useful piece of smart technology as well as the carbon monoxide alarm they have. The latest update adds compatibility of its Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms with the Google voice assistant. Both are now compatible with two…
I previously wrote an article comparing Zigbee vs Z-Wave and the pros and cons of each smart home technology. Thread is a new smart home communication protocol that builds upon the Zigbee specification and is available at no cost; however, this requires agreement and continued adherence to an End-User License Agreement (EULA). Albeit, you have…
I have recently covered several smart home products, and many of these use the Zigbee communication protocol. There is also the Z-Wave which I have covered extensively in the past, and then you have Thread which is an up-and-coming protocol. It can get confusing what the difference is between these technologies and which is best,…
I am in the middle of reviewing the Google Nest WiFi Pro. The main reason why I bought this router was that it could work with Matter and is a Thread border router. This section of the review ended up being longer than expected due to various issues, and therefore I decided to split it…
The Homey smart hubs have been around for years now, and I covered the launch of the original Homey Pro back in 2019. Homey has been trying to be the panacea of smart home fragmentation long before the Matter was a thing. They are arguably the best solution for anyone using a mixture of smart…
I have previously reviewed the DH Lifelabs Sciaire Mini air purifier and ioniser and was mostly impressed by it, even though the benefits of air ionisation are a bit contentious. One of the other DH Lifelabs products is the Aaira Surface which claims to make disinfectant using none harsh chemicals. I have to admit, my…
SwitchBot made a name for itself with the SwitchBot Bot, which is an affordable smart button pressor. It is a simple yet innovative way to make dumb electronics smart. A few other random brands have tried to rip off the ideal, but no one has competed with SwitchBot for this clever little device. I have…
The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 was announced globally a couple of weeks ago many Aqara and HomeKit users have been waiting impatiently for it. This camera ticks a lot of boxes that popular alternatives from brands like Arlo, Eufy and Ring lack. This is one of the few video doorbells on the market that is…
TP-Link Tapo has been quickly expanding its range of products. Rather than just expanding the range of smart lights, plugs and cameras, they have started to expand into a more diverse home automation company. At the centre of the home will be the new H100 Tapo Smart Hub, which you can their pair up with…
I recently reviewed the massive 25L HYSapientia Air Fryer, and it was the first time I have used one of these front-loading tray-style air fryers. They are basically just miniature fan-assisted overs. It is a design that I am fond of as it makes it easier to cook larger amounts of food and multiple items…
Aqara are one of the first companies to begin the rollout of the new Matter royalty-free home automation standard. Matter is a new connectivity standard for IoT devices to enable a wide variety of smart home accessories to work together across brands and ecosystems. Via an M2 hub with this new firmware, the Aqara Zigbee…
Welcome to the world of smart home technology! With the advancements made in recent years, transforming your home into an intelligent abode is easier than ever. Smart homes are no longer just a futuristic dream—they’re now accessible to almost everyone. From controlling lights and thermostats with voice commands to automatically locking doors when you leave,…