#smart-home

#smart-home

I've been reviewing smart home devices for over a decade, and the constant switching and swapping of lights, locks, sensors, and more has resulted in a Frankenstein-ed home that's entirely unmanageable through a single interface or app. I run three platforms regularly - Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home - alongside tinkering with Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, and Homey. Plus, I have over a dozen bridges and hubs bringing more devices into play, including Lutron Caseta, Philips Hue, Aqara, Ikea, and Aeotec.

That may not seem like a big deal, except that the single greatest thing about using a Nest Thermostat wasn't the fact that it would learn your habits and create routines, or that it would detect when you're not home and adjust accordingly. No, the best thing about using a Nest Thermostat was that you could open the app and turn on the furnace before you headed home from the company Christmas party.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show, CES, is officially over, and we saw many innovative and exciting products and devices from the world's leading consumer electronics brands, including Samsung, LG, and Hisense. ZDNET reported on the ground, in-person at the show, as well as remotely, so no news was missed. Also: Best of CES 2026 Awards: Official List of Winners (CNET) This year's agenda? More ambitious pitches from companies, small and large, including how AI would assist and enhance

Work more muscles in less time. Hydrow's Origin rowing machine builds strength with low-impact workouts. Just one 20-minute workout on this at-home row machine will engage more than 86% of your muscles. The Origin's patented electromagnetic drag technology is designed to mimic the feeling of rowing on water. On-screen rowing metrics during workouts and "Hydrow 101" videos help get you started. Padded seat, adjustable foot straps, and a low-stress grip handle. Free shipping!

January 7th, 2026 29 minutes

Ugreen announced at CES 2026 that it'll be branching into smart home territory with the launch of its SynCare product line of cameras. The series will consist of two indoor cams, the ID500 Pro and ID500 Plus, the OD600 Pro outdoor cam, and the Video Doorbell DB600 Pro. All of this gear will launch in the second half of 2026, with pricing to be announced at IFA 2026.

New tech at CES often makes categorization hard. Is Cozyla's latest device a digital family calendar, a TV or a smart home hub? After seeing it, I'd say the answer is, yes? Cozyla calls the Calendar + Max the "largest interactive hub in it's category." And indeed, it's the size of a big flatscreen, but the main interface is just like any other Cozyla device, an Android-based family calendar and planner with shared schedules, notes, meal plans, and chores.

The Mui Board is, as far as smart home controllers go, soothing and nondescript. There's no bright HD screen, or even anything obviously technological. It's a smooth piece of wood that gently glows when you interact with it. So it makes sense that Mui Lab would suggest it as an excellent option for the bedroom. And, if you're gonna have this weird connected bar hanging near your bed, it might be nice if it could also track your sleep.

When I first unboxed Turbro's Suburbs TS25 Smart Electric Fireplace, I was annoyed that it did not come with the recommended 6-inch Phillips-head screwdriver needed to attach the fireplace's freestanding legs. I dug through my toolbox and found a shorter screwdriver, which made screwing in the 16 screws a whole affair. Yet I persevered and placed the white polished-enamel fireplace in my living room.

This does all of what we've come to expect with an Amazon smart speaker. Despite its small size, the Echo Dot Max delivers impressive sound quality, providing rich bass and clear audio. It features a front-facing speaker that produces high-quality sound, capable of filling a room with music, podcasts, or audiobooks. You'll enjoy crisp, clear vocals, making it perfect for listening to your favorite tunes or catching up on your latest audiobook. The Echo Dot Max provides three times the bass versus 2022-release Echo Dot.

In the new ad, Copilot offers to help a homeowner make their smart home more festive when they prompt it, "Show me how to sync my holiday lights to my music." The user clicks through their cloud-connected smart lighting controls on a website called Relecloud as Copilot says, "Let's walk through it together." The ad jump-cuts to the home lights pulsing to that classic Christmas song "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend.

The Alexa.com website appears to be live for some users. The browser-based home for Alexa Plus, the company's revamped digital voice assistant, was first announced at the Alexa Plus launch event in February. But until recently, Alexa.com redirected to an information page. Now, some users, myself included, are seeing a new Alexa Plus web interface. This morning, when I typed Alexa.com into my web browser, it took me to a page that resembled the Alexa Plus chatbot in the Alexa app. (I was already logged into my Amazon.com account.)

The Roborock Saros Z70 is a premium robot vacuum and mop with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a flagship, plus a mechanical arm to pick up objects. And I must immediately focus on this robotic grip when reviewing this product. When the robot vacuum is cleaning, it detects small obstacles it can handle and picks them up. The robot then navigates to a predetermined area to drop off the item.

Whether you've read our reviews and agreed or disagreed, here's your chance to help decide what was the best tech of the year in our Readers' Choice Awards. Which phone was your favorite? Was it an Android device or one of the five iPhones (six if you count the biggest iPhone 17 Pro Max as separate) that Apple released throughout the calendar year? Or did foldables like the super thin and light Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 finally win your hard-earned money?

Here's the thing about Peak Saunas: they've managed to pack every feature you'd expect to pay thousands extra for into sleek, minimalist designs that actually fit in modern homes. We're talking medical-grade red light therapy, WiFi app control, oxygen ionizers, and upgraded Bluetooth speakers, all included as standard. Most premium brands would nickel and dime you for these add-ons, but Peak just builds them in from the start.

Amazon loves to push its own brands during Black Friday, and the Echo Dot always gets the deepest cuts. By selling these smart speakers at razor-thin margins-or even at a loss-Amazons ensures Alexa finds her way into as many American homes as possible. The strategy works brilliantly for the company, but it also gives shoppers some incredible deals. The newest Echo Dot now drops from $49 to just $31 which is a record low price found only on Amazon.

The 'Dogosophy Button' allows your pooch to control household appliances with a press of a paw. Developed by scientists at The Open University's Animal-Computer Interaction Laboratory, this button is designed to let dogs help their owners with more household tasks. And, according to its inventors, that includes letting your dog pop the kettle on to make you a cuppa. However, recreating your favourite scenes from Wallace and Gromit won't be cheap, with each Dogosophy Button currently costing £96.

Thankfully, multiple retailers are already offering early Black Friday discounts on smart security devices to help you keep tabs on deliveries, with Amazon's and Best Buy's deal on the latest Blink Video Doorbell standing out at just $28.99 ($31 off) until 12AM ET on November 7th. You can also buy it with Blink's Sync Module Core, which allows for on-demand live view, two-way audio, and improves battery life, for $34.99 ($35 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.