smart home
Ikea goes all in on Matter smart homes
Ikea is relaunching its smart home line in a move that will make its low-cost products work with other brands, with or without Ikea’s own hub. Starting in January, the Swedish furniture giant will release more than 20 new Matter-over-Thread smart lights, sensors, and remotes with “more new product types and form factors to come,”…
After Two Summers of Testing Fans, These Are the 13 That Blew Me Away
Honorable Mentions Photograph: Kat Merck Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo for $120: I love the original Shark FlexBreeze (above), so I was very excited to see Shark had released a rechargeable portable fan in seven colors, including ones not normally seen in fans like Lilac and Honeydew. Shark says it can run 30 minutes with the mister…
The 7 best cordless vacuums for 2025
Shopping for the best cordless vacuum cleaners means finding that sweet spot between power, portability and convenience. Whether you’re cleaning up after pets, tackling hardwood floors or reaching those tricky spots under the couch, cordless vacuums offer freedom and versatility that traditional canister vacuums just can’t match. Today’s top models come packed with smart features…
The Best 8 Automatic Cat Litter Boxes, Tested by Our Cats
Others We Tested Photograph: Kat Merck Els Pet Orbitie for $189: This is one of the least expensive lidded automatic litter boxes. It functions much like the more expensive models, with an internal 65-liter-capacity orb that rotates and catches clumps with a plastic grate, depositing them into a bag-lined box below. The opening is a…
The Best Smart Bird Feeders for Backyard Birding
Odds are, at this point you’ve probably seen or know someone who has a smart bird feeder. They’re fairly recognizable from a distance with their clear housing, cameras, and solar panels, and perhaps a friend or family member has sent you a photo or video of a bright goldfinch or handsome woodpecker (guilty). The question…
Breathe Easy—We Found the Best Air Purifiers
Recommended With Reservations Mila Air 3 Critter Cuddler for $297: Mila makes seven bespoke filters that are designed specifically for moms-to-be, allergies, pet owners, etc. Add Mila’s built-in sensor and easy-to-use app dashboard, along with its wooden-legged modern box design, and the Mila is an immediate favorite. The more I cover air purifiers, the more…
The Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers
Mesh routers promise dependable Wi-Fi throughout your home, and most follow through, but finding the best mesh router for the job can be tricky. Instead of a single router to wash your home in Wi-Fi connectivity, a mesh system combines the main router with one or more nodes that appear as a unified Wi-Fi network….
The Best Security Cameras for Inside Your Home
Best MicroSD Cards Photograph: Amazon Many security cameras support local storage, enabling you to record videos on the camera or a linked hub. A few hubs have built-in storage, and some provide slots for hard drives, but most rely on microSD cards. Here are some details on what to look for (and a few recommendations)….
The Best Video Doorbell Cameras
Honorable Mentions We have tested several other video doorbells. These are the ones that narrowly missed out on a place above. Doro Hemma Doorbell for £150: A simplified smart doorbell for seniors is a solid idea, and Swedish maker Doro gets plenty right with the Hemma. It is a battery-powered doorbell that’s easy to install…
The best smart home gadgets for 2025
If it feels like every piece of home tech is now “smart,” you’re not far off. The smart home space has grown exponentially in the past few years to include speakers, cameras, locks, lights and even kitchen appliances. There are also different voice assistants and IoT standards to consider, all of which can make it…
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