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Smart Home Reviews
Eufy Security Video Doorbell review: Why pay more?
Anker’s UHD video doorbell delivers pin-sharp imaging and capable performance at a low price and without recurring subscriptions. While it lacks the premium quality of devices like Nest Hello, it’s still a worthy contender.
Maytag MHW6630HC0 4.8 Cubic Feet Front Load Washer review
Did you forget that you started a load of wash until the next day? No need to worry about the moldy smell with Maytag’s 16-Hour Fresh Hold Feature. The Maytag front load washer has tons of useful features, but how good is it at cleaning your clothes and fighting tough stains?
Abode Iota Starter Kit review
Abode’s second-generation starter kit is a huge leap forward from last year’s model, with a fresh design, integrated 1080p camera, motion sensors, and more. It’s super-simple to get up and running, while offering an array of accessories for users seekeing greater sophistication.
Hive Active Thermostat Review
The compact Hive Active Thermostat looks good, is easy to install, and offers simple ways to manage your HVAC system by phone or desktop. But the reliance on a Zigbee network bridge for remote control, and issues with its mirrored display, put it far behind our favorite smart thermostat. Find out more in our Hive Active Thermostat review.
Safe by Hub6 review
If paying your monthly alarm monitoring fees has got you seeing red but you don’t want to scrap your perfectly good alarm system, we’ve got good news. The $250 Safe by Hub6 lets your alarm talk to you directly without monthly fees. You’ll need to do some basic wiring, but the annual savings are worth it.
Ring Peephole Cam review
Easy to install with no physical damage, Ring Peephole Cam is the perfect smart doorbell for renters and apartment owners limited by strict lease agreements or homeowner association rules.
Ecobee SmartThermostat review
The smartest thermostat gets smarter, more powerful, and more useful with enhanced audio streaming, new Alexa calling features and more. Read our Ecobee SmartThermostat review to find out why it’s a top pick for anyone considering an upgrade.
Nest Hub Max hands-on review
Google's new Nest Hub Max has a bigger screen and better speakers, but the camera is the real headline feature, and the clever tricks it enables will make you want a Max in your home. Read our hands-on review for more.
June Oven Review
The June oven has some cool tech inside, like a temperature probe and camera, that promise to take the guesswork out of cooking. It’s not quite there, yet. We found the programs and recipes both overcooked and undercooked, depending on what it was making.
Arlo Audio Doorbell review
A lack of an integrated camera means that the Arlo Audio Doorbell isn’t as versatile as competitors, but a low price, simple installation and smart features make it an easy add-on for Arlo smart home fans. Read more in our full review.
Schlage Encode review
Easy to install and easy on the eyes, Schlage Encode’s integrated Wi-Fi and third-party platform support make it a fine choice for the smart home. But with other locks on the market, how does it stand up? We took it for a test run to see how well it worked.
Arlo Ultra 4K Security Camera Review
The 4K home security camera is finally here! Class-leading image clarity and a super-wide field of vision makes Arlo Ultra an early contender for the year’s best smart cam. While there are definite quirks to the device, the device delivers amazingly crisp, clear images. Find out more in our review.
Honeywell RTH9585WF1004 Smart Color Thermostat review
We tested out the Honeywell RTH9585WF1004 Smart Color Thermostat for six months to evaluate its performance, ease of use, features, and its ability to serve as a money-saving device. Here’s our full review of the Honeywell Smart Color Thermostat.
Amazon Echo Spot review
The Amazon Echo Spot, the newest member of Amazon’s smart speaker family, is cute, fun, sleek, and the perfect little alarm clock. With this little device, you'll be snoozing the alarm just for fun.
Ring Stick-Up Cam Battery review
Doesn’t it feel good to be detached from the wires in your life? You can be with Ring’s Stick Up Cam Battery, a smart home security camera that you can put literally plop anywhere. We got the chance to review the device, and it helped us catch some strange activity in our yard.
Philips Hue Outdoor Sensor review
The Philips Hue Outdoor Sensor allows you to add motion control to any Hue light, boosting safety and security with a welcoming ambience on your return home. Once you have it, you’ll wonder how you lived without it. We took it for a test run and came away impressed.
Kwikset Kevo Convert review
While it lacks the features and overall value of the August Smart Lock, Kwikset’s Kevo Convert offers a friendly route to upgrade your front door’s deadbolt . It’s a simple and versatile kit for upgrading a traditional “dumb” door lock, adding smartphone control and more.
Miele TWI180 WP dryer review
Miele’s Heat-Pump Dryer is a compact machine that steams your clothes by recycling the water collected during the drying process. But how well does this method work for getting clothes dry? Read our review to find out.
Ring Video Doorbell 2 review
The Ring Video Doorbell 2 may lack the style and sophistication of premium door-dingers, but few can match its simplicity and versatility. The device, available in both wired and wireless configurations, is easy to set up and adds instant security to your front door. Find out more in our full review.
Miele WWH860 review
This compact machine with its TwinDos automatic detergent dispensing system does a surprisingly good job at getting clothes clean. But is it worth the price for the limited amount of clothes you can wash in a single load? Read our review to find out.
EufyCam review
The EufyCam offers a great look, several home security features and is truly wireless, but with missing voice assistance and some features lacking, it’s difficult to justify its high price. Check our EufyCam review for full details on how it stacks up against competitors.
Vivint Smart Home Security System review
As smart home and security devices become increasingly common and consumer-friendly, one might be inclined to try to DIY their smart home. But once security is tossed in the picture, monitoring and customer service become essential. We explore Vivint’s smart home security system to rank it among its peers.
Lenovo Smart Clock hands-on review
Move over Amazon Echo Spot: Lenovo’s Smart Clock With Google Assistant is coming for you. At just $79, the Smart Clock turns off the camera and turns up the cuteness factor for an enhanced alarm clock experience. We got a chance to test out the device at CES 2019 and came away impressed.
Senic Nuimo Click review
It can mount to any surface, and power itself: Senic’s Nuimo Click is the remote control your smart device should have come with. Well designed, it’s ideal for your smart home. But you’ll have to keep your expectations in check and your pocket wide open, as the Click’s features are limited.
LG XBOOM ThinQ WK9 smart display review
Introduced way back at CES in January 2018, LG’s WK9 smart display is finally on store shelves. But how does it compare to other smart displays on the market? We took a look and a listen to find out whether the device is worth its $299 price tag. Here’s what we learned.
Facebook Portal+ review
Facebook has jumped into the smart home game with the Portal+, a video-calling device featuring a built-in Amazon Alexa speaker and a screen. While the Portal+ has lots of cool calling features, we’re still a little weary of the social media giant taking up counter space in our home. Read our review to find out more.
Johnson Controls GLAS thermostat review
GLAS is the prettiest smart thermostat we’ve reviewed in some time, but a high price and flawed Cortana implementation means that it’s well short of the best. Read more about it in our full review.
Amazon Echo review
Our Amazon Echo review reveals a shorter, cuter, speaker with several different color and fabric choices, and a firmware upgrade means improved sound. We took the device for another spin in November 2018 to see whether the speaker still measures up to the competition.
Philips Hue Play review
Philips Hue Play synchronizes lighting with music, video, and games for a great entertaining effect. But it’s early days for this immersive tech, and we had some trouble with getting the parts to sync up seamlessly. Hue Play needs some fine-tuning before we can fully recommend it. Read our review to learn more.
Philips Hue Lightstrip Outdoor review
Philips Hue fans can at last enjoy the brilliance of this weatherproof light strip, which offers simple, versatile positioning, a rich selection of 16 million color options, and bright, vibrant illumination. Deck life and holiday home decorating just got a whole lot better.
Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen) review
Amazon’s second-generation Echo Plus speaker is the loudest, bassiest speaker in the Echo fleet. While featuring a smart hub with only Zigbee connectivity, other upgrades make this device a worthy smart speaker. We took the device for a whirl around the smart home to see how it fares against other speakers in the space.
Amazon Echo Sub review
Amazon introduced the Echo Sub for Echo speaker owners who wanted to inject some room-moving bass into their smart speaker experience. We took the new Alexa-friendly sub for a spin and quickly learned that it’s a niche product, but one that does its odd job extremely well.
Lenovo Smart Display review
Lenovo has partnered with Google Assistant on the Lenovo Smart Display, a smart speaker with a screen. Available in two different sizes and with crystal clear display, you might wonder how you ever got along without a screen-less smart speaker in the first place.
JBL Link View review
If you want to use more of your senses with your smart speaker – say, sight and touch – the JBL Link View with Google Assistant is pretty handy. The screen gives you access to some information more quickly, while still relying on convenient voice commands for most of its interactions.