The smart home holds so much promise. It can make life more convenient with lights that turn on as you walk in a room, doors that unlock as you approach, and robots that clean your floors. It can also make your home safer, more energy efficient, and even a little more fun. (Have you tried asking Alexa to beam you up?)
But for all its benefits, the smart home can be complicated, confusing, and occasionally maddening. It’s also hard to keep up with all the changes. New gadgets are arriving daily, new features come to old products, and there are so many different ways to turn on a smart light bulb.
If you need a guide, that’s what I’m here for.
Here, I’ll be posting the latest smart home reviews, guides, news, and opinions on everything happening in the connected home. Follow this page to stay updated on what Apple, Amazon, Samsung, Google, and Home Assistant and the rest are doing with their smart home platforms. I’ll keep you in the loop on all the newest technologies — including Matter, Thread, Sidewalk, UWB — as well as the old favorites. And, of course, I’ll cover all the news on the latest gadgets and the biggest releases around tech for your home.
Matter plans to fix your home Wi-Fi.
Here’s another use for that Thread radio in your iPhone.
mmWave tech is set to take motion sensing to the next level in the smart home.
Matter will be better in 2025 — say the people who make it
These POE smart shades are the first to work with Matter.
You can now control your LG appliances with Homey.
The Google Home app will soon support the Nest Protect
Robot vacuums just keep growing
This mechanical keyboard can control your smart home.
Nanoleaf brought smart lighting for the face to CES.
This robovac has an arm — and legs, too
The best smart locks you can buy right now
This cat tree is also an air purifier
LG’s new smart speaker has heart eyes.
Yes, I’m taking a picture of Vee with a door lock.
Narwal’s latest mopping robovac keeps corners clean
Eufy’s new robovac transforms into a handheld vacuum
Eureka’s new robot vac can tackle wet messes
LG’s side table grow light is also a speaker.
This $700 door handle has an entire security suite built in
Oh yeah, that’s a smart dog door with custom RGB lighting
Lifx made its first smart lamp
Bird Buddy’s new camera tracks plants and insects in your garden
Ecobee launches an even cheaper smart thermostat
This smart crib can tell when your baby poops.
This tiny button pulls off the wall and controls your lights and music with gestures
Aqara’s new seven-inch home control tablet can replace a light switch
This sleek doorbell camera is also a smart home hub
This big ol’ smart display fits right into an electrical box and controls your home
Honeywell Home’s first Matter thermostat costs just $80
Schlage’s sleek new smart lock ditches keys for UWB
Ring is making a smart smoke alarm
Ring is upgrading its outdoor cameras with 2K resolution (even if you already own them)
This home security camera can also monitor for falls and call for help
The Home Depot made a smart air conditioner.
Ultraloq’s UWB-powered smart lock will cost $400.
This portable security camera has a week of free cloud recording
Tapo’s palm-scanning door lock promises a full year of battery life
This outdoor security cam adds a second camera that moves and zooms
Apple, Google, and Samsung will accept Matter certification of smart home products
This adorable smart camera watches wildlife, not lowlifes.
Aiper’s smart sprinkler limits its spray to a map of your lawn
Lutron’s new smart shades cost under $400.
SwitchBot’s new video doorbell comes with an in-home display
SwitchBot is bringing a Rosie the Robot wannabe to CES
This robovac has an arm that can pick up your dirty laundry
EcoFlow’s Oasis could be a powerful tool for simplifying your home’s energy use
Samsung’s smart fridges will use AI to suggest groceries to buy on Instacart
Matter speakers are coming to stream music and tell you when the wash is done
Home Assistant’s new voice assistant answers to ‘Hey Jarvis’
Homey launches a $200 smart home hub
This Z-Wave smart plug can work over a mile from your house
iRobot’s founder is working on a new kind of home robot
Nest Learning Thermostat review: pretty smart
A Gemini-boosted Google Assistant is now available on some Nest speakers
Homey adds new energy management features and a dongle
Samsung’s Music Sync is getting a deeper integration with YouTube Music.
This startup is trying to disrupt your fridge.
Every smart home device that works with Matter
Homey’s new dashboards look sweet.
This new smart thermostat from Meross works with Matter
Ikea’s smart lights can now automatically adjust throughout the day
Level extends its Matter upgrade to its Bolt smart lock.
Tapo’s $30 smart outlet works with Matter and keeps track of electricity usage.
Eve’s new app unlocks more smart features for Android users
Apple Home support for robot vacuums has been delayed to 2025
The best Cyber Monday smart home deals
The best Cyber Monday robot vacuum deals you can get from iRobot, Roborock, and more
Ecobee thermostats are getting a new energy management feature.
Apple’s first smart display needs to make the smart home just work
Amazon’s new Echo Show 21 has a huge screen and built-in smart home hub
Flic’s hub is now a scriptable Matter Controller
Alexa may get smarter with more APIs rather than more AI
Level’s latest lock supports Matter over Thread.
Some of Google Home’s Gemini-powered features are arriving this week.
Apple could launch a smart security camera in 2026
This tiny smart lock promises to unlock your door in under two seconds
Blink’s newest hub takes its security cameras beyond Wi-Fi
Matter 1.4 tries to set the smart home standard back on track
Amazon’s new Alexa has reportedly slipped to 2025
Eero’s new product takes Wi-Fi beyond your walls
Now you can unlock your door from Ecobee’s app
Kwikset takes a smart approach with its new smart lock
The best Prime Day smart home deals we found
Ring’s video history search is super handy for tracking my cat
Samsung SmartThings becomes the first platform to support Matter 1.3.
Samsung is turning your Galaxy phone into a smart door key
Ring is finally adding 24/7 recording to its security cameras
Sleep Number’s newest smart bed aims to tackle night sweats
Samsung is partnering with Ashley Furniture to sell you on the smart home
This smart front door can go from clear to opaque with a voice command
This Eufy security camera can show nighttime as if it were daytime
Arlo cameras can now recognize people and vehicles
Home Assistant reminds everyone that Z-Wave is still relevant.
Apparently, “Remarkable Alexa” can’t reliably turn on the lights.
Google is bringing its smart home panel to all Google TV devices
Google TV Streamer review: smarter than your average set-top box
Apple now lets you add Matter devices to Apple Home without a hub
Eufy’s new smart lock may Matter to Apple Home users
LG finally gets serious about the smart home
This is the first smart lock to support ultra wideband
After ditching August, Assa Abloy snaps up another smart lock startup
Ikea’s smart home hub now supports Matter
Nanoleaf launches a smart switch after eight years of trying
Samsung is putting a ring on your smart home.
Dreame’s concept robovac can climb (small) steps.
Aqara’s new touchscreen smart home controls are super slick.
I found a Matter-compatible fridge at IFA. And it’s extra.
Here’s Switchbot’s unannounced new video doorbell solution.
Nanoleaf’s new wall panels can show off your plants and Funko Pops
Nanoleaf’s permanent outdoor lights arrive just in time for the holidays.
Philips Hue launches a new smart lighting solution for the kitchen
The Philips Hue 8K sync box arrives for $350
Aqara’s smart home voice control system isn’t always listening
The four changes in Thread 1.4 that could fix the protocol
I’m heading to Berlin to seek solutions for the smart kitchen
With AI food recognition Samsung Food could be the ultimate meal-planning app
Wyze’s AI can now search your camera footage so you don’t have to
LG’s new smart home hub has a built-in voice assistant
Brilliant is back from the brink
Ring’s budget battery doorbell can now see packages left on your porch
Tapo’s new flagship doorbell camera does more for less
SwitchBot’s tiny robot vacuum gets some big upgrades.
Samsung’s new Family Care service helps caregivers monitor loved ones
Adaptive Lighting is coming to Matter smart lights in Apple Home
Redesigning the Nest Learning Thermostat took “courage.”
Gemini intelligence is coming to Google Home
The Google TV Streamer might be the Apple TV 4K rival we’ve been waiting for
Aqara’s new mmWave presence sensor is cheaper, simpler, and works with Matter.
Meross has a new mmWave presence sensor for just $36, and it works with Matter.
Echo Spot review: this smart alarm clock hits a sweet spot
Logitech’s Circle View Doorbell is safe… for now
ADT’s new smart security system will unlock your door for a Trusted Neighbor
Google brings Nest Hello support to the Home app
Amazon is discontinuing my favorite Echo — the one with a dot-matrix clock
A new Nest Learning Thermostat might be on the way
The next Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box will support 8K.
Amazon’s paid Alexa is coming to fill a $25 billion hole dug by Echo devices
The newest Roomba can wash its own mop and will work with Matter
Zero to 100 in 40 seconds? Yes, please.
Eve’s compact weather station gets Matter support.
Lutron’s latest Diva deals with your more dramatic lighting.
Five futures for Apple’s HomeScreenPod
Philips Hue rolls out a fix for its Matter-related bug.
First, Apple put Thread in the iPhone, now the smart home radio could be coming to Android phones.
Apple TV’s InSight can instantly add tracks to your Apple Music library.
If your Philips Hue bulbs have been acting wonky, don’t worry there’s a fix coming.
This is the first retrofit smart lock to support Apple’s Home Key.
Amazon’s vying for a ‘spot’ on your bedside table.
This is the summer’s coolest new smart kitchen gadget — literally
Apple’s rumored HomePod with a screen could arrive with Apple Intelligence.
Amazon is bricking its Astro business robots less than a year after launch
LG buys Homey in a very Samsung SmartThings move
This ice maker is my family’s new favorite smart gadget.
These are the robot vacuums that will work with Matter.
This smart leak detector can warn you if your fish tank is draining.
Samsung SmartThings takes a step toward a smarter grid
A major SmartThings update brings support for appliances, robot vacuums, and more through Matter
