You’ve got a lot of choices when it comes to smart home security these days — there are brands like Eufy, Wyze, Ecobee, Philips Hue, and of course Google Nest. But if you want a complete system including cameras, sensors, doorbells, and alarm panels, the behemoths in the industry are Arlo and Ring — at least in the United States. Which of those should you build your security around, if either?

Arlo vs Ring: At a glance

Arlo vs Ring: Product lineups

Both companies offer such large hardware lineups that we can’t cover each product in-depth. Instead we’ll try summarize their catalogs, giving you a sense of what you can expect when you go shopping. Whichever brand you choose, there’s a strong emphasis on bundles — you can usually get a significant discount if you buy an entire system at once instead of piece-by-piece.

Shortly after moving into our home on Oahu, my partner and I installed what felt like a lot of security cameras. Our house boasts an excessive number of exterior doors, plus a whole lot of windows, and I watched too many scary movies as a kid. We also wanted the ability to keep an eye on the place when venturing off-island. What we didn’t anticipate was how much entertainment we’d get from unexpected camera footage. Our Google Nest Cam with Floodlight, in particular, has provided reassurance, amusement, and helpful lighting.

When shopping for a smart home camera system, there are always a number of considerations. Personally, because I’ve chosen to relocate to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, extended travel is most practical when visiting family and friends on the mainland. This also makes a wired camera more convenient, as a rechargeable battery adds one more thing to remember before heading out the door. Above all, I shied away from anything too large or eye-catching because I didn’t want my brand-new neighbors to think I was a) paranoid or b) guarding the sorcerer’s stone in here. Finally, I needed an easy app experience so that checking on my home wouldn’t become a headache.

Google has brought AI smarts to loads of its services and platforms in 2023. Now, the company has announced plans to bring generative AI capabilities to its Google Home app.

Google confirmed at its Pixel 8 series launch event that the Google Home app will indeed get generative AI capabilities to make smart home management a little easier.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

Google’s smart home strategy has seen many false starts over the last decade and a half. From the early 2010 iteration of Google TV to the ill-fated Nexus Q, everything was funky and experimental. Then Google Assistant and the first Google Home smart speaker launched and it seemed like Mountain View finally knew what it wanted to do with the smart home. Fast forward seven years or so and things have taken so many twists and turns that it’s starting to feel like another episode of Google’s messaging app saga.

But let’s back up a bit. Few products in Google’s line-up have shown a relatively stable vision over the decades. Search, Maps, Photos, and Gmail count among those most steady, unsurprising services. Everything else, from Wallet-Pay-Wallet to Google TV-Android TV-Google TV or Gsuite free-paid-Workspace has seen more ups and downs than I can count. None, however, has been as confusing or flippity-floppity as Google’s smorgasbord of messaging services and strategies.

If you’re shopping for smart thermostats, it’s almost impossible to ignore Google Nest. The original Nest Learning Thermostat kicked off the category’s popularity, and Google has the financial muscle to make sure you see the brand everywhere, including big-box hardware stores.

At the moment there are two Nest thermostats available: the 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat, and the more recent Nest Thermostat, released in 2020. We’ll explore their differences below, which should point you towards the best model for your home.

Digital assistants have become an essential part of both the smartphone and smart home experiences  — if nothing else, it’s easier to ask Google Assistant to set an alarm than do it yourself through the Clock app. But tech shoppers can be demanding, so companies are still racing to prove they have the best assistant tech.

Deep into 2023, the competition is down to Siri vs Alexa vs Google Assistant vs Bixby, with Microsoft’s Cortana effectively eliminated. Which one is tops? The answer is a little complex, and depends on what you need an assistant to do.

In the smart home world, and digital assistants in general, there are only two major platforms if you’re not using Apple devices: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant (which links with Google Home). Microsoft and Samsung do have their own creations, but Cortana is effectively dead in the water, and while Samsung’s SmartThings platform is competent, few people are fans of the company’s Bixby assistant.

This guide will explain the core differences between Alexa and Google Assistant and which one you should choose for a smart home ecosystem versus your phone.

While customization and remote control are part of the appeal of a smart home, the thing most people tend to be interested in is automation — having their home run itself as much as possible. To that end Google recently launched a preview of a script editor for Google Home.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

Google bought Nest Labs in 2014 to make a major smart home push, and now, everything from thermostats to speakers and displays bears the Nest branding. Some of the company’s offerings are better than others ― and we’re here to play favorites. These are the best Google Nest products you can buy right now.

The best Google Nest products

To complete a Google ecosystem, we’ve also got a list of the best Google Home devices from third-party manufacturers, such as lights, locks, plugs, and vacuums.

Whether for security, convenience, or both, a smart camera makes a great addition to your smart home. Arlo regularly features on our lists of the best smart home gadgets and best smart security cameras, and the Essential Indoor Camera is on sale today. If you catch the deal, you can pick it up for just $50.98.

Arlo Essential Indoor Camera for $50.98 ($49 off)

Govee LED Strip Light M1 review: At a glance

Should you buy the Govee LED Strip Light M1?

Although the Matter 1.0 spec first launched in late 2022, compatible smart home accessories have been slow to roll out. That’s especially true with lightstrips — in fact, the only other Matter-compatible strip on the market as of the M1’s launch is Nanoleaf’s Essential Matter model. That product also requires a Thread border router, so Govee’s Wi-Fi-based strip is a big deal.

Let’s say you want to install smart home lighting, but you don’t want to deal with first-party hubs, or third-party ones for Zigbee or Z-Wave — you want a light that connects out of the box. We get it, and we’re here to help with our guide to the best hubless smart bulbs.

All of the bulbs on this list are A19 models that fit into an E26 socket, which you can read more about in our general bulb guide. They rely on Wi-Fi, Thread, or Bluetooth — the first two being preferable, since you’ll otherwise be limited to controlling lights at home from a mobile app. Just be aware that too many Wi-Fi bulbs can oversaturate a router, especially if it doesn’t support Wi-Fi 6. Thread bulbs need to connect to a Thread border router, and any product paired via Matter will need a Matter controller.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

I’ve spent the past four years coughing — I did it way before COVID made it cool — and after a lot of failed wishful thinking to make it go away, I ended up at a pulmonologist being diagnosed with asthma. My quest for cleaner and healthier air has made me look at some smart home gadgets like the Sensibo Elements air quality monitor, but I soon realized that wasn’t enough and I needed a purifier too. Some online digging led me to the smart Levoit Core 400S ( ), and after a short debate between it and the smaller/cheaper 300S, my husband convinced me we needed to fork the price for the better one. To be fair, I was coughing so much, I couldn’t string three words together in my argument.

I’m not here to talk about the merits of the Core 400S as an air purifier — it is good and my cough has dramatically subsided since we got it — but I want to discuss one core (ha!) feature of its smart home experience: Easy voice commands.

Amazon’s Ring is practically the default video doorbell option for many people, and no wonder, given its parent company and a headstart in the market. The Alexa-powered Battery Doorbell Plus is positioned to become the brand’s new flagship — but is it worth a place at your front door? Find out in Android Authority‘s Ring Battery Doorbell Plus review.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus review: What you need to know

Nanoleaf is probably best known for its light panels, but it also sells something called the Essentials line, consisting of more conventional smart bulbs and lightstrips. Until recently their problem was that while they supported Thread, the only way you could take advantage of that was usually Apple HomeKit or Nanoleaf’s own Thread ecosystem. In theory, the new Essentials Matter open up support to Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and anything else with Matter over Thread  — but should you make them the foundation of your smart home’s lighting?

Has Nanoleaf upgraded the specs on its Essentials Matter?

Google has been teasing and testing an overhaul of the Google Home app since October last year. After spending a fair few months in public preview, Google has now announced at Google I/O 2023 that it is finally beginning to roll out the new Google Home app for smart home devices to users.

The biggest change to the Google Home app is how it lays things out when you open it up. Previously, the Home app organized everything by “room,” which may sound great at first, but you quickly notice its limitations when you start building out larger rooms with multiple smart home devices.

Let’s say the benefits of a smart home sound appealing, and you want to get started on one. Now what? The leap from theory to practice can be a little daunting, especially given the pricetags on some of the accessories available. That’s where this guide comes in — we’ll fill you in on core concepts and device types, and the general steps needed to deck out a house or apartment.

Concepts you need to know before building a smart home

Platforms

Opinion post by

Dhruv Bhutani

I believe in a future where homes are connected, smarter, and automated enough not to require switches or repetitive voice-based input. However, till we get there, I’ve been documenting my journey in creating an affordable, fully connected home and have invested a lot of money in picking up some of the best Google Home accessories. In fact, I was first in line to get a Google Home speaker when it launched as my smart home’s central hub. But I’m not going to beat around the bush here. I’m done with Google. Here’s why.

Google keeps self-sabotaging its smart home ecosystem

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

You may have run into this when setting up a new smart home product: You’ve installed its companion app, created an account, plugged in the gadget, and you’re all ready to go until you realize it won’t connect to your Wi-Fi. What’s happening? You restart the app, the phone, your router, and try all kinds of other tricks to no avail. The app refuses to see or connect to your network. In some cases, you’re not given the courtesy of an error message; in others, developers are kind enough to point out the issue: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.

The first time this happened to me, I was setting up the $1400 Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra. An eye-watering price didn’t save this robot vacuum from having a cheap Wi-Fi chip, and I was left wondering if it would ever work on my dual-band router or I’d have to return it. (Spoiler: it works, but that requires workarounds that I’ll get to later.)

With daily recommendations, automatic tracking, and dynamic reminders, smart water bottles aim to keep users fully hydrated. If you’re someone who often forgets to take sips, one bottle’s pulsing lights should do the trick. On the other hand, if you’re already chugging plenty of ounces a day, you may still find plenty to like about the device and its companion app. Find out more in our HidrateSpark Pro Lite review.

What you need to know about the HidrateSpark Pro Lite

If you picked up a Dropcam or a Nest Secure many years ago, Google is offering you an upgrade to a currently supported device as it seeks to drop support for these Nest App-only smart home products. If you own either of these, look for an email from Google offering you some new smart home products.

Dropping Dropcam support

Credit: Roger Fingas / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Roger Fingas

When my family and I moved into a new home last year, I took it as an opportunity to steer us towards a primary smart home platform. Yes, as Android Authority‘s resident smart home guru, I need to have gear to test all the major ecosystems — it’s just that life is easier if there’s one you can count on for everyday tasks like turning the lights on.

Until recently, I’d been leaning towards Amazon Alexa as my platform of choice. It’s still the best-supported one out there in terms of smart speakers, accessories, and music services. And top of that, it doesn’t play favorites between Android or iOS. Even Google Home naturally favors Android, though it is perfectly usable with iOS.

Pretty much every major company has smart lights now. Whether they are bulbs, fixtures, or lamps, it’s easy to find all manners of lights that connect to your smart home. However, what if you want something a little more unique? Micron has some fun stuff you stick to the wall, but now Yeelight (which cooperates with Xiaomi and integrates a few of its systems) has a fun thing you can keep on your desk — the Yeelight Cube.

The Yeelight Cube is, as its name suggests, a cube-shaped smart lamp that you can customize. It debuted at CES and earned a spot on our list of the best products at CES 2023, but now I’ve had a chance to test one out in my own home to see its funky goodness in action in full.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

In retrospect, I should have learned my lesson the first time. For the past year, I have been adding some smart home devices to my apartment and seeing their performance drop with each passing minute. I blamed the devices — especially my Google Nest speakers — instead of the router because I was on a fiber connection and getting 500-600Mbps speeds on my computers and phones, so how could it possibly be the router’s fault? Well, it was the router’s fault. But let’s back up.

Lesson one: A great router can save the worst connection

When you’re new to smart homes, knowing where to start can be tough. There are a lot of options out there — particularly when it comes to Amazon Alexa, which is the best-supported consumer platform out there, with hundreds of accessories and a large number of compatible smart speakers. In this guide, we’ll take you through key decisions in getting an Alexa home up and running.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

The dream of robot vacuums (and mops) has always been a product that cleans a whole floor with minimal maintenance. Many cleaning robots do enough but still fall short of the ideal. The ECOVACS Deebot X1 Omni is part of a new generation of products that promise to get as close to that dream as possible, combining vacuuming and mopping with an auto-emptying dock. Does it live up to the hype? Find out in Android Authority‘s ECOVACS Deebot X1 Omni review.

What you need to know about the ECOVACS Deebot X1 Omni

Opinion post by

C. Scott Brown

I recently retrofitted my rented house with a few smart home products from SwitchBot. It’s been revolutionary using SwitchBot’s various tools, including its mechanized button-pushing SwitchBot Bot, infrared blasts from the Hub Mini, temperature control through the Meter Plus, and saving floor space with the LED Strip Light. However, at the time, I could not test out the newest product in the company’s smart home portfolio: the SwitchBot Blind Tilt.

This new device snaps onto your pre-existing “dumb” blinds and makes them smart by allowing you to control the tilt of the panels remotely, which is ideal if you can’t install or don’t want the expense of smart blinds. SwitchBot was kind enough to send me a set of Blind Tilts to try out.

I recently had the chance to review the Roborock Dyad Pro, my first smart vacuum that isn’t a robot. That concept might be unfamiliar to some people, so prompted by others at Android Authority, I’m sharing my experiences with both cleaning options — weighing their pros and cons for people who’ve tried one or neither.

Let’s clear things up immediately: a robot vacuum is capable of fully autonomous cleaning, or at least operating without being directly guided by your hands. Control is handled through a mobile app, or if you’ve got one, a smart speaker or display. Some robots come with docks that automatically empty debris into a bin, or even change out dirty water if the robot has mopping functions.

The original 2018 HomePod was a rare example of an Apple flop — price cuts weren’t enough to save it from being discontinued in March 2021. However, the HomePod Mini, launched in November 2020, was seemingly successful enough that it convinced Apple to give a full-sized smart speaker a second shot. But does the HomePod 2 justify its existence? Find out in this HomePod (2nd generation) review.

What you need to know about the Apple HomePod (2nd generation)

I don’t often quote cliches, but when I do, it’s usually to say “Let there be light.” I’m not saying smart blinds will make you god-like, I’m just saying there’s a reason power over illumination is celebrated. Building a harder-working smart home has never been more popular. For me, what started with smart bulbs and smart outlets has branched into a realm I never imagined: blackout curtains and privacy sheers.

60 watts vs the power of the sun

As convenient as a smart home can be, it takes some work to set one up. To the surprise of some, a smart home also requires maintenance to keep it running smoothly — especially if you want to stay on the cutting edge like us tech journalists. It’s really worth doing an occasional “spring cleaning” of your home tech, be it once a year or whenever there’s a major change.

To that end, here’s a checklist of things to do to keep your smart home in tip-top shape.

In the summer of 2022, I moved across the United States from Connecticut to California. I landed in a small, two-bedroom rental house. The house itself was built by the owner as a pandemic-era project. Since it is brand new construction and I am his first tenant, he is (understandably) pretty protective of the house when it comes to modifications, care, and cleanliness.

While this isn’t really a problem for me, it does damper my smart home ambitions a bit. Because of how the house is designed — combined with the landlord’s watchful eye — I can’t modify much about it. Even hanging up art requires a specific set of tools and nails to minimize wall damage. Granted, most smart home stuff doesn’t require extensive household modifications, but some products do. Additionally, investing in products specific to this house is a waste of money because I likely wouldn’t need them wherever I end up next.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

The last 18 months were very eventful in the El Khoury casa. Not only did I change jobs — hi there, Android Authority readers! — but I also moved from Lebanon to France. That meant leaving my own lofty apartment near Beirut to look for a small rental on the outskirts of Paris and letting go of a lot of the creature comforts that I’d gotten used to in my previous life, including two very awesome smart home devices: Somfy smart blinds and the Nuki smart lock and intercom system.

A few smart home upgrades to get started

We saw a bunch of cool tech at CES 2023, and as always, smart kitchen appliances were right at the forefront of it all. From smart cutting boards to AI ovens, a color-changing party fridge, smart mixers, and more, we saw it all, and it got us thinking — just how many of our readers have a teched-up kitchen?

Smart home products get a ton of floor space at every CES. However, at CES 2023, the smart home category got extra focus thanks to the long-awaited rollout of the Matter protocol. Matter — and its cousin, Thread — will make setting up a smart home much easier by establishing one “language” all products can use to communicate with one another.

Everywhere we went, the topic of Matter eventually came up. But we didn’t let this distract us from what we were really there for: finding the best smart home products at CES 2023. Check out our favorites below!

Last month, Amazon revealed it was working on a phased rollout of Matter support to its devices. Now the company has confirmed it’s also bringing Matter-over-Thread support later this year.

At CES 2023, Amazon announced Matter-over-Thread support will be coming to Echo devices this spring, according to The Verge. Along with that support, the company will turn its Echo 4th gen smart speaker into a Matter controller and a Thread border router.

Feel like your car could use some extra protection? Ring is expanding its line of home security products to include a new car camera system to help put your mind at ease.

At CES 2023, Ring announced that it is getting into the auto security business with its new car camera dubbed the Car Cam. Similar to its other offerings, Ring says that users will be able to control the camera and receive alerts directly through the Ring app.

Samsung is taking the wraps off the SmartThings Station, an unusual Matter-capable hub for its SmartThings smart home platform that will double as a smart button and a wireless charging pad.

Like other SmartThings hubs, the Station will serve as a way of pairing accessories to the platform and managing automations. On top of native SmartThings products, however, it will also support Matter-based devices, paired by scanning a QR code in the SmartThings mobile app. The key feature of Matter is that you’re not limited to one platform — compatible accessories also work with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant.

Smart home accessory maker Eve Systems is rolling out its first accessories with Matter support baked in. These include updates of its Eve Energy smart plug and two sensors: the Eve Motion and Eve Door and Window. All three accessories will ship to the US on March 28, with prices of $39.95 for the Energy and $49.95 for each sensor.

Matter, for those unfamiliar, is a universal protocol meant to break down the barriers between smart home platforms. Accordingly, Eve’s new products will work with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings. Until recently Eve primarily supported HomeKit — but the company has become  aggressive about Matter, which the Connectivity Standards Alliance launched in October 2022 after years of delays.

In the smart home industry, all eyes are on Matter, the new “one platform to rule them all” standard. At CES 2023, every smart home manufacturer has plenty to say about Matter in relation to their products. Unfortunately, one company didn’t have good news for folks who have already invested in its platform.

During CES, GE confirmed that it has no plans to upgrade its existing Cync products with retroactive Matter support through a software update. Essentially, this means smart home users who already own a Cync product will not see Matter on that product.

Ah! The good ol’ smart home renovation. A task I’ve put off for a really, really long time. Being a tech journalist, smart home gadgets are naturally appealing to me. I’ve had plenty of them come in for review over the years, be it cheap home security cameras from the likes of Xiaomi, smart speakers from Amazon, Philips Hue and other smart lights, and so on.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) announced the launch of Matter back in early November. Now we’re starting to see the fruits of that launch as Google announces Matter is coming to Google Nest devices, Android, and Google Home.

If you haven’t been keeping tabs on the latest developments in the smart home industry, Matter is a smart home interoperability standard that was developed in collaboration with Samsung, Amazon, Google, Apple, and hundreds of other companies under the CSA. Matter aims to fix the connectivity challenges between the large variety of smart home devices on the market. The idea is to make it easier for consumers to purchase whatever brand of smart home device they want and have it work seamlessly with the rest of their smart home ecosystem.

Let’s take a collective moment of silence for our bank accounts this year, as it’s time to fire up our boilers and keep the cold of winter at bay. Thankfully, I do not fear my heating bill as much as I could have. I’ve been reaping the rewards of last year’s prudent Black Friday purchase – a Tado smart thermostat.

This was my first foray into building a smart home, so there are a few things I’ve learned since. But now that my bills have more than doubled due to the cost of energy, I’m patting my past self on the back for already having this energy saver up and running. However, at the time, my purchase wasn’t entirely motivated by financial incentives.

Early last month, we reported that the Google Home app was getting a huge overhaul and that Google would release a public preview for it. However, the company didn’t give a specific date for when the public preview would be available. If you’ve been waiting for it, then you can stop because the preview has gone live.

Today, Google is beginning to roll out the Google Home app public preview. To kick things off, the Mountain View-based organization has started to allow Android and iOS users to request invites within the app, according to a new blog post.

Last month, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) released the finalized version of Matter 1.0. We’re now starting to see the new smart home interoperability standard bear fruit as we begin to see devices that will work with Matter.

Today, the CSA held an official Matter launch event in Amsterdam. At the event, the organization explained how your smart home will work in the future and what features are coming next to Matter, according to Android Police. It also announced that 190 certifications are in progress or have finished for new products.

A connected smart home is not alien to me. I’ve been dipping my toes into the world of smart homes ever since the first smart plugs and bulbs hit the market and went so far as to automate my air conditioner with a smart infrared blaster. I’ve even built and written about my own smart light strip solution. So when it came time to replace my old washing machine, the choice was obvious — I needed a fully connected appliance. It’s now been a few months since I switched over to a Samsung smart washing and drying machine, and the experience has been blissful. In fact, I’m convinced that this is the future we’re all heading towards.

Also read: 5 things I wish I’d known before building an advanced smart home

Thanks to updates due “in the coming weeks,” owners of Samsung phones and tablets will be able to automatically import Matter-based smart home accessories from the Google Home app to SmartThings, as well as the other way around, Samsung announced on Wednesday. The Korean giant didn’t specify how those updates will be delivered, or which specific devices will be compatible.

It did explain that when using one of the apps, people will be prompted to automatically import Matter accessories first set up in the other. For end users, the advantage will be the ability to easily set up and control their smart home using either platform. By extension, that should mean support for multiple voice assistants, including Google Assistant and Samsung’s Bixby.

Roku, the brand best known for TV streaming, has announced that it will be launching a new suite of products for the home. With these new products, Roku will transition into becoming a smart home technology company.

Looking to expand past its current offerings, Roku has created a new collection of affordable products to turn your home into a smart home. The company says its initial smart home offerings will include:

While you likely won’t have any signal problems in the city, unfortunately, strong cellular service isn’t something that’s readily available everywhere you go. Ukama wants to solve that by allowing you to create your own cellular data network where you need it.

Back in 2015, the FCC opened up a band of radio spectrum called Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in the US for unlicensed users to develop their own private networks. The people working on Ukama have capitalized on this to create a product that will allow you to put up your own decentralized cellular network with no service contracts.

Update, October 4, 2022 (04:20 PM ET): The article below erroneously states that the preview of the new Google Home app will rollout today. However, Google informed us that its original briefing materials were incorrect and the rollout is not happening today, but will “in the coming weeks.” We have updated the article slightly to reflect this new information.

Original article, October 4, 2022 (09:00 AM ET): The Google Home app is where you go for all things related to your smart home. It’s received a few visual overhauls over the years, with the most recent one being in 2019. That update brought it to where it is now, with a list of device controls with a Material Design aesthetic.

Opinion post by

C. Scott Brown

When it comes to digital assistants, you have choices. Amazon’s Alexa was the first prominent one. Samsung’s Bixby is on Galaxy phones around the world. Apple fans get Siri. However, for my money, Google Assistant is the fastest, most reliable, and overall best digital assistant out there. So, when I started building my smart home, the decision of which assistant to build it on was an easy one.

Nine times out of 10, when I issue a voice command, my smart home does exactly what I want. When I say, “Hey Google, turn on the bedroom lights,” the bedroom lights come on almost instantaneously. I use the Philips Hue system, so I can even say things like “set the lights to 25%” if they are too bright, or even “turn the bedroom lights yellow” if I feel like my head is hurting from the cold coloring. It’s great.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

After many years of delays, the Matter unifying smart home protocol is finally set for release in the fall of 2022. And things are looking good for it: Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and many other brands are on board, some have announced concrete plans to update existing devices to support it, and many smart home manufacturers seem to be ready to deploy their fleets of Matter-compatible devices when the protocol is live.

That’s where Eve, the famous Apple Homekit-only smart home device maker sits. The company was at IFA highlighting its readiness to adopt Matter as soon as it rolls out. And that means that yes, Eve’s extensive arsenal of connected products will be compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings, among others.

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

With its new Intercom, Ring is aiming to do for apartment owners and renters what it’s already done for those who live in houses: provide an easy way to communicate with whoever rings the door. The company announced the product at IFA 2022 and we were able to check it out in action and see what it’s all about.

First, picture this. You’re not home and you get a call from a person delivering something to you ahead of time. Or from the handyman who was supposed to check the faulty solar panel installed on your building’s roof and who kept ignoring appointments, then showed up the one day you decided to step out (this one is a true, personal story). What do you do? You ask them to randomly try other apartments in the building, you scramble to figure out a way to let them in, or you stall them until you’ve rushed back home.

The Nest Audio is Google’s flagship smart speaker, and generally pretty popular judging by reviews and the company’s overall speaker sales. But it also launched in 2020, so it’s virtually guaranteed that we’ll see an update within the next year, if not by the end of 2022 — Google can’t stay complacent when Amazon is continually updating its Echo lineup, and Apple is likely working on new HomePods.

There are many ways Google might consider upgrading a Nest Audio 2. Here’s our own wishlist.

If you’re not familiar with why Matter matters for smart homes, we have a primer for you below, but to put it as briefly as possible: simplicity. It’s a universal protocol that will allow accessories to work on any major smart home platform, eventually putting an end (in many cases at least) to the question of whether something is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, or Samsung SmartThings.

Since it was announced, there have been doubts about how widely Matter will be adopted, and whether it’ll roll out smoothly. Or at all. There have already been a couple of delays — it was originally supposed to go live in 2020, and then in mid-2022. The good news is that based on recent developments, it is likely to meet its current fall 2022 target and become de facto in the smart home industry.

If you’ve got an Apple device like an iPhone or Apple Watch, you’ll probably want (or even need) Siri, the company’s voice assistant. Here’s how to set up Siri for the first time and activate Siri on any Apple product.

Read more: The best Siri commands for productivity and more

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

When I first set out on the epic journey of finding a kettle for my apartment, I didn’t know the road would be this perilous and complicated. See, I have no previous experience with electric kettles — where I come from, you just boil some water on the stove and brew your Arabic coffee, hot cocoa, or tea with it.

This newfangled world of pluggable kettles was new to me, and I thought I could get a smart one so I’d have hot water by the time I got out of bed. The prospect of saying “Hey Google, turn on the kettle” while still snoozing was a bit of a dream. Turns out heat and electricity aren’t a joke and many manufacturers don’t trust that you’ll actually have water in your kettle before you remotely turn it on, especially if there’s no sensor to detect the water level before the kettle gets too hot.

Opinion post by

Roger Fingas

When the Pixel Tablet was first revealed, at Google I/O 2022 earlier in May, the understandable focus of most people was on how Google was planning to evolve Android’s lackluster tablet segment. While devices like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 have their fans, Android as a whole hasn’t had enough tablet-optimized apps, and aspects like multitasking have been in dire need of attention. Google’s announcements were promising.

Those of us tracking the smart home world noticed some other unique things about the Pixel Tablet, ones which could tie into rumors about Google’s smart display plans. If that thinking proves correct, the Pixel Tablet could signal the future of the smart display industry.

Opinion post by

Roger Fingas

If you haven’t heard, Apple is strongly rumored to be getting into smart displays, a field so far dominated by Amazon and Google with products like the Echo Show 8 and the Nest Hub. Assuming a product ships by the end of 2022, Apple will be even later with displays than it was with smart speakers ― this fall will mark five years since the debut of Amazon’s Echo Spot and first-gen Echo Show. By comparison, the first HomePod debuted in February 2018, a little less than four years after the original Amazon Echo.

I’m here to argue that while Apple is definitely late to the party, it is poised to gain a foothold in the market, even if the model people really want may follow a year or two later.

I’ve experimented with a variety of remote work arrangements over the last decade. From a bedroom setup to a couch or a dining table, I’ve done it all. But when I recently started rebuilding my home office, I knew good lighting and enough of it was going to be essential. This was all the more important because despite having large windows, my apartment just doesn’t get enough natural light. It’s well documented that lighting can affect mood, productivity, and mental health.

Our picks: The best smart bulbs | The best smart lamps

I’m a self-professed nerd. And like any self-respecting nerd, I love lasers. Lightsabers, Captain Kirk’s phaser, and of course, the light cycles in Tron, what’s not to like about them? But while all those examples are incredibly cool, futuristic visions of lasers in use, I didn’t realize that the coolest implementation I’d come across would be the laser on the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Total Clean, also known as the Dyson V15 Detect ($749.99) vacuum cleaner in the US where it comes equipped with a larger bin.

Notifications usually arrive on our devices in the form of a chime, vibration, or LED flash (aside from the standard alert in the notification shade). But Google reckons there are a few more ways to deliver notifications.

The company has announced its so-called Little Signals experiment (h/t: Android Police), teaming up with Map Project Office to showcase six gadgets that each have their own way of notifying users. Some of the standout gadgets and methods include a device that blows air (e.g. blowing your pot plant’s leaves), a gadget capable of casting a small shadow, and a device with a plastic arm that taps on a surface like a knock.

While people tend to think of Siri as a voice assistant first and foremost, it’s actually present in a subtler way throughout Apple platforms, in the form of suggestions for apps, actions, searches, and more. Here’s how to turn off Siri suggestions entirely or just for specific apps.

Read more: How to change Siri’s voice on iOS and Mac

Opinion post by

Roger Fingas

Moving has always been my most dreaded chore, and the move my wife, son, and I are embarking on this year will probably be the biggest in our lifetimes. We’re relocating from the US to my native Canada ― and as if immigration, selling the house, and packing up regular possessions weren’t enough, we’re also coping with the sheer number of smart home accessories I’ve accumulated over years of tech journalism.

That’s brought a recurring issue to the foreground. It seems like accessory makers work on the assumption that you’ll live in the same space forever: There’s little to no mention of moving in their marketing, and barely any thought of it in their design. Let me explain some of the problems you can encounter, as well as a few ways to ease the pain.

One of the predominant reasons to get a video doorbell is keeping porch pirates at bay. This has led to an increase in the number of models with square or vertical viewing areas, but the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual takes matters a step further, adding a second camera aimed down at your doorstep. Does this upgrade deliver, so to speak? Find out in Android Authority‘s Eufy Video Doorbell Dual review.

What you need to know about the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual

Rock-solid Wi-Fi connectivity is one of those things that people take for granted, but it isn’t a given. And for me, it is more than a simple necessity. As someone who has worked remotely for over a decade, it is the backbone of my livelihood.

Over the last decade and a half, I’ve spent thousands of dollars chasing seamless connectivity across my apartment. From expensive routers to DIY mesh solutions and, more recently, mesh routers with dedicated backhaul connectivity, my chase has sent me down a path of balancing speed with range, but the perfect solution has always evaded me.

Opinion post by

Roger Fingas

Just recently I began testing ECOVACS’ Deebot X1 Omni, its new top-of-the-line robot vacuum. While it’s too early to formulate a real opinion, one small thing I’m appreciating is the child lock on the X1 Omni’s docking station. Normally you can use the dock’s buttons to start or end vacuuming, but if you hold down a pair of those buttons for a few seconds, you disable that function so that small kids can no longer run the vacuum on a whim.

That shouldn’t be a big deal, but as the parent of a four-year-old, it suddenly brought the lack of childproof smart home accessories into focus. At times it feels like smart home gadget makers are deliberately targeting childfree buyers, or at least those with older children. As Android Authority‘s resident smart home specialist I find I have to go out of my way to keep my son from wreaking havoc, when I really shouldn’t — there are a few steps companies could be taking to make smart home gear more child-friendly.

Even if a homeowner never invests in a dedicated security camera, one thing they’re liable to buy is a video doorbell, if just so they can pre-screen visitors and scare off porch pirates. The Blink Video Doorbell is an entry from Amazon’s budget security line, competing against similarly-priced products from Eufy and Wyze. The price is right — but is Blink’s product something you should actually install at your front door? Find out in Android Authority‘s Blink Video Doorbell review.

What you need to know about the Blink Video Doorbell

Recently, I addressed industry changes promising to “fix” the smart home by the end of 2022, alleviating issues like overloaded Wi-Fi and fractured platform support. Those changes should make the technology more appealing to both veterans and newcomers, but for sales to go through the roof and adoption to be less stressful, there are arguably a number of other long-term improvements companies need to make.

Read more: The best smart home devices you can buy

The winter off-season is a smart time to upgrade your lawnmower. Sure, a trusty mower is nice, rather have a speedy new powerhouse that allows you to spend less time cutting? We’ve gone ahead and put together some of the best lawn mower deals to help you save time and money ahead of the summer.

Our list covers a full range of electric and gas push mowers and robot options with plenty of different deck sizes. However, we’ve chosen to leave out riding mowers for now. We’ve also listed a few pros and cons of each mower style at each section’s start to help you choose. After all, a good lawn mower should be built to last for years.

While a smart home certainly isn’t a necessity, a smarter home can make all the difference in convenience, control, and even power savings. As a lifelong tinkerer, I’ve been on the connected home bandwagon for close to a decade. In fact, the idea for an automated household struck me while building a smart city model for a high school project.

The advent of devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home around 2014 was the push that it took for me to dive in and implement smart lights, water heaters, air conditioners, and even infrared blasters for vintage equipment that couldn’t be made much smarter.

In less than a decade, smart home tech has gone from a luxury for the rich to something relatively commonplace. Even if you can’t afford high-end Sonos speakers or a wall covered in Nanoleaf panels, you can probably afford an Echo Dot or a Lenovo Smart Clock. Yet adoption hasn’t been as strong as some tech companies have been hungry for.

There are reasons for this, but 2022 promises to lift some of the barriers and “fix” the smart home. By the end of the year, the smart home industry could look very different, and here’s why.

The world of smart light bulbs has exploded in recent years, and it can be hard to decide on your perfect match. Luckily, TP-Link has ample experience in the smart home game. Its Kasa Smart Bulb (KL125) offers millions of colors and lighting temperatures without the need for a hub. They sound great on paper, but let’s find out how they stand up in our TP-Link Kasa Smart Bulb (KL125) review.

What you need to know about the TP-Link Kasa Smart Bulb (KL125)

There are heaps of smart light bulbs to choose from if you want to spice up your lighting. Some offer millions of colors, some offer convenient scheduling apps, but sometimes you need a smarter light bulb to nail both. LIFX is hoping that it’s created such a bulb, and it’s time to put those claims to the test in our LIFX Color review.

What you need to know about the LIFX Color

Ever wonder what adventures your pets get up to while you’re away from home? Well, working from home during the pandemic may have given you a good idea. You can get a permanent glimpse into their secret world, however, with a pet camera. These smart home gadgets are great for checking in on your fluffy friends during long office days and making sure they’re alright.

Picking the right pet camera can be a daunting task. There are many models on the market — basic security units, cameras with night vision, and even ones that dispense treats. To help you, we’ve compiled a list of the best pet cameras you can buy. Let’s get into it!

The best way to get into both smart speakers and smart homes is often via a budget speaker. Since you’re not putting hundreds of dollars on the line, there’s little sunk cost preventing you from switching platforms, and that one purchase may even be enough. So, which budget speaker is the best overall? Let’s find out in this Echo Dot vs Nest Mini vs HomePod Mini comparison.

Amazon Echo Dot vs Google Nest Mini vs Apple HomePod Mini: Specs comparison

What is the HomePod Mini, and should you get it?

With every passing year, it gets easier (and cheaper) to get your smart home up and running. The market is only moving upward at the moment, so it’s no surprise we saw a ton of smart home tech at CES 2022. But which devices rose to the top? To answer that, we have this best smart home tech at CES 2022 roundup!

See also: What is a smart home, and why should you want one?

While Razer is pretty firmly linked to PC gaming for most people, the company occasionally tries to extend its appeal into the broader tech universe. Its true wireless headphones are considered a decent buy, for instance.

Its latest overture, though, involves establishing a Razer smart home platform. This includes partnerships and a mobile app for central control.