Once a fable, the smart home is now attainable for many. Though, since all homes are different, there’s no one-size-fits-all method for finding the best smart home devices. Our reviews of the latest smart thermostats, smart speakers, and security systems will help you figure out what’s right for you. And as smart assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant, grow in capability, we put them to task to see just how helpful they are.
Featured stories
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The best smart locks you can buy right now
Never get locked out again with a smart lock you can control from your phone, with your voice, or with just a touch of your finger.
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The best doorbell cameras
We pick the best video doorbell cameras for keeping an eye on people, packages, and anything else that comes across your front porch.
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The best robot vacuums
Floor-sweeping robots are only getting better, with new mopping skills, better navigation chops, and more automation, so less work for you. We picked nine of the best bots you can buy right now.
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The best robot vacuum for me is the one I hacked
Robot Vacuums can be privacy nightmares. That is unless you run Valetudo.
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8
Verge Score
Yale Assure Lock 2 review: almost perfect
Yale’s latest smart locks offer something for everyone: Apple Home Key, a fingerprint reader, and compatibility with every platform. You just can’t have it all. (And there’s still no support for Thread or Matter.)
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7
Verge Score
Brilliant’s new smart home controller makes it easier to put a touchscreen on your wall
The new plug-in version of Brilliant’s wired smart switch is simpler to install and just as easy to use. But still-limited integrations keep it from being truly brilliant.
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I just got review units of Amazon’s latest Alexa-powered smart speaker and will be putting them through their paces this weekend. Throw any questions you have about the newest (and cheapest) Echo at me in the comments below, and I’ll be sure to answer them in the review.
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Aqara’s Video Doorbell G4 launches on Amazon today in North America and Europe for the bargain price of $120, that's $80 less than its closest HomeKit Secure Video-compatible competitor. Alongside Apple Home, the G4 works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
Featuring dual power sources, 1080p video, 24/7 recording capability, locally stored facial recognition, and free cloud storage, this smart buzzer ticks a lot of boxes.
Look for our full review on the site later this week.
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7
Verge Score
Amazon Echo Show 15 review: Alexa’s on your wall
This Echo Show on the wall is the fairest smart display of them all. Updates to support Fire TV, new widget options, and a better Photo Frame mode make the flagship Echo a winner.
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Your Google Home app can now turns your lights off and your cameras on at 10PM each night; adjust the brightness of your lights when the TV turns on; or turn the bathroom light on when a motion sensor detects movement. And it’s not hard to set up — if you know how.
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