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Smart Home Reviews

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.

Govee’s inexpensive TV backlight goes big

A strong bias for bias lighting

Thomas Ricker
Lenovo Smart Clock 2 review: a good dock with an okay clock

But the new charging dock adds value

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Google’s latest Nest Doorbell and camera are not obvious upgrades

Battery-powered options are great, but prepare to make compromises

Dan Seifert
Ikea and Sonos picture frame speaker review: wall of sound

The latest Symfonisk collaboration is another attempt to camouflage tech in the home

Chris Welch
This inexpensive backlight makes your big TV even more immersive

Incredible value for money

Thomas Ricker
Aqara M2 ecosystem review: a smart home for less

Why spend more?

Thomas Ricker
Google Nest Hub (2nd-gen) review: sleep on it

7

Verge Score

The new Nest Hub is just as good at being a digital photo frame as before, but it’s slow for everything else

Dan Seifert
HomeKit makes Ikea’s cheap buttons and motion sensors much more powerful

Once you figure out the setup, at least

Thomas Ricker
Amazon Echo Show 10 review: Alexa’s next move

The new Show is the first smart display that can follow you around

Dan Seifert
Eero Pro 6 review: less pro than expected

Eero’s top-shelf mesh router is advertised for gigabit speeds, but it doesn’t quite deliver

Dan Seifert
Apple HomePod Mini review: playing small ball

Apple’s newest smart speaker is way more affordable but still chasing Amazon and Google

Dan Seifert
Amazon Echo Dot (2020) review: have a ball

Amazon’s latest entry-level smart speaker has a new design, but few other improvements over the last model

Dan Seifert
Amazon Echo (2020) review: music of the sphere

Amazon’s latest Echo brings room tuning and impressive sound quality to the $100 price point

Dan Seifert
Google Nest Audio review: the sweet spot

7.5

Verge Score

Google’s latest smart speaker has good sound and an attractive price

Dan Seifert
Amazon Echo Studio review: finally, an Echo that sounds great

The Studio is a great-sounding smart speaker that has some silly gimmicks you can thankfully ignore

Dan Seifert
Petcube’s Play 2 camera makes it a little easier to be away from your pets

It has a built-in laser, Alexa support, and more

Cameron Faulkner