Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews News & Reviews

Reviews | Home Surveillance / Video Doorbell Cameras / CCTV | Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews
Aosu SolarCam D1 Classic Review with Upgraded HomeBase & Six Cameras
ByJames Smythe 21st August 202511th August 2025
I reviewed the Aosu C9C-4H SolarCam D1 Classic Kit Review a little over a year ago and was impressed with the kit, with the standout features being the built-in solar panel for improved battery life, auto tracking, pan/tilt, and motion detection. Aosu has now upgraded this system, which now includes support for six cameras. So, are…
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News | Gift Guides & Shopping | Guides / How To | Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews
How much does it cost to run a portable air conditioner, and how quickly does it cool a room? [Updated with August 2025 price cap]
ByJames Smythe 15th August 2025
2025 UPDATE: With us having a particularly warm heat wave in the past week, I thought it would be a good time to refresh my post on the running cost of portable air con units. This was originally written in 2021, when electricity was still relatively cheap (I was paying less than 14p/kWh). Times have…
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Reviews | Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews
Govee Torchiere Smart Floor Lamp Review
ByJames Smythe 2nd August 20255th August 2025
Over the years, I have reviewed a large number of smart light products, with me eventually settling on Philips Hue for my house. It is an undeniably expensive ecosystem to choose, but they are arguably the best. One brand I often mention as an alternative option in my reviews is Govee. They seem to have…
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Reviews | Robot Vacuum / Cleaning | Robot Vacuums / Cordless Vacuums
Yeedi S16 Plus Robot Vacuum Review vs M14 Plus
ByJames Smythe 26th July 202523rd July 2025
I recently reviewed the Yeedi M14 Plus Robot Vacuum & Mop. I was great, but as always, disappointing that Yeedi have not launched it in the UK. They have now launched the S16 Plus, and Yeedi claims this is the most advanced and powerful flagship robot vacuum to date. However, it is strikingly similar in…
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Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews
Reolink Elite Floodlight WiFi Review
ByJames Smythe 21st July 20256th August 2025
I previously reviewed the Reolink Duo Floodlight PoE back in 2023, which was essentially the same as the Reolink Duo 2but withtwo big floodlights bolted to it. They later released the Reolink Duo 3, both in WiFi and PoE versions, but did not release a corresponding floodlight camera. The Reolink Elite Floodlight WiFi is different…
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Reviews | Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews
Nuki Smart Lock Pro 5th Gen Review with Keypad 2.0
ByJames Smythe 21st July 202521st July 2025
I reviewed the Nuki Smart Lock 2.0 back in 2019, which was my first review of a smart lock that integrated with your existing door hardware and allowed you to continue using your key. At the time, I was somewhat critical of the way it mounted on UK door handles, but since then, I have…
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Robot Vacuum / Cleaning
Yeedi S16 Plus vs M14 Plus Robot Vacuum & Mop
ByJames Smythe 14th July 202514th July 2025
I reviewed the Yeedi M14 Plus Robot Vacuum & Mop at the end of May and thought it was excellent. My main issue with it was that Yeedi don’t launch these advanced models in the UK. They have now launched the S16 Plus, and Yeedi claims this is the most advanced and powerful flagship robot…
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Reviews | Home Surveillance / Video Doorbell Cameras / CCTV
Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 Review
ByJames Smythe 10th July 20259th July 2025
I reviewed the Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4 over two years ago and thought it was an excellent video doorbell camera ideal for anyone invested in Aqara or Apple HomeKit. The new Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 is an evolution of the G4. The G410 is equipped with a 2K sensor for high-definition video output…
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Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews
Nuki Enters US Market with Award-Winning Smart Lock Technology
ByJames Smythe 2nd July 20251st July 2025
Austrian smart lock manufacturer Nuki has officially launched its flagship product in the United States, marking a significant expansion for Europe’s leading smart access solutions provider. The Nuki Smart Lock, which has gained recognition as a 2025 CES Innovation Awards Honoree, brings European engineering precision to American consumers seeking advanced home security solutions. Company Background…
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Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews
Philips Hue Expands Smart Lighting Portfolio with Play Wall Washer and AI Assistant
ByJames Smythe 17th June 202517th June 2025
Signify has announced a new addition to the Philips Hue smart lighting range with the launch of the Play wall washer. This product aims to provide a more immersive home entertainment experience through wide-angle lighting and dynamic sync capabilities. Alongside this release, Philips Hue is expanding the rollout of its generative AI assistant, with the…
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Reviews | Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews
Aqara Smart Lock U200 Lite Review
ByJames Smythe 17th June 202517th June 2025
I previously reviewed the Aqara Smart Lock U200, and at the time, it was my favourite smart lock I had tried. I continued to use it as my primary smart lock until May this year, when I reviewed the SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo. I am tempted to move back as I have had to…
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Reviews | Home Surveillance / Video Doorbell Cameras / CCTV | Smart Home & Home Automation News & Reviews
Reolink Altas Review – A 2K true colour battery powered surveilance camera with an impressive battery
ByJames Smythe 16th June 202517th June 2025
I have previously reviewed the very impressive Reolink Altas PT Ultra, which is a pan and tilt camera with a 4K sensor that can capture true colour night footage. As amazing as it is, the pan-tilt design with auto-tracking inevitably requires a lot of power. Reolink did their best to overcome this problem by using…
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