TP-Link Kasa vs Tapo:  You can now use Kasa devices with the Tapo app, but it is still a complete mess of a smart home ecosystem  

TP-Link Kasa vs Tapo:  You can now use Kasa devices with the Tapo app, but it is still a complete mess of a smart home ecosystem  

I will preface this by saying I love TP-Link networking and smart home products. I personally use a large number of the Kasa and Tapo smart plugs. The Tapo P110 (and now the P110M) are the best smart plugs on the market due to their affordable nature and energy monitoring. I have also recently invested…

Best Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves – Programmable TRVs with WiFi / Bluetooth to save on heating costs this winter
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Best Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves – Programmable TRVs with WiFi / Bluetooth to save on heating costs this winter

This post was originally written in November 2021. In 2022, with our energy bills significantly higher, this post is more relevant than ever. I have therefore updated it with some new products. Following on from my smart electric radiator post, this post covers smart programmable radiator valves. Most press coverage and advertising focus on smart…

Meross Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor Review – MS100FHHK
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Meross Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor Review – MS100FHHK

Following on from my reviews of the superb Meross MSP843P Smart Fast Charging Power Strip and the good, albeit with a flawed design Meross Outdoor Smart Plug, I have also been checking out the MS100FHHK Smart Temperature and Humidity Sensor. This is an innovative addition to the world of smart home devices. With its unique…

Hoover HFX Pet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Review
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Hoover HFX Pet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Review

I have previously reviewed the excellent Hoover HL4 upright vacuum cleaner and the HF9 anti-twist cordless vacuum cleaner and continue to use them as they are both excellent for their respective uses. The Hoover HFX cordless vacuum is the latest launch and has an innovative design that allows you to detach the main head and…

Aqara Launches New E1 Security Camera with Advanced Features
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Aqara Launches New E1 Security Camera with Advanced Features

Aqara, a leading smart home company, has announced the launch of its latest home security camera called the Camera E1. The budget-friendly camera offers premium features and compatibility with top smart home platforms. Overview of the Camera E1 The Camera E1 is now widely available across North America, Europe and from select retailers worldwide. It…

Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat Valve Review vs Aqara Smart Radiator Thermostat E1 Valve & Genius Hub Valve [Starter Kit V3+]
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Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat Valve Review vs Aqara Smart Radiator Thermostat E1 Valve & Genius Hub Valve [Starter Kit V3+]

Tado is a smart home heating company that offers intelligent thermostats and radiator valves to provide control over heating in each room of your home. I regularly recommend Tado because they seem to offer the best balance of performance, features and price. While I did use Tado in its early days, I switched to Genius…

SwitchBot Launches K10+, the World’s Smallest Robot Vacuum
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SwitchBot Launches K10+, the World’s Smallest Robot Vacuum

SwitchBot has announced the launch of its latest product, the SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ (K10+). The pint-sized vacuum first debuted on the Japanese crowdfunding platform Makuake earlier this year, where it quickly became a top-selling robot vacuum. A Mini Vacuum with Max Cleaning Power At half the size of traditional robot vacuums, the K10+…

Twinkly Brightens Up Christmas 2023 With New Holiday Lighting Options
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Twinkly Brightens Up Christmas 2023 With New Holiday Lighting Options

Christmas is just around the corner, and Italian smart lighting company Twinkly is debuting new products to help households deck their halls this holiday season. Twinkly aims to make Christmas lighting displays easy yet dazzling, with app-controlled lights that can display customized animations and effects. This year Twinkly is introducing the new Twinkly Plus line…

What’s the difference between a Thread Border Router (TBR) vs Full Thread Device (FTDs) vs Minimal Thread Device (MTDs)

What’s the difference between a Thread Border Router (TBR) vs Full Thread Device (FTDs) vs Minimal Thread Device (MTDs)

I have previously written quite a bit about Thread, the low-power, wireless mesh networking protocol designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Within the Thread ecosystem, different device roles and types, such as Thread Border Routers (TBRs), Full Thread Devices (FTDs), and Minimal Thread Devices (MTDs), are defined to cater to various use cases and…

OKP K5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review
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OKP K5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review

The OKP K5 is an affordable robot vacuum cleaner with strong suction, smart features, and long battery life. After testing, I found it cleans thoroughly on hard floors and carpets, has good obstacle avoidance, and is very easy to use. The main issue is the lack of proper mapping with LiDAR or vSLAM that you…

Twinkly Candies Review – USB-C power makes these smart string lights much more versatile for holiday decorations
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Twinkly Candies Review – USB-C power makes these smart string lights much more versatile for holiday decorations

Twinly recently announced their latest range of smart string lights, the Twinkly Candies. These are available to buy now, with plenty of time to get them for either Halloween or Christmas. These new lights come in two lengths and four shapes, including candles, hearts, pearls and stars. Testing these in September, I haven’t had the…