Home automation allows you to monitor and control devices and appliances in your home remotely. Connected products like smart lights, thermostats, security cameras, locks, and more can be programmed to turn on/off automatically or controlled manually from anywhere.
Home automation systems communicate through wireless protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee or are hardwired into a home’s electrical system. Cloud services and digital assistants enable voice control.
We test and review the latest smart home and automation products to help build your connected dream home. See our home automation buying guides, news, deals, product comparisons, and advice to add convenience, security, and savings.
I have been a big fan of smart locks for several years now. My preference has typically been smart locks, which use your existing hardware and work by turning the key in the cylinder. I currently have the SwitchBot Lock Pro on my back door and the Aqara Smart Lock U200 Review on my front…
Aqara has revealed its latest smart home product lineup at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, showcasing new in-wall controls, sensors, and Matter-compatible devices that enhance home automation capabilities. New In-Wall Control Systems Panel Hub S1 PlusThe flagship Panel Hub S1 Plus stands out with its 6.9-inch touchscreen interface, designed to replace traditional light switches whilst…
Aqara has showcased an array of new smart home solutions at IFA 2024 in Berlin. The company’s latest offerings span various categories, including home security, safety, energy efficiency, and interoperability. Enhanced Home Security and Safety Camera Hub G5 Pro: Advanced Outdoor Surveillance Aqara’s first foray into outdoor surveillance cameras, the Camera Hub G5 Pro, marks…
I have previously reviewed the excellent but very expensive Luxaflex PowerView Smart Home Blinds and the affordable Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1. SmartWings are another popular option and sit somewhere in the middle in terms of price, quality and features. Unlike the Luxaflex, these are self-install options, so you need to measure everything yourself and…
Philips Hue has launched a range of new products and app features designed to enhance home lighting experiences. Introduction of Philips Hue Twilight for Better Sleep Among the highlights is the Philips Hue Twilight, a new sleep and wake-up light designed to support users’ circadian rhythms. The Twilight light, available in both white and black,…
Following on from the announcement of the Aqara Hub M3, which is one of the most advanced smart home hubs on the market with Matter, Thread, and Zigbee support, Aqara has also announced two additional smart home devices at CES 2024. Border Router Plug First to Add Thread Support The headline product launch was Aqara’s…
In the increasingly crowded marketplace of robot vacuums, the technologies that power these nifty devices have become more advanced and varied. When it comes to navigation and mapping—key features that differentiate a sophisticated robot vacuum from a glorified dustpan—two technologies seem to stand out: Camera vSLAM and LiDAR Mapping. As someone who has dived deep…
The Aqara Camera E1 was launched globally last month and claims to offer premium capabilities found in more expensive security cameras. These premium features include 2K video resolution with a wide-angle f/2.0 lens, local person and sound detection, 360-degree pan and tilt, local recordings, NAS recording and App HomeKit compatibility. Specification / Features HomeKit Secure…
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…
![Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat Valve Review vs Aqara Smart Radiator Thermostat E1 Valve & Genius Hub Valve [Starter Kit V3+]](https://mightygadget.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Tado-Smart-Radiator-Thermostat-Valve-Review-768x578.jpg "Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat Valve Review")
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…
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…
While many brands out there have smart plug sockets, there are only a handful of options for smart power strips. TP-Link Kasa is the best-known brand that has a smart power strip, with the KP303, which is a three-plug strip and two USB-A ports. Many other brands are random companies that produce strips which use…
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