Smart Home
17 buying decisions in smart home, each synthesized from independent testing and real owner reports. We name the pick - and the popular option to skip.
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Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Mid-Range Robot Vacuums in 2026 (and the One to Skip) Four robot vacuums compared by floor type, mop mechanism, obstacle avoidance and dock chores, with exact-model and condition checks for Black Friday offers. Our pick: Deebot T80S OMNI
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Outdoor Security Cameras: Wide Coverage Without the Monthly Trap We compared four outdoor security cameras on coverage, night vision and the subscription fine print. The winners record locally with no fee; one is a hard skip. Our pick: Reolink Argus 4 Pro
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Displays: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) We compared four buyable-in-2026 smart displays on assistant smarts, screen quality, smart-home control, and privacy. Our pick: Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025 release)
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Garage Door Openers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) We compared four retrofit smart garage controllers on ecosystem support, cloud dependence, sensor reliability, and setup to find who each one is really for. Our pick: Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener (MSG100)
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Home Hubs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) We compared four leading 2026 smart home hubs on local control, protocol support, device compatibility, setup effort, and automation power. Our pick: Home Assistant Green
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Light Bulbs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) We compared four color-changing smart bulbs on brightness, color quality, app reliability, and ecosystem depth to find real winners. Our pick: Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 (75W)
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Locks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) We compared four current smart locks on security, keyless entry, smart-home fit, install effort, and battery to find the honest winners. Our pick: Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Plugs (2026): Matter, Energy Monitoring, and One to Skip Most smart plugs look identical, but ecosystem lock-in, missing energy monitoring, and cloud-only control separate the ones worth buying from the ones to skip. Our pick: Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim EP25
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) We compared four current smart smoke and CO detectors on detection, phone alerts, install and value - two clear buys, one it-depends, and one to skip. Our pick: First Alert SC5 Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Speakers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) Four screen-free voice-assistant speakers compared on sound quality, assistant smarts, smart-home hub duty, and ecosystem fit. Our pick: Sonos Era 100
Top pick +1 to skip 
Best Smart Thermostats of 2026: Honest Picks and One to Skip We compared four current smart thermostats on scheduling, sensors, air-quality tracking, and wiring quirks to find which are worth installing and which to skip. Our pick: Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Video Doorbells in 2026 (and the One to Skip) We compared four 2026 video doorbells on local storage, package views, and honest subscription costs, plus the one privacy-hostile pick we tell buyers to skip. Our pick: eufy Video Doorbell E340
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Indoor Security Cameras: 6 Compared (and One to Skip) We compared six plug-in indoor cameras on resolution, field of view, what you get without a subscription, local storage, privacy controls and smart home support. Our pick: Google Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen)
Top pick +1 to skip 
Which Smart Light Switch Actually Fits Your Wiring? We compared six smart light switches and dimmers on neutral wire requirements, hub needs, rated loads, multi-way support and the safety listing each maker names. Our pick: Lutron Caséta Diva Smart Dimmer Switch
Top pick +1 to skip 
Smart Sprinkler Controllers: Which to Buy and Which to Skip We compared six Wi-Fi sprinkler controllers on zone count, weather-based scheduling, WaterSense status, offline behavior, outdoor rating and the listings each maker publishes. Our pick: Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Water Leak Detectors: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) We compared four smart water leak systems on protection type, install effort, range, hub needs, and subscription traps to find who each one is really for. Our pick: Moen Flo Smart Water Shutoff
Top pick +1 to skip 
The Best Smart Blind & Shade Motors: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) We compared four ways to motorize the blinds and shades you already own on fit, noise, smart-home support, install effort and reliability. Our pick: Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1