Smart home news, reviews, and guides — making your home smarter.
Smart home news, reviews, and guides — making your home smarter.
Google Home’s October 2026 app update switches existing Philips Hue bridges to local Matter control through Google Home hubs — automatically, with no re-pairing. Lights get faster, more reliable, and keep working during internet outages.
Read MoreToday’s verified smart home deals include a fingerprint smart lock at 35% off, two robot vacuums from Shark and Roborock, a sub-$15 Wi-Fi bulb two-pack, and a 2K video doorbell with no monthly fees. All prices checked on retailer product pages this morning.
Read MoreApple’s Home Collection adds two smart thermostats from LG and Schneider Electric ($199.95 each), with Adaptive Temperature presence control, Matter and Thread support, on-device wire detection, and Clean Energy Guidance. We break down pricing, HVAC compatibility, installation options, and what the launch means for Apple-centric smart homes ahead of the December 2026 release.
Read MoreApple’s $149 HomePod mini 2 can now act as the default speaker for your Mac — no AirPlay juggling required — but the fine print says the Mac must have Wi-Fi 6E or later. Here is the full compatibility list, how stereo pairing works, why the second-generation HomePod complicates Apple’s wording, and how the new connection compares with AirPlay.
Read MoreTech reviewer Marques Brownlee is ‘not convinced’ by Apple’s $299 HomeView smart display, calling it ‘a skip for most people’ over overlap with iPhone and iPad, no App Store, and pricey wall-mount extras. Here is what his first impressions get right — and what Apple must fix before the November 13 launch.
Read MoreGoogle is testing firmware 3.79.550760 for the original Google Home, Home Mini, Nest Mini, and Nest Audio, bringing improvements to audio streaming, Wi-Fi connectivity, Google Assistant, smart home controls, and stability. Here is which devices are covered, how to check your version, and why continued support for decade-old speakers matters.
Read MoreToday’s best smart home deals (October 15): the eufy Smart Lock C33 at 40% off, Philips Hue White Ambiance bulbs at 36% off, a Roborock Q10 robot vacuum at 35% off, the Blink Video Doorbell at 20% off, and the Emerson Sensi smart thermostat at 15% off. All prices were verified on Best Buy and Walmart US this morning.
Read MoreApple’s new $299 HomeView smart display has no App Store, but updated developer documentation shows third-party audio and video apps will work through the CarPlay framework, and iPhone widgets can appear on the hub too. Here is how the pairing model works, what needs an iPhone nearby, and what it means for the smart home race.
Read MoreSKYX Platforms Corp. has completed its merger with Deako, a smart home technology supplier to more than 50 U.S. home builders including D.R. Horton and Toll Brothers. The combined company targets the AI smart home, builder and hotel markets with an estimated pipeline of over 4 million units at about $50 per product, plus expected annual savings of more than $6 million from operational synergies.
Read MoreAqara has launched the Smart Lock U600, a Matter-over-Thread smart lock designed specifically for British multipoint doors, with Apple HomeKey, Samsung Wallet Key, and fingerprint unlocking. Priced at £229.99 and available now on Amazon UK, it fills a long-standing gap for UK Apple Home users who previously had to replace their door hardware.
Read More