Smart home news, reviews, and guides — making your home smarter.
Smart home news, reviews, and guides — making your home smarter.
Ring has announced its first-ever smart lock, headlined by a hand-powered charging dial that solves the dead-battery problem every smart lock owner dreads. Launching in the U.S. in early 2027, the Ring Smart Lock adds fingerprint, keypad, app, and Alexa entry, connects over Amazon Sidewalk, and slots into Ring’s doorbell-camera-alarm ecosystem. Here is what we know — and the questions Ring has not answered yet.
Read MoreBest Buy’s Techtober sale ends tomorrow — and the smart home deals are still live. We verified four genuine discounts today, October 10: the Roborock Qrevo 2 Prolite robot vacuum at 31% off, a TP-Link Tapo fingerprint smart lock at 27% off, a Wyze battery video doorbell at 24% off, and Govee Dreamview TV backlight strips at 26% off. Every price was checked on the live US product page. Here are today’s best smart home deals.
Read MoreAqara has launched in Canadian Tire stores nationwide, bringing its smart home lineup to over 500 locations starting October 9. The debut covers five Matter-compatible devices — sensors, a smart lock, and security cameras — that work with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings. Here’s what the partnership means for Canadian smart home shoppers.
Read MoreWith just days to go before Apple’s “Welcome Home” launch on October 13, leaker Jon Prosser has shared detailed 3D renders of the company’s long-rumored smart home hub. The iMac G4-inspired design, 6-inch square display, and Siri AI integration could make the “HomePad” the centerpiece of Apple’s rebooted smart home strategy.
Read MoreXiaomi has launched its Robot Vacuum 6 series in South Africa with three models offering up to 35,000Pa suction, AI obstacle recognition, and bionic legs that climb 6cm steps. The 6 Max packs a self-cleaning station with 85°C mop washing and a retractable LiDAR that slips under 9.3cm furniture clearances.
Read MoreOnvis has released an outdoor smart plug built on Matter over Thread, with real-time energy monitoring, IP65 weather resistance, and an 1800W rating. The plug works natively with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings with no vendor hub required, making it one of the most practical Matter accessory launches of the season.
Read MoreA leak published October 9, 2026 reveals “Proximity Control,” a new iOS 27 feature exclusive to Apple’s co-developed “second-party” home accessories with LG. Tapping or bringing an iPhone near a device pops its controls out of the Dynamic Island — thermostats show an “Open Controls” button, cameras show a viewer. The feature could be previewed at Apple’s October 13 “Welcome home” event.
Read MoreStill hunting for smart home deals after Prime Big Deal Days? We’ve rounded up five verified discounts — up to 51% off — including robot vacuums with self-cleaning stations, a Matter floor lamp, a smart curtain robot, and a 2.5K security camera bundle. Every price was checked on the official product page on October 9, so these are real savings, not inflated MSRP games.
Read MoreLeaked iOS 27.2 code shows Schneider Electric joining LG in Apple’s new ‘second-party’ Home accessories program, with a smart thermostat and temperature/humidity sensor that get special HomeKit treatment. Here’s what the leak reveals and what it means for the October 13 ‘Welcome home’ event.
Read MoreApple’s rumored “second-party” smart home accessories from LG and Schneider Electric may feature a HomeKit-exclusive tap-to-set-up shortcut that begins pairing over NFC before the device is even powered on. The October 8 leak, based on iOS 27 code and LG device firmware, suggests tap-to-pair credentials would be staged in the accessory’s secure element, with the home hub completing Matter setup automatically.
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