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The latest smart home and automation news and reviews.

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Philips Hue Lightguide Ellipse bulb review: If it fits, it's gorgeous

Just don't assume this will be the only light you need to illuminate your space

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Philips' Lightguide Ellipse smart bulb is a big, glass RGB wonder that looks as good as it functions, but it's not for everyone. It's a statement piece as much as it is an incredible RGB light; as such, it's more expensive than a conventional, colorful Hue light bulb, gives you less light, and might not look good with your free fixtures. It's more fashion than form, but if it works for your space and design aesthetic, it's one of the more compelling smart bulbs you can buy.

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Kickstart your smart home for just $90 with this Philips Hue bundle deal

The bundle includes two 60W Hue bulbs and a Hue bridge

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Philips Hue makes what are easily some of the best smart lighting products around. They are easy to set up and use, they're packed full of features, and they support most major smart home platforms. They tend to be on the more expensive side, though, so anytime one of them receives a notable discount, we jump on it. Such is the case with today's deal on the Philips Hue Smart LED Starter Kit. It includes everything you need to kickstart a smart home lighting system, and for a limited time, it's on sale for just $90.

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Best smart home security systems in 2023

The most reliable and comprehensive smart home security systems available

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Smart home technology can be fun and convenient, but it can also save lives, property, and lifetime memories. These days, powerful security cameras, dependable Wi-Fi networking, and straight-to-consumer home security systems are more reliable, available, and affordable than ever. Coupled with constantly refined smart home devices, now's a better time than ever to protect your loved ones and belongings from emergencies.

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Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) vs. Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen): Is it worth the display?

They're similar, but there are key differences

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If you're looking for an affordable voice assistant, Amazon's Echo Dot models are among the best smart speakers you can buy. While they don't provide the kind of sound quality that will make you want to use them as primary speakers, they're affordable enough that you can drop one in nearly every room, letting you call on Alexa from anywhere in your home.

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Brighten up your smart home with 20% off two or more Philips Hue products at Best Buy

The discounts apply to Hue light bulbs, light strips, and bridges

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Philips Hue is to smart lights what Ring is for doorbell cameras. The company has been making innovative lighting products for a long time now, and there are few things easier to recommend in the tech space than a bulb or light strip with its insignia on it. The only real caveat of the Hue line is that its products tend to be on the more expensive side, so we try to jump on any sales when they arise, and there just so happens to be one going on at Best Buy. The retailer is taking 20% off any two or more (eligible) Hue smart home items.

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Best smart doorbells that support Google Assistant in 2023

In the market for a smart doorbell with Google Assistant support? Here are the best of the lot!

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In recent years, there has been a remarkable surge in the popularity of smart doorbells. These compact devices -- the digital successors to traditional doorbells -- have transcended their humble origins and evolved into comprehensive security instruments. While these devices have many features, even some of the best smart doorbell cameras lack Google Assistant support. If this specific feature is an important factor, the following smart doorbells deserve your attention.

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Best smart speakers in 2023

There's a capable and great-sounding smart speaker out there for you

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Even though you can control a basic smart home setup with nothing more than your smartphone, adding a smart speaker will make things much easier — and it's nearly indispensable once you begin expanding into more lights and other devices like thermostats, door locks, and smart TVs. Most importantly, a smart speaker nearby saves you from reaching for your phone to talk to Alexa or Google Assistant.

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Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni review: Outstanding cleaning for willing micromanagers

Hot water cleaning makes it one of the most effective robot mops, but it requires too much babysitting to be fully autonomous

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Competition has been fierce on the robot vacuum market, with iRobot’s Roomba vacuums initially dominating — until younger brands like Roborock, Dreametech and Ecovacs started making more capable and cheaper alternatives.

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Ring Video Doorbell 4 vs Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2: Which should you buy?

Is it worth going pro with your Ring doorbell?

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A video doorbell is a simple tool in itself, but when paired with robust software, it can prove critical for your home's safety. Amazon-owned Ring has nailed that combination, which is precisely why the Ring Video Doorbell 4 and the Video Doorbell Pro 2 are so well-received in their class. The two smart doorbells share the same DNA and offer feature parity on many fronts, coming from the same brand. But their fundamental approach is quite different, which could make or break the deal for you.

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Post-Prime Day deal saves you $300 on the powerful Roborock Q5+ robot vacuum

One of Roborock’s bestsellers is down to only $400

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Technology hasn't advanced quite far enough to give us a tool that magically cleans our homes with just the snap of a finger, but there's something close: robot vacuums. These loyal servants tidy up floors without requiring you to lift a finger and cover places you don't usually see — much less want to be bothered to reach. The best part? You won't hear them complaining. Although it might be you complaining when you learn just how much the really high-quality ones cost, we've got a killer deal to spare you that kind of sticker shock.

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Best Ring Video Doorbell in 2023: How to pick the right one for you

Stay safe with the best Ring Video Doorbells currently available

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Sure, the security angle of a video doorbell, especially paired with the best smart home security systems, is a huge selling point. We all want to keep our homes safe and secure from robbery and home invasion. However, the home surveillance benefits go beyond security. Whether they are solicitors, salespeople, overeager neighbors, or hungry bears, we all have reasons we'd rather not answer the door.

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How to factory reset your Roomba vacuum

A few steps to clear your settings and start over

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iRobot's Roomba vacuum cleaners are some of the most popular vacuums on the market because of their ease of use and reliability. However, they're not perfect, and you may sometimes run into issues. To solve them, you can reset yours to its factory settings and start over, which may help get things back on track. Alternatively, you could do the same if you want to sell your robot vacuum and get an even better one like the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra or Dreame L10s Ultra.

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Late Prime Day deal drops Ecobee's best thermostat to its coolest price yet

Ecobee doesn't need Prime Day to take $40 off its Premium thermostat

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We may be officially past Amazon Prime Day, but that's not stopping some retailers from dropping late deals that deserve a look. We saw some pretty great Prime Day smart home deals this year, but one of the best yet just dropped to keep the party going. Ecobee offers one of the best smart thermostats on the market right now, but with a standard price tag of $250, it's one of the most expensive options you can go with, aside from the Google Nest Learning Thermostat. However, Ecobee skipped Prime Day altogether and just dropped their Premium smart thermostat down to its best price ever, taking $40 off this top-of-the-line option for a limited time.

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Say hello to this classic Nest wired doorbell for just $70

It's feature-packed and installs using existing wiring

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Smart doorbells have gotten incredibly affordable over the years, dropping from $200+ to well under $100 — that is, unless you are entrenched in the Google ecosystem and are looking for a Nest option. Even the best Prime Day deals couldn't bring the Nest doorbell below the $100 threshold, but luckily, we found a workaround. The original Nest Doorbell, which you might remember as the Nest Hello, has a lot of the same features that the newer models offer, and it's available right now for just $70.

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Best Prime Day Govee deals you can still find at Amazon

Govee still has a bunch of great deals on smart lighting and appliances despite Prime Day proper coming to and end

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Amazon's Prime Day has officially come to a close, but many great deals are still live. As we were busy curating the savings, it became apparent that Govee had a ton of great products on sale. If you've been checking out our curated list of the best Prime Day smart home deals, you'll notice the name throughout the categories.

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Prime Day 2023: Best smart home deals still available

Is your home not smart enough? Teach it a few things with these great Prime Day smart home deals still available

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Amazon's Prime Day event has officially come to a close, but as expected there are still plenty of great smart home deals of which you can take advantage. Some of the best smart home gadgets available continue to enjoy a discount. These gadgets can transform regular appliances, speakers, lights, and controls into intelligent devices, but their high costs can often deter some consumers.

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Best smart home security system with no monthly fee in 2023

Discover reliable and robust smart home security systems with no monthly fee to secure your property in this informative roundup

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Home security systems with no monthly fee deliver many of the benefits of a professional home security system without a contract or cost. Set up and configure the smart security devices supplied, then monitor your home security system yourself, using a dedicated app or a connected alarm to deter intruders. With so many of these smart devices and packages to choose from, it can be difficult to know which security system will be best for your property. To help you, I've rounded up a selection of the best smart home security systems with no monthly fee.

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3 of our favorite gadgets hit their lowest prices ever on Prime Day — and they’re still discounted

These gadgets have never been cheaper, and you can still buy them before Prime Day concludes

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The two-day Amazon Prime Day sales event has been a whirlwind, and as the second day draws to a close you can be sure that we're still sniffing out deals that shouldn't go unnoticed. In particular, we're highlighting here some products that have never been cheaper until this year's Prime Day pricing.

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Make almost any garage door smart with this cheap Prime Day accessory deal

One of our recommended models is selling for 33% off

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If you have ever been overwhelmed by a wave of paranoia halfway on the drive to work because you think you left the garage door open, a smart garage door opener could be a great addition to your smart home arsenal. Most of our favorite smart garage door openers are Chamberlain products, and the myQ Chamberlain smart garage control is our pick for its ease of installation and simplicity of operation.

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5 brilliant Philips Hue Prime Day deals you can’t afford to miss

Philips has some tasty standalone products and bundles on sale for day two of Prime Day

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We've now entered the back half of Amazon's Prime Day event, and we're still seeing many of the same great deals, along with some new highlights. If you've been shopping around for the best Prime Day smart home deals, you've probably come across a bunch of smart lighting options.