Hailey Bieber's viral Erewheon smoothie has taken the internet by storm. But at $19 a pop, it's a pretty spendy beverage. 

That's why I dug around online to figure out how Hailey makes her own concoctions at home and I tracked down the exact blender she uses to get that creamy result. And Hailey isn't the only one who loves it — it's highly rated by customers with thousands of reviews. 

If you're looking for highly-rated small kitchen appliances that you can use to whip up tasty treats, her Vitamix is well worth checking on. 

Hailey Bieber's blender for perfect smoothies

A super-powered blender is always a good investment for whipping up sauces, making smooth soups, or blending frozen beverages. 

It's safe to say Hailey Bieber is the queen of blending, with her smoothie collaboration with luxe California grocery store, Erewhon, dominating TikTok and Instagram. The Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie is made from a base of almond milk, organic strawberries, and avocado and supplemented with collagen and sea moss. 

While packed full of nutrients, I certainly don't feel like forking out more than $19 every time I want a refreshing drink. That's where Hailey's kitchen appliances come in.

The model and owner of the beauty brand, Rhode, recently shared a TikTok of her whipping up a smoothie at home. The recipe comes from none other than her mega-star husband, Justin Bieber, as she adds almond milk, a banana, blueberries, raspberries, and protein powder to the mix. 

Hailey has great taste in kitchen supplies like the HexClad pans she uses for making dishes like pesto kelp noodles, so I had to know which blender she prefers. I searched online and tracked down the model that's loved by fans and celebs alike. 

Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender

The model Hailey swears by is one of the best blenders on the market. The Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender is a powerful machine, with a 1400-watt motor. It's capable of 10 variable speeds including a pulse feature. The stainless steel blades measure three inches in diameter for an even blend. It's easy to take care of too, as the 48-ounce container is dishwasher-friendly. The only downside is it's quite hefty, weighing in at 11.5 pounds.

Hailey's not alone in her love of this machine. With over 5,000 ratings, one shopper says, "I can't express how much I adore my Vitamix E310 blender! This machine is an absolute powerhouse in the kitchen and has transformed the way I prepare meals. From smoothies to soups to nut butters, this blender handles everything with ease."

More blenders on sale

Looking for an option that's a little more budget-friendly? If you're running out of places to store appliances in a small kitchen, then maybe a smaller model is for you. I scrolled through dozens of blender listings on Amazon, and read hundreds of reviews to find blenders customers say are worth the splurge.

Ready to snag more deals recommended by your favorite celebs? I found Reese Witherspoon's Smeg appliances and Martha Stewart's Amazon homeware essentials are chic and timeless. Start cooking with these superstar kitchen buys.

Are your pots and pans looking a little worn out? I know mine are, which is why I've been looking on Amazon for cookware bestsellers that are popular with shoppers right now.

I looked through hundreds of pages on the site to find pieces that look beautiful and are incredibly efficient at sizzling up food in the kitchen. From the classic pan reviewers can't get enough of to full sets with different-sized pots, I've found something for everyone.

Whether you're searching for cookware thanks to Amazon sale events or just want to grab a bargain on the site, there are plenty of pieces that are hot and helpful.

Amazon's #1 cookware bestseller

More Amazon cookware bestsellers

While the pan up top is the number one bestseller, there are lots of other cookware bestsellers that are great options, whether you're searching for Amazon dorm essentials or a durable alternative to the Our Place pan.

Amazon bestsellers are always useful to search for when scouring the site, as these are picks that are approved by lots of shoppers, meaning you can rest assured when you buy them. It's also a label retailers cannot buy, meaning Amazon's software has taken into consideration the customer ratings, frequency of purchase and how it performs in comparison to other similar items on offer when labeling it a bestseller.

If the kitchen isn't the only area you're searching for items for, then Amazon outdoor entertaining bestsellers may also come in handy.

When it comes to creating the perfect abode, Martha Stewart knows exactly what she's doing when it comes to selecting brilliant home essentials.

So, I'm not surprised that the Martha Stewart Amazon store is filled with beautiful homewares that reflect her style. I've spent hours going through it, sorting through kitchen essentials, bathroom picks, and soft bedding that are all rated four stars and above. As Real Homes' content editor, I have a keen eye for pieces that are both pretty and practical.

While Amazon furniture is well worth scoping out, it's also a good idea to check the site for fabulous finishing touches that will enhance your place even further.

Martha Stewart kitchen buys

Cook up a storm in the kitchen just like Martha with these essentials that are approved by the cooking pro herself.

Martha Stewart bedding buys

Sweet dreams are made of these bedding essentials, which will help you drift off in style no matter what the season is.

Martha Stewart bathroom buys

If you're looking for bathroom ideas that are timeless, Martha's got you covered with these charming designs.

Martha's fantastic at making a house feel like a home, and finishing touches like these decor picks  will help you achieve this, too.

If you're not done scouting out celeb home collabs, Gwyneth Paltrow's Ruggable range is also full of lovely designs.

Finding the best Amazon living room furniture can be a tricky task, as there are many thousands of pieces on the site. Our guide will help you find key pieces that look stylish and sophisticated, without you having to scroll for hours.

When decorating your living room, the best page to visit is Amazon's living room furniture page. If you’re a Prime member, you can also enjoy next-day delivery on most of these too, making redecorating a total breeze.

Amazon also has great discounts throughout the year, including on sales days such as Amazon Prime Day, which is coming up this July. I've spent hours going through the site, looking for the best Amazon living room furniture buys that are chic, highly rated by shoppers who completely fell in love with them and have great features.

How to choose the best Amazon living room furniture

Looking to find your own living room furniture? Here are a few things to consider when shopping the site: 

• Size: Check the measurements of the furniture you’re looking at buying, and measure it up against the space you have. If the size isn’t listed (which sometimes isn’t on Amazon), it’s a good idea to be wary about purchasing.
• Ratings: Look at the average star rating of the product and check how many it has. It’s a good idea to make sure the product has an average of four stars and plenty of written reviews from verified buyers.
• Labels: Amazon often labels products as its choice or as bestsellers. This is a good indication that Amazon itself recommends the product, as the site hosts lots of external sellers.

Ready to get started? My carefully curated living room furniture list exclusively from Amazon includes a range of pieces from Amazon’s best furniture brands, that have high-star ratings and glowing shopper reviews. 

Where there are cons to the item, I've paid close attention to patterns of review comments and included them in my product descriptions to help you make an informed choice and provided advice to counter or remedy the snag if it happens to you.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

The best Amazon living room seats

These living room seats are as dreamy to relax on as they look, with trendy boucle, tub chairs, multi-functional sleeper sofas perfect for small spaces that need to double furniture items up on purpose, and comfy, affordable recliners.

The best Amazon TV stands

Living in a rental or don’t want to mount your TV to the wall? Stands are useful for displaying your TV and adding extra storage space, and can make a stand-out focus for the room, too. 

The best Amazon coffee tables

A stylish coffee table will draw the eye to wherever it's placed. My top three picks also bring vital living room storage that's not only plentiful, but largely hidden so you can hide away all your clutter and bits and bobs when friends and family pop over.

How we chose these Amazon living room furniture pieces

Unfortunately, we don’t have the space to call in thousands of Amazon furniture items buys to test ourselves — hey, we only live in small spaces! Instead, I have spent hours looking carefully through Amazon living room furniture listings, and picked out products with an average of four-star ratings and above, and ones with over 500 reviews from genuine buyers, taking particular note of their comments, any pattern of review snags, the item's specifications and the brand's shopfront information.

FAQs

Is Amazon a good place to buy living room furniture?

Amazon is a great place to buy living room furniture, as it sells a range of different products from numerous brands — from smaller independents to bigger brands. This makes it easy to find exactly what you want. 

The retailer also has a robust refund policy, and easy return processes in place so if something you've ordered for your home isn't quite right, you can start the return right from the app, or from your Amazon account. Simply navigate to orders, click on the item concerned and follow the link for return. You will often have an option to contact the seller directly, which makes it really easy to fix a small issue such as a missing component or to report damage and get a partial refund if you're happy to keep the damaged item.

Is Amazon living room furniture well-made?

This will depend on the product — be sure to check the materials and read the reviews before buying, to make sure you pick a piece that’s well-made and suitable for long-term usage. 

We generally look for items that have at least 4.5 star ratings, but will make exceptions for 4.0 star rated items if it has a lot of features we love.

Be thorough and check the pictures, materials, any videos of the items in the listing as this often shows the quality of the product better than static imagery, and pay attention to customer reviews and questions the brand has answered directly. There's often great tid-bits of information not originally listed which can become a factor in whether or not you choose to pick that item.

Now you’ve sorted out your living room, you might want to move on to shopping for a different room in the house — the office, perhaps? These Amazon office chairs are the best for supporting your back and sitting comfortably. 

Two million Cosori air fryers are being recalled due to faulty wires causing them to catch fire, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) revealed this week. Read on to see if your countertop convection oven is affected, and how to receive a free replacement if you live in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

Which Cosori models are affected?

The affected products were sold from March 2019 to December 2022. Check your paper, digital, and email receipts, as this brand is a super popular purchase at brick-and-mortar stores and at online shops like Amazon.

3.7-quart models

• CP137-AF
• CP137-AF - RXB
• CP137-AF - RXR
• CP137-AF - RXW

5.8-quart models

• CP158-AF
• CP158-AF-R19
• CP158-AF-RXW
• CAF-P58-BUSR
• CAF-P58-AUSR
• CAF-P58-RUSR

Smart 5.8-quart

• CS158-AF
• CS158-AF-RXB
• CS158-AF-R19
• CAF-P58IS-BUSR
• CAF-P58IS-RUSR
• CAF-P58IS-AUSR

Other recalled Cosori air fryers

• CO137-AF
• CO158-AF
• CO158-AF-RXB
• CP2580-AF

How to check which Cosori air fryer you have

• Option 1: To find your model number, check the bottom of the air fryer and locate the manufacturer's label. The information you need should be listed below the Cosori logo. 
• Option 2: Otherwise, your reference numbers are in the user manual.

What to do if you've got a recalled appliance

First things first — stop using the machine immediately. It might be tempting to cook just one more air fryer recipe before you pack it up for return, but the risk isn't worth it.

What caused the issues cited in the recall? Cosori's site states: "After a thorough investigation, we determined that in extremely rare circumstances, the closed-end crimp connectors within the recalled air fryers — which are responsible for establishing electrical connections between certain wires — can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards."

Cosori is offering replacement air fryers to all affected customers (registration required), so you'll have a safer updated appliance in no time at all. Even if the warranty has expired, you don't have your original receipt, it's used, or not in working condition, the brand has promised to replace your machine immediately. 

If you decide that you don't want a new air fryer, Cosori has confirmed that you can choose from a select catalog of other products, depending on the model of your air fryer.

Note: You will need to input your model number/batch number and upload three images in order to complete the recall registration.

How soon will I receive a replacement product?

Once you've registered for your replacement, you can check on your delivery status via the dedicated recall portal.

What did the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) say?

The CPSC's official page states: "Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled air fryers and contact Cosori to receive their choice of a free replacement air fryer or another Cosori product by registering at recall.cosori.com. During registration consumers must provide their contact information and submit photos of the recalled unit with the cord cut off. No receipt is needed to receive a replacement."

According to the Canadian Government's site, "...there have been 23 reports of minor property damage globally and 10 reports of minor, superficial burn injuries, including four reports in Canada,"

How to return your Cosori air fryer

According to the CPSC, you can call Cosori toll-free at 888-216-5974 from 8 am to 5 pm ET Monday through Friday, email at CosoriRecall@Sedgwick.com or go online at www.recall.cosori.com or www.cosori.com and click on the “Important Voluntary Safety Recall. Learn More” banner at the bottom of the page for more information.

Does the Cosori recall mean air fryers aren't safe?

Rest assured, air fryers are a healthy and safe way to cook. COSORI says: "The health and safety of COSORI users is our highest priority; we are recalling certain air fryers out of an abundance of caution,"

"All of our products are rigorously and routinely tested for consumer safety and are in full compliance with established industry standards. COSORI is committed to the safety of those who use and love our products, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience."

And, if you're reading this in outside of North America — you're fine. We spoke to a marketing representative from COSORI for some further clarification. They issued the following statement:

"We would like to further clarify that the recall ONLY involves those models manufactured for and sold in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. This does not impact the models manufactured for and sold in other regions, including UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia. All of COSORI products are rigorously and routinely tested for consumer safety and are in full compliance with UK & European CE standards."

If a baby monitor is one (of the many) things on your list to buy for a new arrival then our Nanit Pro review is worth a read.

I’ve been using the Nanit Pro with a floor stand for several months since my daughter arrived and although, admittedly, it took some getting used to, I couldn’t be without it now. The day and night vision has to be up there as one of the best you can get, along with all the handy functions such as two-way talk and background audio. I’m still using it, and will probably continue to use it until she sleeps through the night every night (which will be the dream) so until that point I’ll keep you informed on how the camera performs for mine and my family's needs.

If that doesn’t speak enough for how much I vouch for this camera then keep scrolling to hear more about how I’ve found the set up and using it, from day ‘til night. Whilst you’re here you may as well stop by our best baby monitor guide, to compare against more top buys. 

Nanit Pro specifications

• Video resolution: 1080P HD
• Power supply: Mains
• Subscription: 1-year subscription to the Nanit Insights app

 Who does the Nanit Pro suit? 

• Expectant parents: it’ll be on the list
• New parents: for more confidence when you’re putting baby in their crib
• Family and friends wanting to buy a (generous) gift: they can be added to the app so they can keep a watchful eye on baby, or for easy use if they get tagged in to babysit.

The setup

I’ve been testing out this baby monitor with a camera on the accompanying floor stand, so setting up the hardware was pretty intuitive and I didn’t need to get out the toolbox (hurrah). The stand has three legs and slots together in three sections, which ends up making it stand 68cm (approx) in height above the crib. The camera head – the hub of all footage, sleep tracking and temperature and humidity – then slots on to two pins.

The magic then comes once the app is downloaded onto your smartphone. The app is available on iOS, Android and Amazon Echo Show. I have an Android phone so I have only used the app on this device, but I’m sure that across other smart devices there is no differences to the user-experience. There is no parent unit with this baby monitor so you’ll need to ensure that your existing smart device is always charged and near you. When you’re watching the live stream, your device shouldn’t ‘time out’ so you’ll always have baby next to you (so long as you keep your device to hand).

With the app installed on your smart device you can start to use this smart baby monitor. To start with you’re asked to enter your child’s name, gender, due date and date of birth. This information is used for memories which are automatically stored in a digital baby book that you can share. You’ll also receive personalised messages to your inbox (from Nanit) which offer words of encouragement, guidance and ideas once a week or so, if you opt for this. 

You can add multiple users, too. Ours, for example, has Mom (that’s me) and Dad on our plan. If you upgrade your subscription for a fee, you could have up to a whopping 50 parenting team members. You may have noticed here that I snuck some English-American language in (Mom), because that’s what is used in the app. This is something which you can’t change, but what you can change are the units used for temperature, weight and length to something you’re more familiar with as imperial and metric options are both available.

Using the Nanit Pro

It's simple. And is (pretty much) all done on the app. There are a few elements to the Nanit Pro which makes it all work as a package. You can even buy accessories separately so you can build your own, if you like. They all bring something different so to make it easier to digest I'll rally through my findings in separate chunks.

The camera
When baby finally falls asleep in their crib you’ll receive real-time notifications of movement or sound. You can adjust the sensitivity (frequency) of these notifications as and when something is detected. These are useful if you’re not watching the live stream as they’ll come as an alert on your phone. Less useful are notifications on the temperature and humidity in the bedroom, which you’ll only get when using the floor stand or wall mount. The temperature is pretty accurate and aligns with the GroEgg (RRP £27.99 at Amazon) but the humidity levels are pretty far out with scores in excess of 70 per-cent most nights – our bedroom surely can’t be more humid than the Amazon rainforest, right?

If baby wakes up, two-way audio is mega useful for talking to baby, or your partner if it’s their turn to soothe. If that doesn’t work? There’s a bank of background music such as waves, white noise and birds which is there to help soothe (although this caused more confusion than anything else), along with a light and the ability to take a photo of your view of the crib.

We have noticed that when watching the live stream whilst sat in our 120 year-old home that we lose connection. We’ve tried various gadgets and gizmos to increase the wi-fi strength throughout the home but, alas, it still drops out. Nanit say that it’ll all still work if our internet goes down, which is great, but if the wi-fi strength isn’t there all the time there’s not too much that can be done – keeping patient helps, though.

I’ve checked all over the camera, the stand and in the app – even mistaken the reset button for the switch – and there doesn’t appear to be an on / off button. I’ve been turning it on / off at the mains as I didn’t want it running when we don’t need it.

Floorstand
I opted for this because I wanted to be able to move it around. You can, however, choose the wall mounted version if you prefer to keep floor space clear.

It was easy to set up since it can all be slotted together. And there has been some great effort made to have some level of cable management with the floor stand. Plastic tubes wrap around the wires which can be slotted together so little hands can’t easily get hold of it and put in the mouth. I’ve found that how we’ve positioned the floor stand (in the corner of our room between our bed and baby's bed) means the cable management gets a little confined in the space causing the tubing to easily become detached. I guess this isn’t also helped by the three legs which take a bit of navigating around with the furniture that surrounds it. 

And on those legs are glow-in-the-dark feet which would be useful if the stand was stood in the middle of the room, or elsewhere which would be more of a trip hazard. I have mistaken these for a dummy when I’ve dropped one on the floor during the night…!

It’s not overly sturdy, either, so just be careful when manoeuvring it. It is top heavy with the camera in situ, and you really don’t want to damage it. 

Accidents do happen though so if the stand breaks then you can get buy the floor stand separately over on the Nanit website. 

Breathing band
This comes in the box with the Nanit Pro. It's in the small size which Nanit say is suitable for 0–3 month olds. Every baby, and parent, is different so this may or may not be useful to you. 

Personally, I have not tried this so cannot vouch for its effectiveness, etc. She kept scratching at it and didn't easily settle on each attempt so, I'm afraid to say, it didn't work out for us. We didn't let our daughter out of our sight for the first few months. She wasn't even in her own room until we were seven months in.

However, what I can say about it is that it feels good quality. It's made from cotton which is naturally breathable. There's a Velcro fastening. And there are no cables, hook-ups or anything. Just an eye pleasing black and white pattern which is the only colourways babies can see for the first few months, or so I'm told. It's this pattern that the Nanit camera will monitor for any changes to your baby's breathing pattern, alerting you when they need you.

If you enjoyed using the breathing band which comes with the Nanit Pro, the larger size is available on the Nanit website.

Other breathing wear
I was also sent the Nanit swaddle to try out. It's made from the same soft material as the breathing band and is suitable for babes who can't yet rollover. It does rely on your baby being comfortable swaddled, however. My child, for example, really didn't like it.

I can totally see the benefits of the swaddle for any new parent, but I  would personally wait to see how your baby responds to being swaddle, before splashing out £49.99.

The Nanit pyjamas look good. They too have the unique pattern, are made from your same cotton material and are suitable for up to nine month olds. They've even been designed with a zip fastening which is a godsend when desperately trying to change a nappy quickly at 3am.

Multi-stand
This takes up less space than the floor stand but does need something sturdy to perch on close to the cot. And it doesn't have the same level of analytics available as the floor stand, just live streaming. You'll also need to re-add the camera to the app when using another Wi-Fi. All other settings will stay the same though.

It comes with its own plug so its ready to grab when you need, but doesn’t come with a carry case – this can be bought separately.

What’s the difference between the Nanit Pro and the Nanit Plus? 

Although you may be hard pushed to get your hands on the Nanit Plus, you may be curious to find out what the key differences are between the new and old models.

The image quality is perhaps one of the most significant upgrades with the Nanit Pro featuring a 1920×1080 pixel resolution, which is a marked upgrade from the 1280x960 pixel resolution of the Nanit Plus. This also allows for a much improved night vision which is pretty crystal clear, until you properly zoom in on the little one's face (for example!)

Nanit Pro’s new night light is stronger and gives off a warmer glow than the previous model’s. And the status light – a completely new feature to the hardware – indicates different functions such as power cycling, Wi-Fi connectivity and pairing with a flashing blue LED light. A physical reset button (which I originally mistook for an on/off button) now replaces what once was a pinhole on the original model, too.

Ordering and delivery

The Nanit Pro camera is available at nanit.com, as well as some of your favourite online and in-store shops including Amazon, John Lewis, Mamas & Papas and more. Depending on the retailers delivery promises, you could have this smart baby monitor all set up the day after ordering.

Don’t love it? There’s no need to worry. On Nanit’s website it clearly states that they have a 45-day happiness guarantee which means that you’ll get all your money back if returned within this time period.

Don't just take my word(s) for it...

A John Lewis customer echos how highly we rate the image quality, and the ability to speak to baby. They bought it as a gift and feel that it’s a really excellent piece of equipment.

And a customer at Mamas & Papas have found that it’s ‘very user friendly’, and we concur.

Over at Amazon, there are 1,268 global ratings (and counting) with 81 per cent five star ratings and eight per cent four star ratings. It takes a bit of filtering to find out what customers think about the camera since there’s a lot on there commenting about the multi-stand but, in a nutshell, users have found it really easy to use, were impressed with the picture quality and how you can have more than one user on it. Any negatives were to do with the extra charges of a subscription and that the multi-stand didn’t work as expected (insights and breathing wear).

Real Homes verdict: is the Nanit Pro for you and your family? 

This is, without a doubt, one of the more expensive baby monitors with a camera. It costs in excess of £299 but what it has to offer rivals the majority of its competitors. We’re particularly impressed with the HD video, two-way talk and alerts when motion or sound is detected. 

It was super easy and quick to set up, and the app is equally easy and quick to navigate. In fact, it’s the app which steals the show because it’s the hub of where you can not only live stream but also engage with your baby, track sleep, read milestone messages and manage settings. It is pricey, yes, but it’s worth it for everything that comes with it. 

About this review – and our reviewer

Jennifer is our Appliances Editor across the homes titles at Future. This means that she spends her days working with brands to ensure that you get the best products for your home. She lives in a Victorian terrace which is undergoing an unintentional renovation so whilst stripping back walls, ceiling and floors (etc!) she visualises how the space can be best used with a suite of gadgets, gizmos and home comforts to make home life that little bit more streamlined.

As with all our reviews the Nanit Pro has been tested first-hand in our home, using it just as you would so you know exactly what you are buying. The products are given to us free of charge and we test them for as long as it takes until reporting back to you, our readers. In this instance, the Nanit Pro is still in use at home so we'll continue to test it and update this review should there be anything worth noting.

Amazon Prime Day 2024 is now officially over and hundreds of thousands of deals have been put to bed, but don't worry  — we reckon it'll be back in October.

The retailer's big annual sale brings exclusive deals with up to 60 per cent off for Prime members over a 24-48 period, and usually, there is one in July (which finished on July 17 this year). If you've missed it, fret not, as it'll likely be back in October. We've seen this every year since 2022.

During the fall Amazon Prime Day event, you can save big thanks to huge discounts across a wide selection of home deals on furniture, homeware, kitchen appliances, and on leading brands such as Shark, Ninja, and Nespresso.

Amazon deals on now

Don't want to wait to enjoy great deals? Whether you're looking to make mornings more exciting with one of the best coffee makers, or you're turbocharging your cleaning hacks, flash deals and big savings happen on Amazon every day, so be sure to browse its daily Amazon Deals.

• Shop Amazon home and kitchen deals: Up to 50% off appliances, including big brands such as Bissell and Keurig
• Shop Amazon furniture deals: Up to 65% off bed frames, mattresses, storage cabinets, desks, chairs and more
• Shop Amazon lawn and garden deals: Up to 70% off fire pits, portable power stations, patio furniture and more

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is the retailer's largest sale of the year and began as a celebration of Prime customers in 2015. It's been going strong ever since. There are thousands of products on sale and special promotions available globally shopping event. It started as a 24-hour bonanza, and in recent years, expanded into 48 hours due to its popularity.

Last year marked the biggest Prime Day in history, with over $2.5 billion worth of deals snagged by savvy shoppers.

During this retail event, Amazon offers plenty of discounted buys, and we've seen deals up to 80% off, including homeware, appliances, and outdoor items including big brands such as Keurig, Shark, Alexa, Echo, and Ring as well as savings on small businesses selling items such as cleaning supplies, home fragrances, and decor. 

When is Amazon Prime Day 2024?

Amazon Prime Day 2024 finished on July 17. We anticipate a second Prime Day, dubbed Prime Big Deal Days to come along in October as this is what has happened over the last few years.

In 2023, the fall event ran on October 11-12 but from our experience, the following year's event might be a few days either side. Bookmark this page for further news as we will update it as soon as we know.

You can expect it to last at least 24 hours, though as it has been so popularity, the last few have been 48-hours long.

Is Amazon Prime Day only for Prime Members?

Prime deals and discounts are only available to Prime members. Currently, there are around 200 million members. 

In the US, you can subscribe to be an Amazon Prime member monthly for $14.99, or $139.99 (a saving of around $70).

If you're not a Prime member already, there’s a free 30-day membership trial available now so, you can give it a go before committing, though you can cancel with ease if it's not for you.

Since being an Amazon Prime member comes with free and fast Prime delivery, Prime Video, Amazon Music, Prime Gaming and much more, we won’t blame you if you choose to extend your membership past its first month.

I've been a Prime member since its inception (I joined as a college student, which now costs $7.49 a month, and carried on each year, using my membership daily, but mostly for fast shipping, and to watch movies and series). 

I use this membership the most out of any of the items I pay for monthly or annually, including home, pet and beauty items I have on subscription, but I also buy furniture, cleaning and storage items with confidence. Whether it's via the app or on the phone, the customer service team has always proven to be super helpful.

Can you get Amazon Prime for free?

You can have a free trial, but after 30 days, you'll need to pay. 

If you are in receipt of Government assistance, you can get Prime Access at a discount of $6.99 a month, though you'll need to upload proof of your benefit(s). 

If you're a student, you can enjoy an extended six-month student Prime trial before continuing with a $7.49 monthly charge.

With a full Prime membership, another adult in your household can enjoy the benefits, but this does not extend to students.

Our top tip and tricks for scoring an Amazon deals

Amazon is a great place to shop for on-sale products, and it's definitely not afraid of discounting anything. While you may think finding an Amazon deal is easy, here are some tips and tricks to help you score the product you want at the price you want:

• Create wish lists: Log into your account and make an Amazon wish list. This way everything you want can be easily found and you can check easily if anything is on offer after payday.
• Download the Amazon app: Download the Amazon App on Google Play or Apple App Store or ease of buying and keeping track of what you've viewed, bought, added to your wish list, notifications about deals and events, plus easy access to customer services.
• Join Amazon Prime: This is a must for those who are looking to bag the best of the best deals as you'll get early access to the best deals, guaranteeing you won't miss out on Prime discounts either. Also, there's the perk of free next-day delivery. 
• Get deal notifications from Alexa: As a Prime member, you can ask Alexa for deal notifications on products added to your Wish List, Cart, or Save for Later.

To help you get your Amazon wish list in full flow, we have brilliant retail-specific guides on the best Amazon office chairs, the best Amazon Prime Furniture deals for small spaces, as well as the best indoor grow lights to name a few. Dive in and get your faves in your basket. The prices in our guides will checked and updated when the sale is live.

The Tado smart thermostat is one of several options for those looking to gain more control over their heating. In short, it pairs with an app, allowing you to remotely change the temperature in your home, create heating schedules and see your energy usage. Taken to its full capability though, it can be used to control temperatures room by room, automatically switch off the heat should you leave a window open, warn you about heating system issues, and generally take all of the guesswork out of getting your home to a comfortable temperature.

Like all of the best smart thermostats, Tado kit connects to your smartphone and is controlled via an app. It can then be connected to your smart speakers and other home assistants to give you maximum control of your heating with minimum effort. Forgotten to turn the heating off when you left for work? Turn it off from the office (if you pay extra it will automatically turn off for you). Want the house warm and cosy for your return? Tado will work out a schedule that sorts, then use geofencing to work out when you will be home and what time to whack the heating on to get it to your desired temperature.

If some of these functions sound familiar from your experience of other smart thermostats, you might be wondering why Tado is the one for you. We wondered this too, having heard great things and been impressed by its tidy look and ever evolving capabilities. So when we were offered the chance to review it, I jumped at the chance to put it to work in my Victorian mid-terrace. With just two bedrooms, I chose to add the smart thermostat to my lounge and use one smart radiator thermostat in my bedroom. I was sent the wireless thermostat so I could set it up away from a plug socket, but I also needed an extension kit to allow the smart thermostat to 'talk' to my boiler. Here I will explain the set up, but as the specific bits of kit you need will be particular to you and your home, the focus is on the smart thermostat and the app control. Find out how I got on testing the Tado smart thermostat last winter.

Tado Smart Thermostat starter kit specifications (wired and wireless options):

• Connectivity: comes with internet bridge that connects via radio network
• Setup: wired and wireless options
• Sensors: temperature and humidity
• Power: wireless is battery powered, wired – bridge connects to mains via USB plug
• Max number of tado° devices per home: 25
• Max number of Home app users: 100
• Control: app, website and can be connected to your smart speaker. Apple Home Kit, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, IFTTT compatible
• Subscription fee: €24.99/year for Auto-Assist capability

What I tested:

• Tado wireless smart thermostat – room thermostat
• 1 x Smart Radiator Thermostat V3+ – controls individual radiators
• Boiler extension kit/wireless receiver – connects your boiler to the smart thermostat

Setting up the Tado smart thermostat

Before doing anything, you register on the Tado website. This gives you full access to the set up instructions which can be followed on your laptop/phone browser or in conjunction with the app on your phone. Note that some parts (like adding the extension kit) were only available to me via the main website. Though the app did walk me through other parts of the set up, you can't install with app alone – so, just a note to have web access to hand in some form.

After putting in a few details about your home, and downloading the app for your phone, you are ready to go.

Tado should be easy enough for any competent DIYer to install. The products come with quite limited instructions (great for saving paper), allowing the web app to do the work. This is great, but if like me you didn't know your heating system well enough to know you would need the extension kit too, it does mean you find yourself some way through the process before having to abort mission to get what you need. Not Tado's fault – definitely a user issue – but some brief written instructions might have saved me the 30 minutes or so I spent getting to the stage that I realised I needed something for the boiler to 'speak' to the thermostat. 

Once I had the extension kit, it was time for attempt two. Again, the set up is in theory very easy. The web app explains each step, customising the instructions based on your boiler and heating system. From my experience last time, I figured I would need to do the trickiest part first – connecting the wireless receiver (aka extension kit) to the boiler. Sadly, 4pm on a Sunday afternoon in winter is not the best time to be trying this. You will need to turn off power to the boiler as you are going to be fiddling with the electrics and if you are like me, you like to turn off all power – just incase. What does this mean? No lights (I am really paranoid about electrocuting myself) sitting in the dark, hotspotting your phone for internet connection while attempting to remove the cover from your boiler. Not ideal. Abort mission for a second time.

Finally, I watched a couple of videos – berated myself for not choosing professional installation which would have been much faster – and checked how to turn off power to my boiler while maintaining lighting and power to my router. 

I won't go into details too much, as set up at this point depends on what boiler you have and whether the controller is integrated or not. All this is explained by the web app with you being able to select the right instructions by inputting your boiler manufacturer, model and controller name – this should be on your boiler. In some instances, Tado might not have full instructions in their database and you have to send a support request, meaning their engineers will create some bespoke instructions for you in the next couple of days. The support really is forthcoming for those who need it.

Once your extension kit is wired in and the power is on, you just need to use the internet bridge provided, to pair the device. Time to connect the smart thermostat itself. Mine was going to live in my lounge where it acts as a temperature sensor and controls the temperature of any radiators in my home that I have not fitted with a smart radiator valve. This is far less faff that the extension kit – you simple pair to the internet bridge, add the device to the app all guided by the Tado website. You can wall mount this or buy a bracket to stand it on a shelf or table. 

The final step for me was fitting my smart radiator thermostat. I opted for one in my bedroom as the lounge would be set by the main thermostat and the only other room with controllable valves is my spare room which I don't use as often. I might get one down the line for this very reason as Tado is great for flexing around your heating needs.

The process was also nice and easy – pair the device to the internet bridge and app, then it needed attaching to the actual radiator. First I had to remove the existing valve before I could add the new smart valve using a new mounting bracket supplied with the kit. I was able to screw the valve mounting bracket directly onto the valve, then just had to screw the smart radiator thermostat into place. This was quick and the app confirmed once I had finished this stage correctly. If you have further valves to add smart radiator thermostats to, you can add each one room by room, pairing and adding to your app as you go.

With set up complete, I was looking forward to getting stuck in to some of Tado's famous features.

Using the Tado app to control your heating

Set up may have taken me some time and a few attempts, but the app really is simple and time saving. So what does it do?

Scheduling
Firstly, you can use it to build schedules for your heating. The scheduling sits under Home mode meaning if people are home, it follows your preferred schedule. In the opposite – Away mode – it follows a different schedule that is suited to an empty home.

One of the very clever things about Tado is that rather than telling it what time you want your heating to go on and off, you tell it what time you need it to be a certain temperature and it works out the rest. So, before I used Tado, I set my central heating to come on at around 6am as I am starting to get up, meaning it could be some time (usually once I had left the house back in my commuter days) before rooms were a comfortable temperature. Now, Tado works out when my heating needs to come on to get up to my desired temperature at the time I want. It reacts to external temperatures and comes on earlier if needed, so I never get out of bed to a chilly room.

The app scheduling offers simple choices of weekdays and weekends, the full week or lets you specify a different schedule for each day. These options make it very easy to use, but also give you plenty of flexibility to optimise your heating. Instead of backstop temperatures, you can also turn the heating off altogether at certain times with frost protection meaning the heating kicks in if the temperature gets too low – great for when you head off on your hols.

Geofencing
Because of geofencing Tado does much more than just using a schedule. You can define settings for when you are away from the home too, because Tado knows when you have left and when you are on your way back. When the last person leaves home for the day, the app knows to remind you to switch to Away mode to avoid heating an empty home. Then when you set off home, it reminds you to turn the heating on to make sure it will be warm for your arrival.

You can add multiple users to the account. This is recommended so that they can all download the app and synch to the account so it knows when they have left or returned. 

Open window detect
There is a host of features on Tado that are – in short – designed to stop you from wasting energy and keep you warm. One of these is open window detection. If you leave a window open, Tado will tell you to shut it or turn your heating off. With the paid for version of the app (more on this below), it turns the heating off automatically if the window remains open.

Weather adaptation
As mentioned before, Tado can work out when to put the heating on to reach your preferred temperature by the time you have set on the schedule. It does this by using weather reports to help it know how much oomph the heating will need and how early. On top of this, it checks the weather and helps you make smarter choices about your heating use to match.

Air comfort
Another thing the app can do is use the humidity monitors of the smart thermostat to tell you about your indoor air quality. Mould is a big cause of respiratory problems, but Tado can help prevent mould forming by warning you about high condensation and humidity levels. If it thinks a room is getting a bit stuffy, it will advise you to open a window. This is great, but as someone who lives in a Victorian terrace which struggles with condensation and has no opening windows in the lounge, it can start to feel like it it telling you off for something you can't control. Still, this is a problem for me and not the many – and it is usually right...

And it isn't just the air inside your home either. Last year, Tado added pollen reports to the app – great for the hayfever suffers among us to prepare for the day. Or to warn us to shut the windows and load up on antihistamines. 

What is Tado Auto-Assist?

Most of what Tado does comes for free in the app. However, for €24.99 a year you can really make the most of Tado's smart capabilities. This is called Auto-Assist and as the name suggests, it automates a lot of what Tado tells you to do. For example, geofencing is great, but the free version just sends you a push notification – usually when you are driving and can't act on it – telling you to turn the heating off because everyone has left home. 

The same applies for window detection. With the free version, Tado tells you a window is open and you should turn off the heating to avoid energy wastage. Auto-Assist just does it for you (turn off the heating, not shut the window that is...). 

If you are thinking the difference between being told to turn off the heating and it doing it itself is not worth €24.99 a year, then the final paid for feature might sway you. Care and protect – which is not available on the free version at all – helps monitor your heating system for problems. It can even spot a developing problem before it becomes a full on breakdown and can save you costly boiler engineer call out charges. Yep, it even tells you how to solve some common issues by yourself before you ring for help.

I am yet to test the subscription part of the app, but other users think it is well worth the money for added automation and heating assistance.

What happens to my heating if my internet connection drops?

Something that had put me off smart heating for a while was just this. I have slightly unreliable internet and was worried that one big rainfall could mean I was without heating when I really need it. I didn't want to be at the whim of my shoddy web connection.

However, Tado does have a fallback for this – you can override the app and control your heating manually should you need to. This is a good safety net that put me right at ease.

How much energy can you save with a Tado smart thermostat?

Tado stats say that their customers save an average of 22 per cent on their heating each year. This could mean savings of up to £400 each year for the average home. 

I found that my app was telling me I had saved an average of 24 per cent in the colder months, but as much as 32 per cent in March. It is worth noting that my stats are based on me having been working at home full time for the last year and barely leaving home due to various lockdowns. As Tado works so well by turning off your heating when you aren't home, I have probably missed out on some of these saving opportunities by being stuck in the house. Expect an update when we return to normality.

What else do we love about Tado?

Once you have everything set up, you barely know it is there. Aside from the odd radiator valve noise which I noticed initially in the early hours when my heating came on, the devices are very discreet in look and operation.

I could go on more about how much nice the devices are to look at than other smart thermostats – especially if you have the wireless build – but it is the app that really shines. It has everything you could expect and I particularly like the energy savings section that tells me how much energy I have saved each month, as well as other stats like how many hours of sunshine we have had, how much time I have spent away from home (barely any at the moment of course) and how often my heating has switched to energy saving mode.

What don't we love about Tado?

The set up was a drawback for me as it took several attempts and was more involved than I thought it would be. However, it is worth noting that this won't be the case for everyone and if you already have wireless heating control, it is much easier to integrate. What's more if you don't want to set up, you can get it installed professionally and can make this decision partway through the set up process (which I did consider...).

Also, you only have to set it up once, so the time it takes is worth it in the end for all the benefits of heating savings and easy use.

How does it compare to other smart thermostats?

Tado's main competitors are the Nest Smart Learning Thermostat and Hive Active Heating kit. The first thing most people compare them on is price. The Tado smart thermostat itself is slightly cheaper than the Hive and Nest kits, but to really get the full advantage of Tado, you will want to add on some smart radiator valves to control room by room. These cost from £55 each so you will soon be paying more than you would for the competitors even if you only control one or two rooms independently.

I also had to get the extension kit to control my boiler remotely. This currently costs around £100 by itself. So the cost is starting to look stacked against Tado, but we do advocate this kind of buildable system that you can grow when you need to.

However, you really are paying more and getting more. Nest is generally preferred for its smart learning. You begin with a fair bit of adjusting, but it starts to learn your preferences and schedules. Over time, it is probably the most hands off and unlike Tado, you aren't paying extra for automated heating turn off with Auto-Assist – it just learns and does it. However, it doesn't offer quite as much control and we think Tado really is a great retrofit option that functions like quite expensive, fully integrated automated heating systems you tend to get in very modern luxury homes.

Hive is comparable to Tado when it comes to zoning. You can make it part of a multi-room system, controlling each room as required. But what Hive lacks is the smart radiator valve function that allows you to have full control room-by-room.

We think Tado is the best option if you want a more advanced smart heating system with lots of flexibility. You can keep it simple with just the thermostat if you want simple on and off heating, or up your heating game by adding a smart valve to every radiator you can – costly in the short term, but it really does save you a lot of money over time.

About this review and our reviewer

Lindsey Davis is Editor in Chief of Homes Ecommerce at Future. That means she is tasked with making sure our audience get the very best in product buying advice, and works with her team of product experts to find the right buys for your home. She has worked in homes journalism for nearly ten years and has a particular interest in anything that will make the planet a little healthier.

At Real Homes we think the only way to test products is in the homes they are designed for. That is why we make sure our reviewers have them for at least two weeks, though in this case the Tado smart thermostat was tested over several months. Items we review are usually gifted, free of charge and we are allowed to test them for as long as needed. In this case, the reviewer was able to keep the units meaning further updates to this review over time. After all, we want to know how the product delivers not just in the first month, but those to come, too.

This is the first smart heating device Lindsey Davis has tested in her home, though she has hands on experience of Nest and Hive products in the homes of others. She would describe herself as welcoming of smart home technology, so long as it genuinely makes life easier, which is exactly what she tests it for. She lives in a two-bed Victorian cottage with a fairly new central heating system and a mix of single glazed, secondary glazed and double glazed windows. The small rooms heat quickly, but regulating the temperature to be comfortable throughout can be difficult. 

December 25th is almost here – well, nearly – and you’re probably feeling those stress levels rising. Or, maybe you're looking forward to seeing people outside of a Zoom call for Christmas 2020?

Either way, these are the cool technology gifts we're buying this weekend. A little bit of tech could help make the whole Christmas season run a bit more smoothly, especially if you're entertaining (and we are). 

Whether it's a smart speaker to get the party started, or a robot vacuum cleaner to make cleaning up a breeze, these the eight gadgets every homeowner needs this Christmas. Get Alexa to order them for you, and you can sit down with a mince pie to watch Home Alone for the 300th time. Merry Christmas!

1. A smart thermometer (so you don't poison anyone)

When it comes to cooking, a smart oven gives you greater and more convenient control over your oven, allowing you to preheat it and turn it off using your phone – great for when you need to get away from the kitchen for some family time. But something like the Meater Plus Wi-Fi thermometer can be delivered in time for Christmas and will help to ensure the turkey is perfectly cooked. Simply put it into the thickest part of the bird and load up the app – it will ask a few questions about what you’re cooking and how, and then can offer you notifications for key stages in the cooking process.

2. A smart speaker (to start the party)

When it comes to entertainment, smart speakers – or even multi-room music systems – are fantastic for spreading the Christmas cheer throughout your house, whether you fancy the Christmas classics or a bit of Bublé. The Amazon Echo Plus is best for sound quality, but even the smaller Amazon Echo Dot will get the party started. If you want to stream Christmas tunes in the bedroom, you can pre-order the Amazon Echo Dot with clock, which also doubles as an alarm (not that you'll need one of those when the kids wake up at 4am on Christmas Day!).

3. Tablet based party games (take up less space)

Games that can be played on a tablet are a lot of fun. A real party favourite is Heads Up, where one person holds the tablet or phone up in front of them, words flash up, and their fellow game players have to give clues to help them guess what word it is. It’s free to download with a few themes for free, with others available for around 99p each. You can also play a variety of games with through your smart speaker, Alexa, for instance, has free games that include a song quiz and name-that-movie challenge. 

4. A robot vacuum cleaner (there's always a mess)

Cleaning up is probably the worst part of entertaining, but a robot vacuum could make life easier. It’s no replacement for a deep clean, and it’s not going to clear up the mountains of wrapping paper, but it’s great for staying on top of things. You can set it to do a quick run around the kitchen and living room when you sit down to eat, to ensure things are looking a little fresher for those after-dinner drinks and games. The very best will work over wooden floors, rugs and carpet, and even return themselves to their docking station for charging, so your guests are none the wiser you have a robot helper!

5. A new dishwasher? (Black Friday is the time to buy)

Unfortunately, we still don’t have appliances that can do the washing up for us, but there are smart dishwashers that can give you a bit of extra control to make getting through the piles of dishes a little easier. The cleverest adjust their settings depending on how dirty the dishes are, to avoid them needing a manual clean at the end. You can also control wash cycles from your phone, turning the dishwasher on and off to suit, as well as receive notifications on when it’s ready for the next load.

• Check out our pick of the best dishwashers on sale today

6. Alexa (she's sooo helpful)

Still need to do some last-minute shopping? Then tech can help you out with that, too. If you have a smart speaker that supports Alexa, you can order things from Amazon just using your voice, be that presents, paper or Prosecco. You will have to have the various settings in place on your connected Amazon account to make it work, such as 1-Click ordering and valid payment details, but it only takes a few minutes to get that set up if it sounds helpful.

7. A video doorbell (what, you've still not got one?!)

A smart doorbell, like the Ring 2 Video Doorbell, will allow you to speak to delivery people as they arrive, and tell them a safe place to leave your precious parcels. You don't even have to be home to do this. It's genius.

8. Non-stop Christmas movies (obviously)

Whether your fave Christmas movie is Elf, Die Hard or It's A Wonderful Life, you need a smart TV in your life. Order now and you'll be able to stream all manner of movies whenever you want – some services like Netflix will require a subscription, while others will be chargeable per movie. If you don't want to invest in a new TV but want smart capabilities, invest in an Amazon Fire Stick, which simply plugs into the USB port on your TV and allows you to steam content from Amazon Prime and other providers.

• Best streaming devices: keep up with your favorite box sets, wherever you are

Great deals on all the best Christmas gifts:

Amazon Warehouse should be on your radar when shopping for deals online. 

Showcasing used, refurbished, and open-box products across 26 categories, all in great condition and retailing at jaw-droppingly good prices, Amazon Warehouse deals include bargains on home and kitchen products, electronics, tools and home improvement, garden and outdoor and plenty more. 

The Amazon Warehouse motto is, "Treat yourself to great deals", so if you can't wait for the next Amazon sale, find out everything you need to know, including where to discover the best discounts, right here.

Shop Amazon Warehouse deals by category

Our easy-to-navigate Amazon Warehouse category list below will take you quickly to the best deals today. 

• More than 40,000 Amazon kitchen deals
• More than 9000 Amazon home improvement deals
• More than 6000 Amazon pet supplies on offer
• More than 10,000 Amazon furniture deals
• More than 2000 Amazon grill and outdoor cooking deals
• More than 20,000 Amazon lawn and garden deals
• More than 20,000 Amazon garden and patio deals

Shop Amazon Warehouse deals by brand

These are the best Amazon home brands to shop right now.

• Bissell
• Cuisinart
• OXO
• Stanley
• Bedsure
• Ninja
• Black and Decker
• KitchenAid
• Rust-Oleum
• Command
• Bosch

What is Amazon Warehouse?

Deals under the Amazon Warehouse section still enjoy the great benefits of Amazon fulfilment (meaning reliable delivery), customer service support if things go wrong, and your right to return items. 

The difference between this and the rest of the Amazon site is the items have lower prices because they have been used, pre-owned, or are 'open-box' products. This means a customer bought it, opened the box, and returned it for resale.

Are products on Amazon Warehouse worse quality than usual?

Every returned item goes through quality-control with Amazon's team before being made available to purchase via Amazon Warehouse. Each item is thoroughly tested for function, as well as the physical state, and marked by workers as Like New, Very Good, Good, and Acceptable to give shoppers a clear understanding of what to expect when shopping these items.

What do Amazon Warehouse product condition labels mean?

Depending on the condition of the listed item, you'll find Amazon's product conditions clearly marked to help you decide if this condition is acceptable for you and to avoid any surprises once it arrives at your door.

Based on the condition of the item, you might enjoy even steeper discounts.

• Used — Like New: These items will be in perfect working order though you might find the packaging is damaged or a bit tired. If the item comes with accessories usually, they will all be available and everything will function as expected.
• Used — Very Good: These items will likely have had very little use by the previous buyer and will be in full working order. They may however have a few minor aesthetic issues. It might be delivered to you in alternative packaging if original was too damaged, and might be missing some non-essential accessories. If anything is missing, the individual item description will let you know to save you having to take a punt and hope for the best!
• Used — Good: These items, which will have had moderate use, may be missing valuable accessories, have damaged packaging or be entirely repackaged, plus, have minor visible damage such as small scratches. Check the individual listing description for details before taking the plunge.
• Used — Acceptable: These will have clear signs of usage but still work as per their main intended functions. There may be signs of previous use, cosmetic damage, missing some valuable accessories, components or spare parts. You might find you have to purchase a part separately in order to be able to use it. Again, missing parts are listed in the individual item's description.

Can I return Amazon Warehouse deal items?

In short, yes. Just like anything else you buy from Amazon, your Amazon Warehouse orders are covered under the retailer's returns policy. 

If you're not happy with the purchase, you can return it for a refund. But, unlike other sales on the main retailer website, you may not be able to get a like-for-like replacement, though there might be something similar in stock as a suitable alternative.

Is Amazon Warehouse the same as Amazon Outlet?

We love a short answer: no, Amazon Warehouse is different to Amazon Outlet.

While Amazon Warehouse offers items that have been used, pre-owned or are open box returns available for purchase at a discount, the Amazon Outlet offer new items that are on clearance, or overstocked products the retailer is hoping to shift quickly and therefore has discounted.

Looking to buy the Amazon Echo Show (2nd Generation)? Smart idea. This Alexa device is best placed in a kitchen or living room, and it makes controlling all of your already-owned smart tech a breeze. Boasting a large 10-inch HD screen, the Echo Show can be used to watch TV, play games and even video call family and friends.

Currently, this is Amazon's largest Echo Show device on offer, just in front of the Echo Spot, Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8. We've spent quite a while reviewing this device and have been using it in our home for the last year or so. Here's how we've been getting on with it and if we still think it's worth all of the fuss...

Looking for more advice? See our guide to the best smart speakers for your home.

• Read our Amazon Alexa review for a deeper insight into this smart assistant
• Find the best Amazon Echo deals at our page – don't overpay

Amazon Echo Show: specifications

• Weight: 1755 grams
• Dimensions: 24.6cm x 17.4cm x 10.7cm
• Screen size: 10.1in 
• Speaker size: Dual 2n drivers with a passive bass radiator
• Camera quality: 5MP
• Included in the box: Echo Show, power adaptor/cable (1.8 m) and guide

Who will the Amazon Echo Show suit?

The Amazon Echo Show is suitable for just about anyone who wants to make their life easier at home. We recommend placing your Amazon Echo Show in your living room or kitchen to make the most of its features. 

Those who have newborn babies can use it to view their baby monitor, or ask it to play soothing music to help the baby sleep. You can order formula just by asking, and thanks to the screen you can make sure it's the right one.

A toddler will be entertained for hours talking to Alexa, with a copious amount of games to play, and stories and jokes to tell. Teenagers can use it to blast their music all day every day, and to check on their favourite football team to see how they played in their last game, or to help with their French homework translation.

Young adults can use it to see easy-to-follow recipes to help prevent cooking fails, set reminders to remember bin day, check their local cinema for screenings and take group photos at parties. Adults can do their oh-so-fun finances using Alexa, view their commute to work, whether it be by plane or train, and make announcements to the kids' devices. It's also a huge help when it comes to purchasing last-minute gifts. 

The elderly can ask Alexa for updated news stories, information on local shops and their closing times or what the weather will be like in a week's time, and for those who are hard of hearing, subtitles can be turned on, so the device works just as well. It can also play the role of someone to talk to if you're lonely, and most importantly, you can connect with other family members so easily, whether it be through messaging, audio call or video call.

Amazon Echo Show: where should I put it?

For those who are thinking of placing this smart home product in their kitchen, the Echo Show can set timers, show you videos of recipes, order your food shopping (or a cheeky takeaway), play music and even set a reminder for you to take your rubbish out every week. 

If you're thinking of placing your Echo Show in your living room or even bedroom, then each morning you'll be greeted with updated traffic information on your route to work, weather information and the top news titles will be displayed on screen. The kids will be kept happy with the games they can play, and during Christmas, there's even an open-an-advent-calendar every day if you ask.

If you currently own other Alexa devices, then you can sync them together, so you can tell everyone that dinner is ready or turn off all devices while watching a family film, to ensure that family time isn't disturbed.

Amazon Echo Show: how to use it

The Echo Show is happily easy to set up, especially if you're using the quick manual which comes in the box. For those who are newbies to Alexa, you can download the Alexa app to your phone where you can see recent activity on your device(s), and essentially control your Echo Show from afar. This is also where you can add other smart devices such as a smart doorbell or smart thermostat. 

Similar to other smart home devices, the Echo Show needs to be plugged in at all times in order to work. This is one point which is a slight disadvantage, especially if you want to move the device from room to room as the product will turn off each time. However, if you just want the Show in one room as you're decked out with other Alexa products in other rooms, then this isn't a problem.

The beauty of the Echo Show is that it really does make boring or stressful tasks less painful, such as cooking new recipes, as you can see a step by step video to ensure you don't miss a step, you can ask Alexa to re-order bin bags when you discover that you've only got a few left,  you can ask how to say 'how are you?' in Japanese, and even watch the morning news while you're waiting for the kettle to boil.

There are three buttons on the Echo Show: the first one is a mute button for when you don't want Alexa to respond or listen, and also to turn the camera off; the other two buttons control the volume of the speakers – although you can also control the volume by saying 'Alexa, turn the volume down/up'. 

Operation is easy – if you want the device to go on standby, you say 'Alexa, goodnight' or if you want to turn it off completely, you can simply just switch off at the wall or unplug it.

Amazon Echo Show: how I use it

How have I been using the Echo Show? 

Setting timers when cooking
I started off with the basics, like setting a timer, which is very handy when you have 10 things going on at once while cooking and aren't sure if your roast potatoes have been roasting for long enough. You can set several timers at once, as well as reminders. Now, we never forget to put our bins out!

Asking for recipes
A lifesaver for those who have a sparse collection of cookbooks, I am always asking Alexa for a recipe whether it be for dinner or dessert. It's also handy for us to have in the kitchen when it comes to converting measurements. And, the Echo Show can tell you food replacements should you not have something you need for a recipe.

To listen to music
The Amazon Echo Show connects Spotify so I can play my own playlists and control everything from the volume, to which song is playing and more, all hands-free.

For a morning greeting
First thing I did after receiving my Amazon Echo show was set up my daily routine, so that every morning when I say 'Alexa, good morning' or 'Alexa, start my day', she tells me any information I may need to know about my commute to work, she tells me the weather and also if there has been any breaking news. I've also connected my calendar so that if I have something on – work or home life – I'm aware.

To control other smart devices
I also use my Echo Show to be notified when someone knocks on my door – thanks to my Ring Doorbell 2 – and I can use it to control my Dyson Pure Hot + Cool, as well as the smart bulb and smart plug in my bedroom. In other words: it's a great way to control smart tech in other rooms without actually having to move. 

Games
After a few too many Proseccos, we sometimes like to play Alexa's song quiz (I highly recommend). You can also entertain little ones with the huge range of Alexa games available to download on your device.

Amazon Echo Show: screen

It's true: the Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen) boasts a huge 10-inch HD screen – perfect for watching and playing. This screen works by touch so you can control your Alexa by touch or voice.

Amazon Echo Show: pros

Well, other than the fact that all of my friends are absolutely amazed by a smart-home device which has a screen and it makes me feel slightly cool, I really like the fact that the Amazon Echo Show really can be used by anyone, at any age. 

Now when I have guests over, I'm more often than not in less of a rush thanks to the Echo Show. I'm used to following a recipe from a tiny phone, but now I just ask Alexa to show the recipe, play some music and set a timer for when I need to start cooking or take food out of the oven. 

All-in-all, the Amazon Echo Show has an answer for nearly all of my questions and queries, and when you get one, you'll wonder how you ever survived without the help.

Amazon Echo Show: cons

The need to be plugged in constantly is a big disadvantage for me, because I'm used to having wireless devices, and because our Echo Show is in our kitchen, when we move into the dining area to eat, I always want to take it along for music, but unplugging and plugging back in can be a hassle. 

Amazon Echo Show: how is it different to other Amazon devices?

All Amazon Echo devices are different – the Echo Dot is their most affordable, the Echo Spot the smallest with a screen, the Echo Show 8 is a mini version of the Amazon Echo Show 2nd Gen and so on. Simply enough, all Alexa devices can pretty much do the same thing, with the exception of those with a screen. The one you buy should depend on what size you want or need, as well as who will be using it and how much money you have to spend. See all Echo devices below.

Amazon Echo Show: where to buy

• Argos
• Amazon UK
• Currys PC World
• Very
• John Lewis

Also read:

• How to set up Alexa – a little help
• Our Amazon Alexa review – here's what we thought

Considering buying an Amazon Alexa device? Whether you've got your eye on the Echo Dot or the Echo Show 5, we're here to help you decide whether this smart assistant is the best choice for you. For those who don't know: Alexa is owned by Amazon, while there are several other smart assistants to choose from such as the Google Assistant, Apple's Siri, Microsoft Cortana and so many more. Should this be your first delve into the world for smart home devices, you'll want to make sure – ahead of paying – that the one you choose you will like, especially before buying compatible tech such as smart bulbs, plugs, and more – there are currently 10 plus Alexa devices to choose from.

We've written a jargon-free Amazon Alexa review below so you know all about this smart assistant ahead of buying one. From the basics to the stuff only serious Alexa users know. And, to do so, we've enlisted the help of TechRadar's James Peckham. So sit back, relax, and get ready to discover what Amazon Alexa is really about...

Don't miss our pick of the best smart speakers – you'll need one once you've decided which smart assistant is for you. First up, prices. See all Amazon Alexa smart speakers – otherwise known as Amazon Echo devices – below along with their best current prices. Or, head to our Amazon Echo deals page afterward.

Amazon Alexa: what?

Amazon Alexa is one of the easiest to use voice assistants on the market. It’s also one of the most accomplished as it got out of the gates earlier than a lot of the competition and Amazon’s collective brain has been tinkering away on extra features and improvements since its launch in 2014. 

Alexa is built into the whole Amazon Echo range of products including:

• Amazon Echo
• Amazon Echo Dot
• Amazon Echo Auto
• Amazon Echo Dot with Clock
• Amazon Echo Spot
• Amazon Echo Plus
• Amazon Echo Show 5
• Amazon Echo Show 2nd Gen
• Amazon Echo Studio

That’s not all though – there’s a huge range of third-party gadgets of speakers, soundbars, and more that also tote the voice assistant.

For example, some of the top-end speakers in the Sonos range come with Amazon Alexa built-in, as well as speakers across the JBL, Ultimate Ears, Libratone, and others. Browse our guide to the best soundbars to find out more.

Plus some other smart appliances, such as smart fridges, are Alexa enabled so that you can look up recipes on your fridge via your smart assistant. Mind-blowing.

Amazon Alexa: is this smart assistant the one for you?

The first step to building a smart home system is ensuring you have a smart speaker that allows you to communicate with your smart assistant. This is essential to controlling the rest of your smart home set-up.

Often, in choosing a smart speaker, you end up choosing a smart assistant by default. The most popular options include Google Assistant (available on Google Home Hub products), Siri (on Apple products) and Alexa (on Amazon products).

While you won’t necessarily buy a product because it's Amazon Alexa compatible, you do need to think about what other smart home tech you'll want to control via your smart assistant, in future. 

After all, you won't be able to switch eco system further down the line without incurring unwanted costs. So, ask yourself: does Alexa cater to the smart fridge/smart thermostat/smart plugs I've got my eye on? Or would Google or Siri-enabled smart assistants be a better choice?

Amazon Alexa: standard features

Amazon Alexa has always been built around smart speakers, and the fact it has been out in people’s homes for almost five years now means it’s one of the most fully fledged voice assistants you can invest in. Here's everything Amazon Alexa has to offer, in terms of default features:

• Smart home control
• Timers and alarms
• Calendars
• News
• Lists
• Weather forecast
• Access to Spotify, Amazon Music Unlimited, TuneIn (which can be used to play the radio) and Audible (for audiobooks) as part of Amazon Alexa's impressive audio offerings.

Amazon Alexa: basic features

Ask Alexa to play a track and it will immediately be able to find the music you want directly from your preferred streaming service. If you also ask for it to play from Spotify, or another service, specifically it’ll be able to do that.

Timers work accurately, lighting turns on and off on demand, alarms are easy to set and it’s easy to ask about the weather, too. Essentially, the default features for Amazon’s Alexa work exactly how you’d like them.

• How to use Philips Hue with Alexa

Amazon Alexa: skills

In addition to Alexa's standard features, there are a whole host of extras, also known as 'skills' available to users, too. According to most recent statics, there are over 70,000 to choose from, though this is constantly increasing. Some of our favourite examples include:

• Ask for answers for questions that come directly from the internet.
• Listen to Ted Talks or catch up on BBC New headlines.
• Guided meditation and audio based workouts.
• Fitness tracker.
• Translation.
• Create heating or lighting zones to complement your smart home set up.
• Sleep sounds.

There are thousands more Skills that you can download easily from the app and the likelihood if you’ll be able to find yourself a variety of skills you want to install on your smart speaker immediately.

Amazon Alexa: do these skills work?

More and more of these search options are getting better with stronger contextual information, but for the time being Google Assistant is a touch better at answering more questions with more depth.

If you’ll regularly be asking for information like this, you may want to look at Google Assistant as your voice helper of choice.

The thing with all voice assistants is they will continue to improve with time. Alexa will be better a few hours after this review is first published as Amazon is continuously working on it, and the same thing goes for Google Assistant and Siri on smart speakers.

Amazon Alexa review: the verdict

You’ll find that Amazon Alexa works with a lot of the top-end services you will use to make your dream smart home a reality. Here's everything you need to know:

• Amazon Alexa works with both iOS and Android phones, and we’ve found the app easy to control.
• Alexa will also be able to control most smart home products you may want to buy. Including Philips Hue, Hive, Ring, TP-Link, Nest, August Smart Home, Logitech Harmony and many more.
• You can connect in your smart home devices with ease, via the app, making any setting alterations required.

When you’re buying smart home equipment, you’ll spot a logo with a blue icon that says 'works with Alexa' next to it. That’s how you’ll know it’s compatible with your speaker.

Amazon Alexa: where can I buy one?

You can buy an Amazon Alexa device from Amazon themselves – here is where they are usually cheapest – but also from other US and UK retailers, too. Find the very best Amazon Alexa deals below.

Looking for more reviews?

• Apple Siri review
• Google Assistant review
• Best smart home tech for your house

Buying an Echo Show 5? We can get behind this. A great investment for a bedside table, the Amazon Echo Show 5 is undoubtedly one of the best smart speakers you can buy. It's slightly more feature-packed than the Echo Dot, yet smaller and cheaper than the Echo Show 2nd Gen. A very good happy medium in the Alexa smart speakers world. In fact, there's not much this smart speaker can't do. Some of the things that we use it for include switching off lights, turning on smart fans, playing sleep sounds, setting alarms, controlling smart plugs and so much more.

With a smart display and a camera, the Echo Show 5 can also be used to make video calls and watch videos, although we should stress that this is not all that it should be used for. You can also turn off the camera – there's a cover for it – and mute the microphone, if you like. A great bedroom companion for an attractively low price tag, we think. Read on to find out how we got on with it.

When you're done reading, we'd recommend comparing the Echo Show 5 to our pick of the best smart speakers. 

• Read our Amazon Alexa review for a deeper insight into this smart assistant
• Find the best Amazon Echo deals at our page – don't overpay

Amazon Echo Show 5: specifications

• Weight: 410g
• Dimensions: 14.8cm x 8.6cm x 7.3cm
• Screen size: 5.5in
• Speaker size: Full range 1.65 built-in speaker
• Camera quality: 1MP
• Included in the box: Echo Show 5, power adaptor/cable (1.5 m) and 'Things to Try' guide

Who will the Amazon Echo Show 5 suit?

Anyone who's considering a smart speaker who might also want to watch videos, too. Think of it as somewhere between a smartphone (the Echo Show 5's 5.5in screen's resolution isn't much better so don't expect TV-quality images) and a tablet (although it isn't flat and needs to be plugged in to work so isn't as portable). 

For those who remember, it's about the size of a traditional clock radio, so it'll sit neatly on a kitchen worktop or – as it did throughout our test – on a bedside table. 

It's worth noting (for the technophobes out that) that it's really easy to set up. You simply input your details, and download the Alexa app on to your smartphone to control it remotely and to access all of Alexa's Skills (weather reports, story telling... and so on).

Amazon Echo Show 5: how to use it

The Echo Show 5 features three different buttons: one for turning the microphone on or off; one for turning the volume up and the other for turning the volume down. The device works via voice command and touch screen. However, Alexa can’t switch to some menus via voice command, which means you will need to use the screen and a totally hands-free experience you'll be used to from traditional smart speakers (such as the Echo Dot) isn't an option.

What else? The screen can be dimmed and brightened, there's also a Do Not Disturb setting that I liked.

Amazon Echo Show 5: how I use it

Here's how I use the Amazon Echo Show 5 daily, which will give you a good idea of how it can be useful. 

Got me started in the morning
It sat on my bedside table, and once I'd woken up the device with 'Alexa, good morning', it gave me the weather forecast, traffic information for my commute to work, some news briefings and what was on my calendar for the day. I also asked to listen to the radio. 

Helped me get to sleep
Alexa has an application called Sleep Sounds that you can enable from your smartphone. From here you can choose a sleep sound – the thunderstorms one is my fave – to help you get to sleep and stay asleep.

Allowed me to answer the door from my bedroom
I synced it with my Ring doorbell, too, so if anyone came to the door, it told me 'There is someone at the door'. I could then talk via the Echo Show screen and view the Ring doorbell's camera from my bedroom. Ideal if I'd just got out of the shower. 

See our best video doorbell buying guide for the latest buys at the best prices.

Let me work my bedroom fan by voice control
This smart display is, as I've already said, compatible with other Alexa-enabled devices. In our case, that also meant our Dyson Pure Hot + Cool fan, heater and air purifier (see our review for more on that). I could simply say: 'Alexa, turn on Dyson' and it would. 

Gave me privacy when I wanted it
I was conscious that there was a camera in my bedroom. Happily, there's a shutter that slides across the camera to disable it. You just need to remember to do so. 

Helped me find my phone
Ask Alexa to find your phone and it will call it for you. A life saver. 

Gave me an alarm clock with bonus features
This device doubles as an alarm clock which can be customised to suit both your personal preference and your room's decor, or you can use it to show off one of your own photos. The Echo Show 5's clock display is dimly lit, which is great because I am a very light sleeper. Plus, the sunrise effect will also help you wake up naturally; this effect can be set to begin 15 minutes before alarms set between 4am to 9am. 

Find the best wake up lights in our buyer's guide.

Turn on the bedroom light
I use this Alexa device to turn on and off my bedroom light each day. This is great for when you are snuggled in bed and really don't want to get up to flick the switch, while it also makes getting up in winter easier when you can say "Alexa, turn on bedroom light' and be instantly awake.

Vacuum the house
The Echo Show 5 connects to my robot vacuum so I can say 'Alexa, turn on robot vacuum' and it will start cleaning. I can also instruct Alexa to send the vacuum home once i think it's finished.

Turn off hair straighteners
I always worry that I have left my hair straighteners on after leaving the house. After buying and connecting a smart plug to my Alexa, I can check remotely and turn the plug off from my phone, or simply ask her to do so. Great for peace of mind.

Connect it with another smart speaker
I've connected the Echo Show 5 with my Sonos S1 speaker so that I can control it using my voice. This is great since the speakers built into the Echo Show 5 aren't quite as impressive as the Sonos S1, while the Sonos S1 isn't as smart. Joining them together means I can reap the benefits of both.

See our best smart plugs guide for some recommendations.

How else could it be used?

Play music videos and stream movies
As I said above, the screen isn't that much large than my smartphone's so I didn't enjoy watching videos or shows on the Echo Show 5 any more than I would have done on my phone – plus, because it has to be plugged in to work, there was no portability.

You can stream Amazon Prime Video but the rear-facing speakers don't play music that loudly or that cleanly. Something to consider if you're gifting this to a teen.

Amazon Echo Show 5: screen

Smart displays are simply smart speakers with a touch screen. What is a smart speaker (we hear some of you ask)? It's a speaker you can control via a smart assistant such as Alexa: think the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot.

What can a smart display do that a smart speaker can't? Well, with its screen it can be used to show videos, photos, allow you to video chat, display a clock face, weather forecasts... and so on. 

Echo Show 5: pros

It's affordable and does more or less everything my Echo Show 2nd Generation does, but is more compact, making it a better buy for my bedside table. I use it daily to do everything from answer my front door to turning on my robot vacuum, turning off my bedroom light, switching on my Dyson fan and checking that my hair straighteners are off. And also sleep sounds – what a great feature!

Echo Show 5: cons

The main downside – other than a disappointing screen resolution and speaker performance – is that it needs to be plugged in to work. So, if you have it in your bedroom like I did but want to use it to look up recipes in your kitchen, you'll have to unplug it, reboot it and start again. And if you're doing that you may as well just use your smartphone. 

Echo Show 5 VS Echo Show 2nd Gen

As I said above, both smart displays (see below) can perform much the same tasks. The Echo Show 5 is smaller, more lightweight and has the added bonus of a camera cover, plus there's a clock display on this device.

The Echo Show 2nd Generation may be bigger and a little heavier, and there's no clock display, but it does give you an improved viewing experience when it comes to videos and photos. For us, that makes the Echo Show 5 a better buy for a bedroom.

Amazon Echo Show 5: where to buy?

• Amazon - UK
• Amazon - US
• Argos
• Currys PC World
• John Lewis & Partners
• Very

More useful guides:

• Beginner's guide to smart assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri – a jargon-free explanation 
• Read our Echo Show 2nd Generation review if you are after a larger smart speaker

With the nights beginning to draw in, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus could be a consideration for enhancing your home security. 

Luckily in recent years a series of innovations have come to market which have made home security a retail proposition – meaning that you don’t need an electrician to hard wire a new alarm system in your home. Instead, you can quickly by systems that are effectively plug and play – and battery operated devices that run off your home’s WiFi.

The Ring Video Doorbell became a leading player in this market as a kind of security device that also has a clear function, replacing your home’s doorbell. It’s a neat and smart little piece of kit, incorporating a camera into the bell so that you can see who’s at your front door – effectively allowing you to answer your door from anywhere in the world. It’s been selling these doorbells for several years – and we gave its latest model, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus, a try out to see what had changed and if it was still as effective as ever.

Keep scrolling to hear how it fared during testing or check out our best video doorbells for more smart ways to answer the door.

Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus specifications

• Connection requirements: Dual-Band WiFi, Alexa Enabled
• Video quality: up to 1080p HD Video
• Range: 1.5 to 4.5m
• Installation: easy, and it's battery-powered
• Field of vision: 160 degrees
• Exclusive feature: Pre-roll

How does the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus work?

The Ring Video Doorbell notifies you when someone’s at your front door. It does this through a built-in motion detector which triggers both the alert and recording of the ‘event’. Obviously, it also operates as a regular doorbell. You’ll need to install the app in order to set up the doorbell, and for us installation took around 15 minutes including the physical installation of the bell itself on our front porch.

In terms of connections, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is battery operated and there are no wires involved. A rechargeable battery is supplied with the kit and, after three months of operation, has needed recharging once. The user receives an alert of the low battery and replenishment takes a few hours. Removal of the battery is straightforward. Wi-fi connection for us was OK, but clearly depends on the distance between the Doorbell and router. Ring sell an extender, the Chime Pro.

You can also use the Ring Doorbell 3 Plus as a standard security camera. The app allows you to see the live view from the camera giving extra peace of mind, which makes it a very useful part of Ring’s smart home range. 

What's new about the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus?

This advanced third-generation model irons out some of the familiar issues with motion-detection technology. It offers a ‘Near Motion Zone’ capture which is suited to front doors on busy roads with pedestrian traffic, and reduces the false alert problem that affects so much of this type of system. Even better, the user can set motion detection zones, which further allows personalisation of the alert system. Indeed, the success of security cameras and video doorbells almost entirely comes down to how smart the alert process is, and we consistently find Ring’s systems score very highly in this regard. 

The Video Doorbell 3 has a ‘Plus’ upgrade model. For an extra £20 or so, you can take advantage of the four second video preview pre-roll feature on the Plus, which eliminates another gripe of the long-term wireless security consumer: that the kit wakes up too late to capture the action. This is a genuinely important addition and in our view well worth the extra expense.

How easy is the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus to use?

It’s an easy-to-set-up piece of kit which then requires a bit of time investment to tailor to your individual needs. There is no shortage of features on the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus, and the key to enjoying it and making it useful is to identify how you want to use them. Luckily, the app is very intuitive and easy to adapt, offering a sense of control. For example, the app allows three different modes: disarmed, home and away, which offer different default settings for alerts which then in each case can be personalised. The app also offers a range of different tie-ins with other smart home technology most notably Alexa – allowing you to programme custom notifications through your home’s speakers, and even turn the lights on automatically when someone’s at the front door.

Again, it’s worth reiterating that you’ll need a good few hours to really explore the features and personalise the app to get the best out of this kit. The Doorbell comes with a 30 day free trial of Ring Protect, which for a regular payment of £2.50 records all your events on the cloud and from a security perspective feels essential.

The verdict?

The acid test for smart home kit - and the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is no exception – is in how much it becomes part of your life. We found the doorbell easy to install and requiring a bit more than average brain power to make the most of. The app is very well designed with an appealing and easy to use interface – you really do feel like you have control over the system through your phone. The app will also make suggestions for you in terms of improving your user experience, which is very welcome for what can occasionally be quite a complex set of decisions.

In terms of value for money, the point of security systems like this is that they offer a return on investment on their function – meaning how secure they make you feel, how much they deter potential trouble, and how much you feel confident in using them. At just shy of £200 the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus isn’t cheap – particularly with Ring’s older doorbells usually available for around half that - but the added features and better useability make it money well spent. Not that looks matter too much in this regard, but Ring has always enjoyed sharp design and the 3 Plus is no exception. Interchangeable grey and black covers offer some design flex, too.

More on smart tech:

• Ring video doorbell 2 review: see how this older model compares
• Do you really need a video doorbell?
• Best video doorbell: 6 (more) smart doorbells to boost your home security

There are so many reasons why you need a Kindle in your life during lockdown and beyond... we barely know where to start. There's no other way to pass time, free of guilt and boredom like reading a book. However, there just has to be a better way to satisfy our inner bookworms than the arm-cramping, eye-squinting, page-crumpling, pocket-rinsing affair that is reading paperback books. Trust us, once you try a Kindle, you'll NEVER look back. 

So, here are seven reasons why you should opt for a Kindle to carry you from quarantine and beyond... life is about to get a whole lot easier. See all the best deals on Kindles below. And don't miss The Hub, our jargon-free home tech page.

• View all cheap Amazon Kindle deals right now
• Shop the Amazon Kindle, £69.99: Now with a built-in front light in White
• Shop the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, £119.99: Waterproof, 6in High-Resolution Display, 8GB
• Shop the Amazon Kindle Oasis, £229.99: Waterproof, 8 GB, Wi-Fi in Graphite

1. Got a Kindle? You don't have to go to the shops for books

Yes! We're in favour of supporting our local bookshops, but right now, popping to the shops to fan through the pages of the next novel on your list isn't an option. What's more, in everyday life it isn't always easy to navigate a bookstore and find inspiration unless you've got hours to kill. 

A Kindle is the perfect solution to this dilemma as not only do you download books straight from your device (at a fraction of the price), but the home page for the Kindle store will serve you with a ton of inspiration and suggestions, from readable to Audible. 

2. Kindle downloads are often cheaper than paperbacks

We get it, the price looks steep compared to ordering a paperback copy for under a tenner, but the investment will have you saving so much time and dosh in the long-run you'll be kicking yourself for taking so long! If you're looking to grab a Kindle on a budget, there are cheaper models that will tickle your fancy, such as this Kindle with built-in front light at just £69.99 on Amazon right now! Beyond that, downloading Kindle books from Amazon costs pennies and there are always great deals on (you can even get some books for free!), especially if you become an Amazon Prime member.

3. A Kindle's easily transportable whether you're on hols or the daily commute (when life goes back to normal)

A myth that we're here to bust is that buying an E-book means constant charging or risk of running out of juice mid-read. Get this: Kindles actually offer a minimum of over 30 days of battery life before they need to be charged. 

Plus they're so light and slim and super easy to carry compared to books, whether you're packing a work bag or a suitcase. Plus, many are fitted with a screen that adapts to the lighting of your environment, making it easy to read, wherever you are. 

4. You can download the Kindle app to read on your phone

A handy little feature of the Kindle is that its forward thinking tech, linked with an app, meaning it's compatible with other devices, such as your smart phone. Don't you just hate leaving for work and realising you've forgotten your book?! Let's be honest, you've never forgotten your phone, have you..?

5. Prefer to listen? Kindle Audible is here for you...

Kindle Audible is kind of a life saver because it means that when you're reading a page-turner that you just can't put down... driving, walking and running needn't stop you. Just download the Kindle app on your phone and purchase an audible book (at a super low price) and you'll be getting through more books than you ever knew you could. Brilliant for dyslexic kids, too, in our experience.

6. You can try a book sample for free on Kindle

We're kind of obsessed with this feature because as much as we believe in sticking it out till the end, sometimes a mediocre book doesn't warrant the pennies spent. For this reason, we're so grateful that Kindle allows you to download a free sample of any book, so you can try before you buy (without the judging looks from the bookshop salesperson). 

 7. Some Kindles have access to the internet and games

While Kindles are a fantastic choice for adults (with adjustable font size to minimise our squinting), they're also a brilliant gift for kids. Tablets and laptops can be extremely pricey but that doesn't stop kids from begging for them every birthday... so, how about this fab alternative that allows you to download games for your kids, helpful for playtime and educational purposes? Note that this is only certain models, usually the newer Kindle models. 

Oh, and Kindle also offers a tablet model at a great price: such as the Fire 7 Tablet, £39.99, Fire HD 8 Tablet down from £79.99 to £44.99 and the Fire HD 10 Tablet, £149.99. 

Read more:

• 5 best Amazon Prime movies to watch for FREE this week
• What's the best tablet for video calling? We reveal all! And some cheap deals...

Trying to find the best tablets for kids now that homeschooling has become a difficult reality? A tablet is a great way to not only keep kids of all ages entertained while they're stuck in the house, but also to continue their education while schools are closed. And, let's face it, getting one might mean you can get on with work without them trying to access your computer (or just ask you constant questions). In other words, they might just keep the household mood light during the next few weeks (months). 

We've rounded up the best tablets for kids so you can go back to more important things, like reminding them to wash their hands.

Tech is a great way to keep the family busy and connected to the outside world – check out The Hub for more great home tech deals and advice.

The best tablets for kids

The smart Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition includes a one-year subscription to Fire for Kids Unlimited, giving kids access to thousands of popular apps, games, videos, books and Audible audiobooks, including content from Disney, Nickelodeon and Sesame Street.

Features
This seven-inch tablet is a brilliant option for entertaining children of all ages and features a kid-proof case (in a choice of three colours), a year's subscription to Fire for Kids Unlimited, a 32GB SD card and a microSD slot that allows up to 512GB of extra storage. 

Parental Controls
For your peace of mind, there are easy-to-use parental controls that customise your child's experience and a kid-safe browser. Add in bedtime curfews, screen-time limits and parental approvals to make sure your little one stays safe while surfing the web. Oh, and the battery lasts up to eight hours.

Looking for the best tablet to help kids learn? The LeapFrog EPIC Tablet is it. Powered by Android, this tablet offers the perfect balance of learning and playing inside one device.

Features
With a seven-inch touch screen, a 1.3GHz Quad core processor and 16GB of memory, this kids tablet is as good as any other option. Battery life lasts quite a while – depending on what they're doing – and it features a front and back camera, as well the ability to record video. Not only is this tablet compatible with exclusive LeapFrog content, but it can also download handpicked Android apps. And it works with both the Netflix and CBeebies app.

Kid-friendly
One LeapFrog Epic Tablet can serve three different profiles, meaning you can buy one device to entertain three children. Adults can manage what, when and how long each child plays and learns. Inside the device lives 20+ apps and games as well as a kid-friendly browser, LeapSearch. All content and games feature Just for Me Learning technology to adapt and personalise the content based on curriculum while remembering your child's progress. It'll challenge them. Let's talk about the home screen – it's the first of its kind since it's interactive so will expand their imagination. They can create their own town, add animated characters and watch as the city goes from day to night in real-time. It's here that the kids can learn the time, see the weather and they even have a mailbox to open for a surprise new word every day. Each special word fits into a sentence, which, at the end of the week comes together to form a story.

Offering a host of features with an eye-catching design, the Apple iPad 6th Gen certainly packs a punch. If you've got older kids or teenagers, then they're bound to want an iPad. Why? It's powered by a 2.03 GHz Apple A10 Fusion processor and running on iOS operating system, it adapts to your needs with maximum performance, has enhanced battery life and an unparalleled visual experience. Well, that and the fact they're seen as cool.

Features
Apple's family sharing makes it really simple to manage kids' apps and subscriptions, and the iPad has the bonus of an 8MP camera, 32GB of memory and up to 10 hours' battery life. While it doesn't offer any special safety features like the Amazon Fire 7, we think this iPad is more suited to older kids or teenagers who can be trusted on the internet and to turn the device off every once in a while.

Kid-friendly
The 6th generation version is perfect for homework and entertainment, although it's nowhere near as durable as purpose-built tablets for kids, so make sure you get it a shatter-proof case and screen protector. If it is going to be used for homework purposes, it's worth us noting that it is compatible with Keynote, Pages and Numbers – these are Apple's versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Also, let's not forget Siri: this smart assistant is at hand to read aloud, explain, answer and help.

Amazon's hugely popular tablet for kids – the Amazon Fire 7 – has had an upgrade. Enter: the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition. It's faster, bigger and better in every way. With the exception of the larger price tag that comes with, which is why it's not our top choice. No one wants to spend £130 on a kids tablet if they don't have to, so instead, this is our pick of the best premium tablet for kids. 

Features
The eight-inch screen is an inch larger diagonally than its predecessor, and it doubles the internal storage to 32GB, ups the speakers and gets another four hours of battery life, taking the total to an impressive 12 hours.

Kid-friendly
Specifically built for small hands, the device has a kid-proof case and it comes with a free one-year subscription to Amazon Fire for Kids Unlimited, which lets them access thousands of books, movies, TV shows, educational apps and games. Parental controls are the same on the 8 as they are on the 7.

The Kurio Advance is a great option if you're after a kid-friendly tablet with a purse-friendly price tag. This Android tablet is tucked inside a kid-friendly bumper to protect it from falls, spills and more. In fact, it reminds us of the Fire 8 Kids Edition without the Fire OS technology, of course.

Features
With 16GB of memory and one year's free access to the weekly delivered education system STEM, this tablet has seven hours battery life and comes complete with 40+ preloaded apps. It can also access Google Play and is compatible with Netflix, NowTV and more.

Parental Controls
Parents can manage and access web filters through the programme Kurio Genius. This programme filters over 18 billion websites so the kids can safely surf the web. Simply input your child's age and it'll filter content itself, otherwise, feel free to create your own personal lists of approved and blocked websites. You can also decide which apps, e-books and kid-friendly content your little ones can see through the app's management system. And, there's the added bonus that you can also control screen time. You can set maximum limits for each day as well as playtime and rest sessions. It automatically shuts down! 

Check out these related articles:

• Best Alexa speakers: which Amazon Echo device should you buy
• Read our Ring Doorbell 2 review before investing in a video doorbell

In search of the best tablet for video calling? It's no surprise: lots of us haven't seen loved ones in a few weeks now. And there's only one (safe) way to solve this – video calling! New to this world? No worries: we've done our research and found three top deals on tablets, which allow you to video call your loved ones with ease. This way you can see them and speak to them without the risk of anyone getting COVID-19. A dream come true in the current climate.

From Samsung to Apple and Amazon devices, these top three models are our top picks to buy today. And, we've listed the cheapest prices of each one, below.

Head over to The Hub, our technology page for product recommendations, reviews and advice on everything from televisions to smart speakers and more.

How to buy the best tablet for video calling

When choosing the best tablet for video calling, be sure to bear these specs in mind:

• Camera Megapixel: The higher, the better the picture quality.
• Screen size: Speaks for itself. The larger it is, the easier it is to see your favourite people. And to navigate the touch screen.
• Speakers: Opt for a tablet with high quality speakers so you can hear voices clearer and also, music! Dolby are probably the best.
• Battery: A long lasting battery life is something to look out for in any piece of tech you purchase that features a battery.

1. Apple iPad Pro 11 (2018)

The Apple iPad Pro 11 features an 11in screen, it features face recognition technology and it has a back and front camera – the back camera is 12MP and the front 7MP. It also features four-speaker audio for the best sound quality around so you can hear whoever you're video calling even if you're in one room and the iPad is in another. The best part? 10 hours of battery life means less charging and more using. Oh, and it's on sale at Amazon!

How to video call on an iPad 

To start a video call on your iPad, find the application called FaceTime. This can only be used to call others with an Apple smartphone, tablet or other device.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Already have a Samsung smartphone? It'd be a good idea to get a Samsung tablet too, then! The S6 is our top pick for you, for a number of reasons: it has 14 hours battery life, a 10.5 inch screen and it features three cameras – two at the back and one at the front. Megapixel-wise, the front camera is 8MP and as for the two at the back, the ultra wide one is 8MP, too, while the wide camera is 13MP. With four Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers dotted around its screen, the sound is as good or if not better than that of the iPad Pro. The only reason it didn't get our top spot is because it doesn't have a headphone jack. This means if you want a private video call for your ears only, you'll need to own wireless headphones. It's also on sale at Amazon right now!

How to video call on a Samsung Galaxy Tab

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 needs to be linked to your Samsung mobile to make any type of call. Find the Phone application to do so.

3. Fire HD 8

If you're after a slightly more budget-friendly option, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is it. This Amazon tablet is a quarter of the price of the other two, which means that the features aren't quite as amazing. Two cameras, each at 2MP and a 10.1 inch screen will do the job if you're not hoping to call your entire address book for hours on end. It also has a 12-hour battery life and works hands-free if you have an Alexa. Lots of reviewers have reported on the speakers being 'average', but it's all you can really expect for this price tag. They'll do the job for video calling! Clearly, this is a popular item as it's currently sold out at Amazon, but, you can also purchase it from eBay, Very and more...

How to video call on an Amazon Fire tablet

Have the Amazon Alexa App downloaded and open it. Find the communicate tab (at the bottom) and here you have the option to call, message, drop in or announce. Press call and find whoever it is in your contacts you'd like to speak to. This can only be used to call people with Echo Devices, Fire Tablets or the Alexa App.

What is a smart speaker? The world of smart tech can seem like a confusing one, but it doesn't have to be. We're here to cut through the jargon and deliver the clear, concise information you need to increase the connectivity of your home, which will ultimately make daily life easier and more efficient. We'll fill you in on exactly what a smart speaker is, as well as providing information on what they can offer and why you might think about investing in one, if you haven't already.

What is a smart speaker?

A smart speaker differs from the average speaker in that it's designed to provide a home for a smart assistant – Alexa for the Amazon Echo, Google Assistant for Google Home and Siri for Apple devices are the most popular examples. 

This, in turn, allows you to play music, set timers, receive weather updates and control your smart home devices using simple voice commands, which has the power to make daily life easier and more efficient. 

Here's how a smart speaker might make life more efficient:

• Access your diary, with ease, so you know exactly what you're doing, when
• Connect smart bulbs – this will allow you to set lighting schedules for enhanced home security, improved ambience and more
• Turn off your heating with a single voice command, or from any location, to improve energy efficiency and reduce bills
• Keep a closer eye on your home from any location by connecting smart security systems, be that cameras, video doorbells or something more specific
• Keep up to date with the latest news, match results and other important information
• Order an Uber, and receive a notification when it pulls up, without having to reach for your phone
• Call friends and family members while pottering around your home

Discover more about smart tech

• 10 reasons you need a smart speaker
• Can't sleep? Here's how Alexa can help

At this point, we're all pretty familiar with what (or who?!) Alexa is. And if you don't already have a smart speaker to house Amazon's infamous smart assistant, you'll likely have a friend/colleague/in-law who can't stop raving about how Alexa has changed their life. Like, seriously.

But, what if we told you that the vast majority of Alexa users aren't making the most of the skills available? And that knowing exactly what Alexa can do isn't always super obvious... there are an unimaginable amount of skills on offer, all of which are designed to make life easier and more efficient, with more introduced by the day, it's pretty exciting and you deserve to be in the know.

Well, we're here today to share some of the latest skills we've discovered and implemented into our own lives. From helping you discover the best beer to compliment your food, to ensuring even the busiest amongst us can keep fit, there's an awful lot to learn. Keep scrolling to discover some of our favourite skills...

• Discover 10 reasons you need a smart speaker

1. Let Alexa leave you feeling inspired

Leave home feeling a little more inspired, thanks to this handy skill from Alexa. To enable, simply download Inspire Me, then say: 'Alexa, inspire me' to hear fragments of truly inspirational speeches taken from throughout history and across the world.

Perfect for getting you geared up in the morning, and an easy way to discover more about the world around you. We love the idea of enabling this skill while getting ready for work. They may just give you the motivation you need to be the change you want to see in the world.

2. Use Alexa to help you keep fit (no matter how busy your schedule is)

Too busy to workout? Can't justify paying for a gym membership? 7 minute workouts is for you...

Designed to help you keep in shape, no matter how little time you have, 7 minute workouts talks you through simple exercises that can be completed at home, without the need for any gym equipment. 

Choose between low impact, standard and advanced routines, depending on your fitness level – and how much of a workout you're after – and give your body the blast of exercise that it's craving.

3. Choose the best beer to complement your dinner

Hosting a dinner party and want to make a good impression? Or simply interested in learning more about beer? Brewer's Table will help you do just that, from the comfort of your own home.

Simply open the skill, let Alexa know exactly which beer you have to hand, and listen up for suggestions as to what to serve. Simple – and tasty.

4. Get advice when you have missing ingredients 

Half way through preparing dinner and discovered that you forgot to pick up a vital ingredient from the supermarket? We all know the feeling. And if you're not super confident in the kitchen, it can be difficult to know what can be replaced with what.

Well, what if we told you that by enabling the Ingredient Sub skill, it's super easy to ask Alexa for an alternative to your missing ingredient? Genius.

5. Discover the ultimate life hacks

Knowledge is power, as they say, and life hacks have the power to make daily life easier and more efficient. Use Alexa to open Life Hacks and discover everything you never knew you needed to know.

Read more:

• Amazon Alexa review
• Smart assistants: a guide for beginners and the confused

Looking for an honest Google Assistant review? You've come to the right place. Despite being one of the youngest of the leading smart assistants – discover more about them in our beginners guide – Google Assistant can now be found in a wide variety of the best smart speakers designed both in-house by Google, as well as from a variety of external companies. 

But is Google Assistant worth the hype? And, more importantly, is it the smart assistant for you? If you're taking your first step into the world of smart home tech you'll want to know before committing to a specific smart eco-system. We enlisted the help of tech expert James Peckham to help us cut through the jargon and deliver the cold, hard facts. Here's what we found...

What is Google Assistant?

Released in May 2016, Google Assistant replaced a similar feature called Google Now, bringing a two-way conversation feature to smart enabled devices for the first time. Google's answer to a smart assistant – much like Alexa – Google Assistant 'lives' inside a smart speaker, responding to a variety of voice commands and controlling your wider smart home system.

You can use Google Assistant in phones and tablets as well as the Google Nest range of speakers that includes the Nest Mini and Nest Max (previously known as the Home Mini and Home Max). Google Assistant can also be sound in a variety of third-party products such as Sony, Sonos and JBL speakers, as well as an increasing number of touch screen devices.

Is Google Assistant the smart assistant for you?

With a wide variety of third-party speakers and the whole Google Nest range to choose from, you won’t struggle to find a top-end speaker that allows you to make the most of Google Assistant's ever-increasing capabilities. The smart home control is second to none, and there are lots of apps that support the platform as well.

One of the highlights of Google Assistant is the Chromecast integration that allows you to easily control your TV – including access to Netflix and other streaming platforms – even when you can’t find the remote control. 

The search functionality and contextual information Google Assistant offers is also a big highlight. With some clear highlights and very few negatives, the Google Assistant is an easy to use platform that many can embrace easily and we think you’ll be happy with what it offers.

Google Assistant standard features

Much like the other voice assistants, you can just call out to your smart speaker with a command to wake it and use your voice to state your question, query or request. 

With Assistant, you’ll have to say 'OK Google'. You can then ask a variety of questions relating to features like playing music or podcasts, directions for your journey, information from the internet, smart home features and more.

Google Assistant will be able to answer your music requests from a variety of services such as Google Play Music, but there’s also support for Spotify, Google Podcasts and services such as TuneIn where you can listen to the radio over the internet.

Do Google Assistant's basic features work?

Where Google excels at the moment is contextual information in your searches. It’s particularly good at answering queries such as 'how long is it until Christmas?' or 'when was Marilyn Monroe’s birthday?'. Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri are slowly getting better at this, but the power of Google’s search engine currently makes it consistently the best for these sorts of searches.

It even has conversations with you, so it’ll remember your last search and it’ll often understand the context of a follow up question. For example, we asked 'how old is Taylor Swift' and got the correct answer from Google. We then said 'play her music from Spotify' and it managed to remember we had been talking about Taylor Swift and played a playlist of her music.

This is useful for a variety of searches and isn’t something that’s offered to such a high hit rate on the other voice assistants at the moment. 

If you use a lot of Google services such as Gmail or the calendar, you may find the Assistant suited to you as it connects with your accounts and means you can set up reminders and more from your speaker.

For example, if you have a calendar meeting set up, the Google Home (or other speaker) can remind you of it on a morning. You can also set it up so the speaker will remember your commute and let you know on a morning if there’s a delay on your normal route.

Plus if you own the Google Home speaker, you can use it as a way to make phone calls to other speakers in other people’s homes too. It’s a useful way of having a conversation in your home when you can’t find your phone.

One nifty feature is if you have a TV with a Chromecast plugged in – those are the affordable streaming dongles from the company that connect your telly to the internet – you can even use Google Assistant to play things on your TV.

For example, if you’re in the room with your speaker you can ask 'Play Orange is the New Black from Netflix on my TV'. It’ll then connect to your Chromecast and automatically play it for you. It may sound lazy, but this is good when you don’t want to spend time sifting through all the menus on your favourite streaming services and just want to dive straight into the action.

Smart home compatibility

Google has done well to get its voice assistant to support a wide variety of smart home gadgets. It means you should be able to control your smart home tools with a Google Assistant ready speaker without much hassle at all.

If you’ve got Nest set up in your home, for instance, you’ll find you’ll be able to ask your speaker to set the perfect temperature or you can turn it all off together. It’ll also control Philips Hue lighting gadgets in a similar way too.

Google has support for over 200 brands of smart home tools, and that adds up to around 1,500 products across its range. Examples include Philips Hue, Roomba, TP-Link, LIFX, Nanoleaf, Arlo, Swann Security and many, many more.

Google Assistant makes it easy to control your smart home gadgets with your voice, plus the new selection of smart speakers with screens allows you to play around with the settings of your home on the tablet-like interface as well.

Discover more of our handy guides

• How to use Philips Hue with Google Assistant
• Google Nest Hub review

The Philips Hue Starter Kit is without doubt the best smart lighting available. Why? Because it's stylish, easy to set up and super straightforward to use.

And while – at face value – smart lighting may seem like an unnecessary expense, when you dig a little deeper you'll soon discover that it's actually super handy for helping enhance your home security system, as well as transforming your home audio and cinema experiences, creating the perfect ambience and more.

Since so many of us received Amazon Echo and Google Home smart devices this Christmas, it's no surprise that we're (already) on the hunt for ways to expand our smart home systems – please don't tell us we're the only ones now surprisingly obsessed with all things smart home. And smart lighting is without doubt the best way to go.

The only downside to the Philips Hue Starter Kit is that it's not the most affordable option available on the market – though it's more than worth the investment – which is why we've rounded up the best prices currently available. 

Our handy table constantly compares the best prices from your favourite retailers to ensure you never pay more than necessary. So, if you're in the market for a Philips Hue Starter Kit, this is the place to be.

• Want to know more? We've written a comprehensive, jargon and bias free Philips Hue Starter Kit review 

Wondering how to set up Alexa? If you've been given an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot for Christmas, you might be only just getting around to wondering just how you get it set up with Alexa. 

We've got good news for you: it's very, very easy to set up your Echo, so long as you have wireless internet at home and a reasonably up-to-date operating system on your phone (IOS 11 and higher, Android 5.1 and higher, or Fire IOS 5.3.3 or higher).

Follow these easy tips for installing your new device. Haven't got the Echo yet? You could find one at a great price by heading to our January sales hub page. 

1. Download the Alexa app

If you're downloading Alexa onto a mobile device, simply go to your app store and type in 'Alexa'. If you're downloading for desktop, go to the Amazon Alexa website to download it.

2. Plug in the Echo

Connect up and plug in the Echo using the adapter provided. The device will glow blue, then orange when Alexa has connected up to it. You will hear Alexa saying that the device is ready for set-up.

3. Set up Alexa to your wi-fi

Typically, you'll be able to this via the Echo and will be guided through the process. If for some reason this hasn't happened, simply open the Alexa app and find your Wi-Fi network on there. You'll have the option to store your password on Amazon. If you're connecting up via an unsecured public network, that option won't be there.

The best Amazon Echo deals today:

Looking for tech gifts for the smart home tech lover in your life? If you're really not into technology, are only loosely acquainted with Alexa and can't recall which iPhone model we're on now (is it 5, 9, X, 9X, who really knows?) ,shopping for the techie in your life may seem like something of a daunting activity. But, it doesn't have to be.

Today's technology is pretty inspirational and – you'll be pleased to know – doesn't have to cost a fortune. So, we've rounded up some of the best (and most gift-worthy) tech to make the process of gift giving as simple and straightforward as possible this Christmas. Shop our top picks below and expect a pretty happy giftee. 

Today's best deals on tech gifts:

1. Pick up the super popular Amazon Echo Dot with clock

A bestseller this Black Friday, the Amazon Echo Dot with clock would make a perfect gift for those keen to expand a smart home system (aka most tech lovers).

As well as boasting all of Alexa's basic skills – setting reminders, providing updates on the weather, public transport, sports fixtures and more and playing music – this stylish smart speaker also features a simple, LED clock which makes it perfect for use as an alarm clock.

2. Gift the super stylish Ted Baker ConnecTed wireless chargers

You don’t think fashion or style when it comes to phone chargers usually, but this partnership between Ted Baker and mobile phone accessory maker Proporta changes all that.

Finished to the brand’s luxury standard, the Ted Baker Wireless Charger lets you charge your phone simply by placing it on to the wireless dock, no plugged-in cables necessary. And, unlike your usual charger, it’ll look mighty stylish left on your desktop surface.

• Shop the Ted Baker Wireless Charger in the UK

3. Help them upgrade their Alexa with Amazon's Echo Show 5

An upgrade from its older sibling – the Echo Show 2nd Generation – the Echo Show 5 is a super handy addition to a smart home set-up for those with security systems, as well as those of us who enjoy step-by-step tutorials and more. It comes complete with all of Alexa's usual functions, as well as some handy new skills, a super stylish design and more.

We also love the idea of gifting the Echo Show 5 to a partner, friend, or family member, who live far away as it make video calling super easy. Read our full review of the Amazon Echo Show 5 for more information.

• Shop the Amazon Echo Show 5 in the UK
• Shop the Amazon Echo Show 5 in the US

4. Or the Best Hub Max if they're a Google devotee 

If you're thinking of gifting a smart device, you really need to know whether your giftee is team Amazon Alexa or team Google Assistant. If the former, shop the above. If the latter, this is the one for you. Not sure? Drop them a text, feigning an interest in investing in a set up yourself. Simples.

If your giftee is a Google devotee, it really doesn't get much better than the Nest Hub Max. Released earlier this year, this model boasts an impressive 10 inch HD screen, plus a 6.5 MP camera which makes it super easy to video call friends and family.

• Shop the Google Nest Hub Max in the UK
• Shop the Google Nest Hub Max in the US

5. AirPods

It took a while, but we've finally reached a point where people wearing AirPods aren't ruthlessly mocked by their friends, family and the whole of Twitter. And now that we're there, they make a pretty cracking Christmas present.

Not something that people would necessarily buy for themselves, AirPods are the perfect gift the Apple user in your life. And there are two options available to you. The classic AirPods – which come complete with a charging case – or if you're feeling super generous, the newly released AirPods Pro.

• Shop Apple AirPods in the UK
• Shop Apple AirPods in the US

6. And a case to keep them in

If the techie in your life already has a pair of AirPods – or you're looking for something a little more budget friendly – why not buy them a super cute case to house their headphones in?

We love this Marble AirPods Case from Skinny Dip. They're stylish, yet understated and certainly don't cost a fortune. 

• Shop the Marble AirPods Case in the UK
• Shop similar Marble AirPods Cases in the US

7. Sky Now TV Smart Box

Love Sky TV programmes, but don’t want to commit to a costly satellite subscription? The Sky Now TV Smart Box is an affordable way of getting pay-as-you-view access to loads of Sky TV content away from any lengthy contracts, with individual monthly passes sold to all the best TV and movie content that Sky has to offer. 

This latest version of the Sky Now TV Smart Box is jammed full of techy features too, including 4K high resolution visuals and the ability to search for the show or movie of your choice using your voice alone.

For more inspiration, check out our guide to the best streaming devices.

• Shop the Sky Now TV Box in the UK

8. Samsung HW-MS650 soundbar

What’s a great TV without some great audio to support it? If you want to hear with supreme clarity the dulcet tones of the Queen’s speech this Christmas, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-MS650 to do it with.

It may be over a year old (making it more affordable than at launch, too, and perhaps a Black Friday steal this year, too) but it remains the superior soundbar on the market, with physics-defying bass handling, incredibly powerful and punchy sound, support for lots of input sources and a massive array of streaming services including Spotify, Deezer, Tidal and more.

The MS650’s one-body design offers a 3.0-channel (left, right, centre) mix powered a superb combination of six woofers and three tweeters - all powered by their own individual 20W amps. Though it’s not capable of delivering fancy overhead Dolby Atmos sounds, it’s otherwise about as good as soundbars get.

Not sure this is the model you want to gift? Browse our guide to the best sound bars.

• Shop the Samsung HW-MS650 in the UK
• Shop the Samsung HW-MS650 in the US

9. Subscriptions to Spotify, Xbox Live, PlayStation Plus, Netflix or Amazon Prime

Looking for a useful, simple stocking filler? Or a gift for the person who has everything? We'd recommend picking up a subscription to an online service. They’re the sort of essential that’s a costly chore to maintain, but well appreciated as a gift – and easy to pick up last-minute, if you’d forgotten that special someone’s special preference. 

You’re looking at an average of £10 a month for most of the following services, though premium and entry-level accounts for some services are also available. 

• Gift a Spotify membership
• Gift an Xbox Live membership in the UK
• Gift a Playstation Plus membership in the UK
• Gift an Amazon Prime membership

10. Parrot Anafi Drone

Played around with drones before and looking for the next step up and away into the skies? The Parrot Anafi is the drone for you.

Ultra compact thanks to its folding frame design, it shoots pro-quality 4K HDR video and can capture crystal clear 21MP photos. And that’s before flying the thing, with beginner-friendly controls letting you make high-speed, daring stunts way above your head.

• Shop the Parrot Anafi Drone in the UK
• Shop the Parrot Anafi Drone in the US

11. Botvac D4 Connected

Next up, a piece of home tech that even the least techie amongst us are guaranteed to appreciate. Yep, that's right, a robot vacuum cleaner. And a good one at that.

While the best robot vacuum cleaner won't replace their regular current vacuum cleaner entirely, what it will do is make keeping up with daily chores easier and more efficient. Especially this Botvac D4 Connected Robot Vacuum Cleaner, which boasts an impressive runtime – particularly when compared with competitor products – and makes use of lasers to ensure a more effective clean.

12. GPO Brooklyn Boombox

Want to bring some retro cool to your next party? The GPO Brooklyn Boombox is the only way to be playing Run DMC’s Christmas in Hollis this festive season.

Aesthetically a dead-ringer for the 80s classic boombox, it’s got all the mod cons you could ask for from a contemporary music player, from Bluetooth connectivity to USB playback. It’s even got a CD player and a tape deck, as well as an FM radio, with a microphone input allowing for karaoke sessions too. It’s the office Christmas party on your shoulder.

• Shop the GPO Brooklyn Boombox in the UK
• Shop the GPO Brooklyn Boombox in the US

Looking for more gift inspiration?

• The best eco-friendly and ethical gifts to give this Christmas

The Yale Smart Living Indoor Wi-Fi Camera is one of the latest offerings from a household name. Yale is a brand that has become synonymous with home security thanks to its standard mechanical door locks that have been keeping our homes safe for years.

Now, the brand is branching out into smart home security, with a range of smart door locks, home alarms and security cameras, all of which can be controlled from your phone.

The Yale Smart Living Indoor Wi-Fi Camera is one of the range’s most affordable cameras, and comes in at less than £50, making it the cheapest smart camera we’ve tested to date. So how does it compare to the competition? Keep reading to find out.

Find out more about the benefits of smart security cameras, then discover more ways to protect your home and make it secure.

• See more smart home technology info, advice and reviews on our hub page.

What is the Yale Smart Living Indoor Wi-Fi Camera?

The Yale Smart Living Indoor Wi-Fi Camera is a wired smart security camera, that is capable of full HD. An older version, which maxed out at the lesser quality of 720p HD, is still available online, so make sure you’re picking up the right one when shopping.

Like the Google Nest Cam Indoor, the Yale Indoor connects over Wi-Fi and doesn’t need a separate hub box that connects to your router. It can stand upright, with a compact design that allows it to be placed on any surface, though the omni-directional base also doubles as a wall mount should you prefer. Just remember this needs plugging into the mains, so you’ll want to think about where the cable will hang, or consider something wireless like the Arlo Pro 2 or the Moobox ProXT instead.

The viewing angle here is 90 degrees, so while it can capture a fair bit of your room, it isn’t as wide as many of the competition, which tend to offer 120 degrees and above.

It comes with a microSD card slot for recording and storing your videos locally, and though its app is limited compared to some of the competition, there is no monthly subscription fee for using any of its features.

Currently the Yale camera works with Amazon Alexa, so you can view your camera’s view on something like the Echo Show or via a Fire TV device, but as it stands, it doesn’t work with Google Assistant.

How easy is it to set up?

With no hub to worry about, it’s as simple as getting the camera onto your Wi-Fi network, and you do this with the help of the Yale Smart Living companion app. 

You can get this from both the iOS App Store and Android Play Store. You can register up to five cameras in the app, and monitor them all side by side on the app’s homepage. 

To get your camera set up, you simply load up the app, click the plus sign to add a device and then scan the QR code that’s on the back of it. Once it has recognised your camera, it will walk you through a couple more steps you’ll need to complete, ending in entering your Wi-Fi password.

It’s worth noting that the Yale Indoor camera works on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band only. Most routers support this as its an older bandwidth, and while it isn’t the best for video stability and won’t offer the fastest buffering, it’s great for longer range support. This means that how far your camera is from. your router shouldn’t affect the camera’s ability to work successfully.

Who will the Yale Smart Living Indoor Wi-Fi Camera suit?

If you’re looking to dip your toe into the smart security waters without spending too much money, this Yale camera will give you an idea of what some of the benefits can be.

However, it does fall short in a number of areas that means it might not be the best option if you’re looking to get serious about any real home security concerns. 

Still, it’s a well-priced camera for trying out some casual indoor surveillance, and a good one for pet owners to buy to keep an eye on their furry friends.

How does the Yale Smart Living Indoor Wi-Fi Camera perform?

At such an attractive price, the Yale Indoor Camera does need you to cut it a bit of slack for its downfalls. It has a number of gaps in the smart camera experience that can make using it a bit frustrating, but read on for our thoughts after several weeks of living with it day to day.

Good picture quality… sometimes

Despite being capable of an HD picture, the camera actually defaults to standard definition every time you open the app – and the difference between the two is clear. SD footage is very pixelated and although you would probably be able to ID someone from the pictures, detail is still lacking. As you’d expect, HD footage is much clearer.

To view, and then record, in HD you have to manually select it before clicking the record button. Recorded clips are then stored in the app and can be shared via email.

No auto-recording to the cloud

If you get a notification of motion and you aren’t on hand to check it immediately, there is no way to have it auto-record footage to the cloud. You have to open up the app and do it manually, which might mean any thief has already made off with your stuff by the time you see it.

It seems that inserting a memory card will open up the option for automatic recording, just be sure you clear the memory card regularly or it might be too full to record when you need it.

Universal motion alerts are annoying – but you can reduce them

Like the Moobox Pro XT, the Yale Indoor simply sends alerts for any motion it detects, whether person, animal or vehicle. This means that if you’ve set up the camera to keep an eye on your dog, but were also hoping it could double up as a security camera for intruders, you could find yourself getting a lot of notifications every time your pooch makes a move. 

Thankfully there are features to help with this. First up is activity zones, which allows you to set areas that you want the camera to keep an eye on – such as doors or windows – and disable notifications for the rest. 

This works pretty well, but isn’t foolproof. We occasionally got notifications when we shouldn’t, and not get them when we should, but overall it’s effective.

You can also choose to disable notifications entirely, or set them to only get in touch within certain times. This is great for pet surveillance, when you just want to check in on them when you decide, but for security purposes, it’s not such a good idea, as you could miss something important. 

If you choose to do it, you’ll want to install a memory card, so any motion captured gets recorded while you remain blissfully unaware.

Decent night mode

For the price, the night mode on the Yale Indoor camera is really quite good, with a promise of visibility up to eight metres.

The only downside here is that, as its name would suggest, you are unable to use this camera outdoors where such a range makes sense. You can’t use it through a window either - the infrared light that activates in the dark bounces off the glass and causes issues with the picture. For outdoor surveillance, Yale have a camera for the job (but it’s more than double the price).

Good two-way audio

Seen something you don’t like the look of? Or just want to tell your dog he’s a good boy? The two-way audio is loud and clear, accessible from the app, and would certainly send the message to any intruder that it might be time to rethink their plans sharpish.

Alexa smarts

Add the Yale Indoor camera to a room within your Alexa app, and you can ask Alexa to show it on your Echo Show or Fire TV device. We tried it via the new Fire TV Cube and it worked well, though our 65in TV didn’t do the Yale’s picture quality any favours. Still it’s great to have Alexa support on board at this price, even if use cases are limited.

What I liked

The simplicity of the Yale Indoor camera is going to be half of its charm to anyone interested in buying it. Getting it installed is simple, and then using it is too, offering a very few bells and whistles to complicate things. 

When in HD, the video quality is actually pretty good, and at this price, the night mode is great too. I also liked that all videos are date and timed stamped – handy if they’re needed for not-so-nice reasons.

What I didn’t like

The fact the camera defaults to standard definition is annoying, and the lack of auto record for the cloud is equally so. 

If you go to the notifications section within the app, you’re presented with a list of times that motion has been noticed, but click through on any one of them, and you are just shown a live video of what the camera is seeing now. It makes the notifications seem somewhat pointless, unless you’re tied to your phone at all times.

Real Homes verdict

So unfortunately, the cheapest smart security camera we’ve tested didn’t throw up any surprises. As predicted, it can’t compete with premium offerings like the Nest Cam Indoor or Arlo Pro 2, but it does offer basic surveillance skills that some might find enough for their needs. Certainly, to keep an eye on your pets, it works a treat. 

However, for real home security issues, we’re less convinced on it being the best option out there. The MooBox Pro XT is not without its issues, but its wireless functionality, weatherproofing for indoor and outdoor use and the overall better image quality might be worth the extra outlay if you can’t afford the price of the more premium models.

However, the fact there’s no subscription to pay joins the sub-£50 price point in being probably the Yale Indoor camera’s biggest selling point, and a big reason why many will consider it. It’s just worth being fully aware of the compromises that it creates before you part with your cash.

About our reviewer:

Verity Burns is our smart home tech expert. She has been writing about technology for over a decade, and spends a lot of time tinkering with the latest in smart home tech for The Hub section of Realhomes.com. You may even spot her chatting about smart home best buys and top tips on The Real Homes Show. 

When she's not writing, reviewing or offering tech support to various members of her family, she's a mum of three – one real baby and two furry ones. You’ll always find her in the living room, or recalibrating terrible TV settings at parties.

Our Google Nest Hub review is a must-read if you're considering purchasing a smart speaker. It's the smart display (by which we mean 'screen') that sets the Google Nest Hub apart from other smart speakers on the market. And it makes controlling a wider smart home system easier and more efficient.

If you think the Google Nest Hub looks familiar, it's likely because you've seen it before. But, under its another name: the Google Home Hub. Following a recent rebrand – and a £20 price drop – it now forms part of the Nest family of smart products, which include everything from smart thermostats to security cameras and video doorbells. 

But, what did we think? We spent a week with the Google Nest Hub in our home to see what it’s all about, and to decide whether its worth investing in. Discover everything you need to know, below.

• Head over to The Hub for more smart home advice, information and unbiased reviews

What is the Google Nest Hub?

The Google Nest Hub is part of a growing section of tech called smart displays. Like the Amazon Echo Show 5 (see our review on that too), the Google Nest Hub is ultimately a smart speaker, like Google Home, and contains all the smarts of Google Assistant, but with a 7in display tagged onto the front of it. (We've written a Google Assistant review, if you'd like to learn more about that, too.)

That display naturally forms the focal point of the device, and hides the majority of the fabric-covered speaker, which doubles as a stand.

The display means not only can you get a visual information as part of any smart assistant activity, but it can also double up to offer media playback from YouTube, work as a digital photo frame for displaying your pictures and be act as a hub for controlling all of your smart home devices in one place. Plus it makes a pretty fancy desk clock too.

What it isn’t is a tablet – there’s no ability to download apps or do any internet browsing here. This is a smart display in the purest sense.

How easy is it to set up the Google Nest Hub?

When you first plug in the Google Nest Hub and turn it on, you’ll be prompted to download the Google Home app (iOS/Android) on your phone. If you have other Google smart devices in your home, you may well already have it downloaded.

From the app, you will need to add the Hub to your devices by pressing the '+' icon – the app will then look for devices ready to connect, display a code on both devices to be sure you’re connecting to the right one and that’s it done. You’ll then have an option to name the speaker so you can easily identify it, connect it to the same Wi-Fi that your phone is on, and confirm you want to switch on Google Assistant.

Once you’ve done all that, you can start to personalise your Google Assistant experience, by adding your accounts for Spotify or YouTube Music, teach Google Assistant your voice and set up Duo W-Fi calling. 

The only downside is the Hub has no camera so can offer voice calls only, rather than the video calls you can do with something like the Echo Show 5.

Who will the Google Nest Hub suit?

If you’ve been thinking about investing in a smart speaker, but like the idea of the visual element to bolster the experience, then the Google Nest Hub could be worth considering – as long as you don’t mind paying a bit more for the privilege. 

By comparison a Google Home Mini, which also offers all the smarts of Google Assistant but without a display, is only £49. So it’s something to consider.

While having a smart home setup to control isn’t a necessity, it’s worth thinking about whether you’ll want one in the future (and what you might want), as well as considering any smart devices you already have, to make sure they’re compatible with Google Home. 

Of course anything from Google’s Nest line will be a perfect match, as will Chromecast and Google Home devices, not to mention a whole host of third party products. But if you already have Amazon Echos dotted around your house, for example, you might find the Alexa-packing Echo Show 5 a better match.

How will you use the Google Nest Hub?

There are several areas that the Google Nest Hub excels in, which I found useful. 

Its display makes the smart assistant experience better

The big one, of course, is that it adds a visual element to any smart assistant activity. Ask Google for a weather update and you’ll get a weather graphic for the day; ask Google for a recipe for onion soup and it can pull up a YouTube video; ask Google to play your cooking playlist and it’ll find it on Spotify and offer you on-screen controls. 

It will even recognise your voice with a bit of pre-programming. That means when you ask it things like “how’s my diary looking today?” or “how’s my route to work?”, it will bring up personalised information for you, based on what you’ve told it, and not your partner, for example.

It just adds a whole new dimension to the smart speaker experience, and I found the combination of voice control and touchscreen interaction makes the very most of a voice assistant.

And for those times you’d rather there wasn’t a smart speaker in your room? There’s a physical mute button that will give you peace of mind that the Google Nest Hub isn’t listening in.

It’s a gorgeous digital photo frame. 

The screen on the Google Nest Hub screen is clear and punchy but not reflective, so when it’s not doing other things, it does a grand job of displaying your pictures just as well as a real photo frame would do – and its size is perfect too.

It also features an Ambient EQ Light Sensor at the top of the screen, which – if turned on – will adjust the display to match the colours and lighting in your environment. Not only does this mean the photos it displays will blend in with your home decor, but your screen won’t be blaring brightly in the corner of a dimly lit room either.

You can choose to have the Hub cycle through pro photos from Google’s vaults, or connect it to your Google Photos account, and have your own pictures scroll through instead. 

Even better, you can choose specific albums or even faces you want to see using Google Photos’ facial recognition feature, so you don’t get random email screengrabs appear in the middle of your favourite holiday snaps. Plus Google will only show the good shots, using machine learning to avoid duplicates and blurry snaps – clever stuff.

It’s great for media playback

While it’s very unlikely you’ll sit and watch a whole movie on the Nest Hub, its 7in display is a great size for quick internet videos, plus offers on-screen controls for music playback too. 

The sound is just ok though – it’s fine for casual listening, and nice and clear for radio or podcasts, but you’ll want to invest in the larger Google Nest Hub Max if you were hoping for something to fuel the playlist for a kitchen party.

You can control your smart home from it

As long as you’ve set up a smart home device within the Google Home app, you will be able to control it either by touch or voice from the Nest Hub.

Swiping down from the top of the screen will give you the ability to monitor all your devices in one place, including your connected cameras, lighting, heating and speakers. It’s here that you can also set up routines, to trigger a number of smart home devices into action with a single command. 

For example, saying 'hey Google, good night' could lower your thermostat, turn off your lights and TV and turn on your security camera.

As you’d expect, the Google Nest Hub works seamlessly with other Nest devices. I was testing a Nest IQ home security camera at the same time as the Hub, and could bring up a live video stream on the screen with ease. 

Equally, Nest Hello doorbell owners can have their doorbell video stream pop up when the doorbell rings, and if you subscribe to Nest Aware for facial recognition, the Hub will even announce who it is when it does.

What did I like about the Google Nest Hub?

The Google Nest Hub is a superb smart display that has all the brains of Google Assistant but with the richer experience that having a display offers, including smart home control.

Its screen and form factor are just the right size for a desk or bedside table too, and its display is great quality for displaying your pictures.

What didn’t I like about the Google Nest Hub?

The sound could be better, and the lack of camera is a shame, particularly when you can get one on competitor devices. It would be nice to have the option to video call.

It needs plugging in constantly too, so you have to make a careful decision about where you’re like to get the use from it most. I plugged it in in the living room as that is where I spend a lot of my time, but it could equally find a home in a bedroom or kitchen, depending on what you see yourself using it for most.

Is it worth buying a Google Nest Hub?

If you’re keen to invest in a smart home set up and want an easy way to control it all from a central location, while also bagging a natty digital photo frame in the process – yes, absolutely.

At £119, it’s not prohibitively expensive, though the fantastic Amazon Echo Show 5 is now available with a £40-cheaper price tag of £80.

At 5.5in, the display on the Echo Show 5 is smaller though, and is arguably not as good quality, but it does come with a camera on board for video calls, and the ever-brilliant Alexa. You have to upgrade to the £219 Nest Hub Max to get a camera from a Google smart display.

Ultimately though, with the difference in capabilities between Google Assistant and Alexa getting smaller by the day, it probably comes down to what smart home devices you decide to invest in that will determine which smart display is right for you.

Real Homes verdict

Small but mighty, the Google Nest Hub offers all the smarts of Google Assistant and throws in a great screen for a richer experience. Smart home fans will find it a great tool for controlling all their devices from a single place, and Nest users will find it particularly slick at controlling other parts of the Nest family. The enhanced with a sharp display that doubles up as a great digital photo frame is a bonus.

More smart reviews:

• Still not sure whether a smart speaker is for you? Here are 10 reasons why we think you need smart audio

Not everyone has hundreds of pounds to spend on a smart security set up, and not everyone needs to either. The Moobox Pro XT is a simple, affordable smart security camera that, at £80, comes in at a third of the cost of some of offerings from the premium brands.

Despite its low price tag, it still comes with a number of important features, including a compact, battery-powered design, 1080p full HD resolution, an IP65 waterproof rating and motion detection alerts.

But is this an area to scrimp on or are you better saving up to go for a pricier model? Read on for our thoughts.

Compare the best home security systems in our handy guide. Then, we answer the question: do you really need smart security cameras?

• Head over to The Hub for more smart home technology news, advice and unbiased reviews
• Then, discover more tips on how to protect your home

What is the Moobox Pro XT?

The Moobox Pro XT is a wireless full HD smart security camera, with a separate hub that connects to your router.

Unlike the Arlo Pro 2’s rather chunky hub, the Moobox Pro XT’s is much more compact, and hooks up to your router in the same way, via ethernet cable. The cameras are a very similar size though, and aren’t dissimilar to look at either. You can sync up to four cameras with each hub.

The Pro XT stands upright on its own, or it comes with a magnetic wall mount if you prefer, which works really well with its wireless design. Moobox says the battery will last for four months, but the actual amount of time between charges will depend on how often it is recording.

For smart home enthusiasts, the Moobox Pro XT is not currently compatible with any smart speaker, so can’t be controlled with your Amazon Echo or Google Home speakers, for example. There’s also no web interface to control it with – you have to use the Moobox app, making it a little more restrictive than the pricier competition.

How easy is it to set up?

Getting the Moobox Pro XT online follows a similar process to setting up the Arlo Pro 2 and other home security cams. First you scan the QR code on the base of the hub to set it up within the app, then you go about adding your cameras. 

Each one requires the button on the camera’s base to be held down for a few seconds to put it into 'pairing' mode, and then a button on the hub to be pressed, to get them linked. It took us a few tries to get the lights flashing the right colours to connect, but we got there in the end.

Once the hub and camera have connected to one another successfully, their LEDs will flash green and then go out. You will then see that camera in your Moobox app.

Compared to some of its competitors, the Moobox app is pretty basic, which makes it very easy to use. On the homepage you’ll see all your cameras (extra cameras are available separately for £70 each), with an events tab for storing clips of any detected motion. The Moobox Pro XT can record video in 10, 15 or 30 second clips.

Who will the Moobox Pro XT suit?

The Moobox Pro XT is a very straightforward smart security setup, and would suit those on a budget looking for some very simple home surveillance.

That’s because, while it has specifications that match a lot of pricier cameras on paper, the features it offers are much more limited – and the experience is too.

So while it is wireless, full HD and weatherproof, it doesn’t have the ability to tell the difference between animals and humans in its notifications, for example. That means you could end up getting a lot of notifications indeed, especially if you have pets or are monitoring a garden.

If you were hoping to build it into a wider smart home setup too, you would need to look elsewhere – this doesn’t support any of smart assistants, like Alexa or Google Assistant.

How does the Moobox Pro XT perform?

The Moobox Pro XT is a bit of a mixed bag on the performance front, and it will depend on your requirements and expectations as to whether it will suit your needs.

Simple feature set means lots of alerts

The Pro XT is one of the simplest smart security cameras we’ve used, in terms of the number of features you have to play with once set up. That makes the app uncluttered and easy to use, but there is very little you can tweak in terms of settings. 

You can adjust the sensitivity of the motion detection to reduce unwanted alerts (like trees blowing in your garden, for example), and also set a timer to schedule when the camera should be on watch. However it leaves fancier controls like geolocation (being able to switch the camera on or off automatically based on when you’re at home or not), face detection and the ability to differentiate people and animals out of the equation. 

This means you get more notifications than you would with other, more sophisticated systems, which in turn affects the wireless camera’s battery life. While you can turn off the push notifications in your phone’s settings, you would have to trawl through hundreds of clips to find anything of note, which is not very convenient.

Average picture quality

Despite being a 1080p full HD camera with 120-angle wide angle lens, the image quality does lag behind the competition somewhat, which is probably due to the quality of the sensor the Pro XT uses. 

While day time shots are sharp enough for the most part, the image can become blocky and pixelated during motion playback, and is a little soft on detail thanks to heavy handed compression. Night vision footage fares a lot worse in this respect, and is grainy and poorly defined, even when there is ambient light. Pricier alternatives perform better in the pitch black.

Can be used indoors and outdoors

The fact the Moobox Pro XT can be used indoors and outdoors, thanks to its IP65 waterproof rating, makes it very flexible for the money. I found the range on it to be pretty good too, and had no problems installing it in the garden, some distance from the hub.

Free cloud storage, no subscription required

As part of its simple approach, Moobox doesn’t offer a subscription service, and just offers seven days of cloud storage for your footage for free. That means there are no hidden costs to Moobox, which will be reassuring for many. 

If you prefer, you can also store your footage locally on the Moobox Pro XT’s 16GB included SD card so it’s always to hand, no internet connection required.

Two-way voice is clear enough

The built-in mic and speaker allow for two-way talking via the camera, which is loud and clear. It’s arguably not as crystal clear as the performance from Arlo or Nest, but it should do the job at scaring off any unwanted visitors if required.

Motion detection only

The Moobox Pro XT only detects motion, and not sound, so it won’t pick up the sound of a window being smashed in another room, for example. Motion detection footage also doesn’t capture sound, despite there being a microphone on board for the two-way voice feature, which seems like a missed opportunity.

What did I like?

It’s a great, convenient design that rivals the likes of the Arlo Pro 2, and it’s also super simple to use. 

The price is also very attractive if you just need some casual surveillance for when you’re out of the house, and aren’t keen on paying for an ongoing monthly subscription to unlock the very very best features. With the Moobox Pro XT, you get everything that it offers straight out of the box.

What didn’t I like?

While its simplicity will be part of its charm for some, the amount of notifications that you receive when the camera is recording can be quite annoying. As I have dogs, having this camera in the living room when I was out meant I got a lot of notifications, even when I set sensitivity to low. If you have this focused on a garden or a driveway, I could imagine you’d get even more. Overnight, that could be very annoying indeed.

The video quality is also not the best, which is frustrating. If you have a product like this, you want to be sure what it captures will be reliable and usable when you need it, and at night, I’m not convinced it would be.

Finally, with no smart assistant compatibility, this won’t slot into a larger smart home set up, which is a bit of a shame.

Real Homes verdict

The Moobox Pro XT offers a decent performance for the price, but we can see the experience being frustrating for many due to inability to tailor the notifications you receive. 

These will be particularly frequent if you own pets or are using the Pro XT to keep on eye on the outside of your property, and those people may want to consider choosing a more sophisticated system to improve that.

The video quality isn’t the greatest either, particularly at night, so you’ll have to manage your expectations as to what this is capable of. Plus this works entirely on its own - there’s no way of adding it into an existing smart home setup, which is a bit of a blow for a smart security system.

If you’re happy to overlook these issues to get a surveillance system on a real budget, then the Moobox Pro XT could well be worth a look.

About our reviewer: Verity Burns

Verity Burns is our smart home tech expert. She has been writing about technology for over a decade, and spends a lot of time tinkering with the latest in smart home tech for The Hub section of Realhomes.com. You may even spot her chatting about smart home best buys and top tips on The Real Homes Show. 

When she's not writing, reviewing or offering tech support to various members of her family, she's a mum of three – one real baby and two furry ones. You’ll always find her in the living room, or recalibrating terrible TV settings at parties.

Read more on home security tech:

• Best video doorbell
• Ring Doorbell 2 review

Never heard of the Tado smart thermostat? You'll know everything there is to know (and more) by the end of this article. Worth it? To save as much as 31% on your heating bills*, we certainly think so. Plus when you think about the money you'll be saving post installation, the Tado smart thermostat as good as pays for itself. We're sold.

Discover how the Tado smart thermostat works; what it does; and how it could save you money below. Then, compare it to our pick of the best smart thermostats. Hint: it's in our second spot.

• Head over to The Hub for the latest smart home news, advice and information
• Then, read our handy guide: what is a smart thermostat and do I need one?

So, what is a smart thermostat? Put simply, it's a device that connects your heating system to your smart phone, making it super easy to control your heating and hot water, from any location. The Tado smart thermostat is one of the most affordable options currently available on the market and comes highly rated in our round up of the best. Here's what it has to offer:

Climate Assistant

The Tado smart thermostat works to learn your heating behaviours, adjusting the climate of each room individually, depending on your preferences. Plus, it offers practical advice to help prevent mould, reduce humidity, improve air quality and more. 

It's through this understanding of your heating behaviours – by which we mean how, when and where you heat your home – that it helps users to save money. By identifying where energy is used unnecessarily, Tado can make recommendations that will ultimately lead to users reducing their energy usage and the cost of their bills. 

Geofencing

Another handy feature that helps (particularly forgetful) homeowners to reduce the cost of their monthly bills is geofencing. Using GPS to track your location, Tado ensures you never heat an empty house. How? Well, it's programmed to turn off your heating automatically the moment you step outside of a pre-allocated geo-fence. This ensures energy is saved, even if you forget.

The most affordable smart thermostat available

Although the Tado is half the price of similar models, it is compatible with a range of heating systems, including underfloor heating, and you can use it alongside the Amazon Echo for complete smart home functionality. 

*Learn more about the Tado Smart Thermostat and how you could save as much as 31% on your heating

• These are the 3 smart home gadgets every homeowner needs
• Amazon launches the Echo Flex, a smart speaker that plugs straight into the wall

We all know that Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant can play music for us or check the weather, but can you correctly guess all the other smart home items they can control? 

As part of National Smart Home Month, the Real Homes Show carried out a survey on tech usage. Of the thousands we asked, only 30 per cent correctly guessed which items from the following list could be controlled by a voice assistant or smart speaker. How would you get on? 

Simply select all of the smart products in the list below that you think can be controlled by a voice assistant:

• Heating
• Lighting
• Security camera
• Oven
• Plugs
• Blinds
• Fridge
• Washing machine
• Doorbell
• Lock
• Robot vacuum cleaner
• Automated pet feeder
• All of the above

The correct answer is that all of them can be controlled using your voice assistant if you have the right products and apps. 

To help make home tech easier to understand, we've created a special episode of the Real Homes Show, in partnership with our colleagues TechRadar. Watch now for tech expert James Peckham explaining what a smart home is, how it'll make your life easier, and how to get started.

Check out these related articles

• Check out our guide to getting the most from your smart assistant
• Fancy a video doorbell? Here's our Ring 2 review
• No idea what 5G is? Here's our jargon-free guide for the confused

Video doorbells are revolutionising the way we monitor our homes, making it easier than ever to keep an eye on what's going on when we're away; providing reassurance to those who feel uncomfortable opening the door to strangers at night; and ensuring we never miss another delivery.

But what if we told you their impact on the way that we protect our homes has been considered so significant that police forces across the UK are now offering free Ring doorbells to homeowners? Would you want in? Or would you think it an invasion of privacy? A real life Big Brother moment...

Discover everything you need to know about the scheme, below. And when you're done reading, we'd love to know your opinions...

• Do you really need a video doorbell? Find out in our guide
• Read our review of the Ring 2 video doorbell

You may remember that we reported on a collaboration between Ring and US Police forces a few months back. Since then, a report by The Sunday Times has revealed that four forces – including Suffolk, Leicestershire, Humberside and Hertfordshire – have begun offering local residents a similar deal. And this is only set to increase, with the report revealing that over half of the UK's police forces are in talks with Ring over future collaborations. This includes The Met, who are said to have signed a deal £243,000.

In exchange for a Ring video doorbell, which currently retails at £89, residents who live in areas with increased risk of crime or burglary would be in a position to provide police forces with video footage which may, in turn, lead to arrest. Plus, the presence of a video doorbell is considered an active deterrent to criminal opportunists. 

Whether providing the police with access to video footage would be mandatory is a debate that's still ongoing. Though Ring are keen to assert that they do not support programs in which users are obliged sign up for a recording plan or to share video footage in exchange for free devices. 

Speaking on the topic, an official spokesperson says: 'Ring values the trust our customers place in us and is committed to protecting privacy. Ring customers decide whether to share footage publicly and whether or not they want to purchase a recording plan. 

'Ring does not support programs that require recipients to subscribe to a recording plan or share footage as a condition for receiving a donated device. We are actively working with partners to ensure this is reflected in their programs. Privacy, security and consent are extremely important to us, and every decision we make as a company centres around these three pillars.'

So, what are your thoughts? Would you be willing to accept a free Ring Video Doorbell from your local police force? What if it meant that sharing video footage was mandatory? We'd love to hear your thoughts...

• Video doorbells least trusted smart home gadgets. Justified? We investigate
• Video doorbell fail? Over half of us just walk right in...

Amping up your home security on a budget in time for winter? This is the device you need: a genius smart entry sensor that sends you messages when doors or windows are opened. 

The best part? These devices are a fraction of the price you'd pay for an alarm system.

Here's how they work: you download the app, then peel and stick the devices on vulnerable doors and windows; you'll receive instant notifications if the doors or windows are opened via the app (or via Alexa if you're hooked up), no matter where you are in the world. 

You can, of course, arm and disarm the devices from your phone to, so that you don't get alerts when you or other family members are home.

We think it's an affordable way to monitor your home – perfect for anyone on a budget or if you're renting and your landlord won't pay for an alarm system. Pair it with a video doorbell or wireless security camera like the lightbulb spy cam we found yesterday and your home security is sorted – at a smart price.

Scroll for more info and of course, to shop

• Click to buy the Kangaroo Home Security Motion + Sensor for $29.99 at Amazon US now. In the UK? This similar device is only £14.99.

• This budget home security camera is a mini spy cam burglars won't spot
• Worried about home security? You need this brilliant (budget) burglar deterrent

Want to know about the US version of this particular device? If you're a pet owner, you don't need to worry about your energetic cat triggering your sensor – the Kangaroo has built-in Pet Rejection Technology that is smart enough to disregard them so not to worry you without need.

And both devices – UK and US – have long battery life so you won't have to worry about changing them in the near future.

• Best smart locks
• Best home security systems

Keen to keep a closer eye on what's going on at home day-to-day? Or simply want some peace of mind when it comes to home security while you're sunning yourself on holiday? Smart home security cameras – which allow you to see what's going on at home from your smart phone – are the way to go.

The good news? The Ring Stick Up Camera is on sale. It's a brilliant buy – thanks to its stylish design, easy, non-permanent installation and impressive 1080p HD video. And, given the popularity of this model – particularly during Amazon Prime Day back in July – we were surprised to see it currently available with an impressive £50 off as part of Amazon's end of summer sale.

We can't be sure how long this deal will be around – if Prime Day is anything to go by, the Ring Stick Up Cam will be gone before we know it – so you'd better move quickly if you're keen to make the most of this impressive discount. Interested? Shop the Ring Stick Up Cam below...

• Interested in home security? Browse our pick of the best home security systems
• Then, shop the full Amazon end of summer sale. There are some pretty sweet deals to be had

Whether you’re looking to enhance your home security day to day, or want to keep a closer eye on what’s going on back home when you’re away, the Ring Stick Up Cam is a popular option thanks to its easy installation, weather resistance and live streaming. 

It sold like hot cakes in this year’s Amazon Prime Day sales, so we were so excited to see the Ring Stick Up Camera with a £50 discount at John Lewis this bank holiday. We expect this handy smart security camera to sell out pretty quickly, so we’d recommend picking yours up while you can.

Then, check out all the offerings in the August bank holiday sales.

• Not sure whether smart home security is for you? Our handy guide answers the question: do you really need smart security cameras?
• Shop the full smart home sale at John Lewis

Although 57 per cent of us own a smart assistant, playing music is still the main reason we buy one. This is according to research of 1,042 people carried out by the Real Homes Show, our online TV show, sponsored by Checkatrade, which now features a smart home tech section. But, it turns out, we're missing out on a whole world of fun.

If you're one of the 53 per cent of people who own an Alexa-enabled voice assistant (such as the Echo, Echo Dot or Echo Plus), or amongst the 22 per cent of people who own a Google Home device, here are nine of the weird, wonderful, and occasionally useful, things you could be using it for.

If you haven't got smart speakers yet, or you want extra speakers for other rooms, make sure you check out the best Amazon Prime Day deals when the sale goes live this weekend.

1. Ask Alexa or Google Home to play a game with you

Remember the days when everyone sat around playing Monopoly of an evening? Nah, us neither. You've got more chance of getting the whole family involved in a game if it's of the digital variety. Ask your smart assistant to play a game and you'll be spoilt for choice. From a name-that-song music quiz to a testing of your general knowledge, you'll find something to keep everyone entertained.

2. Add to your joke repertoire 

Friends fed up of your cheese jokes? They're probably not very Gouda (sorry). Luckily, both Alexa and Google Home Assistant can help improve your puns. Ask either to tell you a joke, remember it and prepare for the laughs to roll in. You might even pick up a cracker (sorry, again).

3. Tell everyone when dinner is ready

If you've got teenagers in front of Fortnite and your other half glued to the TV, then yelling that dinner is ready can fall on deaf ears. Instead, use your smart assistant and speakers as an intercom. Great fun for making announcements, especially if they embarrass the kids... 'Josh, hope you're having fun up there with your new girlfriend...'.

4. Make a handsfree phone call

Still dialling friends and family on the old dog and bone? That's sooo 2018. Instead, sync your phone to your smart assistant and then use it to make handsfree calls, either on the phone or to your smart assistant. Letting your mum natter away while you get on with something useful? Priceless.

5. Get help in the kitchen

If it's that time of the week when there's nothing in the fridge but some cheese, an egg and half a pepper, your smart assistant can come to your rescue. Ask your smart assistant for recipes containing the items you have. And if you're confused as to how many grams are in a cup, they can help with that, too.

6. Learn a new language

If 'paella, por favor' is the extent of your Spanish skills, then use your smart assistant to learn some more of the local lingo before you jet off on holiday. Alexa can teach you a word of the day in your chosen language, or let you listen and learn from a daily audio lesson, both using the Daily Dose app. Google Home Assistant, meanwhile, can translate words and phrases into English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese for you. Bonne chance!

7. Remember all the stuff you usually forget

Fed up of getting home from the shops and realising you've forgotten the milk? Then use your smart assistant to send you reminders or make lists for you. For instance, say 'Alexa, add eggs to my shopping list' or 'Hey Google, remember my work door passcode'. Using the linked app, you can listen back to your reminders or get them entered into a linked app, such as AnyList, and Todoist.

8. Get a better night's sleep

Having trouble nodding off? Ask Google Home Assistant to play you white noise on your bedroom speaker, which is proven to help you drift into the land of nod. Alexa, meanwhile, can teach you to meditate – simply ask Alexa to open Headspace or Mindful Meditation and then sit back, relax and fall asleep.

9. Control your smart home

Okay, we're guessing you already know this, but as most of us are only using our smart assistants to play music, it's worth a recap. Both Alexa and Google Home Assistant-enabled devices can be synced with everything from smart lighting to smart washing machines, allowing you to control your devices using your voice if you're at home, or using the app if you're out and about. Clever, aren't they?

Choose your Alexa or Google Home device...

Check out these related articles:

• Check out the best tech to help you get a good night's sleep
• No idea what a smart fridge is? Check out our handy guide
• Want to see who's ringing your bell? Get a smart doorbell

We are all pretty used to the concept of smart assistants now. If you don't own one yourself you probably know someone who does. We've become accustomed to saying things like 'Okay Google, what's the weather like tomorrow?' and 'Alexa, what happened on Love Island last night?'. But just how much have these virtual assistants become part of our homes?

A new survey conducted by the Real Homes Show has revealed that smart assistants are in fact the most popular home tech gadget, with Amazon Alexa and Google Home being used by over half (57 per cent) of those surveyed. 

• Amazon Prime Day is coming, but these smart home deals are worth snagging now
• Get £100 off a Google Home Speaker with this pre-Prime Day deal
• Don't wait for Prime Day: Google Home Mini is now £24 at John Lewis

According to the 1,042 participants of the survey, the most popular smart assistant was by far the Amazon Alexa (53 per cent). The next most popular choice was Google Home Assistant, with 22 per cent saying this was their preferred smart assistant (check out our reviews on both). And, we've reviewed Apple's Siri, too.

The factors that affected buyers the most when choosing which smart assistant to go for was easy connection and ease of use, and the most popular type of smart device bought was a smart audio gadget, with 37 per cent of smart devices bought being some kind of speaker.

• Best smart speakers 2019 – an expert buyer's guide

As well as smart assistants, the homeowners surveyed also noted they are considering prioritising their investment in smart audio, smart lighting, smart security, smart heating and smart plugs with in the next year. Well over 50 per cent also stated that they regularly control their home tech remotely from their smart phones and tablets, and they do tend to use their smart gadgets more than once a day. 

Feeling tempted to invest in your own smart assistant? Well with Amazon Prime Day coming up (starts next Monday 15th July), there will be some amazing deals go on, so now is going to be the best time to get your hands on one. Not sure what device to go for ? Check out these reviews and advice:

• Smart assistants: a beginner's guide
• The smart plug: a beginner's guide
• Smart meters: everything you need to know
• Amazon Echo Show (2nd Generation) review

Jason Orme, presenter on the Real Homes Show, sponsored by Checkatrade, says, 'We’re quite a smart home tech nation, according to the Real Homes audience survey. It’s gratifying to know that in this fast-paced world, the Real Homes Show is attracting a loyal audience who are keen to hear more about the latest products and to educate themselves on ways in which they can enhance their homes, make the most of their space and enjoy their surroundings even more by introducing small improvements that won’t cost the earth and are user-friendly.  We’re really excited about the second series which will bring more hints, tips and advice to our home loving, tech savvy viewers.'

For a load more content on smart home tech then make sure you check out our new section, The Hub. You'll find plenty of advice and in depth reviews over there. 

Plus, make sure you check out the latest episode of the Real Homes Show, which is back for a second season tomorrow and has a new smart home tech section. Each episode, tech expert Verity Burns will give viewers a beginner's guide to creating a more connected home, focusing on everything from robot vacuum cleaners to smart fridges. 

Smart tech – do you own loads of gadgets already, are you excited about the prospect of owning some, or mistrustful of all the new technology entering our homes? Or is it more a question of coveting only the best smart tech for your home (but having no idea where to start)?

Recent research* suggests that some smart tech gadgets are more desirable than others. A digital home assistant, such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, is by far the most anticipated smart home tech, with 41 per cent of UK households expecting to get one via a smart speaker within the next five years. 

• Best smart speakers 2019 – use Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and more

The same percentage are keen on a smart thermostat such as Hive or Nest, which will allow them to control their heating remotely. 

Smart lighting and a smart video doorbell are an anticipated purchase for 36 per cent; this despite our report last week that video doorbells are the least trusted pieces of smart home kit.

By contrast, interest in smart appliances is relatively low, with only 17 per cent saying they are interested in a smart oven, while a smart washing machine or fridge only appealed to 19 per cent of respondents. This may be partly because people aren't sure about what such appliances can offer that isn't already covered by their non-smart counterparts.

And where would we like to buy our smart tech from? It turns out that only 15 per cent would like to buy from a specialist smart tech provider. The majority of us, it seems, are happy to continue purchasing our tech gadgets from retailers such as Amazon. 

Speaking of which, the upcoming Amazon Prime Day is a good time to get your smart tech at a good price. 

* Based on a survey of 2,500 UK households by Ernst & Young, analysed by property specialists FastSaleHomes.co.uk.

• What is a smart fridge and do I need one?
• What is a smart washing machine and do I need one?

Do you own a video doorbell? How would you feel about it being used as part of neighborhood network to increase security locally? Or for its recordings to be used by the police to help catch criminals? Useful? Or an invasion of privacy?

• Best video doorbell: see who's calling with a smart doorbell
• Do you really need a video doorbell?

This is precisely what's causing a buzz in the US at the moment, according to a recent report by Alfred Ng of CNET, where Amazon's Ring doorbell has been given away or discounted by police departments countrywide. And although homeowners should be free to choose whether or not to hand over footage if requested by the police in relation to a crime, some video doorbells are being reportedly handed out on the condition that surveillance footage will be given over if requested.  

The brains behind one of the first video doorbells – which uses motion detection to enable users to see who's at the door from their smartphone – Ring have always prided themselves on being champions of home security and empowering home owners to use smart technologies to protect their homes, whether remotely or from the comfort of their armchairs. And, of course, Ring's 'Neighbors App,' which offers communities and law enforcement the opportunity to work together by allowing homeowners to share footage super-powers this home security drive.

With increased home security at the heart of Ring's ethos, this collaboration seems particularly apt and could drastically increase the success of police surveillance projects, if used effectively. And, of course, Ring's video doorbells, in common with many other similar devices, can offer unique doorstep surveillance, the one area that local authority security cameras don't cover.

But, there has been some controversy, with concerns expressed that asking members of the public to share video doorbell footage in exchange for a free device constitutes an invasion of privacy.

Ring are keen to assert that they do not support programs in which users are obliged sign up for a recording plan or to share video footage in exchange for free devices, with an official spokesperson stating that:

'Ring values the trust our customers place in us and is committed to protecting privacy. Ring customers decide whether to share footage publicly and whether or not they want to purchase a recording plan. Ring does not support programs that require recipients to subscribe to a recording plan or share footage as a condition for receiving a donated device. We are actively working with partners to ensure this is reflected in their programs. Privacy, security and consent are extremely important to us, and every decision we make as a company centres around these three pillars.'

How do you feel about this issue? Would you be comfortable to share footage with the local police if it helped in catching a perpetrator – or are you concerned about privacy? We'd love to know via Facebook and Twitter.

If you're already convinced that a video doorbell is a good thing and are concerned about home security in your area, browse our price comparison chart, below.

Looking for more smart home tech advice?

• Amazon Prime Day is coming, but these smart home deals are worth snagging now
• Best home security system 2019: protect your home with ease

Shopping for an all-new Kindle? Whether you're heading off to the South of France for two weeks of wining and dining this summer, will be found sunning yourself on a Greek island for the majority of August, or are staying a little closer to home – we'll pray for good weather – chances are you'll be looking to the summer as a chance to catch up on some reading.

After all, is there really anything better than sunning yourself, summer read and Aperol Spritz in hand? Well, more than half of us (56%) of us seem to think not, voting reading as the favourite summer holiday activity.

The only real drawbacks we can see – come on, we're British, there had to be some negatives – are the inconvenience of having to fill the majority of our hand luggage-only allowance with new (or on the way back, old) reads, and our hefty reading list leaving us at risk of the red-zone when it comes to weight allowance. 

With budget airlines becoming increasingly inflexible when it comes to luggage allowance (you know who they are), there's never been a better time to streamline the contents of your suitcase, and where better to start than with your summer reads?

• Find jargon-free gadget reviews and accessible smart home tech info on The Hub

Well, funny, you mention that. Because, intending to provide a solution to the issue of luggage logistics, Amazon have today (19th June 2019) announced the launch of the all new Kindle Oasis. But what's so special about it? 

• Already sold? Pre-order the Kindle Oasis today for release on 24th July

In a bid to enable users to enjoy great books, wherever they are, Amazon's latest launch features a new-and-improved design. Our favourite features include:

Paperwhite display

Perfect for those who love the idea of a Kindle, but can't get to grips with not reading from paper, this new model could be the compromise you've been looking for, as paperwhite technology reads like printed paper, but without the glare and even in the brightest of sunlight.

Customisable colour tone

The Kindle Oasis also comes with the benefit of customisable colour tone, meaning you can transition from daytime to a comfortable night time reading experience. You can even schedule the screen warmth to adjust automatically with sunrise and sunset.

e-ink technology

If you've got a whole host of thrillers on your summer reading list, you'll love the sound of e-ink technology, which ensures fast page turns to help maintain the suspense.

Waterproof

Perfect if you plan on reading in the pool, hot tub, or sea shallows, the Kindle Oasis is designed to withstand accidental drops and is IPX8 rated to protect against immersion in up to two metres of fresh water for up to 60 minutes. Amazing!

Looking for more summer essentials?

• Holiday books: 10 best summer reads to get on your holiday packing list
• The best fans 2019: keep cool this summer
• The best picnic baskets

So, we've all – just about – got used to asking Alexa what the weather's going to be like, and we might even have progressed on to getting a smart assistant to turn on a coffee machine via a smart plug. But what about asking Alexa to rearrange the furniture at home? 

Sounds far fetched, right? It's not. And not only that, it's going to be Ikea furniture that does the voice-command reshuffling. Yup, the Swedish home store has just announced plans to pilot a series of robot-powered furniture, designed to save space in small homes, from 2020. 

Say what now? The system, called Rognan, has been developed in collaboration with American furniture startup Ori Living, and it's a large unit that is remote controlled via a wall unit by either an app on your smart phone or with your voice on an Alexa-enabled device. Rognan contains a bed, desk, and couch combination, that can slide around a room, dividing up the space and transforming it into two living spaces at your bidding. 

• Best smart assistants 2019

The thinking behind this new innovation? 'Cities are booming and at the same time living spaces are shrinking,' an Ikea spokesperson says. 'More and more people are living and moving into cities where approximately an extra 1.5 million people join the urban population every week. This mass urbanisation is accelerating and creates heavily populated cities that are at the same time consuming both land and resources at an unsustainable pace. Ikea wants to create a better everyday life for the many people, enabling them to create their dream homes in small spaces.'

So how does it work? Rognan is built on to Ori’s robotic platform, and works with Ikea’s Platsa range of modular storage furniture. It’s also compatible with their Tradfri line of cabinet and wardrobe smart lighting. Ikea claims the Rognan can save an extra eight square metres of living space. That might not sound like much, but if you live in a tiny flat, it could make all the difference.

The new piece is set to be launched in Hong Kong first as a pilot run. More details about the Rognan furniture are expected to be announced later this summer so we will keep you posted on this futuristic furniture as details arrive. In the meantime, keep up with the latest home tech on The Hub, our jargon-free, no nonsense approach to smart home tech.

Small Spaces Month:

This article is part of Small Spaces Month, brought to you in association with the new Real Homes Travel Edition. A compact version of our hugely respected monthly magazine, Real Homes Travel Edition brings you all the same great content as the full-sized edition, but in an even more bag-friendly format that’s perfect for inner city commutes and French riviera holidays. Get yours now at WHSmith, Easons and selected newsagents.

On the hunt for the best portable speakers going? Just a few short years ago, your options for portable audio were pretty much limited to headphones, but these days there's an incredibly wide variety of portable speakers with wireless/Bluetooth capability so you can take the music with you wherever you go – be that on a camping trip, to the beach, to a music festival and more. 

Modern portable speakers are so good, in fact, that many people end up using them around the home as a replacement for a bulky stereo system. While, admittedly, most can't offer the same sound quality as a plugged in speaker, they're certainly a step-up if you're currently relying on a built-in laptop speaker to listen to music. 

Looking for more advice when it comes to home technology? Head over to The Hub, the home for more advice, buying guides and honest reviews. Or, narrow your search with more speaker buying guides:

What is the best portable speaker?

The best portable speaker is the Ultimate Ears Blast, thanks to its impressive 12 hour battery life and sound quality. Perfect for use at home – it comes with Alexa smart assistant built in – as well as when you're out and about, this is a no frills piece of kit that ticks all of the boxes. Find out more about it, and the rest of our top picks, below.

How to buy the best portable speaker

When you're shopping for the best portable speakers, there are a few factors worth bearing in mind if you're going to get the most for your money. These include:

Sound quality

While sound quality is, admittedly, a little tricky to quantify, it is something to consider when investing in a portable speaker.

We'd never claim that a small portable speaker is going to sound anywhere near as good as a mains-powered stereo, but if the convenience of being able to carry it from room to room is more important to you then it could be a trade-off worth making. Plus, most models offer competitive sound quality.

Battery life

What's the point in having a portable speaker if it's constantly running out of battery and requiring the presence of a mains socket to charge it up?

If you intend on taking your speaker camping, backpacking or to a festival, you'll want to choose a model with the longest battery life going, in order to avoid disappointment. If you're planning on keeping it a little closer to home, this needn't be such a high priority.

Waterproofing

Other features worth looking out for include a waterproofing rating in case  you want to take a speaker to the pool or (more likely) be able to wipe it down if it needs a clean. 

USB charging socket

A USB charging socket can also be a helpful inclusion if you want to be able to use your portable speaker to charge a phone or tablet. This can be particularly handy if you're planning on taking your speaker to festival or on a camping trip. 

Voice assistants 

Finally, a small number of portable speakers are now packing in support for voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. This is a cool inclusion if you want to do things like select a song without having to use your phone, but such assistants are reliant on a constant Wi-Fi connection, so be aware that they can impact upon how portable your speaker is. 

The best portable speakers you can buy right now

The UE Blast represents the next generation of portable speakers. Although on the surface it looks very similar to the existing UE Boom 2, this speaker comes packing support for Amazon's Alexa voice assistant which means you can control the music with your voice alone. 

That means requesting songs, it means pausing the music without having to touch the speaker, and it also means getting all the other benefits of an Alexa speaker such as setting timers or getting answer to trivia. 

But all of this functionality would be useless if the speaker didn't also sound great. Thankfully, since the UE Blast builds upon the existing (and excellent) UE Boom 2, the speaker has a lot to offer with a punchy sound that's dripping with detail. 

It's a little light on ports, which means you won't be able to hardwire or charge a phone from it, but if you want a top notch speaker that's packing the latest voice assistant tech, then the UE Blast is the one for you. 

Shop the full range of portable, wireless and Bluetooth speakers available from John Lewis & Partners

If you're not concerned about voice control and you're prepared to pay a little more, then the Dali Katch is a great premium option. 

It might be a compact speaker but it sounds fantastic, with a rich sound that's dynamic and absorbing and is capable of playing for a lengthy 24 hours. 

Although it doesn't have Alexa or any form of waterproofing, that doesn't mean you don't get any modern conveniences with the speaker. A small 3.5mm jack is included if you're rather hard-wire your phone than connect it via Bluetooth, and a USB socket is on hand to charge your phone. 

These features come at a price premium, but if you want a more capable portable speaker, then the Dali Katch is what you need. 

Browse more portable speakers available from Argos

If you want the audio capabilities of our top pick but aren't fussed about Alexa integration, then the UE Boom 2 is a great way to save some money. 

Better still, it actually has some features that the UE Blast is missing, including an aux input, and a USB charging socket. 

You'll have to put up with slightly worse dust protection (which might be an issue if you're taking it to the beach), but the waterproofing of the two speakers is identical. 

In terms of pure sound quality though, this is every bit as capable, with a lovely full sound that's capable of going loud without compromising on detail on dynamics. 

All of this means that the UE Boom 2 is a great budget portable speaker pick. 

See more portable, wireless and Bluetooth speaker available from Amazon 

The JBL Charge 3 doesn't quite sound as good as the top three entries on this list, but with its budget-friendly price tag and 20 hours of battery life you're unlikely to care too much. 

JBL produce an almost terrifying variety of Bluetooth speakers, with the Charge line focussing on battery life. 

That means this isn't the most subtle of speakers around with a thick and chunky sound that's more about kicking bass than refined mids. 

It's also a little big and bulky, but if you want a portable speaker with plenty of sonic heft than you're unlikely to care too much. 

Browse the full range of portable, wireless and Bluetooth speakers available from Currys PC World

Portable speakers can get pretty bulky, and at a certain point you start to wonder whether they're actually still 'portable' after all. 

The UE Wonderboom, with its incredibly compact form-factor, suffers from no such concerns. It's small enough that you can easily chuck it into a bag for when you need it, and it still packs an impressive sonic punch. 

You're making some compromises with a speaker this small. It's battery life is a more limited 10 hours, and there's also no USB charging or 3.5mm input for hardwiring a phone. 

But if these are features you're not as concerned about, then the UE Wonderboom is an absolute steal at its budget price point. 

Head to AO for more portable, wireless and Bluetooth speakers

The Creative Muvo 2C is about as cheap and compact as Bluetooth speakers get, but it doesn't skimp on functionality to reach this price point. 

It's IP66 rated, which means it should survive a light showering, and it's also compatible with a variety of different input sources including microSD cards if you want to load it up with MP3s and not bother with using your phone to control it. 

You can even pair it together with a second 2C if you want a pair of stereo Bluetooth speakers. 

At this size and price you don't get much in the way of battery life (6 hours), and nor do you get conveniences like NFC pairing and USB charging, but if you want an ultra-cheap speaker to get the job done then the Creative Muvo 2C is a great choice. 

See the full range of portable, wireless and Bluetooth speakers available from Very

Looking for more speakers and sound systems?

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Heard the term ‘smart plug’ bandied about and wondered what all the fuss was about? Here, we tell you what smart plugs are, what they do, whether they’re worth the trouble and how they can make your life easier (or not). There’s also a quick list of the best buys.

Find more of the best smart home buys, advice and reviews on The Hub.

WHAT IS A SMART PLUG?

A smart plug can plug into your electrical outlets and sockets. You then plug any device into it and use the smart plug’s corresponding app to control the device via your phone or smart assistant (think: Alexa, Google Hub Max or Apple Siri).

Some smart plugs come with or can be controlled with a separate remote control that can be used around the house. These are called smart buttons, which are Wi-Fi or Bluetooth enabled mini controls that can send commands to other devices. Where to start? Flic and Logitech Pop. 

Smart plugs are generally sold as singles, but you can buy smart plug power strips, too, into which you can plug multiple devices. 

Find the best smart speakers to host a smart assistant in our guide.

HOW MUCH IS A SMART PLUG?

They needn’t be expensive – good quality buys start from around £25/$30 each for single smart plugs; smart plug strips cost a little more.

WHAT CAN A SMART PLUG DO?

Not all smart plugs are created equal, but good quality ones can manage most of the features below. It’s worth working out what you’d like your smart plugs to do for you before you buy so that you ensure get the service you want from them.

Make dumb appliances smart

A smart plug can turn an appliance that isn’t smart (in other words, smartphone or smart assistant enabled) into one that is, instantly.

Let’s say you’ve plugged a basic lamp or plain old coffee maker into the smart plug. With the smart plug, you can instantly turn them it on and off remotely. So, if you’re away overnight, you can use the app on your phone make your home look occupied by turning lights on and off as if you were at home. Or perhaps you’re on the sofa and want to start a pot of coffee brewing – you can ask your smart assistant to turn on the coffee machine with the simple instruction: ‘Alexa, put the coffee machine on’ – in other words, you don’t even need to remember the number of the smart plug; it’s that simple.

Turn your appliances on and off

Better still, a smart plug can be programmed just like any other smart home gadget or device to create schedules. So, you can instruct your smart plug – via the app – to turn your lamps on and off automatically at set times or to start brewing your coffee at a set time every morning.

Control zones

Some smart plugs will work as a group to create zones. So, you could create a lighting zone with all the table lamps in your living room, for example, and control all of them at once: ‘Google, turn on the living room lighting’ could be your set up instruction – and boom, each living room smart plug connected to a table lamp will switch it on. 

Make it look like you’re home when you’re away

Just like we used to set plug-in timers to make our lights come on and off when we’re away, good quality smart plugs have an ‘away’ mode, too, meaning your smart-plugged-in lamps, for example, will come on and off at intervals while you’re on holiday, just like they would if you were home. But instead of fiddling with the timings manually like on old plug-in timers, you control the schedule for your smart-plugged-in-lamps via your phone or smart assistant (whether you’re home or away already). 

Control outdoor devices, too

Want your garden lights to come on and off when you’re away, too? Or simply want to set a schedule for them for summer or winter? Anything outdoors that’s plugged in via a smart plug designed for exterior use can be controlled in the same way as smart plugs for indoors.

Lower your electricity bills

Of course, if your lights and appliances can be switched off from afar, you can cut your electricity bills. But some smart plugs, such as the WeMo Insight can go further, tracking how much energy a device is using and giving you the cost, too. And this, of course, can encourage you to swap out expensive devices or energy-guzzling lightbulbs for more eco-friendly ones. Handy as we all become more environmentally conscientious. And while we’re on the subject, you can set smart plugs to prevent latent energy use by devices while they’re turned off.

React to other smart devices

If you’re looking to really build up a smart home, it’s important to pick smart plugs that will work with your other smart devices. Let’s say, for example, that your smart doorbell or smart security cameras spot a potential intruder while you’re out or away, some of the cleverer smart plugs can be set up to switch on a lamp indoors, making it look like you’re home. Look out for the acronym IFTTT (If This Then That) on the smart plug’s spec. 

Read more about the ways smart plugs can make your life easier.

How to choose the best smart plug?

There is a lot of choice when it comes to smart plugs. If you already have a smart speaker with a smart assistant on it (let’s say Amazon’s Alexa on an Echo Dot as an example), it makes good sense to buy smart plugs that are compatible so that you can control the plug not just from your phone but with your voice, too. Most plugs are compatible with more than one smart assistant, but always check first. 

Don’t have a smart assistant yet? We’d still recommend that you go for a plug that’s compatible with one of the main brands (Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings) because it’s likely this will be your next step into the smart home.

The easiest smart plugs to set up and go can connect to your home’s Wi-Fi. Others connect through a hub, and tend to be cheaper than Wi-Fi enabled ones. However, the reason to opt for the second type of smart plug shouldn’t be price: rather, you’d buy these because they might integrate with another system you have or are planning to buy, such as smart lighting.

WHICH IS THE BEST SMART PLUG?

Which is the best smart plug to buy?

We think the Belkin WeMo Insight Switch is the best smart plug because it ticks all the boxes above. It works with Amazon, Apple and Google services, can slot readily into smart home setups, and can monitor energy usage as well as letting you turn your appliances on and off from your phone. 

If you want a cheaper option or are still experimenting with smart home tech, opt for the Hive Active Plug, which has many of the features of the WeMo: control your sockets from your phone or pre-set schedules. We like basic but competent Amazon Smart Plug, which works with Alexa, too. 

We also like Samsung’s SmartThings plugs which will work with Samsung’s smart hub to control both Samsung and third party devices, such as Philips Hue smart lightbulbs or Yale’s smart locks. 

TP-Link’s smart plugs work with Alexa and, like WeMo’s allow you to rename switches so that you can easily control each device without having to remember the smart plug’s number – in other words, it’s easier to say: ‘Google, turn off the living room light’ than it is to say: ‘Google, turn off plug… er… four, no… five?’.

Are smart plugs safe?

Smart plugs are as safe as any other outlets and many include automatic shut-off features in the event of power surges. Again, as with other plugged devices, it’s important not to overload them. 

Are smart plugs worth the spend?

If you're not planning on replacing any of your traditional appliances, particularly lighting, for smart ones any time soon, a smart plug is a good way to get your foot on the ladder at minimal cost. 

How to set up a smart plug

Each one is slightly different to the other, but all are pretty simple. Here’s what you do with Amazon’s smart plug: 

• Plug in the smart plug.
• If your smart assistant says ‘New plug found’, you’re ready to go.
• Otherwise, tap the smart assistant (let’s say Alexa in this case) app on your phone and click the ‘+’ icon.
• Instruct your smart assistant to start using the plug: ‘Alexa, add the first plug’. 
• From there, you can delve deeper!

More smart smarts:

• 10 reasons why you need a smart assistant
• Amazon Alexa review
• Google Assistant review

Wondering what all the chat over smart streamers is about? Or perhaps you're wondering what smart streamers are? Well, if you want Netflix on your TV or the latest 4K HDR TV shows, you'll likely need a smart streamer. Unless, that is, your TV is a connected, smart-enabled set. 

Otherwise, you’re going to be left watching Only Fools and Horses re-runs while the rest of the world binges on The Crown and Game of Thrones in glorious ultra HD. That is, unless, you pick up one of the excellent smart streaming devices available to buy.

Whether you go for a souped-up smart streaming set top box like the Nvidia Shield, or one of the many affordable dongle-like streaming sticks on the market, TechRadar's Gerald Lynch explains the basics of smart streaming and brings you 10 great reasons why you need to get in on the smart streaming revolution – plus brings you the latest great buys.

• Looking for a new TV too? Don't miss our televisions hub page for the best buys

First things first, what are smart streamers?

Put simply, smart streaming devices plug into your television and connect to the internet, letting you watch the latest TV and movies from around the world in super-sharp resolution, on demand and at your leisure. Easy to use and simple to set up, they’re one of the best home tech investments you can make for your living room. Find more of the best smart home tech buys for a living room in our shopping guide.

1. Affordable streaming devices are cheaper than smart TVs

This one’s a bit of a no-brainer: streaming devices' affordability. You may be looking at a flashy new TV with all of the smart bells and whistles you can shake a remote control at, but even an ageing television (so long as it’s got at least one HDMI port) can quickly be made into a bang-up-to-date connected powerhouse with a smart streaming device.

Better still, it need not be expensive – gadgets like a Google Chromecast, an Amazon Fire TV Stick or a Roku Streaming Stick can be picked up for less than £35, and open the doors to streaming services like Netflix, catch up TV like iPlayer and much, much more. They’re portable too, making them perfect for an inevitably-rainy, trailer-bound caravan holiday.

2. Watch exclusive shows with a streaming device

Once you’re set up with a smart streaming device, you can link it up with one of the excellent streaming services from the likes of Amazon and Netflix. For a monthly fee, they offer an ever-changing library of content, putting a wealth of TV series and movies just a button press away.

What makes them especially tempting these days is the fact that each also offers up TV shows exclusive to their platform to lure you in with. Fancy watching the paranormal, Steven King-inspired Stranger Things, or raucous women-of-wrestling TV show Glow? Then you can only get them with Netflix. 

The same goes for Amazon Prime Video, which is the only place you can watch shows like The Man in The High Castle, or Top Gear replacement, The Grand Tour.

3. Get access to 4K and HDR content 

Got a 4K HDR TV, one of the super-sharp modern televisions that pack in more pixels for greater detail, and high dynamic range for a richer, brighter image? You may be struggling to get the most out of it as, outside of a Sky TV or Virgin Media satellite subscription, broadcast ultra-HD content can be a bit thin on the ground.

However, with one of the premium smart streamers, like the Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TVor a Roku Streaming Stick with 4K Ultra HD, you’ll have access to lots of HDR-enabled, pixel-perfect TV, ideal for showing off all the fancy features of your gogglebox to your mates. Just remember you’ll need a relatively speedy internet connection in order to get the most out of these high-resolution options.

4. Indulge in gaming with a smart streamer

If you splash the cash on the pricier smart streaming set-ups on the market, you’ll also be able to enjoy some gaming on the side. The excellent Nvidia Shield, one of the best smart streamers on the market, can play games designed for the Android platform it’s based on, similar to those you’d find in many phones, as well as being able to beam games from your PC and a Netflix-like game streaming service.

From Grand Theft Auto to Tomb Raider and some retro arcade classics, it’s a versatile and powerful device. Even Amazon offers up a gamepad that’s compatible with some of its streaming devices.

That said, it’s worth noting that if you pick up a PlayStation 4 or an Xbox One, they too offer loads of the same smart features of a dedicated streaming device, as well as access to the best gaming experiences available right now. Definitely worth considering if you’re looking for some thumb-twiddling fun, or a device the whole family can enjoy.

5. Catch-up on TV with a streaming device

Missed last night’s EastEnders? Want to see what’s happening on the Love Island, or just want to settle down with the Antiques Roadshow on a whim? If your TV's not smart-enabled, you’ll be left counting the days until the next airing of your favourite shows. But, with the top broadcasters offering catch-up TV services that let you stream their top shows over the internet at any time, with a smart streamer you’ll be able to watch what you want, exactly when you want it.

6. Catch new movie releases

A night out at the cinema is always fun, but making your way to your local multiplex isn’t always easy. With Blockbusters now a distant memory, the best way to catch up with Hollywood’s finest after they’ve left the silver screen is with a streaming device. Google, Amazon and Apple (through its premium Apple TV box) all have stores from which you can rent or purchase the latest films – sometimes even before they hit cinemas, too.

Movie lovers should also check out the Mubi and BFI Player apps, each offering some of cinema’s finest classic, art house and experimental movie making.

7. Stream your music in your living room 

It’s not all about TV and movies though – with a streaming device, you’ll be able to get your favourite tunes playing out of your TV too, which is particularly good if you’ve got your telly paired up with a swish soundbar. 

Services like Spotify and Deezer, as well as countless internet radio providers, are all available through smart streaming devices, letting you browse the world’s music from the comfort of your sofa.

8. Watch YouTube on your TV 

From documentaries to cooking shows, fail videos to Madonna compilations, YouTube has it all. You can even upload the clips you make yourself to share with your buddies or the world at large over the internet. But keeping them all constrained to your laptop or phone screen seems a bit of a shame when you’ve got a giant TV in your living room. 

With a smart streaming device, you can have the millions of videos available through YouTube beamed straight to the biggest screen in your home. Just be nice in the comments section, OK?

9. Get your downloads on your TV

Over the years, you’ve probably built up a library of TV shows and movies that you’ve downloaded from other providers or movie services. They may be collecting digital dust on a hard drive, unless you fancy sitting in front of your computer screen all night to watch them. However, smart streaming apps like Plex or Kodi can connect up to your PC, wirelessly bringing all your old downloads to your living room.

10. Control your TV with your voice 

Smart assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa, the Google Assistant, or Apple’s Siri, are all the rage right now, letting you get the answers to questions, play music, set timers and more with just the power of your voice. But did you know they can be used to control your TV, too? 

Depending on the smart streaming device you pick up, you can use Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri to search for shows on your TV, start and pause playback, control the volume and much more. If your house if full of smart gadgets, you can also hook them up to a smart streamer, letting your TV control everything from your lights to your thermostat. The possibilities are growing all the time.

Looking for more smart home tech? We've got you covered...

• The best smart home tech for your house
• The best 40 inch TVs of 2018
• The best smart home tech for your living room

Residents in Birmingham are among the highest in the UK for smart appliance usage, according to new figures. Residents of Leeds and Cornwall follow just behind. These figures have been released as part of a survey that reveals just how fast the population of the UK is moving forward technologically at home. 

This month, for example, almost a sixth of UK smart speaker owners will eschew the TV weather reports and their smartphone weather apps to ask their smart assistant for local weather reports instead, reveals smartphone company e2save. 

And, as if we needed any more proof, just look at Amazon's Christmas 2018 best seller: the company’s own mini smart speaker, the Echo Dot. Compare that with Christmas 2015's best seller, Adele’s 25 album, and you'll see how far we've come with smart home tech.  

• Best smart speakers: the top ways to control your home

Fortuna Burke, founder of It Really Works Vitamins and smart home tech fan, comments, 'Smart tech appliances really do make life much easier – to the extent that I’ve started completely relying on smart tech in my house. The only thing we don’t yet have are smart curtains.'  

Smart curtain tracks are of course just one of many voice-controlled smart home buys that we're beginning to embrace with enthusiasm; in fact, evidence shows that UK homeowners are increasingly relying on smart, hands-free tech features to switch on everything from lights and heating to the kettle.

The best – and most popular – smart home gadgets don't just give users smart phone-controlled, hands-free access, they allow us to monitor our homes from afar – think the Nest Learning Thermostat, for example. Marketeer Sarah Barnes has recently started using a smart thermostat so she can control her heating on the go. 'We used to always forget to time our heating to come on when we got home,' says Sarah. 'Now, we can just control the heating from our devices.'

In terms of 'What’s next?', over 50 per cent of Brits think that AI is the future for our homes. For Wasim Bux, product manager at insurance company iG04, developments in home security will come first. 'Some smart home footage can already be accessed without Wi-Fi,' he says. 'I believe there will soon be a large demand for products that can all work without being connected to the internet.'  

Despite the fact that smart home tech is still in its infancy, the fact remains that over a third of smart tech users find using a virtual assistant saves them time. 'Who knows? Maybe soon we’ll have robots in our homes,' said e2save’s Joe Linnington. We've got news for Joe. We already do.

Lead image: Wiser by Drayton

• Best smart thermostats: control your heating from your phone

Hands up if you've got a smart device in your home? Order shopping through Alexa? Check the weather via Google Home? Our lives are busier and more connected than ever, so it makes sense that we're looking to satisfy our need for speed and convenience. But how far would you go in the quest for a smart home?

Phone recycling company RecycleZone.org.uk has tried to answer that very question. Their analysis of a report by Mindshare, who surveyed over 6,000 Brits on the smart technology they'd love to own, has revealed the emerging technological trends across households in the UK.

Top of the list is a smart thermostat that automatically adjusts based on a person's body temperature, with 46 per cent of participants saying they'd be interested in it. Smart vacuum cleaners (40 per cent) that can move items off the floor come next, followed by smart fridges (37 per cent) that can suggest recipes based on what food is inside them.

A laundry-folding robot came in at 32 per cent, while smart shelves – which can reorder items as soon as they run out – trailed behind at 30 per cent.

Shawn Hallums, spokesperson for RecycleZone.org.uk, said: 'Technology has significantly evolved. We are in the era of instant gratification – when people want to utilise technology to make aspects of their life easier and more efficient.

'Companies have created a multitude of devices and applications to cater to this apparent need. Now with a plethora of innovations available on the mass market, many of them have proved to be hugely popular and valuable. 

'As existing as well as new technology advances and develops, consumers expectations will undoubtedly grow.'

What would you choose?

Confirmed this week, Google are officially releasing a rival product to Amazon's Echo Show (read more about that launch in our news feature). With a 7-inch screen and similar functionality to Amazon's version, the new first-party smart display Google Home Hub will be released this month.

WHAT does the Google Home Hub do?

The Google Home Hub is a smart speaker with a screen; it can talk to you, help you out with to-do lists and also act as a photo frame to display all of your favourite memories. 

What features does the Home Hub have? 

An Ambient EQ light sensor, which allows the screen to automatically adjust to match the lighting in the room, and Home View, which shows an overview of all of your other smart products, allowing you to turn them off and on as you please. 

In the morning, Google Home Hub can give you a quick snippet of your day including the weather, what's on your agenda, your commute information (from Google Maps) and reminders from your to-do list. 

Unlike the Echo Show, Home Hub can access Google Maps, Photos and Calendar, and you can watch YouTube and YouTube TV on it (a serious advantage, we think). Better still, because they're the first retailer to offer a product this of this kind with YouTube on tap, Google is giving everyone who purchases a Home Hub six months of YouTube Premium for free. 

Oh, and did we mention it's also available in four different colours? Choose from chalk charcoal, aqua and sand. 

Why no front camera? 

Admittedly, no front camera makes video-calling trickier, although you can still easily voice call from the device. The reason for not including a front camera? Google want us to feel comfortable putting the Home Hub in bedrooms and bathrooms as well as kitchens and living spaces.

WHEN will the Google Home Hub be available to buy?

You can purchase the Google Home Hub from October 22 2018 onwards.

HOW MUCH will the Google Home Hub cost?

When released, you'll be able to get your hands on one of these for around £110 (that's $149, AU$210).

What's the difference between Amazon Echo Show and Google Home Hub?

The two products do basically the same thing, showing visual information about your day as well as controlling your smart home devices. The only difference is that Amazon's version has a front-facing camera and Google's doesn't. 

Amazon's 2nd Gen Amazon Echo Show (reviewed here by our mates over on TechRadar) is released on the 11 October, 2018. Here's an at-a-glance comparison:

• Screen size: Google Home Hub 7-inch | Amazon Echo Show 10-inch 
• Price: Google Home Hub  £110 / US$149 / AU$210 | Amazon Echo Show £219 / US$229 / AU$349
• Missing features: Google Home Hub front-facing camera and video call | Amazon Echo Show YouTube and YouTube TV

Check back for a first look soon, but for now...

• The best smart home tech for your kitchen
• The best smart home tech for your living room
• The best smart home tech for your bedroom
• The best smart home tech for your house