Investing in something to help you cool down this summer? Enter: the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04. This versatile smart home gadget can heat or cool a room, all while purifying air at the same time. Moreover, it's as smart in looks as it is in technology. With a sleek, bladeless design to match its seamless features and functions. You can even control it using your smartphone, an Alexa device or by its easy-to-use remote control. Yes, this means you can turn it on to cool down your house before you arrive home. Genius.

I've been using the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 at home for the best part of three years now. Bearing in mind I have two pets, both of whom are serious fur shedders, I've never even had to replace the filter. I've cleaned it, of course, which is proof to me that it's working. To say that I couldn't live without this fan/purifier/heater combination would be an understatement. As a top notch fan, it has rescued me in the heatwave yet come winter, it means I can heat up just one room without having to turn my heating on throughout my entire flat.

Because this is an investment buy, we decided to review it all those years ago in hopes it would stand the test of time and surprise surprise: it did. So, if you're looking to invest in something to help control the temperature and clean the air inside your home, then let this be it. Read on to find out more about this clever little buy, then, check out our best air purifiers guide afterwards, if you like.

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 specifications

• Recommended room size: 800 sqft
• Smart?: Yes
• Works with: Alexa
• Noise: 54-81dBs
• Filter: HEPA
• CADR: 80
• Speeds: 10
• Dimensions: H30.1 x W9.7 x D9.7in
• Weight: 12.4lbs

Who will the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 suit?

Anyone and everyone, no matter the size of their home. It's great used as a fan in a hot bedroom at night, or if your living room is feeling nippy and you don't want to turn the heating on all over the house. It's a great buy for smartphone owners, too. While the Hot + Cool remote works perfectly well, the app you can download onto your phone is even better, allows for more functions, and is easier to use.

Moreover, since testing this fan we gained a furry addition to our household. He sleeps in our room, on the floor. Even then, he still sheds an incredible amount of hair, and with another being breathing while we sleep, we've really noticed how helpful the purifying aspect of this device is.

Does the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 need assembling?

The machine arrives fully assembled, bar the filter inside, the only part which needs to be set up. The filter comes in two different parts – one (blue) made from activated carbon to trap gases, and another (purple) HEPA filter to remove allergens and pollutants as small as 0.1 microns. 

When it's time to change your filter, you'll be informed via the app; they usually have a life of around one year, depending on use. You can check the remaining life on your filter in the settings on the app, too.

How easy is the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 to use?

Using the machine is pretty straightforward. I could probably do it with my eyes closed now. You can power it up by pressing the button on the device, on the remote, or via the app on your smartphone remotely.

After that, the Dyson HP04 begins purifying, expelling either hot or cold air. In cold months, you can set your required room temperature and the fan will maintain it; during warmer months, you can use the fan mode to set its speed to suit your preference. 

And, you can see room temperature and air quality stats displayed on a circular screen below the power button, too. We explain more about these below.

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04: performance

In terms of cooling, it's worth remembering that a fan's job isn't to lower the temperature of a room, but to shift air onto you, creating a cooling effect. The fan function does a pretty good job of it, and we did find that having the cooling mode on at fan speeds five and six quickly made us feel cooler.

As for heating a room, it does a rather spectacular job in a short space of time. Our living room is around 6m x 5m and is well insulated; within just 10 to 15 minutes of use, the Dyson HP04 had got it to our preferred temperature – and, thanks to the insulation, that's all we needed all evening. 

Let me give you an example: at 23:03, I turned the heater function on, setting the desired temperature to 25°C (toasty). The room temperature at that point was 22°C and the PM2.5 (air pollution, more on that below) at 44. Within four minutes, we began to feel the heat and the PM2.5 had dropped by four (below right). 

At 23:12, just nine minutes later, the temperature had risen to 24°C and PM2.5 was down to 34, a healthy level (below left). At 23:15, the room had reached our desired temperature of 25°C and the PM2.5 went down by 13 (below right). 

Let's talk air purifying: unlike basic fans, which just move air about, the Dyson HP04 purifies the air. We've recently had our living room painted and it shows up on the VOC (volatile organic compounds – particles that enter the air as a result of 'gas off' from paint, cleaning products and even new furniture) stats after a day or two of not having our back door open. With doors open and before having the room painted, the stat was at one; just after the decorating, it had reached four. After a couple of days of us being out at work and doors and windows being shut, the Particulate matter (PM2.5) number was up to 15; after a half-hour of using the air purifier function, it was back down to two.

What about air-purifying and cooling together? One morning, I set the machine to purify and cool our (15 sqm) bedroom. At 8 am, our bedroom was 22ºC (the window had been shut all night and we'd been hot), the PM2.5 was at 87 (35 and under is good) and the PM10 (dust, mold, and pollen) bar was full, while the VOCs were low (see picture, below right). At 8:17, I sprayed some deodorant and perfume in the room, causing it to change to 'Extremely Poor', with 166 PM2.5, causing the screenshot (below right). You can see that the VOC rating shot up immediately by a few bars, as well as the PM2.5. 

After leaving the fan to do its thing for 17 minutes, the machine managed to get the PM2.5 and PM10 ratings down by quite a lot (see, at 8:34, below left); the PM2.5 dropped from 166 to 28, which is classed at good. However, the VOC rating persisted to stay the same, causing the overall air quality to be rated as fair until 08:49. This means the fan took 49 minutes to change the air quality in our bedroom from 87, with a deodorant-induced hiccup in the middle, to 18 – that's a decrease of 69. Not too shabby.

It's also worth noting that during this time we had no windows or doors open.

How else did we use this machine? We live in a flat and don't have a tumble dryer, so we dry clothes inside while we're out at work. The built-in purifier works a treat and the relative humidity stats are extremely helpful.

What else did we like? While it can be moved around with the remote, you can also direct the airflow up and down by hand to suit your needs. 

Using the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 remote control

Still, to this day, we don't use the remote control (pictured above) very much as we mostly control the Hot + Cold through our phones or via Alexa, which we found more user-friendly. However, it's pretty simple to use. There's a power button at the top and an information button next to it, which changes the stats displayed on the machine's mini-screen (you can see all the stats listed below). 

You can use it to control airflow speed, ranging from one to 10, and set room temperature between 1°C and 37°C degrees. The auto button will turn the machine on to a speed that's right for the room (pre-set by you). 

The blue dot enables cool mode. The two arrows turn oscillation on and off – you can choose between it moving 45, 90, 180, or 350 degrees. There's an airflow direction button, and you can choose for the airflow to be pushed out the front or the back of the machine. The timer button allows you to set the fan to run for 30 minutes, or one, two, four, or eight hours, after which it will turn off automatically. The night mode sets the Hot + Cold to quiet mode and dims the LCD screen.

Last but not least, the compact and slim remote control is magnetic, and can be attached to the top of the machine to ensure it doesn't get lost. Handy.

Using the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 app

An extremely easy-to-use piece of software, the Dyson app is one we couldn't fault. Simply download the app, then pair it with your Hot + Cold; you'll be greeted with the home screen (see the green screen, above right). 

Once you've input your location, you can see the AQI (Air Quality Index) outside: low being the best and very high being the worst. You can also see the outdoor temperature, the outdoor humidity, and pollen levels displayed. The data collects the dominant types of pollen in your region (mine was tree and grass pollen). It then shows whether the count is low or high.

Below that, in a highlighted house-shaped box, you can see what the air quality is like inside your home. The scale ranges from severe to extremely poor, very poor, poor, fair, and good. The latter means there are very low levels of microscopic particles and VOCs in your home. 

Underneath the AQI you will see temperature, humidity, and PM2.5. Then, there's the display of daily and weekly averages of all stats so you can easily compare.

To the bottom left of the screen, there's a button to open up the smartphone remote. The remote (black screen, above left) has all the same functions as the physical remote, but it's easier to use – and the timer can be turned on for nine hours instead of only eight.

At the bottom right of the screen, you can schedule the Hot + Cold to turn on and off. This is where it gets (even more) interesting. As long as your Dyson HP04 is plugged into the wall, it can control itself once you've scheduled it to run at certain times on certain days. You can choose from morning, evening, night or all day and then the days of the week, the start and finish time. You can control its every move with the app, not just timings but right down to choosing whether you'd like it to be on Night Mode, how you want it to oscillate and what direction you'd like the air to flow.

*UPDATE* The app is still exactly the same, and easy to use as ever.

Using the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 with Alexa

Say 'Alexa, turn Dyson Purifier on', and it will. You can line up Alexa to change any of Dyson's settings, too, such as to enable oscillation, increase temperature, set a target temperature, and more. 

Another thing you can do is ask your Alexa-enabled device for feedback from the fan. It can then tell you what the air quality is like both indoors and out, as well as the humidity level and other stats.

You can also ask Alexa (and this is one of our favorites) how long the filter has left before it needs replacing. How smart is that?

Alexa isn't just useful for controlling the machine, but also useful for when there's a problem with it. Simply say, 'Alexa, ask Dyson if there's a fault', and you'll get the info you need.

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04: the stats explained

• Air quality index (AQI): a suggestion of when to activate your machine. Air quality will be rated from severe to very good, and when on auto mode, the machine will do everything it can to get you from worst to best. 
• Indoor temperature: shown in degrees Celsius, this is room temperature. 
• Relative humidity (RH): the amount of water vapor in the air. 
• Particulate matter (PM2.5): how many microscopic particles smaller than 2.5microns are in the room, whether it be from smoke, bacteria, or allergens. Ideally, you want between 0 to 35, with 251 and over being classed as severe. 
• Particulate matter (PM10): the amount of microscopic particles found up to 10 microns in size. This includes dust, mold, and pollen. Ideally, you want between 0 to 50, and 421 plus is severe. 
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): harmful odors found in cleaning products, paint, or new furnishings; 0 to 3 is classed as good, while anything over 9 is very poor. 
• Nitrogen dioxide and oxidizing gases (NO²): harmful gases released into the air by combustion, for example burning gas from cooking and vehicle exhaust emissions; 0 to 3 is good while 9 and over is poor. This will also depend on whether the area you live in is heavily polluted. 

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04: design

Unlike many other fans, heaters, and purifiers, the Dyson HP04 looks pretty swanky. It's also quite small at just 76cm high, making it ideal for those who don't fancy having a huge towering machine in their bedroom or living room. It is, however, a bit bulky in comparison to Dyson's other models, such as the AM07. 

Maintaining the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04

We've had the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 in our bedroom for rougly three years now. And apart from a regular dust and a wipe down with a damp cloth, we've had no issues with it. This really does prove that you get what you pay for, as it has been super low maintenance.

We have never been told by the app to change the filter, or even to clean it, but we did do this recently just for peace of mind. To do this, I took off both covers (as seen below) and took them to my bin. I held them over my bin and scraped the dust off of them, and they look pretty much as good as new. Easy peasy!

How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors?

Dyson makes a huge range of fans, heaters, humidifiers and purifiers. However, this is the only model they make that heats and cools, as well as purifies. Here's how the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 compares with other models.

In the UK
The Dyson Pure Cool™ purifying fan is taller and thinner than the HP04. It does everything other than heat a room, however, it is only controllable by remote, not by app. It retails at £349.99.

The Dyson Cool™ tower cooling fan only cools, it doesn't heat nor purify the air. It's designed for larger spaces and much like the model above can only be controlled via its remote. This machine's RRP is £349.99.

The first ever Dyson Pure Hot & Cool retails at £399.99. This offers the same features as the HP04, though it;s not smart so you can only control it via its remote control.

In the US
You'll find more models of the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool in the US. They've got the HP01, HP04, HP07, and the HP09. 

The HP01 is the predecessor of this model and is the cheapest at $499.99. It can heat, purify and cool a room and can be controlled via a remote. It's not smart like the HP04 and cannot be controlled via a phone or Alexa device.

For comparison purposes, the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 comes in at £349.99/$549.99, too. So, in our opinion, you might as well get something that can do three things in one, and something that can be controlled by your phone.

Our verdict of the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04

The Dyson HP04 works really well, it makes itself invaluable by doing more than just expelling cold air, and the smart capability makes it just that bit more user-friendly. We loved being in the kitchen and asking our Alexa Echo Show to turn on the fan so that our bedroom temperature would be just right for bedtime.

You need the Dyson app if you want to get the best out of this fan/heater/air purifier. Plus, it's pretty pricey. That being said, it does do three jobs in one neat package.

Overall, we totally think it's worth the price tag especially considering its quality and design. We would buy one for each room if we could!

The Tower Xpress Pro Combo air fryer is not the does-it-all air fryer that you'll see in our best air fryer guides. Instead, it meets quite a specific requirement for those with limited kitchen access, a shortage of cooking space, or a rubbish oven that makes substandard roast dinners. 

Bridging the gap between the American-style toaster oven and the conventional air fryer, this 10-in-1 countertop cooker not only circulates hot air to cook food from all angles, but it also comes with attachments that can be used to grill, air fry, rotisserie, and roast a variety of different foods. 

I put the Tower Xpress Pro Combo to the test for over a month, making roast vegetables, rotisserie kebabs, bacon, and air-fried chicken burgers to see how well it held up in a busy kitchen.

While I don't think I'll be swapping out my air fryer any time soon, it certainly offers some added cooking functions that you won't find anywhere else. It's not the most tactile, and I struggled a bit with handling the inserts. Regardless, it's a versatile choice that could put your oven out of a job. 

Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer specs

• Capacity: 11 litres
• Size (cm): H33.9 x W32.4 x D38.2
• Settings: Air fry, dehydrate, rotisserie, grill, and roast
• Comes with: Rotisserie fork and handle reversible chargrill and pizza plate, 3 x air flow racks, 10 x rotating kebab skewers, non-stick oil tray, multi-function wire rack, heatproof finger mitts
• Power: 2000 watts
• Cost to run this air fryer (per hour): 68p
• RRP: £139.99

Setting up the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer

The Tower Xpress Pro Combo came, predictably, packaged in mostly single-use and non-recyclable packaging. A lot of the component parts came wrapped in what felt like unnecessary plastic, and there was polystyrene at the top and bottom of the air fryer itself. 

Once out of the box, I was struck by the size, which is tall but not too wide, and quite hefty. The Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer claims to have an 11-litre capacity, but this wouldn't be a fair comparison to drawer-style air fryers, where you can stack a lot of food inside one basket. On the Tower Xpress Pro Combo, you need to use different levels and stack your food in one layer across the whole cooking shelf, so you won't get the full 11-litre capacity of cooking space. 

This air fryer comes with a lot of parts. There is a plate that can be heated and used for grilling and searing, a shelf that can toast multiple slices of bread at once, a rotisserie for chicken or other cuts of meat, and a kebab shelf that rotates and will (in theory) fit 10 kebabs at once. 

I got the most use out of the three cooking shelves, which have an open-grid design that allows air to circulate while cooking your food from all angles. You also get a non-stick drip tray that needs to sit at the bottom of the air fryer while it cooks. This is essential, so use it with every dish you cook. 

A drawer air fryer will allow you to open and close the cooking basket with a handle, meaning you won't burn your hand when cooking. With an air fryer like the Tower Xpress Pro Combo, you will have to handle the hot shelves like you would in an actual oven, so Tower gives you some mini oven gloves to keep you from hurting your hands. Cute! 

It's worth noting that the handle can be a little stiff, and this level of rigidity should be noted if you're using it for the first time. While you shouldn't expect to slam the door closed, the lever mechanism might feel inflexible initially but nothing to ruin the cooking experience.

Roasting vegetables

The first thing I made in the Tower Xpress Pro Combo was roasted vegetables. Unlike a 'traditional' air fryer, where you will typically need to add all of your vegetables to one basket, the Tower Xpress Pro Combo allows you to spread your veggies across multiple levels.

This meant I was able to roast potatoes, carrots, and sprouts all in the same machine, but independently. A big win for families with picky eaters or foods with different cooking times. So if you were one of the naysayers that thought air fryers were exclusively for beige foods — we've totally dispelled that myth; air fryers are a healthy resource to have in the home (providing what you put in it is nutritious).

I was able to fit a lot of food into the Tower Xpress Pro Combo. I actually used it to cook the trimmings for a Sunday roast, so it had a crowd to feed! I chose to roast my vegetables for 25 minutes, checking halfway to see how they were doing. After the 25 minutes, I decided they needed a little longer and put them in for an added five.

It seemed that this pushed the top shelf of potatoes over the edge. They were pretty burnt, while my carrots and sprouts were still lacking the crispiness I was looking for. I suspect that this was because the potatoes were at the top of the oven — which was closer to the heating element — so I would recommend moving the cooking shelves around in the air fryer to get an even result.

Air frying burgers in the Tower Xpress Pro Combo

Air fryers circulate hot air around food as it cooks, giving a crispy finish from all angles. Despite this, you will often still need to flip your food midway through cooking to give an even and crisp finish. 

I cooked a vegetarian breaded chicken burger in the Tower Xpress Pro Combo to see how well it could crisp up breaded food and cook from frozen. 

I would expect an air fryer like the Cosori air fryer to cook this chicken burger in as little as 10 minutes, but the Tower Xpress Pro Combo took an additional seven minutes to reach a crispy texture. I did have to turn midway through. When I did, I noticed that the underside was a little wet, which is a sign that the air is not circulating fully inside the air fryer. 

One of the good things about the Tower Xpress Pro Combo is its interior light, which enables you to look inside the air fryer as it cooks without having to open the door. This came in handy when I was checking on my burger as it cooked. 

You'll notice if you buy the Tower Xpress Pro Combo that it is quite noisy, but this is no louder than the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer. There are quieter models out there — I recommend the Instant Pot line of air fryers if you are worried about noise.

After the full 20 minutes, my chicken burger was fully cooked. While it was crispy, I'd compare its texture to that of an oven-cooked burger, and not an air-fried one.

Air fryer vs. deep fat fryer, you're of course using a lot less fat, but don't expect that crunchy texture and golden exterior that would result from the latter.  

Making kebabs

Something that sets the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer apart is its kebab rotisserie, so I decided to give this I go. I marinated my chicken and vegetables and began assembling them on the included metal skewers. I then went to insert them  onto the circular end pieces. 

This was definitely fiddly, especially because I was handling marinated chicken, which can be a little slippery. Once everything was in place, I used the included rotisserie fork to insert the skewers. To do this you need to make sure that the square end base of the rotisserie stick is in place at the left hinge inside the air fryer. This is the part that turns to create that true rotisserie effect.

Our advice? Have a running tap to hand to swill your hands of marinade and raw chicken. You'll also want a couple of thin blue cleaning cloths at close proximity so that a saucy crust doesn't dry on your machine.

When spinning in the air fryer, the kebabs were quite wobbly, and I was worried that they would become dislodged. You can see in the image below how lopsided they looked, and that they dragged slightly along the bottom. I would expect this process to go a lot better if I were making koftas from shaped minced meat or just making a whole rotisserie chicken. 

Although the process was fiddly, I was impressed by how evenly the food cooked. My chicken became charred, with no pink centre and the vegetables cooked very evenly throughout. 

The included gloves were particularly useful for this recipe because it was quite hands-on. I was happy with the results, but I do think I would've had less trouble cooking in an oven and flipping halfway or grilling the chicken. 

When finished, all my attachments went straight into the dishwasher. They were also small enough to store in my cutlery drawer when I was done. 

Cooking bacon in the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer

Recently in our test kitchen, my team and I tried to sizzle a few rashers of streaky bacon. The first observation we made was that there was no drip tray for the fat to land on. Instead, we had four choices: use the metal shelf or the bottom tray 'naked' or foil 'em up. So, for the sake of an easy life, we covered the shelf with a sheet of aluminum. Six minutes at 180°C seemed ample time to bring home the bacon.

So in our porky strips went, with the internal light on to keep watch. Annoyingly, the air motion curled the slices and impacted the evenness of the cooking. After the initial time was up, I felt like they needed a minute or two longer for optimum eating.

Trialling Quorn nuggets in the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer

The majority of Real Homes reviewers are flexitarians, which means that while we eat meat, we're conscious to reduce our intake where possible. Quorn (or mycoprotein) nuggets come pretty close to their battered poultry pieces, so we didn't bat an eyelid when it came to cooking these meatless chunks.

All in all, a unison of nods showed that these veggie-friendly finds were cooked to a satisfactory standard. This proved that the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer is great from a WFH perspective when you want a quick lunch without turning on the oven.

Cleaning the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer 

On the whole, the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer is pretty easy to clean. As a recap, if you use foil — and put all the accessories in the dishwasher — you can cut your post-cooking clean-up time in half.

The door, however, is the biggest pain, because once it gets something on it, it becomes more and more burnt-on; you can't see inside to clean the mechanism more thoroughly.

How other users get on with the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer

As a small appliances expert, I've got no shortage of cooking appliances to make use of in my kitchen. I'm by no means the ideal customer for the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer, which is an excellent stand-in for those without a product. 

Our tech editor Caroline Preece also has the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer, so I was keen to find out about her experience of the machine.

She said: 'I bought the Tower Xpress Pro while living in a rental property that had a less than desirable oven situation, and it has allowed me to cook a huge range of things that would have otherwise been off-limits.

Basically a mini-oven with easy-to-use temperature controls, three racks for cooking multiple things at once, and a rotisserie attachment, it's been used to cook perfect chips, small joints of meat, and even a few single-serve pasta bakes.'

Preece has also used the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer for over a year, which is an indication that it's a long-lasting and well-built appliance that can stand up to heavy and regular use. 

Should you buy the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer? 

If you're someone who lacks oven space or who needs a mini-oven to serve smaller portions of food, the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer could be just the appliance for you. It's incredibly versatile with an almost-intimidating number of attachments to choose from. However, with this attachment selection comes pretty hefty storage requirements. 

I would be reluctant to call the Tower Xpress Pro Combo Air Fryer an air fryer. It's more of a mini-oven, with the ability to rotisserie or grill different foods. It behaves very much like an oven too, with removable shelves that can be layered to cook different foods at once. 

If you're living in a smaller home or you can't justify turning on the oven to cook meals for one — this is a very smart choice. 

About this review and the reviewer

Millie Fender is an ecommerce editor at Real Homes, specialising in small appliances and all-things cooking. She loves putting new products to the test, whether they're air fryers, blenders, or even pizza ovens, and her family and friends love eating the results.

Millie has a constant stream of new products waiting to be reviewed in her kitchen. It's a little snug, so if she thinks anything deserves to stay there, you know it's something special. 

Here at Real Homes, we're all for home accessories that make day-to-day living that little bit easier – and, more fun.

So when we heard about IKEA's newly released smart pendant light, we were all ears! Especially given that the brand sells some of the best smart home tech around.

The stylish NYMANE smart LED pendant lamp is the latest addition to the Swedish company's smart light range, and we reckon it's the perfect way to finish off almost any space in your home. 

IKEA's NYMANE smart lamp

IKEA's newest smart lamp is round in design, and perfectly rides the line between stylish and functional – arguably, the very thing that IKEA do best.

The pendant lamp has been inspired by the KLANG light, a product IKEA sold in the 1960s. We're yet to find any pictures of the lamp, but we quite like that this new accessory has come from deep in the archives of the classic and affordable home brand.

The NYMANE light has been fitted with a built-in LED, which allows you to dim, and turn the light on and off, wirelessly – e.g. from your phone, or an app.

Handily, there are three different color light settings to choose from, including a warm glow, for creating nighttime ambiance, a warm white, for day-time, and a cool white, if you need to be able to see something (such as your meals) super clearly.

The pendant lamp measures at 38cm in diameter, and comes in both a white colorway and a black option.

IKEA advise hanging the light over your dining table or kitchen table for an on-trend industrial style kitchen look – or, placing it closer to your ceiling as your main light source in a room. We agree that this kind of pendant lighting generally looks best in kitchen and dining areas –  it would also be a perfect addition hung over a kitchen island.

In order to use the NYMANE lamp, you'll need to get your hands on the TRÅDFRI gateway, which allows you to connect all of IKEA's smart home products.

From there, you'll need to download the IKEA Home app onto your phone or other device in order to control and dim the light. Or, you can purchase a smart remote from IKEA with which to control the lamp.

Will you be adding one of these smart lamps to your next IKEA haul?

With an EZVIZ C6 Smart AI Camera, getting back to life in an office or attending social events will be so much easier, allowing you to check on your pets or your home remotely. Helping to eradicate those worries that can cloud your day when you're not at home, this camera puts technology to good use, to help you feel more connected at all times.

If you adopted a puppy or a cat during lockdown, you might be struggling to adapt to daytimes without them, which is where the EZVIZ C6 can step in to help. With this advanced smart camera, you'll be able to make use of plenty of helpful features and feel more reassured. Here are just a few reasons that we think the EZVIZ C6 is a worthwhile investment for keeping that feeling of connection at all times.

3 ways the EZVIZ C6 Camera helps you stay connected

1. You can parent your pets from afar 

Separation anxiety is a real problem for both pets and owners – especially post-WFH. With the EZVIZ C6 you can soothe yourself and your dog (or cat!) from afar. The brilliant AI technology embedded within this camera means this device can recognize the shape of a human, cat or dog and deliver images of your loved one to you in 2K+ video quality. That means the picture you'll see will be sharp and clear, allowing you to check your pet is doing okay.

Aside from delivering you live video of your pet at home, you can also enable notifications to alert you every time your pet walks by, so you don't miss a moment. Plus, if you have a puppy still growing out of their teenager phase who is being looked after by a relative, then they can stand and wave in front of the camera in order to initiate a call with you, and stop them from testing their teeth on your new sofa...

2. You can stay in touch with any family members at home

If you're getting used to spending lots of time outside the home again, the technology embedded within the EZVIZ C6 can also help you stay afloat of what's going on within your home, which can be especially useful for new parents or those caring for relatives. With one wave, your family members can start up a video call and check in with you throughout the day. 

Once you're on a call or if you're just checking up on the situation, you'll also have everything you need covered with the impressive camera. With razor sharp 2K+ definition and an automatic zoom to follow moving objects, you'll feel like you're right there in the room with your family.

3. You'll have peace of mind – at all times

If your mind can run away with you sometimes, especially when it comes to home security, then an indoor camera can do a lot to wipe out excess anxiety. For example, the feature which allows you to be notified upon noise levels changing will also give you a heads up if a siren sounds, so that you can assess the situation. The same applies to when work or servicemen might be inside your house when you're not there – to give you total control over the situation. 

As far as peace of mind is concerned, your own privacy is also super important. That's why the privacy protection mode on this camera is so wide-ranging. Unlike other indoor cameras which allow you to dim the view, you can turn off the lens, with the camera being physically covered whenever you need it, and put the camera into sleep mode too, for extensive privacy in your space. 

The EZVIZ C6 Smart AI Camera is available to buy at Amazon for $129.99 and at other selected retailers.

Husband and wife duo Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt are known for their hit HGTV show 100 Day Dream Home, in which they design and build their clients' dream homes from the ground up. The experienced home renovators have revealed one thing first-time homeowners shouldn't neglect when it comes to home maintenance.

Brian and Mika explain why it's crucial to give your HVAC system regular attention to avoid headaches. A bit of TLC can save you money in the long run, too.

Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt's heating tip

'Get your HVAC systems checked regularly, so you can stop worrying about if they work and relax when at home,' say Brian and Mika. Whatever type of heating you have, it's important to get your system serviced by a professional once a year. 

This will not only help to identify any problems, but as the HGTV stars say, it'll also give you peace of mind. The 100 Day Dream Home stars say that replacing the air filters of our HVAC systems is another thing we shouldn't neglect.

'Swap out your air filters every 30-90 days,' Brian and Mika add. This will help you save energy at home, and could save you up to 15% on your monthly energy bill. 

There's no manual to prepare us for handling the unexpected costs involved with maintaining your own home. Getting your heating checked and replacing filters regularly are two simple steps you can make to keep things in working order.

A new survey of 2,000 American homeowners showed that 64% admitted to knowing nothing about how to perform ongoing maintenance on their HVAC or other systems in their homes. 

The same study revealed that homeowners underestimated the total maintenance costs in their first home. On average, they spent about $2,700 within the first five years on repairs and replacements.

There are lots of common home repairs you can fix yourself, from fixing creaky stairs to draft-proofing your windows. But if you'd like more help, head to Brian and Mika's Homeowning 01’s second semester.

On their free online course, they share some tips for first-time homeowners to help offset maintenance costs and save money in the long term. Good luck!

Far from an unnecessary gimmick, investing in the best smart bulb for your home is an option worth considering if you're looking for the ultimate mood lighting or even an easy home security add-on.

Since smart lighting isn't the cheapest solution (though it is becoming more and more affordable), you'll want to ensure that you're spending your money in the best way you can. And, whether your motivation is to set schedules that give the impression that someone is home – even if they're not – or to create an unrivaled ambiance over your next dinner party, our honest guide is here to help you choose the best product.

Keep scrolling for our take on the top-rated products or, for more on how you can introduce automation to your smart home, take a look at our guide to the best smart plugs.

The best smart bulbs in 2022

The best smart bulbs are the Philips Hue Smart Bulbs, which come complete with a bridge that allows you to connect them to the rest of your smart home setup.

Philips Hue White Smart Bulbs produces stunning, warm white light which can be easily adjusted to suit the desired ambiance – options range from super cozy hygge, through to interrogation room. Want to benefit from colored lights too? You'll need the Philips Hue Coloured Smart Bulbs, which allow you to completely customize the color and intensity of your lighting.

Perfect for giving the impression that someone's home, even if they're not; controlling hard-to-reach bulbs; or allowing you to turn the lights off without getting up, there are a range of benefits to controlling your lighting from your smartphone. And Philips Hue makes that super easy.

Yes, these bulbs are a little more pricey than your average, but with a lifespan of up to 25,000 years, they're sure to save you money in the long run. 

Whether you want to program your smart lighting to rouse you, gently, from your sleep in the morning, alert you when you need to take your dinner out of the oven, start dimming your lights as you wind down for bed, this – and more – is available with Philips Hue.

Still not sure? We've also written a handy guide on how to use Philips Hue with Alexa, so you won't have to worry about getting set up.

Real Homes rating: 4 out of 5 stars | read our full review of the Philips Starter Kit

Next up on our list is the LIFX A19 thanks to its ease of use and customizable functionality. 

The choice of over 1 trillion colors (yep, really) makes this model the most customizable in our round-up. Whatever your mood, you're sure to find a hue that suits. Plus, it's super easy to adjust the warmth and intensity of white light, if you're not so into colors lighting.

Similar to the bulbs from TP-Link, the LIFX doesn't require a bridge or hub to work. Instead, it connects directly to your WiFi for smart home integration.

Use the connected app to control your smart bulbs from any location. That means setting schedules – perfect if you're away from home and want to give the impression that someone's home, even if they're not – as well as turning off the lights if you forget to when leaving the house.

Real Homes rating: 4 out of 5 stars | read our full review of LIFX smart lighting

Edisons and bayonets are pretty par for the course, but what if you have a more complex space with more complex needs? The Philips Hue LightStrip could be what you've been looking for. 

Looking to illuminate an awkward space? Don’t worry about expensive built-in lighting – you can get the same effect in alcoves, shelves, and other nooks and crannies with the Philips Hue LightStrip, a smart strip light that is second-to-none for creating ambiance on cozy evenings in. 

Create a Hue account, and you can control these lights from anywhere using the buddy app or your browser – in fact, you can control up to 50, so whether you decide to go for lots of these little beauties, or a combination of bulbs and strips, there’s none better for a wide-ranging, fully customized lighting scheme. 

You can cut them to fit wherever you please whether it be around your kitchen cabinets or around a cupboard ceiling, and they're compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant.

Real Homes rating: 4 out of 5 stars | read our full review of the Philips Hue Lightstrip

Next on our list is the Hive Active Light Starter Kit. And it isn’t just because of its versatility now, but its potential for smart home expansion later on. 

Whether you're looking to wind down in the evening or feel more alert in the morning, it's super easy to control the dimness of your bulbs according to your requirements.

As well as boasting an A+ energy rating, these smart bulbs are also designed to encourage users to reduce their energy use. How? Well, by allowing you to control your lights from any location and alerting you should any lights be left on when you're away from home.

Looking to build a wider Hive smart home system? Whether you're interested in smart thermostats, home security systems, or something else, opting for Hive smart bulbs will make it super easy to connect up your entire system in the future. We're not saying that this is essential – most brands are inter-connectable – but it may make life easier if you're new to the world of smart home tech.

Real Homes rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars | read our full review of the Hive Active Light Starter Kit

• Related: build a great home office in a compact space with our pick of the best small printers

If you like the idea of smart bulbs, but don't want to have to commit to buying a bridge – or something similar – to connect them to your smart home system, the TP-Link LB130 is an option worth considering. 

Choose from a wide range of bulbs hues to suit your mood – or the atmosphere you're looking to create. All controlled directly from your smartphone.

Much like the other smart bulbs in this list, the TP-Link LB130 connects to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, making it super easy to control your entire lighting system using nothing other than the sound of your voice. Genius. 

As we've already mentioned, another perk of the TP-Link LB130 is that it doesn't require a bridge or hub to connect to your smart home system. This not only drives down the cost but requires fewer wires and bulky boxes around the home.

Another feature we're seriously impressed with is the TP-Link LB130's circadian mode, which is designed to dynamically adjust light intensity and temperature to successfully mimic natural light patterns. This can be super helpful if you struggle to wake up in the morning or wind down in the evening.

• Read next: the best Wi-Fi extenders for a better connected smart home

How to choose the best smart bulb for your home

Not sure where to start when it comes to buying the best smart bulbs? We'd recommend considering the following factors before making a purchase:

Will you need to buy a bridge?

Some smart bulbs require what's known as a 'bridge' in order to connect them to an existing smart home system. Models that require a bridge are usually more costly but are also (generally) better quality, so that's a decision you'll need to weigh up. 

If you're buying smart bulbs for the first time, you'll need to consider whether a bridge is required as, in some cases, you won't be able to simply plug in your bulbs and get going.

Are you interested in colored lights?

If you're interested in using smart lighting to enhance a home cinema experience – some models will interact with audio to create a more dynamic audiovisual experience – or change the atmosphere in a given space, it's worth investing in smart bulbs that change color. However, this won't be necessary for everyone.

Will your light bulbs be on display?

Are you planning on having your smart bulbs on display – perhaps as part of a pendant light fitting – or will they be hidden behind a lampshade? If the former, you may want to think about the aesthetic appeal of your bulbs. There are now a whole host of filament-style bulbs designed to fill this purpose. If you're less concerned, opt for something less stylish and more functional.

What is the best smart bulb?

The best smart bulbs are Philips Hue, thanks to their simple, stylish design and ease to set up. Adjust lighting depending on your preference – options range from hygge to interrogation room for maximum versatility – as well as setting up lighting schedules, sequences of events, and more.

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Wondering which sustainable home improvements are worth pursuing to make your home more energy efficient and eco-friendly?

Building new eco homes is a sure-fire way forward for a lower carbon footprint, but what about existing homes? With the recent scrapping of the Government's Green Homes Grant, it's now on us to improve our own abodes' energy efficiency and in turn, futureproof our homes.

Paula Higgins from HomeOwner's Alliance explains more, 'We don't often think about sustainability when we are considering home improvements. But we should.'  

'Undertaking a loft conversion or kitchen extension will naturally improve the energy performance of your home because higher building standards will need to be met and this will mean better windows, more insulation and an efficient heating system.' 

'But it also makes financial sense to look beyond the initial project and go beyond the minimum requirements. Tradespeople are allowed to charge 5% rather than 20% VAT when installing energy savings products.'

'Besides cutting your bills and making you feel more comfortable you can also make your property more valuable in the longer run by future-proofing it. The government has already banned landlords from letting properties with an EPC rating below C and is considering doing something similar for those selling their home.'

We don't need any more convincing... Read on for our round up of innovative ways to improve your home's sustainability and make for an energy efficient home to boot.

Sustainable home improvements for an energy efficient home

'There are plenty of ways to create a more sustainable home, for big budgets and small. For those with the money, you might want to consider generating your own energy, either through solar panels, heat pumps, or a biomass heating system,' says Nick Stockley, Design Director for Resi.co.uk.

1. Add insulation to your home's walls

If your home's poorly insulated, your heating (and money) will be going straight out the... erm, walls.

Sustainable building expert Tim Pullen on Homebuilding & Renovating explains, 'Thermal efficiency is a core element of any eco home and insulation is a key component of that. Focus on getting the insulation as consistent as possible on the whole envelope.'

Plus by adding insulation, you could save around £275 a year in energy bills, says the  The National Insulation Association.

With a wide range of natural and recycled materials available, from sheep's wool to cellulose insulation, it's relatively simple to insulate lofts and cavity walls. 

Insulating sold walls is a little trickier. Thermal lining can be used inside your home and you could add a layer of insulation to the outside, covering it with render. However, if you're adding insulation to a period home, you'll need to make sure the breathability of the building fabric is retained to avoid any risk of damp. 

It’s trickier to insulate solid walls. Internally you could apply thermal lining. Externally, a layer of insulation can be fixed to existing walls and then covered in render.

2. Install a thermostat for energy efficiency

By installing a thermostat to your home, you'll be reducing your carbon dioxide emissions but you'll also be saving money on your heating bills by using your controls efficiently.

The Energy Saving Trust say you could 'save £60 and 310kg of carbon dioxide a year by turning the room thermostat down by one degree.' And by 'installing and correctly using a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves, you could save £75 and 320kg of carbon dioxide a year.'

With a thermostat, you can schedule your heating and hot water to go on and off when needed. And if you opt for room thermostats, you can select areas of your home to heat and the required temperature for each room, rather than heating the whole house at the same temperature.

The Energy Saving Trust explain more, 'You can upgrade or install heating controls without replacing your boiler, and it’s a particularly good idea to think about this if your controls are more than 14 years old. Room thermostats, for example, are much more accurate now than they used to be.'

You could go one step further and invest in a smart thermostat like a Google Nest, which means you'll be able to control your heating from anywhere. 

3. Choose bamboo flooring 

With the same look and feel as hardwood, bamboo is fast becoming the biggest eco-friendly material for flooring. Not only is it light and inexpensive, but it's also really strong which makes it an alternative method to concrete and has a greater tensile strength then steel.

The Bamboo Flooring Company explain more, 'As bamboo is a fast growing, self-regenerating grass, it is much more sustainable and environmentally friendly than more traditional hardwood flooring options. For example, bamboo takes around five years to reach maturity, whereas a hardwood tree could take decades to grow until it is mature enough to be harvested.'

'To make sure that you purchase truly sustainable bamboo flooring you will need to look out for an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certificate.'

4. Place solar panels on your roof

Solar is a green, renewable energy and because sunlight is free, once you've paid and installed your solar panels, your electricity costs will drastically reduce, and so will your carbon dioxide emissions. 

Plus, if you live in the UK and do happen to generate more electricity than you use, you may be eligible to receive payments for the extra energy you generate. Bonus. You'll find more info on the Smart Export Guarantee on Solar Energy UK.

Generating electricity, solar photovoltaic (PV) panel systems don't need direct sunlight to work so you'll still generate electricity on a cloudy day. You'll just need to make sure you attach them to a roof or wall facing south.

The Energy Saving Trust explains more, 'As your PV system will be working at its peak during daylight hours, it’s a good idea to think about reorganising domestic activities such as washing, dishwashing and ironing.'

'If you’re home most of the day, then this will be easier to do, but if you work during the day then try setting up timers for your dishwasher and washing machine.'

According to the Trust, PV systems are classed as permitted developments which means there's no need to apply for planning permission. Although it's always a good idea to double check with your local authority before installing in case there are any limits or restrictions.

5. Plant a green roof for eco friendly insulation

To add even more insulation to your home (more cooling in the summer, than heat in the winter) and increase the biodiversity of your garden, you could install and grow a green roof.

Not only will it look pretty, a green roof will also absorb carbon dioxide, heat from the sun, a large proportion of rain water and even noise. 

Living Roofs explains more, 'The combination of soil, plants and trapped layers of air within green roof systems can act as a sound insulation barrier. Sound waves are absorbed, reflected or deflected. The growing medium tends to block lower sound frequencies whilst the plants block higher frequencies.'

Critically though, they also encourages biodiversity, says Living Roofs.

'Green roofs can provide important refuges for wildlife in urban areas. Research in Switzerland and the UK has demonstrated that green roofs can provide important refuges for rare invertebrate populations.'

 We recommend purchasing a guide likeLiving roofs’ DIY guide to green roofs.

6. Decorate with eco-friendly finishes for a more sustainable home

With so many amazing home decor brands making sustainability their core focus and ethos, it makes more sense than ever to decorate green. 

Hilary Gibbs, Co-Founder of LIVDEN, an innovative tile company that's putting sustainability at the forefront with their stylish recycled tiles, explains:

'Using sustainable building materials creates a design that’s lasting: the inherent durability of eco materials leads to longer material life cycles, less material replacement, and a lower impact on the environment.'

'While sustainable materials might have a slightly higher price tag than their traditional equivalents, you’ll recoup that investment over time by not having to replace or repair these materials as often.'

If you're repainting a room, why not give the much-talked-about eco paints like Lick a whirl. All of their paint is both water-based and low VOC (volatile organic compound) which means they omit fewer harmful chemicals, making them a more easily biodegradable end product. Their paint collaboration with Made.com is to die for too.

Check out these sustainable furniture brands too.

7. Lay underfloor heating 

As one of the most energy efficient ways to heat your home, underfloor heating is a more natural form of heating and requires lower flower temperatures due to the radiation in an increased surface area. 

Unlike central heating with traditional radiators which uses convection (heat air that travels around the home), underfloor heating has a mix of heat radiated from the floor and convection, creating a snuggly constant temperature between the floor and ceiling. 

The Centre for Sustainable Energy explains the two different systems:

'Wet systems can be run using a conventional gas, oil or solid fuel boiler, or with a biomass boiler.' 

'Other renewable technologies can also be used, particularly heat pumps, which are more efficient at the lower temperatures underfloor heating systems operate at.'

'Dry underfloor heating uses electric wires that heat up when electricity is provided, and will either come as ready-made mats or lose wires that need to be fitted.' 

'Dry underfloor heating should also be connected to individual room thermostats, so that each room or area can be adjusted independently.'

As with most home improvements, installation costs vary quite a bit depending on what system you choose, the size of your home, how many rooms you want to heat and whether you're installing it in a new build, extension or a period home. Oh, and not to mention what type of flooring you've got to work with.

With all this in mind, it's best to speak to a pro to decide what system is right for you.

8. Fit an air heat pump

Unlike more traditional gas and oil boilers, air heat pumps give out heat at lower temperatures over longer periods. They require electricity to run, but because they are extracting renewable heat from the environment, the heat output is greater than the electricity input.

You'll not only be lowering your carbon emissions, but you could also lower your heating bills and if you live in the UK, installing an air heat pump could act as a little side hustle with the UK government’s Renewable Heat Incentive .

When thinking about fitting this type of heat system, it's essential to note that you'll also need a existing central heating system for a heat pump to work. 

You'll also need to make sure you factor in how good your insulation is and whether it would be wise to install underfloor heating to make sure the system is working as efficiently as possible.

And do you need planning permission? The Energy Saving Trust explains more:

'While air source heat pumps don’t take up too much outdoor space, the unit will be visible from the outside of your property, so it’s best to check with your local planning authority first, to find out if you need planning permission. As the unit is above ground, it will produce a noise similar to that of an air conditioning unit, which could be bothersome to you or your neighbours.'

How can a house improve sustainability?

Nick Stockley, Resi's Design Director says, 'Households are responsible for about 27% of the UK's carbon emissions and almost a third of the nation's total energy consumption. By making smart changes to both your design and fittings, you can help better protect the environment we all need and love.'

What are some sustainable house features?

'Even if you don’t go down this (sustainable) route, you should at the very least be conserving as much energy as possible with proper insulation. Insulating a home can be done on a variety of budgets. You might choose to seal up the gaps around your windows and doors, or you may have the cash available to deck out both your loft and basement (which are very prone to letting in drafts),' explains Stockley. 

'As with all good design, you should also be thinking about how the way you live your life influences the design of your household. For instance, if you’re the sort of person who really values living an eco-friendly lifestyle, how can your home help this?'

'You might consider getting your architect to add…

What are examples of sustainable materials?

Stockley says 'To be a true eco-warrior, you’ll not only insulate your home but use materials that are good for the environment. Materials like…

'If you’re building a home from scratch, or simply adding on a new extension, the materials you choose here can also make a big difference. You might choose to explore woodcrete, an alternative form of concrete. It is much better for the environment due to its manufacturing process, which replaces some of the more energy-intensive components of normal concrete with recycled wood. This is then either used in place of normal concrete.'

'Cork is not only useful for plugging up bottles of bubbly, it is also a versatile construction material notable for its sustainability and eco-efficiency. Cork’s use in construction varies due to its mix of properties. Its unique structure, filled with air pockets, make it a great insulator of sound and heat, which has seen it used as insulation in ceilings, walls and flooring.'

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.

While it can be a blessing to have the kids back at school, or to be returning to the office again, these shorter autumnal days leave us all with less and less time to get those everyday tasks done. We would all rather be out on crisp walks or gathered around a cosy fireplace when we do get a minute to spare, but without a clean and clutter-free home to come back to, seasonal gatherings will simply leave you feeling more stressed.

Replacing your appliances is always an investment, but opting for LG Smart Appliances will bring more style and functionality to your kitchen – just in time for some indoor entertainment. 

Perhaps your washing machine has given up the ghost, or your fridge is at full capacity and unlikely to make it through a food-filled season... No matter what your reasons are for wanting to upgrade, choosing LG’s smart appliances could be what your household needs, now more than ever.

Five reasons to invest in LG smart appliances 

1. Cut down on the laundry pile

The new LG V11 F4V1112WTSA Wifi Connected 12Kg Washing Machine is the answer to all your laundry day prayers. While it has the standard dimensions of most washing machines, it offers an upgraded 12kg capacity to fit all your sports kit, sheets, towels, and uniforms in one go. By fitting in more laundry with every load, it will cut back on your number of weekly washes and leave you with more time to enjoy autumn walks and hearty roast dinners. What’s more, the speedy wash cycle will stay on top of any spills or splashes meaning that your favourite walking socks or the kids’ Sunday best will be good as new within the hour. Not only will that save you time, but by running fewer cycles to wash the same volume of laundry, it will also cut down on the amount of water and electricity you’re using to do your washing. 

2. Keep food fresher for longer

It's an added expense to keep having to throw away food that’s gone bad in the fridge, but it’s also bad for the environment. Investing in the LG InstaView™ ThinQ™ GSXV90BSAE Wifi Connected American Fridge Freezer will deliver all the freshness you crave from your food using NatureFRESH™ and LINEARCooling™. This delivers a consistent temperature that will stop any condensation, keeping maris pipers fluffy for roasting, and cabbage fresh for braising.  

3. Stylish design

The fridge is the heart of any kitchen, so there is every reason to make sure it is packed with smart tech and finished off with a sophisticated design that you’ll enjoy for years to come. The LG GSXV90BSAE American-style fridge freezer also has an InstaView™ ThinQ™ panel. This sleek-looking fridge freezer allows you to see what’s in your fridge with a simple knock. Jam-packed with high tech, and with no need to open the door, it keeps the cold air locked in. 

As for the LG V11 F4V1112WTSA washing machine, it also comes with a modern design that delivers on functionality. It will look the part in any laundry room, and when it comes to laundry day, a steam-enabled cycle will remove 99.9% of allergens from your clothes and sheets, as well as reducing wrinkles to cut back on ironing. 

4. Precise, time-saving power

If you regularly find yourself looking for ways to speed up everyday tasks, switching to an LG smart appliance could help take your timekeeping to the next level. Designed to cater to busy families, elements such as the TurboWash™ 360° washing machine will completely wash and rinse a last-minute load in just 39 minutes, leaving you with more time to work in a trip to the park, or a well-deserved cup of tea to catch up on your favourite show. 

The LG V11 F4V1112WTSA washing machine also takes the guesswork out of adding laundry detergent. It uses an EZDispense™ system to fill up with one full bottle of detergent, which it will automatically dispense for 35 washes. No need to measure and pour in a capful for each wash, just choose your mode and let the machine do the rest. 

5. Designed with families in mind

We all want to find ways to make our homes cleaner and more hygienic. LG has fitted its GSXV90BSAE refrigerator with a UVNano™ water dispenser, which will give off UV light every hour to kill off 99.9% of bacteria so you can rest assured that your family will be well protected.

Head over to AO.com now to shop LG and receive up to £250 cashback on selected products. AO also goes the extra mile to make replacing your appliances easy and stress-free, offering 100-day returns on select products. 

AO is the best destination when it comes to updating your home goods, with 250,000 five-star reviews from happy customers on TrustPilot. Buyers are protected by AO’s price match promise, which compares prices daily, you can be confident that you're always getting the best price at AO.

What's more, you can choose seven-day delivery and select from a range of delivery options to suit busy homeowners. When you buy from AO.com you can choose a morning or afternoon delivery time slot, and receive a text to let you know when your new LG appliance is four hours away. That means there's no risk that you'll miss your delivery, and you can get your new appliance up and running in hours.

• Shop LG Smart Appliances at AO.com 

There's one thing we have all felt over the past 18 months, and that's a heightened connection with our living spaces. Whether you own a home or rent, ensuring you feel comfortable on all fronts is major. And, with comfort must come security and safety. There are so many home security devices on the market nowadays that it can seem like a minefield to find the right one that will suit your needs.

No household is the same but something most have in common is the want to keep our home, loved ones and belongings protected, in a stress-free and simple way. Enter Hive HomeShield: the must-have smart home security solution that's able to provide intelligent insight on your home's protection, instantly report incidents to the police and give you all-round visibility on your home's security 24 hours a day – in a way that suits you.

It's convenient, reliable and uncomplicated, so with rave reviews, we thought we'd put the Hive HomeShield to the test with one of Real Homes' expert bloggers and DIYer: Jo Lemos.

Jo lives in a 1930s semi detached house that he spends a lot of time DIY renovating – in a beautiful way. With a strong presence on social media, Jo shares lots of his before and afters on Instagram to the public, which naturally comes with some security considerations.

Not to mention that with the ease of national lockdown restrictions, Jo and his partner are – like many of us – spending more time away from home. Be that to go to an office or on holiday, it was the ideal time to enhance what was their traditional home security setup with something more tailored to their modern home and lifestyle.

With pets at home a lot of the time and, with neighbours that aren't always so receptive to alarms... Jo and his partner faced many of the same home security needs and setbacks as the rest of us. Taking their home security to the next level with Hive HomeShield made total sense.

Jo tested the Hive HomeShield for two weeks and this was his experience:

Supporting a phased return to normality

'For the last 18 months, my partner and I have been working from home during the pandemic. With things opening more and restrictions being lifted we are now on a phased return to the office. Also the ability to see more of our family and friends means we are increasingly spending less time at home.

As we knew we would not be spending as much time at home we have been on the lookout for a new smart security system and HomeShield by Hive is the perfect fit for us.'

'We moved into our 1930s semi detached in November 2019 which has an existing traditional security system. The system was made up of motion sensors in each room with a siren mounted to the front of the house. However, as we have a 4-year old dog called Lola who stays at home while we are out we couldn’t use the system as she would set it off. The existing security alarm was also not connected to any alert system so we wouldn’t know the alarm was going off anyway and alarms tend to be ignored by neighbours.'

'Now that we are going back to the office there were a few things that we were looking for in a new security system:

• Smart security system with an app for real time updates
• Dog-friendly
• Something simple and easy to use that you don’t need to think about'

Pet-friendly on all fronts

'With the HomeShield system by Hive we have managed to find a good solution for what we needed. The big draw for us in particular was the pet-friendly motion sensor which is able to determine if it’s a cat/dog moving around the house – rather than a person. This was all the more important to us with the arrival of our new puppy Olive in July which meant there would be two dogs in the house while we were out.'

A fine-tuned and perfectly designed system

'The starter pack includes sensors for the front and back door, keypad for setting the alarm, siren, outdoor camera and the pet-friendly motion sensor. The camera for me is one of the best parts of the system. It notifies you of motion or noise of whatever is in its field of view.'

'We live on a relatively busy residential street so initially we were getting notifications any time a car or person passed the house. However, I was able to tweak the settings to only detect people and set up a zone that only detected people that came onto our driveway.'

'I had the fright of my life when I woke up after the first night of having the system and had a notification to show someone was on our driveway at 4am. Having watched back the footage I realised it was the milkman that I’d never actually seen before!'

Ease of setup and communication

'You can also communicate with anyone through the two way speaker and with the HomeShield subscription you also get 30 days of video footage backed up.'

'The other feature I love is that you or anyone in your house can set the alarm from your phone. We often leave the house and forget to set the alarm and it's really convenient that you can arm or disarm it from your phone.'

'We can give our dog walker guest access as well as our family and friends, meaning you don’t have to worry about anyone knowing your code.'

Built to suit your needs

'On the app you get notifications if the alarm is going off or if it sees something suspicious so you can react to it there and then. You can also add to the security system at any time with additional cameras and sensors – without having to pay for someone to come and install or service it.'

'So far the system hasn’t missed a beat and the best thing I can say about it is that I don’t have to think about it as it works quietly in the background.'

Over the last 18 months we’ve all spent more time at home than ever before. And as a result, our relationship with our homes has changed beyond recognition. The same four walls have been our home offices, study areas, workout studios, cinemas and so, so much more.

Consequently, many of us have spent hundreds if not thousands of pounds on home renovations, home improvements and generally ensuring our homes are the safe and stylish havens we've needed them to be during this difficult period. 

Now that we're slowly returning to work, booking holidays and looking forward to what the 'new normal' means, we'll need to make sure that we don't drop our guard when it comes to looking after our home, as well as we have our health.

Regardless, we know that millions of us are more attached to our homes than ever before, and products like Hive HomeShield can play a pivotal part in protecting what we should consider our safe space.

Why the Hive HomeShield is a must-have solution

1. Contact emergency services via the app

In the unfortunate event of a home intrusion taking place, you can ensure officers are there as quickly as possible, even if you aren't at home – all with a touch of a button.

Hive HomeShield technology works with your local law enforcement and home insurance company to provide a crime report extract, so you don’t need to fill out any extra paperwork or describe foggy details.

This includes a time log of what happened with camera stills and footage. An incident report can even be shared across social networks including Facebook, NextDoor and your road's WhatsApp group so that your next-door neighbours can be vigilant in their homes too.

Burglaries can trigger feelings of distress and concern, long after they've been carried out, so the Hive HomeShield technology can be integrated with victim support groups to call should you need emotional support following an incident.

2. Deter potential intruders with a camera siren

While we dread the thought of calling upon the police to report a break-in, the reality is that sometimes making this phone call is inevitable for many of us. But rather than waiting to get home and see the evidence of the crime, you can take instantaneous measures to deter trespassers with a camera siren.

This will alert them that you have protective measures in place and will discourage them from trying to force entry into yours and other homes in the neighbourhood.

3. Receive intelligent reports on your home

There are a multitude of reasons why customers invest in Hive HomeShield technology. Whether they've had a neighbour whose had a recent intrusion, have a young family they want to protect, or just don't want to miss an important delivery.

British Gas take an empathetic approach to each and every household they cover, knowing that family circumstances and dynamics are different from door to door.

Whatever your reason, ultimately, you'll want a comprehensive breakdown of what the technology covers and how it compares to similar offerings. In today's world where many of us are time-poor, there simply isn't enough time to sit and watch out of your window.

So they’ve designed the app to provide comprehensive, intelligent reports – all included in your affordable package. Because no one should be priced out of peace of mind.

4. Arm and disarm using your smart technology devices

With HomeShield, you can arm your home from your smartphone, tablet and even your Apple Watch. It has three modes, Home, Sleep and Away to give varying levels of smart notifications depending on the level of communication you want to receive at any given time of day – even when you're on holiday!

So whether you're in a busy meeting at work, or putting baby down to sleep, or can't hear anything over the sound of home renovations, rest assured Hive has your work and life interests at heart.

Learning from their experiences of heating homes across the land, British Gas understands that you want a traditional and human approach, providing reassurance, support and a family-orientated common sense approach.

5. Instantly alert family and trusted contacts

If you're a lover of routine, we understand how stressful unexpected events like a burglary or an unknown visitor surveying your home can be. So you shouldn't be losing sleep wondering whether your property presents itself as a potential target for thieves.

That's why, the Hive HomeShield team provide you with proactive help with tech you can trust. The app will notify you and trusted contacts with an automated phone call through notifications, so that you don't have to do any investigative work.

What's more, each family member gets their own security login, so you know exactly who has entered the home.

6. Check on your home in real time or retrospectively

While the safety of your family is paramount, it's hard to put a tangible price on the protection of your loved ones. And many home security providers can take advantage of this.

As part of their comprehensive package, British Gas will provide customers with multiple Hive devices as part of the HomeShield service as well as 30-day video playback home security service for a subscription fee of just £9.99 for premium features.

Of course, each and every customer has different plans and schedules so British Gas can provide a no-obligation quote at a time that suits you – not the other way round.

How to get Hive's HomeShield technology

Whether you've heard about this home security solution from a neighbour, locksmith or local paper, Hive HomeShield is the ‘go-to’ gadget to keep your home securely monitored with intelligent smart devices.

Visit the Hive website directly, or via one of their trusted retailers to buy HomeShield online or in-store.

The security-conscious will already have thought of security cameras and alarms as ways to keep their home safer, but the best smart locks are fast becoming the next big thing in home security.

Not only do they allow you to control better who comes in and out using just your smartphone, but they can also supplement existing security features already installed around the home. 

Smart locks allow homeowners to keep their properties safe from intruders but grant access to those who need it, such as cleaners, babysitters, or even Airbnb guests, without leaving your home open to unwanted visitors. But, of course, it also means that you won't be locked out the next time you forget your keys!

We've taken a look at some of the best and most popular smart locks available right now, rating them on their reliability, connectivity, and design.

Keep scrolling for honest reviews of our top-rated products or if you need more comprehensive security, then check out our guide to the best home security systems.

The best smart locks: our top picks

eufy is known for its reliable and budget-friendly smart home products and has added a high-end smart lock to its offerings. The eufy Security Smart Lock Touch gives users several ways to unlock their door - via the smartphone app, the fingerprint sensor, or a passcode - adding to peace of mind and security.

The big selling point of the eufy smart lock is its fingerprint sensor, which works brilliantly once set up. The programming process is the same as for the fingerprint sensor on a smartphone (pressing and lifting your finger several times until it gets a good reading). Once it knows you, you'll be able to open the lock in double-quick time simply by pressing your finger to the interface.

This is also useful for viewing the history of the lock (available through the app), as it knows exactly who has been in and out based on the fingerprint used. Each user can also be given a unique passcode.

The only real drawback we found with the smart lock is the tricky installation process. It should be expected given how many things eufy's product allows you to do but, despite the detailed instructions provided, it is more labor-intensive and time-consuming than we anticipated. That said, once we did it, the result was sleek and solid enough to justify it.

The eufy Security app allows you to adapt settings to your requirements, including sounds the lock makes and granting temporary access when someone outside your household needs to enter. It's also straightforward to set schedules and add users quickly.

Real Homes rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

If you're looking to give an existing lock system smart capabilities, the August Smart Lock Pro could be your option. We'll admit that it's pretty pricey, but if you're looking for a top-of-the-range solution that you can fit retrospectively, it's more than worth the investment. Here's everything you need to know.

It's easy to fit this smart lock retrospectively, transforming an existing lock system into something with smart capabilities. This is perfect if you don't like the idea of replacing your entire lock system or are looking for something slightly more on the subtle side.

If you're concerned about home security or want to keep an eye on who's coming in and out of your house – be that cleaners, babysitters, or anyone else – this smart lock will allow you to do so. It's never been easier to lock, unlock and control keyless access from any location.

Perfect if you want to keep a close eye on an elderly or vulnerable friend or family member, check whether or not your front door is locked from any location.

Thanks to Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant compatibility, it's possible to control your smart lock system using your voice. Connect the two, and you're away.

Looking for a slightly cheaper alternative to the August Smart Lock Pro? While it’s still not what we’d call budget, the August Smart Lock is slightly more purse-friendly and offers many of the perks of the August range. Here’s everything you need to know.

Connect your smart lock to your smartphone, and you’ll never have to worry about forgetting your keys again. Plus, it’s easy to control who comes in – and out – of your home.

Perfect for those looking for a smart lock that can be fitted retrospectively, this model attaches to your current lock system easily and will be ready for use in a matter of minutes.

If you want to let someone in on a one-off basis – perhaps a cleaner, delivery man, or Airbnb guest – you can rest safely knowing that their temporary key will expire as soon as you wish it to.

Next up on our list is the Yale Keyless Conexis L1 Smart Door Lock which has an innovative design and is easy to use. Here's everything you need to know about it...

One of the biggest draws of this smart lock from Yale is the ease with which you can control it from your smartphone. Thanks to its mobile key option, you'll never have to worry about forgetting your keys again. Instead, tap your smartphone and gain access with ease. 

Want to let a friend, babysitter, cleaner, or Airbnb guest into your home? First, send them a smart key. Then, delete it once they're gone.

Not sure about using a smartphone to access your home? Concerned about losing charge? There's also an option to enter your home using a key card.

Thanks to its functional, wireless design, this model is also easy to install. You'll need 4 AA batteries, and you're good to go.

Perfect for those concerned about people trying to gain entry to their homes, this model also promises to notify users if it senses a lock being tampered with.

One of the main benefits of opting for a smart lock from Yale is that it connects to their broader – and equally reputable – smart home security system. Once connected, this can all be controlled from one app.

The Yale Keyless Connected Smart Ready Door Lock offers the best smart lock technology and a more traditional keypad lock system. It's also recently won our Real Homes Awards, so you know you're onto a winner. Here's everything you need to know about it.

This mirror-finish smart lock looks a little more traditional than many of the other options on this list, which may be a good thing when deterring would-be sneaks, not to mention that it looks exquisite indeed. 

There's also a tamper alarm for extra peace of mind and easy fitting over your existing night latch, making this a great option whether you're keeping it simple or bumping up the smart security.  

This model allows users to switch between the two easy to make the most of both manual and intelligent lock systems.

Can your smart lock be fitted retroactively?

If you want to ensure minimal damage, or disruption, to your front door – perhaps you’re a renter – you may wish to opt for a smart lock that you can fit retrospectively. These models will attach to your current deadbolt, giving it smart capabilities.

These options tend to be a little more expensive, so it may be worth opting for a whole new lock system if you’re already considering replacing your front door or lock system.

Can I grant temporary access?

If you’re looking for a smart lock because you want babysitters, cleaners, Airbnb guests, and whoever else to be able to enter your home with ease, you may wish to opt for a smart lock that offers temporary key passes to visitors. Then, once your visitor has been and gone, you can prevent them from gaining access to your home again by simply canceling their key.

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IKEA is now selling a battery charger that looks just like a book, freeing up space in our overflowing man drawers. The sleek IKEA TJUGO battery charger is not only a handy battery organization idea, but it should also make the more eco-friendly option of rechargeable batteries a little more appealing for the uninitiated.

Traditional black and bulky battery chargers fall into the wholly 'functional' category of items in our homes, and certainly aren't objects we would ever want on display. IKEA's new offering, on the other hand, looks cute tucked on a shelf or on a desk with other books.

The charger, which costs $17.99, comes in a pale blue-green shade and has a textured spine similar to that of a book. It's much more aesthetically pleasing than standard battery chargers - one reviewer even described it as the 'best-looking charger I’ve seen.'

Enough about looks - does it work? The product charges AA and AAA batteries, and you can charge up to eight batteries at a time. This sounds very satisfying, particularly for those of us with an assortment of loose batteries in a kitchen drawer and no idea whether they're brand new or depleted.

It also lets you charge an odd number - handy if your regularly-used cordless devices, from fans to torches, take three batteries. The TJUGO charger is also great for those who want to reduce the amount of waste they create at home - i.e. everyone - and saves you money on panic-bought replacement batteries for your alarm clock.

Batteries can be stored in the charger when it's not actually on, as it shuts off when the batteries are fully charged. A red LED light will indicate if a battery is defective and needs to be taken to the recycling center.

Check out the TJUGO battery charger on the IKEA website. IKEA also sells LADDA rechargeable batteries ($7.99 for a pack of four) so you can buy both in one go if you're thinking of making the switch to renewable batteries.

Investing in one of the best power banks will also stop your phone running out of juice at festivals and on day trips. Eco-friendly, aesthetically pleasing and an effective way to reduce clutter, what's not to love?

As our lives once again become busier, the best Bluetooth speakers can make listening to music, podcasts, and anything else you want more convenient and keep up with a hectic lifestyle.

We don't need to tell you why wireless and portable speakers offer more flexibility than your standard wired sound system, but you may not know how much. As smart home features become more accessible, many Bluetooth speakers can offer the same upgrade as the best smart speakers without the high price tag.

And that's not all - kit your home out with multiple Bluetooth speakers, and you can create a multi-room sound experience, playing the same playlist or audiobook throughout the house, so you're never far enough away to miss something. Or, if you're planning an outdoor get-together this summer, many speakers on our list let you take the tunes outside.

The best Bluetooth speakers open up so many possibilities, and while there are some high-end options, they tend to be quite affordable, with a range of designs that fit different styles.

Scroll down to see which wireless speakers we rated top, as well as some advice on choosing the best speakers for your needs.

The best Bluetooth speakers: tried and tested by us

The iconic design of Marshall speakers has always been a unique selling point, especially for the brand's relatively affordable smart and Bluetooth speakers. The ultra-portable Emberton is one of the company's key forays into outdoor offerings.

What we like

The speaker promises portability and is lightweight and small enough to fit into your hand and carry from room to room. This also makes it ideal for taking out and about with you, for the day or on longer trips. Waterproof, the Emberton will withstand less-than-perfect weather, too.

The battery life is impressive at 20 hours, and you can get a full charge in just 3 hours. While testing, we could stretch a single charge across several afternoons of work, playing music or podcasts at around half the volume. The 360-degree sound helps the audio compensate for the speaker's size.

You have a choice of Black, Black & Brass, and Cream (we tested it in Cream) finishes, which all look superb. Each variation has a brass control knob on top, which you use to turn on the speaker, change the volume and skip forwards or backward. There's also a light beside this indicating the remaining battery life, which was helpful to see when we were running low instead of waiting for it to switch off from an empty battery.

What could be better

Though the sound quality is by no means terrible, some understandably expect the best of the best from Marshall products. With 20W audio power, the Emberton will do fine for occasional use or for something you can take with you, but it won't take the place of your primary sound system.

That said, with ours placed at the base of a monitor in the home office, it's hard to argue with something so convenient with good - if not excellent - sound quality.

Real Homes rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

If you like your technology to have a more retro feel and design, the Audio Pro T3+ should be one of your first stops.

What we like

A good wireless speaker in its own right, with clear sound and Bluetooth 4.0 for connectivity, what stands out about the Add-On T3+ is its good looks.

Available in a few different colors, we were able to test the grey model. With rose gold accents (love!) and a lovely leather handle, it does look the part and would look fantastic on any shelving unit. It's also designed to be taken out of the house with an incredible 30 hours of battery life - the best stamina for a speaker on this list.

What could be better

The speaker's weight does hinder the portability claim of the T3+, which is a shame when you factor in the stylish and functional carry handle. Of course, it won't break your arm, but you don't want to carry it long distances, either.

It's also not water-resistant, which could be a problem if you plan to take the speaker on a camping trip or leave it in the yard during a family gathering.

Real Homes rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Many speakers claim to be portable, but the JBL Clip 4 means it. With a handle that will attach to almost anything and impressive sound for its small size, the speaker is the ultimate outdoor (or indoor) companion.

What we like

The little Clip 4 has only 5W of power, but you wouldn't know that to listen. There's a slight lack of depth, but the bass is strong enough to give a good overall feel. It's also straightforward to use, with large obvious controls that mean you can find them even if you're halfway up a mountain or have wet hands from washing up.

The biggest thing to recommend the JBL Clip 4 is its versatility. While the brand probably wants to position it as a speaker you can take on hikes or camping trips, it's also terrific to have around the house. Of course, given the waterproof rating, our first instinct was to take it in the shower with us, and, as expected, it held up against the soap and water being thrown its way.

What could be better

The large controls we praised will also turn some people off, as the fabric and rubber aesthetic of JBL devices isn't to everyone's taste. The Clip 4 does come in various colors, however, so you might be able to find one you like. The model we tested was dark green with purple and mustard (pictured), and we'll say that the finish is high-quality and attractive in real life.

Real Homes rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The best Bluetooth speakers: more top picks

A fantastic portable speaker for garden parties, the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 lands on this list for its compatibility with other speakers alone. Add in rich, crisp sound that maintains its quality even at top volume, and it can still be called one of the best Bluetooth speakers out there right now.

We especially love the range of bright, funky colors available, including a Unicorn version that would be great for maximalists. You can also buy a charging dock (sold separately or as part of a bundle) that ensures you're never caught out, even when away from a power source.

The Bluetooth range is super impressive, so you'll stay connected up to 146ft away, and the speaker boasts top-class water, dust, and drop-proof specifications.

It may not seem like the most impressive Bluetooth speaker on our list, but the JBL Flip 5 is still one of the best wireless speakers you can buy, and it won't put too much of a dent in the wallet either. Weighing in at just 1.1lbs, the product is very lightweight, making it easy to transport.

But don't be fooled into thinking this means shoddy construction - the 40mm drivers pack a punch, and the bass sound incredible. In addition, the IPX waterproof casing is ideal for outdoor use, whether at the beach or under uncertain weather conditions. The Flip 5 can withstand a lot, so you're protected come rain or shine.

It's also our recommendation for music and parties, with the PartyBoost feature enhancing the audio when you need it loud.

The Bose Soundlink Color 2 has been around since 2017 and has become a firm favorite for many. The fact that it still hits the mark makes it worthy of a spot on our list despite competitors with more modern features.

The Soundlink Color perfectly blends sound quality, style, and connectivity. In addition, the unique design (an oval rather than a tower shape) ensures it won't spoil the décor when placed on a mantelpiece, shelving unit, or even outside during a garden party.

The sound quality is good, though some have complained it is a bit heavy on the bass, thanks to its dual passive radiators and high-efficiency transducers. But, overall, it proves that being small doesn't mean compromising quality.

How we test the best Bluetooth speakers

All product reviews on Real Homes are based on hands-on testing in the writer's own home. When deciding which of these devices and products are featured in our buying guides, we consider a number of things, including our experience of using them, and how many of our readers we believe they would suit. Real-world testing ensures that these recommendations are as fair and accurate as possible. Read our rundown on how we test for more.

Choosing the best Bluetooth speaker for your home

When buying the best small Bluetooth speaker to suit your needs and budget, a few factors are worth considering. These include:

Battery life

A significant consideration when choosing a Bluetooth speaker is that the battery life needs to be good enough for your speaker to go from place to place without needing to be plugged in. The portability of a wireless speaker becomes completely redundant with less-than-ideal battery life.

So if you're planning on using your speaker for camping or beach trips, you will want to opt for something with as long battery life as possible. Just want something to play music at home? It's less of a priority.

Design

Probably due to Bluetooth speakers' popularity amongst younger generations, they tend to be available in various colors and designs. This means you can choose between something bright and outlandish or a more muted style, depending on your taste.

Water resistance

For those residing in areas or parts of the world not known for their excellent weather, it may be wise to look for a wireless speaker with at least a little water resistance in case of a sudden downpour during your barbeque/cookout.

Then again, if you're lucky enough to enjoy your fair share of sunny, warm weather, it can also be helpful for a Bluetooth speaker to withstand splashes from the pool or beach. But, again, many options range from water-resistant to completely waterproof.

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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. 

Smart home technology is changing the way we use our living spaces; from smart lighting to digital assistants, smart home gadgets are making our daily life more streamlined than ever. But did you know that you can simplify your day by investing in smart appliances? If you're only just starting out on your smart appliance journey, smart appliance experts from Candy UK recommend exploring the following products first.

1. A smart washing machine

If you only get one smart device, let it be a smart washing machine. First of all, smart washing machines tend to be more efficient: the 'A' Class energy rated Rapid’Ó washing machine from Candy makes it one of the most energy-efficient models on the market. Smart washing machines also feature more advanced motors and cleaning technologies – washing your clothes much quicker than ordinary machines that often use long programmes. For instance, the Rapid’Ó machine has an impressive nine speed cycles that take less than an hour to run, with the quickest cycle taking just 14 minutes. With a smart washing machine, you no longer need to worry about not having a full load – you can just wash the item you need on a super-quick cycle with minimum energy and water consumption.

The other great thing about smart washing machines is, of course, their connectivity features – the apps that enhance your laundry. You know that feeling when you're just not sure what cycle is best for the precise garments you need to wash? Well, the Snap&Wash function on Candy's Simply-Fi app allows you to find out the best cycle for your laundry by just using your smartphone! Simply take a picture of the pile of garments and the app will let you know which is the right program.

2. A smart oven

A Candy smart oven can simplify your cooking routine in a number of ways, and it can also give you peace of mind if you tend to worry about burning your food. The smart ovens from Candy feature wi-fi connectivity, so you can monitor your cooking even when you're not with your appliance, giving you more time to enjoy with the family. 

But by far the biggest advantage of smart ovens is that they're multi-functional, allowing you to use them whichever way you find most convenient. You can use a smart oven in a traditional way, but many can also replace a pizza oven or barbecue grill, reducing the number of appliances you need. The Simply-Fi app will also let you access more than 200 recipes to help inspire your next meal, plus you can get step-by-step guides too to make even the most nervous cooks prepare chef-quality meals. 

3. A smart app

Whether it's a washing machine, an oven, or any other appliance, it will need a good, intuitive app in order for the appliance to qualify as 'smart'. The main point of an app is to simplify and streamline the way you use your appliance – and to take the stress out of those inevitable moments when you've forgotten something. The Candy Simply-Fi App makes things even easier by acting as a hub for all your connected appliances. It has a very simple, easy-to-navigate interface that allows you to do what you need to do quickly. For example, you can preheat your oven before getting home to cut down on meal prep time, or switch on the washing machine while you're out so that the washing is ready when you get back. 

With any appliance, 'smart' should apply both to connectivity features and to the design. A well-designed appliance that's comfortable to operate and to control remotely is the holy grail, because it will save you money and time while making daily tasks more pleasurable.

The Proscenic T21 Smart Air Fryer is the first smartphone-compatible air fryer I’ve tested. It can be paired with the Proscenic app (which can also be used to control any Proscenic robot vacuums!) to monitor your food remotely as it cooks. I wrote this review in the UK, but the Proscenic T21 is the same model in both the USA and the UK, and the price is very similar no matter where you buy it. 

The air fryer has several convenient preset modes for cooking fish, bacon, fries, chicken, and even steak. You can also adjust the timings and temperatures yourself too. As someone who loves to cook I’m not sure these features were as useful to me as they would be an inexperienced cook or air fryer first-timer. 

The capacity of this air fryer is an impressive 5.8 quarts/5.5 litres. Many air fryers offer you around 4 quarts, or 3-4 litres, to play with, but bigger is certainly better when it comes to air fryers. This allows more space for your food to cook evenly, and you can cram in enough fries for the whole family. 

I’m certainly torn when reviewing the Proscenic T21 Smart Air Fryer. There is nothing actually wrong with it, per se. It’s a capable cooking appliance with smart features and a generous capacity, but it’s an expensive option. For something with this price tag, I expect a seamless user experience and versatility. There were a few issues I encountered that made the experience bumpy, and even though its actual cooking ability is pretty much without fault, I do think you pay a premium for smart features you don’t necessarily need. Does it earn a spot in the best air fryers guide? Keep reading to find out. 

Proscenic T21 Smart Air Fryer Review: Specs

• Weight: 5.9kg
• Dimensions: L31.4 x W31.6 x H32.6 cm
• Cooking functions: Fries, Shrimp, Pizza, Chicken, Fish, Steak, Cake, Bacon
• Additional functions: App compatibility, Smart speaker control
• Capacity: 5.5 litres/5.8 quarts 
• RRP: £139, $129
• Colour: Black/silver
• Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe tray and basket

How does the Proscenic T21 work? 

Air fryers are having a bit of a moment, but I’ve been reviewing them for a while and so I know how they stack up and what to look for. I couldn’t recommend buying an air fryer more. It will genuinely revolutionize the way you cook, and it really does give you those crispy results without the amount of fat you’ll get if you use a deep fat fryer.

The Proscenic T21 works very similarly to other air fryers - it has a slotted basket that holds your food and allows air to circulate from all angles. Like a fan oven, it circulates even a spritz of low-calorie spray around your food far more efficiently, so it is a good option for those on a diet. The basket is made of aluminium and coated in Teflon for easy cleaning, and it can be detatched from the drawer in a very fiddly motion that requires pushing forward a plastic cover and then pressing a button to lift the tray and handle away from the now handle-less base. 

Settings

I recently wrote a review of the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer, which has removable crisper drawers to allow it to air fry as well as bake and roast. The Proscenic T21 is purely an air fryer, and you can’t use the drawer without the basket for other types of cooking. Its multi-functionally comes in the form of a menu of eight pre-set modes. These are designed for cooking fries, pizza, chicken, steak, bacon and more. I’m going to ignore the cake setting in this review because I’ve cooked cake in an air fryer enough times to know that it cannot compare to an oven. It simply can’t. Moving on... 

The controls are touch activated and you can pair Schedule, Menu and Keep Warm settings to help plan your meals. The buttons are quite hard to press (I prefer a physical button myself), and they let out a very loud beep when you do so. Scheduling a Keep Warm setting is a very good idea, because the machine automatically switches itself off when cooking is done. If you wanted to add an extra few minutes you’d need to start all over again. 

I did have my initial reservations about the menu settings. Something like bacon is fairly universal, but when it comes to cooking chicken the optimum cooking conditions vary depending on the size of the cut of meat. If you’re doing strips of chicken breast for a fajita, this won’t take as long as a large chicken thigh to cook through, so the menu approach doesn’t account for this in my mind.

That concern is easy to overcome though. Simply increase the cooking time of your dish (or decrease, depending on what you’re cooking) to account for disparities.

The preset temperature for each mode is almost always 182°C. There are a couple of exceptions - fries and fish are both set to 204°C and pizza is set to 166°C. I think the menu setting actually complicates air fryer cooking, rather than making it easy for those who want to adapt their recipes to this new appliance. It would be a lot easier and less crowded to simply be able to choose the temperature in the way you would an oven or other air fryers.

What is the Proscenic T21 like to use? 

Setting the machine up is easy enough. The drawer does take a firm tug to remove though, and I was worried I was doing it wrong when I tried to remove it the first time. When you do pull the drawer out you’ll notice that the basket sits sturdily in your hand while the bottom drawer does hang off slightly. It doesn’t feel solid, because the drawer is really just attached at the handle and not throughout the entire structure. This air fryer is also pretty loud. It’s definitely louder than other air fryers I’ve tested, and the beep that alerts you it’s finished can’t be missed. 

In terms of cooking, I’ve not got any complaints. I tried this air fryer out for several weeks and cooked things such as chicken, fries, sausages, homemade breaded fish and hasselback potatoes in it. The air fryer does particularly well when cooking things from frozen, although I wish there were a frozen setting to make the most of this. My frozen fish and chips came out looking golden and as if it had come from a takeaway, which made myself and my partner very happy. 

The basket in the Proscenic T21 is very deep and you’ll be able to cook for more than two in it. Expect fries for the whole family and plentiful portions all round. I like to be able to take out the drawer and shake up my fries as they cook, especially when making homemade wedges, but because removing the drawer is a bit tricky I found myself just leaving it to cook and hoping for the best. 

How do the Proscenic T21 smart features work?

This part required the assistance of my younger brother - not because it’s difficult, but because I struggle with even the simplest technological tasks. If you’re like me and the task of setting up a robot vacuum (another very easy task that’s taken me far too long in the past) fills you with dread, I would recommend a more simple air fryer. You do pay for the convenience of smartphone compatibility with the Proscenic T21, so it would be a shame not to use it.

Setup isn’t too tricky. You press the power button down for five seconds and it enters pairing mode. Then go to the Proscenic app and select the T21. You need to connect to this as a WiFi network, and from there it’s easy (a lot easier than the manual buttons) to select your mode, adjust temperature and timings, and turn on the keep warm setting. 

The Proscenic T21 also pairs with Alexa and Google Assistant smart speakers, but as I don’t own one of these I was not able to test this feature. Out of thousands of reviews though, I only found one person who was struggling to connect the Proscenic T21 to their Alexa speaker, and it seemed like customer service was being very helpful in solving this. I could see the part of the app that allowed you to pair it with an Alexa or Google Assistant app, so it appeared to be very easy to access and straightforward.

Cleaning the Proscenic T21

Good news, the basket and drawer in the Proscenic T21 are both dishwasher safe. The bad news is that they’re so huge I found it impossible to fit them in mine. 

Cleaning by hand is very very easy. The basket is Teflon coated and any grease and crumbs wash off in minutes. The drawer is also very easy to wipe clean, so cleaning is pretty pain-free with this air fryer. That’s great to know, because if you’re anything like me you’ll be using your fryer on a daily basis. 

Should you buy the Proscenic T21?

The Proscenic T21 is expensive, so if you just want a basic air fryer to get the job done without any smart extras, look elsewhere. What it does offer is a smartphone app that’s easy to use and cuts down on the amount of activity you need to do. Those who have reduced mobility will find this very useful, because something like preheating the air fryer won’t require you to go to the kitchen. 

The food I cooked in the Proscenic T21 came out crisp and tasty, and the cooking time was faster than in an oven and comparable to other air fryers on the market. It also boasts a huge capacity, which makes it easy to cook for a crowd. The menu settings will come in useful to those who don’t know much about the best temperature to cook different dishes, and the in-built timings can be adjusted to accommodate any variations in the recipes you follow for these modes. 

If you are a keen home chef who wants a new toy to experiment in, I’m not sure how much you’ll use the menu settings. I know the best temperature and time to cook my homemade wedges at, so while I tried the fries setting for the purposes of this review, I’d have been just as happy selecting these options myself. 

The way the drawer is attached to the basket does make it feel flimsy, even though it’s perfectly safe and secure. Removing the basket is also a bit more fiddly than I’d like, and the controls feel crowded and hard to use if you’re not using the app. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Millie Fender is an editor at Real Homes, specializing in small appliances and all things cooking. She loves putting new products to the test, whether they're air fryers, blenders, or even pizza ovens, and her family and friends love eating the results. 

Millie has a constant stream of new products waiting to be reviewed in her kitchen. It's a little snug, so if she thinks anything deserves to stay there, you know it's something special. 

I don't know about you, but our village Facebook page is full of stories about would-be burglars trying to open doors on cars and houses in the middle of the night. I've read lots about the best security cameras, but never quite got around to investing. So when I was offered the chance to test the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Security Camera, I jumped at the opportunity. 

Arlo, which is famous for its wireless security cameras, claims that the Pro 3 was first wire-free floodlight camera on the market, with an impressive six-month battery life. But does it live up to expectations? And, more importantly, do I sleep more soundly knowing it's watching our cars and front door?

Burglaries increase by a third when the clocks go back, according to research from Co-op, thanks to thieves taking advantage of the longer, darker nights. With the surge in local reports on attempted break ins, we decided to install our Arlo Pro 3 in November and have tested it for three months. Our detached house is set well back from the road but we have a lot of passing traffic – and wildlife – that we were worried would result in it going off at all hours.

There are two things I should probably admit before you read on; firstly, I'm a bit of a technophobe and usually struggle to set up and connect smart products. Secondly, our home has a video doorbell but I've pretty much given up using it when I'm out as the quality of the talkback is so poor. If you're not interested in the floodlight capability of the Pro 3, then take a look at our guide to the best video doorbell and choose one with good-quality talkback to really get the most from it.

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight specs:

• Resolution: 2560x1440 resolution
• Video modes: 2K, 1080p, 720p
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi Connection (broadband connection with at least 2Mbps upload speed)
• Battery life: 6 months
• Weatherproofing: UV and weather resistant. Temps -20–45ºC
• Compatibility: iOS, Android, Alex, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThings
• Features: 3000 lumen floodlight, siren, colour night vision, 12x zoom, 2-way audio
• Storage options: 3-month cloud trial with 30-day video storage

What does the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Security Camera do?

Put simply, it's a floodlight that doubles as a home security camera. The bright floodlight allows it to record full-colour video, even at nighttime, which you view live via the Arlo app. The footage is stored for 30 days if you need to look back through it, say to check whether a parcel was really delivered.

There are loads of handy features, including two-way talkback for when you're out and about, and a siren you can set off to deter would-be intruders. The camera can differentiate between animals, vehicles and people, which means it doesn't worry you unnecessarily.

Finally, the Arlo Pro 3 floodlight is completely wire free, which means you can choose where to install it without worrying about mains electricity, and the battery should only need charging twice a year. If you can't deal with it being wire free, then you can install a solar charger to keep it topped up.

Who does the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Security Camera suit?

The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight is aimed at anybody who has dark areas outside their home that intruders could try and take advantage of. Even houses fronting brightly lit streets could benefit from using it at the rear. Because it's wireless, it's easy to install and can be taken with you if you ever move.

The floodlight is particularly suited to detached houses in areas with no streetlights as the light is super bright and feels reassuring when you arrive home in the dark. You can also control the range of the floodlight, which means if your house is close to the ones next door, you can set it so that it won't go off when your neighbours come home. The light itself is very bright, though, so bear in mind that even if your neighbours don't trigger it, they could still see it.

Thanks to its superior video and talkback quality, I'd recommend the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight not just for use during darkness, but also as a great-quality daytime camera that allows you to keep an eye on your home and communicate with visitors when you're out and about.

What do you get in the box with the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight?

I liked the clean, simple packaging of the floodlight and was pleased with how few parts there were inside the box – a big relief for somebody who doesn't like putting tech products together! Inside, you'll find the weatherproof camera, the wall plate and fixings, the rechargeable battery, US and UK sockets and a charging cable.

There are some plastic inserts that I would have preferred to be cardboard, but the packaging is relatively minimal and doesn't feel OTT.

How easy is the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight to set up?

There are two parts to the set up process: physically fixing the floodlight to the outside of your house, and then installing the app and linking it to the device.

There's a short installation guide in the box, which is simple to follow. You use the wall plate to mark on and drill three holes into your chosen surface. You then tap in three wall plugs and use three screws to the secure the plate. The camera body clicks onto the wall mount and you're good to go. To remove the battery for charging, you simply slide a button on the underside of the camera and pull the battery out.

How easy is it to link to the Arlo Smart app?

It's really simple to link your device with the Arlo Smart app. You simply download the app, make sure you're connected to your wifi network and then create an account. Then press 'Add Device' and it will find your floodlight. 

Once the account has been created, you can log in and access it from a phone, tablet or desktop browser. You do need to keep the app updated to the latest version to get the most from it. As I said, I'm a bit of a technophobe and I found it all reassuringly simple.

Do you have to pay for the Arlo Smart app?

Not for the first three months. You get a complimentary Arlo Smart app trial with every new Arlo product, which lasts for three months. After that, there are four packages you can subscribe to, depending on the number of devices you have and the quality of video playback you need. 

All packages include 30-day playback, live video streaming and smart notifications, which are the bits we valued most. Prices start at $2.99 (£2.49) per month for a single camera with 2K video playback.

How good are the camera and talkback?

Honestly, the camera is amazing. When an alert comes through, it takes a few seconds for the live video to load onto the app and then the clarity is excellent. Thanks to the 2K HDR camera, you can tap and zoom in on objects, which is particularly helpful when you want to get a better look at visitors wearing face coverings.

The 160-degree view means you can see the entire front of our property, from the side passage to the end of the drive, which I find reassuring.

And the full colour night vision is brilliant. I was skeptical at how clear it would be, but you can even see the colour markings on our neighbour's cat when he takes his nightly tour of the trash.

I mentioned earlier that I've never got on with the talkback on our video doorbell. Luckily, the Arlo has such clear sound quality that we now use that instead. The sound is clear at both ends and it's easy to communicate with whoever is outside your house, as long as you're somewhere with an internet connection.

There's an intruder alarm that you can sound manually or set to come on automatically and when we tested it it was loud enough to make me jump – and I knew it was coming!

How bright is the floodlight?

If you're buying a security camera with a floodlight, then it stands to reason that you'll want the floodlight bit to function well. Arlo claims its floodlight is brighter than car headlights, thanks to up to 3,000 lumens of light, and it certainly illuminates the whole length of our drive. 

We have a fixed floodlight at the rear of the house, which I'd say is slightly brighter, but the Arlo is more than bright enough and makes me feel safe by lighting up a large area if I arrive home in the dark.

How long does the battery last?

Our battery ran down within the first month but it turned out my husband hadn't inserted in correctly, so it was entirely our fault. Arlo claims the battery lasts up to six months and we're now three months in with no sign of it needing charging. The app shows you the battery level so it will never run out unexpectedly.

To charge the battery, you simply press and button on the unit to release the battery and then plug it in using the charging cable provided. It's easy for us to access our camera as it's on a single-storey roof, but you would need to be going up and down quite tall ladders if you positioned it higher up.

There's an optional solar charger that you can purchase to charge the battery in situ, if you prefer.

How does the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight compare to other wireless security floodlights?

There are very few wire-free floodlight security cameras on the market. The Ring Floodlight Cam, which is a comparable price and quality, has to be wired into your home's mains electricity by a qualified electrician, which is the norm for this kind of camera.

The only real competitor is the Eufy Floodlight Camera, which has similar features and the advantage of no ongoing subscription costs. The Arlo has a 160-degree field of vision, compared to the Eufy's 140 degrees, but that's the only real difference. The brand isn't as well known as Arlo, and the camera is even less visually pleasing, but the Eufy comes in around $100 cheaper, so is well worth considering. The Arlo currently retails for $249.99 (£259).

How does the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight rate online?

We've scoured the internet for reviews and can't find a rating lower than four out of five stars for the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight, which is a glowing endorsement.

Sites ranging from Currys to Amazon are full of positive reviews from real customers. And the pros agree, too, with tech sites such as TechRadar and Cnet awarding the floodlight top marks.

If you're looking for a sound investment, then based on our experience and the reviews we've found, the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight is a pretty safe bet.

The verdict?

If you're looking for a hassle-free security system to protect your home, then you can't go far wrong with the Arlo Pro 3 Spotlight. It's wire-free design means it's easy to install pretty much anywhere, and the long battery life means you won't be worried about it running out of juice too often. We also like that you can purchase the solar panel charger or wire it into the mains, too.

The camera and sound quality are outstanding, the spotlight is bright and the alarm is loud enough to scare off any unwanted intruders. We also like the fact it's smart enough to differentiate between people, animals and cars so doesn't worry your unnecessarily.

In fact, the only potential negative we could find is its appearance. It's a bit space-age and wouldn't complement older properties well. Other than that, I feel reassured by its presence and the fact it delivers everything Arlo claims it will. Do I sleep better knowing it's there? Yes, definitely.

About this review and our reviewer

Laura Crombie is Brand Development Director in charge of the Real Homes brand. She has been writing about homes and interiors for the last 14 years and is a speaker on renovating and interior design at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows. Laura is currently DIY renovating her third home – a 1960s detached house in the West Midlands.

Laura's the resident presenter for Real Homes and has produced video buying guides on everything from coffee machines and cordless vacuums to mattresses and toasters. She's currently putting her recently renovated kitchen to good use by testing cookware and wine fridges.

Laura tested the Arlo Pro 3 Spotlight for three months, utilising all of its functions in daylight, at nighttime, when in the property and away from home. 

If there ever was a New Year that has had a lot of expectation attached to it, then this is it. We all need hope and positivity more than ever, while juggling home and family life and having to get up while it's still dark (it is January, after all). Anything that brings a little bit more joy and light into our everyday lives is hugely welcome right now, and smart lighting can help greatly to enhance the dark mornings and grey days. 

You may have heard about the Philips Hue smart lighting range, but did you know that this innovative lighting can actually transform your routine, making a whole host of activities from breakfast to homeschooling more fun. We explain how, in collaboration with John Lewis & Partners. 

1. Smart lights can help you wake up and concentrate

If you're having trouble waking up on dark winter mornings, there's a number of ways Philips Hue can help. Philips Hue White Ambiance and White and Colour Ambiance bulbs come with different modes for different activities – Energise, Concentrate, Read, and Relax. The Energise and Concentrate modes use the power of blue light to help you fully wake up and get ready for the day ahead. You can also pre-programme a routine using the Philips Hue app that will help you wake up – either gradually, or quickly if you prefer.  

2. Help the kids adjust to homeschooling routines

Without the consistency of work, school, and social outings, kids may struggle to concentrate on homework. You can help them by using the Concentrate light mode, as well as setting a routine that will turn on their favourite colour lights on when it's play time. 

3. Smart lighting can even help you separate work life from home life

If you're finding it difficult to keep track of time, with days slowly blurring into one, smart lights such as the Philips Hue Iris table lamp or the Bloom table lamp can help you create more definition to different parts of the day via the custom routine function of the app. You can set different mood lights for different sections of the day – which is especially helpful for people who have limited space available and are using the same room for work and relaxation. Lighting can transform the atmosphere of a space in an instant, and can help create a mental separation between work and home life. 

4. And it can give you a gentle nudge to eat away from your desk

One of the dangers of working from home is the tendency to sit more and move less – and eat your lunch while working at your desk. If your New Year's resolution is to walk more and not eat while working, Philips Hue can help by giving you a gentle reminder that it's time to get up from your workspace. Create timed reminders from the app, and the lights will do the rest!

5. Use the lights to relax and unwind in the evenings

The stress of lockdown life means that many of us are finding it harder to relax and doze off in the evenings. You can schedule a personalised routine using Hue Labs that will adjust the lighting to softer relaxation mode at the end of the day, signalling that it's time to switch off from work. The Read mode will help you gradually wind down with a book – and a warm white light that won't interfere with your ability to fall asleep.

You can also use the ‘Go to Sleep’ routine in the Hue app – your lights will slowly fade to ease you to sleep.

Find the Philips Hue range at John Lewis & Partners and benefit from a two-year guarantee on all the products. 

The home appliances dropped at this week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) prove we are actually living the future. These smart introductions will make your old refrigerator (and washing machine, dishwasher, etc.) look so 2020. The best part is, they will link right up to your other smart-home products for a streamlined experience. 

Don't delay, these five genius home appliances are available ASAP. 

Samsung Bespoke Refrigerator

High tech doesn't have to equal low style. Samsung's Bespoke Refrigerator, available in the U.S. this year, offers both in spades. Its new four-door Flex format sports sleek lines and a contemporary flat-panel silhouette with recessed handles for a minimal look. With modular formatting and eight fashionable color options (from classic black to navy and blush pink), you can truly make it your own.

Of course, there are the high-tech components you'd expect from Samsung, including a Beverage Center complete with an Auto-Fill water pitcher so you constantly have fresh, filtered water on hand. Perhaps the coolest feature (pun intended) is the Flex Zone, a compartment that can convert from fridge to freezer temperatures, depending on your family's needs. 

Cuzen Matcha

Tea lovers take note. You can now make fresh organic matcha at home with Cuzen Matcha.  Forget the old-fashioned (and messy) whisk. An aluminum chamber prevents oxidation of matcha leaves and holds enough for 20 drinks. 

The ceramic mill grinds tea leaves into a fine powder and controls the release of ground matcha for ideal whisking. Finally, a magnetic whisk rotates at a high speed, delivering a shot of fresh matcha for whatever delicious drink you can dream up. 

LG InstaView Range

Slated to release this year, the newest LG InstaView Range will seriously up your cooking game. First off, it's got smart attributes like easy viewing (as the name suggests), lit up by two quick knocks on the door. And, it can be preheated and monitored remotely via LG's ThinQ app. 

At-home chefs will be blown away by the oven's Air Sous Vide feature. Typically achieved through vacuum-sealed bags and water baths, this range offers the cooking technique with precise low temperatures and controlled air flow. Your quarantine cooking will never be the same. 

Coldsnap Ice Cream Maker

Slated for release later this year, Coldsnap offers an ice cream maker in a Keurig-like format. Single-use pods allow you to create any frozen treat you desire, from classic ice cream to frozen coffee, smoothies, and cocktails. Just insert the pod, and in 60-90 seconds, your treat is instantly dispensed. 

The best part? Coldsnap pods are shelf stable, which means they don't need to be refrigerated for shipping, resulting in a 25- to 50-percent drop in carbon emissions. 

Samsung 8800 Series Washer and Dryer

Never stress over laundry day again with the Samsung 8800 Series Smart Dial Front Load washer and dryer set. The new AI-powered pair has an innovative Smart Dial to learn your preferred cycles and settings, then prioritizes them for quick access. Plus, the powerful OptiWash feature detects load weight and uses an innovative Turbidiy Sensor to determine the ideal amount of water and detergent. 

And, power everything remotely through the SmartThings app to schedule washes, receive cycle notifications, and start or stop your machine.

If you thought COVID-19 would spell the death of the trade show, think again. Operating in a virtual online format, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has still managed to make a splash this year. That’s because the need for smart-home products and innovative solutions are especially important in this era of working (and schooling, socializing, and dining) from home. 

If you're trying to tackle an array of New Year's resolutions this January, let these smart-home updates take some work off of your plate. Meet the innovative tech that will streamline your house cleaning, meal prep, and even your bathroom routine. 

Samsung Bot Care and Bot Handy Robots

If you thought your Alexa was a good personal assistant, you've got to meet Samsung's newest robots. The BotCare tags along you, learning your habits and schedule to offer reminders throughout the day. 

Meanwhile, the BotHandy does what you wish the rest of the family would: cleans up. Its AI technology recognizes and picks up various objects around the house, and can even sort dishes after you're done eating. It has a tall, sleek body with a single arm that hinges so that its claw hand can help with household tasks — from doing the laundry to pouring you a glass of wine. 

Skoog: A Cube Full Of Curiosity

For parents who are juggling childcare with working from home, added screen time is unavoidable. Enter: Skoog. It offers a way for children to interact with Sesame Street content in a screen-free way. A squeezable cube offers multi-sensory play from stories to musical sing-a-longs, characters, and stimulating brain games.

Parents just connect it to Bluetooth, insert a Wonder Dot, and let their little ones play. The platform is designed for children age three and up, and will grow along with them as they age. 

Moen Smart Faucet

"Hey Alexa, ask Moen to fill my coffee pot." That's just one of the things you can tell this voice-activated smart faucet. It can deliver precise measurements (like 2 Tbsp) and exact temperatures to make meal prep a breeze. You can also set up customizable settings and personalized commands to make everyday tasks a little easier. 

Envision the perfect hand-washing temperature and duration, the ideal baby bottle, and the exact amount of water to hydrate your plant children. Just tell Moen what to do with your voice, hand motion, or via the Moen Network App. Or, yes, there's an old-school handle too. 

Roborock S7 Cleaner

Roborock just upped the ante on robot vacuums. Its innovative S7 model vacuums and mops, and it can tell the difference between hard flooring and carpet. It transitions smoothly over surfaces to deliver an effective cleaning session with no interruptions. 

Its VibraRise technology lifts the mop when carpets are detected, and stays lifted as the S7 returns to its dock, ensuring your just-cleaned floors stay clean. The best part? Control it all hands-free via a smartphone app. 

Toto Wellness Toilet

Health junkies take note: Your un-smart toilet is flushing valuable information down the drain. Toto's latest concept, the wellness toilet, analyzes user's "key outputs" to make suggestions on ways to improve health and diet. The idea is still in early stages, but should be on the market in the next few years.

In the meantime, the company just released new models of its Washlet models, which feature Toto's EWater Plus to automatically clean the bidet wand inside and out after each use. 

Unwrapped an Amazon Alexa device in your stocking this year? Here are the best things to ask Alexa – whether you need help drifting off to sleep, or you want to catch up on the latest news. If you live alone, these commands will be sure to brighten your day, too! They'll make your life easier – kids or not! - and soon you'll wonder how you ever survived without having an Alexa (or seven) in your home. The things you can ask this voice assistant are endless...

Don't (yet) own an Echo device? See our best Alexa speakers guide for more top recommendations. 

1. "Alexa, turn on iRobot"

Should you be lucky enough to own a robot vacuum cleaner – not just an iRobot one (we have a Eufy model) – then you can use your Alexa device to clean your home. You won't even have to move from the sofa.

2. "Alexa, open sleep sounds"

We use this all of the time to help us fall asleep! You'll need to enable it in your Alexa app, but you can use it to play thunderstorm noises, office noises, rainforest sounds – you get the jist.

• Not sure you're sold on Alexa? Take a look at our guide to the best smart speakers for more choices

3. "Alexa, start a 30 minute timer for roast potatoes"

You can use Alexa in your kitchen (or anywhere else for that matter) to set multiple timers to help with cooking. You can name your times so you don't get confused, too. A great helping hand. 

4. "Alexa, play Capital Radio"

Another hit favourite of mine, using Alexa to play the radio while working or doing chores is a smart idea. You can even ask her to play it on all of your Echo devices, so that if you are moving from room to room, you can still hear it.

5. " Alexa, remind me I have a dentist appointment on January 4th"

Instead of referring to your calendar constantly, why not use your Alexa device to remind you of important dates, appointments and more? Zero paper waste, and 

6. "Alexa, play song quiz"

This one's a fun one if you live alone (or you've had a few too many proseccos with your friends). You'll play against a random player from anywhere in the world, battling to be the first to guess the name of the song played. It gets competitive...

7. "Alexa, add kitchen roll to my shopping list"

Another handy way to use your new Alexa device is to add to your shopping list. So, if you are sat on your sofa watching TV and suddenly remember you are out of bin bags, you needn't get up to find your pen and paper to make a note. Then, before you head to Sainsbury's, just say "Alexa, tell me my shopping list". You can even see this in your phone while you are actually in store.

8. "Alexa, remind me to put the bins out every Tuesday evening at eight o'clock"

Not even ashamed to say that I use this one! Because is there anything more annoying than missing bin day? This way you'll always be reminded the night before. No excuses...

9. "Alexa, show me a recipe for lasagna"

If you have an Alexa which boasts a screen – Echo Show 5, Echo Show 8 etc – then you can use your smart speaker to see recipes. Time to donate all of your recipe books to the charity shop...

10. "Alexa, turn on bedroom light"

If you have smart lighting in your home, then you should be able to control your ligh bulbs with your voice via Alexa. No more arguments about who gets up to turn the light off once you are tucked up in bed...

11. "Alexa, what's the date?"

Times are hard right now, and all of the days seem to be rolling into one. So, if you sometimes forget what day it us (us too!) then just ask your Alexa. No judgement, too...

12. "Alexa, how do you say 'hello' in Spanish?"

Yes, you can use your Alexa device for translation purposes. Much easier than going on your phone to Google Translate! And you never know when you'll need it.

13. "Alexa, how many sleeps until Christmas?"

One for the kids, this ought to get them excited! Encourage them to ask Alexa this question every day – December or not!

14. "Alexa, announce that dinner is ready"

If you have Alexa devices dotted around your home, especially in the kids' rooms, then this will make your life easier when you want to tell everyone in the house something. Like dinner is ready, time to wake up for school, come and help clean up...

15. "Alexa, open relax my dog"

Puppy owner? This works a treat (see what we did there?). It plays a soothing noise to calm your pup down, ready for naptime.

16. "Alexa, call Santa"

17. "Alexa, open daily affirmation"

18. "Alexa, start my day"

You can set up a daily routine on your Alexa app so that when you say "Alexa, good morning" she will tell you things in order. For example, the weather, the traffic on your route to work, breaking news headlines, calendar appointments... Wake up on the right side of the bed!

19. "Alexa, add 'clean washing machine' to my to do list"

A handy way to create a to-do list without actually putting pen to paper, when you think of something that needs to be done, just shout to your Alexa to add it to your to-do list. Whether that's to clean the hamster's cage, to put on a wash load or to order something online.

20. "Alexa, show my Facebook photos"

A new feature for Alexa devices that boast a screen, you can now connect your Alexa to your facebook to show a reel of photos from this social media platform. Kinda like those automatic photo frames everyone wanted years and years ago. But a bit cooler...

21. "Alexa, what's on TV tonight?"

Not got your TV guide to hand? Can't be bothered to find the remote to check yourself? Ask your Alexa whats on tele to see if anything is worth switching channel for.

22. "Alexa, how's the traffic on Church Road?"

If you are just about to leave home to go somewhere, then why not double-check the traffic before you head off? Just ask Alexa as you are going out of your front door.

23. "Alexa, read me a bedtime story"

One for the kids, when you've had a really tough day and are dreaming of your bed, you can ask your good friend Alexa to read the kids a story. They can even choose it! Amazing...

24. "Alexa, order me some coffee beans"

Prime member? If you've run out of cupboard staples then you can ask your Alexa to re-order them. No need to head to your supermarket and queue! Or wear a mask... 

25. "Alexa, turn on the TV"

Possibly one of our favourite Alexa commands, if you have a Fire TV Stick, you can ask Alexa to turn on your TV. And, Fire TV Sticks come with remote controls that have Alexa built-in, too. So you can talk to your remote to turn of your lights. 

Can I tell you a secret? Between the two of us, I've never been the gardening type. Sure, this might be a geography thing, and you can blame it on my location: I live in New York City and do not actually have a backyard where I could grow full-fledged greenery, or maybe it is not.

Perhaps this is a 'me' thing, and the likelihood of me taking up garden design or gardening (or smart gardens) becoming my new favorite hobby is a personal problem, and I'll never get into it. Now, no matter which way you spin it: it is what it is with no likelihood of you changing that — or at least, this was the case pre-pandemic.

After spending one-too-many months locked away in my tiny apartment, I tried everything; from cleaning to journaling, to even reliving my childhood Sims obsession (Anyone else out there, start to love that computer game again, too?), I had done it all. However, the one thing I did not try: gardening. 

Yes, that's right: Somewhere around mid-April, I not only was ready to give in to the hobby I once swore I'd never get into. And to make matters worse, I even tweeted about it, so now my friends were not only laughing, but ready to hold me accountable for it. (Was I crazy? Probably? Yes? Unclear.) 

And how did it go? 

Long story short: After many (many) months dedicated to my small indoor garden, I, of course – as many of you suspected – had no luck. No matter how much Miracle-Grow, sunlight, or water I gave to my tiny plants, day in and day out, there was no success, and that is when it hit me.

Maybe it wasn't my fault, but the garden's fault. 

The girl who killed a cactus couldn't kill this smart garden: 

Now, stay with me here: I am not blaming the garden for not growing, but what I am saying is that the gardening kit I selected might not have aligned with my current living arrangement, and in that case, it is back to the drawing board! 

I need a gardening kit that allows plants to grow and prosper but can do so with limited sunlight (due to my apartment's exact locations), and that was when I heard of this ēdn SmallGarden. 

Now, what did I love about this smart garden? It completely reimagined what I thought the gardening experience entailed. This garden paired technology with nature. It catered to all types of people looking to add a bit of green to their home (AKA me), was designed for individuals who had an eye for chic yet functional products (Again, also me), plus worked with even the lowest level of expertise. 

Going to go out on a limb here: I think I hit the jackpot with this smart garden, and boy, was I right! 

Here, this wi-fi powered garden was not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye but made an exceptional home décor piece — and it is also the first 'true' smart garden to exist. It delivers the optimal light and nutrients your plants need to grow and thrive. And speaking of plants, you can grow anything from tomato to basil, and do so from the comfort of your own home.

Plus, the only thing better than that? For anyone who's looking to continue this gardening hobby post-COVID, you're in luck. Garden enthusiasts will never have to worry about how their plants are doing when they're not home because ēdn offers iOS technology. 

All you have to do is pair your smartphone or any electric device up to the app, and you can seamlessly manage the lighting schedule, see garden alerts, and get detailed guidance on how to improve the growth of your plant. You can even take it to the next level: from seed to harvest.  

So, if you're looking to give your green thumb another try, now is a perfect time! 

With the cold-weather season in full swing and nowhere to go (with or without stay-at-home orders in place), all you have to do is set this smart garden up in any room of your house and watch this little miracle worker grow.

Oh, and if you're anything like me and this is the second chance at perfecting your green thumb — and, who would have ever thought I'd write that sentence (not me!) –  add the ēdn SmallGarden to your shopping cart, and let's all give it a go!

Want more? Check out these additional smart gardens below: 

Still, want more? Don't forget to check out these additional smart garden suggestions, too:

• AeroGarden Harvest Elite - Stainless Steel
• GrowLED LED Height Adjustable,10-Pod Indoor Garden Germination Kit
• Klarstein GrowIt Flex, Smart Indoor Garden

Smart thermostats are making headlines as an energy-saving home product now officially recommended for use by European governments. In a bid to meet its carbon emission goals, the EU is rolling out a number of subsidies to support the installation and use of these smart devices. 

• One of the easiest ways to save money on your energy bill is by switching energy suppliers; use our energy comparison tool to help find the best deal for your home

In European households, heating and hot water alone account for 79 per cent of the total final energy use, so it makes sense to make those areas of domestic energy consumption more efficient. In the UK, people in certain groups (e.g. Pension or Universal Credit, income support, and other benefits) can get support with the installation of energy-efficient measures including smart thermostats under the Energy Company Obligation scheme.

Elsewhere in Europe, various initiatives came into effect in the last year or are already in the planning. In the Netherlands owners and occupants of a home can apply for a €120 subsidy for smart thermostats if they have implemented and paid for two energy-saving measures. In addition, the amended Dutch 2012 Building Decree requires self-regulating equipment that can regulate the temperature per room or zone like a smart thermostat when the heating system is replaced.

In Belgium there are eco vouchers given out to employees, and in Ireland homeowners can apply for the €700 Heating Controls Grant to upgrade their heating system. Germany makes buying smart thermostats more attractive by giving homeowners a tax deduction and offering different subsidies like the state-owned development bank KfW programs to improve the heating system. 

In July 2020, the French government introduced the “coup de pouce” which gives a €150 discount for homeowners when having a smart thermostat professionally installed. In Italy the consumer gets a 65% tax deduction with the 'Ecobonus' incentive when a smart thermostat is purchased with a condensing boiler.

Christian Deilmann CPA of tado°, comments:

'It is a very positive development that politicians have recognised the value of smart thermostats as a cost-effective alternative to save energy. In contrast to the usual energy-efficient renovation measures, such as facade insulation, intelligent heating control does not require a high initial investment, saves up to 31 per cent in energy costs, and pays for itself after one to two years. We are really looking forward to seeing further countries apply similar subsidy measures in order to reduce energy consumption significantly.'

Obviously, the introduction and subsidy of smart thermostats is good news. Smart thermostats are great for people who are heavy smartphone users (that's a great many of us), and they have features people may not know about that can indeed help save you money.

For example, the tado° Geofencing feature ensures that the heating is only on when somebody is actually home, while the thermostat also turns down the heating to save energy when windows are open and adapts to the weather for maximum efficiency. Some smart thermostats can turn on the heating automatically as you're approaching home, and/or remember your heating preferences so you don't even need to remember to adjust anything.

So far, so good. The feature we're most interested in, though, is multi-room heating control. Particularly in larger homes, there can often be an issue with heating rooms that aren't in use, or are in use only part of the day. Always remembering to turn on and off individual radiators is a chore most of us forget to do. and it's in this area that the smart thermostat can excel – but that feature comes at an extra cost. To benefit from multi-room heating control you'd need to install individual thermostatic valves onto your radiators, and these can cost anywhere between £20-£50. If you have quite a few, that's potentially a large initial spend in addition to the thermostat itself.

Moreover, the savings figure that's often given, of around 30 per cent, is typically based on someone who tends to leave their heating on all day. If you already use a timer on your boiler or always remember to switch off the heating, a smart thermostat in and of itself won't necessarily save you money.

Our verdict? If you live in a larger property that you plan to stay in for a good number of years, a smart thermostat is a very good thing, especially if you also invest in the individual thermostatic valves for individual rooms. If you're in a small flat and plan on moving soon? We'd hold off getting one for now – just use the timer on your boiler/your normal thermostat instead.

We're big fans of smart Christmas lights because they're jazzy, reliable and let us do what we do best at Christmas time: relax. Relying on nothing but the word "Alexa" from the comfort of your sofa, smart lighting will light up your life in more ways than one. 

So, if you're currently in the process of updating your festive decorations, smart lighting is definitely a worthy investment to add to the list. Give your place a spot of pizzazz and transform your pad into a tech savvy space of festive fun. There's no easier way to change the ambiance of a room than with lighting and there's a reason for the saying "light up like a Christmas tree" ('cos Christmas lights reign supreme... duh). 

We've got loads more Christmas decorating ideas too, so check them out when you get a chance! 

1. Festive lights perfect for your Christmas tree

2. Magically multi-coloured fairy lights

3. Versatile bedroom lights for festive feels 

4. A spectrum of colours from Aldi 

5. A smart plug to transform any lights into smart lighting

Read more: 

• How to hang Christmas lights: tips for both indoors and outdoors
• Best smart bulbs: enhanced home lighting and security

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:

Want to enhance your home security? We've reviewed the Ezviz C3N Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Colour Night Vision Camera which could be just what you have been looking for.

I’ve been testing this outdoor home security camera, along with several other models in the range, for the past month to help you choose the best home security solution for you and your family. The main criteria I’ve been looking out for is how it looks, how it works and other factors to consider when it is in use.

Keep scrolling to read the full review to see if this is the outdoor home security camera for you, but if you want to see more great options check out our best home security system guide for more top security cameras, for the best prices.

JUST LAUNCHED: Ezviz C3X Dual-Lens Colour Night Vision Security Camera| £153 at AO
The Ezviz C3X has the same look and feel to the Ezviz C3N, apart from one standout point: the Dual-Lens. With this set up, the C3X produces colour video in extremely dark environments (lab test result: 0.005 lux condition), without turning on the spotlight. It is claimed that users will see authentic details in night time images, such as the colour of clothes and cars which can often be a missed detail in lesser quality footage. 

How it works? The two lens work in harmony – one lens records the ambient brightness and the other captures colour information – which are then merged using EZVIZ’s own proprietary algorithm.

Ezviz C3N Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Colour Night Vision Camera specifications

• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Connectivity: WiFi 2.4GHz / Wire (Ethernet)
• Waterproof: IP66
• Compatibility: Amazon Screen and Google Home 
• Smart Features: Smart Motion Detection
• Special Mode: Sleep Mode
• Storage options: EZVIZ cloud service; microSD card(Max 256G)
• Required power outlet: DC 100-120V

Installing the Ezviz C3N Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Colour Night Vision Camera 

To test the Ezviz C3N I set it up round the back of our house directed towards the guinea pig hutch. I thought that this would provide us with some good motion detection (amongst other things) so, bless them, they were in the spotlight again.

Once I had unpackaged the camera from the compact yet adequate box, I connected it up to the (included) power adaptor so I could switch it on and connect it up to the Wi-Fi. It’s from here on in that you’ll need to make sure that the security camera and you smart device is connected to a strong Wi-Fi network because it is within this zone that the camera will need to stay so you can use it as intended.

If you don't have the Ezviz app already installed on your device, it's at this stage that you're promoted to download it. Just follow the registration process - allowing access to your camera phone – and you'll be set up in no time. During the registration process you can opt to have notifications sent to you as an alert and subscribe to CloudPlay storage (free for the first 23-day days, then a fee from £2.99 will be incurred depending on your choice of plan).

How easy is the Ezviz C3N Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Colour Night Vision Camera to use?

The installation was the most trickiest part of getting the security camera working so once you've sorted that, it's pretty much plane sailing from here-on-in.

From the app you can take photos of the footage, pan a 360 degree shot, flick between resolutions (HDR, HD or high res) and see up to four cameras live on a split screen. It’s from this rather fab app that you can set push notifications, too. You can even choose which Night Vision Mode you would prefer; Colour Night Vision, Black/White Night Vision or Smart Night Vision. I opted for Smart Night Vision which is Black / White by default, then switches to colour when motion is detected.

I couldn't fault the image quality. The colour and image definition, night and day, is spot on. And the audio is pretty sound, too.

However...

Being at the back of the house is a vacuum for Wi-Fi signal – the joys of living in a Victorian terrace – so the signal kept dropping out. This caused a lag in the footage when watching live AND when I selected the Smart Night Vision setting, thinking / hoping it would control the light, it stayed on for 15 - 20 minutes. I turned off the camera after this time because the light was shinning bright into the guinea pigs hutch and towards our neighbours.

The only installation options are to have it mounted onto a wall or ceiling. You can then opt to have the approx 3 metre long cable running through the house to a mains socket, or hard wire it in. It is pretty invasive, more so than a wireless camera, BUT it is very affordable for what it is so depends on what you are looking for with a home security camera.

Anything else?

Something which is very cool about this camera is the AI Human Detection. It has built-in deep learning model which detects the motion of person and vehicle shapes in real-time. This means that false alerts will be reduced for more accurate readings, although other reviews have claimed that moths have triggered notifications (more on this shortly!)

The app also gives you the ability to draw zones so you can decide whether you want to keep people, cars, or both out of the area you're surveillancing. Upon detection of objects of interest, the camera will issue a loud siren and flash the strobe light to drive intruders away. I must say that I didn't actually test this, given the cameras set up and close proximity to neighbours, but it is a feature which I feel would be very appealing to houses with a little more land around them.

How does the Ezviz C3N Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Colour Night Vision Camera rate online?

Looking at the camera on Amazon – where it's new in – it has received just one five out of five star review with no comment, but I guess that says enough about it if you're seriously looking into buying it.

Is the Ezviz C3N Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Colour Night Vision Camera worth buying?

If you can get over the hurdle of Wi-Fi drop outs, or you have strong Wi-Fi, then I can absolutely recommend this security camera. It's an incredible piece of kit which can be used on it's own, or alongside other security cameras in the range, for total piece of mind. It's very affordable for what it is, too.

More cameras in the Ezviz range we've reviewed:

• Read our Ezviz C6N Indoor Wi-Fi Home Security Camera review if you're serious about monitoring your home
• For another outdoor cam option, read our Ezviz C4W Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Home Security Camera review
• Or for a battery-powered camera, read our Ezviz Battery Cam review

If you’re thinking about whether to get a Ring Video Doorbell, you’re probably wondering, ‘but what are video doorbells really for’? What are the ways a video doorbell can make your everyday life better, and is it worth you getting one?

The answer is a resounding ‘yes’ from us – and they’re great at more than just deterring burglars. While a Ring Video Doorbell is an excellent way to enhance your home security – in fact, the latest Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has won an award for that – there’s so much more to this clever device that can make your daily routine smoother and less hectic, as well as providing lots of amusement if you enjoy watching your pets’ shenanigans when they’re outside. Read on to discover the top five ways a Ring Video Doorbell will make your life easier and better.

1. Ring Video Doorbells are great for communicating with delivery people

This is one of the best things about Ring – it lets you have a conversation with people at your door even when you’re out. This is so useful for deliveries, especially when your delivery slot falls on your lunch hour and you’re not around to answer the door. Also, if you’re in a meeting and can’t sign for a delivery, you can quickly ask the delivery person to leave your parcel on the front porch instead, using the Two-Way Talk feature.

2. They’re an easy way to communicate with a family member out in the garden

Making lunch while your kids are playing in the garden? A video doorbell lets you keep an eye on them without having to stop what you’re doing. And when you’re done, you can easily summon them to the dinner table. 

3. Video doorbells are great for handling unexpected visits.

Whether it’s a friend who decided to pop by or a neighbour returning something, video doorbells are great for when people turn up unexpectedly (yes, it does still happen, even in the age of mobile phones). The visitor can then either leave a message or talk to you directly – it’s always good to have more flexibility in how you can speak to family and friends. 

4. They can save the day when your schedule’s gone awry

If you’re doing the school run and get stuck in a traffic jam, you don’t need to worry about the maths tutor/yoga instructor who has already arrived at the door: you can just let them know you’ll be there in a few minutes. 

5. Video Doorbells are an excellent way to see what your pet is doing in the garden

This is probably our favourite – and most amusing – way to use Ring: to find out just what it is your naughty cat gets up to in the front garden. Equally, if you keep finding that some hungry animal keeps nibbling at your raspberry bushes, you can find the culprit. And even if you’re not bothered by wildlife coming into your garden and just want the opportunity to watch, Ring will give you plenty of opportunities to get a glimpse of animals that normally avoid humans.

See, hear and speak to whoever is at your door, from wherever you are with a Ring Video Doorbell.

Find out more at Ring.com.

Looking for an honest Amazon Blink XT2 home security camera review? It's getting cheaper and easier to keep a closer eye on your home, from any location, thanks to the best home security systems. And now tech giants, Amazon, have released their own answer to home security in the form of the Amazon Blink home security camera. But is it worth the hype?

Jason Orme, homes, construction and interiors expert and writer has been testing their system for the best part of a year; here’s what he thought.

Installing the Blink home security camera

I set up a four-camera system on a relatively large detached house. The Sync module is the heart of the system and needs to be connected into a wall socket, where it picks up the home Wi-Fi network. Once initialised (it took less than a couple of minutes) you can start adding cameras. I chose my locations (two inside, two outside, for which I used the weatherproof XT cameras which come complete with night vision) and set them up one at a time. 

Again, the simple four-step process took less than five minutes. You can mechanically fix the cameras to the wall (best for external cameras) but we found internal cameras were best left completely unfixed, so they could move around as required. All in all, within 30 minutes all four cameras were set up.

Blink’s system runs off a simple app, and once installed and logged in, it allows me to see all four cameras in a single view.

How easy is the Blink home security camera to use?

Once set up, the individual HD cameras can be armed or disarmed with a simple slide button from the app. If an armed camera detects movement, it sends a notification to the user’s phone, and records the relevant snippet for immediate viewing. 

As the app develops and becomes more sophisticated, it allows you to control variables such as sensitivity to movement, which would be perfect for families with pets who don’t want to be informed every time the dog moves. 

There are two main ways in which we have found the Blink system useful. Firstly, to give us peace of mind while away from the house for any length of time (no notification, no problem). More relevantly for us, it has allowed us to check in on the house if we’re away – Blink is a perfect solution for families looking to be able to keep an eye on the dog while at work, or the teenager while away for the weekend. 

Is the Blink good value for money?

The system offers exceptional value for money compared to the more traditional security set ups, and compares favourably to the other brands, offering similar wire-free installations.

What else should you know about the Blink home security camera?

The external cameras are great, but need to be discreetly placed (as they are clearly a bit of a flight risk if spotted by passers-by) and they also need to operate within the confines of the home’s Wi-Fi range. This limits the options for external positioning, although we found no problem placing them on the front and side of the house.

The battery life is a real plus point for these cameras. A set of two AA batteries will need replacing on average every two years – brilliant efficiency considering the benefits over hard-wiring.

If they’re not fixed, the internal cameras can easily get moved or knocked and put out of position. So best to hide them away from the high traffic areas of the house.

Is the Blink home security camera worth buying?

The whole system, from set up to the use through the app is brilliantly simple and easy to operate. It has become a useful part of our lives – not just in terms of giving video protection of the home in our absence, but for ensuring that grandparents really are looking after the children in the way they claim…

It would be very difficult to find a better value, simple to install and use system elsewhere on the market.

Looking for more smart home advice?

• Best video doorbells 
• Best security cameras
• Best security lights
• Or read our Ring Spotlight Cam review for another option

If you want to make your home a smart home then you've come to the right place for some inspiration. With us spending more time at home as the nights draw in and the heating becoming more in demand, some tech which can lend a hand in helping you feel more comfortable could be a welcomed relief.

Whether you're looking for a smart thermostat, smart cleaning products, smart doorbells and even smart smoke alarms, we have them all here. And with Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday on the horizon, now has never been a better time to keep a look out for some smart tech deals. 

Keep scrolling to see our top buys then, check out our best home security system guide to make your home more smart AND more secure. 

1. Robot vacuum cleaners

Want to have a tidy home but don’t want to spend all of your spare time vacuuming to keep your floors clean? A robot vacuum cleaner is the perfect way to automate the cleaning regime in your home.

If you currently use a manual vacuum cleaner, the iRobot Roomba 980 will change the way you spruce up your home. It’s an expensive piece of kit – you can buy cheaper robot vacuum cleaners, mind you – but this is one of the top products on the market that will give you some of the best quality cleaning as well as working efficiently.

The cleaner works well on floorboards, tiles and other flat flooring, but the Roomba 980 is particularly impressive when it comes to carpets. The vacuum cleaner automatically senses the type of flooring it’s cleaning and it switches to its high gear mode to give a more powerful clean on carpets and rugs.

The iRobot Room 980 will also map your home to ensure it cleans in an efficient way to make the most of the battery. You can even schedule it to clean when you’re out of the house so you won’t even need to remember to turn the cleaner on.

• Best robot vacuum cleaners: top 5 robot cleaners to help around the home

2. Smart video doorbell

Why would you ever need a video doorbell? Once you’ve got one, you won’t know how you had things delivered to your house without one. It essentially acts as a way to see who arrives at your front door, whether it’s friends, family, complete strangers or the postman.

The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus features a 1080p camera and two-way audio, so once the visitor has rung your bell you’ll have a notification through to your phone and you can speak through to the app to see what they want.

If it’s a delivery driver, you can then have a chat to make sure they put it in a safe spot or you can ask questions about the delivery. It’s a great idea to keep an eye on who’s visiting your house, and if you want to receive notifications when even motion is detected then the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus can amazingly do that, too.

Plus, you won’t need to wire this into your home. Some video doorbells need to be wired into your front door, but this one runs on a battery so you can connect it to your phone and internet, set it up at your front door and use it with ease. Being a 'Plus' itself means that it has a four second video preview pre-roll feature, which eliminates another gripe of the long-term wireless security consumer.

• Best video doorbell: 6 smart doorbells to boost your home security

3. Smart smoke alarm

It’s well worth investing in a smart smoke detector so you can be sure your home is safe while you’re away. We’ve chosen one of the most expensive devices, which is a top-quality product and gives you some real peace of mind.

The Nest Protect will keep an eye on smoke in your home as well as carbon monoxide. Unlike your normal smoke detector, it will connect to the internet and give you a notification if there’s an issue as well as sounding an alarm in your home. That means you can know if there’s an issue even when you’re on the other side of the world.

There’s an LED ring around the bottom of the alarm which will also give you a visual sign it has been triggered, especially useful for those who are hard of hearing. If you’ve got smart lighting, you can also set this up so the lights in your room turn on if you’re worried an alarm won’t wake you up.

4. Smart security camera

Much like the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus, the Ring Spotlight will allow you to monitor who is coming and going from your home but rather than on your front door, you can place this wherever you want inside to give you peace of mind that your property is secure. This is especially useful when you’re away from the home for long periods of time.

It comes as a wired or battery-powered camera which will deter how you set it up, but either way is not tricky. The Ring app is all you need to be able to control it which is very intuitive and takes around five minutes to set up. It can sync to all your other Ring devices so you can access, and control, them all on one nifty dashboard.

There’s also two-way audio, so you can have a conversation when you spot someone has just got home. You’ll especially find this useful if you have children coming home from school so you can make sure they got back safely without having to pester them every day.

• Best security cameras: 7 home camera buys for the home and garden

5. Smart thermostat

There’s nothing worse than returning to a freezing cold home during winter, and the Nest Learning Thermostat is perfectly suited to fix that problem. You’ll have to have this installed in your home by an engineer, which can mean it’ll take a while, but it’s well worth it if you want to have smart heating and save money on your bills.

The Nest Learning Thermostat will learn how your home is heated at different times of day and year so you won’t be needlessly heating up the house during times of day when you’re not home, but it’ll also be nicely warmed up for your return home.

If you set up the mobile app, you’ll be able to change the temperature yourself but our favourite feature is it can track your GPS location. It means if you often have the thermostat on from 6pm on a Thursday night, but you decide to head out for dinner instead of heading home, it’ll know you’re not on your way back so it won’t turn on the heating.

The Nest Learning Thermostat is fiddly to set up, but it should help you save money on your heating bill and make warming up your home easier than ever.

• Best smart thermostat: save energy and money in 2020

Read more:

• Best smart lightbulbs
• Best pet cameras
• 10 reasons why you need a smart assistant

We love a competition at Real Homes, so we like to keep them coming thick and fast. This week we have teamed up with Triton, makers of some of the sleekest showers around, to give you the chance to win one of three super-stylish digital mixer showers, worth £400 each.

How do you enter, we hear you shout? Easy peasy just keep scrolling to learn more about this fab prize and fill in the entry form. And if you are after loads of bathroom ideas to help inspire a revamp, just check out our full feature, too. 

So what exactly is a digital shower mixer? Well, it's a wireless shower controller, so you are free to place it wherever you like on your wall. So from a design perspective, it's perfect, no pipes and no wires on show. But as well as looking really chic and seamless, it also makes for a glorious shower experience. There are three customisable presets with six temperatures and 10 flow increments, so you just touch a button for your perfect temperature and pressure.

Oh, and our favourite part, you can control the shower from outside the room – even from your bed, if you like. There's a start/stop control with warm-up feature, too, perfect for chilly winter mornings when you want to go from bed, straight to a warm shower.

We are giving three of these fab showers away, so even more winners this week! Just enter your answer and details in the form below to be in with a chance of winning. Good luck!

Read more:

• How to choose the best shower for your bathroom
• Modern bathroom ideas: 20 looks for a gorgeous contemporary design
• 16 bathroom tile ideas – stunning ways to jazz up your bathroom
  

Yale Home Security systems have been around for years. We're talking 180 years of making you feel safer in your homes. Since they began there's been a lot of development, especially smart security more recently, which has meant that these types of products have become more accessible for us as our knowledge about them continues to evolve. And that's all credit to Yale who have, by the way, just snapped up the Best Smart Home Product in the Real Homes awards.

• Check out the best home security systems in our guide, plus more buying tips, too

A report released just last year by Park Associates (U.S.) shared that 47 per cent of those intending to purchase a home security system, prefer a system with remote access, status, and control available from a smartphone. This figure not only confirms the needs and wants of households, but also indicates the future direction of home security systems.

Since attending a (virtual) event earlier this month, we were keen to catch up with Yale about their home security products, how they could help you and I feel more secure in our home and what they're working on for 2020/21. Good timing, really, because one of our themes this month has been security so we thought that it would be rather apt to get behind these guys, and some other big-named brands, to delve a little deeper into the spec behind their products.

Keep scrolling for some top home security insight from a top specialist – plus some new product launch info (you're the first to hear it!) and today's top deals.

Home security system advice from Yale

Duncan Chamberlain, MD at Yale UK, shares some insight in our Q&A session:

1. Why should households enhance their home security?

Enhancing home security can not only save the homeowner from the emotional impact but also the financial impact of being burgled. Security is about freedom and peace of mind, with enhanced security consumers can go about their daily life, not worrying if their home is secure. 

It’s important to consider all aspects of the home which could come under attack and the additional security required to create a multi-layered security system, such as safes, bike locks, padlocks or 3-star cylinders. When contemplating home security, also consider insurance standards, installing British Standard locks for example, can help to comply with home insurance policy terms and conditions

2.  What is the first thing you should consider, if you want to enhance your home security? 

A good place to start is knowing you have all the basic security measures in place. For example, are your door locks kitemarked, do the window locks work, are any gates securely locked and is there a weatherproof padlock on your shed. It’s surprising how many people don’t have any security measures in place. 

Introducing smart security products into the home is an effective way to enhance home security and make your daily routines more convenient.  For example, when using the Yale Sync Alarm and Yale Conexis L1, the Sync Alarm will automatically disarm when the Conexis L1 is unlocked, when used in conjunction with a sync module. You can also check and change the status of your alarm, or part arm your alarm all via your smartphone. These products also work with Yale partners, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

3.  How can Yale help to boost home security? 

Yale offers something for all security needs, whether it be a fully integrated smart security system with smart alarm, camera and smart door lock, or a more traditional padlock for a shed, a safe for your valuables or bike lock for your weekend bike ride, our products are designed to make sure homes and possessions are kept secure.  

As a brand, they have 180 years of expertise in locks and security. Through supporting campaigns, such as the annual National Home Security Month campaign which runs throughout October and a dedicated customer support team, Yale aim to help provide consumers with advice, product information and security knowledge. 

Their security products, also, have proven industry standards, as defined by the BSI (British Standards Institute). Conexis L1 was the first digital lock to achieve the BSI standard for locally connected smart door locks, providing added reassurance for homeowners.  

4.  I’m on a tight budget. What is the best Yale product for me and how could it help? 

If you’re after a smart product I would suggest the Yale All-in-One Camera, as it combines a high definition camera, motion detection, a siren and a built-in spotlight all in one. The camera is multi-purpose as it is suitable for indoor use and, with its IP65 rating, is suitable for outdoor use, too.  

For those not necessarily looking for smart security then upgrading your door lock by replacing your cylinder is a simple yet invaluable security enhancement. Ideally you should replace cylinders with a 3-star cylinder, to help protect against the most common forms of attack such as picking, drilling and snapping. Plus, it’s a really easy DIY job, with lots of online ‘how to’ guides that can help.  

5.  What is the best Yale product or feature (in your opinion) and why? 

There has been a lot of development around smart security products at Yale over the past couple of years and I think one of the best features of all the smart products is the ability to create an ecosystem. 

The Yale Smart Locks, Home Alarms, Outdoor and Indoor cameras all work as standalone products or you can connect them all with each other and our trusted partners to create a smart ecosystem. The products are designed to fit into your home and life, making your lifestyle easier without noticing them. They even work with voice assistants Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant so they can be controlled using just your voice, and the Sync Smart Home Alarm integrates with Philips Hue which means that lights around the home flash red when the alarm sounds.  

6.  And finally, which new Yale products or features should I look out for in 2020/21 and why? 

We’re excited to be launching a new smart lock to the range in 2020, the Linus allows its users to lock and unlock their door – no matter where they are. The new lock has a very clever functionality which lets you automatically unlock the door when returning home with its geo-location function. Plus, it uses door sense technology so no matter where you are in the world you can check on the status of your door and be reassured that it’s completely locked. These are new functionalities which will be extremely useful to homeowners, as well as helping to protect their homes. 

We have also updated our range of Wi-Fi cameras. The range includes a new pan and tilt indoor Wi-Fi camera which tracks movement in a room, and you can view content on your smartphone, so there is little that can be missed whilst you’re away. Other improvements include increased night vision across the range of Wi-Fi cameras, so even in the dark you can see up to 10 metres.

We do have another smart lock set to launch in 2021, the Conexis L2, an upgraded version of the popular Conexis L1, it will bring much more functionality and convenience to the user. 

Looking for more specialist home tech advice? 

• See who's at the door with the best video doorbell
• Keep your home secure with the best keyless door locks
• Light up your front door with the best porch lights

Want to boost your outdoor security? Have a read of our Kami outdoor battery camera review.

I've been fortunate enough to test this camera for the past couple of months throughout summer so I can help you choose the best home security solution for you and your family. The main criteria I’ve been looking out for is how easy it is to set up and use, and how it performs (in all weathers and time of day).

Keep scrolling to read the full review to see if this is the outdoor home security camera for you, but if you want to see more great options check out our best security cameras guide for more top security cameras, for the best prices.

Kami Outdoor Battery Camera specifications

• Resolution: 1920 x 1080p HD
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 2.4G Hz
• Battery life: up to six months
• Waterproof: IP-65
• Compatibility: iOS 8.0 and above, Android 4.1 and above
• Smart Features: PIR motion sensor
• Storage options: Kami Cloud & Local Storage (8-64GB)

Installing the Kami Outdoor Battery Camera

Before you do anything about installing this garden camera, the four rechargeable batteries will need to be fully charged. These are included along with the charger (and everything else you need) for an easy set up. I left the batteries overnight to charge – when they're full, the indicator light on the charger turns from red to green so you know they're ready.

With the batteries fully charged and secure in the camera, the next part of installation is to pair the camera with your smart device. To do this you just need to download the free Kami Home App and follow the onscreen instructions. You'll need to just ensure that you are within a strong Wi-Fi zone throughout this set up phase which is something to also bare in mind when you come to choose where you locate it. You'll also find that towards the end of the registration process you are prompted to select a Cloud storage plan which starts from £79.99 per year with the first month being FREE. This will give you some more backup options, plus the ability to add more than one camera to the app. If you don't fancy this there's a MicroSD card slot for local storage, or you can opt to have clips of footage saved on the app but this will limit you to just the basic functions.

Being a wireless cam, mounting it is SO easy. If the surface is wooden (as it was during testing) you can just screw the mount directly and attach the camera by rotating it clockwise to secure it. Alternatively, if you do not want to mount it, you can use the included camera stand so you can place it anywhere – even indoors! While positioning it would be best to avoid direct sunlight and any obstructions to the lens. It's also suggested that you keep it within a 33 foot (10 meter) range of the Wi-Fi router so you get the best performance possible, without any drop outs.

How easy is the Kami Outdoor Battery Camera to use?

In short; very easy. The Kami camera can all be controlled using the Kami Home app which is really easy to navigate and make sense of.

In the app you can watch live streaming in Auto, SD or HD – I used HD (High Definition) for the best experience – take screen shots of the footage or create a video. And each time motion was detected a six second clip was recorded, although this can be turned off or scheduled and how much is recorded can be controlled in settings. There's also a group setting referred to as Home and Away which can control whether or not you receive notifications. And two-way comms is possible, also, through the microphone so you can speak and listen to whoever (or whatever) you see on camera.

I kept the settings the same, day and night. During the day the footage (as above) was super clear and I could move the screen side-to-side and zoom in, too. At night, the footage is black and white (as below) but this is more than suffice because it means that there's no distracting light to confuse the guinea pigs although, I must say, the addition of a light would act as a further deterrent and it's clear enough in HD to see what activity is going on.

Anything else?

The fully-charged batteries will last for up to six months. You can monitor just how much juice you have left through the app thanks to the handy battery icon seen on the live streaming window.

It's also possible to share the camera feed with friends and family using either the QR code or a YI Account using the app, if you want.

Is the Kami Outdoor Battery Camera worth buying?

Yep! I've been really impressed with this camera and, for the price, I wouldn't hesitate to keep it at the back of my house on a more permanent basis. If you have a large garden, then it's reassuring to know that you can multiple Kami Outdoor Battery Cameras to build your own home security network. This one just missed out on the five stars because of the protruding design which stuck out a little too much for my liking and a lack of siren, but aside from this I wouldn't be without it.

More security camera options:

• For another outdoor cam option, read our Ezviz C4W Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Home Security Camera review
• Ring Spotlight Cam review, you choose either a battery or wired version

You've (probably) all heard that Ring can enhance our home security but there are still some questions around: do I actually need it? Where do I start? There's now a huge range of products on offer which have evolved tremendously since the brand launched in 2012 and (we must say) we are a big fans – in fact the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has just won best security camera in the Real Homes Awards.

• Check out the best home security systems in our guide, plus more buying tips, too

A recent report released by Ring – Home: A New Meaning – has cited that a quarter of Brits say that spending time at home during lockdown has made them consider the security of their home. And 91 per cent of consumers feel their home was safe during lockdown, with one-in-10 citing investment in home security products as the reason why they feel safe.

These facts really do speak for themselves. And you may, or may not, have noticed that one of our themes this month has been security so we thought that it would be rather apt to get behind some of the big-named brands in home security to delve a little deeper into what exactly their products can do for us and our homes.

Scroll down for some top home security insight from a top specialist – plus today's top deals.

Home security advice from Ring

Dave Ward, European Managing Director, Ring, shares some insight in our Q&A session:

1. Why should households enhance their home security?

Every household wants their family, home and things you care about to be safe. Feeling secure in your home and in your neighbourhood is vitally important and enhancing your home security can help you achieve this. From keeping an eye on your home from wherever you are, to setting your alarm while on the move, there are simple but effective ways to make your life easier, safer and more convenient.

2. What is the first thing you should consider, if you want to enhance your home security?

The first thing to consider is your personal home setup, looking at the parts of your home that are most vulnerable and would require additional security measures, as well as the kind of security products that will suit your specific lifestyle. For example, you may live in a rented property so need devices that don’t require permanent modifications to the home, or you may be concerned with keeping an eye on dark corners in your garden so need a device that triggers floodlights when motion is detected. 

From video doorbells and home security cameras to DIY security systems, Ring offers a wide range of security products to allow for whole-home security that can be tailored to your specific needs.

3.  How easy are the Ring products to install and use?

All of our products are designed with ease of installation and simple setup in mind and come equipped with clear instructions, plus the tools you’ll need to install. The free Ring app lets you control and link all of your Ring security devices in one place, review recorded videos and alerts, view a live HD video stream of your cameras and speak to anyone with two-way talk. 

One of our latest features to help give users greater control over their Ring devices is Modes, an in-app feature that simplifies how you interact with your Ring devices. When enabled, users can customise how their Ring devices operate using three different modes: Home, Away and Disarmed, with each setting giving you varying levels of customisable motion detection, recording and activity.

4. I'm on a tight budget. What is the best Ring product for me and how could it help?

It's important to assess what home security product will most benefit you. At Ring, we have a number of products in our range that are great for those on a budget. 

Indoor Cam is a compact security camera, small enough to fit anywhere inside your home, with an RRP of just £49. Stick Up Cam can be used inside and out, on all surfaces including tables and walls, for an affordable £89 (RRP). Both of these cameras will allow you to see what is going on in and around your home while you’re away and offer great flexibility and quality video footage. Our video doorbell range starts at £89 for the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen), allowing you to keep an eye on your home from wherever you are.

5. What is the best feature (in your opinion) of a Ring product?

Ring is on a mission to make neighbourhoods safer by creating a Ring of Security around homes and communities with its suite of valuable and effective home security products and services. Ring devices offer a great range of customisable features to suit different home setups, including compatibility with Alexa devices, as well as Near Zones and Privacy Zones to give you greater control over the motion alerts that matter to you most. 

One feature I'm particularly proud of is Linked Devices. With Linked Devices, I can connect all of Ring devices together within the Ring app, to ensure that my device setup works best for me. So, if I'm not home and my Video Doorbell detects motion, with Linked Devices, I can make sure my Indoor Cam immediately starts recording too, so any unexpected motion is captured. Another favourite of mine is Modes. When I leave the house, I simply have to choose "Away" Mode in the Ring app (or via Alexa), and all of my devices activate. When I get home, I can change the Mode, to make sure that only my outdoor devices are active, leaving me and my family free to roam around without activating my Indoor Cams. It's control and customisation, all from the Ring app.

Looking for more specialist home tech advice? 

• See who's at the door with the best video doorbell
• Keep your home secure with the best keyless door locks
• Light up your front door with the best porch lights

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 so many other concerns ahead of the uni year, home security tips might not be what this year's students are busy researching in time for fresher's week. As a parent, you may have given it a little more thought – after all their safety is your prime concern – but we certainly don't expect that anyone is furiously looking up the best home security systems for their student digs.

Yet with nine percent of students in the worst affected areas experiencing crime in the last 12 months¹, security should be given a little more thought. It must at least be read up on before they order all the expensive kit they plan to take with them. So what can students (and their parents) do to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of burglary? Read on for simple tips everyone can take with them.

1. Get good insurance

While most of these tips are about crime prevention, having good insurance should the worst happen is very important, too. Students assume they are covered by university insurance in halls or sometimes their parent's home contents insurance. Some universities do have this included as part of your accommodation, even some private landlords do, but always check. Even if you are covered, you might need extra cover for bikes or things you use around campus such as your laptop. Read the small print to ensure everything you take with you can be compensated for.

2. Lock doors and windows

This is such a simple one, but so many students leave their room unlocked when they go out, or leave windows open while they are busy in communal areas. In the time it takes to pop to the flat next door to borrow something, a criminal could be in and out, with your laptop or TV. Break ins also happen when the whole flat are on a night out. We all know after pre-drinks locking the door as your rush for the taxi can often go out of the window.

Locking your bedroom gives any opportunists an extra barrier should a housemate leave the front door unlocked. And ground floor windows should be fitted with locks that are hard to open from outside, or limit the opening to anyone not in the room. On top of this, don't leave anything that could be swiped in reach of an open window. 

Break ins often happen when the whole flat are on a night out. We all know after pre-drinks locking the door as your rush for the taxi can often go out of the window.

3. Invest in basic home security tech

Once you move out of halls to local accommodation, you can't rely on the measures your university takes to ensure good campus security. Private landlords will do their best to make sure windows and doors have good locks, but there are simple bits of tech you can take with you to up your home security. 

There are plenty of affordable security cameras that are battery powered and can be fitted without the need to drill holes – perfect to take with you when you move on. Always get consent from the rest of the household before fitting any devices that impact on their privacy. You might want to have the camera trained on entry and exit points, but not habitable areas. 

You can also get door and window entry sensors which which alert you when a door or window is opened. These offer not only peace of mind, but are a good deterrent to burglars and will prevent them from trying a door or window where one is obviously fitted.

4. Don't show it off

Breaking into a property is a risk, so burglars are more likely to go after houses that they know have plenty of things worth stealing. Never leave laptops, bikes and games consoles in full view from the street. That could mean stowing tech away in a drawer or cupboard when you leave the house. Also shut curtains or blinds to obscure valuables from view in the day and don't leave bikes anywhere that they can't be locked up or locked away. 

You might want to leave your most valuable possessions at your parent's home. Laptops are essential, but you can make it through the uni year without your diamond jewellery, expensive designer bags and top of the range televisions.

5. Keep thieves guessing if you're out

An occupied property is less appealing to criminals so they will look for signs that you are in. Some will monitor a property for several weeks, getting an idea of when people tend to be in or out. Your regular lecture schedule could become a weakness in your home security. But before you go skipping seminars to protect your pad, think about ways to make thieves unsure about whether anyone is in. Lights on timers are great for evenings – you can even get smart lighting that you can control from your phone to really fool them. In the day time a good tip is to use a rear exit where possible so that anyone watching the house can't be sure which property you have left. Everyone walking out of the front door can be a dead giveaway. 

Students love a lie in too, so leave a set of bedroom curtains shut and burglars may assume somebody is having a duvet day. Again, this makes the house less appealing for break ins. 

1. Crime stats acquired by The Complete University Guide

More home security advice:

• Best security cameras
• Best video doorbells

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

Buying the best power bank you can afford is essential for anyone who travels a lot and is a heavy phone, tablet, or laptop user. A power bank is essentially an encased, rechargeable portable battery that will top up your device with power when there's no socket in sight. Of course, there has to be more to a power bank if it's to make it onto our 'best of' list – we've included the best buys with ultra-fast charging times, high capacity, or a lighter weight to make them more portable. 

With camping trips and day trips our kind of getaway this summer, having juice on demand is crucial. And that is just what a power bank does. See all our favourites below. 

Find more great tech buys in The Hub, our jargon-free take on everything smart.

This ultra-powerful power bank can charge a smartphone up to eight times before it needs recharging, and it charges fast. In fact, it's so powerful that it will support a Nintendo Switch console for up to 12 hours on a single charge. As with all power banks, recharging takes a while – 10 hours – but this device is so reliable that it's worth it. 

• Buy the Anker PowerCore 20100

This power bank has an LED display, so that you know exactly how much charge you've got left – and, unlike most power banks out there, it's suitable for charging low-power devices such as Bluetooth headphones and smart watches. The only drawback of this power bank is that you can only use the original lead that comes with it to recharge, so make sure you don't lose it. 

• Buy the Getihu Power Bank

If you're not keen on adding too much weight to your handbag, or already heavy weekender bag, then this ultra-portable power bank is for you. Weighing just 99 grams, it nonetheless has impressive charging abilities – two smartphone charges, or a full tablet or laptop charge. That's not quite as powerful as our top pick, but it's so small and light, that it's a contender in its own right. 

• Buy the Poweradd EnergyCell 5000mAh power bank

Definitely the best-looking power bank on our list, the Ywtesch power bank is the best all-in-one charger, which makes it perfect for flights and multiple devices. You don't need to buy any extra accessories for this one, because it already comes with a Micro & Type C ports, making it suitable for most devices. It's also slim and quite lightweight (316 grams). 

• Buy the YWTESCH Power Bank 20000mAh power bank

If you prefer carrying everything in your pockets, you'll appreciate this slimline power bank that's easy to slip into your coat or even trouser pockets. It has a nice textured finish to it, so it won't slip out. It does take ages to recharge, but that's most power banks for you. 

• Buy the Omars 10000mAh power bank

Read more: 

• Best landline phones
• Protect your property with the best home security system

Want a watchful eye on your home? Have a read of our Ezviz C6CN Internet PT Camera review.

I’ve been testing this indoor security camera, along with several other models in the range, for the past month or so to help you choose the best home security solution for you and your family. The main criteria I’ve been looking out for is how it looks, how it works and factors to consider when it is in use.

Keep scrolling to read the full review to see if this is the indoor security camera is for you, but if you want to see more great options check out our best home security system guide for more top security cameras, for the best prices.

Ezviz C6CN Internet PT Camera specifications

• Image resolution: 1920 x 1080p
• Day & Night footage: IR-cut filter with auto switch
• Shutter Speed: Self-adaptive shutter
• IR Range: Max. 10 meters
• Power: micro USB / mains
• Storage options: EZVIZ cloud service or microSD card(Max 256G)
• Weight: 260g

Installing the Ezviz C6CN Internet PT Camera

To test the Ezviz C6CN I had it initially on the window sill in our dining room but then, once it dawned on me that not much activity happens in here, I moved it to the window sill in our front room. The camera can either be installed like this –  on the window sill –  , or mounted upside down on the ceiling.

Both these designated rooms have good Wi-Fi so it was nice and easy to get them added onto the Ezviz app, which I had already installed on my iPhone since reviewing the other cameras in the range. If, however, you are starting from scratch, all you need to do is connect the camera to your Wi-Fi by turning it on and then following the prompts. During the registration process you can opt to have notifications sent to you as an alert and subscribe to CloudPlay storage (free for the first 23-day days, then a fee from £2.99 will be incurred depending on your choice of plan).

How easy is the Ezviz C6CN Internet PT Camera to use

During testing it soon became clear that the Ezviz C6CN is really very similar to the Ezviz C6N which I reviewed earlier on in the year.

• Ezviz C6N Indoor Wi-Fi Home Security Camera: read our review to see the comparison, and how it fared in our testing

The only difference I could find is that the Ezviz C6CN has a privacy shut off rather than Sleep Mode which is a feature on the comparable Ezviz C6N. By selecting Privacy Mode on the app, the camera will rotate its lens so it is no longer streaming or recording. In fact, the only means of any form of surveillance with this mode enabled is to speak.

This could be a good option if you have the camera in the room where you're sat and you don't want to be recorded, or you want to give some one else in the room some privacy (or a scare!).

How does the Ezviz C6CN Internet PT Camera rate online?

Over on AO, the Ezviz C6CN has scored high with 4.8 out of 5 stars awarded. Reviewers LOVE how easy it is to set up and use with the app, and how clear the picture quality is. One reviewer, who is closer to the age of seventy, was so impressed she ordered two more!

This follows suit with a customer who left a five star review at Robert Dyas who said that they have been so impressed they've just purchased the Ezviz Outdoor Floodlight Camera, and have high hopes for it.

Is the Ezviz C6CN Internet PT Camera worth buying?

Yep! Absolutely. The set-up is easy. And usability is easy. The only reason why we didn't give it five stars is because of the connectivity (Wi-Fi and mains). But, all-in-all, it's a great little indoor camera which will work well with up to three other Ezviz security cameras in the range for total piece of mind.

More cameras in the Ezviz range we've reviewed:

• Read our Ezviz C3N Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Camera review, for keeping an eye on outside
• For another outdoor cam option, read our Ezviz C4W Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Home Security Camera review
• Or for a battery-powered camera, read our Ezviz Battery Cam review

Ikea smart blinds may seem like a feature of the home of the future, but they're actually an accessible addition to a modern home that can help beef up home security, rouse you from your slumber and much more.

Far from an unnecessary gimmick, Ikea's smart blinds serve a variety of practical purposes, one of the most significant being their ability to enhance home security at a fraction of the price of a regular smart security system. They're also a great alternative if you're looking for a less invasive security solution than cameras and motion detectors. Plus, they retail at a fraction of the price of similar smart blinds on the market.

Discover more about Ikea's smart blinds below, then head over to The Hub for more smart home news, advice and information.

• Shop Ikea smart blinds in the UK
• Shop Ikea smart blinds in the US

1. Use smart blinds to enhance home security

As lockdown measures are lifted, we're anticipating seeing a surge in the number of people visiting family and friends they've been separated from, as well as embarking on the odd mini break. And in these instances, smart blinds are just what you need to give the impression that someone's home – even when they're not. 

Simply raise your blinds, as you usually would in the morning, and lower them as it starts to get dark in a bid to ward off onlookers. How? Using your synched smart phone, which allows you to control your blind from any location.

Pair them with smart plugs or smart lightbulbs to turn on lights, too, and your house will look fully occupied.

2. Wake up naturally

You've likely heard of wake up lights, which use artificial light to replicate the sunrise and make it easier to wake up (as the name suggests) on dark winter mornings. Smart blinds could help you take this one step further.

By scheduling your blinds to raise as the sun begins to rise, you can really tap into your circadian rhythm and allow yourself to rouse as nature intended. You'll be amazed how much this eases stress on the mind and body, making mornings significantly less painful.

Disclaimer: we'd recommend setting a conventional alarm, too, just in case.

3. And make your morning routine more efficient 

In addition to making the process of waking up easier, Ikea smart blinds could also make your morning routine more efficient.

How? By allowing you to raise all of your blinds in one go. Yes, really. At the touch of a button, you could ensure the blinds in every room of your home are opened, shaving minutes off a hectic morning. 

4. Keep rooms cool during the warmer months

Much like shutters, blinds are a great solution for keeping rooms cool. Simply lower your blinds in the afternoon, using your synced smart phone, and benefit from cooler spaces in the evening. A great option for when the weather (hopefully) warms up again.

5. Control blinds in hard-to-reach places

Ikea smart blinds also offer a super practical solution for those with skylights and windows in hard-to-reach places. Use the accompanying remote to raise and lower blinds as suits. 

Ikea has reopened... read all about it

• Ikea reopened last week – here's what happened and some of our favourite finds

Looking for a home security camera to use outdoors? Well the Ezviz C4W Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Home Security Camera could be just what you have been looking for. It boasts everything you would expect from an outdoor camera these days; dustproof, weatherproof and seamless streaming to a smart device, and doesn’t come with the hefty price tag.

I’ve been testing this home security camera, along with the Ezviz C6N Indoor Wi-Fi Home Security Camera, for the past month to help you choose the best home security solution for you and your family. The main criteria I’ve been looking out for, aside from if this camera actually serves its purpose, is; how it looks and how easy it is to set up and use day-to-day.

Keep scrolling to read the full review to see if this is the outdoor security camera for you, but if you want to see more great options check out our best security cameras guide for more top cameras, for the best prices.

Installing the Ezviz C4W Outdoor Smart Wi-Fi Home Security Camera 

This outdoor camera arrived well packed and has everything you need to set-up. It became evident that it’s geared up to be mounted on a wall or ceiling, so I tested it placed on a garden wall to see what our two guinea pigs get up to after sunset – they were good subjects to watch! I used the three metre-long (approx) power cable to connect it to a electrical socket in our utility room which I trailed through the backdoor. The door still shut with no problems, and the camera was still within the Wi-Fi zone (more on this shortly). If you don’t want a cable running through your door/window, then you’ll need to wire in the device to your electrics by a qualified electrician.

Once you’ve decided and/or secured the camera to where you want it to be you’ll just need to ensure its turned on and follow some instructions to get it working. The instructions themselves are a bit of a guessing game but, the robotic-sounding assistant and onscreen instructions on your smart device are really all you need with this one; it’s so easy, providing your smart device (and the camera) are connected to the Wi-Fi.

You’re then prompted to download the Ezviz app – which is easy enough – and then follow the onscreen instructions. During the registration process you can opt to have notifications sent to you as an alert, subscribe to CloudPlay (free for the first 23-day days, then a fee from £2.99 will be incurred depending on your choice of plan) or,  use an SD card if preferred to cloud storage, and allow the app to access your phone camera. You’ll need to allow for this access to your phone camera so the app can scan the QR code on the underside of the camera for setup.

• Looking to boost your indoor security, too? Read our review on the Ezviz C6N Indoor Wi-Fi Home Security Camera