The smart home holds so much promise. It can make life more convenient with lights that turn on as you walk in a room, doors that unlock as you approach, and robots that clean your floors. It can also make your home safer, more energy efficient, and even a little more fun. (Have you tried asking Alexa to beam you up?)But for all its benefits, the smart home can be complicated, confusing, and occasionally maddening. Its also hard to keep up with all the changes. New gadgets are arriving daily, new features come to old products, and there are so many different ways to turn on a smart light bulb.If you need a guide, thats what Im here for.Here, Ill be posting the latest smart home reviews, guides, news, and opinions on everything happening in the connected home. Follow this page to stay updated on what Apple, Amazon, Samsung, Google, and Home Assistant and the rest are doing with their smart home platforms. Ill keep you in the loop on all the newest technologies including Matter, Thread, Sidewalk, UWB as well as the old favorites. And, of course, Ill cover all the news on the latest gadgets and the biggest releases around tech for your home.Today, 31 seconds agoJennifer Pattison TuohyI tried the tech that makes hands-free smart locks actually workImagine walking up to your front door and it unlocks even opens automatically as you approach. It may sound like the stuff of smart home dreams, but it could soon be a reality, thanks to ultra-wideband (UWB) technology arriving on smart locks. With its precise, real-time location capabilities, UWB enables a smart lock to react to the presence of your phone or smartwatch as you approach your door, unlocking it with no intervention on your part. Both the lock and your device need a UWB chip, but this touchless experience means theres no need to pull out your phone, fiddle with keycodes, fingerprints, or, god forbid, an actual key.Read Article >Jan 24Jennifer Pattison TuohyMatter plans to fix your home Wi-Fi.The Wi-Fi Alliance and Thread Group have revealed theyre working with the CSA on several solutions to make sure your Wi-Fi router plays well with your smart home devices:These include features like IPV 6 and multicast discovery, which we want to make sure are consistent and reliable across routers ... The way routers implement their multicast discovery can be broken, and that leads to a pretty bad experience for users ... We need to make Wi-Fi work reliably for all of the IoT use cases.Ive experienced network issues setting up Matter devices and keeping them online, and Im not alone. If Matter can fix Wi-Fi routers, all will be forgiven.Matterwill be better in 2025 say the people who make itJennifer Pattison TuohyJan 23Jan 24Jennifer Pattison TuohyHeres another use for that Thread radio in your iPhone.In an interview with The Verge, Vividh Siddha, director of engineering at Apple and president of Thread Group, shared another use case for the Thread radio in newer iPhones.As well as allowing setup of a Thread device when you dont have a Thread border router, the Thread radio in the iPhone lets you control devices when the power is out:But the other important factor is the ability to use your accessories, and some important ones, like your front door lock when theres a power outage. If you have no infrastructure your Wi-Fi router is down, your Thread border router is down and you still want the ability to get into your house or do other things that might be smart home related. Those are some use cases that its explicitly designed for, but its not limited to that. Matterwill be better in 2025 say the people who make itJennifer Pattison TuohyJan 23Jan 24Jennifer Pattison TuohymmWave tech is set to take motion sensing to the next level in the smart home.The radar-based technology can detect movements as slight as breathing, so it wont turn the lights out on you when youre sitting on the couch.Superior to PIR sensing, mmWave is seeing fast adoption, with Samsung seemingly poised to add it to its appliances. Heres a great explainer from The Ambient on how the tech could help your smart home.What is mmWave, and what does it mean for your smart home?[The Ambient]Jan 23Jennifer Pattison TuohyMatterwill be better in 2025 say the people who make itImage: Cath Virginia / The VergeMatter launched with a mission to provide a reliable, secure way for smart home devices to connect to and communicate with each other across brands and ecosystems. But two years in, problems have plagued the connectivity protocol.Big players like Apple, Amazon, and Google have been slow to offer broad support for Matter device types, there are ongoing reliability and interoperability issues, and the Thread protocol Matter relies on has seen significant growing pains. Its been a bumpy start. Read Article >Jan 22Jennifer Pattison TuohyHeres the tech that could turn millions of Zigbee light bulbs into motion sensors with a single updateIn development for several years, Sensify is an ambient sensing technology that can turn existing Zigbee-powered lights, switches, and plugs into motion sensors. Image: IvaniLights that turn on when you walk into a room and turn off when you leave are one of the most desirable smart home features. But you need to buy additional hardware like motion sensors to make this magic happen. A new ambient sensing technology called Sensify could make this easier by turning your light bulbs into motion sensors. And it might be landing on a Philips Hue bridge near you very soon.Sensify is a wireless network sensing (WNS) technology developed by Ivani that can turn mains-powered Zigbee devices into motion sensors for controlling your lights with just a firmware update no additional hardware needed. The best part is that it can work on devices already in most homes. There are tens of millions of devices with the base firmware already out there; were just working on the final touches to light up the full experience, Ivani cofounder Justin McKinney tells The Verge.Read Article >Jan 21Jennifer Pattison TuohyThese POE smart shades are the first to work with Matter.SmartWings, one of the first to offer Matter over Thread smart shades, has another first. Today, the company announced its Matter over Ethernet smart shades, which use a single cable to provide power and connectivity no batteries, Thread, or Wi-Fi required.Matter compatibility means the shades, which come in roller, zebra, and woven styles, will work with Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, Alexa, and other smart home platforms.SmartWings new Matter over Ethernet shades have a CAT 6A Inline coupler to connect to a port on a compatible router or switch for power and connectivity in one cable. Image: SmartWingsJan 16Jennifer Pattison TuohyYou can now control your LG appliances with Homey.The electronics giant has followed through on its promise to open the APIs for its ThinQ appliances, and Homey, which is owned by LG, is one of the first platforms to implement it.The LG ThinQ app for Homey is available now for both cloud-based and hub-based setups and lets you add connected LG washers, dryers, TVs, and more to Homey and control them directly or with automations.LG appliance integration with Homey allows users to set up automations like this one, which will dim the Philips Hue lights and close the Aqara curtains when the LG TV turns on after 8pm. Image: HomeyJan 15Jennifer Pattison TuohyThe Google Home app will soon support the Nest ProtectImage: The VergeWill the last device leaving the Nest app please turn out the lights? The day finally arrived; Google has announced its transitioning the Nest Protect smoke and CO alarm to the Google Home app. This means youll be able to get alerts and notifications for your alarm directly through Google Home, as well as hush alarms, according to a blog post from Google. This means you no longer need the Nest app for any device, but you can still use it for now, at least.The Nest Protect was the last device that could only be accessed and controlled from the Nest app, following Googles efforts over the last couple of years to fully port its Nest cameras and other devices to the Home app. With this move, Google will finally be able to sunset the Nest app, although the company has said it will keep it in maintenance mode indefinitely.Read Article >Jan 12Jennifer Pattison TuohyRobot vacuums just keep growingRoborocks Saros Z70 looks set to be the first robot vacuum with an articulating arm to come to market. Its designed to pick up light items like socks and tissues. (Not actual size) Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The VergeThere were a slew of innovations in robot vacuums on the CES show floor this year, from arms and legs to extendable mops, movable towers, and new navigation systems.As the industry races ahead in its quest to find the best way to clean our floors, it can be hard to see the function through all the hype. I spent the last week in Las Vegas hanging with our robot friends to find out just how much better theyre getting. Heres a look at all the new tech that came out and how it could help keep your floors sparklingly clean.Read Article >Jan 10Jennifer Pattison TuohyThis mechanical keyboard can control your smart home.ThirdRealitys MK1 Magic Keyboard ($80, launching March) is a Matter smart button. Ingenious!The function keys are programmable buttons. Just press to activate a scene or control smart devices like lights through Apple Home, SmartThings, or Home Assistant. Mechanical keyboard / smart home nerds rejoice!This smart keyboard has RGB lighting, Gateron Yellow switches, and a Matter-over-Wi-Fi chip on board. Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The VergeJan 10Jennifer Pattison TuohyNanoleaf brought smart lighting for the face to CES.So, of course, I had to go try it out. This $150 LED Light Therapy Face Mask is the smart lighting companys first lighting-focused wellness product, and it sounds like there may be more to come. I think its rather fetching ... dont you?Jan 9Jennifer Pattison TuohyThis robovac has an arm and legs, tooThis robot vacuum from Dreame has a robotic arm that can pick up items around your home and small legs that help it navigate over steps. Image: The VergeIll see your arm and raise you an arm and two legs. It was the battle of the bots on the CES show floor as robot vacuum manufacturers Dreame and Roborock each added limbs to their rival robovacs.Dreame launched its X50 Ultra at the show earlier this week, debuting the first robovac that can use its legs to navigate steps and room transitions up to 6cm high. But elsewhere at the show, competitor Roborock was showing off its latest flagship, the Saros Z70, which has an arm that can pick up items like socks.Read Article >Jan 8Jennifer Pattison TuohyThe best smart locks you can buy right nowIllustration: The VergeA smart lock is an easy solution to some common problems. Locked yourself out? Need to let a friend in to water the plants? Your latchkey kid lost their key? Hands are full, and its raining cats and dogs? A smart lock solves all of these problems and more. One of the best smart home upgrades you can make, a smart lock gives you remote control over access to your house from anywhere, plus easy, key-free ways to unlock and lock your door. Smart locks also remember everything that happened, so they can tell you when and sometimes who unlocked your door.Read Article >Jan 7Jennifer Pattison TuohyThe best budget robot vacuumsIllustration: The VergeTodays robot vacuums are becoming a bit like cars: with all the features, upgrades, and fancy trimmings available these days, its easy to forget that they can just be simple machines that get us from point A to point B. Yes, some bots blow hot air on their bums (mop pads) and deftly navigate dog poop, but there are plenty of basic budget robot vacuums that just do a decent job of cleaning your floor autonomously as long as you tidy up first.While higher-priced, higher-powered robot vacuums clean better, budget bots do a perfectly good job, especially if you run them regularly. The biggest downside of cheaper models is they get stuck on cables, socks, shoelaces, and other paraphernalia you leave lying around. If youre home and can untangle it, great, but if youre not, then it will just sit there stuck until its battery dies, and you have to charge it up again before it will clean your floors. Read Article >Jan 7Jennifer Pattison TuohyThis cat tree is also an air purifierLGs AeroCatTower is designed to keep your kitty cozy and your air clean. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeWhat if your cat tower could weigh your furry friend, monitor its health, and help keep their pesky dander spores out of your air? Thats the idea behind LGs new AeroCatTower, an air purifier with a cat-friendly dome-shaped seat on top for your feline to curl up in.The company showcased the gadget at its CES 2025 booth this week, complete with some rather creepy-looking fake cats.Read Article >Jan 7Jennifer Pattison TuohyLGs new smart speaker has heart eyes.This cute little guy is all over LGs CES booth, winking at people and offering them popcorn.The LG On-Device AI Hub (great name) is a smart speaker with a 4-inch screen, built-in camera, and microphone. Designed to be a satellite to the ThinQ ON home hub, LG says its a concept product, so theres no price or release date.1/3The speaker has a circular LCD screen that shows animated eyes. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeJan 7Jennifer Pattison TuohyYes, Im taking a picture of Vee with a door lock.Locklys latest smart lock, the Vision Prestige, shows your visitor through a built-in camera. Its a neat concept, but bending down to see whos at the front door feels a tad awkward.The video was also quite dark, and the screen was tiny, but it showed the visitor instantly not always the case when pulling up a feed from a video doorbell on your smartphone.The Verges Victoria Song poses for a picture through a door lock. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeJan 7Emma RothNarwals latest mopping robovac keeps corners cleanImage: NarwalNarwal, the company behind our favorite mopping robot, just announced a new flagship robovac called the Flow thats capable of cleaning closer to walls and corners. The Flow comes with a track-driven mop pad that extends to reach the edge of walls, while also using dual water tanks to keep the mop clean and remove dirty water.It sounds similar to the extending, self-cleaning roller mop we saw on Ecovacs Deebot X8 Omni Pro robovac. The Flow comes with an anti-tangle side brush that extends to reach corners and a brush cover that sits closer to the ground and automatically increases suction up to 20,000Pa on surfaces like carpet.Read Article >Jan 7Jennifer Pattison TuohyEurekas new robot vac can tackle wet messesThe J15 Max Ultra uses infrared technology to identify wet messes and clean them without damaging the robot. Image: EurekaMost robot vacuum mops can tackle mopping your floors and maybe scrub up a dried-on stain, but let them trundle through a puddle of spilled milk or juice, and theyre likely to smear the liquid around. If they do suck any up, it could seriously damage the robots internals robot vacuums are not wet / dry vacs.Robot vacuum manufacturer Eureka claims to have solved this problem with its new J15 Max Ultra ($1,299). According to the company, this robot vacuum and mop, debuting at CES 2025, can accurately spot liquids and automatically rotate its body to tackle wet spills with its mopping pads.Read Article >Jan 7Andrew LiszewskiEufys new robovac transforms into a handheld vacuumThe Eufy E20 might be the first robovac that cleans more than just floors. Image: EufyEufy is making it easier to splurge on a robot vacuum with a new model that can clean more than just your floors. The Eufy 3-in-1 E20 has a unique design that transforms from an autonomous robovac to a manual stick or handheld vacuum by removing a unit containing the motor, dust bin, and battery and then attaching other cleaning accessories.The E20 is available for preorder starting today for $499.99 through Eufys website with a $50 discount. It will officially be available starting on February 10th through additional retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, for its full price of $549.99.Read Article >Jan 7Jennifer Pattison TuohyLGs side table grow light is also a speaker.For the ultimate in multitasking, this Indoor Garden from LG is a grow light, accent light, and a speaker all in one.Its still a concept product, but it can auto water your garden while it grows and also play it some tunes from the 120 watt, 4.1 channel sound system.The Indoor Garden from LG. Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The VergeJan 6Jennifer Pattison TuohyThis robot vacuum has legsDreames newest robot vacuum can climb up a step. Its a start! Image: DreameFirst, they sprouted arms; now, robot vacuums are getting legs. The latest bot from Dreame has two small legs that can push it up and over a step as high as 6cm (about 2.5 inches).The Dreame X50 Ultra robot vacuum uses a system called ProLeap, which the company first demoed at the IFA tech show in Berlin, Germany, last year. Dreame calls the devices appendage a motorized swing arm that enables step navigation up to 6 cm in height. But theyre clearly legs.Read Article >Jan 6Allison JohnsonLifx made its first smart lampThe Lifx Luna Smart Lamp offers user-controlled colors. Photo: LifxSmart lighting brand Lifx is introducing its first smart lamp at CES 2025: the Lifx Luna. It uses Matter over Wi-Fi, so itll integrate with an existing smart home setup easily or its a low-stakes way to add some smarts to your non-smart home. The Lifx Luna Smart Lamp includes 26 controllable color zones and offers up to 1,000 lumens of brightness. There are four built-in buttons that can control not just the lamp but also other Matter-connected Lifx lights or smart devices. Its designed to sit on a tabletop or attach to a wall with an optional mount. Itll launch in March 2025 and cost $69.99 exclusively from The Home Depot either in-store or online.Read Article >Jan 6Jacob KastrenakesOh yeah, thats a smart dog door with custom RGB lightingPawports indoor smart door with a wood finish. Image: PawportThe Pawport might be the most elaborate way to let your dog enter and exit your home. The smart dog door connects to a Bluetooth tag that straps to your dogs collar. When your dog approaches, its double doors swing open to let your pet in or out of the house. Naturally, theres also a glowing LED strip underneath the doors, for no purpose other than to add some more RGB lighting to your home. You can customize it to whatever color you want.Pawport has been working on its titular smart pet door for a few years now, with the product launching on Kickstarter back in 2021. But the device is back at CES this year, and the company says its finally going to start shipping. The door will be available starting at $499. The company is also announcing a new weatherproof model that goes outside your house and pairs with the indoor version. That model starts at $399 but must be paired with an indoor unit.Read Article >More Stories