Smart Home ·
Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers in 2026 (Rebates First)
The best smart sprinkler controllers for 2026, with WaterSense rebates that can make them free, HomeKit and Matter truth, and picks for renters.
#Smart Home
24 posts tagged "Smart Home"
Smart Home ·
Best Outdoor Security Cameras Without Subscription 2026
Seven outdoor cameras with full features and zero monthly fees. Local storage, no cloud lock-in, no $10-per-camera-per-month tax. Tested and ranked for 2026.
Holidays & Events ·
Best Christmas Smart Home Decor 2026: Trees, Lights, Plugs
The 2026 Christmas smart home decor we'd actually buy: Hue Festavia, Govee curtains, Twinkly trees, Nanoleaf, smart plugs, and the gear that earns the cord.
Smart Home ·
Best Smart Smoke and CO Detectors 2026 (Post-Nest Era)
The Nest Protect is dead. Here are 7 smart smoke and CO detectors that actually replace it in 2026, with real model numbers, prices, and UL 217 ratings.
News & Deals ·
Apple Home vs Google Home vs Alexa in 2026: Real Differences
The three big smart home ecosystems openly diverged in 2026. We compare Apple Home, Gemini-powered Google Home, and Alexa+ on price, latency, smart features, and Matter reality.
News & Deals ·
Matter 1.5.1 Is Here: What It Means for Smart Lighting
Matter shipped three point releases since 1.4. We cut through the marketing and tell you what actually changed for smart bulbs, switches, and Hue vs Govee households in 2026.
News & Deals ·
The Smart Home Tech Trends Reshaping 2026
Six real smart home trends defining 2026: Matter 1.5, Thread 1.4 mesh unification, energy-aware automation, local vs cloud, outdoor lighting, multipurpose hubs.
Smart Home ·
Matter vs Zigbee vs Wi-Fi Smart Lights: Which Wins in 2026?
Three protocols, three very different promises. We break down when Matter actually beats Zigbee, when Wi-Fi smart lights are fine, and when neither is the right answer.
News & Deals ·
Why Smart Home Cameras Keep Getting Cheaper in 2026
Smart cameras now start under $30. We analyze the manufacturing, subscription, and chip economics driving the collapse, and what consumers lose in the trade.
Smart Home ·
How to Set Up Your First Matter Smart Home in 2026
A no-fluff Matter setup walkthrough for 2026: prerequisites, controller choice, the 6 steps most tutorials skip, and the 3 failures that bite everyone.
Gift Guides ·
Best Gifts for Smart Home Beginners in 2026
Smart home gifts that prove their value in week one. No hub purchase required, no surprise add-ons, no app setup nightmares. Eight picks we'd actually wrap.
News & Deals ·
Matter Controllers Explained in 2026: Which Hub to Pick
Matter is the protocol, but you still need a controller to orchestrate it. Here's every 2026 hub option, what counts as a Thread border router, and how to pick.
News & Deals ·
Tariffs and Tech Prices: What 2026 Shoppers Need to Know
How 2025-2026 US tariffs reshaped consumer tech pricing, which categories took the biggest hits, and what shoppers should actually do about it now.
Holidays & Events ·
Best Halloween Smart Home Decor 2026: Apps, Projectors, Fog
The 2026 Halloween smart home decor picks we'd actually buy: Govee, AtmosFX, smart fog machines, motion-sync sound boxes, and the gear that earns its plug.
Holidays & Events ·
Cyber Monday 2026 Smart Home Deals: What's Actually Worth Buying
Cyber Monday is where smart home bundles drop hardest. We map the categories worth waiting for, the price floors to expect, and the Matter traps to avoid.
Smart Home ·
Best Smart Plugs for Beginners in 2026: What to Buy First
Smart plugs are the cheapest way into a smart home, but most of them are junk. Here are the 7 we'd actually buy in 2026, and the ones to skip.
Smart Home ·
Best Smart Doorbells in 2026: Ring vs Nest vs Eufy
Ring rents you your own footage. Nest hides features behind Google Home Premium. Eufy keeps it local. Here's how we'd actually pick in 2026.
Smart Home ·
Best Robot Vacuums Under $300 in 2026: No-Hype Buying Guide
Sub-$300 is the sweet spot for robot vacuums in 2026. Six picks ranked by navigation, battery life on rugs, and app reliability. Skip the suction-arms race.
Smart Home ·
Best Smart Thermostats Worth the Money in 2026
We tested the 2026 smart thermostat lineup against real utility bills. Seven picks that actually save money, plus the ones to skip if you own a heat pump.
Smart Home ·
Best Smart Locks for Renters in 2026: No-Drill Picks
Renter-friendly smart locks that go over your existing deadbolt: no drilling, no hardware swap, no lost security deposit. Seven picks tested for 2026.
Smart Home ·
Smart Home Starter Kit: First 5 Devices We Recommend (2026)
Forget 40-device buying guides. Here are the 5 smart home devices to buy first in 2026, in order, under $400 total. Plus what to skip for now.
Smart Home ·
Best Smart Blinds for Renters in 2026: No-Drill Picks
Renter-friendly smart blinds that clip onto your existing rod or use rechargeable batteries: no wiring, no drilling, no lost deposit. Seven picks for 2026.
Smart Home ·
Matter-Compatible Products Buying Guide for 2026
We sort the Matter-actually-works picks from the Matter-ready marketing. Eight categories, real requirements, and the firmware traps to dodge in 2026.
DIY & Kits ·
Best DIY Smart Home Sensor Kits for 2026
DIY smart home sensors for 2026 that beat proprietary kits on price and control. Zigbee, mmWave, and ESPHome picks tested against Home Assistant.