Gear / Products / Smart Home

Honorable Mentions We haven’t tried a vacuum yet that we absolutely hate. These ones below are solid vacuums, and in some cases are much cheaper than our top picks, but we didn’t like them as much. Bissell IconPet Turbo Edge for $200: Bissell’s OG stick vacuum is a popular model …

Honorable Mentions Aeezo 9-inch frame $90: This frame will do the job, but the app—the Frameo app, rather than a dedicated Azeeo app, which we’ve seen on other cheap frames as well—isn’t nearly as streamlined as pricier counterparts. They’re better that other cheap options we’ve tested, but, like Cozyla, they …

Using an Eero mesh system without the Eero Plus subscription limits you to a basic set of options. You can schedule Wi-Fi downtime, set up a guest network, and use your Eero as a smart home hub. That might be enough for most, but here’s what you get if you …

More Sunrise Alarm Clocks We’ve Tried Photograph: Nena Farrell Vivilumens Sunrise Alarm Clock for $36: This sunrise alarm works fine but seems better suited as a desk lamp than a true sunrise alarm. But it could be a fun pick if you live in a studio and need a device …

The ideal smart home seamlessly anticipates your needs and instantly responds to commands. You shouldn’t have to open a specific app for each appliance or remember the precise voice command and voice assistant combination that starts the latest episode of your favorite podcast on the nearest speaker. Competing smart home …

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E devices certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance must support WPA3, but it’s not exclusive to the new standard. You can find Wi-Fi 5 routers with WPA3 support, and some manufacturers are rolling it out onto older devices via firmware updates. It is also backward compatible. Most …

Honorable Mentions Shark FlexBreeze Hydro Go for $130: I love the original Shark FlexBreeze (above), so I was very excited to see Shark had released a rechargeable portable fan in seven colors, including ones not normally seen in fans like Lilac and Honeydew. Shark says it can run 30 minutes …

Odds are, at this point you’ve probably seen or know someone who has a smart bird feeder. They’re fairly recognizable from a distance with their clear housing, cameras, and solar panels, and perhaps a friend or family member has sent you a photo or video of a bright goldfinch or …

Others We Tested Photograph: Kat Merck Els Pet Orbitie for $269: This is one of the least expensive fully enclosed automatic litter boxes (there’s almost always a “coupon” for $100 off the list price of $369). It functions much like the more expensive models, with an internal 65-liter-capacity orb that …

This model from Petcube attempts to combine popular laser toys that cats go crazy for with a pet security cam, to mixed results. Like many other cameras from the brand’s lineup, it has crystal clear color and night vision, an extrawide view, two-way audio, and fun features available with the …