Category
Smart Home & Security Reviews
Doorbell cams, security cameras and the hubs that tie your house together — reviewed by the critics, summarized honestly here.
Looking for a recommendation? See our best Smart Home picks.
Video doorbells
Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) Review: The Clear Verdict
Tom's Guide, TechRadar and WIRED agree that the battery-powered Nest Doorbell combines clear HDR footage, useful smart alerts and flexible installation with one of the category's cleanest designs. Free detection for people, animals and packages adds real value. The trade-off is a Google-focused ecosystem, limited free video history and no pre-event recording. Its battery also cannot be swapped, so charging means downtime.
Ring Battery Doorbell Pro Review: Is It Worth Buying?
Reviewers agree that the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is a powerful wireless option for shoppers who want advanced motion tracking without running power cables. Tom's Guide and Trusted Reviews praise its radar-based 3D Motion Detection, clear head-to-toe video and removable battery. CNET also reports excellent visual and audio clarity. The trade-offs are equally clear: it is bulky, expensive, loaded with controls that may overwhelm beginners, and dependent on an increasingly costly cloud subscription for its best value.
Air purifiers
Levoit Core 400S Review: The Critics’ Verdict
Critics agree that the Levoit Core 400S is an effective, approachable smart air purifier. Tom's Guide praised its quick, quiet cleaning and easy controls, while Engadget made it its best overall air purifier after it repeatedly cleared test-room pollution in about 30 minutes on high. CNET also recorded good cleaning performance, but found that the Blueair 311i Max performed better in a similar package. The Core 400S makes the strongest case below $200, especially if you value automatic operation and app control.
Mesh Wi-Fi
Amazon Eero Pro 7 review: should you buy it?
PCMag and Engadget both report strong wireless performance from the Eero Pro 7, while PCMag also praises its broad coverage and simple setup. It adds 6GHz Wi-Fi, 320MHz channels, 5GbE and useful smart-home standards. The honest trade-off is Eero's software model. Engadget strongly criticizes the subscription pressure, missing traffic-priority controls and limited network information, while PCMag also flags the paywall despite naming it an Editors' Choice.
Robot vacuums
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Review: The Critics’ Verdict
Critics report that the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is a powerful, highly automated robot vacuum and mop with strong carpet cleaning, accurate mapping, extensive app controls and unusually good edge coverage. Its dock handles much of the routine maintenance, including detergent dispensing and mop cleaning. The trade-off is a very high price, and reviewers disagree about its consistency: Trusted Reviews praised its obstacle avoidance, while PCMag saw it run over objects and found its hard-floor performance behind the cheaper Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni. TechRadar also encountered buggy advanced features.
Security systems
SimpliSafe Home Security System Review: The Clear Verdict
Critics consistently recommend SimpliSafe to shoppers who want a customizable security system without a long contract or difficult installation. CNET praised its compact hardware, broad sensor range and strong test performance, while TechRadar found the app intuitive and the alarm response quick. The honest trade-off is cost: adding equipment can become expensive, and Trusted Reviews found that important functionality, including app control in its tested market, depended on the highest subscription tier. Smart-home integration is also more limited than with automation-focused rivals.
Security cameras
Arlo Pro 5S Review: The Critics’ Clear Verdict
Reviewers agree that the Arlo Pro 5S delivers excellent 2K video, unusually capable color night vision, fast notifications, and flexible security automations. WIRED rated it 9/10 and praised its handling of difficult lighting, while Tom’s Guide called it a stellar camera for buyers who accept the cost. That cost is the problem: the camera was listed at $250, and many desirable features sit behind an ongoing Arlo Secure subscription.
Thermostats
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review: Honest Verdict
Reviewers agree that the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is unusually capable. It combines heating and cooling controls with a remote occupancy sensor, broad smart-home support, air-quality monitoring, Alexa and security features. PCMag gave it an Editors' Choice award, while Tom's Guide called it the best smart thermostat it had tested over the preceding few years. The trade-off is clear: it costs about $250, some features require a subscription, and its built-in speaker is better for voice commands than music.
Smart hubs
Amazon Echo Hub Review: The Clear Buying Verdict
Reviewers consistently describe the Amazon Echo Hub as a focused, touch-first control panel rather than another entertainment-heavy smart display. Its customizable interface makes lights, locks and other connected devices easier to check and control, while the built-in smart-home hub covers several major standards. The trade-off is clear: it costs more than an Echo Show 8 despite having weaker speakers, no camera and fewer media features. It makes the most sense in an established Alexa home with more than a handful of devices.