Move aside, Shark ChillPill – Blueair has entered the handheld fan space with its first-ever AlwaysCool handheld fan. As part of Blueair’s new Comfort collection, the Blueair AlwaysCool fan is powerful, compact and surprisingly quiet – although UK shoppers will be sad to hear that it’s currently only available in the US.

Handheld, portable fans have taken over the air treatment market this year, with Dyson, Shark and now Blueair launching their own models. As the current summer heatwave has everyone draped over the nearest fan, having a handheld option is great for instant cooling relief while you’re on-the-go.

Blueair has clearly seen a gap in the market for this, and has launched its very own portable, handheld model, the Blueair AlwaysCool fan. It almost looks like a hair dryer, but it has a lay-flat design that can sit on your desk or be held in your hand. It’s also available in three colours – Night Charcoal, Cloud Linen and Arctic Sage.

The best part of the design is the tilting head which allows you to adjust the fan’s airflow from 0–75°. It has an LCD display which shows its speed settings and battery life, and it has up to 100 speeds to choose from.

Using AeroSilent technology, the Blueair AlwaysCool fan has a strong airflow that can get up to 17mph. Despite its speed and 100 settings, the fan is surprisingly quiet as it powers at a maximum noise level of 46dB. On its lowest setting, it expels 23dB of noise.

What sets the Blueair AlwaysCool fan apart from models like the Shark ChillPill and Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is its battery life. With its 5200mAh battery, the Blueair AlwaysCool fan can be used for up to 32 hours on a single charge! This is triple the amount of time that the Shark ChillPill offers. Of course, this huge battery life will likely be when it’s continuously used at the lowest setting but it’s impressive nonetheless.

The Blueair AlwaysCool fan is available to buy for $59.99 at Blueair and select retailers, like Amazon. At launch, the Blueair AlwaysCool fan is discounted to $50.99 at Blueair and $47.99 at Amazon. At time of writing, UK pricing and availability of the Blueair AlwaysCool fan has yet to be announced.

Seeing as both the Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven and Electric Smoker went down extremely well at T3 Towers, we have been chomping at the bit (or should that be burned sausage?) to have a go with Ninja’s take on a propane grill.

But like the two aforementioned five-star items, Ninja cleverly pairs its expertise in electricity with the support of propane gas to create what it claims to be a true 5-in-1 outdoor cooking solution that’s just as happy banging out burgers and searing steaks as it is slow-roasting an entire bird.

The premise is relatively simple: it fuses a standard three-burner system with a cyclonic fan that gets the unit up to temperature in record time, as well as circulating heat and smoke evenly around the food inside. Flavoured smoke comes courtesy of a small pellet burner that sits next to the unit, which pumps out smoke for the fan to draw in and swirl around the culinary masterpiece for genuine barbecue flavours.

Ninja’s claim of 5-in-1 versatility also comes from the fact that it will sell you a pizza stone and flat-plate or plancha griddle separately, which adds a further three cooking methods to the existing grill, smoke and roast functions.

It’s a handsome unit, available in four colours (the blue and green look the smartest), but it’s not exactly cheap and, as you'll see in this review, it takes a fair amount of assembly to get it set up. But before I give anything away, here's my full Ninja FlexFlame review.

Ninja FlexFlame review: price and availability

In the UK, the Ninja FlexFlame currently costs £999.99 / $999.99, but this is for just the barbecue itself. Ninja throws in a small bag of wood pellets for free, which is enough for one cook.

There’s also a 5-in-1 bundle, which is very much worth the extra money, as it includes a plancha grill surface, pizza stone, pizza peel and a waterproof cover — important if you want the FlexFlame to stay looking fresh after a few winters.

This bundle is currently priced at £949.99, down from its original RRP of £1,249.99, although the items can all be purchased separately.

It is worth noting that you’ll need patio gas to run it, as well as access to mains power, although it will work if you happen to have portable power stations, such as those from EcoFlow and Jackery, which are capable of delivering DC output.

Ninja FlexFlame review: design and build

The Ninja FlexFlame arrives in an enormous box, which will require at least two people to lift into position. While the stand and panels aren’t particularly heavy, the main cooking grill weighs a ton, so you’ll need to rope those friends back in when it comes time to build.

For me, this was the most annoying part, as constructing the FlexFlame is akin to embarking on a complicated Ikea flat-pack project — the instructions are clear and simple, but set aside around two hours to get it done. There’s also a lot of packaging to store or get rid of afterwards.

Once built, it’s a handsome-looking thing and most of the surfaces feel robust and well made. The brass-coloured handle for the grill lid is a nice touch and the digital display for the precision burner control is easy to read in the sunshine.

If I was to get picky, the metal used for the side-mounted prep tables and front doors feels thin and flimsy, while the plastic dials would look and feel much better if they were made from something more robust.

As previously mentioned, it is well worth heading out to purchase a cover, as I am not convinced it wouldn’t start rusting after a few torrential downpours. Similarly, the half- or full-griddle optional extras feel like essentials, as the gaps in the metal grill surface are large enough for kebabs and other smaller food items to easily fall between.

Alternatively, you can save a bit of money and pick up some inexpensive non-stick grill mats, which do a very similar job to a plancha for a fraction of the price.

Ninja FlexFlame review: performance and features

The first thing to hit any new owner is just how fast the FlexFlame gets up to temperature, with Ninja suggesting a 10-minute pre-heat, but it can be far less if you’re happy not cooking on a molten 315°C searing surface.

Once plugged into the mains (or portable power, like I had to while my patio was being ripped up), it’s simply a case of selecting from the pre-set cooking modes via the precision burner dial. These include roasting or baking, low-and-slow cooking, and grilling or searing.

There’s further control over the temperature via a dedicated temperature dial, while the digital read-out indicates which gas burners are active. This is another clever and well-thought-out feature, as it allows for precise, slow roasts with the middle burner deactivated in bake or roast mode to ensure outer layers or skins of meat aren’t burnt to a crisp.

It’s also possible to cook with just the front two burners running, allowing vegetables and other more delicate foodstuffs to cook slowly at the rear.

During one cook-out, I placed some fresh corn on the top rack, well away from the grill surface itself, and, over the course of a full BBQ session (chicken, pork belly and some burgers, yum), it was beautifully soft with a tasty exterior crunch (yummier).

The woodfire smoker box also allows budding chefs to inject more flavour, with plenty of control over how much smoke is entering the cooking chamber. Simply fill the small hopper with Ninja-approved pellets, hit the big button and wait around 10 minutes for it to ignite.

It generally kicks out a lot of smoke and you’ll need to leave the lid down to get the most out of these aromatic flavours (the cyclonic fan automatically shuts off when the lid is opened anyway), but it’s potent enough to give a light woodfire hint to burgers, steaks and chicken when grilling.

Set the FlexFlame to low-and-slow or roast mode and the charring really penetrates the meat or vegetables that you have in there. I roasted a whole chicken one Sunday with Ninja’s All-Purpose Blend pellets and the meat was delicious — a rich, smoky flavour to the crispy skin, but with fantastically moist meat underneath.

The possibilities are near endless when it comes to cooking an array of food in a variety of styles and, while it is difficult to beat a real charcoal barbecue, the addition of these woodfire pellets aims to make up for some of the shortcomings.

Ninja FlexFlame review: verdict

The Ninja FlexFlame is incredibly easy to use and works brilliantly as a standard outdoor gas grill, but it also makes up for its lofty price tag with the ability to cook in multiple ways.

More adventurous chefs can spend hours slowly smoking an entire pork shoulder, while family pizza night is dead simple if you throw a pizza stone onto the surface.

Simply because it ignites and heats up so quickly, I found myself using it whenever the weather was good enough to cook outdoors. It’s very easy to clean, requiring only a quick scrub of the enamel-coated cast-iron grates and the occasional emptying of the included fat tray, which can also be tossed in the dishwasher.

In essence, it takes everything that’s brilliant about Ninja’s electric barbecue grill and smoker technology and beefs it up with a 425-square-inch cooking surface and the ability to open the lid and cook just like you can on a good old-fashioned gas grill.

Struggling to stay cool in the UK heatwave? Well, an unlikely saviour has come out the woodwork. Global retailer Lidl has just launched a new range of fan and air conditioners in its stores. Starting from today, you can get tower, desk, handheld and bladeless fans for as little as £7.99.

P.S. Right now, the Prime Day sale is on where you can find low prices on fans and air con units – I've included some picks below.

The 30+ degree heatwave is all anyone has been talking about this week. Almost every home has a fan or two blasting to help manage the hot temperatures, but if you left it until last minute to upgrade your fan or air conditioner, you’ll find that prices on these devices are pretty high due to the increased demand.

But one retailer that’s come to save the day is Lidl. Hitting stores on 25th June, Lidl has six fan and air conditioner options available to help you manage the extreme temperatures.

Starting with the air conditioner models, the Tronic 3-in-1 Air Conditioner acts as an air conditioner, fan and dehumidifier in one device. Priced at £149, the Tronic 3-in-1 Air Conditioner has two fan speeds that offer cooling relief while also removing humidity from the air.

Next is the Tronic Portable Air Cooler which comes with three speed settings to choose from, and as the name suggests, it’s designed to move with you around your house for instant relief. At £14.99, it’s one of the cheaper options from the new range, and it comes with a dimmable LED mood light.

The fan range is what I’d recommend buying at Lidl this week. I’ve already covered the Tronic Large Bladeless Fan and still think it’s an admirable option with 20 speeds and four modes. It’s definitely a worthwhile Dyson bladeless fan dupe, and at £59.99, it’s still very affordable.

Lidl has covered all bases with its Tronic fan collection, as you can pick from tower, portable and desk options. The Tronic Portable Fan is a personal favourite as it keeps you cool while on the go. Available in black, white or pink, this handheld fan has low, medium and high speeds, and a flat base so you can stand it upright on a desk if needed.

The fan head of the Tronic Portable Fan can also be tilted to cover more areas. As a cordless model, it has a power light indicator and an integrated, rechargeable battery. Yes, it’s simple but it does the trick and at £7.99, it’s cheap and cheerful, especially for those who are travelling in this hot weather.

Google was one of the first to offer face detection on its Nest cameras in 2017. The popular feature came to Nest Hello (Google's doorbell) and was pretty unique until Amazon started offering Familiar Faces too, more recently.

Google is expanding the skills that Google Home offers, and included in that is more advanced Familiar Faces functionality. This includes additional markers to help identify who is at the door.

For those paying for the Advanced plan, that will now also use clothing to help identify a person when their facial details aren't visible. The expansion is outlined in the release notes for Google Home, while a greater explanation is given on the Familiar Faces page.

Google says: "We also use additional non-biometric signals (body size, clothing colour, etc.) to help make Familiar Faces work better when a subject's face is not visible."

Familiar Faces works by asking the user if they recognise a face and allowing them to store those faces that they do know. This allows for identification of frequent visitors, so they can be announced to the homeowner when they come to the door.

The expansion should mean that the camera can recognise people when their face is covered. Whether it will be able to recognise people in fancy dress will take some testing, but it's likely to be designed to add peace of mind for those relying on the service but find it less effective in some conditions – for example in bad weather.

This isn't the only way that Google identifies clothing: the company also recently added the identification of clothing in an outfit to Circle to Search, the idea being that you then go on to buy those things.

Beyond that, Google also offers Google Photos Wardrobe, where it will recognise clothing that you own to help you piece together a new outfit and try them on virtually.

However, features like Familiar Faces raise a number of privacy concerns, surrounding the lack of consent for those who have their faces captured and stored digitally. Indeed, that's seen Amazon facing a class action lawsuit as a result.

While clever AI features might sound great, privacy remains a big problem, with the UK government outlining that using security cameras that capture those outside your property would see the owner bound by General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).

Ninja’s done it again! The brand known for designing and manufacturing the best air fryers has just launched the Crispi DualZone Air Fryer, an upgraded version of its glass air fryer – but there’s a catch for those who live in the UK.

When Ninja debuted its Crispi air fryer back in 2025, many people were surprised by its looks. Ninja is no stranger to weird and whacky designs, but a glass air fryer came as a shock to many. But while it might look odd, having a glass ‘basket’ allows you to see your cooking progress without having to open the air fryer.

Since then, Ninja has launched a Pro version of the Crispi, but it’s the new Ninja Crispi DualZone Air Fryer that I’m most excited about. As the name suggests, the Ninja Crispi DualZone now comes with two glass ‘baskets’ or containers that slot into the main air fryer’s pod.

Ninja is arguably best known for its dual zone technology, and this is now available on the Ninja Crispi DualZone, making it the first glass air fryer to use this type of tech. This means you can now cook two different meals in either zone at different temperatures, timings and settings at the same time.

Each ‘basket’ can be used independently or simultaneously, and the Ninja Crispi DualZone comes with SmartFinish, so both meals finish cooking at the same time. It also comes with the MatchCook feature which mirrors the settings across both zones so you can make more food than before.

The way the Ninja Crispi DualZone works is the ‘pod’ clicks on to the glass container, so I was curious to find out how it would attach to two containers instead of one. But according to Ninja, the ‘baskets’ slide in from the front and lock into place which seems safer and easier than how it would attach before.

Like all Ninja air fryers, the Ninja Crispi DualZone comes with six functions, including air fry, bake, roast, max crisp, recrisp and dehydrate. Powered by 1785 watts, the Ninja Crispi DualZone offers an eight-quart capacity combined, with four quarts in each container. Alongside the two containers, the air fryer also comes with storage lids and crisper plates.

The Ninja Crispi DualZone Air Fryer is available to buy for $349.99 at Ninja in bone, cyberspace, rose quartz and vista green colours. As of writing, it’s not yet available in the UK which is the slight catch with this product.

Typically with Ninja, products are launched in the US first before arriving in the UK but this can take a while – and I’m impatient! But I hope to see the Ninja Crispi Dual Zone arrive later in the year.

Lidl has done it again! To coincide with this week’s scorcher of a heatwave, Lidl has added the Silvercrest Ice Cream Maker to select stores around the UK – and the price will seriously shock you.

It goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway – it is absolutely boiling right now in the UK. I love the hot weather so I’m not complaining, but it’s so hot that I’m having to sleep in my second bedroom, and I’m currently writing this while a fan blasts me in the face.

All that being said, the warmer temperatures are something to enjoy (safely, I might add) and Lidl is certainly doing so with its latest product to hit the middle aisle. The Silvercrest Ice Cream Maker is a traditional ice cream machine that’s compact, easy to use, and has an impressive capacity, especially for the price.

Today’s ice cream makers are speedier than ever, but if you want a model that takes its time churning the creamiest ice creams, then you’ll like the Silvercrest Ice Cream Maker. To make ice cream or sorbet in the Silvercrest Ice Cream Maker, you’ll need to make and freeze your mixture the night before – this isn’t too dissimilar to how the popular Ninja Creami operates.

Once your mixture is frozen, the Silvercrest Ice Cream Maker sets about churning your frozen dessert. It has a maximum 1.65-litre capacity which can make up to 1-litre of ice cream, and you can add mix-ins, like chocolate, nuts or fruit via the lid at the top of the machine.

The Silvercrest Ice Cream Maker is what I’d describe as ‘small but mighty’. It’s extremely compact, so won’t take up much room in your kitchen, and has a powerful detachable motor that alternates directions to really hit that churning motion. Simply put, it’s exactly what you need for this week’s heatwave.

The SilverCrest Ice Cream Maker is available in select Lidl stores for £14.99. Compared to other ice cream machines, like the Ninja Creami, this might be the cheapest ice cream maker on the market.

Calling all House of the Dragon fans! Govee and HBO’s House of the Dragon have just collaborated on new fantasy-themed smart lighting scenes, so you can now watch the new series in a more colourful and immersive way.

This isn’t the first time Govee has collaborated with a movie or TV series. Designed to make your entertainment set-up more fun and customisable, Govee has previously teamed up with Warner Bros on Dune: Part Two lighting scenes, as well as Disney with Zootopia 2 lighting effects.

Its latest collaboration with House of the Dragon coincides with the third season of the popular TV series which debuted on June 21st 2026. Fans of the series can now use three House of the Dragon-themed light scenes while they watch the next season, and while using the Govee TV Backlight collection.

The Govee TV Backlight range features the TV Backlight 3, the TV Backlight 3 Lite and the TV Backlight 3 Pro. All three smart lights use a camera colour matching system, featuring 4MP dual camera sensors, to respond to on-screen colours in real time and extend the colour and brightness to the wall behind your TV.

To fully immerse you in the House of Dragon universe, Govee and HBO have co-designed three colourful light scenes that you can use while watching the new series. Available via the Govee app, the lighting scenes work best with the TV Backlight collection but they can also be used with other Govee lights as part of its smart home ecosystem.

The scenes available are Dracarys, Fire & Blood and Green Reign. Starting with my favourite, Dracarys is a combination of amber and ember colours which is designed to look like dragon’s fire. Fire & Blood is darker with shades of crimson and obsidian which is meant to represent Targaryen banners, and Green Reign is (unsurprisingly) green and gold.

Aside from the new lighting scenes, the Govee Home app also has a fun House of the Dragon-themed skin to make your streaming and lighting even more connected. After all, who doesn’t want to visit Westeros and walk among dragons?!

The Govee x House of the Dragon lighting scenes are available to try now.

Following the announcement of its Google Home Speaker, Google has officially discontinued its Nest Mini and Nest Audio devices. This probably comes as no surprise to some, but if you’re an existing Nest Mini and Audio user, this is what the discontinuation means for you.

Google launched its first ever smart speaker back in 2016, and added to its portfolio with the Nest Mini in 2019, and the Nest Audio in 2020. After these launches, Google didn’t announce any new speakers or plans to expand the collection, until leaks started to appear in 2025 about its upcoming Google Home Speaker.

After months of speculation, the Google Home Speaker was officially announced last week, and it’s currently available for pre-order. Not only does the Google Home Speaker have a completely new design that the brand hasn’t used before, but it also uses Gemini for Home instead of Google Assistant.

Following the launch news, it was announced that the Nest Mini and Nest Audio speakers would be retired and replaced by the Google Home Speaker. As quoted by a Google spokesperson in conversation with TechRadar about the future of its smart home, “As part of this evolution, we have ended production of the Google Nest Mini and Google Nest Audio.”

What this means is you can no longer buy Google Nest Mini or Audio devices from Google, as it shows as ‘out of stock’ on their website. Some third-party retailers do still sell them though, but if you want a Google speaker, you’re better off buying the new Google Home Speaker when it comes out.

But existing Nest Mini and Audio users don’t need to worry. Google will continue to fully support the devices with regular software and security updates, so you don’t need to replace your speaker if you don’t want to.

What’s better is Gemini for Home – which replaces Google Assistant on the Google Home Speaker – is compatible with existing Google devices, so it’s still accessible on your Nest speakers.

I jumped at the chance to review the Roborock Qrevo S Pro. Why? Because it is a robot vacuum and mop and the thought of something else cleaning the floors was a huge relief.

The reality was no different. I’ve been releasing the Roborock Qrevo S Pro on a daily roam around the ground floor of my home, to vacuum the carpets and rugs and mop the hard wooden floors. It has been two weeks and so far, so good.

I’ve challenged it with deliberately dropped dried cereals and the daily debris bought in by a young family. It certainly had its work cut out for it. Keep reading to see if it’s the best robot vacuum cleaner for your household, or if you’re going to stick with the best cordless vacuum after all.

Price and availability

The Roborock Qrevo S Pro is available to buy for a cool £549.49, either direct from the brand or a go-to favorite reseller, Amazon.

While it was only just launched at the end of April 2026, this robot vacuum and mop combo regularly takes a discount. For example, right now it’s discounted by 15% which takes the price you pay down to £479.99.

Regardless of where you buy it from, Roborock or Amazon, you’ll get free delivery and free returns. This alone will save a small fortune because I would consider it a “bulky” item to ship.

Unboxing and set up

The Roborock Qrevo S Pro is one of the easiest smart devices I have ever tested. It’s a bold claim, I know, but in fewer than five minutes I had all the hardware to this robot and mop combo set up and connected to the Roborock app on my phone.

This was helped by the Quick Start Guide which is included in the package contents. On this sheet of A3 laminated card were printed five steps to installation and four steps to connect to the app. Also included were mop cloth mounts, a user manual, the robot itself, a power cord and the dock.

I located my Qrevo S Pro, aka “Richard”, in our hallway backed against the wall. This is a hard, wood floor situated between the lounge at the front of the house and the kitchen/diner to the rear. It’s recommended that the dock is positioned on a hard, flat floor and flat against the wall, with a minimum radius of 0.4m wide and 1.2m depth of non-obstructive space around it.

With the dock base attached to the main dock (it's removable for easier cleaning), power cord connected to the back of the dock, water tank filled up and the mop cloth mounted, all that’s left to do is download the app and follow the on-screen instructions.

The maiden voyage of the Qrevo S Pro will be to map the floor space that you want cleaned. If there are any rooms that you don’t want cleaned for whatever reason then just shut the door; our “Richard” soon got the hint.

Design and features

On paper, the Roborock Qrevo S Pro is packed full of features; precise mapping and obstacle avoidance, 18,500Pa suction and anti-tangle system, dual liftable spinning mops, 65-days without dustbag emptying, 45°C high temperature cleaning and 75°C warm air self drying.

The reality is no different.

It maps the space/s you want cleaned on the maiden voyage. It took our “Richard” a couple of attempts because a door to a room was shut during the mapping process and a few too many dining chairs (each with four legs) caused a bit too much of an obstacle course to navigate.

While the map doesn’t appear to update after each clean, certainly each cleaning course is different when “Richard” is working its way across the floors. With two young children in the house, there are always toys around – and the toy storage moves with it. This means that no two cleaning routes are the same, but “Richard” takes this in its stride and just cleans what it can get to by dodging any obstacles.

I have to admit that I don’t have a way to measure the suction being promised. However, I can hear that the suction is adjusted as “Richard” transitions between the carpets, rugs and hard flooring. I also can not see any hairs in a tangle on the roller bar or side brush.

It does also feature two mops that rotate when cleaning, and lift while vacuuming. It does look as though these mops are dragged across the carpet and rugs, but I haven’t noticed any dampness on its route to report.

After two weeks of testing “Richard” at least once-a-day I can see that both mop pads look (and smell) clean. I can not see any obvious staining and I’m satisfied that they will continue to clean the floor, rather than make it dirty again.

These two mop pads are positioned on the underside of the Roborock Qrevo S Pro, alongside the all-rubber main brush which, as we’ve explored, doesn’t get into a tangle with hair.

This main brush is nestled between two wheels with an enhanced omni-wheel featuring a built-in brush that aims to reduce maintenance. Furthermore, a side brush on the top left of the robot & mop combo will sweep crumbs and debris into the path of the main brush for banishing to the dustbag.

Flip over to the otherside and there are two buttons – “Home” and “Stop”. Both are self explanatory but "Stop” will ultimately pause the Qrevo S Pro mid-task and “Home” will send it back to base. Above these two buttons is a crumb catcher that can be accessed by lifting up the top cover. There's also the all-important Precisense LiDAR-based navigation system in a dome-like cap which will scan the space when creating a map.

Then, at either end of the vacuum & mop combo are structured light sensors that detect and steer away toys, socks and furniture – steer through, as I’ve found. Though I wouldn’t recommend it for fear of losing anything, it can be said that you may be able to get away from tidying before setting off the Qrevo S Pro.

Measuring h3.8 x w13.8in, the robot vacuum and mop will easily slip under most furniture and cupboards to clean those floors that don’t often see the light of day. It weighs just 0.7lbs also so it’s easy to lift should you need to move it or look underneath it for anything that may become lodged (like a sock).

The dock on the other hand measures h20.4 x w19.2 x d13.4in. This is where the Qrevo S Pro will empty, clean and recharge itself. It has a 4-litre clean water tank which can be easily lifted and removed for refilling. Similarly, the dirty water tank has the same capacity and ease of removal.

A dustbag is located at the front of the dock behind a cover. I’ve been testing our Qrevo S Pro, “Richard” for at least two weeks, and I’ve yet to replace the disposable dust bag (it’s estimated that it’ll need replacing every 65 days). This dust bag is pre-installed upon arrival.

App

To control the Roborock Qrevo S Pro I could either use the two buttons on top of the vacuum, or the app. The Roborock app has a greater amount of customisation and control so I used it to activate most cleans, unless it was a scheduled clean – something else that you can do in the app.

Once the map had been established, and I was satisfied that it had accurately sussed out the space, I could select a preferred cleaning mode for each room depending on the floor type. I could also select the room I wanted to clean if I didn’t want “Richard” to clean our entire ground floor, and set routines for more personalised cleaning sequences.

The map also updates after every clean, like it was learning the space. After a week of test, it also identified a threshold without any prompt from me and added this to the map.

At any point during a clean I could also “Pause” the clean or “Return to Base” through the app. If I wanted to hand over the control over to another human in the house then I could also share the device with them although, of course, anyone can just press a button on vacuum to start a clean.

I also found it helpful to receive notifications when the water tank needed to be refilled, or when a sock had become lodged. You can, of course, disable these notifications if you want to tone down your phone's activity. Alternatively, the Qrevo S Pro can connect with Matter, Alexa, Google Home and Apple Siri for hands-free control.

Performance

I’ve been using the Roborock Qrevo S Pro at least once per day for two weeks to vacuum the carpets and mop the hard floors, and I wouldn’t be without it.

It effortlessly removes the majority of debris from the floors which has ultimately saved me the time it takes to clean and saved on the effort of reaching for the vacuum cleaner and mop. Our “Richard” sensed the difference in flooring as it moved between carpets and hard flooring, adjusting the suction accordingly and lifting / dropping the spinning mops.

As it worked its way around the mapped floor space and there was a person or item in its path, "Richard" navigated around the obstruction and continued to clean the remainder of the space. It then returned to where the obstruction was to finish the clean before returning to base.

However, it was totally hopeless at banishing larger dried cereal to the dustbin; multigrain hoops were swept around in circles or swept away from the path of the roller. Similarly, it doesn’t scrub the floor, only lightly wets it, so wet wheat biscuits remain cemented on the floor (until I can scrub it off).

There were also a couple of instances that the robot dragged a small toy along the floor, so make sure to lift anything off the floor that you don’t want dragged, or banished into the dustbin. I also found that socks can become lodged in the roller so try to ensure that these are picked up before a clean too.

It's one of the more bulkier robot vacuum and mops that I have tested also, so it's a bit cumbersome when manouvering around furniture and seems to miss some of the floor area in the process. It's size also means that it can't always get down the sides of the sofa or, in my case, behind the hair chair in the kitchen which is next to the table unless I move it to be somewhere else in the way.

While it does remove the majority of debris from the floors, which is great, it does miss some. This seems to either be because the debris is on a textured rug so the 18,500Pa suction isn’t great enough, or the zig-zag cleaning pattern simply misses it.

The noise is also worth mentioning. I used a decibel meter reader app on my phone which measured; 70dB while emptying, 64dB while vacuuming, 52dB while mopping and 48dB while returning to base. It was quiet enough not to disturb us while vacuuming or mopping, but emptying was so loud that it temporarily drowned out the TV.

Maintenance

The Roborock Qrevo S Pro self-cleans so there is very little maintenance, although it will need a few things from you to keep in a working order.

For example, the water tank will need refilling every few days so it can keep mopping, and the dirty tank will require emptying every few days. You’ll know when to do this by the red light shown on the docking station, or a notification to your phone.

The dust bag will also need replacing every 65 days. These can be bought either direct from Roborock or Amazon for £31.99 (pack of 6). Speaking of dust, the dock and vacuum would also benefit from dust-down – especially, if like “Richard”, yours is in black.

Verdict

If you don’t have a robotic robot and mop, and you have a variety of floor types, then the Roborock Qrevo S Pro should be at the top of your wishlist. It is a mid-range price tag but a high-end device that’ll sweep away most daily debris, so it’s a bit of a steal in my eyes.

I’ve tested several robotic vacuums in the past which have carried a much higher price tag. This may be because technology is much more advanced or production costs have reduced but, even so, for £599 (when not on sale) it’ll save you the time and hassle of cleaning the floors at the end of each day – especially if you have children.

If you only have a robot vacuum cleaner or a robot mop, this would also be a good upgrade because it is suitable for all floor types; carpets, rugs, tiled, sealed wood and stone.

Alternatives to consider

If you have your heart set on a robot vacuum and mop but are after a greater suction power, like double that of the Roborock, then the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra is our top choice. Our Senior Homes Writer, Lizzie Wilmot, shares that the combination of cutting-edge technologies create a level of automation that's just effortless, all pulled together with the impressive Dreamehome app.

If £1,399/€1,399/$1,799 for the Dreame is way off your budget, then let it be known that the SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ Pro is T3’s best affordable robot vacuum cleaner. It costs the same as the Roborock Qrevo S Pro but it’s smaller, measuring 24.8cm x 24.8cm x 9.2cm.

I’ve tried many sleep hacks in my time as T3’s Home Editor and resident sleep expert. From trying the military sleep method to drinking the Sleepy Girl mocktail, I’ve tried it all, and can give a definitive ruling over which sleep tricks actually work and which ones you can forget about.

But I recently found out that I’ve been unconsciously doing one of the best sleep tricks around – and you probably have too. If you’ve ever found yourself sticking a foot out of your duvet when you sleep, you’re actually setting yourself up for a great night’s sleep – and it’s scientifically proven!

According to Natalie Pennicotte-Collier, sleep expert at Mattress Next Day, sleeping with one foot outside of your duvet, especially on a hot night, is one of the few popular sleep hacks backed by science. She explains that it’s because “your body needs to drop its core temperature by one to two degrees to initiate and maintain healthy cycles of sleep.”

One of the easiest ways to cool your body is to cool the room itself. While it goes against our instincts – and as someone who’s always freezing, it really goes against mine – sleeping in a cold room is actually better for you. Similar to popping one leg out of your bed, the colder temperatures have been found to help you fall asleep faster, reduce your stress levels, and even improve your mood.

However, if (like me) sleeping in a cold room appalls you, it turns out your feet could be the answer – which is why the ‘one foot out the bed’ trick works so well. As Pennicotte-Collier states, “this is because the feet are one of the body’s key heat-release points. By exposing them to cooler air, you can encourage heat to escape more efficiently, helping to lower your core body temperature and support the natural process of falling asleep.”

So, keeping your feet slightly cooler than the rest of your body can have a positive impact on your sleep quality and quantity. With the upcoming summer season and heatwaves, sleeping with one foot outside your duvet is a quick, easy (and free!) trick to help regulate your temperature while trying to sleep through the higher temperatures.

If the heat is still keeping you awake though, try these 7 tips for sleeping in a heatwave, or upgrade to a cooling mattress pad.

As someone who reviews everything from the best coffee machines to robot vacuums, there are certain products that inevitably end up being delegated to my long-suffering partner. The best body groomers fall firmly into that category, and whilst I was technically overseeing the testing process, it's fair to say my role involved inspecting the results from a respectful distance and trying not to laugh.

The Manspot Body Trimmer is one of a growing number of affordable grooming tools promising a smoother and less stressful manscaping experience. With waterproofing, ceramic blades and a wallet-friendly price tag, it certainly ticks plenty of boxes on paper.

After several weeks of testing – mostly carried out by my partner, much to his delight – here's how the Manspot Body Trimmer performed.

Price and availbility

It doesn't get much cheaper than the Manspot Body Trimmer, which comes in at just £21.99 on Amazon. The Manspot version is available in either black or a stylish khaki green, whilst there's also a Ladyspot model offered in pink or purple.

Slightly unnecessary gendered marketing, but at least there are a few colour options to choose from.

Design and features

The Manspot Body Trimmer is designed as an all-in-one grooming tool for body hair, with a clear focus on comfort and ease of use in more sensitive areas. It has an ergonomic shape that sits comfortably in the hand, whilst the textured finish provides plenty of grip. It's also fully waterproof, allowing you to use it wet or dry and rinse it clean afterwards.

The trimmer uses a high-performance motor paired with an anti-cut blade system that's designed to minimise irritation, nicks and razor burn. The blades themselves are made from ceramic and aerospace-grade materials, which Manspot claims improve both durability and comfort during use. They're also intended to be more hygienic than some traditional blade materials, making them well suited to regular grooming.

The trimmer ships with four guide combs offering cutting lengths of 1.5mm, 3mm, 3-6mm and 9-12mm. The shortest guard delivers a very close trim, whilst the longer options give you a bit more flexibility depending on the look you're after.

Manspot claims the battery can last for up to 20 grooming sessions, or around 90 minutes of runtime from a single charge. Charging takes around 2.5 hours and is handled via USB-C, and there's also a small cleaning brush included in the box.

Performance

My partner actually started testing the Manspot Body Trimmer on his face first, simply to get a feel for how the trimmer handled. That said, I wouldn't recommend regularly using a body trimmer as your main facial grooming tool, as it's specifically designed for more sensitive areas of the body. If facial shaving is your priority, you're much better off sticking with one of the best electric shavers.

His first impression was how comfortable the trimmer felt in the hand. The ergonomic shape makes it easy to manoeuvre, whilst the soft-touch silicone provides plenty of grip. It feels secure to hold, which is particularly important if you're using it in the shower where things can quickly become slippery.

He also liked the blade width, which strikes a nice balance between covering larger areas efficiently whilst still being precise enough for more detailed grooming. Swapping between the included guards is equally straightforward thanks to the simple clip-on, clip-off design.

Moving onto the rest of his body, he was pleasantly surprised by the overall performance. Whilst it doesn't quite match the refinement of premium options like the Wahl Manscaper, it comfortably performs above what its price tag would suggest. The trimmer followed body contours well, delivered a neat trim and, most importantly, managed to avoid any uncomfortable pinches or nicks.

One thing he did note is that the Manspot Body Trimmer is fairly compact. Whilst that means it doesn't cover large areas quite as quickly as some bigger rivals, it makes it an excellent option to take travelling. As a result, it would have been nice to see Manspot include a travel pouch or storage case in the box, but considering the price, it's hardly a dealbreaker.

Verdict

The Manspot Body Trimmer is a budget-friendly grooming tool that prioritises comfort and safety over premium refinement. It performs reliably for everyday body grooming, especially in sensitive areas, and whilst it doesn’t quite reach the smooth efficiency of higher-end competitors, it still delivers impressive results for its price. Its compact size also makes it travel-friendly, though the lack of a storage pouch is a small but noticeable omission.

Alternatives to consider

If you're looking for another affordable body groomer, I'd also recommend the Philips Series 3000 Bodygroomer. It delivers an impressively smooth shave for the money and feels remarkably similar to Philips' more premium Series 7000 models, despite costing just over £40.

I also couldn't finish without mentioning the Wahl Manscaper, which remains our favourite body groomer overall. Not only is it competitively priced, but it combines a lightweight build with a comfortable rubberised grip and a handy LED display that shows both the selected cutting length and remaining battery life.

I travel a lot for work, and for obvious reasons, I take my electric toothbrush with me on all my trips. But after one journey, I got into my hotel room, unpacked my toiletries and found that my electric toothbrush was completely dead, even though I’d charged it beforehand.

After little deducing, I realised that when I’d packed my electric toothbrush, the contents in my bag must have accidentally pressed against the on/off button. So, while I was sitting on the plane, my toothbrush was working away, brushing absolutely nothing and draining the battery in the process.

I know what you’re thinking: this is why you put your electric toothbrush in its travel case – and you’d be right. Removing the brush head from the main body of the toothbrush, and storing it in its travel pouch helps guarantee your toothbrush won’t turn on and buzz away for hours, meaning you won’t lose use of it when you get to your destination.

But whether your electric toothbrush comes with a travel case or not, many of today’s electric toothbrushes don’t have detachable heads, in an effort to be more sustainable and create less waste. If this is the case for you, I recently found this ‘hidden’ travel lock feature which prevents your electric toothbrush from turning on accidentally – if only I’d known about this before!

The buttons on your electric toothbrush do a lot more than you might think. Aside from switching modes and turning on and off, your electric toothbrush’s controls can also ‘lock’ your toothbrush so you can save your battery and prolong the lifespan of its technology.

For most electric toothbrushes, you can activate the travel lock by pressing and holding the power button for up to five seconds. To ‘unlock’ your electric toothbrush, simply do the same. But some models are different, so I’ve listed how to use the travel lock on your toothbrush for Philips, Oral-B and SURI users.

How to use the travel lock on Philips electric toothbrushes

Philips electric toothbrushes all have similar methods for activating the travel lock. For Sonicare and ExpertClean models – we’re fans of the Philips Sonicare 7100 at T3 – you simply press and hold the power button for three seconds. To let you know the travel lock is on, the battery light will flash or a lock icon will show. Your toothbrush will also make a beeping noise.

The Philips DiamondClean brushes, like the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige, require you to press down the mode button instead of the power button.

How to use the travel lock on Oral-B electric toothbrushes

As Oral-B electric toothbrushes have gotten more advanced with each new generation, there are a couple of ways to turn on the travel lock. If your Oral-B iO toothbrush has a touchscreen, you can scroll through the settings to select the travel lock option. Alternatively, hold the power button for five seconds until a lock icon appears and the LED light around the head flashes.

For more recent Oral-B iO brushes, like the Oral-B iO6 and above, you can turn the travel lock on and off by using the Oral-B app. If your toothbrush is under iO6, like the Oral-B iO3, you’ll need to stick to holding down the power button – the same can be said for Pro and Smart toothbrushes.

How to use the travel lock on SURI electric toothbrushes

If you have a SURI toothbrush like the SURI 2.0, you simply need to press and hold the power button for five seconds. Above the button is a light which will flash orange to indicate it’s locked. The brush itself will also vibrate and beep.

As T3’s Home Editor, I’ve tested many different kitchen appliances over the years, but one that I try to avoid testing if I can is the (not so) humble air fryer. Before you all collectively gasp at your screens, I’m not the problem here – it’s my husband. He loathes air fryers, so as soon as I’ve tested an air fryer, I tend to give them away to a friend or family member who will use and appreciate them more.

But sadly for him, the day has come that I won’t be parting with an appliance, and we’re officially an air fryer household now. The air fryer that won me over? It’s the Tower AIRX AI air fryer.

A new launch from Tower, the Tower AIRX AI air fryer came out in late 2025, and as you can see by its product name, it uses AI technology and sensors to cook your food. Now, for me, the jury is still out over whether an air fryer needs AI but I loved using the Tower AIRX AI air fryer, and it’s now my go-to appliance for quick and easy cooking – here’s why.

Tower AIRX AI air fryer review: price and availability

The Tower AIRX AI air fryer is available to buy for £99.99 at Tower and select retailers, like Amazon, Boots and Dunelm. It comes in one colour, and with a removable grill plate. If you buy it at Tower, you can get a three year warranty on the Tower AIRX AI air fryer.

Tower AIRX AI air fryer review: design and features

The Tower AIRX AI air fryer is a single basket air fryer and has a streamlined design so it takes up minimal space in your kitchen. Despite being a single air fryer, the Tower AIRX AI air fryer has a generous capacity of eight litres, and the accompanying grill plate can divide up the drawer so you can cook in extra layers.

Tower uses Vortx technology for its air fryers, and the Tower AIRX AI air fryer is no exception. Powered by an 1500W motor, the Tower AIRX AI air fryer rapidly circulates hot air around food to cook up to 30% faster than an oven and reaches up to 200°C. It also cooks using little to no oil to make healthier meals.

Speaking of technology, the Tower AIRX AI air fryer is the first model from the brand to use AI technology. Inside the air fryer is a sensor that analyses the volume and heat of food within the basket, and calculates the right cooking time and temperature for your meal.

The Tower AIRX AI air fryer can be used both manually and automatically. It has six pre-sets to choose from – fries, steak, wings, prawns, fish and cupcake. All of this can be selected and customised via the HD TFT touchscreen display that sits at the top of the air fryer.

Tower AIRX AI air fryer review: performance

Visually, the Tower AIRX AI air fryer is great to look at. I don’t have a huge amount of countertop space in my kitchen, but the Tower AIRX AI air fryer took up hardly any room. The touchscreen is definitely a winner, as it’s organised neatly for each pre-set, and its manual controls are easy to use. It’s extremely clear and responsive, although at times, I had to press down hard to adjust the temperature.

I was slightly confused by the pre-sets on offer. I know that people tend to cook everything in their air fryer nowadays, but having cupcake and wings pre-sets over chicken and vegetables was surprising to me, as these are the most common foods to be cooked in an air fryer. I’d never normally cook steak in an air fryer either, but the steak pre-set worked nicely. It cooked well on the outside and gave it that nice char texture, and the inside was less cooked to retain that moisture and rawness, which I found impressive.

Other foods I used the Tower AIRX AI air fryer to cook were chicken, meatballs, bacon and vegetables. I really liked how the Tower AIRX AI air fryer cooked meat. For chicken, it didn’t dry it out and gave it a nice crust on the outside. I felt that it could make food a bit crispier but the results were still tasty and texturally pleasing.

I found the Tower AIRX AI air fryer to work exceptionally well without any oil. I’ve found with other air fryers a little oil is needed to avoid sticking but the Tower AIRX AI air fryer didn’t have an issue with this at all. It also handled marinated or saucy foods well, and while some sauces did stick to the bottom, the Tower AIRX AI air fryer was quick and easy to clean without any scrubbing or soaking involved.

My main issue with the Tower AIRX AI air fryer was its noise. While it cooked, it made hardly any noise but the beeping when it finished was incredibly loud and annoying. I also found that a shake reminder wasn’t available unless you’d selected a pre-set and I would have liked to have had that for the manual controls.

Tower AIRX AI air fryer review: verdict

For ease, speed and delicious results, I couldn’t recommend the Tower AIRX AI air fryer more. As dual baskets have taken over the air fryer space, the Tower AIRX AI air fryer shows that a single air fryer can be just as good, if not better, plus its eight litre capacity and additional grill plate makes more than enough food for everyone.

The design of the Tower AIRX AI air fryer is attractive and versatile, and is compact enough to sit in any sized kitchen. I can’t fault the cooking results either, and the clean-up was simple. At £99.99, I can ignore the beeping and the strange pre-sets, as the Tower AIRX AI air fryer is excellent value for money.

My verdict on whether you need AI in an air fryer is that I honestly don’t know. I didn’t really notice a difference between an AI air fryer and a non-AI air fryer, so I couldn’t tell you if it was needed.

Tower AIRX AI air fryer review: alternatives to consider

If it’s a single air fryer you’re after, the Instant Vortex Air Fryer is similar to the Tower AIRX AI air fryer in terms of looks and features. It’s easy to use, cooks food fast and has one-touch controls and a dial for easy customisation. It’s also got the same price as the Tower AIRX AI air fryer at £99.99.

Another great Philips single basket model is the Philips Air Fryer XXL. It might be a single basket but it’s a big’un with 1.4kg capacity which can feed up to six people. If it’s a larger capacity you want though, I’d actually recommend the Philips 4000 Series which is the brand’s stacked dual basket air fryer option. It might have two big baskets on top of each other, but it’s slim enough to fit comfortably in your kitchen.

Hate loud alarms? If you have smart lights set up in your house, you can use them as timers and alarms instead – here’s how.

Replacing your ‘normal’ light bulbs with smart ones is a must if you want to take advantage of thousands of colours, different brightness levels and remote use. There are plenty of handy tricks you can use your smart lights for – like having them tell you if someone’s broken into your house – but an underrated feature that I recently discovered is you can use your smart lights as timers.

A loud, blaring timer or alarm can get annoying very quickly. When I set a timer on my phone while I’m cooking, I always find myself nearly jumping out of my skin when it goes off. So, to avoid this, I’ve started using my Philips Hue smart bulb as a timer instead.

The Philips Hue app offers light alarms and timers, so it’s extremely easy to set these up if you have a Philips Hue lighting ecosystem. How the timers work is that you can set a specific lighting scene to show after a certain amount of time, or you can customise the light to turn from one colour to another, with the latter colour signalling that time is up.

In the Philips Hue app, head to the Automations section, tap ‘+’ and select Timer. From there, you can choose how long you want the timer to last which you can choose from as little as a minute and as long as 24 hours. Next, choose the room – you can choose a specific room or all rooms in your home with bulbs in – and pick the lighting scene or colour you want to show when the timer is up.

That’s it! Once you’ve set everything up, your timer will show up in the app with a play button next to it. To trigger the timer, simply press play and the timer will do everything for you.

I’ve found this to be extremely handy, and much less jumpy than when I use my phone timer! I have a cooking timer set up for 20 minutes for my kitchen light bulb, and when the timer ‘goes off’, the light flashes a bright pink colour. The possibilities really are endless with this, and can be used for multiple different timers and functions around your home.

This timer feature could also be used for waking you up in the morning in place of your phone alarm or alarm clock. It’s a handy trick which allows you to turn your smart lights into a wake up light if you want to wake up more naturally, and you want to take advantage of your existing lighting before making the move to an actual wake up light.

Ninja has just launched its new StaySharp Knife Set, and it features the smartest sharpener I’ve ever seen. The Ninja StaySharp KnifeSet comes with 13 knives and scissors, a storage block, and a built-in ceramic wheel sharpener which is designed to… well, make sure your knives stay sharp.

If there’s one thing to know about Ninja – and Shark as the two brands are owned by the same company – is that it pulls out all the stops with its names. From Foodi and Tasti to Creami and Slushi, Ninja’s product names tend to tell you exactly what they do, just like its new knife and sharpener set.

The aptly named Ninja StaySharp 13-Piece Knife Block and Removable Sharpener does exactly what it says on the tin. It comes with multiple knives, a block and removable sharpener, the latter of which can sit on the back of the block or be stored separately.

The sharpener is easily the most impressive part of the StaySharp Knife Set. It has a built-in ceramic wheel which is activated by the lever on the side. When you slot the knife into the sharpener, it sharpens at the right angles to restore your blades. Compared to other sharpeners, it’s a much safer way to bring your knives back to life.

The knives in question are German stainless steel knives. They’re rust-resistant and have an ergonomic handle with riveted grips so they’re comfortable to hold and handle. Within the set, you get 20cm chef and bread knives, 13cm Santoku knife, 9cm paring knife, six 11cm steak knives, and kitchen/herb scissors.

A lot of people overlook Ninja’s kitchenware in favour of its air fryers, but they really shouldn’t. I have a pots and pans set from Ninja that I’ve used for a couple of years now, and I’ve never been let down by them. Durable, induction hob-friendly and easy to clean, I really couldn’t fault them, and I imagine Ninja’s knife sets are just as impressive.

Available in black, cyberspace and stone gold colours, the Ninja StaySharp Knife Set is priced at £299.99. In the US, you can get a similar 10-piece set called the Ninja NeverDull Knife Set which costs $249.99.

Aldi has become something of a master at launching affordable versions of products everyone seems to be talking about. We've seen everything from the Ambiano 2-in-1 Microwave Air Fryer to the Aldi Wellness Lamp, and now the retailer has turned its attention to garden lighting.

The latest addition is the new Stainless Steel Spotlight, a simple but practical outdoor light designed to brighten areas of the garden that could benefit from further illumination. It's currently available in stores whilst stocks last and, at just £5.99, could easily be one of the cheapest solar-powered spotlights we've seen this year.

As with many Aldi Specialbuys, availability is limited, so if you're interested I'd recommend heading to your local store sooner rather than later. You can also use Aldi's stock checker online to see whether it's available before making the trip.

The Aldi Stainless Steel Spotlight features a durable metal construction and comes with an integrated ground stake, allowing it to be positioned almost anywhere in the garden. It's powered entirely by solar energy and uses three white LED bulbs to provide illumination once the sun goes down.

During the day, the spotlight charges in direct sunlight, storing energy ready to power the LEDs after dusk. That makes it a low-maintenance and energy-efficient addition to your outdoor space, with no wiring or electrical installation required.

Recent statistics have shown that Brits are trying to cook almost everything in their air fryer. But after seeing the results, there’s one food in the list which really shouldn’t go anywhere near your air fryer – here’s what it is and why.

I recently got an air fryer, which might come as a surprise to some as T3’s Home Editor. I’ve tested many over the years, but my husband has an aversion to air fryers so I tend to give them away to friends and family once I’m done testing. But the Tower air fryer that I’m currently using – review coming soon – has definitely converted me to the air fryer lifestyle.

I tend to cook most meat, like chicken and meatballs, in my air fryer now instead of the oven, as well as vegetables and potatoes. But after covering appliances for years, there are some foods I draw the line at cooking in an air fryer – see the 7 foods you should never cook in an air fryer for more details.

But it turns out I might be the only one who won’t use their air fryer to cook everything, as recent statistics have found that Brits are air frying almost anything they possibly can. Sourced by kitchen experts at Prestige, Brits are Google searching which foods you can cook in the air fryer – and the results are surprising.

According to Prestige, ‘can you air fry bacon’ is most commonly searched with 1,900 searches per month. Sausages are a close second at 1,200 monthly searches, with halloumi, steak and burgers following. Other foods like broccoli, corn on the cob and mushrooms also made the list, as well as pizza and garlic bread.

But the search that surprised me the most was ‘can you cook eggs in the air fryer’ which totalled to 600 monthly searches. If I can give you any advice as an air fryer reviewer, it’s that eggs should be the absolute last food you should cook in an air fryer.

Before I start getting a ton of angry emails, let me say this – eggs can be cooked in an air fryer. It just depends on the type of eggs you’re cooking. For example, fried eggs and omelettes are great in the air fryer, as they take minimal time and offer consistent results – cooked white and runny yolk for the former, and fluffy textures for the latter.

But there are three types of eggs I would never cook in an air fryer. The first is a boiled egg. Again, yes, you can cook a soft or hard boiled egg in an air fryer but if you ask me, it’s not worth the risk. I’ve seen far too many videos of people taking boiled eggs out of the air fryer and then the egg exploding.

Boiled eggs tend to explode like this in air fryers and microwaves due to the quick heating and high temperatures creating steam inside the egg that can’t easily escape. This trapped heat and pressure builds up and causes the egg’s shell and contents to explode which can seriously burn you if you’re in the blast zone.

Another type of egg you shouldn’t cook in an air fryer is poached eggs. While I’ve seen some people do it successfully, I think it’s much more hassle than it’s worth, as you need to prepare ramekins and add pre-boiled water to them before you crack the egg in and then place them in the air fryer. It’s easier and requires less equipment if you just do it the traditional way.

Finally, the third egg I wouldn’t recommend cooking in an air fryer is scrambled eggs. Scrambling eggs takes time and a lot of movement. Opening your air fryer to stir the eggs continuously stops and starts the cooking process which leads to inconsistent results. Making them on the hob gives you much more control.

Amazon has just upgraded its Echo Hub dashboard, making it quicker and easier to use and customise to your household’s needs. The updates include a redesigned home screen, easier controls, and fun customisations – here’s everything you need to know.

Amazon launched its Echo Hub in 2024, its centralised smart home hub that has all your smart devices, like lights, doorbells, cameras, plugs and more, in one convenient place. I tested it when it first came out and gave it five stars in my Echo Hub review, due to its attractive 8-inch touchscreen display and easy smart home controls and customisations.

Now, Amazon is enhancing these customisations with its refreshed design and interface. Now on the Echo Hub’s dashboard, users can add, remove, resize and rearrange sections, so you can choose which widgets, devices, groups and automations appear to you.

Previously, the Echo Hub would simply show you the devices you use the most on its home screen, but this update gives you more control, and better organisation – and as someone who loves to organise their calendar and devices, this brings me lots of joy!

Users can also group their devices by room and function to create a sleeker-looking dashboard and to trigger schedules much quicker. For example, you can create a group called ‘Bedroom’ and select the different devices you have within that room and what you want them to do. From there, you can add, remove or reorder devices, and easily set up schedules for specific times and events.

What’s better is having these groups there and ready on your Echo Hub dashboard means you can simply tap them to set off your schedule which saves you time scrolling through to trigger things manually. Aside from making your controls easier, Amazon has also made them more detailed.

A great example of this is with your smart lights. Now, you can select your smart light on your Echo Hub and you can precisely adjust their brightness and colours rather than just turning them on or off.

Another handy update is for Ring security camera users who have a Ring AI subscription and use Alexa Plus. If that’s you, you’ll be happy to know that this Echo Hub update means you can now get smart summaries of detected video events on your home screen. Users can also search through their videos on the Echo Hub using Alexa.

The new Echo Hub updates are being rolled out as part of a free software upgrade for existing users.

The portable power station market has become increasingly crowded in recent years, but Jackery's latest launch suggests the company is thinking beyond bigger batteries and faster charging speeds.

The brand has unveiled the FridgeGuard, a new home battery that it describes as the world's slimmest refrigerator backup solution.

At just 67mm thick, the device looks noticeably different from the rugged, toolbox-like power stations that have traditionally dominated the category (see also our Jackery Explorer 3000 V2 review).

On paper, the FridgeGuard is designed primarily to keep refrigerators running during power outages, packing a 1,024Wh LiFePO4 battery and delivering 800W of continuous output with 1,600W peak power.

It also offers a 10ms UPS switchover designed to keep sensitive appliances, such as laptops, connected and running without interruption.

However, despite the name, the refrigerator positioning appears to be more of a use case than a limitation.

The FridgeGuard features a single AC outlet and can support a range of household devices, including home office equipment, aquarium pumps, CPAP machines and other essential appliances that you may want to keep running during a blackout.

Jackery claims the battery is compatible with 99% of modern refrigerators and can provide up to 15 hours of backup power, or up to 30 hours when paired with an expansion battery.

A different vision for home backup power

What's arguably more interesting than the specifications is what the FridgeGuard represents.

According to Jackery, the company wants to bring a more premium, design-led approach to home energy products, and the FridgeGuard has been designed with this approach in mind.

It abandons Jackery's familiar orange-and-black aesthetic in favour of a slim silver chassis that can be floor- or wall-mounted, or installed directly alongside appliances.

It's a strategy reminiscent of how brands such as Dyson transformed products consumers rarely thought about into aspirational household items, with fans, vacuum cleaners and air purifiers becoming objects people were happy to display rather than hide away.

From utility hardware to lifestyle product?

The launch arrives as more homeowners become aware of grid instability, rising energy costs and the potential benefits of home energy resilience.

At the same time, consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for products that combine functionality with thoughtful design.

That creates an opportunity for a product such as the FridgeGuard, but it also raises questions.

While the slim profile and permanent installation approach are undoubtedly appealing, some buyers may still prefer larger multi-purpose power stations that can power multiple devices at once and be moved around the home when needed.

That's what makes the FridgeGuard such an interesting launch – Jackery appears to be making a bet on the future of the category itself.

The company believes home backup power can become a lifestyle product rather than an emergency piece of equipment.

The Jackery FridgeGuard launches as a Costco exclusive in the US and will be available to Costco members for $560 (~£417 / €482 / AU$793), reduced from a recommended retail price of $700 (~£521 / €603 / AU$992).

Head over to Jackery for more information.

Philips Hue has expanded its product line-up with new additions to its Play lamp collection, candle bulbs and smart switches. The latter is what you’ll be most excited about, as the new Philips Hue switches can turn your non-smart bulbs into smart lights, and integrate them into your routines and ecosystem – here’s everything you need to know.

Starting off with the Philips Hue Play lamps, there are now three new models available, including the Play Table Lamp, the Play Floor Lamp Compact and the Play Floor Lamp Large. Designed to sync with your entertainment, the Play lamps connect to your TV with Hue Sync TV or Hue Play HDMI Sync Box to create lighting scenes that correspond to what you’re watching.

The new Philips Hue Play Table Lamps look similar to its Signe lamp collection but they’re much more affordable, with prices starting at £69.99 / €79.99. They stand tall at a maximum height of 135cm, and the Compact and Large versions are much thinner than the standard model. All three come with RGBWWIC gradient-lighting.

Philips Hue has also added new versions of its E14 candle bulbs. Available in one, two and three packs, the new Philips Hue candle bulbs offer full-spectrum daylight that mimics natural light. The brightness of the bulbs can be customised into bright or warm shades for specific times of day, and they’re 40% more energy efficient than before. They’re also Matter compatible and start at £29.99.

But the new launches that I’m most excited about are the new Philips Hue smart switches. If you haven’t completely switched over to smart lights yet and still have a few traditional bulbs around your home, Philips Hue’s new smart switches can make them smart for you.

Available in two versions – the Wired Dimmer Wall Switch and the Wired On/Off Wall Switch – the new switch modules allow you to control your smart and non-smart bulbs with the switch, the Philips Hue app and voice assistants. This means you can use all your light bulbs within your smart home ecosystem, and set up schedules and routines.

The Philips Hue switches are easy to install, and are mains powered. Prices on the new smart switches start at £39.99 / €49.99. All products will be available from this month in the UK, US and Europe.

Smeg has launched its Isola range, featuring induction hobs, suspended hoods and lighting rails. The new Smeg Isola hobs are available in three styles and feature integrated extraction fans and advanced technology, making them my favourite induction hobs from the brand to date.

In collaboration with Stefano Boeri Interiors, the Smeg Isola collection is stylish and architectural – as is the way with all of Smeg’s appliances. Designed for all home aesthetics, the Isola hobs sit within your countertop but are slightly raised up from it, making them a focal point in your kitchen.

The Smeg Isola hobs are available in three styles – Flat, Alta and Alta Pro. The hobs differ in style, and the Alta and Alta Pro models have more advanced technology. While it’s the most simple option, the Isola Flat hob has a huge amount of handy features under its hood, including precise temperature control, a large surface with two zones, and a grill function.

The Isola Flat hob also has Autopot detection where the hob detects where your pot is on the surface, and activates the right heating zone. Not only is this more precise and allows for faster cooking, but it also saves energy by only heating up that specific area rather than the whole hob. It also has Evo Slider controls which only become visible when in use to keep the hob looking sleek and minimalist.

The Isola Alta and Altra Pro build on these features with both adding white LED backlighting, and a Keep Warm function. Both come with integrated extraction fans, which is one of my favourite induction hob features.

As someone who owns an induction hob but has a terrible extractor fan, integrated extraction is a must for me at this point – mainly because I’m sick of hearing my fire alarm go off! Smeg’s Isola Alta hobs have an extractor built into the middle which wicks away smoke and steam quickly and effectively.

The Alta has the extractor built in and flush to the surface, while the Alta Pro extractor rises up from the hob. It uses a motorised downdraft system which only emerges when it needs to remove smoke, steam and odours. It also has a 5-inch colour touchscreen to display your settings.

Another one of my favourite features from the Alta Pro is its FollowPot function. When you move your pots across the surface, the induction hob keeps its settings active so it doesn’t drop in temperature to disturb your cooking.

I got to see the Isola hobs when I visited Smeg HQ in Bologna earlier this year, and they instantly impressed me. It’s strange to call an induction hob attractive but the Smeg Isola hobs look the part, and perform exceptionally well.

But it’s not just hobs that make up the Isola collection. Smeg is also introducing suspended hoods, and a lighting rail. These are expected to become available later in the year, but the Smeg Isola hobs are all available to buy now with prices starting at £1,299.

Outdoor security cameras tend to excel at watching one thing. Your front door. A driveway. The side gate. However, what if you want to cover more – much more – without plastering your property in multiple cameras?

Enter the Reolink TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi – one of the few smart cameras I've tested that’s actually up to the task of replacing multiple fixed-position cameras. Thanks to its combination of pan-and-tilt tracking, dual cameras and wide-area motion detection, it can monitor far more of your property from a single mounting position.

After living with it for a few weeks, it became clear that its biggest strength isn't any individual feature. It's the fact that one camera can comfortably cover areas that would normally require two or three.

Is that enough for it to deserve a spot on your wall? Let’s find out.

Price and availability

At the time of writing, the Reolink TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi has an RRP of £239.99 directly from Reolink, and it's also available through Amazon.

That places it firmly in competition with premium outdoor security cameras from Eufy, Ring and Arlo. However, once you factor in the dual-camera design, motorised pan-and-tilt functionality, AI search, and the lack of a mandatory subscription, it starts to look like strong value for money.

Installation and set up

I had the TrackFlex professionally installed by an electrician, largely because my DIY skills are best described as enthusiastic rather than competent.

The camera was mounted on the side of the house above our front side gate. This position allows it to cover the front of the property, our driveway and cars, while also being able to rotate and monitor the side of the house, access route to the garden, recycling area and even an upstairs cat flap that exits onto what used to be the barn stairs before the property was converted.

The installation itself was straightforward. Wiring was routed through the wall into our living room and connected to a plug socket, creating a neat and tidy finish. While experienced DIYers should have little trouble fitting it themselves, professional installation was entirely hassle-free.

Once powered on, setup through the Reolink app was refreshingly simple. Pairing was quick, Wi-Fi connectivity was reliable, and I encountered no issues getting the camera online.

Design and features

The TrackFlex is a substantial bit of kit. Between the dual floodlights, triple PIR (Passive Infrared) sensors and motorised camera assembly, it's noticeably bulkier than many fixed-position rivals.

That said, it looks smart. The black and white finish feels modern and well considered, while build quality is excellent throughout. Everything feels solid and reassuringly premium, with none of the creaks or flimsy plastic that can sometimes undermine cheaper security cameras.

It's not the sort of device that disappears into the background, but that's arguably part of the appeal. A visible security camera can be a deterrent in itself, and the TrackFlex manages to look purposeful without becoming an eyesore.

The headline feature is its dual-camera setup. One lens provides the main 4K wide-angle view, while the second telephoto lens delivers a closer crop for pulling extra detail from faces, vehicles and other subjects. Rather than relying on digital zoom, the TrackFlex can switch to a dedicated zoomed view, allowing it to retain more detail when focusing on faces, vehicles and other points of interest.

The camera can pan almost a full 360 degrees and tilt vertically to follow activity around your property. Supporting that movement are three PIR sensors positioned across the front of the unit. Rather than only detecting motion directly in front of the camera, they can also pick up activity approaching from either side and prompt the camera to rotate and investigate.

Storage is refreshingly flexible too. Those who prefer to keep everything local can record directly to a microSD card of up to 512GB, while Reolink also offers cloud storage and compatibility with its Home Hub ecosystem. Importantly, none of the camera's headline features are locked behind a mandatory subscription.

Other features include Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, AI-powered video search, two-way audio, Alexa and Google Assistant support, a built-in siren, colour night vision, IP66 weather resistance and floodlights with adjustable brightness and colour temperature.

Performance

The first thing that struck me after installation wasn't the floodlights or the tracking features – it was the sheer amount of coverage.

Mounted above the side gate, the TrackFlex could see the front of the house, our driveway and cars, while also rotating to monitor the side of the property, the route to the garden and even an upstairs cat flap that leads out on to the old barn stairs. Most cameras would have forced me to prioritise one of those areas. The TrackFlex didn't.

Fire open the app, and the wide field of view immediately impresses, with image quality looking crisp and detailed. Even zoomed-in footage remains sharp, helping justify the dual-camera approach.

As an end-of-terrace property with access running along the side of the house, this extra coverage provides genuine peace of mind. Rather than faffing around installing multiple cameras, the TrackFlex lets me keep tabs on several key areas from a single mounting position.

Coverage aside, I’m also happy to report that tracking also works exactly as intended. The camera reliably follows movement, and the combination of pan-and-tilt movement and wide PIR coverage made it feel useful rather than a gimmick – especially when it comes to more challenging use cases like keeping tabs on our cat’s comings and goings while we were away.

Those PIR sensors, by the way, are one of the standout features. Traditional pan-and-tilt cameras can only see what's currently in front of them, but the TrackFlex's side-mounted sensors can detect activity approaching from outside the camera's current viewing direction. In practice, that means somebody approaching from an angle is less likely to slip past unnoticed simply because the camera happened to be looking elsewhere. Instead, it detects movement off-camera, then pans around to cover it.

Away from home, the whole thing makes for a very reassuring setup, letting me remotely move the camera and check different areas of the property whenever I fancy. During testing, building works were taking place on the road outside, so it was useful being able to quickly check on the front of the house, driveway and parked cars remotely.

While manually operating a camera like a top secret security operative is fun though, there are plenty of automatic motion detection options available, letting you setup and customise alerts – aka, the things you want to be made aware of, like cars, people or animals.

Given the amount of cars that drive past, I turned car detection alerts off, but the animal detection came in very handy on holiday. This meant I could see that my cat was entering and leaving the house as normal, doing whatever it is that he does all day (read: likely terrorising the other cats).

Elsewhere, image quality itself is excellent, both in the day, and at night. The 4K main camera captures plenty of detail, and footage remained consistently sharp throughout testing. Whether I was checking on parked cars at the front of the house or zooming in on activity around the side gate, there was rarely any doubt about what I was looking at, and number plates are also clearly legible, even after zooming.

Infrared mode provides clear black-and-white footage after dark, while the integrated floodlights unlock colour night vision when enabled. With them enabled, recordings retain colour information that would otherwise be lost, making it easier to distinguish things like clothing colours and vehicle details.

The second telephoto lens also proves its worth. Unlike cameras that simply crop into a digital image, the TrackFlex can switch to a dedicated zoomed view that preserves much more detail. Faces remain recognisable at greater distances, while vehicles and number plates are easier to identify than they would be with a conventional single-lens security camera.

When you open the app, the default view shows both the zoomed out and zoomed in feeds. I came to prefer one regular overview feed, with the option to simply zoom in if I wanted to check out anything in more detail, but hey, it’s nice to have options.

The floodlights are also among the most configurable I've used. Along with adjusting brightness, you can tweak colour temperature and configure different lighting behaviours depending on how you want the camera to operate.

I eventually dialled things back slightly because I wasn't entirely convinced the neighbours appreciated being illuminated every time somebody walked past the house, but it's easy to fine-tune exactly when the lights activate and how long they stay on.

The Reolink app deserves praise, as well. It's packed with options but remains approachable, making it easy to adjust detection zones, alert preferences and tracking behaviour. There is a slight delay when manually panning the camera remotely, but that's hardly surprising for an internet-connected device and never impacted day-to-day use.

I also used the camera with our Echo Show 10, asking Alexa to display the side gate reliably brings up the live feed, making it easy to quickly check outside without reaching for my phone.

Storage is another area where Reolink gets things right. Those who prefer everything stored locally can use a microSD card, while cloud storage is available for users who want off-site backups and easier access to recordings. I used a microSD card for local recording and never felt any need to subscribe to a cloud service.

Given how many products now require yet another monthly payment to unlock core functionality, Reolink's approach earns significant brownie points. The fact it's hardwired is another benefit. While battery-powered cameras are often easier to install, there's something reassuring about never having to worry about charging schedules or finding the camera offline because the battery has run flat.

AI-powered search is another useful addition. If you've ever trawled through hours of footage looking for a specific event, you'll certainly appreciate it. Rather than manually scrolling through recordings, the system can identify and categorise subjects like people, vehicles and animals, making it much easier to locate the clip you're actually looking for.

Verdict

If you only need to monitor a single doorway or a narrow section of driveway, there are cheaper cameras available. With that said, the Reolink TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi makes the most sense for people who want broad coverage without installing multiple cameras, and this was its biggest strength throughout my testing.

One installation point gave me visibility of the front of the house, driveway, side gate, garden access route and cat flap, all while providing reliable alerts and the ability to remotely check different areas whenever I wanted.

After researching the competition, what impressed me most is just how few cameras actually offer this combination of dual cameras, floodlights, pan-and-tilt tracking and subscription-free local storage in a single product.

Having lived with it for two weeks, what stands out isn't any individual feature. It's how effectively all of those features work together. Add in excellent image quality, bright and highly configurable floodlights, useful AI search, local storage and no mandatory subscription fees, and you've got one of the most capable outdoor security cameras currently available.

Alternatives to consider

The Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 is the closest direct rival. Like the TrackFlex, it combines dual cameras, pan-and-tilt functionality, local storage and subject tracking in a hardwired floodlight design. If you're already invested in Eufy's ecosystem, it's the most obvious alternative.

The Eufy SoloCam S340 is a great option if you want similar dual-camera flexibility without running power cables. Its solar-powered design makes installation much easier, although it can't match the TrackFlex's floodlight performance or continuous power supply.

TP-Link's Tapo C545D is the value choice. It adopts a similar dual-view concept and motorised tracking system at a significantly lower price, making it worth considering if your budget won't stretch to Reolink's flagship model.

2026 is shaping up to be the year of the handheld, portable fan, with many brands developing their own high-tech models. Unsurprisingly, two strong contenders have emerged within this space – Dyson and Shark – and they’re battling it out yet again for the crown of best handheld fan.

This year, Dyson and Shark have both debuted their own handheld fans – the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool and the Shark ChillPill. Both have similar features and functionalities, and with the summer weather ramping up, we’re sure to see both fans in action during the next few months.

But which one should you buy? I have spent time with both fans to determine which one is better, and which to add to your fan collection.

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool vs Shark ChillPill: price and availability

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool came out in April 2026, and is priced at £99.99 / $99.99. It’s available to buy at Dyson and select retailers, like Amazon, Currys, Argos and John Lewis. It comes in Stone/Blush, Carnelian/Sky and Ink/Cobalt colours.

The Shark ChillPill came out earlier in March 2026, and is priced at £129.99 / $149.99. It can be bought at Shark and select retailers, like Amazon, Currys and Boots. It comes in carbon, haze, glacier, matcha, iced latte and dragon fruit colours.

In terms of pricing, both fans aren’t too dissimilar, although it’s surprising to see Dyson on the cheaper end of the spectrum. In fact, not only is the HushJet Mini Cool the cheapest Dyson fan on offer, but it’s also the brand’s cheapest product.

Considering what you get from the Shark ChillPill, it’s appropriately priced. However, some customers won’t want to spend up to £130 / $150 on a handheld fan – many people commented this to me when I was seen out and about using it.

Winner: It’s hard to choose a winner here but I’d say the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool wins as it’s more affordable and good value for money. At under £100 / $100, I don’t think people would mind buying it for this price.

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool vs Shark ChillPill: design

The Dyson and Shark fans have strange and unique designs, both of which got me some very odd looks when I was using them. But needs must in a heatwave so I persevered and here’s what you can expect from both fans’ styling choices.

Starting with the Dyson, the HushJet Mini Cool has arguably the quirkiest look out of the two. I’ve compared it before to the sandworm from Dune, as it has a star-shaped tip which is where the air is projected from. It’s bladeless, and uses a honeycomb mesh to cover the fan for extra protection and hygiene. The star tip can also be twisted 360 degrees to point cool air at or away from you.

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool measures 20.1cm in height, 3.8cm in width and depth, and weighs 212g. It has a flat bottom so it can stand on your desk or you can hold it in your hand, or wear it around your neck. Its controls are on the body of the fan, and include an on/off button and + and - to adjust fan speed. An LED indicator on top of the speed button lights up to show settings and charging.

In comparison, the Shark ChillPill looks like a pair of binoculars. It features two tubes, one slimmer tube with a circular screen on one end for the controls and charging port, and the other thicker tube is where you attach the fan, mist or cooling plate. To adjust the controls, you hold down the screen to turn it on, and twist the ring around it to increase or decrease the speed.

The SharkChill measures 11.2cm in height, 8.41cm in width and 4.5cm in depth, and weighs 350g. As expected, there’s a noticeable weight difference between the Dyson and Shark fans, and the Shark ChillPill is much bulkier. Both models can also be used indoors or outdoors.

Winner: Overall, I’ll give the Shark ChillPill the win for design. It’s unusual but practical, and I got much less strange comments about it compared to the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool.

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool vs Shark ChillPill: features

I think this might be the first time that a Dyson product is simpler than a Shark one. The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool has five speed settings, and a boost mode which increases the airflow up to 25m/s. Powered by HushJet projection, the fan delivers up to 65,000 rpm of cooling air without turbulence, and has an acoustically engineered motor to keep everything quiet while it’s in action.

In comparison, the Shark ChillPill is described as a 3-in-1 fan, mist and InstaChill system. It uses attachments that screw onto the end of the main tube to change its modes. The high-speed fan comes with 10 speeds which gets up to a maximum velocity of 7.5m/s while its mister expels micro droplets and its InstaChill cooling plate lowers skin temperature on contact up to 9°.

Winner: As it offers more fan settings as well as mister and InstaChill plate attachments, the Shark ChillPill wins on features.

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool vs Shark ChillPill: cooling performance

Now down to the most important thing: how cooling are both fans? Starting with Dyson, it may not have as many speeds or attachments as the Shark ChillPill, but wow is it powerful. All five speeds offered cooling relief and the projection was impressive – despite its smaller, handheld size, the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool could easily cool a room.

One slight drawback to its speeds is that the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool does make an obscene amount of noise. Even at level two, I found it to be as loud as a regular-sized fan but its power and projection can’t be argued with.

Similarly, the Shark ChillPill is another brilliant cooling option. As it has double the speeds as the Dyson, each level felt more varied and the high speed cooling was excellent, and well received while at a summer wedding and going through an airport. Like the Dyson, it also gets quite loud in operation.

Where the Shark ChillPill is let down is the mister. It performs nicely but it does leave things feeling a little soggy, and as it’s a small fan and attachment, it doesn’t contain lots of water so it runs out quickly. The InstaCool plate does save it though, as it’s great for holding to pulse points during extreme weather.

Winner: I’m going to rule a tie for this one. The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool might not have as many speeds or features, but it really does an amazing job at cooling you down. The Shark ChillPill does too, although it doesn’t quite snag the crown as its mister could be better.

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool vs Shark ChillPill: battery

For battery life, the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool takes three hours to charge which gives it up to six hours of runtime. The Shark ChillPill fully charges in 3.5 hours and can offer anywhere between 1.5 and 11 hours of use.

With cordless fans, you have to take battery life with a grain of salt. If you’re using both fans at their lowest levels, then you should be able to use them for their full amount of time, but if you’re using Dyson’s boost mode or Shark’s level 10 setting, then you can expect the battery to be much less.

Personally, I found both the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool and the Shark ChillPill to have impressive battery lives. I used the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool through the night during a heatwave, and it held up for the full six hours. I also got several hours out of the Shark ChillPill – not the full 11 but at least six - eight hours.

Winner: Again, I’m ruling a tie on battery life as it all depends on how you use your fan. For me, both performed admirably and lasted a long time.

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool vs Shark ChillPill: verdict

Both the Dyson and Shark handheld, portable fans have unique designs, long lasting battery lives and intense cooling power. While I will continue to use both of them throughout the summer, the Shark ChillPill gets the win for me.

As a 3-in-1 gadget, the Shark ChillPill offers a lot more than just a fan, as it also comes with a mister and InstaCool plate. This versatility, and its sheer amount of speeds and power, means it takes the crown in my opinion. The only areas where it falters is its mister could be better, and at £129 / $149, it’s an expensive option for a handheld fan.

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is definitely not to be snubbed, though. It’s a brilliant and powerful fan – if you can get over the odd looks you’ll get while using it – and if it’s simplicity you want, it has easy controls that get the job done, and it’s under £100 / $100.

Panasonic has launched its new Japanese Countertop Microwave NN-SF57RM, and it’s just solved the biggest issue I – and everyone who uses one – have with traditional microwaves.

Due to the rising issue of food waste, I’ve been making a conscious effort to eat leftovers which means I’m constantly using the microwave. But the way most traditional microwaves work is they pulse their power on and off which can result in your reheated food having hot and cold spots.

Panasonic has addressed this with its new Panasonic Japanese Countertop Microwave NN-SF57RM and fixed this common microwave problem. It uses the brand’s patented Inverter technology which maintains consistent power levels during the cooking process, so your food should be evenly hot and cooked throughout.

Another handy feature that the new Panasonic Japanese Microwave has is its new Genius Sensor 2.0. Featuring a thermo sensor positioned at 64 points within the microwave, the Genius Sensor 2.0 takes the guesswork out of cooking by detecting your food’s temperature and automatically adjusting its power levels and cooking time.

This new sensor technology means the Panasonic Japanese Microwave can cater to different food types and temperatures so you’re getting the best cooking or reheating results for your full meal. This feature as well as manual controls are easy to adjust and click with the button and dial interface that sits below the microwave door.

Panasonic has also developed its Panasonic Japanese Microwave to make one-bowl meals using its new Genius Sensor 2.0. This feature allows you to make full meals within a single bowl, so you add your ingredients and the microwave expertly cooks your whole meal. Options include carbonara, chilli and more.

As the name suggests, the Panasonic Japanese Microwave is inspired by Japanese styling where balance, simplicity and efficiency are at the forefront of its designs. The Panasonic Japanese Microwave looks more like an oven with its pull-down door, and it has minimalist controls and muted graphite finish. It looks the part, and has a surprisingly compact size that won’t take up much space in your kitchen.

The Panasonic Japanese Countertop Microwave NN-SF57RM is available to buy for $429.95 at Panasonic. As of writing, it’s currently only available in the US but I hope it comes to the UK soon as I’m in desperate need of a new microwave!

Fellow's one of those brands that has really only just made a name for itself in the last few years. It's a brand based out of the US that's designing some of the most cutting-edge coffee tech we've seen in the industry to date, and the Espresso Series 1, is its first debut on a fully fledged coffee bar, and I'll tell you right now, for the price, it is outstandingly good.

The Fellow Espresso Series 1 coffee machine has been designed in part with ex-barista champions and all manner of technical experts and delivers extraordinary espresso, through and through. It's a difficult product to review because there are so few negatives to be said about it. That's not to say it's perfect; there is the odd hiccup here and there, but overall, what you're getting for the price, it's well worth living with and it's easily one of the best espresso machines money can buy.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Price and availability

As of June 2026, you can pick up an Espresso Series 1 in the US for around $1,499 from Fellow directly. Alternatively, you can also grab one on pre-order in the UK for about the same price from Origin as well. Although availability is still limited at this time.

There's all manner of different finishes as well. You can pick up the Cherry Red & Walnut version we have here, but Fellow will also sell you a black version, along with malted chocolate & maple, a woodland green and walnut, sesame white and maple, a marine blue and walnut.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Design and build

I'm going to sound like a broken record for much of this, but the overall build is exemplary. The unboxing experience isn't anything too special, but once you get the Series 1 out of its packaging, that's when you really get to appreciate it. The chrome-plated group head, the walnut handle, the bold fellow logo lovingly etched into everything. Even the steam wand looks good. The finish, too, with that gloss metal body, is just lush.

The group handle itself is a hefty wooden unit, with a naked bottomless portafilter, meaning your espresso prep needs to be on point to avoid any mess (perhaps my only gripe is that they don't include a full metal dual-spout portafilter as well). The basket is the industry standard 58mm design, but the group handle itself is bespoke to the Series 1, so if you want to swap it out, you'll need to get one that's compatible with the group head design.

Fellow also included a full water hardness kit, used during the first setup (the machine asks you to test your water before proceeding to fill it so it can set its own descaling cycle, with a handy digital indicator and PH test stick). Alongside that, there's also a small milk pitcher included, as well as a wooden tamp as well. The tamp is a little light, but that's mostly an aesthetic grievance (as realistically you're going to be using your body weight, not the tamp, to compact your coffee puck).

Other things to point out. Steam wand? Fully articulating, with a built-in temperature probe. It's got a 2L water reservoir on the right side that's fully removable, and a fairly sizable drip tray too. Oh, and of course, you get a full circular display and control dial, plus three simple buttons on top for quick use as well. Although more on that in a bit.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Performance

It's the display of the Fellow Espresso Series 1 that's half the fun here as well. Once you've finished your setup and you've got the tank full (don't worry, it'll let you know if it's running short, because of course it does), you can then run through all the settings, including the insane amount of espresso logic that's built in here.

You get a whole plethora of different shot profiles as standard, modern-arc, classic, turbo shots, and tonnes more, all fully customizable. You can control pre-infusion times, shot duration, water ratio, temperature to within 0.1 of a degree (thanks to a digital PID), ramp curves, the lot. It's properly deep, and there's even more nerdy settings (in a menu literally called settings for nerds).

Shot analysis too is top tier, with a very simple display that shows you pressure, shot completion percentage, and total time all in a handy little circular panel. It's perfect for dialling in quick too. Switch to steaming milk after you've pulled that perfect shot, and that too is all visible on the display, where you can set what temperature you want, hit go, and then it'll auto-shut off once it reaches that point.

There's just so much going on here, it's radical. It's commercial-grade tech in a machine that costs half as much as it probably should. Combined with a pump that's honestly as silent as the grave. Compared to Gaggia's Classic UP (itself a more than capable machine) I could barely hear it at all, when it was pulling a double.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Verdict

I can't express enough just how impressed I've been with my time with the Espresso Series 1. I've been using it for about two weeks now at the roastery, and it's by far my favourite bar to use in place.

Is it perfect? Well, there's a few things that frustrate me a little. But they're very minor. It's still not quite as heavy as I'd like. That's particularly annoying when you're trying to lock the group handle into position with a fresh puck prepped in it, and the steam wand is very low to the drip tray as well. Which is great if you're ghosting milk (the act of just leaving the steam wand in the jug while it steams and not controlling the pitcher), but less useful if you want to actually control your texturing.

The pucks, too, are a little on the wet side. From my research, this seems to be a result of the solenoid design in the Series 1. But again, it's mostly cosmetic and doesn't impact flavour at all, just the clean-up.

And yet still, if someone came to me, looking to build the ultimate home espresso setup, without breaking the bank, I'd recommend this over practically every other machine out there. Particularly if you've got the budget. Pair it with something like a Niche Zero single-shot zero-retention grinder, and you'll never need to visit a coffee shop ever again.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Alternatives to consider

At this point, there's no use denying just how phenomenal the Espresso Series 1 is, but if you're not keen on all the manual faff involved with pulling your own shots and steaming your milk, but are still looking for a solid alternative, I'd highly recommend you check out Sage's Oracle Dual Boiler. It's a brilliant automatic machine, ideal for those too tired to worry about what the pressure profile is on their latest batch of Ethiopian Gesha.

Alternatively (and to be honest, it's quite a bit cheaper) the Gaggia Classic UP is a redesigned icon that refuses to go down without a fight. At £800, the UP refresh finally brings dual PID to the legendary line-up, and the handy display gives you a good chance of getting the perfect shot dialled in. Is the steam wand as good as the Series 1? No, but it's pretty close, particularly at near half the cost.

In today’s world, most of us are looking for ways to cut unnecessary waste and bring down rising energy bills. Whilst many people immediately think of investing in one of the best smart thermostats or even solar panels, not everyone knows there are other energy storage solutions emerging that don’t require major installation work or rooftop hardware.

One of the most interesting approaches is the rise of solar balcony battery systems, which let users store excess energy generated during the day and use it at a later date. However, if you don’t have outdoor space – or simply want to avoid solar altogether – there’s now another option that aims to deliver a similar result.

The Windfall Battery is a plug-and-play home battery designed specifically with renters and apartment living in mind. Instead of relying on solar, it charges using cheaper off-peak electricity and then feeds that stored energy back into your home during peak pricing periods. It plugs directly into a standard wall socket and integrates with your home’s electricity supply, with the app controlling when energy is stored and released.

A few months ago, I spoke to Rob Hallifax, co-founder of Windfall Energy, who explained that most home energy storage products are still designed with houses (and homeowners) in mind. That gap in the market led to the idea of a compact, accessible battery designed for people living in flats or rented accommodation, rather than traditional solar-equipped homes.

Physically, the unit is relatively compact, measuring 54cm in height and 48cm in width, as well as weighing under 30kg. From there, it connects to your home Wi-Fi to monitor energy pricing and automatically decide the best times to charge, whilst Bluetooth is used for quick initial setup via your phone. There's also a USB-C port to charge smaller devices directly from the battery itself.

In terms of design, it's also clear that Windfall has made the battery feel less like a technical appliance and more like a piece of furniture. According to Rob, the aim was for it to be something you wouldn’t mind seeing in a living space – especially in smaller flats where it may be on display. The design was also developed with input from a designer with experience at IKEA and Joseph Joseph, which you can immediately tell from the minimalist aesthetic.

Now, if you've read my piece on three things to know before investing in a balcony solar battery system, plug-in energy storage products like this aren’t yet fully regulated in the UK. Current wiring regulations mean a similar product technically requires hardwiring by an electrician, similar to installing a cooker.

That said, the situation is evolving. Rob noted that the government is actively exploring plug-and-play energy systems as part of wider carbon reduction efforts, with discussions ongoing alongside groups such as the Microgeneration Certification Scheme to help make these products more accessible. He also suggested this could change within the next year, so it’s very much a space to watch.

For now, the Windfall Battery is operating on a pre-order basis. The first batch has already sold out, with the next not yet finalised, but interested buyers can join the waitlist via the company’s website to secure a place in the queue.

Meaco has launched its new Sefte 6” Portable Air Conditioner, its smallest, cordless fan for quiet and comfortable cooling around the home and on the move. Replacing the MeacoFan 260c fan, the Meaco Sefte 6” now comes with Meaco’s new replaceable, rechargeable battery that extends its lifespan.

I’ve tested many fans and air conditioners in my time as T3’s Home Editor, and Meaco’s portfolio is some of my favourites. I tested the Meaco Sefte 8” Portable Air Circulator last year, and aside from its powerful, customisable cooling, one of my favourite features it came with was its new battery.

Many rechargeable fans come with their batteries sealed within the design, which isn’t the most practical. While rechargeable batteries are longer lasting than others, they do have an expiration date of up to three years, so if you have one of these batteries within your fan which you can’t remove, this ultimately ends up with you having to throw the entire fan away.

Meaco’s Sefte fans – including the new Meaco Sefte 6” Portable Air Circulator – can have their batteries easily replaced when needed, so you can simply replace the battery rather than the whole product. This is something Meaco has been focused on over the past few years, as the brand wants to reduce unnecessary waste and extend their products’ lifespans.

The new Meaco Sefte 6” now comes with this new battery, and as an expansion of the Sefte range, it offers a smaller, more compact design for those with smaller homes. It’s lightweight and has a hidden carry handle so you can take it with you from room to room in your house.

Aside from the impressive battery, the Meaco Sefte 6” is now quieter than ever. It emits noise as low as 23dB, and comes with night mode for use when sleeping. The fan can also be muted so you won’t hear any beeping when changing the settings, and its digital display can turn off all its lights so it doesn’t disturb or distract you.

Despite its smaller size, the Meaco Sefte 6” uses a high-efficiency DC brushless motor that powers its 12 fan speeds. It has normal, ECO and night modes, an on/off timer and oscillates horizontally. As a cordless model, it offers up to 26.5 hours of power and it comes with a storage bag.

The Meaco Sefte 6” Portable Air Circulator is available to buy for £69.99 at Meaco and Amazon.

Forget the Ninja Creami – Nutribullet has used its blender expertise to create its very own frozen dessert and ice cream maker. The new Nutribullet Chill has five preset programs, and whips them up quickly using a powerful motor and 360 blade technology.

When the Ninja Creami debuted in 2021, it became insanely popular, mainly due to its speedy blending. Like most traditional ice cream makers, the Ninja Creami requires you to pre-make and freeze your mixture the night before, but unlike older ice cream machines, it doesn’t take hours to churn but whips up your ice cream in as little as five minutes.

The new Nutribullet Chill acts in a similar way, thanks to its quick churning technology. It’s powered by a speedy 500W motor base, and uses a 360 double-sided and dual-directional blade that rotates quickly and smoothly to make delicious ice cream and other frozen treats.

Weighing just 5.27kg and with a height of 383.1mm, the Nutribullet Chill is surprisingly compact and can sit comfortably in your kitchen for quick, summer treats. It has an illuminated LED display which allows you to pick your program, and has a progress ring that lights up to track the machine’s churning.

The five preset programs on offer are ice cream, sorbet, gelato, frozen yoghurt and smoothie bowls. It comes with two 470ml cups so you can make up to two servings at a time. They’re easy to store, too and come with lids so you can seal your frozen treats properly.

What’s even better about the Nutribullet Chill’s cups is that they’re compatible with other Nutribullet products, including its Turbo, Ultra and Ultra Plus+ blenders. So, if you want to take your smoothies or drinks on the go, you can use your existing Nutribullet blender and the new Chill cups for easy travel and storage.

The Nutribullet Chill is available to pre-order now for £199.99 at Nutribullet. Customers can choose between black, white and latte beige colourways.

Watch out LG – Hisense has just launched its new PureView smart fridge freezer series, featuring its most advanced technology to date. The most exciting feature of the new Hisense PureView fridge is its integrated See-Through Door which is smarter and more energy efficient than ever.

The new PureView Series from Hisense expands its American-style multi-door refrigeration collection with its most intelligent connectivity yet. Aside from being more practical for day-to-day use, Hisense has also added smarter features and stylish design finishes to make your kitchen look and feel more advanced.

Similar to LG and Samsung, Hisense has given its Hisense PureView Series a See-Through Door which automatically lights the interior of the fridge as you approach it or when you touch it. The See-Through Door allows users to quickly see inside the fridge without opening the door, so you can quickly check the contents while reducing the fridge’s temperature fluctuations.

The constant opening and closing of your fridge’s doors can have an impact on the freshness of your food as the cooling is being interrupted. The fridge also ramps up its power to accommodate the door openings which increases your energy consumption. So, having something like the See-Through Door can make a world of difference to your bills, and keeps your fridge in top condition.

But Hisense hasn’t stopped there with its smart features. The door of the Hisense PureView Series also has a TFT Intelligent Hub screen, which allows you to check your fridge’s contents, browse recipes, and even get weather updates. The Hisense PureView Series also has built-in voice controls, powered by VIDAA which is the same OS system that Hisense uses in its TV range.

In terms of cooling tech, the Hisense PureView Series has many of Hisense’s existing features, including Metal-Tech Cooling which distributes cold air around the interior. The interior has 615 litres capacity, and plenty of storage shelves and boxes, including the My Fresh Choice zone which allows you to adjust temperatures from -18°C to +5°C. It also has a water and ice dispenser.

For even more control, the Hisense PureView Series is compatible with the Hisense app and its ConnectLife program, so you can check on your fridge and its settings via your smartphone. It’s definitely Hisense’s smartest model yet, and definitely takes it up to the same level as LG and Samsung who have similar fridge freezers already on the market.

The Hisense PureView Series is expected to launch from June 2026 with prices starting at £1,899.

The Govee Outdoor UpDown Wall Light brings a splash of colour to your outdoor space, with a huge array of colour and scene options, and a fleet of smart controls that allow you to create the perfect illumination.

Govee makes some of the best smart lights around, and its Outdoor UpDown Wall Light joins a roster of impressive products such as the Govee Ceiling Light, Gaming Pixel Light, Mini Panel Lights and Floor Lamp Pro – so I knew I was in good hands when it came time to test these lights.

I installed them on my own home – one in the garden, and the other on my driveway – to find out how well they perform, and to see whether they hit the same highs as the brand’s other products.

Price and availability

The Govee Outdoor UpDown Wall Light is priced at £229.99/$229.99, although it’s regularly discounted, so shop around before making any purchases. It's available directly from Govee's online store, as well as a range of third party retailers in the US and UK, including Amazon.

You get two UpDown lights in the box, and there's currently no option to purchase a single unit. That means if you're only looking to install an odd number of wall lights, you may end up with one spare.

Govee does offer a cheaper option if your budget doesn’t stretch to the premium UpDown model, with the less feature-packed Outdoor Wall Light costing £169.99/$169.99.

Unboxing and set up

The first thing that struck me when the package arrived was just how heavy it was. Sure, you get two lights in the box, but each has a considerable heft to it.

After carefully lifting the lights out of the box, I discovered each one has an accompanying small plastic bag with the mount and accessories required to install them. A paper quick start guide is included, along with a user manual, combining to offer enough details to get the units physically installed on your walls and setup via the app.

I was fortunate enough to have preexisting, wired exterior lights I could swap out for the Outdoor UpDown lights, meaning there was no need to call an electrician. However, if you don’t already have wiring for exterior lights, you will need to get a professional in to safely run cables to the locations you want to place the lights. There is no battery or solar power option here.

Once you have suitable power cables in place (and you’ve turned the electricity off), installation is very simple. The mounting plate for the lights requires four holes to be drilled into the wall, with four wall plugs and screws included in the box to secure it in place.

It's then a case of connecting the blue neutral and brown phase wires on the rear of the lights to the cables in the wall, using the terminal blocks included in the accessory kit.

For the neatest installation, you’ll also want the cables from the wall to go through the middle of the mount, which hides all wiring from view. If this isn’t possible, there’s a small plastic notch you can remove at the bottom of the rear cavity on the light to allow a wire to run down the wall.

Finally, you slide the light over and down on the mount, locking it in place, and screwing the two together with a couple of small screws on either side of the light. I’m the first to admit I’m not particularly handy when it comes to DIY, but I found the process to be straightforward and easy to complete.

I then turned the power back on at the fuse board, and set up the light via the free Govee Home app (iPhone / Android). The app walks you through connecting the UpDown Wall Light to your home network, and prompting any software updates that might be available.

It typically takes less than a minute, and then you’re ready to start enjoying everything the Outdoor UpDown Wall Light has to offer.

Design and features

In terms of its design, the rectangular light looks almost as if it’s hovering off the wall from some angles. Its black facade hides the illuminating power inside, with lights on the top, bottom and both sides of the unit. It’s a modern looking light, and works well on my new-build property. It’s less likely to aesthetically fit with historic and period homes though.

At the top and bottom of the unit, you'll find RGBWW (Red, Green, Blue, White and Warm White) LEDs capable of changing both colour and white temperature. These lights use a reflector cup design, which helps project light further vertically and creates an enhanced wall-washing effect across areas of up to 12 square metres.

On each side of the light are 17 RGBIC (Red, Green, Blue with Independent Control) LED beads. Unlike traditional RGB lighting, each bead can be controlled individually, allowing different colours to be displayed simultaneously across the same fixture.

Combined with the top and bottom lighting zones, the UpDown Wall Light can create what Govee calls "four-side magic colour", providing dynamic 360-degree illumination around the entire unit.

When it comes to the Govee Home app, there are more than 70 preset lighting scenes available, divided into categories including Natural, Life, Festival and Soothing. It can feel slightly overwhelming at first simply because there are so many options to choose from, but it means there's something for almost every occasion.

For those who prefer more control, the app allows you to adjust brightness up to 1,400 lumens, select custom colours and choose white temperatures between 2,700K and 6,500K. Quick-access colour presets make it easy to switch to simple shades such as white, yellow or blue, while the Subsection menu lets you customise individual sides of the fixture independently, including their brightness, colour and colour temperature.

When I was feeling really creative, I enjoyed the Finger Sketch feature. Here, you can manually assign colours to all 34 RGBIC side LEDs, as well as the top and bottom light zones. Once you've created a design, you can add animated effects such as twinkling or clockwise movement and adjust the speed of those effects to suit the mood.

Govee has also included an AI-powered lighting mode within the app. Using a built-in chatbot, you can describe a scene and have the system generate a matching lighting effect. It's not as sophisticated as tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, but it worked surprisingly well during testing. For example, I asked it to recreate the neon glow of Miami's South Beach at dusk, and it generated a colourful neon-inspired lighting scene. This feels more of a gimmick rather than a useful feature – especially when you consider the sheer volume of presets Govee already has available – but it’s a nice addition for those wanting to flex their creativity further.

Elsewhere, the UpDown Wall Light is designed to withstand life outdoors. It carries an IP66 rating for dust and water resistance, which means it should cope well with heavy rain and challenging weather conditions. That said, Govee still recommends applying silicone sealant between the mounting plate and the wall during installation to help prevent moisture from reaching the wiring behind the fixture.

Smart home support is also included. Once linked to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa through the Govee app, the lights can be controlled with voice commands. I connected the lights to Google Home without issue, which allowed me to turn them on and off, adjust brightness levels and switch between block colours directly from the Google Home app or with voice commands.

For example, I could simply ask Google to "turn on the garden wall light", "dim the drive wall light to 50%" or "change the garden wall light to blue", and the commands were executed without issue.

There's also support for Govee's optional Outdoor Motion Sensor, which can add motion-activated lighting functionality. Unfortunately, I wasn't provided with the sensor during testing, so I wasn't able to evaluate how well this feature performs in practice.

Performance

In day-to-day use, the UpDown Wall Light delivers exactly what it promises. I found the RGBWW LEDs provided excellent wall-washing effects, while the independently controllable RGBIC side LEDs create striking patterns and colour combinations that stand out far more than standard outdoor wall lights. At maximum brightness, the 1,400-lumen output provides more than enough illumination while still being capable of creating softer ambient lighting when dimmed down.

What impressed me most was the sheer level of control available. Whether I wanted a simple warm white glow for everyday use or a colourful animated display for an evening gathering, the app made it easy to switch between styles. Despite the huge number of options available, the interface remained relatively intuitive once I'd spent a little time exploring it.

The scheduling features also worked well during testing. I set routines for the lights to automatically switch on in the evening and turn off in the morning, providing useful overnight security lighting without any manual input.

One feature I enjoyed, but ultimately found slightly frustrating, was Music Mode. When activated through the Govee app, the lights react to music and pulse in time with the beat. It worked particularly well with tracks such as Metallica's Enter Sandman and Master of Puppets, creating an impressive visual effect.

The problem is that Music Mode only works while the Govee app remains open. As soon as you close the app, switch to another application or simply allow your phone screen to lock, the effect stops. It feels like a missed opportunity, as the feature would be far more useful if it could continue running in the background while you use your phone normally.

Verdict

The Govee Outdoor UpDown Wall Light offers a unique proposition that no other brand currently does. If you’re after modern wall lights with great versatility and 360 degree illumination, look no further.

I really like the range of modes and options available in the app, the ability to seamlessly integrate it with my smart home assistant, and (if you have existing wiring in place) the easy installation.

Sure, the AI feels gimmicky and the music mode could do with an upgrade, and it’s rather frustrating you can’t buy a single UpDown if you want an odd number of lights. However, these don’t detract from the fact the Govee Outdoor UpDown Wall Light delivers fantastic exterior illumination that transforms your outdoor space.

Alternatives to consider

There are plenty of smart outdoor wall lights on the market, but none offer the versatility and lighting sequences of Govee’s Outdoor UpDown Wall Light – putting them in a unique position with no direct rivals.

Philips Hue, another leader in smart lighting, has a range of wall lights, such as the Resonate Outdoor wall light and Dymera indoor and outdoor wall light. While both of these offer the ability to have different colours on their up and down lights, there are no side lights for that 360 degree splash of illumination. They’ll also cost you more than the Govee if you want two of them.

Nanoleaf doesn’t, at time of writing, have wall lights in its outdoor line-up, while the folks over at Wiz have a couple of basic offerings in the Wall Light ELPAS and Wall Light Classic.

The Atlas is a first for Secretlab. While it looks similar to its existing line of gaming chairs, this smaller and lighter model is designed for the office – perhaps more specifically, the home office. It’s a chair for those who don’t want the bulk of a gaming chair, but still want something they can sit comfortably in all day.

Back in 2020, as people around the world moved to working from home, sales of gaming chairs went through the roof. Compared to your standard home office chair, gaming chairs offer a more comfortable option, especially when sitting for long periods. After all, they are designed for gamers who could be spending upwards of 12 hours in the chair.

Secretlab has produced some of the best gaming chairs on the market, with its flagship Titan Evo setting the bar for all others. More recently, it offered a new Titan Evo NanoGen edition, featuring new materials for the chair, including soft leatherette and cold-cure foam, for a more comfortable, premium finish that rivalled even the Nappa leather version of the chair.

The downside of gaming chairs is that they tend to be larger and bulkier than your typical office chair. This can make them tough for home use, where users have little spare space. The larger form and often louder colours also often don’t fit with a home office aesthetic. Even for those who might consider a larger leather chair.

This isn’t the first time Secretlab has produced an office chair, though. Back in 2023, it launched the NeueChair, a subbrand of Secretlab that looked much like a regular office chair, complete with mesh upholstery and a high neck support. Though it was very premium, it felt very different from a Secretlab chair.

With the Atlas, Secretlab has taken a very different approach. First of all, this is a true Secretlab product; it carries the Secretlab branding on the back of the chair, the arms and the head pillow. And despite its smaller build, it still looks like a Secretlab chair.

Ahead of the Atlas's launch, I visited Secretlab's headquarters and heard the thinking behind this new office chair. Even the most ergonomic office chairs are designed only to be sat in one position – working – but not everyone works the same way. And what about when you’re thinking, taking a few minutes’ break, or are on a video call?

The Atlas is designed for work but also for rest, so you can sit back and relax, or get comfy while you have to watch the screen. All things that a gaming chair is really good at. It uses a version of its patented cold-cure foam or its premium Nanofoam, with either a softweave fabric or a hybrid leatherette to cover it.

The chair is slimmer and lighter than a Titan Evo, and has a simplified lumbar support, though it does gain a new seat depth adjustment, so that you can properly adjust your position on the chair. In fact, all of the seat controls have been redesigned to make them cleaner and easier to access.

So does the Atlas deliver a new world in terms of office chairs, or task chairs as it’s also called? I’ve been using the chair now for just over a week in place of my regular office chair, and this is what I’ve found.

Price and availability

The Secretlab Atlas comes in two main versions, two finishes and a choice of five colours. The standard model starts from £399 / $499 / €499 (around A$750), this comes in classic black hybrid leatherette, Moon (black and white) hybrid leatherette, cookies and cream (grey and black) SoftWeave, black SoftWeave or Dune SoftWeave (black and cream).

The premium version is denoted with a plus after the name and uses NanoFoam combined with the SoftWeave or the full NanoGen leatherette and foam. This model starts from £599 / $699 / €699 (around A$1130) and comes in Black+ SoftWeave, Dune+ (all-cream) SoftWeave, Pure White+ Nanogen or Pure Black+ Nanogen.

The premium, or plus models are all a single colour, including legs, wheels and adjustment controls, while the standard edition all feature black legs, wheels and adjustment controls.

Setup and installation

The Atlas comes in a relatively large box but still needs some construction before it’s ready to use. The process is simple, though, and can be done by one person in around 20 minutes to half an hour.

There’s a large printed instruction sheet that covers the eight steps, as well as a booklet that repeats the steps and provides usage instructions. There’s even a video tutorial if you get stuck, or prefer to follow along that way.

The tools you need are all in the box, and most sections either just slot together or are held in place using one of the 12 screws supplied. The final step of attaching the magnetic neck pillow is pretty satisfying and means you’re ready to go.

Adjustments

Once you have the chair built and in position, it’s important to set the chair up to your body shape. As an ergonomic office chair, it’s important to ensure that the chair is at the right height for your legs, to keep them at right angles, keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground. That’s why this chair is set 4cm lower than other models.

If you’re coming from a gaming chair, you may find the chair a little low for that reason. At a touch under six feet tall, I needed the chair at full height.

For the first time on a Secretlab chair, there is a seat depth adjustment. This allows you to move the seat plate forward and backwards, helping accommodate either longer or shorter legs. According to the guide, there should only be a small gap of around 5 cm (2 inches) between the edge of the seat and the back of your knee.

For the tilting element of the chair, which is best engaged when relaxing, there are four levels of force adjustment. These are selected by turning the dial in the centre of the adjustment handle on the right and have a powerbar-like display so you can see what setting you have it on.

The manual advises the settings correspond to different weights, with the level one setting being for those under 60kg (132lbs) and the level four setting being for those over 80kg (176lbs). Here again, I needed the maximum setting to get the right level of resistance.

As you lean the chair back, the seat plate also tilts a smaller amount – at a 2:1 ratio – to reduce the strain on your back. The back can also be set by flipping the lever on the left into the locked position while fully upright for working or at four different tilt positions.

The recline on the Atlas is up to 120 degrees, which is less than the Titan Evo, which offers up to 165 degrees for an almost lie-flat feel. However, it’s more than enough for those just wanting to sit back from the screen.

There’s no adjustable lumbar support on the Atlas. Instead, springs have been built into the foam to create a hybrid system and the re-curve S-shape design offering increased support.

There is still adjustment of the armrests, in height, forwards and backwards, and rotationally. The only movement they lack is to move sidewards. They also don’t have the lock button for forward/back and rotation, so the the arms move freely, which can be a little annoying.

There are two sizes of the Atlas chair to correspond to different heights and weights. The regular chair is designed for those under 5’10” (178cm) and less than 100kg (220lbs), while the large chair is for those 5’10” to 6’5” tall (178-195cm) and under 120kg (265lbs).

I was using the large model for the test, though I have tried both sizes and both felt comfortable for me. I do suspect anyone much taller and heavier may not get on as well, as I had both the force resistance and chair height at their maximum (due to a tall home desk). I feel even the regular-sized Titan Evo is more accommodating for larger users, plus there’s an extra-large version if you require it.

Design and look

Overall the Atlas still looks like a Secretlab chair, only less bulky. The design is actually curvier than the Titan Evo, with the back of the chair following an S-curve. It’s noticeably thinner and even the side supports look more sculpted than other models.

The result is gentler, softer and more design-led. It’s something that looks much more suited to an office environment. While the Titan is by no means loud, unless you go for one of the special edition finishes, the Atlas is more reserved, even down to the colour-matched logo on the front and back of the chair.

The models that really stand out to me are the Dune editions, particularly the Dune+, which is all one colour. It’s a sandy cream colour that is completely unique to the Atlas. It’s far less stark than the white leatherette we’ve seen on the Titan NanoGen (and remains an option on the Atlas), and has an almost Scandinavian feel – it actually reminds me of the inside of the new Volvo EX90.

All of the premium or plus models have a nicer look, thanks to the colour-matched features. I suspect the Black3 with the SoftWeave material will be the most popular model. This looks great in both the standard and premium editions, the difference being the use of the NanoFoam in the premium model. The Pure Black NanoGen model is also likely to be a winner, with black NanoGen Hybrid Leatherette on the premium version or a Neo Hybrid Leatherette on the standard edition.

Credit has to go to the Secretlab team though for the design of the seat controls on the Atlas. Though I was a little unsure about having a twist movement for the height rather than the traditional lever, the way they have combined all functions into two controls is impressive. The left control twists to adjust the seat depth and the lever flicks up and down to lock or unlock the tilt, with the words unlocked in green and locked in red for clarity.

On the right, the control twists for the height and the centre dial turns to adjust the tilt force, between one and four, with a status bar showing your current setting. It’s certainly the clearest set of controls I’ve seen on any chair, and I hope it’s something they bring to the rest of the range in future.

Overall comfort

The biggest selling point of the Atlas compared to a mesh office chair is comfort. I have always recommended gaming chairs to those looking for a home office chair because they are far more comfortable. Working from home, particularly in summer, can mean sitting in shorts, which is not something you want to do on a mesh chair. Gaming chairs are designed to maintain comfort over long periods, which makes them better for work too.

The thinner design of the Atlas still manages to offer that gaming chair comfort. I was testing the Dune+ model with NanoFoam, and it’s actually a lot more comfortable than my old Secretlab Titan SoftWeave chair I bought back in 2020 – the newer models use the same cold-cure foam as the Atlas.

Though you don’t get the huge recline of the Titan, the tilt here is more than enough for relaxing between meetings, or for some after-work gameplay. With the chair locked upright, into task mode, it feels really supportive on your back, and I didn’t miss the adjustable lumbar support at all.

Should I buy the Secretlab Atlas?

With the Atlas, Secretlab aimed to take their gaming chair formula and put it into an office friendly product. That has been an absolute success here, as this chair feels every bit the Secretlab product while looking suited to a home office with a smaller frame.

It’s a modern interpretation of the Secretlab design that feels more lifestyle living space than gaming cave. Perhaps a sign of the times, when gamers reach middle age and need a grown-up space to work and play. The Atlas doesn’t look like a gaming product, yet still provides that level of comfort.

While the standard model is still a comfortable option, I would recommend going for one of the premium options to take advantage of the NanoFoam, particularly for the white and Dune models.

So is this the ultimate chair for those hybrid or remote workers? The ones that previously might have opted for a gaming chair over your standard Staples ergonomic option. I would definitely recommend the Atlas to those people, but I would also still also suggest looking at the Titan Evo.

With the Titan Evo Lite no longer on sale, the standard Atlas chair is now Secretlab’s cheapest option. However, the Titan Evo SoftWeave is cheaper than the premium Atlas model, and arguably offers better value. Even the NanoGen Titan is only £70/$100 more than the Atlas equivalent.

For adjustment and comfort, the Titan is still the ultimate chair. However, for a home office where you don’t want the bulk of a big office chair, the Secretlab Atlas is the perfect choice.

Staying up to watch the World Cup? According to sleep experts, you could be losing 275 hours of sleep due to the late night games – but here’s how to still get a good night’s sleep while the football is on.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 started on the 11th June, and as the games will be played in Mexico, the US and Canada, that puts UK football fans on a bit of a weird schedule. For the UK, the majority of games will be played in the evening and early morning, and if you’re dedicated to watching all the matches, this will massively impact your sleep for the month that the World Cup is on.

With this in mind, Hillarys did some calculations and found that football fans could lose up to 275 hours of sleep while the competition is on, due to 53 out of 104 matches kicking off after 11pm BST. Hillarys has also launched its free World Cup Sleep Calculator which calculates the amount of sleep you’ll lose based on the games you watch.

But fear not – Hillarys’ sleep scientist, Tom Coleman has shared his five expert tips on how to sleep better during the World Cup.

5 tips to get a good night’s sleep after watching the World Cup

1. Try the split-sleep strategy

Coleman’s number one tip for getting a good night’s sleep without missing the World Cup action is to split your sleep. “Consider going to bed at your normal time, waking for the match, then returning to sleep afterwards,” he says. “It's not as efficient as one uninterrupted block, but it's far better than staying awake for 20 hours straight and crashing later.”

The split-sleep strategy works due to the different sleep stages that make up your sleep cycle. The deepest, most restorative sleep tends to take place in the first half of the night, so you should be getting a good amount of rest and recovery time before your World Cup alarm goes off.

2. Control your lighting

Sitting in front of a bright, flashing TV isn’t great for your sleep, due to the blue light the screen emits. So, when you go to turn in after a game, you’ll likely find yourself lying awake, feeling wired. But that’s where strategic control of your lighting comes in.

After the match ends, Coleman suggests shifting into low, warm lighting. “This helps your brain ramp up melatonin production sooner, which shortens the time it takes to fall asleep… bright light is one of the strongest 'wake-up' signals your brain has, even when your body is exhausted. Dimming your environment is one of the fastest ways to help it downshift into sleep mode”, says Coleman.

3. Keep your bedroom cold and dark

Not only are you dealing with late night games, but the World Cup also takes place in summer where the higher temperatures already negatively affect your sleep. As Coleman explains, the “temperature is the second most important sleep signal after light, as the body needs to drop its core temperature to initiate sleep and a warm room makes that harder. Ventilation, a fan, and blackout curtains create an ideal recovery environment your body needs after a disrupted night.”

4. Limit your alcohol intake

Whether you’re watching the World Cup or not, alcohol has a huge impact on your sleep. Alcohol may act as a sedative but it disrupts your sleep quality, particularly your REM sleep which is essential for mental and emotional recovery. So, try to limit how much alcohol you drink while watching the football so you can sleep comfortably, and wake up feeling well-rested.

5. Schedule recovery sleep

If you’re a diehard football fan, chances are you’ll be up for every single game, so it’s important to schedule some recovery sleep – and actually make sure you stick to it. For example, Coleman recommends “if a match ends at 4am on a Sunday, block Sunday morning in your calendar, put your phone on ‘do not disturb’ and make sure anyone else in the house knows not to wake you.”

So you’re considering a robot vacuum, and you’ve got a healthy budget. Well, Ecovacs has one it hopes challenges the best robot vacuum cleaners around. Say hello to the Deebot X12 OmniCyclone.

The X12 OmniCyclone is Ecovac’s latest flagship robot vacuum, sitting atop the firm’s extensive range of clever floor cleaners and boasting new technology to help justify its premium price tag. With standout premium models like the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra and Roborock Saros 20 already on the market, I expected seamless setup, mapping, cleaning and maintenance from the X12 – if it wants to mount a worthwhile challenge.

So, does its new FocusJet technology, along with its Ozmo Roller 3.0, Zero Tangle 4.0 and docking station features live up to the billing? I’ve put the Deebot X12 OmniCyclone through its paces to find out.

Price and availability

The Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone price is £1,249/$1,499, placing it firmly in between its key competitors. The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra is slightly more expensive, while the Roborock is a touch cheaper.

That price includes the robot vacuum, docking station, and cleaning solution for the mop function. You can currently buy the X12 from Amazon.

Unboxing and set up

The Deebot X12 OmniCyclone arrives well packaged, although the station is packed with more plastic and polystyrene than I’d like to see for a product in 2026. The robot itself is packed in its own box within the larger package, and it features solely cardboard packing protection.

As well as the X12 robot and Omni station, you also get a base ramp that simply, but securely clips to the front of the front of the station, along with a bottle of cleaning solution, a bottle of heavy-duty cleaning solution, power cord and manual.

There’s also a couple of corner guards to help soften a couple of sharp corners on the front of the docking station. I was able to position the station in my laundry room, away from walkways, and with no small children to worry about, I didn’t see the need to stick these on. However, if you do have young children, or there’s a chance you might accidentally catch the docking station as you walk past, the inclusion of these rubber bumpers is a nice touch.

One thing to note is there’s a lot of protective film on both the OmniCyclone station and the robot itself, so take time to peel these all off, checking you’ve removed every piece.

A useful one-sheet quick start guide is included, giving you clear visual and written instructions on how to get the base setup, easily add water and cleaning solution to the correct reservoirs, download the app, and get the X12 connected to your Wi-Fi.

You’ll need to place the OmniCyclone station close to a power outlet, as the power cord is only a meter and a half long.

The free app on your smartphone provides step-by-step setup instructions, and is complimented by audible voice guidance from the X12 robot vacuum, keeping you updated every step of the way. It’s all very straightforward, and I applaud Ecovacs for that.

You can give your robot vacuum a name. I called my review unit Vinnie, allowing me to use this name with voice commands to send Vinnie out on a clean, or check things such as battery level.

Before I could get going the app notified me of an available firmware update. I had to place Vinnie in the docking station, ensuring the connector pads on the rear of the robot were against the connectors in the dock. I got audio confirmation from the X12 when I had it properly docked.

From there, the update downloaded and installed in five minutes, and you get the option to set future updates to download and install automatically overnight. Once this is complete, it’s time to send the Deebot X12 OmniCyclone out to map your home.

Mapping

The Deebot X12 OmniCyclone automatically maps your home – you just need to set it going and it’ll work out your layout. It does a really good job, but you need to ensure the pathways around your home are clear before it heads out, as I found when I set it off to map.

I placed the base station in my laundry room, and the X12 was able to manoeuvre its way around this small space and make its way into my main living area. Here it did well moving round my kitchen island, sofa, TV stand, plants and coffee table. It even did pretty well under the dining table, among the web of chair legs, although it did spend around 30 seconds working out how to free itself from between a few of the legs – it made it out in the end though.

All seemed to be going well, but instead of venturing into the hallway and then the lounge, the X12 returned to the base station, saying it had completed mapping.

That’s because as it made its way round the kitchen, my cat was blocking the door to the hallway as it watched suspiciously as the X12 trundled past it. Due to this feline blockade, the robot clearly assumed there was nothing worth investigating beyond it.

After I had gently ushered my cat out of the way, I sent the Deebot X12 OmniCyclone out on a fresh mapping run, and this time it managed to find its way into the hallway and lounge.

It completed the mapping task in five minutes, producing an impressive floor plan of my home, with each space colour coded and rooms auto-named – although the names can be easily edited in the app if it hasn’t got them quite right.

Carpets, rugs and mats were also automatically detected without my intervention, which means the X12 knows where to mop, and where not to mop.

You can also fine tune the map it's created as well, by moving walls, highlighting additional carpeted areas, setting no-spray zones, and creating virtual boundaries if you don’t want the robot going into certain areas.

Design and features

With the weight of a sizeable price tag on its shoulders, the Deebot is at least dressed for the occasion. Its slick, premium design looks modern, and the base station features a smart Deebot logo design on its top, adding to the premium aesthetic.

The base station and robot vacuum also feel premium, with a certain heft to them, and a well built finish that suggests they’re capable of years of loyal service.

I did find the glossy front section of the robot a bit of a dust and fingerprint magnet though, picking up cat hair and fluff as it trundled round my home. This isn’t a huge issue, but it can lead to the machine looking a little grubby after a while, not to mention potentially blocking the view for the AI sensors and cameras. Giving it a quick wipe with a cloth every now and to keep it looking smart.

You’ll need to find a decent chunk of space for the base station, as it’s bigger than some of the competition, chiefly due to its bagless design and powerful cyclone dust bin that sucks out debris from the robot’s bin with impressive force.

The design of the clean and dirty water tanks on top of the station have also been improved, with comfortable handles making it easy to remove and empty/refill them.

In a lot of ways, the features here are similar to those found on its predecessor, the Deebot X11 Omnicyclone, but there is one major new addition with the X12.

FocusJet is the firm’s latest technology, with the robot’s AI able to automatically detect heavy stains, spraying them with a cleaning solution from two nozzles on the front of the robot before starting a mopping routine. Ecovacs says this results in fewer passes required when mopping to remove stubborn stains, increasing the efficiency of the robot.

Unlike some of its mopping rivals that use flat, circular mop pads, the Deebot X12 OmniCyclone comes with the firm’s Ozmo Roller 3.0, a 27cm cylindrical roller mop that can extend from the side of the robot (Ecovacs calls this ‘TruEdge’) to get into corners and up to edges other bots might not be able to reach.

The roller is 50% longer than its predecessor (17.5cm) and can spin quicker at 220rpm (vs 200rpm on the X11) for a deeper clean.

Unlike the Dreame Matrix10, there aren’t dedicated roller mops for different surfaces - the Deebot makes do with the single roller. However, like other premium rivals, the base station here can clean the roller during cycles, and once a cleaning cycle has finished – ensuring your floors get a fresh clean each time.

The base station takes around three minutes to complete a mop washing cycle, and during that time it’s able to recharge the X12’s battery by up to 13%, ensuring the robot can mop larger areas without lengthy recharge breaks.

Another upgrade that arrives on the X12 is the Zero Tangle 4.0 main brush, designed to not get clogged up with hair thanks to an anti-tangle, which paired with 22,000Pa of suction power provides a suitable level of power – even though both the Dreame and Roborock offer greater suction.

This also wouldn’t be a premium robot vacuum in the year 2026 if AI wasn’t present. The Deebot Z12 OmniCyclone packs Yiko, an AI assistant you talk to to control cleans. Instructions can be very specific too, such as "please clean below the sofa in the living room."

The app also sports an AI agent mode, which can learn your habits and automatically adjust cleaning modes and scheduling, with the aim of seamlessly fitting into your household’s needs.

Maintenance

The OmniCyclone base station that comes with the Deebot X12 looks good, and is highly functional in its design. The clean and dirty water reservoirs are easy to remove and refill/empty, sliding out from the top of the station, while a small panel on the front left is easily removed to reveal the cleaning solution reservoirs for the mopping and FocusJet. These too, simply slide out and each have a removable lid to keep the contents secure.

The cyclone bin sits proudly in the centre of the station, and it’s easy to remove with a single latch that doubles as the carry handle, allowing you to remove it from the station. It then has a blue, spring-loaded slider on the side, that you slide down, opening the base of the bin and pushing the contents out.

I like how easy this was to empty, and it kept my hands clean. Plus there are no dust bags to contend with, making things even easier. I also found the bin to be a good size, capable of holding multiple full cleans of my home before I needed to empty it.

Meanwhile, the station also cleans the mop brush, leaving you to just deal with the dirty water it generates from this clean.

The only small downside is I found the robot dropped debris on the base station ramp after every cleaning cycle – which meant I had to manually tidy it up each time. It’s not a huge issue, and it’s not like I had to chase it round the house picking up after it, but it was a little frustrating.

Performance

Day-to-day, the Deebot X12 OmniCyclone is easy to live with. Set it off to vacuum the house and it will diligently do so, trundling through your home collecting debris in its path.

Like many robot vacuums, it’s much quieter than a traditional vacuum (usually 65-85dB), and I measured its vacuuming volume at 51-54dB on hard floor and 55-65dB on carpet. It’s louder on carpet as the X12 automatically detects the floor type and increases suction to ensure the same level of clean through the fibres.

It means you’re still able to have a conversation with someone without shouting at them, or watch TV without having to flick the volume up much, as the X12 moves round the room.

You get four levels of vacuum suction, however for the most part I stuck with ‘standard’ (aka level 2), which managed to collect light debris such as crumbs and cat hair from both hard floor and carpet.

For the times when I went longer between vacuum cycles, or when I’d had multiple guests visit in a short space of time, I’d switch the power to strong. If you really want to get fine debris up, there is a Max (level 4) setting, although this is much louder and uses more battery power.

The X12 did a good job of moving around my home, although there were occasions where it would nudge a cat bowl, wrestle a lightweight mat by the door, and bump into a table leg or two. It never got stuck though, and I was impressed with how it always worked out a way to free itself from a tight spot.

It was also able to handle the 2cm step between my hardfloor hallway and carpeted lounge, applying additional power to the wheels to help it boost over the ledge and continue its clean.

What also impressed me was this robot vacuum’s low profile, and its ability to continue under low-sitting units where there was only a few millimetres of vertical clearance. It even has a light that will automatically turn on if its under a large piece of furniture and the cameras need a better view of what’s around it.

It can take you by surprise, as its relatively quiet operation means I sometimes forgot it was moving round my home, only to be slightly shocked when it tickled my feet. Avoid them, it did not.

It took between 60 and 70 minutes to clean my 40m² home, and it was able to do it all on a single charge, with around 40% battery remaining.

During this time it would return to the dock two or three times to empty the X12’s onboard bin into the larger bin in the OmniCyclone station. It’s this emptying which is the noisiest part of the whole process, so if you’re thinking about running the Deebot X12 overnight, the bin emptying could wake you up.

While the X12 did a good job collecting fine debris (think crumbs, pet hair, dust and dirt) on its regular vacuum cycles, it struggled when I tasked it with more substantial clean-ups.

I dropped 20g of rice on both hard flooring and carpet, and the X12 collected 98% of the grains on the latter. That sounds like a good result, but the remaining 0.5g it left behind were noticeable to the eye and under foot, which isn’t particularly useful if you’re looking for a hassle-free clean up of a spill.

Things got much worse then I repeated the same hard floor and carpet pick-up tests with 20g of Cheerios breakfast cereal. Instead of running over the scattering of multigrain rings, the Deebot X12 actively avoids the denser patches of the ‘spill’ and vacuums around it.

As for the rings it did manage to collect, when it returned to the base station it wasn’t able to remove all of them from the robot’s bin. This meant I had to manually clear it out.

This was disappointing to see, as it reduces the vacuum’s convenience as you can’t reliably call on it to tidy up larger debris you might have dropped on the floor.

The X12’s mopping function works more consistently, with the roller mop providing even coverage across my hard floors, and not leaving them overly wet. That means the clean floors dry quickly.

Deebot’s TruEdge feature sees the roller mop extend from the side of the unit, allowing it to clean up close to skirting boards, corners, and other harder to reach areas.

The X12 did a great job of automatically detecting carpet and lifting the roller mop up and out of the way when traveling over this surface. You’ll find the robot returns to the base station at least once during a mopping cycle to clean the roller, helping to avoid dragging dirt around your floors.

This process takes three minutes, and the X12 fast-charges during this time. I saw it replenish 14% of its battery during its washing cycles, which is a nice feature to ensure it doesn’t run out of charge mid-cycle.

It also performed well with tougher stains, like a dried ketchup spill, with the company’s FocusJet technology detecting the mess and effectively spraying it with cleaning solution before it attempted to mop.

The spill was cleaned up, with the X12 taking a few passes over the mess to ensure it got it all. Once mopping is complete, the X12 returns to the base station for another clean and then a roller mop drying cycle. It’s an impressive solution that I found worked very well.

Verdict

Did my floors look cleaner and feel fresher underfoot after the Deebot X12 OmniCyclone completed each full vacuum and mop cleaning cycle? Absolutely.

With two cats in our home, having feline hair regularly collected, food crumbs swept up, and muddy paw prints scrubbed away near the cat flap, the X12 delivered the service I was expecting for routine cleans. However, its vacuuming performance isn’t flawless.

If you’re after a robot vacuum that can reliably handle larger debris, you’ll want to look at the comparably priced Roborock and Draeme models as they offer better performance here.

The app is excellent though, and I found the automatic mapping of my home very impressive. The quiet operation (bin emptying aside) also meant the X12 could go about its business without interfering with my day – although it might nibble your feet if you’re milling around a room while it’s on its cycle.

Mopping performance was impressive, and the FocusJet tech did appear to help the X12 clear up more stubborn strains. If you’re after a premium robot vacuum and mop that can reliably clean your floors' general dust and dirt on a regular basis, the X12 delivers.

Alternatives to consider

The X12 has tough competition, and there are two other flagship robot vacuums and mops that are just ahead of the Deebot thanks to better vacuuming.

The Roborock Saros 20 is one of the most impressive robot vacuum and mop systems we’ve tested, combining powerful performance with well-executed features and technologies. It’s expensive, but if you’re after a high-performance robot that requires minimal input, this is one of the best options.

Meanwhile, the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra is one of the most advanced and user-friendly robot vacuums around, with cutting-edge tech and effortless automation, all controlled through the excellent Dreamehome app. The only real downsides are the high price and short power cable.

Making coffee has always relied on one simple ingredient: heat. That means cost. But it's about to change.

Now researchers in Australia – UNSW Sydney – have found a radically different approach. Instead of using heat, the system uses ultrasonic sound waves to extract flavour, oils and caffeine from coffee at room temperature.

The technique creates microscopic bubbles that rapidly collapse, generating tiny shockwaves that break into the coffee grounds and release the compounds normally extracted by hot water.

The result is an espresso-strength coffee produced in just a few minutes without the energy demands of heating water.

In blind taste tests involving regular coffee drinkers, participants reportedly struggled to tell the difference between conventional espresso and the ultrasonic version. Researchers say the process used around a quarter of the energy required by a traditional espresso machine.

The technology is still in the research stage right now. Espresso machines are some of the most energy-hungry appliances in many kitchens because they spend much of their time heating and maintaining water temperature.

If ultrasonic brewing can be commercialised, future machines could start instantly, consume far less electricity and potentially offer more consistent results.

For now, your morning flat white isn't about to become a speaker-powered science experiment. But if this technology reaches mass production, the next revolution in coffee could come from sound rather than steam.

With the weather finally starting to clear up, it’s time to get outside and fire up your barbecue! Whether you have a gas, charcoal, wood pellet or electric grill, it’s always helpful to have the right tools and accessories to hand to ensure you have a successful barbecue.

But what equipment do you actually need? And most importantly, is there any kit that you actually don’t need? To help you get the best cooking results from your barbecue this summer, these are the five BBQ accessories you actually need, and three that you can live without.

Before I get into the list, it goes without saying that you’ll need the correct fuel type for your barbecue to work. For gas barbecues, you’ll need a gas canister, regulator, hose and ignitor while for charcoal smokers, you’ll need charcoal and a chimney starter. Pellet barbecues require wood and an electrical power source, the latter of which is the only thing required to use an electric barbecue.

The BBQ tools you need

1. Long-handled tongs

Tongs are essential tools for both outdoor and indoor cooking. Handy for grabbing, flipping and transferring food, tongs are especially handy for odd-shaped foods where you need a good grip, like sausages or corn-on-the-cob – two of the most common barbecue foods.

If you’re using tongs on a barbecue, I’d recommend a long-handled pair of tongs. The length of the tongs ensures your hands and arms are safe from the heat.

2. Slotted spatula

Like tongs, a spatula is a common accessory found and used in the kitchen, but it excels at barbecue cooking, too. Spatulas are great for flipping burgers, and like tongs, the long handle keeps your hands away from the intense heat of the grill. I’d suggest a slotted spatula, as barbecues can get dirty and greasy. This way, you can remove some of the grease when you transfer your burgers to a plate.

3. Silicone basting brush

Barbecues aren’t just about sausages and burgers – you can use them for lots of different meals, including big cuts of meat and kebabs. If you’re cooking this food on your grill, a silicone basting brush allows you to add extra flavour by brushing butter or marinades directly onto your food as it sits on the barbecue.

Silicone is the best material for a basting brush, as long as you check that it’s heat resistant and barbecue-friendly. Compared to other materials, silicone won’t burn or shed, and it doesn’t hold onto food smells.

4. Meat thermometer

Nowadays, the majority of barbecues on the market will have meat thermometers built into the design. But if yours doesn’t, you definitely need one as a meat thermometer to make sure your food is properly cooked. Due to a barbecue’s high heat, it might look like your burger is cooked but oftentimes, you’ll find the outside is burnt but the inside is raw. That’s where a meat thermometer comes in, as it gives you quick, accurate readings so you don’t give yourself or your guests food poisoning.

5. Heat-resistant gloves

To better protect yourself, a sturdy pair of heat-resistant gloves is exactly what you need for barbecue season. When you buy them, make sure the gloves are barbecue-approved as a grill reaches much higher temperatures than kitchen appliances. Your barbecue might also experience the occasional flare-up so a heavy-duty pair of gloves are a must.

The BBQ tools you don’t need

1. All-in-one utensils

Don’t get me wrong, there is some value to all-in-one utensils but I have never found one that’s actually worked well. For barbecues, these types of tools combine a spatula, fork, baster, bottle opener and corkscrew in one. While they might save space and money, these all-in-one utensils aren’t the most comfortable to hold and use, and aren’t the best quality. They’re also quite tricky to clean.

2. Grill press

Smash burgers are all the rage at the moment, and it’s extremely easy to make your own smash burgers on a barbecue. But what I wouldn’t suggest is buying a dedicated grill press for them. While they are handy, you can get the same results by using a heavy-duty pan or skillet, or even a weighted spatula.

3. A spritzer

A barbecue spritzer or spray is designed to keep the surface of the grill non-sticky and prevent burning during longer cooks. But you don’t necessarily need to use a spritzer on your barbecue, and oftentimes, it’s hindering your cooking. Over-spritzing your food can remove the marinade or rub that you put on it before adding it to the grill, minimising its flavour. It can also make your food and surface too wet which can prolong your cooking time.

Homey has issued a new update that allows users to set up and control their smart home with ChatGPT. Whilst users could previously connect ChatGPT to Homey through the Homey MCP Server, the latest update means ChatGPT can now control devices, start existing Flows and even help create entirely new automations.

Previously, building a Flow meant manually piecing together automation logic card by card. Now, users can simply describe what they want to happen and let ChatGPT translate those instructions into something Homey can execute.

The new functionality works across the entire Homey ecosystem, including Homey Cloud, Homey Pro, Homey Pro Mini and self-hosted Homey Server installations.

The update arrives just weeks after Homey announced price increases for both the Homey Pro and Homey Pro Mini, so it's encouraging to see the company continuing to add meaningful new features alongside the higher pricing.

For users who prefer alternative AI platforms, Homey's existing MCP Server will continue to support services such as Claude. ChatGPT is simply being added as another way to interact with and manage your smart home rather than replacing existing options.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially kicked off – pun very much intended! Starting on 11th June and running until 19th July, football fans can rejoice as they’ve got over a month of tournament games to watch.

Whether you’re watching from the sofa, in the garden or at the pub, you’ll want to have the best viewing experience possible, which is why I’ve made this handy guide of 15 gadgets you need for World Cup viewing and hosting.

I’ve included the most obvious tech gadgets you’ll need to watch the competition, like TVs and sound systems, but I’ve also featured products that will enhance your watching and hosting, including beer dispensers, smart lighting, pizza ovens and drink coolers. Whoever you’re rooting for, these gadgets will get you through the highs and lows of the World Cup 2026.

Not sure where to watch the games? See our how to watch the World Cup 2026 guide for more details.

World Cup 2026 hosting gadgets

We’re in a bit of a strange weather limbo at the moment in the UK. One minute it’s blazing sunshine with temperatures pushing into the early 30s, and the next it’s absolutely tipping it down. For us green-fingered folk, that can make it tricky to know when to water the garden – and whether the rain is doing the job for us or if we should still be stepping in.

We’ve already covered the benefits of collecting rainwater for the garden, but I’ve now spoken to experts at the RHS to find out the exact best time to water when the sun is out. Timing, it turns out, makes a big difference to how effectively plants actually use the water, so it’s well worth getting it right.

You’ll find the answer below, along with a few other handy watering tips for different times of day.

What time of day should I water my garden?

The experts say that watering early in the morning is the ideal time. That’s because there’s less evaporation, meaning more water actually reaches the roots, and plants have what they need to get through the day.

If that’s not possible, evening watering is also fine. However, it’s worth being cautious, as damp leaves sitting overnight can encourage pests and fungal diseases.

The most important thing to avoid is watering in the heat of the day. A lot of the water simply evaporates before it even reaches the soil, and in some cases, droplets can even intensify the sun and scorch plant surfaces – something you definitely want to avoid if you’re trying to keep your garden healthy.

Another week, another new Shark floorcare launch! This time, Shark is expanding its Shark CarpetForce line-up with two new models designed to deep clean your rugs and carpets – and they may have just solved the biggest problem I have with traditional carpet cleaners.

2026 has been a huge year for Shark so far, with the brand releasing new PowerDetect vacuum cleaners, a portable, handheld fan and even a leaf blower! Its latest launches go back to its floorcare roots, and caters to carpeted homes and pet owners in the US.

The new Shark CarpetForce line-up includes the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner, and the Shark CarpetForce HairPro. Both models have been given a new lightweight, compact design which tackles one of the most overlooked problems with traditional carpet cleaners.

I’ve tried many floorcare products in my time as Home Editor for T3, and I’ve always found carpet cleaners to be extraordinarily heavy and bulky. The new Shark CarpetForce launches have solved this issue with their slimmer, lighter formats, making it easier to move and carry them around your home.

Starting with the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner, this model offers six times deeper cleaning than vacuuming, and comes with two customisable modes – Deep Clean and Express Clean. The former is designed for heavy messes while the latter is for quick cleans that dry even quicker.

The Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner uses a new DirtDisrupt brushroll which works at high speed and has multi-angled brushes that extract embedded dirt. It also comes with Shark’s Deep Clean Ultra with Stain Guardian formula that removes stains and odours.

The second launch is the Shark CarpetForce HairPro which pet owners will definitely appreciate. Pet hair – no matter how short – gets everywhere, especially into carpets, but the Shark CarpetForce HairPro uses HairPro technology to pick up three times more pet hair without clogging the brushroll.

The Shark CarpetForce HairPro has many of the same features as the other new CarpetForce model, including its lightweight design, dirt pick-up, customisable modes, and faster drying time. Where it differs is its PowerFins brushroll which offers continuous cleaning contact for picking up trapped dirt and hidden pet hair.

The new Shark CarpetForce cleaners are available to buy now, with the CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner priced at $199.99, and the CarpetForce HairPro costing $229.99. As of writing, UK pricing and availability hasn’t been announced yet.

If you're a die-hard Americano or cold brew fan, you might want to look away now, because for me, nothing beats a frothy coffee. Sure, a trip to your local café is a great way to satisfy that craving, but there's something especially satisfying about recreating that same experience at home.

That's exactly where the Smeg Mini Milk Frother comes in. Designed as a smaller and more affordable alternative to Smeg's larger Multi Milk Frother, it promises three kinds of foam in a compact package that looks every bit as stylish as you'd expect from the Italian brand.

After several weeks of putting it to the test, here's how it performed.

Price and availability

The Smeg Mini Milk Frother is priced at £99.99/$199.95 and comes in a wide range of colours, including black, white, cream, red, pastel blue and pastel green. There are also matte black and matte white versions available.

It joins the previously launched Smeg Multi Milk Frother (£179.99/$299.95), which sits higher up the range and offers six preset programmes alongside a manual mode for greater control.

Design and features

As the name suggests, the Smeg Mini Milk Frother has been designed as a smaller, more affordable alternative to its larger sibling. Measuring just 200 x 93 x 93mm, it has a slim cylindrical design that pairs particularly nicely with Smeg coffee machines, kettles and toasters.

The frother itself consists of a ceramic-coated non-stick carafe, transparent lid, removable magnetic whisk and induction-powered base. In terms of how it works, it's actually quite similar to the Hotel Chocolat The All-New Velvetiser, which many people will already be familiar with.

There's a single button on the front that controls everything – one press selects hot milk foam, two presses heats milk without frothing, and three presses activates cold foam mode. Once you've made your selection, the Mini Milk Frother gets straight to work without needing any further input.

It can heat up to 180ml of milk or froth up to 120ml, making it ideal for one person and perhaps enough for two smaller drinks. The 500W motor heats milk to around 60°C, which is generally considered the sweet spot for coffee drinks.

Inside the jug you'll find handy fill indicators for both heating and frothing, whilst the ceramic-coated interior helps prevent milk from sticking. The whisk and lid are also removable for easier cleaning, although I'll come back to that shortly.

The motor operates at around 40dB, making it noticeably quieter than most coffee machine steam wands. Once your milk is ready, the frother lets you know with a simple audible beep.

Performance

I've had a really positive experience with the Smeg Mini Milk Frother. Aside from looking perfectly at home next to my Smeg kettle and toaster, it's also performed exceptionally well. In fact, I've found myself using it alongside several bean-to-cup coffee machines I've been testing recently rather than relying on their built-in milk systems, which probably says a lot.

The first thing that stood out to me was just how thick and delicious the foam is. It's actually quite difficult to fully convey in writing, so I'll include my TikTok video below because it does a far better job of showing the results.

However, if you're someone who loves a frothy cappuccino or latte, you're going to be very happy here. I was also pleased to discover that the foam actually holds its structure once poured. Unlike many milk frothers where the foam disappears after a few sips, I found it remained thick right to the bottom of the cup.

The hot milk setting also worked well. Whilst I didn't use it as frequently as the hot foam mode, it came in handy when guests wanted a white Americano or a coffee without froth.

The cold foam setting was equally impressive and became particularly useful during the recent heatwave when iced coffees were about the only thing I could face drinking.

If I had one performance-related criticism, it's that I occasionally wished there was some level of temperature adjustment. That said, the default temperature is perfectly fine if you're planning to drink your coffee immediately. Just be aware that it won't stay piping hot for as long as milk heated directly via a steam wand.

Cleaning is probably the area where opinions will vary the most. As I mentioned earlier, if you've used the Hotel Chocolat The All-New Velvetiser before, you'll already know what to expect. Whilst the ceramic coating certainly helps, this isn't the kind of appliance you can simply rinse under the tap and forget about. I often found a thin layer of milk residue left behind on the bottom after use, so I quickly learned that giving it a proper wash with warm soapy water and a sponge immediately afterwards was the best approach.

I also discovered a useful shortcut for more stubborn residue. Filling the jug with a little warm water and washing-up liquid before running one of the programmes effectively cleans the interior for you. Thankfully I didn't need to do this very often, but it's a handy trick to know.

The one thing I did miss was dishwasher compatibility. Unlike the larger Smeg Multi Milk Frother, which has a removable dishwasher-safe stainless steel jug, the Mini Milk Frother requires manual cleaning. That's one of the trade-offs for its smaller size and lower price, and whilst I didn't find it overly frustrating, but it does require a little more maintenance than some rivals.

Verdict

The Smeg Mini Milk Frother creates impressively thick, café-quality foam, looks fantastic on the kitchen counter and is remarkably simple to use. Whilst the lack of temperature controls and dishwasher-safe components may frustrate some users, the excellent frothing performance makes it easy to forgive. If you're the only coffee drinker in your household or simply want a stylish way to elevate your daily coffee, the Smeg Mini Milk Frother is a charming little appliance that's hard not to love.

Alternatives to consider

When it comes to alternatives, the Hotel Chocolat The All-New Velvetiser is probably the closest comparison. Whilst it's marketed primarily as a hot chocolate maker, the internal design and milk-frothing results are remarkably similar.

However, if you want something more versatile, I'd point you towards Smeg's own Multi Milk Frother. As mentioned, its multifunction dial gives access to six automatic programmes and a manual mode, whilst the removable dishwasher-safe jug makes cleaning considerably easier. It's more expensive, but if you regularly make different milk-based drinks, the extra functionality may well be worth it.

Lavazza has just announced its new Tablì pod coffee machine and tabs in the US. The most revolutionary part of the new system is the tabs which are completely free of plastic and made entirely of 100% coffee.

Many people love pod coffee machines as they’re quick and easy to use, and they come with a wide variety of pod options to choose from, including espressos, lattes and even flavoured coffees. But as most pods are single-serve and made from plastic, they can be extremely wasteful.

Lavazza is addressing this problem with the US debut of its Tablì pod coffee maker and its accompanying coffee tabs. Instead of using plastic or other outer packaging, the Tablì tabs are made from 100% coffee, so there’s no capsule, wrapping or coating on them at all.

To make its Tablì ‘pods’, Lavazza compresses precisely ground and tamped coffee into a solid tab. The tabs are circular, and have a concave shape to let the coffee expand as it brews to get that full flavour and smooth crema. Not only do the Tablì tabs look cool, but they have completely removed any and all plastic to cut down on waste.

The Tablì tabs are compatible with the Tablì pod coffee maker, and act the same as traditional pods. Designed in Italy, the Lavazza Tablì machine is the first espresso machine to use these types of pods, and it comes with a simple bean-shaped sliding mechanism at the top where you can add your tabs.

The top of the Tablì houses the controls, including on/off, and single and double espresso options. The Tablì machine also comes with an adjustable coffee spout, and removable base and drip tray to cater to different cup sizes. It’s available in Sand White, Walnut Brown and Graphite Black colours.

The new Tablì tabs will launch with five blends available – Espresso, Double Espresso, Lungo, Super Crema and Decaf. The Lavazza Tablì bundle is available to pre-order now, which gives you a 60 variety collection of tabs, the Tablì machine, Tab Tweezer and a milk frother for $99.99.

It’s expected to officially launch in the US later this year, but no pricing or availability has been announced for the UK just yet.

Gozney has just announced its latest collaboration with paint brand, Tonester. The partnership reimagines four of Gozney’s iconic pizza ovens in four signature Tonester paint shades – but you’ll have to be quick if you want one.

The Gozney x Tonester collection is a fun, colourful collaboration between the two brands. Four of Gozney’s pizza ovens have been given a personal colour upgrade from Tonester to better display its colour, material and form. Each colour was specifically chosen for the way it shows up next to the pizza oven’s fire.

The four pizza ovens up for grabs are the Arc Lite, Tread, Arc XL and the Dome XL (Gen 2). The new colours are displayed on the main outer shell of the pizza oven, but it keeps the mouth, control panel and chimney accessories in Gozney’s usual black.

Starting with the Arc Lite, it now comes in Tonester’s ‘High at the Gala’ paint shade which is a rich, burgundy-like colour. The Tread sticks to the more neutral side of things in ‘Car Coat’ which is a warm, stone brown shade. It’s a minimalist colour that shines brightly in the light so it matches perfectly with Gozney’s portable pizza oven.

One of the brightest colours from the collection is ‘London House’ which is available on the Arc XL. It comes in a deep navy blue colour. My personal favourite is the ‘Black Orange’ on the Dome XL (Gen 2). Arguably Tonester’s most iconic shade, the colour is a rusty orange that looks amazing next to the pizza oven’s flames.

When speaking about working with the founder of Tonester, Tony Piloseno, Tom Gozney, founder and CEO of Gozney said: “The way Tony evokes emotion through his paint colours is exactly how I think about the material, form and finish of our ovens… We’re both trying to transform spaces in different ways: Tony through colour and atmosphere, and us through the moments of connection that happen around fire and food.”

Tony Piloseno added that “We spent a lot of time on which shades belonged with which oven. Each colour was chosen for the specific way it shows up next to fire — ember, shadow, ash and smoke – then matched to a single oven to carry as much weight on an outdoor focal piece as it does on a wall.”

As if the new colours weren’t cool enough, Gozney will be dropping the new pizza ovens in a very unique way. Starting on 15th June, Gozney will drop its Gozney x Tonester pizza ovens every day throughout next week. It’ll be starting with the Arc Lite followed by the Tread, Arc XL and Dome XL (Gen 2) which will be the last drop on 18th June.

The Gozney x Tonester collection will be priced the same as the original models and colours, so if you like a specific colour, you’ll need to be quick as this limited design series is expected to sell out fast – oh, and there aren’t any planned restocks so once they’re gone, they won’t be coming back.

Ever noticed that the fruit in your fruit bowl goes off quicker than when it’s in the fridge? With Vitesy’s latest food waste gadget, you won’t have to worry about that anymore.

Vitesy is best known for its sustainable air purification and wellness gadgets. It became popular for its Vitesy Shelfy, a handy smart home gadget that sits in your fridge and keeps your food fresher for longer while neutralising odours.

Following the success of the Shelfy, Vitesy has now announced the Vitesy Fruit Bowl. Vitesy’s new product is designed to naturally extend the lifespan of non-refrigerated fruit, and it does it without using any electricity or refrigeration.

I love having a fruit bowl but I always find that the fruit I put in it, especially peaches, apples and oranges, tends to go off a lot quicker than expected. That’s where the Vitesy Fruit Bowl comes in. Using advanced catalytic technology and optimised airflow, the Vitesy Fruit Bowl works to keep fruit fresher for longer by slowing ripening and mould, and removing excess moisture.

How it does this is through its design which can hold up to 2.5kg of fruit, and is made of five components. Crafted from polypropylene materials, the Vitesy Fruit Bowl consists of a filter housing module, catalytic filter, lid, tray and base. To enhance and control airflow, the lid, tray and base have ventilation holes that direct air and gases towards the filter.

This airflow method ensures the storage conditions of the Vitesy Fruit Bowl are fresh and hygienic, and reduces stagnant air and condensation which can promote mould. The base of the Vitesy Fruit Bowl collects any liquids, and the outer finish of the design minimises UV exposure.

So, does it actually work? The Vitesy Fruit Bowl went through strenuous testing at a University Research Centre, and the results were seriously impressive. According to the test, the Vitesy Fruit Bowl kept bananas ripe for 11 days, while bananas in a traditional fruit bowl showed signs of browning early on.

Is the Vitesy Fruit Bowl the most stylish fruit bowl I’ve ever seen? No, but I’d take fresh fruit over a nice-looking design any day. This way, I get to enjoy my fruit for much longer while also cutting down on food waste.

Similar to when Vitesy launched the Shelfy, the Vitesy Fruit Bowl is available on Indiegogo where product supporters can back the project. It’s priced at €69 but Vitesy is offering a special early bird price of €39.

While it might not look or feel like summer right now – the joys of UK weather – Grind is gearing up for the sunny season by launching its new summer coffee pod flavours. Perfect for your pod coffee machine, the limited edition collection features Honey Nut and Sweet Miso flavours that are specifically designed for your iced coffee fix.

The new summer coffee pods from Grind are inspired by seasonal flavours, and its customers’ favourite drinks served in Grind cafes. For example, you can now make Grind’s popular Honey Nut Shaken Latte from its cafes in the comfort of your home with its new Honey Nut pods.

The Honey Nut pods might be my favourite from the range, as I love a sweet syrup in my morning latte. While the taste is definitely sweeter than standard coffees, the Honey Nut flavour combines rich coffee with golden honey and toasted nuts for a smooth, balanced flavour.

For those who prefer sweet and savoury tastes, the Sweet Miso pods is what you’ll want from Grind’s new summer range. It blends Grind’s specialty-grade coffee with caramelised and umami notes, so you should get a combination of sweetness and saltiness in each sip.

The new Grind summer pods can be used to make both hot and cold drinks, but the flavours really shine when served as iced coffees. As is the case with all Grind pods, the Honey Nut and Sweet Miso pods are Nespresso-compatible so you can use them with any Nespresso pod machine, including Grind’s very own Grind One machine.

What’s even better about Grind coffee pods is that they’re home-compostable, and made from plants to make them more ethically and easy to dispose of. The coffee they use is also ethically sourced, and you can create your own blends.

Grind’s new summer coffee pods are available to buy in 30, 60 or 100 pods. Prices start at £15.75 for a one-time purchase of 30 pods, or you can sign up for Grind pod subscription which is £13.95. For first-time delivery, you can get 25% off.

Despite testing more security cameras and smart home gadgets than I care to count, there are still a handful of brands that consistently stand out to me. Reolink is one of them, and if you've read my recent piece on just how far ahead many Chinese smart home brands are, you'll probably understand why.

The brand has been on something of a roll lately, launching everything from its impressive new OMVI triple-lens camera range to a host of other smart security devices. However, it's the recently launched Argus MagiCam that's really caught my attention.

On paper, it's a compact wireless security camera with excellent battery life and a focus on energy-efficient monitoring. In reality, it's the installation flexibility that makes it so interesting. The Argus MagiCam comes with a magnetic mounting pad, allowing you to attach it to almost any surface without drilling. Alternatively, if you've got a metal surface nearby, you can simply stick it directly in place.

There are two reasons why I love this approach. Firstly, it's fantastic for renters who don't want to start drilling holes in walls or dealing with permanent fixtures. Secondly, it makes the camera incredibly portable. Whether you're heading off on a road trip or simply want temporary security somewhere else, you can throw the Argus MagiCam into a bag much like you would a power bank and take it with you.

Reolink also includes a wide-angle rotary bracket that allows for 360-degree horizontal rotation and 180-degree vertical adjustment, making it easy to position the camera exactly where you need it.

Power comes from two AA batteries, which are quick and easy to swap when needed. Impressively, Reolink claims this can deliver up to nine months of operation before replacement, but if you'd rather not worry about batteries at all, the camera also supports 24/7 continuous recording when connected to a DC power supply.

I could keep going, particularly about the lack of subscription fees and the fact that Reolink's app remains one of the better smart home app I've used, but it's the price that really seals the deal.

At £49.99 for a single camera (currently reduced to £42.99) and £84.99 for a two-pack (currently £74.79), the Argus MagiCam offers excellent value for money. If you're after a flexible security camera that could potentially go anywhere with you, it's well worth checking out on Reolink's website whilst the discounts are still available.

While it used to be that most people had a signature scent – a single fragrance which was recognisable as theirs – that's far less common these days. In 2026, scent is treated more like a wardrobe, with different options for different moods, weathers and seasons.

That's exactly why bottles like Creed's Wild Vetiver get me so excited. The scent – a sibling to the 22 year old Original Vetiver – is unlikely to be the daily driver for many men.

It's scent profile is sweet and floral, with strong notes of rose and lots of fruits sat on top of a vetiver and woody base. If you were only ever going to wear one scent, I don't think many of us would opt for that.

But when you've got a few bottles or a small collection, Wild Vetiver can really shine. Not dissimilar to that day where you decide to wear your most outlandish shirt just because you can, this scent can offer something totally different on days when you just fancy a change.

I've been wearing this on and off for the past few weeks, and always find it to be a welcome scent to put on. One thing which has particularly impressed is the longevity, with it seeming to stick to skin and clothes for hours. I'm quite happy with a couple of sprays to last a full six to eight hours.

Projection is also pretty good. While there's some fall off after the initial sprays, I found myself and others around me still noticing it a few hours later, which is more than can be said for some scents I've tested.

Of course, it's not cheap, and that will be the biggest stumbling block for most users. I managed to find it for £220 (approx. €255 / US$295 / AU$420) for a 50ml bottle and £310 (approx. €360 / US$415 / AU$590) for a 100ml bottle, which is definitely on the higher end for most of us.

I wouldn't say it's too expensive, though, sitting broadly alongside bottles from the likes of Acqua di Parma, Tom Ford and the like. It can hold its own in that company, and that justifies it for me.

Blink has just introduced ai Tiers to its subscription service, making its plans more advanced and accurate than before. Available on its Basic and Plus plans, the new Blink ai Tiers come with AI-powered features that make it easier to check in on your property while you’re away.

As one of the more affordable smart home brands, Blink has previously offered two subscription plans – Basic and Plus – and a free plan. As you’d expect, its free plan comes with the most simple of features, including live view, motion-activated notifications and thumbnail refresh.

For its paid Basic and Plus plans, you get a step up in features which include person and vehicle detection, notification snooze, photo capture, extended live view and live view recording. They also offered cloud storage for up to 60 days, and one of its newer features, Blink Moments which puts together recorded clips in a short timeframe into one single clip for easier viewing.

But now, Blink has taken a leaf out of its sibling’s Ring’s books, and introduced its new ai Tiers which unlock AI detection and description features for your Blink security camera or video doorbell. These new AI-powered features include Video Descriptions, Single Event Alert and Unusual Event Alert.

Starting with Video Descriptions, this new Blink AI feature uses video captured by your Blink camera or doorbell to create text descriptions to explain what’s going on in each clip. Rather than scrolling through footage or having to open the Blink app, Video Descriptions delivers text so you know what’s happening at home at a quick glance.

To cut down on notifications, Single Event Alert groups multiple motion notifications within a short period of time into one alert. It does this by comparing video clips and descriptions, and identifies similar activities, so your alerts are delivered more succinctly and aren’t too repetitive. Unusual Event Alert sends alerts when it spots unusual events that don’t usually happen around your home.

Released today, Blink’s new ai Tiers come with Blink Video Descriptions already, but Single Event Alert and Unusual Event Alert are expected to follow in future updates. More AI features are expected to launch too, although we don’t know what they are just yet.

In terms of pricing, Blink remains one of the most affordable subscriptions and only has a slight increase in price from its non-ai Tiers. The Basic ai Tier is £5.49 / $6.99 a month or £34.99 / $49.99 a year for new customers. The Plus ai Tier is £14.99 / $19.99 a month or £99.99 / $149.99 for the year.

Ninja just shrunk its popular Luxe Café coffee machine, and I think I like it better than the original. Designed with smaller kitchens in mind, the Ninja Luxe Café MINI Plus makes espresso and drip coffee, grinds its own beans and expertly froths milk, all in a much smaller size.

Never one to do things by half, Ninja first entered the coffee machine in 2015, but it really made its mark within the space when it launched the original Ninja Luxe Café in 2024.

Since then, it’s launched Pro and Premier versions with more coffee and froth presets, and debuted even more machines, including the Prestige DualBrew System and the AutoBarista Pro.

Ninja’s coffee machine line-up has definitely taken a ‘bigger is better’ approach – until now, that is. Ninja’s newest espresso machine, the Ninja Luxe Café MINI Plus has gone in the opposite direction, and has been downsized to be 30% smaller than the Luxe Café Pro.

With a 1.3-litre water tank and 250g bean hopper, the Ninja Luxe Café MINI Plus measures 26.01cm in length, 30.91cm in width and 34.11cm in height. It takes up minimal space in your kitchen, but still looks the part with its luxurious black and silver colourway.

As a 2-in-1 coffee maker, the Ninja Luxe Café MINI Plus makes single and double espressos, and drip coffee. Its built-in grinder offers 60 grind sizes, and uses Barista Assist technology to automatically recommend specific grinds for your drink. It also monitors and adjusts brewing temperatures and pressures, so you get the best flavour and texture from your coffee.

The control panel is easy to use, and gives you a lot of freedom to personalise your drinks. Users can choose from single and double shots, three brewing strengths, three hot water settings, and three froth presets for dairy and plant-based milks. The panel also has a progress bar to guide you through the coffee-making process.

The Ninja Luxe Café MINI Plus comes with a precision scale, tamper, steam wand and milk jug. Ninja has really thought of everything, and it packs a lot of features into the smaller, compact design. We’ve tested a few Ninja coffee machines at T3, and have always been impressed, so I expect great things from the Ninja Luxe Café MINI Plus.

The Ninja Luxe Café MINI Plus Espresso Machine is available to buy now for £499.99 / $449.99 at SharkNinja.

Apple’s WWDC dominated the web earlier this week, unveiling everything from its long-awaited Siri AI to a redesigned Liquid Glass interface. However, as usual, smart home fans were left a little disappointed by the lack of any hardware announcements, despite new HomePod rumours swirling since last year.

That said, we did get a small glimmer of hope in the form of a new Apple Intelligence feature that could make Apple Home a far more compelling option for anyone considering entering the smart home space and choosing their ecosystem.

Before we get into that, it’s worth noting that access to these new AI-powered features will come via an iCloud+ subscription. Plans currently start at £0.99/$0.99 per month for 50GB of storage and one camera, £2.99/$2.99 per month for 200GB and up to five cameras, and £8.99/$9.99 per month for 2TB of storage with unlimited cameras.

Right – now onto the good stuff.

Once the upgraded Apple Intelligence features arrive, Apple Home Secure Video users will be able to receive AI-generated summaries of what’s happening across their recorded footage. This means events will be analysed across your stored videos, making it much easier to understand what’s happening around your home.

Apple is also introducing natural language search to Home Secure Video, allowing users to find specific events using simple phrases. In practice, this should make it significantly quicker to locate key moments without endlessly scrolling through hours of recordings.

Taken together, these upgrades mean Apple could effectively deliver AI-powered smart home video search from as little as $0.99 per month, which is a notably lower cost than many rival subscription services from competing brands.

That said, it’s worth remembering that iCloud+ storage isn’t dedicated solely to Home Secure Video. The same allowance is also used for things like iPhone backups, photos and documents, so if you’ve got multiple devices or cameras constantly recording, you could max out your storage limit faster than expected.

However, if you’ve got your settings adjusted properly, with motion detection and recording limited exclusively to important events, it could actually work out very well.

When you write about smart homes and connected living on a daily basis, you quickly develop a good sense of what's actually innovative and what's simply jumping on the latest trend. However, after years of testing smart home gadgets of every shape and size, I've noticed one thing – many of the products pushing the industry forward are coming from Chinese brands, and they're doing so at a pace that few others can match.

The funny thing is that many of the brands we discuss daily here at T3 are Chinese companies. I'm talking about Aqara, Roborock, Dreame, Xiaomi, SwitchBot, Haier, EZVIZ and countless others. These aren't niche brands anymore – they're some of the biggest names in the industry and are responsible for many of the products that continue to push the category forward.

That's why, when I was invited by iMpact to attend the Global Connect Show in Shenzhen and learn more about the technology shaping the next generation of connected living, there was never really any chance of me saying no.

For those unfamiliar, GCS is a networking event organised by iMpact that gives Chinese technology brands a platform to expand their presence across the UK, Europe and the US. At the same time, it offers journalists and industry professionals an opportunity to get hands-on with emerging technologies long before they reach mainstream audiences. Trade shows such as CES and IFA are fantastic for this too, but attending an event in the heart of China's technology ecosystem provides a completely different perspective.

The first thing that struck me when I walked through the doors was just how many familiar names were in attendance. Perhaps that's inevitable when you spend your days speaking with European PR teams from brands such as Dreame, TCL, Amazfit and Olight, but it was refreshing to see these companies on home turf and hear directly about where their ideas originate.

One brand that particularly stood out was Dreame. Having already tested many of its best robot vacuum cleaners, it was fascinating to see products that haven't even reached Western markets yet and hear more about the thinking behind them. I was especially excited to get a closer look at the new Window Cleaning Robot C2, the successor to the popular C1 that launched last year. It also served as a reminder of just how far ahead some Chinese brands are moving, considering the C1 only arrived over here towards the end of 2025.

Lymow was another standout, showcasing its new Lymow One Plus robot mower. I'd already recently covered the mower before attending the event, but seeing it up close only strengthened my belief that Chinese robot mower brands are currently miles ahead of many of their European rivals when it comes to innovation and overall product design.

However, some of the most interesting discoveries came from brands I'd never encountered before. One example was Rootique and its Duo Gen 2, which the company describes as the world's first micro-mist scalp infusion device. It sits more in the wellness category than the smart home space, but it perfectly demonstrates the level of creativity on display throughout the event. With patented IntelliMist and DuoTrace technology, integrated 660nm red light therapy and a reported 3.5x boost in absorption, it immediately made me wonder why nobody had attempted something similar before.

Another company I hadn't encountered before but am now very glad I discovered was Cozyla. Its range of smart displays, digital calendars, tablet-style TVs and digital photo frames are all designed to blend naturally into the home, creating a noticeably different approach to competitors.

Truthfully, I could go on all day about the brands, products and ideas that were on display at GCS. However, what became increasingly clear throughout the event is that many of the companies shaping the future of connected living aren't necessarily the household names most people in the UK or US immediately think of.

Whether it's creating entirely new product categories, refining existing ones at an incredible pace or embracing emerging technologies such as Matter and AI, Chinese brands are playing a huge role in driving the smart home industry forward.

Having seen so much of it up close, there's one thing I'd like more people to realise: many of the products we'll be talking about in a few years' time may well have started life in Shenzhen long before they ever appear on shelves closer to home.