I hate to break it to you, but you're not the only one waiting to get your hands on Apple's new HomeView. Pre-orders are open, but shopping doesn't begin in the UK until 13th November, so there's still a little while to wait.

However, don't fret, because I've found some smart home hubs you can buy today, including options from some pretty big brands. Granted, they might not look quite as sleek as the HomeView, but they're impressive gadgets in their own right.

Take a look at my picks below, along with how much you can save on each one.

Blink announced five new security cameras last week, including 4K and 2K models for the UK and US. The new Blink Mini 4K+ is likely to get the most attention, as it offers the brand's highest resolution yet, but another model caught my eye for a different reason.

The Blink Frontier XR+ is designed for monitoring remote areas, making it Blink's longest-range camera to date. It's aimed at places such as gates, barns, outbuildings and property boundaries that are too far away for standard Wi-Fi security cameras, whilst still offering real-time motion alerts and live view.

For now, the Frontier XR+ is only available in the US and Canada, where it's priced at $199.99 and available in black or army green. There's no confirmed UK launch date yet, but we'll update you if that happens.

Its main selling point is range, particularly when paired with the right hardware. The external antenna is designed to improve signal strength when used with the Sync Module XR or Sync Module XR+. With an outdoor-mounted Sync Module XR+, Blink claims the camera can reach up to 800 feet through heavy obstructions, or up to 7,000 feet with a clear line of sight.

The camera is available on its own or in a bundle with the Sync Module XR+. The standalone version is intended for anyone who already owns a compatible Sync Module and wants to add another camera, whilst the bundle includes the XR+ module, a power adapter and cable.

There are no cellular fees or contracts, but the system does have some limitations. The Sync Module XR+ needs AC power and a Wi-Fi connection, so it won't work in locations without electricity or internet access. That somewhat limits where you can use it, despite the extended range.

The camera runs on four AA lithium batteries, but its USB-C port also accepts 5V DC power, allowing you to keep it plugged in instead of relying on batteries.

Some features also require a Blink subscription, although some new users can access a free 30-day trial of Blink Plus AI, which begins when the product is activated and includes AI-powered features across Blink devices. After the trial, you can choose from the Basic, Plus, Basic AI or Plus AI plans for cloud storage and additional features.

The Frontier XR+ takes a different approach from Blink's more conventional best security cameras, focusing on range rather than resolution. If you need to monitor a distant part of your property, that could make it a useful option, provided you have the power and Wi-Fi connection it requires.

Resideo Technologies has announced plans to update its Honeywell Home smart thermostats to support Apple's new Adaptive Temperature Control and Clean Energy Guidance features. This means users won't need to replace their existing thermostat or pay for a professional installation to get them, as the features will arrive through a software update.

Honeywell Home isn't the first smart home brand to announce support, with Aqara doing the same thing back in April with its W200 smart thermostat. Still, the timing is interesting, coming just days after Apple's new HomeView launch. HomeView is set to become one of the main ways to access and control Apple's latest smart home features, making wider thermostat compatibility all the more useful.

The update is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2027, and will be available on the Honeywell Home ElitePRO, X7S and X8S smart thermostats.

Honeywell Home thermostats already work with several smart home platforms, including Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Home Assistant and Samsung SmartThings, and are Matter-certified. Bringing Apple's latest Home features to thermostats already installed in people's homes is a good example of how software updates can add new functionality without making existing hardware feel outdated.

Compatible Aqara smart home devices are also now available through Apple's online and physical stores, so whether Honeywell Home products will follow suit remains to be seen, but it's another development worth watching as Apple's smart home ecosystem expands.

Your Tado smart thermostat is getting even smarter and more customisable, thanks to these new app software updates. The upgrades build on Tado’s existing AI and smart heating capabilities for its standard and X thermostats, and as someone who’s currently shivering in their home, these updates couldn’t have come at a better time.

The main upgrade to the Tado app is its Open Window Detection. For Tado X customers, Open Window Detection now uses an AI-powered algorithm to learn more about the different rooms in your house to make its detection more reliable and precise.

The existing Open Window Detection feature already understands changes in your room, like drops in humidity, but this AI upgrade means it will not only recognise this sensitivity, but it’ll also learn the room’s normal patterns and habits. This should allow your thermostat to better recognise when a shift in the room is due to an open window, so it can automatically pause your heating to avoid unnecessary usage.

Another update for Tado X users, Tado has updated its Air Comfort feature with a new room-level index. With this feature, your thermostat and Tado app reads humidity levels and classifies them into Low, Elevated or High categories across multiple rooms – although each room will need a smart thermostat in it.

Being able to see the different temperatures and humidity levels in each room gives you more control over your heating. It also means you can monitor your home’s Mold Index so you can take action before mould and damp can develop.

Aside from feature updates, the app’s home screen has also had a makeover. It’s now customisable, so you can reorder and hide tiles, prioritise rooms and controls, and just generally make it more personal to you, and easier to use.

The Tado app will also introduce heating Boost to Apple Live activities. Across Apple Watch and Mac, you can now see when Boost is active from the iPhone Dynamic Island and Lock Screen.

These Tado app updates will be rolling out over the next month in stages. The home screen update is available to all Tado customers, while Apple Live Activities is exclusively to Tado X users. Open Window Detection and Mold Index is available through AI Assist which is behind a subscription paywall.

The Reolink OMVI 2i Ultra is now available to buy after making its debut at IFA 2026, where it picked up 12 awards, including one from us. It joins Reolink's OMVI Series, bringing the range's dual-view setup to a completely wire-free security camera.

Pricing wasn't announced at the time, although we expected it to arrive somewhere between £170 and £220 (around $230-$300). It's now been confirmed at £199.99/$229.99, which seems pretty reasonable for a camera this advanced.

You can buy it now from Amazon or Reolink's online store, where it's currently available with 10% off as part of a launch offer. The kit includes the camera itself and a 6W solar panel, which Reolink claims can keep the camera running on just 30 minutes of sunlight per day.

The OMVI 2i Ultra combines an 8MP wide-angle camera with a 5MP pan-and-tilt camera, letting you monitor the wider scene whilst tracking movement elsewhere at the same time. Reolink's SyncTrack technology also allows the lower camera to continue following a detected person or object after they move out of the wide-angle camera's view.

As mentioned, it's completely wire-free, thanks to a detachable 10,000mAh battery that Reolink claims can last up to six months, based on five minutes of recording per day.

We'll be putting the OMVI 2i Ultra to the test in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for our full review soon.

Blink has launched five new security cameras to its smart security line-up, including 4K and 2K models for the UK and US market. The releases include Blink’s first-ever 4K wired security camera for indoor and outdoor use, that Blink Mini fans will definitely be excited about.

While there are five Blink cameras up for grabs, only two are currently available in the UK, while all five are available in the US. As is often the case with Blink, we can (hopefully) expect the other US models to launch in the UK at some point, but it’s unclear when at this moment.

So, starting off with the UK options, the Blink Mini 4K+ builds upon the success of the original and second generation Blink Mini, and expands its usability and camera quality. Now with 4K video, the Blink Mini 4K+ has Blink’s highest resolution yet, and it can be used both indoors and outdoors.

The Blink Mini 4K+ is slightly bigger than its previous Mini models but it’s still extremely compact, and easy to install. It’s a plug-in camera, so you’ll still need an outlet, and to mount and use it outside, you’ll need a weather-resistant power adapter which is sold separately. It also has dual-band Wi-Fi 6 for fast connections and streaming.

In terms of coverage, the Blink Mini 4K+ has 115-degree horizontal views and 10x enhanced zoom so you won’t miss anything. It has true colour night vision in low light which switches to black and white when it gets dark, and it even has a built-in siren to scare off intruders.

Other features include two-way audio, noise cancellation, and smart detection. The Blink Mini 4K+ is priced at £69.99 / $79.99, in keeping with the brand’s affordable price tags.

Next is the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt 2K+. Another first for Blink, the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt 2K+ (£44.99 / $49.99) is the brand’s first indoor and outdoor pan-tilt zoom camera. Like the previous launch, this camera is also a plug-in, and looks more similar to the original Mini, except slightly longer – and with more advanced features.

The Blink Mini Pan-Tilt 2K+ has 2K resolution, colour night vision, and motion detection. For coverage, the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt 2K+ pans by 360 degrees, and tilts by 115 degrees. Not only is it extremely flexible, but it can follow people or pets around the room or outside your home.

As mentioned, these two cameras are available to pre-order now in the UK and the US, with shipping expected from 27th October. If you’re based in the US, you have three more options to choose from, and they’re all designed for outdoors.

Starting with the more affordable model, the Blink Spotlight Cam 2K+ ($109.99) is yet another first for Blink, as its first battery-powered spotlight camera. It has 2K video resolution and built-in illumination so you can see every detail, even in the dark. It’s completely wire-free and its spotlight activates when it detects motion.

A new generation of Blink’s popular Outdoor model, the Blink Outdoor 2K XR+ ($149.99) is another 2K option and 115-degree field of view. For extended range, it can be paired with Blink’s Sync Module XR+ to reach up to 800 feet away, making it ideal for big properties and outdoor areas.

Speaking of outdoor, the Blink Frontier XR+ ($199.99) is the brand’s farthest-reaching camera to date. It’s designed as a trail camera for remote locations, and with the Sync Module XR+, it can reach up to 7,000 feet of coverage. It also comes in black or camo colours to blend into its surroundings.

Govee has unveiled the second generation of its popular outdoor deck lights, bringing brighter illumination and improved water resistance. Both versions remain Matter-compatible, so they can integrate with a range of smart home setups.

The Govee Outdoor Deck Lights 2 consist of individual smart lights designed to be mounted on walls or fences, adding colour to outdoor spaces whilst providing practical lighting. They're available in packs of 10 or 20, and now carry an IP67 rating, up from IP65 on the previous generation.

For now, the lights are exclusive to the US, priced at $119.99 for the 10-pack and $239.98 for the 20-pack. We're expecting them to arrive in the UK and Europe in the future, and we'll update you when we know more.

The Outdoor Deck Lights 2 use 16-bit IC chips to produce more than 16 million colours. Each RGBWIC light can be controlled independently through the Govee Home app, where you'll find more than 100 preset scenes, including effects that sync with music.

The new lights apparently deliver up to 1,500 lumens of total luminous flux, with around 1,350 lumens of useful luminous flux. They also support voice control through assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Baseus has launched a solar-powered outdoor security camera with a motorised spotlight that locks onto a detected person and follows them as they move around a property. That makes the PrimeSentinel U2 Pro Outdoor 3K Dual Camera the first security camera to feature a dedicated target-tracking spotlight beam.

The U2 Pro combines two passive infrared (PIR) sensors with AI recognition to track people. According to Baseus, the spotlight can follow someone moving at up to 1.8 metres per second – roughly a light jog – at distances of three to eight metres.

It costs $269.99 in the US and €269.99 in Europe, and is available through Amazon. UK availability has yet to be confirmed, but a price of around £269.99 seems plausible if it launches here at a similar price point.

The U2 Pro projects a sharply defined beam of light onto detected people, following them as they move to signal they've been spotted and help capture clearer night-time footage. It features two 3K cameras – a fixed 130-degree camera with 8x digital zoom, and a second camera that pans 360 degrees, tilts and zooms to cover the wider property. Full-colour night vision and AI detection can distinguish between people, pets and vehicles.

Recordings are triggered by motion and saved to a microSD card of up to 512GB, with AES and RSA encryption. Whilst cloud video storage requires no separate subscription, cloud-based AI analysis and detection summaries do. Owners can also review footage remotely, talk to visitors through the built-in speaker and microphone, and stream live video to compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Home displays.

SwitchBot has launched its first-ever outdoor smart lights, featuring native Matter over Wi-Fi support, and up to 16 million colour options. Easy to install and designed for year-round use, the SwitchBot Permanent Outdoor Lights could not have arrived at a better time with Halloween and Christmas fast approaching.

Measuring 30 metres, the SwitchBot Permanent Outdoor Lights includes 72 LEDs across six 5 metre segments. They can be used on any outdoor area you can think of, including your home’s eaves, balconies, garages, patios and outdoor walkways, and can be secured to wood and metal surfaces using adhesive tape and screws.

The most exciting feature of the SwitchBot Permanent Outdoor Lights has to be its colour options. With an RGBIC+WW design, the SwitchBot Permanent Outdoor Lights combines RGB colours, warm-white and cool-white lights, and there’s a massive 16 million colour options for you to choose from – almost too many if you will!

The colours on offer include multi-colour arrangements, gradients, patterns and flowing effects, so you can customise your lights or pick a pre-made illumination. This makes the SwitchBot Permanent Outdoor Lights great for seasonal holidays, like Christmas and Halloween, but you can also keep things plain and simple throughout the rest of the year.

Each LED light has up to 40 lumens with a total brightness of 2,600 lumen across the entire 30 metre strip. Users can adjust the colour temperature from 2700K to 6500K, and dim the lights using the SwitchBot app. The app also unlocks remote control, colour, temperature and brightness adjustments, timers, schedules, and scenes.

Aside from the SwitchBot app, the SwitchBot Permanent Outdoor Lights are compatible with Matter over Wi-Fi support so you can connect them to your smart home ecosystem. You won’t need a hub for this, but a Matter controller is required.

The SwitchBot Permanent Outdoor Lights are also compatible with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings, and you can use voice assistants to control your lights.

The SwitchBot Permanent Outdoor Lights are available to buy now for £199.99 / $239.99 at SwitchBot and Amazon.

If Apple's smart home news caught your attention last week and convinced you to buy the new HomeView, you're not alone. It's one of Apple's most exciting launches in years (well, in our opinion) and pre-orders are already underway.

However, not everyone will realise that some HomeView features are locked behind an iCloud+ subscription. That's not unusual, and plenty of other brands do something similar, but it's worth knowing before your wallet becomes £299 lighter.

Below, we've rounded up three features you'll need an iCloud+ subscription to use, alongside three you can enjoy without one. There are plenty more, of course, but these are the ones we think you should know before you buy.

Features that require iCloud+

1. AI-powered camera summaries

With a compatible HomeKit Secure Video camera, Apple Intelligence can summarise recorded activity in the Home app, giving you more useful information than a basic motion alert. Instead of simply telling you that movement was detected, it can describe events such as someone leaving a parcel at your door or a dog wandering into the garden.

2. Search your camera footage using natural language

Rather than scrolling through hours of footage to find a particular moment, you can search using everyday questions. For example, you could ask “Show me when the parcel was delivered” or “When did the children get home?” This makes finding specific events much quicker and more convenient.

3. Searchable video history and AI analysis

Apple's AI camera features can also connect related activity and surface significant moments captured across multiple cameras. However, accessing these capabilities requires a compatible HomeKit camera, an Apple home hub, an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone or iPad to set up the features, and an eligible iCloud+ subscription. Recorded footage is retained for 10 days and doesn't count towards your standard iCloud storage allowance.

Features you can use for free

1. Live camera feeds

You can still view a live feed from a compatible HomeKit camera without paying for iCloud+. That means you can check what's happening at home in real time, even without subscribing to Apple's cloud storage service.

2. Personalised home screens for up to six people

HomeView can recognise up to six household members and show each person their own Home Screen, apps and widgets. Shared photos and music can still be enjoyed by everyone, including guests.

3. Hands-free cooking help

HomeView can turn recipes found online into step-by-step instructions, track ingredients and manage multiple timers by voice. It's a practical kitchen feature that cooks will love, and you can read more about it here.

iCloud+ plans start at £0.99/$0.99 per month for 50GB, rising to £2.99/$2.99 for 200GB and £8.99/$9.99 for 2TB.

It's that time of the year again: the temps are plummeting, and it feels like there's about 30 minutes of light each day. Here's a little winter-warmer on us. No, not a whisky dram (though that might help), but our guide to the smart home tech you need to see you through until spring comes round again.

We've got gadgets to keep you warm, entertained, well-groomed, and allow you to get a great night's sleep, plus much more.

Taken from issue #391 of T3 magazine.

Set the mood

GOVEE OUTDOOR WALL FLOODLIGHT

Govee has blended its love of colourful ambient lighting with home security for this clever outdoor launch. RGBWW lighting, 3,000 lumens and a 120° PIR sensor mean it can react when movement is detected, flood your exterior with colour or simply provide a welcoming glow when guests arrive.

£100, govee.com

TEWKE LIGHT SWITCH

Now you've filled your home with smart lighting, you'll need something equally clever to control it. Enter the Tewke Tap, a touchscreen switch with an OLED display, Gorilla Glass, environmental sensors and real-time energy monitoring. Ordinary light switches suddenly look terribly boring by comparison.

£389, tewke.com

TAPO L430C SMART WI-FI CANDLE BULB

Sometimes the smallest lighting changes make the biggest difference. Tapo's L430C Candle Bulb shifts from a cosy 2,500K to a crisp 6,500K, but its ultra-low 1% brightness setting is the real treat. Perfect for late-night illumination without being greeted by the lighting equivalent of an early-morning alarm.

£24.99 (two-pack), tapo.com

WIZ GRADIENT LIGHT BARS

Give movie night a little more drama with the WiZ Gradient Light Bars. Positioned around a TV or gaming setup, they wash the surrounding space in colourful gradient light, dance along to music, and can even sync with what's happening on-screen when paired with WiZ's HDMI Sync Box.

£75 (two-pack), wizconnected.com

MEROSS SMART TABLE LAMP

For an impressively affordable price, this smart table lamp combines touch controls, 16 million colours and 0-100% dimming with a minimalist design. It's the perfect way to introduce some ambience without paying premium-brand prices, and who wouldn't want that?

£35, meross.com

PHILIPS HUE PLAY TABLE LAMP

The Philips Hue table lamp takes the colourful appeal of its much-loved Signe floor lamp and shrinks it into a compact design made for desks and entertainment setups. Place it beside a TV or monitor and let Hue's ecosystem turn whatever you're watching into a room-filling light show.

£70, philips-hue.com

Three-layered lighting

When it comes to filling a room with good lighting, the trick is to think in three layers – ambient, task and accent. Start with ambient lighting for the overall glow – a floor lamp or larger smart light works well for this – before adding more smart bulbs for focused task lighting. Finally, light bars and LED strips can provide accent lighting around shelves, artwork or other features, bringing everything together.

Daily grind

SAGE THE DOSE CONTROL PRO

Great espresso starts before the coffee machine gets involved, and the Sage Dose Control Pro gives you 60 grind settings to play with. An adjustable timer helps control how much coffee you grind, while grounds can go straight into your portafilter. Consider your supermarket pre-ground era officially over.

£170, sageappliances.com

GRIND TWO MILK FROTHER

Grind's frother is here to give your homemade flat whites a serious upgrade, whipping milk into everything from silky hot microfoam to cold foam. It'll tackle hot chocolate too, while its sleek design means it's one of those rare kitchen gadgets you won't immediately want to hide in a cupboard.

£75, grind.co.uk

FLAIR CLASSIC

No plugs, pods or automatic buttons here. The Flair Classic is a completely manual espresso maker that puts you in charge of the extraction, using a lever to generate the pressure needed for a proper shot. It's coffee making slowed right down – and one for anyone who considers brewing part of the ritual.

£121, flairespresso.com

NESPRESSO VERTUO UP

Nespresso's latest Vertuo wants to make choosing your morning coffee almost effortless. The Vertuo Up automatically recognises each capsule and adjusts its brewing settings accordingly, with six cup sizes covering everything from a quick espresso to a much-needed longer coffee. Just add capsule, press button and attempt to wake up.

£99, nespresso.com

DE'LONGHI RIVELIA START

The new, smaller addition to the Rivelia family serves up espresso, coffee, long and Americano at the touch of a button. Its clever Bean Switch System also lets you swap between two different beans, because apparently committing to just one coffee is now optional.

£600, delonghi.com

OXO BREW RAPID BREWER

Good coffee doesn't always need a machine – or much patience. Oxo's rapid brewer uses a clever manual brewing system to produce concentrated coffee in just two minutes for hot and five for cold. It's compact, portable and doesn't need electricity, making decent coffee away from home considerably less complicated.

£45, oxouk.com

Coffee mistakes you're probably making

You can spend a small fortune on a coffee machine and still end up with a disappointing brew. Old beans, the wrong grind size and poorly textured milk are some of the easiest ways to ruin your morning coffee. Grinding beans fresh can make an immediate difference, while matching the grind size to your brewing method is just as important. Don't forget cleaning – leftover coffee and milk residue aren't going to make your flat white taste good.

Front of house

YALE LINUS SMART LOCK L2 LITE

Yale's smart lock retrofits discreetly onto the inside of your existing door, with no drilling required. It's simple to install, easy to live with and particularly tempting for renters. Your landlord need never know what hit them.

£130, yalehome.co.uk

TAPO C675D KIT

The Tapo C675D has practically every angle covered. Its dual-camera setup combines wide-angle and telephoto lenses with 4K clarity and 360° panning, while solar power keeps trips up the ladder to a minimum. Better still, there's plenty available without the need to commit to an ongoing subscription.

£238, tapo.com

RING WIRED VIDEO DOORBELL (2ND GEN)

Don't let the entry-level price fool you. Ring's latest wired video doorbell provides a sharper look at whoever's calling, while clear two-way talk and the excellent Ring app make everyday monitoring effortless. At £60, it's an appealing way to bring smart security to your doorstep.

£60, ring.com

EZVIZ EP4 WIRE-FREE PEEPHOLE DOOR VIEWER

No permission to drill into the front door? No problem. The EP4 transforms an existing peephole into a smarter security setup, complete with remote smartphone viewing and a 4.3-inch indoor screen. AI facial recognition makes it particularly appealing for apartment living.

£230, ezviz.com

Looking sharp

BRAUN NEVO 15000C ELECTRIC SHAVER

Braun isn't exactly known for doing things by halves, and this might be its most extravagant shaver yet. AeroTouch technology reduces friction, while 250 blades and a smart processor adapt power to your beard density. There's even a seven-in-one Care System to handle all the maintenance afterwards.

£740, braunshop.co.uk

SHARK CRYOGLOW CLINIC FACE + BODY

Shark's LED tech targets eight ageing zones across the face, neck, back, chest and hands. Better still, it does the job of three separate devices, saving your bathroom cupboard from yet another collection of beauty gadgets.

£550, sharkninja.com

SURI CORE 1.0

Suri has stripped its electric toothbrush back – but not too far. The Core 1.0 still includes a pressure sensor, timer, magnetic wall mount and up to 28 days of battery life, just without the Pro's UV charging case. Great teeth, slightly happier bank balance.

£65, trysuri.com

ROOTIQUE DUO

Scalp serums have a habit of going everywhere except your scalp. The Duo's one-handed micro-mist system applies its tonics right where they're wanted, and also incorporates 650-660nm red light, dosage notifications and a clever hair-parting design.

£112, rootique.co

Cooking upgrades

CASO DESIGN PIZZACHEF 430° INDOOR PIZZA OVEN

Pizza ovens don't have to be oversized or stand loud and proud in your garden, as this indoor model proves. It still reaches up to 430° to replicate the intense temperature of a traditional brick oven. The results? Crispy, delicious pizzas that taste authentic and are cooked perfectly in mere minutes.

£199.99, casodesign.co.uk

PROCOOK INSTANT READ DIGITAL THERMOMETER

A must for both indoor and outdoor cooking, this thermometer can handle temperatures up to 300°C, has a backlit LCD screen that instantly delivers readings, and can handle the stress – and mess – of the kitchen thanks to a waterproof design.

£32, procook.co.uk

OONI DOUGH TOOLS

From pizza to bread and beyond, these tools are exactly what you need for mixing, kneading, scraping and prepping dough. The set includes mixing and lifting spatulas, and a bench scraper, all of which make it easy to handle the entire manual dough-making process.

£35, uk.ooni.com

SMEG AFC01 DUAL FLAVOUR AIR FRYER

Known for its Italian retro-inspired designs, Smeg has put its own stylish twist on the air fryer. Its AFC01 has two cooking functions and seven presets that expertly cook different ingredients to perfection. Available in a range of matte colours, Smeg's latest air fryer is the best-looking model on the market.

£199.95, smeguk.com

PANASONIC MINI BREAD AND ICE CREAM MAKER

Bread and ice cream in one machine? Sign us up! The Panasonic Mini has 34 programmes to play with, covering a range of ice cream, dessert and bread recipes. The best feature is the dispenser in the lid which adds yeast, nuts, seeds and sprinkles at just the right moment to achieve the perfect rise and mix.

£TBC, panasonic.com

OUR PLACE CERAMIC NONSTICK PERFECT POT 6L

One of the most valuable things you can have in your kitchen is a reliable cooking pot, and this eight-in-one non-stick pot ticks all the boxes. It can tackle any roasting, frying or boiling task you throw at it, from your stovetop and into your oven. It looks the part, too, coming in a range of Mediterranean-inspired colours.

£135, fromourplace.co.uk

Brains behind the home

Thanks to advancements in smart technology and AI, the kitchen has become a place for hybrid appliances that have almost taken cooking completely out of our hands. Where we're starting to see improvements within the AI appliance space is white goods, such as fridge freezers and ovens. Having a screen on your fridge sounded ridiculous a few years ago, but now it compiles your shopping list, tracks expiration dates, and even plays music while you cook. Despite air fryers taking over, the oven has never been smarter, with AI cameras inside that scan your food and adjust time and temperature to deliver the best results. Have things gone too far? Probably, but if a fridge can order your groceries for you, it might be nice to have an extra brain in your home.

Gaming gadgets

MSI CLAW 8 EX AI+

For gaming on the go MSI has you covered, with a handheld PC that'll make your daily commutes more enjoyable. Powered by the Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ offers fast and immersive gameplay for up to four hours on a single charge.

£1,399.99, msi.com

ALIENWARE 16 AREA-51 GAMING LAPTOP

The 16-inch Area-51 has everything you need to take your games to the next level. Its second-gen Intel Core processor is joined by an Nvidia graphics chip up to the mighty GeForce RTX 5090 to make ultra settings tremble.

From £2,599, dell.com

STEELSERIES ARCTIS NOVA PRO OMNI

Ideal for PC, consoles and mobile, this headset offers high-fidelity wireless audio and controls you can adjust with a quick tap. Active noise cancellation blocks out up to 96% of background noise to completely dive into whatever you're playing or streaming.

£349.99, steelseries.com

ROG XREAL R1

These AR glasses have a 0.01ms response time and 240Hz refresh rate for smooth and responsive action across their 171-inch virtual screen. The lenses come with different tint levels, and they can switch from 2D to 3D, depending on the content. Earbuds by Bose seal the deal.

£749, rog.asus.com

Home office

NANOLEAF X FANTAQI SMART LED MONITOR STAND

If you've ever wanted to make your desk look more exciting, Nanoleaf's collaboration with art-driven smart home technology brand Fantaqi is up for it. With a combination of natural wood and ambient lighting, this monitor stand illuminates your desk with colour – it's enough to make you want to sit at it for hours.

£179.99, nanoleaf.me

CANYON WEBCAM C2N

Upgrade your video calls with this pocket-sized camera that clips onto the top of your laptop or sits on your desk to offer wide viewing angles with 360° rotation. Its fivelayer 1080p lens will make your colleagues feel like you're in the room with them – in a non-creepy way, of course.

£34.99, canyon.eu

ERGOCHAIR PRO

A comfortable office chair is a must, and this one has nine adjustment points to customise the seat's depth, tilt, lumbar height and headrest. The foam adjusts to your body to keep you supported for hours for the feeling that you're sitting on air.

£466.80, autonomous.ai

COZYLA CALENDAR+ 2

Keep your work schedule and daily life organised with a 24-inch colour touchscreen that stores everything from meetings and chores to tasks and meal plans. Hang it on your office or kitchen wall, and when not in action, it turns into a photo frame.

£699.99, cozyla.com

Keep cool (and warm)

MEACOFAN SEFTE 6” PORTABLE AIR CIRCULATOR

Compact enough to sit on your desk or bedside table, this fan might be small but it sure is mighty. With three modes and 12 fan speeds, it offers strong air circulation and up to 26 hours of battery life. With a sound output of just 22dB while it's working, you'll barely know that it's there.

£69.99, meaco.com

TADO SMART AC CONTROL

Helping you make the most of your air conditioning throughout the year with simple, wireless connectivity, the Tado Smart AC Control connects to your heat pump or AC system and controls heating, cooling, speeds and other modes from your smartphone. It also monitors energy usage to help reduce your monthly bills.

£89.99, shop.tado.com

INGENIX SMART GLASS PANEL HEATER

Moving away from traditional radiator designs, the Ingenix Smart Glass Panel Heater features a glass front LED touch panel that blends into your home while delivering 2000W of heat to keep you warm during the winter months.

£99.99, igenix.co.uk

DREO WHOLE-ROOM HEATER 714S

The colder weather will be a reprieve for many after this summer, but Dreo's whole-room heater is perfect for both hot and cold seasons. This oscillating heater and fan hybrid can fill a room with warmed or cooled air, and it still remains cool to the touch while it's doing it.

£99.99, dreo.com

DUUX YENTL CUDDLE HEATED OVERBLANKET

There's nothing better than getting warm under a cosy blanket after a long day, and the Duux Yentl Cuddle Heated Overblanket is the perfect accessory for this. With its extra large size and faux fur material, the Yentl has multiple heat settings to keep you toasty warm for up to nine hours.

£159.99, duux.co.uk

DYSON HUSHJET MINI COOL FAN

While it might look a little obscene, if you've got that kind of mind, this premium handheld fan recently saved a lot of people's summers. With its simple controls and star-tipped adjustable nozzle, the HushJet Mini Cool gives immediate cooling relief and a powerful airflow while on the go.

£99.99, dyson.co.uk

What to consider before installing air conditioning

CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPE

The AC system you choose will determine cost, how much space it takes up, and installation length. Try to choose between cooling single or multiple rooms, and match the AC unit's cooling capacity to room size.

DECIDE ITS LOCATION

Indoors, place the unit high on your wall away from heat sources. Outdoors, the compressor should be out of direct sunlight. Check with your building management or the local council first, if you need to.

GO PORTABLE

Installation and maintenance costs for permanent air conditioning systems can add up, but portable AC units deliver super-cool air when you need it and are small enough to pack away when you don't.

Tech for sleep

HATCH SLEEP CLOCK

Hatch's new Sleep Clock is a sleep tracker, wake up light and alarm in one cute, semi-circle gadget. Instead of a wearable, the Hatch Sleep Clock uses radio signals to track your breathing, movement and sleep stages without being invasive. It also has colourful lights, sleep sounds and personalised guidance for the best night's rest.

$249.99, hatch.co

EIGHT SLEEP POD 5

When it comes to smart sleep technology, no one does it better than Eight Sleep. Its Pod 5 sleep system features a base, cover and hub that work together to track your sleep and health. Overnight, it makes adjustments to regulate your temperature, stop snoring and more, so you wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

£2,499, eightsleep.com

LOOP DREAM

Sleep uninterrupted by your partner's snoring. Perfect for side sleepers, thanks to its soft silicone and small shape, the Loop Dream plugs reduce external noise and other distractions so you can sleep without interruptions. But don't fret – they're not completely noise-blocking, so you won't miss your morning alarm.

£44.95, loopearplugs.com

THERABODY SMARTGOGGLES 2ND GEN

If blackout blinds just aren't enough, these goggles block out all external light. But they are much more than just an eye mask, offering compression massage, heat and vibration cycles which will relax you, reduce stress and eye strain, and relieve headaches.

£199, therabody.co.uk

Just smart stuff

AQARA SPATIAL MULTI-SENSOR FP400

Make your smart home work without you having to think about it too much. This sensor uses mmWave radar and AI, so it knows when someone is in the room and whether they're sitting, standing or lying down – so lights and other devices can react automatically without anyone reaching for a switch.

Price TBC, aqara-shop.co.uk

IKEA KLIPPBOK WATER LEAKAGE SENSOR

Not every smart home gadget needs to be exciting – sometimes you just want to know if the dishwasher is flooding the kitchen. Ikea's tiny sensor sounds an alarm when it detects water and, when connected to a hub, can send an alert to your phone.

£7, ikea.com

TAPO P304M SMART WI-FI POWER STRIP

Why make one plug smart when you can do four at once? This strip gives each of its four sockets individual smart control, alongside Matter support, energy monitoring and surge protection. It can even estimate how much your connected gadgets are costing you.

£34.99, tapo.com

HOMEY PRO

When your smart home gadgets all speak different languages, Homey Pro acts as the translator. This hub supports Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 433MHz and infrared, bringing devices from different ecosystems together and letting you build some seriously sophisticated automations.

£449, homey.app

Powered-up partying

ROBERTS SOLARDAB 99

The Roberts SolarDAB is made for those rare British afternoons when the sun actually decides to cooperate. Its integrated solar panel helps keep the battery topped up outdoors, while DAB+/FM radio and Bluetooth give you plenty to listen to. Garden soundtrack sorted.

£150, robertsradio.com

HYPERVOLT HOME 3 PRO

An EV charger isn't usually the most exciting thing attached to your house, but the Hypervolt Home 3 Pro makes a strong case for changing that. Alongside 7kW charging, it can make use of surplus solar energy, schedule charging around cheaper tariffs, and put everything within reach through the Hypervolt app.

£690, hypervolt.co.uk

ECOFLOW STREAM GARDEN/GROUND KIT

Now that plug-in solar panels are legal in the UK, EcoFlow has the perfect kit to get you started. It includes two 400W rigid solar panels bundled with a microinverter and ground-mounting hardware, letting you angle them towards the sun without committing to a permanent rooftop installation.

£649, ecoflow.com

ANKER SOLIX EVERFROST 2

Forget melting ice and soggy sandwiches. The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 is a batterypowered electric cooler that can actively chill its contents without bags of ice taking up valuable space. Available in three sizes, its wheels and pull-out handle make transporting it a breeze, whether you're camping, picnicking or taking the garden party really seriously.

From £799, ankersolix.com

IKEA SOLVINDEN LED SOLAR TABLE LAMP

Not every outdoor light needs an extension lead or complicated electrical installation. Leave Ikea's Solvinden table lamp outside to charge from the sun during the day, and it'll provide a decorative glow after dark. With such a low price, scattering a few around the garden doesn't feel particularly extravagant either.

£12, ikea.com

JACKERY EXPLORER 300D PORTABLE POWER STATION

Essentially a giant power bank for everything your phone charger can't handle, this power station is compact enough to take outdoors with you. Its 288Wh capacity and 300W output can keep laptops, cameras and other gadgets going, while USB-Cfast charging makes it particularly handy for weekends away from a plug socket.

£219, jackery.com

Solar isn't just for rooftops any more

For years, solar has meant expensive panels professionally installed on your roof, but that's recently changed. Following a change in the rules at the end of August , compliant plug-in solar systems can legally connect to standard household sockets in the UK, making generating your own electricity much more accessible. They won't replace a full rooftop setup, but could offer a simpler and cheaper way to generate some of your own power without committing to a full-size installation.

Apple's HomeView smart home hub has proved popular since it launched last week, with pre-orders selling quickly and the general reception to the design being positive. Even the price seems reasonable.

However, some have since pointed out a couple of additions that could have made it even better, such as a screen that turns to face you and a larger display.

Well, according to Bloomberg's resident Apple expert, Mark Gurman, that could be exactly what we're getting with the next generation. He believes that Apple "is on track" with a larger, robotic version of the hub.

In his latest PowerOn newsletter, Gurman claimed that Apple is looking to release a "souped-up" version with a nine-inch screen. It'll be the same design and, we assume, square aspect ratio but will be bigger.

In addition, he revealed that behind it will be a robotic arm that works with Siri AI to identify who is talking in the room and turn the display to face them. It will be able to swivel a "full 360°".

"Imagine a FaceTime call where the screen follows uoi as you move around the kitchen," he wrote in the newsletter.

This sounds more like the sort of robotic assistant we've all imagined at one point or another. It doesn't sound like it'll have wheels or any other to move around, but you could theoretically give the automated HomeView a face.

The new HomeView won't replace the existing model, it'll be a higher-end device, claims Gurman. He suggested it'll be called something like "Apple HomeView Max" or "HomeView Ultra".

The latter ties in with other devices we're expecting to see at some point, such as the much-rumoured MacBook Ultra, which could be revealed next week. Media have reportedly been invited to LA to see new MacBooks and iPads.

It's been a busy week for smart home, with Apple unveiling an array of new hardware, including an entire collection of smart home devices. However, the product I'm most excited for is HomeView, and there's one feature in particular that I can already see myself using a lot.

Alongside the usual smart home controls, HomeView has a few tricks up its sleeve for the kitchen. It can turn web recipes into step-by-step cooking instructions, complete with hands-free timers, which sounds like a much better use of a screen than having to keep unlocking your phone with messy fingers.

When viewing a recipe in Safari, users can tap ‘Start Cooking’ to switch to a simplified layout designed for following along as they cook. HomeView also helps with ingredient tracking, so you can keep an eye on what you need without constantly scrolling back through a long list of instructions.

You can also manage multiple timers hands-free, whilst Live Activities keep them visible even when you're using another app.

HomeView further supports Handoff, meaning you can start looking up a recipe on your iPhone and pick it up on the hub when you get to the kitchen. The same feature works with music, podcasts, calls and videos, so it's not limited to cooking.

I've always thought the kitchen was one of the most practical places for a smart home display, especially when your hands are covered in flour, sauce or whatever else is happening at the time. It's one of my favourite things about the Echo Show 8, so I'm interested to see how Apple's take compares.

HomeView isn't available just yet, but with pre-orders due to open in November, it won't be long before we find out whether it works as well in a real kitchen as it sounds on paper.

Google Home is adding local Matter support for Philips Hue lights in its latest update, which should mean faster response times when controlling your best Philips Hue lights through the Google Home app. According to 9to5Google, the change should also let you control Hue lights through the Home app during an internet outage, as long as your device is connected to the same local network.

Google announced the change in a statement, saying that “existing Philips Hue bridges now automatically upgrade in the background to local Matter control through Google Home hubs”. It also promises “greater reliability with no re-pairing required”.

The upgrade happens automatically in the background, so just keep an eye out for the latest version of Google Home in the Android or iOS app store.

The bigger update also brings a visual refresh, with Google saying it has redesigned the “core controls for third-party lights, plugs, and switches”. That should apply to Hue devices too, giving you a cleaner way to manage your smart home setup.

There are a few tweaks for the Gemini for Home early access programme as well. Conversations should now end more naturally, whilst weather temperature units will be more consistent. Requests for 'relaxing music' should also open a proper media player rather than defaulting to ambient sounds such as rain or white noise.

A welcome upgrade, if you ask us!

It's fair to say that Google's selection of Home and Nest speakers haven't seen a lot of activity, with a feeling that Google had sort-of forgotten about them. Having launched Google Home in 2016, there was a flurry of activity and the launch of a number of other speakers, and then things fell quiet.

That was until the launch of the Google Home Speaker in 2026. But it seems that the tech giant is now working on a run of updates for its older devices, including the Google Home, Home Mini, Nest Mini and Nest Audio.

Highlighted by 9to5Google, the latest version as part of the Preview Program appears to address a full range of issues, while previous updates were just listed as addressing security and bug fixes.

Does this suggest a new level of interest in its smart home devices now that Apple has announced the HomeView? It might, although I suspect that Google was planning on making these updates before Apple crashed in with its Nest Hub Max rival.

The updates listed include (and this is directly quoted):

• Audio & media streaming and volume improvements
• Setup and connectivity improvements on Wi-Fi issues
• Google assistant entry experience improvements
• Smart home control experience improvements
• Overall performance and stability improvements

That points to a number of improvements across these older devices. While the performance and stability enhancements appear to be par for the course, a new interest in assistant, streaming and smart home control are unexpected.

Exactly how these changes might impact on the older speakers is currently unknown, but it's likely that the work that went into the recent Google Home Speaker is now being reflected on a software level in these older devices.

The inclusion of "Google assistant entry experience" suggests some attention on how people get started with talking to their devices, although exactly what the changes will make remains to be seen.

Equally, the audio and media streaming improvements aren't defined, but the inclusion of volume improvements suggests that the whole experience is going to get a bit smoother.

Google's position in smart home has swung from being actively involved when it felt like a two-horse race between Google Home and Alexa, with both making the assimilation of third-party services really easy. While that still remains, Amazon stayed committed to affordable hardware, while Google eased off dramatically.

Since 2021, there has been very little activity from Google in the smart home space, but perhaps these updates mean that it is a little more focused on improving the experience on the hardware it has.

Apple has only recently announced its all-new HomeView smart home hub and it's already available with a discount. You can pre-order the device now for a 13 November release date from a number of retailers, including Apple itself, but one is offering money off.

Customers in the US can get $10 off the retail price on several of the Apple HomeView colour options when ordering from Amazon. It's only the Starlight version that's not on offer.

We've also hunted around for a similar deal in the UK but sadly haven't found anything yet. Amazon UK isn't offering it for pre-order at present – just Apple itself and John Lewis. However, John Lewis is offering free named day delivery for the HomeView, including on its 13 November release date. That's worth £7.95 on its own.

We'll also update if any other UK stockists list the Apple HomeView with a pre-order deal.

• Check Apple.com pre-order prices here

Announced on Tuesday 13 October, the HomeView comes in two models – one with an additional speaker unit for tabletop use, one that's designed for wall-mounting. Both are the same price (usually $299 / £299).

They share the same 7-inch square Liquid Retina display and down-firing stereo speakers at the bottom of the screen, although the tabletop HomeView also features a subwoofer and two passive radiators in the base for spatial audio support.

They each feature a four-microphone array for voice interactions and FaceTime calling, plus a camera mounted in the bezel. You can also use a HomeView to talk to visitors through a supported video doorbell.

Music, podcasts and audiobooks can be played through the HomeView, as can TV shows from multiple streaming apps (including Apple TV, of course). And smart home devices can be controlled via the HomeView's screen.

Siri AI is at the core of the HomeView experience, so it can be used to help organise your family's lives, with multiple profiles being recognised.

EZVIZ has announced the CB30 Dual Kit, a new wireless outdoor security camera powered by solar energy. It features a dual-lens system with an 180° horizontal field of view and 3K 5MP resolution, putting it in competition with some of the best security cameras on the market.

The CB30 Dual Kit is similar to the Eufy SoloCam S340, which launched a few years ago. Both cameras are solar-powered and use dual lenses, but the SoloCam S340 offers 360-degree pan-and-tilt coverage. It also costs around twice as much as EZVIZ's new model, making the CB30 Dual Kit a more affordable alternative.

The EZVIZ CB30 Dual Kit has an RRP of £99.99 (around $132) on Amazon, although it's currently available for a launch price of £89.99.

Other features include three built-in spotlights, which enable full-colour night vision for clearer footage after dark. They also work alongside the camera's active defence features, allowing it to flash its lights and sound a warning siren when needed.

AI-powered human and vehicle detection helps the CB30 Dual distinguish people and cars from other movement, reducing unnecessary notifications. Alerts are sent through the EZVIZ app, allowing users to keep an eye on their property whether they're at home or away.

It also features EZVIZ's Always-On Video (AOV) technology, designed to extend monitoring beyond conventional motion-triggered battery cameras. The system adjusts recording intervals according to battery power, helping provide all-day monitoring whilst managing energy consumption.

SanDisk has introduced its new Guardian Series, a range of high-endurance memory cards designed for continuous recording in dash cams and the best security cameras.

Supporting resolutions up to 4K UHD and capacities of up to 512GB, the cards are built to handle repeated overwriting and demanding conditions, helping keep important footage available when it's needed.

The range includes two options – the SanDisk Dash Cam Card and the SanDisk Security Cam Card. Both are available now from select retailers, with prices starting at £20.99 or around $28.

As more security cameras become subscription-free, memory cards are becoming increasingly important for keeping footage without paying for cloud storage. These cards are often sold separately from the cameras themselves, so SanDisk's new Guardian Series gives users a strong and reliable option.

The SanDisk Dash Cam Card is compatible with a wide range of dash cams, supporting recording from Full HD up to 4K UHD. It's designed to withstand heat and humidity, making it suitable for long drives, and comes in capacities from 32GB to 512GB.

The SanDisk Security Cam Card is designed for continuous recording in home security cameras, either alongside cloud storage or as a local alternative. It can help preserve footage when Wi-Fi drops and is available in capacities from 32GB to 512GB. It's also designed to resist water, dust and temperature extremes, making it suitable for year-round outdoor use.

Eufy has launched an affordable indoor security camera designed to stick directly to your window, giving you a practical view of your entryway, front garden or driveway without having to install a camera outside.

The Eufy E10 Window Camera offers tool-free installation, with a 90° L-shaped connector and cable clips to keep wiring neat and discreet. It also comes with anti-reflection stickers designed to minimise glare and reflections from the glass and indoor lighting, helping keep footage clear.

Priced at £69.99/$79.99 for one camera or £129.99/$149.99 for a two-pack, the E10 is already available in the US, with UK pre-orders set to ship on 6th November.

The E10 features 2.5K resolution and a built-in 25° downward tilt designed to capture more ground-level detail whilst minimising wasted space, and MaxColor Vision also helps keep footage vivid at night,

For storage, the camera supports microSD cards up to 256GB, although one isn't included. It can record continuously through your window, whilst dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi helps maintain a stable connection.

Alongside its new HomeView hub, Apple TV 4K and upgraded HomePod mini, Apple has also announced its new Home Collection range. Developed in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, the lineup covers everything from home security and door access to smart temperature control.

The products were first leaked last week, after Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported hearing about them from “people with knowledge of the matter”.

The collection includes four cameras, a smart lock, two thermostats and temperature and humidity sensors. You'l find everything you need to know about the new devices below, including their features, pricing and availability where confirmed.

LG Video Doorbell Wired

Priced at £229.95, the LG Video Doorbell Wired features dual cameras, giving users separate views of visitors and packages. The front camera records in 2.5K, whilst the downward-facing camera captures Full HD footage. It also has a built-in spotlight and a chime that plays through Apple HomeView, HomePod or HomePod mini.

2. LG Floodlight Cam

The Floodlight Cam costs £349.95 and is designed for outdoor monitoring, with adaptive dual floodlights that switch on when motion is detected. It also features colour night vision to help keep footage clear in low-light conditions.

3. LG Outdoor Cam Plug-In

At £279.95, this outdoor security camera offers colour night vision and an adjustable design for flexible coverage. It's also designed for straightforward self-installation.

4. LG Indoor Cam Plug-In

The indoor version costs £179.95 and includes a privacy-focused feature that automatically tilts its view upwards, stopping monitoring when the first member of the household returns home. Users can also adjust its position manually or through the Home app.

5. LG Smart Deadbolt Lock

This smart lock uses Ultra Wideband technology to detect when an authorised user approaches, automatically unlocking the door when they have a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch with a home key.

Other entry options include tapping a device, using the integrated PIN pad or accessing a hidden backup key slot. It can also detect whether the door has been opened, closed or tampered with, whilst guest access can be shared through the Home app.

Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but it's possible it may launch in the US or Korea first.

6. LG Smart Thermostat

One of two new thermostats in the collection, this model works with Apple's Home app to adjust temperatures depending on whether someone is home, winding down for the night or away. It also works with temperature and humidity sensors to monitor conditions across multiple rooms.

Apple hasn't confirmed its price yet, but may have similar availability to the LG Smart Deadbolt Lock.

7. Schneider Electric Smart Thermostat

Developed with Apple, Schneider Electric's thermostat offers similar smart temperature controls, with a focus on energy management and compatibility with the wider Schneider Home ecosystem. In the contiguous US, users with compatible utility plans can also use the Home app to shift heating and cooling to cleaner, lower-cost periods. Pricing is also yet to be announced.

8. LG and Schneider Electric temperature and humidity sensors

These standalone sensors let users monitor conditions in multiple rooms and work with either company's thermostat. Both thermostats and their sensors support Matter and are designed for DIY installation. Prices haven't been announced for the sensors either.

Apple has announced the LG Video Doorbell, part of its new Apple Home Collection developed in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The products were first leaked last week, after Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that he had heard about them from “people with knowledge of the matter”.

Designed to work seamlessly with Apple Home and the new HomeView hub, the doorbell can be set up with a single tap using an iPhone, with no separate app or account required.

The LG Video Doorbell Wired starts at £229.95 and will be available in the UK from December through Apple website and in-store.

The doorbell features two cameras, giving users separate views of visitors and packages. You can switch between the front-facing and downward-facing views, with the front camera recording in 2.5K resolution and the bottom camera capturing Full HD video. It also includes a built-in spotlight and a chime that plays through Apple HomeView, HomePod or HomePod mini.

The doorbell integrates with Apple's Home app, allowing users to view live footage, receive notifications when someone rings the bell and speak to visitors from their Apple devices. When paired with the newly announced LG Smart Deadbolt Lock, users can also see who's at the door and unlock it from the same view or by asking Siri.

As with the other Apple Home Collection cameras, footage is encrypted end-to-end, meaning Apple, LG Electronics and Schneider Electric can't access it. With a supported iCloud+ plan, users can access up to 10 days of event video history, whilst Apple Intelligence can provide automatic video descriptions and let users search footage using natural language.

Apple has officially unveiled HomeView at its ‘Welcome Home’ event, a new smart home hub designed to bring control of your connected home to every room.

It features a 7-inch Liquid Retina touchscreen and comes in two versions – a tabletop model with a speaker base and a wall-mounted option. The tabletop model is available in Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink and Space Grey, whilst the wall-mounted version comes in Silver and Space Grey.

Both models cost £299/$299, with pre-orders opening on 13th October and availability starting on 13th November in the UK, US and several other markets. The wall-mounted version requires a separate mount, with prices starting at £59.95/$59.95. HomeView won't launch in the European Union for now, as Siri AI is currently unavailable in iOS there.

Both models are powered by Apple's A18 chip and feature Siri AI, a more capable assistant with broader world knowledge and onscreen awareness. When paired with a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, Siri can also draw on personal information from apps such as Messages and Calendar to provide more personalised responses. HomeView recognises up to six people, giving each user their own Home Screen, apps and widgets.

Beyond smart home controls, HomeView supports FaceTime, Messages, Apple Music, Apple TV, Podcasts and other compatible apps. Its audio system is designed to deliver room-filling sound, whilst features such as Handoff and multiroom audio make it easy to move music between Apple devices and speakers.

As a smart home dashboard, HomeView lets you control compatible lights, thermostats, locks and blinds, as well as view up to nine camera feeds at once. It works with Apple Home and Matter-compatible accessories, alongside the new Apple Home Collection, developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

Apple says privacy is central to the experience, with Secure Exclaves keeping camera and microphone data processing isolated. Siri requests are handled on-device or through Private Cloud Compute, which Apple says doesn't store data or make it accessible to the company.

Keep following our live blog for more announcements as they happen.

Christmas might still feel a little way off, but plenty of retailers are already getting into the festive spirit. IKEA is one to keep an eye on if you like your Christmas décor affordable and understated, but its designs tend to be popular, so it's worth taking a look now before the favourites sell out.

As part of its latest Stråla collection, IKEA has launched a variety of festive lighting, including chain lights, LED decorations, table decorations and outdoor lights. I've picked out a few options below, but don't forget to check out the full collection on IKEA's website.

Russell Hobbs has launched the new Calm Connected Kettle, introducing a smart version of its existing Calm Kettle. Users can now switch it on remotely, adjust the water temperature and adjust the lights via the Russell Hobbs app.

It retains the original's illumination features but expands the choice to 12 colours and nine lighting scenes, including Ocean, Forest, Snowflake and Fireside. It also has Bluetooth connectivity and built-in speakers, so you can play your own music or tune into your favourite radio station.

The Calm Connected Kettle is available now for £149.99 from Russell Hobbs and Currys, making it £50 more expensive than the original Calm Kettle.

Alongside it, Russell Hobbs has also launched the Calm Toaster, designed to complement both Calm kettles with matching lighting and sound features. It offers five built-in sounds, nine illumination scenes and a lamp mode that creates an ambient glow even when the toaster isn't in use.

The toaster also features an automatic lift-and-lower carriage operated via touch controls, longer slots and a bagel setting for added versatility. Frozen and reheat functions are also included, whilst a removable warming rack sits above the slots to gently heat pastries, rolls and buns.

The Calm Toaster costs £99 on its own, but you can also buy it alongside the Calm Connected Kettle in a £225 bundle. That's a £25 saving compared with buying the two appliances separately.

More details about Apple's upcoming Home Hub have leaked ahead of tomorrow's event, and we're getting a clearer picture of what to expect. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman first reported last week that the event would likely see the hub make its debut, and he's now shared some additional details about the device.

According to Gurman's report, the hub will be called the HomeView and will sit alongside Apple's existing HomePod range. There will reportedly be two models to choose from, including a version with a speaker base that's available in Space Grey, Silver, Starlight and Pink. There will also be a wall-mountable model, which will apparently come in just Silver or Space Grey.

Whilst Apple is expected to announce the HomeView on Tuesday, Gurman reports that it won't arrive until mid-November. Pricing and wider availability details remain unknown for now, but hopefully we'll get a clearer idea of Apple's plans tomorrow.

As for the design, the floating-display model is said to take inspiration from the iMac G4, which had a distinctive screen suspended above its base. Both versions are reportedly powered by Apple's A18 chip, with voice control and Siri AI at the centre of the experience.

Gurman has also said the device is also expected to run Apple apps without offering a dedicated App Store. However, users may be able to project third-party app widgets from a nearby iPhone, which could give the display a little more flexibility.

As always, we'll keep you updated as soon as we know more.

IKEA's new Stengrönska alarm clock has appeared on the retailer's websites in Japan and China, featuring dual sensors, integrated LED lighting and wireless charging, along with up to three alarms and six adjustable volume levels.

IKEA has launched several of its own alarm clocks before, including the Rödsträfse, which also does more than wake you up. However, the Stengrönska feels particularly advanced, thanks to its extra features that you wouldn't typically find on a traditional alarm clock.

For now, the Stengrönska appears to be exclusive to Japan and China, where it's listed for ¥4,999 in Japan and ¥199 in China – around £24 or $30. IKEA hasn't confirmed whether or when it'll arrive in other markets, but we'll keep you updated if that changes.

The Stengrönska has a built-in hygrometer and thermometer, displaying the room's humidity and temperature in the bottom-right corner of the screen. The display also shows the time in either 12 or 24-hour format, along with the date and day of the week. There's also a backlight, making everything easier to read when the lights are low.

The clock can also charge your phone using the wireless charging pad on top, whilst a USB-C port at the rear lets you charge a second device.

The Stengrönska also has LED strip lighting underneath its body, with three brightness levels to choose from. It runs on USB-C power, but you can also install two AAA batteries to preserve the time and alarm settings in the event of a power cut.

Apple has officially confirmed its 'Welcome Home' event for Tuesday 13th October, and it suggests the company's long-awaited smart home devices are coming. We expected this to happen following reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman a few days ago, but now that the event has been confirmed, it looks like we won't have to wait much longer.

Apple's SVP of Worldwide Marketing, Greg Joswiak, has also shared a teaser video showing embroidery taking place. This could hint at a range of colourways for the new devices, although that's purely speculation for now.

As for what we can expect, Apple's rumoured Home Hub is high on the list, alongside a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2. We're also expecting to see the smart home devices reportedly developed in collaboration with LG, including products such as a doorbell, smart lock and thermostat.

It's not yet clear whether Apple will share a launch video online at 9am ET (2pm UK time), but we'll be keeping a close eye on developments and will update when we know more.

Ring has announced the launch of its first-ever smart lock, offering four unlocking methods and a first-of-its-kind power dial designed to prevent the lock from becoming unusable if the battery dies. It also connects with Ring doorbells, cameras and alarms, whilst supporting voice control through Amazon Echo and Alexa.

Officially called the Ring Smart Lock, it gives users several ways to get inside, including a fingerprint reader, backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring app or Alexa. The best smart locks on the market tend to offer more options, but it's exciting to see one come from such a well-known and trusted brand as Ring.

It looks like the smart lock will be exclusive to the US for now, with the product expected to arrive in 2027. It'll cost $249 (around £180) and will be available in black, silver and brass.

You will be able to check the status of the Ring Smart Lock and lock/unlock it remotely through the Ring app. You can also decide exactly who gets access, how they get it and when that access expires. For example, Ring says you could give your dog walker access every Tuesday from 2pm to 3pm, without allowing them to unlock the door outside that window.

The Ring Smart Lock also stays connected through Amazon Sidewalk, a shared network powered by nearby Amazon devices. This means remote locking, status updates and PIN syncing can happen automatically without relying solely on your home Wi-Fi.

It's important to note that the Smart Lock has not yet been authorised by the FCC, meaning it can't be sold in the US until that authorisation is obtained. We'll keep you updated if and when that changes, as well as if Ring announces plans to bring the smart lock to other markets.

Just days ahead of a wider smart home launch, Apple has added another brand of smart home devices to its range, and this time it's from one of the most affordable smart home brands around.

Apple has added seven Aqara products to its lineup, including the Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 and Aqara Climate Sensor W100, both of which were announced at CES earlier this year. It's believed the two products have been selected because they support Apple's Adaptive Temperature feature and Clean Energy Guidance through the Apple Home app.

As of the time of writing, all seven devices are available to buy in the US, whilst five are available in the UK. You can see the full range below, with prices remaining almost identical to their respective RRPs on Aqara's website.

As mentioned, Apple is preparing to launch its own smart home lineup, reportedly releasing a range of products developed in collaboration with LG. That said, the products are expected to carry the LG name, so it looks like Apple could soon have multiple brands within its smart home category.

The full lineup includes the Thermostat Hub W200 ($169.95), Smart Lock U400 Deluxe Kit ($299.95), Climate Sensor W100 (£39.95/$39.95), G5 Pro Outdoor Camera Hub (£199.95/$199.95), G410 Doorbell Camera Hub (£144.95/$144.95), G100 Indoor Camera (£34.95/$39.95) and Presence Multi-Sensor FP300 (£49.95/$49.95).

It’s been announced that Alexa+ and eDreams ODIGEO have collaborated, meaning you can now plan a trip across flights, hotels, packages, rail and car rental via your Echo smart speaker or the Alexa+ browser.

Using natural language, users can simply ask Alexa+ to find and book a trip based on their preferences, with the experience powered by an MCP. Alexa+ then uses eDreams ODIGEO's network to present relevant options directly within the conversation, so there's no need to jump between different websites or apps.

Everything is handled by eDreams' AI-powered system, which covers a catalogue of more than 40,000 destinations and nearly 700 airlines across 44 countries. The company's Chief Technology Officer, Carsten Bernhard, described the collaboration as "a powerful accelerator" for the business.

This isn't Alexa+'s first partnership with a travel provider, with Priceline, Viator and Virgin Atlantic being early partners to join the platform after launch. However, eDreams ODIGEO makes more than six billion online predictions daily, helping it anticipate what travellers might need and create a more personalised experience. It's this combination of AI and travel data that eDreams says sets its platform apart from other competitors.

When you're ready to book, eDreams ODIGEO will securely complete the transaction as the merchant of record, as well as handling supplier integrations, financial guarantees and 24/7 customer support. The integration is set to roll out in the coming weeks.

Ring has just announced a whole new line-up of security cameras – and in the middle of its Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale no less! The new range features four 4K outdoor and indoor cameras, and a 2K pan-tilt indoor model which is actually the camera I’m most excited by.

Designed to cover every corner of your home, the new Ring security cameras are arguably the brand’s most versatile yet. Alongside options for indoors and outdoors, the Ring cameras can be installed in various ways, including battery, wired, solar, plug-in or Power-over-Ethernet.

Let’s take a look at all the options available from the new Ring line-up.

Ring’s new 4K Outdoor Cameras – spotlights and floodlights galore!

Starting with the outdoor options, Ring has announced three new models, all of which have retinal 4K video resolution to capture crystal clear, true-colour images. The Ring Outdoor Camera 4K Plus has been described as the most flexible option Ring has ever made, as you can install it in five different ways (all the power options listed above).

The newest generation of the Ring Outdoor Camera 4K Plus has the same design as its predecessor, but it’s been advanced with new technology. Alongside 4K resolution, it has colour night vision in light, and automatically switches to black and white when it’s dark. It also has up to 10x Enhanced Zoom, a built-in siren to scare off intruders, and is priced at £129.99.

Next up is the Ring Spotlight Camera 4K Plus which has many of the same vision features as the Outdoor Camera 4K Plus. What makes it stand out is its motion-activated spotlights which are built into the main design of the camera, so they flank either side of the lens.

Dubbed Ring’s 4K battery-powered spotlight camera, the light of the Ring Spotlight Camera 4K Plus has up to 550 lumens which you can adjust in the Light Settings section of the Ring app. The light will automatically turn on when the camera detects motion. It’s priced at £179.99.

The last outdoor option is the Ring Floodlight Camera 4K Plus, and if it’s bright lights you’re after, this is the camera for you. Rather than having its lights built into the camera like the Spotlight model, the Ring Floodlight Camera 4K Plus has two extended floodlights that sit at the top of the camera.

To enhance its 4K video quality, the floodlights have 2,000 lumens and fully light up your property at all angles. The biggest and priciest model from the range, the Ring Floodlight Camera 4K Plus costs £199.99.

Ring moves indoors with its new 4K and 2K Indoor Cams

Moving indoors, Ring has introduced two indoor cameras, including a 4K option, and a 2K pan-tilt model. The 4K model is the Ring Indoor Camera 4K, a plug-in camera that has a wide 115-degree field of view and Auto HDR that enhances details when the area is too bright or too dark.

This style of indoor camera is most commonly used as a pet or baby camera, and the newest generation can still be used that way. For privacy, the Ring Indoor Camera 4K has a physical privacy shutter which covers the lens for when you want it to stop watching and recording. At £79.99, it’s a great beginner-friendly camera option.

Last but not least, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera 2K might be lower in resolution, but it’s still undeniably impressive. Its 2K Retinal vision enhances details, and it has up to 6x Enhanced Zoom. Its pan-tilt coverage offers 360 degrees pan, and 175 degrees tilt, and it uses auto tracking and computer vision-based motion detection to follow you around the room.

Like the other new indoor camera, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera 2K has a privacy shutter that disables the camera and microphone. At £59.99, it’s the cheapest option in the new line-up.

All new Ring security cameras are compatible with the Ring app where you can unlock features like live view, two-way talk, customisation zones, and notifications. They’re available to pre-order now at Amazon with a shipping date expected in November.

Prime Day has almost been and gone quicker than you could turn around, with the deals coming to an end later this evening. However, Amazon has been teasing us all day with new deals supposedly arriving at 5pm, and let's just say it's pulled through.

If you've yet to find yourself a bargain, now's the time to take a look at all the impressive deals that have popped up with just seven hours left until Prime Day ends. You might just find one after all!

Shelly is already known for its incredibly affordable smart home devices, with everything from smart plugs and bulbs to smart home hubs and sensors. So, when I discovered that some of them were even cheaper thanks to Amazon's Prime Day deals, I couldn't help but share them.

Just remember that today is the final day, so if any of these deals catch your eye, now's the time to snap them up. If you want to see what else is discounted, check out our wider smart home deals roundup before you go.

It's been reported that Apple is set to launch a much bigger smart home range than anticipated, including a video doorbell, thermostat and other accessories developed in collaboration with LG. The products will form part of an ecosystem of devices designed to work with Apple's new smart home hub, which has been rumoured to launch since last year.

The news was first reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who said he had been told the information by "people with knowledge of the matter" who "asked not to be identified because the undertaking is private".

The good news is that we apparently won't have to wait long to find out, with the entire lineup reportedly set to launch next week on 13th October. The range is also expected to include an upgraded HomePod mini and a new Apple TV set-top box, and we'll keep you updated when Apple makes an official announcement.

Gurman also stated that, although the two companies have worked together to develop the accessories, the products will carry the LG brand. That's not entirely surprising, given Apple has collaborated with other brands on products before.

In recent weeks, LG has reportedly sought regulatory approval for the devices, including from the FCC. Whilst the filings don't mention Apple's involvement, the listings include products called the LG Video Doorbell Wired, LG Floodlight Cam, LG Outdoor Cam Plug-In, LG Indoor Cam Plug-In, LG Smart Deadbolt Lock, LG Smart Thermostat and LG Temperature Sensor.

Gurman also noted that the launch would put Apple in closer competition with Amazon and Google, who are already firmly established in the smart home market. With two major names behind the new range, it will certainly be interesting to see how well these products are received.

The number one smart home device that I always recommend is a video doorbell. Having a camera at your front door gives you an extra layer of security that keeps an eye on your home, while also ensuring you never miss a delivery or visitor again.

Since Amazon owns Ring, you can expect to find plenty of Ring doorbell deals in the Prime Big Deal Days sale. But if I were you, I’d go for the EZVIZ EP8 Ultra Dual-Lens Video Doorbell instead. One might even say that this doorbell is better than Ring’s, as this model has two cameras, built-in LEDs and animal characters that respond to your guests.

What’s even better is the EZVIZ EP8 – which we gave five stars in our EZVIZ EP8 review – is now under £100 at Amazon.

Shop the EZVIZ EP8 deal

Originally priced at £139.99, the EZVIZ EP8 is now just £99.99, saving you 29% on this premium doorbell. This might not sound like a huge saving to some, but the EZVIZ EP8 only came out a few months ago, so this is a great deal worth taking advantage of.

Dual-lens video doorbells have become increasingly popular, and the EZVIZ EP8 is no exception. The main 6MP camera has 162° views while its 2MP downward-facing lens can see your door from head to toe, so you never miss any details. The EZVIZ EP8 also has colour night vision so you can clearly see crisp photos and videos even when it’s dark.

The EZVIZ EP8 has many great features, including motion detection, familiar face recognition, and package identification, all of which is powered by AI. The screen of the EZVIZ EP8 also displays AI characters that greet your guests with pre-recorded messages – because who doesn’t want a panda to answer their door?!

Other features of the EZVIZ EP8 include two-way video, privacy zones, and the EZVIZ app which unlocks live view, notifications, and more. There’s a lot to like about the EZVIZ EP8 – and this Prime Big Deal Days discount makes it even more attractive.

Amazon's Prime Day event is now officially underway, which means there are hundreds of discounts to sift through, including some tempting offers on smart home tech.

So, to save you the hassle of making your way through them all, I've rounded up some of the best smart home deals available right now, covering a mix of brands and products at different price points.

Enjoy!

The best smart sensors can do a lot more than simply tell you when a door has been opened. From motion, temperature and humidity sensors to water leaks, air quality, light levels and even presence detection, there are plenty of options to choose from, with prices ranging from just a few pounds to considerably more.

However, with so much choice, it's difficult to know how much you actually need to spend. Whilst some sensors offer multiple types of detection and more advanced smart home features, a cheaper option can often do exactly what you need.

The trick is knowing which features are worth paying for and which you can probably live without – and you'll find all of that information below.

How much should you spend on a smart sensor?

Smart sensors are one of those gadgets where you don't need to spend a lot to get a good one. Spending more can get you multiple types of detection in one device, a built-in display or a more premium design – all of which can be useful – but whether they're worth paying extra for really depends on what you want your sensor to do.

For a simple door or window sensor, I'd struggle to justify spending £30/$50 or more. I'd much rather buy something at a lower price that does exactly what I need than spend £50/$75 on a sensor filled with features I'll never use.

For example, Aqara's popular Multi-State Sensor (P100) is just £29.99/$49.99, whilst Tapo's T100 Smart Motion Sensor costs £17.99/$17.99. IKEA also has a growing range of affordable options, including the Kippbok water leakage sensor, which costs just £7 in the UK and $7.99 in the US.

So, what features should you look for?

Compatibility is probably the first thing I'd check, as there's no point buying a sensor that doesn't work with your smart home ecosystem. Going for a Matter-compatible product is the best way to avoid this becoming a problem, as it gives you more flexibility and future proofs your device at the same time.

Battery life is another one worth considering. Most sensors are designed to run for months or even years on a single battery, so you shouldn't need to think about them too often. This is especially important if you're putting one somewhere awkward to reach, as the last thing you want is to be constantly taking it down to replace the battery.

Arguably, the most important thing is sensitivity and accuracy. A motion sensor needs to reliably detect movement without sending false alerts, whilst temperature and humidity sensors should provide useful and accurate readings. It's worth checking reviews before buying, and even having a look through the comments on product listings, as these can give you a better idea of how well a sensor performs in real life.

Samsung has redesigned its SmartThings app and is finally rolling it out to Android devices, after first launching it to iOS users. The Samsung SmartThings app has a refreshed interface, a floating navigation bar, and major changes to its devices, routines and TV remote.

Starting with the overall look, the Samsung SmartThings app now has a floating navigation bar which gives the app a more compact design and layout, so your controls and cards have extra space. The cards and dashboard can also be resized and arranged how you like.

The Home tab now comes with a dedicated top section to display useful information, like weather updates and suggested routines. A Favourites section displays pinned devices and routines for quicker and easier access.

Device cards can now be quickly switched on or off with a quick tap of the icon, and you can click a routine card in the same view to trigger it. The devices and routines cards are now also much smaller and denser in the Home and Devices screens, so you can see your entire smart home at a glance.

The Samsung SmartThings app refresh has also redesigned the built-in TV remote. This now comes with a new light mode option, and like the other cards in the app, it can be resized and repositioned to suit your needs and how you prefer the app to look.

As mentioned, this Samsung SmartThings update is now available for Android users and devices. Why it was initially added to iOS devices first is unclear – and as an Android user, that makes no sense to me, but whatever! – but the Android version of the app looks almost identical to the iPhone version.

The new Samsung SmartThings update is rolling out to Android devices who have version 1.8.51.30 of the app. See how to start a smart home with Samsung SmartThings for more information.

Another day, another Google Home update! Google has recently announced updates to Gemini for Home, including better hearing and responses, and improved reliability for its Find My Phone feature.

Gemini for Home officially launched in October 2025, so it’s been an entire year since it replaced Google Assistant. Updates to Gemini are ongoing, but the most recent improvement that has a lot of users excited is for Find My Phone.

While Find My Phone is a feature that’s been around for years, its quality and reliability has now been improved to make it easier for Gemini to locate your phone. Exactly what and how the Find My Phone feature has been improved is unclear, but the experience of using it should be better than before.

Other voice command updates include Gemini filtering out background noise in your home so it can better hear and understand your requests, even when it’s loud. This should result in fewer instances where Gemini gets confused or ignores a request or question.

Faster responses for daily commands have also been improved, particularly for timer, alarm, media and smart home requests.

Another Gemini update is improved language recognition, so it can now better support multilingual households. Custom commands in Routines have also been improved, as well as conversation follow-up fixes. Previously, Gemini would sometimes get stuck during conversations and would continuously respond with ‘I didn’t understand’, but that should be fixed now.

The Google Home app has also seen many updates for devices like video doorbells and smart lights. For the latter, Google has revolved an issue with shutting off its lights. Before, bulbs were left powered on at minimum brightness when their sliders were moved down to 0% rather than turning them off. Now when you lower the brightness to 0%, your lights will be switched off to help save energy.

In the app, video doorbell and security camera tiles are now shown as filled icons when the devices are online. They also come with accented tile colours so you can clearly tell which cameras are active and which ones are off or idle. Favorites tile gestures have also been improved.

BT has announced that it is acquiring UK broadband supplier TalkTalk with a rescue package worth a reported £400 million.

It has also assured TalkTalk's 1.5 million home and business customers that their internet services should not be impacted as the sale goes through. They might be switched to BT services in future, but current connectivity should remain in the interim.

The deal was unveiled earlier today after it was revealed that TalkTalk was on the brink of liquidation. The sale still needs to be reviewed by UK regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), but considering the alternative is job losses and a collapse of TalkTalk as it currently stands, experts believe it will be approved.

1.5 million UK customers to remain connected

"TalkTalk's 1.5 million customers will want to know what this morning's news means for them. The short answer is: nothing changes today," advised Ernest Doku of Uswitch.

"BT has said TalkTalk will keep operating separately while regulators review the deal, so your broadband and landline carry on as normal, and there is nothing you need to do right now."

Doku also suggested that you should continue to pay for your TalkTalk connection while the process is ongoing: "BT should set out quickly and plainly what this means for contracts, prices and service in the future, so nobody is left guessing. In the meantime, keep paying as normal and leave your direct debit running."

The TalkTalk brand will continue for now, but it may be absorbed by BT (or EE) in future. As for services like TalkTalk TV, they are almost certain to also be replaced by BT's equivalents.

Indeed, BT is set to launch a new version of its own TV streaming service on 15 October which could be offered to TalkTalk's existing customers as an alternative.

After plug-in solar panels became legal in most of the UK last month, there were a handful of brands ready to start selling them almost immediately. UKSOL was one of the first, launching its Plug-In Solar Pro range in the same week the new rules came into effect.

The range allows households to generate electricity for use at home without needing a full rooftop solar installation. Now, UKSOL's panels have started appearing at even more retailers, including Argos, Very and Wilko, whilst you can still buy them directly from the UKSOL online store.

I've put together the full list of retailers below, along with links to where you can buy the UKSOL range, so you don't have to go hunting around for them yourself.

Argos – six buying options available with free delivery

Very – multiple UKSOL models available, plus Anker Solix options

Wilko – multiple models available with free delivery

Homebase – offering several models with free home delivery

PlumbNation – Single and Duo models available

City Plumbing – stocking both options

Crampton & Moore – both models stocked

Electricals Online – plug-in models are currently sold out, but traditional solar panels still available

Electrical2Go – multiple buying options available

Green2Go – multiple buying options available

Plug In Solar – UKSOL is stocked alongside other plug-in solar brands

SolarKits – Single and Duo models available

Apple will reportedly host its next big launch event in just a couple of weeks time, with smart home said to be the focus. And it's claimed that an all-new device will be unveiled.

Even before the iPhone Duo goes on sale, it is said that new CEO John Ternus will announce the much-rumoured but elusive Apple HomePod hub – a HomePod with a display. It is also thought we'll get a new HomePod mini for the first time in six years and the long-awaited new version of the Apple TV 4K.

The devices have been tipped in recent times, but the date of the event is new. Bloomberg's resident Apple expert, Mark Gurman, wrote that it will take place on 13 October 2026.

He also followed his piece on the event with an X post.

If right, we'll likely see invites sent out by Apple in the coming days. It's not likely to be as big a song and dance as the iPhone event in September, but you'll still be able to stream it online, we expect.

As for the products, Apple has long thought to be developing a rival to the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Home Hub. However, it is said to have waited until Siri AI was ready before it could progress with its release plans.

According to Gurman, the Apple hub will feature a 6-inch display with a 1:1 square aspect ratio. And there might be more than one version – to be mounted on a wall or sat on a desktop.

The new HomePod mini will look very similar to the 2020 version currently on sale, but with an improved processor to work better with Siri AI.

The same is true with the new Apple TV 4K. The last version was released in 2022 and is still amongst the best streaming devices you can buy today. However, it's aging CPU is not capable of running Siri AI – at least in the form Apple would most like.

It is expected, therefore, that it will adopt the A19 or A19 Pro chip found in last year's iPhones.

We'll find out for sure in a fortnight, according to Bloomberg. Until then, you can check out which devices we're still expecting Apple to launch before the end of 2026 in our round-up here.

Nanoleaf has launched what it describes as an industry-first Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server for smart lighting. The new technology allows Nanoleaf’s best smart lights to connect directly with AI platforms, giving people a more natural way to control their surroundings through conversational AI.

Instead of opening the Nanoleaf app or relying on a traditional voice assistant, users will now be able to interact with their lights through AI platforms they already use, including ChatGPT and Claude.

The MCP Server is available from 30th September via Nanoleaf’s website, whilst pre-built native integrations for ChatGPT and Claude are expected to launch in October.

The idea is to move away from the very specific commands that are common with smart lighting, such as “turn the lights on” or “dim the lights to 50%”. With Nanoleaf’s MCP Server, users can describe the mood or atmosphere they want in a much more natural way.

Nanoleaf says the Server can also connect lighting to real-time information and online services. That could include weather updates, calendar events, web data and other sources of information.

In practice, this could mean your lighting automatically changes when rain starts, or creates a more focused atmosphere before an upcoming meeting.

For everyday users, the pre-built integrations for ChatGPT, Claude and other AI platforms will be simple to set up, similar to enabling an app extension, with no technical configuration required.

For developers and power users, the Nanoleaf MCP Server and developer tools are available now. They can be used to create custom lighting routines, connect live web data and build personalised AI-powered lighting workflows.

Watch out, Eufy – Arlo has announced its new solar security camera, and it’s designed to keep your camera charged for up to six months without any sunlight. The new Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera is being dubbed the ‘first solar-powered camera designed for year-round, low maintenance protection’ – and you won’t believe the price, either.

Solar security cameras have become increasingly popular over the years. But one thing people worry about with solar power is if the panels will continue to charge and run their cameras if the weather isn’t good. Even if you live in the dreary UK like I do, solar cameras have impressive battery lives, and most only need a few hours of light per day to work – but Arlo’s new model takes this to a whole new level.

The Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera has a 1.2W solar panel that’s built into the top of the design. Paired with its 14,790mAh battery, the Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera can last for up to six months without sunlight when fully charged, and it needs as little as two hours of light a day to stay powered.

The design of the Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera is extremely slim, but don’t be put off – it has a lot of smarts under its hood. The camera has 2K video resolution, colour night vision and 12x zoom, so you won’t miss any action day or night.

The Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera’s 2K vision operates at 24 frames per second, and offers a 130° field of view. To enhance its colour night vision, the camera has a built-in spotlight, which works alongside the integrated siren to scare off potential intruders or unwanted activity.

As a wireless camera, the Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera uses dual-band Wi-Fi to stay connected, and is compatible with Alexa, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings. Other features include two-way audio and customised detection and activity zones which is available using the Arlo app.

By connecting the Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera to the Arlo app, you can use person, package and vehicle detection, get real-time notifications, and access Video Summaries of your clips.

The Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera is available to pre-order for $99.99 at Arlo and select retailers, like Amazon. As of writing, UK pricing and availability hasn’t been announced.

September 2026 has been a huge month for product launches, particularly within the smart home market. IFA was held at the beginning of the month, and Apple and Samsung events also took place, so this September has seen lots of new tech innovations announced.

Almost every type of smart home device you can think of has been launched this September, from security cameras and hubs to smart lights and sensors. I’ve (just about) managed to round up all the latest smart home launches from September 2026 below which you can buy now, featuring the likes of Eufy, Philips Hue, IKEA, Tado, Aqara, Govee and more.

1. Eufy SoloCam E50

Eufy has had a big month with the launch of its new cameras, doorbells and robot vacuum cleaners. The standout announcement has to be the SoloCam E50, a new and improved version of its E40 camera.

The Eufy SoloCam E50 features two 4K lenses that are mounted on a motorised pan-and-tilt head. One lens offers 135-degree views, while the other is a telephoto lens that zooms in on specific details and movements. Atop the lenses is a solar panel for consistent charge and battery life.

2. Shelly Camera

Shelly is best known for its range of smart sensors, but this month, the brand announced it would be expanding into more areas. For the first time, Shelly has launched its very own security camera, an indoor wired model that’s easy to install, and can even be mounted on your wall.

The Shelly Camera offers full HD 1080p video, and black and white night vision. It has a wide field of coverage with 110° horizontal and 70° vertical views, and uses motion detection to recognise specific movements, and trigger automations for other smart devices.

3. SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2

The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 has been described as SimpliSafe’s most advanced video doorbell yet, and after reading about its smarts, I can definitely see why. Its AI detection pairs with SimpliSafe’s Active Guard Outdoor Protection to detect potential threats and alert live security agents.

When the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 alerts agents, they use your doorbell’s video, audio and siren to stop break-ins. They can also call emergency services. It’s worth noting that you will need a SimpliSafe Pro or Pro Plus subscription to use this feature.

4. Philips Hue Liane 360° Rope Light

I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but September was also a huge month for Philips Hue. The smart lighting brand announced new Signe, Festavia and Play lights, as well as new sync boxes and a collaboration with Nanoleaf.

But the light I like the most is the new Philips Hue Liane 360° Rope Light. Using Philips Hue’s OmniGlow technology, it creates a continuous diffused gradient and produces light around its whole circumference. It’s flexible, too, so it can be installed around walls, ceilings and furniture.

5. Philips Screen Sync with Strip Light

Philips Smart Lighting – not to be confused with Philips Hue – launched its own version of the Philips Hue Play Screen Sync, and I’d argue that the Philips version is better value. The new Philips Screen Sync with Strip Light uses a fisheye lens to capture the TV screen from edge to edge and read its colours in real time.

From there, the colours are recreated using the four-sided RGBIC strip light that’s mounted behind your TV. The Philips Screen Sync with Strip Light is available in two sizes to cater to 40-50 or 55-65 inch TVs.

6. Govee Sky Ceiling Light

Another new product inspired by Philips Hue, the Govee Sky Ceiling Light uses AI to create lighting based on your mood and activity. The light can change the colour and brightness of the lights to support you, whether you want to be more focused or relaxed.

The Govee Sky Ceiling Light offers up to 7,000 lumens, and has a 1,000-10,000K colour temperature range. With its DaySync feature, the light can automatically adjust its lighting based on the time and weather conditions.

7. Tado Smart Thermostat X (2nd gen)

Tado’s new Smart Thermostat X (2nd gen) claims to be the thinnest smart thermostat on the market. With a 17.8mm thinness, Tado’s second generation model is easier to install and configure, and its sleek design blends nicely into the background of your home.

The Tado Smart Thermostat X (2nd gen) has an LCD display which gives you temperature and humidity updates on the actual thermostat – this can also be viewed via the Tado app. It also comes with a rechargeable battery, and is compatible with boilers, heat pumps and underfloor heating systems.

8. Aqara Spatial Sensor FP400

Aqara has announced many new sensors this September, but the Aqara Spatial Sensor FP400 is its most impressive. Using advanced 60GHz mmWave radar and AI, the Aqara Spatial Sensor FP400 can track up to 10 people in a room at the same time.

The Aqara Spatial Sensor FP400 can understand exactly where you are, and respond to your movements. For example, it can trigger lights to follow you around the room using its built-in ambient light sensor.

9. IKEA Dubbelkisel Driver

Currently available in select European countries, the IKEA Dubbelkisel Driver is designed to make IKEA’s integrated lighting remotely controllable. Once connected, you can switch your lights on and off, and adjust their brightness using the IKEA Home smart app, thanks to the Dubbelkisel Driver.

The IKEA Dubbelkisel Driver supports Matter, and is compatible with IKEA’s Dirigera Hub and Bilresa smart remote. Its Matter support means compatible IKEA lighting should be able to work with more smart home ecosystems than before.

10. SwitchBot Lock Ultra Max Vision Pro Combo

The SwitchBot Lock Ultra Max Vision Pro Combo – what a mouthful – consists of the SwitchBot Lock Ultra Max, the SwitchBot Keypad Vision Pro and the SwitchBot Hub Mini. Designed for retrofit and European locks, the Combo unlocks your door faster and more securely.

The SwitchBot Lock Ultra Max Vision Pro Combo offers 19 ways to unlock your front door, including fingerprints, palm vein and 3D facial recognition. It offers up to nine months of battery life, and has an Auto-Lock function that automatically secures your door after entries and exits.

SwitchBot has launched its new RGBICWW Light Bars, featuring immersive multi-colour effects, magnetic mounting and Matter compatibility. They also have a built-in microphone that lets the lighting react to music without an additional sensor, setting them apart from more established best smart light options on the market.

Philips Hue also offers its own light bars, but they don't have a built-in microphone. Instead, syncing the Hue Play Light Bars with music requires external audio input through a connected device or additional hardware.

The SwitchBot RGBICWW Light Bars are also significantly cheaper, costing £55.99 in the UK or $45.99 in the US, compared with £129.99/$189.99 for the Philips Hue Play Light Bars.

As well as the built-in microphone, the SwitchBot bars have 12 independently controllable colour zones, with six on each bar, and support layered gradients and multi-colour effects. You can choose from 16 million colours and 26 preset dynamic effects designed for gaming, movies, parties and more.

There are also dedicated cool- and warm-white LEDs, giving the bars a colour temperature range of 2200K-6500K. Brightness can be adjusted from 1% to 100%, whilst SwitchBot claims up to 800 lumens of combined white-light output.

When it comes to placement, built-in magnets allow the bars to attach to compatible metal surfaces and be repositioned easily. They can be placed horizontally or vertically, whilst adhesive backing provides more flexibility around monitors, TVs, shelves, cabinets and bedside tables.

The Light Bars can also connect to a range of smart home platforms without requiring an additional SwitchBot Hub. Thanks to Matter compatibility, they work with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Home Assistant and Homey.

Amazon's big Prime Day event is here, taking place all of today. However, if you've been waiting to pick up some new gadgets, it's worth knowing that Amazon has discounted a number of its own products.

That includes popular brands and devices such as Ring, Blink, Echo and Fire TV, with some of the current deals already offering impressive savings.

We don't know whether these prices will get this low again, but for now, here are some of the best Amazon deals we've spotted for you to browse.

Ring

Blink

Echo

Fire TV

Kindle

VodafoneThree is set to launch a mind-bending 8 Gbps UK broadband service "later this year" after successful trials in select homes.

Using the CityFibre network, the new Pro 4 service has the potential of downloading an entire 4K movie in around 20 seconds, or a massive big-name game in under two minutes. It will also come with Vodafone's new Ultra Hub 7+ router to handle the speeds and provide stable Wi-Fi around the some.

That's because it is a Wi-Fi 7 router with a tri-band design – capable of operating on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands to ensure persistent, fast wireless connectivity for multiple devices at once. It can even support broadband speeds of up to 10 Gbps, which the network has also trialled in recent times.

In addition, the Pro 4 service includes Super Wi-Fi 7 boosters to provide connectivity throughout the home – as covered by the brand's Wi-Fi guarantee. There's also 4G Broadband Back-Up in case of internet failure.

We don't have a price for Vodafone Pro 4 as yet, nor confirmation on which UK regions will get it first. We'll update when we find out more.

However, Vodafone has also announced a new social plan for those who are struggling financially, to help them stay connected for a low monthly fee.

New, more affordable social 5G broadband

Its 5G Broadband Essentials tariff uses mobile data to connect customers on government benefits or with financial difficulties from just £11 per month. There is also a new 12-month plan for customers unable to receive full fibre, priced from £20 per month. Students get a £2 per month discount.

"While we push the boundaries of speed, we’re equally focused on making fast, reliable broadband accessible and secure for everyone," said VodafoneThree's consumer director, Rob Winterschladen.

"Our 5G Broadband Essentials social tariff will offer the most affordable 5G broadband on the market, and our enhanced Secure Net service gives families a simple, unified way to stay safer online across both broadband and mobile."

You can check the availability of Vodafone Broadband in your area with the company's postcode checker.

Anker has launched the new Eufy SoloCam E50, following the SoloCam E40, which has been one of the brand's best security cameras since it launched in 2021. The new SoloCam E50 is a significant step up, offering two 4K lenses mounted on a motorised pan-and-tilt head, plus solar power.

The E50 is also part of Eufy's new Edge 5.0 Yard Protection System, which brings together the TrackLight Cam S1, Video Doorbell S4, EufyCam E52, Window Camera E10 and the E50. All five can connect to Eufy's HomeBase S380 hub, which originally launched in 2022.

The E50 costs £219.99 and can be pre-ordered from Anker Eufy now, with orders expected to ship in November. In the US, it's priced at $229.99, with shipping expected by the end of October 2026.

The E50 has one 4K lens has a 135-degree field of view, whilst the second telephoto lens is there for zooming in on certain details. The camera can then pan through 348 degrees and tilt 70 degrees, and there's a dual-view mode that displays both feeds side by side, although resolution drops to 2K in this mode. If you want the full 4K resolution, you'll need to view or download footage from a single lens.

For motion detection, Eufy combines millimetre-wave radar with a passive infrared sensor. The radar is designed to detect people even when they're standing still, whilst reducing false alerts caused by things such as shadows, sunlight and moving branches. It has a 120-degree detection field reaching up to around 12 metres.

When something is detected, the E50 can activate its spotlight, red-and-blue strobe and siren. At night, it can record using infrared or switch to colour footage when the spotlight is activated.

Power comes from a 10,000mAh battery, with a 5W SolarPlus 2.0 panel using MPPT charging to help keep it topped up. The panel can stay attached to the camera or be mounted separately, which should make it easier to position it somewhere that gets more sunlight. It's also IP65-rated for protection against dust and water.

Recordings can be saved to a microSD card of up to 512GB, which is sold separately. There's no monthly subscription for the core features, and connecting it to the HomeBase S380 adds expandable hard-drive storage, facial recognition, cross-camera tracking and security reports.

It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, although Apple HomeKit isn't supported. One other thing to note is that the E50 doesn't offer 24/7 continuous recording, so it's designed around event-based recording rather than capturing footage continuously.