Readers like you help support Android Police. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.
latest
Google Home: Our everything guide to Google's smart home platform
Google Home is essential for your smart home setup and makes your day a little simpler
You may have associated Google Home with speakers before, but that's no longer the case. Since Google discontinued them in 2019, Home is now a smart management platform. It's the app you need to turn off the lights if you forgot to do so before a trip, among other features. You can connect speakers, Chromecasts, and cameras in different areas of your house, and control them from your favorite Android phones and tablets.
Best Google Nest Mini mounts and stands in 2023
Customize your Google Nest Mini with these mounts and stands
The Google Nest Mini is one of the most affordable and convenient smart speakers, and it's perfect for smart homes already built around multiple Google-friendly smart devices. Its small size and low price make it an especially good addition to an existing set of smart speakers scattered throughout your house. To make it even more accessible and improve microphone range and accuracy, consider one of the various stand and mount types available. Whether you want to mount it to the wall, hide it near an electrical outlet, or put it in a place of honor atop an artistic statue, there's a Nest Mini mount or stand that's right for you.
The best smart doorbell cameras in 2023
Smart doorbell devices to guard your home and protect your family
Security has always been a top priority when it comes to protecting yourself and your family; however, alarm and home security systems used to be considered a luxury. With expensive packages and hundreds of feet of cable needing to be wired within your home, security for your living quarters was much less attainable. Today, home security is affordable, attainable, and smart. Plus, you can set up most smart home security devices within minutes.
There is nothing like a robot vacuum to keep your floors clean with minimal human interaction. Although these devices were a novelty a decade ago, they've become very common nowadays and offer valuable help in our daily lives. Most are controlled using an app and smart speakers, allowing you to launch them while performing other tasks or without leaving your couch.
6 common Amazon Echo problems and how to solve them
Fix Amazon Echo problems with communication, privacy, and more with our quick guide and the Alexa app
One handy feature of the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show devices is that they're primarily fire-and-forget after setup. You do most of the work in the Alexa app. After connections are made and you've found a good spot to perch the smart speaker, it tends to take care of itself. That includes updates, power management, and other Alexa device formalities.
Best Ring Video Doorbell alternatives in 2023
Need a smart doorbell, but can't work with Ring devices? Here are some excellent Ring video doorbell alternatives.
Ring is one of the best names when it comes to smart home security, especially in the smart security camera market. However, Ring's doorbell cameras only work perfectly with Amazon's Alexa; they won't play nice with Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit, and their subscriptions can get pricey. But that's okay because there's currently plenty of competition in this segment.
Power your home and your outdoor adventures with the Growatt INFINITY 1300
The post is sponsored by Growatt
The portable power market has grown significantly in recent years. Companies like Growatt are leading the way with their products, allowing you to enjoy all of your electronic devices no matter where you are.
Best smart thermostats that don't need a C-wire for power in 2023
No C-wire, no worries; these smart thermostats will still work in your home
The adventure of upgrading from a traditional thermostat to a smart thermostat is both fun and a great place to begin creating your smart home setup. The thermostats in this list are energy efficient, make it easy to control your home's temperature (even when you're away on vacation), and offer many great features.
Synology makes a vast number of NAS enclosures, ranging from enterprise-grade systems for several thousand dollars to more affordable, basic home-use systems costing just $100. And a lot lies between those two extremes. Each of these Synology NAS units has internals that cater to a specific user need, although it’s hard to tell just by looking at them. Some units are meant for business use alone and don’t make a very good Plex server, while others get you an all-around performance for mixed use at your home office.
What is Nest Aware, and do you need it to use Nest cameras?
You might not need it, but you'll certainly want it
^Recommended hero for repub
Smart lights are great, but using an app to turn on your living room can be a bit of a hassle. We'd argue it's easier to just hit the switch on the wall rather than unlocking your smartphone and pressing a button. Luckily, smart lights can always receive voice commands from a companion like Google Assistant, allowing you to brighten up your home with a simple, "Hey Google, turn on the lights."
Reolink E1 Zoom vs. E1 Pro: Which is right for you?
Looking for powerful subscription-free indoor security cameras? You can't go wrong with these two.
If you're looking for an easy and affordable way to keep an eye on your home while you're away at work or on vacation, an indoor security camera is just as important to have as an outdoor security camera. Both the Reolink E1 Zoom and the Reolink E1 Pro indoor Wi-Fi security cameras are fantastic options, with pan-and-tilt functionality, two-way speakers, night vision, and more. But which one best fits your home's specific needs?
GE Cync Smart Light Strip review: Too expensive for your eyes
An extremely pricy light show without much to offer
GE's Cync Full Color Dynamic Effects Smart Light Strip is a mouthful to say, but its name is perhaps the most impressive part of this 16-million-color, diffused string of LEDs. A big, diffused strip of LEDs whose length you can easily modify is held back by a ho-hum controller application — so much so, I'm not sure it makes a lot of sense to buy GE's lights when you can get other, just as lovely looking solutions for mood lighting that cost half as much (or less).
Best accessories for your Ring Video Doorbell in 2023
Up your Ring Video Doorbell game with these additional accessories perfect for any existing smart home setup.
When it comes to your home, security is generally going to be a top priority. Video doorbells have made huge waves in the past, allowing users to intermittently check up on their homes while they're away at work or receive a notification if a package has been delivered.
Can you use Amazon Echo Show with a Ring Video Doorbell?
Are Ring Video Doorbells and Echo Show devices compatible?
Amazon's popular Ring Video Doorbell lineup, which includes the terrific Ring Video Doorbell 4, makes it easy to see who rang the doorbell and even talk with them from your phone without ever having to open the door. But don't fret if you sat your smartphone in another room and only have an Amazon Echo Show nearby. You can still view your Ring doorbell's live feed and chat with any visitors directly from that device. Easy peasy.
How to set up a Philips Hue Sync Box
If you want your smart lights to match your TV, you're going to need to know how to get this device set up right
So you've decided to take your entertainment system to the next level with smart lighting accompaniments. Immersive sound is one thing, but the Philips Hue Sync Box creates an immersive lighting experience when watching TV or playing games on your TV. It enables your smart lights to color-match what you're watching by setting up entertainment areas in the Philips Hue app. It works with everything from the standard Phillips Hue smart bulbs to a full-on gradient light bar, allowing you to customize your entertainment area in a way that will elicit some serious "oohs" and "aahs" from everyone you invite over.
Technology has done a lot for humanity, but it has flaws. In those moments of frustration with tech, an all-powerful troubleshooting practice often does the trick. Have you tried turning it off and then on again? This method stands up to the most puzzling of issues. If your Philips Hue smart lights act up, start with this tried-and-true tactic.
Google Assistant gets less annoying while controlling your smart home devices
You will hear pleasant chimes rather than verbal feedback for more device types
Google Assistant can sometimes get unnecessarily wordy. This was fine until a few years ago when smart home accessories and voice assistants were not prevalent. But this is no longer the case, and so Assistant's regular verbal responses every time you control a smart home accessory can get irritating. This is especially true when turning on/off multiple accessories in the same room back to back. Google recognized this was a problem back in 2019 itself and made Assistant play a chime when controlling smart lights. Now, Google is expanding the use of chime to acknowledge more smart home commands.
The Ring Indoor Cam at its lowest price ever is a safe and smart buy
This impressive little HD smart security camera just dropped to $40
When it comes to keeping your home safe, one of the best things you can do is to add a home security camera or two. Wireless cameras are more affordable than ever, all while still offering important security features thanks to the addition of smart home connectivity. If you've got any Alexa-based smart devices set up in your home, this deal on the Ring Indoor Cam is just for you.
Light up your lawn for less with this great Ring Floodlight Cam deal
Keep a watchful eye on your home's exterior for just $140
It seems like video doorbells get all the love in the smart home security space, but there's another group of products that deserve to be recognized: floodlight cameras. These are motion-activated, exterior lights, with built-in security cameras, that help expose and thwart potential intruders. This Ring Floodlight Cam, for example, features two bright LED floodlights, a 105dB security siren, and two-way audio, and right now, it's back to its lowest price ever.