Michael BrownExecutive Editor, TechHive
Michael is TechHive's lead editor and covers the connected-home and home-entertainment markets. He built his own smart home in 2007, which he uses as a real-world test lab when reviewing new products. Michael also reviews routers and networking products for TechHive and PCWorld.
Adding Bluetooth eliminates the need to buy a Philips Hue Bridge. But you can run only 10 bulbs without it, and you'll be cut off from the broader Hue ecosystem.
The best Amazon Echo add-ons and accessories
A few are goofy, but many are great: These mostly inexpensive gadgets can make Amazon’s smart speakers even better.
Eero Home WiFi System 2 review: Beacons make this system even easier to install
Eero's Home WiFi System 2 is one of the most elegant home-networking solutions you can buy, but it’s not the fastest router.
New Philips Hue smart bulbs don’t need the Hue Bridge—but there’s a catch
Philips is shifting to a new chip that has both Bluetooth and Zigbee radios onboard, but most people will still want a Hue Bridge on their home network.
Samsung SmartThings expands its lineup with a Wi-Fi security camera, a smart bulb, and a smart plug
A smart home system with broad third-party device support gains three new first-party devices.
Sonos Amp review: This is the best Sonos music streamer by far (even if it’s not right for everyone)
The Sonos Amp is a great-sounding and supremely flexible amplifier that's a superb choice for your home theater or for critical listening. And it will drive just about any type of passive loudspeaker you'd care to use.
But the Schlage Encode smart deadbolt also exposes some flaws in Amazon’s broader approach to the smart home.
The all-plastic construction has us wondering about longevity, but the price (and the hooks into the broader Ring ecosystem) can’t be beat.
Ecobee’s fifth-generation SmartThermostat with voice control is available now
The company says its combination thermostat/Alexa smart speaker will have a more powerful processor and speaker, plus dual-band Wi-Fi.
Amazon’s Echo Show 5 could kneecap the Google Nest Hub
Its 5.5-inch display is slightly smaller, but it has a camera and is priced at just $90.
Phyn Plus smart water valve review: Sophisticated leak detection and water use analysis—for a price
Yes, it’s even more expensive than the Flo by Moen, but Phyn doesn’t charge extra to inform you how you’re using water.
RoomMe promises to make your smart home more intelligent
This ceiling-mounted occupancy sensor triggers smart home devices based on who enters the room.
The Lutron Aurora handily solves the smart bulb, dumb switch predicament
This battery-powered dimmer retrofits toggle switches controlling Philips Hue and other Zigbee smart bulbs, so they can’t be turned off by accident.
Nuimo Click review: This smart home device’s novelty wears off quickly
The one-touch access to your favorite Sonos playlist or Hue lighting scene is fun—for the first few days.
Sonos is rolling out Google Assistant support to its Sonos One and Sonos Beam smart speakers
The development effort consumed more than a year, but Sonos is now the first smart speaker manufacturer to support both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant on the same system.