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How we Test
Our promise and why The Ambient’s reviews are the best in the business
At The Ambient we’re committed to recommending the best in smart home technology – and that means testing things properly.
So we work a little differently to the average tech reviews site. Testing smart home technology is often difficult: it takes time, can be disruptive to set up and thanks to the fragmented state of smart home tech, doesn’t always work together.
At The Ambient we have a host of different set ups built not only to test tech – but live it.
First, we use devices long term, rather than bashing out reviews in under a week. And when the review is published that’s not the end of the story – as ecosystems evolve via updates, we’ll update our reviews on how it changes the experience.
Testing involves integrating devices within different ecosystems, testing performance within Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, SmartThings, Matter and myriad of other set ups.
Our review process starts from the moment a device is ordered, rating the installation experience where professional fitting is required, to the home set up, and of course, the tech itself.
We’ve also rethought out the way we work buyer’s guides. When we list the “best” devices – these have all been tested by our expert team. We’ll be calling out the devices that are best suited to different needs – as our smart homes aren’t just one-size-fits-all, let alone our budgets.
And this is what The Ambient stands for:
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- Seamless tech that brings real benefits to your home
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- Stylish devices we’d be proud to own
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- Expert opinions
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- Quality editorial
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- Technology that enhances the things you love doing
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- Reviews you can trust
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- Getting the most from your devices
Why have we gone to all these lengths? Because The Ambient is the authority when it comes to the smart home – and as such, we have to go the extra mile.
Mission statement
At The Ambient we’re tired of tech being an afterthought in people’s home decision. Just as we’re tired of tech being an eye-sore in people’s homes
We strive to be the authority on smart home technology and help people to understand and buy the right devices for them, navigate the minefield of standards and represent the smart home as a lifestyle category.
The Ambient is objective, trusted, and respected. Founded in 2014, the brand is now part of the Candr Media Group.
We’re an independent publisher and we have reviewed thousands of products. We put products to the test in real-world situations; we don’t deliver a snap judgement, we live with devices to determine just how effective they are.
As mentioned, we strive to test devices in real world situations and that often means testing stuff in our own homes.
But we also, as part of the Candr Media Group, have dedicated testing labs in the UK and the US, where a lot of smart home testing is carried out.
Commercial promise
To keep the whole thing going, we run display advertising on the site. We also use affiliate links to online retailers (where we may earn commission on click-throughs) but every single recommendation comes from our editors in London and the US, and remains completely separated from commercial decisions. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We write deal stories from offers that have been hand-picked by our team because they represent great value for our readers. We sometimes receive a commission if you click a link to an online store and purchase something. These affiliate marketing partnerships help support the work we do and do not influence the products we cover or how we cover them
We never take payments, or offers, for product reviews, buyers’ guides or coverage.
Verification and fact-checking
Candr Media Group is committed to publishing honest, accurate information. We welcome feedback from our readers, via comments or email and we agree and aim to closely follow with the Editors’ Code of Practice.
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