Smart home reviews from The Ambient

August View

August View

Updated: We re-tested August’s wireless doorbell cam following its re-release
August WiFi Smart Lock

August WiFi Smart Lock

The best retrofit door lock just got even better
​Vivint Smart Home Security System

​Vivint Smart Home Security System

Easy to use and feature rich, but slightly too simple for smart home enthusiasts
Tado smart heating

Tado smart heating

Whole home connected heating made easy by the German based company
Netgear Orbi WiFi 6

Netgear Orbi WiFi 6

The big bad wolf of Wi-Fi
Meural Canvas 2

Meural Canvas 2

Connected art comes at a price
Innr smart lighting

Innr smart lighting

Compatible with Hue, SmartThings and a whole lot more - all for a great price
Control4

Control4

UPDATED: This is high-end, bespoke, smart home automation - but does it deliver?
Flic 2 Smart Button

Flic 2 Smart Button

Flic's next-gen button and Flic Hub LR put to the test
Aqara Smart Home Starter Kit

Aqara Smart Home Starter Kit

This starter kit can polish up your Alexa and Google smart home, too
Neeo Remote for Control4

Neeo Remote for Control4

Control4's slick looking touchscreen remote put to the test
Somfy smart blinds

Somfy smart blinds

Living with the Tahoma-powered Somfy Roll Up Wirefree
Echo Glow

Echo Glow

Amazon's first smart light is fun and whimsical, but not a necessity
Philips Hue Smart Button

Philips Hue Smart Button

Signify's newest accessory brings some extra smarts to the lighting line
Arlo Pro 3

Arlo Pro 3

A top wire-free camera - but you pay more for features
Samsung Family Hub Fridge 2019

Samsung Family Hub Fridge 2019

With 3 cameras and a 21-inch touchscreen this fridge can help make dinner
Philips Hue

Philips Hue

Updated: We deliver our verdict on Signify's market-leading smart light system
Amazon Echo Show 8

Amazon Echo Show 8

If the flagship Echo Show is too big for you, this one will be just right
RoomMe

RoomMe

This sensor knows who you are and what you like, but it needs your phone
Amazon Echo Flex

Amazon Echo Flex

Want Alexa in your home? Now all you need is a power outlet
Neos SmartCam

Neos SmartCam

It costs hardly anything yet does almost everything
Airthings Wave Mini

Airthings Wave Mini

This little puck has something to say about the air you're breathing
Facebook Portal

Facebook Portal

Facebook's smart display is back. Now say hello to its little friend
Amazon Echo Studio

Amazon Echo Studio

For this price, the Studio should have Sonos scared
Hoover H-FREE 800 Pet

Hoover H-FREE 800 Pet

We find out exactly what a smart cordless vacuum can offer
Ring Indoor Cam

Ring Indoor Cam

This mini cam is cheaper, more private and a great addition to your security
Google Nest Wifi

Google Nest Wifi

Google's Wi-Fi does triple duty as a router, smart speaker and hub
Philips Hue Go

Philips Hue Go

The domed hero gets updated with Bluetooth and more
Philips Hue Smart Plug

Philips Hue Smart Plug

For everyone else, there's a wide range of cheaper alternatives
iRobot Roomba S9+

iRobot Roomba S9+

Squarer, suckier and way smarter
TP-Link ​Kasa Spot

TP-Link ​Kasa Spot

Night vision, two-way audio and activity zones for a very affordable price
Amazon Echo (2019)

Amazon Echo (2019)

Amazon’s flagship speaker is still going strong
Google Nest Mini

Google Nest Mini

Google's tiny speaker makes improvements where it counts
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt

Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt

Our take: An excellent lock for Ring users, but otherwise pretty standard
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock

Amazon Echo Dot with Clock

Amazon's smallest Echo gets an upgrade – and it's about time
Bulbrite Solana

Bulbrite Solana

Living with Bulbrite's debut smart lighting lineup
TP-Link Deco M9 Plus

TP-Link Deco M9 Plus

Powerful Wi-Fi doesn't come cheap
Apple HomePod

Apple HomePod

Updated: How does Apple's debut smart speaker compare in 2019?
C by GE smart bulb

C by GE smart bulb

An excellent entry for Google users, but skip if you want Alexa or HomeKit
Samsung SmartThings Wifi

Samsung SmartThings Wifi

A hub and router in one - our smart home dreams have come true!
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2019)

Amazon Fire TV Cube (2019)

The new Cube is zippier and makes the assistant more useful
Roborock S6

Roborock S6

Flagship robot vacuum is feature rich but there are some software niggles