Our picks of the most useful smart home technology

Specifications:

Voice control: Yes

Live / freeview access: Yes

Device compatibility: Alexa - Amazon Blink functionality

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Quick access to your favourite shows

Plug in and play

Simple to use

Cons:

Some users may find difficulty with the number of apps there are

Overview: The Fire Stick is a quick and affordable way of upgrading your HD television. The device plugs into a free HDMI port and, after some basic setup, provides you with full smart TV functionality. The user interface is really simple to use and will give you access to an inexhaustible supply of TV and film content. You can stream from Freeview, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, ITV Hub, All 4, Disney+, Apple TV and others with absolute ease. Just be aware that some streaming services will require a subscription, and the device requires a WiFi connection.

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Customer review: "This was super simple to set up and get going, out the box you just plug this straight into an HDMI socket and the other cable into a power supply. The WiFi on the device is really good, my router is 3 levels down and this little device still picks up a fab signal. The remote is very good quality and well made. Love the Alexa function. Overall excellent product and would recommend for the price. A lot cheaper than buying a smart TV or getting sky/Ariel connection installed."

Specifications:

Voice control: Yes

Smart device compatibility: Amazon Fire Stick, Smart bulbs, Ring doorbells, smart thermostats, smart locks.

App access: Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, TuneIn, weather apps, news apps, alarms

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Amazing compatibility with most smart home devices

Great volume

Well-made

Always handy

Cons:

Alexa doesn't always recognise what you're saying correctly

Overview: The Echo Dot is a tiny but mighty device. It's basically a smart assistant that allows you to perform certain tasks via Alexa voice command. You can ask Alexa to check the weather and news, play music, set reminders or operate other smart devices around the home. All that is required to get up and running is a free plug and a wireless internet connection.

If you've got yourself an Alexa, you'd be surprised at what they can actually do! Here's 10 things you might not know Alexa can do.

Customer review: "The new Echo Dot really is a huge improvement on previous two generations. The device is stylish, the sound quality is massively better and it has around double the volume capacity." All the Alexa functionality remains the same and as most people will know Alexa is just an amazing all-around smart home technology. Switching devices on and off, controlling your TV, controlling your smart lighting, playing music throughout your home, sending announcements around the house, video calling, phone calls, recipe guides etc. There's a never-ending list of ways this device can improve your everyday life at home."

Specifications:

Display size: 6.8"

Battery life: 10 weeks (based on 30 minutes of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 13)

Storage: 8GB

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Fantastic, lightweight alternative to carrying books around

Amazing battery life

Rapid access to thousands of books

Feels fantastic

Waterproof

Cons:

Awkward power button placement

Overview:

We love all of the Kindle range, but the Paperwhite has just pipped it as our favourite. As with other models, it can store hundreds of e-books, digital magazines and newspapers, all of which are available to download in an instant. The model is lighter than the standard Kindle, glare-free and offers a bright, lit display. If you pair some Bluetooth headphones with Paperwhite, you can alternate between reading and listening to your book thanks to Audible. A single charge last hours, plus it's waterproof, so you can read in the bath or by the pool with total abandon! Certainly a must-have.

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Customer review: "Great product! Slimline, light and can even fit in some of my coat pockets! Prime members can also access a bunch of books for free. Other books can be quite expensive which is annoying. The backlight is great and much better than phones/ iPads etc. Makes reading pleasure and less straining on the eyes. Automatically links to amazon account (if you're buying it for yourself) which was quick for set up, and links easily to Wi-Fi to download books."

Specifications:

App control: Yes (Hive App)

Device compatibility: Alexa / Google Home

Setup difficulty: Fairly difficult (installation options on Amazon)

Features: Automatic Frost Protection, helps prevent frozen pipes, Holiday Mode - Tell Hive your holiday dates and come back to a warm home, Text Control - Send your command to Hive via text

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Fantastic controls

Looks incredible

Effective way of saving money

Cons:

Difficult and expensive to set up

Overview:

Hive smart heating is not only one of the easiest thermostats to use, it can also save you money. Once it's installed, the device allows you to control your heating from a smartphone, tablet or computer, as well as manually on the device itself. You don't have to be in the house to have this control, as the app lets you have control wherever you are. If you're out and unexpectedly held up, you can delay your heating start time. Whether taking a sudden turn? Simply turn down the temperature from the sofa. All this, plus it's compatible with Alexa. It needs to be installed by a professional, but once it's in you won't look back!

Looking to save even more energy around the home? Check out our picks for some great efficient gadgets to help you save money on your energy bill.

Customer review: "Great product, replaced a very old 80's slide timer/ clock on ours. Very easy to set up schedules on the website (and android app too). The website shows heating trends over time too, so can monitor interesting temp levels, especially as we are trying to improve things in the house. We got the version with BG installation - You can pick the times from the calendar on the website, and a friendly chap turns up to install it all and show you how it works, took him about 4 hours to do."

Specifications:

Colour: Soft white

Wattage: 9.5W

Device compatibility: Alexa / Google Home, app compatibility

Average life: 25,000 hours

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Great to use with Alexa

Easy to use (simply use your voice)

Looks fantastic

Cons:

You have to use your phone for some of the features

Overview:

The Philips Hue LED Smart Bulb is a really versatile bit of tech. It replaces your current bulb and offers customisable light intensities. You can control the smart bulb from either the Bluetooth smartphone app or via voice control commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. LED light bulbs are also low energy and have a very long life, so they're eco-friendly and low-fuss too.

Customer review: "I have several smart bulbs and I have to say this one stands out. Out of the box it is mega simple to install (using Echo anyway). Soon as you put bulb in and switch on my Echo dot picked up a new device and installation was over in a minute or two."

Specifications:

Compatible devices: Alexa / Google Home, Philips smart devices

Number of devices you can have at once: 50

Batteries required: 2 x AA

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Allows you to control a ton of smart devices simultaneously

Uses very little energy

Makes controlling your home much simpler

Cons:

Fairly expensive

Overview:

The Hue Bridge from Philips is an optional extension for your smart bulb setup. This Bridge provides you with the ability to control up to 50 lightbulbs from inside and outside of the house.

Customer review: "Bought to work with Echo dot (Alexa) to voice control lights within our home. Set up is easy, plug-in power connect to the router with the supplied cable, done! Devices, including non-Phillips, are quickly detected via the phone app, and for the most part, it works seamlessly."

Specifications:

Display size: 10"

Camera: 13MP smart camera

Device compatibility: Built-in Alexa, music apps, smartphone control

Features: Facebook Messenger / Whatsapp compatibility, Smart pan (follows you automatically), weather and news reports

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Perfect for talking with the family, as a family

Great camera

Fantastic features

Fun AR effects

Cons:

Not completely necessary with smartphones

Overview:

The Portal is a really user-friendly smart hub. Its main focus is on super simple video calling, which it does superbly. It uses WhatsApp or Facebook to voice and video call on voice command, and the camera and screen are really clear and sharp. It can pair with Alexa devices to boost its functions, and when it's not in use, it acts as a digital photo frame, displaying your choice of images.

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Customer review: "Very easy set-up, got one for us and one for parents in late 60s so they can stay involved with a new baby. Very easy to pair with Messenger/WhatsApp, even those who don't have the system we're impressed with what they experienced on phones alone. The tech is impressive, automatically locks onto faces and voices, smoothly pans and zooms, ideal for moving about with crying/ feeding baby. Will be used for feeding and bathing times, also perfect for Christmas day."

Specifications:

Number of Tile Mates included: 1

Connection required: Bluetooth

Compatibility: Alexa, Google Home

Range: Up to 250 ft (76m)

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Ultra lightweight

Brilliant range

Battery lasts upwards of 3 years

Water resistant

Cons:

Can't replace battery

Overview:

The Tile Mate is a small device that can be attached to your things, helping you keep track of them. You can ring the device from a smartphone and the Tile will ring, alerting you to its location. This also works in reverse: if you press the Tile's button it will make your phone ring. There's also an app to show the location on a map. It even works with Alexa devices, just say: "Alexa, find my Tile". The Tile has a range of 200ft and is powered by a single battery.

Customer review: "It seems like I "misplace" my keys or my iPhone daily and normally when I'm late for work. I use this far more regularly than I ever thought I would - it's quick and easy to use - the app is simple/intuitive and takes 30 seconds normally to find the phone or keys and I'm out of the door. Not sure how I survived without this, to be honest. My blood pressure must be lower now though.

Specifications:

Number of Tile Mates included: 1

Connection required: Bluetooth

Compatibility: Alexa, Google Home

Range: Up to 200 ft (61m)

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Perfect for wallets, purses, and other belongings

Good range

Incredibly useful

Cons:

Expensive

Overview:

The Tile Slim works just like the Tile Mate, only it is modelled on a debit card so it can be kept in a coat pocket, passport case or purse.

Customer review: "Bought for my partner for Christmas while we were looking for his wallet!! It's a game-changer, he loved it so much he bought the key finder too. I wish I'd bought the set too so you could change the battery. I just didn't know that he would find it as useful as he has. It has an option to press the button on the finder if you've lost your phone too. It's got a loud beep, so we have to be careful if the babies sleeping to use it only when he's awake! But any quieter you wouldn't find your items. It was easy for him to set up and discrete enough to put in his wallet. It's worth the price I paid and when the battery runs out, I will be getting him another one."

Specifications:

Dimensions: 80 x 117.5 x 25

Connectivity: Bluetooth

Printer type: Inkjet

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Super convenient photo printing

Great quality photos

Very quick

Lightweight

Wireless:

Cons:

Expensive

Overview:

Smartphones with their in-built cameras are perfect for taking, sharing and receiving photos with ease. The only problem is they're all stored on the phone. Well, no more! The HP Sprocket is a small printer that you can connect to via Bluetooth and will print 2 x 3-inch photos directly from your phone.

Review: "This printer is what you make of it. The picture quality isn't going to blow you away, but then the photos are small so unless you have a magnifying glass, you're not going to be able to pixel peep anyway. If you like to have physical photos or you want to keep a scrapbook of your memories and cherished times, then this is perfect. The photos have peelable backs which makes them really good for sticking in books or places where the sun doesn't shine (sunlight will damage the photos)."

Specifications:

Storage: 500 GB (300 hours of shows)

TV features: Pause / rewind live TV, 85 channels

Resolution: 4K

Includes: HDMI cable

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Great amount of channel storage

Amazing 4K footage

Live rewind is a great additional feature

Cons:

Very expensive

Overview:

This television box provides over 85 Freeview channels, in addition to on-demand TV services like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5 and UKTV Play. As a smart recorder, the T3-R has an in-built memory that allows you to rewind and pause live TV, record two programmes at once and set to record an entire series with one button. The 500GB of storage allows for 300 hours of TV to be recorded, and the Freeview TV guide allows you to catch up on 7-days' worth of content without having to access new apps. The T3-R requires a WiFi internet connection to access many of its features.

Review: "Love this box, had a BT You view box which kept freezing and was sent back, this box is just brilliant, not a well-known name, but has a great interface which allows you to go directly to iPlayer to watch the programme from the start and also a menu to switch to HD as well as record, another good feature was the ability to retrieve recordings for up to 30 days, very happy with this box."

Specifications:

Broadcasting: FM/DAB/DAB+, Wi-Fi

Device compatibility: Alexa / Google Home

Battery: USB mobile charging

Dimensions: 11 x 25.5 x 16 cm; 1.8kg

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Great audio

Wi-Fi streaming

Great retro look

Cons:

Some users had issues with Bluetooth (which were corrected by customer service)

Overview:

This DAB radio from trusted hi-fi manufacturer Roberts is a really great item to have, both for its function and its look. The iStream 3 offers full DAB, DAB+ and FM capabilities, as well as easy Bluetooth connections. There are 10 user-defined DAB and 10 FM presets, and the current radio station is displayed on a clear screen. They're also a six-band EQ, and two alarms. If you have an Alexa device, you can sync the radio up to control it via voice commands, too.

A radio's great for music, but what about your TV? For that you might need something with some surround options LG's got you covered - LG Surround 3D Multiroom Home Cinema System review.

Customer review: "I've been searching for the perfect all-in-one audio set-up for a while and this is a close as I've got: compact, portable, dab & internet radio, music streaming services, Bluetooth, with good sound, and that looks attractive. This is it! Looks absolutely gorgeous, really comprehensive audio options, and the sound is great."

Specifications:

Video quality: 1080p

Security features: Two-way talk, advanced motion detection

Device compatibility: Alexa, Google Home, Echo Show

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Great protection for your home

Easy to setup

Answer the door even when you're not in

Cons:

Can be stolen if not fitted properly

Overview:

Ring's doorbells show how smart technology's simplicity and user-friendly nature can create products that are both cutting edge, reliable and easy to use. The Doorbell will notify smartphones and Alexa devices when the bell rings, or when there is movement outside of the door, and show the video feed on demand. There's also a two-way talk, allowing the homeowner to talk to the person at the door. It's really easy to install, and the unit is powered by either battery or from your existing doorbell's hardwiring.

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Customer review: "My first camera doorbell and looks well, as expected! Instructions are really clear, easy to install, Ring provided a drill bit for bricks which is good since I'm out of drill bits so that saved me some time to buy a new one. A lot of options in the app that you can play and explore. Motion detection is perfectly working even the cat from our neighbour was detected. You can also set the range of motion detection via the app. Night vision is clear if you have a better connection."

Specifications:

Average Wi-Fi speed:

Device support:

Pros / cons:

Pros:

Great Wi-Fi for people in weaker signal areas

Support for loads of devices

Great value:

Cons:

Not for everyone

Overview:

If you live in a remote area, don't have a broadband installation or your local connection is slow, then the 4GEE Home Router is a neat and fuss-free method of upping your internet speeds. This is ideal if you struggle to video chat or stream films and on-demand TV. The router gives you wireless access to EE's 4G network, which is often quicker than fibre broadband, without the need for any wires. There are several data packages available: our favourite is 200GB data for £40 per month, but you can select from ranges of 50GB to 500GB.

Customer review: "I used this as a replacement for our Sky broadband and to go on holiday to a caravan park and still be able to work, after a month of no Sky Broadband I've realised that I could happily use this instead of a wired connection. I watched Netflix in HD on this and worked for days on end with kids streaming and the wife browsing all at the same time. It's also small and light with great battery life."