Houseplants have been a staple feature in our homes for decades, and these days, smart speakers are, too. While your Alexa and Aloe Vera serve very different functions, the two sideboard inhabitants actually have a closer link than you'd think, and that's because your Amazon Alexa device doubles up as a helpful houseplant assistant.

After teaming up with leading botanist James Wong, Amazon has upskilled Alexa's plant knowledge and launched new featured routines to help us care for our favorite foliage. Even the most experienced green-thumbs need a helping hand with their plant care from time to time, and there are myriad reasons for bad plant health, whether it's an inconsistent watering regime (that one's on you) or signs of a damaging leaf disease (for which you're probably not to blame).

Sometimes a little encyclopedic plant knowledge is all that's needed to remedy the problem and that's where your Alexa is here to help, all thanks to the introduction of some nifty new features. Here are four of the best Alexa skills to turn your Amazon device into a personalized houseplant care assistant.

1. Schedule watering regimes

We're all guilty of neglecting our watering regime every now and then, but if you're the type who needs a gentle reminder, why not ask your Alexa to give you a helping hand? Not only will your smart speaker inform you how often to water your houseplants, but it will schedule reminders too, so you never forget to feed your thirsty plants again.

As part of the new 'Plant Whisperer' routine introduced by the Amazon team, you can set up the feature in the Alexa app. If you want to take your plant parenting even further, you can also set up reminders to check on your houseplants - an especially pertinent task now that warmer weather is upon us.

'Alexa’s knowledge meets our love for plant care,' says Meryem Tom of Amazon Alexa. 'With the summer coming up, it’s the perfect time for our customers to have a play around with the new Alexa routine and level-up their plant care skills in the process.'

2. Whisper to your plants

While it might sound absurd, word within the botany community is that talking to your houseplants can actually boost their growth, and research shows that sound can have a positive effect on your plants. If you're a dedicated houseplant owner you might be doing this already (consciously or not), but if you don't have the time to chat to your greenery, you can ask Alexa to whisper positive affirmations to your plants instead.

To use the new feature, simply say, 'Alexa, be my plant whisperer' to hear your speaker whisper positive affirmations to your houseplants such as: 'Hi little plants, you're looking really green and groovy - I'm sending you good vibes to grow strong and healthy.'

It might sound unnerving, but psychologist Dr Sophie Mort says your indoor garden is bound to love it, plus the mindful action can have great benefits for us, too. 'Plant care is an incredible way to practice mindfulness,' she says. 'It creates feelings of comfort and relaxation as well as a sense of pride when we see the plants we tend to flourish.'

3. Answer your plant-care questions

We already know that Alexa has a wealth of encyclopedic knowledge that makes everyday tasks so much easier, but the Amazon team has recently improved the breadth of your smart speaker's houseplant expertise, too.

Alexa users can now ask over 35 new questions about their favorite house plants, including 'How much light does my Aloe Vera need?', 'How often should I water my cheese plant?' and 'How often do I repot my peace lily?'.

Depending on the answer, Alexa can also prompt you to activate a new featured routine that will create the optimum growing conditions for your potted pals. Next time you're wondering how to propagate your spider plant or which houseplants are best to clean the air, let your Alexa do the research on your behalf.

4. Activate smart grow lights

Many don't realize that Alexa devices are so much more than just a smart speaker. These clever little gadgets are compatible with innovative plugs, bulbs, and thermostats to make your space work smoothly and allow you to set up a smart home. One of the key ways that can benefit your houseplants is with an LED grow light, a piece of kit that can be especially important to your plants during the dark winter months.

With the help of a smart bulb (like this one from Amazon) or smart plug (like this one from Walmart), you can set your grow light to provide optimum light and temperature settings to keep plants alive and well when they need an extra helping hand. Simply ask your Alexa device to turn your grow light off or on, or set a timer routine so your light automatically turns on and off when you need it to.

FAQs

How do you turn on the new Alexa 'Plant Whisperer' routine?

Itching to set up your Alexa devices as a personalized plant care assistant? All you have to do is open the Alexa mobile app and select ‘more’ from the bottom navigation menu. From there, select ‘routines’ from the options then tap ‘featured’ from the sliding top menu. Next, select 'Plant Whisperer’ and choose the devices you wish to feature in the routine before hitting save. To get going with the routine, just say ‘Alexa, mind my plants' and she'll initiate your custom plan. Caring for your houseplants has never been easier, and it's all thanks to one of the best smart speakers on the market.

Our favorite houseplants

There’s still something magical about smart assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri. Being able to turn off the lights and change the temperature of your house with the power of your voice really doesn’t get old — especially if your bedroom light switch is far away from your bed, like mine.

But while smart assistants once lived in smart speakers and phones, Google and Amazon are increasingly pitching their smart screens — the Echo Show and Nest Hub — as the best way to enjoy them. 

So, should you upgrade to a smart assistant with a screen? Here’s what to consider before taking the plunge.

The reasons against

The first reason you may want to opt out is one of compatibility. If you’re an Apple household with a HomePod, you simply can’t upgrade to one with a screen at the moment — though the company is rumored to have plans to change that in the future. 

The second is that, bluntly, companies still don’t seem to have that many ideas of how to use the screen part of the smart speaker. Aside from being able to watch videos on them (more on that in a moment) integration tends to be companion graphics, like a week’s worth of weather forecast icons appearing when you ask if it’s raining. 

You also get things like the text of your voice commands appearing on screen, a digital clock, a list of upcoming diary appointments and a digital picture frame cycling through your snaps or other appealing vistas. This is all doubtless nice to have, but far from essential.

The problem with that is the money you’re spending on a largely superfluous screen is cash that isn’t being spent on the speaker part, which means weaker audio. To put it another way, if you have two smart speakers costing $100, one with a screen and one without, you can bet your bottom dollar that the latter will sound better than the former.

The reasons for

Despite these criticisms, I’ve reviewed a few smart screens over the years and eventually decided to permanently install a Nest Hub for my kitchen — a location where sound quality isn’t the be all and end all.

The reasons are twofold, but they both come down to video. A smart screen in the kitchen is incredibly valuable if you like to cook. Not only can you quickly get measurement conversions without washing your hands (“Alexa, how many grams in a cup?”) but you can ask for recipes directly, and the smart screen will bring up step-by-step guides or videos. No getting your cookery books dirty.

The second reason is that if I’m cooking something familiar, washing up or generally tidying the kitchen on autopilot — something that I spend several cumulative hours per week doing — it’s nice to be able to have a show on in the background. The Nest Hub’s tiny seven-inch screen might not match the IMAX, but it’s perfectly good for reruns of Modern Family and Frasier.

If that sounds appealing, my advice is to go Nest Hub over Echo Show here. While the latter is limited to Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video, the Nest Hub has Chromecast built in, letting you stream a lot more via your phone, from Disney Plus to Plex.

So, should I upgrade to a smart assistant with a screen? 

The long and short of it: it really depends on how you intend to use it. While I personally find the visual integration a bit lacklustre, you may really like it — especially if you have a packed digital diary and plenty of photos to cycle through. And if you want to watch videos or follow recipes in the kitchen, a smart screen is a great investment.

But if you really just want smart home voice controls and music playback then you’re better off buying a more expensive smart speaker, like the Apple HomePod or Echo Studio. 

If you have the budget for both, of course, then that’s the way to go to enjoy the best of both worlds. 

What Black Friday deals are there on smart assistants? 

For over a decade, Siri has been built into every iPhone made. While it may not be as flexible as Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa, the fact that it’s built into iOS makes it a really useful companion, giving you hands-free access to key functionality, and even introducing new skills.

The trick is knowing what to ask, because it can be very inflexible, and Apple doesn’t teach people how to use it effectively.

Yes, you can say “Hey Siri, what can you do” for some basic iPhone tricks, but that’s only scratching the surface. Here are five genius things that you can do with Siri on your iPhone to make your life easier.

Note that while this is written for iPhone, it should also work on other devices where Siri is present, such as your Mac or HomePod. Just be aware that some of the functionality won’t work as well when it’s not on a device that’s permanently about your person.

1. Find your Apple devices — including the iPhone you’re using

Because all your Apple devices are linked to the same account, you can use Siri on your iPhone to find them if you’ve misplaced them. 

Just say “Hey Siri, where’s my iPad?” and — assuming you haven’t let the battery go flat and it’s connected to the internet — it will play a loud sound on your tablet, leading you straight to it. 

This will also work for the Apple Watch (“Hey Siri, ping my Apple Watch”), and select other items in Apple’s Find My network. 

But what if you can’t find your iPhone? Well, you could ask your HomePod or MacBook to track it down, but if it’s in range you can say “Hey Siri, set a timer for five seconds” to initiate a near-instant alarm. 

And while it’s not actually intended for locating your missing phone, here’s a neat one I’ve discovered when I’ve dropped my phone down the side of the bed at night. Just say “Hey Siri, turn on flashlight” and your iPhone will light up, without disturbing your sleeping partner with any loud noises.

2. Quickly send photos and articles to loved ones

If your iPhone is the center of your social life, you’ll no doubt spend a lot of time sending photos, articles and music to friends and family.

Depending on what you’re sharing, this can take a fair few swipes and taps. But with Siri, you can share “onscreen items like photos, webpages, content from Apple Music or Apple Podcasts, Maps locations and more”, Apple explains.

As you can see, it’s largely aimed at Apple’s own apps, but it’s still handy. If you’ve just taken a great photo, simply say “Hey Siri, send this photo to Geoff” and provided “Geoff” is in your contacts list, a message will be automatically created for you to send right away. 

3. Get a quick translation in a hurry

If you’re somewhere where you’re not fluent in the local language, Siri can help by quickly translating a phrase for you. It can’t decipher what’s said in response, so it’s not suited to full conversations, but it should be enough for ordering drinks or getting simple directions.

It doesn’t work in all tongues, but the list of supported languages isn’t bad at all. You can translate phrases into Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian or Spanish.

You can do it one of two ways. Either say, “Hey Siri, translate ‘where is the park’ in Italian” or “Hey Siri, how do I say ‘one coffee please’ in German.”

4. Boost reminders with contextual cues

Setting reminders in Siri is dead easy, and one of the best-known features. Just say “Hey Siri, remind me to pick up sausages” and it will add it to a reminder list.

But it gets really clever when you add additional context. In its simplest form, this could be “Hey Siri, remind me to pick up sausages at 2pm”, but you can also make it location specific. So it could become “remind me to pick up sausages when I’m in Walmart” or even “when I leave the house.”

You’ll need to enable location services for this to work, but the possibilities are endless. Say a colleague reminds you to bring back a book they loaned you. Just say “Hey Siri, remind me to pack Brad’s book when I get home” and you’ll get a reminder as soon as you approach the door.

5. Find out what that song is

In 2018, Apple bought Shazam — the app that lets your phone identify a song by listening to an extract of it. You’ll probably have seen people using it in bars, pointing their phones at speakers to try and name that song.

It’s now built into iOS, and part of Control Center. But you don’t have to touch the screen to get it: simply say, “Hey Siri, what is this song?” and it’ll start listening right away.

When it comes to smart speakers, it's sometimes too easy to limit your thinking to Alexa and Google without looking at the bigger picture. While the smart speakers and displays from these brands are fantastic for most people, devices like the HomePod mini, from direct rival Apple, and the Sonos One, which features both of the aforementioned assistants, certainly give them a run for their money.

Both adding heaps of style and functionality to the conversation, we wanted to look at the key differences between what Apple and Sonos are offering, whether that's in their product line-up, audio quality, or pricing. If you want to know how they compare to other options available, check out our comprehensive guide on the best smart speakers.

Read on to find out which speaker has the most to offer and which one would suit your home the most.

HomePod mini vs Sonos One: Pricing

The original Sonos One (Gen 2) with voice control comes in at $220, which is admittedly steep for a smart speaker. If you don't care about having Alexa or Google Assistant built-in, you can save a few bucks with the Sonos One SL, which is priced at $199.99. You can read more about how the two speakers compared in our Sonos One vs Sonos One SL head-to-head.

Meanwhile, the HomePod mini is cheap in comparison at $99.99, with in-build Siri but no compatibility with Alexa or Google. The new, larger HomePod, which replaces the discontinued original, starts at $299.99 - significantly more than Sonos' most expensive smart speaker.

• Winner: HomePod mini

HomePod mini vs Sonos One: Design

Both Sonos and Apple are brands known for their sleek and modern design styles, and the HomePod mini and Sonos One speaker are great examples of that.

While Apple's HomePod 2 is much more similar to the Sonos One in appearance, The HomePod mini is - well - more mini. Smaller, shorter, and with a spherical design, it looks closer to an Echo Dot but with an LED screen on top. This doesn't display anything, as such, but it lights up when you alert Siri with a question or command.

The Sonos One is much larger and more square, but this, in theory, lends itself to clearer audio (we'll go into that next). It also comes in just black or white, whereas the HomePod mini is currently available in black, white, blue, orange, or yellow.

• Winner: HomePod mini

HomePod mini vs Sonos One: Smart Assistants

When comparing the Sonos One and HomePod mini on smart home compatibility, it's hard to discount the convenience of Sonos' offering having more than one assistant on board. The HomePod range is tied directly to HomeKit and Siri - Apple's smart home platforms, but Sonos has the benefit of being a third party to the smart home wars.

Though Apple recognizes how the widespread use of its other products, such as the iPhone, encourages customers to remain within the brand's product ecosystem. In order to fully utilize the potential of one product, it is often recommended to purchase additional ones. This is where HomeKit speakers, such as the HomePod and HomePod mini, are beneficial. 

As a user of iPhone, our experience with HomePod mini testing revealed that employing HomeKit was a seamless process that effectively unified our technology.

We generally conclude that HomeKit is the most suitable option for Apple users, particularly for those who have Apple Music subscriptions and Apple TV. However, it is important to note that HomeKit has a more limited range of products available. Additionally, currently, it has less third-party product compatibility, but this may change with the introduction of Matter.

The upside to Sonos, meanwhile, is the choice you have. Both Google Assistant and Alexa have a much more third-party-friendly ethos and work with most (if not quite all) smart home devices you may have around the home. The fact that you can choose makes the Sonos One even more appealing. 

• Winner: Sonos One

HomePod mini vs Sonos One: Audio quality

Typically, the sound quality of a smart speaker improves with a higher price tag. However, Apple has defied this norm with two impressive smart speakers that could be your home's primary listening device. Despite its compact size, the HomePod mini exceeded our expectations, and the latest HomePod (2nd Gen) produces even better results.

Meanwhile, the Sonos One benefits from its parent company being focused on outstanding sound quality above all else. The fact that the One SL can be sold without in-built smart assistant capabilities shows that it's a great audio device in its own right.

Both support Apple AirPlay, and can be paired with another speaker of the same type to create a bookshelf speaker-type stereo experience. Neither has an AUX input, but you can adjust EQ settings for both speakers.

• Winner: Sonos One

HomePod mini vs Sonos One: Our verdict

If you're looking for a solid high-end smart speaker, then the Sonos One and HomePod mini are both excellent choices. The speakers combine smart home control with impressive audio and a sleek design that looks great anywhere in the home. However, the HomePod mini wins out for affordability.

If you don't mind sacrificing Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, and being limited to a much smaller pool of HomeKit-enabled devices, then we would highly recommend Apple's smaller speaker. However, if you'd rather have a little more freedom and don't mind paying a premium for it, then the Sonos One comes out top.

If you've yet to jump into the wonderful world of smart homes, or you're just curious about your options outside of Alexa and Google, then your attention may have been caught by HomeKit at one time or another. Apple's smart home platform to rival Alexa and Google Assistant, it's a slightly different - but no less appealing - proposition for those wanting to add more automation to their home.

HomeKit was actually launched back in late 2014, but it has obviously evolved a lot since then. The Home app, which is what we use now, arrived a couple of years later in 2016, becoming available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users. Since 2018, you have also been able to control home devices with the HomePod and HomePod mini.

We'll discuss the ways you can access Siri and HomeKit in this article, but the basic idea of HomeKit is a smart home platform that prioritizes Apple devices and other compatible brands. Keep reading, and take a look at our guide to the best smart speakers for more.

What do you use HomeKit for?

Boiled down to the simplest terms, HomeKit is essentially the name for Apple's smart home platform. Like Amazon's Alexa or Google's Assistant, HomeKit is where control for all of your home's smart tech and devices resides and can be accessed or controlled via Siri voice commands, your phone, or from other Apple-branded devices like Apple TV or iPads.

Siri is Apple's virtual assistant, and they are who will respond to you when using voice commands. For some inspiration for how you can use them to control your home, take a look at our tricks to make Siri work harder.

As we'll go into in the next section, smart home devices that are compatible with HomeKit are more limited than those compatible with the likes of Alexa but, if you choose carefully, there's not much you won't be able to automate, from the best wireless doorbells to air conditioners and smoke alarms.

What are the disadvantages of HomeKit?

Apple is known for quality control, and it has transported its discerning nature to its smart home controls. This means that there are far fewer compatible brands and devices for HomeKit users, but pretty much every area is covered in some way. According to the official Apple site, 50 brands currently offer compatibility, including  Arlo, Hive, LIFX, Philips Hue, Bang & Olufsen, and JBL.

The other limitation is your choice of smart speaker, as Apple currently only offers two options - the HomePod 2 and HomePod mini. While the mini is very reasonably priced at around $99, the more recently-released HomePod (2nd Gen) comes closer to $300 - very expensive in the realm of best smart speakers.

In general, committing to HomeKit for your smart home will also steer you towards Apple's other services, whether that's Apple Music or an Apple Watch, as they will work much more seamlessly than those running on Android or another platform. 

Why would you choose HomeKit over Alexa and Google?

Now that we've gone over the reasons why you wouldn't buy into HomeKit's ecosystem, how about some reasons why you would?

A system purpose-built to work together - Alexa and Google Home may win for the number of devices that work with their smart home systems, but Apple has second-to-none brand loyalty. A smaller number of devices means that everything can run smoothly together, whether that's Apple-branded speakers or the best smart light bulbs from third-party brands.

Smart speaker quality - Apple's smart speakers are a cut above the rest when it comes to sound quality, with even the more budget HomePod mini impressing with its bass levels and 360 audio output. Most smart speakers aren't known for their performance in this area, so those who want their smart home hubs to also offer top-quality audio will do well with either HomePod.

How do you get HomeKit?

If you've decided on HomeKit, then your next step will be to purchase a device that acts as a hub for your new smart home. It is almost always best to assign this job to a smart speaker (the HomePod 2 or HomePod mini in this case), as they're the simplest way to control your other devices as you build out your system. Products like iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple TV do also have Siri on-board, however.

You may have heard great things about Bluetooth trackers, especially if you're someone that often misplaces things and struggles to remember where you put your phone, but the amount of choice out there can make it tricky to choose the best one for you.

The best key finders are a fantastic way of giving you peace of mind when it comes to often-lost items like keys, TV remotes, and pretty much everything else. Whether you want to be able to find a laptop that's been left on the bus or locate a pet that's wandered a little far from home, these tiny devices will help.

Keep reading for a direct comparison between two of the leading makers of these trackers - Tile and Apple - with head to heads on set-up, privacy, performance, and more.

AirTags vs Tile: Set-up and compatibility

Tile key finders offer much wider compatibility than AirTags, and work with all of the major smart assistants (Alexa, Google, Siri) and mobile OS (Android, iOS). This gives those with a variety of devices at home the freedom to use Tile products as they choose rather than being tied to one or the other. AirTags, on the other hand, will only work with Siri and iOS, meaning you'll need to be an Apple user already.

When testing the Tile Pro, our reviewer used an iPhone, and the setup was smooth and easy. You simply need to download the app, enter your details, and the device will begin to record the location of your keys or other chosen device.

The AirTag uses the Find My app on your iPhone, and it connects as easily as any other Apple-branded product - just wave the AirTag close to your iPhone, and it should find it automatically. The app allows you to share your location with your contacts, but this may be a privacy risk (more on this later). For more, head over to our guide on how to set up AirTags.

• Winner: Tile Pro

AirTags vs Tile: Design

The biggest disclaimer for the AirTag is its lack of a hole for attaching keys, meaning you will have to pay more for a holder. This seems strange when the device's intended purpose is to help find other objects, and Tile, in opposition, offers a range of different products like the Tile Mate, Tile Sticker, and Tile Slim for different use cases. The AirTag isn't as thin as the Tile Slim and lacks an adhesive back like the Tile Sticker, meaning it's really only good for placing loose in a pocket.

All of this said both brands have made an effort to make their key finders attractive in their own right. While Tile products tend to be larger with a more distinctive look, the AirTag is slightly sleeker (to match the aesthetic of Apple overall) and easier to miss. Your preference will depend on how much you want people to know that your items are being tracked, possibly deterring potential thieves.

We'll also note that the mini size of the AirTag gave us a little anxiety about leaving them around toddlers and pets.

Both the Tile Pro and AirTag have replaceable batteries, which should last around a year, though Tile's other devices will last around three years but will need to be discarded when the battery runs out of juice.

• Winner: Tile Pro

AirTags vs Tile: Performance

Generally speaking, Apple has a more user-friendly system for helping you find your items, giving you more of a step-by-step route than Tile's more vague guidance. To get the best out of AirTags, though, you will need an iPhone 11 or newer. 

Providing you have this - giving you access to ultra-wideband (UWB) tech - we found that, while Apple guides you to your lost keys, Tile just lets you know if you're getting warmer. Both apps have map views. In terms of Bluetooth range, Tile wins hands down, with 400ft compared to Apple's 30ft.

An incredibly neat feature allows other Tile users to help locate your lost items, with an alert sent to your phone whenever someone passes them, allowing you to narrow down your search. Apple has a similar feature and has arguably more users to work with by using the in-built Find My app rather than a dedicated app just for trackers.

• Winner: It's a tie!

AirTags vs Tile: Privacy features

Ever since the advent of key trackers, there has been a worry that these tiny devices could be used as digital stalking tools, so you will want to utilize all of the privacy safeguards and features you can in order to keep safe.

For the AirTag, Apple has updated its software to make unknown devices emit a noise when they are placed on a person who isn't registered to it for a long time, meaning you'll be alerted to any hidden trackers on your person or in your vehicle. iPhone users will also see a push notification stating 'Unknown Accessory Detected'.

Tile's safety features require a little more input from the user, and you can use the Scan and Secure function in the app to scan for unknown trackers nearby. It should be pointed out that you need to already have suspicions for this to keep you safe.

• Winner: AirTags

AirTags vs Tile: Our verdict

As it tends to be our recommendation for anything, Apple, iPhone, Siri, and HomeKit users will likely have an easier time with other devices from the brand, so we would recommend the AirTag if you're already an iOS user. Everything from connection to functionality will be optimal but bear in mind that you will need to purchase an additional case if you want to be able to attach it to keys or anything else.

Meanwhile, Android users won't be able to use AirTags at all, so they are left with Tile trackers. This is no tragedy, as Tile offers a wider range of device options (all with attachable loops at no extra cost) and comparable functionality to AirTags. 

Streaming devices are one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to add convenience to your TV watching, adding dozens of streaming apps to any television for the price of takeout. But, as these streaming sticks have grown in popularity, so too has the choice on offer, and it can be hard to decide where your money's best spent.

We've spent years trying out these devices as they evolved from screen mirroring tools like the original Chromecast to the all-in-one entertainment enablers they are today. We're also intimately familiar with all of the different homepages and recommendation algorithms, and we definitely have our favorites.

Keep reading to see where the strengths and weaknesses of the big four - Apple, Roku, Google, and Fire TV - lie, and which one would be more suitable for you. If you want more, you can head to our guide to the best streaming devices.

What are the main streaming devices?

For the purposes of this article, we will include the biggest offerings from the four main streaming device brands - Google, Amazon, Roku, and Apple, which each have a range of products with different features and limitations.

Smart home compatibility

Google TV

Because of brand integration, the Chromecast with Google TV works well with Nest and Google Home products and even has the company's smart assistant built into the remote. This means you can use voice commands to control certain parts of your smart home, and if you have a Nest Doorbell, you can use your TV as an extra chime. Generally speaking, there is also good third-party compatibility with Google Home.

Amazon Firestick

The Firestick is similar to Chromecast in that it plays remarkably well with other Amazon and Alexa products, including Ring doorbells and Echo smart speakers. The remote also has Alexa built-in so that you can easily use voice controls, and you're able to pair the streaming device with any Echo speakers you have at home.

Roku

Roku is a slightly different proposition than the other three big streaming devices, as it doesn't have its own smart assistant to push. And so the Roku Streaming Stick 4K works with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Alexa, making it perfect for any smart home setup you may already have. Note, however, that you may not get as smooth of an experience as you would with two devices belonging to the same brand.

Apple TV

Apple TV, of course, supports Siri and is generally speaking more limited in its smart home compatibility than the other big three. If you're already an Apple user and are familiar with Siri on your iPhone, then the streaming device is a great extension of this, but many third-party devices such as doorbells, security cameras, or even the best smart light bulbs aren't so friendly with Apple's ecosystem. 

Audio and visuals

Google TV

Google has the most limited range of products, with just the Chromecast 4K and Chromecast HD to choose from. The difference here is in the name, with the former offering a maximum of 2160p (4K) resolution and the latter going up to 1080p (Full HD). As for audio, it offers Dolby Atmos support.

Amazon Firestick

Amazon offers a much wider range of products than Google currently does, with the equivalent streaming stick (The Fire TV Stick 4K), offering 2160p (4K) resolution with Dolby Vision and HDR 10+ and support for Dolby Atmos surround sound.

Roku

Roku's mid-range option, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, offers similarly great visuals with 2160p (4K) resolution, available for $49.99. It does, however, lack Dolby Atmos support, offering DTS Digital Surround instead.

Apple TV

Apple TV 4K matches up to its competitors for audio and visuals, with the company's advanced tech also boosting the smoothness of app launches and navigation. It is, however, much more expensive than the other three options, with its cheapest product currently priced at $129.99.

Apps and navigation

Google TV

Google TVs interface is our favorite of the big four, as its aesthetic appeal is only boosted by the amount of information its algorithm is able to process about us. Unfortunately for those who are wary of an impending dystopian universe, Google has a lot of insight into all of us based on search preferences and what we've asked our Google Assistant, and it uses this to create a top-notch streaming experience.

Amazon Firestick

Amazon is similar to Google in the way it makes it easy for users to find the content they want to watch across various different apps. It does, however, have more of a bias toward Amazon Prime Video, pushing you to watch exclusives and rent or buy movies from the service. If you don't mind this, Prime TV add-on channels are a neat extra and good if you want these smaller services folded into one subscription.

Roku

Roku is the one streaming company that doesn't have a huge library of content to push, though the Roku channel is free and growing all of the time. The bigger difference in how content is displayed - or not displayed. Roku's home screen is made up of large tiles for your installed apps, and you will either have to enter each one individually or use the search function to find your fave TV show or film.

Apple TV

Apple TV's user experience is most similar to Fire TV's (read a thorough comparison in our Apple TV vs Firestick guide), with recommendations from across all of your apps, a bias towards Apple TV+, and the availability of add-on channels that can be paid for in one single payment. Apple TV+ is a smaller yet growing and well-regarded streaming service, but the presence of Apple Music and iTunes content makes for a huge potential library.

Our verdict

• If you want the best 4K visuals - the cheapest way to get 4K from your streaming stick is the Roku Express 4K+, priced at $39.99. Google and Amazon offer the same at $49.99.
• If you don't want to commit to one smart home - if you, like us, have a lot of different smart home devices and don't want your TV to be tied to just one hub, Roku offers a choice. Meanwhile, if you're already all-in on Google, Alexa, or Siri, we would recommend going for their corresponding streaming device.
• If you're a habitual scroller - if you find it hard to find something to watch in the evening, Google and Apple offer the best navigation experience, followed closely by Amazon. Roku is best for those who know what they want to watch (and where to find it).

Amazon currently has the widest array of smart speaker displays available to buy, so you'd be forgiven for wondering what something like the Echo Show 15 has to offer that's so different. Well, the biggest thing is its size - the picture-frame-shaped display is a whopping 15.6 inches, opening up many possibilities for its use in the home. Want an Alexa speaker? Check. Want to listen to a playlist while cooking? Check. Fancy watching something on Netflix? It can do that too.

We had the chance to test out the Echo Show 15 to see if it could live up to the promise of being a one-stop home management hub, alongside being able to answer our inane questions about transport and the weather. Take a look at our guide to find out more about how we rank the best Alexa speakers around right now, and read on to see if the biggest Echo Show gets our seal of approval.

Echo Show 15: Key info

• Voice assistant: Alexa
• Power: Plug-in
• Screen size: 15.6"
• Camera? Yes
• Dimensions: H15.8 x W9.9"
• Weight: 4.8lbs

Echo Show 15: Design

There's no denying that the Echo Show 15 looks great, with a hefty frame that makes it look more like a picture frame than an Amazon device. The modern look, 15.6-inch screen, and option to wall mount the display all make it one of the most design-friendly smart displays from the big players.

As said, the Echo Show 15 is designed to be wall-mounted, and a kit to do just that is included in the box. We were also provided with a stand, which was very easy to attach and allowed us to place it on a shelf in our kitchen (see the image above). We were surprised by how heavy the device was, however, so we advise you to consider carefully before picking the right spot.

All of this makes it less portable than many other smart displays, even when moving it from room to room. Don't let the tablet-like build fool you - the screen must be plugged in at all times and is a pain to move from room to room.

The display itself is a mixed bag. While it's lovely to have widgets that show you to-do lists, weather information, calendar events, and even post-it notes left for family members, this is more or less the limit of what you can include on the home screen. It's relatively attractive once you've played around with placement, but we expected slightly more.

Echo Show 15: Set-up and performance

Like other Amazon smart displays, the Echo Show 15 is designed to be a simple extension of Alexa's capabilities. Setting it up, then, was very simple, with only a few steps between unboxing and exploring the various menus and settings. We already had an Amazon account, and the Alexa app loaded on our iPhone, which made things very quick and easy.

After you connect the Echo Show to your home's WiFi network, it will walk you through a series of steps. Our device had to undergo a few updates before it was ready to use, but this took less than ten minutes overall.

There are as many customization options for the display as there are for any other Alexa-enabled device, so you can alter the display, the wake word (something to have fun with!), default music and video services, and alerts. We would recommend connecting as many apps as you're comfortable with to access calendar events (via Google Calendar) or playlists from your preferred service accessible.

You can use the Echo Show 15 in several ways. The first and most obvious one is as a handy at-a-glance home hub, where key reminders, upcoming events, smart home devices, and the outside temperature are easy to see. But others will want their smart display to be a secondary Fire TV, and that's also possible with access to streaming apps from Netflix, Hulu, and others.

This is where we grumble, however, as there is a definite bias from the speaker towards Amazon-branded services such as Amazon Music, Prime Video, and Amazon Podcasts, even if you've set default apps differently. For example, requesting a playlist while we cooked dinner just as often served us something from Amazon Music as it did from Spotify.

Once it got it right, though, the audio exceeded our expectations. Those who are fussy about their music will want to take advantage of the 2.5mm audio jack, but anyone else will be more than satisfied with the onboard speakers.

Echo Show 15 vs Echo Show 10

As the two most recent - and most expensive - Amazon devices, the Echo Show 10 and Show 15 have much in common. They also, however, differ significantly.

The biggest thing separating them is screen size, with the Show 15 boasting a 15.6-inch display compared to the Show 10's 10.1-inch screen. This isn't necessarily a positive or negative thing on its own, as some simply don't have the space to house a larger smart display.

The Show 15 is also much sleeker with a tablet-shaped design, while the Show 10 comes with a bulky speaker as its base. And while the Show 15 is designed to be wall-mounted, the Show 10 boasts rotating and following you around the room while on video calls.

Echo Show 15: Our verdict

The Echo Show 15 has the potential to be a game-changer for smart displays, catering to families who need a visual display to see what's going on in their busy lives. Combining this clever calendar aesthetic with the personal assistance that's always been available from Alexa makes for a very handy gadget, but some will want it to do more.

Still, this is an excellent showcase for Amazon's smart home efforts, and its ability to make controlling the home from one central location could save a lot of stress for a lot of households.

Apple and Amazon are two towering giants in entertainment, and so it makes sense that both companies have their own streaming solutions pitched as the ultimate way for film buffs and TV fans to consume their favorites. But those looking in from the outside might struggle to see the difference between Apple TV and Amazon's Firestick devices and which one might be best for them.

In this guide, we will break down the key ways to make your decision, from how the devices physically look on the TV stand to how easy they make it to navigate and access all of the major streaming services. Keep reading to see what we thought, and head over to our guide to the best streaming devices for more.

Apple TV vs Firestick: Pricing

Apple TV is very much the premium choice between the two, priced between $130 and $150 for its streaming device. This comes with advanced features like 4K HDR streaming, Dolby Atmos audio support, and more, and those with large iTunes libraries will be able to access these titles.

Amazon's Fire TV range, meanwhile, has a wider range of price points and is more budget-friendly overall. Right now, you can grab the Firestick Lite for less than $30, or you can spend $140 on the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen), but there are also a lot of choices in between depending on what features you want and/or need.

Amazon's own VOD and streaming platform - Amazon Prime Video - is a great feature but isn't unique to the Firestick, and can also be accessed via Apple TV.

• Verdict: While Apple's offerings will always be at the higher end of the price scale, Amazon gives you more choice with its budget streaming dongles. However, while you can easily access payed-for and rented titles from Prime Video on Apple TV, the same can't be said for iTunes purchased on Fire TV.

Apple TV vs Firestick: Design

Apple TV, like pretty much everything else from the brand, has a sleek, compact design that is minimal while remaining glossy and aesthetically pleasing. It's also compact and easy to either have on display or hide in a TV unit or behind the TV. The Siri-enabled remote is similarly sleek and minimalistic, with a touchpad on top that makes it easy and pleasant to browse.

The Firestick is less fancy in the traditional sense. However, the small size of a streaming dongle vs. a box (Amazon offers both) does have its advantages for those who have a mounted TV or can't abide by any extraneous wires hanging around. The Firestick remote has Alexa in place of Siri, allowing you to use your voice for things like searching for content or even controlling the rest of your home while you're on the sofa.

The dongle design also makes the Firestick much easier to transport and means you can take it on vacation or just switch it between rooms of the house more easily.

• Verdict: Apple TV is very much the choice for those who want their tech to be sleek and attractive, while Fire TV streaming sticks are mostly designed to be kept out of sight.

Apple TV vs Firestick: Performance and streaming experience

Apple TV has a lot of tech under the hood to ensure a smooth streaming experience, and you can expect fast load times, smooth navigation through menus, and seamless voice search for your favorite movies and TV shows. This comes courtesy of the A12 Bionic chop, which also makes it great for gaming. You get 4K HDR playback and Dolby Atmos sound where applicable.

Fire TV is less powerful, so it won't give you the futuristic speed of Apple, but most streamers won't notice the difference. We would actually go for the Amazon device over Apple if you struggle with your internet connection and speeds, as it's very adaptive to spotty Wi-Fi and allows you to keep watching even when things are less than super-speed.

Both Amazon and Apple have their own streaming services to push, and you can tell. While we were impressed with the relative lack of pushing that the Chromecast with Google TV did (though Google doesn't have the same incentive to advertise), both Apple TV and any Firestick will make it known what can be enjoyed via Apple TV+ and Prime Video, respectively.

This isn't a problem at all, providing you subscribe to one or the other, and you can also access all the major apps like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max. The same can also be said for Siri and Alexa - we would recommend choosing the streaming device that fits in best with your smart home setup if you already have one.

• Verdict: Apple TV will give you a smoother, faster streaming experience due to its premium tech, but Fire TV might be better for homes that don't have the very best internet connection. Meanwhile, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and smart assistant integration means it might be easiest to opt for the device that fits into your current home set-up and subscriptions. 

Apple TV vs Firestick: Our verdict

For Apple households that already include a HomePod Mini smart speaker, an iPhone or iPad, or even just an Apple TV+ subscription, Apple TV is a great add-on for complete control over your viewing. Siri integration allows you to control other devices around the home via HomeKit, and the advanced specs of the device account for the higher price tag.

Meanwhile, Fire TV does have its own advantages, and the same can be said for it and Alexa households that rely on the smart assistant for smart home control. Firestick devices are also cheaper and offer access to the same streaming services and VOD titles through Prime Video (a subscription to which also gets you free delivery on other Amazon purchases). 

All in all, if you're struggling to decide, we would recommend going for the device that best fits into the smart home you already have or the one that you're looking to build.

Poor quality audio is the bane of cheaper TVs, but short of investing in a new sound system (in which case, a new TV might serve you better), there are a few hacks for improving what your TV sounds like. 

For example, did you know that you can use your Alexa-packed Amazon Echo speaker with your TV? Assuming your TV is new enough to support Bluetooth, it’s possible and with the best Alexa speakers, the results can be a big improvement on the built-in speakers.

Here’s how to use your Amazon Echo as a speaker for your TV, but first… should you?

Should you use your Amazon Echo as a speaker for your TV?

The first thing to highlight is that not all Echo devices are created equal. While our  Echo Studio review found that the the $200 speaker will sound better than most TVs’ built-in sound (especially if paired with the optional $130 Echo Sub for deeper bass), the sound produced the $50 Echo Dot won’t offer much of an upgrade — if any at all.

Secondly, while you could connect older Echo devices with a wire (newer ones have ditched the 3.5mm audio jack), we’re going to be using the Echo’s Bluetooth connection here. This wireless solution can create problems with latency, where the audio is a bit behind the action on screen. Not ideal, though this can be mitigated if you use Fire TV for your streaming (more on that later). 

With these caveats in place, the good news is that the process of pairing your TV with an Echo is so quick and easy that it’s pretty trivial to try it out and see if it works for you. If it doesn’t, just disconnect it and look into the best soundbars you can buy instead.

How to use your Amazon Echo as a speaker for your TV

1. If not enabled by default, turn on Bluetooth on your TV. This will be somewhere in the settings menu, if it has it (most TVs made in the last few years support Bluetooth, but not all.)

2. Locate an option to connect Bluetooth devices on your TV. This will vary by manufacturer, but will likely also be in the settings.

3. Once you’ve found the option to connect Bluetooth devices, make sure your Echo speaker is near your TV and use the Alexa skill to connect to Bluetooth. Say “Alexa, connect Bluetooth”. It will say “searching”. 

4. At this point, the Echo should appear in the list of devices available to connect to. Select it on your TV.

5. Test to see if it’s working! Some TVs will play through both the built-in speakers and the Echo, while others will exclusively play via the Echo.

When your TV turns off, the Echo will disconnect, but it’ll automatically reconnect when you switch it back on. If you want to disconnect it and go back to your old setup or try something else, simply say “Alexa, disconnect”, and normality will be restored. Don't forget, you can also control your TV with Alexa, too, completing the circle. 

How to connect your Echo to Fire TV

Connecting your Echo to your TV should work reasonably well, but for optimal results you can also sync it to your Amazon Fire TV device, as both are made by Amazon. 

Assuming Fire TV is your preferred way of streaming shows, this is actually a better solution, because it connects via Wi-Fi to (theoretically) sidestep the latency issues we mentioned earlier. Here’s how to do it.

Alternatives to the Echo

Try it and see what you think, but as mentioned earlier, the Echo likely won’t be anywhere near as good as a wired, dedicated solution for your TV.

If you want something compact, then a soundbar offers a good trade-off between sound quality and space, but if you really want your home theater to sing, then you’re looking at a true surround sound setup. 

Whether it’s 5.1 or 7.1 (or even more complex), it’s a bit more work to get right, but for audiophiles, there’s simply no substitute.

When it comes to smart speakers, it's hard to deny that there are only a few key players. While Alexa and Google can easily be found either in Amazon and Google's own speakers and displays or within third-party products from the likes of Sonos, Apple's rival HomeKit has been available in just one speaker for more than a year. But the HomePod (2nd Gen) is coming, and it could make a splash. 

We thought this was a brilliant opportunity to dig into the differences between what HomePod and Alexa are offering, whether that's in their product line-up, audio quality, or pricing. If you're interested in how they stack up against all of the competition out there, take a look at our guide to the best smart speakers.

Read on to find out which brand has the most to offer, and which one would suit your home the most.

HomePod vs Alexa: Pricing

The cheapest Echo speaker is the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) at $39.99, but you can grab the 4th Gen and 5th Gen models for marginally more. If you want something that will pack more of an audio punch, the Echo Studio, for around $200, and Echo Dot variations for Kids and with Clock will set you back $59.99 at full price.

Meanwhile, the HomePod mini is relatively cheap at $99.99 but still costs more than even the latest Echo Dot at $49.99. The new HomePod, which replaces the discontinued original, starts at $299.99 - significantly more than Amazon's most expensive audio-only speaker.

One thing Amazon does offer over Apple's product line-up is smart displays, with four models currently available in various sizes. The smallest - the Echo Show 5 - costs just under $85, while the Echo Show 10 and Echo Show 15 both cost $250.

• Verdict: Amazon has much more affordable options, and more choice in each price bracket.

HomePod vs Alexa: Smart assistants

When looking at how Amazon's Alexa and Apple's HomeKit compare, it's hard not to come to a conclusion based simply on how ubiquitous one is over the other. The best Alexa speakers have become synonymous with the smart home, while HomeKit has languished behind with true embrace from Apple enthusiasts only.

But that crowd shouldn't be discounted, and Apple is aware that the popularity of its other products, like the iPhone, leads people to stay within the brand's product ecosystem. To use one to its full potential, it's often wise to buy more. That's where HomeKit speakers like the HomePod and HomePod mini come in. 

As an iPhone user, when testing the HomePod mini, we found that using HomeKit was a smooth experience that brought our technology together.

In our comparison of Alexa, HomeKit, and Google Assistant, we concluded that, for Apple users, including those with Apple Music subscriptions and Apple TVs, HomeKit is the best way to go. You just need to know you're being locked into a smaller product pool. HomeKit is also compatible with fewer third-party products right now (though Matter may change this).

The upside to Alexa, meanwhile, is the choice you have. As the leading smart home assistant, almost every third-party smart product will be compatible, including the best smart light bulbs, smart plugs, and more. Amazon also has its own suite of products such as Fire TVs, Ring doorbells and security cameras, and a greater selection of affordable speakers to link together across the home.

• Verdict: While Apple prioritizes quality over quantity in its products and ensures a smooth experience for users, Alexa gives customers much more choice and flexibility.

HomePod vs Alexa: Audio quality

The sound quality you'll get from a smart speaker often depends on how much you're willing to pay. While Sonos has been able to couple Alexa (and Google Assistant) integration with brilliant sound quality, most smart speakers aren't known for their high-quality audio.

That said, Apple has bucked against this assumption with two smart speakers that are good enough to be your home's main listening device. We were very impressed with the HomePod mini's abilities despite its size, and the newest HomePod (2nd Gen) promises to give even better results.

Alexa, meanwhile, is a smart assistant, first and foremost. Though the Echo and Echo Dot are improving all the time, audiophiles will want to go for the Echo Studio, which has adaptive spatial audio and an AUX input to connect other devices.

• Verdict: Apple's HomePod mini might be the cheapest smart speaker with high-quality audio, and for those willing to spend a bit more, the HomePod (2nd Gen) may be even better.

HomePod vs Alexa: Our verdict

The release of Apple's newest smart speaker has certainly put it in more direct competition with Amazon's Alexa, and it can't be denied that the tech giant is really, really great at certain things. Audio quality is superior for both its budget and premium speaker, and less compatibility has the side-effect of everything integrating in a seamless, user-friendly way.

However, as the differences between HomeKit and Alexa as smart assistants are trivial, it's really about the package they come in. Amazon simply gives the end user more choices, whether that's with its speakers or with the list of smart home products they can be used with. Smart displays are also a big bonus, and those looking to spend less than $100 will go for Alexa every time.

So, you want to set up a smart home, but don’t know where to start – we've all been there, and you have to start somewhere. We’re here to help, with some easy-to-follow steps to convert your house into a smart home.

Don’t feel you need to do everything in this list, or that you need to do it all in one go. You might not want a smart thermostat or smart locks, and that’s perfectly fine. The beauty of the smart home is that you can build it up at your own pace, and all but the foundational pieces of the smart home are entirely optional.

With that in mind, here are the ten steps to set up a smart home.

1. Fix WiFi notspots with mesh WiFi

It’s a bit boring when you’re itching to get your smart home off the ground, but the very first step is making sure your WiFi is up to scratch. Solid WiFi is the backbone of a smart home, and if you have WiFi not-spots in your home, you’ll want to fix them so every product can sync in harmony.

Note that WiFi doesn’t necessarily need to be super fast, but it does need to be reliable and reach every corner of your home. Consider investing in the best Wi-Fi extenders if that’s not the case.

2. Get voice controls

The thing that really makes a smart home sing (figuratively or literally) is by adding in one of the best smart speakers, like the Nest Audio or Amazon Echo. 

These brilliant devices not only function as radios and music players, but have built-in virtual assistants that can follow your voice commands, and control your smart home. Think “Alexa, turn off the living room lights” or “Okay Google, set the temperature to 68 degrees”.

As for which virtual assistant you should get, that really depends on you. Google Assistant is widely seen as the smartest and good if you use Google Calendar, but Alexa has the widest support and Amazon Echo products are usually the cheapest smart speakers thanks to Amazon’s big discounting power. If you’re all in on Apple devices, meanwhile, then the Siri-powered HomePod also makes some sense, even if it has the least support overall.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter too much, but it’s worth thinking about what you might connect next, because Ring is owned by Amazon, and Nest by Google. If you’re dead set on one specific product, it’s worth checking compatibility with the various assistants before you begin.

3. Add smart plugs everywhere!

It can be tempting to replace your old dumb tech with new smart versions, but that’s not completely necessary. Smart plugs — plugs with built-in WiFi or Bluetooth — can make any device seem smart, by only supplying power when you ask via app or voice, or even when scheduled for certain times of day.

The possibilities are endless, but here are a few uses for smart plugs to get you started. 

4. Sort your lighting

My favorite, most used smart home feature is my bedroom smart light. Being able to turn the light on or off from bed is not only neat in its own right, but has saved me from countless stubbed toes, given the light switch is all the way across the room.

The best smart light bulbs are not only controllable via Alexa/Google Assistant/Siri (it always pays to check), but can be set to millions of different colors too. Perfect for setting the mood for the kids’ story time, or movie night. 

5. Get a video doorbell and smart screen

Video doorbells are a big smart home favorite, letting you not only see who’s at the door (or loitering nearby) at any time via an app, but speak to guests when you’re not around. That’s useful both for deterring thieves and telling the delivery guy where to leave a parcel.

The best wireless doorbells really come into their own if you have a smart screen, which will show a live feed of the door whenever anyone presses the doorbell. 

(Note: This is one area where it pays to be brand loyal: if you’ve gone the Google Assistant route, you probably want a Nest Hello doorbell and a Nest Hub to monitor it. If you went with Alexa, you’ll want a Ring doorbell and Echo Show.) 

6. Up your security

Video doorbells only cover the front of your house, of course, but you don’t have to stop there. There are various indoor and outdoor smart cameras that will keep an eye on your property when you’re away, day or night thanks to built-in night vision.

The best wireless security cameras automatically respond to movement (and are smart enough to ignore pets) or sound, springing into life and uploading footage to the cloud, meaning intruders can’t easily cover their tracks. Most have a two-way mic, so you can even give a would-be burglar a piece of your mind, if you like!

7. Control the temperature

A smart thermostat is a very handy addition to your smart home. Not only can you set the temperature from your phone from anywhere in the world (neatly letting you warm up the house just in time for your arrival), but the best smart thermostats learn your behavior and predict when you might like things a bit toastier.

While initially a pricey addition to your smart home (you’ll want to get a professional to fit one, unless you’re handy with home electrics), smart thermostats can prove to be money savers in the long run — especially with energy prices at an all-time high.

8. Lock it up

Want to go key-free in 2023? Smart locks let you do just that, giving you access to your front door with an app, PIN or even a fingerprint. 

The advantages are clear: you never need worry about forgetting your key again, and the best smart locks also let you provide access to others, letting you grant temporary access to pet minders, guests and tenants without having to cut a new key.

There are pros and cons to smart locks, and they certainly aren’t for everyone. But if you find carrying keys everywhere an inconvenience… well, there’s a smart solution available.

9. Going more niche

Speakers, lights, cameras, locks and thermostats are the most popular smart home staples, but you don’t have to stop there, as manufacturers are constantly on the lookout for the next Internet-of-Things frontier.

That could be in the field of robotics: robot vacuum cleaners are getting better and better at staying on top of dust, and there are even robot lawn mowers too.

Or it could be in smart appliances. For the bathroom, how about a set of smart scales that automatically send your daily weigh-in to your phone? Or a smart mirror that will show your notifications so you never miss a beat?

Alternatively there are plenty of smart kitchen ideas, from dishwashers that’ll automatically push out the right level of detergent to fridges that’ll suggest meals based on the ingredients inside, while also keeping an eye on approaching expiry dates.

10. Get fancy with IFTTT

Once you have a number of connected devices in the same home, you can really begin to automate your life. While some devices will automate by themselves via learned behavior, connected sister devices or geofencing (i.e: detecting when you’re home via the presence of your smartphone), this can be just the beginning if you’re prepared to get into the weeds of automation.

IFTTT — or “If This Then That”, to use its full title — lets you programme certain smart home functions to automatically kick in when certain requirements are met. For example, you could make it so that your smartlights automatically turn on at sunset in your area, or make them flash when it starts to rain, when you get a text or even if someone messages you on Facebook.   

And that’s just smart lights! How about an IFTTT applet that automatically warms up your bed if things get too cold? Or one that turns on dry mode on an air conditioner if the humidity is too high?

You can make your own, and the only limit is your imagination and the sensors available. How about you create an applet where a smart plug only enables on sunny days when your solar panels are generating their own electricity?

How to set up a smart home: Conclusions

Again, you don’t have to do all of this. The real beauty of a smart home is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you like. But once the foundations are in place, you can build on it to your heart's content. 

And with all the big players like Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung all putting their weight behind the Matter standard, it’s only going to get easier to build the smart home of your dreams in the years to come. Start today, and you’ll be ready for the next big smart home thing.

While I might have my design-related resolutions for 2023, my main goals for the new year are around being more productive, and less distracted. In the modern world, there's always a push notification about some catastrophic event occurring or some funny video to steal your attention when all you really need to do is get work done. 

When it comes to my productivity goals for 2023, I'm turning to an idea known as the Pomodoro technique. It's a simple idea for keeping you focused that's never been easier to follow – especially as it's now available as an Alexa skill so that your digital assistant can help keep track of your timings. 

Here's how the Pomodoro technique works, and how you can set up your Alexa-enabled device to make it work. 

What is the Pomodoro technique?

The Pomodoro technique, or Pomodoro timer, is an idea that sees you schedule work time into blocks of 25 minutes, separated by a five-minute break. The concept was developed as a time management system at the tail-end of the 80s, and is named after the Italian word for tomato. That's because it was originally created using a kitchen timer, often, at the time, shaped as kitsch tomatoes. 

Start by setting yourself a goal for the 25-minute block, and limit distractions during this time. These blocks of time are said to be the ideal length to prevent procrastination and maximize productivity, by creating a sense of urgency to aid focus. ADHD diagnoses are at an all-time high, and it's worth noting that research has shown that the Pomodoro technique is an effective way to deal with some of these symptoms, such as lack of focus. It can be a great tool for your home office when working from home if you've got a certain task to get done. 

How can I use the Pomodoro timer on Alexa? 

One of the barriers to using the Pomodoro technique is making timing yourself quick and easy to do. You could, for example, use your phone's alarm system, but this requires inputting multiple times and alarms, eating into your study time or breaks. Kitchen timers are a little harder to come by in 2026, too, so something like an Alexa-enabled device, or any other smart speaker, is a prime candidate to take on the task. 

Previously, you could only make your Alexa create a Pomodoro timer through two techniques. The first is a skill called Tomato Helper, which is an unofficial Pomodoro skill. However, with ratings of two stars out of five, it's clear this isn't the best option. Otherwise, you'd need to create a routine yourself. This could be done via the Alexa app by creating a trigger phrase that would then set an Alexa routine into action, which would need to include scheduling timers for your 25-minute blocks and five-minute breaks. 

Some people are more confident with their Alexa devices than others, it's fair to say, so fortunately, now Amazon has introduced a Pomodoro timer as a pre-installed skill. 

To activate it, you'll need to head onto your Alexa app. Click on the 'More' tab on the far right, and head into 'Routines'. You'll find the Pomodoro Timer in the 'Featured' routines tab. Open it and press enable. You'll then be able to ask Alexa to 'Start Pomodoro Timer'. Alexa will then time your 25-minute blocks, and even play relaxing music in your five-minute breaks. 

As we recover from the holidays and prepare for the coming year, it's useful (and fun) to look ahead to what we can expect from 2023. As the smart home ecommerce editor for Livingetc, I have been keeping a close eye on the emerging trends, and, looking ahead to the coming months, there are a few things that stand out as prime areas for growth.

Of course, some are continuations of 2022 trends, while others are fresh innovations that may find their way into our homes.

The biggest tech events worldwide happen in the first months of the year, and brands will use these as venues to debut their latest gadgets. But as we wave goodbye to 2022 and look ahead to a fresh new year, I have revealed my predictions below. Of course, if you're interested in how your home might look, you can take a look at our interior design trend predictions.

1. Smart tech that works together

The biggest news in 2022 was the emergence of Matter 1.0 as a viable way for our smart home devices to finally talk to each other. If you have various gadgets running on Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, or another third-party platform, then you'll know the struggle of having different platforms run side by side but never together in a way that makes sense.

Matter will change that, with all of the major smart home platforms agreeing on a joint 'language' that will allow all of our doorbells, speakers, TVs, and light bulbs to operate seamlessly together. No more opening 3-4 apps just to create a nighttime routine. The technology is still rolling out, but we can expect the way we interact with our smart homes to change by the end of 2023.

2. Cost of living solutions

Our cost of living worries are unfortunately going nowhere in 2023, but thankfully numerous smart home solutions promise to cut costs in areas of our everyday life. These problem-solvers include but are in no way limited to, the best smart thermostats, which make heating our homes more efficient and automated.

We predict that those who haven't already taken the plunge into smart heating will likely do so in the coming year, and smart plugs, smart switches, and smart light bulbs are also prime candidates for growth due to their energy-saving possibilities. While soaring costs are bad news for most of us, they may push many people into more modern, smart homes.

3. Big screen TV thrills

Are you still squinting across the room at your 43-inch TV? While there's absolutely nothing wrong with having a smaller set in your lounge, the trend for 2023 will see a continuation of people trading in their small or mid-size TVs for bigger screens. More affordable prices on 85-inch sets and the best 8K TVs will also make this easier.

This has arguably been happening since 2020, when the lack of movie theaters meant we were enjoying more of our entertainment at home. Since then, streaming services have stepped in as the way most people watch content, and the theatrical window has shortened as a result. If we're going to be watching the latest blockbuster in our living rooms, then we want the biggest screen possible.

4. Tech you can't see

No matter what dazzling new thing the tech world reveals, those passionate about interior design will always opt for something beautiful over something unsightly - no matter how good it promises to be. Thankfully, many companies are now creating technology that is both functional and looks stunning in the home.

One way of doing this is by hiding tech in furniture or even the construction of the house, meaning you're not stuck trying to find a place for that chunky speaker or attempting to hide a huge TV with multiple cables. We listed some of our favorites earlier this year in our guide to tech that blends into your decor, and we expect this trend to get bigger in 2023.

5. Wellness and sleep solutions

Mental health and general wellness continue to be areas where smart home tech has thrived, with its ability to cut through the general overwhelm of modern life by streamlining routines, correcting our circadian rhythms, putting meditation tools in the palm of our hands, and generally making life slightly easier.

We don't see this going anywhere in 2023, as the stresses and strains of the last few years continue to linger. Whether it's sleep tech like the best wake up lights, air purifiers that promise to make our homes healthier places to be, or personal trainers built into our exercise bikes and TVs, our gadgets want us to feel better.

6. Even more smart kitchen gadgets

Of all the places in the home that can benefit from smart home tech, the kitchen has to be the biggest. Companies like Samsung have been honing in on this need for a few years now, but smart kitchen appliances are now becoming more varied and affordable. We expect 2023 to see a boom in things like smart kettles, smart air fryers, and even larger items like fridges and ovens.

If you've recently bought or received a HomePod Mini, you may be wondering just how to get it started. While Siri has been around for a long time as a smart assistant, it's true that people, in general, are more familiar with Alexa or Google Assistant. This is somewhat due to the fact that the HomePod Mini is currently the only speaker with Siri on board.

But Apple's reputation for ease of use and sleek interfaces carry over here, and setting up the HomePod Mini is incredibly simple as a result.

In this article, we will go over the straightforward steps of setting up the device, as well as tips on how to get the most out of your new smart assistant. If you're interested in the different ways to create a more automated home, take a look at our ranking of the best smart speakers.

1. Unpack your HomePod Mini

Inside the package of your HomePod Mini, you will find the device itself, a charging cable and plug, and instructions. Power up your speaker and place it on a flat surface. It's best to do this in a place where you're going to use the speaker the most. For example, our two HomePod Minis are in the kitchen and the office area of the living room.

2. Pair your iPhone and HomePod Mini

Next, unlock your iPhone (or iPad) and hold it close to the speaker. A pop up should appear with an image of the speaker. Tap the 'set up' button and follow the instructions on screen. If you don't get this pop up, you can go to the Home app and tap the + button to add an accessory.

3. Tweak the settings in the Home app

Once your iPhone and HomePod are linked, you'll need to spend some time in the Home app to get things the way you want them. 

Tap your speaker and scroll down to the settings icon. Here you can add or remove the device from your 'Home view' and assign it to a particular room. This is useful if you have more than one Apple device in the home, such as an Apple TV.

There are also automation and 'scenes' that allow you to get the speaker to stop playing when you leave the house, different voices to use for Siri, and a whole lot more. You can use the HomePod as an intercom or, as we'll go through in the next step, pair two speakers to create a stereo pair.

4. Pairing two or more HomePod Minis

If you have more than one HomePod Mini, you will see the option to create a stereo pair in settings. This allows you to use the speakers as part of a surround sound system, placing them behind you or on either side of the TV for more immersive audio. The Minis are some of the best-sounding smart speakers, so this is a great little feature.

There is also the option to have the same audio playing on two or more speakers but without splitting the sound. To do this, you should use the AirPlay function on your iPhone and select all speakers you want to hear. This immediately creates multi-room audio - perfect for when you're walking around the house and want to listen to a podcast or playlist without interruption. 

Our favorite things to do with the HomePod Mini

• Call other household members - as mentioned above, you can use the HomePod Mini as a handy intercom, making it possible to announce your return home or just to call the kids for dinner when they're upstairs.
• Switch listening from your speaker to your phone - if there's one fiddly part of leaving the house that we'd like to bypass, it's getting your chosen audio started on your phone when you're about to leave. Thankfully, if you're playing something on your HomePod, you can simply wave your phone near it, and the audio will be transferred.
• Updates - ask Siri what you're supposed to be doing, and they will actually tell you! Just say, 'Hey Siri, what's my update?' and your speaker will update you on everything from new messages and reminders to calendar events and the weather.

You can read more amazing HomePod Mini ideas in our guide.

The responsibility of looking after ageing relatives is just a part of life, yet it's one that, arguably, hasn't kept up with advances in technology across the board. 

Amazon's idea, Alexa Together, is looking to change this, applying technical solutions to an age-old problem using existing Alexa compatible devices. Alexa Together can help to share care responsibilities for older and vulnerable people, and keep everyone in the picture, without infringing on your loved-ones privacy. Here's how it works. 

What is Alexa Together?

As the name suggests, Amazon’s virtual AI assistant Alexa is a key part of the company’s solution. It’s a subscription service that allows you and up to nine others to share a vulnerable friend or relative’s Alexa account, letting you keep tabs on what's happening in their homes, even if separated by hundreds of miles.

As well as introducing new Alexa skills alerting you to their general movements and routine so you can spot anything out of the ordinary, Alexa Together includes a dedicated 24/7 Urgent Response team, who can call emergency services if necessary.

Currently, it’s only available in the United States.

How much does it cost?

Alexa Together is a subscription service which costs $19.99 per month or $199 per year, plus any applicable taxes.

But that’s just the service cost. You’ll need at least one Echo, the cheapest of which available new is the third-generation Echo Dot (MSRP $40) but to get the full benefit of dropping in for video calls, you’ll need an Echo Show for both you and your loved one (between $85 and $250 depending on size). Note that Amazon is constantly discounting its products, especially around the holiday season, so it shouldn’t cost anywhere near this much if you’re savvy.

If you want fall detection alerts, you’ll need a compatible device. These include the $170 ATS SkyAngelCare pendant and a couple of $250 wall-mounted sensors.

How does Alexa Together work?

The main way Alexa Together works is by letting you and up to nine other people have access to a vulnerable person’s Alexa account. 

There are a few advantages to this. The first is that you can get a (very generalized) view of how they’re interacting with Alexa over the course of a day. This won’t tell you exactly what they’re up to for privacy reasons, but it will reassure you that they’re up and about, whether they’re using their Echo to listen to music, check the weather or turning on issuing smart home commands.

Cleverly, you can also make the absence of activity something to look out for, with the Alexa app letting you receive a notification with the opportunity to drop in on their Echo for a check-in chat if no activity is detected at expected hours. 

Those are the passive peace-of-mind perks, but you can also use Alexa Together to make a proactive difference in the lives of the owner. With Remote Assist, you or another helper can assist from your own home, setting reminders to take pills, or adding items to shopping lists, for example.

The thing that really commands the premium price is the 24/7 Urgent Response team. If the owner is in trouble at any point, they can simply say “Alexa, call for help” and a nearby Echo will instantly connect them to trained agents who can offer assistance, no matter what the emergency. 

They could call 911, of course, but Alexa can’t do that, and this offers a hands-free way of getting instant assistance. It will also send helpers a notification and let them know when the call is complete so they can drop in on their Echo to find out what’s happened.

Finally, there’s fall detection. Unlike the other features, this needs something else — one of a handful of supported devices from Vayyar, SkyAngelCare or AltumView. If these connected devices detect trouble, they will call the aforementioned Urgent Response team without further intervention, getting help for more serious accidents where the owner can’t call for help with their voice.

Any drawbacks?

The main issue with Alexa Together is that it needs the person being monitored’s willingness to engage with the virtual assistant — something that is by no means guaranteed. If the friend or relative can’t or won’t engage with Alexa, then much of the peace of mind is lost, as you can’t see that they’re up and about. 

Fortunately, the month’s free trial should give you enough time to figure out whether it is for you, though that does of course require at least one Echo device. Plus, to get the most out of it, you need extra smart home devices to get a full picture of the person’s life — something that is rather handy to Amazon’s overall aim of selling products. Indeed, you probably want an Echo in most rooms, just so they can always be heard if they need to say “Alexa, call for help.”

On the note of extras, for fall detection to work, you’ll need to buy a compatible wearable and these can be pricey, ranging from $170 for a pendant to $250 for a camera sensor. The latter is only useful for one room, so the cost can easily spiral.

It’s also worth remembering that these fall alerts require the owner to be in range of the Echo — if they’re in the garden, at the shops or otherwise away then Alexa won’t be letting you know anything’s wrong. Equally, because Echos don’t have a cellular connection, if the WiFi goes down, then you’ll also be left out of the loop.

Still, the thing to remember with these negatives is that Alexa Together, at $19.99 per month or $199 per year (plus tax), is far cheaper than true dedicated medical alert systems. And a flawed solution is arguably better than nothing. 

Final thoughts

Alexa Together is certainly an interesting proposition, and a (relatively) cheap way for families to stay in touch with distant relatives, even if geography separates them.

But despite Amazon’s efforts to make Alexa intuitive, it’s still not for everyone, and Alexa Together relies on the vulnerable individual embracing the slightly odd 21st century world of an always-listening device in their home. Not everyone will be.

Still, if you have ageing relatives who are open to the idea of smart-home life, and you can afford the monthly cost, then at the very least it’s worth signing up for the free trial. Worst case scenario: you’ll be taking advantage of Amazon’s 30-day return policy on the Echo.

Should you upgrade to an Alexa Voice Remote Pro? It’s not the most glamorous of the products Amazon unveiled at its September event — that would be the stylus-toting Kindle Scribe or the Halo Rise sleep tracker — but it may be the most useful if you’re a self-confessed TV addict with a Fire TV device at your beck and call.

But given that Amazon's Fire TV devices, like the Fire Stick, come with a remote control, do you really need to replace it at extra expense? 

This guide will outline the differences, so you can decide whether or not it’s worth upgrading to an Alexa Voice Remote Pro or not.

What is the Alexa Voice Remote Pro?

The Alexa Voice Remote Pro adds a handful of new features to the familiar, functional Alexa Voice Remote, which we’ll get on to in a moment. 

It does this without adding too much to the price: the Alexa Voice Remote Pro will set you back $35 — just $5 more than a replacement Alexa Voice Remote or Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote, should you misplace yours or have it stop working suddenly. 

Yet despite this small price discrepancy, no Amazon devices currently come with the Alexa Voice Remote Pro in the box. For whatever reason, Amazon sees this is an upgrade, which is a bit of a pain as it means you’ll have a spare remote after you’ve made the switch.

So, with that in mind, is it worth upgrading to the Alexa Voice Remote Pro?

How is the Alexa Voice Remote Pro, pro?

Like the regular Alexa Voice Remote, the Pro version lets you control your Fire TV device via your voice with a press of the Alexa button. It also has the same dedicated power, volume and mute buttons, and even includes the Channel buttons for live TV found on the Fire TV Alexa Remote.

Alongside this shared, core functionality, it adds four very welcome upgrades that more than justify the extra $5 price.

1. Remote finder 

Firstly, forget about losing it behind the couch. The Alexa Voice Remote Pro comes with a built-in finder. Just make sure your Fire TV device is on, and say “Alexa, find my remote” to an Alexa-compatible device (an Echo, your phone or maybe your TV) and a built-in speaker will emit a loud ring so you can track it down (as long as it’s within 30 feet of the Fire TV).

2. 1 and 2 buttons 

Secondly, as well as dedicated buttons for four main streaming services (Prime Video, Netflix, Disney Plus and Hulu in the US), Amazon has left two buttons that you can programme yourself, labelled ‘1’ and ‘2’. 

You could just attach these to another streaming service like HBO Max, but nothing is stopping you from getting a bit creative as these can be programmed to map any Alexa skill or command, saving your voice. 

If you have a smarthome routine set up to dim the lights for movie night, you could have that. Or you could bring up a feed from your Ring doorbell if you have one. Whatever you want the buttons to do, it’s your choice.

3. Backlit buttons

If you do watch movies in the dark, or in your very own home theater set up, you’ll also appreciate that the Alexa Voice Remote Pro introduces backlighting to the buttons. No more awkwardly squinting to make out what you’re pressing — the lights kick in as soon as you pick up the remote in a dark room.

4. Headphone output

Finally, there’s a button in the top-right-hand corner with a picture of some headphones on it. Pressing this brings up an on-screen Bluetooth menu, so you can quickly output to your headphones.

What’s it compatible with?

The Alexa Voice Remote Pro works with recent Fire TV products — pretty much anything released in the last eight years. But here’s a full list of products to compare against.

• Fire TV Cube (3rd Generation)
• Fire TV Cube (2nd Generation)
• Fire TV Stick 4K Max
• Fire TV Stick 4K
• Fire TV Stick (3rd Generation)
• Fire TV Stick (2nd Generation)
• Fire TV Stick Lite
• Fire TV (3rd Generation, Pendant Design)

Outside of Fire TV, it also works with a smattering of Smart TVs which happen to have Fire TV built-in, namely:

• Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series
• Amazon Fire TV Omni Series
• Amazon Fire TV 4-Series
• Toshiba Smart 4K UHD TV - Fire TV
• Toshiba Smart HD 1080p TV - Fire TV
• Toshiba Smart 4K UHD with Dolby Vision - Fire TV
• Insignia Smart 4K UHD TV - Fire TV
• Insignia Class F20 Series Smart HD 720p - Fire TV

Note, however, that Amazon’s product doesn’t have the four colored buttons that are commonplace on smart TV remotes. If you use these to control certain apps, then it likely won’t be a full-time replacement for your television’s bundled remote.

Final thoughts

The Alexa Voice Remote Pro offers a solid set of upgrades that are well worth the money if you’re looking to replace your busted or lost Voice Remote. But while the improvements are undoubtedly nice, there’s no must-have features to make it an essential upgrade for everyone.

Hopefully Amazon will start bundling it with its higher-end Fire TV products in future because it makes streaming a lot more comfortable. But for now, it’s simply a nice upgrade for the TV obsessive.

Your doorbell is probably the last place you'd think of when it comes to decorating your home for the festive season, but a warm welcome from the doorstep can make all the difference on Christmas day. Luckily, if you have a Ring video doorbell, there are some festive hacks you can try to make your guests feel extra welcome from your front door, such as switching up your faceplate and setting some Quick Reply holiday greetings. 

Whoever said video doorbells can't be Christmassy clearly wasn't familiar with Ring. The home security brand has just unveiled its seasonal faceplate designs for the Video Doorbell 3, the 3 Plus and the Video Doorbell 4. These decorative faceplates easily snap over your existing doorbell to take your Christmas decorations to the next level. As always, there are also some seasonal Quick Reply messages you can enable on your doorbell in time for the 25th, too. Here we explain how it's done. 

How to set up a holiday chime on a Ring Doorbell

To make your guests feel welcome this Christmas season, why not set up a Holiday Quick Reply and Chimes Tone to add some good cheer from your front porch? Choose from an array of Ring Holiday Chime Tones so that when someone rings you'll be alerted with any one of these festive of options inside your home, including:

• Holiday Ding Dong
• Festive Ding Dong
• Holiday Jingle
• Hanukkah Dreidel 

So how do you set up the Christmas-themed Chime Tones? First, you’ll need to open the Ring app and then follow these steps:

• First, tap the three lines on the left and click on 'Select Devices'.
• Next pick the chime that you want to set up and tap the 'Audio Settings' icon and from there, tap Chime Tones.
• Choose the Chime Tone you desire from the list available and hit 'Save Changes'. 

Christmas quick replies

While you’re busy baking cookies for Santa in the kitchen or gathered in the living room decorating the Christmas tree, Ring's Quick Replies can help lend a hand when guests are at the door. You can let guests know you'll be there shortly or ask them to leave a message, all with a fun festive twist using one of the following Quick Replies: 

• Hey! Happy Holidays, We’ll be right there.
• Merry Christmas!...We’re a little, wrapped up at the moment. Leave a message.
• Hi! Happy Hanukkah. Leave us a message.
• Ho Ho Ho Ho, Question for you... are you on my naughty or nice list? Either way, leave a message.
• Ho Ho Ho, Happy Holidays! If you’d- like to leave a message, you can do it now!

If you’re cozied up in the living room watching a Christmas movie with the family, you can answer your visitors with Fire TV and Alexa voice commands without having to go to the door. You'll see a live, on-screen camera feed of your Ring Video Doorbell and talk to whoever happens to be at your doorstep, perhaps to ask delivery drivers to leave your parcel on the doorstep.

Tis’ the season with Alexa 

Besides your Ring doorbell, there's also a host of Christmas Alexa skills you can try out using voice commands. Bring holiday cheer to the whole family this Christmas by asking Santa to tell you a story, sing a song, crack a joke, and more. To get started simply say “Alexa, enable ‘Hey Santa’”. After “Hey Santa” has been enabled choose from a range of holiday-themed responses.

To hear Santa sing say:

• “Hey Santa, sing Jingle Bells.”
• “Hey Santa, sing Up on the Rooftop.”
• “Hey Santa, sing We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
• “Hey Santa, sing the 12 Days of Christmas.”
• “Hey Santa, sing Deck the Halls.”

For a Christmas bedtime story try:

• “Hey Santa, tell me a story.”

Additional questions you can ask Santa include:

• “Hey Santa, tell me the North Pole news.”
• “Hey Santa, what’s your favourite recipe?”
• “Hey Santa, can you tell me about your sleigh?”
• “Hey Santa, am I on the naughty or nice list?”

You can also use your Alexa to control your Ring doorbell this December. Have Alexa turn on your Ring device by saying, “Alexa, I’m leaving to go Christmas shopping," or ask Alexa to announce "Motion at the front door" when you are expecting guests for Christmas dinner. 

To upgrade your home for the holidays, use Alexa-enabled smart plugs to give you more control of the devices in your home. Forgot to turn off the lights when you’re already in bed? Just say “Alexa, turn off the Christmas tree” from under the covers. To save yourself the hassle, you can also set up bespoke routines using your Alexa enables smart plug. For example, you can set up a routine to turn on your Christmas tree lights at dusk and off at midnight to save on your energy bills - after all, who doesn't want to save a little extra money at Christmas time? 

Amazon Alexa speakers are now a staple in many households, and for good reason. From making shopping lists to controlling your lighting, we all know how useful smart speakers can be, but did you know that there are some clever Christmas-related skills that you can ask your Alexa to help you get in the festive spirit? 

Be it the Echo Dot or the Show, the best Alexa speakers are all about making daily tasks a little bit simpler, but they can also help to introduce some fun to the home. Never was that more true than during the run-up to Christmas. Besides Alexa's regular skills, there are a whole host of festive hacks that you can ask your speaker in preparation for the big day. To learn more, we asked some tech experts to reveal the best Christmas-related skills that you should be asking your Alexa right now. 

What are the best Christmas-related Alexa skills?

1. Control your Christmas lights

We're kicking off with one of the most clever festive skills you can ask your Alexa to help you with: controlling your Christmas lighting. Named the Holiday Home Decorations feature, it allows users to turn their lights on and off in sync with classic Christmas songs such as ‘Jingle Bells’ or ‘Silent Night’. 'The feature also includes fun animations that light up during certain words in each song and will even react when you clap or shout "Ho ho ho",' explains tech expert, Dylan Kaplan, blogger at Enjoy Machine Learning. 

In order to use this feature, you'll need to have smart light bulbs installed in your home, or a wi-fi plug that's compatible with Alexa. 'I just set up my own Alexa-enabled Christmas lights using a TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug with Alexa,' explains  John Lemley, Owner and Founder of Ofzen and Computing. 'To set up your own, simply plug in the smart plug and connect it to the same Wi-Fi network as your Alexa device. Once connected, enable the “Kasa Smart” skill on your Alexa app, and you’re ready to go.'

2. Get a Christmas countdown 

We'd be lying if we still don't get excited about the countdown to Christmas. To keep the enthusiasm for Christmas alive throughout a long, cold December, one of the best Alexa skills for the festive season involves using your device as an advent calendar with a daily Christmas countdown.  

'To get started, simply say: “Alexa, how many days until Christmas?” and you’ll get the answer right away,' says Michael Xavier, a smart home automation expert and founder of tech blog, Insider Techie. The best part of Alexa's Christmas countdown? Every day, your device will play you a new message from Santa Claus! 

3. Send Christmas greetings to loved ones

In most cases, nothing compares to a Christmas card - unless, perhaps, a personalized voice message played through your Alexa device.  

'If you’re looking for an easy way to send holiday greetings, consider using the Alexa Drop-In feature,' says John. 'With this, you can quickly and easily send audio messages directly to your family members and friends via their Echo devices or even through the Alexa app. To set up Drop-In, simply open the Alexa app and select “Drop-In” from the left navigation menu.' 

The Drop-In feature not only works with devices within the same household, but devices outside your home too, just as long as the contact on the other end has given you permission from their Alexa app.

4. Play Christmas trivia 

Christmas is all about coming together as a family. While this may traditionally mean gathering around the dining table to play a board game, you can use your Alexa to play some fun Christmas-themed games (perfect for when you can't find the dice!)

A game that all the family can enjoy is Holiday trivia, a game where Alexa asks you a list of challenging questions about the festive season. To set up the skill, visit your Alexa app and select “Trivia” from the left navigation menu. From there, you can create your own questions and answers and start playing.

'You can find a variety of other fun and interactive Christmas-themed games in the Alexa Skill store such as “Name that Carol” or “Christmas Spelling Bee",' says John. 'To access these skills, simply open the Alexa app and select “Games & Trivia” from the left navigation menu.'

5. Track your Amazon gift purchases

Keeping track of all the Christmas gifts you ordered online can be tricky, especially if you splurged in the Black Friday sales! Luckily, your Alexa speaker will have a built in function to let you know when your parcels from Amazon are arriving, with regular updates too. If you're wondering why your Alexa is flashing yellow, this might be why.

'This is a great way to keep track of all the gifts you’ve purchased for the holidays,' says John. 'With the Amazon Shopping List, you can easily add new items to your list with voice commands like “Alexa, add a gift for Uncle Bob to my shopping list”. You can also view and manage your list through your Alexa app or even on the web.' 

Those familiar with an Alexa device will know that this feature is actually available all year round. There is a clever Christmas skill this time of year though. During the holiday season, your Alexa won't read out the contents of your packages so the presents you've ordered stay a surprise for inquisitive kids (and grown-ups!). 

6. Ask Alexa to read your a festive story 

Who doesn't love a good heart-warming tale at Christmas time? Well, Alexa can help you out with some light family entertainment. 

'One of Alexa’s best festive features, and one of my personal favorites, is she has a plethora of seasonal stories that she can share with you and your family, as well as fun facts about Santa Claus and his helpers,' explains Dylan. Each story only lasts a few minutes, and many of them are told by Santa himself! Just use the command: "Alexa, tell me a Christmas story". 

7. Get inspired with Christmas recipe suggestions

If you're turkeyed-out after Thanksgiving, you might want to try something a little different for Christmas day. Let Alexa be your sous-chef by asking her to inspire you with delicious festive dishes. Simply ask Alexa for some Christmas recipes. She'll even offer to put the groceries on your shopping list, too!

Alexa, show me an Amazon smart speaker that looks and sounds a bit like a Sonos one.

That’s pretty much what you get with the Echo Studio, the new smart speaker that Amazon is describing as its “best-sounding smart speaker.”

All your favorite Echo features are still here – not least combining Alexa and that telltale LED ring. But it's the Echo Studio’s premium audio features, including room adaptation and Dolby Atmos compatibility, that promise to power Amazon right to the canopy of the best smart speaker market. We got hands-on with the Echo Studio to find out whether the speaker lives up to its stellar potential.

Read on to learn what we thought about the speaker – and if you’d be interested in a simpler, sleeker Amazon smart speaker with a beautiful LED display, check out our review of the new Amazon Echo Dot with Clock smart speaker too. As always, shop the Amazon sale for deals!

Echo Studio: Key info

• Smart platform: Alexa
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity with some Bluetooth speakers, 3.5mm input, optical input (used for Dolby Atmos)
• Power: Mains
• Dimensions: 20.6 x 17.5 x 17.5cm
• Weight: 3.5kg

Echo Studio: Design

In our view, the Echo Studio has an inoffensive – and ultimately, uninspiring – aesthetic. It’s a smooth, mesh-covered cylinder with just a handful of manual buttons on the top of the device: volume up and down, mic on/off, and an action button. The most interesting design elements at play are the multi-colored LED status ring at the top of the speaker and the gap between the bass driver and the base of the device.

Despite its unassuming style, the Echo Studio is pretty in-your-face. It requires quite a lot of space – above and beyond its 17.5 cm-diameter footprint.

With four speaker cones positioned around its cylindrical form (as well as a downward-facing bass driver), the Echo Studio requires at least 15 cm of clearance around its circumference in order to sound its best.

So, the size and speaker layout of the Echo Studio demand space and prominence wherever you place it. If you’re happy for the speaker to be a focal point, you could keep it on a coffee table or kitchen island. Or, for a more low-key presence, you could place the Echo Studio on a suitably deep shelf – perhaps within a spacious alcove, if you have one.

On a more positive note, the Echo Studio should almost always sound at its best wherever you find a space for it. This is thanks to the speaker’s automatic room adaptation, which uses the Echo Studio’s microphones to assess the acoustics of the room, and then tweak the speaker’s audio filters to achieve its ideal sound quality.

The Echo Studio comes in two colorways – Charcoal and Glacier White – which gives you a little extra sway over how the speaker plays into your interior.

Echo Studio: Set-up

Considering its generous connectivity and rich array of features, the Echo Studio is remarkably easy to set up.

We had our review unit up and running within a few minutes of removing it from its packaging. In order to use the speaker as intended, you’ll need to connect it to your WiFi and the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone. It’ll take a little while to set up the different aspects of the Alexa smart assistant – including your location, linkage with any music accounts or smart home products you’d like to use with the speaker, and permissions for other members of your household to use the account. Every step of setup is clearly orchestrated by the Alexa voice assistant via the speaker.

The Echo Studio doesn’t need to be used in isolation. For an even more immersive sound, one of these speakers can be grouped with other Echo devices or third-party Bluetooth speakers connected to your Amazon Alexa app.

Echo Studio: Performance

What sets the Echo Studio apart from other Amazon Echo models is the power and quality of its audio output. When listening to music from Spotify and TuneIn radio, we were impressed with the speaker’s dynamics – the contrast between loud and quiet moments – and the separation of frequencies, which helped the different instruments in songs to stand out from each other.

One of the Echo Studio’s headline innovations is its use of ‘3D spatial audio’, which basically means that it assesses the acoustic character of the room and refines its output to create a surround-sound effect. In our testing, this effect was clearly evident. The speaker consummately filled any room we placed it in with its distinctive, ear-enveloping sound.

Those who like plenty of choice over how they listen to their music, podcasts, audiobooks, TV audio, or whatever else will be pleased with the Echo Studio’s inclusion of a wired AUX input, where you can plug in a 3.5mm cable to play music from any compatible source you like. There’s also an optical input, which will come in handy if you’re going to use the Echo Studio with a TV that features Dolby Atmos surround sound.

Another facet of the Echo Studio is that it’s really quite loud, with up to 330W of power behind its speakers. The upper reaches of the speaker’s volume settings would be ideal for house parties or listening to music really loud if that’s your jam. We thought that the speaker sounded its best around the middle of its volume range, with superb detail and clarity at moderate levels.

In terms of smart assistant functionality, the Echo Studio did an amazing job of picking up our voice commands from around the house – and it was effective at answering those queries, too. If we were going to be hyper-critical, we’d say that Alexa’s responses arrived just a smidgeon slower than they do from some of the brand’s other Echo speakers.

Echo Studio: Our verdict

If you admire the best Alexa speakers for their smart assistant capabilities but just wish that they sounded richer and more powerful, the Echo Studio could be a good choice for your home. It really is a step up from any other Amazon speaker in terms of audio quality. And if you want a smart speaker that you can use with a TV featuring Dolby Atmos, this speaker is one of the best options out there – at least if we don’t include soundbars.

With that said, we have some reservations about the Echo Studio. Its powerful bass can sound over the top, and the style and size of the speaker will give some buyers an interior design headache. These factors kept the Echo Studio from getting a very high Livingetc rating – but that doesn’t mean to say it won’t suit your taste perfectly.

For those of you who want a smart speaker that’ll be an ideal houseguest and life organizer, we’d like to introduce you to the fifth generation of Amazon’s affordable option, the Echo Dot with Clock. 

The speaker is about the size of a grapefruit – and it looks suitably sharp, with a stylish digital display and a pleasing spherical silhouette. You can use it to control smart home appliances, listen to music, read the time, and tap into thousands of other Alexa capabilities. 

Keep reading to find out how the speaker stood up to our detailed testing, or see our guide to the best Alexa speakers to scope out our favorite alternative products at a range of price points.

Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock: Key specs 

Smart platform: Alexa

Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity with some Bluetooth speakers

Power: mains-powered (15W) 

Dimensions: 100 x 100 x 89mm

Weight: 349g 

How does the Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock fit in around the home?  

The Amazon Echo Dot with Clock looks superb and takes up very little space while it’s at it. Whether you place it on a bedside table, kitchen counter, shelf, or pretty much any other surface around the home, the speaker is a neat, unobtrusive addition that plays audio, responds to voice queries, and links up effectively to other smart home devices.

There’s a friendliness to this smart speaker – a cheekiness and a charm that might make you believe the device really is animated by a certain intelligence.

We were particularly impressed with the speaker’s cyber-chic LED clock display, which dynamically spells out characters in 24 bright, blocky pixels. As well as telling the time, the display also scrolls through songs and artist names while the speaker plays music and shows a weather symbol to save you the trouble of glancing out the window. It feels a bit like having a little Times Square in your home.

Also worthy of a lingering glance is the funky LED strip around the base of the speaker, which flits between various colors – blue, red, orange, purple, yellow, and green – to indicate the Echo Dot’s status. If you’re anything like our reviewer, you’ll never commit the meanings of these colors to memory, but it’s an eye-catching touch nonetheless. If you’d rather not see the light strip at night, you can turn it off using the speaker’s Do Not Disturb mode, which can be configured in-app. 

As the Echo Dot with Clock is mains-powered, you’ll probably want to find a neat solution for stowing the power cable. Placing the speaker on a surface that has countertop plug sockets could help, or you could feed the wire through a hole and plug it into a concealed socket. 

Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock: Set-up

In order to use this smart speaker, you’ll need to set up the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone and connect both devices to your WiFi. 

As tends to be the case with smart speakers, there’s a fair bit of configuration to do here – things like adding family members to your user account, linking up your chosen music service(s), and teaching the Alexa smart assistant how you tend to pronounce certain phrases. It’s all worthwhile in order to get the full benefit of the speaker’s excellent capabilities.

If you want to expand the range of Alexa’s listening capabilities or a bigger sound, you can sync up the Echo Dot with Clock with other Amazon smart speakers.

Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock: Performance

In terms of smart assistant functionality, the Echo Dot with Clock is one of the best smart speakers in the biz. 

The speaker’s onboard Alexa smart assistant answers query remarkably quickly, and the responses are often impressively on-the-money. In our testing,  Alexa proved to be a good listener, rarely unable to understand our commands and a good orator with extremely clear diction. 

We were impressed with the Echo Dot with Clock’s ability to hear voice commands at a distance, sometimes when competing with background noise. It was possible to complete commands from separate rooms of the house, several meters away from the speaker. 

If you’re not keen on Alexa’s default voice, you can choose from several other voices in the app. Some male options are included, which is good news for users who feel uncomfortable about telling a representation of a woman what to do all day. 

There are just four buttons on the Echo Dot with Clock itself: a multi-purpose ‘Action’ button, volume up; volume down; and a microphone mute button. These controls are placed slightly towards the rear of the sphere – a good design choice that leaves a pleasing space around the LED clock display. If you’re going to keep the speaker on a high shelf, just be aware that you may need to lift it down when you want to use the on-device controls. In our experience, the speaker’s voice commands worked so well that we never needed to use these old-fashioned buttons, anyway. 

As an alarm clock, the Echo Dot is perhaps dangerously simple-to-use. It only takes a light tap on the top of the speaker to snooze your alarm. A dot to the bottom-right of the clock display lets you know when you have an alarm set for some time in the next 24 hours.

Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock: Audio performance

Taking its price into consideration, the Echo Dot with Clock has no business sounding as good as it does. What it does particularly well are separate higher and lower frequencies. The bass is punchy, the treble is luxuriantly clear. We found that the speaker is particularly good at representing the human voice: fine for music, great for podcasts, radio, and smart assistant answers. 

The Echo Dot with Clock’s audio quality compares favorably to other affordable smart speakers. It’s a cut above other options we’ve tested from Amazon and key rival Google, but understandably below the level of higher-end options like the Marshall Stanmore II Voice. The character of the sound is reminiscent of Ultimate Ears’ more compact models, such as the Wonderboom series.

On the whole, the Echo Dot with Clock performed reliably during our testing. The only exception was when it crashed, just once, during setup. Even then, it was back up and running within a minute.

Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock: Our verdict

Smart speaker tech has always promised a lot. Through the 5th-gen Echo Dot with Clock, Amazon has finally delivered on the technology’s potential with a great-sounding, character-rich smart speaker that works nearly flawlessly and doesn’t break the bank. If you’re looking for an audiophile listening experience, you’ll need to look higher upmarket – but in all other regards, we can hardly imagine a better gadget to help around the home than the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th gen.). We don’t hand out five-star reviews like confetti, but this speaker sparkles.  

If you're considering buying a Sonos speaker, it's definitely worth comparing the Sonos One vs One SL before you buy. From a quick glance, they may seem like they offer the same proposition - they're pretty much identical when it comes to their good looks, and even their proposition when it comes to sound is even-footed. 

What it really boils down to is whether you're looking for the best smart speaker or you're just looking to add to your home's sound system, as the big difference between the two models is that the Sonos One has Alexa or Google Assistant built-in, the One SL doesn't. 

With only $20 between them, the answer might be obvious. Why not just pay that little bit extra for all that smart assistant compatibility? Well, below we outline potential reasons to opt for the One and the One SL, respectively.

What's the differences between the Sonos One and One SL?

While I could pull together a list of technical specifications for each of the speakers, when you look at them comparatively, you'll soon see they're exactly the same. Both speakers have the same identical 360-degree sound experience, which I'd categorize from personal use, as pretty much sublime. 

One thing to know about these Sonos speakers is that they're loud. No, not in a bad way - the sound itself is crystal clear and the bass powerful yet never muffling - when I say these speakers are loud, I mean you'll never find yourself wishing they went up another notch or two. For context, I live in a relatively small, open-plan home, and I'd never have to move the speaker from room to room if I wanted to listen to music in the kitchen when the speaker is in the living room. On the flip side, I once took my Sonos One and Sonos One SL to throw a party in a barn shed, and with one at either end of the hundred-meter-or-so building, it filled the space with sound effortlessly. 

Both are available in white or black (though there have been limited edition color runs at times in the past). The only visual difference between the two speakers is on top of the device. The Sonos One has a button to turn your smart assistant on (ie. allow it to start listening for commands), with a light that indicates when it's engaged. It's by far one of the best Alexa speakers you can buy. 

What's the price difference between the Sonos One and One SL?

As I already mentioned, the price gap between the two speakers is quite low, but at the end of the day, that's $20 you could save to spend elsewhere if the voice assistant compatibility isn't required. 

When bought directly through Sonos, the One is priced at $219, while the One SL costs $199.

When would I buy a Sonos One SL over a Sonos One?

So why, you might be thinking, do I have both a Sonos One and a Sonos One SL? These Sonos systems are designed to be perfect to set up as a stereo pair, helping provide more directional sound when hooked up to your music or TV. In this case, you wouldn't need two speakers in the same space with competing smart assistant compatibility. In fact, it might be quite annoying if accidentally both turned on. In that case, save your $20. Basically, you're likely to only need a Sonos One SL if you're just trying to add to your home's sound setup, rather than shopping for a smart speaker, per se. 

On the note of music, both of these speakers work with Spotify Connect and Airplay 2, but with the Sonos One, you can also set your default music provider through your smart assistant (of which you'll need to choose between Alexa and Google Assistant). I use Alexa, which has Amazon Music, thankfully now free to use, set to its default music provider, if you ask Alexa to play a song. 

So which should I buy?

There are plenty of instances when the Sonos One smart-assistant capabilities are worth it. It allows you to adjust the volume remotely, for example, through Alexa or Google Assistant, which is ideal if you've put your phone down somewhere and need to turn down the music quickly. And like most smart speaker owners I know, I probably use my Sonos as a glorified egg timer for the kitchen, more than anything else.

If you already have a smart speaker in the room you're looking to add a new speaker to, the Sonos One allows you to streamline your tech, replacing the likes of your Amazon Echo for something that is, in reality, much better looking. 

However, the Sonos One has more limited smart-assistant capabilities in that respect, and won't be able to perform certain routines or Alexa skills, such as Drop Ins, Calling or Announcements. 

After using a Sonos One for a few years, I'd have to say the smart assistant function is the one weak link in this device. The integrated Alexa in my Sonos One has developed 'selective hearing', it's fair to say, which means I might not hang my hat on this device being my home's sole smart speaker going forward. 

However, in most instances, opting for the Sonos One over the One SL is probably the best idea for the sake of $20, unless you're buying it the One SL second Sonos speaker for your home. 

Should you invest in an Amazon Echo Show 15? Deciding which home assist device is best for you isn't always easy. With so many options on the market, it's hard to know which one is best suited to you and your family's needs. And, with our money being stretched further than it has in a long time, we want to be sure our purchases are worth the investment. 

The Amazon Echo has proven to be one of the best smart speakers on the market, but its cousin, the Echo Show, may have even more to offer. More than just a speaker, this line of clever gadgets has a touchscreen display that can also be controlled by the voice assist function (known as Alexa), making it perfect for conducting video calls and meetings.

Released in December 2021, the Amazon Echo Show 15 is the most recent smart display from the tech giant, following the Echo Show 10. It has a 15.6-inch HD screen and a 5-megapixel camera and is compatible with all your favorite streaming services. But is it worth its $249.99 price tag? With the help of some tech experts, we investigated. 

What is the Amazon Echo Show 15 and how much does it cost? 

Part of the Amazon Echo smart speaker family, the Echo Show 15 is a home assistant that, as the name suggests, features a display screen. This allows you to browse the web, stream video content, and make video calls, all of which can be done using the voice activation feature, Alexa. 

The Amazon Show 15 is the company's largest screen display compared to the earlier Show models (the original, the 5, the 8, and the 10). It's shaped like a picture frame and hangs on the wall or is supported on a stand, making it a great household hub in the living room or kitchen. 

The Echo Show 15 is available on Amazon for $249.99, and we think it's one of the best Alexa speakers for modern family life. The screen display is perfect for watching TV while preparing a meal in the kitchen or making video calls to distant relatives from your living room sofa. 

How does the Echo Show 15 differ to the Echo Show 10?

When it comes to specifications, the Amazon Show 15 has all the regular features of previous Show models and is compatible with the best Alexa skills, as well as some handy new ones. 

'The smart speaker is designed to be used hands-free, and it can be controlled with voice commands or via the touchscreen and activated through facial recognition,' explains Jeroen van Gils, tech expert and CEO of LiFi. 'Built-in speakers and a microphone make it useful for making calls or playing music, and the device comes with Amazon's Alexa assistant pre-installed, which can be used to access information, control smart home devices, and more.'

The main difference compared to its predecessor, the Show 10, is its screen size. The Show 15 has a 15.6-inch HD screen compared to the Show 10's 10.1-inch screen, which gives it the advantage of being seen from a further distance. 

There are other additional features, too. As Jeroen points out, the Show 15 can be used as a digital photo frame as this model is the only version that can be mounted to the wall. 'The Echo show 15 also comes with more widgets than other echo show devices, giving you more options for customizing your home screen,' explains Daniel Neale, founder of Gadget FAQs.

But it's not without its downsides. For starters, the camera in the Echo Show 15 is less advanced than the one used in both the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 10. It uses a 5-megapixel sensor compared to the 13 mega pixel cameras on the other two devices. The Echo Show 10 also had motorized tracking, allowing the camera to follow you around the room while on a video call, something the Show 15 lacks. Compared to the regular Amazon Echo and Echo Dot speakers - and the Show 10 - the sound quality is poorer, too. 

Should I invest?

So, should you invest in the Amazon Echo Show 15? Due to its size, we think this device is perfect for those who want a home assist hub but have a larger home. Whether you're watching your favorite cooking program while preparing dinner or on a conference call from your home office, the large display allows you to see a much clearer picture, even from across the room. 

If you lack space, the wall-mounted design, which works both horizontally and vertically, also offers you the advantage of having more space on your surfaces. That said, if camera resolution and sound quality are your priorities, you might be better off with the Echo Show 10, available on Amazon.

The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation)  isn't my first Alexa speaker, but it is my favorite that I've tried so far. Fair enough, I'm probably the exact buyer that Amazon had in mind when designing its kitchen-friendly display because I'm the Small Appliance and Cookware Editor on the LivingEtc team. That means I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but my hands are often too sticky from handling bread dough to skip forward on my playlist or scroll to see the next step of my recipe. Enter the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation), which has in-built connectivity to a selection of cooking sites and can suggest and walk you through recipes hands-free. 

Other perks include the high-quality in-built speaker, which paired beautifully with my Spotify account to bring me all my favorite playlists and podcasts on rotation, and the screen that follows you around the room. This won't be a feature for everyone, because it's a little unnerving to know that your Echo can not only see you but follow you as you go from the stove to the sink. However, there is a shutter that can cover the camera if you are put off by this, and if you leave the camera on while you're out of the house you can even check in to make sure that you didn't leave the stove on. Not only is it a real contender for the top spot in our guide to the best Alexa speakers, but it can also double as a security system.

Amazon Echo Show 10: specs

• Screen: 10.1” with 1280 x 800 resolution
• Camera: 13 MP with auto-framing
• Dimensions: 9.9”W x 9”H x 6.7”D
• Wireless: No
• Orientation: Landscape
• Color: White or Charcoal
• RRP: List Price: $249.99 / £239.99

Getting set up 

As with all Amazon brand products (I've tried my fair share) the Amazon Echo Show 10 comes efficiently packaged and with minimal single-use plastic. The box was lightweight and the speaker was very easy to get started. I simply plugged it in on my kitchen island and got to work setting up the camera. It needs to be in a permanent spot in your kitchen so it knows exactly where it can and can't follow you, and if it bumps into any fruit bowls or toaster ovens the screen will refuse to move until you reset it, so keep that in mind. 

It's a good thing to know if you're nervous about your speaker knocking over a bottle of oil or bowl of salt but if, like me, you spend a lot of time moving appliances around your kitchen it could get annoying. I suspect that the speaker is designed with larger (or, admittedly, less cluttered) kitchens in mind, but because I use my kitchen island to test appliances as well as to prepare food I had a few clashes when making the Amazon Echo Show 10 work in my space. 

The screen can be used to watch Prime Video, Netflix, or Hulu, and while it still has an emphasis on voice control I found that the touch controls were very useful for scrolling through to select a playlist or TV show to have on in the background. Although there is a fair amount of glare, the screen itself is very good quality and works well as an alternative to having a TV in the kitchen or streaming video on your smartphone. 

My main gripe is that there's no YouTube app, meaning I couldn't fully take my phone out of the rotation when I wanted to stream some of my favorite creators. 

Main features

The main selling point of the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) is the HD screen that moves with you. It won't be for everyone, but I think it's a great feature. If you're on a video call or if you're moving around your space while trying to watch a show or read a recipe, it will instantly respond to your movements with a silent motor that will travel up to 360 degrees. 

Another key selling point is the in-built connectivity to recipe sites. Because I tested in the UK I was working largely with BBC Good Food, but users in the US will find that asking Alexa for a pancake recipe will bring up suggestions from the Food Network, Tasty, Allrecipes, and more. And if you're not in the mood for cooking, it can order you food from Amazon Fresh or even a takeout from Domino's. 

The recipe function made a massive difference in my life. I no longer had to keep going back to my phone to see the next step of my recipe, I could just ask Alexa to read it to me. It was also useful to be able to check on quantities, ingredient lists, or set timers while I was cooking. 

In my view, the major downside of this was that I couldn't seem to stream music and follow a recipe simultaneously, which meant that I often had to choose between following a recipe for risotto or listening to my cooking playlist. Ideally, I'd have liked to toggle between the two, but I couldn't seem to control my music settings without having to lose the recipe from my screen and start over.

Speaker quality

When I was able to stream my favorite playlists, the sound quality on the Amazon Echo Show 10 was excellent. As other reviews have also said, it's very bass-heavy, and the dual one-inch tweeters and three-inch subwoofer resulted in a clear and defined sound. Because the speaker has a 360-degree design you're also less likely to experience distortion from different parts of the room. 

If you choose to listen on Amazon Music, the screen shows lyrics as your music plays. This is a treat for those who love a bit of baking karaoke (me) and less of a treat for those who have to put up with renditions of various Broadway tunes on loop (my partner, and possibly my neighbors...) 

Should you buy the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd gen)?

The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) is an excellent quality smart speaker that combines voice controls with a large and tactile screen. It's possibly the most capable smart speaker you could choose for your kitchen, but it could also work well in open-plan spaces which could benefit from its 360-degree screen and high-quality speakers. 

You can also use the Amazon Echo Show 10 with Zigbee to monitor your space remotely, which is an excellent feature if you've got a decked-out smart home but want all the controls in one place. 

The speaker controls could use some refinement: I'm used to using a laptop or phone which can toggle between tabs or apps, so only being able to use one function at a time did prove troublesome when I was spending prolonged periods using the speaker. Despite these issues though, the Amazon Echo Show 10 is the perfect smart speaker if you're keen to add a smart hub to your kitchen. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Millie Fender is the Small Appliance and Cookware Editor for LivingEtc. She works across a variety of sites, including Real Homes and Homes & Gardens, to bring readers her kitchen recommendations. Unsurprisingly, Millie spends a lot of time in her kitchen, so the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) was tested constantly for over a month in preparation for this review. 

Millie was sent the speaker by Amazon and has been allowed to keep it, meaning she can keep this review updated with her thoughts as she continues to use it in recipe planning and kitchen karaoke. 

We've spent the last several weeks looking out for the very best premium TV and home cinema deals, and while they appear to be everywhere ahead of this week's Black Friday sales event, the good ones can be hard to find. But not today! The Samsung 85-inch QN95B Neo QLED 4K Smart TV has been heavily discounted at Best Buy, and you can save a full $2,000 on the set.

Why has this caught our eye? It's because a 36% discount on a super-sized Neo QLED TV like this is pretty rare in our experience, especially for a new set for 2022. And you don't need to take our word for it - our colleagues at TechRadar gave the Samsung QN95B the full 5 stars when they reviewed the set.

The TV will not only deliver big-screen delights, but it also comes ready with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, Tizen smart TV, and support for Dolby Atmos surround sound.

We don't know how long this deal will last, though, so you might want to act fast - we have seen deals like this sell out across the web over the last few days. You can read our guide to the best 85 inch TVs for more.

How long do the Black Friday sales last?

Black Friday took place officially on 25 November, but you will find that lots of retailers, including major outlets like Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy, have lots of ongoing deals and discounts, meaning you can still hunt down that perfect deal on your most lusted-after items.

We will be bringing you the very best offers from across the web between now and the end of Cyber Monday. Make sure to bookmark our Black Friday hub to get the most up-to-date offers, and head to our Black Friday home deals page for more like this.

When you think you've gotten your head around which smart devices are available, brands like Amazon bring out a slew of new options that promise to be better, faster, and more attractive than the previous ones.

This recently occurred with Amazon's 5th Generation smart speaker reveal and left us wondering just why the company's 3rd Generation Echo Dot is still being sold alongside now two significant updates. Is the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) completely outdated, or is it worth investing in even in 2022?

The speaker was released back in 2018, which seems like a century ago, but we dug into the offering to determine whether it could still hold its own against the best Alexa speakers on offer today. Keep reading to see our thoughts.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen): cost & availability

As said, the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) remains available to buy from Amazon and other retailers despite the fact that the brand has now released its 5th generation models of the Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock and Echo Dot Kids.

As you might imagine, the price of the 3rd Generation Echo Dot has fallen with every new release and now sits at $39.99 at full price (at the time of writing, the speaker is discounted and being sold for $19.99). In comparison, the 4th generation Echo Dot is $49.99 and the 5th generation has been released at the same price. If you want the newest Clock or Kids versions, it will cost $59.99.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen): design

Amazon decided to completely revamp its smart speaker range, starting with the 4th Gen models, so the 3rd Gen Echo Dot looks a little bit like a relic in comparison to the spherical designs of today. The speaker is a flatter, puck-shaped device that looks more like the Google Nest Mini.

This difference in size and shape isn't necessarily a negative, as many would prefer their smart devices to be as small and unnoticeable as possible. The physical controls are also clear and obvious on top of the speaker, with a ring of blue light to indicate when Alexa has been activated. The 3rd Gen Echo Dot also has the same plastic and fabric combination as later models.

One plus of the older version is how much easier it is to change the cover or mount it to the wall. On Amazon, you can actually choose to buy the Dot with a wall mount or Mandalorian The Child stand. With multiple third-party options to choose from as well, the ability to customize the speaker perhaps makes it more appealing.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen): audio & connectivity

The audio capabilities of the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) and Echo Dot (4th Gen) are close to identical, with a 1.6-inch speaker present in both. The only differences in output would be down to the size of the devices overall, so the 4th Gen model may be able to give a bit more oomph.

You can pair more than one Echo Dot (all generations) to create a stereo system, but if listening to music is important to you, you may want to opt for one of the best smart speakers that prioritize audio quality. The 4th Gen Echo (the larger, slightly more expensive flagship model) also has Dolby audio on board, and the much pricier Echo Studio sports Dolby Atmos.

Outside of this, the Alexa capabilities of all other Amazon smart speakers are present and correct for the 3rd Gen model. You will get the same updates, which means your other smart devices will also remain compatible. We'll note that this may not be the case forever, though, so you might want to opt for a newer model if you want to future-proof your home.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen): our verdict

The Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) may not be new and flashy, but it's still a very capable smart speaker that happens to be quite a lot cheaper than the alternatives. With the Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) costing $49.99 at full price, the older Echo Dot is the most cost-effective option right now - especially when it's on sale.

If you're currently looking for your home's first smart speaker, we might recommend going for the 4th or 5th Gen models, but to those who want to expand their system or are wondering whether they need to update their 3rd Gen speaker, we would say that there's no need to go for the newest kid on the block. 

It's not Black Friday quite yet, but that hasn't stopped some of the biggest names in home, tech, and streaming from slashing the prices of their most sought-after devices. One of today's best bargains has to be the 50% off the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which means you can pick up the streaming stick for less than $25.

Considering how much the best streaming devices can upgrade how you navigate through and watch movies, TV, and more, that's an extremely reasonable price. We're big believers in investing in an affordable device like the Firestick rather than spending $1,000s on a brand-new TV (unless your current set actually needs to be replaced), and we've tried many of the options to varying degrees of success.

The 4K model from Amazon supports 4K Ultra HD resolution and Dolby Atmos, and its smart remote lets you search across your various streaming apps using Alexa voice control. 

We compare the Firestick range with its competitors in our Chromecast vs Firestick guide, and the former more than holds its own. There are a few different Firesticks to choose from too, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Cube are both also discounted right now.

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday happens on 25 November 2022, but as with previous years, don't expect the deals to be restricted to those 24 hours. Offers have already started appearing, and many offer significant savings on everything from home decor to smart speakers, soundbars, TVs, and more.

We will be bringing you the very best offers from across the web between now and the days following Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Make sure to bookmark our Black Friday hub to get the most up-to-date offers, and head to our Black Friday home deals page for more like this.

Amazon recently announced its next slate of smart speakers, promising even more features, better audio, and other improvements across its Echo Dot range. If you haven't been keeping track, that speaker collection now includes the Echo Dot (5th Gen), Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock, and Echo Dot (5th Gen) Kids.

Keep reading to see our breakdown of exactly what's new for the new generation of Echo Dot speakers. There's something for almost everyone, including the youngest members of your household, but for more, take a look at our guide to the best Alexa speakers available right now. Search the Amazon sale for great deals as always!

Echo Dot (5th Gen)

RRP: $49.99

Audio quality

One of the main criticisms of Amazon's own Alexa speakers is the lack of attention paid to overall audio quality, meaning that their use as a standalone speakers for music has been limited. The company went some way to address this with the Echo Studio and has also improved the sound quality for its 5th Gen Echo Dot.

Temperature sensor

Perhaps the biggest change for this 5th Gen Echo Dot is the new in-built motion and temperature sensors, which allow you to create more intuitive routines based on your home's indoor temperature or whether someone is home. For example, you can program Alexa to switch on a fan if the temperature goes above a certain level or to turn on smart bulbs when you enter a room.

Tap the top

The new Echo Dots have a touch-sensitive point added to the top, so you can do things like snooze an alarm by just tapping it.

Wi-Fi extender

A lot of people would like to do more with their smart devices but struggle to connect their homes with patchy Wi-Fi and dead spots. The best Wi-Fi extenders can help here, and the new Echo Dot helpfully comes with built-in eero. This means that providing you have a compatible eero router, you can get up to 1,000 sqft of extra coverage and speeds up to 100Mbps. This feature is only available in the US and Canada right now.

Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock

RRP: $59.99

Audio quality

Like the standard 5th Gen Echo Dot (above), the Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock has improved audio onboard, meaning it will work better as a Bluetooth speaker for listening to music and podcasts. That's good news for anyone who doesn't want to splash out on an extra speaker just to enjoy some tunes.

Refreshed LED display

The big selling point of the Clock model is the LED screen, which does a whole lot more than tell you the time. The new and improved screen can now display things like alarms, the current weather outside, or the title of the song you're listening to. It's a handy feature for those less able to hear or if you primarily tend to use your Alexa device as a morning alarm.

Sensors & Wi-Fi

Again, the Echo Dot with Clock has all of the same improvements as the standard version, meaning it also has a new temperature sensor that can help you control external devices and keep your home as comfortable as possible across the entire year. Want your heater to switch on only if the temperature drops below a certain point? That's now an in-built feature (providing your heater is compatible).

In-built eero is also here, so if you have a compatible eero router, you can enjoy more connectivity for your smart home. At the time of writing, this feature is only available for US and Canadian users.

Click here to read our review of the Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock.

Echo Dot (5th Gen) Kids

RRP: $59.99

Fun new designs

The tiger and panda are no more - say hello to the Alexa owl and dragon. The Echo Dot (5th Gen) Kids has had a bold makeover with two new designs that are perfect for any children in your family. The original designs were launched in 2020, so it was time for a makeover.

1-year free Amazon Kids+

This is not a new feature, but it's worth pointing out that Amazon is still giving away a year's free access to Amazon Kids+ with a purchase of the speaker. The service costs $4.99/month, so that's a pretty good deal.

Kid controls

There's quite a lot that kids themselves can control with the Echo Dot, all within the parameters set by parents via the dashboard, of course. For example, young users can set their own alarms, call approved friends and control smart devices like light bulbs in their space. They also get the same improved audio as the other 5th Gen Echo Dots, so they can listen to tunes while they play or study.

Looking for something to listen to on your stylish new smart speaker or soundbar? It's good news for Amazon Prime members this month as the full Amazon Music streaming library is now free to customers. Amazon has announced that it has increased the number of songs available to Prime members from two-million to 100 million - with no extra cost. Prime members can now enjoy a wider range of ad-free tracks and the top podcasts in the updated Amazon Music app, giving Spotify, Tidal and other well-know music streaming services a run for their money. The list includes shows such as the +44 Podcast, British Scandal and Even the Rich, as well as Amazon Exclusives such as Three Little Words, Built to Thrive and the popular Mr Ballen Podcast: Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stores. 

'We can’t wait for members to experience a massively expanded catalogue of songs, but also the largest selection of ad-free top podcasts anywhere, at no additional cost to their membership,’ says Steve Boom, VP of Amazon Music. ‘We continue to innovate on behalf of our customers, and to bring even more entertainment to Prime members.'

The announcement is a bonus for any existing Prime members looking to be inspired by new music and shows, especially for those who listen on an Alexa speaker. It's also tempting for anyone wanting to enjoy the benefits of Prime and gain access to a comprehensive music streaming service. You'll be able to enjoy podcasts and tracks without any annoying ads to distract you, but as you will discover there is a catch, which some may find annoying. 

Amazon's full music streaming library is now free to Prime customers. So what's the catch?

Before this announcement from Amazon, Prime subscribers could choose to play a specific song on demand from two million tracks from the Amazon Music library and listen to the exact song they wanted. With the new Prime benefit, things are slightly different in terms of how you can access the music. 

While Amazon's new Prime benefit is a generous one - with up to 100 million songs to choose from - the catch is that you won't be able to choose the exact song you want like you could before. Instead you’ll have to shuffle and play by artist, album or playlist and you'll only be able to skip six tracks an hour. There is, however, an option to stream 15 personalised 'All-Access' playlists on demand that can also be downloaded for offline listening. These can also be skipped through as you see fit.

So, ultimately, while the choice of content you can enjoy has expanded, you're somewhat limited in how you listen. There's also no longer an option to revert back to the previous service that allowed you to pinpoint your exact request from the selection of two million songs. 

On the plus side, however, these changes can help to expand your listening horizons - opening you up to new songs and podcasts and pushing you out of your comfort zone. So for anyone bored of listening to the same tunes over and over again, this may be your opportunity to discover new music. Prime members can also access the largest catalogue of ad-free top podcasts. 

If you're comparing Spotify vs Amazon Music, the basic tier on each service is pretty similar, with the same limitations on how you listen. The big difference, Amazon Music has no adverts, but you can only listen to its library with an existing Prime account. 

These latest changes also give you a taste of what you can expect if you pay for a full Amazon Music Unlimited subscription, which we've outlined below.   

What are the differences between the Amazon Music subscriptions? 

Amazon currently offers three levels of music service that enable you to stream music and podcasts. 

1. Amazon Music's free tier 

With Amazon Music you can enjoy ad-supported access to millions of songs and podcast episodes on demand. You can listen across a range of devices including your Amazon Echo and smartphone via the Amazon Music app. 

2. Amazon Music's benefit with Prime

Prime members can now access over 100 million ad-free tracks and podcasts in shuffle mode, All-Access Playlists and listen to a vast catalogue of top ad-free podcasts. 

3. Amazon Music Unlimited 

This paid-for ad-free service will give you on-demand access to over 100 million songs in HD, and a growing catalogue of Ultra HD and Spatial audio. It costs £9.99 | $9.99 a month to subscribe or £8.99 |$8.99 if you also subscribe to Amazon Prime. 

The nights might be getting longer and chillier, but that doesn't mean we all need to hunker down in our living rooms for the next few months. Devices like the Samsung Freestyle projector make it easy to take movie night to the backyard, and - bonus - it's $300 less at Amazon right now.

Cozy up with a blanket, some strategically placed candles (or, even better, a firepit!), and enjoy the fully-featured Freestyle. Unlike some bulkier options, the Samsung projector can rotate almost 180°, auto-levels and focuses the image, and offers 360° audio for complete immersion in whatever you're watching.

For more of our top picks, take a look at our guide to the best projectors. And, if you want a portable option, we've also ranked the best outdoor projectors.

Recent developments have made the Freestyle an even more enticing proposition, with colored sleeves in beige, green, and pink (pictured below in all their glory), meaning you can customize your projector and a battery base (sold separately or as a bundle) ridding you of trailing cables and extension leads.

FHD picture

The Freestyle offers a full HD image that will make movies, games, and your latest Netflix obsession look fantastic on the big screen. It's not quite as sharp as the 4K you often find on TVs these days, but it will still look great for the occasional special viewing night.

Smart home integration

The Freestyle is a rare portable projector with full smart home capabilities, with Alexa coming built-in for voice control and more. It also has the Ambient Mode found in TVs like The Frame, and the Samsung Smart TV platform is where you'll find all your favorite streaming apps.

Indoor or outdoor use

You can easily use the Samsung Freestyle projector inside or outside, with an optional battery pack and a near-180° rotation making it perfect for projecting on the wall, ceiling, or anywhere else.

As you start to build out a smart home, there's one common bugbear you're likely to come across. Unless you pledge allegiance blindly to one smart tech brand, controlling your gadgets is a fractured experience. You might need the Alexa app to sync up a Ring doorbell with an Echo device, Samsung's SmartThings to control your appliances, Google Home to automate your lighting. Plus, each of these devices may well require its own smart hub. 

The ideal solution would be a way to control all your smart home devices through one channel, but it's easy to question the likelihood of these big tech brands coming together to allow a more diverse smart home set-up, when they could be pushing you to buy their version of a smart home device. That was the big question mark over the concept of Matter, a smart home standard that will allow you to control different devices through one platform, when it was first announced. However, with a launch date now in sight and several brands already committed to embracing Matter going forward, the hype is building. 

If you're not smart tech-obsessed, it's unlikely you'll have heard of Matter already, but the first Matter-compatible devices should be hitting the market any day now. So what is Matter, and why does it, well, matter? We asked some tech experts for their thoughts, and whether Matter is, eventually, going to be worth the hype. 

What is Matter?

To get to grips with what Matter actually does, it helps to think of these different tech ecosystems as speaking different languages. It's not possible to control devices through apps that don't speak the same language, however an idea like Matter aims to make this universal. 

'Matter is a new, open-source ‘language’ which smart home devices can use to communicate with each other,' says Daniel P Dykes, a smart home engineer with over 15 years of experience, currently working on smart tech connectivity brand Atrim and advising on adaptations to Matter. 'As it’s open-source, it promises that, in comparison to existing standards, a bigger range of products will be Matter compatible, making it easier and cheaper to add smart devices to a home.'

That means, in essence, that you can invest in the best smart device for your needs, without being bound to a certain brand because you already own that smart hub, whether that's Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit. 'Typically, a smart home standard requires users to purchase a dedicated hub, such as Hue Bridge for Philips Hue lighting,' Daniel explains, 'with prices for hubs running from a hundred dollars into the thousands of dollars. This is not so with Matter devices. As the standard has been engineered with contributions from the like of Apple, Amazon, and Google, their voice assistants will largely work as Matter hubs. And, if a product is labeled as Matter compatible, it’s likely that a user’s home and phone already feature a compatible hub and app.' 

How will it work?

From your perspective as a user, there won't be much difference in how you operate a smart home device through Matter. 'It will function much like any other wireless automation standard - devices join a network and can can be automated and controlled privately and securely,' Daniel explains. 'It’s functionality differences really all happen away from the eye of the user.'

To get a little more technical, Matter will operate on wireless chips on the same band as WiFi. This is important to know for a couple of reasons. First of all, because it means it should give you a stable product connection from first use. Secondly, it means that a lot of brands' existing devices have the potential to be upgraded to work with Matter with little more than a change to its firmware, making them much more likely to adopt this standard going forward. 

It also might be the source of one of Matter's potential biggest drawbacks. 'Consider how spotty Wi-Fi can be in particular areas of the average home,' Daniel says. 'Matter is going to suffer exactly the same problem.' Though perhaps nothing a good WiFi booster type product would be able to solve. 

Should I invest in Matter compatible smart tech?

Matter might sound like a no-brainer idea to evolve the idea of the smart home, but while it's got the hype behind it, there's no guarantee it won't go the same way as other concepts that have tried to do the same. 

'From wired to wireless iterations, the automation industry has seen a lot of standards launch over the last decades,' Daniel explains, 'and most have never become popular.' Matter has a better chance than most of bucking the trend; after all, it’s been backed by some of the biggest names in the industry - from Amazon, Apple and Google to Samsung, LG and Philips Hue. 

For a smart home buyer, it's a risk, especially as if you want to use devices that are compatible with Matter, you're probably going to have to buy new ones. 'Certainly, several brands, amongst them Apple and Hue, have announced that they’ll upgrade some of their most recent hub-type products to work with Matter,' Daniel says. 'For instance, Apple’s HomePod Mini and second generation TV 4K will be upgradeable to work as Matter hubs while other generations won't.' In general, there's not much impetus for brands to offer a free upgrade to Matter on their devices, plus not many of their existing devices really can be, as they'd require much more memory than they can handle. 

With that in mind, is it worth waiting to buy smart home tech right now to know that you have something Matter compatible? 'If a home is already using an existing standard, such as Z-Wave, the owner should stick to it. Matter has a lot of hype but very few guarantees,' Daniel surmises.

'For someone looking to purchase their first smart home technology, Matter will definitely be a great option from 2023 onwards when we can expect a broad range of devices to hit the market,' he adds. 'Someone wanting to automate fairly simple routines in their home could look to Matter and a voice assistant-based hub. Those looking for complex, large automation systems will likely find better technology exists elsewhere.'

When does Matter launch?

Matter's official launch is November 3rd, 2022, however, given that an official standard has already been released that manufacturers need to meet, there are already a raft of new products announced that have Matter compatibility, and many more undergoing certification.  

Though smart speakers have taken the world by storm over the last decade or so, it's equally true that the design of speakers from the likes of Amazon, Google, and Apple have all stayed relatively safe in the design department. This makes sense since those own-brand devices need to appeal to as many people as possible, and it has also left space for other companies to put more of a focus on aesthetics.

The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin is one of the most visually distinctive Alexa speakers to come out in recent years, building off the brand's previous blimp-shaped offerings and adding a modern spin. We tested the speaker to see whether the audio quality and Alexa integration worked well in the home.

Keep reading to see our in-depth thoughts, and head over to our guide to the best Alexa speakers around to see how the Zeppelin compares to the competition.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin: Key info

• Smart?: Alexa built-in
• Streaming: AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect
• Multi-room audio?: Yes
• Finishes: Midnight Grey (Black), Pearl Grey (Light Grey)
• Dimensions: H8.2 x W25.6 x D7.5in
• Weight: 16.1lbs

How does the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin look in the home?

If you're reading this review, then it's likely you're already tempted by the unique design of the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin. There have been multiple generations of the design from B&W, but the latest has been tweaked to look even more sleek and modern. For example, the blue light on the base gives the effect (from a distance, while squinting) that the Zeppelin is floating in mid-air, and the stand slightly repositions the main body compared to older versions.

The bulk of the speaker is covered with fabric, while the back is matte plastic, with the controls found near the top. Despite the striking shape, it's a relatively simple design that, once you've found a place for it, shouldn't look too distracting or clash with any styles or color schemes in your home.

But the size may be a problem, and we found it very difficult to find somewhere that could house such a large device. Due to this issue, we ended up testing it on our TV stand in front of the screen, but this meant that we couldn't use both at the same time. We would recommend that you clear a dedicated space before investing.

How easy is the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin to set up?

Due to a lack of settings and physical controls on the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin, the setup is very simple. Simply plug in the power cable and attach it to the port at the back of the speaker, and it should spring to life. Then download the B&W app and allow it to search for the Zeppelin. If you have more than one device from the brand, you can organize them into spaces.

Straight away, you can use the device as a Bluetooth speaker, and we were immediately able to connect our music via Spotify Connect. It also works with Roon, which will please the hardcore music fans among us. To use the built-in Alexa, you will need an existing Amazon account. Simply log in through the app, and your Zeppelin will become a smart speaker.

How does the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin perform?

The most striking thing about the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin outside of its appearance is the audio. Clear and weighty, we were unable to find a genre of music that didn't sound fantastic. Whether it was classic rock, Taylor Swift's pop-iest offerings, or Noah Cyrus' quiet and folksy new album, it would have been easy to just stop what we were doing and experience our favorite tunes all over again.

Alexa also works very well, picking up our voice from the hallway outside my lounge with no problem.

Despite an excellent performance where it arguably counts most, the Zeppelin will likely frustrate those who want to be able to use analog controls to guide their tech. The speaker is similar to Bower & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar in that it expects people to use the app for almost everything. Physical controls are limited to volume, play/pause, and an Alexa button that, when pressed, turns the microphone on or off.

The company has opted for simplicity, no doubt hoping to entice those who aren't interested in the plethora of settings and options that can often come with high-end audio products. Unfortunately, it may have the opposite effect.

Would we recommend the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin?

We have no hesitation in recommending the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin as a home speaker. The in-built Alexa is a fantastic extra that makes this one of the most attractive and best smart speakers we've tested. This is the solution if you're not keen on Amazon's own designs. Our big complaints are the size and heft of the speaker, which, admittedly, maybe a plus for some people, and the vagueness of the controls. If you don't have a streaming music account, you won't get much out of the Zeppelin. Still, taking into account these grumbles, if you have the space, this is a good modern speaker that would make a great addition to your home.

About this review

Reviews on Livingetc are based on hands-on experience with the products we're writing about. We test everything in a real home environment to ensure our thoughts are authentic and our recommendations are as honest and relevant as possible. The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin was kindly provided to us for review purposes and tested over several weeks in the writer's home. For more about our review process, head over to our page on how we create buying guides.

The Prime Early Access sale is currently going on at Amazon, and lots of smart home gadgets and devices have seen their prices knocked down as a result. While some deals are certainly better than others, one that has caught our eye is the 31% discount on the eufy Video Doorbell Dual (on Amazon US, or you can save 22% in the UK), which earned 5 stars when we reviewed it earlier this year.

You can click the link to view the eufy Video Doorbell Dual deal or read on if you're unsure whether it's the right smart doorbell camera for your home. To see how it measures against other models, head over to our guide to the best video doorbells. For our in-depth thoughts, take a look at our review of the eufy Video Doorbell Dual.

Why we love the eufy Video Doorbell Dual

When testing the eufy Video Doorbell Dual, we were impressed with how much of the front porch area it was able to show. Not just settling for one view of the doorway, the doorbell has a second camera that shows a view of the ground - ideal for fielding couriers and checking for packages that may have been left.

The second camera is understandably the big selling point of the eufy Video Doorbell Dual, but there is plenty elsewhere in the camera's features list that make it stand out. For example, you can use the eufy HomeBase (often - but not always - included with the doorbell itself) to store footage locally rather than in the cloud. The HomeBase also acts as a chime, so no extra costs.

On top of all this, we found the eufy Dual very easy to set up and use. We opted to install it wirelessly, but you can also hardwire it if you don't want to recharge it every few months. It also works with both Alexa and Google Assistant.

Who would the eufy Video Doorbell Dual suit?

We would recommend the eufy Video Doorbell Dual to almost everyone, but especially those who get more deliveries than the average person. We think the device is a fantastic doorbell on its own, with no downtime during the testing period and a loud, clear chime sent to both the HomeBase and our phone (covering you if you have a larger home or you're often far away from the front door).

We also love how the doorbell looks, with a sleek black finish and rose gold ring around the front camera that really elevates the design. When compared to doorbells from other leading brands, it's one of the most stylish doorbells that we've come across.

Looking for a soundbar that delivers fantastic sound without looking like an eyesore in an otherwise carefully designed space can be a challenge. Most of us want the best sound from our TVs as possible, but welcoming yet another black rectangle into the home isn't always appealing. 

We can be grateful for brands like Bowers & Wilkins, then, for realizing that good sound doesn't need to come in an ugly package. Following up their Formation range, we now have the Panorama 3 soundbar, with Dolby Atmos, smart home compatibility, and a more minimalist, elegant aesthetic.

Keep reading to see what we thought of the speaker or head over to our guide on the best soundbars for more.

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3: Key info

• Works with: Alexa
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2
• Dimensions: H2.5 x W46.6 x D5.5in
• Weight: 14.3lbs

How does the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 look in a space?

The first thing that sprung to mind when the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 arrived at our home was how large the box seemed. Though we assumed that the actual unit would be smaller, we soon learned that the soundbar truly does measure the promises 46.6-inches. This is almost two inches longer than the Sonos Arc and 21-inches longer than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).

We first saw the soundbar at the launch event where, mounted to the wall underneath a sizeable (we would guess in the realm of 75-inches) television, it looked sleek and unobtrusive. In the home setting, with our more diminutive 50-inch TV, it feels even more luxe.

So it's the Panorama 3's size and heft that go a long way to making it feel like a high-end choice, and the rest of the design choices enhance the simplicity elsewhere. For example, the speaker is just 2.5-inches tall, creating a flatter effect with slightly angular corners and edges. The fabric grille on the front looks great, and the soundbar will work just as well on a TV cabinet as it will mounted to the wall.

How easy is it to set up the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3?

Because Bowers & Wilkins has committed to keeping the Panorama 3 as straightforward as possible, the set-up process is minimal. Simply power on the bar with the cable provided, and choose between connecting it to your TV via the optical or HDMI eArc inputs. We chose the latter, which is also recommended (as shown by the Quick Start guide).

You then need to download the B&W app on your phone, create an account and allow it to search for new devices in the vicinity. It should pick up the Panorama 3, after which the soundbar will be online and connected to your home network.

You can link music services within the app, including Deezer, Soundcloud, last.fm, Tidal, and qobuz. No Spotify or Apple Music, though. If you have more than one B&W product, you can also group devices into spaces e.g., your living room.

The Panorama 3 can also be controlled via Alexa if you have an Amazon smart home setup. It isn't an Alexa speaker on its own, but you will be able to control things like volume and playback using voice commands.

How is the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 to use?

The Panorama 3 impresses in some areas but is notably lacking in others. While general viewing was notably improved, with sounds more balanced and clear than our TV speakers alone could ever manage, we weren't blown away by how much the soundbar boosted content like music and action-heavy movies.

This isn't as much of a dig as it might sound, as we've had the pleasure of testing soundbars at a much higher price point. Though, as always, we experimented with the bass and treble levels to find that sweet spot, there's only so much that built-in subwoofer can do. Dolby Atmos, too, can only approximate surround sound, but we were surprised at how subtle the effect felt here.

One warning for those who don't like relying on their phone - the B&W Panorama 3 doesn't come with a dedicated remote control. Instead, you will need to use the app to adjust things like bass and treble levels. Those who have connected the soundbar to their TV via HDMI eARC should be able to turn the volume up and down using their television remote, and it will go into standby/wake up as your set does.

Despite some grumbles, the overall performance of the Panorama is satisfying. It will suit those who want a significant upgrade for their TV's sound without some arguably less essential bells and whistles. 

• Find out more about how the best subwoofers can boost your home audio system's bass.

B&W Panorama 3 vs B&W Formation Bar

The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is now the second soundbar currently on offer from the brand, sitting alongside the Formation Bar.

The Formation is a slightly different proposition than the Panorama, with a more intentionally stylish design and the ability to be used alongside other products as part of a wider surround sound system. Whereas the Panorama 3 has a very simple look, the Formation Bar has a gorgeously unique shape and aesthetic, meaning the only sensible way to display it is on the wall.

It's also even wider, measuring 48.8-inches wide. Make no mistake, this is a statement piece intended not just to sound great but also to make a visual impact.

The Panorama 3, on the other hand, adds audio features like Dolby Atmos to the mix, making it the superior sounding of the two. It's also significantly cheaper, saving you around $100 at the time of writing.

Would we recommend the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3?

While it's true that we expected slightly more from the Panorama 3, the soundbar is still a great pick. The Atmos doesn't pack the punch that audio fans (or those looking for a compact alternative to the best surround sound systems) might want. Still, the simple design, overall luxury look and feel, and extra features like Alexa compatibility all make it recommendable for us. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Caroline writes about everything technology and smart home for Livingetc, using her decade of experience to judge whether the new gadgets and devices being released are worth the time and money of our readers. All reviews are based on real at-home experience with the products, and the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 was tested in her flat over a period of several weeks. A sample was kindly provided by the company for review purposes. For more on our process, check out our article on how we create our buying guides.

Smart home technology can make simple tasks a lot easier, but with seven different colored display lights on all the Alexa models, it can be hard to know what your smart speaker is trying to tell you. 

If you own an Alexa, you'll know that there's a lot this clever piece of tech can do. From simple tasks like setting alarms, playing music and making calls, to more high tech features like Alexa Guard which turns the gadget into a security device that recognises burglaries, it makes day-to-day life easier for many of us. 

However, those familiar with Amazon's popular piece of kit will also know it can often light up to signal that the device is trying to tell you something. Which ever model you have, the screen or display at the bottom of your device can light up or flash, and it can be frustrating when you don't know why (especially when it wakes you up in your bedroom in the dead of night). 

Being a smart speaker, you can simply ask your Alexa why it's displaying a light and it should explain. However, if you're not up for a chat with a piece of AI, these real life tech experts are on hand to help you decode the colors so you can understand the best Alexa speakers.

Blue 

The most common color you're likely to see on your Alexa is blue. A solid blue light simply indicates that your device is listening for voice commands after hearing your wake word (in most cases, 'Alexa'). 

'Solid blue color with a rotating icon after speaking a command means Alexa is processing your request,' explains Awais Mahmood, blogger at Wise of Tech.  'You'll also see a blue swirl every time you plug a device back in, if only for a few seconds.'

Green

A bright green light is usually associated with calls. This display can either appear as a flashing or spinning light. 

The flashing light indicates an incoming call. You can ask your Alexa to answer or ignore the call to respond to this notification. 'The spinning light, on the other hand, is used for Alexa's drop-in feature which allows Amazon devices in the same household (or consenting contacts) to have intercom-style conversations,' says Awais. 

White 

Usually, a white light on your device corresponds to your volume settings. 'The only variation with the white light is a rotating pattern which suggests that Alexa Guard is in Away mode,' Awais continues.

According to Robert Whatley from gadget blog, Den of Laptops, the light ring that wraps around your device reflect your volume setting. 'The louder the volume, the more white light will be emitted from the ring or wraps around the ring. Conversely, if you decrease the volume, the light ring will show less white and more yellow or red,' he says. 

Purple

If you make a voice command and a purple light shows up, this acts a reminder that Do Not Disturb mode is on. In other cases during setup, a pulsing purple light can indicate that there are Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

'This setting is useful if you're trying to sleep or if you're in a meeting and you don't want to be disturbed,' Robert explains. 'You can enable or disable Do Not Disturb by saying "Alexa, turn on/off Do Not Disturb" or by going into the settings menu in the Alexa app.'

Yellow

A blinking yellow light represents a waiting message, reminder, or notification. As Robert notes: 'it lets you know there's something coming up, but it doesn't necessarily mean you need to act right now.'

To resolve this, you can simply ask Alexa to tell you your notifications, asking the device to delete them if necessary. You can also check these notifications in the Alexa app or on the Echo Show's touch interface. 

One the best Alexa skills that the yellow light corresponds to relates to Amazon orders. If you've recently made purchased something from Amazon's website, the yellow light is likely an update on your delivery. 

Orange

If you're wondering how to set up Alexa, the orange light is the first color you're met with as it appears on any new Alexa device. 'A rotating orange light usually means the speaker is in pairing mode and ready for setup,' Awais explains. 'After pairing is complete, however, the same light indicates that your speaker is trying to connect to the Internet.'

If the orange light shows unexpectantly, it's a good idea to check your Wi-Fi settings and look at how to reset your Alexa if necessary. 

Red

As universally recognised, red usually has a negative meaning when displayed on your Alexa. 'At best, solid red means the microphone is muted, or in the case of the Echo Show, the camera is disabled,' explains Awais. 'If you see flashing red however, it may mean your Echo isn't connected to the Internet. Your speaker will often tell you as much if you try to ask for something.'

When it comes to video doorbells, it can be tempting to think of the market as a two-horse game dominated by tech giants. The reality is that dozens of other companies are putting out high-quality offerings with more wallet-friendly price tags. Toucan is one such brand, and we were curious whether their more affordable doorbell could measure up against others we're tested.

Able to work with both Alexa and Google Assistant, it has the smarts (unless you're an Apple HomeKit user) and all the key features offered by Ring, Google, and others. Still, there's also been an effort to incorporate features such as SOS calling that you'd usually find with dedicated security cameras and with hefty subscription fees.

Keep reading to see how we got on with the TOUCAN TVD200WUC Wireless Video Doorbell, and if you're curious about what other products are on offer, head on over to our guide to the best wireless doorbells.

TOUCAN Video Doorbell: Key specs

• Power: Battery
• Resolution: 1080p
• Field of view: 180-degrees
• Storage: Cloud
• Works with: Google Assistant, Alexa
• Dimensions: H14 x W5.4 x D2.7cm
• Weight: 0.51kg

About this review, and the reviewer

Caroline is the smart homes editor for Livingetc, testing and reviewing all manner of gadgets and tech that can be used in the home to make our lives easier and more seamless. A sample of the Toucan Wireless Video Doorbell was kindly provided for review purposes, and the device was tested on the back door of her garden (basement) flat. As several doorbells were also being tested over the same time period, she was able to compare and contrast their performance.

TOUCAN Video Doorbell: Design

The Toucan Video Doorbell admittedly looks a little basic, opting for an all-plastic black and white design rather than incorporating anything more luxe-looking. Otherwise, the device looks much like other brands' offerings, with a single blue ring of light in the middle indicating when its motion detection has been activated. That said, it's a little smaller than some leading competitors like those from Ring.

One design niggle we do have is the fact that you have to remove the entire device when it comes time to recharge, as there's no other way of accessing the battery.

The Toucan chime is also lovely and compact, extending the doorbell's convenience by also being completely wireless. Most chimes, including those from Ring, need to be plugged in separately to work, but this one can be carried around the house if needed, so you'll never miss an alert even if you don't have your phone with you at all times. Great if you don't have a convenient power source.

The app lets the side down a little. It functions very well with clear controls for everything you would need in live mode, but, on our iPhone SE, the user interface wasn't in quite the right aspect ratio, leaving the buttons looking squished. As said, it doesn't impact useability, but it looks a little wrong.

TOUCAN Video Doorbell: Set-up

Setup for the TOUCAN Video Doorbell is even easier than most, with everything you need for charging and mounting easily identified out of the box. Included along with the doorbell and chime are two AA batteries (for the chime), a charging cable, two cut-to-size sticky strips, a small screwdriver, screws and rawlplugs, a mounting bracket, and security stickers.

To pair the doorbell with your phone, you will need to download the Toucan app and follow the steps, and once you have inserted the AA batteries into the chime, you will have a working system. Then, use the screws and mounting bracket if you want a permanent fixing solution or the sticky strip if you want something easily removed.

TOUCAN Video Doorbell: Performance

The Toucan Video Doorbell opts for a 4:4 square image with a 180-degree field of view (pictured below). It allows you to see slightly more of the space, though it doesn't entirely cover the immediate area in front of your door. However, porch pirates will have a more challenging time getting away with it.

For the price, the Toucan Video Doorbell does offer a surprising amount of useful extra features. As well as everything you would expect, like two-way audio and remote access to a live feed from anywhere on your phone, you also get handy features that make the Toucan a really good security device.

Once you've entered live view, you will see a menu of options. The top line includes the microphone for speaking with someone at the door, a quick responses feature so you can let your visitor know you're on your way or out of the house without speaking, and a siren.

The siren is something you don't always find as part of a wireless doorbell's talents, and we love how easy it is to manually activate it if you see something untoward happening outside. The ability to call an emergency number from the same interface is equally great if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.

The chime comes with six different sounds so that you can customize your experience to an extent. If you don't want to mount it permanently, you can use the tape included in the package.

If you don't want to pay out for a subscription, then you get 24-hours of video storage for free. If you feel you need more than this, the Pro Plan allows you to bookmark recordings, add ten people to your account, and adjust the amount of time your siren sounds, seven days of recorded history, and unlimited downloads. The Elite Plan adds 90 days of history.

TOUCAN Video Doorbell: Our verdict

We were impressed by the TOUCAN Video Doorbell as, despite its lower price point, it offers everything you need and more from a wireless doorbell. The design lacks flash, and the app could look more stylish, but this will bother some more than others. 

As well as adding the convenience of a smart device to your home, the Toucan is also a good security add-on with a built-in siren and an easy way to contact someone in an emergency. The fact that some of this is hidden behind a paywall is also welcome, though there is still a subscription model if you want to be able to access video footage from the past.

Whether you simply want a more clever doorbell or you're looking for some extra security for your front door, smart video doorbells can solve many problems. The eufy Security Smart Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Dual wants to solve an issue you may not even know you had, adding an extra camera that gives a clear view of the floor where your latest delivery may have been left.

This theoretically protects against so-called porch pirates, but this showy feature might actually be taking the shine away from some of the eufy Dual's equally impressive features. For example, unlike some of the other best wireless doorbells we have tested, eufy uses local storage rather than uploading footage to the cloud, includes a device that can be used as a chime, and works with both Alexa and Google Assistant.

We tested the doorbell to see if it could live up to the promise, installing it on our front door and waiting for one of our many packages to set off the device's package detection. Keep reading to see what we thought.

eufy Video Doorbell Dual: Key specs

• Power: Battery or wired
• Resolution: 2K / Full HD
• Field of view: 160-degrees / 97-degrees
• Estimated battery life: 6 months
• Storage: Local
• Works with: Alexa, Google Assistant
• Dimensions: H1.2 x W2.1 x D6.5in
• Weight: 0.77lbs

eufy Video Doorbell Dual: Design

For a device sporting two cameras and an impressive battery, the eufy Video Doorbell Dual is pretty svelte, and attention has been paid to making it look as stylish as possible. The black body is similar to other eufy models and looks better than Ring's offerings (in our opinion). However, the rose gold rings around the camera lenses are new and significantly improve the appearance of something that will essentially be the first thing guests and visitors see of your home.

When the camera detects motion, the doorbell's button will illuminate blue (pictured) to notify that the person outside is being watched/recorded.

The eufy Homebase is nice and simple with a white body and small blue light on the front to signal it is working. It's smaller than you might expect, but you'll still need to find a convenient place for it as there's no mounting option. You'll also need to connect it to the router via ethernet cable, which restricted us to keeping it in the bedroom. 

eufy Video Doorbell Dual: Set-up

eufy has covered all its bases with the contents of its box, with two mounting brackets, US and UK plugs, wiring extensions, an ethernet cable, screws, security stickers, and the Homebase, to name just some of the things we found (you can view the entire contents below).

Though the setup process is very simple overall, there are a few more steps than usual because of the Homebase. You need to get this working by plugging it in and ensuring it's connected to your router with the ethernet cable provided. The red light will turn blue when it's ready. Then download the eufy Security app and - after registering - add the Homebase to your account with the QR code on the base.

Then you're ready to set up the doorbell itself. This is done in much the same way by scanning a QR code and adding it to your app's roster of devices. Screw the mounting plate onto your chosen surface (or use strong 3M tape or similar if you can't make holes) and click the doorbell into place.

The mount makes removing the device for recharging easier, which is helpful since the battery is not removable.

eufy Video Doorbell Dual: Performance

What's immediately striking about the eufy Video Doorbell Dual is, somewhat expectedly, the dual camera view in the app. However, going a few steps further than showing a square image to get a slightly better view, eufy's offering shows you the entire floor. This makes it much easier for the doorbell to recognize packages and notice when someone may have taken them. 

As you can see from the image below, the camera captured everything from ceiling to doorstep, giving quite a broad view. Because of this, we could monitor the activity of anyone who came in the vicinity of our front door (though, of course, we would never suspect our neighbors of being up to no good!) and see exactly what couriers had brought without even getting up from our chair.

You can either use 2-way communication to speak with the person outside or set off a quick response such as 'just leave it there' or 'we'll be right with you.'

Schedules and modes

There are a variety of chimes to choose from if you want to use the Homebase this way, or you can simply rely on push notifications on your mobile device. We opted to use both, as we don't always have our phone with us around the house. You can also customize alerts in home and away modes.

You can set modes in a couple of different ways. Geofencing will probably be best if you don't stick to an everyday routine, as you can set your doorbell to switch to 'away' when you're physically away from home. Alternatively, you can manually set a schedule or go into the app and set yourself to 'home' or 'away.'

There is other automation if you have other eufy devices around the home, such as motion detection or the best smart locks.

Detection and footage

As with most video doorbells, you will have to choose between battery life and sensitivity, as the more you ask the doorbell to do, the faster it will need recharging. But it's capable of doing quite a lot, so we would recommend having a play with the various settings before settling on anything.

The eufy Video Doorbell Dual can tell the difference between people, packages, and animals, giving you a custom alert each time. A short snippet of that activity is recorded and stored on the eufy Homebase, which means there are no charges for cloud storage, and - according to eufy - your footage is less likely to be stolen via a data security breach. 

Smart speaker integration

The eufy Video Doorbell Dual works to some extent with both Alexa and Google Assistant speakers or displays, but you'll want one of the best Alexa speakers if you want your assistant to double as a chime. This isn't possible with Google's equivalent devices, but you can use your Chromecast to get a live feed of your front porch. 

eufy Video Doorbell Dual: Our verdict

We loved our time with the eufy Video Doorbell Dual and were seriously impressed with how much more it was capable of showing than other smart doorbells. The dual cameras work well with the app's smart user interface, making it easy to see absolutely everything. This is good for security and convenience, and we love that advanced features have no hidden costs. You can also use the Homebase to expand your system with additional eufy cameras and devices.

About this review, and the reviewer

Caroline is the smart home editor for Livingetc, testing and reviewing all of the gadgets and devices for the home to see whether they are worth the investment. Smart doorbells are sampled to see how simple they are to use and set up, the audio and video quality, and whether they add anything to an existing smart home setup. We were provided with the eufy Video Doorbell Dual for testing purposes, and if you're interested in learning more about our process, head over to our 'about our reviews' page.

Video doorbells can be a gamechanger in a world where we're all getting more delivered to our homes than ever. But, unfortunately, with more deliveries come more missed visitors, whether that's because you're not at home or you can't hear your traditional doorbell's chime from certain rooms of the house. 

Doorbells like the SwannBuddy 1080p Wireless promise to make things a lot easier with alerts sent straight to your phone, tablet, or smart display in addition to the traditional chime. In addition, they offer security features such as motion detection and night vision so you can have that added peace of mind.

We put the SwannBuddy through its paces on our front door, testing where it ranks on security, ease of set-up, video quality, and connectivity, among other things. You can read what we thought below and if you want to see how it compares to other devices, look at our guide to the best wireless doorbells.

Swann SwannBuddy Wireless: Key specs

• Resolution: 1080p Full HD
• Field of view: 180 degrees (1:1 aspect ratio)
• Night vision? Yes
• Power: Battery (can be wired)
• Works with: Alexa, Google Assistant
• Storage: microSD card, cloud
• Dimensions: 2.1 x 1.2 x 5.5in
• Weight: 0.4lbs

Swann SwannBuddy Wireless: Set-up

Being completely wireless (including the chime), the SwannBuddy Video Doorbell takes mere minutes to set up. In the box you will find the doorbell, chime, mounting bracket, a pair of AAA batteries, 32GB MicroSD card, charging cable, and Swann Security stickers to place on the outside of your home. There are also sticky mounts that allow you to attach your doorbell without screws which, as a renter, is always very appreciated as an option.

Starting with the main doorbell unit, you are advised to completely charge it before going any further. The micro USB cable used to do this is provided and you can find the port under the rubber flap on the back of the SwannBuddy. The button then gets a blue outline which turns off when the battery is fully charged.

Under the rubber flap is also where the microSD card goes, should you choose to use it over (or in combination with) cloud storage.

The chime does not require charging, as it takes two AAA batteries instead. Thankfully, these are included in the box and can be immediately inserted. To pair it with the doorbell you need to press and hold the 'Set' button on top for a few seconds, before doing the same with the main doorbell button.

You will know whether this worked based on the robotic voices coming from the  device saying things like "set up is in progress."

Now the device itself is ready to go, and you can pair it with the Swann Security app. You will need to download the app and register if you don't already have any other Swann products at home. Then press the pair device option and scan the QR code on the back of the central unit.

Swann SwannBuddy Wireless: Performance

The SwannBuddy offers a slightly fuller picture than some competitors, with a 'head to toe' wide angle that is square rather than rectangular. This is so you can see both the person at the door and whatever delivery they may have, which also makes it helpful in detecting porch thieves. The image in live view is indeed lovely and wide/long, allowing us to see from the bottom of the balcony above to the steps leading to the front door (pictures below).

However, getting a live view to load is easier said than done, with the Swann app more often than not reporting a delay or failing to load footage when we needed it to. This arguably matters more for a doorbell than a security camera, as you'll need to use the app to access features like two-way communication before the person at the door walk away.

We also struggled to get the app to send through push notifications to our phone in addition to sounding the chime, and there were key motion events (e.g., us arriving home and taking our time opening the door) that were nowhere to be found in the event history.

That said, the connection between the doorbell and its chime never failed, meaning that those who don't have the smart features of a video doorbell as a top priority might get on with the SwannBuddy more than the more tech-savvy. Sadly the app lets it down.

One feature we did like was the ability to switch between low-quality and high-quality video feeds, which, for those who don't have the best WiFi connection at home, could make all the difference. You can see a comparison in the images below.

Swann SwannBuddy Wireless: Design

The SwannBuddy has a nice, simple design with a black plastic casing and a large button that would be hard to miss. We also like that the button's surround lights up blue when motion is detected, meaning any delivery driver or visitor will be guided as to what they should do. It also flashes red when, we assume, it has lost connection with the WiFi.

The doorbell is admittedly chunky, but no more so than the basic Ring Video Doorbell, with the more svelte models seemingly coming with a more premium price tag. The SwannBuddy is quite affordable, so the design is perfectly acceptable.

It's also worth mentioning that the chime can simply be carried around the house with you, rather than being restricted to one power point where you might not hear an alert. We found that the chime was much more reliable than the app for this, so it's a good feature.

Swann SwannBuddy Wireless: Our verdict

Despite a solid device and ease of setup, the SwannBuddy is let down by an unreliable and slow app. However, the inclusion of a 32GB microSD card and battery-powered chime somewhat make up for these shortcomings, and the SwannBuddy 1080p Video Doorbell will please those who aren't too bothered about the 'smart' in their smart doorbell. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Caroline is the smart homes editor for Livingetc, covering everything technology, from TVs and soundbars to smart speakers and video doorbells. As a lifelong renter who's about to become a first-time homeowner, she appreciates how smart home devices can be used by different people for different things and loves to see a gadget that makes life easier for everyone. The SwannBuddy Video Doorbell was tested at her rented home with the chime placed on the first floor.

When it comes to the best questions to ask Alexa, the list is fun-filled. If you need answers to pressing home or garden-related queries, or just want to solve the random question that's been swilling around your head today, the voice assistance makes it so convenient. While we used to have to scour through dusty encyclopedia books or run through the Yellow pages (remember those?!) to source information, these days all we need to do is ask Alexa. Good times. 

Amazon recently compiled a list of some of the most popular questions asked so far this year, some of which we thought would be fun to share with you here so you can try for yourself. 'It’s been so interesting to see how people are using their devices for so many different needs,' says Dennis Stansbury, Alexa UK & Ireland Country Manager. 'From helping to stay organized, to following a favorite football team and learning more about big events like The Queen’s Jubilee, Alexa provides answers all through the power of voice.' 

So if you've already set up Alexa, honed in on some of the best Alexa skills, and are wondering what to ask your personal voice assistant next, try these best questions to ask Alexa. We've thrown a few useful home and garden questions into the mix too. Enjoy! 

10 best questions to ask Alexa 

1. Alexa, how old is the queen?

Asking Alexa how old the Queen is has been a very popular question so far this year, which is not surprising considering the Queen's Jubilee celebrations are in full swing. In fact, answering questions to any historical facts about Kings and Queens in general is one of the best Alexa skills. It's also very useful for letting you know which days main calendar dates fall on including Mother's Day and Father's Day or when the next leap year is. 

2. Alexa, what’s the animal of the day?

Kids will love asking Alexa what the animal of the day is. Alexa is on hand to provide a snippet of information on the animal in question. And it's not your standard pigeon or garden fox - the great thing about this feature is that you'll learn about animals you never knew existed - from the Vampire Squid to the Tripod Fish - who knew?!

3. Alexa, remind me to water the plants every Sunday at 9am

We’ve all been there – bought a gorgeous Yukka for the corner of the living room with such good intentions, only to remember weeks later that its Sahara-dry soil hasn't had a drop of water. The solution? Ask Alexa to remind you to water the plants every week. You will sleep sounder. 

4. Alexa, show my Facebook photos

If you're bored of your blank Alexa Echo Show screen staring at you, customise the screen with your favorite memories from Facebook to make it double up as a photo frame. 

You will need to launch the Alexa app and go to the menu settings, then photos and log into your Facebook account to allow this feature to work. 

5. Alexa, sing a song

Feel like you need cheering up? Just ask Alexa to sing you a song or entertain you with its cheeky personality. We can't say the songs are going to be enjoyable, but they just might make you smile. Also try 'Alexa, what's your name?' and 'Alexa, how are you?' and see what response you get. 

6. Alexa, what’s the latest football news?

Step aside SportsCenter, Alexa is on hand to give you your daily dose of sports news. Asking Alexa for updates on sporting matches has been particularly popular this year, and you can personalize the info you get depending on your team or sporting hero. 

7. Alexa, what's on my calendar today? 

A question such as 'Alexa, what's on my calendar today?' comes in super useful when you've woken up bleary-eyed on a Friday, thinking it's Saturday. This question will provide useful information about your day and give you the gentle nudge you need to get into gear as you sip your morning brew. You will need to sync up your calendar via the Alexa app first, of course. 

8. Alexa, play cleaning music

When you're tasked with tidying and cleaning your house and not really feeling the vibe, try asking Alexa for a little pick-me-up music to get you enthused. When we asked Alexa for cleaning music our Echo Show burst into Vivaldi's The Four Seasons Violin Concerto in E Major by Nigel Kennedy, which was just what we needed to encourage us to buff the bath at top speed. 

Better still, if you have an Alexa-compatible device such as a robot vacuum cleaner, you can ask Alexa remotely to start it and get your ship in shape in no time. 

9. Alexa, let's go to work 

Working from home? Sometimes it can be hard to feel energised and make the transition from cup of coffee on the sofa, to zoom call in the office, which is where Alexa can help. 

To make sure you're suitably set up in your home office and ready to start your day, you can set up a working routine in the Alexa app that turns on the lights and smart plugs for your computer. You can simultaneously get your smart speaker to play some ambient music in the background and create a welcoming space that will get you in the work zone in no time. 

10. Alexa, what should I cook for dinner? 

That million dollar question that the whole household relies on come 6pm, 'Alexa what should I cook for dinner?' can be an enlightening question. It's a particularly useful thing to ask on the days when you're stuck for ideas and simply feel like serving up a tin of baked beans. You can even personalise the question based on your dietary needs. 

When we asked Alexa for ideas on what to eat for dinner, it pulled up a range of BBC Good Food recipes including Mussels in red pesto. Stick a glass of wine in our hands and yep, that'll do. 

What are Alexa routines?

You can use Alexa Routines to automate your daily tasks. They really come into their own when you're busy and want to add a little fuss-free control to everyday tasks. Using the Alexa App you can set up specific routines to make your day a little easier.  

'The choice of what 'routines' you can schedule on the Alexa app is ample,' says     Laura Comfort, smart tech expert from Currys. 'For example, you can create an Alexa routine to set the alarm and turn the lights on, turn the heating on and play your favorite song - simultaneously or one after the other. Alternatively, you can use Alexa to create a bedtime routine for yourself or the kids, whereby Alexa will dim the lights, put on some relaxing music and even say goodnight!' 

The best Bluetooth speakers serve as an entertainment hub for the home, easily connected to your smartphone, TV, or laptop for on-demand music, podcasts, and anything else you want to listen to.

Eclipsed slightly by the allure of smart speakers, high-quality Bluetooth speakers are making something of a comeback. This is thanks partly to luxury brands, including Bowers & Wilkens or Bang & Olufsen, as well as iconic companies like Marshall and Audio Pro, investing heavily in high-end, high-quality speakers with all the latest technology without compromising on the sense of style that makes them so popular.

Design-led Bluetooth speakers come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. If you're looking for a speaker that makes a statement both with its sound quality and its aesthetic appeal, there are plenty of options to choose from. Many of these speakers incorporate unique design elements, such as a retro look, sleek modern lines, or eye-catching colors, to set them apart from more basic models.

It's not a choice between smart or analog - Bluetooth speakers sit perfectly in the middle ground, with many also allowing you to take your audio outside or on the go, including - yes - Alexa or Google Assistant compatibility. You can take a look at our guide to the best smart speakers if this interests you. For now, though, keep reading to see how we ranked the best Bluetooth speakers.

Quick picks

The Best Bluetooth Speakers

Bluetooth speakers have become an entertainment hub for the home, allowing for easy connectivity to a variety of devices. But you don't have to choose between smart or analog, as they can offer the best of both worlds. Check out our guide below for more.

Best Bluetooth speaker overall

Music lovers will instantly recognize the beautiful Marshall iconography of the Stanmore II. Having invested heavily in home speakers over the past few years, Marshall hasn't compromised in the style department for its Bluetooth offerings, and the back leather look with fabric grille and rose gold controls add a touch of luxury to any room it's in. 

Physical buttons also make it easier to control unlike speakers that can only be controlled via an app, and EQ knobs give you greater control over your audio. You can also buy the speaker with Alexa or Google Assistant support, though these have become harder to come by in recent years.

Our only real complaints are about the size and heft of the speaker, but those with enough space to have the Stanmore II proudly on display won't find its significant presence. It's certainly not a device you will want to take from room to room. Still, this is a must-have for classic rock fans or those who just want a speaker to be part of the vibe of a room, rather than something you'd rather keep out of sight. 

Livingetc rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | read our full Marshall Stanmore II review

Best Bluetooth speaker to use with Alexa

Bang & Olufsen's Beosound A1 is the perfect antidote to the typical trend of bulky and brightly-colored Bluetooth speakers, with its jewel-toned shimmer and unique look setting it apart from the crowd. The speaker is also sturdy, impervious to both water and being dropped, and there are various EQ presets in the B&O app for you to fine-tune things to your liking. 

The shape of the speaker lends itself to the True360 omnidirectional sound system, and you can take it with you on the go with 18 hours of battery life.

The only downside is the built-in Alexa, which, in practice, can be frustrating to use. You need to open the app on your phone first, making it less of a smart speaker and more of a bridge between you and the app. Still, the Beosound A1 remains and an excellent option for those who want style, durability, and solid audio, and it still made our list of the best Alexa speakers.

Livingetc rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | read our full Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) review

Best compact Bluetooth speaker

The Marshall Emberton is another great addition to the brand's line-up of audio products, as a portable, waterproof speaker that's the perfect size and shape for carrying around. While there's no handle, the speaker's weather-resistant design makes it ideal for outdoor activities, and the battery life is very impressive at around 20 hours - seeing us through several workdays while testing. It would also work great as a shower speaker.

The LED display showing remaining battery life is also a helpful feature, and the design is otherwise pleasingly minimal with a front and back grille, plastic casing in cream or black, and a metal control knob on top. Compared to larger speakers like the Stanmore II, there is less room for customization and control over your audio, but most people will be pleased.

Livingetc rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Best Bluetooth speaker for battery life

With a warm and balanced sound no matter what genre of music we were playing, the Audio Pro Addon T3+ is a stylish and compact speaker providing a seamless audio experience and a battery life of up to 30 hours. The retro design and easy-to-use controls have made the speaker a great addition to our home, and the sound quality is truly excellent with powerful bass that doesn't overpower.

The design of the speaker is striking yet simple, featuring a small rose gold control panel and a luxurious leather carrying strap that elevates its aesthetic appeal. It also comes in various colors, from muted black or white to bright and cheerful red. The AUX input allows audiophiles to connect their preferred music source and, although the speaker is a little heavy to move around constantly, it can be used wirelessly.

Livingetc rating: 4 out of 5 stars | read our full AUDIO PRO Addon T3+ review

A modern Bluetooth speaker

With its elegant and distinctly modern design, the Formation Wedge is one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market. The audio quality is excellent, with detailed, balanced sound and strong bass. The speaker gets loud without distorting the audio, so it's perfect for parties and large gatherings, and we particularly like the adjustable bass and treble, which lets you fine-tune the audio to your liking.

The device can be easily paired with other Formation speakers for a wider audio experience throughout your home thanks to its multi-room integration. Although the Wedge is limited in terms of input sources, most users won't be too concerned about this. The Wedge does not come with voice assistant features, but it can be controlled with Alexa via voice commands, which allows you to control music playback.

Some users may find the design of the Formation Wedge too modern or unconventional, particularly due to its elliptical shape. But we personally find its distinct look a definite plus. The Wedge is an eye-catching addition to any living space that doubles as both a piece of art and a high-performance sound system.

Best high end Bluetooth speaker

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance is a premium high-end speaker that offers style and substance. The speaker boasts a stylish design with premium materials, available in dark grey or sand finish, and has been designed to fit seamlessly into your interior design. We value aesthetics as much as performance and this speaker offers the best of both worlds.

The Beosound Balance's sound quality is impressive for a speaker of its size, with an impressive overall sound quality and impressive bass. However, some users may find the bass overpowering or imbalanced. Also, there is no option for manual EQ adjustments, which might be a dealbreaker for some.

One of the key features of this speaker is its flexibility thanks to its multi-room integration and various connectivity options. It can be paired with another Beosound Balance for stereo sound, as well as being compatible with Chromecast or Apple AirPlay 2, allowing you to easily connect to them. The Beosound Balance's minimalist controls blend in with its overall minimalist vibe, giving it a sleek and modern look.

Best Bluetooth speaker for multiple smart assistants

The Devialet Phantom I 108dB 's sound quality is exceptional, promising detailed midrange and crisp highs, as well as an exceptional bass response. The Phantom's cylindrical shape not only looks stylish and unique but also allows for optimal sound performance.

Phantom I offers a variety of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2. Devialet's app is also very easy to use, allowing users to choose from a wide range of music options and customize their sound experience. With Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands, as well as touch controls on the Phantom itself, the speaker is easy to control.

At $1,690, the price tag might seem high, but we think the premium sound and flexibility may make it worth it.

A speaker that doubles as a light

The Harman Kardon Aura is an impressive wireless speaker with a transparent dome and central subwoofer that glows with ambient light, making it visually striking and most definitely a conversation starter. High and midrange drivers, as well as the subwoofer, promise powerful and clear audio output with spacious and balanced sound performance.

Streaming from a variety of devices is simple with the Aura's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options. Also, the touch-control interface on the top of the speaker is intuitive and user-friendly, making it a hassle-free and flexible speaker. We would love to be able to customize the ambient lighting, but the device looks great nonetheless.

Best floorstanding Bluetooth speaker

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 is impressive for its power, as well as its elegant cylindrical design that will make a statement in any room. With three tweeters, three midrange drivers, and an eight-inch subwoofer, the Beoplay A9 promises crystal-clear audio with powerful bass that is impactful and deep.

There are a variety of wireless connectivity options available, including Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, and Chromecast. With its built-in microphone, it can be controlled by voice using virtual assistants like Google Assistant, and can be operated easily using the Bang & Olufsen app. The A9 can also be paired with another Beoplay A9 speaker for stereo sound, making it ideal for larger rooms and those looking for surround sound.

However, the Beoplay A9 comes with some drawbacks, including a high price point that may exclude some buyers. It's also much larger than the other speakers on this list, and only those with space to spare would be able to make it fit into their existing decor.

About this guide

At Livingetc, we believe in transparency and reliability when it comes to product reviews. We have a wide team of impartial and professional testers on hand to rigorously evaluate products in order to provide our readers with reliable and trustworthy recommendations, and our goal is to provide buying guides, reviews, and shopping edits that help to improve our readers’ lives in some way.

These products range from high-end luxury goods to more affordable items that can still provide a touch of decoration and boost the sense of fun in your home. We ask our editors, writers, and freelancers to pay attention to the details of these picks, ensuring there are valuable insights that buyers can rely on beyond the product description. 

The best Bluetooth speakers on this list were curated by our experts based on hands-on testing in their own homes, as well as consumer feedback and online reviews. We will update the guide regularly to reflect new releases and fresh recommendations, and will always be trying new products to find the very best.

Choosing the best Bluetooth speaker for your home

As a sleep editor, I'm often toying with all things sleep. So when Google reached out to me about their Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) display and speaker with built-in sleep tracking, I had to try this smart sleep gadget that uses motion sensors as opposed to having to be bothered to actually wear something, plus the robust functionalities of a smart speaker to streamline your routine. 

Of course, if you're looking to automate your bedroom into a smart home space, the best smart speaker is one of the first places to start, and at first glance, the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is made for your bedroom, but also your kitchen... or your home office, or wherever you find yourself wanting a Google Assistant with a display. 

Now, let me get into my casual experience with smart home speakers. I'm guilty of using my existing Alexa Echo Dot as my personal weather woman and DJ, and well, nothing else. At one point, I did incorporate a smart plug to help control a floor lamp across the room, but that was many apartments ago, and that little smart plug has literally taken to the abyss.  Sometimes, she alerts me of my Amazon deliveries, but for the most part, she takes up a tiny corner of my nightstand, where I honestly find myself teetering a tissue box on top. 

Then, I purchased an Amazon Echo Show 5 on mega-sale during Black Friday for my kitchen, with the anticipation of connecting it to a Ring Video Doorbell, and having an easy assistant for converting measurements, keeping time, and also playing tunes. But, the  5.5" display of the Echo Show 5 was just too small to really get into the details or its full functionalities, let alone even think about video chatting or watching videos. 

So, that brings me back to my first interaction with the Google Nest Hub, where I've taken it through the paces to give you a full picture of all the things this smart speaker can accomplish, and how it quite quickly became a fixture on my nightstand. 

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): specs

• Screen: 7” (1024 x 600)
• Speaker: Full-range speaker with 1.7 in (43.5 mm) driver
• Microphones: 3
• Dimensions: 7”W x 4.7”H x 2.7”D
• Wireless: No
• Orientation: Landscape
• Color: Chalk, Charcoal, Sand, Mist
• RRP: List Price: $99.99 / £89.99

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): design

The Google Nest Hub The Speaker consists of a display screen and speaker system.  The enclosure is made from 54% recycled plastic.  It will stay plugged in at all times to work.  

Display
The 7" touchscreen display is perfectly sizeable to watch video clips, Youtube, or full-length Netflix episodes if that's what you'd prefer. I found the visuals vibrant and crisp, with no lag. When on standby, the screen can cycle through a slideshow of your own photos from Google Photo or default to a slideshow of curated images such as landscapes, paintings, and abstract photos. 

The display utilizes what it calls Ambient EQ, which uses a sensor to adjust to ambient room light, so it’s not too bright or too dim.  It detects and matches over 16 million combinations of light and color to blend in. At night, once you shut off the light, you can set the display to completely darken. You can also turn off the Ambient EQ setting. 

Audio Quality
The device uses a full-range speaker with a 1.7 in (43.5 mm) driver, and has three built-in far-field microphones. I think the sound is good, but it didn't blow me away. The device also learns who it is talking to, to personalize results to that person, and the microphone had no issue picking up my queries from across the room.

I immediately noticed a difference in bass between my existing Amazon Echo and the new Google Hub. The sound does not quite fill the space of my room like my Echo had the ability to. It's definitely suitable for personal use but not powerful enough to serve as the primary speaker for a party or large gathering.

The sound volume can be adjusted with a button in the rear, the Google Home app, or through voice commands.

Privacy
The one thing that Google Nest Hub does not have is a built-in camera, for privacy reasons. Seeing that this is a device designed with the intent of being added to your bedroom, it doesn't leave any room for any privacy breaches of the video recording sort. The mic can also very easily be turned at any time by a switch behind the machine, and it can not be turned off or on remotely. A small orange indicator light appears if the mic is off. 

The Sleep Sensing feature does utilize the microphone, but any information collected at night is never shared with Googled, or used for ad personalization. If you do not want cough or snore tracking, it can also very easily be turned off. 

If you do require video functionality, you'll want the Google Hub Max, with a built-in camera, larger display, and has a beefed-up sound system too, but you do lose the sleep sensing technology. 

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): setting it up

The Google Nest Hub comes in a sturdy, appropriately sized box. The display is wrapped in protective plastic but stays in place with recyclable cardboard inserts. 

Accompanying papers are minimal with a brief warranty and registration guide and a slip about privacy, as well a notecard on how to get started. It is as simple as plugging in, though you will want to make sure you have the Google Home App on your phone. Once in the app, you will select set up a new device, and it automatically detects the new device. The app is one of the easiest places to get into the back end of settings and data history. 

A quick start tour gives an introduction about where to find apps, settings, go back, and more, and takes mere minutes. The Sleep Sensing, however, is not automatically set up and requires that you create permissions for motion sensing and must be activated via the Home app on your phone. 

Once you opt-in to Sleep Sensing in the Google Home app, it uses what it calls Soli to detect movement and breathing without a camera or having to wear. It knows when you go to bed, when you wake up and how long and well you've slept. But before you can begin, you have to calibrate the machine, which is essential to get accurate sleep results.

Calibrating was not hard, I had to lie down and keep my pet off the bed for a few minutes, but you have to place care that nothing is in the way of the hub and you, like a water bottle. It should also be angled toward you, and not straight on, and if it's moved, well, you'll need to recalibrate. 

By the time I went to sleep, there was nothing I needed to do to start tracking my sleep, I just shut off the light and went to bed. In the morning, I was able to get a detailed look at my sleep report. 

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): features

Sleep Sensing

Ok, I got into a bit on the Sleep Sensing above, but now I'll discuss how it looks and what it tracks. The unique Soli Sensor is a miniature radar sensor developed by Google that can detect your motion patterns and breathing, and works in conjunction with sound, light, and temperature sensors to understand the many factors that can impact your sleep.

In the morning, the Hub provides an in-depth dashboard with details and insights about your sleep and sleep quality, as well as advice and personalized suggestions like waking up at a consistent time or exercising earlier in the day to sleep better. Unfortunately, Google will only be offering Sleep Sensing for free until the end of 2022, as they have plans to incorporate the technology with their Fitbit and Fitbit Premium experiences (currently $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year). Sleep Sensing can also only track one person’s sleep, but Google maintains that you can add a second device if you wish to track another person.

Google Assistant
Use Google Nest Hub to set reminders, asks questions, control your compatible smart devices, monitor home security, leave notes for family members, get the latest in news, listen to music, or whatever you'd like to use this smart speaker for. 

Quick Gestures
As opposed to commanding with your voice or reaching for the touchscreen, the Quick Gesture option uses Motion Sense to detect hand movement and can play or pause a song or video, snooze an alarm, and stop a timer. It's convenient if you're close by, and just quickly want to stop an alarm without having to go through commands.

Wellness
Adding on to this emphasis on wellbeing is attention to wellness features, such as a Sunrise Alarm, which reduces your need to have a wake-up light too, and access to Calm app meditations.

Entertainment
Connect your Spotify, Hulu, Disney+, Netflix, and other subscriptions to listen and watch directly on the Google Nest Hub, or get engaged with the news with video clips.  I'll be sticking to watching long-form shows on my TV, but for short videos and keeping up with the news, I felt very engaged. My favorite revelation was being able to turn my Roku on straight to Hulu, with just my voice... no more need to search for the remote. 

Google Photo Livestream
The gorgeous display can rotate through photos from your Google Photos account.  You can even select the people (or subjects) it shows. 

Recipes
When I asked my Nest Hub to show me a recipe, it automatically put it in an easy to view and follow, even if it was from a third-party site like Delish or Food Network.  And if I wasn't going to make the recipe right that moment, it was incredibly easy to file away into recipes I want to save to try later or cook again.  Now I need a Nest Hub for my kitchen and my bedroom. 

Should you buy the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)?

After about of month of use, the Google Nest Hub has knocked my Echo off the nightstand. Have I converted to the Google side? Well, for one, it has been nice not being asked to purchase anything... Though, it has  taken time to get used to saying the mouthful that is "Hey Google." 

The Google Nest Hub is a sleek addition to my bedroom or kitchen. The speaker and visual displays are well-made, and the content opportunities feel endless: from prompts to watch videos, listen to music and podcasts, play games, set reminders, lists, to-dos, routines, make restaurant reservations... and shall I go on.

The Sleep Sensing is a unique addition I haven't seen in other smart speakers, and I like that I don't have to do anything to activate it each night. I'm not too keen on knowing that this key selling point, the Sleep Sensing, will only stay free through the end of the year. I believe Google is offering it now as an incentive, but I hope they will reconsider leaving this valuable tool as part of the basic purchase of the Nest Hub. 

I also want to point out, my skepticism about the true accuracy of these sleep trackers.  I've been testing a bunch of sleep trackers from wearables to phone apps, and even a smart base, with some nights overlapping with each other. Each one seems to offer slightly different results as to how much time I spent in REM to whether I actually do snore.

Because of these overarching findings,  I can't say whether the sleep sensing offered a precise data point that I trust on how long I spent in exactly each sleep cycle. Taking all these results with a grain of salt, I use the results to look at the big picture view: Was I restless? Did light, sound, or my breathing cause me to wake up? 

I'm really quite please with how easy the Google Nest Hub is to use, and the visual display only amplifies the experience. The $99.99 / £89.99 price tag is right inline with similar products, and if you're looking to control your home with Google Assistant, well this is our pick. 

If you require a camera, you'll likely want to look elsewhere, but be prepared to shell out more. While I've used the later model Echo Show 5, which is also in the under $100 margin, I found my user experience with the Nest Hub far superior.  

Meanwhile, the Amazon Echo Show 8 and Amazon Echo Show 10 will have supped-up specs that contribute to the higher price tag. If you find yourself captive to team Google, the Nest Max, which is comparable in price to the Show 10, has the highest-end features with a 10" display and better speakers but does not have the Sleep Sensor. And if you're really just after a basic speaker, you can do no wrong with the wallet-friendly Google Home Mini as well. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Jaclyn is the Sleep Ecommerce Editor for LivingEtc. She works across a variety of sites, including Real Homes and Homes & Gardens, to help you sleep better with high-quality sleep products. 

Jaclyn was sent the speaker by Google and has been allowed to keep it, meaning she can keep this review updated with her thoughts as she continues to use it to expand her smart home and explore its seemingly endless uses (restaurant reservations, anyone?), or just keep up with the weather and watch YouTube. 

With flashier options so widely available, it can be easy to underestimate the humble Bluetooth speaker but, with stylish designs and set-up so easy anyone can do it, devices like the Audio Pro Addon T3+ should get their due. We tested the speaker to see if it could stand out in an incredibly crowded market.

We're generally big fans of Audio Pro's range, including the Drumfire in our roundup of the best Bluetooth speakers, so the prospect of a portable speaker from the brand is certainly enticing. It has pretty much everything you could wish for, from long battery life to a choice between Bluetooth and AUX connectivity.

We were sent the grey model (pictured), which includes those beautiful rose gold accents, to try out, but the T3+ is also available in white and black. Read on to see what we thought.

Audio Pro Addon T3+: Set-up and specs

As a Bluetooth speaker with no smart home compatibility for Alexa or Google Assistant, the Audio Pro Add-on T3+ is extremely quick and simple to get started. Once fully charged (or powered if you plan to keep your speaker in the same spot) with the cable provided, you simply need to hit the pairing button in Bluetooth mode and connect your desired device.

We connected both our smartphone and our laptop and had no trouble with either. When on battery mode, the speaker is set to power down after a period of non-use, saving battery life, but when powered it will remain on even when you reach the end of your playlist. This means that you can easily connect your laptop over Bluetooth and use the T3+ as a permanent speaker, which we did periodically.

When using it with our phone, we were pleasantly surprised whenever the song we were listening to on headphones while out walking would automatically switch to the T3+ once we returned home. A seamless treat when compared to some speakers that seem to make it difficult to get connected in the first place.

Audio Pro Addon T3+: Playback

Audio Pro is known for solid audio output, and we were pleased with how good all music genres from dance and bubblegum pop to rock and pop-punk sounded. The bass has a nice amount of depth, and the overall sound is one of the best we've tested. When compared to our other most-used speaker - the Google Home Mini - the difference is palpable. 

It's also worth noting the different ways to listen, with a 3.5mm AUX input on the back of the device if you prefer a more low-tech method of connecting your music to your speaker. You can then switch modes using the controls on top of the speaker. We did so with a modified iPhone to AUX wire, allowing us to sample Apple Music's lossless tunes.

Audio Pro promises 30 hours of battery life on half-volume and 12 hours at 100% but, with audio quality what it is, there's no need to go loud.

Audio Pro Addon T3+: Design

The first thing you notice about the Audio Pro Add-on T3+ is how good it looks. As mentioned, our sample was the grey and rose gold model and, while the palette has certainly become popular among speaker manufacturers (and tech in general), it's popular because it works. Add the leather carrying strap, and you have a very attractive device that looked great wherever we placed it while testing.

Putting the logo on the handle is also a smart choice, as it means the rest of the aesthetic isn't ruined by out-of-place text. 

The controls look as lovely as the rest of the device and are laid out in a simple way with unobtrusive labels and two LED lights indicated when Bluetooth and AUX modes are activated. There is also a battery life indicator if you are using the T3+ as a portable speaker, taking the guesswork out.

The one criticism we have of the speaker is its relatively hefty weight, which makes it difficult to imagine it as a truly portable companion if you're going anywhere further than the backyard. The carry handle helps, of course, but you wouldn't want to be lugging it around for too long.

Audio Pro Addon T3+: Our verdict

A stunning speaker that looks great on any mantelpiece, shelf, or just perched on a desk in the home office, the Audio Pro Addon T3+ impressed us with its deep, textured audio and ease of use. The carry handle works better as a decorative feature than something you'll use to take the speaker with you on outings, but the strong battery life means it can deliver for hours away from a power source.

About this review

The Audio Pro T3+ was tested over the course of several months, being used for everything from podcasts and audiobooks to music and the radio. Testing took place within a small studio space with access to a balcony, and the speaker traveled to several different spots to test how it would do in slightly different environments. As you may imagine, in the home of a smart home writer, it is not the only speaker in the space, but it has taken up permanent residence in the office area.

Sonos is one of the leading names in home audio, and for very good reason. Not only is the sound quality excellent, but the company was founded to deliver seamless multi-room audio. Sonos saw that people wanted it, and pioneered an implementation that’s fully featured, easy to set up, and simple to expand as you go along.

But for an outsider examining Sonos’ expanding range of products, it can be difficult to know where to start. It's one of the best smart speakers, but why should you look to the American brand ahead of its rivals? Many now also offer solid multi-room support. Here’s the ultimate guide to Sonos, with everything you need to get your head around before jumping in.

What are Sonos speakers and how do they work? 

There was a time when setting up a multi-room audio system required great expense, know-how, and a lot of wiring. Not so with Sonos which in 2005 saw a gap in the market. It introduced its first simple-to-use multi-room speaker, with audio delivered using WiFi.

What does that mean? That your music can be played on multiple speakers, across rooms in your house in perfect beat-for-beat sync without wires. The only limitation (other than the quality of your WiFi, naturally) is the Sonos cap on a maximum of 32 speakers. 

While Sonos started off as being devices for locally stored music — think MP3s on a NAS drive — the advent of streaming has been fully supported by Sonos, and it's catching up on the virtual assistant game with both Google Assistant and the best Alexa speakers. 

The mention of WiFi above was important: although Sonos has a couple of speakers that support Bluetooth, the products all talk to each other by creating their own WiFi network called SonosNet — a proprietary mesh WiFi system developed by Sonos which ensures the speakers are in sync. 

Sonos speakers aren’t just streaming music from your phone or PC — they’re playing it locally, which means no dropouts or interruptions for calls, texts, and notifications. It’s just you and your music, audiobooks, or podcasts, throughout your home.

Sonos speakers, like any other cutting-edge tech, aren’t immune to obsolescence and a number of the company’s products are no longer supported or getting new features. The company does offer a Trade-Up program, where you can upgrade an eligible outdated speaker and get 30% off a new one, however. This once required you to make your old one unusable, but the company backed down on this non-eco-friendly practice following a consumer backlash, and you’re now free to donate, sell or keep using the outdated speaker as you see fit. 

What streaming services work with Sonos? 

A strong point in Sonos’ favor is its versatility. Sonos speakers support pretty much everything you could wish for in the streaming space: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Soundcloud, YouTube Music, Pandora, Stitcher, TuneIn, SiriusXM, and Audible to name just a handful of the available streaming options. 

But that’s just the beginning. Because Sonos was founded in the pre-internet-streaming world of 2002, its original USP was to play locally stored music on a NAS drive or from your iTunes library around the house. That’s still possible if you have a big collection of locally stored music, and with the Sonos Port, AMP, Connect or Connect:AMP, you can even stream your CD or vinyl collection to speakers around your house too.  

Which Sonos speaker should I get?

There’s no correct answer to this question, as Sonos makes speakers for different needs and eventualities. The good news is that you don’t need to stick to one variety throughout your house, so feel free to mix and match.

The basic Sonos speaker is the Sonos One or Sonos One SL. Both earn their place as some of the best bookshelf speakers that offer excellent sound quality and decent volume for home offices, kitchens, and bedrooms.

The difference between the two? The Sonos One has Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant built-in for voice controls, while the SL does not. That makes it a better option for those who feel a bit uncomfortable with having microphones dotted throughout their homes.

Sonos’ premium speaker is the Sonos Five, which offers big sound and an attractive if imposing design. Featuring six class-D digital amplifiers, six speaker drivers, three tweeters, and three mid-woofers, it offers complex audio perfect for the living room and larger spaces. 

It also has a line-in port for connecting to turntables or CD players if you don’t simply live in the cloud.

Sonos has recently made the move to portability with the Sonos Move and Sonos Roam. These are the company’s first Bluetooth speakers, but while they can be used on the go thanks to their built-in batteries, they also become part of your Sonos WiFi group when at home giving you the best of all worlds.

While the Sonos Move offers big sound and a big price tag, the Sonos Roam is lightweight and relatively cheap. And if you don’t need virtual assistant support built-in, there’s the SL model for less.

Our full Sonos Roam review explains all its good and bad points.
 

If you want to improve the sound of a TV, but want the soundbar to double up as part of your multi-room audio network, then there are two great options: the Sonos Arc and Sonos Beam. 

Both, neatly, let you connect two Sonos One devices as rear speakers if you want the best surround sound system for your movies. Throw in a Sonos Sub and you’ve got a fully-fledged home theater setup.  

The Arc is the more premium model, featuring Dolby Atmos support, and comes with a hefty price tag. The second-generation Beam, meanwhile, is more wallet-friendly. 

Thanks to the Sonos collaboration with Ikea, Sonos technology is now found in a bunch of attractive home furnishings under the Symfonisk brand name. 

These connect to your Sonos network in exactly the same way but are literally built into your furniture so that they can hide in plain sight. Currently, you can buy a shelf, a picture frame, or a desk lamp with built-in Sonos tech.

If you have a great set of older speakers but want them to be part of your network, then Sonos has ways of bringing them in with the Port or Amp.

Neither are exactly cheap, with the Sonos Port coming in at $449 and the Sonos Amp setting you back $699. The latter is a far more flexible product, with (as the name suggests) an amplifier built-in, meaning it can connect to passive speakers.

How to set up a new Sonos system 

Simply plug in your new speaker, and download the Sonos app for iOS or Android (disappointingly, there’s no option to go through the setup process with a laptop). 

Once the app of your choice is installed, tap ‘Set up a new system’ and then create or sign in to a Sonos account. When your speaker pops up on the screen, tap ‘Add’ and the app will ease you through the setup process where you can pick your streaming platforms of choice and enable a voice assistant (if supported by the speaker you picked). 

How to add a speaker to your Sonos setup 

But, as explained above, the real beauty of a Sonos setup is the ability to connect multiple speakers — up to 32 in total. You don’t have to do all of this at once, and you can gradually add to your setup over time if you wish.

Either way, the process is the same: plug in your speaker and wait for the LED to start flashing green. Then open the Sonos app and from the settings tab, tap ‘System’ and then ‘Add Product’. Follow the instructions and your speaker will be added to the mix.

After you’ve added more than one speaker, you can create custom groups to play perfectly in unison. That’s handy if you want to create a pair of stereo speakers, but is also an option for multiple rooms, if you want your music or audiobook to follow you as you move back and forth between the kitchen and living room, say. Groupings will be remembered until you ungroup them, meaning you won’t have to set it up every time.

What is Sonos Trueplay? 

If available, Trueplay is a way of automatically ensuring that your speakers produce the best possible sound for their environment, by adjusting the woofers and tweeters to the shape and acoustics of its location. 

It’s something you don’t want to neglect when adding a new Sonos speaker to the mix — If possible, that is. It’s currently only available on the iOS app for most iPhones and iPads, or as a built-in option for the portable Roam and Move speakers. That said, there’s nothing stopping you from borrowing a compatible iPhone as the setup is a one-time thing for each speaker, provided you don’t move it around.

To use Trueplay, open the Sonos app and head to Settings, then ‘Trueplay’ and ‘Trueplay Tuning’. The calibration involves wandering around the room waving your iPhone up and down in smooth movements, which isn’t exactly fun but thankfully isn’t something you need to do often.

Sonos tips and tricks 

There are plenty of neat things you can do with your multi-room Sonos setup. Here are a few things you might miss...

Turn off the lights

By default, there are LEDs on your Sonos devices, but this can be annoying if you have a speaker next to your bed. Disable them by opening the app, then hitting Settings > System, finding the group you want to change, and then toggling Status Light off.

Skip tracks with a tap

Sonos speakers have controls built-in, but at a glance, they can look simplistic. However, there’s hidden functionality: skip a track by double-tapping the play/pause button, and for newer touch-controlled models, a swipe left will do the same thing. 

Mute a single speaker

Pressing the play/pause button won’t turn off the music for the entire group — just for the speaker, you’re interacting with. That’s handy if you need to take a call in your home office, but don’t want to stop the music for everyone else.

Add parental controls

While Sonos supports plenty of streaming apps, not all the songs available are child friendly. Stop your kids accessing explicit content with parental controls: it’s in the Sonos app, under System > Parental Controls > Filter Explicit Content. 

Currently, this only works for Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Apple Music, but more streaming software will probably follow in time. 

Wake up to your favorite song

Sonos speakers can work as alarms if you like: just go to the Sonos app, then System > Alarms > Add Alarm. Then pick a time, room, frequency, volume, and, of course, the song that you want. Just remember that if you’ve grouped together a lot of speakers, all of them will play the alarm at the same time…

Never miss a touchdown

While you may be loath to include the Sonos Beam or Arc soundbars as part of your other groups given their main purpose as TV sound systems, temporarily adding them can offer great benefits. Like if you’re watching the big game and need to get up to make a drink: add the kitchen Sonos device to the group, and you’ll get the commentary even when you can’t see the action in person.

Be a considerate neighbor with Night Sound

Another TV tip, Sonos’ best soundbars all support something called Night Sound, which allows you to boost quiet sounds while reducing louder ones. If you’re the kind of person that likes to watch TV during anti-social hours, but worries about judgment from your neighbors, this is a great way of getting your late-night fix guilt-free.

Knowing how to control your smart lighting with Alexa is extremely useful if you're going for the full 'I live in the future' experience.

For users of various smart speaker brands — or the other devices with Alexa built in — controlling your smart lights with your voice not only has a certain wow factor, but it can be extremely convenient too. As someone whose bedroom light switch is comically far away from the bed, being able to turn off the lights while lying down has saved me an awful lot of stubbed toes over the years.

But there’s more to controlling your smart lighting with Alexa than just turning lights on and off. With the power of Alexa’s AI, you are on the path to having an automated home. Yes, you can adjust the brightness, change the colors, and even set lights to turn on and off at set times automatically. Here’s how to control your smart lighting with Alexa.

How to control smart lighting with Alexa

Do I need Alexa to use smart lighting? 

No, it’s distinctly optional — but I would say the convenience makes it essential in real terms.

Without the best Alexa speaker, you’ll be using the automated lighting maker’s own app to control things. That means every time you want to adjust the lights, you have to pull your phone out of your pocket, unlock it, track down the app and find the right control — objectively less convenient than just saying “Alexa, turn on the light.”

Smart bulb, smart switch or smart plug? 

There are a few ways to get Alexa controlled smart lighting in your home, and you don’t actually need a smart light bulb.

It’s all about where the smart component actually sits, but essentially something needs to be connected to WiFi for it to function. That could be the smart bulb itself, but it could equally be a smart light switch or a smart plug with a regular old lamp attached.

The latter two options are, of course, less flexible — you can’t make a regular lightbulb change colors, and controls are a binary choice of ‘on’ or ‘off’ (unless your smart switch has a built-in dimmer) — but they’re a relatively inexpensive option to make ‘dumb’ bulbs smart.

There’s nothing stopping you mixing and matching smart bulbs, smart light switches and smart plugs throughout your home if you like. Just don’t connect a smart bulb to a smart lightswitch — you won’t gain any functionality, and it’ll just confuse things.

How to add a smart light to Alexa 

This depends on the exact solution you’re adding to your smart home. The bulb in my bedroom is a Xiaomi smart bulb from a few years back, and it required a specific Alexa skill to be activated.

But as Alexa has grown in popularity, companies have better integrated with Amazon’s API and generally smart bulbs are much more streamlined nowadays. The vast majority can be added directly via the Amazon Alexa app:

• Install your light bulb, switch or plug. Sometimes, this will also require you to install the manufacturer’s own app.
• Open the Alexa app on your smartphone.
• If you have an especially intelligent smart device, Alexa may have automatically added it, so check under the ‘Devices’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
• If your device hasn’t appeared by itself, tap the ‘plus’ icon in the top right-hand corner.
• Tap ‘Add Device’.
• Select the kind of device you’re trying to add, whether it’s a bulb, a plug or a switch.
• Choose the brand you’ve bought from the list that pops up.
• Follow the on-screen instructions. Typically, this will involve linking your account for your smart device (GE, Philips, Wyze, Belkin, etc.) with your Amazon one, and then authorizing Alexa to access said account.

If you plan on having multiple smart lights throughout the house, it makes sense to give each one a sensible, easy-to-remember name. That means you can just say “Alexa, turn on the bedroom light” and the Echo won’t get confused and illuminate the wrong room.

How to control your smart lights 

Now you know how to use smart light bulbs, you should now be good to go, with your smart light fully controllable by Alexa. What that means in practice is that you can sidestep the manufacturer’s own app and use your voice instead.

The exact supported voice commands will depend on what solution you’ve opted for, and what its limitations are. As mentioned previously, smart light switches and plugs tend to be a binary on/off choice, but smart bulbs can also have adjustable brightness and as many as 16 million colors to choose from.

Adding to the ever-growing list of the best Alexa skills, here are some voice commands to try. The specific phrasing will depend on any names you’ve applied.

• Alexa, turn on [light name]
• Alexa, turn off the light
• Alexa, make the [light name] turn green
• Alexa, make [room name] warmer/cooler
• Alexa, dim the lights
• Alexa, set [light name] brightness to 10%

Making the lighting smarter 

In the last section, some commands mentioned room names, and others mentioned the light name. That’s in part to do with how you've set up Alexa, but if you’re a multi-Echo household, you can also make your smart lights a bit smarter with context-aware lighting.

That means that you can simply say “turn off the lights” to the Echo in your living room, say, and only the lights near the smart speaker will go dark. You could still tell the living room Echo to turn off the bedroom lights, if you like, but you’d have to be more specific. It’s a slightly more natural way of communicating with Alexa.

To do this, you have to assign your lighting to a specific Echo group. Here’s how to do that.

• Open the Alexa app, and switch to the Devices tab.
• Tap the plus sign in the top right-hand corner and then select ‘Add Group’.
• Name the group to your liking, and then add lights to it.
• Choose which Amazon Echo is assigned to your lighting group, and then tap ‘Save’.

Beyond this, there are other neat things you can do to automate your smart home lighting. With Alexa’s routines, you can set your lights to come on at a set time of day like clockwork, or make the lighting work as part of a wider instruction.

You could, for example, make saying “Alexa, good morning” trigger the smart lights to come on in your bedroom, and for the Echo to give you a daily news briefing. The limit really is your imagination — to get started, tap the three lines at the top left-hand corner of the app, select “Routines” and play around with the options.

Smart kitchen ideas are here to make the way you cook, eat, shop and live simpler, more efficient, and just generally more nice. 

Whether you’re already well on the way to building a smart home or are just starting out, if you’re looking at new kitchen appliances, it makes sense to choose ones augmented with apps. Smart kitchen devices can — amongst other things — improve your cooking, help you track your calorie intake and offer a huge amount of convenience along the way. 

Of course, all of these kitchen ideas are supervised via your smartphone and most are programmable via voice controls too. The future really is here.

15 smart kitchen ideas 

1. Recipes on tap with a smart screen

If you’re already well on the way to designing your automated home, you’ll have already decided which virtual assistant you want to control everything from your lights to your thermostat. At the time of writing, the two serious contenders are Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa — two cloud-based virtual assistants that power Nest Home and Echo devices respectively.

Adding a virtual assistant to your kitchen is important for getting the most out of all the smart kitchen ideas below, but we’d recommend a smart screen over a smart speaker for one big reason: recipes. They respond to requests for recipe ideas, putting instructions or videos right up on the screen in front of you, making it easy to try something different in the kitchen.

Thankfully, there are great options for fans of both Google Assistant and Alexa. For the former, you’ll want to buy a Nest Hub (7-inch for $100 or 10-inch for $230), and for the latter you’ll want Amazon’s Echo Show (8-inch for $150 , 10-inch for $250or 15-inch also for $250.)

2. A big-screen smart home center

If a 10-inch smart screen doesn’t sound quite imposing enough for you, General Electric has something bigger and better. The $1,200 GE Kitchen Hub is a 27-inch touch screen that sits above your cooking range and doubles up as a smart hub and ventilation combo.

It has Google Assistant built in, and can do everything the Nest Hub can alongside its ventilation duties. It contains over 5,000 recipes with the built-in Flavourly app, includes a camera to make video calls and even has Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video apps pre installed in case you want to binge watch your favorite shows while you make dinner. And don't worry, we've got plenty of kitchen TV ideas to make sure this isn't too obtrusive.

3. Keep track of ingredients with a WiFi fridge

Samsung has its own idea of what should be the hub of your smart home life: the fridge. The company’s family of Family Hub branded smart fridges naturally do the main job of keeping your food cold, but add in a large 21.5-inch touchscreen for managing your smart home and leaving notes and doodles for family members to keep track of.  

So far, so smart screen, but the Samsung Family Hub fridges have another key feature: a camera on the inside, so you can see what’s in your fridge when you’re at the shops to ensure you don’t overbuy. What’s more, the Meal Planner feature will suggest meals based on the ingredients sat in your fridge, and you can even intelligently track expiration dates to reduce your food wastage.  Yet another thing to add to our list of surprising uses for wifi.

4. Start cooking dinner remotely

A smart electric range may sound like overkill, but it’s actually one of the big perks of a smart kitchen. Imagine being able to preheat the oven ten minutes before you get home from work — or better still, putting your meal in before you leave in the morning and turning it on just in time for it to be ready as you walk through the door.

That’s all possible with the $1,250 GE Profile electric range and other similar products from Samsung and LG. This particular model is a strong contender, however, thanks to its numerous settings, airfrying mode, self-cleaning functionality and, of course, the accompanying app.

5. An AI powered oven to cook just about anything

If you’re perfectly happy with your main electric range and want a smaller tabletop oven, then the June Oven aims to take your smart kitchen up a notch. Ambitiously, it promises to take on the role of 12 different appliances including air fryer, dehydrator, slow cooker, toaster, pizza oven and dough proofer. 

But it doesn’t stop there. Thanks to the built-in camera, not only can you monitor your meal from anywhere, but the June Oven will use AI to assess what’s been placed inside and recommend appropriate cooking methods and timings. 

6. A microwave designed with Alexa in mind

It’s clear that Amazon sees Alexa as the future of the smart kitchen, and that’s why it’s released its own $75 microwave designed from the ground up to work with the smart assistant. 

While you’ll need an external Echo device to connect to it (Amazon sells cut-price bundles with the microwave and an Echo Dot if you don’t already have one), once set up you can operate the device purely via your voice. And while you can just say something specific like “Alexa, microwave for two minutes,” you can also let the virtual assistant figure out timings for you by saying something like “Alexa, microwave 1.5 ounces of popcorn.” 

7. Monitor meat the smart way

The $100 Meater Plus is a wireless thermometer to help perfect your meat cooking, and thanks to its 165ft range, it’ll work with your BBQ too. It comes complete with two sensors on a single probe, measuring meat up to 212°F and ambient temperatures of up to 527°F.

But the connected app won’t just tell you the temperature: it’ll also estimate cooking times for the perfect bite, too. When not in use, it sits in a handsome bamboo dock which also charges it up to 100 times with a single AAA battery, ensuring it’s ready for use whenever you need it.

8. An all-in-one smart appliance

At $1,499, the Thermomix TM6 certainly isn’t cheap, but it does offer 24 different cooking functions for the (admittedly expensive) price of one. It can boil an egg, thicken sauces, cook rice, blend soups or even ferment yogurt. All of this is taken care of via a 500W motor and scales that can measure the weight of ingredients to an accuracy of 0.1g.

While boiling an egg isn’t the most intimidating task, doing something like sous vide with it may appear a bit daunting, and that's where the smarts come in. Attached is a 6.8-inch touchscreen which is your gateway to over 60,000 recipes to get the most of it. 

9. A smarter multicooker

For a budget friendly but still impressively smart option, the $150 Instant Pot Smart WiFi 6 Quart ticks a whole lot of boxes as well. An electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, bread maker and more in one compact device, the smart Instant Pot has 48 pre-sets to make food prep and cooking a doddle.

While it’s all easy to follow via the large LCD panel and accompanying buttons,  you can also use Alexa to program the Instant Pot hands free.

10. Diet-friendly smart scales

Home cooking is typically more healthy than ready meals or eating out, but it can be tricky to track the nutritional content of whatever you’re cooking. That’s where the Etekcity Smart Food Nutrition Scale comes in. With Bluetooth built in, the scales sync with the accompanying iOS and Android apps to get USDA nutritional data for nearly 8,000 food items, making sticking to your plan a breeze. 

And while the prospect of another app to keep track of may seem unappealing, the company has recently updated the app so that calories, vitamins and minerals can be synced with both Apple Health and Fitbit.

11. A smart garden in your kitchen

Nothing quite beats the taste of fresh vegetables and herbs, and the $350 AeroGarden Bounty allows even those not blessed with green thumbs to maintain a small but thriving indoor garden.

The 40 watt LED lamp allows plants to grow beautifully indoors, and the built-in touchscreen provides vital information and reminders to top up food and water as appropriate. The indoor garden’s status can be checked on remotely via the accompanying smartphone app, allowing you to tinker with the lights from anywhere in the world, and you can also connect it with Alexa for voice-controlled smart gardening.

12. A brew just how you like it

If you’re a coffee connoisseur, you’ll be pleased to hear that your caffeine habit can also be improved with smart kitchen tech. Yes, smart coffee machines are a thing.

The $250 Atomi Smart Coffee Maker is a good example of how this can work in practice. With the accompanying Atomi smartphone app, you can start grinding your beans at any time from anywhere, and ensure that your coffee is ready and waiting for you when you head down to your smart kitchen to collect. 

While the grinding and brewing process can be started with a simple Google Assistant or Alexa voice command, the app lets you go deeper with specific schedules, water level monitoring and coffee strength customization. 

13. Hot drinks that stay hot

If you really want to take your coffee game to the next level, you’ll want to pair that smart coffee maker with the $100 Ember smart mug — a cup that does away with the problem of hot drinks going cold. 

The app will recommend the ideal drinking temperature for your hot beverage of choice, and then the cup will keep it at that level. And if you happen to prefer tea, the app will even recommend how long to leave the bag in for. Best of all, you don’t need to worry about keeping it charged: the plate it comes with wirelessly tops up the battery of the cup when it’s not in use.

14. Exact water measurements and temperature

Yes, even your water faucet can benefit from tech built in. And, thanks to the design pedigree of Moen, you needn’t know it’s smart under the surface with a classy, minimalist look.

It’s Alexa connected, and that not only means you don’t need to worry about getting the handle dirty while trying to wash your hands, but you can get specific quantities and temperatures of water on demand. Asking for water for the baby bottle, for example, might deliver 6oz at 98 degrees Fahrenheit, while requesting a tablespoon of water will deliver that amount without the need to raid the cutlery drawer.

15. Smarter cleaning

A smart dishwasher may seem like overkill, but the Miele G7000 makes a good case as to why it should be part of your smart kitchen. 

As well as having an accompanying app to start wash cycles, order detergent and check up on how your dishwasher cycle is going, the smarts of the Miele G7000 really come from how it uses detergent. When you load the dishwasher, it’ll assess the quantity of dirty dishes and cups needing washing, and allocate the appropriate amount of detergent, with no guesswork on the part of the owner. 

If you know how to use smart light bulbs, the way you think about your home will change. You'll realise how much can be controlled, curated, and conveniently done a at the flick of a switch. And this guide will help you make sure you get the most out of your smart light bulb investment. That means not only finding the best lighting for each room but also ways to help make your life easier.

The best smart light bulbs can be controlled from your phone, by voice assistants and even your location. All that can add up to some seriously effort-free lighting which looks great too. From varying color and brightness to warmth, these bulbs give you a lot of options to play with. And with lighting strips, outdoor lighting and side light bulbs now all available in smart forms, there is more flexibility than ever. 

So what do you need to use smart light bulbs perfectly?

1. How to use smart light bulbs to automate your life

If you want an automated home you'll need smart light bulbs. Imagine entering your home to find it lit perfectly without you having to touch a thing. Many bulbs come with intelligent Circadian rhythm mimicking. That means the bulb will know the time of day and can adjust brightness, color and warmth to create the most natural light. 

Or, perhaps you want to have your lights off to save power but get them all on, in the rooms you need only, when you return home. This is possible too thanks to geo-fencing which, in many smart bulb apps, you can set up easily. This will then track your location so that when it detects you enter the geo-fenced area you set – perhaps at your door or even as you device down your road – the lights will come on as you have them set.

The other, more dynamic option, is to use your smart assistant. Many smart bulbs work with the best Alexa speakers, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. This means you can simply tell your smart speaker to turn a light on in a certain room and it will happen. Or perhaps you can use If This Then That (IFTTT) so that when you turn on your smart speaker to play music, the lights change to suit the mood. The options with this platform are near endless.

2. Keep your home more secure

Leaving the lights on when you go out at night is a classic tip for how to make it look like you're home when you're not. But how many do you leave on and is leaving them on all night worse than turning them off as you would normally when you go to sleep? Solve all these issues using your smart light bulb app.

This will let you set timers on your bulbs so that you can have certain ones on and others off at the times you want. So perhaps you want to have your hall lights stay on until very late, only to turn off for night. Or maybe you want to keep a few side lights lit but dull them as it gets later.

The great thing about  smart bulbs as uses for wifi is that you can open the app on your phone whenever and wherever you are to adjust them. Get a video doorbell alert that there is someone lurking? Fire up the lights bright so it looks like you're home and have heard them coming.

3. Use light strips to enhance your rooms

Knowing how to use smart light bulbs is a great way to upgrade your current light fixtures. But their even more energy friendly and versatile LED smart strip light brethren can offer some extra levels of stunning. If you want to add an accent to a border, say the edge of a bed, the underside of a cabinet or even the path of your hallway at night, these light are ideal. Bedroom lighting ideas have never been so smart.

Since these are strips they can be easily stuck down anywhere you want and moved just as simply. They still offer all the lighting brightness, colour and warmth controls from your device, only while using far less energy than traditional bulbs since they're LED. The uses are plentiful.

Imagine having a strip of lights hidden out of sight in the day, which run down your hallway, they can be set to come on after you go to bed, very low, so you have a perfect light to find your way to the bathroom in the small hours. Or maybe you want to setup your lounge like a cinema, with low and colourful lighting around your TV and the fireplace – that's an easy fix too.

With these types of smart lights your main limit is your imagination.

4. Reduce eye strain with smart lights

After watching TV in a dark room it can leave your eyes feeling sore. This is because of the variation between the well-lit screen and the dark room that your eyes are also adapting too. The result can be badly strained eyes that actually feel tired. Smart lighting to the rescue.

But instead of scrapping all your living room TV ideas, you can bring up the background light in the room instead. It's possible to still get that dark cinema feel to your viewing but while keeping enough light to take the strain off your eyes. It also helps when reaching for the popcorn and drinks.

You can use smart LED strips on the back of your TV to create a halo effect as the light is thrown onto the wall behind the screen. This looks fantastic and does the job of subtly lighting the room too. Smart bulbs in fixtures can be used on low settings too, but having all the light behind the TV in one place does give you a more immersive viewing experience.

Some of the best TV brands, like the Philips Ambilight in the picture above, actually have this lighting built in. These are able to change the colour to suit what's on screen for an even more immersive viewing experience. 

5. Accent your art with smart light bulbs

If art galleries use lighting to give accents to their artwork then why shouldn't you? Using smart bulbs near your pictures, or smart LED strips on the back of frames, it's possible to draw attention to your art in a subtle yet dynamic way. 

If you've gone for smart lights with color options then you may want to have one wall all one colour or perhaps to vary the colour to suit each picture. Controlling the level of lighting in your gallery wall ideas means this can be as subtle or as punchy as you want – perhaps turning it down for a night-in but up for when entertaining guests. 

Are smart light bulbs safe?

All this sticking of lighting behind potentially flammable wooden units and under beds may have you wondering just how safe they are. Thankfully the answer is that smart light bulbs are very safe. In the case of the LED strip lights these use so little power they don't even produce heat you can notice.

For the larger smart light bulbs, which are also LED, the energy drain is still low and there can be a lot of electronics in those that connect directly to WiFi. But if you're buying from a known brand then you can rest assured they've been tested and had to pass a lot of checks before making it anywhere near your home.

The only real threat that they may pose is giving a hacker another WiFi opening to get into your network. But no more than any other app or gadget that uses your home's WiFi network. And you can always get a VPN installed if you're really worried.

Can smart light bulbs be use in any fixture?

The short answer is no, smart light bulbs can't be used in any fixture. Just like any bulb you'll need to be sure you buy the correct size and fitting to suit your fixture. That can mean a bayonet bulb or a screw option and it can mean variations in size.

Another factor when looking at this is that some bulbs are larger than conventional ones, once you go up past the connection part. So be sure the lamp itself has enough room to fit the bulb size and shape that you're looking to buy.

Knowing how to control your TV with Alexa feels a little like living in the future. Yes, remote controls have been commonly bundled with TVs since the 1970s, but being able to control your TV purely by the power of your voice is not only a neat party trick but something that can add a whole layer of extra convenience to your smart home.

You may be used to interacting with Amazon's voice assistant because you have one of the best Alexa speakers. Day-to-day tasks like checking the weather, playing music, and setting timers might already be fully automated for you But adding voice commands to your TV is certainly worth doing, especially if you frequently misplace the remote. 

We’ll outline six ways you can control your TV with Alexa in a moment, but first, a few words on compatibility and how to add voice controls to aging television sets.

How to control your TV with Alexa

Is my TV compatible with Alexa? 

Whether you can control your TV with Alexa depends on more than just your knowledge of the best Alexa skills. For Alexa voice controls, in most cases, you need two things: a device with Alexa built-in (most likely an Amazon Echo) and a smart TV that supports Amazon’s virtual assistant.

With so many television models out there, it would be impossible to list every one with Alexa support, but here are a few pointers. 

LG TVs with Web OS 4.0 and higher are supported, as are all TCL Roku TVs. Panasonic, meanwhile, has been helpful enough to include a full list of models from 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 with Alexa support. HiSense also has a list, as does Samsung, where the functionality was introduced to high-end 2020 sets before being rolled out to all new TVs in 2021. 

Some companies suggest you check for the presence of a built-in app to confirm support either way. Compatible Sony sets can be identified by the presence of the “TV Control with Smart Speakers” or “TV Control Setup with Amazon Alexa” apps. At the same time, Philips owners should look for the Amazon Alexa client app on their home screen.   

How to add Alexa to a non-compatible TV 

But even if your TV isn’t compatible with Alexa out of the box, all isn’t lost. And if you know how to set up Alexa, you can easily do this too. 

The Amazon Fire Stick can turn even old ‘dumb’ TVs into smart ones, as long as they have an available HDMI port. And if you buy one of the more recent Fire TV Sticks with Alexa built-in — or even better, the $120 Fire TV Cube — then you’ll be able to control your TV with Alexa even if you don’t have one of the best smart speakers within earshot.

How can I control my TV with Alexa? 

The specific supported voice commands and phrasing may depend on your setup, so consult relevant Alexa skills for more details. But below are some of the things that you might be able to do if you can control your TV with Alexa. 

Just remember that Alexa can only respond to what it hears, and that means you’ll probably want to move your smart speaker away from the TV, so it can pick up your voice commands over the top of whatever show you’re trying to enjoy.

Can Alexa turn on my TV?

This is a basic function that seems to be in pretty much every integration on the best TV brands. It’s delivered by saying something like “Alexa, turn the TV on” or “Alexa, turn on [TV name]” if you have more than one connected.

Naturally, this also works in reverse, and you can turn off the TV by subbing in the word “off.” 

Can Alexa change TV channels?

As long as you’re using the TV’s built-in tuner, you can use Alexa to change TV channels. Just say something like “Alexa, channel 7 on TV” or “Alexa, change channel to [channel name] on [TV name].”

If you’re using a cable/set-top box for your TV, this is a little different, but more on that later.

Can Alexa adjust the TV volume?

As long as your TV is controlling the volume (either through internal speakers or a synced soundbar), then you should be able to control it with Alexa. This could be done via “Alexa, turn up the volume on TV” or “Alexa, set the volume to 10 on [TV name]” commands. 

This also works for muting and unmuting. Try “Alexa, mute TV” or “Alexa, unmute [TV name].”

Can Alexa find TV shows to watch?

Getting into more complex operations now, some Alexa integrations work with connected apps. Not just starting them up (“Alexa, open Netflix”) but the ability to search for genres, actors, or specific shows too.

A few examples of this include “Alexa, play The Man in the High Castle,” “Alexa, search for cooking videos on YouTube,” and “Alexa, show me action movies on Hulu.” You may even be able to say something as specific as, “Alexa, show me Tom Hanks movies on Prime Video.” 

Can Alexa control TV playback?

Once you’re viewing a show or movie with playback controls, you should be able to get Alexa to perform the most common functions. Try saying “Alexa, play/pause” to stop and start playback, or even “Alexa, go back 30 seconds” if you missed something important.

If you’re watching a series on a streaming platform, you may be able to skip entire shows by saying, “Alexa, play the next episode.” Unfortunately, you can’t pick out a specific episode by name or ask Alexa to play the previous installment, but it’s still some decent functionality.

Can Alexa tell you about the show you’re watching?

Only indirectly, as far as we can tell, and it isn’t supported in every Alexa integration. The LG Alexa support page has specific instructions for its TVs where you can ask a slightly convoluted question like “Alexa, ask LG what is the soundtrack of this program on TV” or “Alexa, ask LG to give me a summary of this program on TV.” 

Sadly, this functionality doesn’t yet appear to be replicated by other brands — not even via Amazon’s own Fire TV Stick.

What can’t I do with Alexa on my TV?

While that’s quite a comprehensive list, the main thing to remember is that it’s working with your TV (or Fire TV input) and not with any device connected via HDMI. That’s great if you watch shows via the aerial and the set’s own interface, but it means that if you use a cable box (or set-top box if you’re not in America), then Alexa won’t have direct control over it.

It is possible that your connected device will have its own Alexa integration. Devices including Fios, Frontier, and Xbox are all compatible. Still, they each require a separate setup, so check to see if the product you want to control is supported and enable it through the Alexa app.

Sometimes, you need to know how to reset Alexa. For if you ask it something and it doesn't answer you back, don't take it personally. That's just the way it occasionally goes. 

After you’ve turned it on and off a few times, naturally, factory resetting your Amazon Echo should be your last resort. With all of the best Alexa speakers, it is straightforward to do however, and resetting your Amazon Echo is also good practise if you're reselling it or handing it on to someone else. Here we run through how to reset your Amazon Echo (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations) on both the devices and the Alexa app. 

Check the health of your smart home gadgets regularly 

Finding time to give smart-home gadgets a little TLC can be satisfying. And now's a great time to back up computer files and camera photos. Make sure the best Alexa compatible devices such as the Echo smart speaker and alike are responding to your every request.

Being organized at home goes beyond sorting out the kitchen cupboards and sorting your shoe wardrobe (although we do love a good shoe wardrobe). That's why we've also included details on how you can use Alexa to set reminders, build routines and organise your day. 

How to reset Alexa - Factory resetting an Amazon Echo 

1. Check the light status on your Echo device 

Before you go about resetting your device it's important to understand what the lights mean on your Amazon Echo speaker. The different lights on the speaker are how it communicates its status to you. This is not always covered when you're thinking about how to set up Alexa, so you may be a little misty on it.

Yellow: If it’s pulsing a short burst of yellow that means you have notifications. You can say ‘Alexa, what are my notifications?’ to get things moving again.

Cyan on blue: A cyan spotlight rotating around a darker blue light ring means that Alexa is listening. You can find out how to stop Alexa from listening, but it's good to know that as Alexa processes your request the light ring glimmers briefly.

Red: This color shows when the microphone on/off button is pressed to disconnect it and means Alexa is not listening. If you press if again you can enable your microphone.

Spinning Cyan on blue: A continuous slowly spinning light that shows cyan on blue means that the speaker is stating up. If you haven’t already set up the device before it will then turn orange, ready for set up.

Orange: The Echo is in set up mode and attempting to connect to WiFi.

Purple: When setting up your Echo, purple will show if there are WiFi issues. If that is the case it's worth reading out feature on How to Make WiFi Faster before you go about resetting Alexa. 

White: When you adjust the device’s volume, white lights will appear to show the volume levels.

2. Reset your Amazon Echo (1st and 2nd Generation)

Before you reset your Amazon Echo, remember that it will go back to Factory Settings and wipe all your personalised settings. So check and double check again before you make any bold moves. 

To reset your Amazon Echo (1st Generation) speaker you need to use something as small and pointy as a paper clip or similar tool to press and hold the Reset button. You will then have to wait for the light ring to turn on and off again.

To reset your Echo (2nd Generation) speaker you’ll need to press and hold the Microphone Off and Volume down buttons. Then wait for the light ring to turn orange, which will take around 20 seconds.

3. Reset your Amazon Echo (3rd or 4th Generation)

To reset an Amazon Echo (3rd or 4th Generation) to its factory settings simply press and hold the Action button for 25 seconds. Once the light ring starts to pulse orange it should then turn off.

You will need to wait for the light ring to turn back on and turn blue. Then it will turn orange for the set up mode.  

4. How to factory reset your Echo device using the Alexa app

Alternatively, you can factory reset your Echo device using the Alexa app. To do this you need to open the app and select Devices. Choose Echo & Alexa and pick which speaker you want to reset. Scroll to Factory Reset and confirm your choice.

Get organized with Alexa 

1. Get reminders from your daily calendar with Alexa  

Aside from the best Alexa skills, there are many handy things you can do. Link your calendar to the Alexa app and you can ask Alexa to update you on your schedule. Just say ‘Alexa, what’s on my calendar for today?’  

You can also ask Alexa to send you reminders, such as sending a birthday card on a certain day or remembering the time you booked the dentist.  

2. Set up a Routine in the Alexa app. 

You can set up your Echo device so that when you say ‘Alexa, start my workday’ a series of actions happen. This could be a certain radio station playing at a certain time, a news bulletin starting and your office lights turning on (provided you have linked up to a compatible smart plug). 

This comes in particularly useful if you’re working from home as you can set alerts as to when you want to take a break and relax on the sofa. And we definitely recommend doing that. 

Once you know how to set up a Fire Stick you can start watching all the latest TV shows. But that's not all you can use it for. You can also use Fire TV apps to get fitter this Spring. 

Amazon’s smart TV service works with all the best TV brands. But knowing how to set up the Amazon Fire TV Stick correctly is key to getting the best from the comprehensive service, which is why we’ve highlighted the step-by-step instructions here. We've included advice on troubleshooting the Alexa remote and how to set up parental controls on your Fire TV too.

Using your large TV screen to follow the best fitness classes can also be motivating. We prefer it to following classes on small and awkwardly positioned smartphone screens, for example. Once you’ve worked out how to set up your Amazon Fire TV Stick, a great way to start using the service is by browsing its latest offering of best fitness apps. We’ve outlined a few of our favorites that have us reaching for our yoga mats and pulling on the Fabletics to get moving. The comfy sofa is conveniently positioned nearby at all times, of course.

How to set up a Fire Stick - 7 simple steps to TV heaven

While there is an ample range of Fire TV devices you can buy, here we have focused on set up for the latest Fire TV Sticks. What is a fire stick, you might ask? It's a device which allows you to access Amazon's services, and includes the Fire TV Stick 4K, The Fire TV Stick 4K Max, the Fire TV Stick Lite and the Fire TV Stick. Bear in mind that while all generations aren’t exactly the same, they are similar. You will need to have an Amazon account to sign in too. 

1. Start by putting batteries in your Fire TV remote and having your WiFi password to hand.

2. Next plug your Fire TV Stick into the TV’s HDMI Port. Next, plug the power adapter into an outlet.

3. You will need to use the USB cable to connect the power adapter to your Fire TV device.

4. Your remote should pair automatically. If it doesn’t press the Home button until ‘Press to start” appears on your screen. This should take around 10 seconds. If you can't pair your Fire TV remote during set up then move your remote closer to the Fire TV device. It needs to be within 10ft. 

If that still doesn't work then remove the batteries, wait 30 seconds and press hold and the Home button again. Then reset your Fire TV remote. 

5. Connect to your home Wi-Fi network by following the onscreen instructions. Download the latest software update if prompted. 

6. Sign in with your Amazon account. 

7. If you want to download apps and games, you can add a default payment method to ‘Your Payments’ on your Amazon account. 

Which Fire TV Stick is best?

There are a number of Fire TV devices you can now buy depending on your budget. Ready to ramp up your living room TV ideas are the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite that can stream content in Full HD quality 1080p. The latest Fire Stick 4K Max gives you an even sharper picture as it gives you Ultra HD streaming and it is 40% more powerful than the original Fire TV Stick 4K. 

You can also buy the Fire TV Cube, Fire TV soundbars and actual Fire TVs with Fire TV built in. 

All these Fire TV Devices will give you access to the latest content and apps with Alexa voice control, but the latest versions will have the 'all-new Fire TV experience'. This gives you an updated main menu, Fire TV profiles, and options to customise your use.

How to set parental controls on a Fire TV Stick

If you have young kids you may want to set up parental controls straight away. It's only a matter of time before they master the art of navigating the remote, so ensuring the best security features to restrict playback of videos with certain age ratings is a good idea. To set parental controls on a Fire TV all you need to do is:

1. Go to settings on the Fire TV homepage.

2. Select the menu item Preferences. 

3. Select Parental Controls. 

4. Enter your PIN to enable parental controls. 

5. Select the level of viewing restrictions. 

Top 5 fitness apps on Fire TV

Once you install Fire TV it's easy to make use of a range of fitness apps to follow direct on your TV screen. And many of them will fit seamlessly into your home gym ideas. You will need to sign and pay a subscription to use them, but many come with a free trial that can be easily cancelled when you've decided enough is enough. Our favorite fitness apps on Fire TV include: 

1. Peloton app 

While it’s known for its coach-led cycling classes, Peloton also offers a selection of strength, toning, meditation and yoga sessions. We particularly like the Pilates and Barre-based classes. You can currently get two months free trial when you sign up.

2. FiiT app

With the FiiT app you can choose from a wide range of workouts to follow including dumbbell and kettlebell classes, bodyweight workouts, HIIT classes and more. FiiT currently has a 14-day free trial when you sign up for monthly membership.

3. Gymondo app

Gymondo has a wide range of motivational workouts on its app from Yoga basics to a total bodyshape class. You can also try Hip Hop Cardio, Salsa Fusion and more. There’s currently a 7-day free trial for those that sign up for monthly membership.

4. Les Mills+ app

You can add a wide range of classes to your workout timetable with the Les Mill+ app. Choose from specialised high-intensity interval training classes to a selection of group classes including Les Mils Core, Tone and Barre. At the time of writing Les Mill+ is offering a first month free trial and 70% off your second month when you sign up for a monthly subscription. 

5. Gaia app 

If yoga and meditation is more your thing than body pump, the Gaia app will stand you in good stead. It has a wide selection of yoga and meditation classes you can follow as well as a library of thousands of thought-provoking short films and documentaries. The app is currently offering a 7-day free trial. 

January blues getting the better of you? Here's how Alexa can make you happier this month. Or at the very least make any post-Christmas polka face break into a smile. We've discovered the best things to ask Alexa this month to ramp up the positivity and see you through any foggy mornings and long winter evenings. We also found the best way to discover inspirational recipes from Alexa so you can create delicious and heartwarming meals.

Adding to the list of the best Alexa skills, you can now ask it for a good news or to  sing you a happy song. In fact, there's a range of questions you can ask that are sure to spark joy. Between 17th and 23rd January, you can also ask Alexa to 'brighten your day' and it will recite excerpts from bestselling author Matt Haig, who has written The Midnight Library and The Comfort Book. These aren't just any ordinary excerpts either and have been described as 'hugs in book form'. 

What's more, if a little too much Christmas cheese, stollen and chocolate coins have left you in desperate need of some healthy recipe ideas to lift your mood, Alexa has it covered. You can ask Alexa to nudge you step-by-step through some delicious recipes that are sure to make you smile in delight. 

How Alexa can brighten your day

7 positivity reminders from Alexa

This month you can ask Alexa these phrases that are designed to add a little sunshine to your day, even when it's raining cats and dogs outside. 

1. Try: "Alexa, sing a happy song" 

When we tried it: Alexa started singing "What do you do if you're feeling rather blue in an English country garden..." 

2. Try "Alexa, tell me a joke"

When we tried it: Alexa told us 'Did you hear about the sick chimney? It had a bad flu'. Groan.

3. Try "Alexa, give me some good news"

When we tried it: Alexa told us something very random we're not actually sure what we heard! 

4. Try "Alexa, cheer me up"

When we tried it: Alexa told us that if you fake laugh for long enough you'll end up actually laughing. Clever. 

5. Try "Alexa, compliment me"

When we tried it: Alexa told us 'You're even better than a unicorn, because you're real'. Ha! 

6. Try "Alexa, tell me something nice"

When we tried it: Alexa told us 'You're really something special'. Blush. 

7. Try "Alexa, brighten my day"

Between 17th to 23rd January you can ask Alexa to brighten your day and it will play you inspiring excerpts from Matt Haig's books The Midnight Library and The Comfort Book.  

Feeling uninspired on what to cook tonight? Use Alexa for recipe inspiration

Whether you’re following the latest keto plan or embracing Veganuary all the way, there’s nothing more smile-inducing than a decent home-cooked meal. You’ll find the latest range of Amazon Echo Show devices are great for use in the kitchen and can give you instant access to a wide range of healthy, inspirational recipes. You can use Alexa to play your favorite music instantly too, so you can sing along, tap your toes or even dance the YMCA or alike while you prepare meals.

A latest Alexa device worth looking up is the new Echo Show 15 smart speaker, one of the best Alexa speakers. This is particularly useful in the kitchen as it can be wall mounted or used on its stand to perch neatly on the worksurface. 

The Echo Show 15 features widgets to display your favorite recipes, recently played music, your favorite photos, calendar and more, which are all displayed on the home screen. These widgets can be personalised to each user in the household and can be unlocked with ‘Visual ID’ whereby the Echo Show 15 will recognise your face. All you need to do is stand in front of the device and it will display your personalised home screen and do the same for each household member. 

As well as accessing your to-do lists so you feel suitably in control and organised, you can also leave digital ‘Sticky Notes’ for other household members.

How to use Alexa to follow recipes

• Set your food preferences with Alexa so it understands your dietary requirements. Once you say ‘Alexa, show my food preferences’ it will display your menu on screen and you can choose from vegan, pescatarian, kosher, keto, gluten-free, nut-free, low salt, vegetarian and more.
• Once you’ve set your food preferences, you can say ‘Alexa, Show me dinner recipes’ and it will bring up a selection of recipes for you to follow – as a default it will bring up recipes from BBC Good Food. You can change this if you go into the Skills section of the app and choose Recipedia, for example. When we tried Alexa gave us a recipe for a Bean, Chickpea and Feta Salad.
• If you’re feeling particularly uninspired, you can alternatively say ‘Alexa, what should I cook tonight?’.  The great thing about the Echo Show is that it has a screen so you can read the recipe and see visuals of the food you’re making. You can also say ‘Alexa, next step’ and Alexa will read out the instructions as you go. You can even ask Alexa questions about the recipe such as ‘Alexa, how much sugar do I need?
• You can also use Alexa to set cooking timers and help you convert tricky measurements - for example, just say: ‘Alexa, how many grams in 2 ounces’.
• Out of an item? Ask Alexa to add it to your shopping list, so you don’t forget when you next go to the supermarket.
• Try "Alexa, play cooking music" for good measure and get dancing while you cook. Happy days!