Hue’s SpatialAware finally made me appreciate color-changing lights
Hue’s SpatialAware finally made me appreciate color-changing lights

I’ve been a fan of Philips Hue smart lights since the early days. It’s one of the few staples in my ever-changing smart home. However, when the Bridge Pro launched late last year, it wasn’t immediately obvious why I should upgrade. The signature feature, MotionAware – which turns your lights into motion sensors – is […]

This chunky little tablet got my kid to clean up his toys
This chunky little tablet got my kid to clean up his toys

Never underestimate the power that a cheap tablet holds over a kid under six. The Skylight Buddy is a device with one job: to be a cute little guy that helps your kid track routines and chores. It’s $139.99, plus an optional subscription. And to my surprise, even though it offers a pretty limited set […]

This smart bird feeder captures more of my backyard drama
This smart bird feeder captures more of my backyard drama

Since moving to South Carolina’s Lowcountry, I’ve been spellbound by the myriad of beautiful birds that share the coast with us – ospreys raising their babies in towering nests beside the road to my daughter’s school, roseate spoonbills wading in the marsh on my morning walks, eagles circling over my son’s tennis matches, and a […]

These are the robot vacuum-mops I recommend for every type of home
These are the robot vacuum-mops I recommend for every type of home

Inviting a robot vacuum-mop into your life is a big decision. An autonomous floor-cleaning machine roaming your home is equal parts glorious and intrusive. But if it does its job well, you may forgive it for eating your rug tassel, running over your Apple Watch, smearing strawberry jam across your carpet, or chattering to you […]

Dyson finally made a better robot, but a worse vacuum
Dyson finally made a better robot, but a worse vacuum

I’m deeply conflicted about the Dyson Spot + Scrub Ai robot vacuum and mop. It’s the company’s best robotic floor cleaner to date, with excellent mopping performance, good navigation and obstacle detection, and a multifunction dock that takes much of the busywork off your hands. But Dyson’s first attempt at a vacuum-and-mop combo is a […]

Ikea’s smart donut lamp is a sweet treat
Ikea’s smart donut lamp is a sweet treat

Ikea’s popular Varmblixt lamp just got a smart home glow-up. The delightfully bulbous light now features color-changing, dimming, and smart home control. I tested the new smart lamp in my daughter’s room and found it made a great bedside lamp and added a fun touch of ambiance to her space. While she’s rarely a fan […]

How to ditch Ring’s surveillance network
How to ditch Ring’s surveillance network

Recently, Ring ran a Super Bowl ad for its Search Party feature showing how it uses AI to scan footage from Ring cameras and video doorbells to help find lost dogs. It sounds neighborly — until you consider that the same system could theoretically search footage for anything or anyone.  Combined with longstanding concerns around […]

Shark’s latest robot vacuum hunts stains with UV light
Shark’s latest robot vacuum hunts stains with UV light

The Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is SharkNinja’s latest robot vacuum and mop. A flagship model with a multifunctional dock that empties the dustbin and refills and washes its mop, the Reveal’s signature feature is a UV light designed to “find” stains on your floors. It costs $1,299.99 and is available now. Combined with an RGB […]

I didn’t expect to love Dyson’s PencilVac Fluffycones – but I did
I didn’t expect to love Dyson’s PencilVac Fluffycones – but I did

As The Verge’s resident robot vacuum reviewer, I don’t have a lot of time (or space) in my life for stick vacs, and frankly, the ones I have used have largely disappointed me. Top-heavy, bulky, always getting clogged or running out of battery – they’re so… manual. But then I met PencilVac Fluffycones, Dyson’s new […]

The best robot vacuum and mop to buy right now
The best robot vacuum and mop to buy right now

Robot vacuums that can both mop and sweep your floors have improved significantly in recent years. While they are still not as effective as good ol’ manual labor, if you run them regularly, they will help keep your floors cleaner with much less effort on your part. The difference is that newer “combo” robot vacuum-and-mop […]