Modern life runs on subscriptions that are often useful, reasonable, and increasingly difficult to live without. The future arrived, but apparently we’ll need to keep paying monthly to use it.

Amazon Prime Day has discounted a wide range of security cameras, but while the ultra-cheap Ring and Blink are tempting, there are great deals for subscription-free options, too.

The Dreame X50 Ultra robot vacuum and mop is down to AU$1,479 for Prime Day, making this premium self-cleaning robovac much easier to recommend.
The LG SIGNATURE DLEX9900S is a massive dryer that stands out with a stunning design, plenty of smart features, and a robust ecosystem to go with it.

Smart bulbs are only the beginning; these are the affordable Philips Hue accessories our editors swear by.

The Google Home Speaker finally supports wireless connectivity to the Google TV Streamer, and it also comes with Dolby Atmos support.
Fraimic’s voice-to-art E Ink canvas lets you speak a prompt, generate AI artwork via GPT Image 2.0, and display it in a paper-like Spectra 6 frame without a subscription.

If you’re looking for a relatively affordable way to cut down on cooling costs, Google’s Nest Thermostat can help. It’s packed with smart controls and energy-saving features, and right now it’s on sale in white for $79 ($50 off), which is its best price of the year, at Amazon. The smart thermostat is quick to […]

The Schlage Sense Pro is a beautiful smart lock. Sleek, discreet, and simple to use, it’s Schlage’s smartest lock to date. Thanks to ultra-wideband (UWB), it unlocks as I walk up to my front door; I don’t need to enter a code or tap my phone or press my finger against it. I’ve tested several […]
Google Home version 4.20 adds pre-built automations you can turn on with a tap, making one of the app’s most useful features easier to use for automation newbies.