ZDNET's pick for the best budget-friendly video doorbell is now getting an upgrade, as Amazon has announced the launch of a new generation of the Blink Video Doorbell. The second-generation Blink Video Doorbell is being released four years after the first; it comes alongside the new Blink Sync Module Core and, unfortunately, sports a price increase. The new Blink Video Doorbell is available now for 70, a 20 price increase compared to the first model, which cost 50 when it was released. Also: I test smart locks for a living, and the most reliable one I've used is on sale for 130 However, the higher price brings some upgrades. The new Blink Video Doorbell has a 150-degree field of view, which gives you a bigger picture of people from head to toe and any packages that may be on your porch.

You likely have a smart assistant on your phone, a robot vacuum cleaner that sweeps and mops your floors, smart switches that turn off the lights without you even getting out of bed, a smart speaker that instructs your go-to assistant to play your favorite songs, and so on. Why don't you also have a smart robot lawn mower for your yard? The Segway Navimow i Series could be the missing link in your smart home setup. Segway's smart robot lawnmowers can be a great addition to any house, freeing up countless hours spent mowing for more pleasurable activities, such as spending time by the pool, having fun with the family, or just enjoying your hobbies. By adding a Navimow to your smart home setup, you'll get a perfect lawn without any of the effort usually required.

Google issued 100 announcements during its Google I/O developers conference this week, none of which involved the smart home. That apparent lack of enthusiasm for a topic close to our heart didn't dissuade TV and smart-appliance manufacturer Hisense from announcing plans to integrate new Google Home APIs into its own ConnectLife app, so that third-party smart home devices can be folded into that ecosystem. Hisense first announced that it would open its ConnectLife app to third-party products in December, 2024. Today, it announced it will incorporate the latest Google Home APIs into the app by the fall of 2025, Hisense says this will enable users to onboard a wide range of third-party smart home devices--including Matter and Works With Google Home-certified products--to create a more integrated smart home experience. Hisense cited two examples of how this would benefit ConnectLife users: "One-touch modes and customized automations can blend Hisense products with third-party devices to create intelligent home responses, such as air conditioners automatically adjusting based on third-party air quality sensors, or smart lights providing visual notifications when the Hisense refrigerator's VersaTemp drawer reaches the ideal temperature for chilling drinks."

Just a few years ago, getting a security camera to keep an eye on your kids or pets while you aren't home would've been pretty expensive. This tiny little thing can be placed anywhere inside your home, as long as it's close enough to an outlet for plugging in. Whether you're placing it on a bookcase shelf, near your TV, or on a nightstand, the Arlo Essential camera can capture most of any room thanks to its large 130-degree field of view and high-def 2560 1440 resolution. Even during the night, this camera will capture great-quality video, making it ideal for keeping an eye on your sleeping baby or watching out for burglars. Since it works with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, and IFTTT, you can integrate the camera with your local smart home setup and do things like pull up the video feed on your smart screen.

The SwitchBot Hub 3 smart home controller is now available for purchase. The Matter-capable device is quite different than other smart home hubs we've tested, starting with its rotary knob that can adjust the target temperature on a smart thermostat, the brightness of smart lighting devices, or the volume level of a connected speaker. Another feature that makes the 120 controller so interesting is the USB-C cable that connects it to its power supply: The cable senses the ambient temperature and relative humidity in the room where the Hub 3 is installed. These readings are shown on the hub's display. We have a hands-on review of the all-new SwitchBot Ultra, which is also shipping today.

From game-changing text diffusion models and cutting-edge AR glasses to AI videos with sound and virtual clothing try-ons, there was plenty of amazing tech to see during Google's I/O keynote on Tuesday. The closest we got to a smart home shout-out was when a Google exec said that Gemini--the star of the show--is "coming to your watch, your car dashboard, even your TV." As Google puts its Google TV Streamer under the umbrella of smart home, we'll count that as a fleeting reference. Officially, Google has promised that Gemini is coming to Nest devices. Gemini on Nest speakers has been available on a public-preview basis for months now, and back in March, Google confirmed that a "new experience powered by Gemini" is coming to smart speakers and displays.

Got your eye on a new laptop, smartphone, TV, or gaming console? Be prepared to shell out more money if and when you decide to buy it. A new report released this week by the Consumer Technology Association describes how the Trump tariffs could dramatically bump up the cost of your favorite electronic products. Based on analysis from the Trade Partnership Worldwide (TPW), an international trade and economic consulting firm, the latest report follows one released in January. Back then, Trump was advancing tariffs only as a threat and a bargaining ploy.

Your front door is your home's first line of defense. Having a video doorbell mounted next to that door is almost as important as having a deadbolt, because it will not only give your visitors an easy way to let you know they're there, but it will also know when anyone approaches your home–whether or not you're home at the time. In fact, these cameras are so useful you might want to mount one next to every entry point into your home: side entrances, at your garage door, and the door to your backyard, for example. Whether you're waiting for friends to visit, watching for trouble-makers, tracking parcel deliveries, or hiding from that weird neighbor who keeps asking to borrow your lawn mower, the video doorbell is an essential security tool. TechHive's editors and contributors have been testing video doorbells since 2014, and we continuously evaluate the latest devices along with their accompanying apps.

On paper, the up-and-coming Matter standard appears to be an ideal solution for smart homes: a protocol that enables the competing Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and other major smart-home platforms to collaborate effectively. In reality, Matter is still plagued with issues. Adding new devices to your Matter network can be a pain, and products connected via Matter sometimes "expose" only a fraction of the functionality to Matter controllers. And while Matter supports everything from smart bulbs and smart shades to robot vacuums and thermostats, one key smart home category still isn't part of the specification. I'm discussing security cameras, which are a crucial part of the smart home but still cannot connect to a Matter network.