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.

Older Google TV and Chromecast devices are finally getting the Home Panel feature, allowing you to control your smart home devices from your TV. The feature was initially launched with the Google TV Streamer last year, but Google opened a public preview program to let users enroll older devices. Now, the feature appears to have launched widely and quietly. The latest update began rolling out earlier this week, and reports indicate users are using the Home Panel feature on discontinued Chromecast devices and Google TV sets, including Hisense TVs. Also: New Google Labs experiments help you learn new languages in'bite-sized' lessons The Home Panel on Google TV lets you control Google Home-compatible smart devices by accessing them on the right side of your TV.

Older Google TV and Chromecast devices are finally getting the Home Panel feature, allowing you to control your smart home devices from your TV. The feature was initially launched with the Google TV Streamer last year, but Google opened a public preview program to let users enroll older devices. Now, the feature appears to have launched widely and quietly. The latest update began rolling out earlier this week, and reports indicate users are using the Home Panel feature on discontinued Chromecast devices and Google TV sets, including Hisense TVs. Also: These old Google Nest thermostats may soon be obsolete - but it's not all bad news The Home Panel on Google TV lets you control Google Home-compatible smart devices by accessing them on the right side of your TV.

ADT offers Yale Assure locks with its ADT home security systems, and now the security service provider has partnered with Yale and the Z-Wave Alliance to introduce the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch with Z-Wave. This is the first Z-Wave lock with fingerprint recognition that is certified to use the Z-Wave User Credential Command Class specification that was released in June 2024. The new lock also features the latest generation Z-Wave 800 chipset, which promises longer battery life and improved range on a Z-Wave mesh network. Thanks to its use of the Z-Wave User Credential Command Class spec, ADT subscribers will be able arm and disarm their security system at the same time they lock or unlock the new deadbolt, all by just touching their previously enrolled finger to the new lock. ADT offers the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch with Z-Wave with its ADT home security systems, which can be self- or professionally installed.

Google has announced that it will no longer be bringing new Nest Thermostats to Europe due to the "unique" requirements of heating systems in the region. The company launched its redesigned fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat in 2024. "Heating systems in Europe are unique and have a variety of hardware and software requirements that make it challenging to build for the diverse set of homes," Google says. The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat E will continue to function, receive security updates and be sold while supplies last. If you're in the market for a new thermostat that works with Google Home, though, you'll have to turn to a third-party option.