Stuff - UK (2021-03)

(Antfer) #1

6


9


5


4


7


2


93


FOR FULL REVIEWS OF THE BEST SMART HOME DEVICES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMART-HOME-DEVICES


Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)
from £35 / stuff.tv/Dot

It can’t match a full-size smart
speaker for audio, but as a radio
and Alexa assistant for the bedside
or kitchen, this cutey gets the job
done. It’s worth paying £15 more
for the ‘with Clock’ version, which
adds extra functionality beyond
telling the time.

Amazon Echo Show 8
£80 / stuff.tv/EchoShow8

This is a bargain smart display
that’s big enough for easy video
chatting and loud enough to fill
most rooms. Its 8in touchscreen
may not be the most refined, and
the sound won’t worry Sonos,
but you can’t really complain at
this price.

Google Nest Mini
+++++£49 / stuff.tv/NestMini
Louder and cleverer than ever... and it’ll only
improve over time with updates.

Tado Smart Thermostat
+++++from £120 / stuff.tv/TadoV3Plus
This heating system roasts the competition
with its blend of simplicity and smarts.

Ring Indoor Cam
+++++£49 / stuff.tv/RingIndoor
This cute little spy-cam is a bona fide bargain for
anyone with security worries.

Philips Hue Starter Kit
+++++from £70 (white) / stuff.tv/Hue
Become an indoor god with the smartest way
of lighting up your home remotely.

Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen)
+++++£183 / stuff.tv/Nest3
A simple and mess-free smart thermostat with
Alexa compatibility.

Brisant-Secure Ultion Smart
+++++from £259 / stuff.tv/UltionSmart
Tradition and tech partner up in a smart lock to
please everyone.

3


Amazon Echo


(4th Gen)
£70 / stuff.tv/Echo

Having morphed from a cylinder to a sphere,
the latest Echo is an excellent newsreader,
weather forecaster, personal assistant and
intercom straight out of the box; but it’s now
also a capable speaker and a very accessible
smart home hub. It doesn’t sound as good as
the Sonos One or Apple HomePod for listening
to music, but it’s significantly smarter than both
and considerably cheaper too.

1

O NOW ADD THIS
Honeywell T6R
This Zigbee-enabled thermostat
is wireless so you can place it
where it’s most convenient.
£156 / amazon.co.uk

Stuff says +++++
An all-round upgrade that makes the
Echo a smarter speaker than ever

Stuff says +++++
The Alexa home invasion continues
apace with this superb smart display

Stuff says +++++
With the optional clock, this is our
favourite bedside wondergadget

The Echo’s built-in
Zigbee hub can hook
up hundreds of
smart home devices
without a bridge.

Pair a compatible
thermostat and the
Echo’s temperature
sensor can activate
the heating.

TIPS &
TRICKS

Alexa Flash Briefings
deliver bursts of
news or trivia;
choose from 5000
sources in the app.

HOT
BUY

8


SMART HOME TOP TENS

Free download pdf