Brinks Home Security Hacked, 'ShinyHunters' Threaten to Leak Data

Michael Kan — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 19:41:10 +0000

The hacking gang claims it stole over 4.9 million records, including some personal information.

Home security provider Brinks Home is warning customers that their data may have been stolen following a breach attributed to a notorious hacking gang.

“The party responsible for this situation has threatened to release information it claims to have taken,” Dallas-based Brinks Home

How High-Tech Is Your Place? Rate Your Smart Home Devices (Including Your Robot Vac) Today

PCMag UK — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We want to hear about all the digital platforms and devices designed to make your home life easier. Complete the survey for a chance to win $250.

Take the PCMag Smart Home Survey Today

Take other PCMag surveys. Each completed survey is a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card.

NEW: VPNs and Secure Browsers
Antivirus and Security Suites
foreign-made advanced robotic devices targets more than just futuristic humanoid machines. It also reaches into people’s homes by covering robot vacuums, too.
The Federal Communications Commission today confirmed to PCMag that the newly announced …

Mova Lidax Ultra 3000 AWD Review: The New Leader Among Robot Lawn Mowers

John R. Delaney — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:54:36 +0000

One of the more feature-rich smart lawn mowers I’ve tested, the Mova Lidax Ultra 3000 AWD is also one of the simpler models to set up and manage, and it does a fantastic job of cutting and edging lawns up to 0.75 acres. It …

Is Apple Finally Ready to Refresh Its Smart Home Devices, Launch a Home Hub?

James Peckham — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:15:44 +0000

Apple will launch a smart home hub device built around Siri AI, Bloomberg reports, alongside a refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini.

Apple’s long-awaited refreshed Siri AI will be at the heart of three new smart home gadgets, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

One device is a new product category: a smart home hub set to host the …

The Best Robot Mops for 2026

Andrew Gebhart — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:15:28 +0000

Retire your old mop and bucket. The top robot mops we've tested keep your floors squeaky clean with little effort on your part.

Which Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo Works Best?

Every robot mop has a few things in common. They generally come with reservoirs that need to be filled with water or cleaning solution, microfiber cloths that scrub your floors and pick up dirt, and sensors to help them navigate autonomously around your …

The Best Smart Fans for 2026

Andrew Gebhart — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:41:39 +0000

Keep your place cool with a connected fan you can conveniently control with your phone or voice. We've rounded up the best smart ceiling, desk, pedestal, and tower fans we've tested to make your selection a breeze.

The Best Handheld and Wearable Fans

Left to right: The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool, the Shark ChillPill

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Although all of the fans on our list excel at keeping you cool at home, you'll need something smaller to carry around for summer outings. The handheld …

The Best Air Purifiers for 2026

Angela Moscaritolo — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The top air purifiers we've tested can help you monitor indoor air quality and breathe more easily. From HEPA filtration to ionic technology, we help you understand your options and select the top model for your needs and budget.

What Makes an Air Purifier Smart?

Most air purifiers (not just smart ones) have sensors that measure the density of various airborne pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2, a toxic gas from car exhausts and power plants), PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in size, including industrial emissions and tobacco …

The Best Pet Cameras for 2026

Angela Moscaritolo — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:22:43 +0000

A pet camera lets you monitor your cat or dog 24/7—and some even let you give them treats! These are the top pet cameras we’ve tested, along with some of our favorite security cameras that also serve as pet monitors.

Pet Cameras vs. Home Security Cameras

If you want a camera primarily to monitor your pet, a general-purpose indoor home security camera might serve you just fine—and save you some money. We've included some on this list, all of which offer intelligent alerts that …

The Best Indoor Home Security Cameras for 2026

Angela Moscaritolo — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:08:07 +0000

The top indoor security cameras we've tested let you watch your home from anywhere and don't cost nearly as much as a full security system.

How to Pick the Best Home Security Camera

Although capabilities vary between devices, all indoor security cameras allow you to monitor the interior of your home through live or recorded video. Some of the features that differentiate them are alarms, the ability to send notifications when activity is detected, and two-way …

The Best Smart Plugs and Power Strips for 2026

Angela Moscaritolo — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:58:56 +0000

Forgot to unplug the iron this morning? The top smart plugs, outlets, and power strips we've tested let you control anything you can plug into the wall from your phone.

What Is a Smart Plug, and Where Can You Use It?

Let's make this clear: Whether they're marketed as smart switches, smart outlets, or any variation thereof, smart plugs are ultimately plug-in outlets (or power strips). These devices plug directly into a wall outlet or a traditional power strip and provide …

The Best Smart Displays for 2026

Will Greenwald — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:42:29 +0000

The top smart displays we've tested can serve as an advanced alarm clock, a helpful kitchen companion, or a convenient desk-side dashboard.

Amazon vs. Google Smart Displays

Amazon Alexa is available on the company's Echo Show smart displays, including the Echo Show 5, Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Show 15, and Echo Show 21 (all named for the size of their screens).

Echo Show 11

(Credit: …

The Best Smart Home Security Systems for 2026

John R. Delaney, Alex Colon — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:39:16 +0000

Looking for an alarm system to make you feel more secure? We've tested all the top professional and DIY home security systems to help you decide which is right to protect your family and property.

What Is a Security System and How Does It Work?

A smart home security system connects to your Wi-Fi network so you can monitor and control your security devices via an app. There are many different systems available across a wide range of prices. Depending on your needs, you can go …

Master the Pit: The Best Smart BBQ Grills for 2026

Will Greenwald, Angela Moscaritolo — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:16:05 +0000

The oldest form of cooking has embraced app control and AI-generated recipes. We've tested the top smart grills so you can host the ultimate high-tech barbecue.

The Best Smart Grilling Accessories

Grillbot Automatic Grill Cleaning Robot

(Credit: Grillbot)

Smart grilling doesn't start and end with the grill itself. There are plenty of smart accessories available to make both cooking and cleanup easier. If your grill doesn't have built-in temperature probes, smart meat thermometers …

The Best Robot Vacuums for 2026

Andrew Gebhart — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Want to keep your floors clean without lifting a finger? The top robot vacuums we've tested are more capable and affordable than ever.

Are Robot Vacuums Really Worth It?

A robot vacuum usually costs more than a traditional vacuum, though not always. Let's consider just what you get for the price.

Unless you really love to vacuum, the task itself is pretty mundane. Depending on the size of your house, a robot vacuum can save …

Apple Vision Pro VP Jumps Ship to OpenAI

Will Mccurdy — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:49:19 +0000

Paul Meade will join OpenAI’s hardware team. The move comes after Jony Ive, Apple’s former design chief, joined OpenAI last year to work on AI hardware.

Ahead of OpenAI preparing to launch its first hardware products, yet another senior Apple hardware executive has jumped ship.

Paul Meade, an Apple VP who heads up the Vision Pro team, is leaving to join OpenAI’s hardware team, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman

The 10 Most Frustrating Things About Amazon's Alexa and the Fixes That Work

Lance Whitney — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 18:47:40 +0000

Amazon's AI isn't perfect, even with the recent Alexa+ upgrade. Here's how to make it more responsive and useful, from voice training to turning off unwanted recommendations.

Alexa is meant to be helpful when you ask a question or issue a command, but there are times when Amazon’s voice assistant falls short. It can sometimes provide an incorrect response or even fail to fully understand your request. This can even happen with Alexa+, …

Clean Up With the Best Prime Day Robot Vacuum and Mop Deals From Top Brands

Carlos Mejia — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:40:34 +0000

From Dyson to Ecovacs to iRobot, we've found the best robot vacuum and mop sales and steals that won't suck the money out of your bank account.

This is the final day of Amazon's Prime Day event, which means it's your last chance to get a head start with some long-overdue household cleaning.

Below are some of the best robot vacuums and mops currently on sale. Just let one of these devices clean whatever …

Last Chance to Save Up to 75% on Home Security Cameras, Locks, and Doorbells Before Prime Day Ends

Juhi Wadia — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:48:46 +0000

We're in Prime Day's final hours and scoping out some of the biggest home security discounts, with up to 75% off smart cameras, video doorbells, and smart locks from Arlo, Blink, Eufy, Google Nest, and Ring.

Amazon Prime Day is officially on its last day (time does fly), which means now is the time to grab the stuff you've been leaving in your cart for months. You can upgrade your home security setup for less thanks to these robotic pool cleaner masters …

Get the Lowest Prime Day Price on the Best Ecobee Smart Thermostat

K. Thor Jensen — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:24:17 +0000

You might not be thinking about your heating bills now, but when the seasons start to change, you'll thank me as the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium saves you money every month.

There's nothing more annoying than constantly tinkering with your thermostat, especially if you live with people who run hot or cool themselves. Wasting energy heating and cooling your house is hard on your wallet, too. That's why we couldn't live without a smart thermostat linked to our …

Prime Day Eufy E15 Robot Lawn Mower Deal: Save Some Green While Cutting Grass

George Yang — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:37:49 +0000

Prime Day is still going on, and we've seen some great deals, including this one on the Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15. You can now grab it for 47% off today!

Like how manual vacuums gave way to robot vacuums, the same thing happened to lawn mowers! You can now get a robot lawn mower to cut your grass for you so you don't have to stay out in the blazing sun …

Sick of Only Talking to Alexa? Here's How I Turned My Amazon Echo Into a Phone

Lance Whitney — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Looking to get more functionality out of your Echo device? Here's a neat trick: You can use it to make and receive phone calls.

Alexa isn't the only one you can talk to through your Echo device. You can also make and receive voice and video calls through your smart speaker and the Alexa app. This skill works with most mobile phones and landlines in the US, UK, Canada, …

Google Home Speaker

Andrew Gebhart — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Google’s first smart speaker in years, the $99.99 Google Home Speaker signals a clear shift for the company's smart home strategy. Rather than relying on the long-running Google Assistant, it is powered by Gemini, bringing …

Unlock the Echo's Best Feature by Connecting Your Favorite Music Services

Lance Whitney — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Did you get an Amazon smart speaker on Prime Day? Here's how to listen to music on it through streaming services like Spotify and set your favorite as the default option.

Your Amazon Echo possesses a variety of skills, but its ability to play music is its most useful and enjoyable. The simplest way to play music on your Echo device is to listen through a music streaming service, though …

Prime Day Deals Are Here: Save Up to 50% on Home Security Cameras, Locks, and Doorbells

Juhi Wadia — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:08:29 +0000

Prime Day is delivering some of the year's biggest home security discounts, with up to 50% off smart cameras, video doorbells, and smart locks from trusted brands like Arlo, Blink, Eufy, Google Nest, and Ring.

Amazon Prime Day is officially live, which means now is the time to grab the stuff you've been leaving in your cart for months. You can upgrade your home security setup for less thanks to these Prime Day deals. We're seeing massive discounts …

How We Test Robot Vacuums

Angela Moscaritolo, Andrew Gebhart — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:46:18 +0000

Every robot vacuum and mop we review undergoes a rigorous, standardized testing process designed to measure performance, reliability, and overall value. This is how we determine which models deserve your consideration—and your money.

There's no shortage of robot vacuums on the market, but not all of them are equally effective. To help you pick the best one for your needs and budget, we test dozens of robot vacuums each year, in our actual homes, and evaluate them on criteria such as battery life, …

I Test Robot Vacuums for a Living, and This $199 Prime Day Deal Is the One I'd Buy

Andrew Gebhart — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:45:00 +0000

The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus is 33% off for Prime Day—and it brings self-emptying smarts and solid mapping to a rare sub-$200 price.

If you're in the market for a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop, now is a great time to get one. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus is 33% off on Prime Day, marked …

Amazon's Echo Devices Compared: Which One Is Best for Your Smart Home?

Chloe Albanesius — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:30:53 +0000

Shopping for an Amazon Echo on Prime Day? Before you spring for a smart display or speaker, check out the key differences between each device.

Don't Miss These Early Prime Day Home Security Deals: Up to 50% Off Cameras, Smart Locks, and Video Doorbells

Juhi Wadia — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:27:57 +0000

Prime Day is less than 24 hours away, and if you'd like a little extra peace of mind, check these home security deals. From video doorbells to security cameras, now's a good time to upgrade for less.

Amazon Prime Day begins in just a few hours, but you can already upgrade your home security setup for less thanks to early Prime Day deals. We're seeing massive discounts on home security gear like smart cameras, video doorbells, and smart locks …

Not Happy With Your Echo's Sound? Give It an Audio Boost With an External Speaker

Lance Whitney — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:25:51 +0000

Amazon Echoes are inexpensive and portable, but the smaller speakers don't have great audio. Here's how I improved the sound on my Alexa device by connecting it to a Bluetooth speaker.

Amazon's Echo lineup offers varying sound quality, and the best of the bunch, the Echo Studio, can cost upward of $200. If, like me, you're unhappy with the sound on your Amazon smart speaker, you can easily connect it to …

Clean Up On These Early Prime Day Robot Vacuum and Mop Deals From Top Brands

Carlos Mejia — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:46:09 +0000

From Dyson to Ecovacs, to iRobot, we've already found some of the best robot vacuum and mop sales and steals that won't suck the money out of your bank account.

It’s almost Prime Day, which means the temperature is heating up on discounts all across Amazon. From TVs to home security, Amazon’s big day is already slashing price tags in half, which is great if you need a …

The Best Robot Lawn Mowers for 2026

John R. Delaney — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:39:14 +0000

The top robot lawn mowers we've tested will free you from pushing a noisy, gas-powered machine around the yard every weekend.

How Do Robot Lawn Mowers Work?

Robot lawn mowers resemble robot vacuums. In action, it's almost like watching a Roomba darting around your lawn, tidying things up. When it comes to what's inside, however, things couldn't be more different.

Some robot mowers still …

Never Miss a Beat: This Echo Trick Lets You Play Music Throughout Your Home

Lance Whitney — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:07:17 +0000

Picking up an Echo device for Prime Day? Here's how to manage several Amazon Echo devices in your household and enable multi-room music playback.

Do you have more than one Echo device in your home? If so, you can direct them to play music throughout the house, an option supported across Amazon's lineup of Alexa smart speakers, which can be connected to work in …

Can a $2,000 Robot Mower Save Your Weekend? What I Learned After 3 Months of Testing

Tyler Hayes — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:10:02 +0000

Is it time to swap your lawn guy for a robot mower? After testing top-rated mowers from Segway and Eufy, I discovered that performance is only part of the story.

As temperatures rise, it's becoming increasingly uncomfortable to do yard work in the blazing sun, which is why I started experimenting with robotic lawn mowers.

I spent a few months mowing lawns, or rather, watching robots mow my lawn, and have concluded that most people, …

The Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums for 2026

Andrew Gebhart — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:14:03 +0000

Whether you're looking to avoid allergens or simply want to minimize housework, these are the top self-emptying robot vacuums we've tested.

How Do Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums Work?

Using a standard robot vacuum can sometimes feel like trading one dirty task for another: You no longer have to vacuum your floors, but you have to clean your robot after every run—ideally—so it continues to work properly. When manually emptying a robot vacuum's dustbin, …

The Best Smart Thermostats for 2026

John R. Delaney, Will Greenwald — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 21:50:02 +0000

The best smart thermostats we've tested can control your home's heating and cooling with your phone or voice—and might help you save on energy costs.

How to Choose a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats offer a range of features that can help keep your home comfortable and lower your heating and cooling costs. The most basic models are relatively inexpensive but still have Wi-Fi radios that allow you to connect the device to your home network and …

The Best Smart Locks for 2026

John R. Delaney, Angela Moscaritolo — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 21:46:56 +0000

Forget keys. The top smart locks we've tested are secure, easy to install, and provide several convenient ways to control who can access your home and when.

What Is a Smart Lock?

A smart lock enables you to easily lock and unlock your door through various methods, including a keypad and PIN code, a mobile app, and/or a fingerprint scanner. For added security, a smart lock also monitors who enters and leaves your house when you're away. While …

The Best Floodlight Cameras for 2026

John R. Delaney, Angela Moscaritolo — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:06:37 +0000

Monitor your property day and night with one of the top smart floodlight cameras we've tested.

How Bright Do Floodlight Cameras Get?

Most smart floodlight cameras use dual-LED lamps to illuminate the area. A typical bulb in a smart floodlight emits anywhere from approximately 500 to 3,000 lumens; the combined brightness of the two bulbs in dual-LED configurations typically surpasses that of single-bulb models. For context, a …

Temps Up, Prices Down: Amazon’s Smart Thermostat Drops 28% With This Early Prime Day Deal

Juhi Wadia — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

At under $60, this Alexa-enabled upgrade helps you manage heating and cooling from your phone or with your voice, making it an easy way to cut energy costs. It's also almost 30% off right now.

Early Prime Day is already bringing smart home savings straight to your home setup. The sale officially starts next week, but we are already seeing strong early drops on everyday home tech. We found the Amazon Smart Thermostat for just $57.99, down from $79.99, a full 28% …

PCMag UK smart-home