We research and compare the best home automation products, so you can buy with confidence, not guesswork.
The eufyCam 3 (S330) is the better pick for most homeowners because it records 4K video to local storage with no required monthly fee, while the Arlo Pro 5S is the stronger choice if you want a polished app, broad smart home support, and are fine paying for a cloud plan.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is the better pick for most households thanks to built-in voice control, an air quality sensor, and broad smart home support, while the Honeywell Home T9 is a good fit if you want a simple touchscreen and room sensors at a gentler learning curve.
The Schlage Encode Plus is the better pick if you want the highest published security rating and built-in Wi-Fi with Apple Home Key. The Yale Assure Lock 2 is the better pick if you want a modular lock with swappable connectivity modules and a wider choice of finishes and keypad styles.
For most people, a Kasa smart plug is the safer buy. Kasa's cloud, Alexa, and Google Home support are still active, while Wemo ended support for most of its products on January 31, 2026. Wemo's Thread-based plug is only worth considering if you live entirely in Apple Home.
The Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the better pick for most households thanks to its larger screen, fuller sound, sharper camera, and built-in Zigbee and Thread support, while the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is the smarter buy for a nightstand, desk, or small kitchen where size and cost matter most.
Govee vs Nanoleaf light strips comes down to value versus polish. The Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light M1 is the better pick for most people, with Matter support, multi-color zones, and a huge feature set at a friendlier cost. The Nanoleaf Essentials Matter Light Strip is worth a look if you already use Nanoleaf panels or want a simple, Thread-based strip that fits cleanly into Apple Home.
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is our top pick for large homes in 2026, with a 220-minute runtime, 4-floor mapping, and 10,000 Pa suction that hold up across big, multi-room layouts.