How is it possible that we’re already looking at the end of 2025? The smart home market continued to expand and become ever more mainstream this year, as manufacturers introduced new products that are easier to set up and use daily. The year’s biggest innovations revolve around AI, followed by the Matter standard that continues to break down the walls between brands, although there is still no standard for important product categories, including security cameras. In any event, this is the time when we celebrate the best smart home products you can buy in 2025. As is our practice, this list is not limited to products introduced in 2025, but they are all available for purchase today. And since this year is not quite over, and there are a handful of new products we’re still waiting to review, we might circle back to this and make an addition or two. Watch this space. Best smart lighting ecosystem: Philips Hue Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 (Bluetooth + Zigbee) Read our review Best Prices Today: $54.99 at Best Buy | $55.27 at Amazon | Not Available at Adorama Philips Hue has long been our lighting ecosystem of choice, offering a peerless section of smart bulbs, lamps, light strips, outdoor lights, and now security cameras as well as video doorbells. But this year, Philips Hue is taking things up a notch with a new Hue Bridge Pro that can handle more than 200 Hue devices (150 lights plus 50-ish accessories) while also turning your Hue lights into motion sensors. With the Bridge Pro’s added capacity plus its ability to turn every room into a motion zone, the Philips Hue lighting ecosystem is looking stronger than ever.  Best lighting control system: Lutron Caséta  Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer Read our review Best Prices Today: $69.95 at Amazon If you’re intent on installing smart light switches to control your existing home lights, look no further than the Lutron Caséta smart home ecosystem. With its proprietary Clear Connect technology, Lutron switches like the Diva Smart Dimmer are tops at controlling home lighting, and the system is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and even Sonos speakers. Beyond smart lights, the Lutron Caséta ecosystem also comprises smart shades and blinds, motion sensors, ceiling-fan controllers, keypads, and remotes.  Best smart lock: Level Lock Pro Level Lock Pro Read our review It may look like an ordinary deadbolt (that’s a good thing, by the way), but the Level Lock Pro is a state-of-the-art smart lock that can be unlocked with an NFC-enabled key fob, a smart phone, a smart watch, or a PIN (when used with its optional keypad). The lock also supports geofencing, meaning it can lock or unlock your door as you leave or approach your home. Because it supports Matter, the Level Lock Pro will work with the Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings ecosystems, and it can be bridged into your Wi-Fi network via an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot Max, an Apple HomePod or HomePod mini, a Google Nest Hub Max or 2nd-gen Hub, or any other smart speaker or display that offers Thread border router functionality. Best video doorbell for Alexa users TP-Link Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera Read our review Best Prices Today: $89.99 at Amazon | $99.99 at TP-Link/Tapo Yes, Amazon just shipped several new Ring video doorbells, but we’ve not had the opportunity to review any of them. But the Tapo D225 Video Doorbell doesn’t win its spot on this list by default. Despite its low street price of just $90, this porch sentinel boasts 2K video resolution, a head-to-toe view of your visitor, and it comes with a plug-in chime so you’ll never miss someone who rings the bell. You won’t need to worry about the ongoing cost of a subscription for cloud storage, as there’s an onboard microSD card slow, and you can operate it on its internal battery or hardwire it to low-voltage power. Take the latter route and you’ll even be able to set up 24/7 recording. As our reviewer summed it up: “[the Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera might not be much to look at, but it delivers a lot of features and it gets the job done.” Best video doorbell for Apple Home users Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 Read our review Best Prices Today: $119.99 at Amazon Prime | $129.99 at Amazon The headline of our Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 review reads, simply, “Yeah, it does that, too.” That’s because there are so few things it’s not capable of. What’s more, it can also function as a complete Matter-compatible smart home hub, thanks to its Thread and Zigbee radios (although support for the latter is limited to Aqara’s own Zigbee devices). You don’t need to be an Apple Home aficionado to appreciate this doorbell–it’s also compatible with the Amazon Alexa and Google Home ecosystems–but Apple users will welcome it as one of the few video doorbells to support Apple’s HomeKit and HomeKit Secure. Best video doorbell for Google Home users Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 3rd gen) Read our review Best Prices Today: $174.99 at Amazon We said Google’s Gemini was a game-changer in our review of the Nest Doorbell (wired, 3rd gen) largely because of that AI’s ability to describe and summarize what security cameras like this have seen. Gemini also empowers you to search all of the camera’s high-resolution recordings with natural-language queries–that sure beats scrubbing along a timeline looking for a specific event. Google doesn’t offer the same features in a battery-powered model, yet, so you’ll need to have a low-voltage transformer to install this. But it will look attractive next to your door while delivering a head-to-toe view of your visitors. Best indoor security camera for Amazon Alexa users Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor (model VMC3073-100NAS) Read our review Best Prices Today: $14.99 at Amazon Don’t let this indoor camera’s low price tag fool you. This home security device is packed with more features than you might expect for the money, including 2K video resolution and a pan/tilt motor that can spin its lens 360 degrees and tilt it over a 180-degree arc. The small camera runs on Arlo Intelligence to produce AI-powered alerts for people, vehicles, animals, and packages. Be aware that this is an AC-powered camera–there is not battery option–and you’ll need to pay for a subscription to unlock all of its features. Best indoor security camera for Google Home users Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen) Best Prices Today: $99.98 at Amazon No, we haven’t published our complete hands-on review of the Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen), but we have enough experience with it to know that it’s the best choice for smart home dwellers in the Google Home ecosystem. Like Google’s latest Nest Doorbell and Nest Cam Outdoor, this indoor model delivers 2K video resolution, but the real benefit to be had is Google’s Gemini AI–and you’ll want to pay for a Google Home Premium subscription to get the full benefit of it (as with all of Google’s Nest cameras, you do get a rolling three hours of event-based video recordings without a sub). None of Google’s new and most powerful cameras have battery options, you’ll need to plug each of them into a nearby AC outlet, but you won’t find a better home security camera if your life revolves around Google Home. Best outdoor security camera for Apple Home users Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro WLAN Read our review Best Prices Today: $159.99 at Amazon Prime | $169.99 at Amazon Best outdoor security camera for Google Home users The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro is the rare smart home device that’s not just an outdoor Wi-fi home security, but it’s also a Matter-certified outdoor smart home hub complete with Thread and Zigbee radios. Now before you get too excited, know that its Zigbee radio can only control Aqara’s own Zigbee smart home devices, but that offering is pretty solid. As for the camera element of this device, its 4-megapixel image sensor captures video in resolution of 2688×1520 pixels, and it’s fully compatible with Apple Home, including HomeKit Secure Video. If you’re concerned about finding an outdoor outlet to plug it in, consider its PoE cousin and run an ethernet cable from your compatible router for both data and power. Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd gen) Best Prices Today: $119.97 at Amazon We haven’t yet published our review of the Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd gen), either, but we installed it at the same time we conducted our Nest Doorbell (wired, 3rd gen) review and have been using it continually since then. The highlight is, of course, the integration with Google’s Gemini AI, and its ability to summarize the events that happened within its field of view. Unlike most cameras, you’ll get need at least some free recordings in the cloud, but you’ll need to sign up for a subscription to get enough to be truly useful, and that’s also the only way to unlock Gemini. Best floodlight camera: Eufy Floodlight Camera E340  Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 Read our review Best Prices Today: $219.99 at Amazon Our favorite floodlight camera isn’t just a floodlight and security cam in one–it’s actually a floodlight plus two cameras, including one with a 3K wide-angle lens and a second with a 2K telephoto lens. Equipped with a pan/tilt motor, the Eufy Floodlight Camera E340’s dual cameras can pan 360 degrees over a 120-degree arc, perfect for covering large swathes of your property, while its twin LED panels can illuminate the area with up to 2,000 lumens of brightness. The E340 also offers up to 128GB of local storage on a (user-supplied) microSD card, meaning no need for cloud storage, or you can go big with up to 16TB of hard drive storage when using the Eufy HomeBase S380. Read...

A new laptop feels like a fresh digital start: fast, clean, and ready for anything. But before you dive in, it’s wise to perform a quick system check, because many devices come with unnecessary software, suboptimal settings, and disabled security features. We’ll show you the 10 most important steps you should take immediately after switching on for the first time, so that your Windows 11 laptop runs at full performance and with the best possible protection right from the start. 1. Setting up Windows and installing updates The first step is the most important: setting up Windows carefully can save you a lot of trouble later. After logging in (whether with a Microsoft or local account), you should check for updates immediately: Open Settings ? Windows Update. Click on “Check for updates” and install everything. Restart the computer and repeat the process until no more updates are pending. Many new laptops sit in storage for months before sale, so important security and driver updates may be missing. Optionally, you can also check your manufacturer’s website (e.g. Lenovo, Dell, HP, Asus) for the latest drivers for graphics or chipset. This ensures stability and performance. Tip: If Windows annoys you with requests or recommendations for a Microsoft account, you can go offline during setup. Windows will then automatically offer a local account. 2. Find and uninstall unnecessary software Manufacturers love to overload laptops with trial versions, tools, and mini-games. Such superfluous programs eat up memory, tend to run in the background, and can slow down your beautiful new system. That’s why it’s best to clear them out right at the start. Here’s what you should do: Open Settings ? Apps ? Installed apps. Sort by installation date or manufacturer. Uninstall anything you don’t know or don’t need. Tip: You can do an even more thorough job with tools such as Revo Uninstaller, which can also detect hidden remnants in the registry. 3. Install important programs and tools Now comes the creative part. This is where your laptop gets its personalized basic configuration. No new Windows 11 device should be without this software: Browser: Chrome, Firefox, or Brave. Gamers go for Opera GX. Office suite: Microsoft 365, LibreOffice, or Google Docs. PDF tool: Adobe Acrobat Reader, SumatraPDF, or PDF24. Antivirus: Windows Defender is solid, but if you want more control, install an external tool. Password manager: Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePassXC. Cloud backup: OneDrive, Dropbox, or iDrive. Tip: Install your most important programs immediately after the update process. This will give you a clear system status that you can rely on in the event of problems later on. Ninite also allows you to install several programs at the same time without annoying toolbars or additional software. 4. Important Windows settings for laptops Windows 11 comes with many smart functions, but not all of them are optimally preconfigured. A few clicks in the settings make everyday life much more pleasant and secure: Privacy: Under Settings ? Privacy & Security ? Windows permissions, you can switch off unnecessary transmission of data, advertising, and location access. Windows Defender: Check under Windows Security ? Virus & Threat Protection whether real-time protection is active. OneDrive sync: If you prefer local folders, deactivate, or limit the automatic upload. Default apps: Select your preferred programs for browser, mail, and photos–otherwise Windows likes to open Edge & Co. without being asked. You can find the settings under “Default apps” (simply tap in the Start window). You can also get there via Settings ? Apps ? Default apps. Tip: Activate the “Show file extensions” option in File Explorer. This makes it easier to recognize suspicious files and provides simple protection against phishing and malware. To do this, click on View in the menu bar and tick the “File name extensions” box. 5. Configure touchpad, keyboard, and function keys Fine-tuning the input devices is worth its weight in gold, especially on laptops. A touchpad that is too sensitive or an impractical FN assignment can quickly become annoying and slow down work processes. Touchpad gestures: Open Settings ? Bluetooth & Devices ? Touchpad. Here you can customize or deactivate gestures for scrolling, zooming, and changing the desktop. Mouse speed: In the same settings, you can adjust the pointer speed (“cursor speed”). Function keys: Many manufacturers offer tools such as Asus Armoury Crate or HP Command Center to configure FN keys. Tip: Use three-finger gestures for multitasking. This allows you to switch between apps or jump to the desktop at lightning speed. This saves time in everyday life and allows you to work in a more relaxed manner. 6. Optimize battery and energy settings A fresh battery lasts a long time at the beginning, but with the right settings, your laptop will run even more efficiently. Windows 11 offers several options for fine-tuning runtime, performance, and power consumption. Open Settings ? System ? Power & battery. Under Energy status, select what is more important to you: Best Energy Efficiency, Balanced, or Best Performance. You can reduce the screen brightness in battery mode by a few levels. This often gives you an additional 30-60 minutes runtime. Activate energy-saving mode when the battery level drops below 30 percent. Tip for technology fans: Use the command “powercfg /batteryreport” in the terminal (Win X ? Terminal (Admin)) to create a detailed battery report. This shows how often your battery has already been charged, what capacity it still has, and when it’s time to replace it. To protect your battery in the long term, we also recommend: Regular intermediate charges instead of continuous operation on the mains adapter. No permanent 100 percent charging, this stresses the energy cells. If the battery isn’t used for a longer period of time, charge it to around 50 percent, and store it in a cool place (but not cold). 7. Strengthen security and data protection As soon as your system is up and running, you should activate the most important security functions. Windows 11 already has everything you need for this, you just have to switch it on. Activate Windows Hello: Under Settings ? Accounts ? Sign-in options, you can set up a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition. Activate BitLocker or device encryption: This will protect your data even in the event of theft. Check the firewall: This should always be active. Wi-Fi security: Delete old networks, avoid public hotspots, or secure them with a VPN. Tip: If you use Windows 11 Pro, you should activate BitLocker. This encrypts the entire hard drive and may be linked to your Microsoft account for recovery. On devices with TPM 2.0 (standard since 2021), this works automatically. If you want maximum control over your privacy, tools like O&O ShutUp10 help to deactivate hidden telemetry services with one click. 8. Set up backup and restore Nothing is more annoying than losing a perfectly set-up system because an update interferes or a virus strikes. That’s why we recommend creating a full backup right at the start. Open Control Panel ? System and Security ? Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Don’t be confused by the term “Windows 7,” this is just an old name that Microsoft still uses. Select “Create system image” and save it to an external hard drive. It’s best to set a restore point immediately afterwards. To do this, simply type “Create restore point” in the search. Tip: Alternatively, you can also use cloud services like OneDrive or Google Drive to automatically back up personal files. If you prefer convenience and are prepared to spend a little money, you can use tools such as Macrium Reflect or AcronisTrue Image. These allow you to create complete images and schedule regular backups automatically. 9. Performance tuning and convenience functions A few quick tweaks not only make Windows faster, but also more convenient. Reduce AutoStart programs: In the Task Manager (Ctrl Shift Esc ? “Autostart”), deactivate everything you don’t need all the time. Activate memory optimization: Settings ? System ? Memory ? Switch on “Memory optimization.” Windows will then automatically delete temporary files. Customize visual effects: Enter “Advanced system settings” in the search and select the “Customize for optimal performance” function via Advanced ? Performance ? Settings. Use snap layouts and virtual desktops: Arrange windows flexibly with Win Z and switch between workspaces with Win Tab. Tip: For power users, it’s worth taking a look at PowerToys. This free Microsoft tool provides additional functions such as window snap, keyboard shortcuts, or color pipette. 10. Extras for advanced users If you want to be really precise, you can now make a few fine adjustments that are often only known to experienced users: Check BIOS/UEFI: Call up with Del or F2 at startup. There you can adjust Secure Boot, boot sequence, or fan profiles. Check manufacturer tools: Programs such as My Asus, Lenovo Vantage, or HP Support Assistant provide firmware updates. Decide for yourself which ones you want to use or keep. Gaming optimization: For laptops with a dedicated GPU, it’s worth checking the energy profiles in the graphics card control. Deactivate Windows features: Control Panel ? Programs ? Programs and Features ? Activate or deactivate Windows features. Unnecessary services such as “Internet Explorer 11” or “XPS services” can be switched off here. Read...

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When’s the best time to splurge on something nice for yourself? If you ask me, it’s Black Friday—or more specifically, the days leading up to Black Friday. There are already some hot deals going on, but one that catches my eye is this Sony WH-1000XM5 deal on Amazon. It’s one of the best wireless noise-canceling headphones ever, and the price is right now that it’s just $298 (that’s $100 off). View this Amazon deal The noise-canceling technology is superb in these cans, with Sony using two processors that control eight different microphones for precise wave cancellation. Whether you want to block out your chattering coworkers or just want some peace and quite while commuting, these Sony headphones are an excellent pick and well worth it. They’re fully wireless and pair easily via Bluetooth, and they can connect to two devices at once. That means you can listen to music on your laptop, then instantly take a call on your phone. The over-ear design makes it easy to isolate yourself from the world and focus on the voice of whomever you’re talking to. There are also convenient touch controls that you can use to control volume and playback, answer or reject calls, and even activate your phone’s voice assistant. What about battery life? No worries there. The Sony WH-1000XM5 lasts up to 30 hours of active playback on a single charge, and when you realize you’re running on fumes, a quick 3-minute charge can give you another 3 hours of playback. (Just enough to make it back home and give it a proper charge back up to full.) Our friends at TechAdvisor reviewed these headphones and gave them a stunning 5-star rating and their Editors’ Choice award. These are as good as it gets for the price, so snag a pair for just $298 while you can! Save $100 on one of the greatest wireless noise-canceling headphonesBuy now at Amazon Read...