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Best Smart Home Devices 2026 — Security, Lighting & Automation

Build your smart home with expert picks for security cameras, smart lighting, robot vacuums, thermostats, and more.

AI Top Pick

Our Recommendation: Ring Video Doorbell 4

Smart video doorbell with 1536p HD video, colour night vision, and pre-roll video preview.

★★★★☆4.4/5 (34,560 reviews)

Easy installation
Good video quality
Pre-roll captures what triggered motion

from£179

View Full Review Check Price on Amazon

What are the best smart-home to buy right now?

Our top-rated smart-home right now are the Ring Video Doorbell 4 (£179). These are our editor's picks based on value, performance, and user reviews.

AI Pick

AI Recommended

resolution1536p HD

fov160° horizontal

featuresColour Night Vision, Pre-Roll, Motion Detection

Easy installationGood video quality

Subscription needed for recording

What is the best smart home starter kit?

Start with three things: smart plugs (TP-Link Tapo P110, £34 for 4), smart lighting (Philips Hue Starter Kit, £129), and a smart speaker (Amazon Echo Dot 5, £49). Total: ~£210 for a fully connected home.

Top Rated

typeSmart plug (4-pack)

power13A, 3120W max

featuresEnergy monitoring, scheduling, timers

Incredible value (4-pack)Energy monitoring

2.4GHz Wi-Fi only

Top Rated-12%Best Seller

bulbs3x A60 E27 (1100 lumens each)

bridgeHue Bridge included

colours16 million colours

Works with everythingReliable Zigbee protocol

Expensive per bulb

typeCompact smart speaker

drivers1.73" front-firing

audioMono

Incredibly affordableAlexa is feature-rich

Small speaker = limited audio

What is the best video doorbell?

The Ring Video Doorbell 4 is our top pick — easy installation, good video quality with colour night vision, and it works seamlessly with Alexa. The pre-roll video preview shows what triggered the motion.

AI Pick

AI Recommended

resolution1536p HD

fov160° horizontal

featuresColour Night Vision, Pre-Roll, Motion Detection

Easy installationGood video quality

Subscription needed for recording

What is the best robot vacuum in 2026?

The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is the best overall — it vacuums AND mops, with auto-empty and auto-wash dock. The iRobot Roomba j9+ is the best pure vacuum with superior obstacle avoidance.

Top Rated

suction8000Pa

navigationLiDAR + 3D structured light

featuresAuto-empty, auto-wash mops, hot-air drying

Vacuums AND mopsAuto-empty + auto-wash

Expensive

suction100% more suction than j7+

navigationPrecisionVision (front camera)

featuresAuto-empty, obstacle avoidance, smart mapping

Excellent obstacle avoidanceAuto-empty is hands-free

Very expensive

Is a smart thermostat worth the investment?

Yes — the Google Nest Learning Thermostat can save 10-15% on heating bills by learning your schedule. It pays for itself in 1-2 years. The new 4th gen model has a gorgeous edge-to-edge display and Matter support.

display2.7" LCD edge-to-edge

sensorsTemperature, humidity, occupancy, ambient light

featuresLearning schedule, Home/Away, Energy History

Learns your habitsSaves on energy bills

Expensive for a thermostat

What smart home ecosystem should I choose?

Apple HomeKit for privacy and Apple users. Amazon Alexa for the widest device compatibility and best prices. Google Home for the smartest assistant and Nest products. Matter (new standard) is making cross-platform easier.