The best smart home gadgets for 2025
If it feels like every piece of home tech is now 'smart,' you're not far off. The smart home space has grown exponentially in the past few years to include speakers, cameras, locks, lights and even kitchen appliances. There are also different voice assistants and IoT standards to consider, all of which can make it confusing (to say the least) to build your smart home ecosystem from the ground up.Allow us at Engadget to help with that. We've tested dozens of smart home gadgets over the years and continue to test the latest offerings to see which work well and are worth your money. We recommend, before you even dive in, to resist the urge to outfit your whole home in one go. Not only can this be quite expensive, but also we think it's generally best to buy just one or two items first to see if you like them. You should also pick a preferred voice assistant and stick with it. If you're at the point where you're ready to invest in a few new IoT gadgets, below are the best smart home gadgets you can get right now, plus some advice on how to choose the right voice assistant for your needs.
While plenty of the best smart home devices are platform agnostic, there are some — smart speakers and smart displays in particular — that require you to choose your voice assistant. Currently, that means deciding if you'll use the Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa on a regular basis (I'll address Siri in a moment.)
They're both compatible with various smart home products from light bulbs to robot vacuums, but there are certain devices that work best with either Google or Amazon. Nest products, for example, are more compatible and have more functionality with Google-powered speakers and displays. They can still work with Amazon devices, but certain features might be disabled. The same holds true with Amazon products: They work better if they're in the same ecosystem.
So how do you choose between Alexa and Google Assistant? It really depends on your personal preferences. Do you listen to Audible, watch Prime Video and tend to do a lot of shopping on Amazon? Then you might lean toward an Alexa-powered smart home device.
If you want a voice assistant that's great at answering questions, Google Assistant tends to be better than Alexa. Amazon's helper, on the other hand, currently supports more smart home products. The company's smart speakers and displays also support the Zigbee smart home protocol, and some devices even have built-in smart home hubs. Both Google and Amazon devices can sync with your calendar, though Google's tend to work better with Google services. Plus, if you already have an Android phone, you might be more comfortable with Google Assistant anyway.
But what about Siri? Apple's assistant supports voice commands as well, but it doesn't have as many compatible devices as Google or Amazon. The HomePod mini and the full-sized HomePod are the only Siri-compatible speakers on the market at the moment, too. That said, it's not too hard to find Apple HomeKit-compatible gear as more third-party companies add support for it, but you currently have a smaller pool of devices to choose from.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Analysts unveil bold forecast for Alphabet stock despite ChatGPT threat
Analysts unveil bold forecast for Alphabet stock despite ChatGPT threat originally appeared on TheStreet. You typed in a question and clicked a few links, and Google could get paid if you landed on an ad. For years, that simple cycle helped turn Google into a trillion-dollar titan. But now, that model is under threat. 💵💰💰💵 AI-powered chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT are rapidly changing how people find answers. Instead of browsing through links, users are getting direct summaries on AI. These 'zero-click' searches quietly erode the economics that built the modern internet. The number of users is growing fast. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in April that ChatGPT already has 'something like 10% of the world" in terms of users, pegging the number closer to 800 million, Forbes reported. Even Google seems to know it. It's giving AI answers, called AI Overviews, right at the top of the page. "What's changing is not that fewer people are searching the that more and more the answers to Google are being answered right on Google's page. That AI box at the top of Google is now absorbing that content that would have gone to the original content creators," Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince said in a CNBC interview. Alphabet () , Google's parent company, isn't showing any cracks just yet. In April, the company posted first-quarter revenue of $90.23 billion, topping Wall Street expectations. Earnings per share came in at $2.81, far above the forecasted $ the backbone of Google's business, brought in $66.89 billion, accounting for nearly three-quarters of total revenue. Its 'Search and other' segment rose almost 10% year over year, hitting $50.7 billion. Meanwhile, Google's own AI tools are starting to show traction. AI Overviews now has 1.5 billion users per month, up from 1 billion in October, the company said. So far, the numbers suggest that AI isn't cannibalizing Google's business yet. Bank of America remains bullish on Alphabet stock. The firm reiterated a buy rating and a price target of $200, which implies a potential 15% upside from current levels, according to a recent research report. The firm said in May, Google's global average daily web visits held steady at 2.7 billion, unchanged from the previous month and down 2% from a year earlier. ChatGPT, meanwhile, saw a 3% month-over-month increase to 182 million, marking a 105% jump the U.S., Google traffic slipped 2% year-over-year to 524 million daily visits, while ChatGPT surged 112% over the same period to 26 million. Although Google has highlighted the growing reach of its AI Overviews, analysts are uncertain whether it's translating into more traffic. 'So far, we are not seeing a lift in Google traffic from AI Overviews expansion, though we think the search experience is much improved,' the analysts wrote. The competition is real. Google's global search share also edged down in May, falling 8 basis points month-over-month and 123 basis points year-over-year to 89.6%, according to Statcounter. Still, Bank of America analysts remain optimistic on Alphabet stock. "While ChatGPT's traffic continues to grow rapidly, we think Google remains well-positioned given its scale, multi-product reach, data assets, and robust monetization infrastructure," the analysts said. "AI can expand overall search monetization by better understanding the intent behind complex and long-tail queries that were previously hard to monetize," they added. Morningstar's Malik Ahmed Khan echoed that sentiment, saying Alphabet's diverse revenue streams and global exposure should cushion any hits, even as regulatory and AI risks mount, according to a May research report. Alphabet stock closed at $174.92 on June 6. The stock is down 8% unveil bold forecast for Alphabet stock despite ChatGPT threat first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 6, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Tom's Guide
18 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
I thought $149 was too cheap for a good espresso machine, but De'Longhi proved me wrong
Getting into coffee feels like learning a new language — and that's coming from someone who literally has a professional background in it. Don't even get me started on the specialist equipment that looks like medieval torture devices. While it's definitely worth getting one of the best coffee grinders and best coffee scales, all this equipment can be really daunting at the start. So I'll help you out by recommending the De'Longhi Stilosa. The best espresso machines are often around the $1,000 mark, especially big names like Breville. The De'Longhi Stilosa is one of the best beginner-friendly budget-friendly espresso machines. Although it needs some practice and finesse to get café-quality shots, I'll teach you exactly how to achieve that right now. I discuss everything in 2,000-word detail in my 4-star De'Longhi Stilosa review, but here's the TLDR: the Stilosa is a remarkable machine considering its price. It makes technically wonderful espresso, heats up quickly, and has a very powerful steam wand capable of aerating velvety milk. More often than not, when you try and snag a cheap espresso machine, you're left with watery, weak espresso that takes nothing like the cafe down the road, or even the Starbucks across town. Not the De'Longhi Stilosa, though. As promised, I'll teach you exactly how to turn this $149 gadget into an almost-Breville coffeemaking machine. Don't get me wrong, right out of the box, the Stilosa is great. It's capable of reaching 15-bar pressure and comes with single-walled portafilter baskets for 'proper' espresso. But for just $149, some sacrifices will have been made, and that comes in the form of accessories. First, I'd recommend repurposing the tamper that comes with the Stilosa and getting a cheap metal tamper. As the Stilosa has a 51mm portafilter basket (where the coffee goes, as you can see in the picture below), you'll need one of the same size. You can get a budget one for $6-9 on Amazon or a spring-loaded one for $42 on Amazon. Next, you'll need either an accurate kitchen scale, or one of the best coffee scales. This is to ensure you've got your ratios right. You should be aiming for around a 1:2 coffee to espresso ratio. For a double shot, I always dose 18g of finely-ground coffee for 36g of espresso. With my Wacaco Exagram Pro scale, this is very easy to achieve. Last, but very much not least, you'll need to check out the best coffee grinders. For my testing, I used the Eureka Mignon Specialita and the Comandante C40 MK4, but the Baratza Encore ESP is much more affordable and will be more than enough. With just the $199 Baratza grinder and the $49 Wacaco scale, you're well on your way to cafe-quality coffee with this $149 De'Longhi machine. You should also know that if you don't have a proper grinder, you will never achieve perfect espresso. Even if you have a $2,000 Breville Dual Boiler machine, your espresso will not be right. A good grinder is more important than the espresso machine itself — and the De'Longhi Stilosa is case in point. With a good grinder and professional technique, you can achieve technically perfect espresso with just a $149 machine. For more thorough info, I've already written about tips for making perfect coffee at home. Although I have a background in professional coffeemaking (barista-ing doesn't really have the same ring to it), it's very possible to get these results without fancy, professional equipment. The Baratza grinder and Wacaco scale I recommended above are both very reasonably priced for what they are, and can help you achieve results like this. The steam wand on the De'Longhi Stilosa is very powerful — at first, I thought perhaps even too powerful. However, with a little practice, I was able to get deliciously velvety microfoam. To do this, I just had to control my steaming angle. I held the milk jug at about a 45° angle and put the tip of the steam wand halfway in the milk. After tweaking a little to create a vortex, I aerated the milk and was able to pour the gorgeous latte art you can see above. The Stilosa's steam wand performs like a $500 espresso machine's, and I was incredibly impressed by it. This is truly a latte-art lover's dream. Don't get me wrong — I know the Stilosa doesn't look great. With a plasticky finish and an almost flimsy weight of just 2 pounds, it looks like it costs $149. Even so, I didn't find that this design impacted performance. Actually, the compact size of just 8 x 11 x 12 inches could actually be a plus for people with small kitchens. Although the Stilosa is very plasticky, you can't really ask for everything for something so affordable. It's just $149 (the U.K. version is £104), and some sacrifices will have been made to get achieve this super-low price. Function is, of course, more important than appearance, so I think it's reasonable to look past this plasticky aesthetic. However, it could raise some questions about longevity. As I'm often reviewing espresso machines simultaneously and in quick succession, I haven't had a chance to put the Stilosa to the long-term test yet. Sometimes plastic drip trays can erode and get a little flaky after long-term use, and sometimes plastic attachments can break off. However, De'Longhi offers a minimum warranty of one year, and my parents' De'Longhi Icona Vintage (£126, not available in the U.S. anymore) is still clinging onto life at nine years old. So, I'd have some faith in the cheap and cheerful Stilosa. In terms of cheap espresso machines, there's really no competition. No other budget machines I've used can rival the Stilosa. Let me know what you think in the comments. Do you think that the Stilosa worth $149/£104? Do you think it could go head-to-head with a pricier espresso machine?
Forbes
29 minutes ago
- Forbes
Samsung Confirms Upgrade Choice—Galaxy Users Must Now Decide
This decision defines the future of your phone. Republished on June 7 with reports into Google's new decision for Android users. A timely warning from Samsung this week, which neatly sets out the biggest upgrade decision now facing Android users. As whispers start to spread suggesting a disconnect between Samsung and Google at the heart of Android, this is critical. We're talking AI and the new features and offerings now hitting phones and PCs at breakneck speed. This is where Galaxy has an advantage, Samsung says, 'in privacy-first, AI-powered experiences' which can 'protect you in the era of AI.' The question the Galaxy-maker asks in its latest post is the right one: 'This level of personalization' brought by AI 'can be incredibly helpful, but the more your phone knows, the more there is to protect. So, what's keeping all that personal data secure?' Samsung's answer is Knox. 'Every Galaxy device is protected from the chip up by a multi-layered approach, which includes on-device personalization, user-controlled cloud processing, and ecosystem-wide protection through Samsung Knox Matrix.' This is Samsung's secure ecosystem that is the closest replica to Apple's securely walled garden currently available on Android. 'At the core of this system is Samsung Knox Vault, Samsung's hardware-based solution for your most sensitive information.' Knox is not new and neither is the concept of hardware-enabled Galaxy data security. What is new is segmenting sensitive the latest AI-related data from the rest, and securing that alongside the more traditional PINs, passwords and credit card numbers. 'Location service metadata from your most personal photos,' Samsung says, 'could easily give away the exact location where the image was taken.' And there's not much data more sensitive than who did what, where and when. 'In the era of AI, personal information like your home address, face clustering ID, person ID, pet type, scene type and more need to be encrypted and stored in a safe location. These things aren't just files — they are deeply connected to your daily life.' It's unclear exactly what is being or will be segmented and how this plays into the various opt-ins that Samsung has added to distinguish between on-device and cloud AI, between what is only within your secure enclave and what is outside. But it's difficult not to read this push as a play against the latest announcements from Google and the cloud-based AI that will now run riot across sensitive data, including emails and even cloud data storage. Yes, there are always opt-outs, but it's all or nothing for users who want AI but are not yet worrying about privacy. 'As Galaxy AI becomes more useful,' Samsung says, 'it also becomes more personal — learning how you use your device and adapting to your needs… Knox Vault is more than a security feature, it's Galaxy's promise that no matter how advanced your devices become, or how much AI evolves, your privacy is secured.' Google, meanwhile, will not make this decision easy for Samsung user. No one is rolling out new smartphone AI innovations faster, and it will always overshadow what can be done if users take a privacy-centric, device-only approach. Per Android Police, the latest update is 'Google's Gemini replacing Google Assistant as the default AI assistant, taking on all digital assistance responsibilities as Assistant is phased out later this year. Gemini is gaining 'Scheduled Actions,' allowing users to automate recurring tasks and information delivery at specific times.' This is the stepping stone to so-called Agenctic AI on phones, where monitoring data and events and activities enables an agent to make decisions autonomously on a smartphone owner's behalf. This next step, with 'Scheduled Actions streamlining routines [and] offering personalized updates,' is just the start. As Mashable says, 'When combined with computer vision, which is what allows a model to 'see' a user's screen, we get the agentic AI everyone is so excited about… Agentic AI tools could order groceries online, browse and buy the best-reviewed espresso machine for you, or even research and book vacations. In fact, Google is already taking steps in this direction with its new AI shopping experience.' Allowing AI access to smartphones with all the data and insight they contain, pushed this to a level even beyond Windows's controversial Recall. It's decision time.
