Having a smart home can benefit you in so many ways, including being able to turn off the lights after you’re already cozy in bed. With this Kasa light bulb two-pack for a mere $14 at Amazon (down from the usual $25), it’s easier than ever to make your dumb lights smart. The Kasa light bulbs are compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings, so you can easily integrate them into your preferred smart home system. You can use Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands to turn the lights on and off, dim their brightness, go from warm to cool whites (or vice versa), or change the bulb’s color. By using the Kasa app, you can have even more control over the lights, including setting up schedules and scenes and controlling multiple lights at once. You can even turn on the lights when you’re away, perfect for deterring potential intruders. There are many smart bulb options on the market, but paying a mere $14 for two Kasa light bulbs may be the best deal you can get right now. Get two Kasa smart light bulbs for a great priceBuy Them Now at Amazon

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsExcellent 5MP video resolutionRuns on battery or hardwired powerCloud storage plan is truly optionalConsAdvertising in the Aosu app, including pop-upsDevice must be dismounted to recharge its battery (essentially)Unimpressive B&W night visionOur VerdictThis doorbell camera covers all the basics and then some, offering excellent resolution and a very wide field of view; plus, plenty of features for those who want to tinker. Best Prices Today: Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra Retailer Price £119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Remember when Ring doorbells were exotic and rare? After just 10 years, everybody has a video doorbell—and it seems like every company makes one, too. We’ve now reached commodity status for the device that, for many, is the gateway to smart home technology. Aosu is a camera-centric brand I’d never heard of before they reached out to TechHive, and with a pitch that its doorbell product is “Better Than Ring,” we figured we’d put it to the test. There is certainly nothing remarkable about the Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra’s hardware, but seldom has the design of a video doorbell excited anyone. It’s a typical, chunky black plastic monolith, ringed with a silvery plastic border. A large, illuminated “ring” button appears beneath a small camera lens, exactly where you would expect it. The device is rated as IP65 for weatherproofing. Our explanation of IP codes indicates that it can’t be incapacitated by dust (6) ingress and that its protected from water jets coming from any direction (5). The Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra has some unexpected features–including radar-based motion detection–for its price. A second component is required inside the house: A plug-in bridge with two stubby antennae on top. This device, on the large side, serves as a wireless bridge between the doorbell and your Wi-Fi network (it’s a dual-band device that can connect to either 2.4- or 5GHz networks). It’s also equipped with 8GB non-upgradeable memory for storing your video clips. This is the default setting, but you can also store recordings in the cloud if you sign up for a service plan, which I’ll get to in a bit. The Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra comes with a dual-band wireless bridge with 8GB of onboard storage. The Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra comes with a dual-band wireless bridge with 8GB of onboard storage.Christopher Null/Foundry The Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra comes with a dual-band wireless bridge with 8GB of onboard storage.Christopher Null/Foundry Christopher Null/Foundry Installation and setup Installing the Aosu Video Doorbell is very much like most other video doorbells. A small bracket—either straight-on or angled—attaches directly to the wall with included hardware. The camera then slips onto the bracket, adhering to it with a spring-loaded clip. To remove the camera, you need to insert a small pinhole reset tool (one is included) into a hole on the bottom of the device to release it from the spring-loaded lock. There is no screw or other locking system securing the camera to the bracket. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best video doorbells. The camera includes a rechargeable battery (Aosu says it’s good for 4 to 6 months on a full charge) that recharges via a USB-C port beneath a rubber flap; a cable for this is not included. If you have low-voltage wiring in place, you can connect the doorbell to it and continuously trickle-charge the battery. With both hardware devices in place, the user is in store for a somewhat lengthy setup process. You must first install the Aosu mobile app, then scan a QR code on the back of the doorbell. Sync buttons on both the bridge and doorbell must be hit in sequence, and then the doorbell rung to complete the process. Finally, a second QR code on your phone’s screen must be scanned with the doorbell camera. After configuring your Wi-Fi credentials and installing a firmware update, you’re finally up and running. None of this is difficult, but it is a bit tedious. The Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra operates on battery power, but it can also be connected to your existing low-voltage wiring and doorbell transformer if you have it. The Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra operates on battery power, but it can also be connected to your existing low-voltage wiring and doorbell transformer if you have it.Christopher Null/Foundry The Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra operates on battery power, but it can also be connected to your existing low-voltage wiring and doorbell transformer if you have it.Christopher Null/Foundry Christopher Null/Foundry Aosu’s camera offers a maximum of 5 megapixels of resolution—2560 x 1920 pixels—and records at 15 frames per second. The lens is quite wide-angled, visibly distorting the image with its 166-degree field of view. Clips max out at one minute in length, but there does not seem to be any significant cooldown between clips. Should you wish to conserve storage space, you can set the doorbell to record only when the bell is rung, only when motion is detected, or only when people are moving in front of it. Detection sensitivity, oddly, has just one setting—adjust automatically—which only allows the Aosu to adjust sensitivity “to improve the battery of the doorbell.” There’s no other information on how exactly this works, other than to limit the number of clips that are recorded. Detection zones can also be configured to block out motion in certain parts of the image. Finally, the camera includes an option for night vision, but only of the standard black-and-white infrared variety. Day-to-day use We were unpleasantly surprised to see pop-up ads in the AOSU app. Fortunately, they seemed to be a fleeting and non-reoccuring thing. We were unpleasantly surprised to see pop-up ads in the AOSU app. Fortunately, they seemed to be a fleeting and non-reoccuring thing.Christopher Null/Foundry We were unpleasantly surprised to see pop-up ads in the AOSU app. Fortunately, they seemed to be a fleeting and non-reoccuring thing.Christopher Null/Foundry Christopher Null/Foundry One of Aosu’s big selling points is that it has three types of motion detection: traditional PIR (passive infrared) motion detection; “human motion detection,” based on the shape of the human body; and radar motion detection. Radar isn’t unheard of in security cameras, but it’s not all that common, and it works quite well in Aosu’s implementation, picking up motion at a distance of up to 30 feet and quickly sending a push update to my phone when someone approached the door. These notifications are highly configurable, too. They can be shut off during certain times of the day, and two different styles of alerts are offered, along with the choice between immediate notification or “intelligent” notification, which sends an alert only after recording has concluded. The recorded clips look good. Colors are bright and, while the distortion is significant, it does allow for an extremely spacious look at your surroundings. The night vision could be brighter, but it’s reasonable enough for a device of this size and complexity. The Aosu app has robust settings. The Aosu app has robust settings.Christopher Null/Foundry The Aosu app has robust settings.Christopher Null/Foundry Christopher Null/Foundry When the doorbell button is pressed, Aosu (by default) rings your phone much like when an incoming phone call is being received. Naturally, two-way audio (and one-way video) are supported during your calls, which were quick to load and free of stutter during my testing. Canned replies like “Hello, can I help you?” can be sent with a tap, and two voice-disguising modes are included, the always classic “uncle” and “clown.” By default, clips are stored on the 8GB of storage built into the bridge. Aosue doesn’t use a microSD card for this storage, so you can’t remove or replace/upgrade it. Older clips get overwritten on a rolling basis after the storage fills up and new clips come in. Clips are stored in simple folders in the app, one for each day, each with a thumbnail and a tag indicating the type of movement: Ring, passing, staying, etc. Again, these are easy to flip through and are easy to download to your device when necessary. Aosu also works with video-based Alexa and Google Home devices, but is largely limited to showing a live video feed from the camera. For “infinite space” you’ll need to upgrade to Aosu’s cloud storage system, which costs a spendy $9/month or $90/year. This provides 60 days of storage of all clips, plus some other extras, including an image attached to push notifications, the ability to watch clips at 2x or 4x speed, and facial recognition. Without the facial recognition feature, plan pricing drops to $7/month or $70/year. A 7-day trial is available for all plans. That said, you may not need any of that. After a week of testing, I still had 7GB of space left on the internal memory card. Should you buy the Aosu Video Doorbell Ultra? At $126, the Aosu video doorbell is more expensive than I’d expect from a lesser-known brand—it’s $26 higher than the brand-new Ring Battery Doorbell (TechHive’s review of that device is in the works). At that price, I wasn’t expecting to see ads pushed to me immediately after installing the hardware, including a pop-up ad, which I consider a real no-no on a product you’ve paid for. Fortunately, these have not reappeared after they were all dismissed. Assuming that state of affair holds, I’m happy to recommend the Aosu Doorbell Ultra as a worthwhile pick in the budget-priced doorbell camera space.

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsAffordable priceLightweight and maneuverableVersatile with handheld modeConsMay struggle with deep cleaning on high-pile carpetsInsufficient battery life for larger homesOur VerdictFor anyone seeking a budget-friendly vacuum with practical features, the Proscenic P11 Lite hits a sweet spot between performance and price. Price When Reviewed£137.74 Best Prices Today: Proscenic P11 Lite Retailer Price £178.10 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Proscenic P11 Lite is a cordless vacuum that aims for a balance between power, convenience, and affordability. Priced at $140, it’s designed for those who want a lightweight and easy-to-use vacuum that can tackle daily messes without the high cost of premium models. The Proscenic P11 Lite offers strong suction, versatile attachments, and a user-friendly design without the hefty price tag of premium models. Design The vacuum has a sleek, modern design, and its lightweight build (the main body weighs just 2.9 pounds) makes it easy to handle, even during extended cleaning sessions. Whether vacuuming under furniture or reaching overhead, the P11 Lite’s 180-degree swivel steering and 90-degree vertical movement make it remarkably agile. The floor brush and other accessories attach to a telescopic pipe so that you can adjust the height to your comfort level. A bracket is included with the vacuum as a wall-mounted storage option. It keeps the vacuum neatly tucked away and ensures it’s always charged and ready to go. The bracket also holds the vacuum’s crevice tool and 2-in-1 dusting brush when they’re not in use. Features The vacuum boasts 28 kPa of maximum suction power, which is more than enough to lift dirt, debris, and even pet hair from both hard floors and carpets. The V-shaped brush also helps with hair detangling—an essential aid for pet owners. The V-shaped roller brush helps prevent hair tangles and clogs. The V-shaped roller brush helps prevent hair tangles and clogs. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The V-shaped roller brush helps prevent hair tangles and clogs. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Additionally, the vacuum has two cleaning modes, allowing you to balance suction power and battery life depending on your needs. The vacuum is equipped with a small digital LED display on the handle that shows the current cleaning mode, remaining battery life, and any maintenance alerts that may pop up. A mode switch under the display lets you toggle between regular and max suction as you clean. The P11 Lite comes with a five-layer filtration system that Proscenic claims can capture 99.99 percent of microscopic dust particles, ensuring that the air released back into the room is clean. This is especially important for homes with pets or allergy sufferers. Emptying the dustbin is straightforward with a one-button release, making cleanup fast and hassle-free. Performance The vacuum did a decent job on most surfaces in my testing. On hard floors, the vacuum performs well, picking up everything from fine dust to food crumbs. It also sucked up about 90 percent of the grains in our spilled-rice test. The P11 Lite holds its own on carpets as well, though it may require a couple of passes for deeper cleaning. It managed to remove the entire half-cup of rice I spread on my area rug for testing. Like most cordless vacuums, the P11 Lite is quieter than its corded counterparts, operating at a reasonable 78 dB. That should make it less likely to spook pets or disturb anyone sensitive to noise. The display shows the current suction mode and remaining runtime. The display shows the current suction mode and remaining runtime. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The display shows the current suction mode and remaining runtime. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Maintenance and charging The vacuum’s dustbin, sponge filter, and roller brush are all washable, which should simplify regular maintenance. However, Proscenic advises against washing the HEPA filter, so you’ll need to replace that periodically to maintain optimal performance. At the time of this writing, Proscenic didn’t have any P11 Lite-compatible replacement filters for sale on their website. The P11 Lite offers some flexibility in charging. You can either charge the vacuum while it’s attached to the wall-mounted storage, or you can remove the battery and charge it separately. This is particularly useful if you opt to purchase a spare battery, as it allows for extended cleaning sessions without waiting for a recharge. Battery life is often a pain point for cordless vacuums, but the P11 Lite offers a respectable 35+ minutes of runtime on a full charge, thanks to its 2,200 mAh battery. While this won’t cover a deep cleaning of a large home, it’s sufficient for regular touch-ups in smaller spaces. Should you buy the Proscenic P11 Lite? The Proscenic P11 Lite competes well with other budget-friendly cordless vacuums, offering features like strong suction, versatile attachments, and a user-friendly design without the hefty price tag of premium models. It’s well-suited for pet owners, small households, or anyone looking for an easy-to-use vacuum that won’t take up too much space. While it may not suit those who need deep cleaning power for high-pile carpets, the Proscenic P11 Lite is a solid option for everyday messes and touch-ups.

Level Home announced today that Swedish manufacturer Assa Abloy has acquired its Level Lock smart lock business. Founded by former Apple employees in 2016, Level Home brought the first Level Lock–a retrofit deadbolt–to market in 2019 to rave reviews, including from TechHive. This news is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. The company’s founders, John Martin (CEO) and Ken Goto (CTO) informed Level Lock owners in an email this afternoon that “Level Lock will operate as an independent brand and subsidiary” of the Swedish manufacturer, a global company focused on locks, doors, gates, and entrance automation. Martin and Goto also announced that they would be moving over to Assa Abloy, where they will “continue to lead the Level Lock business.” Level Lock+ (Level Connect bridge included) Read our review The email further informs Level Lock customers that “your services will not be interrupted, and you do not need to take any action at this time.” The note includes the email address for the Level Lock support team. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Level Home’s smart home platform for multi-dwelling units (MDUs—aka apartment buildings, duplexes, and similar rental properties), Level M, is not part of the acquisition and will be renamed Ambient. Level Home President Michael Rovito will become Ambient’s CEO. An Assa Abloy press release quoted Assa Abloy Executive VP Lucas Boselli as saying “The acquisition of Level Lock complements Assa Abloy’s technology portfolio and strengthens our digital offering across multiple businesses in the Americas division.” Assa Abloy sold its Yale and August smart lock businesses to Fortune Brands in a 2023 transaction valued at $800 million.

Is there a better feeling than relaxing while your floors are getting cleaned? If you want to have effort-free clean floors, the Yeedi M12 Pro+ robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $669 at Amazon, discounted from $999. Packing an impressive 11,000 Pa of suction power, the Yeedi comes with loads of smart features, including a “ZeroTangle” roller brush that promises to keep hair tangles at bay. TrueDetect 3D will help the robovac avoid obstacles on the floor, including those not-so-pleasant surprises our pets sometimes leave us. Both a vacuum and a mop, the Yeedi M12 Pro+ can automatically lift its mop heads when it detects carpets, so it won’t wet them. Another essential component of the Yeedi M12 Pro+ is the Omni station. Besides charging the bot’s battery, the Omni station will automatically empty out the dust bin. Even better, the base will wash the Yeedi’s mop heads with hot water and then dry them, perfect for preventing bacteria growth and the resulting nasty smells. Snatch the opportunity to get the Yeedi M12 Pro+ for $669 at Amazon before the deal runs out. The awesome Yeedi M12 Pro+ is $330 offBuy it now at Amazon

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsBest night-time mowing experience of any mower we’ve testedDual cutting plates delver an even, high-quality cutNavigates narrow passages with easeAll-wheel driveConsFrustrating mapping and app experienceMower’s profile is too low to handle sharp slope transitions Best Prices Today: Orion X7 Retailer Price Sunseeker $2399.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The first thing I noticed about the Orion X7 is its size. It’s quite small for an all-wheel drive (AWD) model, boasting a much lower profile than other mowers. Those factors render it much sleeker, with a less-noticeable presence in your yard). The Orion X7 uses a combination of geopositioning technologies, including Real-time Kinematic (RTK) and Virtual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM). Sunseeker brands the tech as its AONavi Positioning and Navigation System. While these are the same technologies used in some other mowers, including the Segway Navimow, Sunseeker says its implementation enables the Orion X7 to be positioned down to the centimeter. Twin front-mounted cameras and onboard AI learn your yard over time, remembering obstacles and optimizing the map each time it runs. Features such as virtual boundaries and walls keep your mower out of areas where it might get stuck or damaged. All-wheel drive (AWD), a must for sloped yards, is standard. The Orion X7’s AI works impressively well. Dual floating cutting plates (a first among the mowers I’ve tested to date) offer a 14-inch cutting width and deliver even cuts on uneven lawns. But the best thing about the Orion X7 is its price: at $2,399 for the .75-acre model I tested, and $2,999 for the 1.5-acre model. That makes these some of the least-expensive AWD robot mowers on the market. Installation and setup The Sunseeker Orion X7’s dual floating cutting plates is a smart innovation.  The Sunseeker Orion X7’s dual floating cutting plates is a smart innovation. Ed Oswald/Foundry The Sunseeker Orion X7’s dual floating cutting plates is a smart innovation. Ed Oswald/Foundry Ed Oswald/Foundry Installation is quick, and the quick-start guide is easy to follow to get everything assembled. Unlike the Segway Navimow, we got a solid GPS signal from installing the antenna at ground level, allowing us to place it and the base station close to each other. Like most mowers, the Orion X7 comes with enough charge to get you through setup, but we recommend you wait the additional 30 minutes or so to get a full charge (a typical charge from a depleted battery takes 60- to 90 minutes). After a great installation experience, we expected an equally good setup experience; however, that wasn’t the case. With boundary wire-free mowers, you must—in most cases—define the boundaries of your yard. This requires remote control of the mower. For whatever reason, Sunseeker puts all the controls in one virtual joystick on your phone, controlling movement in all directions. The sensitivity of the controls is great, but trying to get the mower to move in a straight line was nearly impossible, as any small movement of my finger caused the Orion X7 to move ever so slightly off that straight line. Frustrating. I find the Segway Navimow’s dual-controller design (one for forward and backward, the other for left and right) much easier to control. While Sunseeker says you’ll have this part of the setup done in 30 minutes, even on my quarter-acre property, it took almost an hour to figure out how to get the mower to move where it should. Using the Orion X7 The Orion X7 docked at its charging station, next to its pole-mounted GPS antenna. The Orion X7 docked at its charging station, next to its pole-mounted GPS antenna.Ed Oswald/Foundry The Orion X7 docked at its charging station, next to its pole-mounted GPS antenna.Ed Oswald/Foundry Ed Oswald/Foundry After my initial setup experience, I was worried that the operation of the Orion X7 would be just as janky. How would this thing mow if I couldn’t get the mower to go where I wanted to? Thankfully, I was wrong. Once I got the mower running, I was extremely impressed with its capabilities, especially at night. While AI is a big deal in robot mowers, my experience with it hasn’t been the best. Segway, for instance, says its mower will learn your yard over time, but the Navimow time and time again would get stuck in the same places, or fall off the curb because it would try to turn on the edge rather than in the grass. The Orion X7’s AI works impressively well. My yard has a small hole where excess water drains from the roof’s gutters, and it’s been a common spot where the mowers I’ve tested have gotten stuck. It wasn’t a problem with Orion X7; even in the dark, it knew something was there, so it would stop and then go around it. And in successive passes, it knew to avoid that spot. The Orion X7 is equipped with rain sensors on top of its deck. The Orion X7 is equipped with rain sensors on top of its deck.Ed Oswald/Foundry The Orion X7 is equipped with rain sensors on top of its deck.Ed Oswald/Foundry Ed Oswald/Foundry My yard is also quite uneven, a perfect test for the Orion X7’s floating cutting plates. While I didn’t notice it initially, our yard now looks quite even, as if those small imperfections are no longer there. And even though much of our testing has happened at night (including map setup, no less), the Orion X7 is slowly optimizing the map and mowing better each time. Just don’t expect this mower to be fast. You can change its mowing speed, but the default setting is best characterized as slow and methodical. You won’t set any land speed records with the Orion X7; in fact, its overall mow time might be as much as twice that of other robot mowers I’ve tested. But I don’t see this as a bad thing, and I think its slow working speed gives the cameras and AI more time to work, resulting in fewer mistakes and mishaps—of which there were very few. The Orion X7 comes with a very large GPS antenna, enabling it to establish a strong connection to the mower at ground level. The Orion X7 comes with a very large GPS antenna, enabling it to establish a strong connection to the mower at ground level.Ed Oswald/Foundry The Orion X7 comes with a very large GPS antenna, enabling it to establish a strong connection to the mower at ground level.Ed Oswald/Foundry Ed Oswald/Foundry If the Orion X7 didn’t have such a low profile, it likely would have been the first to climb my lawn’s steep side slope without getting stuck, thanks to its AWD capabilities. As it stands, it would need an inch or even two additional inches of ground clearance to climb it. But it came closer than any automatic robot mower (the manual remote-controlled Mowrator doesn’t count). That said, the Orion X7 did stay on the grass medians at the edges of my yard. Rather than mowing in straight lines, it follows something of a zig-zag pattern when inside a narrow passage. To give the mower additional guidance, I used the app to place virtual walls at the curb. It has yet to fall off the edge after that. Sunseeker’s problematic app Most of my frustration with the Orion X7 stems from Sunseeker’s app. While it provides useful information—such as an estimate of the size of the working are, and the mower’s expected run time—the user interface is crowded with unnecessary information. There also isn’t a lot of help when it comes to explaining the app’s various features, forcing you to refer to the user manual to figure out them out—and even that’s not as helpful as it should be when it comes to explaining the difference between no-go zones and virtual walls, for instance. I also had trouble figuring out how to get the mower to cut select zones at first. It seemed the mower wasn’t receiving my commands, because it would mow other zones anyway. Scheduling mowing jobs is another aspect that could be more intuitive. Setting up zones that would be cut on different days required too much work and data entry, so I gave up and just put the mower in “auto” mode, where the robot itself chooses which zones to do and which order. Thanks to Sunseeker’s great AI, however, that seemed to work just as well anyway. While Sunseeker gives you all kinds of customization options, even down to customized mowing instructions by zone, most of these are not explained in detail (if at all) so you don’t know what they mean or do. It also made it more difficult to review, as I am finding features after days of use, and probably will still find new things in the coming days and weeks. While I can deal with the fact that the Sunseeker can’t climb our slope due to its design, these app problems are a real bummer. That said, none of the app problems are showstoppers. Should you buy a Sunseeker Orion X7? The Sunseeker Orion X7 is a terrifc lawn mower, even when operating at night. The Sunseeker Orion X7 is a terrifc lawn mower, even when operating at night.Ed Oswald/Foundry The Sunseeker Orion X7 is a terrifc lawn mower, even when operating at night.Ed Oswald/Foundry Ed Oswald/Foundry The Orion X7 is new, so there were bound to be some problems; every robot mower I’ve tested to date has had one quirk or another. It’s not impossible to set up, you just need to have some patience. And with any luck, it’s a process you might need to do just once. Problems of this nature are magnified at a mower at this price, because buying a higher-end robot mower brings higher expectations when it comes to babysitting the tool—and this toddler requires quality hands-on time at the outset. Every other element of the Sunseeker Orion X7—from its innovative floating cutting plates to its impressive AI and vision capabilities, which make it great for people who want to mow at night—is the best I’ve seen. As it stands today, the Sunseeker Orion X7 isn’t the type of robot lawn mower that you can take out of the box and set it loose on your yard. But your patience will be rewarded once you get over that learning curve. This mower can go anywhere without your needing to worry it might get stuck or taking a trip down the street. I’ll be watching for improvements in the app experience, which will make this mower even better. Don’t miss our story that explains how robot lawn mowers navigate, and our in-depth reviews of some other highly rated robot lawn mowers, including the Dreame Roboticmower A1 and the Segway Navimow i110N.

There’s a revision of Apple’s AirPods Max coming, including new colors and (finally) USB-C charging. But the basic design of the AirPods Max isn’t changing, including one of the headphone’s most annoying flaws.  Yes, I’m talking about the mesh that’s stretched across the curved metal bands that comprise the AirPods Max’s headband. (Other AirPods Max owners may nominate “condensation death” as their primary design complaint, or perhaps the infamous Smart Case.)  The mesh-endowed headband certainly looks snazzy in photos and, in theory, promises greater comfort than foam or other, more traditional headband materials.  But in practice, the mesh on the AirPods Max tends to sag over time, resulting in either an unsightly appearance (think saggy tube socks, while the mesh on my own AirPods Max looks only slightly wrinkly) or the loss of so much tension that the headband’s metal bands rest directly on your scalp—not a fun feeling.  The mesh on my original AirPods Max is starting to look saggy and dirty. The mesh on my original AirPods Max is starting to look saggy and dirty.Ben Patterson/Foundry The mesh on my original AirPods Max is starting to look saggy and dirty.Ben Patterson/Foundry Ben Patterson/Foundry The mesh may also get discolored as the months roll on. The white mesh on my green AirPods Max, for example, has started to turn a yucky shade of brown. (Apple does offer a support article that explains how to touch up the headband with a homemade cleaning solution.)  And if you thought a darker shade of AirPods Max would save you from the discoloration issue, owners of the Space Gray model have reported what appear to be tiny, “white small cords” appearing within the mesh—likely a sign that the mesh itself has started to break down.  Now, there’s a fair share of AirPods Max owners who say they’ve used the headphones for years (the Max first came out in 2020) without suffering any headband issues. But for others, deficiencies in the AirPods Max’s headband seem to appear after about a year or so of regular use—right around the time Apple’s limited warranty expires, as Headphonesty points out.   And while you can pony up the cash for extended AppleCare coverage, some AirPods Max owners say they’ve gotten static from Apple about repairs. In any case, the new version of the AirPods Max unveiled at Apple’s “Glowtime” event Monday barely even counts as a revision—we’re only talking a few new colors, a USB-C connector (a welcome change, admittedly), and that’s pretty much it. The tech specs page on the Apple Store does mention that Apple’s Adaptive EQ feature (which blends noise cancellation with transparency mode, depending on nearby noise levels) is coming to AirPods Max, but the wireless H1 chip is being held over from the original Max’s, not the newer H2 chip from the AirPods Pro 2. Now, to be fair, no one was really expecting a major AirPods Max update during Apple’s event, with all the most recent rumors point toward only the light, USB-C-focused refresh that we ended up getting.  Still, plenty of AirPods Max owners—myself included—were holding out hope that Apple would do something about the saggy, stain-prone mesh that makes our otherwise fantastic-looking Apple cans look like crap.  Well, shy of a silent redesign on the headband’s mesh material, the answer appears to be “no.”

Keeping an eye on what’s going on at home while on holiday or at work is essential to our peace of mind, so don’t miss the opportunity to snatch this two-pack of TP-Link Tapo 2K cameras for $126 at Amazon, half-off its usual MSRP. The TP-Link Tapo captures video at 2K resolution, including with full-color night vision. The IR sensor ensures visibility up to 49 feet in the dark, so you’re more than covered when checking in on your yard during the night. The cameras are also designed to meet IP65 weatherization standards, meaning they’re dust-proof as well as resistant to water jets from any direction. In other words, you won’t have to worry about them surviving rain, snow, and other harsh weather conditions. By using the Tapo app, you can check out live footage and recordings, and you can even fiddle with AI detection and activity zone features. Basically, you’ll be able to instruct the camera to issue alerts when motion is detected in certain areas, and the app will tell you whether it’s a person, a pet, or a vehicle. The TP-Link Tapo cam also comes with a built-in siren and light alarm, as well as microphones and speakers to enable two-way audio, thus allowing you to chat with delivery folks or visiting friends. Take advantage if this amazing deal and get two 2K cameras for just $126 at Amazon. Get two cameras for half-offBuy these now at Amazon

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsOutstanding remote controlStraightforward DIY installationVery quiet motorConsArrived with a broken mounting bracketPricey smart home hub (but cheaper than before)Hub still feels like it’s still in betaOur VerdictRolli has made significant tweaks to its installation process, its motor, and more. It’s also brought its prices down a tick from when we reviewed it in the summer of 2023. The changes make for a much more worthwhile smart shade. Almost exactly one year ago we turned our attention to a new smart shade purveyor by the name of Rolli Shades. We reviewed their product in early in the company’s life, and we weren’t shy about calling out some of the faults we observed, including loud operation, an expensive smart hub, and a frustrating installation marred by inaccurate instructions that nearly had us tossing the thing to the curb. A year later, Rolli Shades is still in business, and the company says it has learned and grown in the time that’s passed, correcting a lot of its early missteps. We agreed to take a fresh look at its smart motorized roll-up shade product line, which are available with light-filtering (Rolli Privacy) or blackout (Rolli Sleep) fabrics. So, let’s start from the beginning. Rolli’s new motor is considerably quieter, and it’s just as fast as the model it replaced. First, the online experience and ordering process for Rolli shades has changed moderately. While last year Rolli had five fabric options, today it has twelve. It’s up to the user to measure their windows, after which Rolli’s website spits out a price. While previously all shades were priced at $549, pricing is now tiered based on size: $349 for the smallest size, up to $949 for the largest size (which is now 120 x 120 inches). The specific shades I ordered each time (42 inches wide x 50 inches tall, with a $50 valence) were priced at $599 last year, but have now dropped to $499. Rolli’s newest motorized ssmart shades feature a crisper fabric, especially at the optional valance. Rolli’s newest motorized ssmart shades feature a crisper fabric, especially at the optional valance.Christopher Null/Foundry Rolli’s newest motorized ssmart shades feature a crisper fabric, especially at the optional valance.Christopher Null/Foundry Christopher Null/Foundry Rolli’s remote control is still $49, while the Pulse2 Smart Hub has dropped from $300 to $199. You need at least the remote to use the shades, but the hub is required if you also want to schedule automations or control the shades with your smartphone. Rolli Shades were available at Amazon when my original review was published, but they weren’t available there as of this writing. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart shades. Rolli now offers a free phone-based consultation to guide you through some of this process. Professional installation is available, but it’s no longer offered at checkout for a flat fee. Instead, you’ll need to arrange it separately through a Rolli salesperson. Pricing is variable based on location and the number of shades. Upon request, I was quoted $50 to install a single shade in my Austin, TX-area zip code. The current installation process It’s very difficult to tell, but Rolli shades don’t hang perfectly even. It’s very difficult to tell, but Rolli shades don’t hang perfectly even.Christopher Null/Foundry It’s very difficult to tell, but Rolli shades don’t hang perfectly even.Christopher Null/Foundry Christopher Null/Foundry To keep things as consistent as possible, I asked Rolli to send me the new version of a shade identical to the one that I received in 2023, so I could compare them side by side. Upon unboxing, I immediately noticed the biggest difference between the 2024 shade and the 2023: It now comes pre-installed in the valence. While it’s easier to install an empty valence in the window frame because it’s much lighter, having the shade pre-loaded into the valence solves a huge problem I had last year, because Rolli’s installation instructions were incorrect about how to load the shade into the valence. Now, you needn’t load the shade into the valence at all, making today’s hardware installation really just a two-step process: Install the mounting brackets in the window frame, then clip the shade into them. I had far fewer problems getting these shades installed, though I did hit one snag: One of the brackets in the kit was slightly bent, so the spring-loading mechanism that allows it to grip the valence would not operate. A little careful metal-bending with a pair of pliers in my workshop got it fixed, but if I’d had no prior experience with these types of clips, I would have had to request a replacement from Rolli. (It’s worth noting that I also encountered a broken bracket in my 2023 installation experience, so we’re 0 for 2 on that front.) But even with that hiccup, when compared to the nightmare of 2023’s installation, this time around things went quite smoothly. The biggest changes When I ordered the new shade, I requested the identical fabric, but I could tell that things were just a bit different today: The new shade had fewer crinkles and wrinkles in the open shade, and the valence looks smoother, too. The pattern is a touch lighter in color, though a casual observer probably wouldn’t notice. All told, the changes are difficult to detect, but they represent an improvement, however minute. One thing I did notice, however, is that the shade doesn’t hang perfectly level, listing just slightly to one side. The optional remote control Rolli offers, manufactured by Automate, is excellent. The optional remote control Rolli offers, manufactured by Automate, is excellent.Christopher Null/Foundry The optional remote control Rolli offers, manufactured by Automate, is excellent.Christopher Null/Foundry Christopher Null/Foundry One big upgrade: Rolli has updated the motor to be much quieter than last year’s. I measured the volume of the old motor at 60dB and the new one at just 51dB, testing each with a sound monitor held at the same distance from the motor. The difference is very noticeable and quite welcome, as the old Rolli motor is deafening while it’s running. The good news is that while the new motor is quieter, it runs at the same speed: Both took 24 seconds to completely close the shade. Control options Rolli’s remote control hasn’t changed. It can still operate up to 15 shades, looks good, and is a snap to program. It remains my favorite part of the Rolli experience. However, while Rolli originally suggested to me it would migrate to another tech stack for its smart hub, that never materialized. These shades still need the same Automate Pulse 2 hub to connect to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, though as noted the price has dropped by just over $100. It’s still expensive at $199, and it’s still one of the roughest hubs I’ve encountered. Rolli uses the Automate Pulse 2 Hub to render its motorized roller shades smart. Rolli uses the Automate Pulse 2 Hub to render its motorized roller shades smart.Automate Rolli uses the Automate Pulse 2 Hub to render its motorized roller shades smart.Automate Automate Though the hub hardware has not changed at all, I decided—against better judgment—to replace my old, fitfully operational Pulse 2 hub with the new one to see how the installation experience had been altered. This isn’t really on Rolli, as the Pulse 2 is a third-party device that’s also used by other shade manufacturers, but I’m pleased to report that, while it still isn’t great, it’s at least getting better. The setup process began with a curious warning that the hub had detected an Apple TV or HomePod device in my home, and that it must be disconnected before proceeding. I have three Apple TVs, and for one of them, turning it off meant a trip up a ladder to where it’s mounted behind a TV to unplug it. That kind of quirkiness is par for the course for the Pulse 2, though I’m happy to report that the new hub was up and running within about 10 minutes of stepping through the setup instructions, in stark contrast to my experience last year. Programming Rooli’s smart shades with scenes and automations is relatively easy.  Programming Rooli’s smart shades with scenes and automations is relatively easy. Christopher Null/Foundry Programming Rooli’s smart shades with scenes and automations is relatively easy. Christopher Null/Foundry Christopher Null/Foundry Moving my shades over to the new hub, however, has resulted in a few bugs. Now, on the Pulse 2’s main page, a pair of phantom shades that don’t exist and seemingly can’t be deleted remain alongside the real shades. It’s more of a visual annoyance than anything, but just another indication about how rickety this platform is. The Pulse 2 also still has terrible problems with range. One shade located just 12 feet from the hub always shows either “average” or “poor” signal strength, depending on the day. A shade located in a different room directly overhead is unreachable by the hub at all. (I’d need to use a second hub if I wanted to connect it to my smart home ecosystem.) Connectivity with HomeKit and Alexa still work fine, and Google Home is also still supported. My daily automation to open the shades just before sundown remains a game-changer in my office. Should you buy Rolli Shades? After two weeks with both old and new Rolli shades installed side by side, I can affirm that the manufacturer has made good on its promise to make much-needed improvements to its product. It’s still not a perfect experience, but it’s light years ahead of where things started.

Reolink is showing an all-new video doorbell at IFA this week. The Reolink Doorbell Battery might have a boring name, but its specs will be of interest to anyone looking for a new porch sentinel, starting with its 4-megapixel image sensor and 2048 x 2048-pixel resolution that delivers head-to-toe views of visitors. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best video doorbells. The new doorbell has a 7,000mAh battery onboard, but it can also be powered by low-voltage wiring—8-24V AC , 24V DC—if you’re replacing an existing doorbell. Reolink’s device can alert you when packages are left on your porch, and it can also differentiate between people and vehicles in its 180-degree diagonal field of view (150 degrees horizontal and vertical). The Reolink Doorbell Battery is equipped with 4-megapixel image sensor that captures video in 2048 x 2048-pixel resolution. The Reolink Doorbell Battery is equipped with 4-megapixel image sensor that captures video in 2048 x 2048-pixel resolution.Reolink The Reolink Doorbell Battery is equipped with 4-megapixel image sensor that captures video in 2048 x 2048-pixel resolution.Reolink Reolink Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4-/5GHz) support makes for flexible connections to your home network, and the doorbell is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but there is no support for the Apple Home ecosystem at this time. A microSD card slot provides up to 256GB of local storage, with the option of 24/7 recording in addition to motion-triggered and scheduled recording. As with the Altas PT Ultra outdoor pan/tilt home security camera Reolink also announced today, there is not need for a subscription to record activity on your porch. Look for our in-depth, hands-on review of both products in the coming weeks.

Sorry, sports fans, but your free pass for Max’s live sports tier might expire sooner rather than later.   According to Bloomberg, Max may soon start charging $10 a month extra for the Bleacher Report Sports Add-On, the live sports tier that Max first rolled out last October.  To be clear, Max has said all along that it would eventually charge extra for Bleacher Report. But for one reason or another, Max kept pushing back the date when it would begin imposing a fee for the add-on, and Max-subscribing sports fans (myself included) have been all too happy to watch the deadline slip.  Bloomberg is careful to note that Max could delay charging for Bleacher Report yet again, as striking deals with the all the players involved in the sports tier has “been a challenge.”  That said, Max parent Warner Bros. Discovery is under pressure to show some positive cash flow from its expensive live sports initiatives, particularly now that its Venu Sports partnership with Disney and Fox is on ice.  Max, which had initially said it would offer free access to the Bleacher Report add-on for five months following its October 2023 launch, could start charging for the Bleacher Report add-on “later” this month, Bloomberg reports. The Bleacher Report Sports Add-On offers a smorgasbord of live Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, and U.S. Soccer action.  Bleacher Report has also served up dozens of simulcast NBA games from Warner Bros.-owned TNT, but that all could be changing next season following a blockbuster deal that will see pro-hoops media rights moving to Amazon Prime Video, NBC, and Peacock.   Warner Bros. is fighting the deal in court, but barring a three-pointer in the final seconds, Bleacher Report will likely lose its NBA cred starting in the 2024-25 season.  Max is looking to offset the loss of basketball on its Bleacher Report tier with other sports, including French Open tennis, Bloomberg reports. 

Starting out setting up your smart home can seem daunting, but a Philips Hue starter kit can make the process much easier. Now available for $64 at Amazon, down from $130 (just be sure to apply the 20%-off coupon), the Philps Hue Smart Light Starter Kit is a total bargain. So, what will the $64 get you? Well, this discounted bundle features a Hue Bridge as well as two A19-style color Hue bulbs, which will fit into most standard lamps in your home. The light bulbs can glow in up to 16 million colors, while the Hue app lets you set up routines, sync the lights to music, group the bulbs in a room, and more. The heart of this system is the Hue Bridge, which connects the bulbs to your router, boosts the number of Hue bulbs you can control, and allows for out-of-home control, which is always handy in a Home Alone type of way. Hue’s lighting products integrate with all the major smart home ecosystems, including Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings, meaning you can use the voice assistant of your choice to turn the lights off after you’ve gotten to bed, for instance. Philips Hue gear can be pretty pricey, so make sure to grab the Starter Kit for just $64 at Amazon while the offer’s still available. Snatch the Philips Hue Starter Kit for $64Buy it now at Amazon

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsEnhanced edge cleaningSelf-cleaning modeFlat wastewater roller scraper for a cleaner, drier finishConsProprietary cleaning solutionCan’t vacuum or mop under low furnitureYou can’t dry vacuum aloneOur VerdictIf you’re looking for a way to vacuum and mop in one go, this is an easy-to-use solution that delivers great results for a reasonable price. Bear in mind that you’ll get most use from it if you have wide spaces of hard, sealed flooring: the iFloor 5 can’t get into corners, under furniture or into small spaces the way a hand mop can. Price When Reviewed£299.99 Best Prices Today: Tineco iFloor 5 Retailer Price Tineco £239.99 View Deal £249 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket One of the selling points of Dyson’s new WashG1 is its ability to vacuum and mop at the same time. It means that, if you have a lot of sealed hard flooring, you can effectively cut your cleaning time in half. And it’s an excellent cleaner. But at $699.99, the WashG1 is far from the cheapest option. Enter the Tineco iFloor 5: an easy-to-use cleaner with the same skillset. And with a regularly available price of $239.99, it’s a much more budget-friendly buy A cordless upright that both vacuums and mops, the Tineco iFloor 5 promises a perfect, sharp-edged finish that will clean up both wet and dry messes, and easily tackle sticky debris on your sealed hard floors, be they hardwood, tile, marble or laminate. But is it the time-saver it promises to be? We find out. The iFloor 5 perfectly picked up all traces of scattered flour, without even needing to resort to the max setting. Design and build Cordless 500ml cleaning solution included Good size of water tanks In the box, you get the black and white appliance, the slot-in handle, a 500ml bottle of Tineco cleaning solution, the power adapter, the standing base, a tubular cleaning brush, a spare brush roller, and a spare dry filter.  The appliance body comes with a brush roller and cover already installed. The brush roller head is substantial 10.6 x 8.7 x 2.5 inches (WxDxH). Above this, on the main body of the floor washer, there’s a 0.7-liter dirty tank at the front and the 0.8-liter clean water tank at the back; both tanks slot and clip into place with a pull-down release button. At the top of the body is a circular LED display. It features six light-up indicator icons to show if the self-cleaning mode is on, the brush roller is tangled, the dirty water tank is full, or the clean tank is empty. There’s also a three-bar battery and charging indicator, and the maximum power mode. It’s easy to see at a glance exactly what’s going on with the cleaner. If the fact that there’s a specific indicator for brush roll tangles seems ominous, don’t worry: during testing, we found that hair made its way into the dirty water tank and didn’t need to be cut away from the roller. The slot-in handle hosts the power, self-cleaning and mode buttons.   The square standing base is roughly 12 x 12 inches and has two slot-in holders at either side. Once you’ve assembled the iFloor 5, it stands in the base for storage, charging, and to run the self-cleaning cycle. Altogether, the 44-inch tall iFloor 5 is very much an appliance that needs a spot in a utility room, or in a full-length cupboard or cabinet.   Performance and features Strong forward momentum Good suction Excellent flour test results Setting up the iFloor 5 is simple: unpack the appliance and slot the handle into the base until it clicks into place. Fill the clean water tank with cold water, along with a capful of the cleaning solution. Then plug in the iFloor 5 to charge and turn on the appliance. Unlike some floor washers, the power does not plug into the base–the socket is just below the handle. It’s all very straightforward. Once the appliance is charged, you simply turn it on and tilt back the handle to start cleaning. There are two cleaning modes: eco and maximum.  The eco mode is for light wet and dry messes and everyday cleaning and you should get 30+ minutes of cleaning on that mode from a full battery. The max mode is for tough stains. You should get about 23 minutes on max mode from a full battery. Charging the iFloor 5 fully from flat should take around four to five hours. We should mention that the cleaning solution is proprietary. Tineco states that you can’t use another cleaning fluid in the machine. You can buy the solution from Tineco US ($39.99 for 33.8fl oz). Also, be aware that you can’t turn off the mopping function and just vacuum with the iFloor 5; both functions run together.       We started with a general test on a sealed hardwood floor. One thing we were very impressed with was the forward momentum of the iFloor 5–it almost speeds away from you, which makes using the floor washer easy because you don’t need to push forward. In any case, the iFloor 5 is a fairly lightweight machine, weighing in at 11 pounds. That weight, combined with the excellent momentum, makes using the floor washer a good choice for anyone who can’t take a lot of weight on their forearm and wrist, which can be an issue with some cordless floor washers. It’s also easy to maneuver and won’t shut off when the handle is in a vertical position. However, you’ll struggle to clean under low furniture: it can’t get flat enough on the floor. We covered a lot of floor space in our first session: roughly 665 square feet in total, and we only used one bar of power with no need to empty or refill the water tanks. We found the suction to be excellent, and the cleaning solution scent to be subtle. Some dried-on debris did require switching up to the max mode, but changing speed is easy as the mode button falls within easy reach of your thumb while cleaning.         Tineco claims that its flat edge scraper within the roller head leaves a better finish than those floor washers with a jagged scraper, as it clears away debris and squeezes out dirty water consistently and in a uniform manner across the roller. We found the finish to be excellent after using the iFloor 5. There was no difference in finish on different floor surfaces either. Our second and third tests were on laminate, tile and vinyl, and we found the finish to be good on all three. Due to the dual tank system, the floor washer is always cleaning with fresh water and solution, the dirty water tank is fully sealed, so there is no risk of leakage, and the enhanced edge cleaning allows for precision along skirting boards up to about 0.16 inches. Our final test was the flour test on a hardwood floor. We found that the iFloor 5 perfectly picked up all traces of scattered flour, without even needing to resort to the max setting, leaving sharp vacuum lines in the piles.    One thing to mention is that, obviously, you can only clean a patch of floor wider than the roller brush head, so if you have a home with a lot of narrower spaces, you’ll need to clean them by hand.  This floor washer is excellent for damp dusting or regular cleaning. Now and again, you may feel you need hot water and soap, but the iFloor 5 will keep day-to-day mess under control. Still, as it doesn’t use hot water or bleach, it can’t sterilize floors.     The iFloor 5 is easy to empty and refill.     Once you’ve finished cleaning the floor, you’ll need to clean the iFloor 5. Luckily, it has a hands-free self-cleaning routine that you initiate by pressing the self-cleaning button on the handle while the washer is in the stand and plugged into the charger. The process simply feeds through clean water and solution onto the roller head while it spins, and then sucks the wastewater into the dirty water tank.   We found that you really need to run this routine every time you finish using the floor washer. Otherwise, you could end up with a stale roller. Tineco also supplies you with a tubular cleaning brush to clean out the dirty water tank, the brush chamber, and to help remove dirt and mud from the roller. Price and availability The iFloor 5 is one of the most budget friendly floor washers in the Tineco wet and dry vacuum range, with a launch price of $299.99. However, it’s currently available from Tineco US for $239.99, making it one of the best-priced wet vacuums we’ve tested. Amazon is matching this discount. Should you buy the iFloor 5? The iFloor 5 is easy to use and delivers great day-to-day cleaning results–as long as you have the floor space to make the most of it. We’d definitely say that it’s a good buy. If you tend to vacuum and mop your hard flooring separately, it will definitely save you time. But it can’t sterilize floors and, as it can’t get flat under furniture, or clean in smaller spaces, it won’t be right for every home. This review was first published on Tech Advisor, our sibling site.

Reolink makes a bold claim for the brand-new Altas PT Ultra pan/tilt home-security camera it unveiled at IFA in Berlin: 8 days of continuous recording on a single charge of its massive 20,000mAh battery. But before you get too excited about that stat, know that Reolink counts a day as 12 hours. Still, that’s a lot better than more typical cameras that record only when motion is detected, and that might miss events that didn’t trigger a recording. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. The Altas PT Ultra boasts several other great features, starting with its 1/1.8-inch, 8-megapixel image sensor that delivers 4K video resolution through a 4mm, F1.0-aperture lens. Reolink says these specifications enable the camera to capture four times more light than the typical infrared camera, discerning sharp details even in low light. The camera is also equipped with Reolink’s ColorX night vision, and In darker conditions, it can activate its onboard spotlights for even better color night vision. The Reolink Altas PT Ultra pan/tilt home-security camera is equipped with four types of night vision. The Reolink Altas PT Ultra pan/tilt home-security camera is equipped with four types of night vision.Reolink The Reolink Altas PT Ultra pan/tilt home-security camera is equipped with four types of night vision.Reolink Reolink A new SoC (system on chip) powers a video pre-roll feature that captures 10 seconds of video before the camera’s passive infrared sensors trigger a recording. Onboard person, vehicle, and animal detection allow end users to tailor motion alerts so they’re only notified of events they care about and can ignore the rest. Being a pan/tilt camera, the Altas PT Ultra should be virtually free from blindspots, and an auto-tracking feature should allow the camera to follow a person, vehicle, or animal as it moves through the camera’s field of view. Those who hate subscription fees will appreciate knowing there’s 512GB of local storage, eliminating the need to pay for storage in the cloud. The camera has a dual-band (2.4-/5GHz) Wi-Fi adapter onboard. Reolink also offers a solar panel to keep the camera’s internal battery topped up, as well as network-attached storage devices. Reolink also announced a new video doorbell at IFA today. The Reolink Doorbell Battery shows visitors from head to toe in 2K resolution. Look for our hands-on reviews of both products when they go on sale later this month.

Smart lock manufacturer Lockly has debuted a new Zeno series of smart entry locks. Each of the new models—the PIN Genie Pro, Secure Pro, Visage, and Vision—are compatible with all three of the major smart home ecosystems: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home (including Home Key), and Google Home. Each lock also features Lockly’s patented PIN Genie numeric keypad that shuffles the number arrangement after each use, making it virtually impossible for an observer to acquire your entry code by snooping from a distance. Additional means of entry become available as you move up the product line, with the Lockly Visage boasting built-in binocular facial recognition. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. The manufacturer says it has streamlined the industrial designs of its new locks to achieve a 35 percent reduction in form factor, leading to a more appealing look compared to their predecessors. All the locks in the Zeno Series connect directly to a home’s Wi-Fi network, so that homeowners don’t need to also buy a hub or bridge to control them from anywhere they have broadband access. Should the locks lose their connection to the internet, you can issue a one-time-use “offline access code” to a guest, so they’ll still be able to open the door. Finally, each lock can be opened with a physical backup key. Here are additional details on each model: Lockly PIN Genie Pro Lockly Lockly Lockly The entry-level PIN Genie Pro ($229) has just the PIN Genie keypad, along with smart home connectivity, mobile app support, and a physical key. HomeKit/Home Key support will enable Apple users to also unlock the deadbolt with their Apple Watch. Lockly Secure Pro Lockly Lockly Lockly The step-up Secure Pro ($329) adds a 3D biometric fingerprint reader to the feature set listed above. It’s capable of recognizing up to 99 unique fingerprints. Lockly Visage Lockly says its $349 Visage (pictured at the top of this story) is the world’s first smart lock to be equipped with facial recognition. It uses both an onboard binocular camera and onboard radar to scan, memorize, and then later recognize up to 100 unique faces. In addition to that, it has all the other features of the other two models. Lockly Vision Lockly Lockly Lockly The latest model of Lockly’s smart deadbolt/video doorbell mashup (read our Lockly Vision Elite review from a year ago), the Lockly Vision ($429) has an integrated intercom and a 2K night-vision camera onboard that packs twice the resolution of the previous model. It has all the features of the other three models above, except for the video doorbell that’s in the Lockly Visage. All four locks are available now for pre-order from Lockly’s website. Lockly smart locks are also available at Home Depot.