• A new YouTube video shows the process of making a solar cell
• Low-cost, household items and tools are used throughout
• The solar cell works and get reach up to 5% efficiency for conversion

We've heard of DIY solar before, but this is next-level: YouTuber Dr. Semiconductor has been able to create fully functional solar cells, using low-cost household materials and items, which can reach up to 5% efficiency.

That's a long way short of professional solar panels of course, but if you check out the video (via Interesting Engineering), you'll see it's all done without the industrial-scale facilities and instruments usually involved. In fact, you too could do this at home.

Everything included in the video has been sourced from retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and eBay, and with fairly standard tools — including sandpaper, household solvents, a repurposed PC cooling fan, and a 3D printer.

There's a full guide online if you do want to try this yourself, and while some technical capabilities are definitely needed, it's a fascinating science experiment to try out (even if you're not going to be saving on your electricity bill anytime soon).

Microwave manufacturing

Standard solar panels use silicon semiconductors doped with phosphorus to create the electrical boundary that converts light into energy, and Dr. Semiconductor followed the same principles here, starting with a p-type silicon wafer sourced from Amazon.

The YouTuber then turned to a microwave kiln, widely available at retailers but more typically used for arts and crafts projects. It sits inside a standard microwave and converts microwave energy into heat.

That heat was used to diffuse phosphorus into the silicon wafer, but temperature control was crucial: too much and the silicon melted completely. Around 1,000C (1,832F) was necessary to get the silicon and phosphorus fused together.

With some further refining and the addition of soft metal contacts, the solar cell was complete, and tested via a multimeter. What's more, Dr. Semiconductor says there's lots of room to improve on the process — so expect future follow-ups.

Apple’s new AI-powered home hub, the HomeView, is officially shipping on November 13. Featuring a 7-inch touchscreen, and coming in wall-mounted or tabletop versions, the new must-have Apple device seems a snip at just $299 / £299 / AU$449 — but that price doesn't reflect the true cost of accessing its best features.

One of the things that really makes the HomeView unique is that it recognizes your face, then adapts its display so you see your personal content in apps like Messages, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders, and Find My. It’s a great feature, because having to keep logging in manually all the time would be a real time-consuming turn-off for a device that’s used by all the family.

But a note on the Apple newsrooms page about HomeView says “Apple HomeView setup and multiuser support require a compatible iPhone or iPad running the latest software.” It goes on to say that “Personal Context requests require a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software version with Siri AI turned on and set to a supported language.”

You need a modern iPhone or iPad

Apple’s wording features two overlapping statements. A compatible iPhone or iPad is required to set up the HomeView, but one that runs Apple Intelligence is required for Personal Context requests. In practical terms, you need an iPhone 15 Pro, any iPhone 16 or newer model, an A17 Pro iPad mini, or an M1-or-newer iPad. The standard iPhone 15 does not qualify.

The Apple HomeView isn’t useless without those devices — it can still answer general-knowledge questions, control compatible smart-home products, and offer improved music discovery. However, it won’t be able to process requests involving personal information, such as finding details in Messages or Calendar and taking actions across apps, which require a modern iPhone or iPad. Siri AI must be enabled, and the HomeView and paired device must use a supported language.

But there is one even narrower requirement: customizing Siri’s expressiveness and speaking speed requires an iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo, or an M4-or-newer iPad with at least 12GB RAM. Obviously, that's a small voice-personalization feature, not the threshold for ordinary Personal Context requests, but it’s still worth noting.

The complete Apple AI home costs considerably more

When we look into the HomeView’s smart-home features, which are part of Apple’s wider smart-home ecosystem, things get even more complicated. With a compatible HomeKit Secure Video camera, Apple Intelligence can do the following, genuinely useful, things:

• Summarize recorded activity: Instead of merely saying “Motion detected,” the Home app can describe what happened, such as a person leaving a package or a dog entering the garden.
• Search recordings conversationally: You can search using requests such as “Show me when the parcel was delivered”, or, “When did the children get home?”, rather than manually scrolling through clips.
• Connect related activity: The Home app can group or surface significant moments captured across different cameras.

Once again, an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone or iPad is required — this time to set up and enable the camera-intelligence features. Apple says footage is processed locally by the home hub or using Private Cloud Compute, rather than simply handing the analysis to the paired iPhone.

The complete list of what you need for these features to function is: a HomeKit Secure Video-compatible camera, HomeView or another compatible Apple home hub, an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone or iPad, and an eligible iCloud+ subscription. In other words, simply buying a HomeView alone does not give you the AI camera summaries or searchable recording history.

iCloud+ plans start at $0.99 / AU$1.49 for 50GB of storage a month, then $2.99 / AU$4.49 for 200GB and $9.99 / AU$14.99 a month for 2TB. Recorded HomeKit Secure Video footage is retained for 10 days, and does not count against your normal iCloud storage allowance.

Of course, you can still view a compatible camera’s live feed and receive basic accessory notifications without paying for recorded history, but you need that iCloud+ subscription for HomeKit Secure Video storage, and for AI features that analyze and search those stored recordings.

At $299 / £299 / AU$449 the HomeView therefore doesn’t independently provide the complete experience Apple demonstrates. Owners of an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or another qualifying device may already have everything they need for Personal Context. But people using a standard iPhone 15 or an older model could discover that their new household AI device is considerably less personal unless they upgrade their phone too.

That may suit Apple perfectly: HomeView isn’t just another product, but another reason to keep every device in your home relatively new, compatible and attached to an Apple service. For buyers who haven’t studied the footnotes, however, the difference between what HomeView can do alone, and what Apple shows it doing, could prove frustrating.

• The UK’s Fuse Energy has announced a plug-in solar product
• It combines solar panels with a 2.5kWh plug-in battery
• It’s due on sale next year, provided plug-in batteries are made legal

With energy prices soaring thanks to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, you might be looking to plug-in solar panels to help cut your bills. To that end, the UK’s Fuse Energy has just announced the country’s first plug-in solar panels that come with an included battery, so you can harvest your own energy and store it for when it’s needed most — though the combination isn't yet legal in the UK.

The Jules by Fuse scheme lets you plug up to four 500W solar panels into a standard socket and use them to collect solar energy. This can be stored in the included 2.5kWh battery, with the Fuse app deciding when to store power and when to start using it from the battery.

Fuse frames the device as a handy product for people who a renting, living in an apartment or whose house roof is not suitable for solar panels. Instead of requiring scaffolding and a suitable home structure, the panels and battery can be placed on a balcony, mounted on a wall or placed in a garden.

That means accessing solar energy and storing it at home need not be limited to homeowners living in properties with suitable roof spaces. That said, there is a catch to be aware of with Fuse’s new initiative.

Waiting to clear the legal hurdle

As we noted earlier, you can’t get one of Fuse’s Jules setups installed today, as they’re not technically legal in the UK yet. Fuse says that the first deliveries of the product are “expected post legislation approval in 2027,” so if you’re interested, all you can do for now is pre-order one using Fuse’s waitlist.

Once the relevant legislation is passed and the Jules does become available, Fuse says it will cost £577 and will save you around £180 a year in electricity bills, meaning it’ll be paid off in a little over three years. In contrast, Fuse says that standard rooftop solar panels can set you back between £7,000 and £8,000, plus scaffolding and installation costs.

The big difference with plug-in solar kits — which only became legal in the UK in August 2026 — is Fuse’s inclusion of a battery in its Jules setup. This can make a real difference because it lets you power your house using the energy you’ve collected even when the sun isn’t shining, keeping you juiced up in all conditions.

Rival provider Octopus Energy is planning similar home battery products called the Nook Cube (2kWh) and Nook Colossus (5kWh or 10kWh, expandable to 30kWh) — also due to launch in 2027. Octopus’s own plug-in solar panels have repeatedly sold out since going on sale, although they don’t come with their own batteries.

While we’re waiting for battery legislation to pass, it’s a good idea to read up on the existing rules surrounding solar batteries and panels, as they’re not as simple as you might think. Hopefully things will become clearer next year, when the likes of Fuse and Octopus are confident that plug-in batteries will have passed the legal hurdles in their way.

Lavazza Tabli: 30-second review

Coffee pods are out, and tablets are in. Recently, Keurig announced that it was killing off the K-Cup in favor of compressed coffee tablets, but it wasn't the first to the punch. Italian coffee company Lavazza had debuted its own coffee tablets and brewer — the Tabli system — months before, and it's excellent.

The main appeal of Tabli's compressed coffee pucks (called tabs) is their minimal packaging — there's no metal or plastic pod that needs to be recycled after each brew or worse, end up in landfill. Using ground coffee or whole beans is a much less wasteful way to prepare an espresso, but it takes longer, and while it's a fun hobby for some of us, not everyone is interested in getting into the technicalities of brewing a balanced shot.

Each of Lavazza's tabs provides exactly the right amount of coffee for a single serving, so there's no weighing required, and no loose grounds to make a mess of your counter. The whole process is just as clean and simple as using coffee capsules, but without the empty capsules to dispose of at the end. It seems like such a simple idea that it's surprising it hasn't hit the mainstream before — and the results are very impressive.

I've become quite picky during my years reviewing coffee machines, and the Tabli system produces a better-tasting brew than any coffee capsule I've tried. Its app compatibility is a nice touch too, but the ease of use and flavor are what really count — and they're both truly impressive.

Lavazza Tabli: price and availability

• List price $129 / £199 for the machine alone
• Available as a bundle that includes a milk frother and coffee tabs
• Tabs are competitively priced and cheaper than Nespresso

The Tabli coffee machine has a list price of $129 / £199. That's between AU$190 and AU$380, though the Tabli system isn't available in Australia yet. There are also bundles available that include the Lavazza MilkEasy frother and several boxes of Tabs for much less than all the components would cost separately.

Although it's not the cheapest single-serve coffee maker around, bear in mind that unlike some of its rivals, the Tabli system won't sting you with the price of coffee in the longer term. Bosch Tassimo machines, for example, are very cheap, but the pods are some of the priciest around.

A box of 12 Tabs costs £5.89 in the UK, which is about 49p per drink. You can also pick up a multipack of eight boxes for £40, which brings the cost per drink down to 42p.

Things are slightly more expensive in the US, where you can buy a four-pack of boxes for $48, meaning each drink costs $1. That's still very reasonable, though. For comparison, Nespresso Vertuo capsules cost between $1.40 and $1.60 each.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Lavazza Tabli: specifications

Lavazza Tabli: design

• Sleek, modern aesthetic
• Minimalist controls
• Available in three colors

The Lavazza Tabli is a sleek-looking single-serve coffee maker that comes in three colors: graphite black (shown here), sand white, and walnut brown. The top panel has four buttons — power, single shot, double shot, and lungo — and slides back with a smooth motion to reveal the small chamber resembling the bottom of a manual espresso machine’s filter basket, where you’ll place the compressed coffee pod.

There are also warning lights that will alert you if the used tab collection bin has been removed or needs emptying, if the water tank needs filling or hasn’t been properly inserted, and if the machine needs descaling.

At the very back of the top panel, you’ll notice a flashing blue light, which indicates that the Tabli machine is ready to connect to your phone via Bluetooth. Once it’s connected, the blue light will remain steady — but more on that later.

Unlike some other Lavazza coffee machines, such as the Assoluta, the Tabli doesn’t have its own milk frothing system. However, if you’re a fan of lattes and cappuccinos, the Tabli is available bundled with a standalone frother that works extremely well. My colleague Josh Russell has just finished testing it and will be publishing his review very soon.

The Tabli has a small drip tray that’s just the right height for an espresso cup. If you want to brew into a larger cup or mug, just slide the tray out to make room. Behind the tray, you’ll find the bin into which the Tabli machine drops used coffee tabs. The tabs don’t break apart, keeping mess to a minimum, and are caught in a basket so they’re not left sitting in water.

Unlike most other coffee makers I’ve tested, the Tabli dispenses dirty water into this bin after rinsing itself rather than expelling it into the drip tray — a tidier solution that keeps the front of the machine clean.

The Tabli’s removable components aren’t dishwasher-safe, but they’re easy to hand-wash, and since this machine doesn’t have an integrated milk frother, there’s minimal maintenance necessary. Just keep the bin and drip tray clean, and follow the descaling instructions periodically.

• Design score: 5/5

Lavazza Tabli: performance

• Very simple to use
• Much better coffee than most single-serve machines
• App works well, but Google Home connectivity does not

Using the Tabli is just as simple as any ordinary capsule coffee maker: place your chosen tab in the recess under the lid, slide it closed, and pick the type of drink you want. A minute later, your drink will be ready to enjoy.

Coffee tabs are given a strength score on a scale of 1-13, and although there are currently only six types available, if the system proves successful, I'm hopeful Lavazza will increase its range.

There aren't any of the elaborate flavors you get with Nespresso or Tassimo pods; all Tabli tabs are made using nothing but compressed coffee, with no additives, and in my opinion that's no bad thing.

I've tried three Tabli varieties during testing. Qualità Rossa and Qualità Oro both produced a smooth-tasting, easy-drinking espresso, while the Espresso Ristretto was a little punchier — but not at all bitter.

None of them had the astringent taste I associate with most coffee capsules, and their taste is much more like a drink made with freshly ground coffee beans. The espresso also has a good layer of crema that beats what I've come to expect from single-serve machines.

The Lavazza Tabli has a smartphone app, which you can use to operate the machine remotely and create custom drinks. After installing the Tabli app, you’ll be prompted to create an account and then connect your coffee maker. This was quick and easy; the app will request permission to search for nearby devices, then locate the Tabli machine without the need to scan any QR codes. The first time I connected to the machine, I was prompted to grant access to my calling history and contacts, but it seems this was a temporary bug. Following an app update, I disconnected from the Tabli machine, then restarted the process, and the prompt did not appear.

The app is nicely designed, and the brewing options are presented front and center. You can choose from the machine's three brewing options or create your own, give it a name, and save it for quick access in the future. You can adjust the volume and temperature of the drink, which is particularly useful if you enjoy an Americano in the morning. Because the machine uses prepared coffee tablets rather than ground beans, if you want to change the taste any more, you’ll need to pick a different type of coffee tab,

Naturally, the app allows you to order more tabs (as well as other Lavazza products), but you have to scroll down to find the store — it’s not thrust in your face, which is refreshing.

The only issue I encountered involved the coffee maker’s smart home connectivity. The Tabli’s box advertises compatibility with Google Home and Alexa, but during my tests it sadly didn’t work. I was able to connect the Tabli machine to Google Home easily enough, but although Gemini could turn it on, it couldn’t start brewing. Nor could I use voice commands to choose different drinks, as described in the Tabli’s manual.

However, I’m not certain whether this is an issue with the Tabli or with Google Home and Gemini, which aren’t known for their flawless reliability. The Tabli app works exactly as intended, but don't count on being able to brew drinks using voice commands through a smart speaker.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Lavazza Tabli?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

How I tested the Lavazza Tabli

I tested the Lavazza Tabli for three weeks, using it instead of my usual manual espresso machine. I used filtered water in its tank and used three different Tabli tab varieties. I experimented with brewing coffee remotely and creating custom drinks using the apps. I connected the coffee maker to Google Home and attempted to operate it using typed and spoken commands. I cleaned the coffee maker at the end of each day following Lavazza's instructions.

First reviewed October 2026

Dreame is well known for making some of the best robot vacuums and hair stylers around, but it also has a sideline in coffee machines — and they're every bit as good as the rest of its appliances. This week I'm testing its new portable espresso machine, the Dreame Ecceluxe Go, and I think this pint-sized brewer is going to be my new favorite travelling companion.

Of course, there's no shortage of travel-friendly coffee makers available, from the classic AeroPress to the hand-pumped Wacaco Nanopresso. The problem is, they all need to have hot water on hand, which isn't always feasible. Who wants to set up a camping stove and kettle for one drink — and who has the patience?

The Ecceluxe Go eliminates that problem by heating the water itself. It's a smart idea: a single shot of espresso only needs a tiny amount of water, so a portable Li-ion battery and compact heating elements are sufficient to bring it to temperature.

The device comes in a classy carry case that holds the machine itself (about the size of a small thermos) and a collection of adapters for brewing three different types of coffee pods or grounds. Whether you prefer Nespresso Classic, Dolce Gusto, ESE (Easy Serve Espresso), or freshly ground beans, the Ecceluxe Go has you covered.

Each adapter twists onto the bottom of the brewer, and a flexible cap lifts off the top to reveal a small water reservoir with fill lines to help you add the correct amount. All done? Open the little legs on the bottom of the adapter, place the whole assembly on top of the clear coffee cup supplied in the box, and you're ready to begin.

The only control on the Ecceluxe Go is a small touch-sensitive LED display. Hold your finger against this for three seconds to power it on, then select one of its two programs. P1 is for brewing with cold or ambient-temperature water, and P2 is for brewing with water that has already been heated. Once you've made your selection, wait three seconds and coffee-making will commence.

The brewer's miniature water tank contains a temperature sensor, and as it heats, you'll see the temperature displayed on its little screen (in centigrade) start to climb. This will take a couple of minutes (it's using a very small heating element), but once the water's good and hot, it will be forced through your coffee preparation of choice, and you'll have a delicious shot of espresso to enjoy, wherever your adventures have taken you.

I'm testing the Ecceluxe Go with all four coffee types for my full review, which will be published in a couple of weeks, and so far I'm impressed. The flavor is milder than usual, but still tasty and well-suited to drinking as a plain shot.

Dreame doesn't currently have a release schedule for the Ecceluxe Go in the UK, but it's scheduled to arrive in the US, Portugal, and Spain by the end of the year.

• Withings users must now pay a hefty premium to sync data to Apple Health
• The change requires a $100 annual subscription to Withings+
• Customers are incredibly unhappy with the move

The whole point of using a health and fitness tracker, one would think, is to be able to analyze your data in order to understand your own well-being. New users of Withings’ smart scales, however, have just been stung with an extortionate annual subscription if they want to enjoy that privilege.

As noted on the Withings forum, the company has decided to lock the ability to sync your wellness metrics to the Apple Health app behind a paywall. And this isn’t just some token fee either — you’ll be charged a whopping $99.99 a year. All to do what has always been free (and what many rivals still offer at no cost).

Withings apparently justified the move to the forum poster by citing unspecified “privacy measures” and an “AI connector.” Yet syncing data to Apple Health using the HealthKit framework doesn’t require any server-side processing or hefty AI lifting that might justify such an expensive fee. Instead, the paywall simply gives the impression of being an opportunistic revenue booster.

The post on the Withings forum described the move as a “silent and incredibly anti-consumer change” and pointed out that anyone who signed up on or after October 13, 2026, would be subject to it. Existing users won’t be forced to pay, but that’ll come as little consolation to everyone else.

A controversial move

It’s safe to say that the optics don’t look good for Withings, and users have been understandably upset at the move. The original poster on the Withings forum labeled the change “an obvious cash grab” that “ruins the hardware experience and destroys the trust in the brand,” adding that “We shouldn't have to pay a subscription to access our own health data.”

On Reddit, users echoed that dissatisfaction, saying “$99 a year is a real joke” and, about Withings’ decision-makers, “They are digging their own grave.” Another Redditor asked, “Why would I ever buy another Withings product, let alone recommend the products to other people, if you have to pay a subscription to access your own data?”

A Withings representative tried to explain that the $99.99 Withings+ subscription includes other features — including “An improved Health Assistant” and “Better-priced access to medical services” — but no user seems to care about any of that. The main concern is the decision to lock a fundamental feature behind a paywall when said feature appears to require no additional costs on Withings’ part.

Given the strength of the customer reaction already, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Withings backtrack and unlock Apple Health syncing in the near future. With many users already saying they’ll either ditch their Withings devices or abstain from buying one in the first place, the ball is firmly in Withings’ court.

Wyze BodyScan smart scale: One-minute review

Over the years, Wyze has released a number of high-profile smart products across a range of different industries. They began with cameras but have expanded their range to offer vacuums, lights, locks, and a collection of affordable smart scales.

The Wyze BodyScan sits just underneath their most premium offering, the BodyScan Ultra, and is the brand’s most affordable 8-electrode BIA (which stands for bioelectric impedance analysis, the method many smart scales use to scan users’ bodies) scale. Offering segmental muscle and fat analysis across a user’s arms, legs, and torso, the BodyScan is more capable than almost all other smart scales at this price point.

As for its positioning in the market, the best smart scales for home users range from $20 for the Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale all the way up to $599.95 / £449.95 / AU$895 for the Withings BodyScan 2. The BodyScan sits just above Vitafit’s offering and sets itself apart with segmented body composition reporting.

The BodyScan boasts a very impressive 4.7-inch LED screen, which displays seven different metrics, including weight, BMI, bone mass, protein, and body water percentage. The display is one of the largest you’ll find on any smart scale, elevating the user experience well beyond the $84.98 price tag.

The remaining metrics, including protein, basal metabolism, and subcutaneous fat, are displayed in the Wyze app. Unfortunately, because the app covers all Wyze products, it’s not a dedicated smart scale platform. The interface provides little more than a presentation of the metrics in both data and graph form. When compared to the premium Withings app experience, the two are worlds apart.

The BodyScan smart scale offers an incredible amount given the small price tag and delivers all the health metrics that most everyday users could ever need. The scale offers only a little more than the basics, but it does those basics without fuss and without stress. If you were to also invest in one of the best smartwatches, then you’d have a great all-round solution for measuring your health progress.

Wyze BodyScan smart scale: Specifications

Wyze BodyScan smart scale: Price and availability

• $84.98 USD
• Only available in the US
• Budget-friendly

At just $84.98, the Wyze BodyScan scale is one of the most affordable on the market, especially if you’re looking for segmented muscle mass and body fat with a high level of accuracy. The app experience and build quality leave a little to be desired, but at this price point there’s nothing better.

If your budget is even tighter and you have no interest in segmented data, then the Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale, for around $20, is currently our best budget pick in our best smart scales buying guide. The scale delivers accuracy that we were “blown away” by across a varied set of metrics, including weight, BMI (although you can calculate this yourself at home, the scale does it for you), bone mass, basal metabolic rate, and more.

• Value score 5/5

Wyze BodyScan smart scale: Design

• Large 4.7-inch LED display
• Cheap and basic handlebar construction
• Solid glass base

Let’s begin with one of the main highlights of the BodyScan scale, the huge 4.7-inch LED display. I was so surprised to see a screen of this size that I had to check the price point again. In fact, this is the largest of all displays of any scale featured in our best smart scales guide, and for under $100, its inclusion is even more impressive.

The display is located at the top of the base unit and is big, bright, and super clear even when viewed from six feet away. The benefit of packing the display into the base rather than into the handlebar, like the Withings BodyScan 2, is that they can make it significantly larger and thereby display more information at once. As a result, I found myself opening up the app a lot less compared to other brands.

To keep costs down, Wyze has stripped out a number of additional premium features found on the BodyScan Ultra, but the most noticeable compromise is actually the budget material choice and the basic construction quality of the handlebar. The plastic is cheap, it feels lightweight, and it lacks a locking mechanism, so it won’t automatically stay in position when you’re waiting for measurements to be calculated.

I was glad that these issues don’t translate over to the main base unit. Thanks to a solid plastic base and a thick ITO-coated glass panel, I was left confident that it would stand the test of time. My only issue with the base is an aesthetic one. For some unknown reason Wyze has inserted a protruding plastic rectangle into the middle of the glass, which breaks the otherwise sleek design of the panel.

• Design Score: 4/5

Wyze BodyScan smart scale: Features

• 17 body composition metrics
• Seven of these metrics are displayed on the scale itself
• Syncs with Apple Health, Health Connect, and Fitbit.

The Wyze Bodyscan covers 17 body composition metrics. Seven of these are displayed on the 4.7-inch LED display: Weight, Body Fat Percentage, BMI, Muscle Mass Percentage, Bone Mass, Protein, Body Water Percentage.

These metrics and the 10 remaining ones are displayed in the Wyze app. These are Muscle Rate, Physical Age, Lean Weight, Visceral Fat, Basal Metabolism, Subcutaneous Fat, Fat Mass, Skeletal Muscle Mass, Segmented Muscle Mass, and Body Fat.

Beyond measurements, the Wyze Bodyscan syncs with Apple Health, Health Connect, and Fitbit. It also recognizes up to eight users automatically and has a nine-month battery life.

• Features Score: 4/5

Wyze BodyScan smart scale: Performance

• Comparable results to the industry-leading Withings BodyScan 2
• Simple but basic app experience
• Managing multiple users is a bit of a hassle

Given the sub-$100 price tag, I didn’t expect very much from the Wyze BodyScan. Not only were my expectations exceeded with regard to design and features but also with overall performance. Despite not having any bells and whistles, the BodyScan manages to do all the basics incredibly well.

The overall experience of using the scale is a positive one. The large display presents seven of the most common metrics, which means most users won’t need to check the app each time they step off the scales. However, when you do find yourself drilling down into the metrics, you’ll discover a very basic app experience. Data is clearly laid out, but there’s no analysis or health advice, as is found in the Withings app. On the plus side, there’s no subscription either.

Part of the reason for the basic app experience is that it handles all Wyze product types and has a significant interface bias towards its cameras. The positive of that is that if you’ve bought into the Wyze ecosystem, then you’ll be able to manage all your smart devices in one place.

Unfortunately, the app issues don’t end there: there’s no support for a multi-user profile, so other family members will have to download the app on their own phone. That’s fine for other adult members or older children but not if you’re wanting to track the health of your young child.

More positively, when compared to the Withings BodyScan 2 and the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro, the scale delivered accurate results. This was especially true for the key metrics of weight, BMI, muscle mass, and body fat. There were only two metrics with issues, and those were body water and basal metabolism.

Thanks to the electrodes in the handlebar, the BodyScan is capable of reporting body composition across five separate segments. Measurements are overlaid onto a body graphic within the app, so it’s quick and easy to see where imbalances are located.

The overall speed of the unit was good, with weight being calculated in a matter of seconds and the remaining 16 metrics taking less than 20 seconds. This is about the same length of time as most other scales we’ve tested.

• Performance score: 4/5

Wyze BodyScan smart scale: Scorecard

Wyze BodyScan smart scale: Should I buy?

Buy it if

Don’t buy it if

Also consider

How I tested the Wyze BodyScan smart scale

I used the Wyze BodyScan smart scale in my bathroom for several weeks. Each time I used the scale, I measured all 17 available metrics, which enabled me to track accuracy over time as well as whether it was susceptible to fluctuating results. Because of the lack of multi-profile support through one account, I didn’t use the scale with my children.

First reviewed: October 2026

Mova V70 Ultra Complete: Two-minute review

If you've never heard of Mova as a brand, you're not alone as it was initially only available in select European and South-East Asian countries. The brand, which is owned by Dreame Technology, is now expanding and is supposed to be value-focused side of the company — although you'd be hard pressed to believe that when its latest flagship robot vacuum costs upwards $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$3,000.

However, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete brings everything you expect from such an expensive robovac, including some industry-first features that are now being adopted by other brands. This includes suction that's a whopping 42,000Pa at its maximum, as well as the impressively long reach of the side brush and mopping arm (12cm and 17cm respectively). I even love the fact that it eliminates the need for dust bags by using a tank you can clean out every now and then while still remaining as hands-free as possible.

It's also arguably the quietest robot vacuum I've tested, even at maximum suction — so quiet, in fact, that I had to check it was actually cleaning during my testing. Yes, it was.

It's vacuuming prowess, however, isn't a good reflection of its listed suction power, particularly on carpets. Case in point: it failed to pick up a mix of oats, tea and chia seeds from a mid-pile carpet even after two passes on its Max (or second-highest) suction setting. Hair pickup at the same setting is also not that great, but bump it up to Max+ (which significantly impacts battery life) and I found my carpets looking a lot better, with even bits of thread cleaned up. The mixture of pantry essentials, however, still remained and I needed to use my Dyson V15 Detect to clean up the leftovers.

Moreover, the extra reach the side brush promises isn't consistent. For example, I expected it to remain extended as long as the V70 was traversing along a room edge, but it repeatedly retracts, leaving dirt along some sections of a room edge. The timing of the extension while cleaning around furniture legs is also off, with the side brush opening up either just before or just after it gets to a chair leg.

The extending mop arm, however, performs better, but even it retracts along some sections of a room edge, but the bot is close enough for edges and areas around furniture to be mopped, if not vacuumed.

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete uses dual rotating mop pads that, in my opinion, aren't as good as rollers. It made a bigger mess of some spilled soy sauce in my kitchen, which a roller mop doesn't as these are constantly washed with fresh water while the robot vacuum is cleaning. I also found that for hard floors to even seem damp, waterflow rate needs to be set to high.

It's also disappointing that, for an expensive robot vacuum, the docking sequence takes a few tries. In the four weeks of testing, I had to replace the bot in the dock manually twice, but at all other times, it took 2-3 attempts to correctly roll itself back in for self-cleaning and charging.

The companion app is near identical to the Dreame one, but can be slow to load and respond (at least on iOS, which is what I use). And, like its counterpart, some settings are tucked away in submenus, so you need to spend some time going through it all.

While there are features to love here, it's disappointing that they don't really come together well enough to make a complete package, especially when it has to the potential to be one and blow the competition out of the water. For its high asking price, it's a hard one to recommend.

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Price & availability

• First unveiled in May 2026 in Europe, followed by an August launch in the US
• Available in bigger markets, like the US, UK, Europe and Australia
• Investment pricing of $1,299 / £1,219 / AU$3,299

The very high $1,299 / £1,219 / AU$3,299 retail price of the Mova V70 Ultra Complete might make you balk but, given its feature set, it shouldn't be all that surprising.

Then again, it's a competitive price when you take into account other flagships recently released, including the $1,699 Roborock Saros 20 Flow (which is unavailable in the UK at the time of writing, but is a lot cheaper at AU$2,499 in Australia) and the Dreame Aqua20 Ultra Roller going for £1,299 / AU$3,299 (unavailable in the US at the time of publication).

All the aforementioned new flagships have different feature sets to justify their high asking prices, but we're yet to try the last two competitors ourselves. Given the results of my testing in this review, however, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete doesn't deliver on its promises as it should, making it a tough sell at its very high price point.

Instead, opting for slightly older models like the Roborock Saros 10 or Saros 20, even the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra, would be the better buy, especially if you can get them at a discounted price.

However, I should note that the Mova V70 Ultra Complete doesn't use dust bags, minimizing your ongoing costs. Plus there's a complete set of replacement brushes and three additional pairs of mop pads in the box, meaning you can go a very long while without needing to buy any replacement parts, adding some additional value to the initial cost.

The only ongoing purchase, if you wish, would be a mopping detergent and/or wood floor-care solution. Only the former is supplied, but Mova recommends you only purchase its proprietary detergents to avoid damaging the appliance and voiding warranty.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Specs

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Design

• Clean, modern design with no dust bag
• Retractable LiDAR turret
• Extending side brush and mop arm with industry-leading reach

These days, if you've seen one premium robot vacuum, you've essentially seen them all. The Mova V70 Ultra Complete isn't, at least at first glance, very different from nearly every other set-and-forget alternative on the market, although there are some design elements you won't find elsewhere just yet.

Robot design

The first, and arguably the Mova V70 Ultra Complete's headline act, is on the bot itself — the MaxiReachX mechanism for the side brush and a mop arm. What this means is that for both vacuuming and mopping, the bot has quite the reach, extending 12cm and 17cm respectively. This is not only good for edge cleaning and sweeping into room corners, but it also allows the bot to clean around furniture legs that most other robovacs don't necessarily do well.

The efficacy of the cleaning, however, is a different story, with the side brush extension not quite timing itself right when around furniture and not remaining fully extended when traveling along a wall (or room edge). As you can see from the video clip below, the side brush opens just before it actually gets to the chair leg — when the bot 'sees' the furniture' — then retracts.

I do worry about the longevity of the side brush arm, though, as I found it often scraps against a wall or skirting board, which means it could suffer from wear and tear with constant use, potentially cracking or breaking. While it could still be usable, any jagged edges of the broken plastic could scratch walls. In the four weeks of almost daily use I put the Mova V70 Ultra Complete to, there has been no issues, but the sound the extended side brush makes while scraping has often made my jaw clench.

The mop arm, however, does often stay extended longer but, again, not as consistently as I had expected, retracting when the bot gets close enough to a skirting board to not need the extension.

Mova promises that the dual circular mop pads can apply 15N of downward pressure and, in combination with their spinning, should apply a little elbow grease when mopping but, in reality, that's asking for too much from any robot vacuum cleaner.

What I do appreciate is that the mop pads attach magnetically and they're left behind automatically in the dock whenever the V70 needs to vacuum, so there's no fear of dirty dampness transferring on carpets. That said, you can set the bot to vacuum carpets first anyway, so it really doesn't matter either way.

Most of its other features are similar to what you'll get with other premium bots, including its retractible navigation turret that allows it to roll under low-lying furniture. However, I should note that I often found the turret elevated when it was knocking against the underside of cabinets, and the bot itself isn't the thinnest on the market — at 8.8cm, it doesn't have as good a clearance as, say, the 7.98cm of the Roborock Saros 10R.

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete also features robotic legs that allow it to climb up to 9cm in two shallow steps, plus dual anti-tangle bar brushes that definitely don't require manual intervention to keep clean. I should mention, though, that during my testing, hair got badly entangled with the large wheels and the side brush, which were difficult to cut away.

One small point of difference on the bot compared to others is that along with lit buttons on the turret, the Mova V70 features a thin bar of blue light when it's powered on. It gives the otherwise white bot a slightly ethereal look in my opinion.

Dock design

The white and silver dock is quite standard on the outside but, instead of housing a dust bag inside, there's a 2L box with a filter that holds up to 100 days' worth of dirt. This means there are no ongoing costs for replacing bags and you're also reducing waste in the bargain. The dust tank, as Mova calls it, is washable, but it also gets dried out after every use, thus reducing the build up of odors and a bacterial or fungal ecosystem within.

Like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra, the dock also houses a detergent dispenser with two compartments — one for a standard mopping soap, the other for either a pet odor neutralizer or a wood floor-care solution. You will need to use the app to enable the use of these as they're not set to flow into the clean water by default.

Both water tanks are under a lid, keeping them out of sight. Moreover, the lids on each tank clip on tightly, so odors from the dirty mop water don't escape in case you forget to clean it out regularly.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Performance

• Hard floor cleaning is good, but carpet vacuuming is disappointing
• Excellent navigation and obstacle avoidance
• Auto docking requires multiple attempts

Say what you will about the Mova V70 Ultra Complete — and I do have a lot to say about its performance — but the one thing I love about it is how quietly it goes about its work. When vacuuming, even at its Max+ (its highest suction setting), the V70 did not hit more than 66dB on the Decibel X app, when others can average around the 80dB mark at similar settings. Understandably this isn't a very scientific method of measuring sound, but it's a good way to compare.

Even the dock isn't as loud as similar models, with auto-emptying of the onboard bin being easily be missed if you aren't paying attention.

How does it actually clean, though? Let's get into the crux of the matter.

Vacuuming

With up to 42,000Pa on tap, the expectation that the Mova V70 Ultra Complete would be able to ace my tests was high. And while it does vacuum well, especially hard floors, its edge cleaning isn't as good as I hoped it would be. That's due to the fact that, during use, the automatically extending side brush doesn't remain stretched as the bot is rolling along a room edge but, instead, retracts after a few seconds.

In fact, at one point in my tests, the bot moved away from a room edge, leaving behind dirt — a mixture of oats, tea from a tea bag, chia seeds and freeze-dried raspberries to emulate different debris sizes — that most other premium robovacs I've previously tested have successfully cleaned up (see video below).

Otherwise, it tackles regular daily vacuuming well enough on hard floors even at mid-suction settings, but it's a different story on carpets.

While I don't expect side brushes on any robovac to be as effective on carpet as on hard floors, I had hoped that on Max suction, the same mixture of oats, tea, chia seeds and bits of fruit would be easily tackled but, as you can see from the photos below, the V70 left behind a lot even after two passes. Bumping up to Max+ helped only marginally, but debris still remained on the carpet and I had to use my cordless vacuum to clean up the rest.

Hair pickup on carpets in the Max setting also wasn't as impressive as I had hoped — around 80% — but it was about 98% when bumped up to Max+. Given this performance, I found leaving the vacuum setting at Max worked best for regular jobs, but occasionally used the Max+ setting when a carpet needed a little extra work. And that's disappointing from such a premium flagship that boasts high suction.

Mopping

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete, however, is slightly better at mopping room edges as I found the extending mop pads stayed open for longer periods of the bot sensed room edges, corners and furniture legs.

Mova says it applies a downward pressure of 15N but, in real-world use, that doesn't translate for any robovac as there's never enough vibrations to emulate 'scrubbing'. So I can't blame the V70 for not being able to clean up a drop of dried up curry on my kitchen floor.

The same downward force also doesn't work along room edges, which I tested by sprinkling a few crystals of charcoal-infused sea salt under my kitchen cabinets and moistening by adding a few drops of water. The tiny black spots remained where they were even after two mopping sessions at high waterflow rates.

Where other premium robovacs have been able to successfully clean up small spills of liquid, like soy sauce, I found that the V70 made more of a mess, spreading the dark liquid across a larger section of floor until I ended its task to prevent the stain from expanding further (see video below).

That said, I was impressed by how well the bot identified furniture legs while mopping and the extending mop pad was able to clean a full 360º around each leg in both my dining and living rooms.

It doesn't, sadly, negate the overall performance of the mopping which, like the vacuuming is disappointing. If you don't have a messy household, though, what the V70 does do will leave you with clean floors — something a far less expensive robovac will also give you.

Navigation and obstacle avoidance

Here's the good news: the Mova V70 Ultra Complete has impeccable navigation skills with very good obstacle avoidance. Throughout the four-week testing period, not once did the Mova V70 Ultra Complete deviate from its prescribed path, whether that was a quick clean with wider zig-zags or a tighter grid for deeper cleaning.

It also never got lost when told to do a room or zone cleaning, finding the path of least resistance wherever it needed to go, even if there were obstacles in its path.

Speaking of which, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete promises to recognize up to 300 different obstacles, and that includes cables and your pets. For the most part, it gets them correct, although there were instances when it didn't quite recognize some items. For example, a large charging brick on the floor was picked up as a shoe, and that's OK.

All obstacles, even smaller pieces of furniture that you may not have added to the map get picked up and they're marked in the app. Just tap on any of these grey icons and a small diagram and name of the item is shown, along with accuracy of recognition.

The one thing it definitely struggles with is docking on its own — every single time, it took the bot two to three attempts to automatically engage docking. In the four weeks of testing, I was asked to manually replace the bot back in the dock for charging and self-cleaning.

Self-cleaning

Dock performance itself isn't bad, with self-emptying of the onboard bin into the dust tank quite good, leaving only the barest layer of very fine dust sticking to the plastic sides of the smaller box inside the bot. And, as I've previously mentioned, this self-emptying isn't as loud as I've experienced with other robovacs, and I appreciate that.

Like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra where the dust bag is dried with warm air, the Mova V70 Ultra Complete also dries out the dust tank. However, it takes 5 hours to do so compared to just 3 hours on the Dreame. It's also a lot longer than the V70 takes to dry out the mop pads, which is 3 hours as well. I'm not entirely sure why the dust tank requires more time, and while the additional power consumption is unlikely to make a significant dent in your energy bills, it could become inconvenient if you run the robovac daily.

Mop pad washing is impressive as well, with even dark soy stains being 95% scrubbed away. The good thing is the circular pads can be removed and washed in the machine or soaked in a stain-removing solution to return them to pristine condition.

The wear and tear on the pads, however, is a little more than on other robovacs that use spinning pads. I've spotted bits of fiber stuck on the textured wash tray after only five mopping runs, so it's a good thing that Mova supplies three additional pairs in the box.

Dock maintenance is very easy as well, with the dust tank easy to empty and wash, and access to the tanks is minimal effort.

Battery life

The Mova V70 Ultra Complete uses a 6,400mAh battery pack like many premium robot vacuums and its runtime is quite standard, depending on the suction setting, of course.

For example, when doing a full-home clean on the Max (penultimate) setting in an area approximately 45sqm / 484sq ft, it drops from 100% to 44% when vacuuming only, and 100% to 32% when vacuuming and mopping at the same time. In both cases, dynamic suction was engaged when it detected carpets (which automatically boosts suction slightly).

When I ran it on Max+ (its highest suction) for approximately 20 minutes, battery life dropped from 100% to 82%, but that was nonstop cleaning with no dynamic suction engaged and no need to return to the dock for self-emptying.

This is, of course, based on a smaller test space, so bigger homes might not get a full clean on a single charge, and the one time in my testing when battery dropped off entirely with a task incomplete, the bot didn't pick up where it left off once there was sufficient battery even though I made sure it was toggled on in the app.

• Performance score: 2.5 / 5

Mova V70 Ultra Complete: App support

• Almost identical to the Dreamehome app with similar navigation and setup
• Mostly easy to understand, but some settings need a little digging
• App can be slow to load and respond

Given that Dreame Technology owns Mova, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised to see that the MOVAHome app is identical to Dreamehome, with only minor differences, like the color scheme on the home page.

And I do mean identical as the entire bot setup and the settings, plus all the navigation, is the same. Since I've previously used a Dreame robovac, the learning curve needed for me to get around the MOVAHome app was small, but first-time users will need to spend a little time going through every setting to ensure they've got the V70 set up to how they want it, including toggling carpet-first for a 'global clean' and selecting detergent use if necessary.

However, the MOVAHome app is a little slower compared to the Dreame one, and that includes editing the map as well which, on iOS, was a little tedious to do. So much so, that I decided to not divide the study from the entry hallway in mine. Adding the rug to my living room was a heck of a lot fiddlier than on the Dreamehome app, while it took three attempts to add wall-to-wall carpet to the bedroom on the Mova app.

Once everything is set up just the way you like, though, the MOVAHome app becomes easy to use, and you'll only likely need to select the cleaning type and the space. Setting up scheduled runs isn't hard either, as is creating custom cleaning routines. All in all, it's a clean app, just one that might require some initial time investment to wrap your head around.

• App support score: 4 / 5

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Score card

Should I buy the Mova V70 Ultra Complete?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Mova V70 Ultra Complete review: Alternatives

I like that the Mova V70 Ultra Complete brings some good features to the market but, given its performance during my testing, there are other models I would consider instead.

How I tested the Mova V70 Ultra Complete

I used the Mova V70 Ultra Complete three times a week for four weeks in my one-bedroom apartment that has mixed flooring and an internal cleaning area of approximately 45sqm (484sq ft). The mixed flooring includes wall-to-wall mid-pile carpet in the bedroom, tiles everywhere else, plus a mid-pile rug in the living room.

While many of the cleaning runs were for regular upkeep of the floors, I put the Mova V70 Ultra Complete through some of TechRadar's standard tests. For vacuuming, this included sprinkling oats, tea from a tea bag, chia seeds and pieces of freeze-dried berries on carpets and hard floors to emulate different debris sizes.

Since I don't have a pet, I collected strands of my long hair and spread them on the bedroom carpet, walked over them for a couple of days to ensure they were embedded in fibers, then ran the V70 on two different high suction settings to test results. I even used pieces of thread on carpets to enhance visibility of pickup.

For mopping tests, I poured a little soy sauce and dropped a dollop of mustard on my kitchen floor, but kept the waterflow rate high.

I regularly checked the onboard dustbin to ensure self-empty was good, while also washing the dust tank once. I tested the wash-board cleaning feature once during this time.

I also ensured I went through everything the app had to offer, comparing it to the Dreame alternative which I use regularly anyway.

I've tested several robot vacuums in the last 10 years and, having witnessed their rapid evolution, I've built a solid knowledge base to help me compare different models.

Read more about how we test vacuums

[First reviewed October 2026]

• Google Home is adding local Matter support for Philips Hue lights
• It should mean faster response times and offline access
• There are other improvements in the latest app update as well

There's a new upgrade rolling out for Google Home and Philips Hue lights that might not sound all that significant at first, but will actually make a notable difference to functionality — and I'm keen to get it installed on my own system as soon as possible.

The upgrade in question is local Matter support. And as per a Google (via 9to5Google) report, it means there should be faster response times if you're controlling your Philips Hue lights via the Google Home app. It should also mean the connection works even if your internet goes down, as long as the local network is still operational.

Even better, the update should be applied smoothly and seamlessly in the background, so you don't even need to repair your lights. Just look out for an update to Google Home appearing in the Android or iOS app store.

While the Philips Hue app offers more in the way of features, I like controlling my Hue lights through the Google Home app, because all my other smart stuff is in there too — so faster responses and offline support are very welcome.

More upgrades and fixes

There are a bunch of other minor improvements coming to Google Home as well, including updates for the Gemini for Home early access program. Conversations will now end more naturally, Google says, and weather temperature units will be more consistent.

Gemini is also getting better at understanding when "stop" actually means stop — as in, you're trying to stop media playback or an alarm, rather than just bringing a conversation to a close. Plus, requests for "relaxing music" or similar will now open up a proper media player app, rather than switching to ambient sounds (like rain or white noise).

The Google Home app gets a few tweaks in terms of drag-and-drop stability and more prominent smoke and CO alarm messages, while third-party controls for lights, plugs, and switches have been revamped. Various camera fixes have been added too.

With Matter more generally, Matter hubs should be more responsive and more reliable via Google Home. All in all, it seems the platform is finally starting to find its feet again, after several months of frustrating bugs and user complaints.

• Google has a new firmware update on the way for previous-gen Nest speakers
• The changes include audio streaming upgrades and fixes to smart home controls
• You'll need to be signed up to the Google Home Preview Program to update your devices

Google may be sunsetting its Nest smart-home brand as it makes room for new hardware, but the tech giant isn’t leaving its older smart speakers out of the firmware-update equation.

If you’re still glued to your Nest speaker from years ago, you’ll be happy to learn that Google is currently testing a new firmware update, version 3.79.550760, through the Google Home Preview Program, which you’ll need to be signed up to if you want early access.

While an exact release date hasn’t been announced, the upcoming changes could seriously upgrade the overall performance of older devices.

As per Google’s release notes, the Nest Audio, Nest Mini, Google Home, and Google Home Mini are getting a roster of improvements across audio, smart-home control, and more. The Google Home Max and Google Home Speaker, the company’s latest audio device, are also getting some bug fixes, but are being left out of the wider updates — so we’re assuming that these devices are already running this firmware.

In addition to general performance and stability improvements, there’s a slew of audio improvements on the way, including fixes to media streaming and volume, which could do wonders for boosting your music playback experience. At the same time Google is polishing smart-home controls, a fix that we’re guessing will enhance the synergy between voice commands and the smart home devices that are connected to your speaker.

Finally, the company is rolling out setup and connectivity improvements on Wi-Fi issues and ‘Google assistant entry experience improvements’. This is likely a reference to Gemini, which Google is making the flagship voice assistant for its smart-home tech as it releases new devices.

While some reputable tech brands kill off widely-used, albeit previous-gen devices as a way to push users to upgrade to newer models, Google hasn’t completely forgotten about the devices that put the company on the smart home map. Just a few weeks ago Google unveiled a big Home update for video doorbells, security cameras, and Automations, so it’s not just smart speakers that are getting all the attention.

As mentioned, if you want to make the most of Google’s upcoming smart speaker upgrades, you’ll need to be signed up to the Google Home Preview Program. If you’re not already enrolled, just head to the Google Home app and open Device Information. Select Preview Program, and you’ll be able to sign up if you’re eligible. If you are, the firmware update will install overnight.

It’s been a big week for Apple Home. The entirely new HomeView is the company's first smart display, and it seems purpose-built as a stationary, in-home hub for Apple’s ecosystem. Meanwhile, refreshes to the HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K promise to bring Siri AI to other devices around the home.

I’ve already written at length about HomeView, and why it’s the smart display and home hub I’ve been waiting for. Now, I’ve had the chance to spend more time with it. Not quite enough time for a full review, and I haven't tested it in my own home yet, since all my hands-on time has been in Apple’s demo space. But I’m still optimistic about what it could offer.

I already have a connected home of sorts. For me, though, it’s still very fragmented. I have HomePods, HomePod minis, and Apple TV 4Ks, but I mostly use them for quick questions, timers, taking calls, or media playback. I’ve also tried Echo Shows, Nest Hubs, and myriad other smart home gadgets like cameras, bulbs, and sensors, but none of those has really stuck, because they aren’t part of my core ecosystem.

Amazon’s ecosystem is heavily focused on commerce and shopping. That’s not necessarily a complaint, but the experience can also feel cluttered with targeted ads, and privacy concerns can be a sticking point.

Given Apple’s broader commitment to privacy and its carefully curated user experience, HomeView could help it carve out its own smart-home category. For people already invested in Apple’s ecosystem, it removes some of the friction that has kept other smart displays from becoming a central part of the home.

With an Echo Show or Nest Hub, someone who primarily uses Apple’s suite of services may have to move photos to another platform or service if they want to display them. The same goes for calendars, calls, and even music, depending on the services and features being used. And those devices don’t integrate with your iPhone the same way an Apple-made display can.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but when a smart display is something you might buy for a family member, a parent, or a friend, those differences can make for a less cohesive experience.

When you factor in the setup, the effort required to get everything working together, and the ongoing upkeep, some of the convenience promised by an Echo Show or Nest Hub starts to diminish. That’s what I’ve encountered in my own experience.

HomeView could help solve that disconnect. While the wall-mounted options seem like a less compelling value proposition to me, I can easily picture the speaker-base version sitting on a kitchen island or side table and becoming the household's hub device. And if you already know Apple’s ecosystem and its software, the learning curve should be much less daunting.

I’d seen HomeView before, but this time I got to interact with it, starting by swiping between its different faces; I almost called them watch faces, and for good reason.

HomeView feels like an Apple Watch on steroids, with a supersized, customizable watch face essentially plopped onto a display. That’s not a knock. The interface feels familiar, and is easy to get the hang of.

I especially like the Snoopy face, which offers a fun way to keep an eye on what’s happening throughout the day. You can check the weather as it rolls in, see an upcoming calendar event, or simply glance at the time with a little help from Snoopy and Woodstock. You can also go for something more functional, with modular faces that pack in widgets, or, as Apple calls them, complications, for things like your calendar, reminders, and the weather.

Swipe past those faces, and you arrive at the HomeView home screen. And for once, Apple’s answer to a shared household device isn’t to force you to buy one for everyone in your home. HomeView can recognize up to six people, effectively switching between their individual accounts and surfacing what matters most to each person while keeping their personal information private.

In my case, I could see myself having a HomeView setup that brings together quick controls for my thermostat, the weather, a rotating selection of photos, and, of course, a Bruce Springsteen playlist. The idea is that HomeView can surface a personalized experience when it recognizes you, with your iPhone playing a role in that process.

Privacy is central, too. If I open Messages, respond to someone, and walk away, HomeView locks the app when someone else approaches. It’s a small but important example of how Apple is thinking about a shared screen: convenient when it’s yours, but not an open book.

HomeView doesn’t feel exactly like iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS. Instead, it feels like a combination of all three, with familiar elements pulled together into something designed for a display you interact with throughout the day. App icons are larger, and I’d expect the interface’s emphasis on glanceable information to be particularly useful here. Widgets, in particular, seem designed to put the details you need front and center.

Swipe up, and you’ll find the App Drawer. There’s a selection of built-in apps, but notably, no App Store. I’m actually a fan of that approach. I don’t want to be glued to HomeView; it shouldn’t become another blue-light-filled screen demanding my attention. Instead, it should be actionable and glanceable, helping me get things done without becoming another device I have to manage.

Apple has a selection of core apps ready for HomeView, including Home, Intercom, Music, News, Photos, Safari, FaceTime, Messages, Calendar, Alarms, Timers, Find My, Podcasts, Reminders, Settings, and Weather. Developers can’t build dedicated apps for HomeView, but Apple can bring compatible experiences over from the iPhone. That includes apps such as Apple TV, Audiobooks, Apple Music Classical, and News.

There’s a distinction here: some of these experiences are effectively extensions of the iPhone, rather than apps running independently on HomeView. And while Apple supports third-party media apps that work with CarPlay, I wouldn’t count on specific apps such as Spotify arriving until Apple or the developers confirm compatibility. Still, the approach makes sense for a home hub. I like the idea of a curated selection of apps rather than hundreds of downloads competing for space and attention.

Music is one area where HomeView already makes a strong impression. Album artwork looks great on the display, and you can follow lyrics in real time. The built-in speakers also deliver clear, crisp, vibrant audio, although the volume wasn’t quite as powerful as I’d hoped during my time in Apple's demo space.

Even better, music doesn’t disappear into the background when you switch tasks. If you swipe over to another app, such as a cooking feature, a makeshift Dynamic Island appears at the top of the screen, giving you easy access to music controls. It’s a thoughtful touch that makes HomeView feel less like a collection of separate apps and more like a device designed around the way you actually use your home.

Smart home control is another central part of HomeView’s value proposition. Rather than opening the Home app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, this is a dedicated device designed to make controlling your home a more immediate, everyday experience. The Home app has been customized for the display, with larger touch targets and key information highlighted, and it looks nice.

You can move around elements within the app or bring them into other parts of the interface, adding controls as complications on your chosen clock face or widgets on the home screen. That flexibility means you can make HomeView work for the way you live, whether you want quick access to a few favorite accessories or a more comprehensive overview of your home.

The interface is the same whether you opt for HomeView on its speaker base or mount it on the wall. The latter does come with a trade-off, though: you lose the speakers in the base and have to pay separately for the wall mount. That makes the wall-mounted setup feel like a less compelling deal, at least to me.

Still, I can see the appeal of turning HomeView into a dedicated control panel near the front door, where it could become a natural first stop when you arrive home. It also feels like Apple is catering to people who have already invested in wall-mounted iPad setups for smart-home control.

You can interact with HomeView directly through its touchscreen, which reaches up to 500 nits of brightness and can dim as low as 0.3 nits — the lowest brightness Apple has engineered for a display. But touch is only part of the experience. Four built-in microphones are designed to pick up your voice while reducing background noise, whether you're making a FaceTime call or asking Siri for help.

Siri is central to the experience, and it’s clear that HomeView is designed with Apple's new Siri AI capabilities in mind. My time testing them was brief, and I sometimes had to repeat a request, but I was able to ask Siri to handle basic smart-home controls, start routines, and play music, as well as tackle more involved requests.

On my Mac, I enjoy typing to Siri for several tasks, including creating calendar events based on what's on my screen, but on the iPhone or iPad, I use it for multistep or topic-specific tasks. It is not always the fastest, but it is night and day over the former.

During my time with HomeView, I saw a similar approach in action for more complex questions. I saw a demo of Siri being asked what time someone was landing at an airport, then asked when that person would arrive home if they took a train. After a few seconds, Siri answered by drawing on information from Messages, its broader knowledge, and estimated transit times.

It was a brief demonstration, but I could immediately see how useful this could be for quick questions and more involved requests. For instance, my friend Benjamin and I love sharing music. If I missed a song he recommended, I could imagine asking Siri to identify that Chuck Berry track while cooking dinner or getting on with something else around the house.

That’s where I think HomeView could really distinguish itself from the ever-popular Echo Show. Amazon's displays can connect to a range of services and smart home devices, but for someone already invested in Apple, they remain part of a separate ecosystem. HomeView, by contrast, is designed to work with the devices, services, and information you already use. If Siri can reliably bring all of that together, HomeView could be considerably more useful than a smart display that simply answers questions or controls a few connected devices.

That integration extends to moving between devices, too. When I get home, I could transfer whatever I'm listening to on my iPhone simply by tapping it against the front of HomeView. That's iPhone Handoff, and it's a brilliant implementation of a feature that makes the most of Apple's hardware working together. The same idea extends to calls, episodes of content, and even Safari webpages, making it easier to pick up where you left off without having to start over on another device.

An ambient smart display, rather than another screen demanding attention

A few other details from my brief hands-on stood out. For one, HomeView doesn't have notifications, and I actually like that decision. It means there's less reason to linger in front of the display or constantly check it for updates. Instead, HomeView feels like an ambient device, designed to be useful when you need it and easy to ignore when you don't. It's arguably Apple's strongest implementation of that idea yet, and it already feels more purposeful than StandBy on the iPhone.

It still has familiar Apple touches, of course. You can pull down from the top-right corner to access Control Center and quickly reach key settings. The built-in 12-megapixel camera, which recognizes users and serves as the main lens for FaceTime, can also make HomeView double as a mirror. Who knows, perhaps the Photo Booth could return and find a home here, too.

I still need to spend more time with HomeView, and in my own home, before I can say whether it delivers on all that promise. But after getting hands-on with it, I'm even more convinced that Apple is approaching the smart display from the right angle. Rather than giving me another screen to manage, HomeView looks set to bring together the devices, services, and everyday tasks I already rely on. And for someone who's been waiting for Apple's smart home to feel more connected, that's an exciting prospect.

Of course, Siri AI still needs to deliver on that promise, but after the long wait, it's encouraging to see Apple finally moving in the right direction.

Braun OptiBrew Pro: two-minute review

The Braun OptiBrew Pro does even more than you might expect from a drip coffee maker. It makes five different coffee styles: Regular, Bold, Over Ice, Cold Brew, and Coffee Shot. There are seven different brew sizes: 8 ounces, 10 ounces, 12 ounces, 16 ounces, 20 ounces, a six-cup half-carafe, and a 12-cup full carafe. The Coffee Shot setting is not technically espresso but has a similar strength. This setting yields about three ounces of highly concentrated brew, perfect for making lattes and cappuccinos. A built-in milk frother tucks away when not in use.

The machine comes with a reusable filter, though you can use a cone-shaped #4 paper filter if you prefer. It also comes with a double-sided coffee scoop, so you can measure out the precise amount of coffee you need for each brew size and style.

The large, easy-to-read touch screen lets you set up your brew. You can adjust for high altitude and/or hard water if needed. Set up auto-brew for a specific time and you'll have freshly brewed coffee waiting for you when you wake up in the morning. The keep warm feature can keep your coffee warm for up to four hours at the temperature of your choice. You can also reheat cold coffee that way.

Cleanup is easy, and most of the parts are dishwasher-safe. The Braun OptiBrew Pro is easy to use, and it produces excellent coffee in a variety of styles.

Braun OptiBrew Pro: price and availability

• Available for purchase on Braun's website, Target, and Williams-Sonoma
• Retails for $199.95 (roughly £151.10 GBP, $287 AUD)
• Only one colorway: black and silver

The Braun OptiBrew Pro is available on Braun's website as well as other retailers such as Target and Williams-Sonoma. It comes in just the one colorway which is black with silver accents. The retail price is $199.95 (roughly £151.10 GBP, $287 AUD).

Braun OptiBrew Pro: specs

Braun OptiBrew Pro: design

• Many features in compact machine
• Comes with everything you need
• Easy to use and clean

The Braun OptiBrew Pro is well-designed and has a lot of features for a compact drip brewer. The large and easy-to-read touch screen lets you set up whatever sort of brew you'd like. It comes with a reusable filter, but you can also use a #4 paper cone filter if you prefer.

The Braun OptiBrew Pro has a large capacity water tank on the back, which you can remove for easier filling if you like. The tank is marked with brew sizes so you can always be sure you have enough water in the tank for the size coffee you're making.

The milk frother tucks neatly away on the left side; simply swing it out to use it. Pressing the top of it turns it on, let go to turn it off. Twist it to the unlock symbol to remove the frother for cleaning. It's the only part that's not dishwasher-safe, but it's easy enough to wash up in the sink.

When you're making a single serving of coffee rather than a carafe, you can pull out a built-in platform that puts your mug close to the filter. This helps avoid any splattering and minimizes your coffee's contact with air. It's just the right height for a regular-to-large mug or a small-to-medium travel mug.

The included coffee scoop is two-sided, with one side being larger than the other. The user guide has a chart that tells you how many larger or small scoops to use for each brew style. This chart is a good guideline to start with, of course you can use more or less coffee to your personal tastes. The handle of the coffee scoop can be used as a coffee bag clip.

Other features include a keep-warm plate, which you can set for up to four hours, that you can also use to rewarm cold coffee. The OptiBrew has an auto-on feature so you can set up your coffee the night before.

If you wish to pause the brewing mid-carafe to grab a cup, you can easily do that by switching the lever in front from "coffee" to "stop."

Additionally, you can adjust for high altitude and water hardness if you need to. You can even adjust the beep tone if you like.

• Design score: 5/5

Braun OptiBrew Pro: performance

• Straightforward and simple to use
• Feature-rich
• Makes delicious coffee

I tested out lots of different brew styles, all of which made some delicious coffee. There's something on the menu for everyone.

Regular coffee

I started by making a half carafe of just regular drip coffee. I made it "bold" style, which is how I like it. I also used the maximum amount of recommended coffee, which was four big scoops. This came out great, nice and strong. Some carafes spill as they pour, but this one is well-designed and doesn't do that. I tested the brew pause feature by switching the lever from "coffee" to "stop" during brewing, poured myself a cup, and then switched the lever back to "coffee." Very little coffee dripped out while I was pouring a cup (maybe a drop or two) and when I switched the lever back, brewing continued as expected.

Regular coffee: single serving

I tried out some different single sizes of regular coffee, using the coffee dosage chart in the user guide. Each time I chose the maximum coffee dosage and selected the "bold" setting. I made a 12oz mug and a 16oz travel mug using the built-in platform. Both came out great.

Regular coffee: auto-on and keep-warm

If you want to have your coffee hot and ready for you when you wake up in the morning, use the auto-on feature. I tested this out and it worked perfectly. You can set the keep-warm feature to your desired time, up to four hours, so it will still be warm when you go for a second or third cup later. All of this worked exactly as expected. You can even set how warm you want your coffee to stay. I used the medium setting and found the coffee to be plenty hot even hours later. Hot enough that I had to blow on it before drinking. The red indicator light under the warming plate lets you know it's hot.

Cold brew

The Cold Brew setting takes a bit longer and brews the coffee at a lower temperature. It took about 12 minutes to brew 8oz of coffee. I found the brew to be quite smooth and tasty. I tasted it before adding ice and noticed that it was definitely lukewarm rather than hot. This minimizes ice melt. This feature was a real highlight for me, and rather unexpected for a drip coffee maker.

Brew Over Ice

If you don't have the time to wait for Cold Brew, the Brew Over Ice setting gets you to iced coffee in about 1/3 the time. It took about four minutes to brew an 8oz cup. However, I found it a little bitter, so for me the extra time for the Cold Brew setting is worthwhile.

Coffee shot and milk frother

To make a true espresso, you need an espresso machine, which uses pressure. This is a drip machine, so you can't make a real espresso. However, the Braun OptiBrew Pro does make an ultra-concentrated brew they call a Coffee Shot.

Frankly, I found it too strong to drink on its own, but it makes a great base for latte or cappuccino-style beverage. I used the milk frother and made myself a sort of cappuccino. Now, the frother only froths, it doesn't heat the milk, so the user guide suggests microwaving your milk first if you want hot foam. I did that and it worked out fine. I used 2% dairy milk and the foam was copious and quite sturdy. It even stood up to vigorous stirring. My drink was delicious! And the frother was easy to detach and wash afterwards.

• Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Braun OptiBrew Pro?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Braun OptiBrew Pro: also consider

How I tested the Braun OptiBrew Pro

I made and drank lots of coffee! I brewed a half carafe and a full carafe. I made single serve brews, both the 12oz and 16oz sizes. I made iced coffee two different ways: Cold Brew and Brew Over Ice. I made a Coffee Shot and added it to 2% milk that I had microwaved and then frothed with the built-in milk frother. I made both regular coffee and decaf. I utilized the auto on, keep warm, and pause during brewing functions. I cleaned the filter, filter holder, and milk frother after every use.

First reviewed October 2026

After treating us to the grand unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo handsets in September, Apple returned in October to launch some notable device upgrades in the smart home and streaming categories.

There are refreshed versions of the Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini, plus an Echo Show-style smart display called the HomeView. The HomeView is evidence of a renewed focus on the smart home from Apple, as are the devices being made by LG Electronics and Schneider Electric that the HomeView can connect to.

We've also got Siri AI rolling out across the board, which in theory should mean more intelligent and more useful AI conversations. Here's our full recap of what was announced, with links to specific articles if you want to read more.

1. The HomeView is Apple's first smart display — and it comes in two versions

Apple just jumped into smart displays: the HomeView is a competitor to the Amazon Echo Show and the Google Nest Hub, giving you a 7-inch screen that lets you control smart home devices, chat to Siri AI, play music, and much more. You can choose between a HomeView on its own rotating stand, or a HomeView designed to be wall-mounted.

A curated list of Apple apps can run on the HomeView, including Calendar, Safari, FaceTime, Weather, and Apple TV. If you like what you see, the HomeView costs $299 / £299 / AU$449 in Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, or Space Gray. Preorders are open today, with sales and shipping starting on Friday, November 13.

• Read the full story: I've seen Apple's HomeView smart display in action — it looks like the Apple Watch and classic G4 iMac had a baby, and it could make the Echo Show irrelevant

2. You need an iPhone or iPad to use the HomeView

Before you put your cash down for Apple's new smart display, read the small print. You need to have an iPhone or an iPad handy to set it up, and these connected mobile devices also provide a lot of the HomeView's personalized context — your messages, appointments, reminders, podcasts, and playlists for example.

3. The Apple TV 4K has finally been refreshed (with a big price hike)

We're pleased to see the launch of a brand new Apple TV 4K, but less enthused about the increased price: the new model will set you back $299 / £299 / AU$449, up from $199 / £199 / AU$299 (Wi-Fi) and $249 / £249 / AU$399 (Wi-Fi and Ethernet) for the old models, which are no longer going to be on sale from Apple.

You do get more for your money though. The upgrades here include a new Siri Remote that can make a sound when you're trying to find it, Siri AI on board, a faster processor, and three far-field mics for more "hey Siri" voice control options. Preorders are opening today, with a shipping and on-sale date of Friday, November 13.

• Read the full story: New Apple TV 4K finally brings HomePod Dolby Atmos surround sound and a Siri Remote you can’t lose — but its price has been hiked to $299

4. The new Siri Remote works with older Apple TVs

The fourth-generation Siri Remote that comes with the 2026 Apple TV 4K — the one that can make a sound when you're trying to find it, and can be tracked down using Precision Finding on the latest iPhones — is compatible with older Apple TV models too.

That means it'll work with the Apple TV HD and previous Apple TV 4K models. It'll be available to buy separately, but we're still waiting on pricing details.

5. You can pair the new Apple TV 4K with four HomePod speakers

One of our favorite new features on the Apple TV 4K is the ability to pair it with up to four HomePods as its audio system.

That could be four 2nd-gen HomePods, four HomePod mini 2s, or two of each, it's up to you. Naturally, that could be a pretty pricy combo if you're starting from scratch though — an Apple TV 4K and four HomePod mini 2 units would cost $895 / £895 / AU$1,365, for example.

Still, you're still able to use a single HomePod or a stereo pair with the new Apple TV 4K as well, just like before.

6. The HomePod mini 2 is here, but it doesn’t have Siri AI (yet)

Considering the first HomePod mini launched in November 2020, an updated version was well overdue, and it's now arrived. It comes with a speedier chipset, and a modest price bump to $149 / £149 / AU$229. Preorders are open now if you want to put your money down, with the speaker shipping and going on sale on Friday, October 30.

You've also got new colors to pick from — Green and Pink models are available, alongside the previous White, Midnight, and Blue (Yellow and Orange get dropped) — and the LEDs on top of the speaker can change color to match the artwork of whatever you're listening to. Siri AI is supported as well, but it's coming in a future software update (there's no confirmed date yet).

• Read the full story: The HomePod mini 2 is here, but while the upgrades are subtle, the price hike isn’t — and you'll have to wait for Siri AI

7. There’s no Siri AI update for the second-gen HomePod

While the HomePod mini 2 will get the all-singing, all-dancing Siri AI update eventually (Apple hasn't set a specific date), the 2nd-gen HomePod launched in 2023 won't be getting the smarter AI.

Apple hasn't yet said why, but presumably the on-board processor just isn't fast enough for the extra demands of the AI.

8. Apple has co-designed new smart home gadgets with LG and Schneider Electric...

It's fair to say Apple's smart home ambitions have been limited somewhat by a lack of compatible gear — there's just not the range of products you get that work with Google Home or Amazon Alexa for example — but improvements are coming. A new doorbell and smart lock, plus cameras, sensors, and thermostats, are on the way.

These new gadgets are appearing under the label of the Apple Home Collection, though these are actually joint efforts between Apple and both LG and Schneider Electric. It means if you do buy a new HomeView smart display, you're going to have a wider choice of smart home devices to connect it to, and more hardware is likely to be in the pipeline.

• Read the full story: Apple Home is getting a new doorbell, cameras, and smart lock — but Apple isn’t making them

9. ...but you won’t be able to buy them everywhere

When it comes to the availability of the Apple Home Collection, these devices might not be sold as widely as we might like.

Shipping is scheduled for December across the board, but it looks like the LG Door Lock will only be available in the US and Canada, while the doorbell and cameras are limited to the US and the UK — at least for now.

Having largely stayed out of the smart-home space until now, Apple today jumped in with both feet, unveiling the Apple HomeView, its first smart display — introduced alongside the Apple HomePod mini 2, a new Apple TV 4K, and a range of smart-home devices — including a video doorbell — produced by partner brands LG and Schneider Electric.

The Apple HomeView is a modern, cute 7-inch Liquid Retina display and smart-home hub that enables you to use the touchscreen or Siri AI voice commands, to control connected devices, play music, check the weather and more.

There are two models: a version with the display sitting atop a speaker unit (shown at the top of the page), to which it's attached by an adjustable arm that enables you to tilt and rotate the display; and a screen-only model that's designed to be wall-mounted.

The HomeView starts at $299 in the US, £299 in the UK, and AU$449 in Australia, with preorders opening today (October 13) ahead of a November 13 on-sale date.

It comes in familiar Apple colors: Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, and Space Gray. That price is actually more competitive than I expected, given that rumors had pointed to a price around $350.

While $299 is still $100 more than the Echo Show 8, Apple is clearly pitching the HomeView as its alternative to Amazon's devices — and if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, there are some compelling reasons to consider it.

As for the hardware, you get a 7-inch Liquid Retina display, a 12MP Ultra Wide Center Stage camera, a four-microphone array, and a multi-driver speaker system in the model with the speaker unit.

Apple’s A18 processor powers the HomeView, though the platform is not iPadOS, tvOS, or iOS — it’s all-new HomeView Software.

The HomeView has features that can rival the likes of the Amazon Echo Show or Google Nest Hub. And when it comes to the former, it might have the edge for two key reasons: privacy, and integration with the Apple devices you already use every day.

As the rumors and reports suggested, HomeView is reminiscent of the iMac G4 of yesteryear, but feels more refined. It starts with a face you can set to a variety of clocks — think an Apple Watch face or the screensaver interface on an Apple TV 4K — and some will feel familiar if you’ve used an Apple Watch, though with distinct differences.

Snoopy is back with fresh adventures, and the Flow face is reimagined here so that, rather than simply grooving like a lava lamp, its colorful shapes respond to what the camera up top sees. You can add complications such as your calendar, to-do lists, and weather, with information adjusting from a general view to more specific details as you approach.

The HomeView can recognize up to six family members using its integrated camera, which helps it personalize the experience for whoever is interacting with it. Each family member can customize their own face, apps, and widgets, and here the interface resembles iOS, even to the degree that you can tint the icons.

The similarities extend to privacy, too. Apple says personal information stays personal, meaning another family member shouldn’t be able to walk up to HomeView and access your messages or see who you’re texting.

Siri requests aren’t recorded, according to Apple, and personal data isn’t stored directly on HomeView itself. It also has no ads, unlike the Echo Show, which makes it feel more like part of your home than a billboard on your kitchen counter.

You'll need an iPhone or iPad to set it up, and doing so unlocks much of the HomeView’s personal context.

You won’t find an App Store on the HomeView. Instead, Apple curates the experience around the apps and features it thinks make sense on a shared home display. Those include Apple’s own apps and services, such as Messages, Music, Weather, Reminders, Calendar, Safari, Find My, FaceTime, Apple TV, Podcasts, News, and the Home app.

Apple also shared that select third-party media apps that already work with CarPlay will be supported, potentially bringing more of your favorite audio services, such as Spotify, into the experience.

You can’t just download whatever you want, but Apple has clearly thought about how people will use HomeView throughout the day, whether that’s for checking the weather, catching up on messages, playing music, or controlling connected devices.

Siri is central to HomeView, and the integration with Apple’s broader ecosystem is where the experience starts to feel more ambitious than a typical smart display.

HomeView can draw on personal context to help with requests that go beyond simple commands. During a demonstration, I saw how it could help find a recipe a friend had recommended, or one your mom had sent, or pull up a song a friend had texted you about.

It can also handle more involved requests. For example, you could ask when your dad’s flight lands, work out how long it will take him to get from the airport to your apartment, and then look for brunch recommendations. Rather than treating each question as a separate task, HomeView can use context to help connect the dots.

It’s not just about asking Siri to turn on a light or set a timer; Siri AI on HomeView seems purpose-built for personalized, multi-step assistance — much like what Apple promised with the next-generation personal assistant.

The HomeView isn’t just a screen with a speaker attached. Apple has built a more considered audio setup into the device, with two custom drivers for high notes in the screen, alongside a down-firing woofer and two other force-canceling woofers in the base of the speaker-mounted version.

During a kitchen demonstration, I heard a Bad Bunny track playing on Apple Music, and HomeView got impressively loud without distorting. Lyrics appeared on the screen, too, making it feel like a natural fit for a kitchen island or another shared space where music is part of the routine.

The speaker-mounted version feels especially suited to the kitchen, where you might angle the screen toward yourself while cooking, then turn it toward someone else when they walk in. As mentioned, there’s also a wall-mounted option, with audio tuned specifically for that placement, though I didn’t get to demo music on that model.

One of the more practical features is how HomeView works with your iPhone. If you’re looking at a recipe on your phone, you can tap or bring the phone close to HomeView to hand it off to the larger screen. You can also switch a FaceTime call or music in the same way.

With a recipe, Safari can show the important details, including ingredients and step-by-step instructions. You can work through the recipe as you go, with timers available along the way.

Siri AI adds another layer. You could ask it to add ingredients to a shopping list, set a reminder, or help find a nearby grocery store for something you need. It’s the kind of connected workflow that makes sense on a display designed to live in a shared space, rather than one that’s just a smaller tablet sitting on a counter.

The HomeView also feels like a natural extension of Apple’s smart-home ambitions. The Home app enables you to control compatible lights, thermostats, door locks, and cameras, while smart home widgets put your most-used controls closer at hand.

You can receive doorbell alerts and view live camera feeds, with support for up to nine camera views at once. Existing Apple Home-compatible and Matter-compatible devices will work with it, naturally, giving HomeView a clear role as a central smart home hub.

The HomeView will arrive ahead of Apple’s new Home Collection, a range of smart home products made in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, that are expected to arrive in December. These will include a video doorbell, a smart lock, and various security cameras and sensors.

As mentioned, you can choose between speaker-mounted or wall-mounted versions of the HomeView. The wall-mounted option feels like a replacement for touch controls for an automated home system — the feel will be similar to a smart thermostat, too.

The speaker-mounted version feels much more like a communal, catch-all device. Both versions have their appeals, but you will need to give this some thought before you buy.

The HomeView has fewer features than some rivals, and as mentioned it’s not an entirely open software experience. I think that’s a two-fold decision: it enables Apple to deliver a compelling, well-thought-out experience built around what HomeView is designed to do at launch, and to put privacy front and center.

The HomeView will be central to controlling your smart home, but it also ventures closer to being a personal assistant around the house, thanks to its integration with Apple’s broader ecosystem. The HomeView isn’t a standalone device in the traditional sense given that it requires you to have and iPhone or iPad, but if you’re already invested in Apple’s ecosystem it could also mean that you're reaching for your iPhone a little less.

It’s taken Apple a long time to enter the smart-display category, but after seeing HomeView in action, I think the wait has been worth it. This feels like one of Apple’s strongest new category entries in quite some time. Apple has used its ecosystem strengths to give HomeView a clear purpose: a shared display that still feels personal, a smart-home hub that doesn’t require you to reach for your phone, and a genuinely useful extension of the Apple devices you already own.

The Echo Show has been a familiar fixture in the smart home for years. But now Apple has finally arrived on the scene, with a product that feels distinctly Apple — and if you already have an iPhone at the center of your life, I can see the HomeView making a lot of sense.

• Apple's HomePod mini 2 freshens the smart speaker with new colors and a few new tricks
• The top LED glow can now mirror the colors of album artwork
• The smart speaker will get Siri AI in a future software update

Techtober is marching on in a pretty big way, and this week it's Apple leading the pack. Alongside its first-ever smart display, the HomeView, Apple is also upgrading the speaker that serves as the entry point to its smart-home lineup.

The HomePod mini 2 is a refresh of the smart speaker that’s been a workhorse in Apple's lineup since it launched in 2020. For this second generation, Apple isn’t changing much: there are new colors, a better processor under the hood, and a new trick with the glowing LED on the top, though Siri AI is coming… but only via a future software update.

It also comes with a notable price hike. In the US, the first-gen HomePod mini jumped from $99 to $129 in June, and now the HomePod mini 2 costs $149.99 — so that's a 50% upgrade over the price the original cost just five months ago. It’s up for preorder now, and will begin shipping on October 30. It's priced at £149 in the UK, and AU$229 in Australia.

Looks-wise, the HomePod mini 2 is still about the size and shape of an tennis ball, but with a flat top and bottom. Alongside White, Blue, and Midnight, new arrivals Green and Pink aim to offer a fresh pop of color. Fans of Yellow and Orange, which were options for the first HomePod mini, will likely be missing those — myself included.

Still, I’m a fan of the fresh Pink here. I saw it demoed in a stereo pair alongside the pink iMac, and there’s definitely some Cupertino synergy here. Beyond the fresh paint jobs, the HomePod mini 2 will still ship with a color-matched cord and USB-C power plug.

Under the hood, Apple has made the jump from an S5 chip to the S10 chip, which premiered inside the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and third-generation SE.

The new chip will be faster for processing, and will also improve connectivity, allowing for improved latency when the HomePod mini 2 is used as a dedicated speaker for a Mac — a new capability for this model. It can also be grouped with other HomePods as a surround sound setup for the new Apple TV 4K.

The S10 chip will also power a forthcoming free update to bring Siri AI to the speaker. When it does arrive, you can opt into the new, more personalized Siri through the Home app on your iPhone. The update will apply to your account, and if you’re in a shared household, other users will be able to make the jump too.

As with the Apple HomeView, you’ll need an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence and the new Siri, and that has recently connected to your Wi-Fi network. Once enabled, you can ask for more personal information from Siri, whether that’s finding a song your friend texted you, pulling information from your calendar, or handling any number of other tasks. There will be a bit of a wait for these Siri features, though, with no confirmed date.

The other big change is a fun one. The HomePod mini 2’s top is still a circular touch surface with LEDs underneath, but it's been updated. No, it’s not a full Liquid Retina display as on the HomeView, but the LEDs are more precise, and can now color-match the album art of whatever you’re listening to.

Think of the colorful glow in the iPhone’s Dynamic Island when a Now Playing widget is active. Whether you’re listening to Apple Music or Spotify, that color-matching effect can now translate to the top of the HomePod mini 2.

It’s a neat update, though the lights don’t get all that bright. In a demo, they matched the blues, whites, and violets of Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album while it was playing.

Potentially more interesting is that it works with soundscapes, too. I currently have two original HomePod minis on my nightstands, and use rain sounds to fall asleep, so the idea that the new model can visually reflect the pitter-patter of raindrops is intriguing. In a dark room, that gentle glow could be a soothing touch.

Aside from that, the HomePod mini 2 still offers the same rich, vibrant, and surprisingly loud playback experience for audio, podcasts, and other content. It’s again powered by a full-range driver, and dual passive radiators.

It sounded pretty great in the demos, and I’m especially pleased that two of these can be combined with a pair of second-generation HomePods for a full surround sound experience with the Apple TV 4K. You can of course also pair this HomePod with any other AirPlay speakers or the HomeView, too.

Apple is taking preorders for the HomePod mini 2 now, with shipping from October 30. That’s right before Halloween, and while Orange isn’t in the lineup anymore for a pumpkin look, you'll be able to ask Siri to serve up some spooky tunes.

• The Apple Home Collection is a new set of smart-home devices made by LG Electronics and Schneider Electric
• The new devices have been designed in partnership with Apple
• The smart locks, video doorbell, and sensors, among other devices, are designed to work seamlessly with Apple Home

While there are lots of smart-home of gadgets that work with Apple Home — or HomeKit, as it was once called — Apple has never really taken the next step of designing and building its own devices, like doorbells, sensors, thermostats, and locks. That’s still the case, but alongside unveiling the Apple HomeView smart display, with features that clearly make it a smart home hub, the tech giant is also moving into the smart-home device space, in collaboration with partner brands.

Rather than simply certifying devices for Apple Home — and those options aren’t going away — Apple has been working with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric to design and build several devices that will serve as a new flagship standard for gadgets in Apple's ecosystem. They'll start shipping in December.

The new doorbell, indoor and outdoor cameras, thermostats, and various sensors represent a set of gadgets that not only work seamlessly with Apple’s home hubs — Apple TV 4K, HomePod, HomePod mini, and the new HomeView — but also integrate with the broader Apple Home ecosystem, allowing Siri to be central to controlling them.

All these new devices look and feel modern and well-made. Take LG Electronics’ Video Doorbell, for example: it’s a wired option priced at $249 in the US and £229 in the UK. It’s a sleek, matte-silver cylinder with a classic doorbell button, microphones, a speaker, and two cameras. One camera faces outward to give you a view of who’s at your door or what’s happening on the street, while the other faces downward, so that you can see whether a package has been dropped off.

There's also an LG Door Lock, which will work in the United States and Canada, and conforms to the deadbolt lock standard in North America. This is priced at $199. Like the recently launched Ring Smart Lock, it supports UWB — ultra-wideband — and Apple Home Key, so as you approach the door with your iPhone or Apple Watch, it can sense your arrival and automatically unlock the door. You can also enter a code using the keypad, or slide the panel to the side to use a physical key.

Another potentially over-engineered, but pretty sleek, option is LG’s Indoor Camera. This cylindrical camera sits in a mini drum connected to an arm, and when you set it not to be in use — such as when you arrive home, or according to a schedule — it swivels downward so the lens faces the floor. There’s no physical shutter here, but it’s a unique and visible approach to privacy, and you can also activate it on demand with a button on the top. It’s priced at $199 in the US and £179.95 in the UK.

These are just three of the devices in the collection. LG is also making an Outdoor Camera, with or without a floodlight, while both LG and Schneider Electric offer smart thermostat s, and Schneider Electric is making a variety of sensors. It’s likely that these are just the start of a much larger range, but they cover some of the basic building blocks of a smart home.

While these new devices aren’t made directly by Apple, this partnership arrangement is similar to how Apple worked with LG on the original UltraFine 2K and 4K monitors for MacBook Pro users, or how Belkin has become a featured partner for accessories such as the MagSafe mount that lets you use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac.

I think it’s also a tell about exactly where Apple wants to play within the smart home. For instance, there are no smart lights here, likely because a handful of lighting brands already support Apple Home, from Nanoleaf to Philips Hue.

As mentioned, these new devices won’t launch until December, with exact availability still to be confirmed, but I’ll be curious to see how they perform.

One unique aspect of these devices is that you'll be able to set up and pair them much like AirPods or an Apple Watch. You’ll see a splash screen appear on your iPhone when you bring it close to the device, whether that’s a doorbell, camera, thermostat, sensor, or smart lock.

That’s a slicker approach than the sometimes-arduous process of setting up other smart-home devices. It’s also clear that Apple is building on the foundations of the Matter standard, and making that experiences feel more seamless within its own ecosystem.

Ninja Crispi Microwave: 30-second review

The Ninja Crispi Microwave combines the power of an air fryer with the speed of a microwave. It sounds like an almost impossible feat, yet Ninja has seemingly done the impossible with one of the most versatile kitchen appliances around.

Things get off to a good start out of the box. One of the common frustrations with microwaves are their controls, and how it feels like you need an engineering degree to understand how it all works. Not with the Crispi Microwave. A brief flick through the instructions, and you’ll be off, with easy to use buttons and modes to help you cook the food you want.

The included glassware dish with removable crisper tray, and the rails its slides onto in the microwave, are great additions for air frying and FusionCrisp cooking. And when microwaving you don’t need to worry about any rotating turnable. You get the whole surface of the microwave cavity to place your food, allowing you to cook more at once.

Then there’s the actual cooking. Whether I was air frying, grilling or baking, or using one of the many microwave presets, the Crispi Microwave delivered great food every time. And to really unlock the power of this appliance, FusionCrisp uses the best of both cooking technologies, for wonderful moist in the middle, crispy on the outside cooks.

If you’ve got the space on your counter, and are looking to consolidate the number of appliances in your kitchen, the Ninja Crispi Microwave is an excellent all-rounder.

Ninja Crispi Microwave: price and availability

• Ninja Crispi Microwave price: $449.99 / £359.99 (about AU$650)
• Available in the US and UK, in multiple colors

The Ninja Crispi Microwave price is $449.99 / £359.99, which compared to a traditional countertop microwave is exceedingly expensive. However, this isn’t just a microwave. It also has a built-in air fryer, and with Ninja’s FusionCrisp Technology you can cook food with both systems in the same process.

There are a few other air fryer microwaves on the market, and comparing the costs here sees the Ninja competitively priced against its competition. The Samsung Combi Smart Microwave is a touch cheaper, Smeg’s is considerably more, while IKEA offers a budget-friendly option.

You can buy the Ninja Crispi Microwave directly from Ninja, and via third party retailers in the US and UK. It’s not available in Australia.

I’ve seen the Crispi Microwave discounted in the US by around $50, but at time of writing I’m yet to see any discounts in the UK. It’s always worth shopping around though.

Interestingly, in the US you get the choice of four colors; black, silver, Cyperspace (blue) and Stone Gold. In the UK, Stone Gold isn’t available, leaving you with three options.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Ninja Crispi Microwave: specifications

Ninja Crispi Microwave: design

• Premium, modern design, with cookbook in the box
• Slightly bigger than a standard microwave, but needs more clearance
• Internal light is dim, front is a dust and fingerprint magnet

The Ninja Crispi Microwave is a smart looking appliance, with a modern aesthetic, clean lines, and chunky dials and buttons.

Considering the additional air fryer tech squeezed inside the Ninja Crispi Microwave, it’s not hugely oversized. At 44.6 (D) x 51.6 (W) x 35.8cm (H) it’s bigger than my current unit, but it’s not aggressively massive.

While that’ll be good news for those hoping it will fit where their current microwave resides, you need to take airflow into consideration. As this product also has an air fryer built into it, you need to allow for a minimum of 12 inches (30.5 cm) of clearance above the unit for adequate airflow and safe operation.

That meant I couldn’t place the Crispi where my current microwave was, as the wall mounted cupboard above it didn’t allow for enough space for air to flow safely. I’m fortunate to have open countertop space in my kitchen, allowing me to place the Crispi - but if you have a smaller kitchen, or limited countertop space this is something you need to consider before purchasing.

If you do have a suitable space for the Crispi to reside, you’ll find it comes with various warnings when you open the packaging and look through the paperwork.

One of the main warnings is to not operate it when empty, as this can apparently damage the unit.

Unlike a traditional microwave, there’s no rotating platform inside. Instead there’s a glass service that you place dishes on, and you need to be careful when cooking is finished as this surface can be very hot.

What that does mean is you get a bigger cooking surface area compared to a turntable (up to 20% more, according to Ninja), with the ability to place dishes across the entire base of the microwave.

The quick start guide and recipe book included in the box will get you up and running quickly though, and these offers are better than some manufacturers - I’m looking at you, Philips.

The smart, modern design looks good on the counter top, but the glossy door and instrument panel are an absolute dust and fingerprint magnet. You’ll need to keep a microfibre cloth handy if you want to maintain a clean look.

Press the large door release button, and it swings open nice and wide, going beyond 90 degrees to give you plenty of space to move things in and out. It’s especially welcome when sliding the hot glassware tray out.

That glass tray is included in the box (along with a removable, metal crisper tray), and at a capacity of 5.5 quarts / 5.2 liters Ninja says it can hold an 8lb chicken, or four slices of pizza

And the runners that hold the glassware near the top of the cavity when in air fry or FusionCrisp mode have a nice party trick. Slide the glassware most of the way out, and it’ll drop into a small groove on the runners.

This angles the tray slightly towards you, allowing you to mix, stir or turn your food without the glassware sliding all over the place or needing to remove it completely. Your oven racks might well have a similar feature, and I was pleased to see the inclusion here.

Plus, Ninja has included a childlock feature on the door release button, preventing curious little hands from reaching up and simply popping the door open when cooking. To enable child lock, grab a Philips-head screwdriver and turn the switch on the side of the door release button. You will then have to press this side switch and the main door release together to open.

Another thing I like are the buttons, which have great tactility and feel premium under finger. They’re clearly labelled and are relatively intuitive - though you will need to refer to the manual initially while the process of getting the right settings becomes engrained.

As an example of how good the controls are, I was able to change the clock time on the microwave with ease, something that can’t be said for many microwaves I’ve used in the past.

Something that hasn't shone so bright is the light inside the microwave. It’s a little dim, even when you have the door open. When it’s closed, it’s not easy to see your food due to the heavy tint on the door as well as the under powered light.

The Ninja Crispi Microwave offers an array of cooking modes. There’s the traditional microwave option, allowing you to quickly reheat food, cook microwave meals, and pop some popcorn. Press the microwave button, set the time and hit go.

But there’s more here than first meets the eye. Hit the microwave button twice and you’ll get an illuminated selection of additional sub modes; defrost, beverage, popcorn, potato, soup, soften butter, frozen vegetable, and porridge. This makes for quicker and easier cooking for some of the core things you use a microwave for.

Then there’s the air fryer mode, which itself also has a few sub-options to choose from. If you’re familiar with Ninja’s air fryers these will be familiar; air fry, max crisp, air roast, air bake, air grill.

Then there’s a third mode, FusionCrisp. Ninja claims FusionCrisp takes the best part of microwaving and air frying, and combines them, giving you food that retains moisture, cooks quickly, but doesn’t go soggy.

• Design score: 4/5

Ninja Crispi Microwave: performance

• Brilliantly versatile as an air fryer and a microwave
• FusionCrisp mode combines the best of both
• Good enough to replace multiple appliances in your kitchen

The performance of the Ninja Crispi Microwave is impressive. Whether you’re air frying, microwaving, reheating, baking, grilling or softening butter (yes, it really has its own dedicated setting), this appliance delivers.

I used a combination of FusionCrisp and Air Fry to make a family-sized portion of mac and cheese. I added macaroni, water, milk and oil to the glassware and cooked it on the FusionCrisp mode for 25 minutes. I then added cheese and finished it with eight minutes in air fry mode for a lovely golden top.

The pasta was cooked well to an al dente bite, while the cheese oozed throughout the dish and provided some exceptional cheese pull highlights.

I dipped into the supplied cook book again when it came to sorting out a sweet treat, and I baked a moist, spongy chocolate cake using the FusionCrisp feature. I mixed the batter and poured it into the glassware, selected FusionCrisp for 15 minutes, then air fry for five minutes, and hit start.

The Crispi Microwave then got to baking, doing the quarter of an hour FusionCrisp cook first and then seamlessly switching to air fry for five minutes to finish the cake off. And thanks to the size of the glassware, the cake was large enough to last us a whole week.

And for a quick lunch fix I utilized the FusionCrisp mode once again to cook myself a baked potato. 14 minutes microwave, followed by a 10 minute air fry and I had a soft fluffy centered potato with a crispy skin in under half an hour. For those of you who enjoy an extra crispy skin on your potato, I'd recommend air frying for an additional 10 minutes.

I always enjoy air fryer chicken wings, and the Ninja Crispi Microwave didn’t disappoint. Lightly tossed in oil, salt and pepper, my wings cooked for 35 minutes at 200C on the air fryer mode. The result? Wonderfully crispy skin and succulent meat. It was so good, I immediately cooked a second batch.

Another air fryer classic is homemade fries, which I cooked at 200C for 20 minutes. Although the power of the Ninja Crispi Microwave meant I stopped after 16 minutes as outside was looking well cooked.

It turned out they needed a couple more minutes to make them extra crispy, and they were well cooked and nice and fluffy on the side. Depending on how thick you cut your fries, you’ll want to keep an eye on how they’re cooking before the time is up.

Digging into the freezer I wanted to see if the Crispi Microwave could deliver when it comes to frozen fries, and I selected the Max Crisp setting on the Air Fryer mode. The recipe book that comes with the unit has numerous tables with settings and cook time for lots of different foods, and it suggested I cooked the frozen fries for 15 minutes.

However, I found they needed an additional five minutes to get to a good level of crisp. Once done though, I was treated to crunchy fries with fluffy centers — just bear in mind you might need to cook them for longer.

As a big pizza fan, I love using an air fryer to reheat leftover slices, and the Ninja Crispi Microwave is a great option. Unlike a traditional microwave where your reheated slice is left limp, Ninja suggests heating the slices as you would in a traditional microwave first, then switching to air fry mode for five minutes to finish them off.

I dutifully followed these instructions, laying the slices on the crisper tray in the glassware, and sliding it into its elevated position. The results were slices which looked, felt and tasted almost as good as they did when they arrived fresh in the box the night before.

You’ll be pleased to learn that despite not having a rotating platform, the microwave mode functions exactly how you’d expect. Reheating left over mac and cheese and warming up pasta sauce worked well.

The soup sub-mode allowed me to select the quantity of soup I was heating (in liters) and the Crispi Microwave adjusted the cook time to suit.

I melted butter using the soften butter sub-mode with no burning, while the popcorn sub-mode did a good job of popping the kernels in my sweet and salty bag in the two minute duration it set itself to.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Ninja Crispi Microwave?

Buy it if

Don’t buy it if

Ninja Crispi Microwave: also consider

How I tested the Ninja Crispi Microwave

• I used the Ninja Crispi Microwave for several weeks
• I cooked a variety of food, including fries, cake, popcorn, chicken and potatoes
• I tested the various cooking modes, and the cleaning process

I used the Ninja Crispi Microwave for a number of weeks at home during my review testing period, cooking a wide variety of food and testing out the various functions and modes that this appliance offers.

I baked a cake, air fried fries and chicken wings, reheated pizza and pasta, popped popcorn, warmed up soup, baked crispy potatoes, and even tested the “soften butter” setting.

I hand-washed the glassware and crisper tray, and put them through a dishwasher, while running a damp cloth around the interior of the microwave to ensure cleaning and maintenance was easy.

First reviewed September/October 2026

It had been a while since Dyson had genuinely surprised us with a product launch, but then the brand unveiled its first toothbrush. Dyson is already a familiar name in personal care, thanks to its now well established hair-styling gadgets, so a move into oral care wasn't entirely left-field. Still, when the CameraJet made its debut, it was still quite the swerve – taking Dyson from the dressing table to the bathroom sink.

When I caught up with Jake Dyson — son of founder, James, and Dyson's chief engineer — at the brand's Unveiled event, I wanted to know what prompted such a move. And, more broadly, how a brand might end up with such a twisty, turny product roadmap.

(For clarity, throughout this article I'll be using "Dyson" to mean the brand, and "Jake" to mean the person.)

So, if a toothbrush can become a Dyson gadget, is there anything that couldn't be? "No, it doesn't," Jake declares. "It has to be radically different."

He expands: "The first product has to be radically different, and have performance claims, and a difference against a competitor by a magnitude; otherwise, we wouldn't consider it."

In short, the brand isn't interested in having a go at anything; it wants to make a splash in markets that have grown stagnant. The launch of the first Dyson Supersonic hair dryer in 2016 is a great example — it blew new life into a market that had barely seen change in decades.

And the CameraJet is far from your average toothbrush. It's kitted out with a camera that will stream a live view of the inside of your mouth back to you, and is trained to recognize gaps in your teeth and shoot water/mouthwash at them, to take care of flossing. Whether or not it enjoys the success of the Supersonic remains to be seen, but it certainly checks that "radically different" box.

Striving for perfection

The potential to shake things up is essential, but before a new-category product is launched, other criteria must be met. "It's got to work properly," asserts Jake. "I mean, we probably could have launched [the CameraJet] two years ago, but it wouldn't have hit every gap perfectly, and that's not acceptable."

It's unfortunate then that shortly after our conversation, reports of CameraJet faults began rolling in from early adopters. Dyson has blamed this on an isolated production issue that's now under control, so I'll give the company the benefit of the doubt in this instance.

Barring any further hiccups, you should expect more unusual oral care products to also be hitting the market before too long; Jake's third golden rule is that you never launch with just one product. "If we're going to go into a new area, then we'll do that knowing we've got more products behind it," he tells me.

When pushed if he means further iterations, he clarifies the brand aims for "expansion in that category, quite quickly", and confirms it will start with a roadmap of multiple products.

Doubling up

Breaking new markets is an expensive business, but Jake is savvy about not wasting effort. "I think you try not to do things twice that take an awful long time and a lot of investment," he says. "You try to use it again in another product."

He talks about innovations that the brand wants to "platform". A great example is the shrunk-down mechanics and battery system that Dyson developed for its Airwrap, and which also appears in its Supersonic r hair dryer. A version of it is used in the brand's new hot brush, and it also features in the PencilVac and now the PencilMop.

As for exactly how the innovations make their way across team lines, it isn't a defined process. "It happens naturally. You cross-pollinate, you join the dots. 'If we put that with that, we could do this.'," says Jake. "And as a company, we're getting much better at predicting that before we do it."

He explains that this cross-pollination will also sometimes highlight the gaps that Dyson needs to fill. "It makes us realize there are other technologies we need to develop ourselves — which we are, behind the scenes — to enable us to go into those new areas and do something better than anyone else."

What "radically different" products might be on the horizon at Dyson? I'll be watching with interest.

Dyson product tour

Here's a quick rundown of some of Dyson's newest releases — hit the View Details button to read more about each one.

• IKEA has launched a new range of Christmas lights and lamps
• It includes an unusual Christmas tree and a matchstick floor lamp
• Both can be augmented with the addition of smart plugs

Not everyone wants a real Christmas tree during the winter holidays, especially when getting one means cleaning up an ungodly amount of pine needles come the season’s end. If you’re one of those folks, you might be interested in the latest offering from IKEA, which takes the form of a Christmas tree made almost entirely from LED lights.

That means no branches and certainly no messy pine needles. Instead, the 150cm STRÅLA tree ($40 / £25 / AU$50) is simply comprised of a central spine and a selection of string LED lights descending from its apex down to the ground.

The result is what might be called a minimalist, post-modern take on the traditional Christmas tree, which IKEA says can be used both indoors and outdoors.

This tree, which comes with 180 diodes, might not fit into every living room or be to everyone’s tastes. But what might be more appealing is another addition to the STRÅLA range, this time taking the form of a floor light arranged as three large wooden matchsticks, with the red tips serving as soft lamps for your living space.

That potentially makes it a quirky addition to your room and an eye-catching talking point at Christmas time. It’s not trying to replace your Christmas tree and is more of a fun addition than a dedicated centerpiece.

This floor lamp is also dimmable in two steps, so you can use it as more of a cosy, accent light rather than your living room's lighting star.

Now add some smarts

While neither STRÅLA light has much in the way of smart home functionality, you can add that into the mix by combining them with a smart plug — for example, IKEA does its own with the GRILLPLATS ($8 / £7 / AU$13) range, which are compatible with the Matter smart home protocol and the IKEA Home app.

For true smart home control, you'll also need some kind of hub (either IKEA's DIRIGERA, or an Amazon Echo, Google Nest, or Apple Home hub that's both Matter compatible and acts as a Thread border router). But add one of those, and you can set your lights to a schedule or switch them on or off remotely.

That could help save you money over the Christmas period, but can also help the lights mimic your presence while you’re out celebrating with friends and family. Use automation timers and you can create the impression that someone is home at different times, even if you’re not.

When paired with a smart home hub, smart plugs can also open up voice commands (with the assistant dependent on which platform you've gone for). This is especially fun during the holiday season, when you can set up your lights to be activated by a phrase such as “Merry Christmas."

Christmas is still a couple of months away, but it’s always a good idea to get your planning started early. With IKEA’s new festive lights, you’ve got a few more options when it comes to decorating your home for the holidays.

• Do you know what data your smart devices can access?
• All kinds of devices now expect to be allowed online
• Think before you buy: does this need to be smart?

Your smart TV might not be the only smart device that's leaking your data: your coffee machine might be doing it too. A US man has gone viral after spotting his parents' Keurig coffee machine transmitting a terabyte of data in just 10 days, and here at TechRadar we've just had a Lavazza coffee machine ask for access to our contacts and call logs.

What's going on? Should I be worried about my dishwasher's Wi-Fi too?

In the case of the Keurig, the massive data transfer appears to have been because of a bug. Posting on X, IT expert Nomad said he disconnected the device because "It’s not worth keeping an IOT [Internet of Things] device connected that has the capability of bugging out and causing saturation like this did."

As for our Lavazza, we've asked the company its app wants those specific permissions — and why its smart features don't seem to work even after it's connected. Starting a brew using the machine's own app proved impossible, and when we asked it to brew us an espresso via Google Home as instructed in the manual, we were informed that the coffee maker "doesn't support selecting specific drink types like espresso through smart home commands".

As the song goes, we ain't seen nothing yet. With ChatGPT, Gemini and other AI rolling out across all kinds of tech, there's potential for real privacy problems. We have contacted both companies for comment and will keep you updated when we have more details.

When smart devices are too smart

In the US, Consumer Reports has been cautioning users about smart appliances for some time. Earlier this year it warned: "Increasingly, home appliances that rely on mobile apps for key functions and that collect data on you — whether you like it or not — are becoming the standard. That means that when you buy a new product, in whatever category you choose, internet features and companion apps needed to operate them are much harder to avoid."

I've experienced this myself: my home heating boiler has an app, as does my dishwasher. Both were awfully keen to gather data that had nothing to do with heating my home or washing my pots and pans. And that's just the data the apps were openly asking about. Consumer Reports' Steve Blair said he found a dryer that was sending the equivalent of 135,000 text messages per week to its manufacturer. "What does a dryer have to say at that volume?" he asked.

There are benefits to connected devices, of course. I like my smart home stuff. I had an Instant Pot whose app could download slow cooking instructions for specific dishes, and I like being able to remotely pre-heat my hybrid car when it's cold outside.

But there are downsides too, and I think the biggest one isn't sinister surveillance: it's accidentally opening doors for bad actors. As a rule, appliance firms aren't famed for their software expertise or website security and that means there's a risk of data ending up where it shouldn't, or of exploits that can target your device or other devices on your network. That means the less access a device has, the better.

I'm in agreement with Consumer Reports here: it recommends thinking about data security before purchasing any connected product. "Does your fridge need to be connected to Wi-Fi? Ask those questions." It recommends setting up a separate network on your router purely for smart devices; that way, if they are compromised, the attackers aren't on the same network as your laptop or your phone.

As for Nomad, he's regretting going public about his parents' chaotic Keurig. "I always dreamed that I would be remembered for the weird printers I designed and the cool stuff I've worked on at Prusa," he says. "I wanted a legacy of creativity and chaos. I am now most known for a rogue coffee machine. I don't even like coffee 🫠"

• The Stengrönska is an affordable new alarm clock from IKEA
• It can charge your phone and display temperature and humidity data
• For now it's only available in IKEA stores in Japan and China

On top of all its other home goods, IKEA has a new alarm clock for your consideration — and the gadget goes beyond the standard duties of telling the time and making sure you drag yourself out of bed in the mornings.

It's called the IKEA Stengrönska (via Notebookcheck), and it's wide and short and flat: 17 cm x 16 cm x 3.6 cm (6.7 inches x 6.3 inches 1.4 x inches). That's partly so you can put your phone on the alarm clock and use the Stengrönska as a wireless charger.

Two other cool party tricks that the device brings with it are temperature and humidity readings, so you can keep tabs on your bedroom environment and make sure everything is set up just right for the best sleep possible.

The screen comes with an adjustable backlight and shows the time in a 24-hour or 12-hour format, with the date and day of the week also on display. You can set up to three alarms, with volume settings you can configure as needed.

More well-being

There's an all-important snooze function here, though it seems to be fixed at nine minutes. If you know you absolutely have to get up at a certain time you'll need to do some quick math to work out how many nine-minute intervals you've got left.

Around the back we've got toggles for the alarms and the volume dial, as well as a USB-C port, so you can charge up a nearby gadget with a cable as well as using the top of the Stengrönska as a wireless charger.

IKEA is positioning it as a preferable alternative to using your phone for alarms and checking the time: "you can reduce your reliance on your mobile phone," reads the official blurb, which means "less screen time — more well-being!"

The only downside is that the device is only on sale in Japan and China for now (the Japan price is ¥4,999, about $32 / £24 / AU$45). We've asked IKEA about international availability, and will update this article if we hear back.

• Apple has posted a teaser for its 'Welcome home' event on October 13
• A launch event for new smart home tech has been rumored this month
• Rumors suggest we could see a new 'HomePad' smart home controller

Apple has more than just the iPhone Duo arriving in October, it seems. The Cupertino-based tech giant has announced another product launch for October 13, playfully captioning it 'Welcome Home.'

For the Apple Home — or Apple HomeKit — faithful, this is especially exciting. The teaser for October 13, 2026, not only has some warmth to it, but it also tees up the long-awaited, much-rumored refresh of its existing Home devices.

The video depicts a stitched artwork of the Apple logo in the classic shades, with 'Welcome Home’ inscribed underneath it. It certainly feels like Apple is hinting at something home-related.

Apple's smart home tech includes, most obviously, the HomePod mini and full-sized HomePod, its smart speakers that play music, ring with alarms, handle calls and FaceTime calls, and bring Siri into the home. But it also extends to the Apple TV 4K box, a streaming box that brings Apple’s own services and other major streamers to the big screen. It’s been quite some time since those were all updated or unveiled.

Rumors suggest new versions are coming, not redesigns or rethinks, but more power under the hood to let Siri AI work on the devices. It wouldn’t just bring them up to the level of competing Amazon Alexa and Google smart speakers, but would make these devices a lot more capable and bring parity to how Siri works on other Apple devices.

It’s likely that a new HomePod mini could sport a fresh coat of paint, but the processor change under the hood will be the real power boost. The same goes for a new HomePod or Apple TV 4K.

The other question surrounds the much-rumored smart display from Apple. It might be called the ‘HomePad,’ as leaks have suggested — but whatever its name, the teaser video posted by Greg Joswiak (Apple’s SVP of Marketing) suggests it could arrive at the event. ‘Welcome Home’ certainly hints at a new category, and the video’s stitched Apple logo and tagline certainly feels like a pretty deliberate tease for a brand-new device landing.

Based on the rumors, the HomePad will likely combine an iPad with a HomePod or HomePod mini, offering a 6-inch display mounted to a base and running a new OS. Siri AI is expected to be the main control method and central to the experience, and it’s likely why it’s only arriving now, since the upgraded assistant launched last month alongside iOS 27.

According to rumors, you’ll be able to use the HomePad for smart home control, topical or specific questions with Siri, viewing photos or videos, taking FaceTime calls, and even opening other apps. Like an Echo Show, it’ll apparently tailor the experience for each person, which is essential for a home device.

Most recently, a fresh report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman teases that Apple might drop some smart home accessories, like a thermostat, smart deadbolt locks, sensors, and cameras, in partnership with LG. Essentially, LG-made devices purpose-built for Apple Home that will likely fit very well into the existing ecosystem and work with these new devices.

A long overdue refresh

We’ll need to wait and see what Apple unveils to know exactly what it is packing. The super-cute, robotic smart home display is still likely a good way out. Though, I can’t be the only one who wants a smart display that resembles the Pixar Lamp, right?

As someone who currently uses HomePod minis, HomePods, and Apple TV 4Ks around my home, this refresh feels long overdue. These are products that have become pretty integral to how I use Apple at home, but they’ve also felt like they’ve been waiting for their next chapter for a while now.

And when it comes to the rumored smart display, I’m particularly bullish on the idea. Apple’s stance on privacy, combined with how tightly its products already work together, could make this a really compelling home device. Even something as simple as displaying photos from Apple Photos is a nice play. I can also see the appeal of having a display that works seamlessly with your iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac, while knowing who is using it and tailoring the experience accordingly.

That’s ultimately what makes this rumored HomePad so interesting to me. Plenty of smart displays already exist, but Apple has a chance to make one that feels less like another screen in your house and more like a natural extension of the Apple devices you use every day. Of course, I’m also hoping it sounds good enough to blast some Springsteen on.

The good thing is, we don’t have long to wait, as Apple’s set this event for October 13, 2026. Let me know what you’re most excited to see get the ‘Welcome Home’ treatment in the comments.

• There are 5 new Ring cameras to get familiar with
• One model is Ring's first 4K indoor camera for the home
• The cameras are available to buy and pre-order now

Ring just announced a major round of new models for its smart home security camera line-up, and there's something for everyone in the new batch of devices — which include the first Ring indoor 4K camera for home use, as well as some notable upgrades on video resolutions and power options.

That model is a good place to start: the Ring Indoor Cam 4K brings with it "retinal 4K" to Ring's indoor cameras, an upgrade from the 2K currently on offer. It boasts a 115-degree field of view, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, and a physical privacy shutter. It's available to buy from today for $99.99 / £79.99. We've been told that it's "coming soon" to Australia.

The other indoor camera here is the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K (an upgrade for the 1080p version, and with 360 degrees of pan coverage and 175-degree tilt it can follow motion automatically (handy for misbehaving pets) or be controlled manually (if you need to see a different part of the room). It also comes with a privacy shutter for extra peace of mind and is available to buy from today for $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$109.

Then we have three outdoor cameras. The Floodlight Cam 4K Plus sits just below the current Floodlight Cam 4K Pro, while still offering that high-resolution 4K video, 24/7 recording, and smart motion detection (as well as the floodlight, of course). You can pre-order it today for $219.99 / £199.99. Again, the Floodlight Cam 4K Plus is "coming soon" for Australia.

4K everywhere you want it

Next up is the Spotlight Cam 4K Plus, which brings with it 4K video, a 550-lumen spotlight, and a host of power options: battery, plug-in, and solar. It's an upgrade on the current Spotlight Cam 2K Plus, but sits below the Spotlight Cam 4K Pro (with (660-lumen lights). It's available to pre-order from today for $199.99 / £179.99. This is another one "coming soon" to Australia.

Perhaps the most impressive of the new cameras is the Outdoor Cam 4K Plus. As well as 4K, we've also got battery, plug-in, hardwired, solar, and Power-over-Ethernet options for power — the ultimate in flexibility. There's already a 4K Pro version of this, but this Plus model is adding the hardwired and solar options. You can pre-order it today for $149.99 / £129.99. And yep, you guessed it, "coming soon" to Australia.

Ring's camera range is already a well-stocked one, and the main themes here are resolution and power option upgrades for the mid-range models — plus bringing 4K into the home with a Ring camera for the first time.

It's a shame that not all models will be available worldwide, at least at launch — the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera 2K, for example, is the only one of these models available in Australia for now. But Ring fans in the US and UK now have a lot more security camera options to choose from.

Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker review: two-minute review

Midea makes a wide range of home products, ranging from fans, coffee machines, dehumidifiers and even a two-in-one washing machine and robot vacuum cleaner. It also offers a wide range of kitchen appliances, including the 5L Induction Rice Cooker reviewed here, which the brand looks to position as an affordable alternative to specialist rice cookers from Japanese brand Zojirushi, Taiwanese brand Tiger and South Korea’s Cuckoo, whose top-tier offerings can cost as much as AU$1,248 / SG$1,419. This model is only available in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and a handful of other Southeast Asian countries for a fraction of that price.

While a rice cooker won’t replace a multicooker outright in most households, models like this one from Midea are multifunctional, allowing you to steam, make soup (or at least prep for some kinds of soups) and even bake cakes.

That said, the specialty of Midea's Induction Rice Cooker is in its name: cooking rice. For this, it offers presets for three firmness levels, adjusting for mixed rice grains and for making what the brand calls ‘claypot rice’ (rice with other ingredients like proteins and vegetables to make a complete meal).

It looks sleek and premium and is arguably much better-looking than most multicookers, although it’s large enough to take up the same amount of counter space. The 5L capacity can accommodate up to 10 cups of rice, and the included steaming basket allows you to cook an entire meal for 2 people easily enough. For instance, I cooked a salmon fillet and some frozen vegetables in the basket while I had rice cooking underneath, and everything came out perfect, although I should note that the cook time is relatively longer when it's multitasking like this.

I also used the steam function to ‘boil’ eggs and I consistently got the results I wanted, whether that was a soft boil, jammy or a proper hard boil without overcooking. I could also do some light sautéing to create a simple meat sauce for gnocchi, creating enough heat for the onions, garlic and minced beef to cook through, and then switched to ‘Quick Cook’ for the rest of the way with the pasta.

During testing, the Midea cooked soft, regular and firm rice well with noticeable differences, while the soup and congee settings produced delicious results. I had mixed results with the cake function — my attempt at banana bread got a slightly burnt crust (but the interior was moist), while pancakes were cooked perfectly (although Midea’s suggested timings in its online recipe were a bit off). Admittedly, that result has more to do with my lack of baking experience than with the rice cooker itself, but it still wouldn’t be my first choice for baking a cake or making bread.

The Keep Warm button is useful for keeping leftovers fresh, though it tends to dry out food when it’s kept in the pot for too long.

I wouldn't call Midea's 5L Induction Rice Cooker perfect for all its advertised features, but it’s a nice upgrade from the basic heating plate-based rice cookers with just a single function or, alternatively, an inexpensive way to get a specialty option. On the other hand, you’re better off with a proper multicooker if you don’t cook rice a lot, especially if you need pressure cooking.

Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker review: price and availability

• List price: AU$199 / NZ$199 / SG$199
• Available from select retailers in limited Asia-Pacific markets

The Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker is available from Amazon in Australia and various retailers in Singapore. It often gets discounted to AU$149 / NZ$169 / SG$149, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for discounts, especially during major sale events like Black Friday.

That's a heck of a lot cheaper than spending upwards of AU$700 / NZ$1,000 /SG$600 on specialty rice cookers from Japan, Taiwan and Korea, although you do get what you pay for — the more expensive models give you better control over the cooking process. However, the Midea alternative is still a worthwhile consideration for anyone on a budget as long as you don't need a multicooker.

• Value: 4/5

Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker review: specifications

Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker review: design and features

• Induction cooking for evenness
• Lid-mounted controls
• Dishwasher-safe inner pot and accessories

The Midea Induction Rice Cooker is a well-designed kitchen appliance that looks sleeker than most multicookers, with touch buttons are on the lid that manage to both blend into the design while also standing out for good visibility. All the buttons are lit to which cooking mode is active as you toggle through the options. For rice, you can choose from soft, regular and hard, as well as dedicated settings for quick cooking, Jasmine rice, mixed grain rice, and ‘claypot rice’, or rice with other ingredients (like vegetables and proteins) to make a complete dish.

The lack of a pressure-cooking function means the lid is completely flat with a small valve at the top that Midea claims is “anti-spill”. The lid opens up with the touch of a button in front of the unit, with the non-stick inner pot sitting inside. The pot has multiple markings for guidance on water level for different rice options and steaming.

Midea says the non-stick coating is infused with Binchotan, or Japanese white charcoal powder, which is commonly found in specialised rice cookers and kitchenware, aimed at radiating far-infrared heat to improve thermal efficiency and neutralising unpleasant odours or tastes. The included steam basket sits on top of the inner pot, though it’s relatively small at just 5.5mm deep and just enough to cook for maybe 3-4 servings of vegetables or 2-3 servings of meat (about 2 servings only if combining meat and veg).

Unlike a multicooker, you can’t adjust cook times (except for soup, congee and steaming), but the rice cooker uses temperature sensors to ensure balanced and even cooking. The Keep Warm feature can run for up to 24 hours — though I wouldn’t recommend leaving food in there for too long — and there’s also a reheat button that runs for 20 to 30 minutes. The Delay Start button can schedule your cooking for later, like preparing everything before you leave the house, then timing it to finish as you come back.

Other accessories include a rice paddle with a handle designed to stand up vertically, a small soup ladle, and a measuring cup for 180ml or 180g. All the accessories are dishwasher-safe.

• Design and features score: 4/5

Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker review: performance

• Rice programs are long, especially brown rice
• Rice firmness settings are accurate
• Steam and cake functions are surprisingly versatile

Rice is my main staple for most dishes, having grown up in an Asian household, so I would regularly cook 1-2 cups of jasmine rice in the Midea at least a few times a week. I used all three settings — soft, regular and hard — with each result depending on the dish I’m pairing the carb with. In two months of testing, every setting has been accurate with the results.

I would occasionally mix in some quinoa and pearl barley with the jasmine rice to make it healthier and to add a different texture, and the Midea’s ‘Mixed Rice’ setting worked like a charm — every grain was cooked through with the texture and consistency I wanted. I used the same setting for brown rice and had the same results. Admittedly, my old multicooker produced softer and fluffier brown rice thanks to pressure cooking, which is missing here, but the results were still delicious.

To test the ‘Claypot Rice’ function, I made a quick and simplified version of Hainanese chicken rice, where I swapped the water for chicken stock, sprinkled some spring onions and ginger slices, then placed two chicken thighs on top. It was set to one hour by default, so there was plenty of time to ensure the chicken was cooked through, though I was concerned it could be too long and might dry the meat out.

The chicken was cooked through, although the internal temperature went over 90ºC, a bit higher than I’d like. It wasn’t completely dry, thankfully, and was still tasty along with the rice. The rice itself was well-cooked, and it even had a crispy, charred crust around the edges, just like the traditional dish made in actual clay pots.

The included steaming basket is deep enough to fit whole pieces of chicken breast, chicken thighs or a salmon fillet, or up to 3-4 servings of vegetables. There’s a measuring line in the inner pot to indicate the minimum level of water you need for the steam function.

Steaming defaults to 15 minutes, but can be adjusted with the Timing button. Pushing the functionality further, I also cooked eggs in the rice cooker by following the usual cooking times (5-6 min for runny yolks, 7-8 for jammy yolks and 11 minutes for hard-boiled eggs) and, with a bowl of ice water nearby to stop cooking, I achieved precise results each time.

The steaming basket’s shallow height meant there was plenty of room to cook some rice at the same time instead of just using water for steam generation only. This way, I cooked an entire meal using my usual jasmine rice setting — this included two cups of the rice in the inner pot, with a salmon fillet and a single serving of frozen broccoli in the basket on top. On the 50-minute setting for regular rice firmness, the salmon was perfectly cooked and not dried out as I feared, while the broccoli was cooked through but not overly soft. The rice was also well-cooked.

Making soup is straightforward, as you can dump all the ingredients in the inner pot and set your desired cook time. As this function is essentially a simmer, you can open the rice cooker to check in occasionally without affecting the soup’s quality.

I made a chicken stock-based chickpea soup where I boiled canned chickpeas in chicken stock for 30 minutes using the Soup function — just enough to soften the chickpeas for blending before I mixed it back in. The result was a rich, creamy soup just like how I would cook it on a stove.

While it’s great for some soups, I’ll be sticking to a regular stock pot when ingredients need to be blended — it's quicker on prep time and cleaning up to stick a hand blender into the stock pot directly, and you won't need to worry about damaging the non-stick coating of the rice cooker.

I tested the Congee mode by making porridge, swapping out the rice for steel-cut oats and using a mix of water and chicken stock, plus seasoning. I followed the suggested liquid level for congee marked in the inner pot’s guide and set it for the default 1-hour cook time. It was enough time to achieve the consistency I wanted, which is relatively thick, with the steel-cut oats cooked all the way through.

To test the ‘Cake’ function, I tried a shortcut banana bread recipe using a packaged pancake mix to make a denser version. My initial attempt was unsuccessful as I kept opening and closing the lid (a big no-no, it turns out), and I may have put in more milk than I should have. My second try was better, where I redid the same 50-minute cook time setting and sprinkled in some oats in the centre to help it absorb some liquid and add some texture.

The banana bread turned out well, albeit with a crust that was a little too dark brown (i.e. slightly burnt) but a moist centre. Well, a baker I am not and I'm still uncertain about the Midea rice cooker's bake functionality.

On the other hand, I had better success with pancakes when using the Cake setting. I scooped in a thin layer of batter at a time into the inner pot and cooked each side for 2-3 minutes each, according to a social media post from Midea ANZ. It turns out that was not nearly enough, and I kept the cooking going for a few more minutes before flipping to the other side.

The pancakes were cooked through after about 6 minutes for each side, though getting them out of the pot was tricky due to the depth of the pot. The results were OK, but the effort of taking the pancakes out of the pot makes me want to stick to using a pan on the stovetop instead.

Midea’s marketing materials also showed that light sautéing is possible even if there isn’t a specific ‘Sauté’ function, so I tried making a quick meat sauce to pair with gnocchi. I tried the ‘Steam’ function (as the time can be adjusted) to start off with the minced beef, and then put the gnocchi in after the meat was cooked and set it for ‘Quick Cook’. Again, the meal was OK, though the meat didn’t have the kind of caramelisation I wanted.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

How I tested the Midea 5L Induction Rice Cooker

• I cooked in it over a period of two months
• I used six different cooking functions
• I noted how easy it was to clean

Having previously maintained the Australian version of the best Instant Pots, I tested this rice cooker as if it were a multi-cooker, albeit without a pressure-cooking function. I primarily cooked various types of rice, but also made eggs, steamed fish and broccoli, chickpea soup, and porridge. Instead of testing the pressure-cooking, I used the 'Cake' setting to make banana bread and pancakes.

During these tests, I was evaluating how straightforward the cooker is to use, and how easy it was to adjust the settings. I also cleaned it by hand to see how easy it is to clean. I also noted any other quirks or frustrations along the way.

Read more about how we test.

[First reviewed October 2026]

• The Loewe aura.matic is a new minimalist luxury espresso machine
• It has twin bean hoppers and grinders, and offers 18 customizable drinks
• It will go on sale later this year for £5,000 (about $6,630 / AU$9,540)

German company Loewe doesn't just make premium TVs and luxury speakers; it also has a line of high-end coffee makers, and its latest release — the Loewe aura. maticmatic — looks like nothing I've ever seen before.

The aura.matic has a black glass door that you can close when it's not in use, leaving the front completely plain. With its wooden frame and black aluminum case, it looks more like a piece of the company's audio equipment than a kitchen appliance. Open it up, though, and you'll find a seven-inch color display, a drip tray with a cup-detection sensor, and an illuminated dispenser.

The aura.matic is also equipped with twin bean hoppers, which let you switch between two different coffees on the fly. It's a feature I seldom see in home coffee makers (the Siemens EQ900 Plus is a rare example), but it's one that makes a lot of sense. I prefer to switch to decaf in the afternoon — as TechRadar's Homes Editor I drink so much coffee, I'd likely never sleep otherwise — but doing so would usually involve using up all the beans currently in the hopper then dialing in the grinder again. It's usually just not practical.

The aura.matic doesn't just have two bean containers — it also has two grinders that can be dialed in separately. If you're feeling creative, you can even create your own blend by mixing the two coffees together.

The water tank is tucked out of sight to the side of the dispenser, while the milk system uses a carafe hidden behind a door on the side to keep the look as minimalist as possible. There's a menu of 18 customizable drinks to choose from, with six user profiles so you can save your personalized recipes.

The aura.matic has a list price of £5,000 (about $6,630 / AU$9,540) and will be available direct from Loewe later this year.

• Keurig Alta is a single-brew system that uses tablets of compressed coffee
• AltaRounds are compostable, and are brewed in the Keurig Alta machine
• The Alta machine is also fully backward-compatible with K-Cups

Keurig is famous for its K-Cup coffee pods, but it's breaking away from the traditional capsule format with a single-serve system called Alta that uses tablets of compressed coffee with no individual packaging. According to a press release, "Keurig Alta represents the future of single-serve — and the future of Keurig," though you don't need to worry about your favorite coffee pods disappearing any time soon.

The new coffee tablets, called AltaRounds, have a recipe code printed on the surface, and are brewed using a new Alta coffee maker that uses the code to determine the right brew style, pressure, and temperature for your drink.

The concept is very similar to the pressed coffee tablets used by the Lavazza Tabli system I tested this week, but there are a few key differences. For example, Keurig's AltaRounds have a thin plant-based coating to keep the coffee fresh, prevent breakage during transit, and help generate the pressure for brewing. Lavazza's coffee tabs are uncoated, and don't have a code to provide brewing instructions.

Keurig's first Alta coffee maker is quite different to Lavazza's Tabli machine as well. The Tabli only prepares espresso, whereas the Keurig Alta also has an integrated milk frother for more complex drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. A color screen on the Alta machine walks you through a range of coffee and espresso beverages, and the system is backwards-compatible with K-Cups in case one of your favorite drinks isn't available in Alta format yet.

The switch to AltaRounds will be gradual, and K-Cups aren't vanishing overnight. Keurig Alta Coffee & Espresso is the first brand of AltaRounds, and six varieties will be rolling out after the machine's launch:

• Single Shot: medium roast single espresso
• Double Shot: dark roast double espresso
• Bold Ambition: dark roast coffee
• The House: medium roast coffee
• Fresh Take: light roast coffee
• Sweet Spot: caramel flavored coffee

Peet's Coffee AltaRounds are coming soon as well, with more brands to follow.

AltaRounds are packaged in an SFI-certified paperboard carton, and their coating is made from an NSF-certified plant-based material that includes alginate from seaweed harvested off the coast of France.. The whole AltaRound, including coffee and coating, is certified for home and commercial composting, so you can dispose of them just like ordinary coffee grounds.

A limited early access bundle is available direct from Keurig until October 15, while supplies last. Pre-orders will ship October 21. The bundle is priced at $499.99, and includes a Keurig Alta brewer, four boxes of AltaRounds pressed coffee, and glassware made by Ethan Rode of FLUR.

The price works out at approximately £380 / AU$720, but the bundle is only available in the US.

• Google Home is rolling out updates for Find My Phone and other voice commands
• It's also fixing bugs with video doorbells, security cameras, and Automations
• Despite the upgrades, users are still running into performance issues

If you’re a Google Home early access user, you’ll be glad to learn that the company is rolling out an expansive roster of new upgrades for voice commands, the Google Home app, and more — as per Google’s notes.

Google Home updates are fairly consistent with Google keeping on top of refreshing its smart home services. Just two weeks ago it fixed Gemini’s follow-up question issues as well as streaming playback bugs, which the tech giant also detailed in its Home and Nest help page.

Prior to this, Google announced it had solved issues with Spotify voice commands and smart light controls, however users claimed there were even bigger issues that needed addressing. But despite the new round of improvements, it appears Google still hasn’t been able to solve the issues plaguing users.

Voice commands

Voice command improvements are the main fixes that Google has rolled out. For starters, the company says that Gemini is more proficient in filtering out background chatter in your home when you’re making a voice request, as well as other smaller issues including reduced latency for sharper responses and more fixes to conversation follow-ups.

That said, one of the most valuable upgrades is for the Find My Phone tool, which Google says it has rolled out quality and reliability improvements to improve the experience. Additionally, language recognition for Gemini is getting an upgrade, which the company says will ‘better support households where three languages are commonly spoken’.

Google Home app

As far as the Google Home App goes, the company is rolling out more device controller upgrades, which includes more accurate smart light shutoff, redesigned camera and doorbell tiles to better distinguish active cameras, and improved offline switch status, fixing an issue where Matter switches failed to display their offline status.

Google is also rolling out Bluetooth connection and Wi-Fi pairing fixes for setting up new Nest devices on iOS and Android. Also, when you add a device to your ecosystem, the Google Home app will cache network information on your smartphone, so you can reuse them for setting up new devices in the future.

Camera fixes

For devices such as the AI-powered Nest Doorbell and security cameras, you can expect to see fixes for video history viewing, removing an error that displayed a ‘Video not available’ pop-up when trying to access footage. If you own any of Walmart’s Onn devices, you should now be able to scrub your video timelines a lot smoother.

Google is also launching new ringtone audio previews for video doorbells, which allows you to listen to snippets of chimes right from the Google Home app before setting it as your default. Google says it will be rolling out holiday-themed chimes, while different themes will become available throughout the year.

Automations

The final fix is with Automations, which Google says has eliminated a bug where multi-button switches and sub-devices were missing the names of their parent devices. It’s a small fix, but one that helps you differentiate between buttons.

Is this enough?

The transition from Google Assistant to Gemini has been far from a smooth operation, and users have been reporting severe performance issues since Google made its first steps with integrating Gemini into its smart home devices.

That said, since Google unveiled its latest update, users have welcomed the new improvements — mainly the chime sound previews and upgrades to Automations. However there's a handful of users that Google has yet to convince.

Despite the rollout of Google's upgrades users are finding themselves yet stuck in another cycle of performance issues when using Gemini for Home, and it seems to be the case more so for audio devices and voice commands.

As one user highlights on Reddit, their Google speaker turns itself off in the middle of the night when playing white noise, which, if you rely on sleep sounds to get a full eight hours, is quite frustrating to say the least. The same goes for voice commands, and as one user shared, Gemini is still having issues with switching off devices within a specific time frame.

As it stands, there's still a lot that Google has to come to grips with as it enters the final stages of the Gemini for Home takeover. While some fixes are proving to be successful, there's still work to be done before Google Home users are satisfied.

October 1 is International Coffee Day, and if you've been thinking of upgrading your coffee maker, it's the perfect opportunity. As TechRadar's resident coffee expert, I've put together a list of my three favorite bean-to-cup espresso machines that make preparing perfectly extracted espresso a breeze, even if you've never used fresh coffee before.

There's something for everyone here. If you're on a tight budget, or are making the leap from coffee capsules to whole beans, the compact and affordable Philips Baristina is the perfect choice for you. Interested in tinkering with brew options and understanding how different factors affect the taste of your drink? Take a look at the Sage Barista Impress With Cold Extraction. Want a fully automated machine that produces even complicated drinks with the tap of a button? The Philips Café Aromis is the coffee maker of your dreams.

Many retailers are offering special discounts for International Coffee Day too, and you'll find the best deals on each coffee machine below as well.

Philips Baristina

The Philips Baristina is the most affordable bean-to-cup coffee maker I've ever tested, and easily one of the best. In fact, I recommend it so frequently, my colleagues are probably quite tired of hearing about it. It makes brewing espresso with fresh coffee beans just as simple as using Nespresso capsules or K-Cups, and opens up a whole world of speciality coffee without requiring any specialist skills.

Load your coffee beans into the top of the Baristina, fill the water tank, and you're ready to get started. Push the filter handle into the machine, hit the start button, and it will automatically grind just the right amount of coffee, tamp it down, and then slide the handle underneath the brewing group, which will extract your shot using the ideal water temperature and pressure. When it's finished, just tap out the used coffee grounds, wipe out the filter, and you're ready to go again.

Unlike most bean-to-cup coffee machines, the Baristina doesn't have a case that covers everything up, which helps keep everything clean and hygienic. There's no enclosed space for stray coffee grounds and moisture to build up, so maintenance is a breeze.

The biggest downside of the original Baristina is the lack of a steam wand, which means there's no way to prepare lattes and cappuccinos. However, the machine is available bundled with a good quality standalone milk frother for a small additional cost, and earlier this year Philips launched the Baristina Latte, which has an integrated steam wand.

Read our full Philips Baristina review

Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series

At the other end of the scale, we have the Philips Café Aromis — the company's flagship bean-to-cup coffee machine with a huge array of hot and cold drinks options, excellent milk frothing, and app compatibility that makes customizing your brews a breeze. It's gorgeous as well, with its sleek silver chassis, crisp touchscreen, and a natural wood cap on top of the dispenser to complete the look.

Drinks are almost infinitely customizable, and the cold menu is a particular highlight. Unlike some bean-to-cup coffee makers I've tested, which just dump a shot of hot espresso over ice, the Aromis can extract coffee using water straight from its tank for a mellow flavor akin to traditionally made cold-brew. It also has separate milk carafes for frothing hot and cold milk, and each one can be disassembled into three dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning. So, there's no need for scrubbing milk residue from pipes and hoses.

It's not the only bean-to-cup coffee machine with its own app, but it's the only one I've used where the app offers something useful apart from a quick-start guide and warranty details. The Philips HomeID app makes it easy to create personalized user profiles, and even had a clever chatbot-style feature that asks you questions about your flavor preferences and then tweaks the coffee maker's settings accordingly.

The Aromis is definitely one of the more expensive espresso machines I've reviewed this year, but its price tag isn't excessive considering just how much you're getting, and you could easily pay half as much again for an alternative from a different brand.

Read our full Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review

Sage Barista Touch Impress With Cold Extraction

This bean-to-cup machine (which is sold under the brand name Sage in the UK, and Breville elsewhere for complicated reasons) is an upgraded version of the original Barista Touch Impress, and like the Philips Café Aromis, it offers genuine cold extraction for smooth-tasting iced coffees (as well as delicious hot-brewed espresso).

Unlike the other two bean-to-cup machines in this list, this one is semi-automatic, which means that although you don't have to get your hands dirty, it gives you some control over the coffee-making process if you want, introducing you to barista skills in a friendly, easy-to-follow way. You'll discover the effect of each variable on your finished drink (including dosage, grind size, tamp pressure, and brewing temperature), and the machine will offer feedback and suggestions if it doesn't taste quite right.

The Puck Impress System, which tamps your freshly ground coffee with a pull of a handle, is particularly satisfying and greatly reduces mess compared to tamping by hand. Unlike the Breville Oracle Jet below, I didn't have any issues with static electricity making coffee cling to the grinder.

The Barista Touch Impress offers both manual and automatic milk steaming options too, so you can have your foam dispensed into your finished drink, or prepare it yourself and have fun practicing your latte art.

Read our full Sage Barista Touch Impress With Cold Extraction review

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: One minute review

The RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is one of the best smart scales designed for ease of health monitoring for the entire family, fitness enthusiasts who want metrics on their body fat and muscle, and general users desiring to track their body composition over time.

The smart scale delivers 28 metrics, which, for this price, is rather impressive. There’s also a pregnancy and baby mode, which offers safe measurements thanks to its zero-current technology (as opposed to most smart scales, which use electrical currents sent through the body to determine body composition). The only features I was left craving were heart-related, including heart rate and blood oxygen.

During testing, almost all results were within reasonable variation compared to the more expensive Withings BodyScan 2. Seven of the metrics are clearly displayed on the large color LCD display, with the full array of data presented in the easy-to-use Starfit app. If you can’t justify the extra spend, then the 8E Pro is a solid alternative to the top-range Withings.

Setting up the smart scale was easy thanks to the step-by-step guide in the app and a strong Bluetooth signal. I liked the ability to create multiple profiles so that every member of my family could use it. I also appreciated that it automatically detects who is standing on the scale, based on its previously recorded measurements.

The scale itself is well-built with 6mm tempered glass and gold-colored electrodes. The black plastic material used throughout the base and handlebar is solid and robust, with no concerns that damage would be done to the internals.

The display is a TFT-LCD, which delivers when it comes to clarity, brightness, and definition. Unfortunately, the display is covered by a thin layer of plastic that is flexible enough to allow a user to press it in and touch the screen itself, potentially causing damage.

All in, the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is a respectable smart scale that delivers accurate results inside a solid, compact body. If you can forgo heart health measurements and don’t mind a cheap-feeling display in comparison to the rest of the scale, then this smart scale will deliver everything you need.

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Specifications

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Price and availability

• $219.99 USD / £218 GBP
• Not available in Australia
• Expensive but premium quality

RunStar sells a wide range of smart scales, with the budget-friendly RunStar 4E at the bottom end and the 8E Ultra at the other. Sitting just below their most premium Ultra offering is the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro, to use its full title, at $219.99 USD / £218 GBP, although this is often significantly discounted, at times going as low as $129.98 / £168.

A similarly priced and specced alternative is the Withings BodyFit. Both are DEXA-validated, although the BodyFit claims to be “ideal for GLP-1 drug users who are prioritizing keeping muscle while losing fat.” If you’re looking for even more superior results and are happy paying a premium for it, then the Withings BodyScan 2 is a good choice.

• Value score 4/5

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Design

• Large color TFT-LCD display
• Well-engineered retractable handlebar
• Eight electrodes and USB-C charging

The large 5 x 7 cm color screen displays seven key metrics: weight, heart rate, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, bone mass, and body water. Each metric is measured and presented one at a time before providing a full read-out of all seven metrics at the end. The display is clear and bright, although only protected by a thin layer of clear plastic, which is unfortunately so flexible that it presses in quite significantly when forced.

To measure 28 different metrics in total, which include the initial seven displayed on the scale plus additional metrics viewable in the app, the 8E Pro uses eight electrodes: four for the feet and four for the hands. These are positioned to accommodate a wide range of people with varying feet and hand sizes. The retractable handlebar used to connect your hands performs adequately and, when not in use, attaches to the base via magnets.

The bulk of the scale is made from strong plastic and covered in a thick 6 mm tempered glass, which protects the unit and houses the four foot electrodes. At the bottom of the base are four large rubber feet, which ensure the device remains in position at all times.

The overall design looks and feels premium, with the gold-colored electrodes setting the scale apart from cheaper and more basic alternatives. The unit contains a single non-removable lithium polymer battery that is recharged via USB-C. A full recharge lasts for three months. Despite regular use from five family members, we experienced zero issues with wear and tear.

• Design Score: 4.5/5

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Features

• 28 metrics with DEXA validation
• Measurements across five body zones
• Delve deeper into the metrics with the Starfit app

RunStar says every metric reading is DEXA-validated with ≥98.5% correlation. Accurate results and precise body composition tracking are produced thanks to the advanced dual-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). This smart scale provides the features and accuracy for users who want to work towards a specific weight, track their health, and hit their fitness goals.

Unlike cheaper whole-body smart scales such as the RunStar 4E, the 8E Pro records measurements and provides analysis across five key body zones: arms, legs, and trunk. Providing weight and muscle data across five key areas of the body enables users to quickly see if their body is imbalanced and work towards specific goals for targeted areas of their body.

As well as viewing seven metrics on the display, if you sync the device with the Starfit app, you can see the full set of 28 metrics alongside more detailed tracking and analysis. The app is easy-to-use and laid out intuitively. If you plan on using the smart scale with multiple people, then up to 24 profiles can be set up using the app.

Other features include the ability to sync with Apple Health, Google Health and other major platforms as well as generate printable, clinic-grade reports. Finally, the 8E Pro operates with zero current, so it’s safe to use during pregnancy and with babies.

• Features Score: 4.5/5

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Performance

• Accurate results
• Reliable data compared to the more expensive Withings BodyScan 2
• Metrics are clearly laid out

To provide comparison data, I took measurements from the Withings BodyScan 2 at the same time as the 8E Pro. Both are DEXA verified, with the BodyScan 2 validated up to 99% and the 8E Pro up to ≥98.5%. The two smart scales measure a similar set of metrics and are easily compared through the two apps.

Beginning with weight, I weighed in at 61.4 kg, which was only 170 grams different from the Withings. As for BMI, a reading of 19% wasn’t far off the 18.2% reported by the comparison scale. The 8E Pro is quick to deliver these measurements and does so prior to all other body composition metrics.

As for fat-related readings, the 8E Pro provided measurements for visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and body fat percentage that were all within reasonable deviations compared to the Withings. When I came to measure body fat mass, I was surprised to find that it was the Withings that threw up problematic readings, and the 8E Pro proved significantly more accurate.

Accurate and acceptable readings continued for muscle rate, lean body mass, body water percentage, and basal metabolism. The app provides independent fat and muscle breakdowns for arms, legs, and trunk. Despite these being clearly presented as an overlay on a 2D illustration of a person, I much preferred the 3D graphic that is present in the Withings app.

The 8E Pro delivered similar results to the BodyScan 2 in almost all areas. Considering the 8E Pro costs half the price of the BodyScan 2, I think the RunStar is a useful and viable alternative for anyone wanting accurate results at a more affordable price.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Scorecard

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

I used the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro across several weeks and set up multiple profiles so my four other family members could use the scale at the same time. This meant testing was carried out on both adults and children. We used the app in combination with the smart scale and were able to track our progress over time. I compared its metrics against the DEXA-validated Withings BodyScan 2.

First reviewed: September 2026

Coffee capsules are incredibly quick and convenient, but they have one big drawback: the used pods left over at the end.

Some capsules are relatively easy to recycle — Nespresso pods, for example, are made entirely from aluminum, and Nestlé has well-established recycling program to handle them, but other brands use capsules made from a combination of metal and plastic, which is much more difficult to process. Whatever the material, though, there is still a considerable amount of waste, which takes resources to recycle, and some of which will inevitably end up in landfill.

Using ground coffee or whole beans is a much less wasteful way to prepare an espresso, but it also takes longer, and although it's a fun hobby for some of us, not everyone is interested in getting into the technicalities of brewing a balanced shot.

That's where the Lavazza Tabli system comes in, using tablets made entirely of freshly ground coffee. Each one gives you exactly the right amount of coffee for a single serving, so there's no weighing required, and there are no loose grounds to make a mess of your counter. The whole process is just as clean and simple as using coffee pods, but without the empty capsules to worry about at the end. It seems like such a simple idea, it seems surprising it's not hit the mainstream before — but how does it compare with other brewing methods?

The Tabli coffee maker launched in the US in July, and is now available in the UK as well. It's one of the most affordable coffee makers I've tested this year, with a list price of $139.99 in the US and £199 in the UK (though it's currently discounted to £133 at John Lewis.

It's an unusual-looking machine, as you can see in the photo above, and relatively large for a single-serve espresso machine. It measures 12.9 x 6.5 x 15.4 inches / 327 x 165 x 390mm (H x W x D) with a 1.3 quart / 1.2 liter water tank on the back, and comes in a choice of three colors: black, white, and walnut brown.

The interface is as simple as that of any capsule coffee maker. There are three soft-touch buttons on top for selecting your drink size (single, double, or lungo) and the upper section slides open smoothly to reveal the brewing basket for inserting your coffee tablet.

The Tabli machine has a removeable drip tray, so you can use it with espresso cups, or larger mugs if you'd prefer to use your freshly brewed shot as the foundation for a longer drink like a cappuccino. However, if that's how you like your coffee, you should be aware that the Tabli doesn't include a steam wand, so you'll need to purchase a standalone milk frother like the Smeg Mini Milk Frother or Dreo BaristaMaker.

Used coffee tabs drop into a container behind the drip tray, just like used grounds would in a conventional bean-to-cup coffee maker. The grounds are dry to the touch, and are suspended in a basket so you can easily tip them into a food waste caddy, then pour away any water left behind after the Tabli rinses itself (there's no need to perform a rinse cycle yourself)

Tabli coffee tabs come in card boxes, and are held in molded paper trays, much like egg cartons. There is a thin plastic film over the top of the tray, but it's the bare minimum necessary to keep out moisture. Everything else is easily recyclable in regular household waste.

Some capsule coffee makers are cheap to buy, but end up proving surprisingly expensive in the long run due to the price of the pods. Bosch Tassimo machines, for example, are very affordable, but the pods are some of the priciest around.

Thankfully that's not the case with the Tabli system. A box of 12 tabs costs £5.89 in the UK, which is about 49p per drink, and very reasonable. You can also pick up a multipack of eight boxes for £40, which brings the cost per drink down to 42p.

Tabs are given a strength score on a scale of 1-13, and although there are currently only six types available, if the system proves successful I'm hopeful that Lavazza will increase its range.

There aren't any of the elaborate flavors you get with Nespresso or Tassimo pods; all Tabli tabs are made using nothing but compressed coffee, with no additives, and in my opinion that's no bad thing.

I've tried two Tabli varieties so far (Qualità Rossa and Qualità Oro), and both produced a smooth-tasting, easy-drinking espresso without the astringent taste I associate with most coffee tabs. I'll be interested to see how they compare to the Espresso Ristretto, which has a higher intensity score of 12/13 and should have a punchier flavor.

This isn't Lavazza's first experiment with shaking up home coffee-making. Last year the company released the Lavazza Assoluta — a good-looking espresso machine that lets you experiment with different beans without getting into the tricky business of optimizing grind size and temperature. Install Lavazza's mobile app on your phone, scan the barcode on your bag of coffee, and the Assoluta will adjust its own brew settings accordingly.

It was an interesting idea, but so far the Tabli strikes me as a better concept, and one that doesn't require any extra work on the user's part. I'll continue to put the machine through its paces over the coming weeks, and will bring you a full review very soon.

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: two-minute review

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro is a great idea. People like their coffee brewed in different ways, and it's easy to end up with two or even three coffee machines on the counter to accommodate households with multiple coffee drinkers. For example, my husband usually drinks drip coffee, but occasionally likes an espresso. I rotate between drip, espresso, and iced coffee, depending on my mood and the weather. I also like my Nespresso machine, since the capsules are available in some interesting flavors I occasionally enjoy. I also drink a lot of tea, so an instant hot feature is welcome. We don't often drink lattes or cappuccinos, but when our kids or guest come to visit, they often do. We could easily end up with three different coffee machines (plus a frother and a tea kettle) in our coffee nook, but the Chefman Coffee Station Pro can do all that and more.

Sounds like a dream, but unfortunately it doesn't do everything well, or even acceptably. For example, it doesn't brew Nespresso capsules fully or correctly, resulting in a weak and tiny brew. If you don't need every single feature, this machine might be a perfect fit for you because it does a lot of things well. I tested everything and found that it did some things far better than others.

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: price and availability

• Available on Chefman's website and other retailers
• Retails for $399.99 (about £300 / AU$570)
• Just one colorway, black and silver

You can buy the Chefman Coffee Station Pro on Chefman's website as well as brick-and-mortar and online retailers like Best Buy and Target. The retail price is $399.99, which is about £300 / AU$570, though it's not currently sold in the US and Australia.

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: specs

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: design

• Smaller than you might expect
• Has storage for accessories
• Ten in one machine

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro is designed efficiently so it has a lot of features in its reasonably-sized footprint. The machine provides ten different brewing methods: espresso (with grounds or Nespresso capsules), cold press espresso, latte, cappuccino, milk frother, K-cup pods, carafe of drip coffee, drip over ice, cold brew, and instant hot water. You control everything with a touch-screen interface.

It comes with everything you need to make all of the beverages listed above. The big 100-ounce water tank fits onto the back of the machine. On the coffee side, you get a coffee filter holder and a reusable coffee filter basket. If you prefer, you can use paper filters instead. There is also a K-Cup adapter for brewing K-Cups. The glass carafe holds anywhere from four to twelve cups of coffee and it rests on a warming plate (which has a "hot" indicator light.) When you're brewing a single serve K-Cup rather than using the carafe, there is a fold-down cup platform with a removable rubber trivet for resting a mug.

On the espresso side, you get a portafilter with three different filters you can put inside. There's small filter for brewing single espresso, a larger one for double espresso, and an adapter for Nespresso capsules. You get a two-sided espresso tool, one side is a measuring scoop and the other side is a tamper. The included 16-ounce milk reservoir can be removed when not in use.

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro stores its own accessories cleverly. It has a hook on the side to store the portafilter and a compartment on top to store other accessories.

When you first set up the Chefman Coffee Station Pro, you'll want to set the clock for the correct time. There is a Delay Brew feature so you can set the machine up when you go to bed and you'll have a hot carafe of drip coffee waiting for you in the morning. The Keep Warm feature will keep your carafe hot for up to two hours.

There is a hot water spout, which runs separately from the coffee so you don't have to worry about stale coffee taste mixing with your hot water. This is perfect for making hot chocolate, tea, and other hot beverages with ease. I suppose you could even use for making instant ramen or really anything you might need hot water for. It's worth noting that it's hot but not boiling.

As with any coffee machine, it does need to be cleaned regularly. Since this one has so many features, there's more cleaning that needs to be done. Every time you use it, you'll want to wash any accessories you use, run a clean cycle on the milk frother wand, and wipe down the exterior as needed. Of course you'll want to remove the milk reservoir and refrigerate any unused milk right after use.

On a weekly basis, empty and wash out the water tank, empty and wash the milk reservoir, run a clean cycle on the espresso side, and flush the frother system if you're using it daily. Every month or two, you'll want to do a deep clean of the frother's internal parts.

Roughly every 100 cycles (or 50 for hot water), you'll need to descale the coffee, espresso, and hot water systems. The owner's manual included detailed instruction on how to do all of that, plus you can find videos on Chefman's YouTube channel for guided instruction.

• Design score: 4/5

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: performance

• Fairly easy to use
• Most of the features work well
• Some features don't result in good coffee

In my testing, most of the drinks I made came out really well. Some came out ok, and some came out actually undrinkable.

Espresso

The espresso came out fine and it had a nice crema. It was pretty easy to do, just measure your grounds with the provided scoop, pour your grounds in the portafilter with the appropriate filter inside. Use one scoop in the smaller filter for a single espresso or two scoops in the larger filter for a double espresso. Tamp them down firmly with the included tamper, and then twist the portafilter into place. Select your drink from the touch-screen menu and you'll have espresso in just a minute or so. I used a carefully measured flat scoop, and found the espresso to be rather weak, but your tastes may vary.

Espresso with Nespresso capsule

Using the Nespresso capsule basket in the portafilter, you can brew any Nespresso or Nespresso-compatible capsule. Note that this is only for the small original line capsules, not the larger Vertuo line capsules.

This was a big fail, in my opinion. The capsule was only pierced partway, there was water left in the portafilter, and the resulting brew was sour and weak and had very little crema. It was not worth drinking.

In the photo gallery below, I compare the results of brewing the same kind of Nespresso capsule in both the Chefman Coffee Station Pro and my actual Nespresso machine. In both machines, I brewed it as a small or single espresso. The Nespresso machine results are on the left and the Chefman on the right in both photos.

Latte and cappuccino

Technically, a latte and a cappuccino are pretty different. Though they are both espresso drinks with frothed milk added, the proportions are different. A cappuccino is one third espresso, one third steamed milk, and one third milk foam.

A latte is one-third espresso and two thirds steamed milk with a light layer of milk foam on top.

You can probably tell from my photos above, they don't look all that different. They didn't taste all that different, either, though they were both delicious.

I also tried just frothing some milk and then brewing an espresso separately and putting them together. Again, it just made a lovely foamy milky beverage.

Cold-pressed espresso

This was just a fail, in my opinion. It was so weak that I couldn't even drink it. Again, that's just my taste, yours may be different.

Note that pretty much every time you do a cold-pressed espresso brew, the machine will prompt you to run a cooling cycle on the carafe side first in order to prime the machine for cold press. It's not a big deal, but you'll have to factor in the extra time and place a container under it to catch the flushed water.

K-Cup

Using the included K-Cup adapater on the carafe side of the machine, you can make any K-Cup you like. I actually thought the Chefman Coffee Station Pro did a great job with this one. I'm not generally a fan of K-Cups but this machine brewed it as well as any Keurig machine I've tried. Note that unlike a Keurig machine, you are using a separate adapter part that you'll probably want to wash each time you use it before putting it away. So it is an extra step.

There is also an option to brew the K-Cup pod as cold brew. But I can't recommend it, unless you like a super weak iced coffee. I used the same kind of pod, but look at the difference.

Drip coffee in carafe

The drip coffee came out great. It was easy to do, just like any traditional drip coffee machine. I used the metal and plastic reusable filter, but you could use a paper filter if you prefer. You have the option to set up a delayed brew, so you can get everything ready the night before and have a hot, fresh carafe of coffee when you wake up. The metal plate under the carafe can be set to keep your carafe warm for up to two hours, and an indicator light will let you know that it's hot.

Cold Brew

The Cold Brew feature brews your coffee slower, cooler, and with less water in order to extract the most flavor and give you less ice melt. This came out very well. It does take longer to brew, and it does usually require running a cool cycle first, but the results are tasty.

Over Ice (in carafe)

The Over Ice funtion is a little different from the Cold Brew. It's brewed into the carafe just like regular hot coffee but a bit stronger to compensate for ice melt. This worked fine, and it wasn't watered down too much. However, it was less smooth than the Cold Brew method and more bitter to my taste.

Hot Water

Hot water comes from a separate spout, not through the coffee system. It works fine and just tastes like pure water with no hint of coffee taste.

I selected maximum temperature setting, but water measured just 163°F/73°C. So, it's certainly hot enough to make hot cocoa, certain delicate teas, and perhaps your instant ramen. But it's not that all that close to boiling water, which would be 212°F/100°C.

• Performance score: 3/5

Should you buy the Chefman Coffee Station Pro?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: also consider

How I tested the Chefman Coffee Station Pro

I brewed and drank every kind of coffee beverage the Chefman Coffee Station Pro makes. I brewed a Nespresso capsule and a K-cup. I brewed espresso from grounds, both hot and cold-pressed. I frothed milk (barista-style pistachio milk) and added a shot of espresso. I made latte and cappuccino. I brewed a carafe of drip coffee. I made cold brew and coffee over ice. I used the hot water feature, tasted it, and measured the temperature.

First reviewed September 2026

Traditionally, Dyson has been a one-robovac-at-a-time kind of brand. At its most recent launch event, though, we were treated to three new bots at once. And the one I'm most interested in is the R1, which sits right at the bottom of the lineup.

The R1 is the least flashy of the bunch. It doesn't have the grime-illuminating UV light of the R3, nor the mildly baffling triangular-ish mop pads of the R2. In fact, it doesn't have mop pads at all. The Dyson R1 — or the Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry, to give it its full name, is a vacuum-only model, and in many ways it's the robovac I think has been missing from the market.

Bigger but not better

Over the past few years, robot vacuums have been getting more complicated, bulkier (especially in the case of the docks), and more expensive. A lot of that is tied to the mopping functions. Docks have become giant all-in-one clean stations that top up the bot's water tank, wash its mop pads with hot water, and dry them with hot air.

The robots themselves increasingly have roller mops — which makes them taller than they'd need to be than with the now-out-of-fashion flat pads. Some of the incoming flagships even have the mechanics to produce steam.

In contrast, remove the wet cleaning functionality and the whole system can be streamlined considerably. The dock doesn't need to hold two giant water tanks, or all the mechanics involved in producing heat. The bot can be truly specialized for vacuuming, without having to worry about tanks and rollers and how you get the wet bits out of the way when they're not wanted.

And yet, in recent years, it's become really quite tricky to find a good robot vacuum that doesn't have all the mopping extras built in. In fact, "vacuum-only premium models" was one of the overdue robot vacuum innovations one of TechRadar's main reviewers bemoaned at the close of 2024. It's a gap that has continued to bug me as we near the end of 2026.

Rug danger

The Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry does away with the mopping — and all the paraphernalia that comes with it — in favor of keeping things simple, and focusing on vacuuming. I spoke with Nathan Lawson McLean, a Dyson senior design manager who works across the brand's home products, at the Nurovi launch, to get his insights on the new additions.

"We are super aware that when we look across the robotic market, you've got really different needs," he tells me. "You've got some people that are super familiar with robots. They want wet and dry. They want self-cleaning machines. They want rollers because they deep clean every single day."

However, that's not true for all people or all households. "[Some people] simply don't need it because mopping is not part of their routine," Lawson McLean continues. "They want something that's small, effective, the right price point, and sympathetic to their home. And maybe not a great, big, bloody dock like you might see some robot vacs have."

There's also, he concedes, some trepidation around automated mopping in general. "There are many people who — I know for a fact, through user trials — don't trust robotic vacuums [with mops] with their carpets," he adds. The R1 is a great solution for those customers. "[It can] perhaps even be a bit of an entry gateway to robotic vacuums, converting those people that don't really see the value of wet and dry robots just yet."

Suction master

Earlier, I described the Dyson R1 Nurovi as 'simple', but I don't mean it's basic. Although I can't vouch for the real-life performance until we've tested one out, the specs and features look solid. 21,000Pa of suction is very respectable, there's an extending side sweeper, and an anti-tangle brush bar.

There are even a couple of features that elevate it from the competition. Dyson has built in a Piezo sensor that monitors dust levels and adjusts suction power in response (presumably similar to the setup in its stick vacuums such as the Gen5detect, which I have tried and was impressed by).

I am also intrigued by the 'Twin-capture system' — essentially a semi-sealed off suction area at the top of the suction inlet, designed to create (as Lawson McLean describes it) "a highly concentrated and efficient airflow path that's sealed down to the floor". This section will lift ultra-fine particles, while the more open main roller area can handle chunkier crumbs and debris.

Rather unusually in the robot vacuum market, it doesn't use dust bags, so that's one fewer thing you'll need to remember to buy. The one thing I was initially disappointed about is the fact that Dyson hasn't used some of the dock space freed up by removing the mopping parts to supersize the dustbin. The R1 has the same dust capacity as the R2 — it's just missing the second and third 'pillars', where the water tanks live.

However, Lawson McLean is adamant that this column will provide ample space for the vast majority of people. Officially, it's meant to last 100 days, but his view is that only the owners of especially hairy pets will need to empty it that often. "From the early prototypes we started testing in the beginning of the year, I don't think I've emptied it once. It might be a bit disgusting, but it's still filling up."

It might not be especially flashy, but the R1 Nurovi checks a lot of boxes that many big robovac brands have been neglecting lately, and I think it could be the bot the market has been crying out for.

• Dyson has revealed a new Plum and Copper colorway for its hair stylers
• The metallic finish is a special edition for Christmas 2026
• The company says it was inspired by an extremely rare gemstone

Dyson has given its top-tier hair stylers a makeover with a new color combination called Plum and Copper, which features rich red, peach, and ginger tones that shift in the light for a cozy, festive feel — just in time to add to your Christmas wish list

The stylers getting the Plum and Copper treatment are the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x, the Dyson Airstrait, the Dyson AirWrap id, and the Dyson Supersonic Nural. To finish the look, there are also plum-colored attachments for your hair styler.

Earlier this month, my colleague Ruth Hamilton had the chance to join a conversation with the company's Head of Engineering Jake Dyson (son of founder James Dyson), who discussed the company's approach to colors just after the launch of the new Dyson CameraJet toothbrush.

"This blue [on the toothbrush] is inspired by Yves Klein, who's an artist that my father really likes," said Jake,. "He wasn't allowed to use the same blue, but we created our own. And the first vacuum cleaners have purple in them, because of the lavender from the south of France, which is something he loved as well."

In fact, the company has a whole team dedicated to colors, materials, and finishes (CMF), which specializes in the materials and look of its products. Interestingly, it doesn't just use ideas from successful projects — it has also applied ideas from failed products like the Dyson electric car to its health and beauty devices.

When not working on new devices like the CameraJet, the team applies its knowhow to updating existing products. For example. in February, the company released a limited-edition summer solstice-themed Ceramic Apricot and Topaz colorway inspired by "'the astronomical, visual and psychological resonance of the longest, brightest day of the year." Although we thought that have been overselling the look just a little, we still loved the peppy shades of orange and pink.

Copper and Plum is a more classic look, with soft, warm metallics, but the company's creatives have been no less creative in their descriptions.

"Dyson's Plum and Copper colorway is inspired by Kyawthuite, known for its mesmerizing color and near-mythical rarity. Soft red hues echo the mineral's core, deep burgundy traces reflect its natural grooves, and a luminous copper captures its radiant depth," said Alice Chen, Dyson CMF Designer. "This special edition range is a statement piece that truly celebrates Dyson's luxury craftsmanship."

The Plum and Copper stylers won't have "near-mythical rarity", but as a special edition, the colorway won't be around forever — so you might want to make an early start on your Christmas shopping.

• Anker claims its new Eufy S4 video doorbell is the first with VR viewing
• The device has a 180-degree field of view, and uses AI tracking to follow subjects and frame them
• It's set to ship at the end of October, for $299 (about £230 / AU$430)

Anker has unveiled its Edge 5.0 lineup of smart home devices, but the new Eufy Video Doorbell S4 that apparently comes with VR viewing of who's at your door is the latest inductee to the weird tech hall of fame.

The device, which also comes with the Chime 2, is available to pre-order now and is expected to ship at the end of October, but it’s quite a costly addition to your smart home setup priced at $299.99. Still, despite its price and arguably unnecessary headline feature, its expansive roster of features could putit among the best video doorbells.

Aside from being subscription-free with 4GB of built-in memory — which you’d hope for given its asking price — the device’s VR viewing sets the S4 apart from rivals such as the Philips 7000 Series, our overall best pick. According to Anker, the S4 is the world’s first video doorbell with such viewing capabilities, and it sounds pretty insane, but very much impressive.

When the doorbell detects someone at your door, you’ll get a videocall-like notification from the Anker Eufy app which will open a video 180-degree field of view (horizontally and vertically). This gives you an ultra-wide view of the front of your home at all times, removing the need for additional security cameras.

Once you’ve launched the live view in the Anker Eufy app, you can move your smartphone — or VR headset, naturally — to look in different directions and see things from different angles. Clever, right? But that’s not the only smart feature.

As far as camera tracking goes, the S4 records 3K video in 3072 x 3072 keeping a subject’s entire body visible, while Eufy’s AI-powered OmniTrack technology locks onto the person in the frame, following them as they move around. The doorbell then uses Auto-Framing to crop the panoramic view, keeping them in the center at all times.

Detection accuracy, smart hub compatibility, and more

With the new Eufy video doorbell, Anker has put a huge amount of effort into ensuring the device is capable and sensitive enough to monitor your home’s entrance.

A common mishap with video doorbells is false alerts, sending a wave of worry through you when there was nothing to really worry about. To reduce these false alarms, the S4 uses a combination of radar for longer-range detection, while sporting dual PIR sensors to help differentiate human movement closer to your front door.

When it comes to smart home compatibility, Anker’s new video doorbell can be integrated into your existing ecosystem whether you’re running on Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit, though there are a few things to keep in mind.

For those of you using Apple HomeKit, you’ll need to have the Eufy HomeBaseS380 hub to get set up. Additionally, VR viewing and OmniTrack is only available through the Anker Eufy app, so third-party platforms will only show a fixed live view.