Articles by Alistair Charlton

Alistair Charlton is based in London and has worked as a freelance technology and automotive journalist for over a decade. A lifelong tech enthusiast, Alistair has written extensively about dash cams and robotic vacuum cleaners for TechRadar, among other products. As well as TechRadar, he also writes for Wired, T3, Forbes, The Independent, Digital Camera World and Grand Designs Magazine, among others.

Articles by: Alistair Charlton

This 4K dash cam with two ultra-wide lenses shoots some of the sharpest video I’ve seen

By Alistair Charlton published 30 June 25

Recommended

A two-channel system that shoots excellent 4K video front and rear

Woman setting up home security camera on shelf

5 ways to use a home security camera – and why you need one right now

By Alistair Charlton published 29 June 25

Smarter and more affordable than ever, security cameras are a must-have for your smart home.

Man sitting on sofa using smartphone while robot vacuum cleans the floor

What exactly is a smart home? 3 things you need to know to get started

By Alistair Charlton published 28 June 25

Automating everyday tasks is a lot easier than you might expect, so let tech do the work while you put your feet up.

I had high hopes for the Nexar One dash cam, but it's let down by frustrating software

By Alistair Charlton published 18 June 25

The Nexar One is a clever, connected dash cam with LTE streaming and a smart, modular design, but you'll need a subscription to make the most of it and the software could be better.

The best compact camera for 2025: top pocket choices to take anywhere

By Timothy Coleman last updated 27 May 25

Updated Our best compact camera for 2025 guide will help you find the right pocket camera for you, whatever your budget.

Is frame rate important for dash cam footage? I compared 30fps and 60fps clips from a 4K camera to find out

By Alistair Charlton published 29 March 25

Doubling the frame rate should produce smoother, sharper footage. Here’s what I discovered.

Best timelapse cameras in 2025 for construction, events or speeding up nature

By Alistair Charlton last updated 7 January 25

Updated Spanning a broad range of prices and features, these are our top timelapse camera picks in 2025 for you

Garmin Dash Cam X310 review: a feature-packed 4K dash cam that's Garmin's best yet

By Alistair Charlton published 28 October 24

Editor's Choice

Replacing the 67W, the new X310 is one of the best dash cams you can buy, but it comes at high a price.

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 review: same great design, now with less glare

By Alistair Charlton published 18 October 24

Recommended

Now in its third generation, the Garmin Mini remains one of the best compact dash cams money can buy.

How to use your Amazon Echo Show as a home security camera

By Alistair Charlton last updated 28 June 24

We show you how to use your Amazon Echo Show as a home security camera so that you can keep an eye on your place when you're out and about

Amazon Echo Dot with Clock, leaked by Twitter user SnoopyTech

How to set up and use Alexa sound detection: soothe crying babies, barking dogs and noisy snorers

By Alistair Charlton published 28 June 24

Instructions for setting up Alexa routines that use the assistant's sound detection tech

Picture of an Apple HomePod with a Smart Home Week label in the lower right-hand corner

Is Apple’s smart home display just wishful thinking?

By Alistair Charlton published 27 June 24

Here’s what we think about the rumors of an Apple HomePod with a screen for smart-home control.

The best ways to control your HomeKit smart home: from your TV to your Apple Watch

By Alistair Charlton last updated 24 June 24

Apple Watch now supports family sharing, but what is the best way to control your HomeKit smart home?

Everything you need to know to set up your smart home

By Alistair Charlton published 24 June 24

Our guide to everything you can do with a fully-connected smart home

Will the Matter smart home standard put an end to laggy smart home devices

Devices that Matter: these products work with the new smart home connectivity standard

By Alistair Charlton last updated 21 June 24

From smart lights to door locks, these are the Matter compatible devices suitable for your smart home

Miofive S1 dash cam review: good 4K video at a great price

By Alistair Charlton published 5 June 24

Recommended

A well-designed dash cam that packs GPS and produces impressive 4K video at a great price

Garmin DriveCam 76 review

By Alistair Charlton last updated 20 March 24

The Garmin DriveCam 76 combines a 7-inch sat nav with a Full HD dash cam, but it’s a bit too pricey for what you get.

Vantrue N2 Pro review

By Alistair Charlton last updated 20 March 24

Designed for taxi and rideshare drivers, the Vantrue N2 Pro is a refreshingly simple dual-view dash cam.

Vantrue E1 review

By Alistair Charlton last updated 13 March 24

Recommended

The Vantrue E1 is a a well-rounded dash cam with a smart design, GPS, decent software, and 2.5K resolution.

Amazon Echo Hub vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen): Two Alexa smart displays compared

By Alistair Charlton published 7 March 24

Amazon's new Echo Hub smart home controller has arrived, so let's compare it to the Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 mounted inside a windscreen

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 review

By Alistair Charlton last updated 24 February 24

Recommended

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 is a tiny dash cam that's about the size of your key fob – and it's a good choice for fans of simplicity.

How to install a smart video doorbell

By Alistair Charlton published 9 December 23

Wired or wireless, installing a video doorbell requires only a drill, screwdriver and a basic understanding of domestic wiring. Here's how to get the job done.

How to change your Ring doorbell sound

By Alistair Charlton published 30 November 23

Fancy a change to the sound of your Ring Video Doorbell? Follow these instructions to learn all about the Ring Chime and app notification sounds.

I bought this dash cam for under $20 and its Full HD video quality was anything but

By Alistair Charlton published 11 November 23

I tried a really cheap dash cam from Amazon and the Full HD video isn't quite what I expected...

The DJI Mini 3 Pro drone on a blue background

DJI Mini 4 Pro: leaks, rumored release date and price predictions

By Alistair Charlton published 31 August 23

The rumored DJI Mini 4 Pro could be the must-have, sub-250g drone for aerial photographers in 2023

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