Cat Ellis

Cat Ellis

Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor, covering smart home tech, kitchen appliances, vacuums, haircare and more. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, having worked on print magazines including PC Plus and PC Format, and is a Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) certified barista. Whether you want to invest in some smart lights, find your ideal hair styler, or pick the espresso machine of your dreams, she's the right person to help.

Articles by: Cat Ellis

A toy Amazon Echo next to the Alexa Plus logo and a range of Echo devices

Alexa+ early adopter gives their thoughts: "Old Alexa was hot garbage but this new one was a pleasant surprise"

By Cat Ellis published

The AI assistant handles natural speech well, but it's still being used as a fancy egg timer.

Roku Battery Camera (right) and Battery Camera Plus (left) on table

Roku's new wireless security cameras will guard your home for up to two years on a single charge

By Cat Ellis published

Weatherproof cameras that let you watch over your home from your phone or TV.

Split image showing retrofit smart lock, curtain puller, and switch pusher

Build a zero-waste smart home by automating your existing hardware

By Cat Ellis published

Sponsored

Don't replace it – just upgrade it

A person working from home.

Best free program to speed up your PC in 2026: optimizations to improve performance

By Cat Ellis last updated

Updated Presenting TechRadar's list of the best free programs to speed up your PC in 2025.

Nespresso Vertuo pods and boxes on kitchen counter with green graphic reading 'Sustainability Week'

How are Nespresso coffee pods recycled? Discover what happens behind the scenes

By Cat Ellis published

Coffee capsules are quick and convenient, but make more waste than fresh grounds – so what happens to it?

Eufy FamiLock S3 Max

Eufy's new smart lock reads the veins in your palm for touchless entry – even if your hands are dirty

By Cat Ellis published

With 2K video, wide-angle recording, and AI to detect potential porch pirates.

Philips Hue + Spotify

I have Philips Hue lights everywhere in my home, and this is what I want to see from its AI assistant

By Cat Ellis published

Signify has been tight-lipped about the details of AI for Philips Hue, but here's my wishlist.

Person pouring water onto V60 coffee filter using gooseneck kettle

With this simple gadget, you can make great-tasting pour-over coffee with fewer beans

By Cat Ellis published

Brewing coffee is all about extraction, and the right kettle will help enormously. Here's how to choose one.

Nespresso Sweet Vanilla Decaf pods

Nespresso's new sweet vanilla decaf pods could make coffee my new favorite bedtime drink

By Cat Ellis published

It tastes as comforting as cocoa, and won't keep you up at night.

Philips Hue's new SmartThings integration

Your Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is getting a big software update, and it's good news for gamers

By Cat Ellis published

The latest update fixes bugs and should improve performance for PS5 owners.

Person cooking 10 burgers using Ninja Sizzle Pro XL indoor grill

Ninja's new indoor grill lets you cook 10 burgers at once and doesn't need scrubbing afterward

By Cat Ellis published

The Ninja Sizzle Pro XL gives you a huge cooking space, and it's a piece of cake to clean.

Nutribullet x McLaren blender with silhouette of F1 car in the background

Lights out and away we blend – McLaren and Nutribullet unveil new F1-themed blenders

By Cat Ellis published

Just add bananas, kale, and a little burnt rubber.

Ninja Blast Max blender

The Ninja Blast Max is so powerful it can obliterate frozen strawberries and even make kale smoothies delicious

By Cat Ellis published

It's the most powerful portable blender I've tested, and it makes light work of challenging ingredients.

Nespresso white chocolate and strawberry coffee pods

I didn't think white chocolate and strawberry coffee would work, but Nespresso's new pods proved me wrong

By Cat Ellis published

A coffee with both red fruit and creamy notes sounds strange, but it works much better than you might expect.

Ninja Luxe Café coffee maker on table with record player and mirror ball

Ninja's latest coffee machine takes away one of the biggest hassles of being a barista – and it's awesome

By Cat Ellis published

Getting the perfect grind size and fine-tuning it throughout the day used to be a real headache.

Philips Hue smart light bulbs illuminating blue in a lounge

Got Philips Hue lights? This free update gives you 8 new scenes for an instant makeover

By Cat Ellis published

The fresh bundle of themed presets will give your home a new look with a single tap.

Three smart plugs on teal background

The best smart plugs 2025: take control of any electrical appliance

By Cat Ellis last updated

Save energy and effort: automate your home effortlessly with the best smart plugs, tested and recommended by experts.

Person adjusting Philips Hue wireless camera on wall

Your Philips Hue cameras are getting a free upgrade to boost their battery life

By Cat Ellis published

The Philips Hue Secure battery camera is getting a big battery life improvement.

SwitchBot Blind Tilt mounted on window and in app

The SwitchBot Blind Tilt is a quick, easy and affordable way to control your blinds from your phone – no DIY necessary

By Cat Ellis published

I was thinking about buying smart blinds, but having tested this, I realize I don't need to.

Samsung two-door smart fridge in kitchen

Samsung's new AI smart fridge could stop you from accidentally wasting food, and I've seen it in action

By Cat Ellis published

A dual cooling system keeps food fresh, and AI suggests recipes for items expiring soon.

De'Longhi Linea Classic espresso machine on kitchen counter with hot and cold coffee drinks

I'm a qualified barista, and De'Longhi's latest espresso machine could be this year's best budget buy for coffee lovers

By Cat Ellis published

The Linea Classic has everything you need to brew delicious espresso, and won't break the bank.

De'Longhi La Specialista Touch coffee machine on kitchen counter

If your kitchen is as small as mine, the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch is one of the best espresso machines you can buy

By Cat Ellis published

Looking for your first espresso machine? The La Specialista Touch is a great choice, and can grow with you as you develop your skills.

Polar Pacer

Polar's latest software update might have finally convinced me to ditch my Garmin

By Cat Ellis published

TrainingPeaks has been invaluable in my marathon training, and now it's available on Polar devices too.

Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip set up on gaming PC

This Nanoleaf light strip adds Ambilight-style illumination to your gaming setup – and it's amazingly cheap

By Cat Ellis published

The Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip uses USB-C rather than a camera, meaning less latency than other systems.

Philips Hue

Setting up your Philips Hue lights is now quicker and easier than ever thanks to the latest app update

By Cat Ellis published

You can use QR codes to add multiple lights and other devices to a room at once.

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