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

Man using smartphone to control various smart lights in his home

Smart lights 101: everything you need to know to level up your lighting

By Alistair Charlton published 1 July 25

From bulbs and switches to automation and voice control, this is your complete guide to smart lighting.

Woman using tablet to control smart home devices in kitchen

5 super-techie automations to make your smart home even smarter

By Alistair Charlton published 1 July 25

These clever automations use the combined power of your devices and help take your smart home to the next level.

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.

Hobot Legee Q10 robot vacuum cleaning under a sideboard

Hobot Legee Q10 review: this budget robovac cleans well but lacks intelligence

By Alistair Charlton published 20 April 25

This cheap robot vacuum traversed my uneven floors like a tank, but got itself lost while doing so.

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.

Eufy E20 robovac in dock, with floor wand behind

Eufy E20 robot vacuum review: a 3-in-1 solution for all your dust-busting needs

By Alistair Charlton published 28 February 25

Recommended

This ingenious 3-in-1 robot vacuum managed to replace all my floor cleaning gadgets – including my Dyson stick vac.

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

The Philips Hue Tap Dial Switch on a yellow background

The best smart switch 2025: top smart light switches and dimmers for your smart lights

By Alistair Charlton last updated 19 December 24

Buying Guide We pick out the best smart light switches to add more functionality to your smart home lighting system

SwitchBot K10+ Pro mini robot vacuum in its dock

SwitchBot K10+ Pro Mini Robot Vacuum review

By Alistair Charlton published 4 November 24

The SwitchBot Mini K10+ Pro is a tiny and capable robot vacuum that's easy to use, but lacks star quality.

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.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni review: powerful robotic vacuum with a great app

By Alistair Charlton last updated 3 October 24

The Eufy Clean X10 Pro Omni is a self-emptying vacuum and mop that is powerful, smart and compact.

Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: powerful robotic vacuum with a great app

By Alistair Charlton published 9 July 24

The Eufy Clean X8 Pro is a self-emptying vacuum and mop that is powerful, smart and compact, but not quite perfect.

Eufy Omni S1 Pro review: outstanding mopping and an excellent app

By Alistair Charlton published 30 June 24

The Eufy Omni S1 Pro delivers outstanding mopping, but can fall a little short in other areas.

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.

Earzz review: AI-powered gadget alerts you to doorbells, alarms, crying babies and more

By Alistair Charlton published 27 June 24

The Earzz uses a microphone and AI to alert you to all sorts of household sounds, from kitchen appliances to doorbells.

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

How to prep your home for a robot vacuum

By James Holland last updated 21 June 24

Robot vacuums are very handy, not to mention mostly hands-free. However, you do need to do a little prep to get the most out of them. Here’s how.

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