Who couldn’t use a gadget or two to make life easier, or more fun? We have a few suggestions. Here are four of the top smart home devices.
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Roost Smart Water Leak and Freeze Detector
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/roost-smart-water-leak-and-freeze-detector/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Roost Smart Water Leak and Freeze Detector boasts killer design, reliable performance, and a reasonable price.
The bad: The Roost isn’t waterproof, and it doesn’t include a probe range extender like some competitors. We’d also like to see more integrations in the future, to fit it in with larger smart-home setups.
The cost: $49.99
The bottom line: The Roost Detector is one of the best devices of its kind on the market. It features the design and features of pricier devices — with a reasonable $50 price tag.
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Nest Learning Thermostat
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/nest-learning-thermostat-third-generation/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The next-gen Nest Learning Thermostat has a larger display, a better resolution and an all-new far-field sensor for viewing time and temperature information from a distance. It works with Amazon’s Alexa, too.
The bad: Nest is behind in the accessories department; remote temperature sensors would add a lot to this smart thermostat’s functionality.
The cost: $244.29 to $249.99
The bottom line: Nest is still our choice for best overall smart thermostat, but it isn’t massively different from the second-gen model, and the gap is narrowing as other brands introduce solid competitors.
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Breville Barista Express
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/breville-barista-express/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The semi-automatic Breville Barista Express brews better espresso than more expensive machines. It’s comparatively easy to use and keep clean, plus it has an attractive stainless-steel design. It also has a built-in burr grinder for hassle-free coffee ground dosing.
The bad: The Breville Barista Express requires some effort to operate compared with fancy super-automatic machines.
The cost: $599.00 to $599.99
The bottom line: The attractive, user-friendly Breville Barista Express makes delicious espresso, with outstanding value in a pricey category.
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Neato Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/neato-botvac-connected-robot-vacuum/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Neato Botvac Connected is the best-performing robot vacuum we’ve ever tested. The new Neato app is well-designed and easy to use, and finally brings remote control functionality to the Botvac line.
The bad: At $700, it’s the most expensive Neato yet — $200 more than the previous generation. We also encountered a few usability quirks during testing.
The cost: $584.99 to $699.00
The bottom line: The Neato Botvac Connected is better at cleaning floors than any other robot vacuum on the market, and it costs less than its app-enabled rival, the iRobot Roomba 980. If you’re willing to live without remote controls, you can save some money by sticking with the previous generation of Neatos — but we think this one’s worth the splurge.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Senior Editor Brian Bennett, Associate Editor Ry Crist, Associate Editor David Priest, Associate Editor Megan Wollerton and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
