Laughing Hyena
  • Home
  • Hyena Games
  • Esports
  • NFT Gaming
  • Crypto Trends
  • Game Reviews
  • Game Updates
  • GameFi Guides
  • Shop
Tag:

Smart

Govee Floor Lamp Smart
Game Reviews

Amazon Clears Out Govee Smart Lamp Stock, Now Selling for Less Than a Basic Floor Lamp

by admin October 7, 2025


Your living room deserves smart lighting that doesn’t drain your wallet. Smart floor lamps have become incredibly popular for transforming spaces with dynamic colors and voice control but the price tags often make people think twice. Not anymore. Right now, the Govee RGBIC floor lamp has dropped to just $64 on Amazon, down from its usual $99 price. This Prime Big Deal Days offer marks an all-time low for one of the most popular smart lamps on the market.

See at Amazon

This is not another mood-decorating, color-changing lamp: The Govee floor lamp is 136cm high and produces 1000 lumens of light which means it genuinely functions as actual light for your room (rather than mood decoration). At that level of brightness, it places it on a par with standard floor lamps so you can employ it for reading, working or ambient room light when it’s day, then shift over to bright color modes when night falls.

What Makes This Smart Lamp Worth Your Money

The RGBIC tech (that IC means Independent Control) distinguishes this lamp from less expensive ones: Each of the light strip segments is capable of showing disparate colors at the same time which lets you have flowing rainbow effects or gradients or multi-color schemes that plain RGB lamps aren’t up for. At your fingertips, you’re looking at 16 million different available colors and 58 dynamic built-in scenes named Cheerful, Romantic, and the like. Want your lamp pulsing red and orange, like a campfire? Done. Want a chilly blue-to-purple gradient for a late gaming marathon? Easy. The range goes deep enough that you’ll be able to fine-tune your lamp with holiday decorations or a party theme or just your mood of the moment without ever using the same look twice.

Voice command with Alexa or Google Home allows you never to have to rummage for your phone. Simply ask your smart speaker to turn the lamp on, change the hue, or reduce the brightness while cooking, working, or already settled on the sofa. The Govee Home app (installable through QR code on the box) adds additional control features with scheduling, so your lamp automatically wakes you gently with morning hues or unwinds with warm hues at bedtime. The app interface makes it simple to create custom scenes, allowing you to set specific hues for varying segments of a scene and then save your favorite sets for instant recall.

With sync mode, this light springs to life at parties, movie nights, or when playing video games. Inner microphones detect sound in the room and translate it into dynamic, real-time changes in brightness. Thump-heavy tunes create pulsing results, dialogues stay gentle, and action scenes erupt with corresponding changes in color. This dynamic lighting delivers real immersion for entertainment without cluttered setup.

The physical build makes this lamp suitable for real homes: Aluminum construction makes it firm (non-wobbling, non-tipping) yet light enough for simple transport from one room to another. Sections on the base fasten immediately without tools. At 136cm tall, it comfortably inhabits a corner, behind a sofa or next to a desk without overwhelming your space.

Stock sells out fast on Prime Big Deal Days, so this all-time-low pricing won’t last indefinitely.

See at Amazon



Source link

October 7, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Insignia F40 Series
Game Reviews

This 40″ Full HD Smart LED TV Costs Less Than Your 20yo One, and Amazon Is Practically Giving It Away

by admin October 4, 2025


Television technology has flipped completely over the past two decades. A 40-inch TV in 2005 would have cost you well over $1,000, featured a bulky CRT or early plasma design that weighed a ton, and offered basic cable input with no smart features whatsoever. Fast forward to today, and Amazon is offering this Insignia 40-inch Smart Fire TV for just $99, down from its already reasonable $149 price. You’re getting a sleek, wall-mountable display with full HD resolution, built-in streaming capabilities, voice control, and modern connectivity options for less than the cost of a nice dinner out.

See at Amazon

The 1080p Full HD resolution delivers 1920×1080 pixels to the 40-inch display, providing clear, razor-sharp images for movies, TV programs, and games. Full HD is the perfect balance for screens this size, and offers excellent picture quality without the bandwidth and processing for which 4K plays its stratospheric tune. You’ll enjoy clear text in menus, crisp character and object edges and smooth action sequences. The screen size is great for bedrooms where you’re viewing from 6 to 10 feet, or in tiny living rooms where a massive 65-inch screen would overwhelm the room.

Fire TV Integration Eliminates Extra Devices

Fire TV OS lives within this TV itself and removes the need for separate streaming sticks or boxes. You have instant access to more than 1.5 million movies and TV shows on more than a thousand channels and apps. Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, Sling TV and Paramount Plus all operate natively without the added hardware cluttering your entertainment unit or taking up HDMI ports.

The included Alexa voice remote changes everything about how you interact with your TV. Press and hold the voice button and simply say what you want to watch, what input to switch to, or what you want to know. Alexa can be used to find specific movies, launch apps, adjust volume, pause a movie, or even control compatible smart home devices without ever leaving your couch.

Connectivity choices give you everything you need for an entire entertainment system: Two HDMI inputs are available for game consoles, Blu-ray machines, or cable boxes. Older DVD players or vintage game consoles are handled by composite AV jacks. Digital optical out is utilized to hook up to audio systems and a USB port is available to play back media files from flash drives.

For $99, this Insignia Fire TV is less expensive than most standalone streaming devices but includes an entire 40-inch screen.

See at Amazon



Source link

October 4, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
The Vision Pro Was An Expensive Misstep. Now Apple Has to Catch Up With Smart Glasses
Gaming Gear

The Vision Pro Was An Expensive Misstep. Now Apple Has to Catch Up With Smart Glasses

by admin October 4, 2025


When discussing the development of AR and AR devices back in 2016, he said that most people wouldn’t find it acceptable to be “enclosed in something … because we are sociable people at heart.” He was spot on.

It turns out that what people really want at this moment is to just wear something that looks good and feels like a normal pair of glasses, with use cases that are actually, well, useful. And no, Tim, that’s not to watch Ted Lasso on their ceiling.

Coming to smart glasses in 2027 will feel almost impossibly late for a market that is taking off now, and while Apple is no stranger to starting behind, it will need to ensure its judgment on what its customers want in smart glasses is much more attuned than it was with Apple Vision Pro. At this point, it simply can’t afford another misstep.

But Apple isn’t giving up on Apple Vision Pro either, and reports suggest it may well revisit it once the more pressing issue of smart glasses is dealt with. While Gartenberg remains unconvinced that Apple can get the Vision Pro cheap enough to make it truly accessible for all (“the things that Apple would need to do to get this thing down to a price for humans is extraordinary”), Sag suggests it might not have to.

He points to the boom in gaming consoles as an example. Rather than flatlining the gaming PC market as was predicted, the proliferation of consoles actually helped drive sales of PCs, with more people getting into gaming, so more wanting to level up their equipment in time. He predicts the same trend will happen with smart glasses. People will start with more basic, familiar frames, then migrate into the chunkier, fully featured versions.

“People need to remember that XR is a spectrum and that devices are going to exist along that continuum,” Sag says. “The cheaper, simpler devices are going to reach the most people, but then there’s going to be a lot of people who want more than this base level experience.”

One day, Apple may be able to make that singular, gorgeous XR headset that people actually want to wear. But until then, it has to meet the market where it is headed—and that is in cheaper, lighter, more functional frames.



Source link

October 4, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Robo.ai turns smart cars into economic actors with built-in digital wallet
Crypto Trends

Robo.ai turns smart cars into economic actors with built-in digital wallet

by admin October 4, 2025



Robo.ai has unveiled a prototype where a vehicle’s unique VIN forms the core of its compliant digital wallet, merging the car’s legal identity with its new capacity for economic activity.

Summary

  • Robo.ai and Changer.ae unveiled Roboy339, a smart car with a regulated digital wallet tied to its VIN.
  • The prototype enables autonomous payments for tolls, charging, maintenance, and leasing.
  • Backed by $300 million funding, the project aims to scale the model to aircraft, taxis, and logistics vehicles, forming a machine-driven digital economy.

In a press release dated Oct. 3, Robo.ai Inc. and Abu Dhabi-based custodian Changer.ae announced the joint unveiling of “Roboy339,” a smart vehicle prototype, at the TOKEN2049 event.

The demonstration marks the first public showcase of a car equipped with its own natively integrated, regulated digital wallet, a project born from a strategic partnership forged between the two firms this past August.

From prototype to blueprint for the machine economy

The Roboy339 prototype is designed to function as a self-sufficient financial entity. Its compliant digital wallet, secured by Changer.ae’s ADGM-regulated custody, enables the vehicle to conduct autonomous, real-time micropayments for essential services, according to the press release.

This includes settling tolls, paying for charging sessions, financing its own maintenance, and even processing lease payments. The system also allows the vehicle to receive authorized income, creating a closed-loop economy where the asset can theoretically earn revenue to offset its own operational costs.

Per the statement, the broader ambition is to extend this framework beyond a single prototype. Robo.ai and Changer.ae plan to connect other devices such as eVTOL aircraft, autonomous taxis, and unmanned logistics vehicles to the same ecosystem. The goal is to create a foundation where machines act as economic agents, carrying their own digital identities and participating in financial markets at scale.

“The era of autonomous economics for intelligent devices is upon us. The name Roboy339 is derived from the last three digits of its unique VIN number — it is not only its bank account but also its digital ID. With the support of investors, partners, manufacturers, financial institutions, and regulators, Robo.ai stands at the intersection of the ‘machine economy’ and the ‘digital economy’,” Robo.ai CEO Benjamin Zhai said.

This ambitious vision is backed by significant capital. The development follows Robo.ai’s recent announcement that it secured approximately $300 million in strategic investment from U.S. firm Burkhan Capital LLC.



Source link

October 4, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Best Smart TV of 2025
Gaming Gear

Best Smart TV of 2025

by admin October 3, 2025


With all of the TVs available today and the technical terms and jargon, it can be tough to figure out what’s important. Here’s a quick guide to help cut through the confusion.

Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It’s also best to shop for a TV in the fall when prices are lower.

Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV, though 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other “feature,” stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we’ve heard is from people who didn’t go big enough. We almost never hear people complain that their TV is too large.

Capability: Among entry-level TVs, the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for features including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do actually help improve the picture. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet.

For more TV buying advice, check out our guide on how to buy a TV.



Source link

October 3, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
DAAPrivacyRightIcon
Product Reviews

The best smart plugs in 2025

by admin October 2, 2025


They’re not complicated, but smart plugs can make life a bit more convenient and, honestly, a little more fun. I like saying “Goodnight” to Alexa and having all the lamps and the holiday lights click off. In the two years or so that I’ve been testing smart plugs, I’ve come across good ones and bad ones. I think TP-Link’s EP25 will work best for most people, but a few others have their advantages. Say, perhaps you need an outdoor plug, one that monitors energy or one with dual outlets. Based on our testing, and many conversations with Siri, the Google Assistant and Alexa, these are our top picks for the best smart plugs you can buy, along with how to get the most out of your plug once you buy it.

Table of contents

Best smart plugs for 2025

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

All of the plugs eventually did what they said they would, but each had a quirk or two that gave me pause – except TP-Link’s Kasa EP25. From installation to implementation, it was fuss-free and reliable. It’s also one of the cheaper plugs on our list at just $13 each (but you’ll usually find it in a four-pack) and one of the best Wi-Fi plugs overall. It works well with both iOS and Android and on all four smart home platforms. The Kasa app has a clean, intuitive design and includes the features you’d expect like timers, schedules, a vacation mode and smart actions (aka scenes). 

TP-Link makes a wide range of other smart devices, so you could expand your smart home without having to leave the Kasa app. If you buy gadgets from TP-Link’s other smart home brand, Tapo, you’ll now be able to control both Kasa and Tapo products from one app. 

The EP25 is an updated version of the HS103 that adds Apple HomeKit compatibility, so I was able to control it with both an iPhone and an Android phone. If you also live in a blended OS home, I recommend onboarding with the iPhone first. After tapping the + button in the Kasa iOS app, a HomeKit pop-up will prompt you to add the plug using the QR code from the box. (The code’s also printed on the plug, but that’s harder to access.)

Once set up in HomeKit, it was easy to add the plug to the other smart home apps. Google Home and SmartThings just need your TP-Link log-in details and Alexa uses the Kasa “skill.” Once you’ve added one plug, any future TP-Link devices you incorporate should automatically show up in each app. If you’re only using an Android device, the Kasa app will walk you through using a temporary Wi-Fi network to get the plug online.

After setup, I named the plug and assigned it a room (making sure it was the same in each app to avoid confusing myself). Then I programmed various routines and schedules and asked all three voice assistants to turn the light on and off – everything worked without a hitch. In the weeks of testing, the EP25 never had a connection hiccup, even after I relocated it to the basement, which is the farthest point from my router.

My single complaint is that sharing with another user isn’t supported within the Kasa app. You can share your log-in details with the other person, as the app does support access from multiple devices on one account. But Google Home feels like the best way to share smart home device control, whether that’s between iOS and Android devices or when everyone uses the same OS.

Pros

  • Works with all four major smart home platforms
  • Solid, stable connection
  • Affordable
  • Easy setup

Cons

  • Can’t share control within the Kasa app

$42 at Amazon

Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa | Energy monitoring: No | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

If you have many Amazon Echo devices and use Alexa to answer your questions, control your music and manage your timers, Amazon’s smart plug makes the most sense. Your Echos and Alexa app already have your details, so you won’t have to create an account, enter your Wi-Fi password or switch to a different app, which makes setup mindlessly simple. In addition to naming your plug, you’ll also want to designate it as a light (if that’s the case) under Type in the settings menu. That way, when you say, “Alexa, turn all the lights off,” it will act accordingly.

I was impressed with the speed of the onboarding process and how seamlessly the plug blended into the ecosystem, adding another IRL appendage to flex. I still get a small thrill when I say, “Alexa, goodnight,” and all goes dark. However, you won’t be able to use the Alexa smart plug with any other smart home app — but it’s not surprising Amazon makes the best Alexa smart plugs for it’s own ecosystem.

The only other drawback, and it’s not a small one, is the Alexa app’s lack of sharing capabilities. You can create households that let other people in your home access your Echo speakers through their phone, but they can’t see your smart home devices. If you’re the only one who needs app access and everyone else in your home is happy to interact via voice commands only, this plug couldn’t be simpler. At $25, it’s not the cheapest smart plug, but like all things Amazon, it goes on sale fairly often.

Pros

  • Dead-simple setup with Alexa
  • Stays reliably connected

Cons

  • Only works with Alexa
  • Can’t share app control

$13 at Amazon

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: Yes | Hub required: Only with HomeKit 

The Kasa KP125M plugs are best Matter smart plugs we tried. They work with all four platforms, install easily and reliably maintain connections. Most Matter devices need to be initialized with a QR code, but this plug also supports Bluetooth onboarding, which saves a step. I set it up through the Kasa app first and because I already had another Kasa plug installed, the process was simplified, automatically prompting me to add the plug with a couple of taps. Adding the device to Alexa, Google Home and Samsung’s SmartThings worked the same way, with each app letting me know I had new devices available to add.

To add the plug to HomeKit, I had to scan the included barcode. The process didn’t work at first and I ended up having to long-press the button on the side to make it enter pairing mode. Unlike some Matter plugs, KP125M doesn’t require a Thread border router. And because it’s also a smart Wi-Fi plug, you don’t need a Matter controller, such as a smart speaker for access when you’re away from home. That said, many of the negative reviews on Amazon have to do with the plug’s poor HomeKit compatibility. In addition to the setup hitch I mentioned, the connection with the HomeKit app and Siri was extremely spotty until I added Apple’s HomePod mini to the mix as a dedicated hub. After that, the reliability improved.

The KP125M also provides detailed energy monitoring in the Kasa app. From the home screen, tap on a plug to see stats on its energy usage, along with an estimate of how much that energy will cost you on your next electric bill. You can even enter in your per-kilowatt hour pricing to get a more accurate picture. While we wish there were a way to see the energy usage from all connected devices at once, it’s still a useful insight to have on a per-plug level.

It’s important to note that our best overall pick is $7 cheaper and also works with all four platforms. The higher price tag is likely due to the Matter logo on the side. Honestly, I’d call the KP125M plug more of a hybrid Wi-Fi-Bluetooth-Matter plug, which could be why it played nice with every platform. Another Matter plug, the Eve Energy Matter plug, requires you to have a HomePod for HomeKit access, a Nest Hub for Google Home connection and a SmartThings hub to make it work with Samsung’s system. The Matter plug I tried from Meross requires Wi-Fi splitting to properly connect, which is doable, but inconvenient. The promise of Matter is faster and simpler connectivity – needing multiple pieces of additional equipment and workarounds seem to miss that point.

Pros

  • Works with all four major smart home platforms
  • A good starting point for Matter connections

Cons

  • Kasa’s non-Matter plug works just as well
  • HomeKit connectivity is spotty without a HomePod

$27 at Amazon

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: No | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

None of the smart plugs we recommend block the second outlet, but the Meross Wi-Fi dual smart plug takes that convenience one step further by combining two outlets into one. This lets you independently control two different devices at once like a combo of a lamp and fan, a humidifier and your coffee maker, or whatever else you’d like to lend some smarts to. It also works with all four major platforms, so it should smoothly integrate with whichever assistant you’re already using.

Setup starts with the Meross app, though if you’re using an iPhone, you’ll see a suggestion to set up with HomeKit first. The plug has a QR code for communicating with Apple’s system, but that didn’t work for me, so I followed the prompts to use a temporary Wi-Fi method and connected successfully. As for Google and Amazon, each of their apps should automatically detect it and cue you to add it once you’ve completed the initial setup in the Meross app. Setup with Samsung involves entering your Meross email and password.

While the Meross app is required for setup, it’s not the most compelling app for programming routines and schedules. You’ll likely get a better experience using whichever of the major smart home platforms you prefer. When I tested moving the plug to a new position in my house, it reconnected instantly. Then I put it in the basement, which sometimes has spotty Wi-Fi, but it had no trouble working as intended. Should you ever want to operate the unit manually, there are two buttons on the front with arrows pointing to the outlet each controls.

My only qualm was the default name Meross assigned to each outlet within the app. I would assume the left plug to be called “Switch 1” and the right “Switch 2,” but it was reversed on my unit. That’s really not an issue as most people would rename the switches to match the plugged-in devices, but it still struck me as odd. Also, getting Siri to understand which one I was asking to operate was complicated, until I renamed the entire plug and each switch within the Apple Home app. But in my experience, Siri is still working out its smart home assistant kinks, so I don’t blame Meross for this.

The plug is just $17 and, considering its wide compatibility and consistent connectivity, it’s easy to recommend, particularly if the number of outlets in your home isn’t as plentiful as you’d like.

Pros

  • Two independently controlled outlets
  • Affordably priced
  • Works with all four major smart home platforms

Cons

  • HomeKit control can be confusing

$30 at Amazon

Emporia

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

Emporia’s smart home ecosystem extends to EV chargers, solar equipment and whole-home energy monitors. So it’s not surprising the company makes some of the best smart plugs with energy monitoring. In the case of an LED lamp, the power draw is going to be miniscule — but these plugs can give you insight into bigger loads such as those from a humidifier or even a small space heater (the plug can handle 1500 watts at 120 volts with a max load of 15 amps). A four-pack goes for around $35, which puts each plug below the cost of many plug-in power meters. So for less money, Emporia’s plug can gather stats and stop idle devices from vampiric energy drains.

Last year, Emporia issued a preemptive recall on its plugs for a potential fire risk. They worked well enough before the recall to earn an honorable mention in an earlier iteration of this guide, but the updated plugs are now faster to connect. A finicky setup prevented us from fully recommending it before but now, that kink has been worked out. In addition to useful monitoring, easy setup and reliable connections to Alexa and the Google Assistant, the plugs’ comprehensive app can also incorporate Emporia’s other equipment, should you ever decide to add those devices to your home’s power grid.

$35 at Amazon

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

My main concern with the Cync plug is the way the scheduling works within the proprietary app. Instead of programming when an outlet should turn on, you tell it when it should turn off. Despite my best efforts, I could not figure out how to program the Cync-connected lamp to come on at sunset, as I did with every other plug. Other than that, the app is very elegant, set up is easy and reliability is spot on. It only works with Alexa and Google Home, not HomeKit or SmartThings, but at $15, it’s a couple bucks cheaper than the Wyze plug that has the same compatibility.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Elegant app
  • Reliable performance

Cons

  • Scheduling is finnicky
  • No HomeKit support

$20 at Amazon

The best outdoor smart plugs for 2025

Most people will likely use outdoor plugs for two things: patio lighting and holiday string lights. The devices are designed for the outdoors with a weatherproof protection rating of IP64 or higher, which means they’re impervious to dust and can handle splashing water from rain and sprinklers. They have a longer Wi-Fi range than indoor plugs, for obvious reasons, and many have dual outlets, with individual control over each one.

Setup is the same as for indoor plugs: you’ll use your phone to help the plug find your Wi-Fi using its companion app. The only tricky part is getting your phone within Bluetooth range of the plug (which it uses to initialize setup) and in Wi-Fi range at the same time. I had to awkwardly stand at a triangulated point in the middle of my driveway to get things communicating properly. Once set up, the plugs will communicate using your router for voice and app control and your phone needn’t be anywhere near the plug.

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

Wyze’s indoor version wasn’t one of the top picks for this guide, not because there was anything wrong with it — connection was quick, the app is clean, and the plug works well with both Alexa and the Google Assistant — other plugs simply had other features that made them stand out. But when it comes to an outside version, the Wyze Plug Outdoor wins. For one, it’s cheaper than most at just $20, yet it offers the longer, 300-foot range that more expensive plugs do. Setup was quick using the Wyze app, which has you set up an account and enter your Wi-Fi password. You’ll be prompted to name each of the two outlets (for reference, when looking at top of the device, the one on the left defaults to “Plug 1” the one on the right is “Plug 2”). What you name them in the app will carry over to the Alexa or Google Home app.

After a few months of playing around with smart plugs, I find Alexa (in my case an Echo Dot) to be the most reliable way to control them. But if you want to use the Wyze app instead, you’ll find a clean interface with useful features like a vacation randomizer and usage stats. The scheduling is a little confusing and requires you to select the device from the home page, then tap the settings gear, then Schedules, then turn on Schedule 1, then you can program the specific times you want. There’s an option to turn it on or off at sunset or sunrise but unfortunately, you can’t set it to trigger, say an hour before sunset like you can with other apps. But again, using a smart home platform from Amazon or Google bypasses those minor inconveniences entirely.

Pros

  • Long connectivity distance
  • Less expensive than other long-range plugs

Cons

  • Scheduling is complicated in proprietary app
  • Doesn’t work with HomeKit or SmartThings

$20 at Home Depot

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: HomeKit function is better with a HomePod

For those who rely on Siri to manage their smart home, the TP-Link Kasa EP40A reliably adds outdoor control to your world. The device looks like most smart plugs designed for outside spaces, with two downward-facing receptacles on the body and a short cable leading to a three prong plug. Unlike others, the plug head exits the cable at a right angle, so the unit hangs flat against the wall. That keeps things neater, but can get in the way of other items that might need access to the outlet.

Setup is the same as with indoor Kasa plugs: download the app, create an account and add the device. You won’t be asked to scan a QR code to connect with Alexa or Google Home — just go to the respective app and the device should pop up after it’s set up with Kasa. For Homekit, you’ll need to scan the code, which is printed on a postage stamp-sized sticker in the box, and also on the back of the plug itself. It took a few attempts to get connected to HomeKit, but nearly every time I initialize a smart home device with Apple’s ecosystem I hit a similar snag, so I don’t blame the plug.

Once connected, I was able to ask Siri to turn on the holiday lights. (I even asked the Google Assistant to shut them off and Alexa to light them up again and assistant switching was glitch-free.) HomeKit maintained the connection and responses were quick. When I moved the plug from the garage to the side of the house, Siri found it quickly and no re-install was necessary. If you want to use the Kasa app instead, you’ll find user-friendly controls and a straightforward scheduling feature, though, if you’re not planning on using the plug with HomeKit, I’d recommend saving the $12 and going with Wyze’s option.

Pros

  • Works with all four major smart home platforms

Cons

  • More expensive than the Wyze plug

$20 at Amazon

Best uses for a smart plug

Before you buy one, it helps to know how a smart plug works best. They are designed for things that have an on/off switch, making them great for doing things like turning regular ol’ lamps into smart lights. If you want a fan to move some air around before you get home, a smart plug can help. You can load a basic coffee maker with grounds and water the night before and wake up to a fresh pot in the morning. And instead of an air purifier running all day, you could set it to just run when you’re away.

But gadgets that need to be programmed further, or require a stand-by mode, aren’t ideal. If you want to control built-in lights, you’ll need a smart light switch, which are more involved than smart plugs as they can involve in-wall installation. Smart bulbs are also an option for automation, and we have an entire guide devoted to those.

Some smart plugs can even monitor how much energy they use and display those figures within their companion app. That might not be much use on its own, as lamps with LED light bulbs consume very little energy, but it could help you keep tabs on your overall energy consumption.

What to consider when buying a smart plug

Setup and use

Adding a smart plug to your home is relatively simple. You’ll use the manufacturer’s app to initially connect, after which you can add the plug to a compatible smart home ecosystem so you can use voice control and other features. Both the brand’s app and your smart home app will let you name the plug, set schedules and program “routines” which provide automation for multiple smart devices at once. But as you can guess, a manufacturer’s app only lets you control products from that brand. If you want whole-home automation, operating, say, a plug from TP-Link’s Kasa, a smart bulb from Philips Hue, a smart thermostat from Honeywell and a camera from Arlo without switching apps, you’ll need to use a smart home platform, which means you’ll need to consider compatibility.

Compatibility

Smart home devices connect through wireless protocols, often using more than one to communicate with your phone, smart speaker, router and in some cases, one another. The majority of smart plugs use Wi-Fi, but some have recently incorporated Matter, a relatively new wireless standard intended to solve integration issues between different brands and manufacturers, while also improving security and reliability.

More of these smart plugs are coming to market and, for now, most Matter devices work via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a low-power mesh network called Thread. Matter requires a controller that stays at home, like a hub or smart speaker, to manage things when you’re out and about.

As for Bluetooth, most plugs, including all Matter plugs, use the short-range protocol to get the device set up for the first time. Some can continue to run on Bluetooth in the absence of another option, but the connection isn’t as reliable and you won’t be able to control the plug when you’re away from home, or perhaps even just on the other side of the apartment.

Because Matter is relatively new, it may be easier to consider the manufacturer’s system you’d use the most. There are four major “branded” smart home platforms: Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, Apple’s HomeKit and Samsung’s SmartThings. The first two work with the widest range of brands and are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. HomeKit not only limits app access to Apple devices, but it’s also compatible with fewer plugs. You can also turn to open-source software like Home Assistant or go with the larger functionality of IFTTT if you want to, say, have your lights turn off when your Uber arrives. For the purposes of our testing, we stuck with the four big players. Nearly every plug we looked at clearly stated which platforms it works with, both on the packaging and retail product pages.

Of course, there’s no rule that says you have to stick with one home assistant. You might have an Echo Dot in the basement, a HomePod in the living room and a Google Nest Mini in the kitchen, each controlling any compatible devices. My kid has a great time telling Alexa to turn on a light then asking the Google Assistant to turn it back off.

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Hubs and smart plugs

All of our top picks recommended here don’t require a hub and connect directly to your home’s Wi-Fi router. That means if you already have wireless internet and a smartphone or tablet, you can quite literally plug and play. The exception is Apple’s HomeKit. If you want to pair up a compatible plug with that platform, you’ll need a HomePod speaker, Apple TV or an iPad that stays in your home to enable remote control when you’re away.

Some smart plugs require a hub regardless of which platform you use. For our guide, we focused on the simplicity (and lower cost) of options that work on their own, but hub-dependent devices may make sense in certain situations. Some companies, like Aqara and Lutron for example, make a vast range of smart home products, adding automatic shades, window sensors, smart locks and air quality monitors to the more traditional cameras and plugs. If you’re going all-in on one brand and plan to get a plethora of connected devices, a hub can keep your Wi-Fi network from getting too crowded and provide a more seamless setup with reliable connectivity. Zigbee devices use their own protocol (different from Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) and also requires a hub.

Sharing

Once a plug is set up with your platform and voice assistant of choice, anyone can control the plug just by talking. If someone else wants to control things with their phone, things get more complicated. Google makes it easiest, allowing you to invite another person just by tapping the + button within the Home app. Whomever you invite will have full access to your connected devices – including cameras – so this is only for people you trust the most.

HomeKit makes it similarly easy to grant app access to someone else, but as with most things Apple, it only works for other iOS users. Amazon only allows you to share access to your Echo, not your connected home devices.

Many smart plug manufacturers allow you to share control through their app by inviting another person via email. But this only grants access to devices of that brand. Hopefully as Matter expands, multi-admin features will become more widespread.

If you get a new Wi-Fi network

Most people will wirelessly connect their smart plugs to their home’s Wi-Fi router. Matter, Z-Wave, Thread and other smart home protocols can work over local networks, but for most setups, the signals telling your plugs what to do will be dispatched through your router. If you happen to get a new one (like I did when it became clear my very basic gateway could not handle the number of smart home devices being tested) you’ll need to take a few steps to get everything reconnected.

Depending on the brand, the steps may simply involve using the plug’s companion app to update your credentials (network name and password). Or it will require deleting the device in the companion app, doing a factory reset (typically by pressing the onboard button for 10 seconds) and setting up the plug like it’s brand new. GE Sync and Emporia plugs allow for a credentials update via their apps, others, like TP-Link Kasa and Meross plugs require deletion and a factory reset to get along with your new network. Amazon’s smart plug updates automatically after updating the associated Echo device.

How we tested the best smart plugs

Before we decided which smart plugs to test, we considered brands Engadget staffers have had the best experiences with, both in review capacity and personally. We also checked out other online reviews. We then looked at factors like price, compatibility and relative popularity. I got ahold of ten indoor smart plugs and four outdoor versions from eight manufacturers.

I set up each one using its companion app, then added it to all compatible smart home platforms. Plugging in a cadre of lamps and string lights, I tested the plugs using an iPhone 11, Galaxy S10e, Echo Dot, HomePod mini and Nest Mini. I accessed the plugs via the apps and through voice commands and controlled them in my home and away from it. I programmed schedules and routines and moved the plugs to different outlets, including ones in the basement to gauge range. For the outdoor devices, I plugged them into an outlet in the garage (approximately 85 feet from my Wi-Fi router) and an outlet attached to the back of the house.

Here’s every smart plug tested before settling on our top picks:

*Emporia issued a recall on its smart plugs purchased before August 1, 2023 due to a potential fire risk, though no incidents were reported. The plugs have since been updated to resolve the issue and are back on sale. We tested the revised version and recommend it as the energy-monitoring pick.

As new smart plugs are released, we’ll continue to try them and update this guide accordingly. We plan to add smart power strips to this guide as well.

Other smart plugs we tested

Meross Matter plug (MSS115)

I wasn’t able to test the Meross Matter plug fully. It requires Wi-Fi splitting, a process that’s certainly possible for the average consumer, but more involved than it should be, considering the more than dozen other plugs I’ve tested don’t require such a step. The plug itself also blocked the other outlet. Meross has an updated version of the Matter device on the way, one that looks to solve both issues and we’ll update this guide accordingly once we’ve had a chance to test it.

Roku Smart Plug

Roku’s smart home gear is basically Wyze equipment with an app and packaging that are more purple. The Roku smart plug performed just fine with both compatible voice assistants (Alexa and Google Assistant). The companion app doesn’t offer scheduling that revolves around the timing of the sunset in your area, but the plugs go for less than $10 each and if you’ve got a Roku TV or streaming device set up and want to keep everything on-brand, it could be a fit.

Aquara Smart Plug

The Aqara plug requires an Aqara hub. In tests, the connectivity was solid and the companion app allowed for useful if/then automations that can rope in other Aqara devices like locks, window shades, cameras and more. The plug also worked well with voice assistants from Amazon, Google and Apple. As a stand-alone plug, however, it’s tough to recommend the nearly $100 combo to anyone who isn’t planning to get a complete Aqara smart home setup.

Smart plug FAQs

What should you not plug into a smart plug?

Anything with controls that are more complicated than on/off won’t work well with a smart plug. For example, a dimmable lamp with touch controls won’t turn on when the smart plug does. A programmable coffee machine, smart TV, microwave, Instant Pot, robot vacuum — none of these make sense to use with a smart plug as they all require further input from you to start working. Appliances like a lamp with a twist knob, a basic humidifier, a coffee maker with a red-rocker switch are all good options for using with smart plugs.

You’ll also want to pay attention to the wattage and amperage rating of your smart plug. All smart plugs work with 120V outlets, and most are rated to 15A, which should handle even power-hungry appliances like a 1500 watt space heater. But be sure to check that the plug can handle whatever you’re plugging in. It’s also not wise to use a smart plug to automatically turn on appliances that require supervision, like things with heating elements (heaters, curling irons, etc).

What are the disadvantages of a smart plug?

While they’re great when everything is working properly, smart plugs can be frustrating, adding a layer of complication to the simple act of turning on a light, if something goes wrong. For example: If your Wi-Fi goes out, your smart plug won’t work. If the smart plug loses its connection to your router, it won’t work. If you change your Wi-Fi password or provider, you’ll have to re-program your smart plugs. If you forget what you named a particular plug during setup, you may be faced with an irritating conversation with your voice assistant. The best way to avoid some of those problems is to get a plug that works reliably, which is one of the features we considered for this guide.

How much power does a smart plug draw?

Smart plugs don’t draw much more power than whatever you’re plugging into them. True, they remain on standby to await instructions from your smart assistant or other controller, so they’re always using a small amount of power. But if, for example, you set a light to automatically turn off at night, and that light would otherwise stay on unnecessarily, the smart plug will save far more energy than the watt or two extra that it draws.

Do smart plugs use Bluetooth?

Some smart plugs use Bluetooth to connect to your phone during setup. After that, most connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network.

What appliances should not be plugged into a smart plug?

Common sense will help you determine what not to plug in. Obviously anything dangerous like power tools should not be plugged into a smart plug. Appliances that require supervision, such as space heaters and curling irons, shouldn’t be set to turn on automatically if no one will be around. You also shouldn’t bother with anything that needs further programming. Simple on/off appliances like lamps and fans work best.



Source link

October 2, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Apple sidelines lighter Vision Pro to prioritize smart glasses
Gaming Gear

Apple sidelines lighter Vision Pro to prioritize smart glasses

by admin October 2, 2025


Apple is speeding up work on smart glasses that would compete with similar offerings from Meta and halting plans for a lighter Vision Pro headset, Bloomberg reports. The company is apparently working on at least two different versions: a pair without a display that it could reveal next year and launch in 2027, and a pair with a display originally planned for 2028 that the company wants to “accelerate development” on.

Like Meta’s smart glasses made in partnership with Ray-Ban and Oakley, Apple’s glasses will have speakers, cameras, come in multiple styles, and “will rely heavily on voice interaction and artificial intelligence,” according to Bloomberg. The version of the glasses with a display “could challenge” the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which have a display in the right lens. Apple is also working on a chip specifically designed for its smart glasses, Bloomberg has previously reported.

As for the lighter Vision Pro headset, Apple had been rumored to launch the product in 2027, but the company told staff that it was pulling people from that headset to help with the glasses. Apple has reportedly scaled back production of the original Vision Pro, but regulatory filings spotted this week revealed that a new version is in the works, which Bloomberg called a “modest refresh” that could launch “as early as the end of this year.”



Source link

October 2, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 smart glasses have twice the battery life
Gaming Gear

The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 smart glasses have twice the battery life

by admin October 1, 2025


Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

To use the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, you’ll need a Meta account and the Meta AI app downloaded onto your phone. A Meta account works across platforms like Meta, Instagram, and Quest and comes with its own Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If you want to partake in early access programs for beta AI features, that will also come with its own terms. Should you decide to integrate with services like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Spotify, you also agree to those terms and privacy policies. You may also be asked to give permissions related to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, location services, voice data, and usage data. If you choose to get a pair of prescription lenses, you may also be asked to share that information with compatible optometrists.

  • Supplemental Meta Platforms Technologies Terms of Service
  • Supplemental Meta Platforms Technologies Privacy Policy
  • AI Glasses Early Access Program Terms and Conditions
  • United States Regional Privacy Notice
  • Health and Safety Information
  • Voice Controls Privacy Notice

You can also view all the associated AI glasses legal and privacy documentation here.

Final tally: Two mandatory agreements, six supplemental agreement



Source link

October 1, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Best Smart Glasses in 2025: Get Meta's Latest or Wait?
Gaming Gear

Best Smart Glasses in 2025: Get Meta’s Latest or Wait?

by admin October 1, 2025


There’s one big question looming over anyone who considers smart glasses tech right now: Do you want to wear something with tech on your face? And, for how long? The decision when it comes to display-enabled tethered glasses and wireless glasses is pretty different.

Display glasses vs. camera and audio glasses

Tethered glasses are really more like eye headphones that you’re perching on your face over your eyes. Although they have somewhat see-through lenses, they’re not made for all-day wear. You’ll put them on for movies, playing games or doing work, and then take them off. The commitment level might be a couple of hours a day at most.

Meanwhile, wireless smart glasses aim to be true everyday glasses. They’ll likely replace your existing glasses, become an additional pair or maybe act as smart sunglasses. But if you’re doing that, keep in mind you’ll need to outfit them with your prescription… or, get used to the limited battery life of wireless glasses. Meta Ray-Bans last several hours on a charge, depending on how they’re used. After that, they need to be recharged in their case, so you’ll need to wear another pair of glasses or just accept wearing a pair with a dead battery.

Live AI, Meta’s newest Ray-Bans feature, can keep a constant camera feed on the world. I tested it out.

Scott Stein/CNET

AI and its limits

You’ll also want to consider what you’ll use the glasses for, and what devices or AI services you use. Wireless audio and video glasses like Ray-Bans need a phone app to pair and use with, but they can also act as basic Bluetooth headphones with any audio source. However, Meta Ray-Bans are limited to Meta AI as the functioning onboard AI service, with a few hook-ins to apps like Apple Music, Spotify, Calm and Facebook’s core platforms. You’re living in Meta’s world.

Meta is opening up its smart glasses to app developers, although to what degree is still unknown. Meta’s newest Ray-Ban Display glasses, meanwhile, add more apps but mainly for Facebook app-connected functions. Meta’s also beginning to support connected fitness devices, but only with Garmin and its upcoming Oakley Vanguard sports visor for now.

Google’s next wave of devices should be more flexible, tapping into Gemini AI and more Google apps and services. But we still don’t know the limits of those glasses and headsets, either.

AI-enabled glasses can often use AI and the onboard camera for a number of assistive purposes like live translation or describing an environment in detail. For those with vision loss or assistive needs, AI glasses are starting to become an exciting and helpful type of device, but companies like Meta — and Google next year — need to keep introducing new features to help. Meta’s AI functions on glasses aren’t as flexible as the AI apps on phones and computers — you can’t necessarily add documents and personal information into it in the same way you can with other services. At least, not yet.

Display glasses have limits, too

Display-enabled tethered glasses use USB-C to connect to gadgets that can output video via USB-C, like phones, laptops, tablets and even handheld game consoles. But they don’t all work the same. Phones can sometimes have app incompatibilities, preventing copyrighted videos from playing in rare instances (like Disney+ on iPhones). Steam Decks and Windows game handhelds work with tethered display glasses, but the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 don’t, and need proprietary and bulky battery pack “mini docks” sold separately to send a signal through. Some glasses-makers like Xreal are building more custom chipsets in-glasses to pin displays in space or customize display size, while others lean on extra software only available on laptops or certain devices to perform extra tricks.

Lexy Savvides

A good time for new Meta glasses, but more on the horizon

If this all sounds like a bit of a Wild West landscape, that’s because it is. Glasses right now remind me of the wrist wearable scene before the Apple Watch and Android watches arrived: It was experimental, inconsistent, sometimes brilliant and sometimes frustrating. Expect glasses to evolve quickly over the next few years, meaning your choice to buy in now is not guaranteed to be a perfect solution down the road.

While Meta has just announced a wave of new glasses, and the new Ray-Ban and Oakley models have excellent improved battery life, it’s likely that glasses coming next year will be even more evolved. The $800 Ray-Ban Display glasses show signs of where other glasses are going to head. You could be an early adopter of those more expensive glasses now, but I’d suggest you get less-expensive Ray-Ban glasses instead, or wait out the changes.

There are other options coming that are likely worth waiting for. Luma’s high-end Beast glasses coming this fall should offer excellent wide viewing areas and improved, anti-reflective prism lenses that will compete with the Xreal One Pro. Google is expected to release its own line of AI glasses with Warby Parker and other brands next year, offering a true competitor to Meta’s glasses line.



Source link

October 1, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Bosch Unlimited 10 vacuum review: smart, powerful, and built for busy homes
Gaming Gear

Bosch Unlimited 10 vacuum review: smart, powerful, and built for busy homes

by admin September 30, 2025



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Bosch Unlimited 10: two-minute review

Product info

There are two slightly different versions of the Bosch Unlimited 10 vacuum. For this review, I tested the BCS1051GB, sometimes called the Unlimited 10 ProPower. It’s all black and has a slightly better battery.

There’s also the BBS1041GGB, which has a gray plate on the front and slightly shorter runtimes. It’s also cheaper.

The Bosch Unlimited 10 vacuum cleaner, launched in March 2025, is a clear step up from the Unlimited 9. Where the older model offered a 60-minute runtime, three cleaning modes and a 105-minute charge time, the Unlimited 10 ProPower bumps it up to an impressive 100-minute runtime, six cleaning modes, and a much faster 60-minute recharge via the fast-charger supplied. It also adds a forward-bending wand for easier under-furniture cleaning and a hi-tech, interactive display.

Bosch is well-established in home appliances but less dominant in cordless vacuums, and the Unlimited 10 feels like its most serious challenger to Dyson and Shark yet. On test, it delivered consistently strong results on hard floors and carpet alike, with the added flexibility of its extended runtime if you invest in extra batteries. Its smart touch control fascia and LED ring that provides a visual indicator of dust-busting progress will appeal to tech geeks. But, if you want to be really nit-picky, its small dustbin, a floorhead that lacks anti-hair wrap features, and overall weightiness are slight drawbacks.

It’s not quite the Dyson-slayer Bosch might have been aiming for, but the Unlimited 10 is easily one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners I’ve tested so far this year. If you’re on the hunt for impressive suction, long runtimes and easy handling, this one’s a clever, future-proof contender. Keep reading as I dive into its design, performance and value to see if the Bosch Unlimited 10 is the best vacuum cleaner for you.

Everything that came in the box for my review model (Image credit: Future)

Bosch Unlimited 10 ProPower review: price & availability

  • List price: from £569.99
  • Launch date: March 2025
  • Availability: UK and Europe

The Bosch Unlimited 10 BCS1051GB hit the shelves in March 2025 and is currently available across the UK and Europe. Rather confusingly, there is also a slightly lower spec Unlimited 10 BBS1041GGB model in graphite, which was launched at the same time with a RRP of £569.99 (already on offer at £419.99), but, at the time of writing, the black version – sometimes called the ‘ProPower’ – I tested sits squarely at £629.99.

Both versions share the same core cleaning tech, but the main advantage of the BCS1051GB is its larger 5.0 Ah battery, offering up to 100 minutes of runtime (vs 80 minutes with 4.0 Ah). If you’re happy to go for the older Unlimited 9, prices now start from £399.99, so there’s a decent saving to be had there.

One of Bosch’s big selling points is its swappable battery system, which works across more than 100 devices from over 10 brands, making it easy to swap batteries and avoid buying and storing multiple chargers. If you want to double your runtime on the Unlimited 10 ProPower vacuum you’ll need to budget another £137.41 for a second battery pack.

Price-wise, the Bosch Unlimited 10 ProPower lands in the premium bracket of stick vacuums, especially if you pony up for that extra battery, rubbing shoulders with Dyson’s V15 Detect and Shark’s flagship models. On paper, that’s a big ask, but the Bosch claws back some value with its long runtime, six cleaning modes and clever flexible tube. At full price it feels expensive, but as the entry level Unlimited 10 is already discounted by £150 on Bosch’s own website, I predict it won’t be long before the ProPower is on offer, too.

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Bosch Unlimited 10 ProPower specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Model:

BCS1051GB ProPower (reviewed)

BBS1041GGB

Weight:

3.8 kg

3.8 kg

Dimensions (H x W x D):

130 x 25 x 21.6 cm

130 x 25 x 21.6 cm

Floorhead width:

25cm

25cm

Filter:

HEPA

HEPA

Bin capacity:

0.4L

0.4L

Battery:

18v 5.0 Ah

18 V 4.0 Ah

Max runtime:

100 mins

80 mins

Charge time:

60 mins

90 mins

Bosch Unlimited 10 ProPower review: design

  • Stylish stick vacuum with touchscreen controls, but a tad bulky
  • Compression lever to squish dirt and aid with bin emptying
  • Foot presser for no-bend tool switching

With its matte black finish and streamlined design, the Bosch Unlimited 10 ProPower makes a strong first impression. It boasts a distinctly more premium look than the brand’s earlier vacuums, and while it’s not the most lightweight cleaner out there, but its slightly hefty build does feel reassuringly substantial.

Like most cordless sticks, this vacuum can be configured as a standard upright stick or a handheld, just by plugging the floorhead or upholstery tools into the main unit. I’d have liked a mini turbo brush for getting dog hairs out of the sofas (we have two spaniels), but the extra-long upholstery nozzle with soft rubbery construction that doesn’t scratch the skirting boards was a welcome addition.

The foot pedal makes it easier to release the floorhead without bending down (Image credit: Future)

Swapping out nozzles is especially satisfying, thanks to the handy foot-release pedal on the floorhead, which means you don’t need to bend down every time you want to switch. (Dyson has addressed the same problem on its V16 Piston Animal, except that model uses a slide-down cuff at the top of the wand rather than a foot pedal.)

The wall-mounted docking station is designed to charge the unit when docked so there’s also no need to manually connect the charging cable. If you prefer, and need a fast recharge, you can slide the battery off and charge it in the battery charging unit supplied.

The fast charger gets the battery to full power in just over an hour (Image credit: Future)

Another excellent design feature is the compression lever on the dust bin, which pushes down debris. It’s useful both for squishing the dirt in the bin to make room for more, and for ejecting everything efficiently when it’s time to empty the bin. It meant I didn’t have to get my hands dirty fishing out tangled fluff or hair stuck around the filters. (Incidentally, this is another feature that also appears on the new Dyson V16.)

I loved the touchscreen display, which replaces traditional buttons with a clear, modern interface. You can scroll through the six cleaning modes (Eco, Auto, Turbo, Silent, Car and Delicate), and it also has tutorials on emptying the bin, cleaning filters and so on, so you’ll never have to go hunting for the instruction manual.

The touchscreen is easy and intuitive to use and keeps you abreast of power levels and other key info (Image credit: Future)

Anyone and everyone, but especially those with mobility issues, will appreciate the Unlimited 10’s flexible main pipe, which has a button that lets it bend forwards to a 90-degree angle. This makes sliding the vacuum under sofas, beds, and low or leggy furniture much easier, with no need to crouch down or manhandle heavy furniture.

Press a button and the main hose turns into your flexible friend (Image credit: Future)

This feature isn’t exclusive to Bosch – in fact, it appears on a number of the best Shark vacuums – but it is a welcome addition nonetheless. I used it a lot more than I thought I would, and got a great deal of joy from listening to all the unseen dust and dirt being sucked up from my home’s deepest, darkest voids.

Bosch Unlimited 10 review: performance

  • Packs a powerful punch on hard floors and carpets
  • Auto mode nails switching across different surfaces
  • Super easy to empty, but the dark bin and weight are niggles

With two hairy dogs, messy kids, and a busy family home that always seems to be one mealtime away from total chaos, the Bosch Unlimited 10 had plenty to prove, and I’m delighted to report it did us proud. The bendy wand seemed gimmicky but turned out to be extremely nifty for scooting under sofas, while the floorhead twists nimbly around chair legs and hugs skirting boards. I loved the bright LEDs on the floorhead too: there’s nothing like seeing the hidden dust bunnies lit up before they disappear.

Powerful headlamps make dirt detection easier (Image credit: Future)

Downstairs in my home I have a mix of flooring, primarily hard (wood, porcelain, laminate and terracotta) with a few rugs thrown in, and upstairs is mainly carpet. On hard floors the Bosch Unlimited 10 glided along effortlessly, and when I hit a rug, I could really feel the suction crank up. Auto mode got it spot-on every time, even showing the floor type on the monitor screen, while Turbo is a bit wild on thick carpets but brilliant for the car mats and dog beds.

Day to day, I mostly stuck to Auto and Silent modes, both are more than enough for crumbs, fur and stray feathers (did I mention we also have a budgie?). Silent, in particular, kept things calm without losing too much oomph on the suction front. When I needed extra muscle, Turbo mode swooped in for stubborn dirt or the sofa cushions.

The main floorhead works well on upholstery but I’d have liked a smaller one (Image credit: Future)

Crucially, it didn’t do that annoying thing where bigger crumbs get batted around instead of sucked up; everything just disappeared in one or two passes. And although my decibel monitor app measured noise levels between 65 and 72dBA across modes, none of them had me worried the neighbors might complain.

I’ll admit there are two modes I probably won’t use much – Car mode and Delicate Carpet mode – but for the sake of this review, I gave them a spin. Car Mode sits somewhere between Auto and Turbo in terms of power, and is designed for nozzle work in the nooks and crannies of your car. Normally, I leave that job to our local valet, but it gave a solid “interim clean” performance – not valet-level, but good enough to freshen things up between visits.

Delicate Carpet mode, meanwhile, turns off the rollers and relies on suction alone, making it ideal for more sensitive floor coverings like sisal, silk, or any rug that hates a beater bar. I only have one rug that qualifies, but it handled it gently and effectively.

The red button slides down to drag the bin contents out (Image credit: Future)

Cleaning out the bin and dust-busting the filter is surprisingly fuss-free. The lever in the bin, which you slide down from the outside, means you can compress the contents of the bin to fit more in (useful because the bin itself is very small). It also comes into its own when it comes to emptying – no more grim moments fishing out clumps of fur.

The twist-to-clean filter is oddly satisfying too: you just hold the filter over the bin and turn the top of the filter and some magic within flicks all the dust out. An alarming amount of dust in fact, which is surely just a sign that the filter really must be very good, not that my house is exceptionally dirty?

Sadly, the Bosch Unlimited 10 isn’t entirely perfect. Disappointingly, the floorhead roller did collect its fair share of hair while I was cleaning. Most vacuum makers have solved this issue now, with anti hair-wrap features. The roller pops out easily, so it’s relatively easy to snip away tangles with scissors or a sharp knife, but I’d wouldn’t expect to have to do this on a premium-priced vacuum.

The roller wasn’t too bad with hairs, but a few stray strands lingered (Image credit: Future)

The dark-grey dustbin makes it tricky to see when it’s full unless you peer closely. It’s also a bit heavy – after about 10 minutes on the stairs I definitely felt the weight of the Unlimited 10 in my arms, and after testing the battery life, my arm was nearly ready to drop off. I exaggerate, but it was certainly one of the heavier stick vacuums I have reviewed, and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for anyone who is elderly or infirm.

Another key feature of the Bosch Unlimited 10 worth mentioning is its MicroClean LED ring. The Tineco Pure One X and Shark PowerDetect has similar tech, and it’s essentially designed to give you visual feedback on cleanliness levels/progress as you clean. The ring glows red when it’s still picking up dust and debris, then flips to blue once the area is spotless. The idea is that it takes the guesswork out of knowing when you’ve done enough passes.

I’ll be honest, I’m generally happy to trust my eyes to tell me whether a floor looks clean, and I didn’t really pay much attention to the LEDs, so I’m not sure how useful it really is for me. That said, anyone who frets about hidden dirt or just likes a reassuring visual prompt might appreciate this feature.

The LED halo changes colour to indicate cleaning is complete (Image credit: Future)

Suction tests

To really put this vacuum through its paces, I set up a few very scientific (erm, slightly chaotic) tests using oats and teabags across hard floors and carpets. It felt a bit like hosting a chimp’s tea party and the dogs trying to eat my testing material didn’t help matters, but it definitely showed what this vacuum was made of.

First up, I ripped open a teabag and sprinkled its contents across the hard flooring (engineered oak boards) in the kitchen. In the lowest power setting, Eco mode, the Unlimited 10 guzzled those tealeaves up in one sweep, no mess left behind, no repeat passes needed to get that blue LED light ring assurance the floor was clean. Honestly, I was embarrassingly giddy at how satisfying it was watching the tea vanish, even from the grooves between the floor planks.

Over on the carpet though, it was a different story: Eco just wasn’t enough. Switching up to Turbo mode gave it the grunt it needed, and once I did that, the tea leaves were gone in seconds.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

Teabag test

(Image credit: Future)

Next came the oats, about 30g of finest Scottish Porridge Oats scattered across the floor like confetti. On hard flooring, Eco Mode struggled a bit: the vacuum dragged the oats backwards, leaving them behind. I quickly learned that lifting the head slightly and giving Turbo mode a spin sorted them out without fuss. It wasn’t the smoothest pass, but it did the job quickly enough. On carpet, it was oddly easier. Eco did most of the work, but I did ramp it up to Turbo to nab the last few stubborn bits.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

carpet test

Finally, I checked out how well this vacuum handled edge cleaning. I sprinkled a line of tea right along the skirting board in the kitchen. Running the vacuum parallel left a faint dusty line, but as soon as I changed tack and went in head-on at a right angle, it snaffled up the lot. So yes, you’ll probably still want the crevice tool now and then, but with a bit of maneuvering the main floorhead is surprisingly capable at perimeter duty.

If you approach it from the correct angle, the edge cleaning is excellent (Image credit: Future)

All in all, these “tea and oats” experiments were a good stress test, and while not every mode was perfect for every mess, the Unlimited 10 handled everything I threw at it without too much drama or excessive time wasting.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Bosch Unlimited 10 review: battery

  • For the BCS1051GB ProPower version:
    • Up to 87 minutes in Eco, 32 in Auto, 30 in Silent, and 14 in Turbo
  • Fast recharge in just over an hour – barely enough time for a nap
  • Battery works across Bosch’s 18V All Alliance range

Note, in this section I’ll be focusing on the Unlimited 10 BCS1051GB ProPower model, which has a slightly better battery than the BBS1041GGB.

Battery life is one of the Unlimited 10’s real strengths. In Eco mode, I clocked a solid 87 minutes, which is more than enough for multiple cleans or one mega session. Auto mode, which I used most, lasted about 32 minutes – no doubt helped by the fact my home is at least 70% hard flooring, while Silent mode gave me around 30 minutes of cleaning time. If you’re a suction-obsessed cleaner and stick to Turbo mode, you’re looking at just 14 minutes, so if your home is wall-to-wall carpet you might want to budget for a spare battery.

Recharge time was another bonus. From empty to full, it took just over an hour, which is slightly more than Bosch’s claim, but still super quick compared to most rivals. I could plug it in before lunch, and it would be ready to go again by the time I’d eaten and caught up on my Socials.

Another noteworthy trick is that the battery is part of Bosch’s 18V Power For All Alliance, which means you can swap it into more than just your vacuum – from power drills to hedge trimmers. It’s a small thing, but being able to share batteries across gadgets is genuinely useful, especially if you’re already in the Bosch ecosystem.

For day-to-day cleaning, I’d rate the battery life excellent. I managed to get around my four-bed Victorian house in one charge, as long as I resisted leaning on Turbo too much. For a cordless, that’s pretty impressive, and it takes away a lot of the range anxiety I used to get from early stick vacuums.

  • Battery life score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Bosch Unlimited 10?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value for money

Premium price, but justifiable with strong suction, smart features, and quick-charging battery, especially if you’ve already bought into Bosch’s battery-sharing system.

3.5/5

Design

Sleek and modern with clever touches like a bendy pipe, foot-release floorhead, and touchscreen controls, though its top-heavy build won’t suit everyone.

4/5

Performance

Excellent on hard floors and carpets, with smart Auto mode, bright LEDs, and easy maneuverability.

4.5/5

Battery

Impressive runtimes across most cleaning modes and a rapid one-hour recharge, easily catering for a family-sized home.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

How I tested the Bosch Unlimited 10 ProPower

I put the Bosch Unlimited 10 ProPower through its paces for four weeks over the summer holidays — the absolute messiest time of year in our house. With two dogs, two daughters riding most days, and the endless trail of hay, horsehair, and snack crumbs that comes with it, our four-bedroom Victorian home in deepest Devon was a perfect test ground. We’ve got a mix of hard floors and carpet, so I was able to see how well it adapted to different surfaces, as well as how it coped with daily chaos.

I used all the attachments and functions, from the detail brush on the sofas and stairs to the bendy wand for reaching under beds. I ran proper “mess tests” too – oats and teabags scattered across both carpets and hard floors – and I checked how close it could get to edges without switching to the crevice tool. I also kept tabs on battery life, recording runtimes across Eco, Auto, Silent and Turbo modes, and timed how long it took to recharge.

To round it out, I used a decibel meter app to measure noise levels in each mode, because I wanted to know if it was genuinely quiet or just “quiet for a vacuum.” I lived with it as our only vacuum, using it on everything from dog hair tumbleweeds to post-dinner disasters, and came away with a clear sense of how it performs in real life.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners.

First reviewed August 2025



Source link

September 30, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 5

Categories

  • Crypto Trends (1,098)
  • Esports (800)
  • Game Reviews (728)
  • Game Updates (906)
  • GameFi Guides (1,058)
  • Gaming Gear (960)
  • NFT Gaming (1,079)
  • Product Reviews (960)

Recent Posts

  • One of Borderlands’ most hated characters seems to have been cut from Borderlands 4
  • Dyson Is Offloading Its V8 Plus Model, Now Cheaper Than Entry-Level Cordless Vacuums
  • Nintendo posts cute and mysterious animated short film, but is it teasing Pikmin?
  • Best FC Mobile 2nd Anniversary players tier list
  • PowerWash Simulator 2 launches later this month

Recent Posts

  • One of Borderlands’ most hated characters seems to have been cut from Borderlands 4

    October 7, 2025
  • Dyson Is Offloading Its V8 Plus Model, Now Cheaper Than Entry-Level Cordless Vacuums

    October 7, 2025
  • Nintendo posts cute and mysterious animated short film, but is it teasing Pikmin?

    October 7, 2025
  • Best FC Mobile 2nd Anniversary players tier list

    October 7, 2025
  • PowerWash Simulator 2 launches later this month

    October 7, 2025

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

About me

Welcome to Laughinghyena.io, your ultimate destination for the latest in blockchain gaming and gaming products. We’re passionate about the future of gaming, where decentralized technology empowers players to own, trade, and thrive in virtual worlds.

Recent Posts

  • One of Borderlands’ most hated characters seems to have been cut from Borderlands 4

    October 7, 2025
  • Dyson Is Offloading Its V8 Plus Model, Now Cheaper Than Entry-Level Cordless Vacuums

    October 7, 2025

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

@2025 laughinghyena- All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Pro


Back To Top
Laughing Hyena
  • Home
  • Hyena Games
  • Esports
  • NFT Gaming
  • Crypto Trends
  • Game Reviews
  • Game Updates
  • GameFi Guides
  • Shop

Shopping Cart

Close

No products in the cart.

Close