Home security has been around for decades and can be very expensive and complicated to set up depending on what you’re trying to get. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been using ADT’s new Self Setup system that launched back in March, a DIY system backed by ADT’s monitoring and Google’s Nest hardware. It’s a solid security system, but a sad reminder of what Google gave up when killing its own hardware.

Samsung has been the main face for foldables over the past few years, but in the face of growing competition, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 feels rather tame in its attempts to improve. But, really, this is a foldable that knows what it wants to be and is about as good as this foldable can be.

The past several years of Galaxy Watch releases have shown that Samsung is committed to making detailed refinements to its wearable lineup. This year brings some of those small changes, but it retells the same story – minor features get even better, but the Galaxy Watch 6 brings no big changes.

Foldable flip phones are the form factor that really seems to be catching on, and the new Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a near-perfect version of the idea. Or, at least, it would be if the software hadn’t fallen short.

The E Ink market would likely have you believe that the technology is rather limited to black-and-white displays, which are well-suited for reading digital material. However, the Boox Tab Ultra C and Boox Tab Mini C make a big case for colored E Ink, which I didn’t know I’d like so much.

The Nothing Phone (2) is a smartphone from a company with huge ambitions and grand visions, and much of that narrative bleeds over into how people often talk about the device. After almost two weeks with Phone (2), though, I’ve really come away with just one conclusion – this is just a really good phone, nothing more.

Cases for Google Pixel phones have long been an afterthought. For the longest time, designs were boring and bland. Things are certainly getting better with time, and one gorgeous example of that is Carved’s Live Edge wood case, which turns Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro into a true work of art.

Sometimes smart home tech results in the thought, “Why does anyone need this?” But in other cases, the benefits are abundantly clear, even if they aren’t always fully realized. Garage door openers are one of those pieces of smart home gear that fit into the latter, and over the past few weeks, the Tailwind system I’ve been using alongside Google Home has not only hit my expectations but has also gone above and beyond.

Flip phones were once a relic of the past, but the arrival of foldable smartphones has given new life to the form factor. And, now, the 2023 Motorola Razr+ is showing the modern flip phone at its best.

I’d like to believe that Google’s modern hardware division could have released a tablet primarily for content consumption – like the Nexus 7 – at any time since its inception in 2016 but just chose not to. Made by Google’s high-level MO is to add unique aspects to its products. On the Pixel Slate, that was deemed to be productivity, and it did not work. In trying again with the Pixel Tablet, Google clearly still believes it needs something unique, and that’s how we have a Nest Hub Smart Display UI sitting – literally – on top of Android.

There are generally two trains of thought to digesting streamed media in a common space. The first is the most common and involves a nice UHD or 4K TV. The second, less common approach, is getting a smart short-throw projector that takes up minimal space and offers up to 120 inches of clear, crisp 4K video. The Formovie Theater 4K projector does just that, and man do we love it.

Because the Pixel Watch was launched with proprietary band connectors, finding premium watchbands has been somewhat of a challenge. Of course, options from the manufacturer itself are going to yield the best results, but is Google’s new Metal Links Band for the Pixel Watch worth the $200 tag?

There are a couple of companies vying for the top spot in the robot/vacuum market, and Ecovacs’ is one of them. Its Deebot T20 Omni is the newest smart cleaning robot that makes use of an auto-lifting mop system and new hardware for one of the best cleans around.

Samsung’s Galaxy A line has long been the company’s true bread and butter, with the A50 series long offering flagship-tier features at half the cost. The latest Galaxy A54 is another great example of that, but with stiffer competition from Google’s Pixel line, Samsung’s flaws are easier to see.

As stock Android experiences go, Motorola has found success in the past and delivered good hardware and experience with it, though it’s been a long time. Now, with the 2023 Motorola Edge+, it seems the company is maybe finding its stride again, delivering a phone that flies under the radar but should really be on a lot of buyers’ minds.

Android smartwatches have been in a rough state for years now as they’ve watched the Apple Watch become an absolute juggernaut to compete against. But the debut of Wear OS 3 and some proper hardware has breathed new life into Google’s efforts and has also now given us the TicWatch Pro 5, a powerhouse smartwatch that literally outlasts the competition.

Google released its first battery-powered Nest Cam in 2021, but using the camera solely on battery power tends to take away from the experience. With the addition of a solar panel, however, the Nest Cam gets not only a steady source of power, but also better overall functionality.

As recycling becomes a bigger and bigger part of our modern world, Acer is trying to incorporate more post-consumer recycled plastics. That’s the point of its Vero line, which includes the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 – a high-end Chromebook wrapped up in recycled plastics.

Motorola has gone through some undoubtedly rough patches when it comes to flagship devices. With the ThinkPhone being Motorola’s high-end offering, the professional-focused device offers a fantastic experience that doesn’t stray very far from stock Android but offers some extra capabilities for those who use Lenovo’s ThinkPad laptops.

High-end Chromebooks used to be a tough product to recommend, but years of advancement in ChromeOS and the changing world of work have left the form factor a pretty desirable product for many. HP has offered many Chromebooks with high-end specs, but it wasn’t until the Elite Dragonfly that we saw a true flagship, which was unfortunately wildly expensive. But now, there’s an easy recommendation for the best high-end Chromebook, the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook.

Over the years, Google’s Pixel phones have gained a reputation for having an exceptional camera, a clean Android experience, and smarts you won’t find on any other phone. With the Pixel 7a, Google delivers on every one of those promises at a far more inclusive price.

Last year Walmart shocked many with the launch of its super-affordable Onn-branded Android TV streaming devices, and now the retailer is back with a new generation. The new Walmart Onn Google TV box is insanely affordable and, like its predecessor, shockingly fantastic for its under-$20 price point.