Three ways into a smart home and one box you replace if you change your mind. Apple, Google and Alexa priced side by side, plus the Matter kit that works with all three.
March 20, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Best Smart Speakers UK: HomePod vs Sonos vs Echo Compared
Last updated: 2 October 2026
A speaker is also the hub for everything else you add later, so it is worth reading it alongside my smart home guides.
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.
Choosing the best smart speakers UK buyers can actually get their hands on in 2026 is oddly complicated. Apple wants you all-in on Siri and AirPlay. Sonos wants you to forget about voice assistants and just listen. Amazon wants you to talk to Alexa about literally everything, including your shopping list. Three very different philosophies, three very different ecosystems, and a surprisingly wide range of prices.
This guide cuts through the noise. I compare every current speaker worth considering from Apple, Sonos and Amazon. In particular, I cover sound quality, stereo pairing rules, multi-room setups, app quality, ecosystem lock-in, future-proofing and genuine value for money. Whether you want a single kitchen speaker or a whole-home audio system, I will help you pick the right one.
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August 12, 2025Comments are off for this post.
Blink Video Doorbell Review UK: Smart Security on a Budget
Last updated: 2 October 2026
A doorbell is rarely the only thing people add, so my smart home guides cover what tends to follow it.
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.
This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.
Cool Factor: 3/5 - Cool
This Blink Video Doorbell review covers the 2nd generation model from Amazon's budget security brand. With a head-to-toe HD camera, two-year battery life, Alexa integration, and cloud storage starting at just £2.50 a month, it's one of the most affordable smart doorbells you can get in the UK. I've been testing it on my own front door. Here's my honest verdict.
Update, October 2026: Blink has since released a successor to this doorbell, the Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+, launched in May 2026. According to Blink's own spec sheet, it records at 2K (1920 x 1920), keeps the head-to-toe view, the three AA lithium batteries and the IP65 rating, and still needs a Sync Module. The UK price is £59.99 on its own or £69.99 with a Sync Module Core, and Amazon UK had the Sync Module bundle at £29.99 when I checked on 2 October 2026. My hands-on verdict below is for the 2nd gen model. Amazon now sells the 2K+ in its place, so the buy links point there.
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