Reviews
After a month of testing, I determined JBL Xtreme 2 is the loudest and best sounding Bluetooth speaker I’ve ever used. But I don’t recommend Xtreme 2 because the large form factor and lack of portability don’t make sense for a pure Bluetooth speaker. Sound: A+ * JBL
Reviews
UE Boom 3 has crisp and omnidirectional sound with the best design on the market, but it lacks the depth and richness of Charge. Sound: C- * It has two drivers and two passive radiators. * UE Boom 3’s biggest advantage is that it delivers 360° sound, which makes it a
Reviews
After weeks of testing, I determined JBL Charge 4 is the best portable speaker option for most people because of its great sound quality, long battery life, and good bang for the buck. Sound: A- * Charge 4 is an amazing speaker for this form factor. It has a brilliant sound
Reviews
After a month-long trial, I determined Bose SoundLink Color II sounds good but it doesn’t have adequate volume and isn’t worth its price. Sound: C+ * SoundLink Color II sounds good relative to other portable speakers on the market, but most people will want more bass than it provides.
Reviews
After a month-long trial, I determined UE Megaboom 3 is one of my wireless speakers because of its brilliant design, wireless charging, and superior high-volume performance. Sound: A- * It offers omnidirectional sound, meaning it sounds the same from all angles, which makes it ideal for listening with large groups or
Reviews
JBL Flip 4 sounds amazing, and it’s more affordable compared to similar sounding speakers, like UE Boom 3. Sound: C+ * It delivers stereo sound with dual passive radiators. The radiators bounce as music plays. * The sound is always clean, but some will want more bass. UE Boom 3 and
Reviews
Bose SoundLink Micro sounds fantastic for its size, has a surprising amount of bass, and comes in a cool form factor, but it’s substantially quieter and more expensive than competitors. Sound: C- * The sound is amazing for its size. The bass has some thump, and it’s not something
Reviews
After testing LIFX lights for a couple of months, I determined LIFX is a great option if you only want a couple of smart lights because it saves you from buying a $60 hub. Setup (A): * LIFX bulbs don’t need a hub. Each bulb needs to be connected to
Reviews
After testing Philips Hue lights for three years, I determined Hue are the best smart lights because they work better with other smart platforms and have a trustworthy brand name. Setup (A): * You can add wall switches, dimmers, and motion sensors. * You’ll need a Philips Hue Hub (sometimes referred
Reviews
While at least half the price of Eero, Luma shouldn’t be considered under any circumstances because it doesn’t work consistently and the software is a mess. Here’s why! Setup (F): * You can only install through the phone app. * I’ve installed five different mesh systems over 10
Reviews
After two weeks of testing, I determined that the Schlage Connect is a decent budget smart lock with a few hardware and software issues. Setup (C+): * There wasn’t a walkthrough tutorial in the app, but the paper instructions were fine. * For installation, you need to remove the existing deadbolt.
Reviews
After two weeks of testing, I determined that the Kwikset Kevo isn’t worth buying because it doesn’t work reliably. Setup (B-): * An interactive guide in the app walks you through installation. It gets the job done, but the directions weren’t perfect. The app implies you sync Kevo