One of my personal favorite upgrades is the KitchenAid Ice Cream Attachment, which consists of a special churning paddle and a freezable bowl, which use the power of your stand mixer to make ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt desserts in about half an hour. Delicious!

The KitchenAid Pasta Roller Attachment is another classic, letting you easily make fresh lasagne, fettuccine, and spaghetti at home. It's also perfect for making your own filled pasta. Why not try ravioli stuffed with your favorite cheese and nuts? Your stand mixer can even chop, shred, and grate the ingredients with the KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment (which means one less appliance on your counter).

It doesn't end there, either; there's also a huge selection of other KitchenAid accessories to match your mixer. They're not expensive either, with utensils like the KitchenAid Classic Ladle and Short Turner both under $10, KitchenAid Non-Slip Oven Mitts for $15, and a set of colorful KitchenAid Universal Mixing Bowls for $20.

Fresh and fun KitchenAid accessories

The newly unveiled IKEA donut lamp, part of the Varmblixt series, has been turning heads in recent weeks – but Philips Hue looks set to counter with a new product of its own, based on the existing Hue Flourish table lamp.

Based on a listing seen on Amazon Germany (via Hueblog), the lamp is going to get an upgrade from 806 lumens to 1,100 lumens. That should mean a higher maximum brightness for the Flourish lamp when it's sitting in your home.

If you're new to the product, the lamp doesn't actually have a light fixed inside it, like the Flourish pendant light or the Flourish ceiling light. Instead, it comes with a Philips Hue E27 bulb for full color illumination, which can be replaced as and when needed.

It's that bulb that is driving the upgraded lumens in the new version, and the rest of the lamp looks to be the same: it still measures 26.1 centimeters wide and 17.5 centimeters high, so make sure you've got enough room for it before buying.

The price is right?

Based on the Amazon Germany listing, the upgraded Flourish table lamp is going to be available for roughly the same price as the previous version launched at – though the older model no longer available to buy direct from Philips Hue.

The previous version would have cost you $153.99 / £129.99 (roughly AU$225, though it's not clear what the original price in Australia was). Remember that includes both the E27 bulb and the surrounding lamp, made from glass.

The IKEA Varmblixt donut will set you back $99.99 when it goes on sale in April – that's about £75 / AU$145, though international pricing is to be confirmed – so if you're going for the cheaper option it seems as though IKEA is still the way to go.

Of course, a lot depends on what else you've already got set up in your smart home: if you've already heavily invested in Philips Hue lights and perhaps a Hue Bridge to connect them all together, then the Flourish table lamp makes more sense. Well, either that, or buying a different IKEA light and using a Philips Hue bulb inside it.

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So which models piqued my interest the most? Of all the lawnbots I saw at CES, these are the three I'm most excited to try out...

1. Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD

This lawnbot's predecessor blew my writer away when he tested it for our Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD review. The 2026 version is broadly similar but just a bit better all round – for me, it looks like the lawnbot to beat this year.

One of Mammotion's USPs is its Tri-Fusion Navigation system, which combines three navigation technologies, so that the lawnbot can pick the one that best suits each situation – and it (theoretically) never ends up losing its way. So there's traditional satellite-based navigation (ideal in wide, open spaces), LiDAR (great for cramped areas with obstacles) and camera-based Vision (perfect for precise object recognition).

All of those technologies have had an upgrade on the LUBA 3. The satellite positioning has been switched up so there's now no need for a separate RTK station, which removes one big pain point from getting set up. Mammotion now promises ±1 cm positioning precision, and an ability to react almost instantly to surroundings.

Read more: I watched Mammotion's new flagship lawnbot scale an astroturf mountain, and it was mesmerizing

• Check out the LUBA 3 AWD at Mammotion US / Mammotion UK

2. Segway Navimow i2 AWD

In the compact lawnbot corner of the market, my one to watch is the Segway Navimow i2 AWD. It's far from the flashiest of the 2026 fleet of robot mowers, but it has some clever tricks that help it really stand out from competitor models.

All-wheel drive (AWD) is rare in compact lawnbots. Here, it's not for scaling especially treacherous terrain, but to enable the bot to treat your yard with the care it deserves.

A rep for Segway Navimow explained to me that on non-AWD lawnbots, the wheel tread can drag on the grass when the bot needs to pivot. Having each wheel powered independently negates this issue. It can make the hairpin turn at the top of each neat lawn stripe without churning up your turf.

On top of this, Segway Navimow has added an 'Adaptive drive' feature to maximize battery life. Essentially, the front, guide wheel will only be motorized when it's specifically required – the brand says this can boost runtimes by up to 30%.

Read more: Segway Navimow has finally created a compact robot mower that'll treat your lawn with the meticulous care it deserves

• Check out the i2 AWD at Segway Navimow

3. Roborock RockMow X1 LiDAR

My third pick is a bit of a curveball. Roborock is known for making some of the best robot vacuums around – it unveiled its first lawnbots at IFA in September 2025.

I haven't had a chance to test any of the debut lineup out yet (it's not mowing season in the UK), but I am intrigued to see if this brand can work its robovac magic on the lawnbot arena. At the top of my to-test list is the Roborock RockMow X1 LiDAR, which is a brand new 2026 addition to the range.

LiDAR in lawnbots is going to be one of the big trends of 2026, but it's typically used as a complement to satellite-based navigation tech. It's very rare for a robot mower not to use satellites at all, but that seems to be the case on this new Roborock model.

The RockMow X1 LiDAR uses LiDAR and VSLAM to find its way about. These are two major robot vacuum navigation technologies, so Roborock has plenty of expertise in its back pocket to draw on. LiDAR builds a 3D map of a space by bouncing light off obstacles, so it won't work in wide open, unenclosed lawns. However, in yards that have lots of obstacles and features, it could be ideal.

• View the RockMow X1 LiDAR at Roborock

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Even at full price, we rate the original version highly for affordability, as you can read about in our best home security cameras guide. So, this upgraded model is an even better buy while it's on sale. With its wide field of view, the tiny camera is perfect for capturing entire rooms, hallways, or landings.

Just a heads up: if you'd like to record clips from the camera, you'll need to pay for a monthly Blink subscription or buy a Sync Module 2 for a one-off cost (to get local storage). And, if you already own a Blink camera, then the Mini 2 slots nicely into your existing ecosystem.

All in, this is a reasonably performing home security camera that costs the same as three or four coffees. Get it while it's still cheap as chips.

Today’s best Blink Mini 2 deal

In our Blink Mini 2 review, we may have only felt able to rate the home security camera three and a half stars, but the reality is that it's very difficult for a super basic and budget-friendly product to achieve much higher. The lowish rating is on account of many features being blocked by a paywall and the lack of advanced features such as remote movement or a remote cover.

That being said, it now only costs £13.99. At that price, you're no doubt happy to forgo a few of these features in favour of saving a few pounds. As well as the bargain price, it has the benefit of being super compact, records reasonable video quality, and can link to a separately purchased Sync Module 2 for local storage.

This is a highly recommended deal, but it's not the only one available right now. Head over to our home security camera deals and Ring doorbell deals pages for more options, especially if you’re looking for better image quality.

My favorite pieces are the Gladelig Dinnerware Set and Gladelig Baking Dish Set, with their lovely rustic blue glaze that makes me think of dinner on a sunny Mediterranean evening. All the pieces are microwave-, dishwasher-, and oven-safe, so you can rest assured they'll last for years despite their modest price tags.

Speaking of affordable accessories. IKEA's new glassware is a great way to add an unconventional hint of color to your kitchen table. I particularly like the Pokal Glass, which is ideal for water or juice at breakfast, and is just $2.49. For dinner time, the Rödräka Champagne Flute with its unusual petrol-blue stem is only $3.99.

IKEA wowed us with its tiny Kallsup speakers at the CES 2026 tech show in Las Vegas, but you don't have to wait until they launch in April to enjoy big sound in a small form factor. Right now you can pick up a set of waterproof Vappeby Bluetooth Speakers for $31.98.

To finish things off, why not give your lighting a glow-up with the glossy blue Trettioen Pendant Lamp, or the rattan Kappeland / Havsdjup Pendant Lamp for a more natural, earthy look? If you're thinking about table or wall lamps too, take a look at my guide to IKEA's 2026 lighting trends, where I've dug into the latest in smart lights and stylish fixtures for the year ahead.

Cozy blue and walnut

The first time I saw one of these window bots in action at a tech show, I was mesmerized. I watched, transfixed, as the bot made its way methodically across a pane of glass, gently buffing as it went. I knew I wanted to try one out in my own home, to see if it could move outside its comfort zone of an already-clean bit of demo glass and tackle my grimy windows instead.

For those whose homes have numerous glass windows and doors, a robot window cleaner is undoubtedly an appealing prospect. Manual window cleaning is messy, and generally requires you to hire a professional – in which case you're at the mercy of their schedule. But will a window bot do as good a job? And are there any downsides to outsourcing this task to a robot? Here's my take...

#1. Cleaning quality can vary

How well does a window bot actually clean, then? Unfortunately I can't give a definitive answer on this one. The window bot I tested did a pretty good job of clearing away surface dirt, but it left visible track marks wherever it pivoted on the glass (read my Hobot S7 Pro windowbot review for more). However, my colleague tested a different model and had nothing but good things to say about its cleaning prowess (more details in her Ecovacs Winbot W2 Pro Omni review).

What I can say for sure is that these cleaning bots aren't really for tackling the likes of bird poop or mud splashes – the cleaning is quite gentle, with not much water applied, so they're really only for surface dirt rather than anything more challenging.

#2. You will still need to supervise

While other robot helpers – robot vacuums, for instance – can be left alone to do their thing, window bots require human intervention. For starters, you'll need to be present to place the bot on each pane of glass and switch it on, and then remove it or shift it to the next pane once it's done. While using a window not will certainly save you some effort compared to manual cleaning, you'll need to be around while it's doing so.

There's also the question of how secure it is on the surface you're cleaning. One of the things that impressed me most when I first saw my window bot in action is how it adhered to the surface – it looked almost like magic. I was so confident in its stickiness that I stopped bothering to attach the safety cable when I left it to clean. So it came as quite surprise when, one morning, it simply dropped off the window with no warning.

I caught the rope and no damage was done, but there could have been – it was on the outside of a window on the third floor of a town house at the time. It only happened the once, and it seems like a freak occurrence, but I'd say it's still worth being diligent about attaching your safety rope to something, and keeping an eye on the window bot if it's in an area where a fall could potentially do some harm. Note that window bots will generally have a backup battery to keep them stuck for a short period, in the case of a power outage.

#3. They can get places a human can't

Aside from saved effort, the other big benefit of window bots is that they can reach places that human cleaners can't. For instance – the home in which I tested this bot has full-length windows that sit behind protective railings on one floor. For a person trying to clean behind those railings would prove a challenge (to put it mildly), but the windowbot snuck behind them with ease.

Oh, and they're not just for windows, either. Robot window cleaners can theoretically be used on any hard, flat surface. That means you can deploy them on your bathroom mirror or shower screen, saving you effort indoors as well as outside.

LiDAR-powered lawnbots were everywhere at CES – in fact, it's one of the hot tech trends for 2026. This light-based positioning system is already the standard in the best robot vacuums, and now it looks set to make its way beyond that market, too. I had a chance to chat to Tony Ho, vice president of business development for Segway Navimow, about this particular advancement and why it's such a big deal.

LiDAR works by shooting out beams of light, using time-of-flight sensors to measure how long these beams take to bounce back. Then, using that information, it figures out where objects are positioned, allowing it to build a 3D map of a space.

Segway Navimow has introduced the i2 LiDAR as a part of its new i2 compact lawnbot range, and it's far from the only robot mower brand following this approach. From the Roborock X1 LiDAR to the Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD (and various sibling models), to the Anthbot M5 LiDAR and the Ecovacs GOAT LiDAR, pretty much all of the major brands are exploring this option for navigation.

Why is lawnbot LiDAR such a big deal?

While LiDAR isn't perfect for every scenario (I'll get into its limitations below), it does have some major benefits. You won't need to find somewhere for an RTK station to live; you won't have to deal with your robot getting lost whenever there's a tree blocking the satellite signal; and you definitely won't need to lay any boundary wires. Since LiDAR generates its own light beams, it will work in the dark, too.

In some situations, you'll be able to unbox your new lawnbot, place it on the ground and it will be able to just work out its surroundings and start cutting. "The LiDAR itself essentially can map," explains Tony. "So [it'll] localize the robot, and also automatically map out the lawn." A few brands are marketing this as some variation on 'drop and mow', and it's undoubtedly appealing.

"LiDAR actually likes obstacles. It's like human beings – we look for landmarks, right? So, when we try to navigate, we say, 'Hey, that building is here, that tree is over there, therefore, I'm home', or something like that," says Tony. "It's a very similar concept when you drop the robot for the first time. It looks around for obstacles and uses that information to figure out where it is. Then, the next time it's in the same spot, it knows where it is. And after it knows where it is on the map, it can start doing path planning."

Removing this pain point from the setup process could have major implications for the market on a larger scale. Specifically, Tony thinks it could remove the barrier to entry that's stopping lawnbots from being widely adopted.

"Even though the product today is already quite easy to use, some people will say, 'Hey, I wanted this to be foolproof. Basically, I don't want to worry about this'," says Tony about the current setup process. "This LiDAR product will solve a lot of problems. Consumers will adopt [robot lawn mowers] quicker."

"LiDAR is perfect for smaller yards with obstacles," he continues. "We love [the i2 LiDAR]. It's literally worry-free."

LiDAR limitations

LiDAR isn't really suitable for use in large, open yards. "If you have a wide open space, the light beams have nothing to bounce off," says Tony (a rep tells me that you can actually get long-range LiDAR, but it's currently too expensive to be a workable solution in products such as this).

Thankfully, these kinds of obstacle-free areas are particularly well-suited to another navigation technology. "Once you're in open space, the best technology to use is satellites," continues Tony. That means that on lawnbots designed for larger areas – including the likes of the Segway Navimow X4 – you're more likely to see traditional satellite and RTK-based navigation.

In fact, many modern lawnbots will combine various different navigation technologies, so in situations where one fails, another can take over.

Part of the reason we're seeing (shorter-range) LiDAR in lawnbots now is that while previously it was very expensive, it's now starting to be manufactured more widely and therefore prices have come down.

There's a mix of two different types: mechanical LiDAR, where the module sits on top of the robot, beneath some kind of light protective casing; and "solid-state" LiDAR, where the LiDAR module is tucked into the body of the lawnbot. The mechanical option is more exposed and arguably more open to damage, but it does offer a 360-degree "view" of the area, which the solid-state version lacks. As to which works best for navigation, there's no clear answer yet – we'll need to get into testing and report back on this one.

Whichever prevails, it's certainly an exciting time for robot lawn mowers.

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What's that you say? We're way too far into January to still be looking back on last year? You might have a point, but I'm doing it anyway. And the good news is that because these picks aren't brand-spanking new any more, I'm starting to see price drops on many of them.

There were too many great products to list here. Particular shout-outs should go to the Dyson Airwrap i.d. (which is clever enough to turn even me into a capable hair stylist) and the Hoover HW3 wet floor cleaner (which proves products don't need to be ultra-flashy or expensive to make your life tons easier). But I've brutally narrowed down all the products I tried out last year to just my absolute favorites. Read on for the top 3 gadgets that truly blew me away...

#1. Dyson V8 Cyclone

What is it?

An updated version of Dyson's iconic V8 cordless vacuum, which came out almost a decade ago now but remains a bestseller. Dyson has kept the essence of that design, but added some key upgrades (longer runtimes, a removable battery, stronger suction) to turn it into a cordless vac that's fit for modern times.

Why do I love it?

It's not the fanciest vacuum around, but the V8 Cyclone is one mean cleaner. In my group test to find the best cordless vacuums around, this model sailed through my cleaning trials, performing way better than I'd expect for the price. Speaking of which – I love that Dyson has kept the cost relatively affordable here. It's only slightly pricier than the original V8, even though it's a way better vacuum all round.

Read my full Dyson V8 Cyclone review

#2. Roborock Saros 10

What is it?

One of Roborock's 2025 flagship robot vacuums. The headline feature is a streamlined design that can get beneath low furniture, partly thanks to a LiDAR puck that can descend when the robot senses it's entering a low-height space.

Why do I love it?

Firstly, it can clean the space under my sofa, which otherwise would be getting a twice-yearly vacuum at most. Otherwise, it's just a super-capable robot vacuum. Even though dozens of robovacs make their way through my doors each year, this is the one that's earned a permanent spot in my home – it vacuums and mops extremely well, it's reliable and very user-friendly. Oh, and I love the swish, glossy dock, despite it being a fingerprint magnet. Because there's a newer version out now (the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic), I've spotted some big discounts on this older model, too.

Read my full Roborock Saros 10 review

#3. Segway Navimow X3 Series

What is it?

A robot lawn mower from a sister brand of the guys that make the self-balancing, two-wheeled transporters so beloved by tourists and hen dos. This model is designed for massive lawns. It's built to mow quickly, efficiently and precisely, leaving large yards looking smart with minimal effort.

Why do I love it?

After testing a few robot mowers that caused me big headaches, this Segway bot was a breath of fresh air. It was easy to set up, the app was nicely designed and actually made sense, and it did the job it was designed to do. It mowed my sister's massive garden quickly and with no fuss, taking tree coverage and awkward perimeters in its stride. The brand has announced its 2026 lineup now and it packs some cool-looking upgrades, but the X3 is still an outstanding product.

Read my full Segway Navimow X3 Series review

• Find out where to buy a Segway Navimow X3 Series

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In the course of my professional testing, I've also attended plenty of briefings and received countless press releases, and I know the lines all the big robot vacuum brands are peddling. Some of them are valid, and others less so. Here are the three biggest lies robot vacuum brands are telling us, so you can temper your expectations before you invest.

#1. It's all about suction

Robot vacuum brands are currently engaged in a raging battle to have the highest suction specs. These are measured in Pascals (Pa), and things have gotten out of hand lately.

When I started testing robovacs, a low-end bot might have 2,000-4,000Pa of suction, while the fanciest and priciest models would have around 10,000Pa. Then, around the start of 2025, those specs suddenly doubled, and have been climbing at a dizzying pace ever since. Roborock's new flagship has 35,000Pa of suction, as does Dreame's latest addition.

The thing is, I didn't see cleaning prowess improving at the same rate. 10,00Pa was plenty for a really capable clean, and in fact I've tested robot vacuums with far lower suction specs that did an equally good job when it came to day-to-day cleaning, and seemed to pick up a similar amount of fluff, hair and dust from my floors.

It's natural to assume that the higher the suction spec, the better the robovac, but there are plenty of things that play into how well a bot cleans. The design of the roller, for one, and the accuracy of its navigation for another. Plus, remember the suction spec will be for the very highest cleaning setting, which probably isn't the one you'll typically be using.

2. They can identify any object – including cables

Claims around object recognition have also escalated of late. Modern bots can apparently spot and identify a dizzying array of potential obstacles, and then react appropriately for each one, every time they encounter it. Based on my testing, and that of my freelance writers, that's simply not true.

Height is one big stumbling block – if an object is below, say, an inch / 2.5cm in height, a robot vacuum simply won't spot it. I've never met a robot vac that didn't want to eat all my cables, no matter how much that bot cost.

In fact, no robot vacuum has achieved a perfect score in TechRadar's obstacle avoidance tests. I've tested plenty of bots that have meticulously circumnavigated that sock – even photographing it and correctly identifying it in the app – to then go on to drive straight into the shoe sitting a short way behind it. The next time, they might avoid the shoe but gobble down the sock.

It's still worth looking out for decent object avoidance, but adjust your expectations, especially when it comes to consistency in behavior. And to be perfectly clear, I'd never, ever trust any robot vacuum to avoid dog poop.

3. You'll never have to get your hands dirty

Today's premium robot vacuums have ever more advanced cleaning stations, which not only empty the dust from the small onboard bins and replenish any water tanks, but also clean the robot's mop pads (often with hot water, to cut through grease) and dry them off. Some can even clean themselves, too. The myth is that you'll essentially never have to get involved at all.

That's not true. A comprehensive clean station will lessen the amount of maintenance required, but it can't take care of everything. Grime will still build up in the base where the bot docks, and need wiping out and disinfecting from time to time. You'll still need to manually wash the mop pads on occasion to get them really clean (either in the washing machine or the sink, depending on the type). The side sweepers will still need removing, de-hairing and rinsing off, because grime will build up. These actions will help keep the robot performing well for as long as possible.

None of this is to put you off investing in a premium robot vacuum. There are tons more things that robot vacuums can do, and I wouldn't be without one. But it's important to know their limitations, to avoid disappointment.

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I've tested dozens of vacuums at different price points, and I have good news: there are affordable vacuums about that do a sterling cleaning job, without breaking the bank. Below, I've rounded up the best cheap vacuums to buy, and found the best deal on each to save you from having to shop around.

I've tested two of the three personally, and all come from reliable, respected brands that have considerable expertise in this area. In fact, the #1 pick also sits right at the top of my best cordless vacuum ranking. Read on for my favorite cheap vacuums...

1. Dreame R20

The Dreame R20 is just a really solid all-rounder for a very affordable price. It's relatively easy to find around the £200 mark, and you're getting features and extras that usually command a much higher price. There's automatic suction adjustment based on dirt detected, generous runtimes, and a separate soft floorhead designed for hard flooring (it'll get right up close to the surface and buff it clean without risking scratches). There's also a mini motorized upholstery tool that's amongst the best I've used at removing pet hair from furniture.

In my review the Dreame R20 achieved solid scores across the board when it came to cleaning, performing especially well in my deep carpet and pet hair tests. It's not the suckiest cleaner I've used (the V8 below is a better choice if outright power is your priority) but it'll be more than adequate for most people's needs.

2. Dyson V8 Advanced

If your priority is suction power, this is the affordable vacuum I'd go for. It's simpler than the Dreame – there's no automatic suction adjustment, and just two power modes to toggle between – and it comes with fewer attachments. However, what it lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in outright power. If you have lots of carpet or shedding pets to clean up after, this is the vacuum to go for.

The V8 is the oldest model in the current Dyson cordless lineup, and there is a very slightly updated version with 130AW of power rather than the original 115AW. Slightly confusingly, there's also an even more updated option, called the Dyson V8 Cyclone – it's better all round, but deals are rare so expect to pay more if you opt for that version.

3. Shark Corded Stick vacuum HZ500UKT

Opting for a corded vacuum rather than a cordless one is a great way to maximize your bang for buck, and this one from Shark is excellent value for money. As a general rule of thumb, corded vacuums tend to deliver better suction than cordless, and last longer overall too.

While I haven't tested this exact model, we have reviewed other, similar corded stick vacuums from Shark and they've impressed us (here's an example review). In fact, Shark is one of my favorite vacuum brands, and consistently earns high scores. The features look good too – there's no automatic suction adjustment, as you'll find on the Dreame (#1), but this vacuum has a handy forward-bending wand for cleaning under furniture, an anti hair-wrap floorhead and comes with three detail tools including a mini motorized head for upholstery.

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Below, I've listed Dyson's big innovations, ranked from best to worst. To narrow things down a bit, I've focused on the brand's vacuum cleaners and haircare gadgets, though, of course, it also has significant stakes in the air purifier and fan markets. Read on for the Dyson features that truly blew me away, and those that turned out to be downgrades in disguise.

#1. A teeny tiny motor

Any handheld gadget typically benefits from being as compact and light as possible. For its Supersonic r hair dryer, Dyson shrunk the motor right down and put it in an incredibly compact shell. It looks weird, but it's a dream to use, with the pipe-like shape directing air with precision – plus, it blasts out air with serious force for such a small gadget.

Perhaps even more impressive is the new Dyson PencilVac. This is a cordless stick vacuum, except all the internal mechanics have been shrunk down and tucked into the handle, which is 1.5 inches / under 4cm in diameter.

It looks like a broom handle, except inside there's a tiny little motor, alongside filters, a battery, and even a dust cup. It almost defies belief. I've been busy testing this gadget at home, and it's ultra-nimble and light.

#2. Lasers on vacuums

Want to be disgusted by exactly how dusty your floors are? Now you can! Dyson was the brand that first put dirt-illuminating laser headlamps on its vacuum floorheads. They're ultra-bright and positioned at precisely the right angle to cast big shadows on the tiniest particles and finest hairs on your hard flooring.

They're genuinely useful in making sure you get every last speck of dust cleared away. They're also just generally really satisfying to use and helpful in highlighting (literally) the dirt-hotspots that are getting neglected.

These were first introduced on the Dyson V15 Detect, but appear on most of Dyson's newest vacuums, including the Dyson Gen5detect and V16 Piston Animal. Lots of brands have copycat versions these days. I've tested plenty of headlamp-equipped vacuums from different brands, but very few come close to Dyson's version in terms of effectiveness.

#3. Curl automation

Dyson deserves credit for pioneering a new way of curling hair with its OG Airwrap. Now my bathroom is full of Airwrap dupes, and the auto-wrapping, air-powered curling feels like old news, but Dyson has managed to capture my attention once again with a major upgrade to its iconic multi-styler.

The newest models – the Airwrap i.d. and Airwrap Co-anda 2x – have a little spring-loaded switch on the front that automates the curl sequence for you. Flick it upwards, and it kicks off a wrap – curl – cool shot process, so all you need to do is hold the styler in place while it works its magic.

The timings of each part are specific to your hair and determined by a quiz you complete in the companion app. Normally, I'm pretty opposed to apps for things that shouldn't really need one, but here, Dyson gets a pass.

Now, this upgrade isn't essential. I could achieve the same results on my own with some focus and clock-watching. It's just that it makes styling so effortless. And because I invariably get bored or distracted when trying to curl without the automated sequence, the results on me always look more polished and last longer when the machine times it all out for me.

#4. Ultra-precise dust detection

Dyson's newer flagship vacuums (from the V15 onwards) have the ability to detect exactly the size and number of particles they're sucking up at any time, and report back on a screen mounted above the handle. They do this in real-time, via a colorful, moving bar graph, and a summary is provided at the end of the cleaning session. The vacuums also use the information to adjust suction to clean away the particles efficiently.

Let's be clear: I do really like this feature. The reason it's further down my list is that I'm not convinced all of it is strictly necessary. The particle detection and automatic suction adjustment is super-useful. I also enjoy watching the bars shift as I clean, and to some extent, it helps me do a more thorough job, as I can see where the floor is especially dirty.

However, the real-time reports are limited in their practical usefulness, and there's certainly no need for them to be broken up by particle size. I have a sneaking suspicion the bar graph is mainly there for the gratification of the engineers who really, really wanted us to know what was going on under the hood and how much work it took to make it.

#5. Submarine floorheads

Another innovation I'm on the fence about is Submarine floorheads – mopping heads that can be swapped onto certain vacuums to enable them to wet-clean as well as vacuum. In fact, it might be more accurate to say I'm not sure Dyson has really found its way when it comes to wet cleaners in general.

I haven't been blown away by any of the mopping gadgets I've tested from Dyson so far. The V15s Detect Submarine suffered from a poorly designed Submarine head that had an unfortunate tendency to leak dirty water when disconnected from the machine for emptying. And while the Dyson WashG1 is a very good cleaner, it doesn't do enough to justify its sky-high price tag. There are similarly priced (and cheaper) models in my best wet-and-dry vacuum roundup that do more, and better.

I have a new Clean+Wash Hygiene on its way for testing, so Dyson may still redeem itself on the mopping front.

#6. Conical floorheads

My final entry in this list is one that I genuinely think is a downgrade. On its latest flagship – the V16 Piston Animal – Dyson decided to shake things up on the floorhead front. Instead of having one parallel brushroll, the new-look head has two cone-shaped rollers connected in the center. The idea is that any long strands of hair will make their way to the narrow end of the cone and away into the bin, rather than staying tangled around the roller.

The knock-on effect is that the front of the floorhead becomes slightly pointed. This is a major pain when it comes to cleaning the edges of rooms, because the head won't sit flush to the wall. Getting the perimeter of a room clean now requires a load of awkward maneuvering, whereas before it was straightforward as anything.

What's more, there's a barrier in the center of the floorhead where the two rollers connect, and below which nothing gets sucked up.

While the new design does work on an anti-hair tangle front, here's the thing: I never had any real issues with hair wrap on Dyson's previous (parallel) floorhead, either. It might make a noticeable difference if you have Rapunzel-like locks, but for most households, the issues it creates will far outweigh any benefits.

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We certainly saw a lot of those huge discounts over the Black Friday sales and on Boxing Day, with some models cutting thousands off the RRP and some lower-end offerings going for really cheap price points.

While you can always go for a cheaper budget robovac, we think it’s worth investing in a much nicer model if you have the means, as the former may not yield the results you’d ideally want – especially on carpets. If you have mixed floors and really want to thoroughly clean them, shelling out for a premium model is the way to go.

With that said, one of TechRadar’s highly rated premium robovacs, the Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni, was no exception to getting a huge discount, chopping off AU$1,121 the RRP at the end of 2025.

If you had missed that sale, Amazon now has it discounted at the same price for a limited time.

In our review, the Deebot X8 Pro Omni overachieved with its advertised suction power of 18,000Pa, proving to be capable enough to clean a dirty carpet thanks to its design bringing in better interior airflow. It cleans edges well as it gets right close to walls and furniture.

It also performed well when navigating the reviewer’s cluttered space, avoiding obstacles well while not pushing things around like other robovacs have done before. The base station also cleans and dries the roller well with powerful suction of its own, and also doesn’t take in as much water as other robovacs to reduce the frequency of refilling the clean-water tank.

Battery-powered lanterns are the easiest way to add ambient lighting to any room. The Stråla LED Table Lamp, for example, is shaped like an old-fashioned gas lantern, complete with valve, and is on sale for only $7.99. If you'd prefer something prettier, the Stråla LED Lantern looks like it should be hanging in a country garden, and at $2.99, it's hard to resist.

The donut-shaped Varmblixt smart light amazed us with its soft, shifting colors at the CES 2026 show in Las Vegas, but it's not on sale until April. Until then, the classic Varmblixt LED Lamp, with its signature warm orange glow, can be yours for $99.99. It's an enduring classic, and for good reason, adding a cozy atmosphere anywhere, whether it's mounted on a wall or placed on a table.

You can also make your existing lights more welcoming by fitting dimmable smart bulbs – and IKEA's are some of the most affordable ones around. Its Trådfri LED Bulbs come in a variety of types for all your ceiling fixtures and lamps, including color-changing pearlescent bulbs and ones with a retro-style filament. All of them can be controlled using your phone, so you can set the mood with a tap.

Scroll on for all my favorite IKEA lights to give your rooms a cozy glow-up.

Section break to introduce the products

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I saw most brands' new launches at CES, and there were three major trends that stood out. It's an exciting time for robot mowers – here are the big updates coming to a yard near you this year.

#1. LiDAR-based navigation

The standout trend is the use of LiDAR for navigation. This has been the standard in robot vacuums for a few years, and now it's making its way into lawnbots. LiDAR works by bouncing beams of light off of objects, recording how long those beams take to return, and using that information to build a 3D map of the area.

That means it's perfect for smaller, enclosed yards with lots of obstacles. It doesn't rely on there being a good satellite signal, it works in enclosed or undercover areas and in the dark, and doesn't require a separate RTK receiver to operate. You will, in some cases, be able to just pop the lawnbot down on a lawn and it'll be able to figure out its surroundings and start mowing, with no prior mapping or fiddly setup required (brands are calling this 'drop and mow').

Pretty much every lawnbot brand I saw at CES was showcasing at least one LiDAR-based model – from the Segway Navimow i2 LiDAR, to the Ecovacs GOAT LiDAR, to the Roborock X1 LiDAR and the Anthbot M5 LiDAR. Mammotion's approach is to combine various different navigation methods – LiDAR included – so that when one fails, another one can take over.

That's particularly smart because LiDAR isn't ideal for all scenarios – in large, open spaces, there's nothing for the light to bounce off, so satellite-based navigation is the best option there. However, for small yards it's perfect – and in this situation it removes a big barrier to entry. It could be a real game changer.

#2. All-wheel drive

All-wheel drive (AWD) lawnbots were another major trend. There are a couple of big benefits of this setup. The first is that it enables the bot to tackle really tricky and uneven terrain. Just like a four-wheel drive car, having each wheel powered individually delivers more traction and grip. It means if one, two or even three wheels end up off the ground, there's still a way for the robot to drive out of the situation.

The other big benefit of all-wheel drive is that it can be gentler on the lawn. If the wheels are able to move independently, there's less chance of churning up the grass when the lawnbot needs to pivot. One interesting example in this area is the Segway Navimow i2 AWD. This is a compact lawnbot with three wheels, so it's not for really tough terrain. Instead, the AWD is designed to protect the grass in small yards – the front wheel can turn to 180-degrees to guide the robot around hairpin turns (the ones required to make perfect stripes) without dragging on the turf.

3. Edge-trimming modules

On big drawback of a robot mower is that, traditionally, they've only been able to get so close to the edges of a lawn. That means you'd always need to go in afterwards with an edge-trimmer to tidy up the perimeter. Lawnbot brands are starting to find ways to solve the problem, though. Many of the new models I saw at CES had some kind of edge-trimming module, either as an optional extra or built into the main machine as standard. This module includes smaller blades to supplement that main cutting deck, and is designed for cutting with precision, right up close to the edges of a lawn.

These kinds of additions rely partly on strong object recognition. Luckily, this has also come a long way, too. Many modern lawnbots deploy camera vision, often bolstered by AI, to reliably and accurately identify obstacles, so they know what to mow and what to avoid.

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Nespresso is bringing back two of last year's most popular limited-edition flavors: Pistachio Vanilla Over Ice, and White Chocolate and Strawberry.

The two sweet options launched last spring and proved extremely popular, but were only on sale for a few months. Now, however, it looks like both flavors will soon be back on sale at Nespresso's online store and boutiques, so you can stock up on your favorites.

Strawberry and White Chocolate, and Pistachio Vanilla have already returned in Canada, and according to a post on Subreddit r/NespressoSpoilers they'll be returning to the United States on January 28, along with a selection of other limited editions.

nespressospoilers from r/NespressoSpoilers/comments/1q2zdar/upcoming_releases_us_only

That's not all – Nespresso fans in Canada have also been treated to two limited-edition 'celebration mugs' in a pink color called Strawberry and a shade of cream called Parchment, which seem likely to go on sale in the US alongside the coffee pods. I'll be keeping a close eye on the online store to see whether they go on sale too next week.

Tasting notes

If you didn't manage to get your hands (and tastebuds) on White Chocolate and Strawberry the first time round, you might be wondering how those two flavors would work when combined with coffee. The answer is: surprisingly well. The pods use a blend of arabica beans from Brazil and Colombia, which have quite a fruity profile already, and the flavor that's added after roasting complements them rather than overpowering them.

I found that the freshness of the strawberry came through first, with the creamy base notes of the vanilla following afterwards. I wasn't sure how well the fruitiness would pair with milk, but I found that a splash of oat or dairy mellowed the acidity and brought the vanilla to the fore.

Pistachio Vanilla launched during the craze for pistachio-filled Dubai chocolate, but its enduring popularity has proved it wasn't just a fleeting trend. This particular flavor is intended to be served over ice for a refreshing chilled drink, but I found it equally tasty hot – and I wasn't alone.

"Yayyy I’ve been savoring my last box and hissing at my fiancé every time he looks at it," wrote one Reddit user, while another confessed to hiding their last two pods behind their bottles of vitamins.

Each capsule makes a sweet-smelling double espresso, and I topped mine up with cold milk foam made using the De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic, which I was testing at the time. If you don't already have a coffee machine that can froth cold milk, the Nespresso Aeroccino 4 is a great standalone option.

Pistachio Vanilla IS BACKKK from r/nespresso

The Pistachio Vanilla flavor is more potent than White Chocolate and Strawberry, which makes sense since it's intended to be poured over ice, which will dilute it as it melts. Served as an iced latte, it was refreshing and well rounded, without being excessively sweet.

If you feel like something more dessert-like, Nespresso has a recipe for an iced pistachio vanilla oat latte using the capsules, which includes marshmallows for extra indulgence.

I don't know whether the two flavors are now a permanent fixture, or will soon vanish from the shelves again, so once they go on sale I'll definitely be picking up several packs just to be on the safe side.

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It's fair to say it's been a bumpy few months for the Google Home platform, what with the Gemini for Home rollout not going quite as smoothly as Google might like, and now users are reporting issues with their smart lights – with an official fix apparently on the way.

Complaints on Reddit (via Android Authority) describe scenarios where smart bulbs and smart light switches are appearing offline. It doesn't seem to be an isolated incident, based on the Reddit thread, and it appears to affect smart plugs too.

The only good news is that Google has acknowledged the problem and is working on a fix, as per a reply in the Reddit conversation. Apparently, the Google team is looking to get everything up and running again as soon as possible.

If you have suddenly found your smart lights and any other devices have stopped working through the Google Home app, you'll need to hang tight until a fix rolls out. If your smart lights come with their own mobile app, that should still be functionality.

Months of bugs

All lights and switches showing offline suddenly. from r/googlehome

Based on one of the Reddit posts in the original complaint thread, this is a bug that's been happening on and off for months now – and given everything else that's happening with Google's smart home ecosystem at the moment, it's not a particularly good look.

Getting millions of users and millions of devices switched over to Gemini from Google Assistant is of course a massive technological undertaking, but the supposedly smarter AI isn't having the best of starts in the smart home arena.

Some users are reporting that Gemini is getting simple tasks 'absolutely wrong' and there are apparently multiple bugs appearing that need squashing. Fresh issues with smart light connectivity aren't going to help matters.

In fact, disgruntled users have been putting up with sub-standard functionality for quite some time now, even before the Gemini for Home rollout began. Let's hope this latest problem gets resolved sooner rather than later.

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Whether your priority is night vision, video resolution, or the ability to track subjects as they move across your property, there's a cam here for you. There's even one that comes with built-in facial recognition without a subscription fee – and it really works. Most of these cameras are fully wireless as well, so you don't need to worry about power cables, with solar panels to maximize batter life between charges.

They're all effective on their own, or you can use them together with presence and motion sensors, contact sensors, and floodlights or sirens as part of a complete home security setup.

Indoor

Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam

This little camera is one of Ring's most affordable models, and its ability to pan and tilt (which you can control via the Ring app) means it has a much wider field of view than most budget-friendly cams.

Although Ring's newer cameras offer higher resolution images, during our tests we found the Pan-Tile Indoor Cam's footage perfectly fine for most situations, appearing sharp and crisp when viewed on a phone. We were particularly impressed by how well it handled moving subjects, with no noticeable pixilation or lag.

The audio quality isn't exceptional, and a higher-end model will have better microphones, but the two-way talk function works well. We also appreciated the inclusion of a physical privacy cover that slides over the lens to stop recordings, and an audio cut-out feature.

The biggest drawback is that it won't pan and tilt automatically to track movement like the Reolink Altas below will. It's also worth bearing in mind that you'll need a Ring Home subscription to make the most of all its features, and to store video recordings in the cloud so you can watch them later. There's no way to insert an SD card into the camera to store files locally.

Read our full Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam review

Night vision

Reolink Altas PT Ultra

The Reolink Altas (not 'Atlas') PT Ultra is an excellent exterior home security camera for monitoring your property, and performed so well in testing that it won a prize in last year's TechRadar Choice Awards.

It's definitely a large camera, and not the easiest unit to install, but once it's up you'll benefit from pin-sharp 4K footage, 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt (complete with subject-tracking) and an extra-large capacity battery for continuous recording.

What really impressed us during testing, however, was the Altas PT Ultra's extraordinary night-time recording. Many home security cameras can only capture images in black and white after dark, but the Altas uses ColorX technology to record in full color. The results were extremely impressive (and there are bright spotlights for recording in total darkness).

There's also an optional solar panel to extend its battery life, but if you want a security camera that will last as long as possible between charges, I recommend taking a look at the Baseus Security S2 below instead.

The Altas isn't the most expensive camera around either, and although you can pay a monthly fee to keep your video recordings in the cloud, it's not mandatory; you can store them on a MicroSD card instead if you prefer.

Read our full Reolink Altas PT Ultra review

Subscription-free

Baseus Security S2

Another excellent security cam that can be used without a subscription, the Baseus Security S2 has a unique design with a rectangular solar panel mounted on a long camera barrel. This panel rotates to follow the movement of the sun across the sky, catching as many rays as possible to maximize the camera's battery life. It's an innovative idea, and during our testing we found it remarkably effective, letting the camera record constantly without a wired power supply or frequent recharging.

Another of this camera's best features (and one that would usually require a paid subscription plan) is built-in facial recognition. Just add the names and faces of housemates and family members, and the camera will tell you whether it's spotted a familiar person or a stranger. During testing we found that it could even recognize faces reflected in windows.

We were also impressed by the lack of false alerts from things like tree branches waving in the wind, which is a common problem with some other outdoor home security cameras.

The S2 records footage at 4K resolution, and like the Altas PT Ultra above, it can save your videos on a MicroSD card without the need for a paid plan (it supports cards up to 256GB). Both cameras are around the same price, so it's a question of which bonus features appeal most: extra wide field of view and superior night vision, or facial recognition and extended battery life.

Read our full Baseus Security S2 review

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I test dozens of robovacs each year, and it's the Saros 10 that has earned a permanent spot in my home. It heads out every other night to take care of the clouds of dog hair, pawprints, crumbs and dust that has built up over the past 48 hours. I've been using it very regularly for the past 10 months and it has never let me down – the cleaning is excellent, it's easy to use, and it's ultra-reliable too.

I suspect the reason for the big price drop is that Roborock has announced a newer version of this bot – it's called the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic, and while that bot has some unique upgrades, the Saros 10 is still an absolutely outstanding robot vacuum. And it's a steal with this current discount.

The Roborock Saros 10 is one of two sister models – it sits alongside the Saros 10R, which is also excellent, but doesn't have the discount. The main differences are that the Saros 10 has a LiDAR puck that can retract when the robot is entering a low-height space (this guy has no trouble cleaning under my sofa) and a D-shaped mop pad that vibrates, whereas the 10R has a newer navigation system that doesn't require a LiDAR puck, and two, disc-shaped pads that spin.

Both are superb (in fact, in our Roborock Saros 10R vs Saros 10 comparison, we struggled to choose a winner), but it's the Saros 10 that's attracting the big discounts right now. It's still an investment, but if you're able to splurge, it's worth it.

While all those things are certainly impressive, most aren't quite market-ready yet, and some – dare I say it – might ultimately fall into the 'gimmick' category. In terms of robots that I'd actually want in my home, two new models stood out from the crowd.

They both come from major brands that have popped up time and time again in my best robot vacuum ranking. Both brands are known for making reliable, user-friendly, and effective cleaners that are elevated with the addition of innovative but also genuinely useful new features.

Here's why the Roborock Saros 20 and Dreame X60 are my hot tips for the best new robot vacuums of 2026.

Roborock Saros 20

The Saros 20 is the successor to the hugely popular Saros 10R. It keeps everything we loved about that older version, but introduces a couple of significant updates that help level it up. The main one is an upgraded 'AdaptiLift' system. This is essentially all the tech surrounding the little feet that can lift the robot up away from the ground.

The Saros 20 will be able to climb over even taller room thresholds than its predecessor. I saw it tackle a massive double step in the Roborock demo area at CES, and while it did come down with a bit of a bump, it was still impressive to behold. If you have high room thresholds in your home, this improvement could make all the difference.

There's a second trick related to the AdaptiLift feature: it can now hold the robot at a range of preset heights. This means it can hover at just the right height over a thick carpet or rug, cleaning it efficiently without getting stuck.

Beyond that are all the things that made the Saros 10R such a great all-rounder. There are dual, rotating mop pads, one of which is able to kick out to the side to get right up to the edges of rooms. The suction specs are strong, and there's the same anti-tangle roller that's so successful on other Roborock bots I've tested. Plus, I'd expect an intuitive app and generally excellent reliability and user-friendliness. Of all the Roborock bots launched at CES, the Saros 20 is my one to watch.

Dreame X60

Dreame is another of my favorite robot vacuum brands, consistently delivering reliable, effective, and user-friendly bots. Like Roborock, it was showcasing a few different models at CES, but the one that'll be most practical for most people is the X60.

This is the model built on the foundation of the outstanding Dreame X50, and again, there are some welcome tweaks and changes. The key update is that this bot has been on a diet – it's significantly shallower than its predecessor, and in fact might well be the thinnest robot vacuum on the market right now (it's about the same height as the Saros 20 above).

If you have a low-slung sofa, chances are this bot will now be able to venture under it and clear away all the dust bunnies that have built up since you last bothered to lift the sofa out and clean beneath it.

Another headline update here is that the cleaning station now uses hotter water to wash the mop pads. Much hotter. Boiling, in fact. The idea is that it'll cut right through any grease and grime so your mop pads are like-new by the time the robovac ventures out on another cleaning spree.

As with the Roborock Saros 20, there's also a retractable LiDAR puck (helping to keep the overall height down), and mini legs to vault it over tall room thresholds.

Pricing and availability

Both Roborock and Dreame are widely available in various countries, including the US, UK, and Australia, but not everything arrives at the same time.

At the time of writing, the Saros 20 is listed on the global Roborock site, but not available to preorder or buy.

The X60 Max Ultra Complete is available for preorder in the US from dreametech.com, $1,359.99 with shipping from 10 Feb. At list price, it costs $1,699.99 (equivalent to around £1,260 / AU$2,525), but is currently discounted by $340, with various accessories bundled in.

We'll be getting both models tested out, and will have full reviews with you as soon as possible. In the meantime, I have spotted some big discounts on the older (but still outstanding) version of each bot, which are well worth checking out...

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Here I've picked out my three favorite capsule coffee makers, all of which can make delicious espresso in under a minute, and are compact enough for even a tiny kitchen.

All of them come highly recommended, but when making your choice, bear in mind that some coffee pods are more expensive than others, and even if the machine itself is cheap, you might end up paying more in the long run if it only accepts expensive capsules.

Nespresso

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

The Ninja DualBrew is brilliant hybrid appliance, and gives you every coffee-making option you could wish for in one chunky package. On the left you have a traditional-style drip coffee maker, with a programmable timer so you can set it to begin brewing first thing in the morning, and a smart hot plate that keeps your drink warm without stewing it. On the right, you have a capsule espresso machine for making stronger, shorter drinks in an instant, and at the side there's an electric whisk for whipping up cappuccinos and lattes.

This machine uses Nespresso Original capsules (the ones shaped like little top hats). Nestlé no longer owns the patent on this design, so you'll find a huge range of compatible options from big brands and tiny independent coffee roasters alike. Nespresso Vertuo pods (which are dome-shaped) are only available direct from Nespresso. Although there's still an impressive selection, including lots of tasty limited-edition options, you don't get all the third-party options.

It might not be the prettiest machine, but it's packed with thoughtful features. These include a height-adjustable drip tray for the espresso machine, so you can use any cup, and the option to dispense drip coffee into a travel mug rather than the carafe so you can enjoy it on your morning commute.

It's not perfect (the whisk doesn't heat milk like a steam wand, so you'll need to microwave it), but it's very close.

Read our full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System review

Tassimo

Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly

The Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly is (as its name suggests) extremely easy to both use and clean, and it can make a surprisingly authentic latte macchiato. You can find third-party Nespresso Original capsules containing powdered milk, but Tassimo produces its own proprietary pods full of long-life milk, which your machine will steam to creamy perfection.

Just fill the water tank, pop your pod in the holder barcode-down (so the machine can read it), place your cup under the dispenser and hit the button. Cleaning the machine is equally straightforward. Just slide the orange maintenance disc out of its slot near the Finesse Friendly's base

The machine itself is the cheapest in this guide, but before you grab one, bear in mind the cost of the capsules. Basic Tassimo T-Pods that only contain coffee are reasonably priced, but more elaborate drinks are decidedly expensive. That's particularly true for drinks with milk, which are made using two T-Pods each. For example, a pack of Costa Caramel Latte T-Pods contains enough capsules to make just eight drinks, and has a list price of £7.25 (about $10 / AU$15).

On the plus side, T-Pods are readily recycled. In the UK they're processed via the Podback scheme, and if you order them direct from the Tassimo online store, you'll receive a bag that you can use to collect them in, then send off for processing once it's full. There are also collection bins at many recycling centers and supermarkets.

Read our full Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly review

Lavazza a Modo Mio

Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg

This stylish little capsule coffee maker has the smart looks you'd expect from a Smeg appliance, and would look great alongside the Smeg Mini Milk Frother in your coffee-making corner. Color options include black, white and red, all with a glossy finish and chrome accents.

Unlike the Lavazza A Modo Mio Gusto, which has a built-in milk frothing system, this Smeg-branded coffee machine only makes espresso – and it does so very well, producing a rich and well-extracted shot of coffee in less than a minute, and with remarkably little noise. If you want a coffee maker that you can use first thing in the morning without waking the rest of the household, this could be the one for you.

One thing that sets this coffee maker apart from its rivals is the price of its coffee capsules. The A Modo Mio series is all about the beans – there are no fancy added flavors or milk options here – and the pods are very reasonably priced. They're far cheaper than Tassimo capsules, so although this Smeg-branded machine costs more at the outset, it could work out less expensive in the long run.

The downside is that although the capsules are compostable, they can only be processed industrially, in specific facilities. In the UK they're accepted as part of the Podback scheme, but there aren't many collection points where you can drop them off and individuals can't order their own recycling bags. If there's no drop-off point near you, you'll need to start your own.

Read our full Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg review

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Not all rice cookers are the same though, which is where I come in. I'm TechRadar's homes editor specializing in kitchen tech, and I've hand-picked the best cookers for delicious rice - and much more besides. All of these appliances also include modes for a wide range of other foods, from soups and stews through to rich curries and even cakes.

Read on to find out which rice cooker is right for your kitchen, your budget, and your meal plan.

Best overall

Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker

The Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker produced the best, fluffiest rice of any cooker we've tested to date – and a lot more, besides. It has eight cooking modes, all of which produced excellent results in our tests, and makes a great addition to your kitchen for cooking grains, pasta, and whole meals.

The PossibleCooker has a six-quart pot, which is big enough for a family of four, but won't take up an excessive amount of space on your counter. It's nicely designed too, with a non-stick pot with clear fill lines for rice, oats and pasta, plus a detailed instruction manual describing the best ratios to use for various types of rice and other grains.

Cooking white or brown rice took about 30-40 minutes, and the results were perfect every time, without any tweaking of the default settings. We had great results with Ninja's own recipe for Cajun dirty rice too, which involves browning meat and softening vegetables as well as cooking grains.

Surprisingly, it's also one of the must affordable rice cookers we've tested at full price, and is often available for a discount so you can get it for even less. You'll find all of today's best prices listed below.

Read our full Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker review

Budget-friendly

Cosori 5L Rice Cooker

Unlike the other two appliances in this roundup, Cosori's cooker is designed chiefly for grains, though it also has a few surprises to offer.

It comes with a non-stick pot (which we found incredibly easy to clean during our tests), a ladle, a measuring cup, a standing rice paddle, and a steam basket for vegetables like broccoli. There's also a booklet containing charts to help you add the right amount of rice and water for your preferred grain.

The cooker itself is compact enough for a small kitchen, but unlike the others here, it doesn't let you adjust the cooking temperature. That means rice can sometimes clump together a little, and you may need to experiment a little with cooking times to get the best results. It does the fundamentals well, particularly for the price, but it doesn't perform quite as well as the slightly pricier Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker above.

What really surprised us was that the Cosori 5L Rice Cooker can bake a mean cake. Yes, really. Just mix the ingredients as directed in the cooker's manual, grease the pot, pour in the batter, and select the 'cake' preset. Just over an hour later, you'll have a delicious, moist (if slightly oddly-shaped) dessert to enjoy.

Read our full Cosori 5L Rice Cooker review

Rice and more

Instant Pot Pro

The Instant Pot Pro multi-cooker is super simple to use, and a great option if you like the flexibility of the Ninja MultiCooker, but want more straightforward controls. When we tested it, one of our favorite features was the ability to set five cooking modes as one-touch presets so you can cook your rice and other foods exactly the way you want them in seconds.

There's no avoiding the fact that it's been a tumultuous few years for the company behind Instant Pots. After Instant Brands filed for bankruptcy in 2023, Instant Pot Brands was spun off as its own separate company. No new models have been released for a couple of years, but the Instant Pot Pro is still widely available in both the US and UK - and it remains a great option if you're looking for an easy way to cook rice, pulses, chilli, stews and other dishes to perfection.

Another feature that's particularly helpful for cooking rice is the Instant Pot Pro's safe steam release valve, which helps avoid burns. An audible alarm will let you know when it's time to use it.

Brown basmati rice turned out a little too 'al dente' for our first round of testing, but it didn't take much work to tweak the settings. We also made a curry to accompany the rice, which turned out perfectly, with the meat falling off the bone, whilst also browning well without sticking when we used the sauté mode. An excellent cooker for rice and more, and reasonably priced, too.

Read our full Instant Pot Pro review

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The shapeshifting design isn't the only interesting thing about this gadget though: it's also kitted out with a 'self-evolving intelligence system' that means it learns your own cleaning techniques while it's being used in manual mode, and can then replicate them in robot mode.

I had a chance to check it out at CES 2026, and it's certainly an intriguing prospect (it's currently still in development, and not yet available to buy). When it's time to switch from robot to manual mode, the LiDAR puck on the top of the robovac will retract, leaving a hole that becomes a port into which a wand and handle slots. What was the robot vacuum then becomes the floorhead of the manual vacuum.

There are a small handful of robovac models, such as the Eufy E20, that have manual and robot components that share a dock, with the idea that if you have a robot vacuum, you'll then also need something handheld to clean stairs, furniture and the like. That's not the idea here, though, because in manual mode the cleaner is too bulky and heavy for use off the ground.

In fact, this looks like it's geared towards use on hard floors only. The mopping part is more sophisticated than you'd find on your average hybrid robot vacuum – it's more similar to the setup I'd expect from one of the best wet-and-dry manual vacuums. There are two roller mops rotating in opposite directions, with each being continually fed with clean water while the dirty stuff is siphoned off. The dock can clean both the robot and itself.

Learning opportunities

The option to use the xLean TR1 as a manual vacuum adds versatility for on-the-spot cleaning – with the added benefit of all the mechanics being included in the 'floorhead' section, which makes it feel lighter and easier to maneuver than if the weight and bulk were in the handle. However, it also plays an important role in feeding into the independent learning.

xLean says it uses something called 'Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF)' to evolve while it's being used in manual mode – picking up tips for things like obstacle avoidance, and how to free itself if it gets stuck. It also has a mildly terrifying-sounding 'Hunting Mode', where it'll scout your floor for hidden or neglected messes that need tackling. The ultimate aim is to deliver 'human-like' cleaning.

xLean launched in 2022, and has been developing this one product since then. So it isn't one of the big names in robot vacuums quite yet, but the specs included on the robot vacuum look solid – there's carpet detection, the ability to recognize 400+ objects, and 17,000Pa of suction.

As mentioned, this model is not yet available to buy, but I'll be watching with interest to see if it does eventually make it to market.

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I love my Ninja Blast – even though I did pay full price for it back in the day. It’s Ninja’s most compact and quietest blender, meaning it can blitz frozen fruit or ice without a hitch. The cup has a 530ml capacity, so it's best for one drink at a time, which I can easily fit into my morning routine while I make breakfast. The rechargeable USB-C base is convenient, too, allowing you to take it anywhere you want.

Today’s best blender deal

Our Ninja Blast review is what sold the blender to me. Described as a “powerful portable blender”, it tackles fibrous foods with ease and has a "great to-go lid with a handle".

It’s lightweight and stylish wherever you use it. I tend to keep it in my kitchen, but it’s useful to be able to charge quickly via USB, which I only have to do once a week. I make a regular drink out of protein powder, frozen fruit, water, and some fruit juice. Once in a while, the frozen fruit gets stuck, but a quick shake gets it back on track.

While it’s not like one of the more conventional best blenders, as it’s a portable device focused on drinks rather than hot foods, it’s incredibly useful. I find it helps me keep hydrated in a more interesting manner.

Plus, it’s more convenient in many ways than the best juicers. I’ve found it to be one of my favorite devices in recent times, while being much cheaper than buying smoothies while out and about.

Thinking of other ways to improve your daily life? Check out the air fryer deals going on. They’re another game changer in life and a huge help when cooking. When improving your kitchen, take a look at the coffee maker deals going on right now too. They can all really benefit your life.

The design was – I was informed – the result of much meticulous work from the Dyson, and required the engineers to create a teeny-tiny new motor just 1.1 inches / 2.8cm in diameter. It would be worth it though: there was nothing else remotely like it.

Except now, there is. The PencilVac went on sale in the UK in December 2025 (it launched a little earlier in Australia and is yet to become available in the US), and in January 2026 I saw my first PencilVac dupe at CES. It's just at prototype stage at the moment, but there are a number of features that could be causing Dyson some concern.

I'm in the middle of testing the Dyson PencilVac (full review to go live when the embargo lifts in early February) and I'm impressed so far. Now, Narwal's version is clearly not finalized yet – it doesn't yet have a name, there's very minimal information available, and I was only able to look at the prototype, but not touch it.

Let's take a look at what we know so far about Narwal's upcoming PencilVac dupe, and whether it poses a real threat to Dyson...

Double take

In terms of the design, the two look unmistakably similar – it's clear what Narwal based its design on. There's the same streamlined build, with mechanics squeezed into the handle; Narwal's handle is oblong rather than round, but otherwise it looks pretty much the same, with a Power switch, small info screen, battery at the top and dust cup at the bottom.

I wasn't able to pick it up, so I couldn't comment on the maneuverability or weight, but I will say the PencilVac excels in these areas, based on my tests so far. The Narwal version is described as having '360-degree swivel', and a brand rep told me its version would be lighter than the PencilVac, although no specs were supplied, so I'm hesitant to take that as given.

Dyson's PencilVac has an unusual floorhead, with soft, cone-shaped rollers designed to prevent hair wrap. Narwal's prototype version is more standard – the roller is still soft (which suggests this model, like Dyson's, is meant for hard floors rather than carpet) but it has just one parallel roller. Dyson has mounted dirt-illuminating lasers on both sides of its floorhead, and Narwal also mentions "a dirt-detection headlight" on its feature list.

Dyson deviations

One big area where Narwal has deviated from Dyson's design is in the inclusion of an auto-empty dock. This is essentially a base that houses a larger dust cup/bag, into which the vacuum's smaller onboard bin automatically empties when the vacuum is docked. These are becoming increasingly common on regular stick vacuums, and are even scheduled to be added to Dyson's lineup. However, there isn't one on the PencilVac.

An auto-empty dock is a logical addition, because the whole concept of this type of vacuum means there's not much room for a large dust cup. Dyson has included air-powered compression on its PencilVac dust cup to maximize the space, but there's still only 0.8L available – I have a shedding pet, and I find the dust cup fills up with hair rather quickly. An auto-empty dock, which takes the mess and effort out of emptying the bin, makes a lot of sense.

Other things that might well be causing Dyson some headaches are the listed specs for battery life and suction power. Narwal promises 140AW of suction on its dupe, compared to 55AW for the PencilVac. And while the PencilVac can manage up to 30 minutes of cleaning per charge, Narwal says its version will last either 50 minutes (as per the press release) or 45 (as per the specs displayed at CES). That's a significant difference in both cases.

Of course, the big caveat here is that the Narwal vacuum is still at prototype stage, so I won't be taking any of those specs as a given just yet – the inconsistency in runtime information is telling. While Narwal has brought out some very good robot vacuums, its report card is a little patchier than Dyson's, and for me it's not up there in terms of quality or reliability either.

That said, I'll still be watching with interest to see what happens when this interloper makes its way to market.

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Nutribullet has cemented itself as a trusted name in the kitchen appliance space, with its blenders and juicers among the best in the market. The Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender offers this same quality in a more lightweight package, allowing for on-the-go blending.

The Nutribullet Flex is an upgraded version of the Nutribullet Portable Blender, adding a few welcome new features, including increased capacity and clear charge indicators. As such, it comes in slightly more than its predecessor, while still being affordable at under $100.

Considering the quality of this personal blender, it offers excellent value for money for those seeking a convenient, portable blender that produces optimal results with cold beverages and smoothies. Its lightweight design means you can easily disassemble the appliance and take it with you to work, the gym, or on vacation, while its rechargeability means you won’t be searching high and low for a plug socket.

Each of its four charges allows for approximately eight blend cycles (each lasts 30 seconds), meaning you can quickly mix your food and transport it with ease, using the convenient carry loop attached to its lid. If you’re looking for a personal blender that prioritises convenience, speed, and cold beverages, this is an excellent choice.

However, this blender lacks versatility and can struggle with some ingredients or recipes, so you’re best to stick to cold drinks and smoothies with this one. Its portability is always negatively impacted by its volume, which could restrict where you can use it, and the lack of storage for its sharp blades.

Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender: price and availability

• $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.95 at Nutribullet
• Available at third-party retailers, such as Amazon, Decathlon, and Target

Priced at $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.95, the Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender offers great quality for an affordable price. And, what’s more, we regularly see discounts on this appliance at Nutribullet and third-party retailers.

While it doesn’t offer as much versatility as many of the best blenders on the market, if you’re looking for a portable blender for cold drinks and smoothies, without breaking the $100 mark, this is a great choice.

For those who want to keep under the $50 mark, however, the Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender ($39.99 / £39.99 / A$79.95) offers a solid alternative. If you don’t mind splashing out a bit more for a more powerful, convenient on-the-go blender, we highly recommend the Nutribullet Flip ($99.99, roughly £80 / AU$150), especially if you intend to make a lot of frozen or icy beverages.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender: specifications

Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender: design

• Rechargeable, with plug-in option
• Tight seals prevent leaks
• Carry loop on sip lid for on-the-go drinks
• No storage for blade block

Out of the box, the Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender comes with a motor base, a 590ml cup, a sip lid featuring a carry loop for on-the-go use, and a blade block. While our model came in black, Nutribullet offers several colour options, including green and grey.

The blender is straightforward to assemble and takes up minimal space, making it ideal for smaller kitchens or communal work/living spaces. Disassembling the appliance also requires minimal effort; its parts are fairly compact, so they easily fit into an average-sized backpack or gym bag. Our only concern is a lack of storage for the blade block, which is sharp. Including a small hub for this could make the appliance safer to transport.

This portable blender’s 590ml cup offers enough space to make a single smoothie or drink for one, though it's worth noting that the 'max' line on ours was at 400ml, meaning, in reality, that’s the capacity you have to work with. The accompanying sip lid screws snuggly onto the cup, preventing any leakages, while its secure carry loop allows you to carry your finished drink in hand as soon as your blending is complete.

The blade block fits tightly onto the bottom of the cup and is locked into the motor base with a satisfying click. Again, we had no issues with leakages throughout our testing. The motor base has a minimalistic LED display, featuring a large power button. This simply requires one press to turn on. When turned on, a clockwise light ring appears around the button, confirming it's ready to be operated. Below this button are four LED lights, indicating the amount of charge the blender currently has.

The Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender is rechargeable, meaning it largely works wirelessly. A USB-C cable for charging is included, which plugs into a discrete port at the back of the motor base. However, no adapter is included. While you can use the appliance plugged in, it must have at least one charge (one white light) for this to work, and operating the blender plugged in pauses charging during the blend cycle. In addition, the provided cable is only 50cm long, restricting where you can place the appliance.

We found it took approximately 50 minutes for one light (charge) to appear, and the blender offered approximately eight 30-second blending cycles per charge. This does, however, seem to be variable and can depend on what you’re blending and if you’re overheating the appliance.

This blender’s lightweight design makes it fairly easy to transport, but you may want to consider where you use it. Nutribullet products are typically quite loud, and while the Flex Portable Blender is a bit quieter (depending on its use), we found it averaged a decibel reading of 82, roughly equivalent to the volume of traffic. So, while you can take it to work or the gym, your colleagues and peers may not appreciate it.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender: performance

• Best suited to beverages
• Blends smoothies consistently well
• Struggles with certain solid ingredients
• 30-second blend cycle may not be enough

We began our testing of the Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender with Nutribullet’s own Banana Kale smoothie recipe. Due to the size of the appliance, we had to half the recipe to ensure it fit the cup. This blender comes with a small leaflet instructing you on how to build a smoothie optimally, in other words, the order to add the ingredients. It’s a lifesaver for those new to smoothie making, and blenders, too, for that matter.

After adding the ingredients and securing the cup, we pressed the power button, which triggered a 30-second blend cycle – which you can stop at any time by pressing the button again. The results were impressive: the consistency was thick and creamy, but smooth. There were no lumps of unblended fruit or veg in the cup or under the blades.

Next, we used one of the recipes Nutribullet recommends for this appliance. Following the included QR code takes you to the Nutribullet app, which allows you to input your appliance type and dietary requirements and suggests recipes based on your needs. The app itself is a bit of a pain; it signed us out every time we closed it, and wouldn’t let us sign in again without creating a new account. The recipes, too, were limited to fewer than 10, primarily smoothies and lattes.

We tried the Strawberry Banana Smoothie, composed of almond milk, ice, chia seeds, half a banana, strawberries, and vanilla extract. We again built the smoothie as suggested, but found that – despite being recommended for the Portable Blender – the ingredients exceeded the max line. This is potentially because they’re for the non-Flex version of this device, but this isn’t specified in the app (nor is Flex specifically a choice when choosing your device). As a result, we had to remove a large amount of ice for the blender to function safely.

The results, again, were excellent. However, we did find a small lump of unblended banana in the final product, and some of our chia seeds had stuck to the side of the cup in a clump. Overall, this didn’t affect the final product and, again, there was no unblended residue stuck under the blades.

As part of our standard control testing for blenders, we don’t simply test smoothies, however. Nutribullet describes the Flex Portable as being for “on-the-go lifestyles,” and while that suggests it's primarily for beverages, it doesn’t specify it’s only for smoothies and cold drinks.

We tested Nutribullet’s hummus recipe, again halving the ingredients. While the bottom portion of the ingredients blended fairly well after one cycle, the top remained untouched. The blender struggled considerably with the thickness of the hummus, slowing it to a standstill at one point, despite our attempts to loosen the mixture. Similarly, the appliance struggled with ice.

We wanted to use our ice control tests to check the chopping abilities of the blade. Again, the bottom portion was chopped, but the top remained untouched.

Surprisingly, what did work well was mayonnaise, another of our controls. This recipe applies more to a standard blender, as it requires adding oil while the device is on. We, instead, stopped the blender short of its cycle to add more before blending further each time. The result was actually nice, well-blended mayonnaise.

While the Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender is capable of mixing some non-beverage recipes, it’s not recommended. This isn’t necessarily a big drawback for this product, which is likely aimed at those making beverages on-the-go rather than quick mayo for your lunchtime sandwich.

What is worth noting is its struggle with more solid, thicker ingredients and its lack of versatility. If you are in the market for a portable blender that focuses on making cold drinks and does that well, but doesn’t offer the capabilities of competitor products, this is an excellent choice.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

The X50 is one of a few Dreame robot vacuums to be showcased at CES – other models include the Cyber10 Ultra, with an arm that can pick up different tools, and the Cyber X, which comes with a pod that'll enable it to climb up and down stairs. (In fact, these eye-catching bots weren't even the most headline-grabbling part of Dreame's showcase: the brand used CES to announce its expansion into a massive number of new tech categories – but that's a different story.)

However, the X60 is the flagship, and the option that's the most realistic choice for most people. Let's take a look at three big ways it improves on the X50...

1. It's much thinner

The headline feature that Dreame is focusing on is how thin the new bot is. Like its predecessor, the Dreame X60 Max has a top-mounted LiDAR puck that can retract until it's flush with the top of the robot. This happens when the robot senses it's entering a low-height space.

However, the X60 is significantly thinner than the X50 in the first place. With its puck retracted, it comes in at 3.13 inches / 7.95cm tall (in contrast, the older version came in at 3.5 inches / 8.9cm). That's down there with the shallowest robot vacuums on the market – in line with the likes of the Roborock Saros 10R, or possibly even a touch thinner.

Why is height important? It affects where the robot can and can't clean. It might, for instance, be the difference between the bot being able to vacuum under your sofa or not. That's a big benefit, because these inaccessible places will often collect dust, and are out of reach for manual vacuums too, unless you commit to a big furniture reshuffle.

2. It has scorching hot mop washing

Like most premium robot vacuums, the X60 has a dock that can clean the bot's mop pads. Here, Dreame has increased the temperature of the mop washing to a scorching 212F / 100C – boiling point. The idea is that it'll cut through any lingering grease and ensure your pads are squeaky clean before their next mopping session. In comparison, the X50 could clean up to 176F / 80C, which is still nice and hot.

3. It can vault itself over even taller thresholds

The X50 introduced Dreame's ProLeap system: tiny little feet that raise the bot up and enable it to cross steps up to 2.4 inches / 6cm in height. For the X60, that system has been improved, and the robovac can now manage obstacles of up to 3.47 inches / 8.8cm.

Like the thinner build, this improvement is all about expanding the number of places this bot can reach. If you have a particularly tall threshold, that could potentially make a room – or even a whole section of your home – inaccessible to the robot vacuum. That is, unless you take the time to lift it over the threshold manually each time, which somewhat negates the hands-off benefit of opting for a robovac in the first place. With the new ProLeap system, the X60 can roam free, bumping itself over steps and obstacles as it goes.

Big benefits

Those are the big, headline improvements, but there are plenty more tweaks and changes under the hood that could make a big difference to certain users. For example, the X60's dock has a dual-solution compartment that means it can dispense not only regular floor cleaner but also a specific solution designed to eliminate pet odors. The basics have also had a boost, with Dreame promising faster navigation and speedier responses, improved sensors that can detect things like pet hair and pale liquids, and more powerful suction.

At present, the X60 Max Ultra Complete is US-only – it's available for preorder from dreametech.com now, with shipping from 10 Feb. At list price it costs $1,699.99 (equivalent to around £1,260 / AU$2,525), but I suspect it won't regularly be sold at that price – the current 'super early bird' offer knocks $340 off, and bundles in accessories, cleaning solution and an extended warranty.

Dreame has a strong presence in the UK and Australia, and I anticipate the X60 making its way to both markets before long.

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First launched in 2020, it’s fair to say that the Blink Mini has seen a fair few improvements over the last five years. Initially just a compact, bog-standard 1080p security camera, it was upgraded in 2024 with colour night vision and outdoor functionality as the Blink Mini 2 before receiving its current make-over as a 2K camera (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) in September 2025.

Available in black or white, it can be bought either individually or as a two-pack. We tested the two-pack version in white which currently retails on Amazon for the very reasonable price of £69.99 (about $100 / AU$140). Alternatively, you can buy it as a single unit in both colours for £39.99 (about $50 / AU$80). Whereas many of Blink’s products are battery-operated, making them particularly flexible for installation, the Blink Mini must be plugged into the mains.

However, because it doesn’t require a battery it does mean the camera is exceptionally small, around 2 x 2 inches / 5 x 5cm for the camera itself and standing around 3 inches / 8cm tall including the base. It’s also very lightweight so it’s easy to move from one part of the house to another if, say, you want to monitor a particular area of your property while you’re away on holiday.

As with most security cameras these days, installation requires downloading the camera’s app onto your smartphone and adding the device using the QR code on the back of the product. Alternatively, you can type in the serial code into your phone instead. Unlike more advanced models, the Blink Mini only works on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network (it's not compatible with the 5GHz frequency). However, this wasn’t a major issue.

You can use the Blink Mini 2K+ camera on its own via the app, or as part of a much larger network with other Blink devices, including video doorbells and indoor/outdoor security cameras. Not only does the Blink Mini 2K+ come with its own built-in siren, it can also be used as an indoor chime for the Blink video doorbell which, somewhat annoyingly, doesn’t have its own plug-in chime accessory.

In addition, the device automatically connects to Amazon Alexa so you can view footage via the Alexa app/TVs equipped with Fire TV or get notifications sent to Alexa-compatible devices, such as Amazon Echo smart speakers.

As with many home security devices, full functionality, such as the ability to filter motion alerts by person or vehicle (known as Blink Smart Detection) does require a subscription. However, the good news is that Blink’s subscriptions are half the price of Ring’s subscription costs, starting at £2.50 per month (compared to £4.99 per month for Ring).

Blink Mini 2K+: subscription options

Blink Basic Plan. Cost: £2.50 (about $3.50 / AU$5) per month or £24.99 (about $35 / AU$50) year. Covers: one camera. Features: cloud storage (30 days), person/vehicle detection (Blink Smart Detection), and video editing between devices (Blink Moments).

Blink Plus Plan. Cost: £8 (about $10 / AU$16) per month or £80 (about $100 / AU$160) year. Covers: Unlimited cameras at one location. Features: All Basic features plus 10% off Blink devices and extended warranty.

Local storage (no subscription). Cost: free. Requires: Sync Module 2 (£34.99 - about $50 / AU$70) and a USB flash drive. Features: saves clips locally. Note: Blink Smart Detection/Blink Moments is not available with this option.

Blink Mini 2K+: price and availability

• How much does it cost? $49 / £39.99 / AU$89 each (£70 for two), $US49 ($89 for two), AU$69 ($130 for two)
• When is it available? Available since September 2025
• Where is it available? UK / US / Australia

US company Blink has earned a reputation for its reasonably priced home security devices, and the Mini 2K+ is certainly no exception. Whereas most cameras will set you back around $130 / £100 / $200 each, you can actually buy a two pack of Blink Mini 2K+ cameras for less than that price.

It’s certainly a pretty good deal, but as ever with consumer electronics these days, nothing is ever that simple. Sure, if you just want the basic features, such as motion alerts and two-way audio communication, then that is all you have to pay. But if you want the full functionality that the camera offers, including Blink Smart Detection and 30 days of recordings stored in the cloud, you will have to commit to a monthly subscription plan.

Alternatively, if you only need the subscription to store video clips, then you can always invest in the Blink Sync Module 2, which allows you to record and store up to 256GB of video clips on a connected USB flash drive. However, this will cost another £39.99 (about $50 / AU$80), plus the cost of the USB flash drive.

Finally, with an IP65 water resistance rating, the Blink Mini2K+ can be used outdoors, but only if you buy the 4m Blink Weather Resistant Power Adaptor, costing another £9 (about $12 / AU$20). Like the cameras, this is available in either white or black.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Blink Mini 2K+: design

• Extremely compact design
• Built-in spotlight
• Mains-powered only

The first thing you notice about the Blink Mini 2K+ is just how small it really is. Standing just an inch tall on a stand that can be positioned to virtually any angle, it certainly lives up to its 'mini' moniker.

Two colours are available – white or black (we tested the white) – and despite its bargain-basement price tag the Mini 2K+ feels like a classy, well-built security device. At the rear is a USB-C socket while provided with the camera is a 6.5ft / 2m USB-A to USB-C lead and a plug. Alternatively, it’s possible to buy a 13ft / 4m length of weather-resistant cable with power adaptor for outdoor use.

Once the Blink app is downloaded you can simply add the camera to your set up using the QR code on the back of the device where you’ll also find the speaker. This provides voice instructions during set up and can also be used as a chime for any connected Blink video doorbells.

Turn the camera around and in the centre there’s the 2K lens (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) while underneath is the built-in microphone. Also on board is a blue light that comes on during recording and at the top of the camera you’ll find the built-in spotlight for providing coloured images at night. Like the blue recording light, this can be switched on and off via the app, or set to come on automatically when the camera senses motion.

Blink Mini 2K+: performance

• 2K resolution
• Clear two-way audio
• Decent color night vision

When it comes to performance, the Blink Mini 2K+ certainly offers a big improvement over its 1080p predecessor (at the time of writing this original model is available on Amazon so cheaply) Where you really notice the difference is when using the 4x digital pinch-to-zoom feature on your smartphone. With the 1080p camera, images soon become pixilated as you zoom in. However, with this latest 2K model you can home right in and see the detail in, say, a face or an item of clothing.

Another massive improvement is in night vision. Whereas the previous model only offered traditional IR (infrared) recording in black and white, this model boasts a surprisingly powerful built-in spotlight for color recording. During my tests, the spotlight illuminated the hallway when coming home on during the evening, producing vivid colored images on recorded footage. Audio, too, has been improved with two-way talk now filtering out background noise, such as traffic, so you can hear voices more clearly.

Users with a Blink video doorbell can set multiple Blink Mini 2K+ cameras as a chime so if someone presses the doorbell you can hear it in several rooms if you so choose. That’s particularly handy as Blink’s video doorbell doesn’t come with its own plug-in door chime, unlike models from other companies such as Ring.

Finally, you can also link the Blink Mini 2K+ to Amazon Alexa to receive announcements such as ‘Motion detected at the office’ via your Echo speakers or display the video feed on your Echo Show. However, as Blink is now owned by Amazon, the device doesn’t work with rival platforms such as Google Home or Apple Home.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Blink Mini 2K+?

Blink Mini 2K+: also consider

If you're not quite sure whether the Blink Mini 2K+ is the best home security camera for you, here are two other options to consider:

Should you buy the Blink Mini 2K+?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

How I tested the Blink Mini 2K+ security camera

• I used a pair of cameras in several rooms of the house for three weeks
• I set them up myself using the QR code provided on the back of each model
• I linked them to other devices including a Blink video doorbell and several Amazon Echo smart speakers

Testing the two cameras over the Christmas/New Year period gave me the ideal opportunity to see how they responded to visitors coming to the house. Throughout this time one of the cameras was focused on my hallway facing the front door with the spotlight set to come on whenever motion was detected. It also served as a chime for my Blink video doorbell, which I could hear throughout the house.

he other camera was moved between several rooms, including the kitchen and downstairs as well as upstairs rooms we use as offices. However, the cameras weren’t used outside as the units provided didn’t come with the necessary waterproof power adaptor.

Update: We've had a response from Signify, the parent company of Philips Hue. Its representatives told us –

"Automations aren’t disappearing or being replaced. Instead, we're making them more accessible by surfacing them directly where they're most relevant. Automations will live alongside lights, scenes, and accessories within rooms and zones, so users can interact with them in the context of the space they’re controlling."

Scroll to the bottom for the rest of the statement. Our original story continues below.

--

If you have a Philips Hue Bridge or a Philips Hue Bridge Pro set-up at home, be on the lookout for a software upgrade that's rolling out now, which lays the foundations for upcoming improvements to smart-light automations.

As spotted by Notebookcheck, the notes accompanying the version 1975104000 update (Hue Bridge v2) and version 2071193000 update (Hue Bridge Pro) mention showing automations "within the screens of the rooms and zones they control".

Currently, if you open up the Philips Hue app on your phone, you'll see there's a separate Automations tab where you'll find them all listed – timers for waking up and going to sleep, motion-sensor triggers, preset color cycles, and so on. These automations are why Philips Hue devices are some of the best smart lights in the business.

In the near future, it sounds like these automations will also appear on the same screens where you can access the rooms and zones you've created for your lights, making it much easier to see what's what with a quick glance.

Coming soon

The latest Bridge update doesn't enable this change – but it's apparently arriving "in the coming weeks". We've reached out to Philips Hue parent company Signify to see if it has anything extra to add, and will add an update here if we hear back.

In addition to making preparations for this automations tweak, the update release notes say there are "several small changes behind the scenes" that make the Bridges work better than ever – so expect faster responses and fewer problems in the future.

Though it's not mentioned in this update, we're also patiently waiting for the SpatialAware feature, announced at CES 2026 and exclusive to the Hue Bridge Pro. When you set scenes in a room, it tweaks the output from each light, based on its position – for example, for a sunset scene, the artificial sun effect will set on one side of the room.

You can manage Hue Bridge updates by tapping Settings in the app, then choosing Software update. To make life easy, enable Automatic update, which means your Hue devices will update themselves, without you having to do anything else.

And the rest of that Signify statement in full –

"From those room and zone screens, users will be able to create, edit, delete, enable or disable, and start or stop automations – without having to navigate away. This makes it much easier to find the right automation at the right moment.

At the same time, the Automations tab will remain available. This gives users flexibility: they can either browse automations by context (room or zone) or view and manage the full list of automations across their home in one place.

We're also introducing more personalization in how content is displayed within rooms and zones. Users will be able to reorder sections – for example, placing scenes or automations first, followed by accessories and individual lights – based on how they prefer to control their space.

The change is focused on reducing friction and making everyday actions quicker, especially for users who rely heavily on scenes and automations rather than individual light controls. We'll share timing details closer to rollout."

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I spoke with Tony Ho, Vice President of Business Development for Segway Navimow, and he told me that some other lawnbots had a tendency to churn up the lawn when making a pivot (a common requirement, as most lawnbots these days will mow in straight, parallel lines, turning at the top of each row).

"When they turn, the wheels are rubbing against the grass. It kind of just kills the grass at the turning point," he explained.

For the new X4 series, Segway Navimow came up with a different strategy. "The X4 has this feature where it almost turns the wheels and does a crab walk. It's one of our inventions. Our engineers are so proud of that," he tells me. "We like to say, 'It's tough on the terrain, but it's very gentle on the grass.'"

The 'tough on terrain' part of that is important, too. The X4 was designed specifically with large and challenging yards – the kind that are common in North America – in mind.

Tony says the X4 is one of his favorites of the five new models the brand is launching in 2026. "It's a showcase of the best technology we have," he says. "I definitely have huge hopes for the X4 – we think it's going to make our year this year."

I tested this model's predecessor, and as you'll discover in my five-star Segway Navimow X3 review, I was seriously impressed. However, one thing that really stood out to me is that the design could not be more different. The X3 is one of the friendliest looking lawnbots around, whereas the X4 feels a whole lot meaner.

Tony admits that at first, he thought the look was "a little bit stupid". He explains that it's geared towards the section of the market that prefer a macho-looking gadgets. "It's partially, kind of targeting... people who love cars, as opposed to the cute type of robot," he explains.

Personal styling preferences aside, I'll be very interested to see how this model performs in the real world. The version I saw was US-only, and is available in two versions: the X430, which is designed for up to an acre and costs $2,499, and the X450 for up to 1.5 acres and costs $2,999. There will be a similar UK version joining the lineup at some point – watch this space.

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It's not at all obvious where to find these games, and they aren't mentioned in Fellow's manuals. When I tested the Fellow Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker in 2024, I had no idea what I was missing until someone mentioned it at a barista skills workshop I attended. At first I thought they were joking, but the games are quite real.

In fact, for its 10-year anniversary in 2023, the company held a two-day competition where it invited coffee-lovers to send photos of their high scores for the chance to win a top prize of "a $500 Fellow gift Card, a cape, a crown, and once-in-a-decade glory". Runner-up prizes included smaller gift cards and insulated tumblers.

There's a different game for each coffee-making appliance. The Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker has a Space Invaders lookalike called Spacey, Stagg EKG and Corvo EKG kettles have Wormy (which is very similar to the Snake game on old Nokia phones), Stagg EKG Pro kettles have Bricky (a remake of Breakout), and the Tally Pro Precision Scale has Jumpy (similar to Jump Man, or the Google Chrome Dinosaur Game).

Will the forthcoming Fellow Espresso Series 1 give you something new to play while sipping a cortado? We'll have to wait and see (it's currently available for pre-order) but I expect so. Here's how to play all the current games – and possibly prepare for the 2033 championships

1. Spacey

The Fellow Aiden Precision Brewer isn't your average drip coffee maker. It has several customizable user profiles, and a menu of dedicated brewing profiles for different types of coffee – and this is where you'll find the secret game Spacey.

Using the coffee maker's large dial, scroll through the menu to 'Edit profiles' and press the dial once to select it. Scroll through the next menu to 'Light roast' and press the dial again. Now scroll to 'Name | Light Roast' and press the dial three times in quick succession.

You're now at the helm of a tiny spaceship, which you can move left and right using the control dial. Shoot at enemies to destroy them, and collect as many Fellow logos as possible while you do.

2. Bricky

Fellow's EKG Pro kettles are designed for making perfect pour-over. You can set the temperature to the degree Celsius or Fahrenheit (many temperature-controlled kettles can only be adjusted in increments of five degrees), and the kettle will keep the water at that temperature until you're ready to pour.

EKG Pro kettles also have a hidden Breakout-style game to enjoy. To find it, turn on your kettle and remove it from its base. Press the menu button (beside the dial) once, then turn the dial at least six full rotations in either direction to launch the game.

Use your kettle's dial to move your paddle left and right, bouncing the ball to clear bricks. The game has multiple levels, which get faster as you progress. You have three lives, and your kettle will save your score for each level in your current session.

These scores will be cleared when you want to start brewing coffee again, though, so Fellow recommends taking a quick picture with your phone to remember your achievements. To exit the game, press the menu button once.

3. Wormy

If you ever owned a Nokia 'brick' phone, you'll remember Snake – the game where you control a tiny serpent that eat blocks, and must avoiding crossing over its own tail as it becomes longer. It's the first game Fellow ever built into one of its products, and it's hidden away in the Stagg EKG and Corvo EKG kettles.

As with Bricky, you begin by turning your kettle on and removing it from its base. Now just flick the Centigrade / Fahrenheit toggle back and forth, and eventually the game will load on its small circular screen.

Use the dial as a joystick to move the snake (sorry, worm) left, right, up, and down, and try to 'eat' as many Fellow logos as you can, as quickly as possible.

4. Jumpy

The Fellow Tally Pro Precision Scale might be small, but it's also hiding its own retro-style game. Jumpy takes its name from Jump Man, but it plays more like the Chrome web browser's built-in dinosaur game (which you can access by typing chrome://dino into the address bar).

You control a spaceman-like character (the titular Jumpy) as he runs along, dodging flying coffee mugs and jumping over Stagg tasting glasses. The longer you run without hitting an obstacle, the higher your score.

To start playing, turn on your scale, use the button above the dial to pick the 'Brew Assist' option, then turn the dial until you reach the ratio 1:42. Tap the timer button, and get ready to jump.

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IKEA is renewing its efforts in the smart home space in a serious way, recently pushing out several new contenders for our best smart lights list – and one of the most impressive models in the lighting category is now available to buy again.

The light in question is the IKEA Solvinden Floor Lamp, quietly put on sale by the Swedish furniture giant just a few days ago. Despite the lack of fanfare around its launch, it's proving popular with buyers and social media sharers.

The Solvinden Floor Lamp can be yours for a mere $49.99 / £29 (it doesn't appear to be available in Australia just yet), and is available alongside other entries in the Solvinden range – including a pendant lamp and a table lamp.

IKEA has labeled this as a "limited edition", so it's perhaps no surprise that's selling fast. There are reports of stock running out, but those stocks are being replenished, and it shows up as being available to buy in both the US and UK at the time of writing.

Modes and moods

The main selling point of the Solvinden Floor Lamp is clearly its stylish, slim, arched design. The stand and outer casing are finished in a bold red, with the light itself wrapped around the inside of the arch.

You've got three lighting levels to choose from: strong, medium, and ambient. On top of that it's suitable for outdoor use, with an IP44 rating – I wouldn't recommend sticking it at the bottom of the garden, but it should be fine on balconies.

This isn't a smart light, in that you can't control it from your phone or set lighting schedules, or anything like that. However, it looks great, and IKEA promises it'll give your living spaces "depth, contrast, and a snug vibe".

The TechRadar team has also been impressed by the donut-shaped Varmblixt LED Lamp that IKEA unveiled at CES 2026, but the Solvinden Floor Lamp might just beat it in terms of overall appeal – and if you're keen on it, grab it while you can.

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Let's say you've unboxed the bot, attached any side sweepers or mop pads that need to be attached, downloaded the app and connected your robot vacuum up to it. What now? Here are seven things to do to get started with your new automated home helper...

1. Do a mapping run (but tidy up first)

Once you've connected your robot vacuum up to its companion app, you'll typically be prompted to do a 'mapping run'. During this, the robot won't do any cleaning, but it'll explore its new surroundings and create a map. It'll do this by popping into each room, wandering about a bit, and then leaving.

To get your home ready for this, you want to open all the doors and tidy away any clutter on the floors. In fact, I tend to try and lift up anything that's not going to be a permanent fixture – so I'll pop dining chairs onto the table, for instance.

It is possible to skip this step and just launch straight in, asking the robovac to clean and map as it goes, but opting to map first means the bot can be more efficient when it comes to vacuuming. Plus, it typically won't take long at all – less than 10 minutes.

2. Edit the map

Once the robot has finished its mapping run, it'll come back with a rough map of the space it has just scouted. How accurate this is will vary from robovac to robovac, but it's rare even the most advanced model will get it perfect first time around.

You'll probably need to go in and add a name to each room – this is just to help you make sense of the map. It's useful for determining where the robot has been and where it has encountered issues. Plus, it makes it simpler for you to launch single-room cleans. You might also need to split or merge rooms or areas.

It might be the case that the robot vacuum includes areas that it won't actually be able to clean. For instance, when I map my home, the robot will include parts of the garden, which it can 'see' through full-height patio doors. If I map a floor that's not the ground floor, it will also include the stairs going down. Again, it can see it's a space that exists, even though its cliff sensors will (thankfully) prevent it from reaching it.

For areas like this, I'll add a virtual wall or no-go zone. This means the bot won't waste time banging up against the glass door, trying to clean the decking outside.

Again, nothing terrible will happen if you don't complete this step – it just makes your life easier and can help the robot be more efficient in what it's trying to do.

3. Launch a whole-floor vacuum

At this point, I tend to just crack on with a whole-floor clean. I send the robot vacuum off to vacuum everywhere, using its default settings. Everything will be off the floor from the mapping run, so it should be able to achieve a nice, thorough clean.

During this run, I will be able to identify any problem areas where the robot might get stuck or lost, or any places where it can't currently reach. I can then make adjustments where possible to solve the problems.

I can also get an idea of the robot vacuum's navigation capabilities. More advanced robot vacuums will learn as they go, so even if the navigation is a little dodgy at this point, it'll get smarter the more you use it. Typically, I find most robot vacuums these days do a good job of finding their way about, though.

4. Explore the mopping

Most modern robot vacuums can mop as well as vacuuming, and early on I like to explore the bot's mopping capabilities. Setups vary considerably from robot to robot. On a basic option like the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2, you'll have to fill the water tank and attach the mop pad, carry the robot vacuum to the room you want mopping, close the door and ask it to mop. If the robot can't sense carpet, or if there are hard floor areas you don't want mopping, you'll want to set no-mop zones in your app.

More advanced options will be able to sense carpet and lift their mop pads up to avoid getting it damp. They'll also have a dock that refills the onboard water tank for them, so you won't need to do that bit manually. If I have a hi-tech model like this, I'll just include mopping as part of the first whole-floor clean.

Typically, you'll have the option to just vacuum and mop simultaneously, or vacuum then mop. I'll always go for the last option, so any dust and debris is clear before the water enters the picture.

5. Create a schedule

Once I've done my initial, exploratory cleans, I'll set up a schedule for cleaning going forward. The majority of robot vacuums have this option. The beauty of a robot vacuum is that it can operate autonomously, with very little input required from you. I'll ask it to clean two or three times a week, at times when I know I'm going to be out. As part of that, I might include one 'deep' clean, on higher intensity settings.

It is possible for a robot vacuum to clean at night. Almost all modern robot vacuums use LiDAR as their primary navigation technology, and this doesn't rely on the space being lit (many bots supplement this with headlamps to allow their object-detecting cameras to work in a dark room, too). If your bedrooms are near the areas being vacuumed, you might want to avoid this option, because the noise of cleaning may disturb your sleep.

6. Tweak settings

As you get acquainted with your robot vacuum, you'll notice things you might want to be a bit different. On a fancier robot vacuum, you'll likely be able to tweak almost anything, from how much water the bot uses for mopping to how often it'll auto-empty its dust cups, so dig into the app and have a look around.

If you find your robot vacuum is regularly running into things you don't want it to, look for a 'pet mode' in the settings – this will generally increase the sensitivity of the bot's object avoidance. If you're not sure what your options are, here are more settings you might want to change on your robot vacuum.

7. Map other floors

At time of writing, stair-climbing is out of a robot vacuum's capabilities. That doesn't have to mean your robovac is bound to a single floor, though. Pretty much all companion apps will enable you to map multiple levels – you'll just have to commit to carrying your bot to the new floor, and back again once it's finished cleaning.

Lack of access to the dock is the only other potential sticking point. It's rare that a robovac would need to recharge or empty its dust cup half-way through cleaning a floor, but it is possible it could run out of water if it's doing a lot of mopping.

To supplement my scheduled clean of the floor with the dock, I'll often map other floors in my home. I'll then just carry the robot up to do a clean every now and then – it's still less effort than going around with a stick vacuum.

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At the risk of confusing everyone, both versions also have sister models: the Saros 10, and the new Saros 20 Sonic (the slight shift in naming is the result of some copyright complications, I am told). The key distinguishing feature is the mop pad type – the 10R and 20 both have dual, spinning mop pads, whereas the 10 and 20 Sonic have a D-shaped pad. A Roborock rep shared with me that it has found the dual spinning mop pad style the most popular by some margin, so it tracks that the Saros 20 will be the one to watch of the new additions.

All clear? Great! Let's take a look at the Saros 20's 3 coolest upgrades...

1. It can hover above your carpet

The big news is that the Saros 20 has a new version of Roborock's AdaptiLift feature. This is essentially all the tech surrounding the little feet that boost the robot vacuum over tall thresholds. On the upgraded version, not only can the robot conquer even taller steps (it can manage single steps up to 1.77in / 4.5cm in height, or a double step totaling 3.34in / 8.5cm), it also uses the feet to improve its cleaning performance on thick carpet.

Once turned on in the app, the Saros 20 has a feature that enables it to hover at exactly the right height to effectively clean a deep-pile carpet without getting stuck. It has eight different height options, and the robot will intelligently choose the right one for the thickness of the carpet it's dealing with. Roborock says it can cope with a pile of up to 1.18 in / 3cm.

2. It will be able to swap its mop pads

This one isn't quite here yet, but is on its way: the Saros 20 will be able to switch between different mop pads for different areas of the home. Like its predecessor, the 20 has two circular, spinning mop pads that attach magnetically.

However, Roborock is now introducing multiple pad types for different scenarios, and a dock that can automatically dispense the correct pair of pads for the situation. The bot will be able to automatically drop off its old pads and pick up a new pair as required, for an effective clean with no cross-contamination between areas.

This isn't a new idea – Dreame launched a mop-swapping dock in September 2025 (read our full Dreame Matrix10 Ultra review for more info), and the Roborock version looks essentially the same.

At CES Roborock was showing a version of the mechanism with a transparent front, but not the actual final dock. A rep informed me that the Saros 20 mop-swap-dock is at the fine-tuning stage of development, and although it won't launch with the Saros 20, it hopefully won't be too far behind.

3. The dock won't show your grubby fingerprints

The Saros 10R came with a glossy mirrored dock that I love the look of. However, I will concede that it's not the most practical choice for busy households – the shiny finish shows up smears and fingerprints particularly badly. It makes sense, then, that Roborock has opted for a less glam but more functional finish on the dock for the Saros 20. It's just matte black plastic, but promises to be far more fingerprint-friendly than its predecessor.

There are further tweaks and upgrades under the hood. Notably, the suction has had another boost – the Saros 20 can deliver a ridiculous 35,000Pa of power, compared to 20,000Pa on the Saros 10R. And on top of the upgrades, you're still getting all the best bits of the excellent 10R, from automatic brush and mop lifting (depending on floor type) to hot water mop pad washing and warm air drying.

The Roborock Saros 20 will begin its international rollout this year. Exact dates and pricing are TBC, and I'll have a full review with you as soon as possible.

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You could take a chance and just pick a few boxes that sound appealing, but there's no escaping the fact that although they're a lot cheaper per cup than a takeout coffee, the cost of coffee pods adds up pretty fast. You don't want to be left with several boxes of capsules that you don't really enjoy, but feel obliged to drink because you've paid good money for them.

That's where I come in. I've had the opportunity to try lots of Nespresso's most interesting coffees over the last few months, and here I've picked three that I think are most likely to be people-pleasers.

Unfortunately, many of Nespresso's most interesting flavors are limited-edition, and although I thoroughly enjoyed Pistachio Vanilla, Coconut Vanilla, White Chocolate and Strawberry, and Cinnamon and Candied Tamarind, they have now been discontinued. All the options below are still available though, and I've provided links to today's best prices so you can snag a box of any that sound particularly tasty.

1. Nespresso Sweet Vanilla Decaffeinato

I test a lot of coffee makers for TechRadar, and I love doing it, but it does mean consuming a lot of caffeine, which isn't always great for the quality of my sleep. I was therefore delighted to try this creamy, decaffeinated vanilla brew, which you can safely enjoy after dinner without setting yourself up for a restless night.

The caffeine is extracted by simply soaking the beans in hot water, or soaking them long enough to become porous, then placing them in a pressurized container and exposing them to carbon dioxide. The caffeine is re-used in some of Nespresso's Coffee+ 'functional' energy-boosting capsules, so nothing is wasted.

Coffee can have notes of vanilla by itself, but these pods dial things up with a little added flavoring. During my barista training, my tutor referred to drinks like this as 'cheating coffee', but to be honest I'm not such a purist, especially when the results are as smooth and easy-drinking as this.

The vanilla flavor doesn't overpower the taste of the coffee, but does add a mellow sweetness. Each pod makes a mug-sized portion, and I found I liked it best with a splash of oat milk. It's so calming and tasty, it might even replace herbal tea as your bedtime drink of choice.

2. Nespresso Coffee+ Ginseng Delight

This unusual flavor is part of Nespresso's Coffee+ range, which are 'functional' drinks with various added nutrients to boost your energy levels.

This particular pod contains ginseng, which is known to have quite a bitter flavor. It's mixed with a blend of robusta and arabica beans, the former of which are also known for their bitterness, so I was pleasantly surprised to find the brewed drink was actually well-rounded and fruity due to the addition of a splash of caramel to even out the flavor.

Nespresso's directions recommend enjoying Ginseng Delight on its own, but I found that the caramel flavor lent itself well to a latte. I don't know whether the ginseng had any effect (it's said to boost brain function and increase energy) but it was certainly delicious.

I'm not alone in thinking so, either – after I first wrote about these pods, a reader told me they were her favorites too, and asked when she might be able to buy them in France. Nespresso told me they'd be coming soon, so hopefully that reader is enjoying a tasty mug of Ginseng Delight right now.

3. Nespresso Coffee+ Vivida

Another Nespresso Coffee+ variety, Vivada (the large pink pod in the photo above) aims to give your energy levels a boost with a dose of vitamin B12. As the NHS explains, this vitamin is necessary to make red blood cells, keep your nervous system healthy, and release energy from food.

Each Vivida capsule contains 0.63μg of vitamin B12, which is well within the limits of what the NHS suggests is safe for a supplement. Animal products (meat and dairy) are good sources, but it's possible for vegans to be deficient.

What I was most interested in, however, was the taste, and the Vivida didn't disappoint. Unlike the two other pods in this guide, this capsule doesn't have any added flavorings. Instead, its biscuity aroma comes from a blend of light and medium-roasted arabica beans. Like the Sweet Vanilla, I found it paired well with oat milk, which adds some sweetness and brings out the cereal notes in the coffee.

Like all the coffee capsules here, it's available in both Nespresso Original and Nespresso Vertuo capsules.

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The Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa is a compact capsule coffee maker with optional milk-frothing for cappuccinos and macchiatos, plus hot and cold milk foam. It's excellent at the fundamentals, and Lavazza's A Modo Mio pods are superb – affordably priced and packed with great quality coffee, with no flavored or sweetened options.

The Deséa is simple to use, as you'd expect from a capsule coffee maker, and is exceptionally quiet. During the testing period, it reached a maximum of only 50dB during brewing, making it the quietest machine I've tested to date.

It uses the same milk-frothing system as the Lavazza Assoluta (an automatic coffee maker that adapts its own settings to suit your chosen beans). This comprises a large glass cup with a lid containing a rotating electric whisk and a steam pipe. It works reasonably well with full-fat dairy milk, but in tests it produced very little foam when used with oat milk. This was very different to my experience with the Assoluta, so I suspect the much smaller Deséa may not be able to generate the same level of steam pressure.

Overall, it's a likeable little espresso machine that would be a good option for small kitchens, particularly if you're the lone coffee-drinker. The price of its capsules won't make you sweat, even if you enjoy several cups a day.

Lavazza A Mio Modo Deséa: specifications

Lavazza A Mio Modo Deséa: price and availability

• Similar price to other capsule coffee makers with milk foaming
• Available in Europe and Australia, but not currently sold in the US
• A Modo Mio coffee pods are much cheaper than alternatives

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa has a list price of £249 / AU$349 (about $330), but is often available at a discount. For example, at the time of writing, it could be found on sale for £199 in the UK in Lavazza’s online store, and $261.75 in Australia. Currently, this model isn't available in the US.

That price is about standard for a capsule coffee maker with a built-in milk frother. For comparison, the De'Longhi Lattissima One is currently priced at $429.99 / £259.99 / AU$519.

What sets the Deséa apart from the competition is the price of its capsules. A pack of 16 Lavazza A Modo Mio capsules retails for £6.45 / AU$15 (about $9), and the cost per drink drops significantly if you buy a bundle instead. That makes the A Modo Mio capsules some of the cheapest around, and much less expensive than Nespresso Vertuo or Tassimo alternatives.

A Modo Mio pods offer up lots of choice when it comes to coffee blends, roasts and terroir, but you won’t find any hot chocolate or coffee with added flavors. Your options are espresso, espresso, and more espresso. During testing, I found the freshly ground and vacuum-sealed beans excellent – but note that if your drink of choice is pumpkin spice, you won’t find it here.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Lavazza A Mio Modo Deséa: design

• Compact and smart-looking
• Includes milk-frothing system
• Milk frother only works with supplied mug
• Dishwasher-safe components

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa is available in black, white, cream and a deep burgundy (different retailers keep different colors in stock). It has a robust-feeling, glossy case with the company logo embossed on the side, and although it isn't quite as sleek as the Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, it certainly isn't a slouch in the looks department. Gloss finishes can sometimes be a magnet for fingerprints, but I was pleased to find that this wasn’t an issue with the cream-colored model I tested.

The Deséa is particularly compact, even for a capsule coffee maker. At just 11 x 5.7 x 15 inches / 280 x 145 x 380mm (H x W x D), it will easily tuck away into the smallest of kitchens – and can be stashed in a cupboard when not in use (provided it’s properly cleaned and dried beforehand). Despite this, it has a larger water tank than most pod coffee machines, holding 37oz / 1.1 liters. That’s because this isn’t just an espresso machine; it can also foam milk for lattes and cappuccinos using high-pressure steam.

The Deséa has an unusual milk-frothing system that uses a special glass mug with a lid containing a steam tube and a whisk. It's the same system used by the Lavazza Assoluta I tested a couple of months ago, and although it isn't as effective as a proper steam wand, it works reasonably well – provided you use the right type of milk.

However, bear in mind that you can only make milk-based drinks in the glass mug; the special lid doesn't fit onto other cups. Unless you buy a second (they are $22.70 / £15 each), you and your partner won't be able to enjoy lattes as the same time.

Most removable components (including the cup, drip tray and used pod container) can be safely cleaned in the top rack of your dishwasher, although they take only a moment to wash by hand, too.

The drip tray can be detached and positioned higher up to avoid splashes if you’re using an espresso cup, which is a welcome touch. Used pods drop into a bin that can be accessed by removing the tray and pulling out a drawer on the front of the machine.

• Design score: 4/5

Lavazza A Mio Modo Deséa: performance

• Produces excellent espresso
• Extensive drinks menu
• Milk system doesn't work as well as a steam wand
• Performs better with dairy than plant-based milk

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa has a cleverly designed control panel that displays the different menu options depending on the cup you’re using. Place an ordinary cup of any size under the dispenser and you’ll see options for brewing an espresso, long espresso (lungo), and long coffee. Push the milk-foaming cup into place and the options for milk-based drinks will light up. The full menu includes:

• Espresso
• Long espresso (lungo)
• Long coffee (Americano)
• Cappuccino (regular or large)
• Latte macchiato
• Hot milk foam
• Cold milk foam

You can adjust the volume of your coffee pour, which is a nice feature that you won’t find on many capsule coffee machines. All the drink size options are customizable; just hold the appropriate button on the control panel for three seconds to begin dispensing, then press it again once you have the desired volume. When you hear two beeps, you know the new setting has been saved successfully, ready to use next time.

Like the Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg coffee maker I tested recently, the Deséa brews excellent, well-rounded espresso in just a few seconds, and does so extremely quietly. Using a decibel meter, I measured an average volume of 50dB when extracting coffee, which is about the same as the murmur of a quiet office (although Lavazza claims the volume doesn't exceed 43dB).

After your coffee has brewed and the lights on the front panel have re-illuminated, lift the lid and after a second or two you’ll hear the used pod drop into the collection bin.

The milk system is a little louder when injecting steam, reaching a maximum of 70dB for a couple of seconds as it incorporates air, but it's quieter than the squeal and rip of a manual steam wand, and the whisk is whisper-quiet.

When you want to use the milk system, take a good look at the fill lines on the side of the glass cup that indicate how much milk to add for different drink sizes. Add too much milk and it risks splashing; too little and it won’t foam properly.

During tests, the Deséa didn’t fare very well when texturizing oat milk, which was very different from my experience with the Lavazza Assoluta. Despite the two machines using the same cup-and-lid system, the Assoluta produced inches of creamy oat foam, whereas the Deséa heated the milk (a little too much – it reached 70ºC, whereas the optimum for coffee is about 60-65ºC), but didn’t actually create any froth, even with the "extra foam" option selected.

The Deséa’s milk system worked much better with full-fat dairy milk, although I found that it still didn’t produce quite as much foam as the Assoluta. This might be because the smaller Deséa can’t generate as much pressure and inject as much steam into the liquid.

The Deséa can also prepare cold milk foam. To do this, add your cup of milk, drop in a coffee pod if required, hold the temperature +/- button on the front of the machine until the foam and latte lights turn blue, then press the one you want. Again, during my tests this worked better with dairy milk. It’s a nice feature, but bear in mind that the Deséa can only brew hot coffee, so if you want to make a cold latte then you’ll need to add a shot of hot espresso when the milk is ready, which will raise the temperature. You might like to add a few ice cubes to the drink once it’s made (but not before, as they could damage the whisk).

Finally, a word on waste. Lavazza’s A Modo Mio capsules are compostable, but you can’t simply toss them into your household waste or add them to a compost pile. They have to be processed in an industrial facility; currently Terracycle is the only service that offers this in the UK. There’sno home collection or postage system as there is with plastic and foil coffee pods, so you’ll need to gather your used capsules and take them to a drop-off point. If there isn’t one near you, you can apply to create one.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Lavazza A Mio Modo Deséa?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Lavazza A Mio Modo Deséa: also consider

If you're not sure whether the Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa is the best coffee maker for you, here are two other options for your shortlist:

How I tested the Lavazza A Mio Modo Deséa

I used the Lavazza A Mio Deséa for two weeks, making at least two drinks per day and using all of the available drink options (including hot and cold milk foam). I used it with dairy and oat milk, both of which were freshly purchased and chilled. I used two different types of Lavazza A Modo Mio coffee capsules, with different intensities.

I measured the temperature of the prepared milk with a food thermometer, and used a decibel meter app to measure the machine's volume.

For more details, see how we test, rate, and review at TechRadar.

So what is a canister vacuum, anyway? Simply put, it's a vacuum cleaner where the motor and dust collection bin sit in a separate wheeled unit you pull behind you, connected by a flexible hose to a lightweight wand and cleaning head.

This design is fundamentally different from the upright vacuums many of us grew up with. Instead of pushing one big unit around, you're working with a lighter wand while the canister glides along behind you on the floor. These days canister vacuums are the dominant vacuum style in Europe, although uprights remain more popular in the United States and Canada.

(Of course, cordless stick vacuums are now also extremely common. While they have their benefits – including flexibility and maneuverability – the fact they're not plugged into the mains also has its drawbacks. But that's a different article.)

The benefits of using a canister vacuum

The main advantages of using a canister vacuum are versatility and maneuverability. That long, flexible hose gives you serious reach. This means, for instance, that you can easily clean stairs by carrying the lightweight canister in one hand while working the wand with the other.

Getting under beds and furniture is effortless, too, since you're not trying to shove an entire vacuum underneath. And cleaning above-floor surfaces such as curtains, upholstery, bookshelves or even ceiling corners becomes genuinely doable, rather than an awkward wrestling match.

Canister vacuums typically come with multiple attachments: crevice tools for tight spots, dusting brushes for delicate surfaces, upholstery tools for furniture and motorized floorheads for carpets. Swapping between them is quick since the hose is always out and ready. Many models also include retractable cords and onboard storage for accessories, helping you keep everything organized.

Performance-wise, canisters often deliver stronger suction than comparably priced uprights, making them excellent for hard floors, low-pile carpets and rugs. However, if you have thick, plush carpeting throughout your home, make sure you look for a canister vacuum that comes with a floorhead with a motorized roller (also called a beater bar) that will agitate the carpet fibers. While this is standard on stick vacuums and uprights, it's still quite common for canister vacuums to have a main floorhead that lacks a roller.

The disadvantages of canister vacuums

Not everyone, though, loves this kind of vacuum. For a start, canisters require a bit more coordination since you're managing a hose, wand and the canister itself. These can occasionally get caught on furniture legs if you're not paying attention. And if you've spent your whole life developing the 'muscle memory' of using an upright, that can be very frustrating, at least at first.

On the whole, canister vacuums take up more storage space, although some models are surprisingly compact. And as I mentioned above, they can also be a real slog on large expanses of thick carpet. Typically, they lack the heavy, motorized brush heads found in uprights that help self-propel the vacuum through deep pile.

Canisters often have smaller dust bins or bags than uprights, so you may need to stop and empty them more frequently during a cleaning session. Plus in general, using a canister can involve more bending over to adjust settings or move the unit, while modern uprights feature ergonomic handles and foot-operated controls that can minimize this.

For all these reasons, some households with varied needs end up buying two vacuum cleaners; one upright and one canister. But if you can only choose one, and your home isn't wall-to-wall with thick carpeting, a good canister vacuum is usually the best option.

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg combines the convenience of coffee capsules with Smeg's signature retro style. It's a cut above your typical espresso machine in terms of looks, and it performs brilliantly as well.

This is an appliance that does one thing, and does it well: making espresso. There are just two options to choose from – standard or lungo (long) – and the controls couldn't be simpler to operate. You barely need the manual to get started; just rinse the machine as directed and you're ready to make your first drink.

Lavazza's A Modo Mio capsules are remarkably affordable (much cheaper than similar Nespresso Vertuo or Tassimo pods), and offer a great variety of coffees and roasts, each of which is labelled with an intensity rating. There are no fancy added flavors here; just good coffee, freshly packed in an airtight package, ready to brew in seconds.

The pods themselves are compostable, although it's worth bearing in mind that you can't toss them in your home food waste or compost heap. Instead, you'll need to take them to a Terracycle collection point, which might be a little inconvenient, depending on where you live.

The A Modo Mio Smeg also has a tendency to accumulate finger marks as a result of its glossy plastic chassis. I had a damp cloth on hand to ensure it remained looking smart; but it's one of the best coffee makers around – if you like your drinks short, strong, and fast.

Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg: specifications

Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg: price and availability

• Relatively expensive for a capsule coffee maker
• Currently not available in the US
• Pods are much cheaper than Nespresso or Tassimo capsules

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg has a list price of £249 / AU$349 (about $350), but can sometimes be found at a discount – for example, at the time of writing, it was available in Australia for 25% off. At full price, it's expensive for a capsule coffee maker – particularly one without a milk frother – but the capsules themselves are so affordable that this coffee maker could actually work out cheaper than a budget Nespresso or Tassimo machine in the long run.

Lavazza A Modo Mio capsules are available directly from Lavazza as a one-off purchase or via subscription. You can also find them on various specialty coffee websites, on Amazon, and in some supermarkets. A pack of 16 capsules retails for £6.45 / AU$15 (about $9), and the cost per drink drops significantly if you buy a bundle instead. That makes A Modo Mio pods some of the cheapest coffee pods around, and much less expensive than Nespresso Vertuo capsules or Tassimo T-Pods.

• Value score: 4/5

Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg: design

• Compact and lightweight
• Gloss finish tends to attract fingerprints
• Very simple controls
• Small drip tray

This is an attractive little coffee maker with the same 1960s-influenced retro styling as many of Smeg's other products. It’s purely an espresso machine; it lets you choose between long (lungo) and regular shots, but these are the extent of your options. However, it would look great alongside the Smeg Mini Milk Frother, giving you a perfect little setup for making cappuccinos and lattes.

It’s available in black, white, and cream (different retailers stock different colors), all of which have a gloss finish and chrome accents. The black machine I tested looked very attractive, but I found that the shiny plastic chassis tended to attract fingerprints easily, and I had to keep a cloth on hand to keep it looking good.

The water tank is robust, and has a well-fitting lid that won’t slide off when the tank is full. That’s particularly helpful because the maximum fill line is only about half an inch from the top. It has a convenient handle, and the whole assembly slides easily onto the back of the machine.

The drip tray is only really large enough to accommodate espresso cups. While you can remove the main platform to fit a larger cup beneath (such as demi-tasse), a standard 300ml coffee mug will hang over the edge.

Used capsules drop into a container that’s accessed by pulling out a drawer on the front of the machine, and which has an internal drip tray so the pods can dry (although I recommend always emptying used capsules at the end of each day for hygiene, washing out the drawer, and allowing it to air-dry overnight).

• Design score: 4/5

Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg: performance

• Very simple to use
• Pump is especially quiet
• Espresso tastes rounded and well-extracted
• No flavored coffee capsules available

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is exceptionally simple to use, even for a capsule espresso machine. The first time you use it, you’re instructed to wash out the water tank, place a cup under the dispenser, and run the "lungo" program with no pod inserted to thoroughly rinse the interior components with hot water. Continue doing this until the tank is empty, and the machine will be ready to use.

Lift up the chrome-colored lid and you’ll find a slot to insert your A Modo Mio capsule. It takes a little effort to push the lid back down afterwards – the machine uses this force to pierce the pod about 22 times – but you can use your whole hand to apply the necessary pressure.

Capsule coffee machines are rarely loud, but the Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is quieter than most. Measured with a decibel meter, it briefly reached a maximum of 70dB during brewing – about the same as a hairdryer – but was only around 50dB throughout the whole brewing process.

Once you’re done, rinse the dispenser again without a capsule to remove residue from the dispenser.

During my tests, the espresso didn’t have as much crema as you might get from a Nespresso Vertuo pod, but the flavor from Lavazza’s capsules was considerably better; it tasted more rounded and balanced. I tested two different arabica capsules of different strengths, and was very impressed by both.

Unlike some other coffee pods, A Modo Mio capsules aren’t available in different flavors and with sweeteners – but, personally, I don't think that's a bad thing. Instead, the capsules vary by roast, variety and terroir. This is a capsule machine for people who want good-tasting espresso quickly, and aren’t interested in added fruit, syrup, or spice flavorings. Whether that appeals to you is a matter of personal preference.

Lavazza A Modo Mio capsules are compostable, but you can't toss them in your home food waste. If you're in the UK, you should take them to a public Terracycle drop-off point. If there isn't a drop-off point nearby (they're mostly concentrated around south England and the Midlands), you can register to run one, but you can't have personal collection boxes sent to your home.

• Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg: also consider

If you're not sure whether the Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is the right coffee maker for you, here are two other options to consider:

How I tested the Lavazza A Moda Mio Smeg

I tested the Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg coffee maker for two weeks, making at least two drinks every day using two different types of espresso pods. I followed the setup instructions in the manual, prepared each drink using fresh tap water, and rinsed the dispenser between brews. I emptied and washed out the machine's bin and drip tray at the end of each day, and allowed everything to air-dry overnight. I cleaned the exterior of the machine with a damp microfiber cloth.

For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

We discussed the coolest tech we saw on the latest episode of our podcast, and while awesome tech that feels ripped from the future – like the brain-reading Neurable HyperX headset and over-100-inch Samsung Micro-RGB TV – were among our favorites, we all conceded that IKEA’s simple yet effective smart appliances were the true stars.

Watch our latest podcast below, and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Speakers, lights, even air-fryer-microwave-combos, IKEA had a lot of fantastic home gadgetry to showcase – much of which came in dazzling colors, and of course, the brand’s iconic fun Swedish names.

The reason for IKEA’s excellence is a simple one: its tech hit the sweet spot of interesting, useful, and relatively affordable.

Its Varmblixt LED Lamps are beautiful, brightly colored donuts that boast a color representation that even some supposed smart lighting experts can't beat, and they’ll only cost $99 (prices will vary outside the US) when it ships in April.

Our US Editor-at-large saw the light in person, and said that while it "does look like a giant donut," there's "just something so beautiful about it." You can hear more about his first-hand experience with Varmblixt in the episode linked above.

Or you’ve got the tiny, beautiful Kallsup speakers, which are properly affordable at just $9.99. You can connect to up to 100 at once, and there’s a fantastic opportunity here for a delightful audio setup if you’re brimming with creativity.

While it’s arriving a little after CES proper, we’ve also got the three-in-one Gåtebo microwave making its global rollout following its European launch last year. Perfect for smaller spaces, this microwave meets airfryer looks to be a simple yet effective appliance, adding to IKEA’s improved smart home image

We’ll have to see how well IKEA’s tech performs when it lands in front of our expert reviewers, but if it hits the mark with everything it has shown off so far this year, IKEA might have already won 2026.

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So I was excited to see what Dreame would be showcasing at CES 2026. I was expecting a new robot vacuum, perhaps some innovative air purifiers. What I was not expecting was for Dreame to announce its entry into literally every corner of the home. I'm not exaggerating – if you can think of a home appliance, Dreame now has one in its lineup.

It has a TV, soundbars, a projector, a surround sound speaker setup. There's a Dreame action camera, smart rings, smart glasses and a smartwatch. It has smart lights in all shapes and sizes. It has security cameras, smart locks and motion sensors.

There are fridges, a dishwasher, a microwave and a selection of ovens. There are air fryers, coffee machines, and a stand mixer. It has a washing machine, tumble dryer, and steamer. There's a chainsaw and a hedge trimmer, electric toothbrushes, razors, IPL machines and an LED face mask.

It's still at prototype stage, but there was even a car sitting incongruously on the Dreame stand.

The vision, according to the press release, is to evolve from "a standalone smart device brand to a comprehensive provider of connected lifestyles with an ecosystem now covering the home, garden, outdoors, and on the move". The tagline it's going with is "All dreams in one Dreame", which makes no sense at all.

Too far, too soon?

I've tested a number of Dreame gadgets, and have almost always been impressed, but I'm wary of this latest expansion. It all just seems too fast and too wide-reaching for it to have been done with the required care and expertise. The difficulty I've had in getting any information about the individual products I was most interested in hasn't reassured me any further.

Previously, Dreame's category expansions have made sense. There's crossover between the mechanics of a vacuum cleaner and a hair dryer, for instance. I can see how a brand that knows its way around a robot vacuum could also make a great lawnbot.

But I'm struggling to see how those skills might translate into coffee machines or TVs – both categories that are highly specific, and which require specialist knowledge and skills to excel in. The same goes for things like smartwatches and action cameras.

Of course, I haven't tested any of the new gadgets yet – I've only seen them displayed and demoed, which isn't a reliable way to judge any product. The proof will be in the testing, and I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

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Here it is: an air intake adjustor on the floorhead. This usually takes the form of a small manual sider, and it does exactly as the name suggests: it changes the amount of air that can get into the main suction area underneath.

Vacuums rely on there being a 'vacuum' (in the original sense of the word) underneath the floorhead. The head needs to connect to the floor around its entire perimeter in order to maximize the cleaning power – if it were open, the motor would be wasting energy sucking air from the surrounding area rather than being concentrated on its main task of pulling dust from the floor beneath it.

However, if there's too much of a vacuum created underneath the floorhead, it can become impossible to push. That can be a particular issue on thick carpet, where the long fibers help form more of a seal around the floorhead. That's where the air intake slider comes in.

The trick is to find the setting that makes maneuvering comfortable while still creating enough of a seal for efficient cleaning. So you'll probably want to open up the sider just a little bit on thick carpet, to can make the vacuum easier to push (when I was running my group test to find the best cordless vacuum, I found on the models that had the most power, I often had to open the slider when cleaning carpet in order to make maneuvering possible). Conversely, on a hard floor, you might want to close it down to maximize pickup power.

The good news is that this isn't a particularly advanced feature – a large proportion of vacuums have it already, you just might not have noticed it. If you're struggling with maneuvering on carpet, or want to maximize your vacuum's cleaning power on hard flooring, it's well worth checking around on your floorhead to see if there's a slider you might have missed.

In this article, I'll explain the main differences between them, and which one might be better for your needs.

Ceramic vs fan heaters: heat quality

When you switch on a fan heater, there's usually a noticeable blast of warm air. This makes this type of heater excellent at rapidly raising the temperature in a small to medium-sized room, because it's actively circulating air. On the downside, that circulation can feel intense – like standing in front of a warm wind tunnel. Plus, the heat distribution can be uneven, with hot spots near the heater and cooler areas further away.

Ceramic heaters, in contrast, tend to produce more gentle, consistent warmth. The ceramic elements heat up quickly but don't get quite as scorching hot as traditional metal elements, and so many users find them more comfortable and less "drying" to be around.

Ceramic vs fan heaters: noise

Here's another thing to consider: fan heaters can be noisy. That motor whirring away might not always bother you, but it can be genuinely annoying during video calls, watching television, or when trying to sleep. Some cheaper models also produce an irritating high-pitched whine alongside the general fan noise.

Ceramic heaters are typically quieter, especially fanless models. Even ceramic heaters with fans operate more quietly, because they don't need to push the air as aggressively. If you're noise-sensitive or planning to use your heater in a bedroom or study, this difference will matter to you.

Ceramic vs fan heaters: running cost

Both types of heater convert electricity to heat at roughly the same efficiency – around 99-100% – but ceramic heaters often work out cheaper to run in practice. That ceramic element heats up quickly and regulates temperature more effectively, so they should cycle on and off more efficiently, theoretically using less electricity overall.

A 1,500-watt fan heater running continuously costs the same as a 1,500-watt ceramic heater – power is power. But ceramic heaters often come in lower wattages (500-1,000 watts) while still providing effective heating for smaller spaces, and that can directly translate into lower overall running costs.

Ceramic vs fan heaters: Safety

Both types of heater are generally safe when used properly, but ceramic heaters have inherent advantages. Because ceramic elements don't get as hot as traditional metal coils, there's less risk of burns if you accidentally touch the heater. Many ceramic heaters also include automatic shut-off features if they overheat or tip over.

Which heater should you choose?

If you need powerful, immediate heat and don't mind noise, a fan heater makes the most sense. They're better at quickly warming cold spaces, often cheaper to buy, and work well in larger rooms where air circulation helps.

Choose a ceramic heater, though, if you want quieter operation, plan to run the heater for longer periods, or are heating a smaller space. This type of heater is particularly good for bedrooms, bathrooms, home offices and anywhere you want consistent background warmth without noise. The lower wattage options can also be genuinely economical to run.

Ultimately, though, neither type of heater is definitively "better"; they're simply different tools for different jobs. Fan heaters are sprinters: fast, powerful, best for short bursts. Ceramic heaters are marathon runners: consistent, efficient over time, easier to live with for extended use. Your choice should depend on your space, how long you'll run the heater, and whether fan noise bothers you.

That's a record low price and cheaper than Black Friday for a device that could be essential for allergy sufferers and pet owners who are struggling with their sleep and concerned about long-term lung health.

We've not reviewed the Core Mini, but we are big fans of other Levoit air purifiers, as evidenced by our 4.5-star reviews of the Levoit 600S and Levoit EverestAir. With that high praise of Levoit ringing in your ears, the discounted Core Mini is well worth a look.

Today's best cheap air purifier deal

Despite our lack of a review, the Core Mini certainly looks impressive on paper – especially at this low price. It all begins with a three-layer HEPA filter that removes most pollutants like dust, pet dander, pollen, smoke, odours, and hair.

The Core Mini uses an impressive 360-degree VortexAir 3.0 technology to quickly purify 34 square metres in one hour, ensuring fresh air when you arrive home.

Then, there are the cheap running costs, which we all care a lot about now. According to the product description, the Core Mini uses "1.2 kWh of electricity and [costs] 28 pence with continuous 24/7 operation for a week." That's clean air for pennies.

If it's air purification that you're after, then it doesn't get much more affordable than this Levoit deal. That being said, if you'd like to shop around then head over to our guide to the best air purifiers.

Well, yes, those are the fundamentals, but if you want to get the best flavor from your pods (and you should, since they're not cheap), there are a few extra things you should know that will help improve the flavor of every cup. None of these things takes very long, but they can make a real difference to your daily brew.

These tips apply to all Nespresso coffee makers, including ones from brands like De'Longhi and Breville, as well as Nespresso's own models. Take a look at my full roundup of the best Nespresso machines for my top recommendations if you don't yet own one, or are thinking about upgrading.

Pre-heat your machine

Is your coffee coming out too cold? Don't worry, there's an easy fix. Although the machine's boiler heats water to the ideal temperature, the freshly brewed coffee can lose heat as it passes through the outlet. Running a quick rinse cycle to preheat it will ensure this doesn't happen.

The exact method for doing this will depend on which Nespresso machine you have. For example, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop will rinse itself with hot water if the 'brew' button is pressed three times in quick succession. The De'Longhi Lattissima One can be rinsed by running the 'Lungo' cycle without a coffee pod inserted. Check your Nespresso machine's manual for instructions.

Place your coffee cup under the outlet when rinsing the machine, and it'll be nicely warmed as well. When everything is ready, just dump out the hot water and you're ready to start brewing.

Use fresh water

Would you drink a glass of water that had been sitting out overnight – or for a few nights? Probably not, and it won't make great coffee either. Empty your Nespresso machine's water tank at the end of every day, give it a wash with warm, soapy water, rinse it clean, and allow it to dry overnight. In the morning, fill it with fresh water.

Nespresso machines don't typically have water filters, so if you live in a hard water area, then you might like to use a water filter to improve the taste of your coffee, and help avoid limescale building up in your coffee maker too quickly.

Keep it clean

There are some real horror stories online about coffee makers (including pod machines) growing mold. It's easy to see how it can happen; forget to empty the bin of used pods, especially if you only make drinks occasionally, and the warm, wet used coffee grounds make a great habitat for airborne mold spores. You can guess what happens next.

It's a problem that's easily avoided, though. Just empty the used pods at the end of each day (stick a reminder on your fridge if you need to), wash out the bin and the drip tray with warm, soapy water, and leave everything out to air dry overnight. Pop open your machine's lid and wipe it with a damp cloth, then leave it open so any moisture can evaporate. This will also ensure you don't accidentally leave a used pod sitting in the brewing chamber, getting stinky and gross.

3. Consider a milk frother

If you're thinking about upgrading your basic Nespresso machine to one with a built-in milk system, hold it right there. Buying a separate milk frother will let you make lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos without the need to replace your existing coffee maker. The Nespresso Aeroccino, Smeg Mini Milk Frother, and Dreo Baristamaker are all great options. You'll find today's best prices below.

4. Keep tabs on your pods

Whether your machine uses Nespresso Original capsules (the ones shaped like a top hat) or Vertuo pods (shaped like a dome), there's an incredible array of flavors to choose from. Your machine probably came with a selection pack to get you started, and possibly the ability to claim a few packs by registering it online, so this is the perfect time to start keeping a record of the tasting notes included on the pack for the ones you like most.

Do you prefer something fruity or something with notes of cereal? Dark or light roast? Arabica or robusta? The pods can be pricey, but knowing what flavors tickle your palate will help ensure you don't buy a pack you don't like.

It's also worth keeping a record of how much you're spending on coffee pods. If you're powering through a box in a week, it might be worth asking the other members of your household to exercise a little moderation.

5. Recycle responsibly

Coffee tastes better when you have a clear conscience, so don't toss your used Nespresso pods in the trash. Instead, check out which recycling facilities are available near you.

For example, in the UK, Nespresso has a scheme that lets you send used pods back for recycling. You'll receive a recycling bag when you order capsules from the Nespresso online store to make this as easy as possible. There's also the Podback scheme, which handles coffee capsules from Nespresso, Illy, and Tassimo.

Nespresso also offers pre-paid recycling bags in the US. You can take your used pods to a Nespresso boutique, too, and there are special bins for them if you happen to live in NYC or Jersey City.

There are few ways to recycle pods in Australia, too, from dropping them off at a Nespresso Boutique near you, checking if your local council or a business near you is involved in the recycling scheme or even post it back using an Australia Post Recycling Satchel.

Want to know more? I interviewed Mary O'Rourke, Sustainability Manager at Nespresso UK and Ireland, to find out how Nespresso pods are recycled.

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IKEA itself has plenty of Rebel Pink décor to choose from, including the cute Vappeby Portable Bluetooth Speaker, which is tiny, waterproof, and perfect for enjoying some tunes by the sink while you're washing up, or beside the stove when you're preparing dinner. You can also liven up your cooking space with KitchenAid's Gingham Mini Oven Mitts and Silicone Pot Holders, both of which come in the same fun blushing pink.

Your appliances don't have to be dull either. The De'Longhi Dedica Duo is one of my all-time favorite espresso machines for small kitchens (I gave it a full five stars in my recent review) and it's available in a gelato-inspired shade of strawberry pink. Likewise, the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Air Fryer, which our reviewer praised for its convenience and fast cooking, now comes in several rosy colorways, including a warm pastel hue.

Don't forget your kitchen table, either. IKEA's Sommaroga Serving Stand would look perfect covered in a selection of cakes and sandwiches, and its pink Klipplax Glasses are a cute alternative to plain glassware. Add a set of pretty Flygfisk Placemats and you've got a perfectly modern place setting that won't break the bank.

21 Rebel Pink accessories for your kitchen

As a deals editor for TechRadar, I've been covering the Renpho smart scale for years. It has over 350,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and is a consistently best-selling product on TechRadar during holiday sales. Today's offer is just $2 shy of the record-low price and an incredible deal for a feature-packed smart scale.

The Renpho brand is known for its innovative health and fitness products, which are highly rated for their smart features and reasonable prices.

The Renpho smart scale works with its compatible Health app, which lets you easily track your progress and integrates with other fitness apps, including Samsung Health, Fitbit, and Apple Health. The smart scale offers 13 measurements, including weight, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, and metabolic age.

Reviewers on Amazon praise the Renpho smart scale for its accuracy and reliability, ease of use, and value for money. Today's deal from Amazon is a limited-time offer and with over 350,00 positive reviews for $20 – what is there to lose?

IKEA's three-in-one Gåtebo microwave has proved incredibly popular since its launch in Europe last year, and now it's available worldwide for just $199 / £150 / $299. It's no bigger than a regular freestanding microwave, and is packed with so many cooking functions that it could easily replace a regular oven for a small household.

Just imagine what you could do with all that extra space. You could fit a dishwasher if you don't already have one (one of the greatest kitchen appliances ever created), have under-counter bins for sorting trash and recycling, fit a full-size water softener, or just have an extra cupboard for all your oils and spices.

Microwave and air fryer combos aren't a totally new concept, and they're a great option if you've resisted buying an air fryer due to a lack of space. Even the compact Ninja Double Stack still has a footprint of 11 x 18.5in / 28cm x 47cm, which is substantial when you're already coping with a cramped workspace.

The Gåtebo's cooking options include microwave, grill, air fry, defrost, warm up tea/coffee, and two combination cooking modes (microwave and grill, and microwave and convection). Not sure where to begin? The manual provides detailed instructions for favorites like french fries, potato wedges, chicken wings and nuggets.

But what about rice and pasta? Well, ditching your regular oven doesn't have to mean losing your stove. IKEA has a vast array of cheap induction hobs, including the portable Tillreda, which costs just $74.99 / £45 / AU$49, and can be hung up or tucked out of sight when you're not preparing dinner.

The Gåtebo is remarkably cheap, too. For comparison, our current top-rated microwave / air fryer combo is the Samsung Combi Smart Microwave Oven, which is more than double the price at £329 (about $440 / AU$660).

I've yet to get my hands on the Gåtebo to test its cooking powers for myself, but I'm hoping to review it soon, and see whether it deserves a place in our full roundup of the best air fryers. Who knows, it might even dethrone the Samsung Combi.

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It’s the kind of price that makes me wonder if I need another camera at home, too. The Blink Mini only works indoors, but it’s perfect if you want to cover one particular room or you’re concerned about pets. I have one set up to keep an eye on my guinea pigs any time I’m travelling.

It’s simple to set up and use, while it provides instant peace of mind. You can even use it to talk to anyone in the room, although I’m not convinced my guinea pigs appreciate that feature.

Today’s best cheap security camera deal

Our Blink Mini review was a little critical of the need to pay for cloud storage and the lack of person detection, but for under £10, these feel like less relevant issues.

Crucially, it still offers crisp video quality, “solid night vision performance”, and a “comprehensive app.” Thanks to those features, it’s one of the best home security cameras for anyone on a budget.

As mentioned, I use mine to monitor my pets while I’m away from home. I’ve also seen people use it as an alternative to one of the best video doorbells, as you can place it on your front window to see who’s calling. It’s a very simple solution to any situation when you need to keep an eye on things.

If you want something more packed with features, there are some good home security camera deals around. Alternatively, if you want to switch up your doorbell, check out the Ring Video Doorbell deals available today.

Often with cordless vacuums, the battery will be the first thing to expire (cordless vacuums tend to last less long than corded ones in any case). Although all of Dyson's current models have batteries that can be removed and swapped over, and spare batteries purchased, it's still worth treating your vacuum's battery with care to prevent you from having to replace it before its time.

Below are five things that can damage or speed up the aging process on your vacuum's battery, and which you should avoid if you want it to last as long as possible. These tips are pulled from the Battery Care page on Dyson's own site, and while they're specific to Dyson vacuums, most of these tips will be relevant whichever brand's cordless vacuum you're using.

1. Using Boost too much

All of Dyson's cordless vacuums have a Boost / Max mode that offers more suction power than the other modes. This will drain the battery life quickly, but what you might not realize is that using it too frequently will also speed up how fast the battery degrades. Dyson says that its vacuums are "designed to be used in Auto or Normal mode for everyday cleaning" and that "Max or Boost modes are meant for powerful, intensive bursts of spot cleaning."

The newest Dyson vacuums have three suction modes: Eco, Auto, and Boost. In Auto mode, the suction will ramp up or down depending on the kind of floor it's on, and how dirty that floor is. This is a great way of ensuring a thorough clean without taxing the battery too much, or running it down unnecessarily quickly.

2. Plugging it in straight away

Most people will pop their vacuum back on its charge dock, or plug it into the mains, as soon as they're done using it it, so it can start juicing up ready for the next cleaning session. Dyson says that you can preserve the life of the battery by pausing to let it cool down first before plugging it in to charge.

I asked Amit Gupta, Head of Electrical Power Systems at Dyson, why this is the case. "Allowing battery cells to cool after high-power discharge promotes lithium-ion redistribution and electrode relaxation, reducing stress from high currents and temperatures," he explains. "This process increases usable capacity for the next discharge."

He also explains that charging the battery at cooler temperatures minimizes unwanted side effects and internal pressure, which helps keep the battery healthy. Dyson vacuums have a built-in intelligent Battery Management System (BMS), designed to protect and optimize battery performance.

"When you dock your machine after use, the BMS continuously monitors the battery’s temperature and will only initiate charging once it has cooled to the recommended level," he adds. "This prevents thermal stress, safeguards internal components, and ensures long-term battery health."

3. Not draining it completely

If you're the kind of person who can't let an appliance drop below 50% battery life without breaking out in a cold sweat, I have bad news for you. Dyson recommends letting your vacuum's battery drain to completely empty at least once a month, to help prolong its life.

If you've picked up a backup battery, the brand suggests switching between the two batteries every once in a while. That gives each one a chance to discharge naturally.

Want the technical explanation? "Occasional running a lithium-ion battery flat (also known as 'deep discharging') can recalibrate remaining capacity, depending on usage history," says Gupta. "A deep discharge and rest enables a small, short-lived 'capacity rebound' as lithium ions redistribute, recovering some reversible capacity loss."

However, he advises that while this can slightly extend runtimes, as well as making your estimated runtimes (as displayed on your vacuum screen) more accurate, it's not a fix-all cure, and won't restore permanently lost battery capacity.

4. Letting it get too warm

As I touched on in point #2, your vacuum's battery does not like to be too warm. So if you're storing it in a boiler cupboard or next to a radiator, or even in a place that regularly gets direct sunlight, Dyson recommends moving it to a new spot, pronto. Oh, and if you have the Dyson Car+Boat, it's not a good idea to leave it in your car either.

"Hot environments speed up battery aging," says Dyson. "Heat sources, such as radiators, can damage the battery." The ideal storage temperature is between 64.4F / 18C and 82.4F / 28C.

5. ... or too cold

Turns out your vacuum is a bit of a Goldilocks when it comes to temperature, because just as it doesn't like things too hot, it's not fond of the cold either. ("Batteries contain complex chemical structures that react to their environment," explains Dyson.) The brand warns against storing your vacuum in your garage or a cold porchway in the winter months. In fact, to protect the motor and the battery, your vacuum won't charge or operate if the temperature is below 37F / 3C.

When Amazon announced Alexa+, the future looked bright for the AI-bolstered smart assistant, poised to offer agentic assistance that could rival even the likes of Google Gemini and ChatGPT.

However, while the service boasts a next-gen upgrade that could revolutionize home assistants as we know them, there's a long road ahead before many of the promised features are fully functional (or, indeed, available to users at all).

There's a glaringly obvious reason for this; Alexa+ is still in Early Access, meaning all current users are effectively part of one great big beta test, as noted by Reddit users in r/AmazonEcho. However, that beta test seems to have expanded to a bunch of Prime customers via an automatic enrollment in the service, as reported by The Verge, and it's riled up the user base once again.

That being said, if your main reasons for opting out are pre-emptive, it's worth giving the service a try yourself, because there are a fair few very happy customers who might convince you otherwise.

It could be worse...

Am I the only person on the planet that actually likes Alexa+? from r/amazonecho

We've covered some of those recent concerns already, as well as our own hands-on Alexa+ early access testing, but it's not all doom and gloom in Alexa+ land.

In light of complaints about reduced functionality and excessive ads, some are calling out specific features that have actually improved when using the service.

"I love the change! I can finally get answers to questions," says one user, referencing Alexa's improved conversational abilities and better search functions. "It makes my daily routines smoother, and I enjoy how it integrates with my smart home devices," one commenter adds.

Indeed, smart home control seems to be a running theme in those enjoying the service, which offers improved voice control from chained requests to natural language automation setup.

Elsewhere, people are finding new ways to use Alexa+ after the upgrade: "I’m having a blast with my Alexa+ in my art studio/ shop. She is my shop assistant and I think she is awesome." said one Reddit user in another thread.

Plus, its contextual awareness seems to prove useful in practice for some users: "The other day I was making German pancakes and had a recipe up and I could just ask things like 'How much flour? How many eggs? What ingredients are left?' and it kept up and walked me through the whole recipe."

... but it could be better!

Amazon unvieled some of its big plans for 2026 at CES, including big news for Alexa+ – catch up on all the latest news in the above video!

In the wake of some such complaints, other Reddit users are blaming the negativity bias of Reddit's userbase for widespread complaints about the service.

Others agreed, acknowledging the room for improvement but with a little more patience than some netizens. "These days, no software is ever perfect at release, and maybe never afterwards either. The advantage of Alexa+ is that it's new, so it has a team of devs working on bugfixes and improvements, and that can only be a good thing," said one user.

"Even people with poor experiences of it now should find, if they report issues, that the system gets better – because that's kind of inevitable right now."

Along a similar vein, Comment
byu/crazybeachcats from discussion
inamazonecho">other users are using Alexa+ as a means to familiarize themselves more with AI: "The reason I use Alexa is because AI isn’t going away, and I want to understand how it works. Of course, it is imperfect, but it is unrealistic to think new technology is going to be fully developed."

That's a worthwhile consideration; Alexa+ is showing no sign of slowing down, with Amazon recently launching Alexa+ on the web and bringing the AI assistant to a wide range of devices, from electric vehicles to home appliances.

Opt-out with ease

Still, there are plenty of unhappy customers deciding they don't want the free upgrade, from simple reasons like Alexa+'s grating "Valley Girl" cadence to decreased functionality and an abundance of ads.

That's doubly true given the Alexa+ free upgrade for Prime users currently rolling out is automatic, meaning you can't refuse and opt out until the service is already active; thankfully, it's a very easy process to remove yourself from the hive mind.

Simply say 'Alexa, exit Alexa+' to remove the service from your Echo devices, and if you change your mind later you can rejoin by saying 'Alexa, enter Alexa+'. It's that easy!

Have you tried the new Alexa+ service yet? Let us know in the comments section down below.

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IKEA's quirky, donut-shaped Varmblixt lamp is that product, and I haven't stopped obsessing over the Bluetooth lamp since I saw it at CES 2026.

Varmblixt isn't brand new, but this version represents a significant update, with a fresh glossy finish and a multitude of colors. Let's start with the basics, and I'll try to explain why I'm so smitten with the $99 illuminator.

First of all, IKEA's Varmblixt is shaped like a giant donut (roughly one foot in diameter). At first glance, it has no visible seams and, though I spotted a power cord running out of it, I wasn't sure how IKEA fed it into that perfectly smooth torus shape. Naturally, I flipped the lamp over to see the well-hidden plastic base, which, in addition to the power cord entry, houses a slot for wall hanging.

Varmblixt invites you to touch it. Even before IKEA reps explained the new product, I was running my hands over the smooth glass surface and admiring its glow.

The CES 2026 IKEA setup featured almost a dozen of these lamps, which was fitting since the upgraded Varmblixt now supports 12 distinct colors, including the original orange, and new white, amber, red, pink, lavender, and turquoise, among others.

The other big upgrade here is the Matter over Thread integration, which means Varmblixt now works with virtually any smart home platform, including Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home.

I'm glad, though, that IKEA chose to keep the tiny physical remote, which means that even if you don't want to hook the lamp up to an app, you can access all 12 colors (app control raises the customization level to 40 distinct hues).

There's the other reason I'm obsessing over Varmblixt: I used that remote. Unlike most other Bluetooth LED-based lighting systems that make hard, almost jarring switches between colors, Varmblixt takes it slow.

With each press of the remote, I watched as the color shifted almost imperceptibly, then slowly transitioned to the new, fully-dimmable hue. Not only that, but the color diffusion under the molded glass is near perfect. It's simply beautiful to watch, and I loved basking in the glow.

Function follows form

None of this would work so well if there weren't such a clear marriage between the design and color choices. Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis clearly designed the pair to be a marriage of hue and form. Even the way the colors change is more like a symphony than a switch, and is the perfect match for the Varmblixt's smooth looks.

Perhaps the other thing that attracted me to the Varmblixt is its fundamental simplicity. No hubs, just a choice to use the remote or the app.

One wonders if the Philips Hue lineup of smart lighting products would be the same kind of sensation if it paid as much attention to design and simplicity.

I remember thinking that Varmblixt would be perfect if it were also rechargeable and truly wireless; then my secret dream of a wall of them could come true.

The other thing I loved is that even though this is a more powerful and smarter version, Varmblixt will still cost just $99 (prices will vary outside the US) when it ships in April.

I know this is just a lamp, but the best technology products are often the ones that do one thing and do it very well. Varmblixt appears to succeed on that level, but it will do more than that because when you have one or more of these donut lamps in the home, they will be instant conversation pieces. And whether you're using your app, voice, or the handy remote to control them, I bet you elicit more than a few 'oohs' and 'ahhs'.

There is, by the way, another Varmblixt option, a large hanging LED pendant light, which looks like a random bunch of hanging 'U's. It currently only supports white light and also ships in April for $149. I do not dream about that lamp.

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