Reviews

Choosing smart home gear in New Zealand can feel like a lucky dip. Some devices work perfectly here, some sort of work and some only light up long enough to remind you why region locking exists. This section is where I break down what I have actually used, tested or lived with in a real Kiwi home.

You will find reviews on:

• Sensors and plugs that behave well on our networks
• Lighting and switches that are worth the money
• Devices that claim to work everywhere but definitely do not
• How products behave with Apple, Google and Home Assistant
• Pros and cons based on real use instead of marketing gloss

All reviews here are written with normal New Zealand homes in mind. No fancy labs, no staged tests and no perfect conditions. If something works well, I will say so. If it is a dud, you will hear that too.

More reviews will be added over time as I try new gear and revisit older devices. If there is something you want reviewed, feel free to let me know and I’ll see what I can do.