Honest, hands-on reviews of voice assistants, LED lighting, smart plugs and connected appliances, written from real use in South African homes. Alongside the reviews, we publish practical tutorials, straightforward comparisons and news about gadgets worth your attention.
Practical reviews and setup guides written from real homes, not press releases. We focus on what works with local networks, load shedding and everyday budgets.
Voice assistants
A practical look at Alexa, Google Home and local network quirks
We tested three voice assistants in a typical Johannesburg household. Here's what worked, what didn't, and how to avoid the common setup pitfalls. The review covers pairing, accent recognition and why your 2.4 GHz network matters more than you think.
Read the reviewLighting
Comparing brightness, colour options and ease of installation
We installed both options in a medium-sized living room and compared light output, colour accuracy and app control. Strips win on flexibility, bulbs on simplicity. Here's how to choose based on your room and patience for setup.
Read the comparisonLoad shedding
What happens to your smart plugs when the power goes out?
We tested five popular plugs from TP-Link, Xiaomi and local retailers through sudden power cuts. Most just need a reset, but surge protection makes a real difference. Practical tips for scheduling and protecting your hub included.
Read the guide