Smart home gadgets 2026: Matter plug, Hue bulb and AI doorbell

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The smart home finally grew up. A few years ago every gadget needed its own app, its own account and, often, its own hub. In 2026 the coolest devices speak a shared language called Matter, many talk over a fast, low-power mesh called Thread, and some even run their own AI right on the device instead of in the cloud. Here are three high-tech gadgets that make everyday life easier, from the plug in your wall to the bell at your door.

How we compared: we did not test these gadgets ourselves. This guide is based on manufacturer specifications and on published, hands-on reviews by independent outlets (TechRadar, PCWorld, T3, BGR, Engadget, Tom’s Guide, Trusted Reviews and 9to5Mac), all linked below. Price ranges: Budget = under $100, Mid-range = $100-300, Premium = over $300. Prices change often, so use the Amazon links in each section to see today’s price.

Quick picks

Specs come from the manufacturers and the reviews linked in each section.

First, two words: Matter and Thread

Matter is a common standard backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung and others, so one device can work with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings at the same time. Thread is the wireless network many Matter devices use: each mains-powered device passes messages on to the next, so the network gets stronger as you add gadgets. The catch: Thread needs a small “border router” to connect it to your home network. Many recent smart speakers and TV boxes already are one (a HomePod mini, an Apple TV 4K, some Google Nest and SmartThings hubs), and so is the chime of the doorbell below.

Smart plug: Eve Energy (Matter)

A smart plug sits between the wall socket and an appliance so you can switch it from your phone, on a schedule or by voice. The Eve Energy (Matter) adds the part that saves money: it measures how much electricity the device uses and, once you enter your electricity rate, estimates what it costs. That turns a vague guess (“is the old fridge expensive to run?”) into a number.

It connects over Thread rather than Wi-Fi and works with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant through Matter. A 2025 update added live power, voltage, current and total energy readings over Matter, along with Home Assistant certification, as 9to5Mac reported. There is no subscription, no registration and no Eve cloud: it works locally.

The reviews agree on the core. TechRadar ranks it as its best smart plug overall and praises its energy monitoring and Thread support, while noting it costs more than basic rivals. Trusted Reviews called it built for the future thanks to Thread, and both outlets found it bulkier than many plugs.

Pros: excellent energy and cost tracking; works with every big platform; private and local. Cons: needs a Thread border router you may not own; chunky; pricier than basic Wi-Fi plugs.

Who it’s for: people who already have a HomePod mini, an Apple TV 4K or a compatible Nest or SmartThings hub and want to see what a lamp, TV or dehumidifier really costs to run. Not for: anyone without a hub who just wants a cheap plug that connects straight to Wi-Fi.

Safety tip: never plug space heaters, kettles, irons or air conditioners into a smart plug, as Tom’s Guide explains. The US Eve Energy is rated for up to 15 A (1,800 W), and high-power heat appliances are the wrong match for any smart plug.

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Colour bulb: Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance (2025 generation)

Hue has been the reference in smart lighting for years, and the 2025 generation of the Hue White and Color Ambiance bulb pushes it further. According to Philips Hue, its white light now runs from a candle-like 1,000 K to a crisp, sky-like 20,000 K (older bulbs stopped at about 6,500 K), it dims all the way down to 0.2%, and a feature called Chromasync keeps colours matched across several bulbs. The US version gives 810 lumens, the classic 60 W replacement.

You can start without any hub: the bulb works over Bluetooth with the Hue app for up to 10 bulbs. Add a Hue Bridge and you get more lights, automations, control away from home, voice assistants and Matter. Engadget names Hue its best smart bulb overall for its compatibility and easy app, PCWorld/TechHive praises its excellent light quality and smooth dimming, and Tom’s Guide calls it the best starter kit. All three say the same thing about the downside: it’s expensive. One note: those verdicts are for the Hue colour line in general; the new generation’s extra features come from Hue’s own specifications.

Pros: superb colour and dimming; start small with Bluetooth; the biggest lighting ecosystem; works with Alexa, Google and Apple. Cons: costs more than rivals; Bluetooth mode stops at 10 bulbs; the best features need the Hue Bridge.

Who it’s for: anyone who wants really good colour and warm-to-cool white light that can grow from one lamp to a whole home. Not for: buyers who just want the cheapest colour bulb.

See today’s price on Amazon →

Video doorbell: Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410

This is the most futuristic gadget of the three. The Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 films in 2K with a tall 4:3 view, uses mmWave radar (tiny radio waves that sense a real person) to cut false alerts from passing cars or swaying plants, and recognises familiar faces on the device itself, so you can set different alerts or chimes for different people. Its plug-in chime is also a full smart home hub: a Matter controller, a Thread border router and a Zigbee hub, which could power the Eve plug above.

It runs on six AA batteries or wires into an existing doorbell, and it can save clips to a microSD card in the chime or to Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, so a subscription is optional. PCWorld says it “kills two birds with one stone” if you don’t have a hub yet; T3 found face recognition worked well and motion detection was accurate; BGR gave it 8/10 as versatile and inexpensive. TechRadar calls it a fully fledged smart home hub, but warns it is not waterproof.

Pros: radar and on-device face recognition; doubles as a Matter, Thread and Zigbee hub; no subscription needed for local recording; battery or wired. Cons: only IPX3 splash protection, so it needs a covered porch; bulky; full 2K only in the Aqara app, lower resolution in other apps; no HDR; BGR found it can’t see down to a parcel on the doormat.

Who it’s for: smart home fans who want a doorbell and a hub in one, with face recognition and subscription-free storage. Not for: doors exposed to driving rain, or anyone who needs parcel detection.

Privacy tip: point a doorbell camera at your own doorstep, not at the street or a neighbour’s door, and use the G410’s privacy masks to black out anything that isn’t yours. Local rules vary, so check them before you record.

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Buying tips

• Check your hub first. Thread devices need a border router. If you have none, the Aqara doorbell’s chime can be yours.
• Look for the Matter logo. It means the gadget should work with Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung, so you’re not locked into one brand.
• Buy brightness in lumens. About 800 lumens replaces an old 60 W bulb.
• Prefer local over cloud. Devices that work without an account or subscription keep running even if a company changes its plans.

FAQ

Do I need a hub? For the Hue bulb, not at first (Bluetooth works for up to 10 bulbs). For the Eve plug, yes: a Thread border router. The Aqara G410’s chime is one.

Are there monthly fees? Not for the Eve plug or the Hue bulb. The Aqara doorbell records locally for free; its optional cloud plan adds extra storage and AI features.

Will they work with Alexa and Google? Yes, all three work with Alexa and Google Home, as well as Apple Home. The Hue bulb needs the Hue Bridge for voice assistants.

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