Smart Home UK

04/06/2026

Can a cheap Zigbee Soil Moisture Sensor from AliExpress actually work with Home Assistant… or is it complete rubbish? 🤔🌱
In this video, I test the budget HAOZEE Zigbee Soil Moisture Sensor to see if this smart gardening gadget is actually worth buying. We’ll go through the full setup process, pairing, configuration, calibration options, sensor entities, signal strength, and real-world testing. 🔧📡
I also compare temperature and humidity readings against another calibrated sensor, test it outdoors on my balcony, and check whether it’s actually useful for smart watering automations and automatic plant irrigation. 💧🪴

Can a cheap Zigbee Soil Moisture Sensor from AliExpress actually wo...

28/05/2026

🔐 Finally… a smart lock that actually works with UK-style doors?! 😳
In this video, I review and fully set up the brand-new Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500, including installation, Aqara Home setup, Matter over Thread, Amazon Alexa, and Home Assistant integration.
If you’ve been searching for a smart lock for UK doors, multi-point lock doors, rim locks, Home Assistant smart locks, or Matter over Thread devices… this video is definitely for you 👀
Most smart locks simply don’t work properly with UK-style lever-operated multi-point doors, especially when you still need to lift the handle manually before locking.
And trust me… after testing multiple smart lock solutions over the years, I know the struggle 😅
So… could the Aqara U500 finally be the smart lock UK users have been waiting for?

🔐 Finally… a smart lock that actually works with UK-style doors?! 😳In this video, I review and fully set up the brand-new Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500, includ...

23/05/2026

Just added ZHA to my Home Assistant setup! 🎉
I’ve had quite a few questions over the past few months about Zigbee devices and compatibility with ZHA, so I finally decided to add it properly to my smart home lab. I now have both ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) and Z2M (Zigbee2MQTT) running side by side.
From now on, whenever I feature a Zigbee device on the channel, I’ll show:
• how to connect it with both ZHA and Z2M
• how it performs in each integration
• and which integration works better for the tested device
This should make my reviews and tutorials much more useful for everyone, no matter which Zigbee integration you prefer to use in Home Assistant 👍
More testing, more comparisons, and probably a few interesting surprises coming soon 😄

Just added ZHA to my Home Assistant setup! 🎉 I’ve had quite a few questions over the past few months about Zigbee devices and compatibility with ZHA, so I fi...

20/05/2026

Looking for a smart portable air conditioner that actually works in a typical UK home? In this video, I test and review the DREO 318S Smart Portable AC, covering everything from setup and installation to smart home integration.
If you’ve ever struggled with hot UK summers, especially in upstairs bedrooms or while working from home, you know how unbearable it can get 😅 So the big question is… does this portable AC actually cool the room, or is it just another gadget?
I’ll show you how to set it up (no drilling, no hassle 👍), connect it to the DREO app, and integrate it with Amazon Alexa and Home Assistant for full smart control.
👀 Watch now to see if the DREO 318S is worth it… or just hot air 😏

Looking for a smart portable air conditioner that actually works in...

09/05/2026

Looking for smart outdoor lighting that actually transforms your garden or balcony? In this video, I review and set up the NEEWER NR01 Waterproof Smart Outdoor String Lights, featuring vibrant RGB lighting, app and voice control, AI scene creation, and more. 🌈✨
I cover everything from unboxing and installation to app setup, Alexa integration, and real-world performance after a few weeks of use. Are these the best smart outdoor lights for your home? Let’s find out. 👀

Looking for smart outdoor lighting that actually transforms your garden or balcony? In this video, I review and set up the NEEWER NR01 Waterproof Smart Outdo...

08/05/2026

✨ Smart outdoor lighting just got an upgrade! ✨

I’ve been testing the NEEWER NR01 Smart Outdoor String Lights on my balcony… and honestly — they completely changed the vibe. 🌈

We’re talking RGB colours, app control, Alexa & Google Assistant support, AI-generated scenes… and yes, you can even customise each bulb individually 🤯

Setup was quick, installation was straightforward, and once the sun goes down… these lights really shine 🔥

The only thing I’m still waiting for? Home Assistant support 👀
But with Matter support on the way, this could get very interesting!

🎬 Full review on my YouTube channel:
👉 https://youtu.be/wJdtK6UpkB0

Big thanks to NEEWER for sending these out for review 🙌

💬 Would you use smart outdoor lights like these?
👍 Drop a like if you love smart home upgrades
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smarthome

30/04/2026

Ready to survive summer without melting into your sofa? 🥵 In this video, I review the DREO TurboCool™ Smart Misting Fans (765S and 516S) and put these smart indoor misting fans to the test to see if they’re the ultimate cooling solution for your smart home.
We cover setup, real-world performance and smart home integration with Amazon Alexa and Home Assistant. On top of that, I compare DREO’s TurboCool™ Ultra Mist technology with a standard mist fan to find out if it really keeps surfaces dry… or turns your room into a mini rainforest 🌧️😅
If you’re searching for the best smart fan 2026, a detailed misting fan review, smart cooling solutions, or home automation cooling devices, you’re in the right place.

7 likes, 14 comments. "DREO TurboCool™ Misting Fans Review – The Smarter Way to Stay Cool This Summer"

17/02/2026

Looking for the best smart blinds or smart roller shades for your smart home? 🤔
In this video, I review SmartWings smart shades and compare Zigbee vs Z-Wave vs Matter motors - all tested in Home Assistant.
If you’re building a Home Assistant smart home, planning your home automation setup, or trying to decide which motorised blinds protocol to choose, this video breaks it down clearly and practically.
So which smart shades should you choose? Zigbee? Z-Wave? Matter over Thread? Alexa compatible? Future-proof smart home setup?

Looking for the best smart blinds or smart roller shades for your smart home? 🤔In this video, I review SmartWings smart shades and compare Zigbee vs Z-Wave ...

06/02/2026

Lots of cool gear on my desk right now...

Lots of cool gear on my desk right now, but first, a quick update: I had some health issues recently and couldn’t work on smart home videos for a while. Thin...