Bring some smarts to your patio
Netgear Orbi Outdoor Satellite
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 The good: It has superb range and can live outside year round to extend Wi-Fi to your yard, pool or garage. It even has a night light. The bad: It can be used only with an Orbi router and it costs more than most of its competitors. Despite security measures from Netgear, someone could steal or break it if you leave it outside. The cost: $330
The bottom line: If you have the money to spend and already have an Orbi router, this will give you great coverage outdoors and speeds as fast as you get inside. Make sure you mount it somewhere safe if you plan to leave it outdoors.
Cree Connected LED Bulb
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 The good: The Cree boasts solid lighting specs, strong ease of use, a wide range of control options, and a terrific price.
The bad: Unlike standard Cree LEDs, the connected bulbs won’t dim well on dimmer switches because of interference from the built-in Zigbee dimming smarts. Also, the all-plastic aesthetic might not appeal to everyone. The cost: $15 to $25 The bottom line: With tried and true hardware inside the bulb and smooth performance on various services, this $15 smart bulb is a smart bet for connected lighting.
iDevices Outdoor Switch
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5 The good: The switch is convenient, filling a niche not many smart plugs have attempted to fill, and the power tracking will help savvy holiday decorators save money. The bad: You can’t control the dual outlets individually, the price is a little steep, and HomeKit user sharing can be a pain. The cost: $46 to $80
The bottom line: The switch lets you flip on your holiday lights from the comfort of your couch and schedule them to turn off after you’re asleep. With the added bonus of energy monitoring and the new remote access, those willing to dish out the cost will get a solid product.
Ultimate Ears Blast
Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 The good: This is a portable, fully waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker that has Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant built in. It sounds very good for its compact size, is durable and offers strong battery life.
The bad: Somewhat expensive; speakers can’t be linked; no Alexa voice support for Spotify playback (can only stream Spotify via Bluetooth); USB charging port is a little bit of a pain to access, making the optional charging base more of a must-have accessory for home use. The cost: $199 to $250 The bottom line: While it’s expensive and still a work in progress, it’s the best-sounding portable Alexa-enabled speaker out there right now.