Editor’s letter

I think that for a lot of people (by which I mean myself), the thing that first got them interested in the idea of smart home tech was purely how cool it is to have something like your lights turn on in specific modes with just a tap or a spoken phrase. Smart heating has been around just as long, but is a lot less sexy, even though it’s the upgrade that probably has a bigger impact on your quality of life, and your wallet, over time.

Our cover feature this issue (p37) is about the practical side of the smart home. Yes, most of it is also still extremely cool, but here we’re looking at how it can save you time and help you go greener, which will also save you money.

I also thoroughly recommend you check out our guide to making your own booze (p73). I learned so much from reading it, and if you’re looking for a fun project to keep you occupied in the dark winter months (and that you can reap the rewards of later), it’s perfect.

If you’re in the market for a new phone, be sure to read our big dive into the best huge phones on p64 – the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is an absolutely astonishing Android phone, full of really high-tech features, and putting it head-to-head with Apple’s finest has been fascinating. It’s never been better to be on either side of the phone fence.