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Finding reliable, high-performing products for your home can feel like a big task, especially when so many items claim to be “the best.” Lucky for you, the Bob Vila team spent 2025 testing hundreds of smart gadgets and practical home essentials to see which ones truly deliver on performance, convenience, and durability.
Whether you’re upgrading your lighting, adding a bit of backup power, or expanding your security setup, these 15 power and tech products can help you simplify daily tasks, increase outdoor aesthetics, and stay safer. We think they’ll make life at home a little easier—and a lot smarter.
The Bob Vila team has tested dozens of portable power stations over the years, but Bluetti’s Elite 200 V2 still managed to impress us with its exceptional power output and real-world reliability. In our tests, it ran a full-size refrigerator for more than 30 hours and a portable AC unit for 6—performance few portable stations can match. Along with lightning-fast wall charging, you can pair the unit with Bluetti’s solar panels for steady charging throughout the day, making it a strong option for off-grid living and emergency preparedness.
What our tester says: “Whether you’re camping, prepping for outages, or just want peace of mind, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is one of the most capable and reliable units I’ve tested.” —Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Bluetti portable power station at Amazon or Bluetti, starting at $799.99.
If you want clearer, more dynamic footage from a smart bird feeder, the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo delivers with its dual-lens design and upgraded image quality. Its two cameras capture crisp, colorful views from multiple angles, and subscription-based AI offers surprisingly accurate species identification. The 5-watt solar panel keeps it continuously charged, and the upgraded build quality handles wet weather well. For those serious about backyard birding and who love seeing wildlife up close, this feeder is well worth its price.
What our tester says: “This is a one-of-a-kind gift for the bird lover in your life. Its dual cameras, sharp video, and long-lasting battery deliver an immersive way to observe wildlife in real time.” —Debbie Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Birdify smart bird feeder at Amazon or Birdify, starting at $329.99.
The Airthings Corentium Home tested best in our radon test kits guide for its fast, reliable insights without a complicated setup. The battery-powered device provides both short- and long-term radon readings on a clear digital display, with first results appearing in under 24 hours. It’s lightweight, portable, and easy to reset for testing multiple rooms. With accurate ongoing monitoring and an included self-inspection report after 30 days, it’s an excellent value for continuous at-home radon testing.
What our tester says: “This radon detector makes it so easy to measure radon levels that it’s hard to imagine going with another option—unless you need a one-time test or other air quality measurements. For long-term radon levels, though, this is my pick, hands-down.” —Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Airthings Corentium Home radon test kit at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Airthings, starting at $148.99.
Arlo’s Essential video doorbell is a strong pick for homeowners who want sharp HD footage, a wide 180-degree view, and instant motion alerts without complicated setup. In testing, the Arlo Secure app made installation quick, and the camera delivered reliable real-time notifications with no lag. Features like two-way audio, night vision, and a remotely activated siren add value, making this doorbell a smart upgrade for connected home protection.
What our tester says: “The app made setup incredibly easy, walking me through the process in about 15 minutes with clear, step-by-step instructions. Also, I like being able to customize activity zones so the doorbell only alerts me to what actually matters.” —Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Arlo wireless doorbell at Amazon, Walmart, Sam’s Club, or Best Buy, starting at $39.99.
In our lineup of the best Christmas light projectors, the Govee Outdoor Projector Light was the brightest model we tested, delivering crisp, vivid visuals over 5,000 square feet. Fully app-controlled, it offers more than 50 preset scenes and custom RGB patterns, making it perfect for holiday displays or year-round decorative lighting. Its durable aluminum housing and IP65 weather resistance ensure it holds up outdoors, while dual light sources and powerful LEDs create a vibrant, layered effect that transforms any façade into a showpiece.
What our tester says: “Govee’s outdoor projector light completely blows away all the other options I tested. Even its app controls are the best.” —Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Govee outdoor light projector at Amazon or Govee, starting at $99.99.
If you’ve been struggling to find a TV mount that fits large screens and also offers flexible viewing angles, the Echogear Full-Motion TV Wall Mount is the answer. With support for TVs up to 90 inches and 125 pounds, it offers 130 degrees of swivel, up to 15 degrees of tilt, and 2.4 to 22 inches of extension for optimal viewing from nearly anywhere. The kit comes with clear instructions and all the hardware you need for installation—provided you have wood studs. If your walls are concrete, you’ll just need to make a quick call to the Echogear team for a complementary set of appropriate anchors.
What our tester says: “We’ve installed multiple TV mounts over the years, and it’s never been even close to this easy. We love that we can swivel the TV toward the kitchen while we prep dinner and tilt it up to get rid of glare as the sun goes down.” —Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Echogear TV wall mount at Amazon or Echogear, starting at $109.99.
Earning the top spot in our guide on the best power strips, the DeWalt Magnetic Power Strip features strong magnets and rugged build, making it ideal for workshop use. It stays securely attached to metal surfaces (even when you unplug cords), offers six AC outlets plus two USB ports, and has a master power switch that lets you turn the entire thing off when you’re done for the day. For anyone who values durability, accessibility, and smart organization, this power strip is an easy choice.
What our tester says: “I’ve tested power strips with more outlets, but the DeWalt power strip offers everything a DIYer needs to plug in tools and chargers. The magnets are so strong that the strip stays where it‘s supposed to.” —Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the DeWalt power strip at Amazon or The Home Depot, starting at $38.73.
The Bond Bridge Smart-Home Controller is a budget-friendly way to upgrade remote-controlled ceiling fans without installing new hardware. Setup takes only minutes—just plug it in, connect to Wi-Fi, and let the hub learn your fan’s remote. It supports RF and IR devices and can manage up to 30 products, from fans to fireplaces. For renters or anyone avoiding electrical work, it’s an easy path to app and voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant.
What our tester says: “I was surprised how easily the Bond Bridge took over my fan’s remote controls—setup literally took minutes. Now all I have to do is say ‘Alexa, turn on the fan,’ and it kicks on every time.” —Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Bond smart ceiling fan controller at The Home Depot or Bond, starting at $129.
With its sleek design, strong build, and seamless operation, the Eufy Smart Lever Lock C33 earned the top spot in our list of the best keyless door locks. Installation takes under 15 minutes, and the fingerprint reader sits perfectly on the handle for natural, quick access. With multiple unlocking options—including code, fingerprint, and app control—plus long battery life of up to eight months on AAs, the Eufy C33 offers convenient, reliable security for any standard door, making it a top pick for hassle-free home protection.
What our tester says: “This was easily the best keyless lock I tested. Not only was the installation super straightforward, but I never came across a single issue from daily use for over 2 weeks. Definitely a keeper.” —Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Eufy keyless door lock at Amazon, Best Buy, or Eufy, starting at $169.99.
The Generac GP9500E Tri-Fuel Generator is a powerhouse built to keep critical home circuits running during storms, outages, or fuel shortages, providing up to 9,500 running watts on gasoline and supporting propane and natural gas. During testing, it easily handled heavy loads like a large freezer, window air conditioner, microwave, and several power tools—though not all at once. With a well-laid-out control panel, COsense safety technology, and sturdy wheels for mobility, it’s an excellent choice for homeowners and contractors seeking flexible, reliable backup power.
What our tester says: “This is one of the most capable backup power solutions I’ve tried. With three fuel options, serious wattage, smart engineering, weatherproof outlet guards, and an hour meter to track maintenance intervals, it really delivers.” —Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Generac generator at Amazon or Ace Hardware, starting at $969.
The Enbrighten Vibe Eternity Landscape Lights bring premium, versatile lighting to outdoor spaces. In our tests, they shone for their easy setup, durable construction, and adjustable light heads, which made it easy to highlight shrubs, trees, or fences. Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and the Enbrighten app, these smart garden lights offer customizable colors and presets for year-round ambiance. Yes, they cost a bit more than standard string lights, but their quality, longevity, and design make them a smart investment for those on the hunt for stylish outdoor illumination.
What our tester says: “It’s been a month since I installed these, and I’m loving the look, the durability, and the simplicity. Honestly, I’m already eyeing where I might add more.” —Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Enbrighten garden lights at Amazon or Enbrighten, starting at $129.99.
The Aiper Pilot H1cordless handheld vacuum is built to make pool cleaning effortless and efficient. Lightweight and easy to assemble, it offers up to 60 minutes of runtime and strong suction to tackle debris on pool floors. Comfortable foam grips and small scrubber bristles make operation simple, while its cordless design eliminates the hassle of hoses. Ideal for small to medium pools, it’s perfect for spot cleaning and maintaining a sparkling swimming area.
What our tester says: “This was my favorite model to test because it glides through the water like a whale shark, easily scooping up anything in its path and looking great while doing it. The battery life and scrubber brushes are a great plus.” —Paul Rankin, Product Reviews writer and tester
Get the Aiper handheld pool vacuum at Amazon for $169.99.
In our tests of the best smart plugs, we awarded the TP-Link Tapo P125M the title of Best Overall for its combination of simplicity, compact design, and broad smart-home compatibility. Matter-certified, it works seamlessly with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and SmartThings without a hub. Setup is simple through the Tapo app, and it handles up to 15 amps and 1800 watts—perfect for lamps, fans, or small appliances. With reliable performance, safety certification, and cross-platform support, this pick would make an excellent addition to any smart home.
What our tester says: “We put this one in our daughter’s room because she loves to have her fan on while she falls asleep, but not all night. Now she just tells Alexa to turn on her fan for bedtime, and it shuts off automatically after a couple of hours.” —Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the TP-Link smart plug at Amazon for $18.98.
The Philips Hue Calla Outdoor Smart Light pairs elegant design with versatile, app-controlled functionality. During testing, it impressed with bright, even illumination and a wide color range you can customize through the Philips Hue app. Durable and weather-resistant, the Calla was easy to install with a sturdy stake, making it ideal for pathways, gardens, or patios. While it requires a Hue Bridge and carries a premium price, it’s a solid choice for homeowners seeking high-end smart outdoor lighting.
What our tester says: “I’m a huge Philips Hue fan, so the Calla was an easy integration into my home setup. This is a gorgeous ground-level light that’s customizable and robust enough to last for years.” —Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Philips Hue smart outdoor light at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Philips Hue, starting at $109.95.
For pool owners seeking a smarter way to maintain water quality, the Aiper HydroComm Pro delivers automated ongoing monitoring of salinity, chlorine, pH, alkalinity, hardness, and more. Solar-powered and app-connected, it tracks trends and offers suggestions, reducing guesswork and manual testing. While larger and pricier than traditional kits, its convenience, comprehensive features, and thoughtful accessories make it a top choice for those ready to invest in effortless, precise pool care.
What our tester says: “I loved that this gadget was really set-and-forget. While it’s a little chunky in the water, if you tether it to a corner, it’ll quietly keep an eye on the water quality and ping your phone with all the useful stats.” —Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Aiper pool test kit at Best Buy for $299.99.
