Ecobee4
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/ecobee4-smart-thermostat-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: Ecobee’s $249 Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat has a responsive display, a remote sensor and tons of smart integrations, including a built-in Amazon Alexa speaker.
The bad: The price is high, particularly if you don’t care about the Alexa speaker or the Ecobee4’s other smart capabilities.
The cost: $247.00 to $249.00
The bottom line: There’s no comparison — the Ecobee4 is the best smart thermostat available today.
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Neato Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/neato-botvac-connected-robot-vacuum-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Neato Botvac Connected is the best-performing robot vacuum we’ve ever tested. The new Neato app is well-designed and easy to use, and finally brings remote control functionality to the Botvac line, and it can now be controlled via Amazon’s Alexa voice platform.
The bad: We encountered a few usability quirks during testing.
The cost: $499.99 to $583.86
The bottom line: The Neato Botvac Connected is better at cleaning floors than any other robot vacuum on the market, and it costs less than its app-enabled rival, the iRobot Roomba 980. If you’re willing to live without remote controls, you can save some money by sticking with the previous generation of Neatos — but we think this one’s worth the splurge, particularly with its Alexa functionality.
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Amazon Cloud Cam
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/amazon-cloud-cam-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The $120 Amazon Cloud Cam’s crisp 1080p HD live feed, prompt motion notifications and free 24-hour clip storage set a new value standard for indoor home security cameras. And, of course, Alexa functionality is a given.
The bad: Only Amazon cloud subscribers can set motion zones and receive person alerts. Continuous recording is not available (even for subscribers), and there’s no local micro SD card storage.
The cost: $119.99
The bottom line: Amazon’s Cloud Cam is affordable, reliable and easy to use, but it’s the free storage that ultimately makes it more appealing than Nest security cameras and many other home security competitors.
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Amazon Echo (2017)
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/amazon-echo-2017-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: With a variety of new designs, the new Amazon Echo is better looking than the original, just as smart and a lot less expensive. The addition of an aux-out jack lets you connect it with your existing audio setup. It’s also a slightly better listener than before.
The bad: Though fine for casual listening and strong enough to fill a room with music, the Echo still doesn’t sound as good as premium high-fidelity speakers. The volume ring of the original is gone, replaced with the cheaper volume buttons of the Echo Dot.
The cost: $99.99
The bottom line: Alexa is still the most compelling voice control platform, and the improved Echo should only boost its momentum. It’s well worth $100.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Senior Associate Editor Ry Crist, Senior Associate Editor Megan Wollerton and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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