OREI 4K HDMI Switch Review: HDR10+ and Dolby Vision Without the Cable Mess

Home Assistant 2026.4 drops today with the feature IR blaster owners have been begging for: native infrared remote control support. No more custom integrations, no more Broadlink workarounds, no more HACS dependencies. IR devices are now first-class citizens in HA. Combined with improved climate entity handling and media player controls, this is a release that makes your dumb devices smart without replacing them.

The Kasa Smart KS200P3 is a reliable HomeKit-compatible smart switch that offers easy integration with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Its 3-pack provides great value for outfitting multiple rooms, but it requires a neutral wire and doesn't support 3-way circuits. For those with the right wiring, it's a solid, no-hub choice.

Anker's Prime charging stations promise smart power management with LCD displays and touch controls. But after living with both the 140W 4-port and 250W 6-port models, the real question is whether you're paying for features you'll actually use, or just impressive-looking tech that sits on your desk.

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57" combines two 4K UHD panels into a single 1000R curved display at 240Hz. It is the most ambitious gaming monitor ever made, and after months of daily use, I can say it is genuinely transformative for productivity and gaming.

The UniFi Flex Mini 5-Port PoE Switch packs five gigabit ports plus PoE passthrough into a footprint smaller than a deck of cards. At $30, it is impossible to beat for desktops, kids' rooms, or any spot where you need a few extra ports without an enterprise switch.

The first Home Assistant release of 2026 focuses on polish and performance. As someone running HA on dedicated hardware managing 200+ entities across UniFi, Nest, Hue, and Z-Wave devices, this update delivered noticeable speed improvements in the dashboard and energy management that actually matters for my monthly reporting.

The Grandstream HT801 is a no-frills, rock-solid analog telephone adapter for connecting old phones to VoIP services or self-hosted PBX systems like FreePBX. Set it and forget it.

Most ball machines fire blindly at one spot. The PONGBOT Pace S Pro uses a camera to track where you are and feed the ball away from you, turning solo practice into something closer to a real rally. We looked at whether the AI is a gimmick or the reason to buy.