After a decade in IT engineering, I’ve seen the same pattern repeat. Smart home companies overpromise battery life by 40%. Devices brick when servers shut down. Basic features get locked behind subscription paywalls. Manufacturers copy-paste specs across product lines without testing.
That’s why this site exists. I research IoT devices the way an engineer would evaluate enterprise equipment – by verifying every spec against manufacturer documentation, cross-referencing claims with published performance data, and calling out the gaps between marketing and reality.
Every spec gets cross-referenced with manufacturer sources and independent data. Every battery claim is compared with reported performance data. When marketing and reality diverge (like security cameras advertising 6 month battery life when real world performance shows 3 months, or thermostats requiring cloud connectivity for features that should work locally), I highlight exactly where and why. If I wouldn’t recommend a device to family, I won’t recommend it here, even when it costs an affiliate commission.
The result: Fewer wasted purchases, fewer abandoned apps, and smart devices that keep working years after setup.
Start with our most fact-checked guide: Best Smart Rings – Verified Battery Life & Accuracy Data
Start Here
New to IoT technology?
Our complete beginner’s guide explains how connected devices work, what protocols matter, and which features justify the cost, without assuming prior technical knowledge.
Shopping for specific devices?
Jump to our most researched guides:
- Best Fitness Trackers with Long Battery Life – Comprehensive comparison with verified battery specs and real world performance data
- GPS Trackers for Dogs – Research-verified subscription costs, coverage gaps and battery performance
- Smart Air Purifiers – Which models actually improve air quality vs. which ones just connect to an app
Improving wellness at home?
Explore smart home devices for better sleep, air quality and daily health: essential oils for diffusers, smart water bottles and smart massage devices.
Building a connected home system?
Understand the protocols that determine whether your devices work together: Matter, Zigbee, Thread and Z-Wave.
Want to explore everything?
Browse the full blog archive for detailed coverage of smart home protocols, security guides, setup tutorials and emerging IoT technology.
What You’ll Find Here
This site covers IoT technology that solves real problems, not devices that create new ones.
- Device Reviews & Comparisons: Smart home technology including health and fitness wearables, home wellness devices, pet technology and IoT protocols
- Protocol Guides: Deep dives into Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Z-Wave and other connectivity standards that determine whether your devices will work together
- Setup & Troubleshooting: Step-by-step tutorials that get devices working without requiring an engineering degree
- Security Guides: How to protect IoT devices from vulnerabilities, explained in plain English
- Wellness Technology: Smart home devices focused on improving sleep, air quality, hydration and daily health routines
- Emerging Technology: Early coverage of edge computing, AI integration and developments worth monitoring
The Approach
No regurgitated press releases. No marketing fluff. Just detailed research backed by over a decade of IT engineering experience, focused on helping you make informed decisions about IoT technology that meaningfully improves your life.