Articles by Alistair Charlton

Alistair Charlton is based in London and has worked as a freelance technology and automotive journalist for over a decade. A lifelong tech enthusiast, Alistair has written extensively about dash cams and robotic vacuum cleaners for TechRadar, among other products. As well as TechRadar, he also writes for Wired, T3, Forbes, The Independent, Digital Camera World and Grand Designs Magazine, among others.

Articles by: Alistair Charlton

Vantrue N2 Pro review

By Alistair Charlton last updated 20 March 24

Designed for taxi and rideshare drivers, the Vantrue N2 Pro is a refreshingly simple dual-view dash cam.

Vantrue E1 review

By Alistair Charlton last updated 13 March 24

Recommended

The Vantrue E1 is a a well-rounded dash cam with a smart design, GPS, decent software, and 2.5K resolution.

Amazon Echo Hub vs Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen): Two Alexa smart displays compared

By Alistair Charlton published 7 March 24

Amazon's new Echo Hub smart home controller has arrived, so let's compare it to the Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 mounted inside a windscreen

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 review

By Alistair Charlton last updated 24 February 24

Recommended

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 is a tiny dash cam that's about the size of your key fob – and it's a good choice for fans of simplicity.

How to install a smart video doorbell

By Alistair Charlton published 9 December 23

Wired or wireless, installing a video doorbell requires only a drill, screwdriver and a basic understanding of domestic wiring. Here's how to get the job done.

How to change your Ring doorbell sound

By Alistair Charlton published 30 November 23

Fancy a change to the sound of your Ring Video Doorbell? Follow these instructions to learn all about the Ring Chime and app notification sounds.

Ring Stick Up Cam Pro Battery review: wireless camera gains radar and a bird's-eye view

By Alistair Charlton published 23 November 23

Ring's latest indoor/outdoor camera, the Ring Stick Up Cam Pro Battery, is battery-powered for easy installation and uses radar for precise 3D motion detection.

I bought this dash cam for under $20 and its Full HD video quality was anything but

By Alistair Charlton published 11 November 23

I tried a really cheap dash cam from Amazon and the Full HD video isn't quite what I expected...

How to buy a smart lock

By Alistair Charlton published 5 October 23

Smart locks are voice and app controlled for hands-free security. Here's how to choose the best one for your home.

How to buy a video doorbell

By Alistair Charlton published 1 October 23

We help you pick the best video doorbell for improving the security of your smart home

How to buy a robot vacuum cleaner

By Alistair Charlton published 30 September 23

Because nothing says living in the future like a robot cleaning your home

Philips Hue Smart Button review

By Alistair Charlton published 25 September 23

The Philips Hue Smart Button is a compact smart lighting controller, but could benefit from greater configurability.

Wiz Smart Button smart switch review

By Alistair Charlton published 7 September 23

The Wiz Smart Button is a nicely designed wireless switch for controlling Wiz lighting, but lacks much in the way of features

TP-Link Tapo Smart Switch review

By Alistair Charlton published 3 September 23

Recommended

An affordable one-gang, one-way switch that brings app and voice control to a traditional light fitting.

How to install a wired smart light switch

By Alistair Charlton published 1 September 23

Discover how to install a wired smart switch to bring new connectivity to your existing lights

The DJI Mini 3 Pro drone on a blue background

DJI Mini 4 Pro: leaks, rumored release date and price predictions

By Alistair Charlton published 31 August 23

The rumored DJI Mini 4 Pro could be the must-have, sub-250g drone for aerial photographers in 2023

Philips Hue Tap Dial Switch review

By Alistair Charlton published 17 August 23

The Philips Hue Tap Dial Switch shifts smart lighting control up a gear, with four programable buttons and a rotating dimmer dial.

SwitchBot Bot review

By Alistair Charlton published 17 August 23

The SwitchBot is a clever robotic arm that you can use to control switches for lights and other 'dumb' devices.

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 3: which drone should you buy?

By Alistair Charlton published 13 August 23

Comparing the DJI Air 3 and DJI Mini 3

Smart speaker vs smart display: Which is best for you?

By Alistair Charlton published 6 August 23

Explaining the differences and similarities between the two most common types of smart home controller

Rename your smart home devices and rooms

6 things you need to know before starting your smart home

By Alistair Charlton published 5 August 23

Read these tips before starting your build

How to control your smart home with IFTTT

By Alistair Charlton last updated 4 August 23

Get non-communicative smart home devices working with each other.

A beginner’s guide to smart lighting: everything you need to know

By Alistair Charlton published 1 August 23

Want to get a jump-start on your smart lighting journey? We've got you covered, from how they work to how to choose your bulbs.

Adobe FireFly AI showing Spice Girls at Apple Park

Adobe Firefly delivers the AI wow-factor, but soon reaches its creative limits

By Alistair Charlton published 1 August 23

AI-powered text-to-image is quick and clever, but isn’t going to replace humans any time soon.

Has Apple just turned the iPhone into a smart display with iOS 17?

By Alistair Charlton published 5 June 23

WWDC 2023 Announced at WWDC, the iPhone gets new StandBy interface with smart home controls and more.