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

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.

Kingslim D4 on a wooden side table with rear-view camera

Kingslim D4 review

By Alistair Charlton published 24 February 23

The Kingslim D4 is a well-priced 4K dash cam system with an optional rear camera shooting at 1080p. It also benefits from GPS and Wifi, but the smartphone app could be better.

The Viofo A129 Pro Duo on a table with screen and user interface

Viofo A129 Pro Duo review

By Alistair Charlton published 30 January 23

An aggressively priced dash cam from an unfamiliar name, the Viofo A129 Pro Duo lacks finesse but records excellent 4K video

The Thinkware X1000 dash cam mounted inside a car windshield

How to get a bargain dash cam during Black Friday

By Alistair Charlton published 20 November 22

Black Friday 2021 The Black Friday sales are one of the best times to buy a dash cam – here's how to decide which one to go for and how to find the best deal.

Thinkware X800 review

By Alistair Charlton published 14 November 22

The Thinkware X800 is a simple dash cam that gets the basics right, and gives you the options to upgrade later.

Nextbase 522GW

By Alistair Charlton published 20 September 22

A top-end dashcam with lots of useful specs - the Nextbase 522GW is a solid all-rounder

The Amazon Smart Thermostat on a pink background on the left and the Google Nest Learning Thermostat on a green background on the right

Amazon Smart Thermostat vs Nest Learning Thermostat: which is best for your home?

By Alistair Charlton last updated 29 August 22

We pitted an affordable Amazon Smart Thermostat against the Google Nest Learning Thermostat to find out which smart thermostat you should choose for your home

Should I buy the Ecobee 3 Lite?

By Alistair Charlton last updated 29 August 22

The Ecobee 3 Lite is one of the most affordable smart thermostats on the market, but how does it compare to rivals from Google and Amazon.

Do home security cameras record all time?

By Alistair Charlton last updated 16 August 22

Thinking about beefing up your home security but unsure if a home security camera constantly records? Here’s what you need to know.

Thinkware T700

By Alistair Charlton published 21 July 22

The Thinkware T700 is a 4G dash cam with impressive connected features, but it also comes with a monthly charge, too.

The Garmin Dash Cam Tandem mounted inside a windshield

Garmin Dash Cam Tandem review

By Alistair Charlton last updated 27 June 22

The Garmin Dash Cam Tandem is one of the best dual-lens dash cams you can buy – just make sure you really need that extra in-car lens.

The Vantrue N2 Pro dash cam mounted inside a car windshield

This simple dash cam makes me wish they'd all quit feature creep for good

By Alistair Charlton published 30 April 22

Vantrue has made a simple dash cam that makes me wonder if others should learn from its refreshing simplicity.

Should I buy the Google Nest Thermostat?

By Alistair Charlton published 21 March 22

Google's newer, simpler thermostat still promises to save money on your energy bills, but costs half that of the Learning Thermostat. Here’s everything you need to know.

the Govee Wi-Fi LED Bulb comes in a twin pack - both bulbs seen here on a wooden shelf

Govee Wi-Fi LED Bulb review

By Alistair Charlton published 14 March 22

How does the Govee Wi-FI LED bulb compare to other smart lights from rivals such as Philips Hue and LIFX?

Do home security cameras invade your privacy?

By Alistair Charlton published 11 March 22

Analysis Home security cameras provide a great way to check in on your property but there are also some privacy considerations when it comes to the area in its field of view.

The Ecobee SmartThermostat attahed on a wall in a home

Should I buy the Ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control?

By Alistair Charlton published 8 March 22

Ecobee is one of the biggest names in the smart thermostat market, but is it a better choice over rival models from Google and Amazon.

The Amazon Smart Thermostat on a green background on the left, and the EcoBee Smart Thermostat on a pink background on the right

Amazon Smart Thermostat vs EcoBee SmartThermostat: which should you have in your home?

By Alistair Charlton published 8 March 22

We pitted an affordable Amazon Smart Thermostat against the EcoBee SmartThermostat to find out which smart thermostat you should choose for your home

The Amazon Smart Thermostat on a wall next to a plant and a shelf

Should I buy the Amazon Smart Thermostat?

By Alistair Charlton published 24 February 22

Amazon has launched its own smart thermostat. If you’re wondering whether it’s a better choice for you over rivals Google and Ecobee, here’s everything you need to know.

The Hive Smart Light Bulb laying down on a shelf

Hive Smart Light Bulb review

By Alistair Charlton published 1 February 22

The Hive Smart Light Bulb is simple to use but pricey, so how does it compare to smart lights from Philips Hue and TP-Link?

The front view of the Hive Active Smart Plug connected to an electrical outlet

Hive Active smart plug review

By Alistair Charlton published 31 January 22

A well-designed smart plug with deep voice assistant integratio

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