Category: Reviews

In-depth product reviews and hands-on testing

  • Best Home Security Robots of 2026

    Last Updated: May 2026 | Reading time: 8 min

    Home security robots aren’t science fiction anymore. In 2026, you can buy a robot that maps your home, patrols on a schedule, streams live 1080p video, and sends you push alerts when it detects an unfamiliar face — while you’re asleep or a thousand miles away. The best home security robot for most people is Amazon Astro. It’s the most polished consumer robot available: it patrols autonomously, recognizes family members’ faces, integrates natively with Ring, and can be directed remotely from anywhere. For the best budget option, the Moorebot Scout patrols a pre-set path 24/7, streams 1080p with night vision, and costs under $100.

    Quick Picks

    RobotBest ForPrice
    Amazon AstroBest overall~$1,000 (invite)
    Moorebot ScoutBest budget indoor~$90
    Ebo Security RobotBest for apartments~$120
    Knightscope K1/K5Commercial / HOA$7/hr (RaaS)
    DroneDogIndustrial outdoor patrolEnterprise pricing

    Best Overall: Amazon Astro

    Price: ~$1,000 | Subscription: Ring Protect Pro recommended

    Amazon Astro is the most capable home security robot you can actually buy for your home in 2026. It’s powered by Alexa, operates on wheels with enough torque to handle most household floor surfaces, and uses an onboard camera, sensors, and machine learning to build and maintain a map of your home.

    What Makes It Stand Out

    Autonomous patrolling: Set a patrol schedule and Astro moves through your home on its own — checking the kitchen, living room, hallways — and returns to its dock automatically.

    Face recognition: Astro learns to recognize family members and frequent visitors. When it encounters someone it doesn’t recognize during a patrol, it records footage and sends you an alert. The periscope camera (extendable camera mast) lets it check over counters and couches.

    Ring integration: If a Ring doorbell or camera detects motion outside, Astro can automatically roll to the nearest inside vantage point to investigate. The two systems work as a coordinated inside-outside security layer.

    Remote control: From the Astro app, you can drive Astro to any room, see a live camera feed, use two-way talk, and check on specific areas.

    Astro costs around $1,000 and remains on an invitation-only system in the US as of May 2026. It’s also indoor-only — Astro doesn’t handle outdoor terrain, stairs, or rain. Battery life is around 4–6 hours of active patrol before Astro needs to dock and recharge.

    👉 Check Price on Amazon

    Best Budget Indoor Robot: Moorebot Scout

    Price: ~$90 | Subscription: $0

    The Moorebot Scout is a palm-sized robot on rubber treads that takes home security patrol down to its simplest form: it rolls through your home on a pre-programmed path, streams 1080p video with night vision, sends push alerts on motion detection, and returns to its charging dock when the battery runs low.

    • Pre-programmed patrol route — set it up once in the app; it follows the same path automatically
    • 1080p with IR night vision — clear footage in complete darkness
    • Motion detection alerts — push notifications with clip thumbnails
    • 2–3 hours per charge, auto-docking — covers most homes in one patrol cycle
    • Under $100 — the most accessible security robot available

    👉 Check Price on Amazon

    Best for Apartments: Ebo Security Robot

    Price: ~$120 | Subscription: $0

    The Ebo is compact, quiet, and designed for smaller spaces. It patrols for up to 24 hours per charge — much longer than most competitors — records in 1080p Full HD with night vision, and includes an auto-tracking feature that locks onto detected motion and follows it. The Ebo is quiet enough to run overnight without waking anyone up.

    👉 Check Price on Amazon

    Commercial-Grade: Knightscope

    Price: $7/hour (Robot-as-a-Service) | No upfront equipment cost

    Knightscope is the most visible name in commercial security robotics. Their K5 outdoor patrol robot operates 24/7, never calls in sick, and patrols at 3 mph while streaming 360° HD video to a remote operations center. For homeowners, this is overkill — but for small businesses, HOAs, or anyone running a multi-unit property, the $7/hour RaaS model competes favorably with human security guards ($15–25/hour).

    Do Home Security Robots Actually Work?

    The honest answer in 2026 is: yes, but with limits.

    What They Do Well

    • Cover multiple rooms — a single robot can monitor your entire home in a way fixed cameras can’t
    • Deter opportunistic theft — the visible presence of a moving robot gives most casual burglars pause
    • Provide remote visibility — real-time patrol footage when you’re traveling is genuinely useful
    • Catch footage fixed cameras miss — Astro’s periscope camera can check under furniture or around corners

    What They Can’t Do

    • Stop a determined intruder — no consumer robot can physically block or confront a burglar
    • Patrol outdoors — all consumer security robots are indoor-only as of 2026
    • Replace professional monitoring — a robot with a camera is not the same as a monitored alarm that contacts police

    The bottom line: Home security robots are best thought of as mobile cameras with patrol intelligence — an addition to your existing security setup, not a replacement for it.

    FAQ

    What is the best home security robot in 2026? Amazon Astro is the best overall — it patrols autonomously, recognizes faces, and integrates with Ring. For budget buyers, the Moorebot Scout at ~$90 is the most accessible option.

    Can a home security robot replace a security camera? Not directly — a robot covers one area at a time, while fixed cameras record all the time. They’re complementary: robots provide mobile, on-demand patrol; cameras provide continuous coverage of specific points.

    How long do home security robot batteries last? Amazon Astro: 4–6 hours of active use. Moorebot Scout: 2–3 hours. Ebo: up to 24 hours. All return to their charging docks automatically when battery is low.

    Last updated: May 2026. SmartHomeSecured.com is reader-supported — we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate Disclosure

  • Best Smart Locks of 2026

    Last Updated: May 2026 | Reading time: 8 min

    The best smart lock for most people is the August Smart Lock Pro — it installs in about 10 minutes over your existing deadbolt interior, requires no rewiring, and your original keys still work. It adds app control, auto-lock, and smart home integration without changing anything visible from outside. For the most advanced hands-free experience, the Aqara Smart Lock U400 is the 2026 standout: the first US smart lock with UWB, which unlocks your door automatically as you approach.

    Quick Picks

    LockBest ForHub RequiredPrice
    August Smart Lock ProBest overall retrofitYes (included)~$150
    Aqara Smart Lock U400UWB / hands-freeNo~$230
    Yale Assure Lock 2Design + HomeKitNo (WiFi built-in)~$180
    Schlage Encode PlusGrade 1 security + WiFiNo~$230
    Kwikset Halo TouchFingerprintNo~$160
    Eufy Smart Lock S230Budget WiFiNo~$130

    Best Overall: August Smart Lock Pro

    Price: ~$150 | Hub: August Connect WiFi included | Installation: 10 min

    The August Smart Lock Pro is the least disruptive way to add smart lock capabilities to any home. It installs on the interior side of your existing deadbolt — the exterior knob or handleset stays unchanged. Your original keys still work. From outside, nothing has changed.

    • Interior-only retrofit — existing keys still work; exterior hardware unchanged
    • Auto-lock and auto-unlock — locks when you leave, unlocks when you approach
    • DoorSense — senses whether the door is actually closed before auto-locking
    • Guest access via app — create and revoke access for housekeepers, family, Airbnb guests
    • Works with everything — Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Ring

    👉 Check Price on Amazon

    Best UWB / Hands-Free Entry: Aqara Smart Lock U400

    Price: ~$230 | Hub: Aqara Hub M3 recommended | Installation: 30–45 min (full lockset replacement)

    The Aqara U400 represents a genuine step forward in smart lock technology. UWB uses precise spatial positioning to detect your phone within centimeters — so the lock knows exactly when you’re at your door and unlocks automatically, without you taking anything out of your pocket. In early 2026, Aqara added Samsung Wallet Digital Home Key support, making the U400 the most interoperable digital key lock in the US market.

    • UWB hands-free entry — door unlocks as you walk up; works with iPhone 11+ and recent Samsung Galaxy
    • Samsung Wallet Digital Home Key — added 2026; works alongside Apple Wallet
    • NFC + fingerprint + keypad + physical key — five unlock methods, so you’re never locked out
    • Apple HomeKit native — set automations directly in the Home app

    👉 Check Price on Amazon

    Best Design: Yale Assure Lock 2

    Price: ~$180 | Installation: 20–30 min

    Yale makes the best-looking smart locks on the market, and the Assure Lock 2 is their flagship in 2026. A large backlit keypad, no keyhole on the exterior, and finishes that actually match real door hardware. It supports Apple HomeKit natively — one of very few smart locks to do so without a bridge.

    👉 Check Price on Amazon

    Best Built-In WiFi: Schlage Encode Plus

    Price: ~$230 | Hub: None required | Installation: 30 min

    The Schlage Encode Plus is the pick when physical security is your top priority. Schlage locks are ANSI Grade 1 certified — the highest residential security standard — with a hardened steel bolt and anti-pick, anti-bump, and anti-drill protection built in. WiFi is built directly into the lock. No bridge, no hub, no extra hardware.

    👉 Check Price on Amazon

    Best Fingerprint: Kwikset Halo Touch

    Price: ~$160 | Hub: None required | Installation: 20 min

    The Kwikset Halo Touch reads fingerprints in under one second and stores up to 100 prints locally in the lock. Built-in WiFi means you don’t need a hub, and the fingerprint unlock method is the one people actually want to use once they have it.

    👉 Check Price on Amazon

    Buying Guide

    Retrofit vs. Full Replacement? Retrofit locks (August-style) install over your existing interior thumbturn. Keeps existing keys. Great for renters. Full-replacement locks (Schlage, Yale, Aqara) are more secure but require more installation effort.

    PlatformBest Picks
    Apple HomeKitAqara U400, Yale Assure Lock 2, Schlage Encode Plus
    Amazon AlexaAugust Pro, Schlage, Kwikset Halo Touch
    Google HomeAugust Pro, Kwikset Halo Touch, Eufy S230
    SmartThingsAugust Pro, Yale, Schlage

    FAQ

    What is the best smart lock in 2026? The August Smart Lock Pro is the best for most people — easy retrofit install, keeps existing keys, and works with every major smart home platform. For the most advanced technology, the Aqara Smart Lock U400’s UWB hands-free entry is the standout new feature in 2026.

    Are smart locks secure? Yes — top smart locks like the Schlage Encode Plus carry the same ANSI Grade 1 physical security certification as traditional deadbolts. Smart locks don’t weaken the physical security of your door.

    What happens if my smart lock battery dies? Most smart locks come with a backup entry method: a physical key override, a 9V battery contact on the exterior that powers an emergency unlock, or NFC via your phone. Most also send low-battery alerts via app well in advance.

    Last updated: May 2026. SmartHomeSecured.com is reader-supported — we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate Disclosure