Home Smart by AE MindHands-on reviews of lamps, lighting fixtures, curtains, furniture and decor I’ve tested at home.
The FloraFairy artificial areca palm trees are a two-pack of 6-foot tropical faux palms with UV-resistant fronds, wire-reinforced bendable branches, a weighted cement base and a black plastic pot. In my YouTube video published November 1, 2026, I unbox the pair, shape the fronds, place one in the living area and then move a tree […]
The Florise 6×4 metal storage shed gave me a dedicated, lockable place in my backyard for batteries, electronics, tools, portable power stations and generators, and in my own video review it proved roomy for its size, with room for two storage racks I bought separately and added myself, plus space in the middle to move […]
The Acacia Interlocking Deck Tiles are 12-inch solid acacia squares that snap together on a raised drainage base, and in my own video review they gave my outdoor storage shed a wooden floor that fit perfectly between my two storage racks. I bought them myself for the project. A 9-tile pack sold for $39.99 on […]
This SwitchBot AI Art Frame review finds a cordless color e-paper frame that shines with artwork but struggles to show family photos naturally, according to Paul Hibbert, a UK smart home YouTuber who runs Hibbert Home Tech, and Reed Kleinman of Smart Home Solver. Both reviewers received their frames from SwitchBot; Reed’s was an early […]
In the Aura Ink vs Reflection Frame matchup, the Reflection shows more accurate color while the Aura Ink is easier to fill with photos and adds a front light, according to Smart Home Solver, the YouTube channel run by Reed Kleinman, who has about 737,000 subscribers and covers practical home automation, who also tried a […]
The best e-ink picture frame for color accuracy is the Reflection Frame, while the Aura Ink is the easiest to give as a gift, according to Smart Home Solver, the YouTube channel run by Reed Kleinman, who has about 737,000 subscribers and covers practical home automation, who compared three color e-paper frames side by side. […]
This SmartWings review finds the brand’s made-to-measure motorized shades bring custom smart blinds within reach of most budgets, according to Paul Hibbert, a UK smart home reviewer who called them “the nicest blinds I have ever tried” (Paul Hibbert, “FINALLY… Smart Home Blinds You Can Afford | Smartwings”; SmartWings sponsored the video). DIY Smart Home […]
Blackout smart blinds put bedroom darkness on a schedule, and Paul Hibbert, a UK smart home reviewer, called SmartWings’ cellular blind “an amazing blackout blind” with “no way for lights to pass through.” 6 Months Later, a long-term review channel, found the opposite lesson in its own main bedroom: blinds that change on their own […]
In SmartWings vs SwitchBot, SmartWings wins on fit, width and protocol choice, while SwitchBot wins on price and quiet operation, according to Paul Hibbert, a UK smart home reviewer who has used both. He worked out SwitchBot’s adjustable shade at about £81 cheaper with comparable options, but it needs a SwitchBot hub (Paul Hibbert, “FINALLY… […]
Smart blinds cost roughly $119 to $210 per window for DIY brands on Amazon, compared with more than $750 for a similar Lutron Serena shade, according to prices from Amazon at time of writing and figures from Shane Whatley, a smart home YouTuber who compared the three brands at one size. SwitchBot sponsored Shane Whatley’s […]
Affordable smart blinds now cost a fraction of designer systems. Shane Whatley, an Apple Home YouTuber, priced a small SwitchBot roller shade with solar panel at just under $150 during a launch discount, against about $335 for a similar SmartWings shade and more than $750 for Lutron Serena (Shane Whatley, “The First ADJUSTABLE Smart Shades! […]
This XGIMI MoGo 4 review finds a coffee-thermos-sized projector that runs about 2.5 hours on battery and points anywhere from the floor to the ceiling, which Spencer Scott Pugh, a tech reviewer who tested it, called “kind of perfect” for what most people will use it for. It listed at $479.00 on Amazon on October […]
A projector for bedroom use should tilt up so you can watch on the ceiling from bed, and Paul Hibbert, a smart home YouTuber, says he watches his projector in his bedroom “every night” and does not miss a TV. Three compact models with Google TV and licensed Netflix fit that job, from $379 to […]
The right outdoor movie projector depends on whether you have power in the yard: battery models like XGIMI’s MoGo 4 run about 2.5 hours, enough for one film, according to Spencer Scott Pugh, a tech reviewer who tested it with XGIMI’s battery stand and said the pair lasts “the entire length of a football game.” […]
In the XGIMI AURA 2 vs Formovie Theater matchup, both 4K laser ultra-short-throw projectors listed at exactly $999.99 on Amazon on October 16, 2026, and the AURA 2 lists more brightness at 2,300 ISO lumens versus 1,800 for the Formovie. Reviewers who tested each one, including TechTablets, a projector and gadget review channel that has […]
In the projector vs TV debate, a TV wins on brightness, sharpness and black levels, but a projector wins on size, according to Paul Hibbert, a smart home YouTuber who set a 4K laser projector beside one of the best OLED TVs he could borrow and said that once the TV was off, “I’ve forgotten […]
The best projector under $1,000 now includes 4K laser models that used to cost far more: XGIMI’s AURA 2 ultra-short-throw projector listed at $999.99 on Amazon on October 16, 2026, while The Hook Up, a projector review channel that measures every unit in a light-controlled garage, tested XGIMI’s earlier Aura when it cost $1,699. A […]
I tested the BESTANO Desk Chair and here’s my experience. I use it to work on my MacBook, and right away I noticed how comfortable it feels for longer sessions. I adjusted the height to match my desk setup and rolled it around to see how smooth it moves across the floor. In this BESTANO […]
I tested the Clearly Innovative Glass Chair Mat and here’s my experience. I used it underneath my office chair on my hardwood floor to test how smoothly the chair rolls across the surface. The tempered glass feels very solid under the chair, and the beveled edges make rolling on and off the mat feel much […]
I tested the ADDWel Preserved Rose Bouquet and these roses look incredibly real. The bouquet includes 12 preserved red roses surrounded by multicolored lights that give it a beautiful glow. They are made from real fresh roses that have been preserved to last for years, which makes them a meaningful long lasting gift. In this […]