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Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Reviewer, Smart Home

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy is The Verge’s Smart Home Reviewer, meaning her family lives in misery, so yours doesn’t have to. She covers all areas of home automation and connected gadgets, from robot vacuums and video doorbells to smart lighting and locks. She joined The Verge in 2021 and is a leading expert on the smart home standard Matter.

A journalist for three decades, she’s covered the smart home since 2013, writing for publications including The New York Times, Wirecutter, Dwell, Wired, The Ambient, BBC Science Focus, and US News & World Report. She received her training on London’s Fleet Street with The Daily Telegraph newspaper before moving to Sun Valley, Idaho, where she worked in local news for ten years. She now lives in South Carolina with her husband, two children, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, and seven chickens.

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Apple’s rumored HomePod with a screen could arrive with Apple Intelligence.

Apple’s smart home efforts could use both a smarter Siri and a smart display, and we may soon get both.

MacRumors has discovered code that indicates Apple is working on a new HomeAccessory 17,1 that could be powerful enough to run Apple Intelligence.

Existing HomePods seem unlikely to be able to support the AI, so new smart home hardware seems inevitable.


Every smart home device that works with Matter

All the Matter-compatible devices you can buy, plus the latest on the Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung-backed smart home standard.

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This ice maker is my family’s new favorite smart gadget.

It might be because the heat index is 110 degrees, but the new GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra has been a huge hit in my house.

I’ve been testing the smart nugget ice maker for a week, and its ability to make a full batch of ice in 10 minutes is impressive. But for $630, you have to really love chewable ice. I’ll have a review soon.


The Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker is an update to the Opal 2.0. It has a new water filter, air filter, and cleaning system that should make for easier maintenance.
The Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker is an update to the Opal 2.0. It has a new water filter, air filter, and cleaning system that should make for easier maintenance.
Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
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These are the robot vacuums that will work with Matter.

Now that both Samsung and Apple have promised support for robot vacuums through Matter (Samsung SmartThings will support them this summer and Apple Home later this year), I’ve rounded up a list of robo vacs with Matter support, along with info on how they’ll work in your platform of choice.

Get all the details in the FAQ section of my robot vacuum buying guide.


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This smart leak detector can warn you if your fish tank is draining.

SwitchBot claims its new Water Leak Detector can not only alert you to leaks and drips but also monitor water levels, thanks to an optional immersion cable.

This sounds handy for warning you if your fish tank is draining, your bathtub is too full, or your sump pump levels are rising. It doesn't need a hub, works over Wi-Fi, and costs $17.99 ($19.99 with the cable).

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.


<em>The SwitchBot Water Leak Detector has an optional cable that can monitor water levels.</em>

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The SwitchBot Water Leak Detector has an optional cable that can monitor water levels.
Image: SwitchBot

The best robot vacuums

Floor-sweeping robots are only getting better, with new mopping skills, better navigation chops, and more automation, meaning less work for you. We picked the best bots you can buy right now.