Smart home guides keep pushing the wrong starter setup – here are some tips that actually work
Ayush Pande Apr 14, 2026, 1:30 PM EDT Ayush Pande is a PC hardware and gaming writer. …
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The best new Home Assistant feature in 2026 isn't AI, it's a 433MHz transmitter
… You're not throwing out perfectly functional hardware just because it's not smart. You're making good use of it. With a single 433 MHz transmitter proxy, you can keep your existing hardware operating for another decade. …
Node-RED unlocks smart home automations that Home Assistant's UI was never designed to handle
… Sign in to your XDA account Home Assistant is widely regarded as the best platform for managing smart devices and IoT hardware. …
I connected my dumb appliances to Home Assistant, and it felt like upgrading my whole house
Jasmine Mannan Jun 7, 2026, 10:01 AM EDT Jasmine is Software and PC Hardware Author at XDA with years of tech reporting experience ranging from AI chatbots right down to gaming hardware, she's covered just about everything. …
I replaced five smart home hubs with a $30 Zigbee dongle and never looked back
Jasmine Mannan Apr 30, 2026, 10:01 AM EDT Jasmine is Software and PC Hardware Author at XDA with years of tech reporting experience ranging from AI chatbots right down to gaming hardware, she's covered just about everything. …
The ESP32 makes more sense than a Raspberry Pi for your smart home
… To make other protocols work, you need to plug in additional hardware. …
I automated my lights first, but energy tracking is what actually saved me money
… See how much all your technology is costing you We're seemingly forever kitting out our homes with more advanced hardware. Game consoles, huge TVs, network-attached storage NAS , networking equipment, home labs, smart home hardware, and multiple personal devices. …
I turned an old iPhone into a Home Assistant wall panel, and it beats every dedicated controller I've tried
… The same goes for an army of Zigbee devices, all controlled via an integration for network management within the platform itself. It's a fantastic piece of kit and one we continue to push on XDA for all things smart home. …
Home Assistant finally replaced Google Home when I stopped trusting the cloud with my smart home
… Then later, I migrated the smart home platform to a used mini PC. …
I finally automated my curtains without drilling holes or replacing anything
Jasmine Mannan Apr 3, 2026, 1:30 PM EDT Jasmine is Software and PC Hardware Author at XDA with years of tech reporting experience ranging from AI chatbots right down to gaming hardware, she's covered just about everything. …