The best smart home gadgets for your first apartment

After testing dozens of robot vacuums, we decided iRobot’s Roomba Vac is the best budget option for just about anyone, but particularly for those just starting their smart home journey. The app is easy to use, even if you’re completely new to these devices, and there are physical buttons on the bot itself to simplify things even more. Setting it up within the app is straightforward, however, so you can quickly program it to run on a schedule — something we recommend doing so you get the most out of these devices. It can run for up to two hours on a charge, which should be more than enough time to cover all but the most palatial apartments. And before it runs out of battery, it will return to its base for a recharge automatically. Unlike some of the more expensive models, this one doesn’t automatically empty itself, but even that small bit of maintenance is still a lot less effort than dragging a manual vacuum across your floors every week. ... Read full article.