Since this is a diverse group of products, there isn’t one set procedure we follow. (A test for a smart home display will tell you nothing about a mesh router.) Everything on this list (and the category-specific best lists) went through hands-on testing.
There are more commonalities, too. Where possible and relevant, we gather data in a standardized and empirical way. For testing Wi-Fi routers, that includes repeating the same speed test at a series of standard distances in the same house for each router that’s tested.
For other categories, the testing is more experiential. For devices like smart thermostats, smart speakers, smart plugs and smart home displays, we install and use them in the ways you would. When testing the second-gen Google Nest Hub, our reviewer conducted a two-week test of its sleep-tracking function in addition to its more obvious around-the-house capabilities.
Relevant company policies also factor into our reviews of these devices, especially when it comes to privacy concerns. Bringing a device into your home that can watch or listen to you or your neighbors comes with corresponding privacy concerns. CNET works to understand the company’s privacy policies, make them easy to understand and takes privacy questions directly to the companies like Ring and Google when the answers aren’t obvious.
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