@wirecutter — 4x breakout

@wirecutter — 4x breakout | Overshot

Product placement

Yale smart locks: These are smart locks that allow users to enter their homes without a physical key. They are seen in the video and are described as useful for letting people in when the owners are not around. Removing them would change the user's ability to enter their home without a key. Programmable coffee maker (OXO): This is a coffee maker that can be programmed to brew coffee at a specific time. It is seen in the video and described as making mornings more delightful. Removing it would mean the user would have to manually brew coffee. Phillips Hue bulbs: These are smart light bulbs that can simulate natural light progression. They are seen in the video and described as helping with sleep patterns by mimicking natural light. Removing them would mean the user would have to rely on standard lighting. Rechargeable, under-cabinet lights (motion-sensored): These are lights that turn on automatically when motion is detected, used here for a bathroom. They are seen in the video and described as helpful for navigating the bathroom at night without knocking into things. Removing them would make nighttime bathroom trips more difficult. Robot vacuum (Roborock): This is a robot vacuum cleaner that can be programmed to clean at a specific time. It is seen in the video and described as a reminder for caffeine cut-off time, prompting breaks. Removing it would remove this specific reminder cue. Leviton motion sensor switch: This is a light switch that automatically turns lights on and off based on motion. It is seen in the video and described as solving the problem of lights being left on in a storage closet. Removing it would mean the light would have to be manually turned on and off. Smart electrical outlet: This is an outlet that can be programmed to turn devices on and off at specific times. It is seen in the video connected to an espresso machine, turning on to preheat it. Removing it would mean the espresso machine would have to be manually turned on and would not be preheated. Bathroom fan timer switch: This is a switch that turns off a bathroom fan after a set amount of time. It is seen in the video and described as saving energy. Removing it would mean the fan would run until manually turned off. The New York Times logo: This is a logo that appears on multiple slides. It merely appears and does not ACT. Removing it would not change what happens in the video.

On-screen text

We asked our colleagues: What are the home automation upgrades that bring you the most joy? Editor Jon Chase I love my smart locks — I haven't carried a house key in a decade, and we have never been locked out of our home. We've also had countless instances of people being able to get in as needed when we aren't around. It's just so useful. Newsletters editor Erin Neil I set my programmable coffee maker to brew at 7 am every morning and it makes the difference between a good morning and a just meh one. Occasionally, I'll wake up to the sound of the coffee dripping into the pot and it is much more delightful than an alarm — as is the smell when it inevitably wafts into my bedroom. Writer James Austin I live in a basement, so my access to natural light is quite low, and that has a history of really screwing with my sleep patterns at night. I installed Phillips Hue bulbs in basically every light socket we have, and it runs on a natural light cadence, ramping up in the morning and back down in the evening, simulating at least a little bit of a natural light progression. It's made wind down time much easier. Writer Sri Stewart I invested in rechargeable, under-cabinet lights that are motion-sensored. Unfortunately, I fall in the camp of sleepers who wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. It's a game changer because it subtly lights up the way for me to access the bathroom without accidentally knocking into something. It stays on for less than a minute, so it'll shut off shortly after I hop into bed. Writer Nicola Fumo I set my robot vac to clean at 2 pm every day as a reminder that it's caffeine cut-off time. When it starts doing its little routine, I'm cued to put away the cold brew and refill my water bottle, maybe take a break to walk the dog. Writer Rachel Cericola We have a storage closet on the first floor of my house. My husband also keeps all of his tools in there, so he's constantly going in and out, leaving the light on. It isn't really a big deal, but IT BOTHERS ME. I swapped the switch for a Leviton motion sensor switch, so the light just goes on and off whenever the door is opened and closed. Editor Christine Ryan We have my partner's espresso machine plugged into a smart electrical outlet; the outlet turns itself on at 5 am, so the pressure is sufficient for him to pull his first shot when he gets up. (God forbid he have to wait the 15 minutes or so that it takes!) And the outlet turns itself off at 10 am. Editor Jen Gushue With a timer set in 60-, 30-, 20-, or 10-minute increments, this switch turns off my bathroom fan, saving energy after I've left the room and the steam has cleared.