Articles by Cat Ellis, Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, and worked on print magazines including PC Plus, Official Windows Magazine, and PC Format before moving online. She's also a Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) certified barista, so whether you want to upgrade your smart lights or pick up a new espresso machine, she's the right person to help.

Articles by: Cat Ellis

Freemake Video Converter during our review process

Freemake Video Converter review

By Steve Paris last updated 4 February 25

Convert videos from your desktop or sites like YouTube and Vimeo to any format you like – for free.

Person cooking salmon and vegetables using white Ninja Double Stack air fryer

The Ninja Double Stack is the best air fryer in the world – and it just got a 2025 revamp that makes it better than ever

By Cat Ellis published 4 February 25

Ninja has released several of its most popular appliances in a new white colorway.

I tried Nespresso's energy-boosting coffee capsules, and I have a new favorite morning brew

By Cat Ellis published 2 February 25

Would you swap your bag of beans for a box of pods?

Smeg smart Galileo ovens installed in kitchen

'It's about giving you the coffee you want, not the coffee someone else wants': Smeg explains why smart appliances aren't a gimmick, and why connecting your oven to your phone makes sense

By Cat Ellis published 1 February 25

Is it time to connect your kitchen? There are some good reasons to consider it.

This AI coffee machine uses Google Cloud to tailor your beverages – and you can buy it from Amazon today

By Cat Ellis published 29 January 25

SmartHQ AI Coffee Assistant is your friendly virtual barista.

Philips Hue and Nanoleaf smart light bulbs on blue and teal background

Philips Hue vs Nanoleaf: pick the right smart lights for your home

By Cat Ellis published 26 January 25

There are some important differences between Philips Hue and Nanoleaf, and we're here to help you make the best choice.

Woman sitting on sofa making a disgusted face while holding a cup of coffee

Are you one of the 39% of coffee drinkers who still use instant? Upgrading to one of these three cheap coffee machines will deliver a better-tasting brew

By Cat Ellis published 26 January 25

A Deloitte survey has revealed that granules are still the most popular choice.

Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone air fryer and Ninja Double Stack air fryer on teal and pink background

Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone vs Ninja Double Stack XL: choose your perfect air fryer

By Cat Ellis published 23 January 25

Two drawers are better than one, but do you want them side-by-side or stacked?

Breville Barista Impress espresso machine with brass accents in white and green

Breville just gave its best espresso machine a makeover, and I think I'm in love

By Cat Ellis published 20 January 25

It's classy, it's brassy, and it'll look perfect in your kitchen.

Nanoleaf 4D lighting kit and box on teal background

The best Ambilight alternatives 2025: enhance your home theater experience

By Cat Ellis last updated 20 January 25

Updated The best Ambilight alternatives for immersive movies and games without replacing your TV.

Mostly blue image shown on TV with Philips Hue Play Light Bars beside it

Philips Hue Play Light Bar review: a fun and flexible addition to your home theater setup

By Cat Ellis published 18 January 25

Got a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box? This compact light will add a new dimension to your movies and games, wherever you put it.

Philips Somneo wake-up light on blue background

The best wake-up lights 2025: sunrise alarms tested by experts

By Cat Ellis last updated 17 January 25

Updated Rise and shine with a natural-looking gradual sunrise and soft audio effects.

A living room kitted out with Philips Hue Smart Lights in various lamps

Got Philips Hue lights? A free software update could turn them into motion sensors

By Cat Ellis published 17 January 25

Occupation detection with no extra hardware required.

Split image showing Nest Secure smoke alarm on the left, and person using smartphone to unlock Aqara smart lock on the right

The Google Home app is getting a big update, and it's good news for your security

By Cat Ellis published 16 January 25

Nest Protect and improved support for Matter-compatible smart locks incoming.

KitchenAid KF6 espresso machine in Porcelain White

KitchenAid just gave you a new reason to upgrade your espresso machine

By Cat Ellis published 15 January 25

All the company's espresso makers are now available in smart Porcelain White.

Smeg Mini Pro Espresso Coffee Machine with milk pitcher

Smeg Mini Pro Espresso Coffee Machine review: a beautiful manual coffee maker that lets you call the shots, but at a price

By Cat Ellis published 13 January 25

Smeg's latest espresso machine gives you a taste of the barista experience at home, if your wallet can take the hit.

Forget AI, there's only one thing I want from Philips Hue this year

By Cat Ellis published 13 January 25

An assistant that can design custom mood lighting sounds fun, but it's not my top priority.

kitchenaid stand mixer in color of the year

I took a pie-making course, and it changed everything I thought I knew about pastry

By Cat Ellis published 12 January 25

Four key baking lessons I took home (along with a heap of delicious pies).

Three coffee makers demonstrated at CES 2025

5 hot coffee innovations from CES – from condensing espresso machines to super-fast cold brew

By Cat Ellis published 11 January 25

The best new tech we've seen at CES 2025 coming to your kitchen counter soon.

Nanoleaf's Ambilight alternative is now even easier to install – no more corner brackets

By Cat Ellis published 8 January 25

CES 2025 Nanoleaf 4D V2 comes with a lightweight, bendy light strip, and supports wider screens.

KaraPod coffee machine with cup of coffee and glass of water suspended beside it

This coffee machine brews espresso using water condensed from the air in your home

By Cat Ellis published 7 January 25

CES 2025 It's an interesting idea – just don't think too much about where that water might have come from.

This AI air fryer turns your grandma's old recipes into smart cooking programs

By Cat Ellis published 7 January 25

CES 2025 Scan your favorite recipes from your cookbooks and let the Dreo ChefMaker 2 handle the tricky conversions.

Woman using Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential installed on wall

Ecobee's new smart thermostat could save you money on heating – and it's half the price of the latest Google Nest

By Cat Ellis published 7 January 25

CES 2025 The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential helps you schedule heating and cooling, and spot opportunities to cut energy consumption.

Screen grab of AI assistant in Philips Hue app

The Philips Hue app is getting a big upgrade this year, with a new generative AI assistant

By Cat Ellis published 7 January 25

CES 2025 Details are scant so far, but Signify claims it's the start of "a new era in smart lighting".

4000 Series Matter-Compatible Smart Deadbolt installed on door

Philips' first Matter-compatible smart lock works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant seamlessly

By Cat Ellis published 6 January 25

CES 2025 The company is also releasing a lock with palm-recognition and video.

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