Which hub should be the brain of your home? We test the top contenders.

I remember when "smart home hub" meant a plastic box that lived in your closet and only worked half the time. In 2026, the hub has moved into our living rooms, disguised as speakers and displays. The first thing you notice is that the "walled gardens" are finally starting to crumble. Apple HomePod & Apple TV If you're already in the Apple ecosystem, this is the path of least resistance. Actually, it's quite simple: the Apple TV 4K is secretly the best hub they make because it has a hardwired Ethernet port. In real...