February 2026
ertonline.co.uk
Sony’s R95H smart TV. When it comes to smart device adoption, London leads the way, with Argos giving the capital a ‘Smart score’ of 75.8/100.
11 per cent of London homes own 10 or
more smart devices, the highest in the UK, with 93 per cent of respondents saying they find smart tech easy to use. London’s lead could also be attributed to the fact that 90 per cent of homes have access to gigabit broadband, second only to Northern Ireland. Yorkshire and Humber take second place, with a smart score of 58.8. Here, more than a third of homes (38 per cent) have been using smart tech for over five years, and 85 per cent declare themselves happy with the technology. Coming in third is the North East, with a score of 56.0. Here, less than half (44 per cent) have been using smart tech for more than five years, with 88 per cent comfortable with its usage. The North West comes fourth in the Argos league table, followed by the West Midlands, both ranking with a score of 50.2. So who’s buying smart home technology?
According to the retailer, the most influential adopters are aged 35 - 44, with 78 per cent owning three or more smart devices, and more than half (53 per cent) using them daily. 30 per cent have been using them for more than five years. Interestingly, when asked what they want to make smart next, consumers prioritised cleaning and maintenance, home security and heating. As Will Jones, Argos Head of Buying for
Technology, puts it: “Customers are not just bringing devices into their homes anymore, they’re building ecosystems that work together behind the scenes.”
Interoperability matters Despite all the positive rhetoric, interoperability remains one of the biggest barriers to more
TCL AI Me robot
invasive smart home adoption. Samsung’s recent decision to expand SmartThings support to Matter 1.5, which includes Matter cameras, is therefore a significant development. Cameras are increasingly essential to any smart home ecosystem - think indoor and outdoor security cameras, home monitoring systems and video doorbells. Matter, for the uninitiated, is the smart home industry’s attempt to fix the chaos of incompatible devices and ecosystems. Backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, Philips, and hundreds of other manufacturers, this universal smart home standard enables devices from different brands to work together reliably, securely, and easily. It’s overseen by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), the same group behind Zigbee Camera manufacturers like Aqara, Eve, and Ulticam can now launch Matter-based cameras confident that they can integrate with SmartThings, without the need for a separate API (Application Programming Interface). “Samsung aims to ensure that products and services built on different brands and protocols deliver a unified experience through SmartThings,” says Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of the SmartThings Team. “We will continue to expand our support for industry standards, including Matter, and further strengthen collaboration to drive new customer experiences.” On the shop floor, this direction of travel simplifies the sales message. It allows retailers
to reassure customers that devices from different brands can work together, reducing fear of lock-in and future incompatibility. TCL’s vision of connected living also goes beyond individual products. At CES, it presented AI as an adaptive layer that learns routines and simplifies daily life across TVs, wearables and home devices - and again, it’s leaning into wider ecosystem support. TCL’s 2026 flagship X11L SQD-Mini LED TV not only boasts extreme brightness, dense dimming zones and Bang & Olufsen audio, but it has deep Google Gemini AI integration. TCL also used CES to showcase newer smart
products, include AR glasses and the RayNeo X3 Pro, an AI-driven wearable designed for hands-free information and translation. TCL even touted the Ai Me companion robot, a modular AI assistant designed to interact with home devices, lighting and curtains, and offer companionship on the side.
“As we enter 2026, we want to show the world how connected technology can become an intrinsic part of daily life,” said Stefan Streit, CMO at TCL Europe. Incidentally, the Ai Me robot wasn’t the only
droid looking to elevate your smart home at CES. Robotics specialist SwitchBot unveiled the Onero H1, household droid designed to tackle everyday tasks, using AI, visual perception and tactile feedback. Apparently, it learns, adapts and integrates with SwitchBot’s wider ecosystem of Smart Home 2.0 devices. >>
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