Rachel Cericola

Senior Staff Writer at Wirecutter

Senior staff writer at @wirecutter, covering smart home. Has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Engadget, Men's Health, and more.

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Articles

The 3 Best Smart Doorbell Cameras of 2025

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola

A smart doorbell camera allows you to see who’s on the other side of your door—even when you aren’t home—so you can weed out guests who don’t come bearing Girl Scout cookies. We recommend the Google Nest Doorbell (Wired) because it delivers fewer false alerts than any video doorbell we tested, accurately distinguishes between people, animals, cars, and packages, and includes the option for 24/7 recording.
5 Gadgets That Make It Easy to Save Energy, Water, and Money

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola

Smart devices are for more than just closing the garage door or turning on the lights. They can also help you save energy, resources, and money — especially if you use them properly. And since up to 20% of the typical $2,000 annual home-energy bill in the US goes to waste, we could use all the help we can get. Smart devices make it simple to save because they allow you to automate everyday tasks.
How to Get Smart Strip Lights to Fit (and Not Funk Up) Your Wall

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola

Smart strip lights are that rare decor item that can appeal to just about any taste. They are a dorm-room staple, and they can up your game in a playroom. They can even elevate a stylish kitchen or living room. Having lived with and tested over a dozen different smart strip-light models, however, it is my duty to reveal their one dirty secret: They go on easy, but if you don’t take precautions, removing them can be a dumpster fire.
Ding-Dong! Here's the Right Way to Install a Doorbell Camera

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola

Michael Hession/NYT WirecutterBy Rachel CericolaRachel Cericola is a writer covering smart home. In addition to testing hundreds of smart devices, she has also tested dozens of ice cream sandwiches. If you’ve ever wished you could know who was at your door without having to get up and check (or even to check when you aren’t home), then a smart video doorbell may be the problem-solver you’re looking for.
Be a Neighborhood Legend With These 5 Halloween Tricks From a Wirecutter Gadget Expert

Oct 11, 2024 | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola

If you’ve been to a Lowe’s or one of those Spirit Halloween stores lately (and I know you have, because they’re every 500 feet or so), you’ve experienced the new generation of outrageous automated Halloween decorations—and their several-hundred-dollar price tags.
The 6 Best Smart Speakers for Your Home in 2024

Jul 2, 2024 | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola

Smart speakers are like that one keyed-in friend who always has the answers. They know the closest place to get burritos, when new episodes of Bridgerton are coming out, and when you have a dentist appointment. Smart speakers can also stream your favorite music podcasts and radio programs, make calls, and turn things (like lights and plugs) on and off. They can even recite bad dad jokes upon request. These voice-controlled devices come in a few flavors.
How Half a Dozen Smart Home Devices Allow One Savvy Septuagenarian to Age in Place

May 17, 2024 | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola

Anne Madison, 73, lives in a seniors community outside of Baltimore, Maryland. She also happens to be a big fan of smart-home devices, which is how we came to know her. Anne left an intriguing comment on one of our smart-home stories, and it caught an editor’s eye and ended up generating a lot of conversation. She wrote, “I think these little devices are helping to keep me independent and out of an assisted living or nursing home facility.”We had to know more, so we reached out to Anne.
Why We’re Pausing Our Recommendation of Wyze Smart Home Devices

Feb 29, 2024 | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola |Jon Chase

Following a major privacy incident with Wyze cameras and the Wyze app—the third such episode since 2022—we are expanding our existing suspension of Wyze-camera recommendations to include all of Wyze’s smart-home and security products, including our picks for smart bulbs, strip lights, and locks. We recognize that some existing Wyze customers may feel perfectly comfortable continuing to use their Wyze devices.
The Cure for Stolen Packages Is Here, If Only Delivery People Would Use It

Nov 19, 2023 | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola

As the song goes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year—for porch pirates. The online shopping is great, until you discover that your holiday haul has been yoinked from your front porch by a scheming Grinch.
This Compact Bissell Little Green Cleaner Can Tackle Kid Stains, Cat Puke, and Other Things No One Wants to Touch

Nov 15, 2023 | nytimes.com | Rachel Cericola

A few years ago, we turned our dining room into a foyer. Instead of dedicating a whole other room to eating, my husband built a half-wall to separate a huge space, and installed the cutest nook with teal fabric on the seats. The only problem was: Every time we ate a meal there, my teenage son's spot looked like he had just competed in a rib-eating contest.