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Here’s how to make your home even more connected.
THE WHOLE world is getting connected, and that includes just about everything in your home. You can find “smart” versions of refrigerators, washers, toaster ovens, security lights, doorbells, dog dishes, and TVs. Some (like security systems, TVs, and nannycams) are legitimately useful, while others (bidets and cat litter boxes) are questionable. But, no matter what type of product you’re shopping for, there’s a lot to consider and a lot of techno-speak to wade through.
For most people—especially non-techies—their first foray into smart home-ing is to buy a video doorbell. If you’re new to smart home products, that’s a good and useful place to start. As you build and customize your own smart home, you’ll want to consider a smart home hub and learn about the devices that are and aren’t compatible with each ecosystem (Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung SmartThings, etc.). Intrigued but not sure where to start? We’ve got your back. Below are seven of the best smart home devices—based on usefulness, price, ease of setup, and compatibility—that we recommend for anyone ready to take the smart home plunge
For most people, a video doorbell—usually a Ring video doorbell—is their first taste of the world of smart home devices. Ring’s latest Ring Video Doorbell 4 is the best overall smart video doorbell we’ve tested. It’s surprisingly easy to setup either using a rechargeable battery pack or, if you’re keen for a cleaner setup, via your existing doorbell wires. Either way, it connects to your home internet via dual-band WiFi (2.4 or 5 GHz, which is basically every modern WiFi setup).
Once connected, it delivers crystal clear 1080p HD video with night vision—perfect for seeing exactly who’s at your door anytime of day. It automatically sends mobile alerts to any smartphone when someone rings your doorbell or triggers the camera’s built-in motion sensors. With Two-Way Talk, you can even chat in real-time with whoever is at your door. Plus, with an optional Ring Protect Plan (starting at $39.99/year), you can record, share, and save photos and videos to the cloud for up to 180 days.
What do buyers say? Out of more than 7,500 Amazon reviews, 92% recommend the Ring Video Doorbell 4 with at least a 4-star rating.
Decent smart home security systems can be had for as little as $100, while great alternatives are just a bit more. The SimpliSafe 9-Piece Wireless Home Security System is the best overall system we’ve seen, with a great balance of easy setup, user-friendliness, features, and price. This mid-tier system is perfectly sized for single and multi-family homes.
Setting up the entire system can be done by just about anyone, even non-techies. The base station, keypad, four entry sensors, two motion sensors and SimpliCam security camera can all be setup in as little as 30 minutes with minimal tools or prep. Once setup, the system keeps tabs on your home for suspicious activity, unwanted intruders, or active emergency service calls. It’s also smart enough to know the difference between humans and pets, which helps minimize false calls.
What do buyers say? Out of more than 1,400 Amazon reviews, 86% recommend the SimpliSafe 9-Piece Wireless Home Security System with at least a 4-star rating.
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The Echo Studio High-Fidelity Smart Speaker is the flagship of Amazon’s Echo lineup. It’s designed first and foremost as a powerful, standalone speaker that delivers rich, immersive sound with an impressive 330W of peak output via five separate built-in speakers. With auto-sensing acoustics, the Studio adapts automatically to the layout and needs of any room to maximize audio quality.
The Echo Studio is compatible with all major music streaming services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, and more. Plus, it offers all of the same smart home connected features as Amazon’s Echo, including seamless Alexa compatibility to interact with all of your smart home devices, including smart cameras, thermostats, garage doors, lighting, and more. For larger homes, we especially like the ability to use multiple Echo speakers for two-way, in-home communication. What do buyers say? Out of more than 34,000 Amazon reviews, 90% recommend the Amazon Echo Studio High-Fidelity Smart Speaker with at least a 4-star rating.
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The ability to secure and keep tabs on your home from anywhere in the world might be the coolest evolution of smart home technology. August’s simply named Wi-Fi Smart Lock is an easy-to-install solution that works with any existing deadbolt by bolting on to the inside of the door. Because the outside part of the lock remains unchanged, the system is virtually “invisible” to guests (or would-be intruders).
The connected smartphone app allows for locking and unlocking the door from anywhere, plus the ability to provide virtual keys and limit access to guests (perfect for Airbnb and vacation rentals). All of the activity and the current status of the lock is monitored in an ongoing activity feed right in the app. Best of all, no smart home system is required, although it integrates well with all of the major hubs, including Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. What do buyers say? Out of more than 8,200 Amazon reviews, 80% recommend the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with at least a 4-star rating.
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Loftie was designed with one goal: To help establish a better sleep routine by removing your smartphone from the bedroom. The smart alarm clock features a two-phase alarm that better mimics your body’s natural waking process. The first of two sounds helps to softly and slowly bring you out of a deep sleep, while the second is louder to more effectively wake you. Every part of the alarms is customizable, including the volume, tone, and days of the week.
It also helps you more easily fall asleep with downloadable soundscapes, guided meditation, and even bedtime stories. The sleek, minimalist design is modern and attractive with a dimmable display and subtle nightlight. Plus, most features are controllable and customizable with the connected mobile app. Some users complain of finicky Bluetooth connectivity and software. But, the vast majority of Amazon reviewers rate it at least 4 out of 5 stars. What do buyers say? “Loftie has been such a game-changer for me! At first I was skeptical about investing in a smart alarm clock, but after seeing what a difference it's made in my quality of sleep, I can confidently say it's more than worth it!” said one Amazon reviewer.
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The Roomba i3 Evo is iRobot’s mid-tier robot vacuum. This version offers many of the same features as the brand’s much higher-priced models for around $300—still a little pricey, though very full-featured. Virtually everything is controllable via voice (when connected with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant) or directly in the iRobot app. You can speak commands (e.g., “vacuum the kitchen”) directly to your smart home hub or pick a specific schedule for the vacuum to run (which the app can also help with).
The latest version uses Imprint Smart Mapping technology to draw a virtual map of your house the first time out. From there, it’s easy to customize just about every feature of its routine—rooms to skip, time of day to run, and obstacles to navigate. The i3 Evo has overwhelmingly positive reviews, although some buyers complain that this model can struggle with common floor “obstructions”—even minimal things like lamp cords or short door thresholds. Still, we think it’s a great smart home connected device with a lot of functionality and utility for under $300. What do buyers say? Out of more than 9,300 Amazon reviews, 84% recommend the iRobot Roomba i3 EVO Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum with at least a 4-star rating.
While we appreciate smart home devices that help make life easier, we also love smart home tech that just looks great too. Nanoleaf’s Lines WiFi Smart Home Decor LED Lights is a unique, customizable lighting fixture that brings serious pop to any room in your house. It sets up easily via the included adhesive tape, and is configurable in hundreds of organic, artsy shapes.
The color patterns are entirely customizable and controllable via physical buttons, the Nanoleaf App (iOS and Android), or voice commands with every major smart home hub, including Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. We also love the ability to sync the lighting display automatically with your music.
What do buyers say? “Colors are vibrant and love the endless design options!” said one Amazon reviewer.
There’s a “smart” version of just about any home device you can imagine. From alarm clocks and bedside lamps to dishwashers and robot vacuums, just about every home product in the last decade has an internet-connected version. Finding the best smart home devices—the ones that actually improve your day-to-day living—can be a challenge. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for your own smart home devices, no matter what type of product you’re looking at:
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For this roundup, we researched many of the best-reviewed smart home devices on the market. We pored over specs, buyer ratings, verified reviews, and more for several dozen product types, including smart appliances, smart lighting, smart home security systems, smart air purifiers, and even smart pet products. The list above represents our honest picks for the best smart home devices with the best mix of utility, user-friendliness, ease of setup, compatibility, and, of course, price.