Smart home devices bring convenience and control into your house, but choosing the appropriate ones for you can be daunting.
Smart speakers and displays allow you to control devices with voice command. They integrate seamlessly with smart locks, video doorbells, thermostats and thermostats for added peace of mind in the home.
1. Amazon Echo
Amazon Echo is the go-to voice-controlled device for smart home technology. Connected to Amazon Alexa and capable of playing music, answering questions, creating shopping lists, reading news stories and weather updates and providing sports scores and weather data, it also functions as a central hub that regulates lights and thermostats as well as smart home hub functions like smart thermostats and lightbulbs.
The Echo features seven microphones equipped with beam-forming technology that allow it to hear you even when playing music or in a noisy room. A translucent ring at its top indicates when it is listening (blue), muted (red), or has lost connection with internet (yellow).
The fourth-generation Amazon Echo now comes equipped with an improved 13MP camera and more responsive voice control features, allowing it to make video calls between Echo devices, those using Alexa on mobile phones and Skype-certified phones and digital photo frames mounted directly on walls.
2. Samsung SmartThings
Samsung SmartThings takes an innovative approach to home security with their platform capable of connecting door sensors, alarm systems and surveillance cameras for peace of mind no matter if you are at home or away.
SmartThings boasts excellent compatibility with other smart devices, supporting many Wi-Fi connected ones such as light bulbs, on/off switches and dimmers as well as locks, thermostats and motion sensors. Furthermore, its voice assistant compatibility includes Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant as well as Samsung Bixby for seamless use.
Samsung's SmartThings app makes creating automated scenes and automations simple - from turning off lights when going to sleep or setting the thermostat based on your schedule to connecting devices like phones or watches with compatible smart home platforms such as Matter. Furthermore, this platform is the first smart home platform supporting Matter for untangling complex smart homes via Thread connectivity gadgets.
3. Nest Learning Thermostat
Since 2011, Google's Nest thermostat has revolutionized smart home systems. While no longer as groundbreaking, this thermostat remains one of the top choices among those looking to automate their home temperature controls with voice controls via Alexa or Google Assistant, compatibility with Apple HomeKit, IFTTT integration and geofencing features to prevent Away mode going into effect when you or family members are nearby, plus plenty of scheduling options and geofencing capabilities that prevent accidental Away mode activations.
This third-generation Nest also comes equipped with Farsight, an interactive feature that dynamically changes what information is shown when you pass by it. From 10 feet away, only basic information such as time or weather will appear; when closer, more detail such as humidity or an analog clock may appear.
Nest is unique among its competitors by including no additional charge for its Nest Temperature Sensor and works seamlessly with HomeKit and Alexa; however, Ecobee offers more third-party integrations at the same price and also comes equipped with a remote room sensor.
4. Philips Hue
Philips Hue offers some of the finest smart light bulbs and fixtures we've tested. Their bulbs communicate wirelessly with Philips Hue's free app through a hub called Bridge, which plugs directly into your router. You can control the lights using your phone, Amazon Alexa/Google Assistant voice control capabilities or automated control that you set up through their app.
Combine the bulbs with third-party Zigbee switches such as the Click from RunLessWire, priced at $60 and equipped with four programmable buttons that trigger lighting scenes. It offers impressive customization features and its design is among the most reliable of any smart home app we've used.
Other options to consider include Philips Hue Go, which offers color-changing backlighting to your TV, and Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus which can be installed easily behind or below countertops using its adhesive backing. Both devices can easily connect with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit (plus their own smart assistant), with great results in our tests.
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