A smart home isn’t limited to only having small gadgets. In fact, even fixtures and appliances all have their “smart” versions nowadays. Having advanced tech like these has benefits that many homeowners are already experiencing. And you’re just in luck. If you’re looking into automating your home, go through the list of the best smart home devices below.
Benefits of Using Smart Home Devices
Why do people automate their homes using smart devices? The answer is convenience. In a standard house, you manually control devices and appliances. But with smart gadgets, you manage everything using one device such as a smartphone or tablet. The convenience that people get from smart technology is beyond comparison. Even when you’re not at home, you can run, adjust, or turn off these devices as long as they’re connected to a WiFi connection. Another advantage of smart home automation is better home energy management. Let’s use temperature sensors and thermostats as examples. A WiFi temperature sensor will be connected to your phone. It will send you data on the temperatures it records in your house. Once you find out that the temperature is decreasing, you can use a smart thermostat to adjust the heating system. You can do all of these by fiddling with the controls on your phone or tablet. No need to stand up, go to different parts of your home, and adjust them manually. You can control everything in the palm of your hand.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Smart Device
Before you start buying just any smart home device you find online, you should consider these factors.
Security Features
Buy a smart home device that offers authentication for security. Most of these gadgets don’t offer this feature. Being able to set up a username and password for your device will keep you safer from network attackers and invaders. Also, consider a smart device that encrypts data from updates. Devices that don’t implement encryption will make your personal data and security at risk. Research about past security issues about the smart device before buying it.
Useful Features
Of course, you must get a smart device depending on your needs. Do you need to turn off appliances when you’re away? You should get a smart plug. How about a device to clean your house while you do other important things? Then, a smart vacuum cleaner is a must.
Automatic Control Option
Check if the smart device has an automatic control option. This will let you schedule certain tasks or actions for your device. For example, if you often forget to turn off the lights or the heating system before going to work, you can schedule the smart devices to shut down automatically.
Installation and Maintenance
Installing your smart home devices for the first time will require you to exert manual labor. For most gadgets, installation is fast and easy. As for the maintenance, consider a smart device that requires little effort to maintain. This includes updating, cleaning, or changing batteries.
Initial Price and Overall Cost
Luckily, smart home devices have a pretty broad price range. There are expensive and more affordable ones for all types of homeowners. Besides the price of the item when you buy it, you may need to spend a little more on maintenance or subscription fees. Think about the overall cost of the device you’ll be purchasing.
1. Samsung SmartThings Hub, 3rd Generation
The Samsung SmartThings Hub is the best smart home hub on our list. It’s compatible with many other smart devices, unlike some smart hubs that only connect with devices of the same manufacturer. It comes with an app that lets you control the smart devices connected to it. Through the app, you’ll receive notifications remotely. As long as the Samsung SmartThings Hub is connected to the Internet, you
What We Liked
Installation of the SmartThings Hub is easy. Just plug in the RJ45 for the Internet connection and plug in the hub to an outlet. Then, download the app on your smartphone and connect to your hub. Also, you don’t need to pay any monthly subscription plans. That’s always a plus in our book.
What We Didn’t Like
We hope that Samsung would add a separate smart remote for this hub. An on-screen remote is actually available within the app on your smartphone. But a remote control would be better as it can save your phone’s battery. Also Read: 5 Best Samsung SmartThings – Smart Home Devices
2. TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug
When it comes to smart plugs, TP-Link is a reputable brand. Besides their wide selection of affordable plugs, their products have tons of features that make it stand out from the competition. Connect the smart plug to your smartphone and control the devices that are plugged into it. It also lets you schedule when your devices should turn off or on.
What We Liked
One more thing is that you don’t need a smart hub to use this device. Install it in your home and connect the smart plug to your phone using the required app.
What We Didn’t Like
One thing that TP-Link could add to this smart plug is an energy monitoring feature. This will help you determine how much energy your devices consume. Also Read: 3 Best Smart Wi-Fi Plugs Compatible with Android
3. ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control and SmartSensor
ecobee is the go-to brand for smart thermostats. They still have other products, but buying the SmartThermostat with SmartSensor is like hitting two birds with one stone. You don’t need to buy a separate temperature sensor since you’ll get one with the SmartThermostat. Using this smart home device, you can control your HVAC system remotely. The SmartSensor helps you in deciding whether you need to increase or decrease the temperature in your home.
What We Liked
The installation of the SmartThermostat is as easy as mounting it on the wall and following the instructions prompted on its LCD touchscreen. The device will walk you through the process of setting it up, so there’s very little chance of messing up the installation.
What We Didn’t Like
The connection between the SmartThermostat and your smartphone has no problem. However, if you choose to view readings or control the device using the web portal, you may experience issues. There are times when the web portal doesn’t respond, so it’s not that reliable. Also Read: 5 Best Smart Thermostat: Intelligent Heating and Cooling
4. iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum
A smart vacuum is one way to keep your home tidy with little effort. The Roomba 675 by iRobot is a great addition to your smart home. It doesn’t have too many features like the other Roomba versions that’s why it’s also cheaper. Still, it has the basic cleaning features perfect for a small home.
What We Liked
The Roomba 675 requires a WiFi connection and an app installed on your smartphone. Use the app to set cleaning schedules for this smart vacuum. Another thing that makes it a great smart vacuum is the side brush. Even though it has a circular shape, the brush can get into corners and tight spots.
What We Didn’t Like
We didn’t like the filter that comes with the Roomba 675. It’s not great for keeping smaller dust particles which isn’t good for homeowners suffering from asthma. Also Read: 8 Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner for Android
5. Wyze Cam Indoor Smart Home Camera
A smart home won’t be complete without a surveillance camera. Wyze Cam’s smart indoor camera is the best of its kind because of the features it offers. Like all the other smart devices on the list, you only need to download the app and connect the Indoor Smart Home Camera to your phone. Once connected, you’ll have full access to the camera. View recorded surveillance footage or control the camera and see real-time videos.
What We Liked
You can control the camera’s view as well as when it must start recording. There’s a setting with this smart surveillance camera that will only let it record when it senses a person.
What We Didn’t Like
It’s only for indoor use, so that’s a low point in this smart device’s versatility. Also, it needs to be plugged into a power outlet makes the placement of the device to be limited. Also Read: 5 Best Home Security Apps for Android to Protect the Family
To Sum It All Up
With how fast modern technology is evolving, it has become a staple in our daily life. We use it in working, studying, and many more to give us more convenience. In line with this, companies have developed smart home devices that we can use to better improve our homes. These smart home devices enhance lifestyles and help people save electricity. They also maximize the use of electronics and appliances by making them more efficient. We know that there are tons of devices and brands to choose from that’s why we created this list of the best smart home devices for you
