In this article, we have curated a list of the best smart home devices, including some essentials like a smart speaker and smart bulb. And then, we have also included other unique devices like a smart vacuum cleaner, a coffee machine, and more to make your life easier in a connected world. You can expand the table below and jump to the smart product of your choice.
1. Google Nest Audio / Nest Mini (2nd-Gen)
If you are into the Google ecosystem, you should start your smart home purchase with Google Nest Audio or Nest Mini. Nest Audio is the larger one featuring a 30W speaker and three far-field microphones. The Nest Mini, which has a smaller footprint, comes with a 15W speaker and the same three microphones for instant voice pickup. Both of these smart speakers have the same set of features, and you can perform many voice actions through the smart speakers.
- Buy from Walmart: $99.98 (Nest Audio)
- Buy from Walmart: $34.98 (Nest Mini)
3. Apple HomePod mini
If you are into Apple’s ecosystem, HomePod mini would be a good idea to get started with. While Siri is not super-intelligent compared to Google Assistant or Alexa, it’s slowly improving and will get better for sure. You can ask Siri questions, play music on the HomePod mini, update your calendar, text your contacts, play a movie on Apple TV, and more. It does almost all the essentials that other voice assistants do.
With the increase in the adoption of smart speakers, new use cases are being discovered, and companies are bringing new products to make our homes truly smart. One such product is a smart display where you can interact with a voice assistant through a touchscreen display. For example, the Google Nest Hub is a perfect smart home device in the kitchen where you can watch recipe videos with just a voice command, place video calls to your family members, check the camera on the door — all when your hands are full.
- Buy from Best Buy: $99.99 (Nest Hub)
- Buy from Best Buy: $99.99 (Lenovo Smart Display)
6. Gosund Smart Plug
If you truly want to truly create a smart home then you must use smart plugs to convert any standard electronic item to a smart home device. For example, you can connect the smart plug to your non-smart air conditioner, and then you will be able to turn on/ off the AC with a voice command. Most of the smart plugs in the market support both Google Assistant and Alexa voice assistants.
These smart plugs come with Wi-Fi support (2.4GHz) and bring power scheduling to outlets as well. So to convert your non-smart home appliances into smart ones, a smart plug is an easy and affordable option, and you must check it out.
For any smart home to function properly, a reliable Wi-Fi network is a must. So if you are looking for a way to expand the coverage of Wi-Fi and get fast and reliable speed, you should invest in a mesh Wi-Fi system. Unlike traditional routers, a mesh Wi-Fi system can bring uninterrupted data to dead zones and work seamlessly even when more than 200 devices are connected to the access point.
8. Kasa Smart Bulb
The smart bulb is another IoT category getting popular among smart home users. Kasa, owned by TP-Link, offers four smart bulbs for as low as $39.99. The bulbs can adapt to any color you want, no matter whether you are watching a movie and need the right lighting mood or hosting a house party. The smart bulb is also dimmable, meaning you can use it at night just before going to sleep.
9. Google Nest Thermostat
A thermostat is another smart home device you should have to control your room’s temperature with a voice command. The Nest Thermostat by Google is quite good and accurately detects the room temperature and alerts you when your room is too cold or hot. With a voice command through Alexa or Google Assistant, you can adjust the room temperature the way you want.
Coming to the features offered by SimpliSafe, it’s a 12-piece wireless security system for your home. It includes an ultra-wide HD camera with night vision, a base station, a keypad to turn on/ off the monitoring system, four entry sensors, two motion sensors, and a panic button by your bedside.
August Smart Lock Pro is one of the best smart home devices, and you should get it if you want to lock or unlock your front door digitally. The best part about this smart lock is that it works with the traditional lock system, so you don’t have to change the existing door lock. If you have a single-cylinder deadbolt on the front door, you can install it in only a few minutes.
While the August Smart Lock allows you to lock or unlock the door remotely, it can’t tell you who’s at the door. So if you want to check who is waiting at your door, Arlo’s video doorbell is what can help you here. It offers a 180-degree ultra-wide view with night vision support in HD resolution.
Are you looking for a smart vacuum cleaner that gets the job done simply with a voice command? Well, the eufy RoboVac 15C Max by Anker is a robot vacuum cleaner that would be the perfect pick if you are looking for help around the house. It supports both Google Assistant and Alexa.
