The smart home devices industry to reach $151.38 billion by 2024.
The thousands of smart gadgets on the market can overpower smart home beginners who are ready to enjoy better-equipped abodes. This straightforward list features six must-have devices to get you started, Soon, you’ll be sitting back and relaxing while Alexa or Google Assistant controls your home and manages your daily schedule.
1. A voice assistant
The first thing you’ll want to get is a virtual assistant to help you control your smart devices with just your voice.
The Amazon Echo is Amazon’s smart speaker that features Alexa, it is capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic, sports, and other real-time information, such as news.
Alexa can also control several smart devices using itself as a home automation system. Users are able to extend the Alexa capabilities by installing “skills” (additional functionality developed by third-party vendors, in other settings more commonly called apps such as weather programs and audio features).
Another option is; Echo 3rd Generation has excellent sound quality, so you can clearly hear your playlist from music streaming services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, or iHeart Radio.
it comes in charcoal, heather gray, sandstone, or a bright twilight blue color.if you want a more affordable Echo Speaker, the Echo Dot with Clock does everything the Echo does, except its speakers aren’t quite as powerful.
The Dot with Clock has an LED display on the front face that can show you the time, weather, or a timer. You can also go with an Echo Flex, which is a mini Echo that plugs into your wall.
One of the reasons these gadgets should be on your smart home shopping list is that they work with many of the other products you buy. Alexa responds to short commands that make life easier and more fun.
You can set alarms, ask questions, order pizza, shop, play games, and more just by using your voice.
If you’d prefer a smart display that has a screen and lets you make video calls, see song lyrics, and watch your security camera and video doorbell feeds, the Echo Show 5 is a great option, it has a compact display, though, and if you’re looking for a larger screen, the Echo Show 8 is for you.
Other option rather than Amazon is Nest Mini has an eco-friendly design, and it comes in chalk, charcoal, a bright coral color, or a bright blue color.
Similar in size and shape to the Echo Dot, the Nest Mini 2 is powered by Google Assistant, which is in many ways smarter than Alexa.
The multilingual assistant can control your smart devices, create a shopping list, answer questions, and much more. Plus, it connects to loads of smart home devices for voice control. However, Alexa is compatible with more smart devices. If you want a Google Assistant-powered smart display, we really like the Nest Hub Max. It has a 10-inch display, gesture control, built-in security features, and it even has a built-in Nest Cam.
2. A smart lock
When your home has a smart lock, there’s no need to worry about searching for your keys when it’s dark. Today’s options install in minutes and give you convenience combined with peace of mind.
We like the August Smart Lock 3rd Generation because it retrofits over your existing deadbolt, making it super-easy to install. You can usually find the 3rd-gen August Smart lock.
Alternatively, we like the Nest x Yale lock as well. The keyless touchscreen deadbolt allows users to lock and unlock a door from just about anywhere, and create passcodes to manage access for family members, friends, and guests.
3. A security camera and video doorbell
Investing in a video doorbell lets you see who’s knocking at the door without getting up from the couch. A security camera can provide added peace of mind too, as most outdoor models allow you to watch the happenings around your house from anywhere, all through an app on your phone. Many provide two-way audio, night vision, and motion alerts as well.
Nest is one of the leading brands in the smart home market and offers cameras for both indoor and outdoor use. The Nest Cam Indoor, for example, comes with a magnetic stand and has a speaker, so you can talk to a person even if you’re not nearby.
The Arlo Pro 3 is our favorite camera system. It is expensive but it offers a crisp day and night-vision image and natural two-way audio conversation in a two-camera weatherproof system.
4. A Thermostat
Your heating and cooling system is probably a part of your home you don’t think about too often until the temperature’s not quite right. A smart thermostat could make climate controls even more combined into your life.
One best smart thermostat is the Ecobee SmartThermostat. It has Alexa built-in, and it comes with a room sensor to help heat and cool your house more efficiently
5-Light bulbs or switches
You may already use energy-efficient light bulbs in your home, and installing smart bulbs is the next logical step to take. Besides saving money, they let you customize the way your home looks and even turn lights on and off from another location, as long as you have internet access and the complementing app.
Philips Hue bulbs respond to voice commands and settings changes from your smartphone app. Some bulbs, like Sengled A19 smart bulbs don’t require a hub, which can make it easier (and cheaper) to set up smart lighting in your home.
If you want to keep your regular non-smart bulbs, but you still want smart lighting, you can opt for smart light switches instead. You can still voice-control your lights and power your lights on and off remotely.
A smart light switch is a permanent way to get smart lighting, as you don’t have to change it out (like you have to change out a bulb). The downside is that you have to deal with a little bit of hassle upfront, as smart light switches take some effort to install. WeMo’s Smart Light Switch is one of our favorite options.
Some people also like smart plugs because they allow you to voice-control the power on virtually any electronic device. Smart plugs are especially useful during the holidays, as they let you turn your holiday lights on and off with your voice.
6. A robot vacuum
A robot vacuum can be absolutely life-changing, as it can clean your floors for you. Some robot vacuums, like the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 950, also have a mopping feature, so your robot can vacuum and mop your floors.
However, our absolute outstanding robot vacuum of 2019 is the Roomba s9+. It is basically the Ferrari of robot vacuums it empties itself, locks in allergens, and it cleans the floors better than most upright vacuums.
