Best smart home devices to thoroughly optimize your home

Smart home technology ranges from simple plugs that ensure the lights turn on when you get home to professionally installed, whole-home control systems. Even if a professionally integrated smart home system isn’t in your budget, you can gain the benefits of an interconnected home for less than you might think. Even if you add components gradually, setting up a smart home is easy with today’s technology, which allows you to turn appliances on and off through an app or via voice control like Alexa.

While consumers seeking a comprehensive solution may choose an integration firm to design and install whole-home automation systems, many of the best smart home devices on the market today make it easy to incorporate smart devices in your home without professional help.

Our top picks for the best smart home devices

Best smart speaker: Sonos Era 100

While it’s tempting to rate the Amazon Echo as the best smart speaker based on its ubiquity and low price, it’s almost impossible to beat the Sonos Era 100 wireless smart speaker when it comes to sound quality and brand reputation. I’ve tested dozens of Bluetooth speakers in recent months and the Sonos clearly stands out.

Specifications

• Best for: Audio in the home.
• Size: 7.19 inches high x 4.72 inches wide x 5.14 inches deep.
• Wireless: Yes.
• Smart assistants: Alexa.
• Price on publish: $199.

What we like:

• Excellent sound quality.
• Modern design.
• Integrates with Amazon Alexa.

What we don’t Like:

• High price versus competitors.
• No integrated subwoofer.
• No Google Home voice integration.

The AP Buyline takeaway

Sonos is a renowned brand in high-end home audio. This stylish bookshelf speaker looks as good as it sounds in any room of your home.

Get it here: Sonos Era 100

Best smart plug: Linkind Matter Smart Plug

Linkind Matter Smart Plug

Matter is a smart home protocol that allows devices from different manufacturers to operate seamlessly together on your home network. Many companies now produce smart plugs that use the Matter standard. I like this two-plug kit from Linkind for its low price, clean design and 4.5-star Amazon rating.

Specifications

• Best for: Turning any device into a smart device.
• Size: 4.65 inches long x 3.23 inches wide x 2.48 inches high.
• Wireless: Yes.
• Smart assistants: Google Home, Apple Home, Siri, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, others.
• Price on publish: $19.99.

What we like:

• Matter standard is compatible with all smart home voice assistants.
• Modern design.
• Affordable price.

What we don’t Like:

• Not 5G-compatible.
• No separate “Matter” app.
• May require a Matter-certified hub or controller.

The AP Buyline takeaway

Matter could very well be the lasting standard in smart home connectivity. Even if another standard emerges, this smart plug will ensure you can use voice control for all compatible devices on the Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or SmartThings hub.

Get it here: Linkind Matter Smart Plug

How we selected the best smart home devices

To choose the best smart home devices to fit a myriad of budgets, I drew on my decades of industry experience working in the consumer electronics industry as a journalist, discussions with custom integrators, expert feedback and my personal experience with many of these products. In general, I was looking for well-made products that represented a good value for the money, integrated with multiple smart home assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home and enhanced the user’s life or made household management easier or more efficient in some way.

What to consider when buying a smart home device

“The prevalence, reliability and affordability of high-speed internet, along with the proliferation of the cloud for content distribution, has enabled almost every home to be its own smart home network,” says Gordon van Zuiden of cyberManor, a smart home integration company. “Smart devices, from TVs and audio systems to security systems and thermostats, connect to that home Wi-Fi network and are controlled by a user’s phone, voice or, at the high end, a single unified operating system or app.”

When buying a smart home device, you should evaluate it like you would any technology or appliance. Consider the following before you buy:

Features

Does a device do what you want it to? For lighting, this could include offering a range of colors and dimming capabilities. For a video doorbell or security camera, you might consider capabilities like night vision, 4K viewing and storage and whether the product requires a subscription service. For smart speakers, first and foremost, evaluate the sound. The style of a smart lock might matter more to some than others. “Ensure that the features meet your needs,” Van Zuiden says.

Cost

It doesn’t matter if a device does everything you want if you can’t afford it. Budget can be a factor when you’re building your ideal smart home. Fortunately, you can find most devices at a wide range of price points, such as Blink in-home security cameras starting at less than $30.

Compatibility

Smart home hubs allow you to control most of your smart home devices through one ecosystem, but you can integrate smart home devices without a hub as long as they communicate with your smartphone’s operating system. Before making a purchase, though, make sure there’s an app available for your platform.

“When selecting devices today, consumers should research and ensure that it runs smoothly with their phone operating system, whether iOS or Android,” says Van Zuiden. Likewise, if you rely on a smart home hub, make sure the devices you choose are compatible with your hub.

Durability

Smart home devices like lighting, smart locks and thermostats get daily use and become a part of your home’s decor. You want products that are stylish and will stand the test of time. “I would also advise consumers to look at reviews and user feedback,” Van Zuiden says.

Ease of use

If you’re installing products yourself, make sure they are both easy to install and simple to use. “The right smart home device should be simple to set up and fit into the existing ecosystem you may have,” says Matt Rosenberg of Plume Design, a company specializing in managed Wi-Fi services and network security.

Company reputation

There are many great companies in the smart home space, from Blink to Sonos. Some brands are new, while others are well-known names. I made sure to include cutting edge devices on this list, but it’s often best to go with a tried-and-true solution. “It’s helpful to find out if the DIY smart home device is a first-generation product or one that has been refined and updated over many years — obviously the latter is preferable,” Van Zuiden says.

Trusted brands may have fewer glitches and proven durability and reliability. However, if a product has good reviews and fits your needs and budget, don’t let that deter you from adopting newer technology.

Benefits of using smart home devices

“Smart devices provide three fundamentals: efficiency, convenience and awareness,” says Matt Walin of the smart home integration firm Brilliant AV, powered by Daisy.

When it comes to convenience, voice control, app-based control or timed events can ensure that your home is clean and comfortable when you return, whether that’s from a long vacation or a day at work. “An integrated smart home can create an environmental scene for you, where the lights turn on to a certain level, the thermostat goes to a certain temperature relative to how hot or cold it is inside or outside and the radio goes on throughout the house for ambient music,” says Walin.

Smart home devices also use technology to save you money in the long run. Ryan Barone, co-founder and CEO at RentRedi, adds that, “In addition to offering convenience, smart home devices can also reduce utility bills and benefit the environment by lowering a property’s carbon footprint by cutting down on unnecessary usage.”

How do smart home devices work?

“Smart home devices connect to the internet to enhance the device’s value,” says Rosenberg. “By making everyday items intelligent, consumers are able to optimize and increase their usefulness. For example, a washing machine could be programmed remotely and send notifications when a cycle is finished.”

“At a basic level, smart home devices are designed to perform tasks autonomously,” says Lei Zhang, president and CEO at RevSquared, a manufacturer of smart hand dryers for residential use. “This can be done in a physical way, like devices that work off scheduled timers or those with sensors that go off during a designated movement. Or they can be further digitized and automated through the use of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth controls.”

A smart home hub enables devices from different manufacturers to communicate with each other, adding a layer of convenience and ease of use. “It takes one simple step to create a scene for a disparate amount of systems tied together,” Walin says.

Tips for setting up and using smart home devices

Most of the smart home devices listed in this round-up are fairly easy to install by following the manufacturer’s instructions, downloading the app and connecting the device to your smart home hub or your home’s Wi-Fi network.

Bodrozic recommends choosing a unified AI platform like HomeZada or a smart home hub to cover as many smart home categories and devices as you need. “Break down which aspect of a smart home is most important to you,” he says. “Prioritize your home activity into security/safety, energy and resource use, climate control, lighting, lifestyle and financial categories.”

Bodrozic further advises creating a smart home system that allows you to maintain constant control of your home’s ecosystem while allowing for upgrades, growth and expansion as technology evolves.

Rosenberg suggests spending time with the product once you’ve connected it to learn all the tricks you might have skimmed over in the manual. “Many devices have bells and whistles that are hidden from plain view but could be immensely useful,” he says.

That said, you may need some help with installation. “If you’re planning to DIY the setup, be sure you’re equipped to handle it,” Van Zuiden says. “There are often installation videos on YouTube that consumers can follow.”

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Which smart home devices are worth it?

“Devices that meet more than one big-picture home need, such as security, safety, convenience, energy-efficiency and cost savings, are absolutely worth it,” Bodrozic says. “One-off devices that are purely lifestyle-focused, like automating your coffee in the morning, are a fun novelty but fail if the goal is to maximize your home as a financial and physical asset.”

Which modern devices make a smart house?

Smart home devices fall into multiple categories, including security and safety, energy and resource use, lighting and lifestyle enhancements. A smart home ecosystem that allows you to maintain control of your home’s resources in an integrated fashion may be considered truly “smart.”

As a general rule, “the more integrated your hardware and software devices are on a single program, the easier they are to control and the more ‘modern’ and ‘smart’ your home is — at least according to the most current definitions,” Bodrozic says. “The Jetsons showed us a future where everything can be controlled from a single interface or screen.”

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