Smart home devices give you the ability to control a variety of items around your home through a smartphone app or with voice commands through a personal assistant device.
The smart home device replaces things like a standard household outlet or a light switch, allowing you to control items connected to it. Or it will learn your habits, automatically turning devices on and off to match your lifestyle.
Our favorite device is the Google Nest Protect Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm, which provides smoke and carbon monoxide detection capabilities.
When searching for a smart home device, you need to consider a few items to be certain your device will give you the desired results.
Although smart home devices tend to have quite a bit of compatibility with other devices, no universal compatibility exists.
If you already have some smart home devices or a personal assistant installed, you will want to make certain that any new smart home device you pick will work with what you already have.
Smart home devices must be able to make a wireless connection to your Wi-Fi network.
If you plan to install a smart home device at your house, make sure the area where you’ll install it has a strong Wi-Fi signal. If the signal is weak or inconsistent in the area, your smart home device may not work properly.
With some smart home devices, you will need to purchase a hub. The hub connects to your Wi-Fi network, and then the devices connect to the hub. If your smart home device requires a hub, it may ship with one. With other smart devices, they will connect directly to the Wi-Fi network, meaning they do not need a hub.
If you are wondering which components are available as smart home devices, here is a list of some of the items you could purchase.
Smart home devices vary widely in cost, depending on the function of the device. You could pay as little as $30 for a light switch or smart plug. You could pay a few hundred dollars for a smart lock.
A. Certainly, if you have a device connected to a network, a hacker potentially could gain control of it. The chances of this occurring with a smart home device are minimal.
A. It depends on your level of comfort with high-tech units. Most of these devices are made as a DIY project, but some people have no desire to try it and would rather hand the job to a pro.
Nest Protect Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm, 2nd Generation
Our take: Works with all of the smart devices in your home to communicate about smoke and carbon monoxide detection.
What we like: You’ll always know when the battery is running low without having to hear an annoying chirping sound.
What we dislike: Setup can be a serious challenge for those who have a bit of tech-phobia.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Amazon Echo Dot, 3rd Generation
Our take: Gives you plenty of great features in an easy-to-use format that’s also affordable.
What we like: Speaker gives you surprisingly good sound quality. Four different color options, so you can match your decor.
What we dislike: Doesn’t have quite the quality or feature set of pricier Echo models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Wemo In-Wall Indoor Smart Switch
Our take: Does not require a hub connection to work, so you may save a bit of money with this model over the long haul.
What we like: Includes an automatic timer. Installation should go smoothly, as should the connection to your network.
What we dislike: Will not support installs where you need three-way switches.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Kyle Schurman writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.