The 10 Best Smart Home Devices

You may wonder, what is a smart home? These are homes that use devices and technology to automate many daily activities that add convenience and ease of living. Certain devices are more useful than others for this purpose, and some are necessary for getting the most out of your smart home. It's important to know what smart home devices are worth it, and which aren't as essential. Learn about 10 must-have smart home devices on the market today.

If you want a smart home, a router is necessary to keep your devices talking to each other and the internet. You need one with a strong, speedy signal that functions in either a large or small home. That way, all rooms have connectivity, even through thick walls. Mesh Wi-Fi routers have a main hub and several ancillary units that you plug in around the home to eliminate dead zones for better connectivity. Once set up, you can generally manage your smart router through a smartphone app.

You can interact with digital smart displays and screens by touching them, speaking to them or using your mobile device. Displays work with many other smart devices to keep you in the loop on how your home is functioning and give you visual images from around your home. You can use displays for entertainment or communication purposes, such as music or video calls. Many have completely hands-free designs you control entirely with your voice. This is especially useful if you're in the kitchen and want recipe updates but have food on your hands. When the display is not in use, you can use it to show family photos.

Dual communication with the devices in your home is possible with smart speakers. Look for small, unobtrusive models that don't take up too much space. Select speakers that are compatible with your chosen voice assistance programs. You can use the speakers for media, such as music or with an entertainment system, so look for ones that offer solid bass despite their small size. Some speakers mount onto walls, which works well for people with minimal table and counter space.

There are many security system options to keep your smart home safe, both inside and out. Check for high-quality security cameras for your front yard or backyard. Most outdoor security cameras are water-resistant to ensure operation in all kinds of weather. Consider smart doorbells that take images of anyone who comes onto your porch, so you always know who stopped by. For inside your home, install smart fire alarms and other home alarms that watch for potentially dangerous fumes. Use a smart garage door opener so you can stay in your car until you've driven into the garage.

The best smart light bulbs allow you to control lights with your voice without having to touch switches. You can set up these smart lights so they come on or shut off whenever you come or go, which saves on your energy bill. Select lights have dimmer capabilities to set a mood or brighten lights for makeup application. Smart bulbs come in indoor and outdoor versions, so you have plenty of options.

If vacuuming is a chore you don't like, a smart vacuum might be a good option. Most allow you to program them to run at certain times of day, even when you're away from home. Once they finish cleaning, they go back to their charging port. If you have pets or kids, look for units with plenty of capacity to suck up animal hair and debris.

The best smart thermostats work to conserve power and keep your home comfortable in any season. Set up and control your home's temperature by voice or remotely via an app. You can monitor your heating and cooling usage to track your energy costs over time. Some smart thermostat models let you set different temperatures in separate rooms, which helps in large houses or with families who have varied temperature preferences.

It may seem basic, but wall outlets and plugs have smart options too. These help you monitor your power output to lower bills and prevent problematic shorting out. Program the outlets to turn on and off to conserve energy or activate appliances at specific times. Certain models install directly into the wall or act as a hub or power strip to protect against surges. Most work with any smart home hub system, so you can choose one based on your preferences.

Having a smart entertainment system with a smart TV at the center opens you up to more options than cable television. Set it to record your favorite shows or sporting events with vocal commands. Watch videos on YouTube™ or streaming apps with smart TVs, by verbally requesting the selection. Control the system to play specific music on speakers in different rooms throughout your home without having to scroll through a list to find the songs you want. Even when you’re not at home, you can access your media library with your mobile devices to enjoy from anywhere.