Echo Dot Smart Speaker
Gosund Smart Plug Mini Wifi Outlet
Ring Floodlight Motion Security Camera
Everyone loves convenience, and a smart home provides the level of comfort you need to live easily. The best smart home devices will go a long way in helping to optimize your living experience, while even helping to save you some money on your utility bills.
Here are some of the best that you can buy today.
The Best Smart Home Device
1Echo Dot Smart Speaker
Smart home devices make living more comfortable. The Echo Dot Smart Speaker is no different. With a wide variety of users, this smart speaker is one of the best smart home devices available. The Echo Dot Smart Speaker brings optimal connectivity since it’s a part of Amazon’s family of products. It is compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, so you can ask it to set the alarm and tap the top to snooze when you wake up. Alexa is the star of the Echo Dot show and you can ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, control compatible home devices, and more.
The Echo Dot also allows you to listen to your favorite audiobooks since it’s compatible with Audible. As expected, you can use the voice control feature to stream songs from your favorite platforms. Even better, the Echo Dot allows you to control your smart home through compatible devices. So, you can turn on the lights, adjust your thermostat, lock doors with ease. The Echo Dot is a compact, high-quality smart speaker that takes your home to the next level.
Voice recognition
Built-in Alexa
LED display
- BrandAmazon
- ModelEcho Dot (3rd Gen)
- Weight10.6 oz
2Google Nest Learning 3rd Gen Smart Thermostat
The Google Nest Learning 3rd Gen Smart Thermostat is one of the niftiest smart devices. For people who live in cities with wild temperature swings, the device can save a fortune in energy costs. The Nest thermostat gets the ideal temperature for you within a week of purchase and programs itself. So, it saves you the trouble of manually scheduling it. The product also comes with the Nest Leaf, which guides you in choosing a temperature that saves energy.
Energy bills can pile up even in your absence. The Nest Thermostat prevents this by automatically turning itself down when you’re not home. It’s also WiFi-compatible, so you can change the temperature of any room in your home with your smartphone. However, If you’d rather use voice control, you can connect your Nest to Amazon Alexa.
Auto-scheduling
Compatible with Amazon Alexa
WiFi thermostat
Home/away assist
Remote control
- BrandGoogle
- ModelT3007ES
- Weight1 pound
3Samsung GP SmartThings Hub
The Samsung GP SmartThings Hub provides ease of use and effective control over everything in your house. A particularly useful feature on the hub is the SmartThings multipurpose sensor, which can alert you when doors or windows are open and closed. There’s also a dedicated motion sensor that lets you know when there’s movement in your home.
You can control lights, electronics, and small appliances with the SmartThings outlet, while the button included allows you to control all of your connected devices with a single touch. Another practical feature here is the water-leak sensor, which detects any leakages in your plumbing. The SmartThings Hub connects to various appliances, thus easily automating your home. From lights to door locks and thermostats, this hub is the automation solution you’ve been waiting for. One downside, however, is that the hub doesn’t work as well outside of the United States. For more cool devices like this, check out our selection of the best robotic window cleaners.
Motion sensor
Multipurpose sensor
Water-leak sensor
- BrandSamsung
- ModelGP-U999SJVLGDA
- Weight8 ounces
4Gosund Smart Plug Mini Wifi Outlet
The Gosund Smart Plug Mini WiFi Outlet allows you to easily control the devices in your house, thanks to compatibility with Alexa. Here, you have a WiFi plug that needs just a stable 2.4GHz network to connect – no need for a full hub. It allows you to create a customized schedule to automatically switch off/on home electronic appliances. So, you can get home to a ready-made dinner or a steaming cup of coffee by setting the right schedules and timers for your cooker.
Imagine controlling your home appliances from across the street. The Gosund SmartPLug Mini WiFi Outlet allows this, thanks to Alexa compatibility, the SmartPlug remote, and the Gosund App. Just get a secure 2.4 GHz wifi network access on your phone and you’re ready. If you like automation, this Gosund SmartPlug is for you. It is easy to connect, it works well with Alexa, and it makes scheduling a breeze. Overall, it’s a great product at a reasonable price.
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant
Remote control
Includes app
Schedule feature
Timer function
No hub required
- BrandGosund
- ModelWP3
- Weight8.8 ounces
5Chamberlain Group MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener
There are few things cooler than being able to open your garage door with your smartphone irrespective of distance. The Chamberlain Group MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener makes this possible. This garage door opener comes with the MyQ app and is capable of working with all garage door types – as long as they were made after 1993 and have the standard safety sensors. All you need to get it going is a router with 2.4GHz frequency. Stand within 50 feet of the MyQ Smart Garage Hub, and you can pop open the garage door as you please.
Set up your smart garage in just a few minutes by following the step-by-step instructions provided in the MyQ app. You’re guaranteed not to break a sweat with this simple wireless installation. You can also share this feature with up to three family members or others through the guest access on the MyQ app. You can do more than just open your garage door from afar with the MyQ Door Opener. Have your Amazon packages delivered safely inside your garage by linking your MyQ account in the key app. To keep your home spotless, be sure to pick some of the top robotic vacuum cleaners from our list, so check them out.
In-garage delivery
Real-time notifications
Access sharing
Control from anywhere
- BrandChamberlain
- ModelMYQ-G0301
- Weight8 ounces
6Ring Video Doorbell
If you’re tired of walking to the door to find out who’s there, the Ring Video Doorbell is here to save you the trouble. This 720p HD video doorbell provides easy access to your doorbell from wherever you are, so you can know whether to let a guest in or not. This smart doorbell has motion detectors that alert you whenever someone comes close to the door. It’s also got Live View, which allows you to check on your home through the intuitive Ring app. Installation is a breeze too. You can set up your Ring Video Doorbell in quick easy steps.
Even better, you can connect your Ring doorbell with Alexa to hear announcements on a compatible Echo device when your doorbell is pressed. If your Echo device has a screen, you can see a live view of your camera. Two-way audio allows you to talk to visitors while they’re at your door. The Ring Video Doorbell has many practical uses, although it’s mainly useful when you travel away from home but want to keep an eye on your house. The doorbell is not a substitute for a security camera if safety is your priority, but it is an excellent product nonetheless.
Motion-activated alerts
Two-way talk
720 HD video
On-demand video
Works with Alexa
- BrandRing
- Model8VR1S5-SEN0
- Weight0.86 pounds
7Ring Floodlight Motion Security Camera
Home security is of utmost importance to everyone. The Ring Floodlight Motion Security Camera allows you to be as vigilant as possible. This Smart Camera is compatible with Alexa, thus enabling announcements when it detects motion. It also allows you to talk to visitors through select Echo devices. Say, “Alexa, talk to the front door,” and you’re connected. See, hear, and speak to your visitors from your device. You can also subscribe to a Ring Protect plan to record and share videos and photos. The recording and sharing feature will be most useful for attempted break-ins.
Burglars tend to strike at night but they’re in for a surprise with the Floodlight Security Camera from Ring. This home device provides 1080P HD video resolution, as well as infrared night vision and Live View. Its built-in ultra-bright floodlights will scare away most home invaders, and if that doesn’t do it, the built-in siren will alert your neighbors. DIY installation may not be possible, however, as the Ring camera requires hardwired installation to weatherproof electrical boxes. Of course, you could always call a professional.
Motion-activated alerts
Two-way talk
Remote-activated siren
Ultra-bright LED floodlights
Works with Alexa
- BrandRing
- Model8SF1P7-WEN0
- Weight3 pounds
8Lumiman Smart WiFi Light Bulb
No smart home is complete without a smart light bulb. We all need good lighting to create an ambiance in a house. The Lumiman Smart WiFi Light Bulb is one of the best Alexa smart home devices because it takes home lighting up a notch with little effort. It uses voice control and is compatible with Alexa, the Echo Dot, and Google Assistant. Installation is also a breeze since you don’t need a hub to install it.
You can also turn on/off these Alexa-enabled smart light bulbs from anywhere, as long as you have the free PlusMinus app on your smartphone or tablet. Put an extra personal touch on your lighting options with this bulb, as it allows up to 16 million colors. You can dim the brightness of any of the colors as you like, so you will have no issues with creating your favorite light effects. You can also set up schedules to turn/off a light bulb according to the pre-set time. The smart light bulb is perfect for a table lamp, cafe, or bar.
Voice control
Remote control via PlusMinus app
DIY scene mode
Fade in/out transition effects
- BrandLumiman
- ModelLM650-2P-CA
- Weight5.7 ounces
9Wink Smart Home Hub
Control all your smart home devices from one spot with the Wink Smart Home Hub. The hub is compatible with all major smart home categories, including camera, doorbells, lighting, and more. The Wink Smart Home Hub comes with a smartphone app that helps you to easily set up shortcuts and manage all appliances. These shortcuts can let you turn off your home lights with a tap or automatically switch your thermostat.
The Wink hub has wide compatibility and enables you to connect and control over 400 smart home devices. You have multiple connection options for setting it up, including a 5GHz wifi or an Ethernet port. The hub is also compatible with several smart home protocols, including Bluetooth LE, Kidde, and more.
Works with Alexa
Large protocol support
Voice control
Includes Wink app
- BrandWink
- ModelWNKHUB-2US
- Weight8 ounces
10Logitech Harmony Elite Remote Control
The final entry on our list of the best smart home devices is a powerful and intuitive all-in-one universal remote control. The Logitech Harmony Remote Control can access up to 15 home entertainment and connected home devices. This smart remote has a full-color touch screen. To get started, all you need do is swipe and tap to control channels, movies, volume, and smart home devices. Compatible with over 270,00 devices, the Elite remote can control your TV, satellite or cable box, game controls, lights, thermostats, and more. The remote can also automatically power on and switch devices to the right settings when you tap an activity.
The Harmony Elite Remote Control is a brilliant device with a clear and concise app that makes setup easy. It eliminates the need to have many remotes for different devices and makes the connected devices easily accessible to you.
Full-color touch screen
One-touch activities
Compatible with thousands of devices
- BrandAmazon Renewed
- Model915-000256-B1
- Weight2.25 pounds
Smart Home Device Conclusion
That concludes our roundup for the best smart home devices. Our best choice remains the Echo Dot Smart Speaker, which is an Amazon product that allows you to listen to your favorite audiobooks and control other devices in your smart home.