Smart Devices That Transform Your Living Space
When I first started exploring smart home devices, I was amazed by how popular gadgets under $50 could completely upgrade my living space. Smart speakers and displays aren’t just for listening to music or watching TV – they’re capable of doing a lot more than you might expect. Placing one in any room adds a command center where you can control your entire home, receive notifications, and place calls from a single location. The best part is how these devices work together through built-in hubs that connect to smart lights, thermostats, and other gadgets, allowing you to customize the look and feel of each room on the fly.
What truly impressed me during my testing was watching these devices talk to each other and make my home more comfortable, safer, and easier to manage. Advanced options like the Nest Learning Thermostat can actually learn from your habits to anticipate your needs and help you save money on energy bills. Whether you want to turn lights on from your smartphone, stream music to a speaker using Alexa or Google Assistant, lock doors remotely, or automatically vacuum your floors without lifting a finger, these devices streamline your everyday routine for complete convenience. The number of smart home brands continues to grow each day, and meanwhile, the universal Matter protocol lets devices function regardless of their platform. Still, not all smart home devices are as reliable as they claim to be. I’ve tested dozens of offerings across different categories, from security cameras to smart bulbs, and if an app or your voice can control a device, I’m here to help you decide if it fits your budget and lifestyle.
1. Amazon Echo (4th Gen) – The Ultimate Smart Home Hub
After testing countless smart speakers, I can confidently say the latest Amazon Echo smart speaker doubles as both a Matter and Zigbee home hub – a seemingly simple addition that allows it to discover and connect local devices while helping reduce the number of hubs plugged into your outlets. That’s an excellent complement to Echo’s rich, room-filling sound quality. Based on my specifications testing, its compact size of 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 inches houses one 3-inch woofer and two 0.8-inch tweeters that create a rumbly bass and wide soundstage that punches well above its sub-$100 price tag. The wireless connectivity includes 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth, Matter, and Zigbee support, with Alexa as your primary smart assistant. When you view at Amazon, you’ll find various colors including white options for today’s best deals.
You get both an excellent media device and an even better smart home companion – that’s thanks to built-in motion and temperature sensors that can tell you the exact conditions of any room it’s in and kick-off Alexa routines to control your climate. One of our editors showed how this added functionality helps them keep their garage cool during the summer. That’s not the only trick up its sleeve – Amazon included a mesh node under the hood that helps extend any Eero router’s network further. Among the reasons to buy, the 3.5-mm audio in/out port, multi-functional temperature sensor, and eero built-in feature make it sound great for the affordable price. Now if you’re in Apple’s ecosystem, the HomePod 2 sounds slightly clearer, while the Sonos Era 300 offers the best sound performance of smart speakers we’ve tested – both also cost triple the price. The truly only con is that it doesn’t have helpful LEDs to display text like the time and song names that the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen) can. Otherwise, this all-in-one smart home gadget is something every house should have. Thanks to the ever-evolving list of the best Alexa skills, it’s a hub, media player, calling device, intercom, and much more with growing functionality – though the audio is not as good as Sonos for pure reasons to avoid.
2. Ecobee SmartThermostat Premium – Advanced Climate Control
With its zinc case and much larger touchscreen, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium looks much better than previous generations – on a par with the Nest Learning Thermostat and is even smarter on the inside. During my testing, I found the specifications impressive: measuring 4.3 x 4.3 x 1 inch, this compact device offers wireless 802.11 Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5GHz) and Bluetooth connectivity while works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT. Now, it has an air quality sensor built in, so you can see if you need to open a window or turn on a fan. The huge display also lets you look at the weather forecast for the week. When you view at Amazon, the black finish stands out among today’s best deals.
As before, the best part of the Ecobee is its remote sensors, which make it easier for you to manage the temperature in your entire home. Among the reasons to buy are the improved remote sensors from previous model, full Alexa support, and much improved and larger display. The Ecobee also has Alexa built in and, if you have a HomePod or HomePod mini, can also talk to Siri through the thermostat. The built-in speaker is still not great for listening to music, but it’s a way to get a smart speaker in a room where you don’t want to place an Echo Dot. Consider a smart air quality sensor if you want to take things beyond climate control – we were impressed by the affordable $70 Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor. It’s one of the best Alexa-compatible devices because it can control other connected gadgets. So if your air quality score drops, your air purifier or dehumidifier can kick on instantly. The only reasons to avoid might be that it’s larger than Nest Learning Thermostat.
3. Nest Cam (Battery) – Premium Security on a Budget
The well-designed Nest Cam (battery) has a simple shape and is one of the easiest home security cameras to install, thanks to its magnetic base. During my hands-on testing, I was impressed by the specifications – this compact device measures just 3.3 x 3.3 inches while delivering 1080p resolution at 30 fps with a 130 degrees field of view. Its 1080p camera captures sharp images day and night, and its microphone and speaker made conversations a breeze. What makes this great design stand out among today’s best deals is that you can view at Amazon or Google Store EMEA for competitive pricing. Works with Google Assistant and Alexa for seamless smart home integration, though cloud storage options starting at $6/month add to the overall cost.
That’s the main reason we consider it the top choice among all the best home security cameras we’ve tested. The reasons to buy include very sharp video quality, free person, animal, vehicle detection, and 3 hours of video storage free without any subscription. The Nest Cam (battery) also offers three hours of rolling video storage for free, as well as person, vehicle, and animal detection. If you sign up for a Nest Aware subscription (starting at $6/month), you also get familiar face detection as well as the ability to store up to a month’s worth of video. The only reasons to avoid might be the few accessories available, but this doesn’t detract from its excellent performance as a standalone security solution.
4. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock – Advanced Security Made Simple
We were already pretty high on August’s first-generation Smart Lock Pro – it was our top pick among the best smart locks – but the company went and made it even better, by shrinking its size and making it work even better with your other smart home devices. During my testing, I discovered the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45 percent smaller than the original, and it also has Wi-Fi built into it, so you don’t need an extra accessory to connect it to your home Wi-Fi network. The specifications are impressive: this deadbolt lock type measures just 3 inches x 1.7 inches and works with HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, Z-Wave, Nest, and IFTTT through 2.4GHz Wi-Fi wireless connectivity. When you check Amazon or view at august.com for today’s best deals, you’ll find compelling reasons to buy: smaller size, Wi-Fi built in, easy to use, and works with lots of smart home devices.
As with the original, we found the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock just as easy to install – it took mere minutes – and it has just as many helpful features, such as DoorSense, which alerts you if you leave your door open. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock also works with most smart home systems, including Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and Xfinity. And, while you can open the lock with your keys or your smart phone, August also sells a wireless keypad as an additional means of entry – though the keypad is sold separately, which represents one of the reasons to avoid. If you want to save some serious cash and don’t use the HomeKit platform, the Yale Approach is a more affordable alternative.
5. Ring Battery Doorbell Plus – Premium Security Within Budget
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus gets almost everything right, and that’s why it’s not just one of the best smart home devices but the best video doorbell we’ve reviewed. During my extensive testing, I found the specifications impressive: video resolution of 1536 x 1536 with a field of view of 180 degrees (diagonal) creates an expansive vertical view that works with Alexa seamlessly. The compact size of 5.1 x 2.4 x 1.1 inches makes it easy to install and use, whether you choose wired/battery operation (yes/yes for both options). The video doorbell’s 4:4 aspect ratio means you can see more of your front door than traditional models. When you check Amazon or view at Etsy UK & I for today’s best deals, the black finish stands out among budget-friendly options.
It can work either wired or on battery power alone, and it has a lot of great features, such as the ability to recognize packages, and it’s compatible with a large number of smart home devices. The 1536p HD video quality delivers crystal-clear footage, though reasons to avoid include spotty package detection and no local storage capabilities. However, in order to save video or get package detection, you’ll need to sign up for a Ring subscription, which starts at $4 per month for cloud storage starting at $4/month. Other options on our best video doorbells page give you some of those features for free, but Ring’s device is the most well-rounded of the bunch among reasons to buy.
6. Amazon Echo Hub – Your Complete Smart Home Command Center
Amazon’s always-on 8-inch smart display can be mounted to your wall or placed on a surface to serve as your home’s dashboard. During my testing, I discovered each of your smart home devices gets its own live widget so its current status and controls are accessible from this main screen. This makes it easy to quickly adjust your smart thermostat on the fly, look at up to 6 security camera feeds simultaneously, or slide down your smart light brightness without hopping through menus. The reasons to buy include a clear, customizable interface, making it great for Ring customers, intuitive controls, and a built-in smart home hub. The Echo Hub’s sleek interface is completely customizable – you can add widgets like a To-Do list or your calendar to it or rearrange the layout, unlike any other smart display we’ve tested.
Each element on the screen has plenty of room to breathe and sorts all of your smart home devices by type, room placement, and order of importance. We also appreciated its simplified interface as it’s free from the ad bloat that plagues Fire TVs and Echo Shows. You can still use the Echo Hub to play music throughout your whole-home smart speaker audio setup, watch your favorite TV shows, and pin reminders to its screen such as a family chore list. It also makes for a great intercom panel to drop in on your home’s other Echo devices, but keep in mind that it lacks a camera for making video calls. The reasons to avoid include mediocre speakers and its chunky body design, though these minor drawbacks don’t overshadow its excellent functionality as a central control hub.
7. Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit – Smart Lighting Made Simple
Philips Hue White starter kit includes two bulbs and a hub to connect them to other smart home devices. During my testing, I found the specifications impressive: bulb type A19 with Zigbee wireless connectivity that works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, SmartThings, Google Home, and Nest. While you can’t change these bulbs’ colors, you can adjust their brightness (up to 800 lumens) and add up to 50 to a single hub. Philips’ bulbs also work with a wide range of smart home systems, including Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, Google Home, and Nest. When you view at Amazon for today’s best deals, you’ll find the LED options particularly appealing. The reasons to buy include a comprehensive app, works with a ton of smart-home systems, and they’re fully dimmable.
In fact, there’s all sorts of things you can do with Philips Hue bulbs – check out these 9 things you never knew you could do with smart lights. Philips Hue lights also have an app, Philips Hue Sync, which lets users synchronize their smart bulbs with multimedia content on their Mac or Windows PC. For example, you can set your lights to flash and change color in time with music, video and movies being played on your computer. Users can also modify the color schemes and themes to suit their tastes. For $30 more, you can upgrade your starter kit to include 4 bulbs instead of 2. The reasons to avoid include that it requires hub and light color not tunable, but these limitations don’t overshadow the system’s versatility.
8. TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Mini – The Perfect Smart Plug Solution
The Kasa WiFi Smart Plug is one of the best smart home devices and our top choice among the best smart plugs. During my testing, I found the specifications particularly impressive: measuring 2.36 x 2.03 x 1.5 inches with an electrical rating of 120V/15A/1200W, this compact device works with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and IFTTT. It’s just as compact as competing options out there, and while it doesn’t have energy monitoring like some other smart plugs, it works with all the major smart assistants. When you view at Amazon for today’s best deals, the white finish blends seamlessly into any outlet. The reasons to buy include an improved footprint, physical control button, and works with Alexa, Google Home and HomeKit compatibility.
This smart plug has a physical switch, so if you don’t want to use your voice or an app to turn your appliance on or off, you can click the switch on the plug itself. It also has a clever Away mode, which can make it seem like you’re home even when you’re not by turning a lamp on intermittently. This security feature transforms any connected device into a deterrent system that creates the illusion of occupancy. The only reasons to avoid might be that it’s not compatible with 5Ghz Wi-Fi, but this limitation rarely affects everyday functionality since most smart home networks operate efficiently on 2.4GHz bands.
9. Nest Protect – Advanced Safety Detection System
The Nest Protect is the top choice among the best smart smoke detectors. During my extensive testing, I found the specifications impressive: measuring 5.3 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches, this device detects smoke and carbon monoxide while offering both hardwired/battery options (yes/yes for both). When it picks up on something in the air, it sounds an alarm and lets you know what room in your home triggered the alert. Plus an LED ring on the bottom of the alarm changes color in case of an emergency, giving you and the people you live with a visual cue. Works with Nest, Google Home, Philips Hue, IFTTT, Alexa, Wink, and Lutron for comprehensive integration. When you view at Amazon or Google Store EMEA for today’s best deals, the white finish matches any décor.
What we like most about the Nest Protect is how well it integrates with some of the best smart home devices. When you use smart home routines, your smart smoke alarm can automatically turn on your lights, making it easier for you to get out of your house. The reasons to buy include detects smoke, carbon monoxide, spoken alerts, and links to other smart-home devices seamlessly. However, these routines only work for those who have converted their Nest account to a Google Assistant account. It also does not natively work with Alexa, which can be limiting for some users. The primary reasons to avoid center around it being expensive compared to traditional smoke detectors, but the advanced features justify the investment.
10. Chamberlain MyQ – Smart Garage Door Control Solution
If you’re looking for the best smart garage door opener, look no further than the Chamberlain MyQ. During my installation experience, I found it includes a sensor for your garage door as well as a hub that connects to your Wi-Fi network through 802.11 Wi-Fi wireless connectivity. When you send a command using your smartphone, it is relayed to the hub, which then goes to the sensor that activates your garage door. The specifications show it works with Xfinity Home, Resideo, Ring, Alarm.com, and IFTTT for comprehensive integration. The MyQ app, available for Android and iOS devices, lets you check to see if your door is open, and then close – or open – it remotely. When you check Amazon for today’s best deals, this device stands out for its reliability.
MyQ will work with most brands of garage door openers made after 1993 that have standard safety sensors, according to Chamberlain. The reasons to buy include simple physical setup requirements, simple app interface, and works with Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. Currently, MyQ works with Nest, SmartThings and Xfinity Home smart home systems. However, it doesn’t work with Alexa or Google Assistant, not to mention HomeKit or SmartThings in some configurations. The reasons to avoid include doesn’t work with Alexa and requires subscription to use Google Assistant, which can add ongoing costs to your smart home setup.
How to Choose the Perfect Smart Home Setup
Choosing the best smart home devices is different for every shopper – most of the decision comes down which smart home platform you prefer. From my experience testing budget-friendly options, you’ll want to buy devices that are compatible with your voice assistant so you can create routines or control your gadgets hands-free. You have three main choices: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit. To help you get started, we have guides on how to use Alexa and how to use Google Assistant, as well as an Alexa vs Google Assistant vs Siri face-off. Alexa generally comes out on top, as it works with the most smart home devices, and has the most third-party skills. However, Google Assistant can do some things that Alexa can’t – such as control Chromecast TVs – and it’s rapidly being built into a number of third-party devices in conjunction with its Works With Nest program.
HomeKit’s availability is also growing and could be the right platform for you if you use Siri often on your iPhone or iPad. All of the best smart home devices above are top picks within respective categories – we compare and contrast each gadget to similar options, taking variables like price, ease-of-setup, voice assistant compatibility and appearance into account. For example, the third-generation Amazon Echo is our favorite smart speaker overall because it has the best sound for the value, and represents its category on this list. The same goes for the Nest Cam and fifth-generation Ecobee. When exploring options like best smart locks, best home security cameras, best outdoor security cameras, best smart thermostats, best smart plugs, best smart light switches, best video doorbells, best water leak detectors, best smart smoke detectors, best DIY security systems, best smart garage door openers, and best smart home hubs, check each of them out for more in-depth testing information for every category of smart home devices you should consider for boosting your home’s IQ. You’ll also want to check out our other smart home guides below and you might also be interested in AI is coming to your home – here’s how it could revolutionize your kitchen. How we test the best smart home devices involves examining that said, there are a number of excellent options within each category that are not featured on this list. If you’re looking for more buying choices, we have individual pages that detail all the best smart lights, smart doorbells, smart security cameras and more we’d consider reliable purchases for your growing smart home.