The best smart home devices: smart speakers, lights, hubs, and more
We love decking our home with the best smart home devices. They enable us to control our appliances with our voice, have the lights and the heating just so when we get home from work, and help us monitor our homes, even from afar. Not only that, but they help us save energy and change the way our rooms look without requiring a single splash of paint.
To create a smart home, you’ll need a smart home hub like a smart display or speaker. Some of these only work with certain smart home ecosystems (like Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or Amazon Alexa), but an increasing number support the Matter standard, which is designed to make it easier for smart home devices from different companies work seamlessly with one another.
Many of these devices feature a voice assistant, which interacts with you as you make commands to adjust a device or get an update on the weather. With smart home tech, you can minimize the energy consumption of your smart lights by having them turn off automatically at certain times of day (or just change color for ambiance). You can upgrade your safety with the a home security camera or smart lock, and you can even turn some of your not-so-smart devices into smart ones using a smart plug or switch.
As we’re constantly testing and reviewing smart home devices, we keep a close eye on the best available, taking into account their pricing, feature set, and specs to help you find the right ones to install in your space.
The best smart speakers
The best smart speaker for you will depend on your chosen smart home ecosystem. All of the options below offer good sound quality and excellent speech recognition, though if you’re looking for audiophile quality then you might want to check out something like the Bose Smart Speaker 500 instead. Take a look at our complete guide to the best smart speakers for more details.
The best smart lights
Smart lights can be controlled using voice commands, motion sensors, or programmed automations, and opting for colored ones means you can easily set the mood for parties, gaming, or to help you unwind at the end of the day. These are three of our top-rated options, but our full roundup of the best smart lights includes lots more bulbs, strings, and panels.
The best home security cameras
These home security cameras let you keep tabs on your home while you’re away, letting you see live footage on your phone and alerting you when they detect motion. You can even set them to trigger your smart lights when a visitor arrives (welcome or not). Take a look at our guide to the best home security cameras for more options.
The best smart plugs
With a smart plug, any electrical device can become part of your smart home system. They’re a great way to control appliances without replacing them, and they can help save energy by switching them off when they’re not needed. Our full roundup of the best smart plugs offers more for your consideration.
The best video doorbells
With one of the best video doorbells, you’ll be able to see who’s calling whether you’re at home or away, and never miss another package delivery thanks to wide-angle footage that allows you to see boxes left on your porch. Make sure you check whether you already have suitable wiring, or if you’ll need a battery-operated fully wireless doorbell instead.
The best smart displays
A smart display gives you a visual way to control and monitor your smart home that’s larger and easier to read than your phone’s screen. It serves as a smart speaker too, letting you give voice commands to control your other devices, and some allow you to stream video too. See our guide to the best smart displays for more details.
The best smart thermostats
The best smart thermostats make it easier to control the temperature of your home using physical controls or voice commands, allow you to schedule heating and cooling, and even learn your preferences over time so your home is always at the optimal temperature and energy use is optimized.
The best smart locks
With a smart lock, you can keep your home secure without keys, give guests and tradespeople temporary access, and lock your door with a single touch. We’ve listed three of our favorites below, but you can take a look at our complete guide to the best smart locks for more options.
