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Smart home devices you wish you had sooner
Imagine a world where all the devices in your home work together to make your life easier. The coffee maker will turn on automatically. When the alarm goes off, the thermostat heats the house. Your floors are kept clean by ambitious little bots. With the right smart home devices, this (and more!) can become a reality.
Smart speakers, smart TVs, smart thermostats, smart alarm clocks, and many other smart home devices are great additions to any home and make great technology gifts. We have collected the best in all categories, so just scroll and choose the one you want. you're welcome!
What are smart home devices?
Smart home devices are devices that can be controlled using an app. Some can connect to Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Siri, and many can also be controlled by voice.
What's really great about these devices, other than the fact that you can control them without getting off your couch, is that they're connected. Once connected, you can schedule tasks to run alone or together at specific times of the day. For example, when you leave for work, your coffee pot may turn off, your smart vacuum bot may start cleaning, your smart lights may turn off, and your smart lock may lock.
There are many smart home brands out there, but some are more popular than others (and for good reason).
Alexa Ring Philips WeMo Nest Roomba
What to consider when buying a smart device
What are the biggest factors to consider when purchasing smart home devices? How do they all connect? If you choose incompatible products, you won't be able to set them up to work together as part of a larger routine.
The best smart home systems work in conjunction with what you already use. Therefore, if your device is equipped with Google Assistant, choose a product that supports it. The same goes for Alexa. IFTTT (If This then That) compatible products are the most flexible and work with almost any smart home product through a single app. Similar to devices that are compatible with Google or Alexa, your device's product information will indicate whether it is compatible with IFTTT.
How we chose the best smart home devices
Our selections are backed by over a decade of smart home product research and hands-on testing in real-world situations. We also considered user reviews and industry insights when choosing our top products. So you can be sure that these products will last and do what they claim to do, including making your life easier.
Winner list
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Via seller
The best smart plugs for Apple users
WeMo Smart Plug
If you want to take advantage of your smart home devices, the WeMo Smart Plug is a great option. “This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get into smart home technology,” says technology consultant Stephanie Duchesne Montgomery.
Just plug it in and use the Apple Home app or Siri or Apple HomeKit to control devices like lamps, fans, curling irons, and more from your iPhone anytime, anywhere. This means you can make sure you don't accidentally leave your iron plugged in, or turn off random devices in standby mode to reduce energy bills. Additionally, the WeMo Smart Plug's “Away Mode” randomly turns on and off the lights in your home to make it look like you're at home on vacation.
Strong Points:
Pairs with all Apple HomeKit devices Cheap and quick installation
Cons: