If you’re seeking to automate your nighttime routine, play music via voice commands or check who’s knocking at your door without rising from your sofa, you may want to consider adding a few smart home devices to your space. The best smart home devices, like my top pick, the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) , make it easy to monitor security cameras, manage appointments and set reminders.
Smart home devices save you time and keep your home cleaner, safer and more efficient than eve.
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But as a smart home expert who has rigorously tested dozens of these devices, I’ve come to learn that it’s not just about setting reminders. I’ve deep-dived into other tools that can help improve your gym routine or keep tabs on your home for peace of mind, too. Some of my other top picks for best smart home devices, like the Shark PowerDetect 2-In-1 Robot Vacuum And Mop, can also keep floors free of pet hair and other debris. Through hands-on testing and research, here are the best smart home devices you can put to work in your home right away.
Dimensions: 5.8 x 3.6 x 3.2 inches | Battery-powered: No | Compatibility: Amazon
Pros:
Syncs easily with many other devices
Sharp screen image
Affordable
Cons:
Camera is weak in low light
Display may be too small for some
The Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is my top pick for the best smart device overall because as a digital assistant, it lets you control all sorts of aspects of your home and life with voice commands. You can use the Echo Show to complete a slew of tasks. Stream music, radio, podcasts and other audio programming; set timers or reminders; and inquire about the weather. The Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) has another feature that cements it as my top pick—it can connect to many compatible third-party devices, from TVs to smart doorbells, smart lights. Use this handy assistant’s display to view the live or recorded video captured by a video doorbell, hold a live call with friends or family or for work, manage the thermostat, set the lights and much more. It’s also very affordable, and is frequently on sale.
The Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) offers a sharp, crystal clear display, so it’s easy to read recipes on screen if you ask Alexa for a quick fettuccine recipe, as an example. But note that its camera only captures images with 2MP resolution, so you might not look that sharp on-screen, and that’s especially true in low light. The display is also fairly small at five inches, but that also means it can fit on a cluttered countertop or nightstand. If you feel the display is a little too small on the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen), you can also increase it to eight inches with the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen).
Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches | Battery-powered: No | Compatibility: Amazon
Pros:
Very affordable
Easy tap to pause function
Seamless pairing with other Amazon devices
Cons:
Occasional connectivity issues
Were the Amazon Echo Dot just a smart speaker that could play music, podcasts and other audio content at the command of your voice, it would still be a decent buy at its under-$50 price point. But as this Alexa-enabled smart device can be used to control so many other devices in your home and can serve as a digital assistant, it’s a great buy for anyone looking for some hands-free help in the home. You can use the Echo Dot to set timers, check the weather, review and adjust your calendar, set the temperature (assuming you have a paired smart thermostat) and much more.
And you don’t have to rely on voice commands to control this device. Tap the top to pause or resume play of your favorite audio programs or activate a snooze alarm in the morning. Also included is a microphone off button, which turns off the Echo Dot’s listening capabilities, ensuring your privacy when you want it. The Echo Dot does lose Wi-Fi connectivity and therefore functionality from time to time, but a quick manual reset does the trick most every time.
Dimensions: 5.1 x 2.4 x 1.1 inches | Battery-powered: Yes | Compatibility: Amazon
Pros:
Battery or hard-wired power, depending on your preferred configuration
Sharp HD video quality
Excellent night vision
Cons:
Full features require paid subscription
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro readily pairs with Amazon Alexa-enabled home devices, making it easy to monitor your home via voice commands, but it works well simply paired with the Ring app on any smartphone or tablet, as well. The HD video quality is excellent day or night, with sensitive light sensors showing color video after dark when even the faintest bit of illumination is available, such as your landscape lighting. The video doorbell works indefinitely when connected to hard-wired power. If you prefer the battery-powered model, while it’s easier to install, plan to use a quick-swap removable battery when the power gets low.
The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro offers lots of beneficial features, like automatic package detection. Many of these features required a paid subscription to the Ring Protect plan, which is $5 per month or $50 per year. It’s not required; without the subscription, you can still get live video and alerts when the doorbell rings, and you can still connect to your video doorbell via other devices.
Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.5 x 7.8 inches | Battery-powered: No | Compatibility: Amazon
Pros:
Custom detection area settings
Loud built-in siren
Bright spotlights
Cons:
Subscription needed for some features
Requires hard-wired installation
With the Floodlight Cam Wired Pro from Ring installed at your property, you can not only have a 24/7 view of what’s going on outside, but you can also be alerted via your smartphone when it registers movement. The security camera can be programmed with a smart detection arrangement wherein certain areas are intentionally ignored despite being in the camera’s field of view—that busy street in front of your home, for example—while movement in other areas will always trigger an alert. The system uses a pair of bright LED floodlights each rated at 2,000 lumens, and it has a built-in siren that sounds at 110 decibels, which is plenty loud to deter unwanted visitors.
The camera requires hard-wired installation, which can be a pain if you don’t already have power running to a spot on the exterior of your home, but once in place it will never need battery changes. The 140-degree horizontal field of view lets you keep tabs on lots of area, and you can view the camera via smartphone or tablet or with a connected smart device like an Amazon Echo Show.
Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.7 x 2.7 inches | Battery-powered: Yes | Compatibility: Amazon, Apple HomeKit, Google
Pros:
Inconspicuous design hides its smart features
Available in multiple finishes
Multiple unlocking options
Cons:
Battery life could be better
Poor installation instructions
Perhaps the best thing about the Level Lock Pro is that it does not look at all like a smart lock—and that’s despite its many smart functions. This lock can be opened via key, key card, app, voice command and a watch or smartphone tap, so you can get into your home with ease while keeping it secure. The lock looks entirely unassuming from the outside and it comes in two different metal finishes, so it should be easy to match one to your door’s aesthetic.
The lock can be paired with iPhones or Android phones alike, and it works well with Apple Watches. The battery life could be a little stronger, so mind that you don’t end up with a dead bolt, so to speak, but even if this smart lock runs out of juice, it can still be turned with a traditional key, two of which come provided.
Dimensions: 2.6 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches | Battery-powered: No | Compatibility: Amazon, Apple HomeKit, Google Home
Pros:
Good price for multi-pack
Remote and voice control options
No blocking of outlet above/below
Cons:
Pairing process often frustrating
If you’ve dreamt of your coffee pot starting to brew while you stay in bed or making sure your hair straightener is powered down before leaving home, these smart plugs from Kasa can help immensely. Once connected to your home Wi-Fi network—which can be a frustrating experience, as fair warning—they can be remotely switched on or off from your phone, or they can be programmed to turn on and off on a schedule.
These smart plugs essentially make any device run simply by a connection to power “smart,” and you get four of them for a decent price. One of these smart plugs takes up just one outlet slot, without blocking access to the outlet above or below it.
Dimensions: 72.8 x 48 x 27.1 inches | Battery-powered: No | Compatibility: iOS, Android
Pros:
Quick and easy weight and activity changes
Dozens of virtual training sessions
Small footprint when folded up
Cons:
The Gym Monster 2 Smart Home Gym from Speediance is an expensive system, but this home gym system can be used for squats, bench press, curls, military press, rowing and so much more. You can change the position of resistance with a few quick clips released and buttons pressed, and the difficulty (or weight, e.g.) of each exercise in mere seconds and all handled with digital precision. And your workouts can be self-guided one-off exercises or in-depth courses led by a pre-recorded virtual coach.
As someone who uses the Gym Monster 2 Smart Home Gym as my own in-home system, it has entirely replaced trips to the gym for me. I don’t need access to multiple different machines and sets of free weights thanks to the wide range of programmability and customization of this device. It comes with hardware that can be used to replicate a barbell, dumbbells and more, and it can be outfitted with all sorts of accessories, like a bench and rowing setup. These only enhance the range of exercises you can complete with this system, which keeps track of your progress and helps you set goals, but of course they add extra expense, as well.
Dimensions: 18.8 x 17.5 x 14.3 inches | Battery-powered: No | Compatibility: iOS, Android
Pros:
Self-cleaning and self-emptying
Easy setup
App and voice-control options
Cons:
Modest battery life
Suction not intense enough for stubborn detritus
Our testers on the team at Forbes Vetted put the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop with NeverTouch Pro Base through the paces and said: “It won as best robot vacuum and mop combo in our tests because it was simple to use, effective at cleaning up messes and offers great value. We were wowed by how easy it was to set up this vacuum-mop and connect to the Shark app; the interface was the best amongst models we tested from Roborock, Dyson or iRobot. ” If you like the idea of a vacuum and mop system that self-empties its on-board dust bin and self-cleans its mops, you’ll want to strongly consider adding this clever device to your home.
Its battery life isn’t great, s0 the robot has to return to its base station at least once for a break during cleanings of even moderately large areas, and some customers describe its suction as being too weak for larger of more stubborn bits of food, dirt or 0ther debris. Still, most users love its thorough cleaning and the ease with which they could set up and control the Shark PowerDetect.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The tech team at Forbes Vetted is made up of editors and staff writers with dozens of years of experience covering consumer technology of all different variations, from robot vacuums to AI wearables to smart watches.
This article was written by Forbes Vetted staff writer Steven John, who has been a journalist for more than 14 years and focuses on gear and tech for Forbes Vetted.
The piece was edited by Rebecca Isaacs, the consumer tech and electronics editor for Forbes Vetted, who has tested and written about scores of products in the technology space. When she’s not testing smart home devices, she’s testing smartwatches for women, gaming TVs and wireless headphones.
John spoke to a number of experts in the course of preparing this smart home device article, including Scott Harden, SVP and chief technology officer with Schneider Electric, Tommy Tran, marketing manager at Place and Chris Carney, founder and CEO of Abode Systems.
How We Chose The Best Smart Home Devices
Smart home devices work throughout your home at all hours of the day, making your life easier, safer and more enjoyable. But choosing which device types and which specific model to feature is no easy feat. Because there are so many options available to customize your smart home space, here’s how we selected our top picks.
We consulted heavily with other members of the Forbes Vetted staff, giving special focus to products staff writers and editors had tested hands-on and had a proven track record of reliability and useful features.
We chose the product categories to include in this article based on how well each type of smart device in consideration could help users with tasks that they would face in everyday life. We considered aspects like robot vacuums to streamline home cleaning; video doorbells to monitor your stoop; and smart assistants to set timers, reminders and more.
Our research and planning process involved consulting with unbiased technology experts. We spoke with Harden, Tran and Carney to understand more in-depth insights into smart home tech.
We read up on best-selling devices—including learning even more about hardware Forbes Vetted staffers have tested first-hand—and pored over the details of each product, comparing specs, reviewing special features and more.
As always, we read scores of customer reviews and looked for products with solid ratings—and we looked out for repeated red flags customers left complaining about products that were dropped from consideration, as well.
What To Look For In The Best Smart Home Devices
When looking for the best smart home devices across all sorts of different product categories, there are a few different features you should consider before upgrading your space. Here’s what to look for when selecting the best smart home devices for your needs.
Efficiency
It might sound obvious, but smart home devices simply must make your life easier and more efficient if they are to be considered effective. Make sure any smart devices you consider will offer solutions, not extra steps, to your workflow or daily routine.
Connectivity
The days of each piece of home tech operating as a standalone device are over, but one of the biggest mistakes you can make is choosing devices that are incompatible with each other, cautions Harden, saying, “Not all smart assistants or smart devices are built to easily communicate with others, meaning it could be a hassle to streamline smart home device control.”
Make sure any devices you consider can work with an app on your smartphone, voice control, and/or can pair with other tech in your residence. In other words, they need to be able to “speak” to each other to accomplish tasks like turning lights on in another room or starting the vacuum from across the house. “As more smart devices get added to homes, interoperability is only going to become more critical to ensure that smart homes aren’t just a hodgepodge of devices run by different apps or voice assistants—they should be true ecosystems that effectively balance convenience, cost, and energy efficiency,” adds Harden.
Security
While not all smart devices are designed to enhance your home’s security—though many, like smart security cameras and doorbells certainly are—all smart home devices should be secure in terms of access and control. Make sure the smart home devices you choose have proper built-in security considerations, especially those with cameras or microphones, or both. Carney says smart devices, “should provide users with safety and peace of mind while maintaining reliability and performance.”
Design
Proper function is paramount when it comes to smart devices, but form, meaning aesthetics and how a device is controlled and interacted with, also matter, especially as so many smart devices are so often in full view in your home. “Smart home devices should make it easier to stay informed and safe and have sleek, modern designs that fit beautifully into any space,” says Tran.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A home device can be thought of as “smart” primarily if it connects to a network, responds to remote commands via app, voice or both, and often if it can automate tasks. Unlike traditional devices that require manual operation, smart home products are part of the Internet of Things (IoT), an ever-growing grouping of internet-connected devices that can communicate with each other.
Consider a smart panel, says Harden, especially if you’re renovating or building a new home. “If you’re building a full smart home ecosystem or adding loads like EV charging, solar power management, an induction stove, a heat pump or other electrified appliances, then a smart panel is a cost-effective way to accommodate those upgrades without necessarily having to upgrade electrical service and without compromising on safety,” he says, adding: “A smart panel is a future-proofed home upgrade that can connect every smart device in your home and help you manage energy more efficiently.”
Some smart devices can continue to work even when not connected to the internet, while others will fail when a connection is lost. Cameras can often connect to your phone or tablet via bluetooth (or other NFC) means or can store footage on board, a smart vacuum may store floor maps internally and smart speakers may retain some function during internet connection lapses; other smart devices will be rendered inoperable during internet outages, though.
