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The Best Smart Home Devices
Are you the sort of guy who likes to do everything manually—or would you prefer a collection of nifty gadgets and gizmos that can simplify things?
Welcome to our hand-picked collection of smart home gadgets that we think do their task very well. Below, you’ll find security devices, smart locks, lighting solutions, and anything “smart” that can be automated to make your life easier and more convenient.
You may not need all the nifty items on the list below, but I’m certain you’ll find at least one or two that will change the way you do things around your house.
If it saves you time, improves security, cuts energy costs, and adds a touch of cutting-edge class into your home, it’s absolutely worth considering.
eufy S330 Solar Outdoor Wireless Security Camera System
Improve your protection with eufy’s Edge Security System, featuring an integrated AI that will recognize pets, people, and objects around your home for more accurate monitoring. The BionicMind AI is self-learning and will adapt over time to recognize your family members, pets, friends, and most “frequent visitors” with an accuracy claimed to be “up to 99%”. Thanks to the updated app, you can catalogue and organize the footage recorded, uploading it to the AI to accelerate its learning and cement recognition patterns.
In addition, the solar-powered system offers 16 GB of built-in storage (no subscription fees), the option of adding up to another 16 TB of storage via compact SATA/SSD drive, and packs 256-bit encryption that will secure your data.
Bluetti AC500 Backup Home Power Station
Bluetti is ready to handle any rolling power outage or blackout with the AC500, a portable power station you’ll be glad to keep at home or pack in your RV, trailer, or camper van. In just 20 milliseconds (yes, you read that right), the power station will detect any outages or failure in your home’s power and kick in, keeping all your most important appliances (including your fridge, freezer, and stove) operational until the power comes back on.
The power station can be expanded with up to six batteries, giving you a whopping 18,432 watt-hours—more than enough juice to keep everything operational overnight. It’s compatible with Bluetti’s solar panels so you can generate power all day long and keep the power station charged up. Best of all, you can monitor operations and power levels via the Bluetti app, giving you total control over your home’s power even in an outage.
SwitchBot Wi-Fi Smart Lock
Installing a new smart lock has never been easier. One of the biggest hassles of smart locks is that to install them, you have to remove all the old locking hardware before placing the new one. If you’ve got limited skills and/or tools, that may be a no-go. But the SwitchBot Smart Lock solves that problem easily: it’s designed to install over your existing lock, and it will be a “smart operator” to lock/unlock your currently-installed hardware. It’s compatible with most deadbolt locks, featuring three different “thumb turns” that can fit a wide range of designs, and still gives you manual control over your lock. Now that’s user-convenience done right!
Wyze Lock Bolt
In the past, Wyze has touted its “smart” home security devices—everything from cameras to Wi-Fi locks to automated systems. Now, however, it’s going the route of purely “safe” by offering the Lock Bolt, a deadbolt that eschews Wi-Fi connectivity in favor of direct Bluetooth connection.
The Bluetooth range is only 16 feet, so it’s only unlockable if your phone is in close range. When you’re not home, your fellow house-mates will still have access via a keypad and a built-in fingerprint reader. By removing Wi-Fi, Wyze eliminates the vulnerability that has caused so much concern over home safety, and gives you a truly effective, secure deadbolt that will keep your premises secured against intrusion. Best of all, it’s more affordable than most standard keypad deadbolt systems.
Thermacell Liv App-Driven Home Mosquito Repellent System
Liv from Thermacell is the first connected, on-demand home mosquito repellent system. The Alexa & Google Assistant-enabled system creates a zone of protection around your home with in-ground diffusers controlled by a central hub. The diffusers emit an odorless synthetic chemical repellent to keep mosquitoes away with 93% effectiveness.
Bluelounge SocketStation
The SocketStation Smart Hub Shelf turns any ordinary power socket into a sweet little hangout spot for devices while charging.
A simple click-together design with integrated cord storage makes this an easy swap with existing socket faceplates. The shelf holds up to 3 pounds—perfect for your phone, tiny speakers, and most tablets.
WYZE Motion-activated Step Lights
With motion-activated sensors, the Wyze Night Light helps you find your way in the darkness. The units attach to all wall surfaces with a magnetic mount and up to 10 can be linked together to safely illuminate your home. Sensors detect motion from up to 18-feet away, to keep you on course with your toes intact.
GE Outdoor Cync Smart Plug
With support for both Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, the GE Cync Outdoor Smart Plug is all about convenience.
Bluetooth & Wi-fi enabled & built to withstand the elements, it lets you control power remotely to individual outlets, with a tap of the touchscreen, all through the simple Cync mobile app.
eufy SmartDrop Smart Delivery Package Drop Box
SmartDrop is a digital high-security safe to protect all your post and packages from theft & tampering. Large enough to fit 90% of standard parcels, it sits sentry at your door.
Equipped with a motion-triggered camera, 2-way audio, & PIN access touchpad, plus support for Alexa & Google Assistant, it allows deliveries to be dropped & safely held until you’re home.
Ring Alarm Glass Break Sensor
Using AI technology and a sensor that detects the sound of glass shattering up to 25-feet, the Glass Break Sensor from Ring adds another layer of protection to your home security system. It provides instant mobile alerts when the sound is detected or it can be set to sound your Ring Alarm siren when armed in both Home or Away mode. A Ring Alarm or Ring Pro system is required. Ships 2/16.
Awair Element Indoor Air Quality Monitor
Awair’s Element device enables you to track overall air quality: temperature, humidity and the levels of allergens and airborne toxic chemicals (VOCs). You can also easily set up automations for fan, heater, humidifier/dehumidifier, and other appliances to keep everything smooth and safe.
ismartgate LITE Smart Garage Door Opener
With built-in support for Apple Homekit, Alexa, Google and IFTTT, ismartgate’s line of garage door openers allow you to control your garage entry directly from your smartphone, tablet, PC or Apple Watch. In addition to convenience, it provides remote security alerts, video recording and monitoring with a linked IP camera, a user management feature that will allow you to grant, deny and modify access to different users from anywhere, and it works on up to 3 doors.
Eve Water Guard - Smart Home Water Leak Detector
The Eve Water Guard is a HomeKit-enabled leak sensor. It plugs into a wall socket and uses an extendable 6.5-foot long sensor cable to detect leaks and moisture. With HomeKit, it’s able to send instant notifications to connected devices. There is also a powerful 100dB siren to alert you when a leak is detected.
SwitchBot Curtain Smart Electric Motor
Switchbot Curtain turns old blinds & curtains into smart ones. Automatic, app-controlled ones that help you save energy and money. The ’bot mounts in seconds with no tools & no power supply needed. Through the app you can set-up schedules & through machine learning, the system learns your patterns. With temperature & light sensors, they will open & close based on parameters you set. Works with Alexa, Google Assistant & Siri for voice controlled convenience.
Brilliant Smart Home Control
The Brilliant Smart Hub gives you touchscreen control of all the smart systems and connected devices in your home, from one interactive screen. It has integrated Alexa voice control functionality, intuitive controls for all smart appliances on easy-to-read menus, and audio and video intercom, as well as dedicated support for Nest, Ring & other devices. Replaces any standard light switch in your home.
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More to Explore
Home automation just got easier—and cheaper—with the Belkin Wemo Stage Scene Controller with Thread. Designed to integrate with Apple’s HomeKit, this smart switch lets you control any individual smart device you have connected to HomeKit, or control all your devices at once. It connects via both Bluetooth 5.0 and Thread, giving you a reliable connection no matter where in the house you are.
With a 6-12 month battery life and a 3-year warranty, it’s one of the simplest, most reliable smart additions you can make to your home. The controller is also small enough you can keep it on your bedside table, but it can easily mounted to any wall without wires to give it that standard home switch look.