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.
Forbes / Photo: Retailers
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.
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.
