These cheap IoT devices are actually useful for your smart home

The 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie “Smart House” introduced me and my entire generation to an intelligent, connected house with AI assistants performing daily tasks. Today, that vision is closer than ever thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT). These days, connected smart home devices are a dime a dozen, and to be honest, more have been released than could possibly be useful, and many of them cost hundreds of dollars. After having owned and tested many IoT devices over the years, these are the best inexpensive ones I have found to be actually useful in my home.

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Button-pressing robots

Affordably turn legacy devices into smart devices

Button-pressing robots are perhaps one of the most ingeniously simple IoT devices that require some out-of-the-box thinking to make the most of. The idea behind these ultra-simple and ultra-affordable gadgets is to turn almost any “dumb” device with a button into a “smart” device. Among the most memorable uses I’ve seen for these is turning a simple coffee machine into a smart coffee machine, done by setting up a schedule for the button-pressing robot to activate the coffee machine at a certain time each day. These can also be used to turn on a desktop PC that doesn’t support remote wake, trigger non-connected pet feeders, or even just turn compatible light switches on and off.

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Smart Smoke Detectors

A “smart” investment in your safety

Smoke detectors are one of those home safety devices that most of us take for granted. We assume they are always working, will truly work when the time comes, and we don’t think about them much until they start beeping for a new battery. IoT, however, has modernized these crucial safety devices, and I think it’s flown under the radar for too long.

I’ve seen countless households with smart doorbells, lightbulbs, ovens, washing machines, and more, but still sporting 20+ year-old technology in the smoke detectors. These can be picked up in multi-packs like a lot of other affordable smart home gadgets and typically run around $25 per unit. These modern smoke detectors (and often carbon monoxide detectors) send real-time status info right to your smartphone, helping you track battery levels, faults, and any alarms. Some models can be synced with live home monitoring services to automatically alert authorities in the case of a fire being detected. Investing in your own safety, especially at this affordable price, is always worth it.

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Smart Plugs

Power anything remotely with just a tap

These handy little devices are extremely useful and are usually sold in value packs for as little as $5 per unit. Honestly, I’ve found too many uses for smart plugs over the years. My favorite application is setting up smart plugs to work in concert with voice-activated home assistants like Alexa or Google Home, in order to automate the timing of lamps and holiday lights.

Many of the smart plugs on the market today offer a rich repertoire of features, including randomizing on/off cycles to help mimic the natural rhythm of lights turning on and off when you aren’t home. This can offer some peace of mind if you’re away from home for an extended period of time and can help give the appearance that someone is home.

Smart plugs also come in handy when setting up specialized lamps for plants or pet terrariums. In my household, we’ve used them before to control a UV lighting schedule for a bonsai tree. You’re bound to find myriad uses for them around the house or office, and they are among the most affordable IoT devices around.

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Leak detectors

A low cost for peace of mind

A smart water leak detector is probably the highest-value device at the lowest cost that you can get for your home. An unattended burst pipe or water heater can cost thousands of dollars in repairs, as the damage can quickly get out of hand if the situation goes unnoticed for an extended period of time.

These small connected devices can be purchased for as little as $15 per unit and are often sold in multipacks so that you can stash them under your sinks, by your water heater, behind toilets, or anywhere else a leak is likely to start in your home. Considering how inexpensive these devices are, they are the best inexpensive IoT device that delivers real utility in your home.

Some of the best IoT devices are super affordable

As the IoT marketplace continues to grow, brands are more than happy to pump out smart devices that cost hundreds of dollars, performing increasingly esoteric tasks that represent lifestyle creep more than they do real utility. As you can see, smart devices that actually improve the quality of life, increase user safety, and help you maintain your home don’t have to cost an arm and a leg.