Easy Smart home. Best Smart Home Hubs of 2023

The best Smart home devices in 2023

Cut down on your chores and use automation to make your home work for you.

Monitor every entrance to your home whether you’re there or away, and get alerts to suspicious activities as they’re happening.

You won’t need Alexa to play your cleaning mix anymore.

Amazon, Google, and Apple can eat their hearts out—this Smart speaker sonically smokes them all.

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Smart home devices are finally beginning to make good on the promises made to us by TV shows like The Jetsons, which depicted mainstream video conferencing and remote work (in addition to flying cars) way back in 1962. Broadband internet and Wi-Fi have enabled companies to develop a whole host of gadgets that can be wirelessly controlled and monitored from a smartphone, tablet, computer, or Smart home speaker. A new Smart home standard called Matter, developed by a consortium featuring some of the biggest tech companies on Earth, will make it possible for gadgets to connect to one another more easily. The best Smart home devices will make your life simpler without requiring you and the people you live with to completely re-learn the way to use common aspects of your place.

• Best Wi-Fi router for Smart homes:eero Pro 6E
• Best Smart security system:SimpliSafe 10-Piece Wireless Home Security System
• Best Smart scale:WYZE Smart Scale X
• Best Smart robot vacuum:eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C MAX
• Best Smart speaker:Bowers Wilkins Zeppelin
• Best Smart lock:Schlage Encode Deadbolt Smart Lock
• Best Smart smoke detector:Google Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide
• Best Smart doorbell:Google Nest Doorbell Wired (2nd Generation)
• Best Smart plug:Wyze Plug
• Best Smart TV:TCL 6-Series Roku TV (65R655)
• Best Smart lightbulb:Philips Hue White and Color Starter Kit

How we chose the best Smart home devices

The world of Smart home devices is gigantic and growing daily, so keeping up with it is difficult. This guide compiles our top recommendations from stories dedicated to a single product category. We’ve also linked to these individual guides so you can see even more of our recommendations in this area. The criteria we’ve used to evaluate these products are based on a mix of research and hands-on testing. As we continue to test and update these individual guides, we’ll return and update this one. We feel this virtuous circle will give you, the reader, the most up-to-date information on various Smart home devices written by subject matter experts that combine personal use, peer recommendations, critical reviews, and real-world impressions to come up with selections in each specific area. Our Smart home device coverage is continuing to evolve, and we’ll also update this story as we explore entirely new categories, too.

The best Smart home devices: Reviews Recommendations

The Smart home devices in this guide come from well-known and trusted companies. Our team has paid particular attention to making sure these devices work with as many Smart home platforms as possible, may be updated to support Matter through a software update, and are designed to be supported for many, many years.

Best Wi-Fi router for Smart homes: eero Pro 6E

Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

Why it made the cut: Eero’s latest Wi-Fi router is its most powerful model yet, but it’s still easy to setup and use.

• Ultra-fast speeds
• Supports the latest Wi-Fi version
• Excellent coverage
• Easy to set up and manage

Eero has made the best Wi-Fi routers since its hardware debuted over six years ago, and the 6E Pro only extends that lead.

Our tests, which included downloading large files while simultaneously streaming 4K video and downloading Nintendo Switch games went well. We didn’t detect any performance drops even when pushing the routers to their limits. Our tests were conducted in a three-floor condo using a two-pack of Eero 6E Pro routers and a gigabit fiber optic Internet connection from Verizon Fios. Your experience will vary based on the speeds provided by your ISP (Internet Service Provider’s) Internet package.

In most cases, we only needed a single router to cover the entire area, more than we could say for most of the Wi-Fi routers we’ve tested. We added a second for our network to reach a single out-of-the-way room on the basement floor. Internet performance on the second floor was solid with a single router. If you live in a single or two-story home, it’s entirely possible to get by with just one of Eero’s 6E Pro routers.

One of our favorite aspects of using eero’s networking gear is its straightforward setup process. Its app (iOS and Android) has a clean design that’s friendly to newcomers with advanced settings for power users. Getting the 6E Pro routers up and running consisted of connecting them to power, waiting for their LED to blink blue, then setting up my network name and password. One eero router needs to be connected to your cable modem using an Ethernet cable, but the others only need power to operate.

Once a router is installed, the app will prompt you to update its software if a newer version is available. Going forward, software updates can be downloaded and installed at the pre-set time you choose—likely when you’re asleep—to avoid interrupting your day. You also have the option to update routers manually if you’d prefer.

Eero’s hardware is pricy, but in our experience, the brand’s ease of use and performance justifies the cost. Eero has supported its routers for roughly five years so far and offers a 25% discount if you trade in old hardware for a new model, which is more eco-friendly than keeping it lying around. For more recommendations, check out our full guide to Wi-Fi routers.

Best Smart security system: SimpliSafe 10-Piece Wireless Home Security System

Why it made the cut: The SimpliSafe 10-Piece system has the right mix of sensors, cameras, and other security tools to help keep your home safe in a single box.

• Installation difficulty: Easy
• Sensors: 4 door/window sensors, 2 motion sensors, 1 indoor camera, 1 outdoor camera
• 24/7 professional monitoring: 28/mo. (Optional)
• Smart protocols: N/A, but Alexa- and Nest-compatible
• Outdoor cam so your security starts before an intruder enters your home
• Comes with one free month of 24/7 professional monitoring service
• The variety of parts gives you a more complete sense of security
• Optics and branding

SimpliSafe’s 10-Piece Wireless Home Security System includes all equipment you’ll need to protect your home fully.

In the box, you’ll receive four window or door sensors, two motion sensors, two HD cameras, a keypad, and a base station. Once you set up the system using SimpliSafe’s app (iOS and Android), you can monitor, arm, and disarm it from your phone. Your smartphone will also receive a notification each time the system is tripped. If you’re home, you have the option of arming and disarming your system using a keypad, too. One of this system’s best features is the 95db (decibel) siren built into the base station. This alarm will alert would-be thieves and neighbors that a security system is installed and has been tripped.

Both cameras included in SimpliSafe’s 10-Piece Wireless Home Security System have the same basic specs: A 1080P sensor, night vision, motion detection, and a 140-degree field of view. The only difference is that the outdoor camera runs on a battery so that it can be installed anywhere. The indoor camera is wired, so you’ll need to keep it plugged into an outlet at all times. You can monitor a timeline of video clips from the past seven days for free or pay for unlimited video storage at the cost of 27.99 per month by subscribing the SimpliSafe’s Interactive Monitoring Plan. The paid plan also includes professional monitoring and is required to unlock the system’s Alexa and Google Home integrations.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one Smart security system covering most basic needs, SimpliSafe’s 10-Piece Wireless Home Security System has everything you need to get started. If you have a bigger home or want more protection, you can always add more components over time. For more recommendations, check out our full guide to the best Smart home security systems.

Best Smart scale: WYZE Smart Scale X

Why it made the cut: Calculate weight, BMI, muscle percentage, body fat percentage, and so much more with a scale that easily syncs with the WYZE app on your smartphone; we think that’s pretty powerful stuff.

• Measures lots of different health metrics
• Attractive tempered glass design
• Easily syncs with some smartphone apps
• Somewhat invasive software wants to track your location
• Doesn’t actually pair with all 3rd party apps

A Smart scale isn’t going to help you lose weight on its own, but WYZE’s Smart Scale X can help you keep track of a handful of health metrics to help you chart your progress over time. This data can help determine whether your diet or exercise routine produces any results. The scale can track your weight, muscle mass, body-fat percentage, BMI, heart rate, and water percentage. This data can be synced to the WYZE app (iOS and Android) on your phone, or a general app like Apple’s Health, Fitbit, and Google Fit.

Aesthetically, the Smart Scale X looks like the normal “dumb” models most of us are used to. Its temperated glass top, black or white colorway, and LCD display are all pretty standard. The scale will be able to take your weight very quickly, but it may take a few extra seconds for it to read your other metrics. You’ll know whether your weigh-in was successful when you see new data appear on your app of choice. Our only qualm with the Smart Scale X is that is constantly asks for your location—providing this information is entirely optional, and declining will not impact the scale’s performance—but it’s annoying. The health data collected by the scale can benefit you, giving away your location information may not. For more recommendations, check out our full guide to Smart scales.

Best Smart robot vacuum: eufy RoboVac X8

Why it made the cut: Eufy’s RoboVac X8 can vacuum and mop your floors, and uses AI to avoid common obstacles to clean efficiently.

Eufy’s RoboVac X8 builds on the company’s strong foundation and adds welcome features that weren’t available on most of its previous models.

The RoboVac X8 coincided with the release of eufy’s Map 2.0 software, which allows the vacuum to intelligently avoid chairs, stairs, and other obstructions while creating a detailed map of your room. Knowing the borders of your rooms makes it easier for the vacuum to optimize its cleaning path for maximum efficiency during its 180-minute run. Eufy tuned its sensors to operate in low light, too, to clean your home at night without any issues. The company’s robot vacuums have always done a very good job cleaning, but it says the RoboVac X8 can pick up over 50% more dog hair than before, thanks to a redesigned turbine system. This turbine system also allows the RoboVac X8 to compress dirt more effectively, reducing the frequency with which you need to empty its dustbin according to eufy.

Robot vacuums have traditionally been good at picking up solid dirt—hair, crumbs, dust bunnies—but couldn’t deep-clean your floor. The RoboVac X8 has a built-in mop connected to a 250ml water tank, allowing it to clean these surfaces more effectively. This vacuum will mop and vacuum simultaneously to avoid leaving water streaks on your floor. The Eufy app (iOS and Android) allows you to schedule cleanings, view the vacuum’s map, and tell it where to clean. You can also start or stop a cleaning hands-free by using Amazon’s Alexa if you have a compatible Smart speaker in your home.

Smart home devices are designed to make your life easier, but Eufy’s RoboVac X8 is the only one we recommend that can cross a tedious chore off your list.

Best Smart speaker: Bowers Wilkins Zeppelin

Why it made the cut: The Zeppelin’s eye-catching aesthetics are matched by its excellent sound and surprisingly robust Smart home integration.

• Audiophile-grade speaker array
• Elegant, minimalist design elevates any decor
• Alexa and AirPlay 2 support

Most Smart home speaker makers have spent their resources trying to get their hardware less expensive and more portable—often by sacrificing audio quality—Bowers Wilkins’ Zeppelin is the antithesis of this trend.

The large, heavy, expensive Smart home speaker has been meticulously engineered to sound as good as possible, and it’s well worth its 800 price if you fancy yourself an audiophile. The Zeppelin’s greatest strength is that Bowers Wilkins refused to compromise on audio quality. It outfitted this speaker with a five-driver array comprised of two 1-inch double dome tweeters, two 3.5-inch midrange drivers, and a single 6-inch subwoofer. The tweeters and midrange drivers are built into the left and right ends of the Zeppelin, which provides a surprisingly wide soundstage for a single speaker. The center-oriented subwoofer provides ample bass while never tipping itself over the edge. You’ll certainly hear the low end loudly and clearly, but mids and highs won’t sound drowned out or weak.

We put the Zeppelin through its paces in our review, listening to music from multiple genres at different bitrates and volume levels. There’s no such thing as a perfect-sounding speaker—everyone’s ears and preferences are different after all—but the level of detail was stunning. If you’re the type of person who has a library of MFSL (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab) SACDs ripped in FLAC on your computer, or exclusively stream high-resolution audio from different services, your fastidiousness will be rewarded here. Lossy audio also sounds excellent, but your source will help bring out Zeppelin’s full potential.

Regarding Smart home functionality, the Zeppelin has Amazon’s Alexa built-in and support for Apple’s AirPlay 2. The lack of Google Assistant support is unfortunate, given this speaker’s price, but it isn’t a dealbreaker. If you’ve built a Smart home and want an audio system to be a part of it, Bowers Wilkins’ Zeppelin is in a class of its own. For more recommendations, check out our full guide to the best Smart speakers.

Best Smart lock: Schlage Encode Deadbolt Smart Lock

Why it made the cut: This Smart deadbolt lock can be installed and used without Smart features, but the ones it supports enhance its abilities.

• Does not require a Smart hub
• Numerous programming options via a dedicated app
• Many finish options

Schlage’s Encode solved one of the biggest problems many people have with Smart locks: Its wireless features are entirely optional. Yes, this deadbolt will replace the one on your door, but you can still get into your home using a key. this fallback method is helpful if the lock’s battery dies, your Wi-Fi goes out, or someone in your house doesn’t like or want to use Smart features to get in and out of the house. This model also comes with a keypad, which needs to be set up using Schlage’s app (iOS and Android), but can be used by anybody once a code is set.

Setting up the Encode’s Smart home features requires you to scan a QR code on the lock’s battery compartment, sending you to a digital setup process on its app. Once you’ve added the lock to your Wi-Fi network, you can lock or unlock it remotely. This feature will be useful when you or someone you live with forgets their key. Wireless locking is also useful if you can’t remember whether you locked the door on your way out. If you’re home, you can lock or unlock the Encode using Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant, which is helpful if you’d like to let somebody in but have your hands full.

You can configure Schlage’s Encode to send your phone a notification each time your lock is locked or unlocked, and set it to engage its alarm if somebody tries to get inside your home while it’s locked. These security features are optional, but we recommend setting them up for added security, at least when you’re away from your home for an extended period of time. For more recommendations, check out our full guide to the best keypad door locks.

Best Smart smoke detector: Google Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide

Why it made the cut: The Nest Protect from Google can alert you of two dangerous gasses whether you’re home or away.

• Type: Battery-powered or wired
• Battery backup: Yes; battery-powered (AA x 6), Yes; wired (AA x 3)
• Dimensions: 5.3 inches H x 5.3 inches W x 1.5 inches D
• Mobile alerts
• Easy to silence from your phone
• Powerful interconnectivity features

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are a legal requirement in new homes—for good reason—but getting woken up by one can be very disorienting. Google’s Nest Protect can detect both threats and will play a voice recording telling you why it was triggered. If the source of the issue isn’t apparent—this is more common for carbon monoxide—you can relay your information to the fire department or another authority. In the case of a false alarm, like burning popcorn triggering the smoke detector, you can silence the Nest Protect using an app rather than struggling to push a button.

The Nest Protect’s best feature is its ability to send your phone notifications when triggered. This information can be invaluable if you’re not home and justifies the Nest Protect’s cost. The best-case scenario is that it’s a false positive, but knowing about a house fire or CO2 leak before it spreads is incredibly helpful. Google offers the Nest Protect in battery-powered and wired configurations so that you can install them everywhere. You’ll receive a notification when its batteries are low rather than hearing an annoying chirping sound. The Nest Protect only has two functions, but they’re incredibly important and can literally save your life or home. For more recommendations, check out our full guide to the best carbon monoxide detectors.

Best Smart doorbell: Google Nest Doorbell Wired (2nd Generation)

Why it made the cut: The second-generation Nest Doorbell is a sleek-looking

• Video resolution: 1280 x 960
• Wired/Battery-powered: Battery
• Field of view: 145 degrees
• Integration: Google Assistant
• Storage type: Cloud
• High-quality video
• Chime included
• Head-to-toe view
• Notifications don’t require a subscription

A Smart video doorbell can keep an eye on the most vulnerable part of your home: your front yard or street. Google’s second-generation Nest Doorbell is a wired model that can record HD video during the day or night. The lens’ 145-degree field of view can capture goings on over a wide area, so would-be criminals won’t be able to sneak by it easily. You’ll receive a notification each time the doorbell’s motion sensor is triggered, so you can immediately assess whether the person approaching your door is a friend or a stranger. These security features are the main reason to get a video doorbell, but Google made the Nest friendly, too. You can record away messages to alert people when you’re not home.

On the technical side, this video doorbell requires existing wiring to work. If you’re replacing an existing doorbell, this won’t be a problem. You may need to call an electrician if your home doesn’t already have one. The benefit of installing a wired doorbell is you never have to worry about it running out of batteries, which can be inconvenient if it happens while you’re on vacation. The set-it-and-forget-it nature of the Nest Doorbell is part of its overall appeal, as is its support for both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

This video doorbell can store up to three hours of video—the maximum length for each clip is five minutes—in the Cloud for free. If you’d like more storage, you’ll have to pay for an optional Nest Aware plan, which costs 6 per month and offers 60 days of event history. We’d like it if Google allows you to store video clips locally, but this isn’t the case, unfortunately. Still, if you’d like a sleek-looking wired video doorbell, this is the one to pick up. For more recommendations, check out our full guide to the best doorbell cameras.

Best Smart plug: Wyze Plug

Why it made the cut: Wyze plugs are powerful tools, and especially inexpensive if you buy a multi-pack.

• Energy consumption: 15 amps; 110 volts
• Size: 2.75 x 4.1 x 1.5 inches
• Smart home platforms: Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
• Mobile support: Controllable remotely through the Wyze app (iOS and Android)
• Wide ecosystem support: Wyze app allows for multiple plugs to be controlled as a single system
• Reliable
• Reasonable price
• Good companion app
• Alexa and Google Assistant compatible

Smart plugs are the unsung heroes of the Smart device world. They allow you to control the devices they’re connected to remotely, even if the appliance or other powered gadget was made in the pre-Internet age. Wyze’s Smart plugs cost 11 each or 40 in a four-pack and work just as well as models that cost a lot more. A Smart plug is remarkably simple once you’ve set it up in Wyze’s iOS or Android app. Once the plug is connected to your Wi-Fi network, you can turn it on and off using an app. The plug can be connected to any outlet and is small enough not to interfere with the one below it in a multi-outlet receptacle.

The functionality of a Smart plug is limited to turning an electronic on or off, but that can be a very powerful feature. For example, using this Smart plug with a lamp will allow you to turn it into a Smart light. Using a Smart plug in conjunction with an air purifier will allow you to set it on a schedule. Smart plugs are little problem solvers, so we recommend picking up a multi-pack. It won’t be very hard to find places for them in your home, and it’s more cost-effective than picking them up one at a time.

Amazon owns Wyze, but the Smart plugs can be controlled by both Alexa or Google Assistant, which is a nice touch. These plugs aren’t compatible with HomeKit, which may be problematic if you’re part of Apple’s Smart home ecosystem. If that isn’t an issue, we can recommend Wyze’s Smart plugs without reservation.

Best Smart TV: TCL 6-Series Roku TV (65R655)

Why it made the cut: The TCL 6-Series Roku TV features an impressive 4K panel, multiple HDMI 2.1 ports, and support for faster frame rates.

• Sizes: 55”, 65”, 75”
• Display: QLED
• Refresh rate: 120 Hz
• HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision
• Ports: HDMI 2.0 x2, HDMI 2.1 x2 USB 2.0, Ethernet, Bluetooth

The TCL 6-Series has long been one of the best choices in the sub-1000 TV world, and the most current version is no different. We’ve had the opportunity to test the Roku version of this TV, and it’s hands-down the best option in its price range. Image quality and color accuracy are universally excellent whether we watch movies and TV shows or played video games. This was especially true when watching or playing native 4K content with HDR (High Dynamic Range) in those instances, the 6-Series really shone brightly.

TCL’s decision to build this TV with Roku’s operating system was a wise one. This is still the easiest TV interface to navigate, and loading or switching between streaming apps was lightning-fast. Roku updates its TV software regularly to add new features or boost performance, but we can’t see anyone being dissatisfied with how well this TV feels during regular use. Even turning the TV on and off feels surprisingly fluid, which was one of our biggest surprises.

We used the 6-Series TV connected to a 300Mbps Wi-Fi network and could stream 4K video with no signs of buffering. TCL did build an Ethernet port in this TV, which is a good fallback if your Wi-Fi is spotty or you prefer a wired internet connection. On a related note, this TV is packed with ports, including four HDMI ports (two 2.0, two 2.1), a coaxial input, a USB-A port, an A/V in jack, a headphone jack, and an optical audio output. You’ll be able to easily connect this TV to any game console or audio receiver with no problems.

The addition of multiple HDMI 2.1 ports is especially welcome for gamers, who can take full advantage of the added bandwidth to play cutting-edge games in 4K at 120fps (frames per second). The TV can keep up with all the action without any lag, which is particularly important when playing fast-paced games like first-person shooters online. There’s a level of fluidity and overall video performance we wouldn’t expect from a TV in this price range. If you’re not dead set on getting an OLED—which admittedly would have even better contrast and color reproduction but runs the risk of burn-in over time—TCL’s 6-series is the Smart TV to get.

Best Smart lightbulb: Philips Hue White and Color Starter Kit

Why it made the cut: Even with increased competition Philips’ Hue Starter Kit is still the best Smart lighting bundle to get.

• Brightness: 800 lumens
• Power usage: 9.5 Watts
• Color temperature: 16 million colors, including 6500K
• Lifetime: 25,000 hours
• Voice activation
• Smart Button for additional control
• Expandability
• Schedule custom lighting presets

Philips virtually invented Smart lighting, and its starter kit is still the package we recommend to people beginning their Smart home journey. The bundle has three Smart lightbulbs, a hub connecting them to the internet, and an on-and-off button. Setting up Hue’s bulbs is very easy, thanks to Phillips’ well-designed iOS and Android app. Adding bulbs to your system only takes a couple of minutes and requires you to either scan a QR code at the base of the bulb or entering in a unique alphanumerical code printed underneath it. In our experience, jotting down the alphanumerical code before installing the lightbulbs is the easiest way to get things going. You’ll also need to connect the included Philips Hue hub to your cable modem with an Ethernet cable. This is slightly annoying, but it’s what allows these lightbulbs to be compatible with Apple’s HomeKit, and makes them more stable overall.

Once they’re connected, you can control the lightbulbs in several ways. Many people will use the Philips Hue app, which allows you to set each bulb’s brightness and color individually. You can also select from an image that will use multiple bulbs to recreate a particular lighting condition—a sunset or sunrise, for example. For those living in a home with someone slightly less enthusiastic about Smart home gear, you can sync the bulbs to the included wireless power switch. We wish the switch offered dimming controls, but this is a minor inconvenience. One of the most overlooked features of Philips Hue bulbs is the ability to put them on a timer. Knowing your lights will automatically turn on at sunset or slowly get brighter in the morning to wake you up can be both cool and useful. You also have the option to turn the lights on and off remotely, so they can turn on just before you return home after work or a night out.

The Smart lighting world has exploded in popularity over the past couple of years, and while these options have brought down, none of the bulbs we’ve tried can match the performance of Philips Hue’s. Including other accessories that make them more user-friendly for non-techie folks is icing on the cake. For more recommendations, check out our full guide to the best Smart light bulbs.

What to consider when buying the best Smart home devices

The truth is every Smart home device requires you to consider a different set of factors, but there are some universal ones that you should think about regardless of their category. Our main FOCUS was to choose products that support a wide range of platforms, so those whose alliances with Google or Amazon’s Smart home speakers won’t be left in the dark if they switch from one to another. Apple has lagged in the Smart home device space, despite Siri being 12 years old, because it decided to create its own Smart home accessory standard, but that’s beginning to change.

Smart home platform

If you’ve searched for Smart home devices in the past, you’ve likely run into badges denoting whether they work with Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa. You may also have noticed a badge touting support for Apple’s Homekit. These markings will likely go away once Matter takes over—more on that later—but they’re important to consider now. All Smart home devices have allowed you to control them through an app on your iPhone or Android device, but only some were designed to work with a specific Smart speaker. If you’ve spent hundreds of dollars outfitting your home with Echo or Nest Audio speakers, be sure that the devices you get support them, or you’ll be relegated to opening up a smartphone app to control them.

Matter support

It’s taken a long time to get here, but the Matter protocol—a new Smart home standard developed and agreed upon by companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Smart home device manufacturers—is set to change how we use these gadgets completely. Smart home devices that support Matter will be interoperable with every major platform, so homes with an Echo, Nest Audio, and HomePod speaker can control them seamlessly without a whole bunch of reconfiguration. Some existing Smart home devices can receive Matter support via a software update, but each one has to be certified by a consortium for that to happen. Going forward, Matter will become the industry standard, but we’re not there quite yet.

How to set up a Wi-Fi network for your Smart home

A strong Wi-Fi network is the foundation of your Smart home. Without Wi-Fi, your Smart home devices will not be able to connect to the internet. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) has likely given you a cable modem with a router built into it. If your Wi-Fi speeds are sufficient, and it creates a network that covers your entire home, you’re all set. If your network strength is weak, or you’re having trouble connecting in every corner of your home, it may be time to upgrade to a stronger router. You may also want to look into a mesh Wi-Fi system, which is comprised of multiple routers that connect to one another to create a larger network.

Whether you use a single-point or mesh Wi-Fi router system, we recommend setting up your networking gear in a central location because it’ll give you the best chance of reaching every part of your home. You can check the strength of your Wi-Fi network by walking around different parts of your home and using the Speedtest.net’s free tool. The site allows you to check the speed of your Wi-Fi, which you can check against the speeds you’re paying for from your ISP.

How to add Smart home devices to your Wi-Fi network

Every Smart home device has a slightly different setup process, but they’re mostly the same. You’ll begin by downloading the app associated with your device and setting up an account. You can save time by setting up an account before your Smart home device arrives if you’ve ordered it online. From there, the app will use Bluetooth to scan for your new Smart home device and eventually ask you to connect it to your home’s Wi-Fi network. The app will ask for your Wi-Fi password to connect, so be sure to have it handy.

Once the Smart home device has been set up, you may have the opportunity to name it, so it’s easier to find. This is particularly important when setting up Smart lightbulbs and Smart plugs since it’s likely you’ll have several of them in your home at once. You may also have the option to add them to a centralized Smart home app like Apple’s Home or Google Home, where you can manage devices from different companies in one place. These centralized apps allow you to create virtual rooms so that you can manage all of the devices inside that area of your home.

The work these Smart home apps do behind the scenes is pretty sophisticated, but the setup process for most devices is pretty simple. If you already have their associated app downloaded, you should be able to set up a new device in five minutes or so. Just be mindful that some devices may download a software update the first time they’re booted, which can extend the setup time by a few minutes. Henceforth, software updates can be set to download and install in the background to avoid interrupting your service.

FAQs

Q: What’s the best way to connect Smart devices at home?

You’ll need to use a smartphone app to set up your Smart devices, and that’s still the easiest and best way to connect to them. It’s also how you’ll troubleshoot issues if they arise.

Q: Can I save money by using Smart home devices?

This depends on the Smart home device. A Smart thermostat may be able to reduce your energy bill by controlling your HVAC system more efficiently, but a Smart home speaker will not.

Q: Which companies make the best Smart home devices?

All hardware manufacturers featured in this guide—such as Philips Hue, TCL, and Bowers Wilkins—make top-notch Smart home devices.

Q: Do I need the internet for my Smart home devices to work?

You’ll need an internet connection for a Smart home device’s Smart functionality, like the ability to control it remotely. basic functionality, like turning a Smart lightbulb on by flipping a switch, will work if the internet is down.

Q: Are Smart home devices worth it?

Yes. Most devices released today are Smart, and the ability to control them using a smartphone or speaker can make them easier to operate and manage.

Q: How much do Smart home devices cost?

This depends on the category of Smart home device you’re searching for. A Smart TV can cost hundreds of dollars, while Smart lightbulbs can cost under 100.

Final thoughts on the best Smart home devices

Getting your first Smart home device can be a very exciting experience. It can make an appreciable difference in how easy it is to control parts of your place that are annoying to access physically. They can save you time and help you optimize the space you have to work with, too. Smartphone apps and Smart home speakers have become more sophisticated, too, so setting up and using a Smart home device has become easier than ever. If you’ve put off setting up a Smart home until now, you’re entering a mature part of the tech world whose biggest kinks have been largely worked out.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

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Best Smart Home Hubs of 2023

We studied user reviews and compared products in hands-on tests to bring you the best Smart home hubs.

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.

When you’re shopping for a Smart hub, one of the most important questions is, Will it work with my Smart home devices? The Aeotec Smart Home Hub earns our top pick because, more often than not, the answer to that question was yes with this hub. It works with Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

In addition to excellent compatibility, Aeotec’s hub uses some of our favorite software, Samsung SmartThings, which offers more options for automating your devices than rivals. Find out how it compares to the competition in our full breakdown of the best Smart hubs.

Compare the best Smart home hubs

Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

Best Smart hubs reviews

Aeotec Smart Home Hub: Best overall

Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

The Aeotec Smart Home Hub is a full-fledged Samsung SmartThings hub boasting some of the best Smart home compatibility. It works with practically everything: Alexa, Google†, IFTTT, and Zigbee. Plus, it’s the only hub in our top five list that works with Z-Wave—vastly increasing the number of devices you can control. Still, there’s no Apple HomeKit support.

The Aeotec hub works best when paired with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can link these platforms to every Smart device on your SmartThings system—even devices they don’t normally work with, like Z-Wave Smart locks and thermostats. You can also create powerful automation routines through SmartThings—for all of your devices. The SmartThings app manages all your IoT devices in one place, so you can create routines and scenes for specific times, like when you first wake up in the morning or when you leave the house. While setting up a Smart home routine in the app takes practice to prevent tasks from canceling each other out, it’s more customizable than anything Amazon or Google offers. (We use SmartThings to make up for Google’s lackluster automation tools.) SmartThings scans for your devices’ signals on its own—unlike other Smart home hubs that require you to scan in the QR codes from all your devices. It might even discover Smart products you didn’t even know you had. Overall, the Aeotec Smart Home Hub and SmartThings app are a better foundation for expanding your Smart home than any other hub; we recommend it for folks with a few Smart devices already. Still, the sheer number of customization options can be overwhelming for beginners, especially since Aeotec’s pricier than most other hubs. Read our full Samsung SmartThings review.

Samsung SmartThings doesn’t make its own hubs anymore. Instead, it relies on certified partners like Aeotec to handle the hardware. It now focuses on expanding SmartThings into a Smart home software platform. This means it doesn’t always need a hub to work with Wi-Fi Smart devices like Ecobee thermostats and Sengled smartbulbs.

Amazon Echo Dot (Gen 4): Best budget

Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is a lot less expensive than traditional hubs and still performs many of the same functions, like giving you Alexa integration and voice control for your Smart home devices. At 50, it’s one of the best ways to dip your toes into Smart home automation. (It’s also one of the cheapest ways to put a Smart speaker in every room.)

It costs half as much as the main Echo, so you can expect lower sound quality and no built-in Zigbee controls. But the Alexa voice assistant still answers your questions, plays your music, and gives you access to thousands of other skills and Alexa-compatible devices. The best thing about Amazon Alexa is its massive list of compatible devices—including Amazon-owned brands like Ring and Blink. It’s more common to see a Smart home device support Alexa than Google Assistant (though many support both). Oddly enough, Alexa doesn’t require an Echo to control devices since you can use the Alexa app too. But we like the hands-free voice controls on Smart speakers too much to give them up. We love that the Echo Dot also works like a home intercom system with other Echo devices in your house. And if you don’t want your Smart home hub to look like an alien spaceship landed in the middle of your home, you’ll appreciate the variety of Echo Dot colors. Overall, the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is an affordable way for beginners to try out the Smart home lifestyle. It’s a great choice for your first Smart home device since you can use it for more tasks than controlling other devices. Learn more in our Ultimate Guide to Amazon Alexa.

The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) (about 100) is worth the upgrade in almost every way. Its speakers and mini woofer offer better sound performance overall. The built-in Zigbee radio means you can use it with more Smart devices overall. Still, it’s more for folks who already use an Echo Dot and want to expand their Smart home options.

Google Nest Hub (Gen 2): Best Smart display

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

The Google Nest Hub (Gen 2) is our pick for the best Smart home hub with a Smart display. It’s not too expensive and has more features than similarly priced Amazon Echo Show models. We’re big fans of the clean, simple user interface and how many video streaming services it supports.

We like that there are so many ways to control your Smart devices, like the 7-inch touchscreen display and voice commands. This makes it easy to watch videos, listen to music, and search for info on the web. There’s even a built-in Soli radar chip that offers sleep-tracking in your bedroom—though Google plans to require a subscription for this soon. This Smart display comes with Google Assistant voice controls, which are a little bit better at recognizing a voice command than Alexa. We like the option for follow-up questions, like asking, When does it open? after asking where the nearest bakery is. The Google Home app is easy to use, and we love that it puts all of your devices on one screen for easy access. Still, Google isn’t compatible with nearly as many devices as Alexa. Sadly, it doesn’t have an option for creating Smart home routines based on device status like motion sensors or leak detectors. While the Nest Hub comes with a built-in Thread radio, it doesn’t work yet. Thread works like an improved version of Zigbee that’s faster. Other than the small number of Thread devices for sale, we’re not sure why Google doesn’t use the radio yet, but it would be nice to have more device options with Google Smart homes. Overall, the Google Nest Hub (Gen 2) is a great option if you want touchscreen controls and an easy way to watch videos. That doesn’t mean the Echo Show series of displays isn’t worth buying (especially if Alexa’s your platform of choice), but we think Google’s Smart displays provide a better experience overall. Learn more in our Ultimate Guide to Google Assistant.

The Google Nest Mini (about 50) is a solid alternative to the Echo Dot for folks who don’t need a Smart display.

Enter the Smart home of the future, one that works a little harder for you

The Smart home has been the stuff of imagination for centuries. But not to Marja Koopmans and her team at Amazon, who have already built one.

Marja Koopmans’ home has graced her Seattle street for more than 100 years, dating back to when lumber, coal, and shipyards, rather than software, were powering the local economy. But her house is no museum. Walk inside and it feels like the future—a future you can live in today.

As the Director of Health and Smart Home at Amazon, it’s no surprise Koopmans lives in a Smart home, a place where devices as different as plugs, lights, vacuum cleaners, thermostats, and TV sets talk to each other, perform tasks and chores, and make life easier and more efficient for their owners. The Smart home is a home that works for you, said Koopmans, who spends her days at Amazon assembling the building blocks for the future of the Smart home. That’s the bottom line for me.

And work it does. Lights turn on when Koopmans and her family wake up and turn off when they tuck in, a fan drawing power from a Smart plug whirs to life in time for her yoga routine, a Ring camera keeps an eye on an aging pet bunny, and Koopmans talks to her TV when she wants to watch a new episode of The Rings of Power. When the Koopmans depart, Smart locks secure the house, and a robot vacuum roams the place, picking up hair their black lab shed on the blonde slats of the wooden floor.

The systems and devices all work together by Alexa, the AI voice assistant developed by Amazon; Echo, the company’s Smart speaker; and eero, its wireless mesh Wi-Fi technology.

Alexa is also the lifeblood fueling the growth of ambient intelligence, the concept that technology is working for you when you need it, but recedes into the background when you don’t, Koopmans says. A home is like a device with many different devices inside. What we’re doing now is we’re stitching that all together so technology can do things for you without you having to tell it. It will sense; it will have a hunch that everybody’s gone to bed, so let’s turn off the lights. Or Alexa will have a hunch that I’ve left home and start the vacuum so I can come home to a clean house.

From Alexa to Astro, Kindle, and more, here are all of the updates and announcements from our annual Devices Services Event.

It may be magical, but it’s not magic

The Smart home brings to mind Arthur C. Clarke’s claim that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. But its building blocks are here today. There are already over 140,000 devices that are compatible with Alexa. than 300 million Smart home devices are now connected to Alexa, and Alexa is used to control Smart home devices hundreds of millions of times each week, according to Amazon’s data.

This week, Amazon announced additions to this bounty at the annual Devices Services fall launch event in Seattle, including a contactless sleep tracker, Halo Rise, and upgrades to Fire TV, Echo Smart speakers, and Astro the home robot, among other technology. Halo Rise, for example, combines a sleep tracker with a Smart alarm and wake-up light. It uses algorithms running in the background to analyze sleep and give users insights to adjust the environment, like lowering the room temperature, to improve sleep quality. The new Fire TV Ambient Experience uses the power of Alexa to enable you to see helpful information, manage your Smart home, listen to or discover new content, and view artwork or family photos on your Fire TV. The biggest lineup of new eero products, features, and services ever, also announced at the launch event, reinforces that fast, reliable Wi-Fi is at the heart of any Smart home.

A perpetual beta user

Koopmans said many new homeowners have come to expect a home that is Smart like hers. The bar is being set, and the Smart home is the expectation now, she said. I’ve got a century-old home, and slowly but surely, we’re getting there too.

That is an understatement. Koopmans, Amazon’s Smart home leader, calls herself a perpetual beta user. She has turned her house into a Smart home lab, where she uses many of the latest Amazon prototypes. I believe that’s the only way you can really understand your customer, Koopmans said. I can’t talk about a product if I haven’t experienced it. I want to go through it. I want to help our product and engineering teams do better for customers, because we always can. She encourages her team members to do the same.

One such prototype Koopmans once tested was the Amazon Smart Plug. Now available for sale, the Alexa-linked plug allows users to control lights and devices with their voice, turn them on and off automatically, or manage them remotely when they are away. When I come downstairs in December, when the Christmas tree is up, I tell Alexa ‘good morning’ and the tree lights turn on, Koopmans said. It’s just such a delightful moment. I don’t have to crawl behind the tree and switch it on. Those are the little moments we look for that we want to bottle up and share with our customers.

Supercharging the Smart home with expanded selection

When Koopmans climbed aboard at Amazon seven years ago, she joined a team building on the company’s voice technology and blazing the trail to the Smart home. When we started with Alexa and Echo, people were playing around with it and said, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to turn off your lights with your voice? she recalls. That was a huge milestone.

The feedback from customers was positive, and the Smart home team started looking for new opportunities and imagining what else customers could do with voice in their homes. When you start a project at Amazon, you look at the signals coming in, and customers were loving it, Koopmans said. The acceleration that was happening, the sales that were exploding with new products coming in—the technology was just ready for the Smart home. That’s when it really started taking off.

The signal was so strong, in fact, Amazon engineers realized they had to bring in partners and scale quickly—after all, selection is a core element of Amazon’s customer FOCUS. They opened up their Smart home technology, enabling device makers to build using protocols that work for their businesses. This attracted numerous companies and brands to create and build Alexa-compatible devices. And for those developers who don’t want to build all of the tech themselves, Amazon also built the Alexa Connect Kit help them get to market quickly.

Amazon also helped to found Matter, the Smart home standard in development that aims to make Smart home devices of all kinds work together, whether they’re in an Alexa Smart home or not. If we were controlling and building our own Smart home products only, I think we would not be able to deliver on the promise of Smart home in the way we do now, Koopmans said. It’s not an easy job, stitching together all these different experiences with all these different devices and brands, but we think that’s best for customers, and that’s why we do the hard work. We provide more value to customers faster versus going at it alone.

The idea that enabling partners and developers to build with Alexa could improve the customer experience was no illusion, according to Mariana Zamoszczyk, principal analyst for Smart Home Services at the research firm Omdia. She said that the diversity of partners and products is the foundation of the positive impacts that Smart home devices have in people’s lives.

All the innovation and building has supercharged the Smart home. The Smart devices connected to Alexa now include a Smart shower users can control with their voice, Smart dumbbells, Smart ovens and fridges, Smart security systems, and many other technologies. Amazon is testing them in its Smart Home Lab, an airy and bright loft atop its Day 1 skyscraper in Seattle.

What is a Smart home and what are the benefits?

A Smart home means your home has a Smart home system that connects with your appliances to automate specific tasks and is typically remotely controlled. You can use a Smart home system to program your sprinklers, set and monitor your home security system and cameras, or control appliances like your refrigerator or air conditioning and heating.

At Constellation we love how energy-efficient Smart homes are, because they save you precious time and money while also conserving energy!

What are the benefits of a Smart home?

Many Americans are looking into Smart homes ideas, how Smart homes work, or specific task automation for benefits like these:

• Smart homes allow you to have greater control of your energy use, all while automating things like adjusting temperature, turning on and off lights, opening and closing window treatments, and adjusting irrigation based on the weather.
• Smart homes provide insights into energy use that can help you become more energy efficient and mindful of ecological factors.
• Smart homes can pinpoint areas where you’re using more energy than you need to, allowing you to cut back in those areas and save money.

And while it might sound like just another passing fad to some, the Smart home—like the smartphone—is here to stay. With over 80 million Smart home devices delivered worldwide in 2016, some predict that number will grow to over 130 million Smart home devices by the end of 2017.

Are Smart home devices energy efficient?

Smart home devices are not always energy efficient, but most can be utilized in ways that help you conserve energy. When you have Smart home appliances, lights, or a Smart thermostat, you control when and how these will turn on and function. Therefore, you have more control over your energy usage and are more likely to change your energy consumption habits.

How do Smart homes work?

When Smart homes first became an option, the answer was a bit hazy. But as bigger players join the industry, they’re making it easier for consumers to understand and acquire the technologies needed to get started.

What you need to turn your regular home into a Smart home are 1) a Wi-Fi connection, 2) Smart home appliances (or Smart home devices) and 3) a Smart home system to connect, monitor, and control these devices.

What is a Smart device?

A Smart device is any electronic device that can be connected to your Smart home system, that can interact with other devices, and that can make some decisions on its own. Televisions, stoves, alarm systems, doorbells, garage doors and stereos are examples of Smart devices. Smart devices can be bought separately and over time, making it easy to slowly transform your house into a Smart home.

What is a Smart home system?

The Smart home system is the “hub,” so to speak, of your Smart home. Either through a wall-mounted unit or software accessible via the Internet, a Smart home system gathers unique information from each of your Smart devices or appliances and allows you to control all your devices in one place. Because the Smart home market is still emerging, there are several different options for Smart home systems or home automation hubs, most of which are only compatible with specific other systems—so be sure to confirm compatibility before purchasing.

How do you make your home a Smart home?

The short answer is either “all at once” or “one step at a time.” Still, there are a few things everyone will have to do in order to get ready for their new-and-improved home appliances and Smart devices.

• Upgrade your Wi-Fi. Since all Smart home devices use the Internet to communicate, you’ll want to make sure you have Wi-Fi strong enough to handle information sharing. For larger homes, you may want to even consider getting multiple routers.
• Do your research. There are so many Smart systems and Smart home devices available that it’s a Smart idea—pun intended—to familiarize yourself with a few different options before settling on one.
• Identify your needs. Figure out exactly what you’re looking for from a Smart home, and then pick the areas you want to start addressing right now. From there, it’s a cinch to pull from your research the Smart home system and Smart devices and appliances that will meet your needs. There’s nothing worse than buying a fancy new gadget only to have it gathering dust in a corner a few weeks later because it’s not really something you need right nowespecially a costly one!

What are some Smart home ideas?

If you’re looking around your house wondering what regular devices you have now that can be turned into a Smart device, it’s better to ask “What can’t be turned into a Smart device?” If it can be plugged in, chances are there’s a company out there making a Smart version of it. To get you started, here’s a short list of Smart home ideas that we here at Constellation really love:

• Keep your home safe with Smart locks. Replace your current front-door lock with a Smart lock to lock and unlock your door remotely, check to make sure you locked the door after you’ve already left, and keep a record of who has come and gone.
• Monitor your home with Smart security alerts. A multitude of Smart home devices can alert you to safety or security issues remotely. Get alerts no matter where you are for leaks, for leaving the garage door open, for smoke, for when someone rings your doorbell, or for if you left something plugged in that really should have been turned off before you left the house.
• Manage your home temperature and save energy with a Smart thermostat. A Smart thermostat can learn your habits and automatically adjust the temperature based on your unique schedule. It also lets you manually and remotely adjust temperatures through an app.
• Delegate tasks through a Smart assistant. A virtual assistant—think Google Home or Amazon Echo—allows you to use voice commands to do things such as turn on music, search the Web and control your household Smart devices.
• Streamline your chores with Smart appliances. Smart TVs, dishwashers, refrigerators, and washers and dryers all allow remote access and control, and can alert you to information that’s relevant to each appliance. For example, your washing machine can detect when energy consumption is the lowest in your area and turn on during that time, or your refrigerator can scan your groceries, letting you know when the eggs are about to expire or how much milk you have left!
• Control your home lighting with Smart light bulbs. Smart lights allow you to control the lighting in every room of your house from your mobile device. Did your seven-year-old forget to turn off the lights in the kitchen? You can do it on the way to school right from your phone. Or configure your lights to turn on and off at set times, and never worry again if someone forgot to turn off the lights before you leave for the day.
• Get the best of both worlds with a Smart and sustainable home. For example, installing an electric car charging station in your garage allows you to upgrade your home and also lean into a more sustainable lifestyle!

The new world of Smart home technology is an exciting one, and the possibilities and combinations are becoming endless. As the Smart home industry continues to grow, so will the offerings available and their impact on your daily life.