Just a couple decades ago, the thought of your home being completely automated was rare and unheard of. But in today’s technology and electronics world, it is now reality. Equipping your home with “Smart” products are popular because they offer convenience and security for you and your family. Smart products can also save you money long term in areas such as gas and electricity.
Early home automation began back in the late 1800s to early 1900s, with washing machines, water heaters, refrigerators, sewing machines, dishwashers and clothes dryers. Today, it goes beyond that with wireless technology and connecting all your appliances and devices together. How and what products can do all that? Keep reading this article to learn more about the latest and trending Smart Home products in the market today and what they can provide for you. You’ll also learn the top Smart Home products brand names, Smart Home products buying guide, security concerns & prevention guide, and Smart Home products FAQs.
PLAN - PRICE Description Echo Plus (2nd Gen) Virtual Assistant Has a built-in Zigbee Hub to easily setup and control all your compatible smart home devices; premium speakers powered by Dolby play 360° audio and streaming music with crisp vocals and dynamic bass response; call or message people hands-free; with 7 microphones, beamforming technology and noise cancellation, Echo Plus hears you from any direction even while music is playing. Google WiFi Mesh Wireless Router A single WiFi point covers up to 1,500 sq. ft, set of 3 covers home up to 4,500 sq. ft; WiFi works together so you can add more for additional coverage; replaces our current router and works your modem & internet services (compatible with Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon Fios and other major providers); network assist technology and simple app keeps your connection fast and lets you see what devices are connected, prioritize devices and family controls to pause kids' devices. Nest Learning Thermostat Choose from 4 different colors to match your walls or home decor; works with Alexa Assist; Farsight technology lights up to show the temp, weather or time on the easy to ready display from across the room; with the easy setup app the Nest thermostat can learn your habits and start to save you money by automatically adjusting the temperature; works well with other Nest products. Ring Video Doorbell Replaces your existing doorbell; lets you see, hear and speak to visitors from your phone, tablet or PC; sends alerts when motion is detected or when visitors press the doorbell; compatible with iOS, android, mac & windows 10 devices; monitors your home in 1080HD video with infrared night vision; check your home anytime with Live View on-demand video; Lifetime Theft Protection - free replacement if doorbell is stolen. iRobot Roomba 960 Vacuum Includes 1 home base charging station, 1 extra high-efficiency filter, 1 extra side brush, 1 dual mode virtual wall barrier; clean and schedule from anywhere with iRobot app; works with Alexa & Google Assists; iAdapt with vSLAM technology allows robot to map your home to clean an entire level and automatically recharges and resumes to complete the entire job; ideal for pet hair, carpets and hard floors; limited product warranty. Denon Home Audio Receiver Leveraging industry leading technology, this stereo receiver delivers exceptional brightness, contrast and color to your TV; 5 amplifiers (150W per channel)driving amazing power & immersive sound across any room; extend the reach of your music to any room in the house to your speakers via WiFi, Airplay or Bluetooth; deliver Hi-Fi audio sound around your home with Pandora, Spotify, Tune In and other channels; full voice control lets you adjust the volume, change tracks or switch inputs hands-free. Lutron Smart Lighting Starter Kit Includes 1 Smart Bridge, 1 Caseta in-wall dimmer with wallplate, 1 Pico remote control; schedule lights simply anywhere from your phone to turn off and on at specific times or at sunrise/sunset; schedules automatically adjust as seasons change and daylight savings time; works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit (Siri); Google Assist, Carrier Cor, Ecobee, Nest, Honeywell, Logitech, Sonos, SmartThings, Serena Shades and more; connect up to 50 devices using the bridge to expand to other rooms.
Our review process:
Smart Products Considered
Hours Researched
Experts & Consumers Surveyed
Smart Home FAQs:
Q: What is a Smart Home?
A: When a home is built with an automation system, it is called a smart home or smart house. A home automation system will control lighting, climate, entertainment systems and appliances. It may also include home security such as access control and alarm systems.
Q: How can a home automation system connect all your devices?
A: Home automation system typically connects controlled devices to a central hub or “gateway”. The user interface for control of the system uses either wall-mounted terminals, tablets, desktop computers, mobile phone applications or a Web interface, that may also be accessible off-site (outside of your home) through the internet. When connected to the internet, home devices can exchange data and connect/interact with each other.
Q: What is the size of the home automation market?
A: The home automation market was worth $5.77 billion USD in 2013. It is predicted to reach a market value of $12.81 billion USD by the year 2020.
Q: How many home automation systems have been installed?
A: According to ABI Research, 1.5 million home automation systems were installed in the year 2012 in the United States alone. At the end of 2018, more than 45 million smart home devices were installed in the United States alone.
Smart Home Brand Names:
There are many competing companies out there today that makes Smart Home products. We have done the research for you and identified these top brand names that manufactures quality Smart Home products:
- Amazon. Known for the Alexa virtual assistant. It is an intelligent personal assistant smart speaker, made popular by the Amazon Echo. When you connect to Alexa, the device can play music, make to-do lists, hands-free phone calling, control your smart home, get information, news, weather and more – all using just your voice. Amazon also has the Echo Show, which features a 7” touchscreen display that can be used to display visual information to accompany its responses, as well as play video and conduct video calls with other Echo Show users.
- Ring. The company started out with the Ring Video Doorbell, which is a smart doorbell device that allows users to monitor and operate their front, back and garage doors remotely. When the doorbell is pressed or if there is motion at the door, the Ring application begins a VOIP video call to a connected device (such as a cell phone), so that the owner can see and speak to visitors. Today, Ring also produces other home security products that incorporates outdoor motion-based cameras and lights. The products are also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
- Nest. The company’s flagship product and first offering is the Nest Learning Thermostat, which is a thermostat that is programmable, self-learning, sensor-driven and WiFi enabled. With the same features, the company now offers its Nest Protect of smoke & carbon monoxide detectors and its Nest Cam branding of indoor & outdoor security cameras. The products are also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
- Google. Besides being the giant internet search engine, the company has expanded into the Smart Home space with Google Home smart speaker and Google WiFi mesh wireless router. The Google Home has 4 various models: Home, Home Mini, Home Max and Home Hub. All devices enable users to speak voice commands to listen to music, control playback of videos or photos, hands-free phone calling, receive news updates, add reminders, calendar appointments and control smart home appliances. In addition, the Home Hub features a 7” touchscreen display that can provide visual feedback for user queries. Google WiFi aims to provide enhanced WiFi coverage through the setup of multiple WiFi devices in a home. WiFi automatically switches between access points depending on signal strength.
- iRobot. This company designs and builds consumer robots for inside and outside of the home, including a range of home vacuum cleaners (Roomba), floor moppers (Braava), and other autonomous cleaning devices.
- Denon. Specializing in world-class home entertainment with wireless HEOS audio streaming system that’s compatible with Amazon Alexa. Fill every room with music or watch a movie with high resolution audio just like the theatres, all connected via Bluetooth or to your WiFi network. With online streaming, you’ll also have access to almost endless sources for music to enjoy on your wireless home stereo system.
- Insteon. The Insteon home automation technology enables light switches, lights, thermostats, leak detectors, remote controls, motion sensors and other electrically powered devices to interoperate through power lines, radio frequency communications or both. The products manufactured by Insteon helps home owners’ control, monitor and automate lights, locks, temperature, and more from anywhere. The products are also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
- Lutron. From light switches, sensors to rolling shades, Lutron offers a wide selection of products for energy saving dimmers and lighting control solutions that are used inside or outside of the home. With the Lutron Bridge, you can control lights, shades, sound and temperature from anywhere so you can always be in touch with your home. The products are also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (Siri) and Google Home.
- LIFX. A line of energy-efficient, multi-color, WiFi enabled LED light bulbs that can be controlled via a WiFi equipped device such as a smartphone or smartwatch. With a light for every occasion, LIFX WiFi LED Smart Lights lets you create unique experiences, light up rooms and even add accents to your favorite furniture. You can control and automate your lights with the LIFX app, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (Siri), Google Home, and other leading smart home technologies.
- August. This home automation company focuses on WiFi connected door locks and doorbell cameras. Their product line includes Smart Locks, Smart Keypads, Doorbell Cam Pro and Connect WiFi Bridge. The features let you track activities of whose coming in and out of your door, grant unlimited digital keys valid for times you specify and get status updates of your door or if your door is securely closed and locked. You are always in total control of your front door, no matter where you are, right from your phone. The products are also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (Siri) and Google Home. As an added feature, vacation rentals such as HomeAway & VRBO and Airbnb has hosting platforms that work well with August to completely automate the check-in and check-out process for your vacation or holiday trips.
- SmartThings. Samsung Electronics being the parent company, SmartThings primary products include a free SmartThings app, a SmartThings Hub (sometimes called a “gateway” or “home controller”), as well as various sensors and smart devices. The SmartThings native mobile app allows users to control, automate and monitor their home environment via a mobile device. The app is configured to fit each user’s needs and facilitates the process of adding new or multiple devices all at once or one device at a time. The hub connects directly to a home’s internet router and serves to connect sensors and devices to one another and to the cloud, allowing them to communicate with the SmartThings native app. The following devices are compatible with SmartThings: motion/presence/moisture sensors, locks, electrical outlets, garage door openers, speakers and thermostats.
- Leviton. Manufacturing in wiring equipment, this company produces electrical light sockets, receptacles & outlets, switches, dimmers/lighting control systems, wire, power cables, power cords, wall & ceiling occupancy sensors, wall plates, datacom and other electrical products. Leviton is most famous for its Decora wall switch that replaced the standard toggle light switches in many home and offices, but they are also known for its entertainment audio systems.
Smart Home Products Buying Guide:
Whether you want to create a warm house before you arrive, establish an automated entertainment system, or grant access to your home all from your phone, this guide will help you find the products and services that are right for you in automating your home.
- Security Systems. Surveillance and monitors not only keep a watchful eye on your home, it can also offer a simple solution for checking on pets or loved ones from your phone or laptop. Before you start shopping for cameras and security systems, first consider your space and needs. If you’re looking for a basic monitor for kids or pets, you can find a stand-alone camera or video monitors that features wireless connectivity and remote access. Built-in microphones and sensors send you photo notices when movement is detected, and your footage is conveniently stored in the cloud.If you’re interested in home security that goes beyond the standard surveillance camera, an all-in-one security system might be right for you. Systems like the Ring Doorbell enable you to stream real-time video of your home on your phone and receive alerts when activity is detected, plus it’s equipped with a video call, so you can speak to the person at the door or turn on a siren sound to deter intruders in the event of a break-in or burglary. You can also equip your front door with a Smart Lock that connects your front door to your phone so you can monitor the activities of your door, grant access to your home without being present or swipe your phone to lock or unlock your door. Smart sensors, such as SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor, send you notifications if a door or window is opened even while you’re away.To equip large homes or those with a lot of valuable assets, a hardwired system including cameras that provide higher quality images, greater ranges and wider viewing angles may be most suitable. Larger hard drives allow you to store more high-quality footage from multiple cameras and angles. Durable design allows for indoor and outdoor use, day or night, rain or shine. Most cameras have built-in night vision and a compatible app that lets you stream live video or play back recorded footage remotely from your phone or tablet. Make sure that the included software is compatible with your operating system.
- Thermostats. Most people have felt the dread of opening a pricey electricity or gas bill because of maintaining optimal temperatures in an empty home. Even with timers, any time you arrive home earlier than expected, you’re in for an uncomfortably hot or cold welcome. Smart thermostats solve these issues with easy access from your smartphone and more intuitive programming. When buying an automated thermostat, you want to keep an eye out for additional features including access from your phone or computer, easy installation, voice control and monthly reports tracking your usage. Sensors and algorithms keep track of your schedule so that comfortable temperatures are maintained when you’re home and energy consumption is reduced when you’re not. Real-time reports and scheduled stat updates allow you to view your usage history. This means more comfort and less waste. Just like with smart lighting, your energy providers may provide credits or rebates for upgrading to a smart thermostat.
- Light Controls. Smart lighting gives you the flexibility to change the color, hue, brightness and ambiance of your lighting in any room to suite your mood or individual preferences. You can even save particular settings to re-use again and again. In addition, remote phone access, sensors and timers can all help to reduce energy consumption and save you money month over month. Many systems include LED bulbs for more efficient, longer-lasting lighting. You can use products like the Phillips Hue A-19 Starter Kit (that includes white & multi-colored LED bulbs) to set automatic on and off schedules throughout your home, ask Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant to turn on the light, or set a timer to gradually increase light intensity to ease you out of sleep. Some lighting systems also use switches and sensors to work with other systems, such as your thermostat. For example, when your thermostat switches to “away mode”, your lights can occasionally turn on and off while you’re away to deter burglars.
- Surround Sound Systems. A wireless multiroom system allows you to access and control all the audio you’ve stored to your home network, plus listen to internet services such as Spotify and iHeartRadio. Most multiroom systems need only a single wireless speaker and your wireless router to get started. But you can expand and add more speakers to customize each room according to the way you listen. Wireless speakers are easy to place on a bookshelf, desk or table, and come in different sizes and designs, with a variety of features. You must first decide how many rooms in your house to include and then choose speakers according to the size of each room – you can start with one speaker in one specific room to test out. There are two factors to think about when choosing speakers. First, choose speakers that give you access to your favorite services, such as Pandora, SiriusXM Radio, Spotify or iHeartRadio. Second, decide if you want WiFi or Bluetooth speakers. Bluetooth speakers are portable and great if you want to travel with it outside your home but audio could be interrupted if you receive calls or text, whereas WiFi speakers stays in your house because it’s connected to your wireless network and has better high sound quality with no interruptions. You can consider the Sonos Wireless Speaker that support both bluetooth and WiFi technologies. Once you’ve chosen the wireless speaker, connect it to your wireless network and then download the free app that came with your speaker to connect and control the speaker on multiple devices, like your smartphone, tablet or computer. Once the speakers are connected, turn on a song and keep listening as you walk through your kitchen, living room, bedroom or even out on your patio. This will help you determine if the sound meets your need with just one speaker or you want to add additional speakers for more of a surround sound throughout your house. You can include new speakers and devices in your multiroom system anytime you want. Here are some ideas and suggestions for expanding your system:
- Place a compact speaker in your bedroom that can double as an alarm.
- Pair two speakers for stereo sound and add a subwoofer for complementary bass. For audio with more depth and detail, add an amplifier.
- To hear music in more corners of your home, add adapters and extenders.
- If you want to improve your TV audio at the same time, add a sound bar to your system. Sound bars can make dialogue easier to understand, level out shifts in volume, and play streaming sound along with the rest of your audio system. Some brands even let you designate speakers to a specific rear channel when used with their sound bars, to simulate surround sound.
- If you prefer not to have so many speakers and other audio devices lying around and want a cleaner look, you can install architectural speakers that go into your wall or ceiling. Then connect your architectural speakers and TV to just one audio video receiver, that has amplifiers built-in and WiFi & bluetooth technologies, to create a home theatre surround sound and music streaming system throughout your house.
- Leak & Smoke Detectors. Smart alarms, such as Nest Protect, provide you with smartphone alerts if smoke or carbon monoxide is detected in your home even while you’re away. When selecting a smoke detector, you want to look for one that detects both smoke and carbon monoxide because in certain states or building/dwelling codes may require you to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home and one that detects both eliminates you from having to install 2 separate detectors. Leak detectors protect your home from water or flood damage. Simply place the water leak sensor near a potential water leak and avoid one of the most common home insurance claims that results in homeowners suffering millions of dollars in losses every year. The Insteon Water Leak Sensor is perfect for sinks, toilets, water heaters, dish washers, washing machines, refrigerators and water softeners.
- Make It All Work Together. Integrated ecosystem allows the different smart home devices and elements of your home to interact. A Hub is required to centralize and coordinate tasks. With a Hub you can create a multifunction scene, such as setting your home to “away mode” with a touch of a button – when leaving, your thermostat turns down, lights turn off, doors lock and the garage door closes. When choosing a Hub, you want to make sure it is compatible with the brand names and requirements of all your smart home devices.
Security Concerns & Prevention Guide:
With every additional device you bring into your home comes a greater risk of it being hacked. Make sure you tighten up on safety measures as much as possible. You can partner with a trusted home-security company that offers reliable technology and add your own layer of security by using network firewalls, strong passwords and reliable installations to protect yourself from home cyberattacks. Here are some other security concerns to look out for and easy methods to help prevent intruders from gaining access to your smart home devices.
- Signal Interception. WiFi and bluetooth devices use wireless signals to communicate. Hackers with the right tools can easily tap into these signals. If the transmission through your network is not encrypted, hackers can use them to take control of your system.
- How to avoid it: Choose a home security system that emphasizes encryption. No matter what the method may be, any data sent should be secured to avoid interception. You should also invest in a recognized name brand home security system with good customer reviews.
- Software Loopholes. Many smart devices open up their apps’ design elements to developers. This allows users the access to customize apps to more extensive functionalities and allows third-party app developers to make and sell other compatible apps. However, this convenience does have its drawbacks because it creates the perfect environment for easily breached loopholes with small design flaws in the apps’ codes that can allow too much access.
- How to avoid it: When purchasing smart devices, look for a model that regulates third-party access. You also want to keep up with any software or firmware updates released by the device manufacturers as those should help patch any gaping holes in the codes. By registering your smart device with the manufacturer, you can be notified of any software upgrades and required updates.
- Password Cracking. A weak password is an open invitation for unauthorized access and hackers are always eager to RSVP. Once a thief cracks a device’s passcode, he or she can potentially take complete control of the device.
- How to avoid it: A strong password should always be your first line of defense both on the smart device itself and on your own WiFi network. You can make a strong, unpredictable password by setting a minimum length of 15 characters, including numerals, punctuations and capital letters, using a non-dictionary word and avoiding simple substitutions such as “3” for “e”. If possible, consider checking the history log to double-check who has accessed your device.
- Malware Attacks. Since smart home devices connect to the internet, they are vulnerable to some of the pieces of malware drifting across the web. Hackers use malware to attack thousands of devices connected to the internet with a flood of traffic that consist of massive amounts of useless and confusing data requests. This can cause a widespread internet outage which makes it hard for users to reach major sites and use devices, while hackers try to get into the system on the backend.
- How to avoid it: Since smart devices have internal settings that are difficult to change, experts are still discussing how to best regulate security protocols. However, you can lower the odds of a breach by following best practices such as installing a firewall on your home network and updating a device’s default network names. You may also want to consider devices, such as BitDefender Box or Norton Core, designed to protect smart devices.
- Physical Tampering. Even the most high-tech devices today can still have physical weaknesses. If the device can easily be moved or reset, it can act as gateways into private digital information.
- How to avoid it: You should invest in products that can’t be moved or detached without some effort, especially for products that are placed outdoors such as security cameras or doorbells. Consider a professional installation if you don’t trust your own setup skills and make sure to keep the firmware updated.