The 7 Best Smart Home Devices to Upgrade Your Home in 2022

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Courtesy of Retailer

THE WHOLE world is getting connected, and that includes just about everything in your home. You can find “smart” versions of refrigerators, washers, toaster ovens, security lights, doorbells, dog dishes, and TVs. Some (like security systems, TVs, and nannycams) are legitimately useful, while others (bidets and cat litter boxes) are questionable. But, no matter what type of product you’re shopping for, there’s a lot to consider and a lot of techno-speak to wade through.

For most people—especially non-techies—their first foray into smart home-ing is to buy a video doorbell. If you’re new to smart home products, that’s a good and useful place to start. As you build and customize your own smart home, you’ll want to consider a smart home hub and learn about the devices that are and aren’t compatible with each ecosystem (Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung SmartThings, etc.). Intrigued but not sure where to start? We’ve got your back. Below are seven of the best smart home devices—based on usefulness, price, ease of setup, and compatibility—that we recommend for anyone ready to take the smart home plunge

Best Smart Video Doorbell

Ring Video Doorbell 4
Ring

Best Smart Home Security System

9-Piece Wireless Home Security System w/HD Camera
SimpliSafe

Best Smart Home Speaker

Echo Studio Smart Speaker
Amazon

Best Smart Home Lock

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Generation)
August Home

Best Smart Alarm Clock

Loftie Bluetooth Smart Alarm Clock
Loftie

Best Smart Vacuum

Roomba i3 EVO (3150) Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum
iRobot

Best Smart Home Lights

Lines WiFi Smart LED Wall Lights Starter Kit
Nanoleaf

Best Smart Video Doorbell

Ring

Ring Video Doorbell 4

Smart home compatibility
Amazon Alexa
Connectivity
802.11 a/b/g/n wifi connection @ 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Video quality
1080p HD with night vision
Camera Field of view
160° horizontal, 84° vertical
Power
Battery or hardwired

Best Smart Home Security System

SimpliSafe

9-Piece Wireless Home Security System w/HD Camera

Smart home compatibility
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit
Connectivity
802.11 a/b/g/n wifi connection @ 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Video quality
HD with night vision
Camera Field of view
120° horizontal
Power
Hardwired with a backup battery

Best Smart Home Speaker

Amazon

Echo Studio Smart Speaker

Smart home compatibility
Amazon Alexa
Connectivity
Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks
Audio power
Peak output 330W
Audio quality
24-bit DAC; 100 kHz bandwidth
Power
Corded electric

Best Smart Home Lock

August Home

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Generation)

Smart home compatibility
Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings
Connectivity
Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks
Power
Battery

Best Smart Alarm Clock

Loftie

Loftie Bluetooth Smart Alarm Clock

Smart home compatibility
None
Connectivity
2.4Ghz wireless only
Power
Corded electric with backup battery

Best Smart Vacuum

iRobot

Roomba i3 EVO (3150) Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum

Smart home compatibility
Out of more than 9,300 Amazon reviews, 84% recommend the iRobot Roomba i3 EVO Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum with at least a 4-star rating.
Connectivity
Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks
Power
Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery

Best Smart Home Lights

Nanoleaf

Lines WiFi Smart LED Wall Lights Starter Kit

Smart home compatibility
Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings
Connectivity
WiFi (2.4GHz b/g/n)
Power
Corded electric

How to Shop for the Best Smart Home Devices

There’s a “smart” version of just about any home device you can imagine. From alarm clocks and bedside lamps to dishwashers and robot vacuums, just about every home product in the last decade has an internet-connected version. Finding the best smart home devices—the ones that actually improve your day-to-day living—can be a challenge. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for your own smart home devices, no matter what type of product you’re looking at:

Compatibility: This might be the single most important consideration when shopping for smart home devices. You’ll need to know which, if any, smart home hubs your new device works with. Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit are the three most common and most widely adopted. By building your smart home around one “ecosystem,” you can seamlessly connect your devices to interact with one another.Power source: It might seem minor but having a dual power source could be invaluable, especially for smart home products that you rely on. A decorative wall-mounted light likely doesn’t need a battery backup (a hardwired power source will do). But, for something like a home security system or video doorbell, you’ll likely want multiple ways to keep it running, even if the power goes out.Price: It goes without saying that price is almost always a consideration. Smart home devices are one area where it often pays to spend a little more. No-name products abound. While they might save you money upfront, you could wind up paying more in time, frustration, unnecessary customer service calls, and, ultimately, more money if (when) you decide to buy a better version to replace the first one that didn’t deliver on its promises.

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