The Best Smart Home Devices For 2022

When it comes to building a smart home, you have hundreds of great options at your disposal. From smart lamps and screens to kitchen appliances and video doorbells, these devices make it easy to automate your life and organize your schedule.

However, some smart home devices are better than others, and figuring out which ones are worth your time (and money) is no easy task. Whether you need help setting up your home or your next big purchase, here are the best smart home gadgets to buy in 2022.

Just starting your smart home journey? Check out our guide for tips and tricks on setting up your smart home before you get started.

voice assistant

The first thing you'll want to get is a virtual assistant that will help you control your smart devices with your voice. You can choose an audio-only smart speaker, or you can choose a smart touchscreen that allows you to visually interact with your assistant.

Amazon Echo is Amazon's smart speaker with Alexa, Amazon's virtual assistant. Echo 4th Gen offers excellent sound quality, so you can hear your playlist clearly from music streaming services like Amazon Music, Apple Music or iHeart Radio. The redesigned Echo 4 retails for $100 and is available in Charcoal, Twilight Blue, and Glacier White. Amazon's latest smart speaker also works as a Zigbee hub, allowing you to control other Zigbee smart home devices like lights, locks and cameras.

If you're looking for a cheaper Echo speaker, the Echo Dot with Watch costs just $60 and does almost everything the Echo does, except its speakers aren't as powerful and it doesn't have a Zigbee hub . The Dot with Clock has an LED display on the front to show the time, weather or timer. One of the reasons these appliances should be on your home shopping list is that they work with so many other products you buy. Alexa responds to short commands that make life easier and more enjoyable. You can set alarms, ask questions, order pizza, shop, play games and more with just your voice. Plus, with compatible devices, you can rely on Alexa to adjust aspects of your smart home by doing things like turning down the thermostat or turning on the lights.

If you prefer a smart display, with one that lets you make video calls, view song lyrics, and view streams from security cameras and doorbells, the Echo Show 5 is a good option because it's also cheaper than a regular Echo speaker. However, the Show 5 is a compact screen. If you're looking for a bigger screen, the Echo Show 15 might be a better choice. Amazon's Show 15 can be wall-mounted for landscape or portrait viewing and features customizable fixtures, interactive smart device controls, and a host of other Alexa-powered tricks and capabilities.

Alternatively, you could opt for a smart speaker that isn't affiliated with Amazon, but like the easy-to-move design of the Echo Dot. In that case, look no further than the streamlined Nest Mini. The Nest Mini (2nd generation) has an eco-friendly design and is available in chalk, charcoal grey, bright coral or bright blue. Similar in size and shape to the Echo Dot (third generation), the Nest Mini 2 is powered by Google Assistant, which is smarter than Alexa in many ways. The multilingual assistant can control your smart devices, create a shopping list, answer questions and much more. It also connects to a wide range of smart home devices for voice control.

Next up is Google Nest Audio, Google's largest smart speaker. With premium audio, customizable audio and an attractive design, you'll find Google's smart speaker in chalk, coal, sage, sand and sky. If you want a smart display with Google Assistant, we like the Nest Hub Max. 10-inch screen, gesture controls, built-in security features and even a built-in Nest Cam.

If you're looking for the best possible sound from your smart speaker, you should go for the Sonos One. Not only does it deliver room-filling sounds, it also supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free operation. It's a bit pricey at over $200, but audiophiles won't find a better centerpiece for their smart home.

And don't worry: we haven't forgotten the Apple fans of our readers. If you want to power your smart home with Apple HomeKit and Siri, the HomePod Mini is the right choice. Available in five colors, the Mini adapts its sound to any room you place it in, can be paired with multiple HomePod Minis to expand the sound, and has a handy transfer function that lets you play what's on the HomePod Mini play, can instantly transfer to your device. . iPhone. .

While the standard HomePod has been discontinued for just over a year, Apple's big brother, the HomePod Mini, offers a bigger soundstage than its sibling, but you'll have to dig to find a refurbished device or second-hand.

Check out our picks for the best smart speakers

smart lock

August Smart Lock Pro Review © Digital Trends has you covered.

When your home is equipped with a smart lock, you no longer have to worry about searching for your keys after dark or leaving your pet's key under the doormat. Today's options install in minutes and offer convenience and security.

We're big fans of the August Smart Lock (Gen 4) for a number of reasons. Plug and Play installation allows you to slide the August lock directly into your existing lock, eliminating the need to remove your existing door lock hardware. You can also use the August app to assign temporary unlock codes to friends and family who will be checking in on your pets during the holidays. We also like the DoorSense feature, which lets you see if your door is open, closed, locked, or unlocked through the August app's Activity Stream tab.

Like the August Smart Lock, the Wyze Lock fits over your existing lock and can be set to detect when your phone is in range and automatically lock/unlock the door when you approach. Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, you can also use voice commands to control the lock from inside or with the Alexa/Google Home app.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 is another good option if you're looking for a high-end device. With Assure Lock 2, available in a variety of styles (including keyless or touchscreen), you can customize different profiles for each member of your family or create temporary accounts for guests. If you choose the Wi-Fi version, you'll also be able to check your door remotely to verify that you've locked it before you leave.

Check out our picks for the best smart locks

Surveillance camera and video doorbell

By investing in a video doorbell, you can see who's knocking at the door without getting off the sofa. A security camera can also add extra security, as most outdoor models allow you to monitor what's going on in your home from anywhere via an app on your smartphone. Many also offer two-way audio, night vision, and motion alerts.

Nest is one of the leading brands in the smart home market, offering indoor and outdoor security cameras. Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, rechargeable) is one of the company's most versatile cameras, with a 130-degree field of view, powerful digital zoom, smart motion capabilities, and compatibility with Google Assistant and smartphones. Alexa voice assistants at home. Battery-powered and weatherproof, Nest Cam can be attached to any indoor or outdoor surface and the camera can be used successfully throughout the year.

However, the Arlo Pro 4 is our favorite camera. The lens provides day and night light, a built-in speaker and microphone for natural two-way audio, and a weatherproof housing. Our most popular video doorbell is the Ring Video Doorbell 3. The doorbell is battery powered, features motion detection, two-way audio, and can be customized with the Ring app.

Check out our picks for the best video doorbells, the best wireless security cameras, and the best home security systems.

thermostat

Your heating and cooling system is one part of your home that you probably don't think about often when the temperature isn't right. A smart thermostat can better integrate air conditioning into your life.

Our favorite smart thermostat is the Amazon Smart Thermostat. The elegant and simple user interface, developed in collaboration with Resideo, the creators of the Honeywell Home Thermostat Technology, allows you to adjust the temperature through the thermostat using the Alexa app. Speaking of Alexa, Amazon's intuitive voice assistant learns your temperature preferences to automatically raise and lower the temperature, even when you're away. It also doesn't hurt that at $60 it's one of the cheapest thermostats on the market.

For fans of Google's smart range, the Nest Thermostat (2020) is another good choice. The $130 thermostat has an attractive aesthetic that matches any home decor style and can be controlled with the Google Home app, Google Assistant voice commands, and the tried-and-true method of using a human finger to make adjustments. We also like that Nest lets you monitor the energy efficiency of your entire HVAC operation, so you can use that information to create automatic heating and cooling schedules.

Check out our picks for the best smart thermostats

light bulb or switch

You may already be using energy-efficient light bulbs in your home, so installing smart light bulbs is the next logical step. Not only will you save money, but you'll be able to customize the look of your home and even turn lights on and off from a different location if you have Internet access and a companion app.

Philips Hue bulbs respond to voice commands and changes to settings in your smartphone app. Some bulbs, like Sengled's A19 smart bulb, don't require a hub, which can make it easier (and cheaper) to add smart lighting to your home.

You don't need to use smart technology bulbs to get "smart" functionality. Instead, combine regular light bulbs with smart switches. This switch lets you turn your light on and off with voice commands, saving you the trouble of turning off smart bulbs.

One of our most popular light switch ecosystems is powered by Lutron Caseta. After connecting the switch to Wi-Fi, you can download the Caseta app to control your lights on the go, create custom schedules, and more. We also like that the Lutron Caseta Switch integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Ring, Serena Shades, and Sonos wireless sound systems.

With smart plugs installed in your home, you can use your voice to control all connected devices. Users like this feature and it can be very useful in many situations.

Learn about our picks for smart light bulbs , the best LED light bulbs and the best indoor smart plugs.

breathing machine

It may seem like an unnecessary luxury, but we highly recommend incorporating a robot vacuum into your cleaning routine based on how much time you save yourself.

Our favorite robot vacuum on the market is the iRobot Roomba s9+. Thanks to its emptying function and ability to contain allergens, it is a high-end robot vacuum cleaner. It also keeps your floors clean and offers great customization and programming tools through the iRobot Home app. It may be one of the more expensive robot vacuums, but performance-wise, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better one.

And for those of us shopping on a budget, there's the iRobot Roomba 694. Compared to the flagship S9+, the 694 lacks some of the more advanced cleaning features of its dollar predecessor, but you still get some Roomba supplies. Features dirt sensing and three-stage filtration technology that keeps Roomba clean in areas that need a deeper wipe.

Check out our picks for the best robot vacuums

transmission equipment

Last, but not least, is the smart connection for that home appliance that everyone is rallying around: the TV. When it comes to watching your family's favorite shows and movies, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one of the best smart TV accessories you can get at an amazing and affordable price.

Unlike traditional streaming devices, the Fire TV Stick doesn't take up space in an entertainment center. Instead, it connects directly to an HDMI input on the flat screen and is large enough to hang from the outlet. Once you're set up and connected to Wi-Fi, you can use the Fire TV Stick to stream movies, shows, and music from a variety of popular platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video. And as the name suggests, you can enjoy these movies and episodes in full UHD resolution (where 4K streaming is available).

As for other streaming options, there's the traditional Google Chromecast as well as Chromecast with Google TV. The first is a dongle-based device that plugs into an HDMI input on your TV. Then pick up your phone, open apps like Netflix and Spotify, and stream video and audio from your mobile device to your TV. The OG Chromecast is also one of the cheapest streaming devices you can buy.

Chromecast with Google TV offers the original Chromecast streaming capabilities, but with a new remote-browsable interface that recommends content based on your movie and TV history.

Apple fans and those looking for a solid 4K streaming device should consider the Apple TV 4K. The 2021 version of this amazing piece of hardware features a redesigned Siri remote, support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and faster performance thanks to Apple's A12 Bionic chip.

Then there are the Roku streaming devices. With thousands of apps (called channels), Roku Marketplace is your one-stop shop for essential services like Netflix and Hulu, plus a host of third-party services. Like westerners? There are some apps for Western content only . horror movies? Same deal. And hey, did you know Roku makes great TVs too?

One of our favorite Roku devices is the Roku Streaming Stick+. This model offers 4K and HDR support and is one of the best and most affordable gaming devices for image quality, performance speed and content availability.

Check out our picks for the best streaming gear

12 Smart Home Devices You'll Love

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