The best smart home devices you can buy: Expert tested
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Creating a smart home is easier than ever, with thousands of devices selling the convenience of automation, voice control, and routine. Smart home devices have become more affordable and easier to install than in years past when having a smart home meant getting a professional installation team to your home and paying a hefty monthly membership.
Also: 5 Echo Show settings to change to make your smart display less annoying
However, while the number of smart home devices on the market has driven their prices down, it's also made it more difficult for customers to choose the right ones. A simple 'smart light bulb' search will yield hundreds of brands at very low prices. ZDNET is here to help you choose the right one.
What is the best smart home device right now?
ZDNET's pick for the current best smart home device is the Echo Show 8, a smart display with Amazon Alexa that lets iOS and Android users get started with a smart home. It's a comprehensive device for experienced and entry-level smart home enthusiasts that delivers the convenience of voice control via a virtual assistant and features a powerful speaker and touch display. The Echo Show 8 is also a smart home hub with Zigbee, Matter, and Thread support.
The best smart home devices of 2024
The 3rd generation Amazon Echo Show is a great smart display and speaker combination for most smart home users, whether experienced or just getting started. Amazon's newest Echo Show 8 boasts a sleeker design with edge-to-edge glass, a centrally placed camera for video calls, and spatial audio from the smaller speaker enclosure.
I've been using the Echo Show 8 daily for almost a year, and this generation's improved processor delivers faster performance than older models. It's become my kitchen companion for running smart home routines, interacting with Alexa, and streaming music and video content on the 8-inch HD screen while cooking.
Review: Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)
This is the first Echo Show 8 to feature the camera in a central location rather than off to one side, which aids in better visual experiences during video calls. The camera also works for Visual ID personalization and Adaptive Content. Visual ID lets the Echo Show 8 recognize the household member approaching it to personalize content, while Adaptive Content adjusts the screen's content based on a person's proximity.
It's a highly rated smart speaker, with one buyer saying, "I purchased this a few months ago, and it has exceeded my expectations in every way. The Spatial Audio feature provides a rich and immersive sound experience, perfect for listening to music, podcasts, and even video calls. The smart home hub integration is seamless, allowing me to easily control all my smart devices. Alexa's responsiveness and sharp display make this device a pleasure to use daily. "
Amazon Echo Show 8 features: Price: $150 | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa | Connectivity: Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and is a hub for Matter, Thread, Zigbee | Specs: 8-inch HD touchscreen, 13MP video call camera, Alexa voice assistant
This starter kit has everything you need to make your lights smarter with Philips Hue. With two white and color smart bulbs and one Hue Bridge, you can begin switching out old light bulbs for new ones and later expand, as the Bridge can handle up to 50 Philips Hue lights.
These Philips Hue smart lights are compatible with Alexa, HomeKit, and Google for voice control and integration. They're easy to set up using the Bridge, allowing users to control the lights wherever they use the app, set routines and automation, and expand their Philips Hue ecosystem with more products.
Without a Hue Bridge, customers can only connect their lights to their mobile app via Bluetooth, so they can't change settings remotely.
Though not cheap, Philips Hue lights are some of the best in the market. One buyer said, "Love these smart bulbs and the ease to set up. Love that we can change the colors of the room from an app on the phone. Like how I can turn on lights when I need to when I'm away. Although I got the Hue bridge and two bulbs at a good price the cost of the color bulbs are expensive. "
Philips Hue Starter Kit features: Price: $110 | Wattage: 9.5 watts | Bulb size: A19 | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit
The Nest Learning Thermostat has proven to be one of Google's best smart home products ever. With reliable performance and smart home integrations through Matter, this device has remained relevant for years, and the newest generation is no exception.
Switching from a dumb to a smart thermostat greatly impacted our home's climate control and energy efficiency. You can control your home's temperature from your phone, no matter where you are, and program it to enter Eco Mode when you leave the house.
The new Nest Learning Thermostat looks gorgeous and looks like home decor. It can display the temperature, the outside weather, or a clock. It also learns your patterns and trends and suggests new settings to help keep your home comfortable while saving you on utility bills.
"I'm upgrading from the learning thermostats that had the frosted glass look and had no trouble with installation, software setup just worked the first time," One buyer remarked. "The matter support worked without a hitch on HomeKit and Home Assistant. And it seems that it's doing a better job than my old one at keeping the rooms I care about comfortable. The master bedroom is always perfect now after a being in use for a week or so."
Nest Thermostat features: Price: $280 | Installation: Works without C wire | Finish: Available in three colors with rounded display | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit through Matter
Don't you wish you could unlock your front door with your iPhone as easily as you can check out with Apple Pay?
The Aqara U100 is a smart lock that offers users the option to unlock by entering a predetermined passcode on the keypad, using their fingerprint, a physical key, a mobile app, NFC tags, or through Apple Home Key by simply holding their iPhone or Apple Watch up to their lock.
Review: Aqara U100 smart lock
These versatile options have come in handy during our testing, especially when arriving home with bags full of groceries after a long day.
This lock is also highly compatible. It works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT.
Aqara U100 smart lock features: Price: $150 | Unlock options: Fingerprint, passcodes, Apple Home Key mechanical key, and NFC | Compatibility: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
If you want to beef up your home security with a smart option, I can't recommend the EufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3 bundle enough. The three cameras are easy to install inside or outdoors, with a solar panel along the top that recharges the battery to use forever power.
I've had the two camera systems set up outside my home for almost two years and have only had to recharge one of them, installed facing north, a handful of times -- that's how effective their solar panels are at keeping the batteries charged.
Aside from the Eufy Security system being a great ecosystem for home security, expandable with many different camera types, it also offers users with more than one camera in their homes the ability to see the same event captured in a single clip by stitching different camera feeds together.
"I wanted to be sure I had coverage on each side of my house (older neighborhood / long driveways). The setup was relatively easy, probably 30 minutes or less," one buyer commented. "I have them on 4k all the time and no issues with battery life, even on a string of cloudy or rainy days. The 4k is very clear -- even at night."
The cameras are wireless, so they can be installed almost anywhere. The HomeBase 3 is the local storage hub inside your home, where all the clips are saved.
EufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3 Features: Price: $530 | Power source: Solar-powered cameras, plug-in HomeBase | Resolution: 4K | Compatibility: Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
What is the best smart home device?
The Echo Show 8 is the best smart home device most people who are interested in smart homes can buy. This smart hub can host multiple devices, has fantastic connectivity options, and provides reliable voice assistance through Alexa.
To see how the smart display compares to other smart home devices, here is a look at our picks:
| Best smart home device | ZDNET's take | Price | Compatibility | Connectivity |
| Amazon Echo Show 8 | Best overall | $150 | Alexa | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Philips Hue Starter Kit | Best smart light | $110 | Alexa, Google, HomeKit | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi through Bridge |
| Nest Learning Thermostat | Best smart thermostat | $280 | Alexa, Google, HomeKit | Wi-Fi, Matter |
| Aqara U100 | Best smart lock | $150 | Alexa, Google, HomeKit | Wi-Fi, Aqara Hub |
| EufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3 | Best security camera | $530 | Alexa, Google | Wi-Fi, Local storage |
Which is the best smart home device for you?
This list highlights the best smart home devices covering various areas of your home. From multi-device hubs to individual devices, there are many ways to make your home smart.
Consider these recommendations if you are unsure which smart home device is best for you:
| Choose this smart home device... | If you want... |
| Amazon Echo Show 8 | A smart home display with Alexa built-in. Use it to keep an eye on your whole home and smart home devices. |
| Philips Hue Starter Kit | To bring the power of smart lighting to your home. Install mood lighting, uplighting, or simply save money in energy bills with these LED lights. |
| Nest Learning Thermostat | An energy-efficient and smart way to control your home's HVAC system, no matter which home automation system you use, thanks to Matter. |
| Aqara U100 | The most versatile smart lock available. Bring convenience to your front door with the touch of an app. |
| EufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3 | An all-in-one smart home security system complete with expandable local storage, so you never have to worry about monthly fees. |
Other top smart home devices of 2024
Factors to consider when choosing smart home devices
Choosing the right smart home devices for your circumstances can feel overwhelming with as many available options.
Here's what you should consider when choosing a smart home device:
- Compatibility: Whether you're choosing a smart light, a smart lock, or a video doorbell, compatibility is a key factor in determining how much convenience your new devices will give you. Ensure your chosen devices are compatible with your existing smart home system, like Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, etc.
- Installation: Many smart home devices serve a purpose that requires installation of some kind. Make sure your new device fits your installation capabilities or that you have someone to install it if not.
- Ease of use: User-friendly interfaces are typically the ones that endure. If a device is too hard or cumbersome, you probably won't use it. Read up on other reviewers' experiences with user interfaces for managing the devices.
- Price: Always compare prices, looking for value for money, but don't focus on the lowest price. If you compromise on essential features and quality, you'll pay for it in the long run.
- Reliability: This is a big deal in the smart home community and is part of the ease of use of devices. If a device constantly gets disconnected or unresponsive, it's not worth your time or money.
How we test smart home devices
ZDNET reviews a wide range of devices to ensure we feature the ones that perform the best for our readers. As a smart home and robot vacuum reviewer, I evaluate each device's performance, starting with the unboxing experience.
To do this, I ensure the device meets all the manufacturer's claims for features and capabilities, verify it works smoothly with different smart home ecosystems (I test with Google, Alexa, HomeKit, and SmartThings), and monitor its performance over a period of time ranging from two weeks to months.
Are there alternative best smart home devices worth considering?
That is far from all that is available. These are some of the other smart home devices I feature that can fit your home.