What are the actual 30 best Smart Home and Home Automation Devices you can buy?
This comprehensive guide shows you our TOP 3 Smart Home Products in 10 different home automation – categories. We tested them all and here are our recommendations for you. Let’s dive into it!
Smart Home Products have not only become more and more popular. In the last year they’ve become more affordable as competition rises as well. With this in mind, the two main reasons are not only the boost in convenience and style, which they provide for your all day life. More than that, a lot of our 30 best smart home products are huge time and money savers as well.
As an example you can take Amazons Alexa. It has improved immense over the past 2 years and now it is like having your own “personal assistant” at hand 24/7. Or take a look at robot vacuum cleaners, which save you hours of time by cleaning your home on a schedule while you are at work. This means coming home in a fresh cleaned house or flat; – so awesome.
In the past year we were asked over and over the same old, reasonable questions:
- “Which smart home products are the best in each smart home category?”
- “What home automation devices can you recommend and why? Overall / Value / Budget”
We heard you and therefore we wrote this article, containing the most comprehensive overview of smart home products and reviews on the market. All including our recommended TOP 3 Best Smart Home Products in 10 different categories.
You can use the menu below to jump straight to your favorite category, or just browse through. Discover and find your next Smart Home Device to ease your Life.
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MENU – Jump to … or browse through:
TOP 3 – Smart Lighting Solutions
TOP 3 – Smart Plugs – for Home Automation
TOP 3 – Smart Home Security Cameras
TOP 3 – Smart Door Locks
TOP 3 – Smart Thermostats for your Smart Energy Saving Home
TOP 3 – TV & Video Products for your Smart Home
TOP 3 – Audio & Home Theater Devices Speakers to listen everywhere
TOP 3 – Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners for more convenience
TOP 3 – Voice Control Devices – Your personal voice assistant
TOP 3 – Interesting New Smart Home and Home Automation Gadgets
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>>> TOP 3 Smart Lighting Solutions
Why you should buy the Best Smart Light Bulbs?
- You can automate your lights. This means leaving your home-zone when off to work lets all lights go off automatically. The other way around, coming home will turn on all “Welcome Lights” in your driveway. Entering your home and the living room shines in your favorite moody colors set up in your Smart Light Bulb App.
- You can automate lights while on vacation. No one will even know that you are not at home as lights go on and of like on regular days.
- Extend your living environment with Smart Light Bulbs with Color or Smart Light Bulbs that work with Alexa. These limitless possibilities make smart lighting … freaking awesome.
#1 – Winner: Best Smart Light Bulb
The complete Philips Hue eco-system is the most robust smart lights series on the market. You find solutions for nearly every purpose. From single small light bulbs with white light, to complete lighting kits, giving your smart home a complete new look and feel. They work seamlessly with Amazons Alexa Voice Assistant and are very easy to set up.
The only downside may be the higher price point, compared to other solutions. But even with this in mind, with all the possibilities and the chance to expand your smart lighting grid over time, they are our No. 1 recommendation.
#2 – Smart Light Bulb without Hub
The LIFX is one of the smartest Light Bulbs out there. Different to our winner the Philips Hue, the LIFX Light Bulb does not need a dedicated extra hub. All it needs is already build within the case. You get the full color spectrum and can control and schedule your LIFX with a good and easy to use app. You find details in our LIFX Review here.
Of course you can use it with Amazons Alexa as well, which makes it a good solution for a single light bulb or a single room. If you want a fully automated lighting system, we would recommend to go with the Philips Hue, as it provides a greater variety of devices, the powerful hub and an overall better app.
#3 – Best Value Smart Light Bulb
After our two winners above and with a price-point just below the $20, this Smart Light Bulb gives you amazing value for your bucks. Good compatibility for your integration and great support by TP-Link make this smart light bulb a no-brainer. If you do not need the fancy multi-colors of the first two – this one can be your perfect choice. You surely will not regret it.
>>> TOP 3 Smart Plugs – for Home Automation
Why you should buy a Smart Plug or a Smart Switch?
- Automating your home without Smart Plugs or Switches is impossible. Otherwise you miss out 40% of the fun.
- These devices help you to automate and control normal lamps, coffee-machines or other stuff you want to turn on or off on a schedule or from where ever you are on the planet.
- Ever thought “hm, did I really turn of the flat-iron?” when leaving for vacation? Buy Smart Plugs or Smart Switches and you also buy “Peace of mind!”
- With this in mind, combine them with your Smart Home Voice Assistant Alexa or Google Assistant. Now you can create simple tasks like “Alexa – turn off all smart plugs” and feel safe again.
#1 – Winner: Best Smart Plug
The Wemo Mini Smart Plug has it all. It has a compact design and works with Alexa, Google Assistant and with the Apple Home Kit. Programming and using the Wemo-App is really easy. This makes the integration in an existing home automation grid work flawless! Therefore the Wemo gets our Best Smart Plugs Award for 2018/2019.
#2 – Best Value: Smart Wall Plug
The newest version of TP-Links Smart Wall Plug from their KASA series has it all and is our best value recommendation. You can use it with Amazons Alexa, Goolge Assistant (105) and do not need any additional hub. Just plug it in, install the app, find the Smart Plug and you are good to go.
If you want an even cheaper solution you could take a look at the Smart Plug 2 Pack from TanTan. The new upgraded version is WiFi enabled and works with Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant. Similar to the TP-Link you do not need an additional hub.
#3 – Best Smart Light SWITCH
Another family of smart “plugs” are dedicated smart light switches. These switches replace your existing “standard”, none smart in wall switches and immediately make your whole lighting system smart. The solution from TP-Link of the famous Kasa series require no hub and are installed in minutes. TP-Link has a wide variety of Smart Light Switches so you should find a solution matching your needs.
>>> TOP 3 Smart Home Security Cameras
Why you should buy a Smart Home Security Camera?
- Feeling safe at home is one of the most important things to live a happy life.
- Smart Home Security Cameras help you to “Take a Look!” at your home from wherever you are. “What is our dog doing at home while we are away?” Just take a look.
Or if you get an alarm from your fire box? Just take a look with your camera and you know if everything is alright or if you should contact a first responder. - Even if you are not at home and someone is at your door, just look at your phone or computer and you know if it is a friend or an enemy; so you can react appropriate.
#1 – Winner: Best Home Security Camera System
Our top recommendation for your home security is the Arlo Smart Home Security System. It already comes with 2 cameras and a free 7 days cloud storage package. With a price point around $400,- it is reasonable priced. Special to the Arlo System is the complete wire free installation. As you often want to install your camera in places without power outlet near by, this can be a huge plus.
This even makes installing and setting up the system a breeze. You can use the Arlo Home Security System with smart alerts to first responders or you can do it manually even from your lock screen.
The great video quality of 1280 x 720 pixels, night vision and full compatibility with all major services like Alexa, Google Assistant or the SmartThings series from Samsung make this home security system our No 1 Home Security Camera System in our best smart home products review.
If you are looking for a cheaper “just” home security cameras” solution you should consider the Zmodo Wireless Security Camera System (4 Pack). It is a great, wired choice for around $115,- which already includes 4 cameras.
#2 – Best Wide Angle Single Camera
The Amcrest is a robust solution if you want to monitor huge indoor areas, like a storage areas, an big office or the entry of a huge home. The camera has Full-HD video streaming and can move in various directions to track or “take a look” within a wide viewing angle. Remote Pan/Tilt, Intelligent Digital Zoom and IR LED Night Vision of up to 32 feet make it a good solution for large areas.
#3 – Best Video Doorbell
Hands down – the Ring Video Doorbell 2 is still the best, most reliable and easy to use front door camera+speaker solution on the market. Not a “real” home security camera system, the Ring Video Doorbell lets you take full control over people approaching your front door. The good video resolution and build in speakers to talk to the people at your door make it an absolute no-brainer. Here at our office, when someone from the team works late and the door bell rings, it would be nearly impossible to leave the office, go down 3 floors to see who is there or talk to the one at the door. Convenience and safety are the two main reasons to buy one of these devices for your home.
>>> TOP 3 Smart Door Locks
Why you should buy a Smart Door Lock?
- In our 30 best smart home products, Smart Door Locks are a key part of your home automation grid. They provide safety and an easy way of taking control over the entrance to your home. Your kids arrive at home and you are not there? Your door recognizes them automatically and opens for them. You even can do it remotely from wherever you are if you want.
- Being able to grant or deny access to your home from wherever you are is a big boost of convenience. For example if you have an appointment with a craftsman you know but you are not there, just give them a code or grant access within a scheduled time period. Access expires or can be revoked whenever you want.
- No more loosing keys as your Smartphone or a dedicated key-fob can be your way of entering your smart home.
#1 – Winner: Best Smart Door Lock
The Schlage Z-Wave Connect Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt is one of the most secure and reliable smart door locks on the market. With an ANSI Grade 1 it has the highest residential security standard to make your home a safer place.
With over 30 access codes, which you can implement or revoke at any time you can grant access or deny it from wherever you are. Strongly build with years of experience by Schlage, the only downside is that your need an Z-Wave hub to use this smart door lock. It even works with Amazon Alexa voice control.
#2 – Convenience Champion: Best Smart Door Lock
In some of our past reviews of smart door locks, the first two generations of the August Lock did not convince our review team because we always saw reliability and installation issues. Even the app had some major problems which did not allow us to give our recommendation. But with the 3rd Generation of the August Smart Lock has improved in nearly every detail.
The convenience of locking and unlocking automatically when you approach your door and August’s so called door-sense technology which shows you if your door is safely locked is really amazing. The August Lock works with Alexa and monitors everyone entering or leaving your home. Of course you can remotely grant and deny access from your phone from anywhere as well.
#3 – Best Value Smart Door Lock
Head to head with our two top recommendations above comes the Yale Assure Door Lock with touchscreen. Especially for all those who do not want to miss a dedicated physical key this one will be you choice. You can access with your key, or with a code on the touchscreen as well as with your smartphone and app. You need an Z-Wave enabled hub to use all its functionality but it is a highly secure and reliable door lock from a company with years of experience in the home security field.
>>> TOP 3 Thermostats for your Smart Energy Saving Home
Why you should buy a Smart Thermostat (self-learning)?
- If you really want to build a smart home with automated tasks, a smart thermostat will help you to monitor & save energy and money.
- Automatically turning down the temperature when you leave for work and making your home cosy and comfy before you arrive back home is one of the key features of a smart self-learning thermostat.
#1 – Winner: Best Smart Thermostat – Usability
Surprisingly during our reviews the Honeywell became our No. 1 recommended smart thermostat. With a clear & easy to read display and the best usability (without any guess-work) of all tested smart thermostats. Not as fancy as the new Nest and no multi-room solution like the Ecobee4 it is maybe the most easy to use smart thermostat on the market. You can read our in depth review of the Honeywell Smart Thermostat here.
#2 – Style Champion Smart Self-Learning Thermostat
The Nest Smart Thermostat 3rd Generation is still the style champion in the smart thermostat field and it surely belongs to our 30 best smart home products ranking as it has improved over time. The display has become even clearer and the app has widely improved. With 4 different designs it is a great match for every style loving home owner.
Of course it does its job as well, monitoring and saving you energy and making your home just a bit more comfortable.
#3 – Best Multi-Room Solution: Best Smart Thermostat
The ecobee4 Smart Thermostat is the only one with a dedicated multi-room solution. By using additional sensors in various rooms of your home the ecobee4 can monitor and control your behaviour and needs more precise than other thermostat solutions. Another great “new” feature of the newest version of the ecobee is the fully integrated Amazon Alexa Voice assistant. Yes you hear it right it does not only work with Alexa it is a dedicated additional Alexa device on its own with built in microphones and speakers.
Therefore it the ecobee4 is our recommended smart thermostat for bigger homes or offices where more than one room should be monitored at the same time. You can read our full ecobee4 review if you need more details.
>>> TOP 3 TV & Video Products for your Smart Home
Why you need Smart TV & Video Products?
- In todays smart home systems a TV is not only a TV. It can be a device to monitor and control your smart home products and the other way around, can be controlled by them.
- No matter if you watch the latest YouTube clips on your Smart TV or if you show your photos of the last vacation to your friends and Family – the smart TV of today will help you to do exact that.
- Predictions state that in the near future, people will spend less time watching TV. Instead streaming tailored content and video will become standard.
#1 – Winner: Best 4K UHD Projector with Media-Player
The Optoma UHD51A 4K UHD Smart Home Theater Projector integrates seamlessly into your best smart home products. The Smart Projector has an integrated Multi-Media-Player and works with Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant. With a really good 4K resolution and (especially under darker conditions) bright images it is fun to watch your favorite movies. You can control the Optoma UHD51A with your voice which makes watching even more fun and convenient.
#2 – Best Gaming Console & 4K Blue-Ray Player
The Xbox One X is the most powerful gaming console for full 4K gaming of today. The integrated Blue-Ray player allows you to watch 4K videos at home and integrates into your multi-media grid.
#3 – Best Value Multi-Media & TV Streaming Box
The TiVo BOLT VOX 500 GB, DVR & Streaming Media Player lets you watch your favorite content in 4K UHD resolution. Now it comes with Voice Control and can be fully controlled with Amazon Alexa Voice Assistant. This unified entertainment system replaces your cable box and works with your existing cable subscription. The best: no more switching inputs, remotes or devices. It comes with fully integrated apps and gives you access to Netflix, Prime, HBO go, Hulu, Pandora and more as an integrated, all-in-one solution.
>>> TOP 3 Audio & Home Theater Devices Speakers to listen everywhere
Why you should buy Smart Audio & Home Theater products?
- Wireless Audio Streaming can boost the convenience of your smart home. Imagine listening to your favorite music throughout your home.
- Listen to your music from different sources. No matter if you use streaming services or internet radio like Deezer, if you use your music library on your desktop, phone or media-server – these devices help you to listen to whatever, whenever and wherever you want.
#1 – Winner: Best Value Smart Speakers for Streaming Audio
The all new SONOS-One speaker now come with built in full ALEXA Voice control functionality. As the market leader for Smart Speakers for Audio Streaming SONOS permanently improves the user experience to its various speaker series. You can get an overview to find the perfect SONOS for you in our in depth SONOS Review.
Especially a pair of SONOS One combined with SONOS’s powerful Sub-woofer make listening to wireless audio a whole new experience. Easy to set-up and easy to add extra speakers over time the SONOS is our No. 1 Smart Audio Speaker for streaming music in multiple rooms.
#2 – Best Single Audio Streaming Speaker
BOSE tried to compete with SONOS for a few years now, but never was able to beat the market leader. Yet as a single smart audio speaker for streaming a lot of fans and experts admit, that the sound is more crisp and with a better volume than from a single SONOS speaker. BOSE’s patented Wave-Guide technology creates immersive sound even for bigger rooms. The new design is nice and kind of techy. Therefore it feels more “in your eye” than the SONOS Speakers which integrate more in your living environment. It looks and feels like a “little” music station. If you are looking for the best sound quality from one single audio speaker – you will love the BOSE Sound-Touch 30. You can read a full comparison of SONOS vs. BOSE Speaker in our in depth Review.
#3 – Best Volume Music Streaming Speaker (of all time)
Okay – this may not be a mass market product, but …. let us explain. We were able to get our hands on the Devialet Gold Phantom – High-end wireless speaker. First we only were curious because the pure performance of 4.500 WATT sounded ridiculous for wireless home audio streaming speakers. We wanted to test if the sound quality can keep up with the pure performance of these speakers. We were surprised that the sound quality was really impressive. The frequency range from unparalleld 14Hz to 27kHz made the sound crisp clear and the titanium tweeter driver did a real great job. Honestly the sound was best when somewhat on the louder side of a normal listening experience, but then … it was like listening to a whole speaker set-up of near high-end devices. If you have money to spare from $1.660 up to $3.600 for each speaker and love to buy only the best – you really should give them a closer look.
>>> TOP 3 Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners for more convenience
#1 – Winner: Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner & Best Value
Another big surprise during our review process of the best smart home products was the Roborock from Xiaomi. The last version of a smart robot vacuum cleaner from Xiaomi, the Xiaomi Mi (read our review) already was a decent cleaner with superior intelligence and laser-controlled cleaning pattern. But the Roborock has improved again. The cleaning cloth is a gimmick which is completely unnecessary, but the better suction power and the improved mapping and cleaning make this robot vaccuum cleaner one of the best out there. Even better than the market leader the iRobot 980 Vacuum Cleaner. And the best: it comes for a price point nearly half of the market leader. At the same time providing better cleaning results. Our top No. 1 Recommendation of the best smart vacuum cleaners.
#2 – Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner – Against Pet Hair
The Neato Botvac Connected 7 D is one of the best robot vacuum cleaners when you have dogs or other pets. With special brush design and powerful suction technique it gets more of pet hair than other cleaners; without hair tangled around the brushes. It comes with intelligent laser mapping and as a very convenient feature with virtual lines(walls). You can draw lines on the map of the room, where the cleaner should not go. This works easy and secure and is way more convenient, than trying to stick physical walls or domes or magnetic stripes all over your home. Our No. 1 robot vacuum cleaner for pet owners and good ranking among the best smart home products.
You can read our Review of the Neato Botvac Connected here (last version; similar features).
#3 – Best Budget Choice – Robot Vacuum Cleaner
The Xiaomi Mi Robot vacuum cleaner was our past winner of the best robot vacuum cleaner award. You find a full review and comparisson of the Xiaomi Mi vs. iRobot Roomba 980 vs. Neato Botvac Connected in our review section.
To make it simple it is the best robot vacuum cleaner even against the best of the market for a price point of under $300 which makes it – again a no-brainer.
>>> TOP 3 Voice Control Devices – Your personal voice assistant
#1 – Winner: Best Voice Control Devices – Amazon Alexa
<<click>> image to check best price
Okay we agree. There is no way to get around Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant when talking about the best smart home products.
“It” is going to become your new best friend who helps you out with 100’s of all day tasks. “She” can play music? She answers nearly all of your questions. She tells you the news and the weather with ease. But wait there is more. She lets you control your lights, your thermostat and tons of other of our best smart home products which makes Alexa the most advanced voice control device on the planet.
Newly she jumps out of her own environment that you see and can click above and you can find her in more and more devices from other manufacturers like the ecoobee4 (see above) and so many others. As it is the most advanced, most easy to use and best working voice control device of today it is our No. 1 recommendation in this field.
#2 – Chasing the Leader – Google Home
Googles smart speakers were designed to compete with the dominating, popular Amazon Echo. Like the Echo, the Google Home can play music, but it’s primarily designed as a tool to get access to Google Assistant — Google’s voice-activated virtual employee, who’s connected to the search giant in the internet. Like Alexa, Google Home is always listening to its environment, but it won’t actually record what you’re saying or respond to your commands until you say either “OK, Google” or “Hey, Google.” It can do a lot of the stuff the Amazon Echo/Alexa can do, but Alexa has learned and gained so much additional commands and therefore provides a greater variety of compatible smart home and home automation products. It will be interesting to see how Google and Amazon will compete in the battle of customers homes.
Today Alexa is by far dominating the market and can be found in much more home automation accessories.
#3 – Honorable Mention – Apple Home Kit
Of course we couldn’t talk about home voice control without mentioning Siri. Siri basically pioneered our voice-activated behaviour, right? With the Apple Homekit and now with the Apple HomePod Smart Speaker, you can access Siri and all your favorite music. Just ask Siri to handle your various tasks.
Siri is hard to compare because with Alexa “freely” travelling the world in 1000’s upon 1000’s of devices from 100’s of companies – Siri still is in the “Apple-Prison” limiting her moves and possibilities; especially in the smart home field. If you are a raving apple fan though – the Apple HomeKit might be your first choice as it works seamlessly with/from all Apple Devices.
>>> TOP 5 Best Smart Home Gadgets
#1 –MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener Chamberlain MYQ-G0301
Make your existing garage door openers smart. You can open and close your garage door from anywhere with your smartphone. For a plus in safety you will receive alerts when your garage door opens or closes in real time by setting up customized notifications.
#2 – BOND Smart Ceiling Fan and Fireplace Controller
With this little device, you can make your manual controlled devices smart. The BOND learns commands from your existing remote control (radio frequency and IR) and lets you control everything through your tablet or smartphone within minutes. In our testing it worked flawless and was setup for the first device (ceiling fan) in about 10 minutes.
#3 – TP-LINK Range Extender to reach all smart home devices
Connecting more and more devices all over your house often is limited by simply reaching them all with your existing WIFI signal. This range extender is ideal for extending WiFi to Echo/Alexa devices, Smart Plugs, Smart Bulbs and more. As it works with any standard router or gateway you can use it in high speed mode for lack free HD streaming and gaming experience. With its dual band it can speed up to 750Mbps. Easy setup and flexible placement allows movement of the range extender to the best place in your home.
#4 – Streamlabs Smart Home Water Monitor with Wi-Fi
This little smart home gadget can save you a lot of trouble. The Streamlabs Smart Home Water Monitor with Wi-Fi, can detect leaks and send you an alarm to your smartphone or tablet. It also can monitor your water usage and help you save money. It seamlessly integrates with Nest and Alexa so you can use its data for various tasks.
#5 – Fire TV Cube | Hands-Free with Alexa and 4K Ultra HD
Talking about the best smart home products means – talking about more convenience. Therefor we chose the Fire TV Cube as another recommendation if you want to ease watching TV and Streaming your favorite content. It is the first completely hands-free streaming media player with built in Alexa, delivering an all-in-one entertainment experience. You just ask Alexa to turn on the TV, dim the lights, and play what you want to watch and the magic happens.
It is fully capable of hands-free voice control of content. You can search, play, pause, fast forward, and more with your voice. What really boosts its capabilities is that you can control the power and volume on your TV, sound bar, and A/V receiver as well as change live cable or satellite channels with just your voice. This all new hands free access to vivid 4K Ultra HD up to 60 fps made it into our top recommended best smart home products.
Final words:
We hope you loved our comprehensive guide to the 30 best smart home products. If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment – we are here to help. If you think there is a life-changing smart home product, we did not mention – leave a comment as well and we will be more than glad to take a closer look.
Have fun, keep building and automating ….. to ease your life.
