Science
Your Complete Smart Home Shopping List
You’ve probably heard the words “smart home” a lot, but what exactly is a smart home? Close your eyes and imagine being able to control the various aspects of your home - like the thermostat, window blinds, TV, lights, and more - with your phone or voice. Now open your eyes because this kind of technology is no longer science fiction, it’s reality.
Through the magic of the internet and internet-connected instruments, you can turn your own home into a smart home. Not only do these devices put the power to control your entire home in the palm of your hands, they also can give you helpful information about your home. And with the increase in smart home gadgets in recent years, it’s never been easier to convert your home.
If you’re ready to make your life a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of must-have gadgets to make you home a little smarter.
Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs
Price: $149.00
Best Feature: Can change color, be dimmed, put on a timer, and more with voice control
Why You’ll Love It: These LED light bulbs aren’t just a more cost-effective option to normal light bulbs, their bevy of features can also change the dynamic of your home. These light bulbs can do things like be programmed to change color when you receive a text message, pair with various devices, and be controlled with voice command when connected with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Assistant.
iHome iSP6X SmartPlug
Price: $33.72
Best Feature: Wi-Fi enabled
Why You’ll Love It: The iHome iSP6X SmartPlug allows you to have remote access to your appliances and gadgets 24/7. It also offers a robust selection of scheduling options in its phone app.
Nest Protect
Price: $117.97
Best Feature: Can send detailed notifications to your phone
Why You’ll Love It: The Nest Protect is possibly the most advanced smoke alarm on the market. It can detect when and where smoke or carbon monoxide is, tell you if a fire is burning fast or slow, and can send you alerts to your phone. Like the Nest Protect’s tagline suggests, it’s “the smoke alarm other alarms look up to.”
Ring Video Doorbell 2
Price: $149.99
Best Feature: See, hear, and speak to visitors from your phone, tablet, and PC
Why You’ll Love It: Once installed, you’ll be able to see visitors on a variety of devices, check on packages, and set motion detection alerts. If you’re worried about security, this gadget comes with lifetime theft protection insurance if it’s ever stolen.
Google Home Hub
Price: $149
Best Feature: Adaptive screen brightness
Why You’ll Love It: If you’re looking for a control panel for your smart home, the Google Home Hub would be a solid choice. In addition to doing all the stuff your Google Home can do, the Hub has a sharp and responsive touchscreen that useful for looking up recipes, checking your calendar, watching YouTube videos, and more.
Ecobee 4 smart thermostat
Price: $198.98
Best Feature: Room sensors measure temperature and occupancy to balance temperature throughout the home
Why You’ll Love It: This is one of the best thermostats you can own. The Ecobee 4 is easy to install, can be controlled from anywhere, comes with Amazon Alexa built in, and can balance home temperature by measuring room temperature and occupancy.
August Smart Lock Pro + Connect
Price: $249.83
Best Feature: Track activity at your doorstep
Why You’ll Love It: The August Smart Lock Pro + Connect allows you to always have control over your door. Lock or unlock your door remotely with your phone, monitor all the activity at your doorstep, and connect it to Alexa or another AI assistant to enable voice control.
iRobot Roomba i7+
Price: $1,200
Best Feature: Self-empties into bin
Why You’ll Love It: No longer do you need to pull out your old, noisy vacuum and lug it around your home. The iRobot Roomba i7+ does the vacuuming for you. As with most smart home technology these days, it connects with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. It’s also able to learn the layout of your home to better clean your floors.
