Amazon Echo Dot
Best for: Getting started in the Alexa-compatible ecosystem.
Launching a smart home build can feel overwhelming with the sheer number of accessories and devices that are available. A great place to start is with something like the Echo Dot that can do a bunch of things at once and can become the center of the rest of your home as you expand. From being able to play music, set a timer or answer a question from just a simple voice command, having an Echo in your home is a must.
The Echo Dot is one of Amazon’s best affordable smart speakers. Alexa is built right into the speaker, so you can ask Alexa to check the weather, control other smart home devices, set timers, alarms and a lot more. Alexa is constantly learning new skills, and they are automatically available on your Echo Dot without you needing to do anything. The internal speaker is finally worth using in the newer models, and you can set your Echo Dot to work with popular streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music and more.
Some of its other features include a dedicated button to turn off the mic and the ability to simply tap the top of it to pause your timers and alarms. It can also extend your Eero system as another Mesh point. It adds a ton of value for both beginners and experienced smart home users.
What the reviews say: More than 75,000 people who have purchased the latest generation Echo Dot have enjoyed using it enough to give it a 5-star rating. From its small size to how much the sound has improved, people are very happy with the overall value you get out of this affordable must-have smart home accessory.
Pros:
- Multifunctional device
- Very affordable
Cons:
- Only controls Alexa-enabled accessories
- Speaker quality drops at higher volumes
Best Budget Smart Home Device
A Simple Way To Make Your Favorite Gadgets Smarter
Kasa Mini Smart Plugs (2-Pack)
Best for: Getting a taste of the smart home life without spending much.
Making your home smarter doesn’t mean that you have to invest a large amount of money. Smart plugs are a great and affordable way to add value to your daily life, especially with an option like Kasa’s mini plugs.
What makes the Kasa smart plugs stand out is not only their price, but also their size. Some plugs are large and can block part of the second wall plug. When using the Kasa plugs, you can stack two of them on top of each other with ease, which allows you to control two different devices on two different schedules. Getting the Kasa plugs set up is super simple and they are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings. From the free app you can set schedules for the plugs or you can build them into routines within your smart home hub of choice.
Some great use-case options for smart plugs include automating older lamps, controlling fans and even setting schedules for your holiday lights so you don’t have to remember to turn them on or off.
What the reviews say: When you have a product that has almost 23,000 5-star ratings, you know it’s worth looking at. From how easy the setup is to the small size and the compatibility with other smart home gear, it’s no wonder why people love these affordable Kasa smart plugs.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Work with existing nonsmart accessories
Cons:
- Won’t work during internet outage
Best Smart Speaker
A Smart Speaker With Few Sacrifices
Sonos Era 100 Smart Speaker
Best for: People who value quality audio.
A great smart speaker doesn’t look or sound any different than a great regular speaker, and this is where Sonos has always excelled. The company puts a big priority on audio quality while still making products that are easy to use and highly functional. The Era 100 is the company’s latest affordable smart speaker, and it offers a great value for the price.
Like other Sonos gear, you can set it up through the free Sonos app and play all your music from sources like Tidal, Spotify, Apple Music and more with ease. In addition, the Era 100 has Bluetooth connectivity and a line-in option, which makes it easier for guests and friends to play their music from the speaker. It has Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa built right into the speaker, which means you can play music, set timers and more using just your voice. There’s also a set of touch controls on the top for changing the volume or pausing the music. From Apple devices you can use AirPlay to send your favorite audio right to the speaker.
Inside, the speaker has three digital amplifiers—two angled tweeters and one midwoofer to offer a great audio experience. Using Sonos’s Trueplay technology, you can set up the speaker to perform best in the room you put it in.
What the reviews say: Nearly 80% of the reviews for the Sonos Era 100 at Amazon are those who gave the smart speaker a 5-star rating. Reviewers praise the high-quality sound it produces, the ease of use and how convenient the voice integrations are.
Pros:
- Great audio quality
- Bluetooth connectivity makes it more versatile
Cons:
- No Google Assistant support
- Somewhat expensive compared to others
Best Smart Display For Google
A Great Home Hub for Your Connected Devices
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Best for: Google users.
A good smart display should be able to do a bunch of stuff, and if you have devices that tie into the Google ecosystem, the Nest Hub is a must-have. Since the original one was released back in 2018, Google has been adding new features and making them even more useful. One of the biggest feature additions in the latest generation of hardware is automatic sleep tracking.
The Nest Hub has a 7-inch touchscreen and comes in interesting colors like Sand, Chalk, Mist and Charcoal. Its built-in speaker offers a great sound quality with good bass for when you want to listen to your favorite tunes. Unlike with some of the other smart displays, the Nest Hub does not have a built-in camera, so you can’t make video calls on it.
What the editors say: Janhoi McGregor, a senior contributor for Forbes, had quite a few positive things to say in his Nest Hub review. From how well the sleep tracking works to how great the audio is, he sums up the review saying it’s great at what it does and is definitely worth considering.
Pros:
- Gestures allow for hands-free control
- Great audio quality
Cons:
- No camera
- Navigating some elements of the software is slow
Best Smart Display For Alexa
A Smart Home Hub That Can Make Video Calls
Amazon Echo Show 8 Smart Home Hub
Best for: Small spaces where you want a multifunctional device.
Smart displays are one of those things that you may not understand fully at first, but after realizing all the things it can do, you’re likely going to want one in your house. Amazon has a few different smart displays available under its Echo Show lineup, with the main difference being the size of the screen. For most people, the Echo Show 8 is probably the best option.
It features an 8-inch touchscreen, a 13 MP front-facing camera for video calls, a pair of 2-inch speakers and comes with built-in Zigbee. The Echo Show 8 is powered by Amazon’s Alexa, so you can set timers, ask questions and even control other smart home devices using just your voice. You can make video calls to friends and family members who also have Echo Show devices. The camera has a built-in shutter that you can enable when you’re not actively using the camera.
The Echo Show 8 also makes a great speaker for listening to your favorite music and it can also do video playback from select sources. When you’re not actively using the display for anything else, you can set it up to shuffle photos, making it super versatile and a great addition to just about any space.
What the reviews say: From “set’s the standard for smart home excellence” to “if you’re just considering—buy it!”, there’s no shortage of customers at Amazon who are in love with their Echo Show 8. More than 4,500 customers have given it 5 stars.
Pros:
- Improved screen quality
- Great sound quality
Cons:
- Amazon ads and bloatware
- Limited video playback options
Best Smart Thermostat
A Smart Model That’s Compatible With Everything
Emerson Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat
Best for: Smart home beginners.
The idea of being able to set a schedule for your heating and air conditioning isn’t new, and while you don’t need a smart thermostat to accomplish that, there’s still a lot of value in adding one. There are a ton of great options on the market, but since it’s one of those things that sits very visibly in the main rooms of your home, odds are you want something that looks great, too. The Emerson Sensi Touch looks very much like a standard thermostat, but packs a bunch of smarts inside that make it worth upgrading to.
With the Emerson Sensi Touch, you can set up a flexible schedule to automate your heating and air conditioning usage or have it operate using the geofencing feature. This allows it to change temperatures based on whether you’re home or not. With these features, Emerson says you can save up to 23% on your HVAC usage, which means you’re saving money, too. It integrates with all the major smart home platforms, including Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. The free app allows you to control the temperature from anywhere, monitor usage and get smart alerts if something changes at home.
It’s a pretty easy installation process to get your existing thermostat removed and this one installed, but if you’re not 100% sure what you’re doing, it’s best to hire an expert. Your system requires a C-Wire in order to be able to use this model.
What the reviews say: More than 10,000 people at Amazon have enjoyed using the Sensi Touch enough to give it a 5-star rating. With comments like “get it, you won’t regret it,” “indispensable” and “simple and sleek,” there’s a reason we recommend this one over some of the competition.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit
Cons:
- Requires a C-Wire to use
- No remote sensor compatibility
Best Smart Home Security Camera
A Discreet Option With Great Battery Life
Blink Outdoor 4 Security Camera
Best for: Basic outdoor camera needs.
An outdoor security camera can help provide peace of mind that your home is safe whether or not you are there. They are great for keeping an eye on the packages at your front porch and ensuring that the kids are safe in the backyard. Blink’s Outdoor 4 is the company’s newest outdoor camera, and you can buy them in one-, two-, three- and five-packs based on your needs.
Getting started is super simple. Connect the sync module to the free Blink app and then start connecting each camera to the app. They are powered by two AA batteries that can last for up to two years before needing to be changed. Since there are no wires involved, you can mount them just about anywhere, as long as they are able to remain connected to your home Wi-Fi network.
The camera offers 1080p live view, infrared night vision, two-way audio and person detection. You can store clips locally on the Sync Module or opt for the cloud storage, at an additional monthly cost. The system integrates seamlessly with Amazon’s Alexa, allowing you to use voice commands to disarm it or see what’s happening on a specific camera.
What the reviews say: Since being released, the latest Blink outdoor cameras have tallied up more than 7,200 5-star Amazon ratings. Several reviewers own multiple sets of these cameras for different locations and some call them an “unbeatable bang for the buck.” People love the picture quality, the battery life and more.
Pros:
- Long battery life
- Affordable
Cons:
- Monthly subscription for cloud storage
- Cameras can go offline without notice
Best Smart Plug
The Easiest Smart Plug To Set Up
Amazon Smart Plug
Best for: Anyone using an Alexa device.
Smart plugs are the most-used smart home accessory in my house. We have about ten of them set up and most of them are automated on a set schedule. From being able to turn on lamps to controlling my outdoor light strips and a dehumidifier, my daily life is improved by them. The Amazon Smart Plug is one of my personal favorites.
The key selling point of the Amazon Smart Plug is how simple it is to set up. All you have to do is take it out of the box, plug it into an outlet and then Alexa will recognize it. Of course, you need to have an Alexa device in your home—either the app or something like an Echo Dot–in order for this to work. Once it’s set up, you can change the name to reflect where you’ll use it and you’re good to go.
It can be automated using a schedule or you can control it using your voice. It’s perfect for things like fans, coffee makers, electric kettles, holiday lights and more.
What the reviews say: Over 80% of the nearly 560,000 Amazon reviews of this smart plug are from people who liked it enough to give it 5 stars. While some people were hesitant to buy it because of the price, the reviewers praise how easy it is to set up and how reliable it is in daily use.
Pros:
- Super easy to set up
- Compact design that doesn’t block second outlet
Cons:
- Only works with Alexa
- Pricey compared to other brands
Best Smart Video Doorbell
Two Cameras For The Price Of One
Eufy Dual Cam Video Doorbell
Best for: People who get a lot of deliveries.
Video doorbells are a great addition to any exterior door of your home, and not just for security reasons. Being able to see what’s happening, who’s arriving or departing and if you have any deliveries from anywhere is invaluable. The Eufy dual-camera video doorbell is a great option for everyone because it doesn’t need to be hardwired and can be installed in just minutes.
This Eufy video doorbell has two cameras on it, one that points directly ahead to see who’s at the door and another that aims down to keep an eye on your porch and packages. It’s battery-powered and can last for up to two weeks before needing to be recharged. It also comes with Eufy’s HomeBase that offers 16 GB of local storage, so you don’t need to pay any monthly fees.
It has 2K video feed, motion alerts, night vision, two-way audio and much more. You can set it up to recognize people’s faces so it alerts you as they arrive. It can even send you a reminder notification once you’re home to bring in a package that was delivered.
What the reviews say: People who purchase the Eufy dual-camera video doorbell seem to really like it. With more than 1,000 5-star ratings at Amazon, people rave about how clear and detailed the image is, how great the second camera is for those who get lots of deliveries, and that there are no additional fees because of the large storage in the HomeBase.
Pros:
- No monthly service fees
- Two cameras for better field of view
Cons:
- Notifications can be a little slow
- Battery powered, so you need to charge it
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
- We love tech at Forbes Vetted, and love it even more when it helps enhance your life. From attending launch events to reviewing the products as they hit the market, smart home devices are things that get used almost daily by much of our staff.
- We’ve spent hours researching the best brands, understanding the consumer needs and considering the differences between the smart home platforms.
- Writer Jared DiPane has used smart home devices for years. His home is decked out with smart bulbs, switches, doorbells, cameras, door sensors and so much more.
How I Chose The Best Smart Home Devices
- Selecting the best smart home devices is not an easy task, because there are so many options that are worth buying. To ensure I picked the best smart home devices for the largest audience, I first looked for accessories that are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.
- I also stuck to the most popular brands, because they are generally easier to set up and have better support in case something goes wrong.
- Once I limited the list a bit, I spent a good amount of time reading about people’s experiences with these devices to ensure that they really were the best of the best.
- I also used my own extensive experience and first-hand knowledge of the devices and platforms. I’ve tried some of the most expensive and some of the cheapest smart home devices on the market over the past few years, and have learned a lot in the process.
