Technology is changing our world rapidly and having a smart home is a necessity. Most people are transitioning to a smart home. In this article, we will guide you through some devices that you can slowly introduce to your house to change to a smart home.
Smart Virtual Assistants
Many devices used in a smart home are controlled using virtual voice controllers like Google’s Assistants, Alexa from Amazon, and Siri from Apple.
These assistants will simply use your voice to achieve command on smart home devices. You can select the best virtual assistant according to your preferences. Additionally, you will have to select hardware that you will use for the same purpose (controlling).
This hardware will depend on the type of virtual assistant that you will choose. For instance, Echo Dot for Amazon’s Alexa, Android Smart Phone for Google’s Assistant, and iPhone or iPad for Apple’s Siri.
Smart Home Devices To Purchase
1. Smart Lights
Smart lights are one of the cheapest devices for a smart home. You can begin with smart bulbs. There are many smart bulbs in the market but we are going to look at one of the best in the market.
Wyze Bulb
Unlike most of the smart bulbs in the market, this is one of the cheapest smart bulbs you can find in the market. This is the ideal device to purchase if you want to make your house a Smart home especially if you are operating on a small budget. You can have these bulbs for as low as $ 19. Check the prices and specs on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084TFWJTH
Philips Hue Lights
This is one of the best bulbs. You can use Alexa, Homekit, and Google Assistant as your Voice assistant. One advantage of Philips Hue is that it comes with a wide range of bulbs, exterior lights, and lamps.
However, these are some of the most expensive brands of smart lights you can find in the market. Some of the bulbs may cost as high as $ 319. Click on this link to find more about the Philips Hue lights on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Philips+Hue+Personal+Wireless+Lighting+Starter
2. Smart Plug
Plugs are one of the most used essentials in a household. If you want to upgrade your house to a smart home, then this is one of the devices to purchase. Smart plugs are not very expensive. You can purchase for as low as $ 20. They are called smart plugs since you can put power on or off remotely without. There are smart plugs from many brands such as Wyze Plug, TP-Link Kasa Smart, and WeMo Wi-Fi Smart Plug.
We picked TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Plug Mini as the best smart plug. It works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. You can as well customize and access other settings via the Kasa app which is available for both iOS and Android. However, the Plug is not compatible with Homekit.
Check prices and specs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079B7SHD8/ref=cm
3. Indoor Smart Security Camera
Security is vital for a smart home. Most people prefer outdoor security cameras. However, the outdoor security cameras are expensive compared to the indoor cameras, since the article is about making a home into a smart home, we will look at the most affordable devices.
In our case, indoor smart security cameras are affordable. We picked Wyze Cam Pan v2. The camera has two-way audio, you can therefore talk to people while you are not in your house. The camera can rotate 360 degrees. It offers a monthly subscription for storage. However, you can store 12 seconds clips for free during the first 14 days.
Additionally, the camera is much affordable, you can have it for $50. For more specs and accurate prices visit amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DRCFF81/ref
4. Smart Lock
Many people have complained that smart locks have previously posed the threat of locking you out. Older smart locks could develop some failures and maybe fail to open. However, the smart locks that have been built recently have reduced the risk of locking yourself out.
They have been designed such that you can use your manual key to lock or unlock your doors whenever you are not using the smart lock.
We looked at August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. This lock allows you to use your original keys to open your doors. You can connect the Lock to your phone via Bluetooth or WiFi. You don’t need many accessories to control it remotely since it has built-in WiFi.
Additionally, you can control the lock using Alexa, Sir, or Google Assistant. You can access more settings from the August app.
Find more specs and prices from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082VXK9CK/ref
5. Mesh Router
Without a WIFI connection, most of the smart home devices will not work since WIFI is used especially when commanding actions. Therefore, the mesh router is designed to transmit a strong WIFI signal in your home so that all the devices function effectively.
You may not have all the devices functioning effectively when the router is less powerful.
One of the best Mesh routers is the Google Nest WIFI which supports the latest version of WIFI (WIFI 6). Find more specs and prices from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MKD6SM. However, this router is limited to Google Smart homes.
For non- Google users, there are other routes that you can use to serve the same purpose such as Netgear Orbi: https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Whole-Tri-Band and Asus RT- AX86U: https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-RT-AX86U
6. Video Doorbell
Video doorbell is one of the inventions used in smart homes. Many brands have produced video doorbells that are already in the market but we picked Arlo Video Doorbell. Arlo Video Doorbell is budget-friendly compared to doorbells from other brands. For instance, Nest Hello is priced at $ 229.
Arlo Video Doorbell offers you’re a 180-degree viewing angle. A monthly subscription for the Arlo Smart cloud storage is also affordable, priced at $3. Check price and more specs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YMV9VMT
7. Smart Display For Alexa
Smart displays are used, for this case, to control the smart devices using Alexa. Other than controlling the smart devices in the house, the display will show news, weather, grocery list, and calendars.
The 2021 Amazon Echo Show 8 smart display for Alexa is the best you can find in the market. Some features that make it the best include a 13-megapixel camera, you can make video calls using this camera. Echo Show 8 has a built-in shutter that obstructs the camera view if you don’t want to use the camera whenever you are making calls.
Find more specs and prices on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Staging-Product-Not
8. Google Nest Hub
Just like Echo Show 8, for Google Assistant there is Nest Hub which surfaced on the market in 2021.
Google Nest Hub has built-in Google Assistant. It performs the same functions that are performed by Google Assistant.
Unlike Echo Show 8, Nest Hub does not have a camera. Get more specs and prices from Google Store: https://store.google.com/us/config/nest_hub
9. Samsung SmartThings
This device will help you to centrally control and integrate all the smart devices in your house. Samsung SmartThings has built-in WIFI (you don’t need to connect it to a router) and works with a range of devices.
You can pair it with many smart home devices since it has both Zigbee and Z-Wave antennas.
10. Robot Vacuum (Shark Ion R85)
Cleaning is compulsory for every home. Shark Ion R85 will serve the cleaning purpose in your home. Some of the famous specs include a good pet-hair collection. However, this vacuum cleaner may get stuck when cleaning thick carpets.
You can find more specs and prices on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Shark
