In this article:
- Best smart home devices
- How we test
- How to choose a smart home device
- Best smart home device FAQs
Many of us are still working from home these days or work in a hybrid. And in that same time, homes have transformed into smarter, more helpful spaces, complete with smart lightbulbs, speakers, video doorbells, security cameras and more, evolving into a complete ecosystem of smart home devices.Â
Picking the right devices can be complicated. You might just need one gadget to address a particular issue, like a smart plug to put a lamp on a schedule. Or you may be thinking about how to build on what you already own, like an Alexa- or Google Assistant-powered smart speaker, or even Siri and Apple’s HomeKit smart home service. Voice assistants can be a great starting point for building a do-it-yourself smart home. They offer a convenient way for family members or roommates to interact with the various devices without having to manage basic access within each app. Many, but not all, of the products on our list of the best smart home devices will work with multiple voice assistants.
Before you dive into our picks for the best devices, keep in mind that Amazon, Google and Apple have each released a new set of smart home speakers in the past few years. Be sure to check out our reviews of Apple’s HomePod Mini, Google’s Nest Audio and Nest Doorbell with battery, Amazon’s fourth-gen Echo speaker and Echo Show 15, and we’ll update this list as new products launch.
In this article:
- Best smart home devices
- How we test
- How to choose a smart home device
- Best smart home device FAQs
Many of us are still working from home these days or work in a hybrid. And in that same time, homes have transformed into smarter, more helpful spaces, complete with smart lightbulbs, speakers, video doorbells, security cameras and more, evolving into a complete ecosystem of smart home devices.Â
Picking the right devices can be complicated. You might just need one gadget to address a particular issue, like a smart plug to put a lamp on a schedule. Or you may be thinking about how to build on what you already own, like an Alexa- or Google Assistant-powered smart speaker, or even Siri and Apple’s HomeKit service. Voice assistants can be a great starting point for building a do-it-yourself smart home. They offer a convenient way for family members or roommates to interact with the various devices without having to manage basic access within each app. Many, but not all, of the products on our list of the best smart home devices will work with multiple voice assistants.
Before you dive into our picks for the best devices, keep in mind that Amazon, Google and Apple have each released a new set of speakers in the past few years. Be sure to check out our reviews of Apple’s HomePod Mini, Google’s Nest Audio and Nest Doorbell with battery, Amazon’s fourth-gen Echo speaker and Echo Show 15, and we’ll update this list as new products launch.
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Best smart home devices
Amazon’s fourth-gen Echo is still impressive well over a year after its initial launch — and even if you pay its full $100 price (you can often find it on sale if you keep an eye out). Between its new sphere-like profile, powerful sound output and a few forward-looking features, the Echo is still king of the countertop.
Google’s Nest Audio speaker, which also launched in 2020, is a solid competitor with the Echo, and Apple’s recent HomePod Mini plays well in the Apple sandbox, but Amazon wins out in two key categories: Its speaker is far more powerful — the bass is particularly impressive — and it features a built-in Zigbee receiver and Amazon Sidewalk Hub that make connecting devices like lightbulbs and locks much more seamless and reliable.
Meanwhile, Alexa and Google Assistant are pretty much at parity right now. While Amazon boasts about more skills and support for more third-party devices for its voice assistant, the numbers for Google Assistant also land in the tens of thousands, meaning you really don’t miss out on anything significant either way.
Google Assistant does a better job at mimicking natural conversation flow, but the difference isn’t really that noticeable in your day-to-day interaction with each speaker. Most of the time you’ll ask a smart speaker for the weather, to set a timer and maybe have it play a song or two. Both devices are good at all of that.
