How to Turn Your Home Into a Smart Home
30 Easy-to-Use Smart Technology Products to Upgrade Your Home
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Slowly but surely, technology is taking over the home. You can control your speakers, lights, alarm systems and more with the touch of a button — or even a slight yell (Hey, Alexa!). In this new age, smart home gadgets add a ton of convenient assistance to daily life, and almost everyone is primed and ready to get a little extra help around the house.
Not sure where to start? Here are 30 easy-to-use smart technology products to upgrade your home ASAP and get you up to speed.
The Perfect Home Assistant
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Many consumers are already familiar with products in the Amazon Echo family. The latest revamp of the popular smart speaker, the Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Generation), makes the perfect addition to any home. Simply by asking Alexa for help, you can listen to music, news and other information as well as talk to contacts hands-free using high-quality sound.
The Echo Dot frees you up to multi-task and get other things done around the house. The price ranges from $30 to $50, depending on current sales and promotions. The next product on the list also has Alexa built-in to help you cool off or heat up, depending on the weather.
Control Your Room Temperature with Ease
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Control the climate in your home with ease with the ecobee4 Smart Thermostat. You don't even have to get up and walk across the room to change the temperature. Simply use your phone or your voice — via the thermostat's built-in Alexa feature — to control it. Plus, the device can be installed in about 30 minutes.
The thermostat currently comes in at less than $200 and includes room sensors to measure both occupancy and temperature to automatically adjust the temperature as needed. Homeowners save up to 23% annually on heating and cooling costs by using this smart thermostat. The next product up also allows you to manage various controls in your home with your phone.
The Maestro of Your Smart Home
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Many people have faced the annoyance of forgetting to lock their doors or turn off their lights when leaving the house. The Wink 2 Smart Home Hub can take care of that oversight for you. Priced on average at less than $200, the Wink 2 can lock your doors, open your garage, turn on fans, turn off appliances and more.
Using the Wink app on your phone, you can manage the happenings in your home, even when you aren't physically there. Once you're home and done for the day, this next smart product can help you find the perfect sleeping position in bed.
Comfortably Binge Watch Netflix in Bed
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Adjustable bed bases have been around for a while, but the Lucid L300 Adjustable Bed Base takes the technology a step further. The wireless remote (with a built-in flashlight!) controls the base so you can find the perfect comfort position in bed. It also has two USB ports to charge your phone and other devices.
The first-ever folding hinge base also makes it easy to ship to your front door, and assembly only takes about five minutes. Prices on the Lucid L300 range from $399 to $450. Next up, this robot won't help you sleep, but it can take care of your grass when it's too hot — or you're simply feeling too tired — to mow.
No More Pushing the Lawnmower
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There's a way to beat the summer heat and relax while still making sure your lawn looks beautiful. With the Husqvarna Automower 315 Robotic Lawn Mower, you can keep a clean-cut lawn, rain or shine. The robotic Husqvarna continuously mows and leaves the fine grass clippings as a natural fertilizer — no more bagging or raking required.
The Automower has a hefty price tag of around $1,500, but it has gotten praise from ProToolReviews, which called it "an amazing concept" for those who put in the time for a well-manicured lawn. If you prefer cooking over landscaping, read on to learn more about this must-have product for your kitchen.
So Your Food Doesn't Lose Flavor
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For those who find working in the kitchen to be second nature, this smart device is for you. The easy-to-use Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano allows you to monitor and adjust the cooking temperature from your cell phone.
Attach the Anova Precision Cooker Nano to any pot, add water along with your vacuum-packed meats, veggies and more, and let the device do the rest. Your food comes out tender and moist every time. Even better, this smart device for your kitchen costs less than $100. With the next product, you can rest easy knowing your kitchen and the rest of your home are safe at all times.
The Smart System to Keep You Safe and Secure
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The eight-piece wireless SimpliSafe Home Security System has been named "the best home security system" by CNET and PC Magazine. It offers protection for your entire home using a variety of motion and entry sensors that can be set up without any tools. With 24/7 professional monitoring, help is dispatched quickly in case of an emergency. The system also includes a wireless panic button to call for help.
The SimpliSafe system boasts more than 2 million users across the nation and is described as "remarkably intuitive and thoughtfully designed so you can blanket your home with protection and never notice." It's a bright idea, much like the way simple light bulbs have turned into smart devices for the home as well.
Brighten Up Your House with the Touch of a Button
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The Philips Hue LED Smart Light Bulb starter kit comes with three smart bulbs and a Hue Hub for customized lighting. It's possible to control these special bulbs with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant as well as through the Philips Hue App on your phone. That means you can turn the lights on and off or even dim them without getting up.
Set custom light routines and smart lighting schedules to help you sleep better, wake up and turn on lights on when you're almost home. The kit ranges from $60 to $80, on average. Up next is a popular smart doorbell that is helping catch thieves left and right.
Smart Security Right at Your Doorstep
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One of the hottest smart devices out right now is the Ring Video Doorbell. The original doorbell, priced at around $100, is certainly not a normal doorbell. It allows you to see, hear and speak to visitors from your phone, tablet, PC or other smart device.
When visitors press the doorbell or any motion is detected, you get an alert on your phone letting you know. Even better, Ring instantly records anyone — friend or stranger — that appears on your doorstep. If there is a theft or other suspicious behavior near the porch, Ring catches it all. Now that you're feeling safe, this next product can add to your downtime by taking away the chore of vacuuming for good.
Keep Your Floors Clean at All Times
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The iRobot Roomba 675 allows you to vacuum around the house without lifting a finger, which makes the cost of around $300 sound like a perfectly fair deal. The smart vacuum moves around the house and easily loosens, lifts and suctions dirt, dust and hair from hard floors and carpet.
Patented Dirt Detect sensors alert Roomba to areas of the home that have higher levels of dirt. Using the iRobot Home app or other home assistants, you can command or schedule a time for the Roomba to start cleaning. Simple enough! If only cooking could be so easy — but maybe it can be with this go-to device for heating up meals.
Quickly Cook Your Food with Voice Commands
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The AmazonBasics Microwave works hand-in-hand with Alexa via an Echo device. Priced around $60 (for the microwave alone), this appliance makes it easy to reheat or cook for specified amounts of time just by asking. With Alexa, you can set up quick-cook voice presets and then ask her to start microwaving your food.
That means you don't have to guess cook times or heat levels when you're defrosting meat or vegetables. Never want to run out of your favorite microwave foods? Ask Alexa to automatically reorder all your favorites when you're running low and save 10% on those orders. The next smart device on this list takes you out of the kitchen for a great way to save on your monthly water bill.
Keep Your Lawn Looking Pristine Without Wasting Water
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Ranging from about $200 to $240, the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller is perfect for those who want a healthy green lawn without breaking the bank — and without physically watering it themselves. You can control this smart sprinkler system with a few taps on your phone.
Weather intelligence software built into the sprinkler automatically skips unnecessary watering, thanks to features like rain skip, wind skip, freeze skip and more. Users have seen as much as 30% to 50% savings on their monthly water bills with this product. If you still crave more robots, the next product is the device you need for a sparkling clear pool.
A Much Easier Way to Clean Your Pool
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If you have a pool, you know it's a huge chore to physically clean it during the summer months. The Polaris F9550 Sport Robotic In-Ground Pool Cleaner easily sucks up any debris in pools using Vortex Vacuum Technology.
The cleaner, which comes equipped with Aqua-Trax tires for all pool surfaces, can be controlled at the touch of a button. It also reaches debris under stairs and in tight corners that are hard to clean. The device isn't cheap at around $1,000, but many reviewers claim it's worth every penny. This next smart device comes in pretty handy when you need to power a lot of devices in your home in the same place.
Power Your Devices Down at Any Time
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The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip by TP-Link isn't just an ordinary multi-plug extension cord. The Kasa Smart app allows you to independently control the power strip and its six outlets. Schedule each outlet individually or collectively to turn on and off at various times throughout the day.
You can actively monitor how much energy each device connected to the individual outlets consume, and it's a lifesaver when you forget to turn off anything from your iron to holiday lights. The price comes in at around $80 when the unit isn't on sale. Keep reading to check out another Wi-Fi-enabled device that allows you to cook meals like a professional chef.
Cook Your Meals to Perfection
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Home cooking is truly made effortless with the Tovala Gen 2 Smart Steam Oven. The Wi-Fi-enabled steam oven, which costs around $300, can be controlled with your phone through the Tovala mobile app. As a bonus, the app also provides more than 60 tasty recipes for you to try with your family.
The oven instinctively switches between bake, steam and broil to ensure every meal you cook is delicious. With its built-in smart technology, it sends alerts to your phone when your food is ready. The next smart device won't cook your meals, but it keeps a birds-eye view inside your home.
Watch Your Home from Every Angle
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If you're upgrading your home with better home security, the Wyze Cam Pan Wi-Fi Indoor Camera is a smart product to add to your list. Each camera costs less than $40 and delivers 360-degree coverage in less than three seconds, allowing you to see anyone inside the same room, no matter where they are positioned.
When the cameras are placed in multiple rooms, you can keep tabs on all the activity in your home as well as listen and talk to anyone in the home right from your phone. Wyze Cam Pan automatically records a 12-second video when it detects motion or sounds. Up next is a smart product that allows you to secure your home from anywhere in the world.
Easily Control Access to Your Home
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Ranging from $200 to just under $280, the August Smart Lock is simple to install, only taking about 10 minutes to attach to a door with a screwdriver. The lock allows you to control and monitor your door with ease, no matter where you are, just by looking at the August mobile app.
You can even tell Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant to lock and unlock the door once the device is properly installed. This allows you to grant keyless entry to family and friends as well as repair and service providers you trust. The next product on the list allows you to monitor energy usage in your home.
Turn Your Appliances on with a Simple Command
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The ConnectSense CS-SO-2 Smart Outlet² may seem a little price at around $60, but it allows you to plug in and control the appliances you use in your home. Easily monitor and turn on and off lights, fans and other appliances with the free ConnectSense app, or use voice commands through popular home assistants.
The Smart Outlet also allows you to set automated energy characteristics, such as dimming the lights when turning on the TV. It effortlessly fits over standard electrical outlets in North America, allowing you to use it for almost anything — maybe even baking like the next smart device on the list.
For Getting the Baking Measurements Just Right
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The intuitive Perfect Bake 2.0 Smart Scale comes with a recipe app that makes this handy kitchen tool an even better addition to your kitchen. Ranging from just under $20 to almost $50, depending on promotions, the set provides what you need to automatically scale recipes for the desired number of servings as well as different pan sizes and shapes.
The mobile app shows a virtual bowl on the screen to tell you when to stop pouring items you're adding to the recipe. The Perfect Bake also comes with a tablet/phone stand to make it easy to look at recipes while cooking. If you happen to also be tracking what you eat to improve your health, this next device is one you might want to keep nearby as well.
Staying on Track with Your Health Goals
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Priced around $150, the QardioBase2 Wi-Fi Smart Scale and Body Analyzer keeps track of your weight, BMI and any changes to your total body composition. It's a helpful tool for anyone trying to track their progress as they work toward fitness goals.
What's even better is the scale syncs with apps like Apple Health and MyFitnessPal to keep your data accurate. Additionally, with one charge using the provided USB cord, the scale is powered for up to a year. Hopefully, the next wireless product has even more longevity as it works to moisturize the air in your home and keep it smelling fresh.
Attack Dryness in the Air
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The Smart Wi-Fi Essential Oil Aromatherapy Ultrasonic Diffuser and Humidifier is an essential addition to your home when you need to tackle dryness in the air. The smart humidifier, which can be controlled by your phone, helps add moisture to the air to treat dryness of the skin, nose, throat and lips. If you get a cold or the flu, a humidifier can help ease some of the symptoms.
Alternatively, use it like a normal diffuser to transmit aromatherapy oils in the air. Download the device's companion app to control features like LED color and mist intensity from your phone. Up next is a product to help feed your fur babies effortlessly.
Dinner Is Served for Your Pets
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The PetSafe brand has been a trusted global leader in pet behavior and lifestyle products for almost 30 years. If you have pets of your own, the company's Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder is a must-have for your home. For around $160, you take all the work and mess out of feeding your pet by allowing this Wi-Fi-enabled product to do the job.
It's particularly handy when you aren't at home. By using the Smart Feed app, you can feed your pet with a few simple taps on your smartphone. It allows you to schedule up to 12 meals for your dog or cat and even control the portions and the speed of the pour from the device. If your pets enjoy background noise instead of silence when you aren't home, they may enjoy this next wireless product as much as you.
Getting the Party Started
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The Sonos Play:1 Compact Wireless Smart Speaker is a small — but powerful — device that streams music and more. The compact design of the speaker, which costs around $150, allows it to work in just about any space, including on countertops and tucked into bookshelves.
Don't let the size fool you, though. The powerful sound from the speaker easily fills the room. If you buy more than one, you can also connect them over Wi-Fi to create a stereo effect from different rooms. The next device also lets you keep an eye on your kids in different rooms.
Watching Over Your Little Ones from Afar
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If you have babies or active toddlers, the Nanit Plus Smart Baby Monitor gives you the perfect way to keep a close eye on them. The product sells for less than $400 and comes with a floor stand to provide a clear visual with audio of your child. You can access the feed from anywhere using your phone.
It also allows you to talk to your baby with two-way audio, and it tracks your child's sleeping patterns. If anything changes in the room, Nanit sends an alert to keep you updated. Next on the list, the Amazon Echo family continues to expand.
Ask Alexa to Do Even More
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The latest addition to the Amazon family is the compact Echo Show 5, which can easily sit on your kitchen countertop, side table, mantle or nightstand. With Alexa at your command, it has never been easier to create to-do lists and calendars, pull up recipes, listen to radio stations and audiobooks, and watch the news and your favorite shows.
With the built-in screen, you can connect with family and friends through video instead of just audio calls. As always, Alexa is there to help you throughout your day in a compact device that sells for less than $100. If you need to control multiple entertainment devices at once, check out this next smart device.
A Hub to Keep Everything Together
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With so many smart devices and streaming services in a single household, it is sometimes hard to balance them all. If you have multiple smart products in your home, the Logitech Harmony Hub can help you organize the chaos. The hub controls up to eight home entertainment devices using your phone or Alexa.
Create customized activities to control common home entertainment needs, such as adding a "Date Night" command to turn on your TV, launch Netflix and dim your smart lights. The smart hub costs as much as $100 at regular price but is sometimes on sale for much less. If you want to expand your tech to include your garage, this next product might be just what you need.
Keeping the Garage Safe
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It can be a real problem when you leave the house and forget to close the garage — or the battery in your remote dies, and you can't get in. All those issues go away with the MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener from Chamberlain. With the myQ app, you can open and close your garage door from wherever you are.
You can also set up customized notifications to receive alerts when your garage door opens or closes. The product costs less than $50 and is compatible with most garage door openers made after 1993. With your garage squared away, maybe you need a product to help you detect leaks in your home.
Getting Proactive About Water Damage
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Water leaks and flooding are serious risks that go with owning a home, especially after big rainstorms. The Govee Wi-Fi Water Leak Detector helps you proactively detect leaks in areas of the home that are susceptible to water damage.
Simply install the product's waterproof sensors and connect the provided Wi-Fi-enabled gateway to keep track of leaks inside or outside your home. The device usually costs less than $50 and can help prevent some serious damage. On the opposite extreme, the next smart device can protect your family from fire and smoke.
Getting Out Safely in Case of a Fire or Gas Leak
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To protect your family from smoke and undetectable gases, you need a reliable system that quickly detects and notifies you of the problem. The Nest Protect 2nd Gen Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm is that system. The device, which costs around $125, speaks to you and sends both an alarm and notifications to your phone when something is burning or smoke is detected.
Not only does the Nest Protect inform you carbon monoxide is in the home, but it also detects exactly where it is. When you're done with the serious stuff, the last product on the list is a must for watching your favorite shows and movies.
Getting the Clearest Picture for the Big Game
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The Sony 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV delivers a clear, dynamic range of color and detail using 4K HDTV technology. It's perfect if you're always the host of the big game or you frequently arrange watch parties for your favorite show.
Although it comes with its own voice remote, the TV is also compatible with Alexa and Google Home, allowing you to change channels, watch videos on YouTube, check the score of your favorite sports team and more, simply by using your voice. The TV comes in a variety of sizes and ranges from roughly $1,000 to almost $4,000.
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How to Turn Your Home Into a Smart Home
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