Amazon Echo (4th Gen) - Best Smart Speaker

The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is a top smart speaker for your home. It’s small but mighty, measuring just 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 inches. This little powerhouse connects to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and even works with Matter and Zigbee.

That means it can control lots of smart home gadgets. The best part? It’s cheap and easy to use.

Alexa, turn on the lights and play my favorite song!

You can talk to the Echo to do all sorts of things. It plays music, answers questions, and runs your smart home. The sound is pretty good, but not as great as pricier speakers. Still, it’s hard to beat for the price.

Plus, it has a built-in hub for Matter and Zigbee devices. That makes it super handy for controlling your whole smart home.

Echo Hub - Best Smart Home Controller

The Echo Hub is a cool new gadget for your smart home. It has a screen that’s always on and you can change how it looks. You can see live videos from your cameras on it too. The best part? It’s easy to use and has a hub built right in.

This means you can control lots of different smart home stuff with just one device.

But the Echo Hub isn’t perfect. It’s a bit big and bulky. The speakers aren’t great either. Still, for $100, it’s a good deal. It works with many smart home systems like Zigbee, Thread, and Matter.

So, you can connect and control most of your smart home devices with ease. If you want a simple way to run your smart home, the Echo Hub is a top pick.

Nest Cam (battery) - Best Home Security Camera

Nest Cam (battery) is a top pick for home security. This small, 3.3-inch camera packs a punch with its 1080p video at 30 fps. It sees a wide 130 degrees, catching more action in one shot.

You don’t need wires, so you can put it anywhere. The camera spots people and things moving, and tells you right away.

For $6 a month, you can get Nest Aware. This lets you save videos and get more alerts. The Nest Cam takes clear videos, day or night. It’s easy to set up and use. But, it doesn’t have many add-ons yet.

Still, it’s a great way to keep an eye on your home without much fuss.

Ecobee SmartThermostat Premium - Best Smart Thermostat

Moving from home security to home comfort, let’s talk about the Ecobee SmartThermostat Premium. This smart device is a top pick for controlling your home’s temperature. It’s small but mighty, measuring just 4.3 x 4.3 x 1 inch.

The Ecobee works with many smart home systems like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. It has better sensors than older models and can even check your air quality. You can find it at different stores, with prices ranging from $200 to $250.

While it’s a bit bigger than some other smart thermostats, its features make up for its size. One happy user said:.

This thermostat saved me money on my energy bills and made my home more comfy. It’s like having a mini weather station in my living room!

Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit - Best Smart Light Bulb

Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit shines bright as the top smart light bulb pick. This A19 bulb connects to your home network using Zigbee. It plays nice with Alexa, HomeKit, Google Home, and Nest.

You can dim it, control it from afar, and even use your voice to turn it on or off. The kit comes with a hub, which you need to make it work. While it lacks color options, it’s great for basic white light needs.

The Philips Hue kit costs between $50 and $80. It’s a bit pricey, but it saves energy in the long run. The bulbs last long and use less power than regular ones. You can set schedules, group lights, and create scenes with the app.

It’s perfect for folks who want to dip their toes into smart lighting. Next up, let’s look at a smart lock that can make your home safer.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock - Best Smart Lock

Moving from smart lights to smart locks, let’s talk about the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. This cool gadget is small but mighty, measuring just 3 x 1.7 inches. It’s a breeze to set up and comes with built-in Wi-Fi.

That means you can lock or unlock your door from anywhere using your phone.

The August lock fits over your current deadbolt, so you don’t need new keys. It lets you give digital “keys” to friends or family. You can also check if your door is locked anytime.

The only downside? The keypad is sold separately. But at $128 to $156, it’s a great deal for peace of mind and easy access to your home.

Nest Doorbell (battery) - Best Video Doorbell

After securing your door with a smart lock, it’s time to see who’s at your doorstep. The Nest Doorbell (battery) is a top pick for video doorbells. This small device packs a big punch.

It’s only 6.3 x 1.8 x 0.95 inches but offers clear 1280p video at 30 fps. You’ll see a wide 145-degree view of your porch.

The Nest Doorbell runs on a battery, so you don’t need wires. It has sharp video quality and free motion detection. You can get more features with a $6 monthly plan. One downside is that it doesn’t come with a chime.

But overall, it’s a great way to keep an eye on your front door.

Wemo WiFi Smart Plug - Best Smart Plug

The Wemo WiFi Smart Plug is a tiny powerhouse for your home. It’s small but mighty, measuring just 1.3 x 2.0 x 1.8 inches. This smart outlet works with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and IFTTT.

You can control it with your voice or through an app. The plug has a button on it, so you can turn things on and off without your phone too.

This smart plug is great for saving energy. You can set schedules or turn off devices from anywhere. It’s easy to use and set up. The only downside is that it doesn’t work with 5GHz Wi-Fi.

But for $15 to $24, it’s a good deal. The Wemo plug is perfect for making any device in your home smarter. Next up, let’s look at another smart home must-have: the Nest Protect.

Nest Protect - Best Smart Smoke Detector

Moving from smart plugs to safety, let’s talk about the Nest Protect. This smart smoke detector keeps you safe day and night. It’s not just any old alarm – it’s a high-tech guardian for your home.

The Nest Protect is small but mighty. It fits in a 5.3 x 5.3 x 1.5 inch space. This device spots both smoke and carbon monoxide. It talks to you when there’s danger. Plus, it has LED lights that flash to warn you.

At $119 to $150, it costs more than regular alarms. But its smarts make it worth the price. It links to your WiFi and sends alerts to your phone. That way, you’re always in the know about your home’s safety.

Aeotec Smart Home Hub - Best Smart Home Hub

The Aeotec Smart Home Hub is a top pick for smart home fans. This small box (5.5 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches) can control lots of smart devices. It works with Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

That means it can talk to many different gadgets in your home. Setting it up is a breeze, which is great for new users. At $129.99, it’s not the cheapest option, but it’s worth it for its wide range of uses.

One downside is that the hub doesn’t have a backup battery. This could be a problem if your power goes out. But for most people, the pros outweigh this con. The hub’s ability to work with so many devices makes it a strong choice.

Let’s look at another cool smart home device that can make your life easier.

Chamberlain MyQ - Best Smart Garage Door Opener

Moving from smart home hubs to garage doors, let’s talk about the Chamberlain MyQ. This nifty gadget turns your old garage door into a smart one. It’s easy to set up and use, making it a top pick for 2025.

The MyQ uses Wi-Fi to connect to your home network. You can open or close your garage door from anywhere using your phone. It’s great for home security too. The app tells you if your door is open or closed.

At just $30, it’s a steal. But heads up, you’ll need to pay extra if you want to use it with Google Assistant. Sadly, it doesn’t work with Alexa yet. Still, its simple setup and user-friendly app make it a winner for most folks.

Amazon Smart Plug - Best for Simplicity and Compatibility

The Amazon Smart Plug is a cool gadget that makes your home smarter. It costs $24.99 and works with Alexa, so you can control it with your voice. You just plug it in, open the Alexa app, and you’re ready to go.

It’s super easy to use and set up.

This smart plug is great for indoor use on a 2.4 GHz network. You can turn on lights, fans, or other devices from anywhere using your phone or voice. It’s perfect for people who want to start making their home smart without any fuss.

The plug is simple but does a lot to make your life easier.

Nest Wi-Fi Router and Point - Best for Home Networking

Nest Wi-Fi Router and Point is a top pick for home networking. It’s great for folks who want fast internet all over their house. This system can handle up to 200 devices at once, which is perfect for smart homes.

It’s easy to set up and use, making it a good choice for many people.

One cool thing about Nest Wi-Fi is its high security score of 9.4 out of 10. This means your home network stays safe from bad guys. The downside is the price tag of $269, which might be too much for some.

Also, the Point doesn’t have Ethernet ports, so you can’t plug in devices directly. But if you need strong Wi-Fi in every room, Nest Wi-Fi is hard to beat.

Vivint - Best Comprehensive Smart Home Security System

Vivint offers a top-notch smart home security system. It keeps your home safe with a high security score of 9.4 out of 10. The system includes cool gadgets like outdoor cameras that watch your property.

You’ll pay $30 to $50 each month for monitoring. But don’t worry, pros will set it up for you. The install costs $199, or $129 if you move and need it set up again.

Want a fancy outdoor camera? Vivint’s Outdoor Camera Pro costs $399. It’s pricey, but it helps catch bad guys before they cause trouble. With Vivint, you get more than just alarms.

You can control lights, locks, and thermostats too. It’s like having a super-smart guard for your whole house.

Amazon Echo Show 5 - Best for Kitchen Use

The Amazon Echo Show 5 is a smart kitchen helper. It has a 5.5″ touchscreen that lets you see recipes, set timers, and watch videos. The sound is great too, with twice the bass of older models.

At $89.99, it’s a good deal for a kitchen gadget. Plus, it’s made from recycled stuff, which is good for the earth.

This little device can do a lot in your kitchen. You can ask it to play music, show you the weather, or even control other smart home devices. It’s small enough to fit on your counter but big enough to see clearly.

The Echo Show 5 makes cooking and cleaning more fun. Next up, we’ll look at another smart home device that keeps you safe.

Nest Protect - Top Choice for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detection

Nest Protect is a smart device that keeps your home safe. It spots smoke and carbon monoxide, two big dangers. This gadget talks to you when there’s trouble. It also uses bright lights to show where the problem is.

Nest Protect is super smart, but it costs more than other alarms.

You can buy Nest Protect at different stores. Amazon sells it for $150. Walmart has it for $119. Best Buy offers it for $113. Even though it’s pricey, many people think it’s worth it.

The spoken alerts and LED lights make it stand out from other alarms. It’s a top pick for folks who want the best home safety tech.

Wyze Cam - Most Versatile Home Security Camera

Moving from smoke detection to visual security, let’s check out the Wyze Cam. This little gadget packs a big punch for home safety. It’s a small but mighty camera that keeps an eye on your space day and night.

The Wyze Cam boasts a sharp 2.5K QHD picture, so you won’t miss a thing. It’s got a bright spotlight that turns on when it spots movement, and a loud 99 dB siren to scare off any bad guys.

The camera works with both old and new Wi-Fi, including the speedy Wi-Fi 6. You can watch live video, talk through the camera, and even see in the dark. Plus, you can save videos to the cloud or check them from your phone.

It’s a smart, budget-friendly way to beef up your home security.

eufy Smart Scale - Best Health Tracking Smart Home Device

From home security to health tracking, smart devices cover all bases. The eufy Smart Scale takes health monitoring to a new level. This smart scale does more than just weigh you. It measures your body fat, muscle mass, and water weight.

It even figures out your basal metabolic rate.

The eufy Smart Scale is a great deal. It costs $80 on Amazon, but you can get it for $40 directly from Eufy. The scale has a clear LCD display and connects to Wi-Fi. You can link it to an app on your phone.

The app lets many people use the scale and track their stats. It’s a cool way to keep an eye on your health right at home.

Philips Hue Lighting - Most Advanced Automated Lighting System

Philips Hue Lighting is a game-changer for smart homes. It lets you control your lights with your voice or phone. You can dim them, change colors, and set schedules. The A19 bulbs work with Alexa, HomeKit, Google Home, and Nest.

This means you can easily add them to your existing smart home setup.

While Philips Hue offers many perks, it does have a few drawbacks. You need a hub to use the lights, which adds to the cost. Also, the bulbs can’t change white tones. But for $50 to $80, you get top-notch smart lighting that saves energy and adds fun to your home.

The Zigbee connection keeps your lights linked even if your Wi-Fi goes down.

Apple HomePod - Best for Music and Audio Quality

Apple HomePod rocks the house with amazing sound. This smart speaker costs $299 and packs a punch. It has a special woofer that faces up, making music sound super clear. The HomePod works only with Apple stuff, so iPhone fans will love it.

It’s perfect for jamming out or watching movies with cool audio tricks.

HomePod isn’t just about tunes. It’s a smart helper too. You can ask it questions or control your home with your voice. It plays nice with new tech like spatial audio, which makes sound feel like it’s all around you.

Plus, it works with Matter, a new way to connect smart home gadgets. If you want top-notch sound and love Apple, the HomePod is a great pick.

Kangaroo Home Security System - Most Affordable Smart Security System

Kangaroo Home Security System is a budget-friendly way to keep your home safe. For just $29.99, you get motion and entry sensors that alert you when something’s up. It’s super easy to set up yourself, no need to call in the pros.

The system scores a solid 6.5 out of 10 for security, which is pretty good for the price.

This smart system sends alerts right to your phone when it spots trouble. You can keep an eye on things from anywhere. It’s perfect for folks who want basic protection without breaking the bank.

Plus, it’s a breeze to install, so you can have peace of mind in no time flat.