It is no secret that the smartphone reinvented the way we communicate, reshaped our perception of portability and started the age of smart technologies. The smart home technology is no different — it is currently reshaping our entire home experience, bringing you endless possibilities to the table.
Before you look for the best smart home accessories…
You will most certainly need a robust, secure device, on which to connect all of your smart home devices. Such devices are called smart home hubs are vital if you are looking for the most convenient experience possible. It will allow you to connect to a ton of accessories and you will have to power to control them from one place, anywhere, anytime — on your smartphone. If you are unsure of where to find the best smart home hub, feel free to check out my review right here.
What are the benefits of making your home smart?
Depending on where you live at an what accessories you acquire, your benefits will be different. For example, in a lot of places having a smart thermostat is going to give you a % refund or a discount on heating bills. You will be able to turn on and off machines in your home, such as the often-forgotten iron, that might cost you someday your apartment or house.
Wouldn’t you love your lights to automatically adjust to the healthiest and most comfortable for your eyes light by themselves? Or maybe you want to come home to a warm apartment every time, without leaving the heating on all the time. All of this is possible thanks to the smart home accessories, but finding them is often a very time-consuming chore. To help you find the best deal out there, I’ve tested and presented to you my top 5 choices for smart home accessories in 2018:
# | Image | Brand | Price |
1 | Nest | $215 | |
2 | Amazon | $50 | |
3 | Kasa | $35 | |
4 | Ring | $100 | |
5 | TP-Link | $18 |
1. Nest Smart Thermostat
- Black, Copper, Steel and White-colored models
- Easy to read display
- Digital/Analog face
- Works with Nest
- Amazon Alexa support
There is nothing better than being welcomed to a warm home on a freezing winter day, right? Most people that I know leave their heating systems always on so that when they get home, they don’t have to wait for their apartments to get hot. The thermostat detects when you are coming back through your smartphone and turns up the heating. Neat, right?
There are four colors available for the Nest smart thermostat — black, copper, stainless steel, and white. It has a big, bright display that is easy to read from the other end of the room. You can even choose a digital or analog clock to be the face of the device. It works with Nest and has support for Amazon Alexa voice control.
2. Amazon Echo 2nd Generation
Maybe one of the essential features that a smart home must have is an intelligent home assistant. With features ranging all the way from turning up and down the volume of your favorite songs on the radio, all the way to regulating the height and tilt of your blinds — the Amazon Echo is going to provide you with a significant productivity boost.
The Echo comes with Alexa, which is supported for a ton of smart home accessories and in most cases, you will be good to go if they support voice control feature. The assistant’s 360-degree speaker comes with an advanced Dolby processing for a crisp and clear sound — a lot more than your average speaker.
3. Kasa Smart Plugs
You have probably at some point in your life forgotten the iron turned on. In these situations, you either have to go back home or, if that is impossible, pray that you won’t find yourself sleeping in the ashes of your home. With the Kasa Smart plug, you will never have to worry about such situations.
Although a little pricey, equipping every used plug with a smart device will give you control, beyond what you have imagined. It will also allow you to play around with automation features and make your home operate by itself.
4. Ring Smart Doorbell
Almost every day I opened the door to at least one promoter. Whether it was religious, or just another mop advertisement, I just never buy anything. Wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to see who rings on your door to know if there is a point to open? Or to be able to see who is at your door when you are not at home?
All of this is possible thanks to the Ring smart doorbell. It comes with Wi-Fi and Amazon Alexa support, and an app that is available for phones, tablets, and PCs. You will be able to talk to, hear and see the person that rang your bell from anywhere, as long as you have a stable internet connection.
5. TP-Link Smart LED Light Bulb
Having the option to change the color of your lighting at any time just from your phone, or with your voice, is a blessing. You can set the colors to match the different moods, or to achieve a certain one. The TP-Link smart LED light bulb supports Alexa and comes with a brightness, equivalent to that of a 60 W regular light bulb. The device also works with the Kasa application, among others, which allows for greater compatibility with the rest of your home accessories.
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