Best Smart Home Gadgets & Devices for 2022
We live in an era when technology and smart devices are efficiently taking over our lives. Whether you made be looking to find great additions to your smart home or if your just getting started in the automated world then 2022 is looking very bright for you.
The new devices that have been released onto the market are more intelligent, affordable and most important simple to use. However to be able to buy the best products you will need to make a smart decision as to what is needed and what particular product suits your life style.
So this smart guide will look at the essential products needed to build your refreshing smart empire and review the features, and prices of some of the Best Smart Home Devices for 2022.
Best Smart Home Devices
When it comes to the Best Smart Devices essentials should cover Control, Smart Hubs, Lighting, Temperature Control and Security. So to give you an idea of what to look our for we have complied a list with the best for each category.
Here are our favourites when it comes to the best smart home devices for your house or apartment.
- Best smart hub: Samsung SmartThings Hub
- Best smart voice control: Amazon Echo
- Best smart light bulbs: Philips Hue
- Best smart thermostat: Nest Cam Indoor Security Camera
- Best smart security camera: Nest Cam Indoor Security Camera
- Best smart doorbell: Ring Video Doorbell Pro
- Best smart smoke detector: Nest protect
Smart Hubs
If you haven’t already heard of these, smart home hubs are very clever devices that connects other devices on the same automation network and controls communication between these devices. A smart home hub generally will have a built-in switch. This switch maintains the information that needed to determine how and where data is forwarded. These amazing hubs are usually controlled through a smart phone App that allows you to carry out commands like open the blinds and turn off the light etc. So before you go and get Smart devices you need one of these Hubs to bring everything together.
For 2018 a very good product that stands out a very Good Smart Hub is the Samsung SmartThings Hub.
This devices allows you to connects wireless to hundreds of compatible smart devices, allowing you to be able to monitor, control and look after tour home securely from anywhere.
Unlike a lot of other devices Samsung have made this Hub compatible with other brands and devices in the market. So along with using the the SmartThings app to bee able to control the device you can also use the app to discover the large list list of compatible products.
The features of the Hub is that it is Wireless, has a battery life of 10 hours (uses 4 x Alkaline AA), is compatible with Apple systems, Android and Windows and can function in a room that has a temperature between 0 and 40 degrees.
Voice Control
These control devices use voice commands to be able to perform different functions.Usually voice control devices are capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts and more things. The must have device for this category has got to be the Amazon Echo.
Amazon Echo connects to a personal assistant that is called Alexa. Alex is a cloud-based voice service that can play music, actually make calls for you, set your alarms and timers. This device can also check your calendar, tell you what the weather will be like and if you are likely to find traffic on your journey.
This device is as helpful as a friend or family member and very efficient with the different things that it can do. The Amazon Echo can also play Audiobooks that have been downloaded. This device can also connect to any other similar Echo devices in your home using just your voice.
This Device comes with a new speaker with Dolby processing that has great surround sound that just fills the room. It also comes with 360° omnidirectional audio.
It has seven microphones, beam-forming technology and even comes with noise cancellation. This voice control device can also hear you from any direction even if music is playing. on top of that unlike other voice control devices cancontrol your compatible smart lights, switches, TVs, thermostats. Has Wifi connectivity , 2.5 Subwoofer, power adapter and comes in 6 different colours.
So if you are looking for a voice control device with all the right trimmings then this Amazon Echo is the one for you.
Lighting
Lighting is an exciting addition to the Smart devices as this category is all about ambiance and creating the right light setting in your home. In our modern homes these type of smart devices are to be embraced.
Philips Hue is unquestionably on of the best developed do-it-yourself smart-home platforms that money can buy. This white-light starter is without a doubt your affordable entry point. We rated this the best smart LED bulb from Philips is not only good looking and bright but also brings with it easy-to-use smarts. For just $15, it’s possible to add extras to a setup. Are you serious about smart lighting? If yes, then this is practically a must buy.
What is for sure is the fact that there is an awful lot to make you fall in love with Philips Hue’s smart lighting ecosystem – it’s not only easy to use and polished but also works with almost everything. This white LEDs from Philips are excellent light bulbs for sure. Every bulb puts out more than 800 lumens when it comes to full brightness. That certainly makes them an effective replacement for a standard 60W incandescent. The bulbs are highly efficient too. They put that light out from a mere power draw of only 9.5 watts. That is excellent especially for your connected LED that isn’t doing anything more than emitting light.
The shape of this bulb is not only wide but also nice. It extends out beyond your heat sink that constitutes the bottom half. Because of that, the bulb has an omnidirectional and nice light output that shines downwards if you are utilizing it on something such as a bedside reading lamp.
One of the best smart home devices for this one is the Phillips Hue White and Colourful Ambience lighting. This smart lighting device syncs your Philips Hue lights with your film and the music you play through different iOS and Android devices.This device unlike other light systems has a catalog of different colors you can choose from, literally a choice of 16 million colors. The bulbs have been improved with deeper shade of aqua colors so that there is a better scene setting in your home.
The Phillips Hue is one of the best smart devices because it has setting on the on the Philips Hue App that adapts to help with concentration. To give you more energy and to enable the family to read and relax.With the Philips Hue app and your voice you can control your lights from anywhere. needs a Philips Hue bridge.
It comes with a Dimmer switch and a Hue bridge. Uses 240 volts, is wi-fi controlled and can be operated remotely. LED bulb with A+ energy efficiency, luminous Flux 800 lumen. The Wattage is 10 watts on each bulb and the Average Life of the each bulb is 25,000 hours.
Read our Philips Hue review here.
Smart Thermostat
The subheading for this is quite explanatory, We all get thermostats so that we can control our energy levels in the home and reduce our bills. So in our smart homes we need something that control our heater usage in a smart way. One of the best smart devices for this is the Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd generation.
The Nest Thermostat does exactly what a new age thermostat should do. Saves energy and money. This device learns from the user. It gets to know your preferred temperature when you are at home.
The best thing about this is that it turns itself down when you’re away. The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with quite a few central heating systems like: Combi boilers System, Domestic hot water tanks, ground source heat pumps and some underfloor systems. The Thermostat comes as a compact size, powered by batteries, and use the Nest App to control temperature and views temperature history.
As an addition if you have an any voice control devices you can connect them through the Nest app and use voice command to control it. So if you are going to keep warm during the year why not do it in smart style as this is one of the best smart devices of 2018 that you will buy.
Runner Up – Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat
The Ecobee4 smart thermostat boasts a responsive display, tons of smart integrations and a remote sensor that includes an inbuilt Amazon Alexa speaker. It borrows all the great stuff from older thermostats from Ecobee. It features a responsive touchscreen display, proximity sensor, remote temperature as well as web apps and intuitive mobile. The thermostat also has integrations with IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings, Apple HomeKit, and Amazon Alexa.
Ecobee has been in the thermostat business for such a long time. Nonetheless, it’s the maiden few smart models that were not able to match the stylish learning thermostat of Nest. Six years later, Nest still disposes the same old thermostat for almost same price. During this time, Ecobee has forged quite ahead and lined up three connected thermostats – The new Ecobee4, the Ecobee3, and the Ecobee3 Lite.
The Ecobee4 features an impressive touchscreen display that incredibly easy to use. It’s also fast responsive. The Ecobee4 depends on a remote sensor. It comes complete with proximity/motion detection, and temperature detection. With this amazing feature, the sensor makes it effortless to establish if some is home or away. There is no doubt about that.
Security
In the world we currently live in security is at such a high, specifically with all the devices that you may have in the house you will want to make sure you are covered in the coming year. For 2018 a device that stands out the most is the Nest Cam Indoor Security Camera. This is better than any other security camera.
With the nest and sound alerts on your phone, email, smartwatch (Apple and Android Wear).See live what’s happening at home or go back in time with free 3h events history.Pristine vision night and day: 1080p HD, wide viewing angle, clear zoom, advanced Night Vision.See, talk, and listen: hear what’s going on and talk back using the Nest app.
Secure your home, look after your pets, or check on babies at night.Security that grows with you: never miss a moment with Nest Aware (sold separately)* – continuous cloud recording, person alerts, customizable activity zones, and more. Each Nest Cam automatically comes with a free 30-day trial.
You can opt out at any time. When your trial expires, you can subscribe in the Nest app.
Runner Up – Amazon Cloud Cam
Amazon cloud cam is one of the best indoor security cameras. This camera’s crisp 1080p HD live feed, free 24-hour clip storage and prompt motion notifications are some of the reasons you need to buy this camera as a home gift for Christmas. Other reasons include:
- Pocket friendly
- Uncomplicated app
- Reliable performance
- Simple installation
- Free cloud storage
To access person alerts and detection zones, you must subscribe to the discretionary cloud service. Configuring this cloud cam should take you less than 5 minutes. All you need to do is download the amazon cloud cam application for iPhone or Android. Next, you need to log in with your existing Amazon credentials. If you don’t have, you can create a new account. Finally, plug in your camera. The base of the camera can effortlessly rest on any flat surface on a wall outlet. When you purchase the cam, you’ll also get a mounting hardware to help you attach it to your wall.
Other Choice – Kuna Toucan Outdoor Camera
The Toucan outdoor camera perfectly connects with a smart socket light bulb adapter through USB. That means that you don’t have to bother with a power cord or batteries. It boasts such a discreet design and in-built 100-decibel siren to give you an additional dose of deterrence. Have you been looking for a low-maintenance outdoor camera to secure your home? Then this product certainly fits the bill.
Some of the amazing features of this outdoor camera include:
- Cloud storage
- Two-way talk
- A host of apps
- Alerts
- A motion sensor
- HD video resolution
The best part of it all is the fact that it retrofits to the current outdoor wall lights through a USB cable. That means that no fuss, no wires and no batteries. It’s also possible to link your camera effortlessly with your light fixture.
Smart Doorbell
The Ring doorbell is a smart doorbell that has a camera built in, allowing you to see who is at the door when you are in or not. The ring doorbell connects to your mobile and notify you when it is pressed, once connected it shows you a live stream from the camera so you can see who is there, you can then talk to them through your phone. This is great if you are not in, as you can tell the delivery man to leave a parcel with a neighbour or in a hidden place, it is also good for security so you can see who is there and deter any potential intruders.
Runner Up – SkyBell HD Wi-Fi Doorbell
This latest Wi-Fi doorbell from SkyBell features a 1080p high-definition resolution, free video storage, on-demand clip recording, and an integration with Google/Alphabet’s Nest as well as Amazon’s Alexa Skills Kit. The doorbell’s array of third-party integrations and 1080p resolution makes it unique from the rest. Undeniably, this doorbell has upped the ante in a real way. By buying this best smart home gift for Christmas, you should look forward to free clip storage and on-demand live streaming.
By combining its straightforward app interface and responsiveness, you’ll certainly end up with a world-class smart doorbell. The other attribute of this amazing doorbell is that it’s pretty. It features a rounded design that measures 2.8 inches by 2.8 inches with 0.9 inches in terms of depth. The company’s HD doorbell looks identical virtually to the previous models. You can get the doorbell in either oil-rubbed bronze or brushed aluminum for it to match with other hardware inside your home.
Are you looking for the best smart home gift for Christmas? While still in infancy, the amount of smart home products is growing rapidly. Presently, the devices that allow you control your crock-pot, thermostat, lighting etc are countless. From Home Depot and Belkin to GE, tons of whole ecosystems and products to help you control your home effortlessly through Android app or single iOS are many.
Founder & Editor
Mike is the founder of Hue Home Lighting, a huge Hue fan with far too many lights, covering home and garden. A smart home gadget addict and also enjoys the odd bit of DIY
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