The Best Smart Home Devices

Rating: 5

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen, 2021 Release) Review: The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) is a versatile smart display that combines Alexa’s powerful voice assistant with an 8-inch HD touchscreen. The screen quality is sharp with vibrant colors, making it great for video calls, watching shows, or displaying digital photos. The 13 MP camera is a significant upgrade from the previous generation, with auto-framing keeping you centered during calls. Sound quality is impressive, offering clear audio and decent bass, making it ideal for streaming music. Integration with other smart home devices is seamless, allowing you to control compatible lights, thermostats, and security cameras with ease. The interface is intuitive, but some users may find the Alexa voice assistant to be a bit slow at times compared to other high-end smart displays. Privacy-conscious users will appreciate the physical camera shutter and microphone mute switch. Overall, this is an excellent mid-sized smart display that balances functionality, affordability, and performance.

— Sophia Brown

Rating: 5

Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 LED Smart Bulb Starter Kit Review: The Philips Hue A19 Starter Kit is one of the best smart lighting solutions on the market. The bulbs provide an extensive range of 16 million colors and adjustable brightness settings, allowing you to customize the ambiance of any room. Setup is straightforward with the included Hue Hub, which ensures a stable connection and allows for remote control through the Philips Hue app. The system integrates seamlessly with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit for voice-activated controls. Users can create lighting schedules, scenes, and automations, which enhance convenience and energy efficiency. However, the need for a separate hub may be a drawback for some, especially with other smart bulbs offering direct Wi-Fi connectivity. Despite the slightly higher price point, the reliability, responsiveness, and customization options make this a worthwhile investment for smart home enthusiasts.

— Emily Johnson

Rating: 4.9

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 Review: The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is a top-tier smart doorbell with some of the best security features available. The 1536p HD video quality delivers crisp and detailed images, even in low-light conditions. The new head-to-toe viewing angle provides a wider field of view, ensuring that packages left at the doorstep are visible. One of its standout features is the 3D motion detection, which accurately detects and notifies you of movement while reducing false alerts. The built-in Alexa Greetings function is useful for automated responses when you’re away. Installation is relatively simple, though it does require existing doorbell wiring. The biggest downside is that many of its advanced features, such as cloud storage for recorded videos, require a Ring Protect subscription. That being said, if you’re looking for a high-quality smart doorbell with cutting-edge security features, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is one of the best choices.

— Emma Davis

Rating: 4.8

Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation) Review: The Nest Learning Thermostat remains one of the most intelligent and user-friendly smart thermostats available. Its sleek, modern design with a sharp, high-resolution display makes it a stylish addition to any home. The standout feature is its ability to learn your temperature preferences and automatically create an optimized schedule to save energy. Over time, the thermostat adjusts itself based on your habits, reducing energy costs without sacrificing comfort. Remote control via the Google Home app ensures you can manage temperatures from anywhere. Installation is relatively easy, though it may require professional assistance if your home lacks a C-wire. While the Nest Learning Thermostat is slightly more expensive than competitors, its energy-saving capabilities and self-learning technology justify the cost. The lack of Apple HomeKit support is a minor drawback, but for Google and Alexa users, it’s an outstanding investment for home automation and energy efficiency.

— William Brown

Rating: 4.7

Kasa Smart Plug HS103P4 Review: The Kasa Smart Plug HS103P4 is an affordable and reliable option for anyone looking to add smart functionality to their home appliances. These compact plugs connect directly to Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for an extra hub. The Kasa app is well-designed, allowing users to control appliances remotely, set schedules, and enable away mode for added security. Voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant works seamlessly, making it easy to turn devices on and off hands-free. The energy monitoring feature, available on other Kasa models but absent in this version, would have been a nice addition. Some users may find the plug size slightly bulky if using multiple in a power strip. Overall, the Kasa Smart Plug HS103P4 offers excellent value, providing a simple and effective way to automate appliances without breaking the bank.

— David Miller