These days, there’s a smart version of pretty much every home device you can think of. In general, these products connect to the internet, so you can control them from your phone through a companion app. Most also work with various forms of voice control. What follows is a rundown of the best smart devices we’ve tested for every area of the house. There are so many products that we’ve arranged them by room to help keep things organized, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use most of these gadgets just about anywhere. Make sure to check back soon, as we’re regularly testing new products and adding them to this guide.
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Front Yard: Creating a Well-Lit and Secure Entrance
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
At the ultimate smart home, you’re met with technology before you even step through the front door. Some of the most useful connected home gadgets reside in the front yard, starting with outdoor security cameras. Our top pick overall for keeping tabs on your home from your phone is the TP-Link Tapo C120. This high-resolution, weather-resistant security camera not only captures motion-triggered video, but sends free intelligent alerts that differentiate between people, pets, vehicles, and other motion events. For a model with 2K video, color night vision, and built-in spotlights, you can’t beat its price.
Screenshots from the Tapo C120’s companion app (Credit: TP-Link/PCMag)
For those times you want to check whether it’s a delivery person or an unwanted solicitor knocking on your door, a video doorbell will let you see who’s there without getting up from the couch. Beyond this convenience, video doorbells can serve as the first line of defense against property theft, home invasion, and porch pirates. They not only let you see and speak with the person outside, but they also record footage of visitors that approach your door while you’re away or unable to answer. Our favorite budget-friendly model, the Ezviz DB1C Wi-Fi, delivers sharp HD video with a wide viewing angle, offers local and cloud video storage, and supports IFTTT as well as Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.Another piece of technology you might want on your front door is a smart lock. Arguably the most important part of a truly connected home, these devices offer both security and convenience, letting you come and go as you please, and monitor who is entering and leaving your home while you’re away. Our current favorite is the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi, a dependable and versatile smart lock that lets you lock and unlock your door with your voice and fingerprint, as well as via keypad, mobile app, or traditional key.For the highest level of protection, consider a professionally monitored smart home security system. One of our top picks, ADT Command, is a hefty investment, but it offers virtually everything you need for maximum protection. Compared with Vivint, another Editors’ Choice winner, ADT is a bit pricier but offers superior customer service.
SimpliSafe Home Security System (Credit: Zlata Ivelva)
For a more affordable alternative, do-it-yourself smart home security systems are ideal for homeowners who want to save money by monitoring their homes themselves. The SimpliSafe Home Security System, our favorite DIY option, lets you secure and monitor your home from afar without spending a bundle or signing a long-term contract.
TP-Link Tapo Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Wi-Fi Camera C120
MSRP $39.99
Ezviz DB1C Wi-Fi Video Doorbell
MSRP $99.99
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi Smart Lock
MSRP $249.00
Starts at $599.00
Per Month, Starts at $39.99
SimpliSafe Home Security System
Starts at $249.96
Living Room: Cozy Conveniences for Entertainment and Relaxation
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
When it comes to living room technology, televisions and soundbars are the obvious stars of the show. But many other gadgets aim to elevate the ambience, convenience, and security of your main living space. For starters, a smart speaker is a must for the living room. Beyond playing music, our favorite models serve as a sort of central command center, letting you control pretty much any other connected home gadget by voice. The first step in choosing one is deciding which voice assistance platform is the right fit for your home: Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. All three support most major smart home device brands.If Alexa is your voice assistant of choice, we suggest the Echo Studio, which offers truly impressive audio quality for its price, or the fourth-generation Amazon Echo as a more affordable alternative. Google Assistant fans can go with the Nest Audio. And if you prefer Siri, you can get a HomePod or a HomePod mini. If you go this route, just make sure any other smart home devices you buy are compatible with Apple HomeKit or Matter. Meanwhile, the Sonos Era 300 and 100 support Alexa, but not Google Assistant or Siri.As an alternative or in addition to a smart speaker, you might want a smart display. They offer the same hands-free voice assistant features as a smart speaker, but with a useful touch screen on which you can view live feeds from your smart doorbell or security camera, make video calls, and control your connected gadgets with a few taps. When not in use, your living room smart display can serve as a digital photo frame to display your personal snaps or curated art. The Alexa-powered Amazon Echo Show 10 and Google Assistant-powered Google Nest Hub Max are our favorites for the living room, while smaller options are more suitable for the kitchen and bedroom.
Google Nest Hub Max (Credit: Zlata Ivelva)
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to upgrade your living room is to swap out your standard incandescent bulbs for smart light bulbs that support app and voice control. After upgrading, you won’t ever have to get up off the couch to flip the light switch again. Beyond offering greater convenience than traditional bulbs, smart lights use less energy and last longer, so they can save you money in the long run. The Roku Smart Bulb SE Color costs less than $10 per bulb and works particularly well with other Roku devices. It can display 16 million colors white light temperatures ranging from 1,800K (warm) to 6,500K (cool). It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in, so there’s no need for a hub, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant so you can set the mood for movie night with a simple voice command. Another smart living room gadget that can add serious convenience to your life, and potentially save you money on energy, is a connected thermostat. Our favorite models let you monitor and control your home’s heating and cooling system by phone or voice, set temperature schedules, and offer energy-saving features that can help lower your bill. Our top pick, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, comes with a remote sensor you can put in a different room to ensure a consistent temperature throughout the house. As a more budget-friendly option, we highly recommend the Amazon Smart Thermostat.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat (Credit: Ecobee)
With a smart plug, you can turn anything that plugs into the wall—be it a lamp, space heater, humidifier, or even a Christmas tree—into a connected device that you can control from your phone. The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim With Energy Monitoring, our current Editors’ Choice in this category, monitors the power usage of any appliance you plug in, works with voice commands, and supports tons of third-party platforms, all without breaking the bank. The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300 is a smart surge protector with six outlets you can independently control via your phone or voice. It also supports IFTTT, so you can program it to automatically turn certain outlets on or off when another event, such as a camera motion trigger, takes place. With so many smart gadgets in your living room, it’s a good idea to invest in a Wi-Fi-connected indoor home security camera. One of our favorites, the Eufy S220 Indoor Cam, delivers vivid high-resolution video and is packed with features typically found on pricier models, including local and cloud storage, automatic motion tracking, and support for all the major voice assistance platforms. Finally, if you have a cat or dog, your smart living room wouldn’t be complete without a pet camera that lets you monitor and interact with your fur babies 24/7, from wherever you are. The Furbo 360 Dog Camera is as functional as it is fun, offering barking notifications and a remote treat-tossing feature you—and your pooch—will love. To make your feline roommates happy, go with the Furbo 360 Cat Camera, which is basically the same as the dog version, but tailors the sound effects and notifications to felines while adding a dangly feather toy to the top.
MSRP $199.99
MSRP $99.99
MSRP $99.99
Apple HomePod (2nd Generation, 2023)
MSRP $299.00
MSRP $99.00
MSRP $449.00
MSRP $249.00
Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)
MSRP $249.99
MSRP $229.00
MSRP $9.88
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
MSRP $249.99
MSRP $79.99
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim With Energy Monitoring (KP125M)
MSRP $39.99
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300
MSRP $79.99
The Eufy S220 Indoor Cam is an affordable indoor home security camera that delivers vivid high-resolution video and packs features typically found on pricier models.
MSRP $51.99
MSRP $210.00
MSRP $220.00
Kitchen: Must-Have Connected Cooking and Cleaning Tools
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
Whether you’re a master chef or an Uber Eats power user, the best smart kitchen gadgets can bring serious convenience to the heart of your home. Can’t decide what’s for dinner? Need to quickly convert fluid ounces to cups? Searching for a cilantro substitute? Sounds like you need a smart display on your countertop. With Alexa or Google Assistant in your kitchen, you can also quickly set timers, add items to your grocery list, and play your favorite cooking music, all with just the sound of your voice. Amazon’s third-generation Echo Show 8 is our favorite kitchen companion; it’s just the right size for counters, will keep you entertained while you work with great speakers, and can search and walk you through numerous recipes for cooking inspiration.
Anova Precision Oven (Credit: Anova)
Once you settle on a recipe, the top smart kitchen appliances can help you with every step of the cooking process. The Anova Precision Oven lets you bake, roast, slow cook, sous vide, and steam food to perfection, making it one of the smartest countertop ovens you can buy. Its companion app allows you to control and monitor the oven from your phone, load cooking presets onto the machine with a tap, and offers step-by-step cooking instructions for chef-level results. Ultimately, there’s a smart version of just about every other kitchen appliance you can think of: from full-size ovens and refrigerators to smaller gadgets like air fryers and the Instant Pot Pro Plus.Need some extra illumination in your kitchen? At CES 2024, GE introduced Matter-enabled Cync Reveal under-cabinet and under-counter smart lights with full color-changing support. And of course, no kitchen would be complete without a coffee maker. In the ultimate smart home, even your bean-brewing machine is connected. Smart coffee makers allow for app and voice control, so the only thing standing between you and a java jolt is a couple of taps on your phone or the phrase, “Alexa, turn on my coffee maker.” One such option, the Hamilton Beach Smart Coffee Maker, lets you use voice commands to turn it on and off and set the brew strength, and it supports Alexa routines so you can program it to automatically brew your coffee at a specific time each day.
Hamilton Beach Smart Coffee Maker (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
When it’s time to clean up after dinner, a good robot vacuum can take care of the floors for you. One of our favorite models, the Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R101AE, works quickly and efficiently, rarely gets stuck, and has a large dustbin in its base station that you only need to empty about once a month. We’re not the only ones impressed: Shark earned the highest ratings for overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend in our latest robot vacuum Readers’ Choice survey. As a more budget-friendly option, the affordable iRobot Roomba 694 impressed us with its seamless app setup and navigation abilities. You need to empty most traditional robot vacuums after every cleaning run. If you’re tired of emptying your ‘bot’s bursting dustbin on the daily, consider a self-emptying robot vacuum like the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni, the top premium all-in-one robot for cleaning your floors. It features a self-emptying dustbin, a mop that cleans and dries itself, and a built-in voice assistant. For homes with pets, we highly recommend the iRobot Roomba j9+, which comes with a P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise) guarantee: If the robot fails to avoid solid pet waste within a year of your purchase, the company will give you a new one for free.
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni (Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
To scrub away streaks, you need a good robot mop. The Bissell SpinWave Wet and Dry features two spinning microfiber pads and supports several different cleaning solutions to keep your floors looking as good as new. The iRobot Braava Jet m6 is another excellent option, which sweeps and mops your floors until they shine.And finally, if you are conscious of germs, a smart trash can that can open its lid might interest you. The Simplehuman Dual-Compartment Rectangular Sensor Can, which we haven’t tested, features side-by-side bins for trash and recycling and responds to voice commands such as, “open can,” “stay open,” and “close can.”
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen, 2023)
MSRP $149.99
MSRP $599.00
Cosori Smart 5.8-Quart Air Fryer
MSRP $119.99
MSRP $169.99
Hamilton Beach Smart Coffee Maker
MSRP $89.99
Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL RV1001AE
MSRP $599.00
MSRP $274.99
MSRP $1,499.99
MSRP $899.99
Bissell SpinWave Wet and Dry Robotic Vacuum
MSRP $399.99
MSRP $499.00
Simplehuman Dual-Compartment Rectangular Sensor Can
The Simplehuman Dual-Compartment Rectangular Sensor Can can open and close its lid in response to voice commands.
MSRP $250.00
Bedroom: Tech for a Better Night’s Sleep
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
If your bed is too uncomfortable, your room is too hot, or you’re experiencing breathing difficulties due to allergies and asthma, the best bedroom tech can offer some relief. For the ultimate in nighttime comfort, Sleep Number’s 360 i8 Smart Bed is a hefty investment, but it lets you dial the firmness of each side independently, so if you like sleeping on a cloud and your partner prefers a brick, you can both have it your way. It also tracks your sleep trends in its companion app and offers personalized insights to help you snooze better. The temperature of your room can also affect your sleep quality. A too-hot or too-cold room can make it difficult to drift off and stay asleep throughout the night. According to the CDC, around 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal sleeping temperature for most people. The Eight Sleep Pod Pro Cover smart mattress topper lets you adjust your existing bed’s temperature from hot to cool via your phone and expertly tracks your sleep health.If you don’t have central air, you might want to consider a smart air conditioner. They typically allow for app and voice control, and support scheduling, which can help cut down on your energy costs. The GE Profile Clearview Smart Air Conditioner cools quickly and quietly from an innovative, split-housing design that places the bulk of the unit below the window line. As a result, the noisiest pieces are left outside, and you can still see out of your window.
GE Profile Clearview Smart Air Conditioner (Credit: GE)
A smart air purifier can help you keep a close eye on your indoor air quality and breathe a little easier, especially if you suffer from allergies and asthma. The Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, our all-around favorite model, is both a capable HEPA air purifier as well as an oscillating fan, with a small footprint and Wi-Fi connectivity for phone and voice control. For relaxing smart lighting, the Philips Hue Iris Table Lamp supports up to 16 million colors and routines to help you wake up or go to sleep. You can schedule it to turn off after you fall asleep, or simply tell it that you’re ready to go to bed with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. It’s easy to set up and its 570-lumen maximum output allows it to get nice and bright when you want it to be. A smart speaker can make for an excellent bedside companion. Our favorite models for the bedroom are the Amazon Echo Dot With Clock and the Google Nest Mini. They won’t crowd your nightstand, and let you set alarms, play music, check the weather, and control other compatible smart home devices, all with the sound of your voice. Similarly, a smart display offers all the benefits of a smart speaker, and organizes your smart home controls on a single screen, conveniently located on your bedside table. The second-generation Nest Hub is small enough for nightstands and features sensors that allow it to track your sleep, overnight respiration rate, coughing, and snoring, as well as any light and temperature changes in your room, all without a camera or requiring you to wear a separate device to bed. It then offers useful insights to help improve your shut-eye. If you prefer Alexa, our favorite smart display for the bedroom is the third-generation Echo Show 5. It won’t track your sleep, but it features a camera (which you can disable if you prefer) for video calls and remote home monitoring.
Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System (Credit: Nanit)
Finally, if you have little ones, a smart baby monitor will let you watch, entertain, and soothe your child in their crib. The Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System requires deep pockets, but it’s the best smart baby monitor we’ve tested, especially for first-time and/or nervous parents. It records your baby’s sleep and wake times down to the minute, which can help you narrow down a bedtime for your little cherub. It can also alert you if your baby stops breathing to preempt the possibility of sudden infant death syndrome.
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed
Price as Tested $6,198.00
Eight Sleep Pod Pro Cover
Starts at $1,595.00
GE Profile Clearview PHNT10 Smart Air Conditioner
MSRP $529.00
MSRP $649.99
Philips Hue Iris Table Lamp
MSRP $99.99
Amazon Echo Dot With Clock (5th Gen)
MSRP $59.99
MSRP $49.00
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
MSRP $99.99
Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 Release)
MSRP $89.99
Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System
Starts at $379.00
Bathroom: Grooming Gadgets for Stress-Free Mornings
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
Water and tech don’t usually mix, but that hasn’t stopped a swell of connected bathroom gadgets, from high-tech toilets that can clean themselves to smart scales that can measure a lot more than just how much you weigh. If you’re building a new house, or renovating an old one, consider a smart toilet for your bathroom. We haven’t reviewed any yet, but the Kohler Veil offers a hands-free opening and closing system that should eliminate squabbles over whether the toilet seat should be left up or down. It also features a night light, a heated seat, a warm-air drying system, an automatic deodorizer, a self-cleaning function that uses UV light to sanitize the bowl, and an emergency mode that lets you flush up to 100 times during a power outage. At CES 2024, Kohler introduced the PureWash E930, a standalone smart bidet that lets you ask Alexa to rinse your rear. In the ultimate smart bathroom, you can even start the shower with your voice. The U by Moen is a wall-mounted smart shower controller that works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant to let you turn on the water and set it to your preferred temperature with voice commands.
Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Hi-Fi (Credit: Zlata Ivelva)
Upgrade your vanity with the Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Hi-Fi, which features a variety of customizable light settings for flawless makeup application and a built-in speaker so you can listen to your favorite music or podcasts while getting ready. It lights automatically when it detects your face, and it supports Alexa voice control, features that come in handy when you have powder in one hand and a brush in the other.A smart scale is useful if you’re looking to lose a few pounds or just want to keep a closer eye on your health. The Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale tracks 14 metrics, including your BMI, body fat percentage, body water percentage, heart rate, muscle mass, protein level, and weight up to 400 pounds. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and a rechargeable battery, all for a reasonable price, earning our top recommendation.
Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale (Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
Our favorite connected bathroom tech can even help you earn an A+ at your next dentist visit. The Laifen Wave Electric Toothbrush has enough power to give your teeth a good scrub and it works with an app that lets you customize vibration strength, oscillation range, and oscillation speed.
The Kohler Veil smart toilet boasts a hands-free opening and closing system, plus a number of other convenient features including a night-light, an automatic deodorizer, and a self-cleaning function that uses UV light to sanitize the bowl.
MSRP $5,500.00
The U by Moen wall-mounted smart shower controller works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant, so you can turn on the water and set it to your preferred temperature with the sound of your voice.
MSRP $1,321.20
Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Hi-Fi
MSRP $399.99
Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale
MSRP $79.99
MSRP $17.99
Laifen Wave Electric Toothbrush
MSRP $69.99
Home Gym: Interactive Exercise Machines to Crush Your Goals
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
Whether you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated workout room or just an empty corner with enough space for a yoga mat, the smart home gym equipment market offers no shortage of options to help you work on your fitness in your own abode. Smart fitness devices like the Peloton Bike+ allow for a level of interactivity far beyond their more affordable, non-connected counterparts. The Bike+ and many others offer large libraries of guided classes with knowledgeable instructors and/or customized workouts and programs based on your goals and current fitness level. It’s like having a personal trainer in the comfort, safety, and privacy of your own home.Indoor cycling can help you burn calories, boost your cardiovascular endurance, and elevate your mood. You might assume the Peloton is the best smart stationary bike because it’s the most popular, but in reality, the best option is the one that’s going to motivate you to hop back on day after day. Peloton motivates you through metrics and competition, while the SoulCycle At-Home Bike, another Editors’ Choice winner in this category, offers a more meditative, dance-focused experience. As a more affordable option, we also highly recommend the BODi Bike (formerly the MYX II), which offers a wide range of workouts and emphasizes personalized heart rate zone training.
SoulCycle At-Home Bike (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
For a full-body, low-impact workout that puts minimal stress on your knees and other joints, consider a smart rowing machine. The NordicTrack RW900 is an excellent choice for beginner, intermediate, and advanced rowers alike. It features a 22-inch touch screen on which you can browse and stream outdoor iFit workouts filmed in picturesque locations all around the world, from Inniscarra Lake in Ireland to the Kafue River in Zambia. During outdoor workouts, the machine automatically adjusts your resistance to match the wind and water conditions, so you feel what the trainer feels. Trainers often point out the sights along the way, so you’re getting a workout and a tour. The Hydrow is more expensive, but it’s one of the most luxurious smart rowing machines you can buy, combining top-of-the-line equipment with live streaming workouts. While rowing machines can feel intimidating to newbies, and cycling bike seats can be a literal pain in the butt, treadmills are more user-friendly, accessible, and comfortable, since walking is an activity most of us do daily anyway. The Peloton Tread takes up about as much room as a couch, and features a gorgeous 23.8-inch 1080p touch screen on which you can access Peloton’s vast and varied library of well-produced, entertaining classes. For a more affordable option, we recommend the Echelon Stride, which connects with your smartphone or tablet to let you stream live and on-demand running and walking classes with competitive leaderboards, and folds up when not in use. To build muscle, consider a smart strength training machine. Our favorite is the Tempo Studio, which has an easel-like design with a 42-inch touch screen on which you can stream a variety of trainer-led workouts, including live classes. Below the screen is a cabinet that neatly stores four sets of weights, so they’re out of sight when not in use. On the back, you can hang the included dumbbells and barbell. The machine keeps track of how much weight you should be lifting, counts your reps, and offers feedback about your form to help you strength train safely. The Tonal, another excellent option in this category, uses a combination of electricity and magnets to digitize weights, offering up to 200 pounds of resistance in a sleek wall-mounted machine. Meanwhile, the Peloton Guide camera offers strength training help for much less. It requires only a TV and a bit of free space.
Tempo Studio (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
Short on space? Try the Forme Studio. It looks like a regular mirror when not in use. When it’s time to workout, you can make use of the full touchscreen and personalized weekly workout plans from a human Fitness Concierge to help you crush your goals.
MSRP $2,495.00
MSRP $1,950.00
MSRP $1,399.00
NordicTrack RW900 Rowing Machine
MSRP $1,699.00
MSRP $2,199.00
MSRP $2,995.00
MSRP $1,338.98
MSRP $2,995.00
MSRP $295.00
MSRP $2,495.00
Garage: Design an Automated and Organized Multi-Purpose Space
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
Whether your garage serves as a storage area, a workshop, a party zone, or a place where you actually keep your car, there’s plenty of tech available to make it smarter.If your old garage door opener struggles to fully raise and lower the door, and makes a racket doing so, it might be time for an upgrade. Belt-driven smart garage door openers are typically pin-drop quiet compared with the chain-driven models of yore. More importantly, they let you view the state of the door (closed or open, and for how long), and control it from your phone so you don’t have to trudge outside in your PJs when you’re already comfy in bed. The Genie QuietLift Connect is super quiet and connects to your home Wi-Fi network, allowing you to control it using a phone or tablet. It supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, and is relatively easy to install thanks to a five-piece rail system that snaps together.Garage door openers that work with the Aladdin Connect, myQ, or OHD Anywhere app are compatible with Amazon’s in-garage delivery service, Key, which can give you peace of mind if you’re worried about porch pirates stealing packages from your front door. To set it up, link your compatible garage door to Amazon Key in the Amazon app, and enable In-Garage Delivery. The service is exclusive for Amazon Prime members; once you set it up, just select “In-Garage Delivery” at checkout. It used to be a free Prime perk, but Amazon is now charging $1.99 for in-garage deliveries outside Amazon Day delivery slots.Don’t have the money to spring for a new smart garage door opener? No worries: The affordable Chamberlain Smart Garage Hub lets you add connectivity to your existing setup. It’s compatible with all major garage door openers manufactured after 1993.
Rachio 3 (Credit: Rachio)
In addition to your high-tech car and e-bike, the garage is probably where you store many of your outdoor smart home devices. One of our favorites, the Rachio 3 smart sprinkler controller, can help you keep your beloved lawn looking green and lush while saving money on water. It installs in minutes, letting you control your in-ground sprinkler system from anywhere using your phone. It can also automatically reschedule watering cycles when significant rainfall is in the forecast, a standout feature that performed well in our tests.
Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller
MSRP $229.99
MSRP $1,999.00
Backyard: High-Tech Amenities for an Open-Air Sanctuary
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
Our tour of the ultimate smart home wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the backyard. The best outdoor smart home devices can help you keep your yard green, your pool blue, and your property safe. They also make it easy to create a warm and inviting ambiance for backyard parties. To set the mood for your next barbecue or pool party, you need a good outdoor-friendly speaker that can withstand splashes and rain. Go with the Sonos Move 2 if you want a powerful speaker with durability and smarts. It supports stereo sound, has a ton of battery life, and features a rugged IP56 weatherproof rating. It also offers hands-free voice control with Alexa or the first-party Sonos assistant. As a more affordable connected option, we recommend the stylish, Alexa-compatible Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1. If you don’t need voice control on your patio, go with the Sony ULT Field 7 for our favorite mix of size and sound quality, or check out our favorite budget-friendly option: the Anker Soundcore Motion 300. Planning a movie night in your backyard? An outdoor projector can turn an outside wall into a cinema. The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is our top choice for its picture quality and durability, and the Vanko Performance V700W is our favorite budget-friendly outdoor projector. Thanks to outdoor-friendly smart lights, the party doesn’t need to stop when the sun goes down. The fun and festive Govee Lynx Dream Bluetooth & Wi-Fi Outdoor String Lights are designed for the patio with a weatherproof build, and easy to install. You can control these multicolor lights with your voice via Alexa or Google Assistant, or through their well-designed companion app. Govee offers a number of preset scenes to pick from to set the mood, or you can use Music Sync mode for parties.
The TP-Link Kasa EP40A Outdoor Plug (Credit: John Delaney)
If you have existing string lights or a decorative water feature you want to smarten up, an outdoor-friendly smart plug can help. The weatherproof TP-Link Kasa EP40A Outdoor Plug works with every major smart home platform, including Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, IFTTT, and SmartThings. It has a durable design and two outlets you can control independently.If you really want to impress your friends at your next backyard soiree, check out our list of the best grilling and BBQ gadgets. The Traeger Ironwood 650 can help you barbecue, roast, and smoke with wood pellets like a professional pitmaster. The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker is the best for charcoal grilling while the Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill is a top gas-powered option. For AI-assisted grilling, check out the Brisk It Origin 940. It’s a wood pellet grill that lets you roast, smoke, bake, and barbecue without the taste of lighter fluid. Beyond the basics, the AI-engine, called Vera, offers countless recipes that you can pick and send to the grill. Each recipe we tried led to mouthwatering results in our testing.If you don’t have the money for a smart grill, the Weber iGrill Mini connected thermometer lets you monitor the temperature of your food from your smartphone, so you can kick back and spend your time with friends and family instead of hovering over the grill the whole time. Finally, for the best lawn on the block, consider a robot lawn mower such as the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD, which handles tough terrain with ease and works with Alexa and Google voice commands. For a more affordable option, check out the Gardena Robotic Mower Sileno City for easy scheduling and quiet operation. And if pestering mosquitoes prevent you from enjoying your freshly cut lawn, consider getting the Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System.
MSRP $449.00
MSRP $499.99
Anker Soundcore Motion 300
MSRP $79.00
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)
MSRP $250.00
MSRP $1,049.99
MSRP $299.99
Govee Lynx Dream Bluetooth & Wi-Fi Outdoor String Lights
MSRP $69.99
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A
MSRP $29.99
MSRP $1,199.99
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
MSRP $1,699.00
Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill
MSRP $1,599.00
Brisk It Origin 940 Smart Grill
MSRP $1,099.99
MSRP $49.99
Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD
MSRP $5,199.99
Gardena Robotic Mower Sileno City
MSRP $799.99
Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System
Starts at $699.00
