Can you ask your digital assistant to dim the lights in the living room? Do you have a doorbell that feeds live video to your smartphone? What about a thermostat that learns what temperature you like, and then adjusts to your personal preferences automatically?
Smart homes can do all of these things. Smart homes can actually do just about anything nowadays. They can control every light bulb throughout your home, cool down or warm up the temperature, monitor the interior and exterior of the house, and even answer your every question. You just need the right tools.
With smart home devices, you can sync your entire house. Easy and efficient, these devices allow you to control different features and different technologies from a single hub.
Here are 5 devices sure to make your home smart.
Amazon Echo
One of the very first smart home devices introduced to the world, and the very first of its kind, the Amazon Echo is a must-have. If you want to start turning your average home into a smart one, you need the Echo and its helpful digital assistant Alexa.
Since it launched in 2015, Business Insider reports that more than 5 million Echos have been sold. At its heart, the Echo is an internet connected speaker–however, that speaker also serves as a smart home hub. Paired with the Alexa app, you can sync all of your smart home devices and control them through Alexa herself.
Google Home
Although Amazon beat this tech giant to it by a few years, Google has created its own smart home device: the Google Home. The Google Home is also an internet connected speaker with a digital assistant, but works a bit differently than the Echo.
The Google Home uses your smartphone as its control center. It’s connected to Google, meaning your Google account is synced with this helpful device. The hub knows your calendar, your to-do list, even what’s in your email.
One of the “smartest” features soon to come to the Google Home is the ability to perform tasks beyond your front door. Google is in the process of giving its smart home hub the capability to make restaurant reservations, order food, connect with retailers, and more to make heading out into the outside world even easier.
August Smart Lock Homekit
Smart locks are quickly becoming a key component of any smart home. While there are a number of different options available, August is the most highly rated. The August Smart Lock Homekit makes it incredibly easy to switch from traditional key locks to Bluetooth enabled smart ones.
Easy to install and designed for your existing doors and locks, the Smart Lock set mounts on top of your current deadbolt. There’s no need to get out your hardware; you can make your doors smart in seconds.
Instead of relying on keys, you’ll use your smartphone. You can even grant temporary or permanent access to family members and friends, allowing them to control your locks with their own phones.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat
Hate having to adjust your thermostat to find the right temperature? Or, worse, do you shudder every time you see your energy bill? The ecobee Smart Thermostat can take care of both problems.
Make your home smarter and more tech-savvy with a thermostat that learns exactly what you want. The ecobee Smart Thermostat automatically adjusts your home’s temperature based on your preferences throughout the day. Even better, you can teach ecobee to enter energy saving mode, saving you dollars off your monthly energy bill.
You’ll never have to touch your thermostat again–ecobee will handle your home’s temperature in every room. From apartments to large, multi-story homes, ecobee takes charge.
Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs
A favorite among smart home shoppers, Philips Hue smart lightbulbs make it fun to play with your tech-ready house. Swap out your boring light bulbs for the Philips Hue bulbs and you’ll enjoy smart lighting. With the paired smartphone app, you can change the color of your lighting to any shade of the rainbow.
You may not need such a fun lighting option, but the Philips Hue bulbs are just one exciting and entertaining aspect of turning your house into a smart home. These smart light bulbs can be programmed: set them to turn a certain color when you get a phone call or text, or have them change color when the sun sets. It’s entirely up to you.
Make Your Home Smarter With The Latest Technology
Who doesn’t want to take advantage of these incredibly helpful smart home devices? They’re designed to make your life easier. You can eliminate some small responsibilities and annoying daily tasks with these amazing devices. And there’s always something new–the world of smart home technology is always changing!