Having smart devices and automating them in your home is one of the best things you can do for a comfortable lifestyle.
Thankfully, you can find a “smart” version of pretty much any home device you can think of. This opens up new avenues where you can control devices using a companion app on your phone. If you're looking to set up your smart home, you have to start slow and add devices to your house as time passes.
We tested and chose some of the products you should aim to get when setting up a smart home system. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Things You Need to Set up a Smart Home
Best 6 Smart Home Devices in 2024
Meross MSG100 Smart Garage Door Opener
Staying Safe When Setting up Your Smart Home
Things You Need to Set up a Smart Home
If you don’t know anything about setting up a smart home, things can seem a little daunting. Do not fret my friend, we have you covered. First things first, here are some of the things you need to ensure before you look at devices to add to your smart home:
Pick an Ecosystem
Before you start looking for devices, you need to choose an ecosystem that works for you. If your house is filled with Apple devices, Apple HomeKit is the obvious choice for you. Android devices in the Google ecosystem work best with Google Home, whereas third-party devices usually offer a lot of different standards.
Amazon Alexa is a great choice as well since it is compatible with a lot of third-party products, even some that aren’t supported by other major platforms.
The Importance of Wi-Fi
Almost all Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets require a fast and reliable internet connection to provide a seamless experience. Wi-Fi generally works on two frequencies: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. If your router supports both frequencies at the same time, make sure you enable them both so you can use all sorts of Wi-Fi IoT devices.
You don’t just need a supported Wi-Fi router, but also high-speed internet for smart devices to make sure everything in your smart home works smoothly. For instance, the routers provided with highly-reliable Spectrum Internet service support 2.4 and 5GHz, with some even supporting the newer 6GHz frequency standard!
Choosing Between Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Smart Hubs
Most smart home ecosystems have the option to connect using smart hubs, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi.
Bluetooth is slower and less reliable compared to Wi-Fi. However, getting a smart hub can be a better option since it can help reduce congestion on your Wi-Fi network by offering more stability, which will make your devices more responsive.
While smart hubs are generally standalone, more and more manufacturers are integrating multiple technologies into the smart hub.
Best 6 Smart Home Devices in 2024
By now, you should have a good idea of the things you need and how you can set up your smart home for a great experience. So, let’s take a look at some of the smart home devices you should have in your house in 2024.
Leviton D215P-2RW
This device is something you definitely should get if you’re looking for Wi-Fi smart plugs for your home.
The Leviton D215P-2RW has a very sleek design which features a small window at the corner that acts as an indicator light and a button to turn the device on or off. One thing we liked is that it's more compact than some of the other smart plugs on the market.
This smart plug is extremely easy to set up and the app has a pleasantly simple design. The main home screen shows all other connected plugs, along with their current status.
Another thing we loved about the Leviton smart switch is that while it is a little expensive, it’s extremely easy to install and set up, and lets you control your home appliances using Alexa, HomeKit, Matter, SmartThings, and Google Assistant for smart home automation.
Philips A19 Wiz Light Bulb
Philips makes some of the best smart home bulbs you can get right now. The only problem is that they are a little expensive.
However, this option is far more affordable than their other options and supports IFTTT integration as well as voice control using Alexa, Assistant, and Siri shortcuts. The dedicated companion app also lets you create a Scene where you can make presets to set the mood.
While the bulb itself is great, the app has a few issues that need to be ironed out. Besides the minor issues, there’s a lot to like with this smart bulb.
For the price, it’s an amazing dimmable smart bulb that features a lot of customization and, the ability to create scenes and schedules.
Meross MSG100 Smart Garage Door Opener
The Meross smart garage door opener is a great option to get if you want something that is easy to set up and supports Apple's HomeKit.
You don't have to worry too much about its compatibility since it supports more than 1,600 garage doors. The smart garage door opener includes a 23-foot wire that goes from the sensor to the kit itself. Once you set up the sensors, wire, and kit, the rest of the setup is pretty straightforward to set up.
The Meross garage door opener is extremely reliable and the door opens and closes immediately. However, the app for the door itself is a little buggy, but this doesn’t compromise the reliability of the product.
The door can integrate easily with some of the major smart home systems. Its affordability makes it one of the best smart home gadgets you can get for your home.
Vivint Smart Home System
Vivint home monitoring systems are some of the best security systems you can get, especially if you want a polished experience with third-party integration.
The best part is Vivint doesn’t require a contract and it allows you to create your security system by adding the devices you need. You can add video doorbells, and security cameras with the basic system that comes with a touchscreen and a few sensors.
The system works great with Alexa and Google Assistant and supports several third-party devices. You will have to pay extra for things like 24/7 monitoring and storage. However, this is optional and well worth the price if you want it.
Amazon Echo Smart Home Hub
While voice-controlled assistants can sometimes boil down to the devices you own and your personal choice, we liked the Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) and found it to be perfectly balanced in terms of features and price.
It features a beautiful spherical design in fabric and aluminum. The bottom ring has a light that lights the surface the hub is on and the top part of the device has mic mute and volume up and down buttons. The back of the hub has a connector for power and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Currently, this is one of the best Echo devices you can get. The sound has a lot of bass and the built-in smart hub system is great to incorporate into your smart home.
Eufy Clean RoboVac G30
Robot vacuums are some of the most unique products you can have in your smart home. The only problem is that most of them cost an arm and a leg.
Not this one. The Eufy RoboVac is relatively inexpensive and comes with a lot of features found in some of the more expensive options. The RoboVac works great with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, allowing you to control it with your voice.
The suction power is great for its smaller size, all while it stays quiet, and it features basic home mapping. The app is well-designed and thought-out. For the price, it's a great option to get for your smart house.
Staying Safe When Setting up Your Smart Home
A significant portion of your smart home consists of sensors, cameras, and microphones. This can expose you to privacy risks and security breaches. These can expose your personal information or worse, recordings from your cloud.
But don't worry too much. All it takes is making sure you read privacy policies or manufacturers, using a secure internet connection, and setting up two-factor information on your devices.
Having this approach will ensure that your house is smart while being safe, efficient, and user-friendly.
Meta Description: Setting up a smart home can be confusing, especially if you don't know what
products to get. Here are some of the best smart home devices to get in 2024.
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