Review and Comparison of Latest Smart Home Devices

Smart home devices make daily tasks simpler – from streaming music to switching on lights – but which device is right for you?

Amazon Echo’s voice-controlled assistant can do everything from booking an Uber ride to answering queries about other connected devices – acting as a hub in this year’s model with improved music quality and Zigbee device compatibility.

1. Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo is an industry leader when it comes to smart home speakers powered by voice activation technology, boasting far-field microphones for optimal reception in loud environments and providing its Alexa voice assistant as an effective home automation solution.

The fourth-gen Echo is an impressive upgrade over its predecessor, providing superior sound quality, a Zigbee hub to connect compatible devices, and an AZ1 neural edge processor which reduces processing times for Alexa commands. And yet it remains one of the more affordable Echo devices you can buy!

Echo is worth its higher cost for those who enjoy music in stereo, as it plays songs in their original format instead of downmixing them to mono. Furthermore, Apple HomeKit and Matter standard-based devices such as thermostats and lightbulbs are both supported via its Alexa Bridge.

2. Google Home

Google Home smart speaker is a two-way information and automation device powered by the Google Assistant that offers various features, such as creating multiple shopping, to-do, gift lists, routines and wellness commands.

Philips Hue lights, Arlo wifi cameras and Google’s own Nest line of thermostats and mesh wireless networks can all be easily integrated with this speaker system, as can prerecorded news headlines, commute updates and weather forecasts read aloud by voice command.

Similar to Alexa, Google Assistant requires internet connectivity for most of its functionality and does not support as many apps or home entertainment devices as Apple’s HomePod; however, unlike Alexa it is less stringent about matching device names with correct names and more forgiving of spelling errors than its competitor Alexa.

3. Philips Hue

Philips Hue is one of the top smart lighting solutions available today, featuring bulbs, fixtures and accessories that amplify decor while setting an appropriate atmosphere and making automation simple. Additionally, its app provides access to an abundance of settings – such as Wake Up/Go to Sleep features that slowly increase or dim light brightness to gently wake or send off sleep) as well as scene galleries curated by professional lighting designers.

The Hue Bridge allows for Zigbee control — a low-power wireless protocol similar to Bluetooth but more reliable – providing remote home management as well as third-party integration via Alexa, Apple HomeKit and IFTTT apps. Additionally, away-from-home control and third party integration is enabled through IFTTT apps as well.

4. Belkin WeMo

Belkin may be best-known for their smartphone and computer accessories, but since 2012 they’ve also been making waves in home automation with their devices being an excellent way to experiment without investing in an entire package or hub system.

Thread is an emerging wireless technology used for low-latency, Wi-Fi-free control of smart plugs like Eve Energy. As such, both are suitable options for basic switches and plugs that work with Apple’s Home app or Siri voice-enabled assistant.

At $30, this smart home gateway is an excellent entry-level choice. Compatible with Alexa and Google Home voice controllers as well as IFTTT for effortless integration, it will soon also enjoy native compatibility with Apple HomeKit natively – although unfortunately this device does not track energy usage.

5. Samsung SmartThings

Samsung SmartThings was acquired by tech giant Samsung in 2014 and serves as an expansive hub that supports Z-Wave and Zigbee home automation devices. These wireless protocols were specifically created with home automation in mind, creating secure mesh networks which function efficiently with both wired-in devices as well as battery-operated gadgets.

SmartThings allows you to set ‘if X then Y’ actions that activate when certain events happen. Furthermore, this app connects directly with many first-party Samsung devices for added compatibility than competing systems.

SmartThings now supports Matter accessories, an interoperability standard which transcends ecosystem boundaries and gives users more choice in how they connect their hub with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Samsung’s own Bixby assistants.