In today's fast-paced society, we constantly strive for convenience. Thanks to new technologies and the widespread availability of high-speed internet, smart homes are rapidly rising in popularity. The job of these popular gadgets is to make life easier for us. The best smart home devices provide security, streamline communication, automate daily tasks, and even provide home entertainment.
Let’s explore what it takes to create a smart home, what this technology offers, and what it might cost to equip your home with some of the most popular smart home devices.
What Is a Smart Home?
The history of smart home devices traces back over a century. But today, when we talk about smart homes, we refer to a modern home setup made up of devices designed to automate certain tasks and enhance everyday living. Rather than operating as isolated devices, a smart home integrates all of these devices into a cohesive system, typically managed through a central smart hub.
In a smart home, devices connect through the internet, forming an interconnected network known as the Internet of Things (IoT). This network can usually be controlled remotely via your smartphone or voice commands, providing an extra layer of convenience.
To illustrate, think about a home where your sprinkler system knows when to water the lawn, your security cameras alert you in real time, and your thermostat adjusts to the perfect temperature – all without you lifting a finger. And, if you need to make a manual adjustment or check in on things, you can do it effortlessly from a mobile app, even when you’re away. This is the promise of a smart home, where your appliances and devices work together to simplify your daily routine.
Are Smart Homes Worth It?
Smart homes can certainly be worth it, but it depends on your personal priorities and budget. While smart homes offer numerous benefits like enhanced convenience, security, and energy savings, there are also some notable smart home disadvantages.
It's important to consider all these factors carefully and weigh the benefits of a smart home against the downsides to decide if a smart home is right for you. So, let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of owning a smart home to help you make an informed decision:
Pros
✔️ Convenience and Home Automation: One of the biggest advantages of a smart home is the convenience it offers. With everything from lights and thermostats to security systems and speakers connected, smart homes make managing your home a whole lot easier. You can control multiple aspects of your living space with just a few taps on your smartphone or smart hub, or through voice commands. For example, you can schedule your lights to automatically switch on at dusk or, if it's stuffy in your room, you can adjust the thermostat from your phone without having to get out of bed.
✔️ Enhanced Home Security: Smart homes are often equipped with security devices that can provide extra peace of mind. These security devices can include a smart lock, smart camera, and smart sensors that send real-time notifications and alerts straight to your phone if any unusual activity is detected. Other features that boost home security include the ability to monitor your home and remotely control a door lock.
✔️ Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings: Smart homes are designed to be more energy-efficient, which is great for our planet and can help you save some cash over time. Devices like smart thermostats learn your habits and adjust temperatures accordingly, ensuring that energy isn’t wasted when it’s not needed; and, smart lighting systems allow you to control when and where lights are on, reducing unnecessary electricity usage. Over time, these small adjustments can add up to significant savings on utility bills.
✔️ Customization and Flexibility: Smart homes offer opportunities for customization, allowing you to tailor your home environment to your preferences. For example, you can set routines for different times of the day or create ambiance with smart lighting that changes color and intensity. This flexibility extends to the way you interact with your devices. Whether you prefer apps, voice commands, or manual controls, there are multiple ways to perform the same task, giving you control over how you manage your smart home.
Cons
❌ Security Risks: Security is one of the biggest concerns people have when considering investing in a smart home. This is because, while smart homes offer bolstered security features, they also introduce potential risks. Since smart devices are connected to the internet, they can be vulnerable to hacking. A compromised smart home network could lead to unauthorized access to your personal information or even control of your home’s devices. That's why it's important to be diligent and protect your smart home by monitoring security settings, regularly updating passwords, and staying informed about potential vulnerabilities.
❌ Complexity and Learning Curve: Smart homes can be intimidating, especially for those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy. Setting up and managing a smart home system often involves learning how to use multiple apps, configuring devices, and understanding how different technologies work together. For some, the learning curve can be steep, leading to frustration rather than the convenience a smart home promises.
❌ Expense: Smart home devices are usually more expensive compared to their non-smart counterparts. While the long-term savings on energy bills can offset some of these initial costs, the upfront investment in smart devices, hubs, and installation can be exceptionally pricey. Additionally, the need to continuously update and replace older devices as technology evolves can add to the overall expense of maintaining a smart home.
❌ Dependence on Technology: A smart home’s reliance on technology can be a potential disadvantage. If there’s an issue with your internet connection or a device malfunctions, you may lose access to essential functions like heating, security, or lighting. In other words, when things go wrong in a smart home, they can go wrong in a big way, leaving you without some of the basic conveniences your home would otherwise provide.
Smart Home Technology: How Does It Work?
In a smart home, all devices are managed through a central smart home hub – a piece of hardware that wirelessly connects and integrates each device. This hub allows homeowners to manage their entire system from a single platform, whether directly from the hub or via a remote mobile app.
Most smart home devices use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to connect to the smart home hub, but some use alternative mesh networking protocols like Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Thread. Once linked, a connected device can be controlled with the touch of a button or through voice commands via home assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
You can easily set schedules for specific devices, such as having lights turn on at sunset or automatically locking your front door when you leave for work. Many smart home devices also use AI to learn your habits and preferences. For example, AI-powered smart thermostats automatically adjust the temperature throughout the day to match your comfort and save energy.
Even when you’re away, you can control your home and keep an eye on things. For instance, you can unlock the door for the babysitter, monitor what your pets are up to through an indoor security camera, or remotely close the garage door if you forget to on your way out.
Common Smart Home Devices
Smart homes are composed of many seamlessly integrated devices. Common devices that make up a smart home include:
- Smart Hubs
- Doorbells
- Smart Cameras
- Smart Speakers
- Smart Plugs
- Smart Lighting
- Smart Thermostats
- Smart Sensors
Smart Hubs
A smart hub acts as the central command center of your smart home, linking all your devices and allowing them to communicate with each other. By integrating all your IoT devices, a smart hub lets you conveniently manage all your connected devices from one place. This can be done through the hub itself, a mobile app, or voice commands. Some examples of well-rated smart home hubs include Amazon Echo and Google Nest Hub Max.
Doorbells
Smart doorbells, like the Ring smart doorbell or Blink Video Doorbell, feature a camera that allows you to see who is at your door in real time, even when you're not home. You can also receive alerts on your smartphone whenever someone rings the bell or arrives at your doorstep. A smart video doorbell also often has two-way audio, so you can communicate with visitors from anywhere. For example, you can greet guests or keep an eye on package deliveries without having to physically be at home.
Smart Cameras
Smart cameras let you easily monitor activity around your home to ensure the safety of your loved ones and belongings. These cameras can be placed inside or outside your home, allowing you to keep an eye on your property from anywhere through real-time footage. Whether indoor like the Blink Mini or outdoor like the highly-rated Arlo Pro 5S, most of these cameras have an app that lets you check in on things right from your smartphone. Many models also offer features like motion detection, night vision, and cloud storage for recorded footage. When integrated with other smart devices, such as doorbells or security systems, smart cameras can also be set up to trigger actions in the event of suspicious activity, like locking doors when an intruder is detected.
Smart Speakers (Alexa, Google Home, etc)
Smart speakers serve as versatile command centers for your smart home. These speakers use built-in voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant, to let you easily control your smart devices with simple voice commands. For instance, you can tell your smart speaker to "Turn on the lights" or "Increase the thermostat five degrees" and get an instant response.
The best smart speakers can also facilitate multi-room audio, letting you play music and enhancing your home entertainment experience. Depending on the sound quality and specific features, smart speakers drastically range in price from the budget-friendly Amazon Echo Dot to the premium Sonos One.
Smart Plugs
Smart plugs provide a simple, yet effective, way to transform any ordinary appliance into a smart device. By plugging your devices, such as lamps or fans, into a smart plug, you can control them remotely using your smartphone or voice commands. This means you can turn on your coffee maker from bed, schedule your lamps to turn off at night, or monitor energy usage for various appliances.
You can even use smart plugs outdoors to automate Christmas lights. Smart plugs can also be integrated into routines, allowing you to automate when devices turn on or off. Many smart plugs, like the Kasa Smart Plug Mini 15A, also integrate with home assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant.
Smart Lighting
Smart lights give homeowners both control over their lighting and customization opportunities, allowing you to set the mood in your home with just a few taps or voice commands. You can adjust brightness, change colors, and create schedules for when lights turn on or off. For instance, you can dim your lights for movie night or brighten them gradually in the mornings to help you wake up.
Many smart lighting systems can also sync with other devices, like smart speakers and sensors, to create dynamic lighting scenarios based on your activities. You can buy a smart lighting kit, like the Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit, or an individual smart light bulb like the Wyze Bulb Color which can be integrated into your entire smart home setup.
Smart Thermostats
The best smart thermostats, such as the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, are designed to optimize your home’s heating and cooling systems, leading to energy savings and increased comfort. These devices learn your habits and preferences, and then automatically adjust temperatures accordingly.
You can control your thermostat remotely via your smartphone to make sure your home is always at the perfect temperature, even if you aren't physically there. Many models also provide energy reports that can help you understand your usage and identify ways to save on utility bills.
Smart Sensors
Smart sensors monitor specific aspects of your home, such as motion, temperature, humidity, and even water leaks. For example, motion sensors like the Lutron Maestro can trigger lights to turn on automatically when you enter a room, while water leak sensors like the Govee WiFi Water Sensor can send alerts if they detect moisture, helping you prevent potential damage. Door and window sensors like the Philips Hue Contact Sensor can send you alerts or turn on lights when a door or window is opened.
How Much Does a Smart Home Cost?
The cost of creating a smart home varies dramatically, depending on how far you want to go with automation and the specific devices you choose. If you want full home automation, it could cost up to $15,000 for an average four-bedroom, three-bathroom home, and up to $150,000 for a large, luxury home.
One of the best things about smart home technology is that it can be tailored to fit your budget and your lifestyle. Here's a breakdown of the price range for some of the most popular types of smart home devices:
| Device Type | Low-End Price | Mid-Range Price | High-End Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Hubs | $40 - $59 | $60 - $150 | Up to $300 |
| Smart Doorbells | $40 - $59 | $60 - $100 | Up to $350 |
| Smart Cameras | $20 - $99 | $100 - $400 | Up to $1,000 |
| Smart Speakers | $20 - $69 | $70 - $200 | Up to $1,000 |
| Smart Plugs | $8 per plug | $15 per plug | $25 per plug |
| Smart Lights | $15 - $49 | $50 - $99 | Up to $100 |
| Smart Thermostats | $80 - $99 | $100 - $200 | Up to $300 |
| Smart Sensors | $20 - $39 | $40 - $60 | Up to $100 |
However, these figures take into account professional installation, which typically costs about $85 per hour. If you want to DIY your smart home, the average price range is $250-$1,500 for a low-end smart home, $2,000-$3,000 for an average smart home, or $2,500-$7,000 for a high-end smart home.
There are also subscription-based smart home systems, like those from ADT or Vivint, that you can purchase for around $500-$1,500 per year.
If DIY-ing your smart home system, the prices of the individual smart home devices you purchase will determine the overall cost. There are plenty of budget-friendly options available that allow you to begin building your smart home for just a few hundred dollars. For instance, the Amazon Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini offers a compact, affordable way to add voice control and smart assistance to any room, and the Blink Video Doorbell provides an extra layer of security without a hefty price tag.
That said, if you have the money to spend and want to turn your home into a fully connected, high-tech smart home with all of the latest features, you might be interested in premium-priced smart devices. For instance, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium pushes the limits of what thermostats can do.
Keep in mind that as technology evolves, smart homes require upgrades and maintenance. When thinking about smart home upgrades, it's a good idea to weigh the costs against the benefits to help you figure out whether a particular product is worth the investment. This is especially important when you consider that the price of smart devices can range from under $20 to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
How To Turn Your Home Into a Smart Home
Whether you're looking to make your home more convenient, secure, or energy-efficient, there are some tips you should take to streamline the process of turning your home into a smart home.
First, it's a good idea to start with the basics. If you're just starting out, you don't have to go all in at once. A smart approach is to begin with one room or a specific type of product. This way, you can gradually introduce smart technology into your home without a massive upfront cost.
Smaller, more affordable devices like smart bulbs, smart locks, or smart switches can be a great starting point, and they typically require minimal setup. Then, when you're ready to take the next step, you might consider investing in a starter smart tech package that includes a smart hub, speaker, doorbell, and a security camera. These packages generally run a few hundred dollars and provide a solid foundation for your smart home. Take a look at our other reviews of the best smart home devices to help you decide which products are right for your home.
Another tip is to think about integration. Choose devices that are compatible with each other and can be managed through a single platform, like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit. This makes it easier to manage multiple devices without juggling different apps.
Security is another important aspect. Always be sure to regularly update firmware and use strong, unique passwords for your devices. Even if it takes a bit of extra effort, the safety of your network is worth it.
Lastly, consider your future needs. As you grow more comfortable with smart technology, you might want to add more advanced devices like smart thermostats, smart appliances, smart TVs, or whole security systems. Planning ahead and staying up to date on the latest developments in the smart home market can help you make informed choices and avoid unnecessary upgrades.
Are smart homes energy efficient?
Smart home devices can be energy efficient, but they are not always. The reality is that smart thermostats and lighting can be used in a way to conserve energy and save on utility bills, but only when used correctly. For instance, you can set schedules for your lighting or for your thermostat to automatically adjust to different temperatures when you're at home or away. But, if you just use them like a regular thermostat or lamp, you aren't going to see any savings.
Is a smart home secure?
Smart home tech can potentially put you at risk if someone hacks into your network. But, there are several steps you can take to keep your smart home secure. Always use strong, unique passwords and keep your devices updated with the latest firmware to protect your smart home from potential threats.
Do I need a hub to create a smart home?
Not always, but it's recommended. While some smart devices require a hub for communication (especially those using Zigbee or Z-Wave), many newer IoT devices connect directly to Wi-Fi and can be controlled via a smartphone app without needing a hub. That said, if you have several smart devices, a smart hub makes it easier to manage them all without having to use separate apps.
Are smart home devices difficult to install?
The answer to this question depends on the smart home product you are installing. However, most smart home devices are designed for easy installation and can be set up by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Devices like a smart speaker or smart camera often just need to be plugged in and connected to your Wi-Fi network. But, if you want to install a smart light switch or thermostat, it may require more intensive wiring work.
What happens if my internet goes down?
If your internet goes down, most smart home devices that rely on cloud services will lose their remote control functionality, but some devices may continue to operate on local networks. Devices that use local communication protocols like Zigbee or Z-Wave may still function, but without internet access, you won't be able to control them remotely.
