Before delving into the 10 must-have smart home devices you cannot miss, let’s take a brief look at IoT technology generally, including what IoT technology is all about!
The term IoT stands for “Internet of Things” – which covers all interactive digital devices that can transmit data through a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer intervention. While the growing IoT trends are somewhat amazing because it has drastically changed home automation systems in the world.
A lot of IoT gadgets emerge every year, which are mostly geared towards ensuring safety and keeping the home more organised.
We have researched the Top 10 Must-Have Smart Home Devices you need, particularly those that are expected to drive the next growth of smart home technology.
What is IoT technology?
The internet of things (IoT) is a system of interrelated digital devices, both computational and mechanical, that have the ability to transmit data over a network without requiring human-to-computer or human-to-human interaction, equipped with unique identifiers (UIDs).
In fact, you cannot talk of a smart home without including IoT, as the technology behind the smart home, from communication protocols and sensors to APIs and algorithms like AI and machine learning.
And when these devices send information to you, including the ability to respond to your commands, it is the basic concept of the smart home and modern home automation systems that all proud homeowners should consider.
10 Must-Have Smart Home Devices You Cannot Miss
Smart Home is simply home automation, and automation in exactly how to control all items around the home, from light bulbs to window shades, and even gadgets like TV and sound systems — with just the push of a button or simple voice command.
Find below the 10 must-have Smart Home devices for a modern home.
Disclaimer: all gadget details listed are based on the latest information available at the time this post was published.
1. AMAZON ECHO DOT (5TH GEN)
Price: £29.99 to £54.99
Main Features
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Alexa, IFTTT
- Room Temperature sensor
- Display with Artificial Intelligence Assistant
- Voice assistance
- wireless Internet connection
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen, a hands-free speaker, instantly connects to Alexa Voice to play music, get weather information and news, and supervise your smart home. It is next level if you want to have exceptional sound quality. Every home requires a smart assistant like it. The Echo Sub can pair wirelessly with two Echo speakers, providing a chest-rattling bass experience.
You can listen to Spotify and make calls with premium audio quality. The device’s markers contain voice interaction, creating to-do lists, putting alarms, playing audiobooks, and streaming podcasts, in addition to delivering weather, traffic reports, and other real-time news. This gadget can also control many other smart home appliances, serving as a home automation hub.
2. Google Nest Audio
Price: £40
Main Features
- Google Assistant built-in
- Voice Match technology
- Size: 175x124x78 mm
- Quad Core A53 1.8 GHz Processor
- High-performance ML hardware engine
- Compatible with both Android & IOS
- Google Assistant responses
- Integrates with your Google tools
- Booming bass
There are plenty of smart speakers available in the market, and, in all honesty, most of the choices are difficult to make a mistake with. If given the option, we would choose Google Nest Audio to enhance your home office speaker setup on a budget and use Google Assistant to help control our modest home.
This little boombox does a passable job with your music while offering a welcome, environmentally conscious perspective to the smart home space. It has a lovely, pill-shaped design that is made partially of recycled plastic bottles, aluminum, and magnesium.
3. Lenovo Smart Clock
Price: £ 49.46 – £ 98.93
Main Features
- Google Assistant
- Wireless charger, Night light
- Connectivity: Up to 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) at 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
- RAM: 1GB, Storage: 8GB
The Lenovo Smart Clock has so many incredible qualities. With its Google Assistant, you’ll get a better feel for waking up. It has a simple LED screen to check the time and the weather at a glimpse. The back has a nightlight; the top has some buttons for setting the alarm or adjusting the volume. Just state, “OK, Google,” to get begun. It reduces smartphone screen span at night and helps you to sleep nicely. It can also play your favorite music, supervise your schedule, and much more. All hands-free, quick, and easy.
4. Samsung Bespoke Built-in Oven
Price: £1,589
Main Features
- Size: 595 x 596 x 570 mm
- Conversion: 1200 / 1200 W
- Dual Cook Flex
- Air Fry
- Full Steam
- Meat Probe
Enjoy steaming while cooking in the innovative Samsung bespoke built-in oven, or add steam to keep food moist. You may make nutritious steaming while also simultaneously cooking a variety of foods in the oven using different settings with Dual Cook Steam. For food that is both crisp and tender when roasting or baking, use Add Steam.
Experience hassle-free cooking thanks to intuitive and customised control. The sleek control panel of the modernised design features a 4.3″ LCD display, touch controls, and a single knob. It displays the choices you use the most frequently so you can choose them fast based on your usage patterns.
5. GE CYNC Full Color Outdoor Light Strip
Price: £ 16.13 – £ 161.37
Main Features
- Set schedules
- Control with your voice
- Control away from home
- Sync your music or sounds with music sync
- Choose from preset light shows or customise your own
- Choose from millions of colours
- Dim and brighten
- Install easily with included mounting clips
- Cut and connect up to 64 feet
- Enjoy year-round with a weather-resistant design
Your home’s outside will be colourful thanks to The GE CYNC Full Color Outdoor Light Strips a very useful and innovative smart home gadget to bring colour to the outside of your house. They are very simple to install and feature millions of colours, music synchronisation, light shows, and other features.
The brand-new Dynamic Effects Outdoor Light Strips can sync to your own music or sound, giving your colour scheme a pulse. Select from a variety of pre-set music shows or create your own with the Cync App. With presets and a function that lets you make your own light show, you may enable the full-colour light strips to put on vibrant light shows.
6. Reolink Duo Floodlight PoE
Price: £184.99
Main Features
- Outdoor PoE IP Camera with 180° Ultra-Wide Angle
- Human/Vehicle/Pet Detection
- 1800 Lumen Floodlight
- Waterproof
- Two Way Talk
- Duo Floodlight PoE
Reolink Duo Floodlight PoE is an excellent video monitoring system, electrical power source, or Wi-Fi access. A pair of 15 W reflectors with 1800 lumens and 4200K brightness are mounted on the dual-lens camera. This camera’s 180° field of view, two lenses, and reflectors enable it to illuminate and watch over any part of your land. This reflex camera’s 8-megapixel high resolution enables it to catch every detail and deliver stunning 4K footage.
Keep an eye on your house as though you were there. This camera is capable of precisely detecting both people and cars as well as animals. The lights and siren are automatically turned on when something questionable is discovered. You can respond to circumstances instantly thanks to an integrated microphone and speaker.
7. Dyson V11 Total Clean
Price: £599.99
Main Features
- Size: 1261x261x250 mm
- Charge Time: 4.5 Hrs.
- Run Time: Up to 60 min.
- Suction Power (Boost Mode): 185 AW
- Unique battery power management system, Washable filter
- Powerful cleaning on floors and carpets
Dyson specializes in vacuum cleaners with innovative technology. The Dyson V11 Total Clean vacuum has a runtime of up to 60 minutes and is designed to provide deep cleaning everywhere. The three cleaning modes were optimised for different jobs. Where you need it, the ideal ratio of power to runtime. Up to 60 times per second, an integrated digital motor spins the brush bar.
On concrete floors, carbon fiber strands trap small dust while firm nylon bristles penetrate carpeting to remove grime. The click-in battery can be removed and replaced with the push of a button. With a maximum speed of 125,000 rpm, it has the strongest suction of any cordless vacuum.
8. LG Roll Away TV
Price: £ 74206.42
Main Features
- 120Hz 4K gaming
- 65-inch smart HDR screen, Dolby Vision
- Variable refresh rate, auto low latency mode
- OLED’s self-lit pixel technology
- Alexa, Google Assistant support
The LG Roll Away TV is an excellent appliance that can make your home smart in no time. It has an ultra-thin display that rolls with OLED’s self-lit pixel technology. This LG TV also has a mode named Line View, where a part of the screen peeks beyond the base and presents some simple details, including a photos widget, media playback controls, a clock, and much more.
9. ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI
Price: £1,029
Main Features
- Suction power: 5000 Pa.
- Rejuvenate your daily life with a thorough cleansing.
- Uses TrueMapping and cutting-edge AIVI 3D technology.
- An immersive YIKO voice assistant that has been given a human touch.
- A beautiful, specifically tailored design created by JACOB JENSEN DESIGN.
The first All-in-One OMNI Station in the industry is included with DEEBOT X1 OMNI to provide you with a completely hands-free experience. An ideal hands-free solution that can replenish clean water on its own, separate clean water from sewage, and enable the automatic washing and drying of mop cloths. The OMNI Station doesn’t require frequent disassembly and washing because it can clean itself with just one tap.
To stop bacteria and odour after cleaning, the heating appliance may quickly dry the cleaned mopping pad. The DEEBOT X1 OMNI delivers combined sweep, suction, and strong mop for a deep and efficiently clean, guaranteeing no persistent stains remain. It is outfitted with Dual Side Brushes, 5000Pa Suction Power, a Floating Main Brush, and the OZMO Turbo 2.0 Rotating Mopping System.
10. Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
Price: £169.99
Main Features
- 1536p HD Head to Toe Video
- 3D Motion Detection
- Two-Way Talk
- Customisable Privacy Settings
- Enhanced dual-band wifi
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 provides trustworthy protection with an added dimension thanks to its constant power. The wider view provided by the 1536p HD Head to Toe Video on your Video Doorbell allows you to see more of whoever is at the door. The new Bird’s Eye View feature, which offers an overhead map view of your property and explains the historical context of the motion occurrence, is powered by 3D Motion Detection.
You can use the Ring app to connect to all of your Ring devices to monitor your home from anywhere, change your motion settings, and access Live View at any time.
Ready for a smarter, better, and more convenient home? Then go shopping and treat yourself or a loved one for a special occasion such as their anniversary or birthday!
Conclusion
Indeed, this new era of IoT is exciting not just for the home, but also for businesses. Several Smart technologies for businesses, albeit these may not technically be considered as smart home technology, except perhaps you are working from home.
And there is already a plethora of new technology that benefits businesses and consumers, as the “smarter” the business the more benefits there will be for the consumers.
Automation makes it easier for consumers to get help for so many tasks, for instance, a chatbot which is another smart technology for businesses, makes it more efficient for customers to get help online, with the infusion of artificial intelligence that ensures precise solutions.
