Written By: BOSS Editorial
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Smart homes have gotten a lot smarter in the last few years. They’ve gone from remote controlled gadgets to complete, context-aware systems that can essentially run households themselves without much input or notice from us. They alert homeowners to danger, maintain air quality, and save us money. AI-powered predictive management parses data from systems all over the home, optimizing energy usage and sending maintenance alerts before systems fail. They can switch over to battery backups or generators during outages, and they help people remain in their homes as they age. Smart home systems generally make life easier, and these are some of the best at what they do.
Best End-to-End Ecosystems
The most impressive thing about the SmartThings hub is how well it integrates a wide range of devices with a Matter-certified controller and support for Zigbee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi devices. Smart TVs, smart monitors, even smart fridges can run the hub. Setup is wireless, though the battery and cellular backup from previous versions are no longer available. Still, users will notice how seamless the SmartThings system makes running a smart home, with their phones acting as an all-in-one remote.
The level of customization Home Assistant allows for can be overwhelming for new smart homeowners, but for those who really want to tinker with minute specifications, it’s hard to beat. The open-source software lets power users coordinate their bespoke smart home systems and consolidate several apps into one. The system prioritizes local control and privacy, and compatibility with Apple Home allows for truly remote control when you’re not at home.
Best Privacy
End-to-end encryption keeps data, including HomeKit Secure Video, encrypted between Apple devices and home accessories, all the way to the iCloud. Strict accessory authentication and local storage that processes video on devices rather than on the cloud maintain data privacy. Video from 10 days’ worth of footage can be stored locally without counting against quotas on the iCloud. The Apple Home Hub (available on HomePod or Apple TV devices) enable secure remote access far from home without involving a third party.
Aqara also supports HomeKit Secure Video, so the same end-to-end encryption is available there. The hub can even be set up in HomeKit-only mode for a further privacy measure. AI facial and gesture recognition ensure only the user gains access to the house and the hub. Privacy mode for the G3 camera is easily enabled with a simple toggle. Aqara’s Zigbee devices are battery-powered, allowing them to be placed almost anywhere with local control.
Best Compatibility
You see a “Works with Alexa” logo on just about any smart home produce you search, from Ring cameras to smart thermostats. That’s both because Amazon has gone to great lengths to make sure smart home enthusiasts have a good use for the smart speaker, and because Alexa’s strong market share has the makers of smart devices wanting to stay in its good graces. Once you see it, you’ll see it everywhere, and the frustration-free setup turns into an effort-free smart home hub.
The “world’s most advanced smart home hub” has it all: advanced flow, energy, dashboards, insights, and more. It connects with more than 50,000 devices from 1,000-plus brands, so if your smart home setup is a bit all over the place, or you’re the type who prefers specific brands for specific uses, Homey Pro has you covered. Its ability to organize devices by zones makes home management a breeze.
Best Energy Efficiency
The smart thermostat gets to know you, how warm you like your home at bedtime, when you’re likely come home, and whether someone’s in a particular room right this minute. That all translates to lower energy bills because it can anticipate usage and adjust when need be. It sets an overnight temperature that will keep things cozy and automatically heats or cools at times when energy is cheaper or cleaner than usual.
The ENERGY STAR-certified devices typically save users 10-12% on heating and 15% on cooling. Home/Away Assist uses in-home sensors and your phone location to determine when to adjust temperatures. Once it learns enough about your habits, it creates a daily schedule to automate temperature settings. Sensors in up to six rooms can figure out which parts of the house are a little drafty and need extra attention, while the Savings Finder feature makes suggestions on how to maximize energy savings.
Smarter Still
As ambient intelligence improves and becomes a consistent feature, smart home devices will know what do without us telling them. There’s already a lot smart homes can do for us nowadays, and they just keep getting smarter.
