The 7 Best Smart Home Devices to Upgrade Your Home in 2022

There’s a “smart” version of just about any home device you can imagine. From alarm clocks and bedside lamps to dishwashers and robot vacuums, just about every home product in the last decade has an internet-connected version. Finding the best smart home devices—the ones that actually improve your day-to-day living—can be a challenge. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for your own smart home devices, no matter what type of product you’re looking at:

• Compatibility: This might be the single most important consideration when shopping for smart home devices. You’ll need to know which, if any, smart home hubs your new device works with. Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit are the three most common and most widely adopted. By building your smart home around one “ecosystem,” you can seamlessly connect your devices to interact with one another.
• Power source: It might seem minor but having a dual power source could be invaluable, especially for smart home products that you rely on. A decorative wall-mounted light likely doesn’t need a battery backup (a hardwired power source will do). But, for something like a home security system or video doorbell, you’ll likely want multiple ways to keep it running, even if the power goes out.
• Price: It goes without saying that price is almost always a consideration. Smart home devices are one area where it often pays to spend a little more. No-name products abound. While they might save you money upfront, you could wind up paying more in time, frustration, unnecessary customer service calls, and, ultimately, more money if (when) you decide to buy a better version to replace the first one that didn’t deliver on its promises.

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For this roundup, we researched many of the best-reviewed smart home devices on the market. We pored over specs, buyer ratings, verified reviews, and more for several dozen product types, including smart appliances, smart lighting, smart home security systems, smart air purifiers, and even smart pet products. The list above represents our honest picks for the best smart home devices with the best mix of utility, user-friendliness, ease of setup, compatibility, and, of course, price.