1. Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen)
The latest Echo Dot now features a built-in LED clock, a smart addition that enhances its functionality. This simple yet effective upgrade not only displays the time, temperature, and song titles but also complements the Echo Dot’s rich, room-filling sound. We hope more smart home brands follow Amazon’s lead and introduce subtle, yet impactful enhancements to their devices.
The Echo Dot with Clock includes an ambient sensor that adjusts the display’s brightness according to the surrounding light, as well as a temperature sensor that can trigger Alexa routines. Additionally, if you use an Eero router, this Echo Dot can also function as a mesh node to extend your network.
Although it costs $10 more than the standard Echo Dot, the Echo Dot with Clock offers added convenience for those who prefer to see the time without asking Alexa. The only drawback is that it lacks the 3.5mm audio out port available on the previous Echo Dot with Clock (4th Gen).
SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inchesSpeakers: 1.73 inch speaker
Wireless:2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth
REASONS TO BUY
+Affordable
+Multi-functional LED display
+Sounds great for the price
+eero built-in
REASONS TO AVOID
-No 3.5-mm port
2. Echo Hub
Amazon’s 8-inch display serves as an ideal smart home hub, whether mounted on the wall or placed on a stand. Each smart device is represented by its own widget on the main screen, allowing you to effortlessly adjust your thermostat, view up to 6 security camera feeds, or dim your lights without navigating through multiple menus.
The Echo Hub boasts a sleek, fully customizable interface, enabling you to add and rearrange widgets like To-Do lists and calendars. It offers a clear, organized view with ample space for each element, sorting devices by type, room, and importance. Its streamlined design avoids the ad clutter seen on Fire TVs and Echo Shows.
Beyond managing your smart home, the Echo Hub can stream music throughout your audio system, watch TV shows, and display reminders such as family chore lists. It also functions as an intercom for communicating with other Echo devices in your home, though it does not include a camera for video calls.
3. Nest Cam (battery)
The Nest Cam (battery) stands out with its sleek design and user-friendly installation, thanks to its magnetic base. With a 1080p camera, it delivers clear, high-quality images both day and night. Its built-in microphone and speaker make two-way communication effortless, making it a top pick among the best security cameras we’ve reviewed.
The Nest Cam (battery) includes three hours of rolling video storage for free, along with person, vehicle, and animal detection. For enhanced features, such as familiar face detection and up to a month of video storage, you can opt for a Nest Aware subscription starting at $6/month.
SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 3.3 x 3.3 inches
Resolution: 1080p/30 fps
Field of View: 130 degrees
Works with: Google Assistant,Alexa
Cloud storage: Starting at $6/month
REASONS TO BUY
+Great design
+Very sharp video quality
+Free person, animal, vehicle detection
+3 hours of video storage free
REASONS TO AVOID
-Few accessories
4. Ecobee SmartThermostat Premium
With its zinc case and significantly larger touchscreen, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium boasts an upgraded aesthetic, comparable to the Nest Learning Thermostat, and comes with enhanced smart features. Notably, it now includes an air quality sensor, allowing you to monitor indoor air quality and take action when needed. The expansive display also provides a detailed weather forecast for the week.
A standout feature of the Ecobee continues to be its remote sensors, which enable more efficient temperature management throughout your home. Additionally, the Ecobee integrates Alexa and can interact with Siri if you have a HomePod or HomePod mini. While the built-in speaker isn’t ideal for music, it offers a convenient way to add smart speaker functionality to rooms where you might not want an Echo Dot.
For those looking to expand beyond basic climate control, consider a smart air quality sensor. The $70 Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor impressed us with its affordability and Alexa compatibility, allowing it to control other connected devices. For instance, if air quality drops, your air purifier or dehumidifier can automatically activate.
SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 4.3 x 4.3 x 1 inch
Wireless: 802.11 Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5GHz), Bluetooth
Works with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT
REASONS TO BUY
+Improved remote sensors from previous model
+Full Alexa support
+Much improved and larger display
REASONS TO AVOID
-Larger than Nest Learning Thermostat
5. Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit
The Philips Hue White starter kit includes two bulbs and a hub, allowing you to connect them with other smart home devices. While these bulbs don’t change colors, you can adjust their brightness up to 800 lumens and add up to 50 bulbs to a single hub. Philips Hue bulbs are compatible with a variety of smart home systems, including Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, Google Home, and Nest. There’s a lot you can do with Philips Hue bulbs—explore these 9 surprising uses for smart lights.
Philips Hue lights also feature the Philips Hue Sync app, enabling users to synchronize their smart bulbs with multimedia content on their Mac or Windows PC. For instance, you can set your lights to flash and change color in sync with music, videos, and movies playing on your computer. Users can customize color schemes and themes to their preferences. For an additional $30, you can upgrade your starter kit to include four bulbs instead of two.
SPECIFICATIONS
Bulb type: A19
Wireless: Zigbee
Works with: Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, SmartThings, Google Home, Nest
REASONS TO BUY
+Comprehensive app
+Works with a ton of smart-home systems
+Dimmable
REASONS TO AVOID
-Requires hub
-Light color not tunable
6. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
We were already impressed with August’s first-generation Smart Lock Pro, our top pick among the best smart locks, but the company has outdone itself by making the new version smaller and even more compatible with other smart home devices.
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45 percent smaller than the original and now has built-in Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for an extra accessory to connect to your home network.
Like its predecessor, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is incredibly easy to install, taking just minutes, and retains all the useful features such as DoorSense, which alerts you if you leave your door open.
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock integrates with most smart home devices, including Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and Xfinity. You can unlock it with your keys or smartphone, and August also offers a wireless keypad as an additional entry option. For those looking to save some money and who don’t require HomeKit compatibility, the Yale Assure is a more affordable alternative.
SPECIFICATIONS
Lock type: Deadbolt
Size: 3 inches x 1.7 inches
Works with: HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, Z-Wave, Nest, IFTTT
Wireless: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
REASONS TO BUY
+Smaller size
+Wi-Fi built in
+Easy to use
+Works with lots of smart home devices
REASONS TO AVOID
-Keypad sold separately
7. Arlo Video Doorbell
While many of Arlo’s cameras tend to be pricey, the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell offers a more budget-friendly option without compromising on quality or features.
The Arlo 2K Video Doorbell is reasonably priced and performs exceptionally well. Additionally, the Arlo Smart cloud service is competitively priced, starting at just $3 per month. With Arlo Smart, you gain access to a host of features, including advanced motion alerts and 30 days of cloud storage.
This doorbell provides a 180-degree viewing angle and a 1:1 aspect ratio, allowing you to see packages left at your door. It also includes a built-in siren, enhancing its functionality as a security camera.
Though it lacks a free cloud storage option and is relatively large at 5 inches tall, the Arlo Video Doorbell is highly recommended and stands as our current favorite video doorbell overall.
REASONS TO BUY
+Easy installation
+Wide viewing angle
+Good night vision
REASONS TO AVOID
-Subscription required
-A bit bulky
8. Best mesh router
Wi-Fi is essential, especially when you start adding smart speakers, lights, plugs, and other connected devices throughout your home. These gadgets are only as good as the connection they rely on.
That’s why a mesh router, designed to spread a strong, speedy signal throughout your house, can be a smart upgrade—particularly for larger homes. Among the mesh routers we’ve tested, the Nest Wifi stands out. Priced under $75, the two-piece starter kit was able to cover the 5,800-square-foot CNET Smart Home with consistent signal strength, without dropping the connection during numerous speed tests. Additionally, the range extender doubles as a smart speaker, extending Google Assistant’s reach as it enhances your Wi-Fi coverage.
While the Nest Wifi doesn’t support Wi-Fi 6, the newest and fastest version of Wi-Fi, most users won’t notice the difference unless they have ultra-fast internet speeds of 500 Mbps or more. For those needing to handle such speeds, the Eero Pro 6 is a better choice. However, the Nest Wifi shines in its ease of installation, simple network controls integrated into the Google Home app, and advanced features like device prioritization, WPA3 security, and 4×4 MU-MIMO support, which boosts speeds for devices with multiple Wi-Fi antennas, like the MacBook Pro.
The Nest Wifi is ideal for Google smart homes, while Alexa users might prefer the Eero or Netgear Orbi. But if you want reliable Wi-Fi for your increasing number of internet-connected devices, the Nest Wifi should be at the top of your list.
REASONS TO BUY
+Fast speeds
+Easy-to-use controls
+Mesh points act as smart speakers
REASONS TO AVOID
-On the pricey side
-Only one Ethernet jack
