How to Make Your Home Smarter
Meet your newest roommate — Alexa.
Nearly everything in your home can be connected to WiFi and remotely controlled from the phone in your pocket. But setting up a smart home can be daunting. Here’s a guide to highlight some of the best smart home products out there to get you on your feet as you set up your home.
eero Home Wi-Fi system ($400) — The eero WiFi System replaces the traditional WiFi router, WiFi extender, and internet booster by covering a 2–4 bedroom home with fast and reliable internet powered by a mesh network. I’ve been using it for a month or so now and I have WiFi connection throughout my entire house. amazon.com
Echo Plus ($150)— The Echo Plus is great for new to smart home customers as it has a smart home hub built in — meaning there’s no additional hardware needed to connect devices like Philips lights. amazon.com
Amazon Smart Plug ($25) — The smart plug is perfect for smart homes as it can control almost any device with a plug, and it features Frustration Free Setup which can help you setup the device in just a few steps. amazon.com
Philips Hue Lightbulb ($30) — Play with light and 16 million colors to instantly change the look and feel of any room. One touch of a button effortlessly sets the scene. amazon.com
Chamberlain Smart Garage Opener ($41) — Open and close your garage door from anywhere with your smartphone through the myQ App. amazon.com
radiant by Legrand Smart Lighting Plug-In ($40) — This tool allows you to convert plugs to smart plugs without replacing existing outlets. Perfect to control lamps, fans, coffee machines or even the air conditioner. amazon.com
Bmmpr Smart Car Security ($249) — Through intelligent sensors and patented technology, this first-to-market product discreetly protects cars by sending real-time inaudible notifications to users’ phones when their car has been disturbed. bmmpr.com
Orbi Voice — A 3-in-1 device that delivers whole home WiFi, Amazon Alexa integration and superior sound powered by Harman Kardon. amazon.com
August Doorbell Cam ($200) — See who’s at your door remotely with this camera. Alerts on your smartphone tell you when someone’s at the door, and the one-way HD camera provides a live video feed with motion detectors. bestbuy.com
Kwikset Halo Touchscreen Wi-Fi Smart Lock ($229) — Available in two styles, a touchscreen and a keypad, Halo pairs to your existing Wi-Fi network to simply and easily enable remote access control, monitoring and simplified home automation integration. The new Kwikset deadbolts are an ideal solution for homeowners interested in upgrading to a secure, stylish lock that simply requires a Wi-Fi network and paired smartphone for control over the front door. But don’t worry, you always have the option of using a traditional key. Amazon, Lowe’s and Home Depot
Neato D7 Robot Vacuum ($829.99) — This smart vacuum has a unique shape to clean along the walls and inside corners (which many smart vacuums don’t have), smart mapping to learn the in’s and out’s of your hoe, zone cleaning, compatibility with Alexa, Google, and more.pet hair and tough debris. With up to 120 minutes of battery life, this robot vacuum is especially perfect for regular cleaning maintenance on large homes. Amazon, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, and NeatoRobotics.com
