The best smart home devices in 2022

The best smart home devices can make your home more automated, safer and cleaner. In some cases, these connected products can even help you save money.

Whether you're looking to turn your lights on from your smartphone, stream music to a speaker using Alexa (or Google Assistant or Siri,) lock your doors remotely or vacuum your floors without lifting a finger, the best smart home devices provide complete convenience.

The number of smart home brands is constantly growing. That said, not all smart home devices are as reliable as they claim. We've tested dozens of offerings across all different categories, from the best home security cameras to the best smart light bulbs. If a device can be controlled by an app or a voice, we’re here to help you decide if it fits your needs.

And if you're committed to a single smart assistant platform, here are the best Alexa compatible devices, best Google Home compatible devices, best HomeKit devices, and best smart displays.

See all of the best smart home devices below. And be sure to check out our smart home guide for how to make the most of your new gadgets.

Best smart home devices at a glance

Best smart home device overall : Amazon Echo Dot with Clock

: Amazon Echo Dot with Clock Best home security camera: Nest Cam (battery)

Nest Cam (battery) Best smart thermostat: Ecobee SmartThermostat

Ecobee SmartThermostat Best smart light bulbs: Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit

Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit Best smart lock: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Best video doorbell: Nest Doorbell

Nest Doorbell Best smart plug: Wemo WiFi Smart Plug

Wemo WiFi Smart Plug Best smart smoke detector: Nest Protect

Nest Protect Best smart home hub: Samsung SmartThings

Samsung SmartThings Best smart garage opener: Chamberlain MyQ

What are the best smart home devices?

Of all the best smart home devices we’ve reviewed, our top pick is usually of the best smart speakers because all have a voice assistant built in, which lets you look up the news and weather, get recipes, and control the rest of your smart home devices.

Our favorite smart home device is the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock. The spherical, $60 speaker features an attractive cloth-covered exterior, built-in LED system and lets you use all of the best Alexa skills. It's like a bedroom alarm clock, but better.

We also recommend the Arlo Q security camera, which is one of the best smart home devices designed for giving you peace of mind. The $149 cam records in 1080p high-definition, plus its software and app are easy to use. Motion detection notifications can be used to initiate your smart home routines, or let you know when something (or someone) is moving around your house when you’re not there.

The $25 Wemo WiFi Smart Plug is another top pick because of its low price and wide range of uses. Check out the best cheap smart home devices for more affordable picks.

The best smart home devices you can buy today

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The name says it all: This is an Echo Dot with a clever LED clock built in its face. However, this seemingly simple addition adds a ton of functionality to the Echo Dot, making an even better smart home companion. In fact, we wish more smart home companies took Amazon's cue and make minor —yet effective — enhancements to already excellent devices.

More than just the time, though, the Echo Dot with Clock's display can also show you the current temperature, and also functions as a timer. It also has an ambient sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the display based on the lightning of its surrounding environment. The Echo Dot with Clock costs $10 more than the Echo Dot, but based on our experience, we think it's a worthwhile upgrade for those who want to know the time without having to ask Alexa.

Read our full Amazon Echo Dot with Clock review.

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The well-designed Nest Cam (battery) has a simple shape and is one of the easiest home security cameras to install, thanks to its magnetic base. Its 1080p camera captures sharp images day and night, and its microphone and speaker made conversations a breeze. That's the main reason we consider it the top choice among all the best security cameras we've tested.

The Nest Cam (battery) also offers three hours of rolling video storage for free, as well as person, vehicle, and animal detection. If you sign up for a Nest Aware subscription (starting at $6/month), you also get familiar face detection as well as the ability to store up to a month's worth of video.

Read our full Nest Cam (battery) review.

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The fifth-generation Ecobee SmartThermostat has everything we liked about its predecessor, the Ecobee4, such as Alexa built in, a slick touchscreen interface and a remote sensor that helps ensure all the rooms of your house are getting heated or cooled properly. But the most up-to-date version has a better speaker so you can actually use it to play music, all of Alexa's features (including Drop-In and messaging), and Spotify integration. The remote sensor has a longer battery life and better range, too.

Its audio can’t compete with the Echo Dot or other Alexa speakers in terms of quality, but the Ecobee is clever means of equipping a room with Alexa without plugging in another smart speaker. Not only is the Ecobee one of the best smart home devices you can buy, it’s our leading choice of all the best smart thermostats , too.

Read our full Ecobee SmartThermostat review.

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4. Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit Best smart home device for lighting up every room Specifications Bulb type: A19 Wireless: Zigbee Works with: Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, SmartThings, Google Home, Nest Today's Best Deals View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Comprehensive app + Works with a ton of smart-home systems + Dimmable Reasons to avoid - Requires hub - Light color not tunable

Philips Hue White starter kit includes two bulbs and a hub to connect them to other smart home devices. While you can't change these bulbs' colors, you can adjust their brightness (up to 800 lumens), and add up to 50 to a single hub. Philips' bulbs also work with a wide range of smart home systems, including Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, Google Home, and Nest. In fact, there's all sorts of things you can do with Philips Hue bulbs, check out these 9 things you never knew you could do with smart lights.

Philips Hue lights also have an app, Philips Hue Sync, which lets users synchronize their smart bulbs with multimedia content on their Mac or Windows PC. For example, you can set your lights to flash and change color in time with music, video and movies being played on your computer. Users can also modify the color schemes and themes to suit their tastes. For $30 more, you can upgrade your starter kit to include 4 bulbs instead of 2.

Read our full Philips Hue White Starter Kit review.

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5. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Works with Alexa, HomeKit, and Google Assistant, and seamlessly integrates with security systems 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 Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) 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

There wasn't much to improve on in our August Smart Lock Pro review, but the company went ahead and tweaked its original to make it smaller and easier to use. As our new top pick among the best smart locks, the the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45 percent more compact than its predecessor, so it looks less obvious on your door. It also has Wi-Fi built in, so you can skip the August Connect bridge for linking your lock to your home network.

Everything we enjoyed about the August Pro is still here: An easy installation process, features such as DoorSense (which lets you know if your door has been left open), and compatibility all the leading smart home systems, from Alexa to Google Assistant to Xfinity. And, the August Wi-Fi lets you keep the keys from your existing deadbolt.

Read our full August Wi-Fi Smart Lock review.

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The Nest Doorbell (battery) gets almost everything right, and that's why it's not just one of the best smart home devices but the best video doorbell we've reviewed. The video doorbell's 3:4 vertical aspect ratio means you can see more of your front door; it can work either wired or on battery power alone, and it has a lot of great features, such as the ability to recognize familiar faces, packages, animals, and vehicles.

Even better is that the camera also offers some of those features for free, as well as three hours of rolling video storage — things that used to require a subscription. If you want longer storage, you can still sign up for Nest Aware, which starts at $6/month. As such, it pairs nice with the Nest Cam.

Read our full Nest Doorbell (battery) review.

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7. Wemo WiFi Smart Plug Best smart home device for making any regular lamp smart Specifications Size: 1.3 x 2.0 x 1.8 inches Works With: Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, IFTTT Electrical rating: 120V~/15A/60Hz/1800W Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Improved footprint + Physical control button + Works with Alexa, Google Home and HomeKit Reasons to avoid - Not compatible with 5Ghz Wi-Fi

The $25 Wemo WiFi Smart Plug is one of the best smart home devices and our top choice among the best smart plugs. It's more compact than competing options out there, even its predecessor the Wemo Mini. And while it doesn't have energy monitoring like some other smart plugs, the Wemo WiFi Smart Plug does work with all the major smart assistants.

This smart plug has a physical switch, so if you don’t want to use your voice or an app to turn your appliance on or off, you can click the switch on the Wemo. It also has a clever Away mode. which can make it seem like you’re home even when you’re not by turning a lamp on intermittently.

Read our full Wemo WiFi Smart Plug review.

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The Nest Protect is the top choice among the best smart smoke detectors. When it picks up on something in the air, it sounds an alarm and lets you know what room in your home triggered the alert. Plus an LED ring on the bottom of the alarm changes color in case of an emergency, giving you and the people you live with a visual cue.

What we like most about the Nest Protect is how well it integrates with some of the best smart home devices. When you use smart home routines, your smart smoke alarm can automatically turn on your lights, making it easier for you to get out of your house. However, these routines only work for those who have converted their Nest account to a Google Assistant account. It also does not natively work with Alexa.

Read our full Nest Protect review.

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9. Samsung SmartThings The best smart home device for connecting all your products together Specifications Size: 5.5 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches Wireless: Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi Today's Best Deals Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Wi-Fi makes installing this hub easier + Allows for more automation than other hubs + Works with Zigbee and Z-Wave devices Reasons to avoid - Still missing Nest integration - Difficult to upgrade from older hub

If you have a wide variety of smart home gadgets, you'll need a central system to integrate and control them all. While it has its imperfections, we found the Samsung SmartThings hub to be the best of the lot. It works with a wide range of devices and now has Wi-Fi built in, so you don't need to plug it into your router; this makes it easier to place in your house for the best connection to all your smart home devices.

Because the SmartThings hub has both Zigbee and Z-Wave antennas, you can pair it with several of the best smart home devices. Using the companion app, you can arrange dozens of scenes and automations. It also has a comprehensive home monitoring component, which can send you an alarm, record video, turn on lights, play sounds, and unlock your doors in the event of an emergency.

Read our full Samsung SmartThings review.

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10. Chamberlain MyQ The best smart home device for your garage Specifications Works With: Nest, SmartThings, Xfinity Home, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, IFTTT Wireless: 802.11 Wi-Fi Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Simple physical setup requirements + Simple app interface + Works with Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit Reasons to avoid - Doesn't work with Alexa - Requires subscription to use Google Assistant

If you're looking for the best smart garage door opener, look no further than the Chamberlain MyQ. It includes a sensor for your garage door as well as a hub that connects to your Wi-Fi network. When you send a command using your smartphone, it is relayed to the hub, which then goes to the sensor that activates your garage door. The MyQ app, available for Android and iOS devices, lets you check to see if your door is open, and then close — or open — it remotely.

MyQ will work with most brands of garage door openers made after 1993 that have standard safety sensors, according to Chamberlain. Currently, MyQ works with Nest, SmartThings and Xfinity Home smart home systems. The one thing it doesn't do, though, is work with Alexa.

Read our full Chamberlain MyQ review.

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The Roborock S4 Max is the best robot vacuum overall for its affordable price, good feature set, and ability to keep your floors clean. It picked up an average of 94 percent of kitty litter on carpet and hardwood floors, and did even better with Cheerios and dog hair. It was in a virtual tie with the Roomba S9+, which costs more than twice the S4 Max.

The S4 Max was fast to map our home, and it was a fairly simple matter to create rooms in the app and then direct the robot vacuum to clean individual areas. You can even set specific times to clean rooms. As an Amazon exclusive, the Roborock S4 Max can run out of stock periodically, but it's worth picking up when it's available.

Read our full Roborock S4 Max review.

How to choose the best smart home devices for you

Choosing the best smart home devices is different for every shopper. Most of the decision comes down which smart home platform you prefer - you’ll want to buy devices that are compatible with your voice assistant so you can create routines or control your gadgets hands-free.

You have three main choices: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant/Home, and Apple HomeKit/Siri. To help you get started, we have guides on how to use Alexa and how to use Google Assistant , as well as an Alexa vs Google Assistant vs Siri face off.

Alexa generally comes out on top, as it works with the most smart home devices, and has the most third-party skills. However, Google Assistant can do some things that Alexa can't—such as control Chromecast TVs—and it's rapidly being built into a number of third-party devices in conjunction with its Works With Nest program. HomeKit’s availability is also growing, and could be the right platform for you if you use Siri often on your iPhone or iPad.

How we test the best smart home devices

All of the best smart home devices above are top picks within respective categories. We compare and contrast each gadget to similar options, taking variables like price, ease-of-setup, voice assistant compatibility and appearance into account. For example, the third-generation Amazon Echo is our favorite smart speaker overall because it has the best sound for the value, and represents its category on this list. The same goes for the Nest Cam and fifth-generation Ecobee.

That said, there are a number of excellent options within each category that are not featured on this list. If you’re looking for more buying choices, we have individual pages that detail all the best smart lights, smart doorbells, smart security cameras and more we’d consider reliable purchases for your growing smart home.

Check each of them out for more in-depth testing information for every category of smart home devices you should consider for boosting your home’s IQ.

8 Top Smart Home Companies in the United States

The booming of smart home maker company in the United States was valued at over US$28,864 million dollars in 2021. It is expected that this figure will rise this year. That is a lot of income for the top smart home companies in the United States.

The increasing demand for smart homes also means the companies that provide this service have a lot of work to do at this time. We know the customers are demanding more from these companies.

The stakes are also rising with the introduction of innovative products and inventions that have impressed users.

Smart Home Maker Company in the United States

Here is a list of 8 smart home companies that have made a name in the United States because of the value they offer and customer satisfaction.

1. Amazon

There is hardly a tech conference regarding home automation and smart devices that Amazon won’t be featured on. After securing its place in the e-commerce industry, the company has invested a huge amount of money into developing innovative technology for smart homes.

Amazon developed a smart device called the Amazon Echo. It was introduced into the American markets in 2015. At that time, the world was just awakening to the idea of having fully automated homes.

Since its release, the Amazon Echo has evolved into a smart device that also functions as a smart hub. With the Echo’s functions as a smart speaker, it can be used to control all the integrated devices in smart homes remotely. All the user needs to do is give a voice command.

Amazon has gone further in its goal to become the biggest smart home company in the United States to produce other smart gadgets that are compatible with the Amazon Echo.

By entering the market this way, it is more convenient for customers to purchase the Amazon Echo and other products such as smart plugs, smart switches, thermostats, and other products.

2. Google

Google has already made a name in the tech industry. Its smart home product- Google Home, has also been highly patronized by thousands of customers who trust the Google brand.

Their decisions have paid off because Google Home is one of the best smart speakers in the smart home market. What’s more, it has been enhanced with smart connectivity options, amazing CPU, and input options to function as a smart home hub.

Google Home can be integrated with multiple devices and third-party apps, which can be remotely controlled by voice commands in a smart home.

Moreover, it can be used for performing a wide range of tasks:

Researching online

Getting the latest news and

Wirelessly operating lighting systems, smart switches, plugs, and entertainment systems in smart homes.

3. Samsung

Samsung has already made a name in many American homes. The company has been manufacturing and selling some of the best electronic products we have today. So it is not surprising to know that Samsung jumped on the smart home makers train.

Samsung has found ways, through its electronic research labs, to develop and improve its products to have smart features. Samsung developed a smart home hub that can be used to control all the smart devices in a home.

With this success, it entered into the league of smart homemakers. Samsung has been releasing dozens of smart devices to capture the market.

The company currently offers Samsung smart things. With such a wide range of smart products, customers can get fully automated homes where all the devices are compatible and offer value.

4. Nest

Nest is one of the largest smart home companies in the United States. It has also become a household name because of products that are reliable and very easy to use.

Nest is owned by Google. It has been positioned as one of the top smart homemakers to help the public easily make the switch and get their homes fully automated.

Nest has a lot of smart products in its line. These products can be used as stand-alone smart devices or integrated into a central smart home system using a smart home hub.

Some of the smart devices developed and sold by Nest include:

All the products released by Nest function smoothly with Google’s smart voice assistant and speakers. This is how the users can remotely control all the smart devices that have been installed in their homes.

5. Philips

As a smart home company, Philips is known for its smart lighting systems. These products designed and developed by the company are in high demand because of Philips’ reputation in the light bulb industry.

As a smart home company, Philips offers smart light bulbs that can be connected to a central smart home hub and remotely controlled.

The smart lighting products from Philips can be installed in homes without changing many features, provided the building is not older than twenty years regarding the wiring system.

In addition to the smart light bulbs, Philips has released smart circuits that enable users of the lighting systems to get the expected value.

6. Ecobee

This company was launched at a time when home automation was becoming the topic of discussion on all tech forums. Ecobee was established as a company with a focus on developing and releasing smart products for occupants of smart homes’ daily use.

The products developed by Ecobee have been immensely helpful in smart homes. They are thoughtful ideas that have helped the occupants of smart homes gain more control and convenience in their homes.

Some of the smart products sold by this brand are smart switches and thermostats. Ecobee has ensured its products are compatible with smart speakers and voice assistants such as Alexa to give its customers more value.

7. HomeSeer

This brand has made a name for itself in the American smart home market as the developers of versatile smart home hubs that are compatible with a wide range of appliances.

HomeSeer offers smart home users the convenience of remotely controlling:

HVAC systems,

entertainment devices,

smart switches,

thermostats,

and smart security gadgets easily.

The company became popular because it offered a solution to occupants of smart homes who needed devices with high compatibility. The products from this company reduced the risks of buying products that may not function as expected due to lack of compatibility.

8. Belkin

This smart home company made its name in the home automation industry by developing smart power sockets and switches. These are products that must be installed in smart homes to connect devices to a power source.

Belkin products are used by consumers to control how their devices function remotely. For example, they are used to control thermostats, smart lamps, smart doorbells, and kitchen appliances.

Belkin products are compatible with smart voice assistants such as Alexa, and they can be remotely controlled via apps installed on smartphones.

Conclusion: Smart Home Maker Company in United States

The smart home automation industry is large enough to accommodate more companies. We expect to see new brands in the coming months as more investments go into the industry.

Best Smart Home Products for 2022 That Aren't Made by Amazon or Google

When it comes to the best smart home products, Amazon and Google dominate the industry. Not only is Amazon continuously expanding its line of Echo smart speakers but the tech giant also owns popular home security brands Ring, Blink and Wi-Fi router brand Eero. Meanwhile, Google owns Nest and has brought the company further under its control. Now, most of the smart gadgets from "Google Home" have been rebranded to "Google Nest," like the Google Nest Mini. If you want to upgrade your smart home, you're usually shopping from these two companies.

Our list of best smart home products features 12 products, and seven of them are Amazon or Google devices -- or devices made by Amazon- or Google-owned (or funded) companies. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. They're all solid gadgets and we honestly recommend them. As much as Google and Amazon (the latter especially) deserve credit for bringing some much needed organization to the smart home category via their popular voice assistants, it's easy to forget that the smart home industry is bigger than these two companies.

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That's part of the purpose of this post -- to look at the smart home in a different way and to see what else is out there when you remove the most obvious players. That said, Alexa and Google Assistant are compatible with... well, pretty much every smart home gadget at this point. For better or for worse, this would be an exceptionally short list if we stuck to devices that are totally independent from Google Assistant and Alexa compatibility. It would be even shorter if we left off products that use backend support like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud.

Larger questions about market consolidation and data stewardship emerge when you go deeper down the rabbit hole on Amazon's and Google's omnipresence in our lives. There's also the question of privacy. Amazon and Google dot headlines for misusing user information and collecting health care data without informing people. Amazon's home security company, Ring, has been the subject of numerous CNET reports for its partnership with over 725 law enforcement agencies across the US.

I had to draw a line somewhere for this story, so for the purposes of this product roundup, Amazon, Ring, Blink, Eero, Ecobee, Google and Nest-branded devices are out.

Of course, the brands I list here aren't impervious to data breaches, either. Apple, which I nominate below for best smart speaker and best smart display, had an iPhone security flaw that allowed hackers to gather personal information from websites. And an issue with Apple's FaceTime app made it possible to listen to a person receiving a call, even if they didn't answer the call.

Still, this is a particularly great list if you have concerns about the privacy of Amazon and Google products.

Now that all of that is out of the way, let's get into this list of the top smart home devices that aren't made by Amazon or Google.

Tyler Lizenby/CNET Apple's smart speaker -- the HomePod -- hit stores in early 2018, but is already discontinued. The newer, smaller and smarter HomePod Mini is Apple's sole smart speaker focus and our favorite pick if you don't want an Amazon or Google model. It delivers excellent sound quality and solid, albeit limited, third-party Siri voice integrations for controlling smart home devices. Pair two HomePod Minis together to create a stereo pair or set up multiple speakers throughout your home for multiroom audio. Read more: The Best Smart Speakers Even so, the HomePod Mini -- much like Apple's smart home platform, HomeKit -- still lags behind Amazon and Google's ever-growing lineup of branded smart speakers and partnerships with other companies that enable so many integrations with a simple "Alexa" or "Hey, Google" command. There is one potential benefit to HomeKit and the HomePod's slow third-party growth: improved security. Again, this doesn't mean Apple is immune to privacy breaches, but its smart home has remained relatively untouched when you consider the Amazon and Google headlines. That makes the HomePod Mini a decent option for someone who's a bit leery of smart speakers, particularly when it comes to user privacy. We're also keeping an eye on crowdfunded smart speakers, like the Mycroft Mark II, which claims to give "you the power of voice while maintaining privacy and data independence." Interesting. Read our Apple HomePod Mini review.

Ry Crist/CNET Netgear took a significant departure in price from the inaugural Orbi it introduced back in 2016 with this new Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi System. We liked the original model, but it cost a whopping $400. Fast-forward three years and Netgear is back with a whole new Orbi, this time for just $150. For your money, you get a two-pack Orbi system that's designed to cover up to 3,000 square feet and works with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. 3,000 square feet isn't quite enough to blanket the large CNET Smart Home in Wi-Fi, but Netgear does offer three- and four-pack kits for $230 and $300 if you have more ground to cover. Read more: The Best Mesh Wi-Fi Systems At close range, the Orbi clocked the faster top speeds during our testing, impressing us with its signal strength and general ability to keep up with the pricier Nest Wi-Fi and Eero systems. The Netgear app could use a redesign, but the Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi System offers a great overall value and is well worth considering if you're not quite ready to make the move to Wi-Fi 6 (but want a solid Wi-Fi connection throughout your house). Read our Netgear Orbi review.

Chris Monroe/CNET If you've overlooked the lowly smart plug up until now, you might want to reconsider. The $30 TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Mini, available for less on Amazon (as of writing this, it's just $15), makes it incredibly easy to control everyday household devices. Connect your smart plug to a wall outlet, then plug in a desk fan, lamp, or other small electronic device for easy on/off control straight from your phone -- or with an Alexa or Google Assistant voice command. In addition to the Kasa Smart Plug Mini's reliable performance, I really like that this particular smart plug doesn't block any other outlets -- something that strangely isn't always the case (including with TP-Link's own Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug with Energy Monitoring). Read more: The Best Smart Plugs The Kasa Smart Plug Mini can also be set to control a device automatically on a schedule. For example, if you want your entryway lamp to turn on at 6 and off at 10 just go to the app and schedule it. As long as your Wi-Fi connection is solid, your TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Mini will control your devices for you, so you can focus on more important things. Read our TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Mini review.

Chris Monroe/CNET The Wyze Bulb is an unassuming choice for best light bulb. It only costs $8, a fraction of what Philips or Lifx charges -- and yet, it earned top marks in our testing. That only makes its incredible value all the more impressive. Wyze's smart bulb is a dimmable white-light LED with a scheduling function and an adjustable color temperature. Download the Wyze app, screw in the Wyze Bulb and follow the simple setup steps -- and you're just a few minutes away from having app-controlled lighting. Wyze Bulbs work with Alexa and Google Assistant as well, if you want to use a voice command to adjust them. Read more: The Best Smart Bulbs While the app is easy to use and the dimming, scheduling and color temperature settings work well, I do wish the app had a sunrise/sunset setting that automatically adjusted the schedule based on the time of year. I have three Wyze bulbs in covered outside light fixtures and have to occasionally adjust my schedule to account for the changing seasons. Still, they're excellent bulbs at a great price; we highly recommend them. Note: Wyze Bulbs are technically indoor lights, so make sure to follow Wyze's guidelines when you install these yourself. Read our Wyze Bulb review.

Chris Monroe/CNET The $200 Honeywell Home T9 is a nice-looking smart thermostat at a reasonable price -- especially because it comes with a remote sensor that tracks temperature, humidity and motion. The remote sensor, called a "Smart Room Sensor," is powered by two AAA batteries and is supposed to have a 200-foot range. Additional sensors cost $40 each (steep, I know) and you can add up to 20. If you aren't interested in buying the T9 bundled with a Smart Room Sensor, the thermostat costs $170 on its own. Read more: The Best Smart Thermostats The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat is easy to install and the app provides straightforward step-by-step instructions to get it connected to your Wi-Fi and paired to the app. As always, make sure to consult an electrician if you have any questions about how this thermostat will work with your particular home setup. If you want to branch out from the app, the T9 thermostat also works with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. Read our Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat review.

Chris Monroe/CNET Let's get the annoying stuff out of the way first. At $400 for a two-camera pack, the Arlo Pro 3 is expensive (it's currently $500 on the Arlo online store). That $400 kit also includes a required hub that you have to connect to your router. Arlo claims the hub helps extend the Wi-Fi range of its Pro 3 cameras and improves the battery life of each camera's rechargeable battery, but feel superfluous compared to all of the non-hub Wi-Fi security cameras out there. Read more: The Best Home Security Cameras That said, the Arlo Pro 3 is my favorite home security camera. It's weatherproof and can go anywhere, as long as your Wi-Fi network reaches it. It has easy-to-remove rechargeable batteries that can last for months on a single charge (battery life will vary based on use). And the camera itself has a built-in spotlight and siren to startle potential intruders. With an Arlo Smart subscription, starting at $3 per month, you'll receive custom motion alerts that tell you whether it sees a person, a car, an animal or a package -- and get 30 days of access to recorded motion clips. Arlo cameras are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. Read our Arlo Pro 3 review.

Chris Monroe/CNET Simplisafe bridges the gap between professional security systems like Vivint or ADT and standalone home security devices like the Arlo Pro 3 camera. It's a complete, scalable home security system you install yourself. The $200 "Foundation" security kit comes with basics, including a hub, a keypad, a door/window sensor and a motion sensor. Add extra sensors and other devices as needed. Read more: The Best Home Security Systems For $25 per month, you get professional security monitoring from a remote call center and access to the Simplisafe app where you can also check in on things yourself. Unlike professional security companies, Simplisafe doesn't come with an "early termination" fee -- or otherwise lock you into a contract. If you decide to cancel, or decide to move, you can either move your system to your new home or cancel without extra charges. Simplisafe's security system recently underwent a design overhaul, too, making it much easier on the eyes than the last version. Overall, it's an ideal system for someone craving the accessory options of an ADT without the contract. Read our SimpliSafe Home Security review.

Tyler Lizenby/CNET Unlike the pricey (but awesome) Arlo Pro 3, the $150 Arlo Video Doorbell is reasonably priced for a smart doorbell. The Arlo Video Doorbell has all the basics, including HD live streaming, motion alerts, night vision and two-way audio. It also has a wide 180-degree field of view in a 1:1 aspect ratio (meaning it's easier to see packages left on the front porch than a traditional landscape view). Read more: The Best Video Doorbells When the doorbell detects motion, or if someone rings the bell, a motion alert goes to your phone so you can see who's there -- and talk to them. The doorbell also comes with prerecorded messages if you don't want to talk to them directly. This hardwired doorbell has a built-in siren like the Arlo Pro 3 camera and offers the same optional Arlo Smart cloud subscription plan, starting at $3 a month. With Arlo Smart, you'll get 30 days of saved custom video clips that specify whether the motion was a person, a car, an animal or a package being delivered. Read our Arlo Video Doorbell review.