The Protect goes above and beyond your standard home fire alarm, as it can detect heat, humidity, and carbon monoxide and also detect both fast and slow-burning fires. If you set off the alarm accidentally, such as while cooking dinner, you can quickly turn it off via the app. Protect also performs routine self-tests, making sure it’s functioning correctly. The setup process is also easy; you’ll need to screw the base plate into the ceiling, attach the Protect, and then sync it with your phone. While the Protect is undoubtedly more expensive than your run-of-the-mill smoke alarm, its effectiveness and ease of use make it the best smart home alarm on the market—especially if you’re already using Google Nest. It offers a 7-inch screen that looks similar to a tablet, giving you touchscreen controls. Use it to enjoy YouTube music, cook as Google talks you through the recipe, or display your images as a digital photo album. It’s worth noting that even though it looks like your tablet, it has limited connectivity with apps, a design shortcoming. We love that the Hub is not only a control for your smart home but it doubles as a personal assistant. Customize it with the daily news and weather, or have it display your first appointment, ensuring you don’t miss a thing. The system is easily controlled from your phone, allowing you to view usage reports to see how much energy you consume. The Nest isn’t compatible with Apple HomeKit, but for Google fans, it’s one of the best thermostats and will change how you heat and cool your home. Installation can be tricky, so many homeowners prefer to have it installed by their HVAC contractor. Unlike previous models, the S9+ has a D-shaped body, ideal for reaching all the corners and crevices of your room. It uses something called PerfectEdge technology to ensure no spots are missed, using sensors to guide the robot tightly along your walls. Through the iRobot app, you’ll be able to customize when each room is cleaned, and the robot’s Smart Mappings help it learn the layout of your house, so it knows where to go and how to tell different areas apart. There are plenty of options to program and customize, with the S9+ designed with budding programmers in mind. The S9+ is meant to be paired with iRobot’s Braava Jet M6, which mops up after the Roomba has vacuumed. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular home lighting systems, as users love the ability to adjust brightness, color, and timing and even create lightning scenes to dim and alter your home lighting over the day. Controlling your lighting system via an app may take some time, but it’ll soon become natural. While the Hue is an investment, it’s an all-in-one smart lighting solution that suits many homeowners.
Ecosystem
Hub vs. no hub
Some devices (such as Philips’ Hue lighting system) require a central hub to communicate on your Wi-Fi network. Be sure to check whether or not specific products need you to purchase an additional hub or will work right out of the box.
Smartphone apps
Most smart home devices will need to be set up via your smartphone. Be sure to check whether the device you’re purchasing has an app available for your device of choice before buying.
About our Experts
Andy Zahn was a Lifewire writer with expertise in smart home and general consumer tech. Ajay Kumar was an editor at Lifewire who has reviewed thousands of consumer tech products, including smart home devices, phones, tablets, hubs, and smart lights. Katie Dundas is a freelance writer and journalist who wrote for Lifewire.
