My reviews this year have taken me from highly advanced smart lock retrofits to the latest home security and even smart fans to help keep the summer cool. But only a few filled niches so well that I’m still using these gadgets, even months after I’ve gotten the results I need. They include new types of sensors, specialized security cams and more.
If you’re looking for smart home devices that prove themselves and scratch an itch your home has long struggled with, I highly recommend starting here.
Read more: Unlock Your Home’s Potential with My Favorite Smart Home Apps
Emporia smart plug
The classic smart plug is a simple affair, a plug-in device that can automate and schedule on-off features for whatever you plug into it, like a lamp, coffeemaker or fountain. Emporia’s model is a plug (15A) that goes a step beyond with its in-depth energy management functions, helping you save on electricity use.
The smart plug even has a largely unique feature that lets you tailor on-off functions to match non-peak electricity usage hours. If your utility charges more for peak-hour use, that’s an easy way to save money on larger appliances. Plus, you can always go in and examine detailed charts of energy use by the hour, day, week or month. I also like how you can quickly sign in with logins like your Google account, so setup is fairly effortless.
I have been using this smart plug on a standalone heater, but it’s time for a switch soon, possibly to an air purifier, to see just how much electricity it’s using throughout the day. With a plug like this, the possibilities are everywhere.
Aqara Climate Sensor W100
I’m already a fan of satellite sensors for smart thermostats, which let the thermostat react to the temperature in what specific spot where the sensor is placed. But this Aqara climate sensor does even more. Right out of the box, it starts sensing temperature and humidity wherever you put it. That’s great for checking air quality levels in spots where I’m curious about monitoring conditions, like the bedroom.
The sensor is also Matter-ready for broad compatibility with Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home if you don’t want to use the Aqara app. With compatible devices (like an Aqara thermostat or compatibility smart plug) it can also trigger certain automations, a feature I’m excited about and still experimenting with, working to connect it to my thermostat or supported smart plug humidifier.
I’m also interested to see what information the sensor offers as seasons change, such as a room that gets particularly dry or too hot in the summer.
Google Nest Cam floodlight
I originally started testing the Google Nest Cam floodlight model in conjunction with my review of the ADT Plus security platform. That testing and the ADT system are long gone, but I kept on using the Nest Cam floodlight in my backyard via the Google Home app (where I can also see my doorbell at the same time). The LED brightness was easy to manage (and very bright at higher settings), the magnetic base made the cam simple to angle in just the right way, and Google’s free AI object detection remains one of my favorites. What’s not to love?
Well, fair warning — you do need to wire the camera in, and wiring work on a ladder isn’t exactly fun, so prepare accordingly. Also, this is a particularly pricey high-end camera: You get what you pay for, but you may also think about waiting until a sale brings it down to around $200.
Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)
What makes a smart display any better than a smart speaker if you don’t plan on watching many videos? For me, it’s the on-display information I can check at a glance. In the kitchen, where my Echo Show 8 lives, that usually means checking recipe details or juggling multiple timers so I can see how much time is left with just a look, something a speaker just can’t do.
Also, those extra video features can grow on you. Watching a news roundup in the morning while grabbing tea or coffee can become an easy habit. The same is true of sports highlights, a music video you really want to see or a social media you have to see to get the joke. If you’re more app-focused around the house, setting up an iPad also works well (it’s just more expensive).
SnapPower Guidelight 2 nightlight
When I first experimented with this auto-dimming nightlight, I assumed I’d go back to my old nightlight after I finished. But the Guidelight 2 kept on being a useful light. Built into the outlet cover itself, it frees up an outlet for use (for a laptop charger, in my case).
The dimming function means the LED lights only turn on as it starts getting dark, and will brighten the darker the room grows. The original LED light was a little harsh, but there’s a tiny switch to change it to a warmer color that’s ideal for a home nightlight. I was left without any complaints.
SwitchBot leak detector
I’ve always been a fan of leak detectors that perform a quiet but serious service in homes and connect to apps for remote alerts so you know if there’s something wrong even when you aren’t at home. That’s useful for any kind of flooding, but my SwitchBot version has a permanent place under the kitchen sink, where I’ve had leaking problems before.
SwitchBot’s model is a little bulky compared to some detectors, but it has an onboard siren as well as a Wi-Fi connection for the app, and it’s simple to set up. Once it’s in place, I don’t have to worry about it until the worst happens — or I get a “replace-battery” alert in a few years.
If we’ve whetted your smart home appetite, stop by our guides for the best smart home devices, check out how much a smart thermostat can save you and learn what the best home security cameras are.
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