[ TECH ] The Best Smart Home Starter Kit

Dinesh Vishwakarma

[p][img src="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/smart-home.png.webp" itemprop="image" alt="" srcset="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/smart-home.png.webp 680w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/smart-home-300x212.png.webp 300w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/smart-home-71x50.png.webp 71w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px"][br]

[p]To help expedite this process and let you drive head-first into smart home tech, we’ve put together the Smart Home Starter Kit to help you decide exactly what type of device is right for you. We’ve recommended our top choices for products and provided links to other articles that cover all of these subjects more in-depth.

[p]Let’s start with the front of the house.

[h1]Smart Locks[/h1][p]Smart locks are about more than just added security. They make it easier to enter and leave your home. How many times have you fumbled to find the key when your hands are full? How many times have you had to leave a spare key hidden under the doormat to let in the dogwalker?

[div][figure][img src="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/AugustSmartLock.jpg.webp" itemprop="image" alt="" srcset="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/AugustSmartLock.jpg.webp 500w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/AugustSmartLock-206x300.jpg.webp 206w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/AugustSmartLock-34x50.jpg.webp 34w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"][/figure][/div][p]We recommend the[a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.amazon.com/August-Smart-Lock-3rd-technology/dp/B0752XNC8M" target="_blank"]August Smart Lock[/a]. It’s one of the most popular options for smart locks available to consumers. It fits over a deadbolt and can be installed in just 10 to 15 minutes with nothing more than a screwdriver.

[h1]Smart Security Cameras[/h1][div][figure][img src="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NestCamoutdoor.jpg.webp" itemprop="image" alt="" srcset="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NestCamoutdoor.jpg.webp 435w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NestCamoutdoor-224x300.jpg.webp 224w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NestCamoutdoor-37x50.jpg.webp 37w" sizes="(max-width: 435px) 100vw, 435px"][/figure][/div][p]On the other hand, additional security cameras are always helpful. If you’re looking for a smart security camera just to monitor a specific area of your home, we recommend the[a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.amazon.com/Nest-Security-Camera-Matters-Anywhere/dp/B00WBJGUA2" target="_blank"]Nest Cam Indoor[/a]for indoor use, or the[a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nest-Security-Matters-Anywhere-Outdoor/dp/B01I3I9L8M" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"]Nest Security Camera[/a]for outdoor use.

[h1]Smart Door Bells[/h1][div][figure][img src="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SkybellHD.jpg.webp" itemprop="image" alt="" srcset="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SkybellHD.jpg.webp 666w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SkybellHD-300x157.jpg.webp 300w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SkybellHD-80x42.jpg.webp 80w" sizes="(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px"][/figure][/div][p]For front-porch security, few options are better than the[a href="https://www.amazon.com/SkyBell-SH02300SL-Silver-Video-Doorbell/dp/B01DLLU13U" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"]Skybell HD video doorbell[/a]. If you know anything about smart doorbells, this may come as a surprise. The Nest Hello and the Ring are both popular options, but the Skybell HD beats them out in a few significant areas.

[p]First of all, it is less expensive than either of the other options and integrates with Nest, IFTTT, and Alexa. Best of all, Skybell HD offers free cloud storage.

[h1]Smart Lighting[/h1][div][figure][img src="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Tradfri.jpg.webp" itemprop="image" alt="" srcset="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Tradfri.jpg.webp 550w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Tradfri-150x150.jpg.webp 150w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Tradfri-300x300.jpg.webp 300w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Tradfri-50x50.jpg.webp 50w" sizes="(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px"][/figure][/div][p]Smart lighting is one of the original pieces of smart home technology. Turning your lights on or off with the tap of a button was nothing short of brilliant, but it’s safe to say that they are old news.

[p]For standard white lights, you won’t find a better bulb than[a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80339436/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"]Ikea’s Tradfri smart lights[/a]. At just $13 per bulb, these are some of the most affordable smart lights on the market. They work with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. You can choose between three color settings: warm white, warm glow, and cool white. For outfitting an entire home with adequate lighting, the Tradfri bulbs are the best option.

[p]However, for color changing bulbs, it’s hard to go wrong with[a href="https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Ambiance-Equivalent-Compatible-Assistant/dp/B07351P1JK" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"]Philips Hue[/a]. The company was first founded in 1891, and though their lamps haven’t always been smart, Philips has always been in the business of lighting. The color-changing Hue bulbs sell for a premium, with a starter kit coming in around $200, but the functionality more than makes up for the price.

[h1]Smart Thermostat[/h1][div][figure][img src="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ecobee4.jpg.webp" itemprop="image" alt="" srcset="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ecobee4.jpg.webp 550w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ecobee4-150x150.jpg.webp 150w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ecobee4-300x300.jpg.webp 300w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ecobee4-50x50.jpg.webp 50w" sizes="(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px"][/figure][/div][p]Smart thermostats bring more than just convenience to your home—they make it easy to cut down on utility costs. Smart thermostats learn your daily patterns and automatically adjust to suit your lifestyle.

[p]When everyone leaves home for the day, the thermostat shuts off until a few hours before you come home. Smart thermostats make micro adjustments throughout the day to keep your home at a consistent temperature without driving up expenses.

[p]Nest is the go-to name in the market, but it isn’t our recommendation. If we had to pick a single smart thermostat for the average person, it would be the[a href="https://www.amazon.com/ecobee4-Thermostat-Built-Sensor-Included/dp/B06W2LQY6L" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"]ecobee4[/a]. This smart thermostat is said to save homeowners as much as 23% per year on heating and cooling costs, but the true appeal lies in its room sensors.

[h1]Smart Assistants[/h1][div][figure][img src="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/echo-show.jpg.webp" itemprop="image" alt="" srcset="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/echo-show.jpg.webp 600w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/echo-show-300x218.jpg.webp 300w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/echo-show-69x50.jpg.webp 69w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"][/figure][/div][p]Our recommendation lies with the[a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-new-Echo-Show-2nd-Gen/dp/B077SXWSRP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"]Amazon Echo Show[/a]. The screen can link to compatible smart doorbells, display the weather, check your calendar, and much more. You can also issue voice commands to the display. The only thing the Echo Show lacks is YouTube due to the constant rivalry between Amazon and Google.

[p]The Google Home has a slightly more appealing voice than Alexa, but the Echo’sfunctionality is unmatched. Amazon consistently releases updates to the Echo that make it even more of a powerhouse than it was before.

[h1]Other Smart Home Tech[/h1][div][figure][img src="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/wemo-insight-smart-plugs.jpg.webp" itemprop="image" alt="" srcset="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/wemo-insight-smart-plugs.jpg.webp 599w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/wemo-insight-smart-plugs-300x207.jpg.webp 300w, https://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/wemo-insight-smart-plugs-73x50.jpg.webp 73w" sizes="(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px"][/figure][/div][p]Smart home hubs enable compatibility between normally incompatible devices. For example, a Zigbee device and a Z-Wave device (the two primary types of smart home protocols) do not normally work with one another—but using something like the Samsung SmartThings Hub can streamline your smart home and grant control over all of your systems from a single app.

[p][br]

[h3][a href="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/smart-home/the-best-smart-home-starter-kit/" target="_blank"]Source[/a][/h3]

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