Best smart home devices of 2024

If we were to set up our dream smart home, these are the smart devices and gadgets that top our wish list.
Best smart lock
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro
  • pro
    Fingerprint reader
  • pro
    Auto lock/unlock
Best smart doorbell
Nest Doorbell Battery
Nest Doorbell (Battery)
  • pro
    Smart detection
  • pro
    Includes some free cloud storage
Best smart security camera
Arlo Pro 4
Arlo Pro 5
  • pro
    Truly wireless
  • pro
    Wide smart home compatibility
Best smart plug
TP-Link Tapo
  • pro
    Small and easy to use
  • pro
    Compatible with voice control
Best smart light bulb
phillips hue e27 kit
Philips Hue
  • pro
    Works with HomeKit
  • pro
    Compatible with voice control

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review

We’ve tested new smart home devices and tried-and-true smart home tech to narrow down the best home automation products in every smart home category we could think of.

Check out our roundup in each smart home category (they’re all linked below in each review section).



Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro: Best smart lock

Best smart lock

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

When it comes to keeping the bad things out and protecting the good things inside, you can’t beat this smart lock. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro has the best features and unlocking options of all the smart locks we’ve tested, plus it's reasonably priced.

The U-Bolt Pro comes with built-in Wi-Fi, which allows it to connect to your home network, in turn allowing you to lock and unlock your door remotely via the app or even using Alexa or Google Assistant.

See all of our picks for the best smart door locks.

pro
Pros
pro Affordable
pro Automatic locking/unlocking
pro Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT compatibility
pro Easy installation
con
Cons
con Unusual design

Nest Doorbell (Battery): Best smart doorbell

Best smart doorbell
Nest Doorbell Battery

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Though Ring takes the cake for the best budget video doorbell, the Nest Doorbell (Battery) is our pick for the best smart doorbell overall.

It isn't the cheapest model available, but considering you don't need to pay a monthly subscription fee to get great features like smart motion detection and three hours of cloud storage, it's still a good deal. And if you do end up wanting more cloud storage, Nest Aware plans are some of the cheapest, starting at $12 per month.

See all of our picks for the best smart video doorbells.

pro
Pros
pro 3 hours of free cloud storage
pro Excellent smart motion detection
pro Easy installation
pro Affordable cloud storage
con
Cons
con Expensive upfront cost
con Relatively narrow field of view

Arlo Pro 5: Best smart security camera

Best smart security cam
Arlo Pro 4
Arlo Pro 5
$320.37

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Arlo Pro 5 is cute as a button and smarter than your average security cam. Arlo packs a lot into this little camera—it works inside and outdoors, is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT, and picks up the smallest details thanks to 2K resolution.

But all of those perks come at a price. The Arlo Pro 5 is more expensive than a lot of other wireless security cameras, particularly if you want cloud storage. Expect to budget an additional $7.99 a month per camera, or $17.99 a month for unlimited cameras (and 4K resolution viewing if your camera supports it).

Not convinced? See all of our picks for the best home security cameras.

pro
Pros
pro Sharp 2K image resolution
pro Indoor/outdoor durability
pro 100% wire-free
pro Smart home compatibility
con
Cons
con Expensive
con No local storage or free cloud storage
Notepad
What does 100% wire-free mean?

The Arlo Pro 5 uses a wireless connection (your home Wi-Fi network) to stream, record, and send video. It also uses batteries for power. When you’re not tied to a power outlet you have a lot more options about where to place your security camera. Check out our top picks for the best wireless security cameras.

TP-Link Tapo: Best smart plug

Best smart plug

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Smart plugs turn anything you plug into them into a smart appliance. The TP-Link Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Plug stands out because of its size. Many smart plugs cover both of your outlets, so you end up with one snappy smart outlet instead of two boring ones.

Plus, the TP-Link Tapo plays well with Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart speakers, meaning you can use voice commands to control your devices. You can also set schedules to turn devices on or off at certain times, and your smart plug also monitors energy consumption.

pro
Pros
pro Easy installation
pro Compact size
pro Voice control with Alexa and Google Assistant
pro Schedule and timer
con
Cons
con No Apple HomeKit compatibility

Philips Hue: Best smart light bulb

Best smart light bulb
phillips hue e27 kit
Philips Hue
$149.37

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

We’re suckers for a smart light bulb, and Philips Hue bulbs shine a bit brighter in terms of features and easy use. But don’t worry—you’re in charge when it comes to the actual brightness (and, on certain models, the colour). All it takes to illuminate things is the mobile app or a voice command for Siri, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

With the Phillips Hue app, you can also automate your lights to illuminate your home once you walk in the door, or dim as you head to bed.

Though Philips Hue smart bulbs are by no means the cheapest on the market, they do offer the best quality and widest smart home compatibility.

pro
Pros
pro Voice control with Siri, Alexa and Google
pro Hub included
pro Simple setup
con
Cons
con Expensive

Chromecast with Google TV: Best smart streaming device

Best smart streaming device
Chromecast with Google TV

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

There’s so much to stream and so little time. Make your next bingeing marathon easy with the Chromecast with Google TV. This little baby turns your dumb TV into a smart TV in an instant and allows you to use voice commands via Google Assistant to control your TV.

It comes with an all-new remote control that can essentially replace your TV remote and a smart interface that learns your viewing behaviour and offers tailored recommendations.

There's also a 4K version for under $100, so you can watch all of your favourites in sharp, Ultra HD.

pro
Pros
pro Affordable
pro Universal remote
pro Voice control with Google Assistant
pro Affordable 4K version available
con
Cons
con Requires dedicated outlet for power

Google Nest Protect: Best smart smoke detector

Best smart smoke alarm
Nest Protect

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Google Nest Protect talks to you instead of chirping, sends notifications straight to your phone, and watches out for carbon monoxide, fire, and smoke. Why wouldn’t we love it? There's a wired and a battery-powered version, and both are easy to install.

The biggest drawback is the price. It's definitely one of the most expensive smoke detectors out there, and at almost $200 each, it can get pricey if you need multiple smoke alarms.

For more information, read our full Nest Protect review.

pro
Pros
pro Watches for smoke, fire, and CO
pro Wired or battery-powered
pro Uses voice instead of chirps
pro Sends mobile alerts
con
Cons
con Higher price tag

How we picked the best smart home devices

We love playing around with smart home gadgets, but there are so many to choose from that it can be tough to pick out the best smart home stuff. Thankfully, our team of writers, editors, and product testers always keep a pulse on the latest and greatest in smart home tech.

This roundup is a collection of our top picks from every smart home device category we feature. As with all of our reviews, we evaluated the things that matter most when it comes to picking out the right smart home options for your house:

  • Price
  • Overall value
  • Features
  • Installation
  • Ease of use
  • Compatibility

Read our full methodology for more about how we test and rank products.


Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.
Rebecca Edwards
Written by
Rebecca Edwards

Recent Articles