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Smart Home Starter Kit: 18 Bestsellers That Make Any House Feel Smarter 🏠
18
items Starting a smart home? These are the 18 bestsellers worth buying first — voice, lights, security, and comfort that just work. Heads up: some links may earn me a commission.
Sections
4
The Brains: Voice & Hubs
Lights & Plugs That Obey
Climate & Energy Savers
Eyes, Locks & Peace of Mind
The Brains: Voice & Hubs
Voice control hubs that run the whole show from one word.
The starter smart speaker for a reason: rich sound for its size, and Alexa routines tie the whole house together. Perfect first buy if your home has zero smarts today.
2022 Echo Dot 5th Gen Smart Speaker | Charcoal
A smart display that pulls double duty as kitchen timer, photo frame, and camera viewer. Great for households that want to see their smart home, not just talk to it.
Echo Show 8 3rd Generation Review
The quiet one: a sunrise-alarm display with sleep sensing and no camera staring back at you. Ideal for nightstands and Google Home households.
Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Small sphere, surprisingly full sound, and the hub every Apple household needs for HomeKit. Best pick if your life already runs on iPhone.
HomePod mini
Lights & Plugs That Obey
Lighting and plugs that turn old fixtures into voice-controlled ones.
The gold standard of smart lighting: 16 million colors, rock-solid hub connection, scenes for any mood. Worth it for movie nights and slow Sunday mornings alike.
Smart LED lighting starter kits
Turns any dumb lamp, fan, or coffee maker smart for pocket change. The four-pack means the whole living room obeys by tonight.
Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini 15A, EP10P4, ...
The smart switch electricians recommend: replaces your wall switch so the lights work smart even when the switch is off. A must for ceiling lights and older homes.
Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer Starter Kit w/ 1 OG ...
Full-color bulbs that skip the hub and go straight on Wi-Fi. Budget-friendly way to test whether color lighting is your thing.
Kasa Smart Light Bulb, Multicolor
Climate & Energy Savers
Thermostats and monitors that pay for themselves in lower bills.
Learns your schedule and trims heating and cooling while you're away. For anyone whose energy bill makes them wince every month.
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen ...
Room sensors keep the occupied room comfortable, not just the hallway where the thermostat hangs. The pick for multi-story homes with hot and cold spots.
Smart Thermostat Premium
Dead-simple scheduling for lamps, holiday lights, and window fans. Best for Alexa homes that want one less app to think about.
Smart Plug
Waters the yard around the weather forecast instead of through a rainstorm. A quiet money-saver for anyone with a lawn and a water bill.
Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller
Eyes, Locks & Peace of Mind
Cameras, doorbells, and sensors that watch the place while you're gone.
See and talk to whoever's at the door from anywhere, no wiring required. Renters and first-time homeowners, this is your front-door upgrade.
Battery Doorbell 2K
A wire-free camera with up to two years of battery life and crisp night vision. Set it and forget it security for yards, driveways, and side doors.
Blink Outdoor 4 camera FAQ
One camera that works indoors or out, on a shelf or a wall mount. Handy for keeping an eye on pets, kids, or the garage.
Outdoor Cam | Wireless Outdoor Security Camera
Key-free entry with codes for family, guests, and the dog sitter — no more copies of copies of keys. The lock upgrade that ends lockout calls.
Meet the Yale Assure Lock® 2 | Best Smart Lock for your ...
A sharp little indoor camera with local storage, so no subscription is required to look back. Great for pet cams and peace of mind on trips.
eufy Security Indoor Cam C120
A tiny sensor that tells you the second a door or window opens, and can trigger lights or alerts. The finishing touch that makes automations feel instant.
Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2, Contact ...