The smart speakers, plugs, lights, cameras, and sensors that genuinely make my place easier to run, from automatic lights and a keyless front door to leak alerts and a robot vacuum.
The little hub of my whole setup, so I can turn off lights, set timers, and check the weather without touching my phone.
Amazon Echo Dot (newest) - Deep Sea Blue
It sits in the kitchen showing my calendar and the doorbell camera, and it doubles as a photo frame.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (newest), 8.7" HD, Graphite
The easiest way to make dumb lamps and the coffee maker smart, and setup took me about two minutes each.
Kasa Smart Plug HS103P4, 4-Pack, Wi-Fi
My TV corner runs off this, and each outlet can be scheduled or shut off on its own from the app.
Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300 No Hub
The lights dim to warm white at night and wake me up gently in the morning, and they've never once dropped offline.
Philips Hue Starter Kit, 1 Bridge + 2 Bulbs
I stuck these behind the TV and under the bed frame, and the music sync mode is a hit when friends are over.
Govee 16.4ft RGBIC LED Strip Lights APP
It lights up a dark corner of the living room and changes color with a voice command.
Govee RGBIC Floor Lamp Basic 1000lm Black
I swapped my porch switch for this so the outside light comes on at sunset automatically.
Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200, Single Pole
A clever fix for a rental, since it physically presses a switch I'm not allowed to rewire.
Switchbot Smart Button Pusher Bluetooth
It learned our schedule fast and I can warm the place up from the train on the way home.
Amazon Smart Thermostat, Alexa & Ring, C-wire
I keep a couple of these around to watch humidity in winter, and the app alerts me if the bedroom gets too dry.
Govee Indoor Hygrometer Thermometer H5075
No wiring needed, and I can see and talk to whoever's at the door from anywhere.
Ring Battery Doorbell 2K Retinal Wide-Angle
Plugged in upstairs so I actually hear the doorbell when I'm in the back of the house.
Ring Chime - Real-time Alerts, WiFi & Bluetooth
A tiny camera I use to check on the dog while I'm out, and it's cheap enough to put one in each room.
Blink Mini 2K+ Indoor Security Camera White
Crisp night vision on the driveway for way less than most outdoor cameras.
WYZE Cam v4 2.5K AI Security Camera
I haven't carried a house key in months, and I can give guests their own code that I delete when they leave.
Yale WiFi Smart Lock Deadbolt Keypad
One sits under each sink and by the water heater, and the alerts hit my phone before a small drip becomes a disaster.
GoveeLife Smart Water Leak Detector 5 Pack
No more turning the car around to check whether I closed the garage, because I can see and close it from my phone.
meross Smart Garage Door Opener Remote
It killed every dead zone in the house so the cameras and plugs stay connected.
TP-Link Deco S4 Mesh AC1900 WiFi System 3-Pack
Fast, simple streaming on the bedroom TV, and the Alexa remote finds shows faster than typing.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus with Alexa+
It runs every morning while I'm at work, and it's thin enough to get under the couch.
eufy 11S MAX Robot Vacuum, Super Thin, Quiet
One on my keys, wallet, backpack, and suitcase, so I can find them in seconds.
