The Best Smart Home Devices We’ve Tested for 2026

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September 28, 2026 On September 28, 2026

The Best Smart Home Devices We've Tested for 2026

These days, there’s a smart version of pretty much every home device you can think of. These products (usually) connect to the internet, so you can control them from your phone through a companion app. Most also work with various forms of voice control. What follows is a rundown of the best smart devices we’ve tested for every area of the house. We have arranged our products by room to help keep things organized, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use most of these gadgets just about anywhere. Make sure to check back soon, as we regularly test new products and update this guide accordingly.

Why is Google Home a Nightmare?

Editors’ Note, June 17, 2026: With this update, we made several changes to our list of recommended smart home devices. All of our picks have been vetted for currency and availability.

Front Yard: Creating a Well-Lit, Secure Entrance

At the ultimate smart home, you’re met with technology before you even step through the front door. Some of the most useful connected home gadgets reside in the front yard, starting with outdoor security cameras. Our top pick overall for keeping tabs on your home from your phone is the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro. This high-resolution, weather-resistant security camera provides sharp video, color night vision, and AI-powered motion detection and alerts. Better yet, it acts as a hub for other smart home devices with built-in support for the Matter, Thread, and Zigbee protocols.

Views of the Aqara app (Credit: Aqara/PCMag)

For those times you want to check whether it’s a delivery person or an unwanted solicitor knocking on your door, a video doorbell will let you see who’s there without getting up from the couch. Beyond this convenience, video doorbells can serve as the first line of defense against property theft, home invasion, and porch pirates. They not only let you see and speak with the person outside, but they also record footage of visitors approaching your door while you’re away or unable to answer. Our favorite model, the Arlo Video Doorbell, delivers clear HD or 2K video with a wide 180-degree diagonal field of view, allowing for either a wired or wireless setup. It works with many third-party devices and supports voice control.

Another piece of technology you might want on your front door is a smart lock. Arguably the most important part of a truly connected home, these devices offer both security and convenience, allowing you to come and go as you please, while also monitoring who enters and leaves your home when you’re away. Our current top pick is the Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint, which adds HomeKit support to our previous favorite while remaining a dependable and versatile smart lock that lets you gain entry or lock up with your voice and fingerprint, as well as via keypad, mobile app, or traditional keys.

If you want privacy but still like to let the sun in, the Feather River Doors Smart Glass offers the best of both worlds. This smart entry door switches between opaque and transparent glass at the push of a button or a voice command.

For the highest level of protection, consider a professionally monitored smart home security system. The Vivint Smart Home security system is our top pick for professional monitoring. Offering 24/7 monitoring, it delivered speedy emergency response times in testing.

SimpliSafe Home Security System (Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

For a more affordable alternative, do-it-yourself smart home security systems are ideal for homeowners who want to save money by monitoring their homes themselves. The SimpliSafe Home Security System, our top choice for DIY options, allows you to secure and monitor your home remotely without incurring a significant expense or signing a long-term contract.

Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro

4.5
MSRP $179.99
MSRP $179.99
$199.99
at
Amazon
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Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro Review

Arlo Video Doorbell (2nd Generation)

4.0
MSRP $79.99
MSRP $79.99
$64.00
at
Amazon
See It
Arlo Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) Review

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi Smart Lock

4.5
MSRP $249.00
MSRP $249.00
$129.97
at
Amazon
See It
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi Smart Lock Review

Feather River Doors Smart Glass

4.0
Starts at $798.00
Starts at $798.00
$798.00
at
The Home Depot
See It
Feather River Doors Smart Glass Review

Vivint HomeProtect Pro

4.5
Starts at $749.99
Starts at $749.99
Month-to-month plans starting at $44.99
at
Vivint Home Security
Check Price
Vivint HomeProtect Pro Review

SimpliSafe Home Security System

4.5
Starts at $250.96
Starts at $250.96
70% Off + Free Outdoor Camera
at
SimpliSafe
See It
SimpliSafe Home Security System Review

Living Room: Cozy Conveniences for Entertainment and Relaxation

When it comes to living room technology, televisions and soundbars are the obvious stars of the show. However, many other gadgets aim to enhance the ambiance, convenience, and security of your primary living space.

For starters, a smart speaker is a must for the living room. Beyond playing music, our favorite models serve as a central command center, letting you control nearly any other connected home gadget by voice. The first step in choosing one is deciding which voice assistance platform is the right fit for your home: Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. All three support most major smart home device brands.

If Alexa is your voice assistant of choice, we suggest the Amazon Echo Dot Max as an affordable option with impressive sound quality. If you prefer Google, we recommend waiting to see how the upcoming Google Home Speaker fares. And if you prefer Siri, you can get a HomePod or a HomePod mini. If you choose this route, make sure that any other smart home devices you purchase are compatible with Apple HomeKit or Matter. Meanwhile, the Sonos Era 300 and 100 support Alexa but not Google Assistant or Siri.

As an alternative or in addition to a smart speaker, you might want a smart display.They offer the same hands-free voice assistant features as a smart speaker, but with a useful touch screen on which you can view live feeds from your smart doorbell or security camera, make video calls, and control your connected gadgets with a few taps. When not in use, your living room smart display can serve as a digital photo frame to display your personal snaps or curated art. The Alexa-powered Amazon Echo Show 11 and the Google Assistant-powered Google Nest Hub Max are among our favorites for the living room, while smaller options are more suitable for kitchen counters and bedrooms.

Google Nest Hub Max (Credit: Zlata Ivelva)

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to upgrade your living room is to replace your standard incandescent bulbs with smart light bulbs that support app and voice control. After upgrading, you won’t ever have to get up off the couch to flip the light switch again. Beyond offering greater convenience than traditional bulbs, smart lights use less energy and last longer, ultimately saving you money in the long run.

The TP-Link Tapo L535E features built-in Wi-Fi and works with Matter, allowing you to easily connect it to your preferred smart home platform. It delivers well-saturated colors with millions of options and bright, tunable whites with a 1,100 lumen output. It also tracks power usage and supports customizable scenes.

Another smart living room gadget that can add serious convenience to your life and potentially save you money on energy is a connected thermostat. Our favorite models allow you to monitor and control your home’s heating and cooling system remotely, set temperature schedules, and offer energy-saving features that can help lower your energy bills. Our top pick, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, comes with a remote sensor you can put in a different room to ensure a consistent temperature throughout the house. As a more budget-friendly option, we highly recommend the Amazon Smart Thermostat.

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (Credit: Ecobee)

With a smart plug, you can turn anything that plugs into the wall—be it a lamp, space heater, humidifier, or even a Christmas tree—into a connected device that you can control from your phone. The TP-Link Tapo P110M monitors the power usage of any appliance you plug in, supports voice commands, and works with numerous third-party platforms. The Shelly Plug US Gen4 is an excellent alternative if you need a smart plug that supports Zigbee. The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300 is a smart surge protector with six outlets you can independently control via your phone or voice. It also supports IFTTT, allowing you to program it to automatically turn certain outlets on or off when another event occurs, such as a camera motion trigger.

With so many smart gadgets in your living room, it’s a good idea to invest in a Wi-Fi-connected indoor home security camera. Of the dozens of models we test each year, the Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor is our current top pick for its reliable performance, sharp 2K resolution, smooth mechanical pan-and-tilt controls, AI-powered intelligent alerts, and overall value.

Finally, if you have a cat or dog, your smart living room wouldn’t be complete without a pet camera that lets you monitor and interact with your fur babies 24/7, no matter where you are. The Furbo 360 Dog Camera is as functional as it is fun, offering barking notifications and a remote treat-tossing feature you and your pooch will love. To make your feline roommates happy, go with the Furbo 360 Cat Camera, which is basically the same as the dog version, but tailors the sound effects and notifications to felines while adding a dangly feather toy to the top.

Amazon Echo Dot Max

4.5
MSRP $99.99
MSRP $99.99
$119.99
at
Amazon
See It
Amazon Echo Dot Max Review

Apple HomePod (2nd Generation, 2023)

4.0
MSRP $299.00
MSRP $299.00
$299.99
at
Best Buy
See It
Apple HomePod (2nd Generation, 2023) Review

Apple HomePod mini

4.0
MSRP $99.00
MSRP $99.00
$99.99
at
Best Buy
See It
Apple HomePod mini Review

Sonos Era 300

4.0
MSRP $449.00
MSRP $449.00
$379.00
at
Amazon
See It
Sonos Era 300 Review

Sonos Era 100

4.0
MSRP $249.00
MSRP $249.00
$179.00
at
Amazon
See It
Sonos Era 100 Review

Amazon Echo Show 11

4.0
MSRP $219.99
MSRP $219.99
$249.99
at
Amazon
See It
Amazon Echo Show 11 Review

Google Nest Hub Max

4.0
MSRP $229.00
MSRP $229.00
$229.99
at
Best Buy
See It
Google Nest Hub Max Review

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium

4.5
MSRP $249.99
MSRP $249.99
$259.99
at
Amazon
See It
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review

Amazon Smart Thermostat

4.0
MSRP $79.99
MSRP $79.99
$56.99
at
Amazon
See It
Amazon Smart Thermostat Review

Shelly Plug US Gen4

4.5
MSRP $19.99
MSRP $19.99
$24.99
at
Walmart
See It
Shelly Plug US Gen4 Review

Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor

4.5
MSRP $49.99
MSRP $49.99
$27.55
at
Amazon
See It
Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor Review

Furbo 360 Dog Camera

4.0
MSRP $210.00
MSRP $210.00
$48.00
at
Amazon
See It
Furbo 360 Dog Camera Review

Furbo 360 Cat Camera

4.0
MSRP $210.00
MSRP $210.00
$136.00
at
Amazon
See It
Furbo 360 Cat Camera Review

Kitchen: Must-Have Connected Cooking and Cleaning Tools

Whether you’re a master chef or an Uber Eats power user, the best smart kitchen gadgets can bring serious convenience to the heart of your home.

Can’t decide what’s for dinner? Need to quickly convert fluid ounces to cups? Searching for a cilantro substitute? Sounds like you need a smart display on your countertop. With Alexa or Google Assistant in your kitchen, you can also quickly set timers, add items to your grocery list, and play your favorite cooking music, all with just the sound of your voice. Amazon’s Echo Show 8 is our favorite kitchen companion. It’s just the right size for countertops, will keep you entertained with great speakers and a sharp display, and can help you search for and execute recipes when you need cooking inspiration and guidance.

Tovala Smart Oven (Credit: Will Greenwald)

Once you settle on a recipe, the top smart kitchen appliances can help you with every step of the cooking process. The Tovala Smart Oven allows you to bake, broil, roast, and steam food through app control and QR codes, making it one of the smartest countertop ovens available. Tovala’s optional meal kits are pricey but flavorful, and its multi-step cooking programs can help you whip up chef-level entrees.

Ultimately, there’s a smart version of just about every other kitchen appliance you can think of, from full-size ovens and refrigerators to smaller gadgets like air fryers and the Instant Pot Pro Plus. You can even satisfy your cravings for nugget ice on command with the Wi-Fi-enabled Ecozy Smart Panel Nugget Ice Maker Mistalo.

And, of course, no kitchen would be complete without a coffee maker. In the ultimate smart home, even your bean-brewing machine is connected. Smart coffee makersallow for app and voice control, so the only thing standing between you and a java jolt is a couple of taps on your phone or the phrase, “Alexa, turn on my coffee maker.” The xBloom Studio is our top choice in the category. It’s a smart coffee maker that automates grinding and brewing with barista-level precision, resulting in a carefully crafted cup of joe.

When it’s time to clean up after dinner, a good robot vacuum can take care of the floors for you. As a budget-friendly option, the affordable TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus impressed us with its efficient navigation and self-emptying dustbin, both rare features for its sub-$300 price.

You could also consider a premium self-emptying robot vacuum, such as the Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni, the top all-in-one robot for cleaning your floors. It features a self-emptying dustbin, a mop that refreshes itself as it works, and a built-in voice assistant. For homes with pets, we highly recommend the iRobot Roomba j9+, which comes with a POOP (Pet Owner Official Promise) guarantee: If the robot fails to avoid solid pet waste within one year of your purchase, the company will provide a new one at no additional cost.

Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni (Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

To scrub away streaks, you need a good robot mop. The iRobot Braava Jet m6 is an excellent mop-only option; however, all the hybrid models mentioned above also work well as mops.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)

4.5
MSRP $179.99
MSRP $179.99
$199.99
at
Amazon
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Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) Review

Tovala Smart Oven

4.0
MSRP $249.00
MSRP $249.00
$249.00
at
Tovala
See It
Tovala Smart Oven Review

Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer

4.0
MSRP $359.00
MSRP $359.00
$359.00
at
Amazon
See It
Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer Review

Instant Pot Pro Plus

3.5
MSRP $169.99
MSRP $169.99
$229.95
at
Amazon
See It
Instant Pot Pro Plus Review

Ecozy Smart Panel Nugget Ice Maker Mistalo

4.0
MSRP $499.99
MSRP $499.99
$284.99
at
Amazon
See It
Ecozy Smart Panel Nugget Ice Maker Mistalo Review

xBloom Studio

4.5
MSRP $499.00
MSRP $499.00
$599.00
at
Amazon
See It
xBloom Studio Review

Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni

4.5
MSRP $1,399.99
MSRP $1,399.99
$1,099.99
at
Amazon
See It
Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni Review

iRobot Roomba j9+

4.0
MSRP $899.99
MSRP $899.99
$399.99
at
Walmart
Check Stock
iRobot Roomba j9+ Review

iRobot Braava Jet m6

4.0
MSRP $499.00
MSRP $499.00
$199.99
at
Amazon
See It
iRobot Braava Jet m6 Review

Bedroom: Tech for a Better Night’s Sleep

If your bedroom is too hot, or you’re experiencing breathing difficulties due to allergies and asthma, the best bedroom tech can offer some relief.

The temperature of your room can have a big impact on your sleep quality. A room that is too hot or too cold can make it difficult to drift off and stay asleep throughout the night. According to Harvard Medical School, the ideal sleeping temperature for most people is around 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have central air, you might want to consider a smart air conditioner. They typically allow for app and voice control, and support scheduling, which can help reduce your energy costs. The GE Profile Clearview Smart Air Conditioner cools quickly and quietly, thanks to an innovative, split-housing design that places the bulk of the unit below the window line. The noisiest pieces are left outside, and you can still see out of your window.

GE Profile Clearview Smart Air Conditioner (Credit: GE)

A smart air purifier can help you monitor your indoor air quality and breathe more easily, especially if you suffer from allergies and asthma. The Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP03, our all-around favorite model, is both a capable three-stage HEPA air purifier that can rid your home of harmful pollutants and an oscillating fan with Wi-Fi connectivity for phone and voice control.

For relaxing smart lighting, the Philips Hue Iris Table Lamp supports up to 16 million colors and routines to help you wake up or fall asleep. You can schedule it to turn off after you fall asleep or simply tell it that you’re ready to go to bed with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. It’s easy to set up, and its 570-lumen maximum output allows it to get nice and bright when you want it to.

A smart speakercan make for an excellent bedside companion. One of our favorite models for the bedroom is the Amazon Echo Dot. It won’t crowd your nightstand, and lets you set alarms, play music, check the weather, and control other compatible smart home devices—all with the sound of your voice.

Similarly, a smart display offers all the benefits of a smart speaker and organizes your smart home controls on a single screen, conveniently located on your bedside table. The second-generation Nest Hub is small enough for nightstands and features sensors that allow it to track your sleep, overnight respiration rate, coughing, and snoring, as well as any light and temperature changes in your room, all without a camera or requiring you to wear a separate device to bed. It then offers useful insights to help improve your shut-eye. If you prefer Alexa, our top choice for a smart display in the bedroom is the third-generation Echo Show 5. It won’t track your sleep, but it features a camera (which you can disable if you prefer) for video calls and remote home monitoring.

Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System (Credit: Nanit)

Finally, if you have little ones, a smart baby monitor will let you watch, entertain, and soothe your child in their crib. The Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System requires a significant investment, but it’s the best smart baby monitor we’ve tested, especially for first-time and/or anxious parents. It records your baby’s sleep and wake times down to the minute, which can help you narrow down a bedtime for your little cherub. It can also alert you if your baby stops breathing to preempt the possibility of sudden infant death syndrome.

GE Profile Clearview PHNT10 Smart Air Conditioner

4.5
MSRP $529.00
MSRP $529.00
$429.99
at
Amazon
See It
GE Profile Clearview PHNT10 Smart Air Conditioner Review

Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP03

4.0
MSRP $1,099.99
MSRP $1,099.99
$979.00
at
Amazon
See It
Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP03 Review

Philips Hue Iris Table Lamp

4.0
MSRP $99.99
MSRP $99.99
$109.99
at
Best Buy
See It
Philips Hue Iris Table Lamp Review

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)

4.0
MSRP $49.99
MSRP $49.99
$79.99
at
Amazon
See It
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) Review

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)

4.0
MSRP $99.99
MSRP $99.99
$99.99
at
Google Store
See It
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) Review

Amazon Echo Show 5

4.0
MSRP $89.99
MSRP $89.99
$99.99
at
Amazon
See It
Amazon Echo Show 5 Review

Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System

4.0
Starts at $379.00
Starts at $379.00
$399.99
at
Amazon
See It
Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System Review

Bathroom: Grooming Gadgets for Stress-Free Mornings

Water and tech don’t usually mix, but that hasn’t stopped a swell of connected bathroom gadgets, from high-tech toilets that can clean themselves to smart scales that can measure a lot more than just your weight.

If you’re building a new house or renovating an existing one, consider installing a smart toilet in your bathroom. We haven’t reviewed any yet, but the Kohler Veil offers a hands-free opening and closing system that should eliminate squabbles over whether the toilet seat should be left up or down. It also features a night light, a heated seat, a warm-air drying system, an automatic deodorizer, a self-cleaning function that utilizes UV light to sanitize the bowl, and an emergency mode that allows you to flush up to 100 times during a power outage. If you want to smarten up your existing toilet, the Kohler PureWash E930 is a smart bidet that lets you ask Alexa to rinse your rear.

In the ultimate smart bathroom, you can even start the shower with your voice. The U by Moen is a wall-mounted smart shower controller that works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant, allowing you to turn on the water and set it to your preferred temperature with voice commands.

A smart scale is useful if you’re looking to lose a few pounds or just want to keep a closer eye on your health. The Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale tracks 14 metrics, including your BMI, body fat percentage, body water percentage, heart rate, muscle mass, protein level, and weight, with a maximum capacity of up to 400 pounds. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and a rechargeable battery, all for a reasonable price, earning our top recommendation.

Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale (Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Kohler Veil

The Kohler Veil smart toilet boasts a hands-free opening and closing system, plus a number of other convenient features including a night-light, an automatic deodorizer, and a self-cleaning function that uses UV light to sanitize the bowl.

MSRP $5,500.00
MSRP $5,500.00
$4,725.00
at
Kohler
See It

U by Moen

The U by Moen wall-mounted smart shower controller works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant, so you can turn on the water and set it to your preferred temperature with the sound of your voice.

MSRP $1,321.20
MSRP $1,321.20
$1,232.63
at
Amazon
See It

Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale

4.5
MSRP $79.99
MSRP $79.99
$63.99
at
Amazon
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Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale Review

Home Gym: Interactive Exercise Machines to Crush Your Goals

Whether you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated workout room or just an empty corner with enough space for a yoga mat, the smart home gym equipment market offers a wealth of options for improving your fitness.

Smart fitness devices, such as the Peloton Cross Training Bike+, allow for a level of interactivity far beyond their more affordable, non-connected counterparts. The Cross Training Bike+ and other smart fitness machines offer guided classes with knowledgeable instructors and/or customized workouts and programs tailored to your goals and current fitness level. It’s like having a personal trainer in the comfort, safety, and privacy of your own home.

Indoor cycling on a smart stationary bikecan help you burn calories, boost your cardiovascular endurance, and elevate your mood. Peloton motivates you through metrics and competition, while the SoulCycle At-Home Bike offers a more meditative, dance-focused experience.

SoulCycle At-Home Bike (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)

For a full-body, low-impact workout that puts minimal stress on your knees and other joints, consider a smart rowing machine. The Peloton Cross Training Row+ is an outstanding choice for beginner, intermediate, and advanced rowers alike. It features a 23.8-inch touch screen, an integrated AI camera for personalized strength training guidance, and a rowing Form Assist feature that can help you ace your technique.

While rowing machines can feel intimidating to newbies, and cycling bike seats can be a literal pain in the butt, treadmills are more user-friendly, accessible, and comfortable, since walking is an activity most of us do daily anyway. The Peloton Cross Training Tread is our favorite high-end treadmill thanks to its high-quality build and fantastic workout selection. For an affordable and compact option, consider the King Smith WalkingPad X21, which works with a simple companion mobile app that offers a range of workout programs, tracks your distance, and lets you compete on a global leaderboard.

To build muscle, consider a smart strength training machine. The Tonal 2 eliminates the need for physical weights, offering up to 250 pounds of digital resistance and sensors that adjust the weight automatically as you follow along with its engaging fitness classes.

Peloton Cross Training Bike+

4.5
MSRP $2,695.00
MSRP $2,695.00
$2,695.00
at
Peloton
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Peloton Cross Training Bike+ Review

SoulCycle At-Home Bike

4.5
MSRP $1,950.00
MSRP $1,950.00
$1,500.00
at
Amazon
See It
SoulCycle At-Home Bike Review

Peloton Cross Training Row+

4.5
MSRP $3,495.00
MSRP $3,495.00
$3,495.00
at
Peloton
See It
Peloton Cross Training Row+ Review

Peloton Cross Training Tread

4.5
MSRP $3,295.00
MSRP $3,295.00
$3,295.00
at
Amazon
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Peloton Cross Training Tread Review

King Smith WalkingPad X21 Treadmill

3.5
MSRP $1,199.00
MSRP $1,199.00
$799.00
at
Amazon
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King Smith WalkingPad X21 Treadmill Review

Tonal 2

4.0
MSRP $4,295.00
MSRP $4,295.00
$4,295.00
at
Tonal
See It
Tonal 2 Review

Garage: Design an Automated and Organized Multi-Purpose Space

Whether your garage serves as a storage area, a workshop, a party zone, or a place where you actually keep your car, there’s plenty of tech available to make it smarter.

If your old garage door opener struggles to fully raise and lower the door, making a racket in the process, it may be time for an upgrade. Belt-driven smart garage door openers are typically pin-drop quiet compared with the chain-driven models of yore. More importantly, they let you view the state of the door (closed or open, and for how long) and control it from your phone, so you don’t have to trudge outside in your PJs when you’re already comfy in bed. The Chamberlain 1 HP Belt Drive Opener (B5330) is a quiet, belt-driven model that lets you open and close the door using your phone, a remote fob, or a touch-screen keypad. It also has a built-in camera with motion detection and face recognition.

Garage door openers that work with the Aladdin Connect, myQ, or OHD Anywhere app are compatible with Amazon’s in-garage delivery service, Key, which can provide peace of mind if you’re concerned about porch pirates stealing packages from your front door. To set it up, link your compatible garage door to Amazon Key in the Amazon app and enable In-Garage Delivery. The service is exclusive to Amazon Prime members; once you set it up, just select “In-Garage Delivery” at checkout. It used to be a free Prime perk, but Amazon is now charging $1.99 for in-garage deliveries outside Amazon Day delivery slots.

Don’t have the money to spring for a new smart garage door opener? No worries: The affordable Chamberlain Smart Garage Hub lets you add connectivity to your existing setup. It’s compatible with all major garage door openers manufactured after 1993.

In addition to your high-tech car and e-bike, the garage is probably where you store many of your outdoor smart home devices. One of our favorites, the Rachio 3 smart sprinkler controller, can help you keep your beloved lawn looking green and lush while saving money on water. It installs in minutes and lets you control your in-ground sprinkler system from anywhere using your phone. It can also automatically reschedule watering cycles when significant rainfall is forecasted, a standout feature that performed well in our tests.

Chamberlain 1 HP Belt Drive Opener (B5330)

4.0
MSRP $309.00
MSRP $309.00
$309.00
at
The Home Depot
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Chamberlain 1 HP Belt Drive Opener (B5330) Review

Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller

4.5
MSRP $229.99
MSRP $229.99
$199.00
at
Amazon
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Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller Review

Segway Xyber

4.0
MSRP $3,299.99
MSRP $3,299.99
$3,299.99
at
Segway
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Segway Xyber Review

Backyard: High-Tech Amenities for an Open-Air Sanctuary

Our tour of the ultimate smart home wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the backyard. The best outdoor smart home devices can help you maintain a green yard, a blue pool, and a safe property. They also make it easy to create a warm and inviting ambiance for backyard parties.

To set the mood for your next barbecue or pool party, you need a good outdoor-friendly speaker that can withstand splashes and rain. Opt for the Sonos Play if you’re looking for a powerful but compact speaker that combines durability and smart features. It offers outstanding audio, long battery life, and boasts a rugged IP67 weatherproof rating. It also offers hands-free voice control with Alexa or the first-party Sonos assistant.

If you don’t need voice control on your patio, consider the Sony ULT Field 7 for our favorite blend of size and sound quality, or explore our budget-friendly option, the Anker Soundcore Motion 300.

Planning a movie night in your backyard? An outdoor projector can turn an outside wall into a cinema. The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is our top choice thanks to its excellent picture quality and easily portable design. The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is another top option if you need something extra durable.

Thanks to outdoor-friendly smart lights, the party doesn’t need to stop when the sun goes down. The fun and festive Govee Lynx Dream Bluetooth & Wi-Fi Outdoor String Lights are designed for the patio, featuring a weatherproof build and easy installation. You can control these multicolor lights with your voice via Alexa or Google Assistant or through their well-designed companion app. Govee offers a variety of preset scenes to choose from, allowing you to set the mood, or you can utilize Music Sync mode for a party atmosphere.

TP-Link Kasa EP40A Outdoor Plug (Credit: John Delaney)

If you have existing string lights or a decorative water feature you want to smarten up, an outdoor-friendly smart plug can help. The weatherproof TP-Link Kasa EP40A Outdoor Plug works with every major smart home platform, including Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, IFTTT, and SmartThings. It features a durable design and two outlets that can be controlled independently.

If you really want to impress your friends at your next backyard soiree, check out our list of the best grilling and BBQ gadgets. The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker is the best for charcoal grilling, while the Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill is a top gas-powered option.

For AI-assisted grilling, check out the Brisk It Origin 940. It’s a wood pellet grill that lets you roast, smoke, bake, and barbecue without the taste of lighter fluid. Beyond the basics, the AI engine, called Vera, offers countless recipes that you can pick and send to the grill. Each recipe we tried led to mouthwatering results in our testing.

If you don’t have the budget for a smart grill, the Weber iGrill Mini thermometer allows you to monitor the temperature of your food directly from your smartphone. This allows you to kick back and spend time with friends and family instead of constantly hovering over the grill.

For the best lawn on the block, consider a robot lawn mower such as our favorite, the Segway Navimow X390, which can mow an impressive 2.5 acres a day while staying connected terrain with ease and works with Alexa and Google voice commands. For a more affordable option, consider the Gardena Robotic Mower Sileno City, which features easy scheduling and quiet operation

And if pestering mosquitoes prevent you from enjoying your freshly cut lawn, consider getting the Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System.