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Ever wished you had a robot to do things around the house for you?
Us too, which is why we’re currently obsessing over smart home devices. Also because we’re too lazy to get up and turn off the lights, but…
Here’s our top picks for smart home devices in 2021 – and why you simply neeeeed to get your hands on them.
Spending too much on heating and cooling bills? Nest is here to save the day, with its energy saving Eco Mode setting. If you don’t have a smart thermostat – what are you waiting for?
Ecobee’s 5th generation model is their best yet. The voice control works with Alexa, and will keep your home temp exactly where you want it, even while you’re asleep.
For homes with electric baseboard heating systems. This Mysa Smart Thermostat will make your outdated & inefficient heater wayy more cost effective. Mysa works with:
The WeMo Insight is a top tier smart plug. More than a plug, it monitors your energy usage & estimates the cost of using any device you plug into it.
The Wemo Wifi is a single outlet plug, making it compact enough to plug another device into the same outlet as it.
If you go on vacation, this plug has an “away mode” setting for that. Plug a lamp into your Wemo while you’re gone, and it’ll turn your lights on and off intermittently.
Ring doorbells paved the way for smart doorbells with their innovative technology & built in cameras. Deter package thieves, and see who’s at the door from your Ring phone app.
Made to rival Ring, the Nest Hello is a fierce competitor. Plus, it works with your other Nest devices, making your home basically Google’s headquarters (okay – no… but we can pretend.)
Arlo’s video doorbell is a cheaper alternative to the Nest Hello, without sacrificing much on features. Test out video doorbells with this one from Arlo, you might like it so much you don’t care to spend the extra money for a Nest or Ring!
This August Wifi smart lock doesn’t replace the original deadbolt. Installing it yourself is a breeze, no technician required.
You can still use your physical key if you the connectivity fails (it won’t) which is a major incentive for people nervous about technology.
With a simple & sleek design, Simplisafe’s smart lock is pretty and effective. Simplisafe’s products are all self-installed. Unlock/lock your door with the keypad or wireless Key Fob entry (through your phone app.)
Impressed with Simplisafe’s smart lock? Why not buy their whole home security system! Like their smart lock, the security system is a DIY install, and includes:
For more sensors & cameras – you can buy them separately, or choose from 8,9, & 12 piece packs.
For the people who hate DIY projects, this Vivint security system is installed by professionals! Definitely one of the pricier options, you’ll get your money’s worth with:
Philips’ regular bulbs are a hot commodity, and their smart bulbs are no different. Regular LED bulbs are energy-efficient, why not make them smart too? Philips, you’ve done it again!
At only eight dollars a bulb, Wyze is the cheapest smart bulb option, and one of the best. All you need is Wifi and to download the Wyze app on your smartphone. Piece of cake!
One of the less expensive options – the 11S Max from Eufy compares to robovacs double the price. Great for getting your feet wet in the robovac world, without investing $500+ on something you might not love.
Basically the inventors of the robovac, iRobot’s Roombas are worth the splurge. Unlike some of the cheaper options, this guy empties its own dust bin into a disposable bag. For us, that makes the i7+ a hot contender.
The best of both worlds, the Bissell SpinWave vacuums AND mops! You’ll literally never have to clean the floors again. Well, kinda.
As with most robovacs you’ll have to spot clean every now and then, but that’s wayyy better than a two hour deep clean.
Want a mop-only robot? The Braava Jet M6 is a crowd favorite, & relatively inexpensive. It has two settings: