Remember when smart homes were just a futuristic concept we saw in movies? Well, the future is now, and it’s packed with some of the best smart home devices you can imagine. From voice-activated assistants that can control your lights to security systems that you can monitor from your phone, the possibilities are endless.
If you’re anything like us, you probably love the idea of making your home smarter, more efficient, and just plain cool. As we are almost halfway into 2024, the world of smart home devices has never been more exciting. Whether you’re a tech novice or a seasoned gadget guru, there’s something out there that can make your life easier, safer, and more fun.
Most of us have most likely started their smart home journey with a simple smart speaker, and it completely transformed how we interact with our homes. Who would have imagined that one day coming home after a long day, we could simply ask our house to play our favorite relaxing playlist, dim the lights, and adjust the thermostat – almost as if our house is our friend. Sounds dreamy, right? But we all know it is no more a dream. In fact, this could easily sound old tech to some of you out there. And maybe you are wondering, tell me what’s new in 2024 because the assistant thing is so 2015. Well, we heard you.
In this blog post, we’re going to explore the best smart home devices you should consider owning in 2024. We’ll look at gadgets that can make your daily routine smoother, enhance your home security, and even help you save on energy bills. Whether you’re setting up a new home or upgrading your current setup, there’s something here for everyone.
So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let’s dive into the world of smart home technology. Trust us, by the end of this post, you’ll be itching to make your home a little smarter. Let’s get started on finding the best smart home devices for you to own in 2024!
Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)
Google’s smart battery-powered security camera putting “AI in your hand” is one of the coolest smart home devices you can own in 2024. What makes this smart camera different is the integration of AI in the smartest possible way. Here’s what’s cool about this.
You can basically set alerts for specific stuff and get notifications about what’s relevant. The Nest Cam basically can tell the difference between a person and a vehicle, so you can set the alerts that you want.
And, in case of emergency or situations when you might have to take some immediate action, you can respond to alerts directly from the Google Home app.
The battery-powered Nest Cam works anywhere you need it, from the living room to the garden.
Specifications –
- Voice Assistant – Works with compatible Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices
- Camera – 1/2.8 inches, 2-megapixel sensor, 130° diagonal field of view, 6x digital zoom, 16:9 aspect ratio
- Video – Up to 1080p at 30 FPS, HDR · 24/7 live view, Night Vision with HDR, H.264 encoding
- Video history – Up to 3 hours of event-based video history. Continuous video recording (up to 10 days of 24/7 video history)
- Audio – High-quality speaker and microphone, Full-duplex 2-way audio with noise cancellation
- Motion detection – Single motion sensor, 110° horizontal field of view, Up to 7.5 m (25 ft)
- Night Vision – Up to 6.10 m (20 ft) illumination, 6 high-power 850 nm infrared LEDs
- Wireless – 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4GHz/5GHz) Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA3 encryption supported
- Security – On-device machine learning, Secure boot, Automatic security updates, 128-bit AES encryption with TLS/SSL, Built-in magnetometer sensor
- Power – Built-in rechargeable 6 Ah, 3.65V lithium-ion battery
- Weather resistance – Weather resistant (IP54)
- Sustainability – Nest Cam is sustainably designed with 47% recycled content across its plastic parts.
- Languages – English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
- Warranty – One-year limited warranty.
Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit
The Philips Hue White starter kit is a great way to get started with smart lighting. It comes with two bulbs and a hub that lets you connect them to other smart home devices. While these bulbs don’t change colours, you can adjust their brightness up to 800 lumens. Plus, you can add up to 50 bulbs to a single hub.
One of the best things about Philips Hue bulbs is that they work with a lot of smart home systems like Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, Google Home, and Nest. There are so many cool things you can do with Philips Hue bulbs! For example, did you know you can make them flash and change colour in sync with your music or movies?
The Philips Hue Sync app makes this possible. It lets you match your lights to what’s happening on your Mac or Windows PC. So, if you’re watching a movie or listening to music, your lights can change colours and flash along with the action or beat. You can even customise the colours and themes to match your style.
If you want to get even more out of your starter kit, you can upgrade to a version with four bulbs instead of two for just $30 more.
Specifications –
- Bulb type: A19
- Wireless: Zigbee
- Works with: Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, SmartThings, Google Home, Nest
- Light Type: LED
- Special Feature: Motion Sensor
- Wattage: 10 Watts
- Bulb Shape Size: A19
- Incandescent Equivalent Wattage: 60 Watts
- Specific Uses For Product: Lamps
- Light Colour: Hue White
- Voltage: 120 Volts
Wemo WiFi Smart Plug
The Wemo WiFi Smart Plug is a fantastic smart home device and our top pick among smart plugs. It’s smaller and more compact than many other options, including its older version, the Wemo Mini. While it doesn’t track energy usage like some other smart plugs, it works with all the major smart assistants.
This smart plug also has a physical switch. So, if you don’t want to use your voice or an app to control it, you can just click the switch on Wemo. Plus, it has a cool Away mode that makes it look like you’re home by turning a lamp on and off intermittently when you’re not around.
Features –
- Control lights and devices from the app, or your voice*
- Works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Hey Google for hands-free voice control
- Set schedules and timers for your lights and devices
- Randomize lights for added home security—it’ll look like you’re home even when you’re not
- Space-saving design (45% smaller than Mini) won’t cover the whole outlet
iRobot Roomba i3+ Smart Vaccum
Image – Amazon.in
The Roomba i3+ robot vacuum gets to know your cleaning habits and offers personalized schedules. With Google Assistant and Alexa, you can start cleaning just by using your voice. Roomba even suggests extra cleaning when the pollen count is high or during pet-shedding season.
This vacuum gives a thorough clean with its Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes and 1X the Power-Lifting Suction that grabs dirt, debris, and pet hair from wherever it hides. It also has an Edge-Sweeping Brush for those hard-to-reach spots.
One of the coolest features? It empties its own bin into an AllergenLock bag that holds up to 60 days of debris. That means you can go two whole months without thinking about vacuuming!
Specifications –
- Special Features – Self Emptying, Scheduling, Pet Hair Pick Up, Auto-Docking, Room-By-Room Navigation
- Controller Type – Hand Control, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, iOS, Android
- Filter Type – High-Efficiency Filter
- Battery Life – 75 Minutes
- Battery Cell Composition – Lithium Ion
- Voltage – 220 Volts
- Capacity – 400 Milliliters
- Power Source – Battery Powered
- Are Batteries Included – Yes
- Control Method – App, Touch, Voice
- Compatible Devices – Amazon Echo, Tablets, Google Home, Smartwatches
- Form Factor – Robotic
Samsung AirDresser 3
One of the most innovative smart gadgets out there is Samsung’s AirDresser. It’s like having a dry cleaner right in your closet. With options for three or five hangers, it can fit into most closet spaces.
The AirDresser removes dust and odours from your clothes quickly and quietly. Using the Jet Air system and Air Hangers, it blows powerful jets of air up and down to loosen and remove dust, even deep inside your clothes. The AirDresser also sanitises and refreshes your clothes with its JetSteam feature, which uses high-temperature steam to penetrate fabrics. It eliminates 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, 100% of house mites, 99% of odour-causing gases, and 99% of other harmful substances.
Drying clothes gently is another great feature of the AirDresser, thanks to its HeatPump Drying technology. This reduces damage and shrinkage by using low-temperature drying with upper JetAir and lower HeatPump. They improve air circulation inside the unit to dry clothes evenly. Plus, the Wrinkle Care feature uses a mix of steam and air to smooth out creases, making your clothes ready to wear. It can remove 100% of wrinkles from woollen clothes and 80% from rayon materials.
Features –
- Samsung’s Newest Innovation in Clothing Care
- AI-powered laundry care and maintenance
- Remove dust on clothes with AirHanger and JetAir
- Eliminate virus, allergens and bacteria with JetSteam
- Gentle drying with HeatPump Technology
As we wrap up our look at the best smart home devices for 2024, it’s clear that the future of home automation is brighter and more innovative than ever. From smart plugs and lighting systems to robot vacuums and advanced home security, there are countless ways to make your home more convenient, efficient, and secure.
Embracing smart home technology can truly transform your daily life. But remember, the key to building a smart home that works for you is to start with the basics and gradually add more devices as you get comfortable. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into smart home tech or you’re ready to dive in headfirst, there’s a perfect device out there waiting for you.
So, go ahead and explore the world of smart home gadgets.
Feature Photo by R ARCHITECTURE on Unsplash