Smart home technology exists to make our lives easier, safer, and more fun. However, some devices are a little more complex or expensive than others. But don't worry if you're not super confident with navigating in-depth configuration settings or unfamiliar protocols because there are a host of great smart home devices designed with the novice smart homeowner in mind.

The best starting points for a newly smart home include some of the most versatile and convenient devices, like smart plugs and light bulbs, as well as security-minded devices, like smart alarm systems and standalone security cameras. We also highly recommend investing in products such as smart smoke and leak detectors, which can prevent costly and dangerous scenarios whether you're at home or away.

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    Philips Hue Starter Kit (75W)
    Best overall

    Smart lighting doesn't get any better than Philips Hue. It's not cheap and uses a separate hub, but if you want exceptional customization and lag-free control, it's worth the investment. You can save money by going with the white bulbs, but the color bulbs unlock a world of fun possibilities. This starter kit contains the more recent, 75W-equivalent color bulbs as well as the necessary hub, so you can start expanding whenever you want.

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    Ring Doorbell 4
    Premium pick

    As long as you're building an Alexa-based smart home (instead of Google Assistant), the Ring Doorbell 4 is the best one for most people. In particular, it's designed to streamline and secure package delivery and acceptance, with specialized notifications when something's placed on your porch. Its motion detection and image clarity are about as good as they get, and it works on either wired or battery power.

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    Wyze Cam Pan v3
    Best value

    Once meant for indoor use only, the latest in the Wyze smart security camera lineup boasts an IP65 rating for safe use in any weather. It's also nearly unbeatable in terms of value, with better video capture and more reliable alerts than a good deal of more expensive cameras. Its 360-degree pan and 180-degree tilt capabilities are better than almost any other, and the dedicated privacy mode ensures it won't record anything you don't want it to.

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    Kasa KP125M
    Most versatile

    One of the most recently released smart plugs, the Kasa KP125M, is among the rare ones to support the new, overarching Matter smart home ecosystem. You probably don't need that compatibility right now, but it's a worthwhile choice to make sure your setup's future-proofed. It's small enough that it won't block adjacent outlets except in rare cases, and it responds to commands and IFTTT applets quickly. There's even integrated energy monitoring to help keep tabs on your electricity bill.

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    Google Nest Wifi

    There's no better way to start your Google-powered smart home than with this combination of a Nest Wi-Fi router and an expansion access point. It's the perfect choice for medium-sized homes, no matter how fast your internet connection is, as it can theoretically reach up to about 2 Gbps of throughput. The access point is also equipped with a Google Assistant smart speaker, adding streamlined voice control to wherever you need robust Wi-Fi coverage.

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    Govee WiFi Water Sensor

    Forget convenience — Govee's WiFi Water Sensor can save you thousands in repair costs in case your plumbing springs a leak. If you're around, you'll hear the 100dB alarm clear as day, and if you're not, you'll get a smartphone notification right away. This package comes with a central hub and three sensors, and you can use up to 10 sensors at a time. Unfortunately, it won't easily integrate with other smart home apps, but Govee's app is relatively easy to navigate.

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    Ecobee Premium

    The Ecobee SmartThermostat Premium has as many bells and whistles as any of its competitors, in addition to reliable temperature sensors and the ability to expand into additional rooms. Alexa smart homeowners will appreciate the integrated Alexa smart speaker, which adds built-in voice access to wherever you install the unit. It's a pretty expensive investment, but its ability to enhance your comfort and potentially reduce your energy bill is worth quite a lot.

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    Wyze Smart Bulbs

    You don't necessarily have to mess around with an expensive hub-based setup to get dependable, good-looking color-smart lighting. It doesn't get much more straightforward than this two-pack of Wyze Smart Bulbs, which need only to be plugged in and connected to the smart home app of your choice for easy control. They're a great option for both fun party lighting and a security measure when you're out of town, plus their low price makes it easy to stock up.

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    Dreametech D9 Max

    The Dreametech D9 Max delivers great performance at a fraction of the price of a high-end robot vacuum. Its 4,000Pa suction and simple mopping function go a long way toward reducing your daily cleaning workload. Its navigation, battery life, and dustbin capacity are outright great for the price, and you can even find it at a discount periodically. As one of our favorite robot vacuums, it's perfect if you don't mind emptying it and dislodging the occasional pet hair tangle.

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    August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Generation)

    A good smart lock like this one from August improves home security and mostly eliminates the worry of locking yourself out of your house. Its connectivity, consistency, and ease of use are second to none, and it's small enough that it doesn't really look like the high-end electronic device it is. Its vast features include auto-lock, guest access, and more, and it's compatible with a huge range of smart home ecosystems in case you migrate to a different platform later on.

  • Google Nest Thermostat with temperature information displayed
    Google Nest Thermostat

    Famous for its stark design and user-friendly interfaces, the Nest Thermostat is a real Google hit. Aside from simply adjusting and scheduling heating and cooling levels, it monitors humidity and can automatically switch to energy-saving mode when no one's around to save you money. For those interested in the new Matter smart ecosystem, it's one of the few thermostats with support. While it lacks the learning algorithms of its more expensive relative, most people won't miss them.

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    Yamaha ATS-2090

    This affordable and overachieving home theater bundle consists of a 36-inch soundbar and a standalone wireless subwoofer that sounds surprisingly good, given the price. Not only great for movies and TV, but this soundbar also makes your favorite music sound good as long as you use Music Mode. Moreover, it sports an integrated Alexa speaker, so you don't need to get one for your entertainment center or the room it's in.

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    Google Nest Protect Carbon Monoxide Detector
    Best for health and safety

    The Google Nest Protect carbon monoxide and smoke detector could save lives and prevent damage to your home. As such, it's one of the best smart home investments you can make. It detects slow- and fast-burning fires and has an on-device alarm as well as instant app notifications. It's relatively simple to use with any smart home ecosystem, and it's easy to control via the Google Home app or voice control. We recommend the battery-powered version since it's easier to install.

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    TP-Link Kasa HS300

    There's no quicker way to turn a set of plain, non-smart lamps into smart lighting than by plugging them into the Kasa HS300 power strip. Each of its six outlets offer individual control (although the USB ports don't), and it works with IFTTT contingency programming for relatively easy integration with a massive range of smart home devices. Finally, it's one of the rare smart power strips with surge protection, offering 1,710 joules of overcurrent stoppage before it needs replacing.

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    Google Nest Audio

    Don't be fooled by its nondescript appearance — the Google Nest Audio produces better sound than something so unassuming has any right to. It won't exactly power a big dance party, but it does a great job with most genres. Even more important, it's the perfect way to add a precise, consistent Google Assistant to any room of your home. Furthermore, it's an especially good choice if you pick up two since they sound wonderful when paired in stereo mode.

  • Kasa KC420WS
    Kasa KC420WS

    Few outdoor security cameras come with the same wide feature set at a price as low as the Kasa KC420WS. We have zero complaints about its 1440p resolution and motion detection, and its night vision is up there with cameras in the $100 range. Its ability to record 24/7 to a microSD card makes it one of the top security cameras with local storage, and it quickly delivers notifications. However, the app's performance lags a bit.

The easiest and most helpful smart home devices

The huge variety of smart home technology makes it impossible to say what products are the absolute best for every person, so we've covered a range of the most cost-effective, convenient, and money-saving devices we've found. For pure safety's sake, you can't beat the possibly lifesaving Google Nest Protect carbon dioxide and smoke detector. The Govee Water Sensor comes in a close second there, as it can literally keep your ceiling from saturating after a leak and crashing into the floor beneath it.

But not all smart technology is quite so serious. For example, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock makes it easy for everybody to get in and out of the house securely, even if guests are due or keys are lost. Similarly, the Ring Video Doorbell 4 is the perfect way to let you know when visitors or packages get to your doorstep. But if you do want to have some fun, fire up the Yamaha ATS-2090 smart soundbar, pair it with some colorful Wyze Smart Bulbs, and have yourself a dance party. Or, better yet, an investment in the Philips Hue lighting starter kit ensures you'll have the most comprehensive fancy lighting system for years.

For pure versatility, you can't beat the Kasa KP125M smart plug. It can turn a huge selection of "dumb" electronics smart, and its recent release means it's even more streamlined, bug-free, and capable than ever. Finally, if you're looking for a new router capable of managing your smart home, look no further than the Google Nest Wi-Fi Mesh System. It has a long enough range for all but the biggest houses, and there's a Google Assistant module built into the extension access point for instant voice control.

Do you need Matter support?

The Matter upstart protocol aims to change the smart home landscape by ensuring all devices can communicate with each other without mistranslating commands or breaking features. We've heard this story before with technologies like XKCD, and while we aren't sure what happened to Z-Wave, the new open-source venture, co-developed by some of the industry's biggest names in engineering, shows some promise. Although there's not a lot to choose from at the moment, there are a few worthwhile Matter-supporting devices if you want to stay on the field's cutting edge.

So what does that mean regarding the pros and cons of matter devices? Well, there's no distinct Matter drawback — it's almost exclusively a positive feature — but demanding smart devices with Matter support will severely limit your choices. You also might pay a little more for Matter-certified electronics. Still, if you want to ensure cross-compatibility among future smart home devices, no matter what family they came from, it's worth giving Matter-compatible devices a second look. But, for the time being, it's not exactly critical, and there's a great selection of smart devices with reliable, streamlined interoperability.