Smart home technology promises to make your living space more comfortable, more convenient and more secure — and they seem to be getting smarter all the time.
These four devices are our top picks to keep you comfortable, safe and entertained.
Ecobee4
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (outstanding).
The good: Ecobee’s $249 Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat has a responsive display, a remote sensor and tons of smart integrations, including a built-in Amazon Alexa speaker.
The bad: The price is high, particularly if you don’t care about the Alexa speaker or the Ecobee4’s other smart capabilities.
The cost: $239 to $249.
The bottom line: There’s no comparison — the Ecobee4 is the best smart thermostat available today.
August Smart Lock (HomeKit-enabled)
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (outstanding).
The good: From its improved design and easy install, to its simple software interface and top-notch performance, the second-generation August Smart Lock does everything a little bit better. Oh, and it integrates with Siri via Apple’s HomeKit software, as well as the Works with Nest platform.
The bad: The lock isn’t compatible with every deadbolt, HomeKit can be challenging to get up and running, and the Siri integration won’t matter to August’s non-Apple users.
The cost: $139.99 to $199.99.
The bottom line: August’s HomeKit-enabled Smart Lock 2.0 improves on an already awesome product and is worth strong consideration — even if you don’t have an iPhone.
Amazon Echo (2017)
Rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (excellent).
The good: With a variety of new designs, the new Amazon Echo is better-looking than the original, just as smart and a lot less expensive. The addition of an aux-out jack lets you connect it with your existing audio setup. It’s also a slightly better listener than before.
The bad: Though fine for casual listening and strong enough to fill a room with music, the Echo doesn’t sound as good as premium, high-fidelity speakers. The volume ring of the original is gone, replaced with the cheaper volume buttons of the Echo Dot.
The cost: $99.99.
The bottom line: Alexa is the most compelling voice-control platform, and the new and improved Echo should only boost her momentum. It’s well worth $100.
Amazon Cloud Cam
Rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (excellent).
The good: The $120 Amazon Cloud Cam’s crisp 1080p HD live feed, prompt motion notifications and free 24-hour clip storage set a new value standard for indoor home security cameras.
The bad: Only Amazon cloud subscribers can set motion zones and receive person alerts. Continuous recording is not available (even for subscribers), and there’s no local microSD card storage.
The cost: $119.99.
The bottom line: Amazon’s Cloud Cam is affordable, reliable and easy to use, but it’s the free storage that ultimately makes it more appealing than Nest security cameras and many other home security competitors.
