Smart Home Devices We’re Obsessed With This Year
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Smart device technology has been rapidly growing in popularity, and we are soaking it in. Our kids may watch The Jetsons and enjoy the futuristic comparisons, but they don't realize the many ways products have adapted for convenience and efficiency just in the last year alone. From smart thermostats, robot vacuum cleaners, and video doorbells, to voice assistants and smart speakers, there are countless smart gadgets available to make your home more connected.
Whether you're looking to save energy, increase security, or simply streamline your daily routines, there's a smart home device waiting out there to meet your needs. We're taking it a step beyond the expected and introducing you to some of the greatest, new smart home gadgets we've seen this year.
Windmill
Windmill: A Smarter Fan
MSRP: $79
Following the success of its efficient, modern AC window unit, Windmill officially launches its clean-lined, modern fan and air circulator later this month (ship dates starting 3/19). This isn't your parent's fan. Equipped with the latest in smart home technology and built for efficiency, it's a compact fan that really moves air.
- Nearly inaudible during Whisper Mode (19dBs—the quietest fan of its size), but strong enough to circulate air throughout a large room in its Boost Mode (over 380 CFM). It's 29% more powerful, 25% smaller, and 20% quieter than other traditional fans in its category.
- The internal parts are made with recycled materials
- Memory-enabled
- Control the fan by touch, with the app, or with the remote control
- Detachable front makes it easy to clean
Airthings
Airthings: Smart Radon Detectors for the Home
MSRP: $149 to $299
Speaking of air, the dangers of radon are well-documented, and Airthings products make it easy to monitor levels in your home in real-time. "It's a 'silent killer'," shares Airthings CEO, Oyvind Birkenes. "You simply can’t feel or detect its presence on your own, despite it being common in areas all around the world."
We're currently using the View Radon and View Plus Continuous Radon Monitor in our home to track changes in air quality over two stories.
Schlage
Schlage: Encode Plus™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt
MSRP: $319
There's a big reason over 12 million households have already switched to smart locks for the home. From added security and convenience to increased property value, it's a no-brainer as to why you'd want to upgrade the locks in your home to a keyless, smart entry.
- Advanced security features
- Personalized access codes
- Integrates seamlessly with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant
Mill
Mill: An At-Home Food-Recycling System For Every Homeowner
MSRP: $999 (or $29.99/month rental)
Whether or not you're an active composter, this product Mill, an award-winning food-waste recycling system, just released its next-generation model, which is faster, smarter, and quieter than ever before.
Two major things that set this smart home product apart from the first-generation model:
- Efficient Processing. Can handle a pound of wet food scraps in just 2.5 hours, and up to 40 pounds of scraps before needing to be emptied. Plus, it's quiet; you'll barely hear this system purr at just 41 decibels.
- AI Technology. This is the only system that uses modern advanced artificial intelligence techniques to optimize efficiency and energy usage over time. Plus, its software updates automatically over Wi-Fi, and consumers can track their landfill savings over the Mill app.
“The first generation of Mill is the best product I’ve worked on in my career," said Matt Rogers, Cofounder and CEO at Mill. "The next generation is even better. In less than a year, we’ve already helped people save one million pounds of food by turning kitchen scraps into food for farms and gardens. Mill fulfills the promise of what technology and innovation can and should do for society, making people’s lives easier while also making an impact on the planet."
Carl's Place
Carl's Place: A Wall-to-Wall Golf Simulation Experience
MSRP: Starting at $439
Whether you’re a dedicated golfer, DIYer, home builder, or remodeler, users have spoken: This system will turn any room in your home into a golf haven (and it will look like you paid big bucks for professional installation).
- DIY-friendly
- High-definition display
- Custom-sized foam padded panels
- Bonus: Once installed, it can double as a home theater
GE
GE Profile: Smart Indoor Smoker
MSRP: $999
Adopt a new hobby (without the hassle). GE Profile's new smart indoor smoker is the perfect introduction to the art of smoking food. Not only is it about time that we had an indoor smoker that mirrored the appeal of an outdoor setup, but it also uses Active Smoke Filtration to turn real-wood smoke into warm air.
- Uses a fraction of the wood pellets you'd have to use outdoors
- Allows for custom settings, as well as six preset food settings: Brisket, Pork Ribs, Pork Butt, Chicken Wings, Chicken Breast, and Salmon
- Five adjustable smoke settings to control flavor
- Built-in temperature probe
- Uses GE Profile Connnect+ to monitor cooking progress using the SmartHQ app, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home
- Automatic extinguisher for easy clean-up
Samsung
Samsung: The Freestyle 2nd Gen with Gaming Hub
MSRP: $799
This is the home projection unit you've been waiting for. Not only does it have wireless capabilities, but it's the first portable unit with cloud gaming. It's lightweight, it's Bluetooth-enabled, and so much more:
- Features Auto Leveling, Auto Focus, and Auto Keystone technologies.
- Full HD viewing at 1080x1920 resolution
- Up to a 100-inch image!
- Free TV channels through Samsun TV Plus, and access to the Samsung Gaming Hub
- Built-in speakers
Mirror content from your smartphone using the SmartThings app (and, if you have more than one Samsung device in your home, I can't recommend the Samsung Station enough).
Emporia
Emporia: Smart Home EV Charger
MSRP: $399
Emporia shares a unique view on home energy consumptions, and the EV chargers they sell reflect that. Using the Emporia app, homeowners can schedule their vehicle to charge according to time-of-use rate schedules. It can be combined with an Emporia Vue energy usage monitor to set a Peak Demand Goal for effortless overnight charging. Moreover, if your smart home's platform is equipped with solar panels, the Emporia EV Charger can be configured to charge exclusively during surplus solar energy production. So cool!
- Home vehicle charging up to 48 Amps
- NEMA 14-50 outlet or hardwired installation
- A 24-foot cord
- Meets NEMA 4 standards
- Built-in cable organizer
- App control to manage a wide range of features including remote start/stop, historical usage, and more.
Nanoleaf
Nanoleaf: Matter Essentials
MSRP: $14.99 to $34.99
Nanoleaf’s Essentials bring millions of RGB combinations to your everyday spaces. Not only will they seamlessly integrate within your smart home ecosystem, but they'll detect and sync up with the color temperatures around you.
You can buy Matter Smart Light Bulbs from $14.99, Matter Light Strips from $34.99
Other cool Nanoleaf products include:
Terra Kaffe
Terra Kaffe: TK-02 Smart Espresso Machine
MSRP: Limited time pricing from $1,495
This isn’t your mom’s coffee maker. Terra Kaffe takes home brewing to the next level with an added focus on sustainability. If you thought you loved home brewing, you haven’t gotten your hands on one of these impressive smart gadgets yet. Say goodbye to the stars in your app, and hello to barista-grade espresso drinks made to your preferences.
- Podless design
- 10-preprogrammed drinks
- Produces both espresso and drip coffee
- Precision milk frothing and aeration control for all milk types
- Fully-customizable brew settings
- Custom drink recipes
- Easy-to-fill water tank
