In the last few years, we’ve seen a huge increase in the amount of home tech items available. From streaming video of who’s at the door, to being able to control almost every part of your home, new smart tech has made our lives easier than ever.
With so many possible options in each category, finding the right product can be daunting. We’ve put together a list of our favorite smart tech items to give you a start on bringing your home into the digital age.
1) Amazon Echo ($180)
Aside from being our favorite online shopping website, Amazon has put out some awesome, functional products that will transform your home into a smart home. The Amazon Echo allows you to use voice command to play music, ask for daily news headlines or weather updates, and much much more. Think of it as Siri for your home, except without the hassle of it going off without you needing.
2) Nest Protect ($99)
With the coming of the digital age, means the replacement of traditional items that we used to keep us safe. The Nest Protect lets you put safety first, detecting smoke and CO more effectively than old smoke detectors. Not only is it visually appealing and easy to install, the Nest Protect has a motion-sensor night light and alerts you of any potential emergencies whether or not you’re at home.
3) Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat ($199)
Without a doubt, this is one of our favorite smart home-type items that has come out recently. With a sleek and easy-to-use touchscreen interface, the Ecobee3 is the air-conditioning solution we’ve all been looking for. Set the temperature you want, where you want, and the Ecobee3 will maintain that level for you until you say otherwise.
4) Google Home ($129)
Another fairly newer product only recently launched this year, the Google Home gives you a lot of the same functionality as the Echo mentioned above. However, one thing that sets it apart from any other smart home control device is its integration with Google. That means if you have chromecast, want to do a search on Google, you can connect and do what you need to without ever typing a single word!
5) Parrot Pot ($150)
Lets face it, if you’re like us, then you’ve probably had more than your fair share of plants die because you didn’t know how to tend to them. That’s where the Parrot Pot can save you (and your plants)! With a two-tiered system, the pot lets you fill a reservoir with two liters of water, and has a water reserve measure at the bottom so you know when you need to refill. The Parrot Pot also has knowledge of over 7,000 different plant types, and uses that to know exactly when and how much to feed your plant.
6) Nest Cam ($149)
Whether you have pets, need to hire a sitter for your children, or just need to make sure everything in your home is alright, the Nest Cam is ideal for you. Its sleek aesthetic appeal, magnetized base, and 1080p HD video streaming makes it your all-in-one indoor video camera. Especially when you’re out and about, you can keep an eye to make sure everything at home is going smoothly.
7) Skybell HD Video Doorbell ($199)
Once you have the inside of your home covered, the next logical step would be the outside. With the Skybell Video Doorbell you have the convenience of knowing who’s at your door, whether or not you’re home! With HD streaming and video capture capability, along with a huge storage capacity, the Skybell is ideal to view in real-time or take a look at the end of your day or week!