The 5 Best Smart Home Devices in March 2023

1. Smart hub

Smart hub works as a control center for IoT devices. Smart hub was initially designed for Bluetooth IoT items to help them connect to the Internet. Some of the smart home devices nowadays still operate on Bluetooth and require the smart hub. However, some of them have skipped the hub barrier and jump right onto the Wi-Fi stage. They can now have their own Internet connection to be connected to your phone.

Consequently, smart hubs don't play the role as important as before but now act as a center to manage and do bulk actions. While we’re not sure about the future of smart hubs, buying a hub is still a good choice today.

2. Wi-Fi

We will talk about kinds of connections to connect to the best smart home devices. Wi-Fi connections currently don’t seem to be the popular type of smart lock connections. Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is considered a premium feature in a smart lock. Here are a few reasons why:

• Wi-Fi consumes more battery than Bluetooth and NFC: Bluetooth version 3 or newer would require even less than 1mW of power to operate at its top performance, while Wi-Fi would definitely require more than that. You do not want to plug in your door or your clock 24 hours a day, so Wi-Fi is a monster that consumes batteries like fire.

• Wi-Fi requires more processing power to the chip: A high-performance chip or IC and advanced operating system would be required to operate the Wi-Fi part, because Wi-Fi comes with encryption, signal coding, and everything in between. Typically, an embedded computer made with an ARM chip is used in this situation.

These are the advantages that Wi-Fi connections bring back to us:

• The ability to be controlled from everywhere on earth: Wi-Fi enables devices to connect to the Internet, so the lock is not bound to the local household or the hub but open to the whole Internet. A user can control the lock from a certain place on Earth with an Internet connection, allowing us to monitor or allow the guests to enter and wait inside while we are heading home.

• Wider range of devices: Devices can now work with smartphones, smart watches, TVs, tablets, or automation systems that don't have Bluetooth.

• Security: Bluetooth uses little energy but compromises with security. In fact, studies have shown that Bluetooth chips aren’t designed to handle complex security tasks, so you would not expect an uncrackable Bluetooth lock, or to be more precise, you would not expect a Bluetooth lock that is protected from the outside world at all.

With Wi-Fi and the HTTPS protocol over the web protocol, you can be confident that only you would be granted the permissions to open your door.

Check this smart lock out: Yale Assure Lock Touchscreen Wi-Fi Smart Lock

3. Bluetooth

Most smart home devices are compatible with Bluetooth and Bluetooth smart hubs. However, Bluetooth doesn’t seem important to Wi-Fi enabled equipment. In fact, Bluetooth shows its advantages when the Internet connection is unavailable to both the lock and the unlock devices such as phones or tablets. Here is the list of reasons why Bluetooth is still a great choice for smart home devices:

• Energy usage: As we mentioned earlier, Bluetooth uses much less than 1mW to operate at peak, so there is absolutely nothing to worry about. A pair of normal CR batteries can power the light bulb or a sensor for years without worry about replacement.

• The ability to replace Wi-Fi when not available: When Wi-Fi is out of reach, using Bluetooth is ideal. First of all, Bluetooth is nearly available on most devices. Secondly, despite the fact that Bluetooth itself is not secure, the Wi-Fi processors can be powerful enough to create another layer of security on top of Bluetooth to protect users’ information.

• The near range: As a disadvantage of Bluetooth, the near range of operation is also an upside in some situations. The near range senses when the users come near the device to automatically turn on and off the lights, unlock the door, change the air conditioner’s temperatures. It also acts as a sensor for the thieves, because if you need to crack the door’s password, you have to get near it for the Bluetooth signal

Check this device out on Amazon: Schlage Lock Company BE489WB

4. The battery of the smart home devices

A smart light bulb would definitely not require a battery to work, because it works with the direct electricity current to the bulb. However, equipment like the door lock, the gate sensor, and many else need a battery to operate. These are the types batteries often used in smart home devices

• A/AAA/CR battery: These types of batteries are easy to be replaced, but replacing the battery requires the devices to be taken apart, thus, affects the waterproofing capability of the device. An A or AAA battery can be able to support the lock for at least 3 months up to 2 years, while CR3023 would be enough for years.

• Built-in rechargeable battery: It requires to be plugged in once in a while, in order to keep working normally. The period of charging may be around 6 months or a year, so it wouldn’t be much of an inconvenience.

• Solar-powered: This type of battery is the coolest, which doesn’t need any efforts from the users’ side; however, it is not suitable for indoor items or items in dark areas that don't have the sunlight directly shine on.

Check the item design: August Wi-Fi 4th Generation Smart Lock

5. The compatibility

These are the most anticipated features and connectivities for smart home devices. Feel free to email us if you want us to add any features to the list.

• Phone/Mobile app: Mobile apps are great ways to allow you to control your devices from your phone from anywhere in the world. Mobile apps would also provide excellent security if that involves unlocking your door or checking your house’s status.

• RF card/NFC connection: This feature allows light bulbs, doors to be unlocked with a ring, a card, or smart watches.

• Face recognition: The devices would be able to recognize your face even from far away. With the integration to the security cameras, the house could tweak the light configuration, air temperature, music, etc. to each person’s preferences.

• Voice control: Control your light bulbs, set the room’s temperature, or change your TV channels with your voice. This feature works with a specific set of AI Assistants depending on your smart hub kit. For example, Apple HomeKit would definitely work with Siri, while Google Home and Amazon Home work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, respectively.

One example of a cool smart lock is this: Kwikset Halo Wi-Fi Smart Lock

1. Should I be worried about the security of my house?

There are two types of security you should know before buying your smart home devices:

• The security coming from the hardware side: This type of security is not usually the type of thing you should be worried about.

• The security from the software side: You should worry about situations when your phones are stolen or your cameras are hacked, which would lead you to the privacy circumstances. To avoid this, make sure you have all your equipment updated with the latest security updates, along with keeping your mobile devices secure.

2. My Wi-Fi smart lock doesn’t work, what should I do?

If your Wi-Fi lock doesn’t work, the procedure for your should be:

• Sit back and check when you last replaced the lock’s battery, or the power is plugged in.

• Use a screwdriver to take apart the battery compartments and see if they batteries are well inserted.

• Use a screwdriver to take the device apart to check for anything that would cause the lock to be stuck.

• Finally, if none of these worked, take the lock to a warranty service of your brand.

3. What about the warranty of my smart home devices?

Smart home devices are usually warranted for 1 years at least. For tops value, the warranty period can last up to 5 years for generous brands. If you purchase an Amazon device on the Amazon website, you’ll also get a free refund or 1-1 exchange when you have trouble with your items.

4. Is my device waterproof?

Well, 50-50. Locks, sensors or outdoor lights are waterproof because they need to withstand extreme weather. However, indoor lights, plugs, or outlets are not. 

Therefore, do not attempt to test your devices with water and other types of liquid unless you are under protection, for you could cause injury to yourselves.

5. How do I install my device?

Depending on your device, you might need to use different procedures. However, the common steps are:

• Remove your existing devices, such as the outlet, locks, etc.

• Use a screwdriver to install the new ones.

• Use your phones and follow the instructions to set up your devices before using them.

Smart home devices will be cool in the future when people have all switched to IoT systems. Purchasing smart home devices at the moment would be a little of an early bird; however, it provides you with all the latest inventions and creativities brands have to offer. We have talked about the best smart home devices, and here are our final picks:

• The best wifi smart lock: August Wi-Fi 4th Generation Smart Lock

• The best smart information center: Amazon Echo Show 5

• The best smart outlet: Kasa Smart Plug Outlet

• The best indoor security camera: Amazon Ring Indoor Camera

• The best smart light bulb: Smart WiFi Light Bulb

These have been the best smart home devices. We hope with the guide below, you have learned enough to be smart when it comes to choosing the devices for your IoT smart home. Thank you for reading my reviews and hope to see you in the next articles.