Best Smart Home Devices for 2018
Our editors hand-picked these products based on our tests and reviews.
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CNET's Rating
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Amazon Echo (2017)
Best smart speakerAlexa's new flagship smart speaker is better than the first one -- and it costs a lot less, too.
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CNET's Rating
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Amazon Cloud Cam
Best indoor security cameraThe 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.
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CNET's Rating
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Lifx Mini Wi-Fi Smart Bulb
Best color-changing smart bulbsThe Lifx Mini puts out plenty of light, and offers all of the colors, features, and integrations that you get with standard-size Lifx bulbs at a lower cost.
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CNET's Rating
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Philips Hue White LED Starter Kit
Best White LED smart bulbsThe Philips Hue White LED Starter Kit lets you enjoy all of the benefits of Hue's well-connected platform and, for just $15 each, you can add extras to your set up. The bulbs are also pretty good looking and have easy-to-use smart controls.
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Ecobee4
Best smart thermostatThe Ecobee4 has a responsive display, a remote sensor and tons of smart integrations, including a built-in Amazon Alexa speaker. It is unmatched on the market.
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August Smart Lock, HomeKit-enabled
Best retrofit smart lockAugust's Smart Lock adds smarts to the deadbolt you already have. Its simple interface, integration with HomeKit, and reliability earned it an Editor's Choice.
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CNET's Rating
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Nest Hello
Best smart doorbellNest's Hello video doorbell looks great and works consistently well. Its optional facial recognition feature and advanced integrations with the Nest Cam IQ Indoor and Google Home speakers set this smart buzzer above the rest.
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Netgear Arlo Pro
Best outdoor security cameraNetgear's Arlo Pro works indoors and outdoors, you get seven days of free event-based cloud storage and its rechargeable battery is supposed to last for up to six months.
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CNET's Rating
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Belkin WeMo Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plug
Best smart plugWith full Alexa and Google Home compatibility, the $35 Belkin WeMo Mini is a great smart-home starter gadget.
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Lutron Caseta In-Wall Wireless Smart Lighting Kit
Best in-wall switchesLutron's are the best-performing, most fully-featured smart switches currently available, and well worth the money if you're serious about connected lighting.
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Nest Protect (second generation)
Nest Labs leans into its strengths with this follow-up to its famously recalled connected smoke and CO detector.
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D-Link Wi-Fi Water Sensor
Best smart flood sensorThe D-Link sensor plugs into the wall, so you don't need batteries. Plus, it works using Wi-Fi, so it will send your phone push notifications without the extra expense of a smart home hub.
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Neato Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum
Best robot vacuumThe Neato Botvac Connected boasts the best performance of any bot vac we've tested. It's not cheap, but with the price comes an intuitive app with remote control. Who doesn't want that?
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$349 MSRP Not AvailableCNET's Rating
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Lutron Serena Remote Controlled Shades
Best smart home shadesIf you're looking for smart shades with a lot of features and flexibility, Lutron's Serena Shades are the best bet. You can schedule them, control them remotely via an app, and even use Siri to open or close them. Just be ready for a big investment.
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Illumra Self-Powered Dual-Rocker Friends of Hue Zigbee Light Switch
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Illumra Self-Powered Dual-Rocker Friends of Hue Zigbee Light Switch
