Skeptic’s guide to smart home gadgets
Before you buy any “smart” gadgets, make sure they’re not dumb.
This holiday season, a third of Americans plan to buy a smart home device, according to the Consumer Technology Association.
And nearly half of Americans use digital voice assistants, according to the Pew Research Center.
But just hooking up the Internet to a door lock, kettle or dog bowl (yes, that’s a thing) doesn’t make it smart. The trick is figuring out which ones are worth the cost, trouble and inevitable security risks.
I’ve been in those weeds. After reviewing dozens of smart home products, I’ve learned to be skeptical of any gadget that feels like a “Star Trek” prop, and a little paranoid about things that are listening, watching or collecting data.
Any gadget you install in your house should work with software from the major tech firms. And it should be made by a company with years of experience in homes, or at least with top-notch customer support.
The good news is that some of these connected gadgets are actually awesome. I picked five smart home devices that are genuinely useful enough that I’ve given them as a gift — including to myself.
Ring Video Doorbell 2 Price: $200
Why it’s useful: Who’s at your door? The Ring is a doorbell that doubles as a Wi-Fi security camera, so you can watch, hear and talk to the person at the door through an app — even if you’re not at home. It alerts your phone with a live feed when somebody presses the bell, or any time somebody comes near. No rewiring required. The Ring at my house caught package thieves and vandals, and produced video evidence I gave to the cops. The downsides: To review, share and store video clips for 60 days requires a $30 per year subscription. If your existing doorbell isn’t powered, you’ll have to charge the Ring’s battery every six to 12 months. Why it’s the best: There are lots of video doorbells, but Ring has solid customer service, delivers on its promises and works with other home devices including Amazon’s Echo Show. (“Alexa, show me who’s at the front door.”) The Ring app also lets you share clips and alerts about criminal activity with neighbors who also own a Ring. How it handles security: Ring encrypts your video. In 2016, researchers discovered a flaw in the first-generation Ring doorbell that could have let hackers access a home’s Wi-fi network. Ring issued a patch and says it updates doorbell software automatically.
Lutron Caseta light switches Price: $80 for starter kit
Why it’s useful: OK, switches aren’t exactly an exciting present. But these Lutron Caseta ones only look like regular dimmers — they’ve actually got superpowers to turn on and off with an app, remote or voice command. That’s useful for safety: You can program your porch light to come on after sunset, or set lights to random when you’re on vacation. They’re also a convenience — like when your bed is just too warm and comfy to leave, so you just say “good night” to Siri and watch the whole house turn off at once. I’ve programmed mine to wake me by slowly making the room brighter. The downsides: I needed to hire an electrician to install my Caseta switches, though it’s certainly possible to do it yourself. Caseta also requires a hub (included in its starter kit) attached to your home router. Why it’s the best: The Lutron switches require more effort than stand-alone connected bulbs like Philips Hue. But Lutron’s tech is rock-solid reliable, and allows you to still turn off lights the old-fashioned way, with a light switch. It also works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Nest and more. How it handles security: If your home’s Internet goes out, Caseta switches still work. Lutron does penetration testing for hackers and automatically pushes updates to your hub, but it wouldn’t say whether its systems have ever been breached.
Eero mesh Wi-Fi router Price: $300 for a two-hub pack
Why it’s useful: Eero solves the No. 1 home tech problem: Bad Wi-Fi. The reason your Netflix stutters is there are corners in your house that one poor, overworked router just can’t reach. Eero uses hubs to create a “mesh” that spreads Internet all over. That’s a lifesaver in big houses or ones (like mine) with walls filled with metal, plaster and and other materials that act like Kryptonite for radio waves. The downsides: Eero is pricier than stand-alone routers and mesh systems like Google WiFi and Netgear Orbi. If you want Eero’s hubs to work well, you can’t hide them under a stack of old People magazines — they need to be out in the open. (Fortunately, they’re pretty.) Why it’s the best: Eero is the simplest home gadget I’ve ever tested. Other routers may be a little faster or have more features, but Eero is reliable and offers solid customer service. It also now offers a security service, called Eero Plus (for $100 per year), to detect and stop hackers, and help you manage passwords, combat malware and access a VPN when you’re on the go. How it handles security: Eero uses the cloud to give you remote control over your network and to ensure performance, but it doesn’t log or store where people go on the Internet. And the cloud lets Eero quickly update your hardware when security problems come to light.
Ecobee 4 thermostat Price: $250
Why it’s useful: Baby, it’s cold outside — and in that room at the back of your house. Thermostats measure the temperature one place (usually the hallway), but who hangs out there? The Ecobee 4 thermostat uses sensors to keep track of which room you’re in and what the temperature is, and makes adjustments accordingly. It’s smart enough to compensate for a cold snap, and it should also
Sonos One speaker
Price: $200 Why it’s useful: Talking speakers are all the rage, but most lower-priced ones don’t sound fantastic. The Sonos One does, and it has the ability to switch its voice between either Amazon Alexa or Google’s Assistant. The Sonos One can also join other Sonos wireless speakers that come in many sizes and shapes to fill every room with music. I keep my house on perpetual “party mode.” The downsides: The Sonos One costs twice as much the new Amazon Echo and Google Home. Support for Google’s Assistant, along with Apple’s AirPlay 2, won’t come until 2018. And some of its Alexa voice commands are unintuitive, but that should improve over time. Why it’s the best: The One is the connected speaker to beat because of its neutral status in the talking artificial intelligence wars, and Sonos’ years of experience making great-sounding wireless speakers. But I won’t blame you for waiting until professional reviewers get our hands on Apple’s much-hyped (and much-delayed) $350 HomePod next year. How it handles security: Sonos offers frequent free software updates. Like the Amazon Echo, there’s a button on top that stops its microphone from listening.
The trick is figuring out which ones are worth the cost, trouble and inevitable security risks.