20 Smart Home Devices You Must Have in 2024

A decade or so ago, a world where you can manage mundane household tasks using one device may have seemed like a science fiction movie. But in today’s world, smart home technology has changed the way we interact with our living spaces. These gadgets allow you to remotely control various aspects of your home using your smartphone, tablet or voice command. 7.6 million Australian homes own at least one smart device. While the smart home technology is still evolving, it can help you save money on energy bills, provide peace of mind with enhanced security features and simplify your daily tasks.

What is a Smart Home?

A smart home is one that uses internet-connected devices to remotely monitor and manage household functions like lighting, temperature, security devices and other appliances.

Smart home technology has been improving a lot in recent years and devices like smart speakers, smart light bulbs and smart thermostats have become much more common and affordable. With these devices, you can control your home with voice commands on your smartphone without having to physically interact with each device. Smart house devices can also help monitor your home and alert you to things like intruders or water leaks. Smart thermostats and lighting can automatically adjust their power to save energy and lower your utility bills. This means you’ll have the convenience, security and energy efficiency that you need to make your life more comfortable and cost-effective.

To set up a smart home system, the first step is deciding which are the best home automation devices and features for your needs. You may have to look into different domotics platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit and select compatible devices. You can then connect these devices to your home’s Wi-Fi network and connect them with a central control app or voice assistant. It takes some planning, but it allows your different smart house gadgets to work together seamlessly.

Smart Hubs

Smart Hubs are devices that can connect and control various home automation devices such as lights, thermostats, security systems and appliances. These cool smart home products act like a central command centre, allowing users to manage and monitor their home’s connected devices through a single interface. Some examples include Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Home, Samsung SmartThings Hub, Apple HomeKit and more.

Smart Vacuums

Smarts vacuums are robotic vacuum cleaners that can clean the floor automatically without needing your continuous supervision. They use sensors and navigate your home and can even automatically adjust their cleaning patterns to clean thoroughly. For example the ECOVACS DEEBOT comes with a mobile app that you can use to schedule cleaning sessions, map your home, set no-go zones and more.

Many DEEBOT models also use LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to precisely map out the layout of your home. This enables the vacuum to navigate efficiently, avoid obstacles, and ensure thorough coverage during cleaning. Some DEEBOT models even come with an auto-empty dock that automatically empties the vacuum's dustbin after each cleaning session, reducing the need for manual maintenance. Plus, some of them have a dedicated pet-friendly mode that adjusts suction power and cleaning patterns to handle pet hair and dander more effectively.

Smart Locks

Smart Locks are electronic locks that can be controlled and accessed remotely using a smartphone, voice assistance or other digital device. These gadgets usually connect to the internet and can be programmed to unlock automatically when you approach the lock, or even allow temporary access for visitors or delivery people. For example, in your home automation system, you can use a smart lock on your front door and give temporary access to visitors or house help.

Smart Plugs

Smart Plugs are electrical outlets that can be controlled and monitored remotely using a smartphone, voice assistant or other digital device. These plugs connect to the internet and allow you to turn devices on or off, schedule when they turn on or off and even monitor the energy usage of the connected device. For instance, you could use your smart plug to control household appliances like a coffee maker and have your coffee ready in the morning when you wake up.

Smart Thermostats

Smart Thermostats can automatically control the temperature in your home. For example, you can use a smart thermostat to adjust the timings of when you’re home, what temperatures you prefer and where you like to sleep. It uses this information to intelligently adjust the temperature to keep your home comfortable without the user having to constantly change the settings manually. You can also connect your smart thermostat to your other smart home gadgets like voice assistant to allow the user to control the temperature with voice commands.

Smart Light Switches

Smart Light Switches can be programmed to automatically then turn on and off based on a schedule or in response to certain conditions, like when you enter or leave a room. You could use it to turn on the bedroom lights when you wake up in the morning, dim the living room lights to create a cosy atmosphere for movie night, or turn off all the lights in the house when you leave, to save energy.

Smart Bulbs

Smart Bulbs are light bulbs that can be programmed to turn on, off or change their brightness and colour at specific times or based on your preferences. For example, you could use smart bulbs in your living room to automatically turn on and set the lighting to a warm, cosy setting when you get home from work. You could also use them in your bedroom to gradually dim the lights and change the colour to a calming blue as you get ready for bed. This way, you create custom lighting scenes, save energy and add convenience to your daily routine.

Smart Speakers

Smart Speakers are voice-activated devices that can play music, set alarms, answer questions and control other smart home devices. The impressive ability of these cool smart gadgets to understand and interpret natural language is great for home automation because it means that you can speak your commands and queries just like you would in a normal conversation. Some of the most popular smart speaker models on the market include the Amazon Echo (powered by Alexa), Google Nest/Home (powered by Google Assistant), and Apple HomePod (powered by Siri). Each of these devices has slightly different capabilities and features, but they all share the core functionality of being voice-controlled virtual assistants.

Smart Cameras

Smart cameras have advanced features and capabilities beyond traditional cameras. They use artificial intelligence and computer vision to provide special features like object detection, facial recognition and motion tracking. If it detects an intruder, it can send a real-time alert to your smartphone and notify you that someone is at your front door. The camera can use facial recognition to try to identify the intruder and match them against a database of known criminals or suspect s. This information can also be shared instantly with the local police department to aid in a quick response.

Voice Assistants

A voice assistant is a type of artificial intelligence that can understand and respond to voice commands. These assistants are designed to help people with various tasks like answering questions, setting reminders and alarms, playing music, podcasts and other audio content and controlling other smart devices. Voice assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant can be integrated into smartphones, smart speakers and other devices to provide hands-free, voice-controlled functionality.

Smart Doorbells

Smart Doorbells are electronic devices you can install near the entrance of your house or apartment. They havecameras and sensors that allow them to detect when someone is approaching the door. When the doorbell is pressed or motion is detected, the smart doorbell can send a notification to your smartphone or other connected device. This allows you to see who is at the door and even communicate with them, even if you are not physically present.

Smart Refrigerators

Using a Smart Refrigerator, you can track what foods are inside and when they were stored. It can recommend recipes based on the ingredients in your fridge. When you run low on certain items, smart refrigerators can automatically place orders for more. They also provide information on how much energy they’re using so you can save on utility bills. Plus, they can connect to other smart home devices and allow you to control and monitor them from your phone or voice assistant.

Smart Smoke Detectors

Smart Smoke Detectors are smoke alarms that can connect to your home's Wi-Fi network and send alerts to your smartphone if smoke is detected, even when you're not home. Some models can distinguish between different types of smoke (e.g., cooking smoke vs. actual fire) to reduce false alarms. Smart detectors can be linked together, so if one goes off, the others in your home will also sound the alarm. Some advanced smoke detector models can monitor air quality and detect other potential hazards like high levels of carbon monoxide.

Smart Washing Machines

Smart Washing Machines can start cycles, check status, and receive alerts even when you're not at home. Some models can automatically detect the type and amount of laundry and adjust the water level, cycle time, and detergent amount accordingly to save water and energy. Advanced smart washers can recommend the best cycle settings based on the type of fabric or level of dirtiness of the load, and have built-in sensors that can detect imbalanced loads and automatically adjust to prevent shaking or vibrating.

Smart Air Purifiers

Smart Air Purifiers are a smart home product that can automatically adjust their settings to remove pollutants, allergens, and other airborne particles based on real-time air quality measurements. For example, a smart air purifier may have sensors that detect the levels of dust, pollen, or smoke in the air. It can then automatically increase the fan speed or activate additional filtration to clean the air more effectively. When you use smart air purifiers in homes, offices, or other indoor spaces to improve the overall air quality it can be especially good for people who have respiratory conditions, allergies, or sensitivity to air pollution.

Smart Motion Sensors

Smart Motion Sensors are devices that can detect movement in an area. They can automatically turn on lights, activate security systems, or trigger other actions when movement is detected. For example, in home security systems, they are used for detecting intruders and trigger alarm systems. You can also use them for outdoor lighting with motion sensors turning on lights when someone approaches, improving safety and security. Motion sensors can also be used for the automation of doors, triggering them to open automatically when someone is near.

Smart Door Sensors

Smart Door Sensors are cool smart devices that can detect when a door or window is opened or closed. For example, it can be used to include home security, where you can get alerts when a door or window is opened, so you'll know if someone is trying to break in. They can also be used for monitoring who enters and exits, allowing you to see when family members or guests come and go. They can also be useful for elderly care or for pets, notifying you if an elderly person or your pet leaves the home unexpectedly.

Smart Water Leak Detectors

Smart water leak detectors are devices that use automation to detect and alert you to water leaks in your home or building. They work by monitoring water flow and pressure, and can often pinpoint the location of a leak. For instance, they can detect leaks from appliances, plumbing fixtures, or pipes, and send alerts to your phone so you can address the issue quickly. In commercial buildings, they can monitor water usage across the entire property and alert facility managers to any unusual spikes that could indicate a leak.

Smart Dryers

Smart dryers use sensors and internet connectivity to provide more efficient and convenient drying cycles. For example, some smart dryers can detect the moisture level of the clothes and automatically adjust the drying time and temperature to prevent over-drying. Others can connect to your home's Wi-Fi network and allow you to control and monitor the dryer remotely using a smartphone app. This can be useful if you need to check on a load of laundry while you're away from home. Additionally, some smart dryers can provide alerts when the cycle is complete or if there's an issue, like a clogged vent.

Smart Heaters

Smart Heaters are great for home automation because they can automatically adjust the temperature based on various factors, such as the time of day, the outdoor temperature, and the preferences of the people using the space. These systems often have built-in sensors and can be controlled remotely using a smartphone or other device. For example, a smart heater in a home office could automatically turn on in the morning to warm up the room before you arrive, and then adjust the temperature throughout the day to maintain a comfortable level.