The 13 Best Smart Home Devices & Systems of 2021

The smart home revolution is officially in full swing. In 2021, more than 50% of U.S. households are expected to have at least one smart home device, with global smart home market revenue projected to exceed $141 billion by 2023. It‘s clear that smart homes are no longer a futuristic concept, but an accessible reality for millions of people worldwide.

If you‘re new to home automation and wondering what all the fuss is about, you‘ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down the top smart home devices and systems of 2021 to help you understand the benefits of smart home technology and decide which products are right for you.

What Exactly is a Smart Home?

At its core, a "smart home" is a residence equipped with internet-connected devices that enable remote monitoring and management of appliances, systems, and security. These devices can communicate with each other and be controlled through a central hub, smartphone app, or voice assistant for added convenience, energy efficiency, and security.

Smart Home Systems vs Smart Devices: What‘s the Difference?

It‘s important to understand the distinction between smart home systems and smart devices:

• Smart Home Systems are the central platforms or "brains" that allow you to connect, control, and automate all of your individual smart devices. The most popular smart home systems are voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple‘s Siri, but other platforms focus on specific areas like home security or energy management.

• Smart Devices are the individual internet-connected gadgets and appliances that you can control through your smart home system. These could include everything from smart light bulbs and thermostats to robotic vacuums and WiFi-connected ovens. While some smart home products only work within a specific ecosystem, many are platform-agnostic and can integrate with various smart home systems.

The Benefits of Smart Home Technology

So why should you consider converting your home into a smart home? Here are some of the key advantages:

1. Convenience – With a smart home system, you can control all of your devices remotely from your smartphone or with simple voice commands. Never again will you have to wonder if you left the lights on or the garage door open.

2. Energy Efficiency – Smart thermostats, lights, and appliances can automatically adjust based on your schedule, usage patterns, and even the weather to optimize energy consumption. This can add up to significant cost savings on your utility bills over time. In fact, studies show that smart thermostats can reduce energy usage by up to 10-12% for heating and 15% for cooling.

3. Enhanced Security – A smart home security system gives you 24/7 monitoring, real-time alerts, and remote access to your locks and cameras for greater peace of mind. According to a study by the University of North Carolina, 60% of convicted burglars said they would avoid homes with visible security systems.

4. Health and Wellness – From smart air purifiers that monitor indoor air quality to connected fitness equipment that tracks your workouts, smart home tech can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. One survey found that 45% of consumers are interested in smart devices that help them stay fit and healthy at home.

5. Accessibility – For seniors or those with mobility issues, voice-controlled smart devices can restore independence and make every-day tasks much more manageable. For instance, a voice assistant could read you the news, remind you to take your medicine, or call a loved one hands-free.

The Top Smart Home Ecosystems

Choosing the right platform is one of the biggest decisions when building your smart home. Here‘s a comparison of the top players:

Platform	Compatible Devices	Unique Strengths	Market Share
Amazon Alexa	100,000+	Widest compatibility, proactive features	41%
Google Assistant	50,000+	Best for answering queries, tight Google integration	28%
Apple HomeKit	1,000+	Superior privacy and security, Siri intelligence	18%
Samsung SmartThings	5,000+	Robust automation, energy monitoring, polished app	6%

*Market share data based on a 2021 report from Statista

Let‘s dive a bit deeper into each ecosystem:

Amazon Alexa

Amazon‘s voice assistant is the most widely adopted smart home platform, with over 100,000 compatible devices from 9,500+ brands. That‘s 4X more than its nearest competitor! Alexa‘s vast "skill" library allows it to integrate with a massive variety of third-party services, while the latest generation features improved speech recognition, personalized experiences, and predictive smart home automation based on your habits and preferences.

Google Assistant

Backed by Google‘s unrivaled knowledge graph, the Google Assistant excels at understanding context and answering follow-up questions. Its tight integration with other Google services like Maps, Calendar and YouTube is a bonus for Android users. The latest Assistant also supports natural back-and-forth conversations and can even screen your calls.

Apple HomeKit

Built from the ground up with privacy in mind, HomeKit offers end-to-end encryption for all smart home communications and works exclusively with devices approved through Apple‘s strict certification process. The platform plays nice with a wide range of third-party devices while still offering that signature Apple ease-of-use. The new HomePod mini smart speaker brings Siri-powered home control to every room.

Samsung SmartThings

Samsung‘s SmartThings ecosystem supports a wide range of Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi devices, with a powerful automation engine for creating custom scenes and routines. The SmartThings Energy service provides real-time energy usage and cost monitoring for compatible devices, while the SmartThings Cooking service offers recipe recommendations, personalized meal planning, and synced cooking instructions across smart kitchen appliances.

The 13 Best Smart Home Devices of 2021

With the foundation of your smart home platform in place, it‘s time to start filling your home with best-in-class smart devices. Here are our top picks across several key categories:

Best Smart Speaker: Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

The all-new Echo is a no-brainer for Alexa fans, with a sleek spherical design, powerful audio, and a built-in Zigbee smart home hub to simplify your setup. A new AZ1 Neural Edge processor brings enhanced speech recognition and faster responses, while the improved speakers deliver rich, detailed sound that automatically adapts to any room.

Best Smart Display: Google Nest Hub Max

With a vibrant 10-inch touchscreen and a 6.5MP camera, the Nest Hub Max is perfect for video calls, photo slideshows, and following along with recipes or YouTube tutorials. The new Quick Gestures feature lets you control the device with simple hand motions, while the Face Match camera can recognize individual family members and display personalized content.

Best Smart Lock: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

This sleek smart lock turns your phone into a key, with easy automated locking/unlocking as you come and go. Share secure virtual keys with family, friends or guests, with detailed usage logs and notifications if someone locks/unlocks the door. The latest model is 45% smaller and includes Wi-Fi built-in, so no bridge or additional hardware is required.

Best Video Doorbell: Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2

With a wider square aspect ratio and higher resolution than its predecessor, the Pro 2 lets you see more of your doorstep and gives you crisp HD+ video day or night. New 3D motion detection and a Bird‘s Eye View feature help pinpoint motion events more precisely, while the built-in Alexa Greetings can automatically answer the door and take messages for you when you‘re busy.

Best Smart Thermostat: Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control

Ecobee‘s flagship thermostat combines a sleek touchscreen interface with built-in Alexa voice control, so you can adjust the temperature, set a timer, or play music with a simple command. The included SmartSensor helps keep temperatures balanced across rooms, while the new eco+ feature learns your schedule and preferences to optimize comfort and savings.

Best Smart Lighting: Philips Hue

Hue‘s expansive collection of smart bulbs, light strips, lamps, and fixtures lets you paint your home in 16 million colors. New gradient-enabled lightstrips and ambiance bulbs allow multiple blended colors in a single light source, while the powerful Hue Sync software can dynamically match your lights to on-screen content for immersive entertainment. The Hue app also now supports dynamic scenes that shift throughout the day.

Best Robot Vacuum: iRobot Roomba s9+

This top-of-the-line Roomba features a 3-stage cleaning system, intelligent navigation with room mapping, and a self-emptying base that holds up to 60 days of debris. The unique D-shape design and corner brush excel at cleaning edges and corners, while the 40X suction power and dual multi-surface rubber brushes tackle the deepest dirt and pet hair with ease.

Best Smart Smoke Alarm: Google Nest Protect

The Nest Protect does more than just sound an alarm — it tells you exactly where and what the problem is, and can even send alerts to your phone if you‘re away. The Split-Spectrum sensor uses two wavelengths of light to detect both fast and slow-burning fires, while the humidity sensor helps reduce false alarms from steam. And with a gentle nightlight, monthly self-tests, and voice alarms, the Protect keeps you safe and informed.

Best Smart Plug: WeMo Mini WiFi Smart Plug

These compact smart plugs make it easy to add automation to any lamp, appliance, or device. Use the WeMo app to set schedules, create custom scenes, and monitor energy usage, or control each plug with Alexa, Google, or Siri voice commands. The slimmer design allows you to stack two plugs in a standard outlet.

Best Smart Sprinkler Controller: Rachio 3

By automatically adjusting your watering schedules based on local weather data, the Rachio 3 can reduce your outdoor water usage by up to 50%. The intuitive app lets you set tailored schedules for each zone, see estimated water savings, and control everything remotely. A new Weather Intelligence Plus feature even skips watering before rain and extends cycles during dry spells.

Best Smart Garage Door Opener: Chamberlain MyQ

With MyQ, you can open or close your garage from anywhere, get real-time notifications when someone opens the door, and even share access with up to five users. The new Smart Garage Camera add-on lets you see and record what‘s happening in your garage 24/7, with 1080p HDR video, night vision, and two-way audio. MyQ is also now compatible with most popular smart home platforms.

Best Smart Home Gym: Tonal

Tonal‘s AI-powered strength training system packs an entire gym‘s worth of equipment into a sleek wall-mounted device. The electromagnetic resistance engine offers 200 lbs of resistance in precise 1lb increments, while 17 different sensors track your form and progress. Personalized workouts automatically adjust weight, count reps, and coach you through each exercise. The 24-inch touchscreen also streams live and on-demand classes.

Best Smart Meat Thermometer: MEATER+

Take the guesswork out of cooking with the MEATER+, a completely wireless meat thermometer that monitors your food‘s internal temperature and ambient temperature simultaneously. The guided cook system walks you through every step of the process, estimating your cook time and sending alerts to your phone when your food is ready. The probe communicates over Bluetooth to a range of 165ft.

Smart Home Technology Trends and Adoption

The smart home industry is evolving at a rapid pace, with several key trends driving innovation and mainstream adoption:

1. Greater Interoperability – Consumers are demanding devices that work seamlessly together, regardless of brand or platform. Initiatives like Matter (formerly Project CHIP) promise to create a unified smart home standard for easier setup and integration.

2. Artificial Intelligence – From adaptive thermostats that learn your preferences to robotic vacuums that recognize and avoid obstacles, AI is making smart home devices more intuitive and efficient. Voice assistants are also becoming smarter, with more natural conversations and predictive insights.

3. Subscription Services – Many smart home companies are shifting to subscription-based models for premium features, personalized experiences, and ongoing support. For example, Nest Aware adds 24/7 continuous recording and intelligent alerts to Nest Cams for a monthly fee.

4. Wellness Features – The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated demand for smart home tech that promotes health and wellness. From smart air purifiers and humidity sensors to connected fitness equipment and sleep trackers, more people are investing in devices that help them stay healthy at home.

According to a recent survey by GfK, one-third of U.S. households now own at least one smart home device, up from 26% in 2018. Globally, Statista projects the number of smart homes to surpass 350 million by 2023, with the highest growth in China, the U.S., and Japan.

Conclusion

Smart home technology offers unparalleled convenience, energy efficiency, security, and comfort. By investing in a smart home ecosystem and compatible devices, you can automate daily tasks, reduce energy bills, protect your family, and even improve your health and well-being.

Whether you‘re a tech enthusiast or a first-time buyer, the smart home products on this list are a great way to start building a connected home that simplifies your life. So what are you waiting for? Pick a platform, grab a few devices, and start experiencing the magic of home automation today!

*Sources:

• "2021 Trends in Smart Home Technology" – Deloitte
• "The Smart Audio Report" – NPR & Edison Research
• "Smart Home Device Ownership" – GfK
• "Smart Home Market Forecast" – Statista
• Various device manufacturer websites and press releases