10 best gadgets to make your house the smartest in the street

From colourful lights to connected security, and smart coolers to Wi-Fi boosters, there are lots of ways to make your home smarter.

The Philips Hue Light Bar can be controlled with an app or smart speaker.

Home renovations have become big business over the past two years but new home technology can help make your living space a lot smarter without a huge price tag.

Research firm Telsyte predicts Australians will keep looking to connected home devices over the next year, and by 2024 will be splashing $4.8bn on highly connected devices.

The No. 1 targets for upgrades, according to its research, are smart doorbells and locks, power outlets, security cameras, and even internet-savvy garden gadgets.

But while Internet of Things technology is soaring in popularity, knowing where to start can be tricky. We’ve gathered 10 of the best and smartest home technologies to transform your residence into the smartest in the street.

FOR CLEANING:

Ecovacs DEEBOT T9+ ($1299, ecovacs.com/au)

The Ecovacs DEEBOT T9+ robot vacuum features improved obstacle avoidance.

It’s the technology the Jetsons promised, albeit not in Android form, and this autonomous vacuum cleaner shows how much smarter its kind has become. The new DEEBOT T9+ model is capable of sweeping, mopping and vacuuming and uses sensors to detect which is needed below it. It also has double the suction power of its predecessor, an automatic emptying station, 3D mapping function to understand what needs to be cleaned and avoided, and it can release an air freshener as it roams.

FOR BETTER WI-FI:
Amazon Eero Pro 6 ($999, amazon.com.au)

The Amazon Eero 6 system can extend a home's Wi-Fi network.

High-speed, thoroughly available home Wi-Fi has never been more important than in the 2020s and these three white boxes can help to make sure your household has it. Amazon’s latest internet helpers are designed to work with the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology to deliver download speeds up to a gigabit per second (depending on your provider) and work together to create a TruMesh network covering up to 560 sqm to ensure even the difficult corners of your home have internet access for video calls, streaming shows, or games.

FOR ILLUMINATION:
Laser 10W Smart RBG Bulb ($12, bigw.com.au)

The Laser Smart 10W RGB Smart Bulb has launched in Big W.

These well-connected light bulbs (left) prove that smart home upgrades don’t need to be expensive. Recently discounted, the $12 investments are capable of turning red, green, blue or white (or a combination of several colours), lighting up according to a schedule, or being controlled through an app. They can also be programmed to respond to commands to an Amazon Alexa or Google smart speaker, and they’re LED bulbs, which promise energy efficiency and a long life.

FOR COOLING:

EvaPolar EvaSmart ($299, evapolar.com)

The EvaPolar EvaSmart cooler can be controlled through a smart speaker.

One of the more unexpected ways to upgrade your home is this smart personal air cooler. The EvaSmart device is the top of the range, and its tank can be filled with water to cool, purify or humidify the air around you. The gadget also features a touchscreen display to control it, customisable lighting, and it can be connected to other smart home setups to be controlled using voice commands.

FOR GREETING:

Google Nest Doorbell ($329, store.google.com)

Google's Nest Doorbell uses AI software to identify who or what is at your door.

Google’s later entry into the smart doorbell market could pay dividends for those who waited. The battery-powered gadget can be attached to any door, will let you talk to visitors and can also respond with pre-programmed messages. The Nest Doorbell (right) also records footage vertically so you can see any parcels or notes left in front of your home and those willing to subscribe to Google’s Nest Aware service will also get alerts identifying what or even who is waiting outside.

FOR AMBIENCE:

Philips Hue Light Bar ($130, philips-hue.com)

The Philips Hue Light Bar can be controlled with an app or smart speaker.

Creative lighting can have a huge impact on your home, and this well-connected Light Bar is one of the slickest ways to get it. The Philips creation is a long set of LED lights that can glow in an array of colours, and can be controlled with an Apple, Amazon or Google voice assistant. It comes with accessories so help users stand it on its side, upright or mount it on to the back of a TV, and it can create a new look for your lounge or home office.

FOR ENTERTAINMENT:

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max ($99, amazon.com.au)

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is more powerful and faster than its predecessor.

This “stick” offers an easy way to upgrade your TV if it isn’t as smart as the latest models. The new release Fire TV Stick (right) will deliver quick access to a host of streaming services in one place, including Disney+, Netflix, and Apple TV+. The new model is also 40 per cent more powerful, comes with a simple remote control, and supports Wi-Fi 6 for fast streaming and 4K video for the highest resolution.

FOR SECURITY:

Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus ($299, ring.com/au)

The Ring Floodlight Cam provides a bird’s eye view outside your home.

Ring has become well known for capturing unexpected videos outside the front door but this security camera takes the trend higher (literally). This new Floodlight can be wired up to replace an existing floodlight and features a high-definition camera, two exceedingly bright LED bulbs to shed light on unexpected visitors, and a 105 decibel siren that you can sound using an app. The device also delivers quick alerts to your phone, and can be set to monitor just part of your yard.

FOR CLIMATE CONTROL:

Tado Smart AC Control V3+ ($179, jbhifi.com.au)

The Tado Smart AC Control lets users control their air conditioners using a smartphone.

The very definition of a smart home device, this gadget replaces the control for your air conditioner, and lets you turn it on or turn it up from an app so you’re only cooling or heating your house when you absolutely want to. The Tado device works with all brands by simply replacing the infra-red remote control for your air conditioner, connects to Wi-Fi, and will allow users to control it with Apple, Amazon or Google voice commands.

FOR BETTER SOUND:

Sonos Beam 2 ($699, sonos.com)

The second compact soundbar from Sonos, the Beam 2, comes with a new look and a faster chip inside.

This soundbar is smart for two reasons. Firstly, the compact device can connect to your TV wirelessly or with an optical cable and delivers Dolby Atmos surround sound and can even boost the audio of speech in shows so you can better hear what’s happening. Secondly, it can be set up to respond to voice commands using Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s Assistant so you can immediately find out where you’ve seen an actor before without reaching for your phone.

Originally published as 10 best gadgets to make your house the smartest in the street