Smart Home
Smart home devices are great — but they really shine when they work together. That’s why picking a smart home controller is so important. These are the pieces that tie all your smart tech together and allow you to control your devices using your voice, create automated routines, and more. You might be able to get away without one if you have a couple of basic smart gadgets like a smart speaker and a smart thermostat that can mostly look after themselves, but it’s important to think about the overall system you want when you buy your devices.
The best smart home controller support multiple protocols, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and wireless Z-Wave and Zigbee devices. Some smart hubs also support home security systems, sprinkler controllers, and standard light switches. The devices you choose will also have a huge impact on the kind of hub that you need to purchase.
Most smart home controllers require you to download the companion app on your smartphone or tablet before you can start setting them up. You’ll then have to put your devices in pairing mode and connect them to your home Wi-Fi network. Once that’s done, you’re ready to begin automating your home.
Choosing A Smart Home Controller
If you’re new to smart home automation, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of different ecosystems out there. It’s helpful to narrow down your options by considering what digital assistant you already use, as well as the ecosystems of any existing gadgets in your home. For example, if you have an iPhone and lots of Apple products in your home, then settling on Apple HomeKit or Google Home will be easy. Similarly, if you have Android phones and use Google services, then a Samsung SmartThings or Alexa-based ecosystem might be the right fit.
A good smart home controller should be easy to set up and operate. It should be compatible with the device you’re connecting it to, and it should have a battery backup that can keep it running even when power fails. The backup can be in the form of rechargeable cells or standard AA batteries, and it should be easy to replace.
There are a few standalone smart home controllers that have carved out their own niche. For example, the Pop Home Switch jumps onboard your home Wi-Fi and scans for compatible smart devices that you can control using its app, including the likes of LIFX, Philips Hue, Lutron, Insteon, Samsung SmartThings and more. The app is very intuitive and it lets you create automated routines, though the platform lacks some functionality found in more powerful systems. Other standalones include Logitech’s HomeKit-compatible devices, Yonomi (which will be updated to support Matter later this year) and the professional-installed Control4 solution. Each of these has its own benefits and disadvantages.