An automated home can make life easier and even save money. But which to choose and where do you start? We compare the main smart home control systems and review the best smart plugs around
We might not be living in the smart home future we were promised in the 1980s, complete with full automation and swooshing doors, but we’re not that far off. Amazon Echo brought voice control to the masses, while ubiquitous Wi-Fi and internet have made smart devices far more popular.
From smart cameras to smart thermostats and plugs, there’s barely a house in the UK that doesn’t have some kind of intelligent technology installed. Now we need to take the next step: we need to bring it all together.
In this Labs, we look at two distinct parts of the smart home ecosystem. First, we review the major smart home control systems, including Alexa and Apple HomeKit. These systems comprise software and often hardware that allow for integrated control and centralised storage. Getting the right system for your needs and range of devices is crucial, even if you require more than one system to do everything you want – despite the launch of the unifying Matter protocol (see p87), the smart home remains somewhat disjointed.
Second, we test lots of smart plugs. More than just devices for turning a dumb lamp into one that can be controlled remotely, smart plugs can be a great way to save money by turning off devices on standby, or providing a simple way to reboot an unreliable router or home hub.
There’s more choice than you may think, too, including smart power strips with multiple plugs and even USB-C laptop chargers. Not to mention devices that can monitor energy consumption. It may fall short of Tomorrow’s World predictions, but the smart home of 2023 is well worth embracing.CONTRIBUTOR: David Ludlow
Ten smart questions to ask before you buy
Unfortunately, it’s still far too easy to waste money by buying devices that won’t work with each other or don’t meet your needs. Here’s how to avoid those pitfalls
1Which smart home system should I choose?
This is a huge question and one that we’ll address over the following six pages. If you’re a 100% Apple household or business then the answer is obvious, but most people own a mix of devices and so must wrestle between the various systems on offer. Read our reviews carefully to find out which you should lean towards. However, this brings us to the second question...
