7 cheap smart home devices our editors use and love — handy gadgets to upgrade your home for under $50 / £50
Smart home kit doesn't have to cost a fortune — these gadgets make a big difference on a small budget.
Getting started with smart home can feel intimidating, not least because it feels like there's sure to be a hefty cost involved. It doesn't have to be that way, though. I asked the TechRadar team for their top affordable smart home recommendations, and they came through with some real winners. All the gadgets featured below come with the stamp of approval from TechRadar, will make your home that little bit more convenient, and won't cost you more than $50 / £50. Hit the 'View details' button to learn more about each one.
Budget-friendly smart home
This is the most basic of Amazon's smart speakers, and a great entry point into the world of smart home gadgets. I use mine as a cooking timer, weather checker, alarm clock, and speaker... and to call my phone when I can't find it. However, that's far from the limit of what you could use it for — through it, you can access everything Alexa+ has to offer.
Pros
- Better sound quality than previous models
- New tap gestures
- Room temperature sensor
Cons
- No 3.5mm port
- Incremental upgrade if you have other dots
Regular Philips Hue bulbs are expensive, but its Essential range comes in at around half the price, with very few compromises in performance (specifically: they can't get quite as dim, and have a narrower white light color range). They're ideal for experimenting with smart lighting, and because they're compatible with the main range, you can mix-and-match.
Pros
- Much more affordable than regular Philips Hue lights
- Very good color reproduction
- Fully compatible with Philips Hue app and accessories
- All Essential bulbs offer tuneable white and colored light
Cons
- Dimmable to 2% brightness, compared to 0.2% for a regular Philips Hue bulb
- Only three bulb types available
- Darker 'halo' sometimes visible around top of bulb
This matchbox-sized gadget sticks to any 'dumb' device with physical switch, and has a mechanical arm that can reach out to turn it on and off. It can work on almost anything that's operated by a physical switch — think light switches, heaters, fans and so on. The companion app has scheduling features, and is compatible with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and IFTTT.
Pros
- Versatile
- Easy scheduling
- Turns dumb devices smart
Cons
- Hub required for voice control
- Unattractive
- Setup can be fiddly
The Blink brand is better known for its security cameras, but it also makes a small range of video doorbells. Of these, the Wired Doorbell 2K+ is the best budget-friendly option. For a pleasingly affordable price, it offers 2K video, a wide field of view. There is a battery-powered alternative, but the general consensus is the wired version is far superior for long-term effectiveness and convenience, and well worth the hassle of wiring it into your door (if you have a standard doorbell already in place, this should be a straightforward process).
This affordable home security camera is compact, reliable, and delivers good-quality video. It comes from one of the best-known home security brands, and because said brand is now owned by Amazon, you can expect seamless integration with the Alexa ecosystem. Basic functionality is included, but be aware that more advanced features — such as the ability to filter motion alerts by person or vehicle — require a paid-for subscription.
Pros
- Very small
- Decent 2K video quality
- Competitively priced
Cons
- Needs to be installed close to mains power
- Only works on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network
- Have to pay a monthly subscription for full functionality
This smart plug can be used to monitor how much energy the device connected to it is using, and how much it's costing you, thus providing a handy way to keep an eye on energy use. The companion app also enables you to switch the plug on and off, and set schedules to do so automatically, but there's a catch: if you want to be able to do this while you're away from home, you'll need a HomePod Mini or Apple TV 4K in your home to act as a hub. For that reason, it's best suited to those looking to buy into Apple's smart home ecosystem.
Pros
- Energy monitoring
- HomeKit integration
- Thread smart home support
Cons
- No Alexa or Google Assistant support
- Requires a HomePod or Apple TV for control when away from home
The GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects Smart Bulbs are a lesser-known smart lighting option. They're budget-friendly and there's no central hub needed — even for the advanced features. They deliver an impressive range of colors and effects, and they're compatible with Alexa and Google Home.
Pros
- Wide range of colors and effects
- App is easy to use
- Alexa and Google Home support
Cons
- Not Matter or HomeKit certified
- A little pricier than a lot of the competition
This compact Govee purifier is ideal for popping on a desktop or dresser, and when we tested it we were impressed with how effective it was at freshening up our reviewer's living room. You can control it via a companion app — enabling you to switch it on and off while you're away from home — and there's also voice control for extra convenience.
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Small and lightweight
- Smart features
- Useful onboard custom mode
Cons
- Aromatherapy was underwhelming
- No automated purifying
- No washable pre-filter
Share
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
