It’s hard to talk about what’s new in home devices without mentioning smart automation. At this year’s Consumer Electronic Show, for instance, electronics that remotely allow you to control everything in your house — from the front locks to the backyard sprinklers — reigned supreme.
“A couple years ago, each of our smart home categories had only one or two products; today they have 10 or more,” said Amanda Parrilli, spokeswoman for Home Depot’s smart home division, in a statement. “Consumers buy smart-home technology to add security, to save money, water and energy, and to for peace of mind.”
Here are some of the top smart devices to upgrade your home in 2016:
1. Ecobee3 Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat
Tired of that one room that always too hot or too cold? Make sure it’s always just right with the ecobee3 smart thermostat. Unlike ordinary thermostats, the ecobee3 uses a small wireless sensor in problematic rooms to ensure the optimal temperature year-round.
Featuring a sleek touch screen interface, the ecobee3 intuitively understands when to turn on your heating or cooling system, saving you energy and money.
2. MyQ Smart Garage Opener
No more desperately searching for a lost garage door remote. Simply tap your smartphone to access your garage door from anywhere in the world using the MyQ Garage system by Chamberlain. The company also plans on adding geofencing capabilities so your door will open and close automatically based on your car’s location.
3. Ring Wireless Video Doorbell
Even doorbells have been given a digital upgrade! With the Ring Wireless Video you don’t have to be home to answer the door. You can see and talk to anyone on your doorstep using your smartphone so you can have peace of mind while you’re away.
4. Kevo Smart Home Lock
Physical keys are a thing of the past thanks to smart home locks like the Kwikset Kevo. Instead of fumbling for keys, you can just tap the smart lock if you have your smartphone in your purse or pocket.
5. Roost Smart Battery for Smoke Alarms
The Roost 9V battery plugs into your existing smoke/carbon dioxide detector to turn it into a smart device. This handy little device lets you know when the battery is low, sends alarm notifications to your smartphone and automatically alerts emergency contacts.
6. Nest Cam Wireless Home Monitor
The third generation of the Nest Cam (also known as the Dropcam) allows you to keep an eye on your home at any time. It features two-way audio, night vision, powerful zoom and can integrate with other smart home products.