Today, the smart home was no longer a fantasy. Anyone can make an apartment more functional even for a small amount of money. Let’s consider six simple gadgets that will make any home smarter.

A thermostat, smoke and temperature sensors, a functional doorbell, and wireless surveillance cameras are all easy to install and will benefit every home.

1. Portable Water Filter:

This is one of the trending items you can buy for your smart home. As it is portable you don’t need to install it on a fixed place. Due to its small volume you can use it during the time of travelling also. Check keepitportable for more details about portable water filters.

Pros:

  • Very light Weight.
  • Fast filtering.
  • Don’t take large space.

Cons:

  • Can’t do deep level of filtration.
  • Not suitable for group.

2. Thermostat Elgato Eve Thermo

The Eve Thermo thermostat is an unusual device that can be used to regulate the temperature of room radiators. With the help of a thermostat, you can set the desired temperature in the cold season and not suffer from a constant manual adjustment of the valves.

Eve Thermo is a truly smart and functional device. You can set the temperature on it in several ways: ask Siri to do it, do it in the proprietary Eve app, use the built-in IOS app “Home” or just use the touch-sensitive capacitive controls on the thermostat case.

The device can work directly with an iPhone or iPad: you can turn the heating on and off, adjust the temperature, and set up automatic temperature changes depending on the daily routine. 

When using Eve Thermo in conjunction with the HomeKit home station and other Elgato devices, the list of features increases significantly. For example, in conjunction with sensors for opening Windows and doors, you can configure heating so that it is automatically turned off when the room is ventilated.

Pros:

  • works directly with an iOS device;
  • you can set up a flexible temperature schedule;
  • supports automatic scenarios;
  • works in conjunction with other smart home devices.

Cons:

  • it runs on two AA batteries, so you will have to change them from time to time;
  • you will need the help of a specialist to install it.

3. Nest Temperature Sensor

The temperature sensor is a great addition to a smart thermostat. With these two gadgets, you can fully control the temperature in your home through the app. After setting the desired temperature, the sensor checks the current room temperature and commands the thermostat to increase or decrease the heating intensity to the desired level.

The main advantage of the Nest Temperature Sensor is that it is very compact. The sensor does not require installation. It can be placed anywhere in the room, but if desired, it can be attached to the wall — there is a special hole on the back panel for this purpose. 

Pros:

  • simple and compact, easy to install and configure;

Cons:

  • the sensor is only compatible with Nest branded thermostats.

4. Netatmo Smart Smoke Alarm smoke sensor

No one wants to check the smoke detector in action and a really dangerous situation. But the presence of the sensor in the house is a kind of insurance against unforeseen situations.

The sensor connects via Wi-Fi to your home network and detects the presence of smoke in the room in real-time. When smoke is detected, the sensor immediately sends a notification to your smartphone, wherever you are, and turns on a powerful siren with a volume of up to 85 dB.

The sensor is controlled and configured using iOS or Android smartphones, and installation on the ceiling takes a minimum of time. In the app, if necessary, you can disable the sound of the siren, and this will not affect the sending of notifications to your smartphone. You can sync Netatmo Smart Smoke Alarm with other smart home devices so that, for example, when smoke is detected, smart lights start flashing.

It is important to note that the sensor does not need to be connected to any wires since it is powered by a built-in battery. The sensor can perform self-diagnostics and send reports on its results to the proprietary application. This way you won’t miss a low battery or other malfunction.

Pros:

  • doesn’t require special wiring;
  • works over Wi-Fi;
  • syncs with other devices.

Cons:

  • there is no built-in carbon dioxide concentration sensor.

5. Ring Video Doorbell Pro

Ring Video Doorbell Pro is one of the smartest doorbells in the world. It features a powerful FullHD camera with a 160-degree shooting angle, a microphone, and a motion sensor.

It will help you not only see the caller at the door but also talk to the visitor over the Internet, from anywhere in the world. With the help of a motion sensor, the bell will detect any person near the door, even if they do not ring the doorbell, but simply move next to it. A good remedy for bullies.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro connects to your home Wi-Fi network and is controlled using an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. As soon as the guest rings the doorbell, a notification is sent to the smartphone. At the same time, you can use your smartphone to talk to the user. The proprietary app allows you to configure up to five security zones. If any movement is detected in the selected ones, the smartphone will also receive a notification.

The number of smartphones connected to the call is unlimited, so all family members will be able to receive notifications from the smart call. All video recordings from the camera are saved in the cloud, so you can view them at a convenient time.

The electric bell is protected from rain, wind, heat, and cold.

Pros:

  • a wide range of features;

Cons:

  • installation may require the services of an electrician.

6. Withings Home wireless HD camera with air quality sensor

Withings Home is a compact and functional wireless surveillance camera. It not only records what is happening in the apartment but also determines the air quality and works as a motion sensor.

You can connect the camera to your home network via Wi-Fi or a cable. The latter installation method will provide a faster and more stable connection. You can view the image in real-time from anywhere in the world. The camera can not only shoot video but also take high-quality photos.

The video is shot in FullHD resolution at 30 frames per second. Using ePTZ technology, you can zoom in on an image with minimal loss of quality, and use WebRTC technology to transfer an image to the cloud with minimal latency.

Withings Home can shoot in complete darkness using infrared sensors. Built-in motion sensors will immediately give the command to start shooting when motion is detected in the house. All captured videos and photos will be available for two days in a special event diary.

Withings Home can also be used as a baby monitor for your child. Thanks to the built-in microphones, the camera notifies parents that the child is awake or crying. Through the camera, you can comfortably communicate with family and friends from anywhere in the world — two microphones with effective noise reduction will provide high-quality sound.

The camera can detect indoor air quality by reporting the presence of invisible but potentially harmful pollutants in the air.

Pros:

  • a wide range of functions;
  • high-quality shooting;
  • noise-canceling microphones.

Cons:

  • you can’t integrate the camera into an existing video surveillance system;
  • you will have to pay for storing records for more than two days.