Top 5 Smart Home Devices of 2019

As someone who has worked within the home security industry for 10 years, I’ve seen it morph into something entirely different over the last decade. For starters, it's not even called the home security industry anymore. As technological giants like Cox, and AT&T fight established security companies like ADT and local security operations, they all try to stay ahead of each other on how their devices integrate into the security system. Alas, we now live in what's known as the smart home industry. 

Technological advancement is leaking its way into many industries.  A few years ago, we lived in a world where your home would simply have an alarm and it would contact the police when it was activated. That was about it. As we dip into the future of artificial intelligence and smartphones becoming more and more a part of who we are, our homes become a part of us as well. With more advanced and superior systems developed and offered for sale, their functionalities are going beyond playing that Rihanna or Beyoncé song. They can be used to accomplish other activities like grilling chicken, vacuuming floors, turning the lights off when a movie is played, etc.

While they're designed specifically for fun, smart devices have been made to tackle and handle certain responsibilities aside from the ones mentioned above. These smart home devices can currently act as security systems for your home when you travel out of town. They are not just for fun anymore; they have become useful in your personal life. The key is in choosing which is right for you.

Top New Smart Home Devices

1. Google Assistant 

While this smart home device has a reduced third-party integration when compared to some of the other devices, it has cemented its place as one of the leading smart devices out there. It's capable of answering questions as well as carrying out commands that some high valued and priced devices cannot. Research has shown that when compared with some of the others, Google Assistant is far ahead. It has more answers to questions, is capable of carrying out more commands, and is able to identify how people speak naturally. 

This system has been designed to work as a real human assistant with an amazing and unique AI system that makes it one of the best smart home systems in the world at the moment. In addition to this, it's compatible with products from some of the other brands.

2. Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Generation) 

This is currently one of the smartest home devices available in the market. It's a hands-free speaker that can be controlled with your voice. With this advanced and superior voice control speaker, you can find answers to some of the toughest questions. Forgotten a recipe for a meal? Alexa will help you out.

To make things interesting, you could have it paired to any music streaming service platform of your choice and change, stop, and play songs with your voice. One of the main features of this smart home device is that you can make it your hub where you control all your home devices. You can connect your doors, lights and security cameras to this smart device and control them all with your voice. Sounds cool, right?

3. Smart Light Bulbs

Coming home to a dark house when your hands are full isn't the most comfortable scenario. Depending on how your house is structured, you may have to fumble for minutes before finally turning on the lights. To prevent this from happening, a smart bulb is your best choice. It can be connected to your speaker, offering you the opportunity to use your voice to turn it on. Depending on your current mood, you can have the light dimmed or turned off by speaking to Alexa.

One of the interesting things about smart light bulbs is you can set a timer when you need the light to come on and when it should go off. In addition to that, there are moods you can choose from. If you are planning to have a party or get together at your place, you can ask Alexa to change the light to a party mood. These bulbs can be a blessing to you when you are out of town. With your security camera or system connected to your mobile phone and this smart bulb also connected to your smartphone, you can turn on and off your lights if you see intruders going close to your house. It's one of the best smart home devices available, and its functionality, usually powered by Z-wave, goes beyond lighting your room. It can serve as a security system while you are at work.

4. WiFi-Enabled Video Doorbell

If you're someone who's always traveling, either because of your job or personal preference, then the WiFi-enabled video doorbell should be one of the most sought-after smart home devices for you. As the name implies, you can pair this video doorbell to your WiFi wherever you are. Once paired, you can answer your door remotely, through the in-built microphone. You can also communicate to your visitors that you are not home and give them a date to check back on you. The ring feature of this video doorbell will inform or notify you once someone is at your door. Irrespective of where you are, you can watch your home to prevent intruders from finding their way inside. This smart home device is ideal for tracking packages that are to be delivered to your home while you are away.

Being a video doorbell, you can see who is approaching your door clearly. During the late hours, the infrared vision keeps the light on and ensures that you see what's happening around your house. If you see unknown individuals around your property while you are away, you can take a picture of them and send it to the police.

To make your home safer, you can also decide to install smart door locks. This will offer you the opportunity to unlock and lock your door with your smartphone wherever you are. Aside from making your home safer, this video doorbell paired with smart door locks will be useful when you need to get into your house with your hands full.

5. Nest Thermostat

This smart home device allows you to monitor the temperature of your home directly from your phone or voice command system. With this device, you save money that ordinarily would have been used to pay for cooling and heating. You can have this device connected to your smartphone and change the temperature whenever you want. If you are coming back from work after a sunny day and you need a cool home to relax, you can set the temperature to "cool" directly from your smartphone. This does not just save you money; it also makes life comfortable and easy for you and your loved ones.

One of the main features of this smart home device is the easy-to-read display, which ensures that anyone can control and change the temperature. Currently, this smart home device is the first thermostat device to be Energy Star certified. This certification is issued as a result of the benefits of the device-to-energy savings.

These smart devices mentioned above are capable of making your life comfortable while offering substantial benefits. As 2019 turns into 2020, I’m sure we will be seeing a host of new innovating technology that ranges from being scary to alluring. We’ll be here to guide you through it.

Written by Dylan Johnson, Creative Director at Security Options.