Smart home tech examples range from voice-controlled lights to refrigerators that track groceries. These devices save time, cut energy costs, and add convenience to daily routines. The global smart home market reached over $80 billion in 2024, and adoption rates continue to climb. Homeowners and renters alike are discovering how connected devices simplify tasks they once did manually.
This guide covers the most practical smart home tech examples available today. Each category addresses a specific area of home life, lighting, security, entertainment, and more. By the end, readers will understand which devices offer real value and how they work together to create a connected living space.
Key Takeaways
- Smart home tech examples like thermostats and lighting systems can significantly reduce energy costs through automation and occupancy-based adjustments.
- Voice assistants from Amazon, Google, and Apple serve as the control center for thousands of compatible smart devices, enabling hands-free automation.
- Security-focused smart home tech examples—including video doorbells, smart locks, and leak sensors—provide real-time monitoring and peace of mind.
- Smart appliances in the kitchen and laundry room eliminate guesswork by sending alerts, suggesting settings, and allowing remote control.
- Mesh Wi-Fi systems are essential for reliable smart home performance, ensuring all connected devices run smoothly without dead zones.
- Smart plugs offer an affordable entry point, turning ordinary lamps and appliances into voice-controlled, app-managed devices.
Smart Lighting and Climate Control
Smart lighting systems let users control bulbs, switches, and dimmers from a phone or voice command. Brands like Philips Hue, LIFX, and Wyze offer bulbs that adjust brightness, color temperature, and even RGB colors. These smart home tech examples work with schedules, so lights turn on at sunset or dim automatically at bedtime.
Motion sensors add another layer of automation. A hallway light can activate when someone walks by and shut off after they leave. This feature saves energy and eliminates fumbling for switches in the dark.
Smart thermostats represent some of the most impactful smart home tech examples for energy savings. The Nest Learning Thermostat, Ecobee, and Honeywell Home models learn household patterns over time. They adjust heating and cooling based on occupancy, weather forecasts, and user preferences. Many utility companies offer rebates for installing these devices because they reduce peak energy demand.
Smart vents and window sensors take climate control further. Vents like Flair Smart Vents direct airflow to specific rooms, eliminating hot or cold spots. Window sensors detect when a window opens and pause the HVAC system to prevent wasted energy.
These smart home tech examples work best when connected to a central hub or app. Users can create “scenes” that adjust multiple devices at once, like a “Good Morning” scene that turns on lights, raises the thermostat, and starts the coffee maker.
Voice Assistants and Smart Speakers
Voice assistants serve as the control center for many smart home tech examples. Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri respond to voice commands and connect to thousands of compatible devices. Users can ask questions, set timers, play music, and control lights without touching a screen.
Smart speakers like the Amazon Echo, Google Nest Audio, and Apple HomePod house these assistants. They offer solid sound quality for music and podcasts while doubling as smart home hubs. The Echo Show and Google Nest Hub add screens for video calls, recipe displays, and security camera feeds.
These devices excel at routine automation. A morning routine might include a weather report, news briefing, and reminder of the day’s calendar events, all triggered by saying “Good morning.” Evening routines can lock doors, turn off lights, and set alarms with a single phrase.
Voice assistants also support multi-room audio. Users can group speakers throughout the house and play the same song everywhere or different tracks in each room. This feature turns any home into a connected audio system without expensive wiring.
Privacy-conscious users should note that these smart home tech examples constantly listen for wake words. All major brands offer mute buttons and privacy settings. Users can review and delete voice recordings through companion apps.
Interoperability matters here. Before buying, check which ecosystems a voice assistant supports. Alexa works with the widest range of devices, while Apple HomeKit offers tighter security but fewer compatible products.
Security and Monitoring Devices
Security devices rank among the most popular smart home tech examples. Video doorbells from Ring, Nest, and Eufy show who’s at the door through a smartphone app. Users can see, hear, and speak to visitors from anywhere. Motion detection sends alerts when someone approaches, even if they don’t ring the bell.
Smart locks eliminate the need for physical keys. August, Schlage, and Yale offer locks that open via app, keypad code, or fingerprint. Temporary codes let guests or service workers enter during set windows. Activity logs track who unlocked the door and when.
Indoor and outdoor cameras provide continuous monitoring. Brands like Arlo, Blink, and Wyze offer wireless options with cloud or local storage. Advanced features include person detection, package alerts, and two-way audio. Some cameras integrate with professional monitoring services for 24/7 response.
Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors add safety features beyond traditional alarms. The Nest Protect identifies the type of danger and its location through voice alerts. It sends notifications to phones so users know about emergencies even when away from home.
Water leak sensors protect against flooding and water damage. Placed near water heaters, washing machines, and under sinks, these devices alert homeowners at the first sign of moisture. Some models connect to smart water shut-off valves that stop leaks automatically.
These smart home tech examples provide peace of mind. They let users monitor their property in real time and respond to issues before they become expensive problems.
Smart Appliances for the Kitchen and Laundry
Smart appliances bring connectivity to everyday tasks. Smart refrigerators from Samsung and LG include touchscreens, interior cameras, and inventory tracking. Users can check what’s inside while grocery shopping, no more buying milk they already have.
Smart ovens and ranges offer remote preheating and temperature monitoring. The June Oven uses cameras and AI to identify food and suggest cooking programs. Users receive alerts when dishes reach the right temperature or finish cooking.
Coffee makers like the Keurig Smart Brewer and Hamilton Beach smart models start brewing on schedule or through voice commands. Waking up to fresh coffee requires zero effort once the machine is set up.
Smart dishwashers send notifications when cycles complete. Some models adjust water usage and cycle length based on soil levels. LG ThinQ and Whirlpool Smart models let users start, pause, or monitor loads remotely.
In the laundry room, smart washers and dryers provide similar benefits. Samsung and LG machines suggest optimal cycles based on fabric type and load size. They alert users when clothes are done, preventing wrinkles from sitting too long.
These smart home tech examples reduce friction in household chores. They don’t do the work entirely, but they eliminate guesswork and wasted trips to check on appliances.
Entertainment and Connectivity Systems
Smart TVs and streaming devices serve as entertainment hubs. Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast connect to streaming services and respond to voice commands. Users can search for shows, adjust volume, and switch inputs without hunting for the remote.
Smart home tech examples extend to audio systems as well. Sonos, Bose, and Denon offer speakers and soundbars that integrate with voice assistants. Multi-room setups let users move music from room to room or play different content in each space.
Gaming consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X double as entertainment centers. They stream video, play music, and connect to smart home ecosystems. Voice commands control playback and system functions.
Mesh Wi-Fi systems ensure these devices run smoothly. Eero, Google Nest WiFi, and Netgear Orbi eliminate dead zones and provide consistent coverage throughout the home. Strong connectivity matters because smart home tech examples depend on reliable internet.
Smart plugs turn regular devices into connected ones. A lamp, fan, or space heater plugged into a smart outlet gains on/off control through apps and voice commands. Plugs with energy monitoring track power usage and help identify energy hogs.
Universal remotes like Logitech Harmony consolidate control of multiple devices. One remote or app manages the TV, soundbar, streaming box, and game console. This simplifies entertainment setups and reduces clutter.