Introduction
Wondered how to make your house like one out of the tech-savvy home devices? Well, here it is. They’re not just fancy gadgets for show; they bring a touch of sophistication, ease, and efficiency into living spaces.
But here’s the kicker—many of these nifty devices won’t break the bank. So, if you’re looking to give your house a much-needed upgrade without emptying your wallet, then you’re in the right place!
Benefits of Smart Home Devices
Convenience
Imagine walking into your house one evening from a long day and your favorite playlist greets you through a smart speaker while all of the lights turn on automatically. Comfort with smart home devices is literally the name of the game. From automating day-to-day things to managing just about everything from your smartphone, life gets way simpler.
Energy Savings
Who doesn’t love saving some cash? The devices of smart homes can help reduce your consumption of energy. For example, smart thermostats learn your behaviors and base the temperature off of them to help save energy bills. You get to be like a dynamic duo of saving money!
Security
Feeling secure in your home is the most important thing. Smart security cameras and smart locks give you a view of your home, anywhere at any time. They update you about the suspected activities and allow you to have a visual check while you are away. It is peace of mind at the tips of your fingers.
Best Smart Home Devices Under $200
Now, let’s dive into some of the best smart home devices you can get without spending a fortune. You won’t want to skip this curated list.
Smart Speakers
Amazon Echo Dot — 4th Generation
This small powerhouse produces excellent sound quality and hands-free voice control. You can ask Alexa to play music, set reminders, or control other smart devices—all for under $50.
If you’re a Google Assistant fan, this is the smart speaker for you: Nest Mini. It delivers great sound quality, and, in general, it works really well with other compatible devices—all that for about $50.
Smart Displays
Want to know who’s at the door or check on the weather? The Echo Show 5 does both with its 5.5-inch display and camera capabilities. You basically get a mini-TV for less than $90!
Google Nest Hub
The Nest Hub isn’t all looks. With a 7-inch screen, it controls your smart home and shows recipes when you cook—what more could you want? It is almost a steal at about $100.
Smart Thermostats
Google Nest Thermostat
It learns your schedule and automates your home temperature to bring substantial energy savings. At around $130, it’s a smart way to drive down both heating and cooling bills.
Ecobee Lite SmartThermostat
Selling for around $170, the Ecobee Lite comes with some extra features, such as room sensors, to deliver many of the same benefits. While a bit more expensive, when energy savings and comfort are paramount, it’s well worth it.
Smart Security Cameras
Wyze Cam v3
Affordable and quite capable, this Wyze Cam v3 captures footage in 1080p video with night vision—but the clincher is free cloud storage. Yep, you read that right—it’s just about $35.
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery
Want something a little more substantial? The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is very versatile, with really great video quality for roughly $180, and perfect for both indoors and outdoors use.
Smart Plugs
TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug
Make any device smart with a Kasa Smart Plug—about $25. Operate it from your phone, or make it follow schedules.
Wemo Mini Smart Plug
A very good alternative for this is the Wemo Mini, which costs about $35. Its compact design won’t block adjacent outlets.
Smart Lighting
Philips Hue White A19 Starter Kit
Smart lighting for less than $200? Yes, please! The Philips Hue Starter Kit includes a couple of bulbs and a hub to do that, all for about $160—letting you control your lights from your smartphone or voice assistant.
Wyze Bulbs
For the budget-constrained, Wyze offers a smart bulb for about $15 each. They’re so easy to install and integrate wonderfully into your smart home setup!
Setting Up Your Smart Home Devices
Installation Tips
Setting up smart home devices isn’t as difficult as putting together IKEA furniture—thank goodness! Most of them have very easy-to-follow directions, and often it is plug-and-play.
Integrate with Your Home Assistant
Now that they are setup, getting them working together with your home assistant gets everything running off the command of your voice. Just follow the prompts in the app, and you’ll be controlling them with your voice in no time!
FAQs
What are some of the major benefits associated with smart home devices?
Smart home devices bring convenience, energy savings, and improved security to make life easier every day and your home more efficient.
Can I use more than one brand of smart home device together?
Yes, most smart home ecosystems support multiple brands, but make sure they work well with each other.
How safe are smart home devices?
Overall, they are considerably secure, but one has to change the default passwords and regularly update the firmware for the devices, besides observing best practices for security.
Do smart home devices need an internet connection?
The majority of smart devices do require an internet connection in order to function at their best, especially in the case of remote access.
How can one set up a smart home on a budget?
Start with devices such as smart plugs or speakers and build a collection. Ensure in your products that there is compatibility based on valuable features that will bring good value for your money.
Conclusion
You don’t need to break the bank or drive yourself nuts incorporating smart home devices into your life. The right choices—for under $200—can give you a whole world of convenience, security, and energy efficiency for your home.
Get ready for a smart home revolution today, and see how these devices will actually change your way of life.
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