We also look at the number of devices that can connect to a smart home hub. The first criteria is to determine how easy they are to set up those aimed at novice smart home users should be simpler to understand than advanced smart home hubs. We test every smart home hub by installing them in a real-world scenario (our house, to be exact). However, not all current smart home devices will support Matter, so if you want to use it, you may have to purchase new equipment.
It also will potentially make many more smart home devices available to HomeKit owners, which has been one of the friction points for Apple's smart home platform.
This protocol, which has been endorsed by Amazon, Google, and Apple, among many others, promises to make linking smart home devices far simpler. In the near future - hopefully by the end of 2022 - a new connectivity standard called Matter will soon be available. If they're all on Wi-Fi, then you can use a smart home hub like the Amazon Echo Dot, and use the Alexa app to control everything. If you have other types of devices - Zigbee and Z-Wave, for instance - you'll need to purchase a smart home hub that can receive those signals. Devices in this category include home security cameras, smart thermostats, and video doorbells.Ĭonsider the products you want to connect. Larger devices, and those that can draw from a steady power source, generally use Wi-Fi, as it can transmit more data, and doesn't require a bridge or a hub. Traditionally, smart locks have also used this technology, but increasingly are switching over to Wi-Fi. You can read our explainer on Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread and WeMo for a deeper dive. That's why these sensors can be built so small however, they need to link to a bridge (such as a smart home hub) if you want to connect them to the internet. Smaller devices, such as door and window sensors and motion detectors, will generally use Zigbee or Z-Wave, as they're low power, and don't need to transmit a lot of data. But, if you have smart lights and a smart lock, and want the lights to turn on when the lock opens at night, then you might need a smart home hub.Įvery smart home device will use some sort of wireless technology to communicate with others. If all you have is one set of smart lights, then you probably don't need a smart home hub. When choosing a smart home hub that's best for your needs, you first have to ask yourself what you want to do with it, and what you want to control.
How to choose the best smart home hub for you
Read our full Google Nest Hub Max review. However, as a smart home platform, Google Home doesn't have nearly the same sophistication as Alexa or HomeKit. And, the best Google Home compatible devices are nearly as numerous as those that work with Alexa. The Nest Hub Max's display can be used to view live footage from Google Assistant-compatible home security cameras, video doorbells, and baby monitors, and on-screen controls let you adjust smart light levels. The Google Nest Hub Max is an excellent smart display: It has a spacious 10-inch screen which can be used for watching YouTube and Netflix, looking up recipes, news, and more its dual speakers are powerful and its 6.5MP camera is great for Google Duo video calls, and will even "follow" you as you move across the room.Ĭonnectivity-wise, it has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread, a new smart home networking protocol that Google has been trying to popularize for a few years. Google Home has limited smart home capabilities