7 Surprising Smart Home Gadgets You Haven't Seen Before
These devices are doing great work with energy efficiency, privacy and security.
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Google and Amazon may be the big names when it comes to smart home innovations, but they're not the only ones pushing the boundaries. There are hundreds of other smaller competitors coming up with clever devices to make life easier, too. True, you probably won't see the next big breakthrough in robotics or voice assistance coming from a 10-person team. But smaller teams continue to explore new possibilities when it comes to increased energy efficiency, security and privacy.
These are seven of the most interesting but difficult-to-categorize smart home accessories on the market right now. Whether you want to step up your home automation and smart home technology game or you're looking to find a great gift for the tech lover in your life, you're sure to find a unique smart home gadget on this list.
We've tested robot lawn mowers here at CNET, and while they're definitely cool, they're also pretty pricey. But lawn mowing can still be more energy-efficient and a whole lot quieter with an electric mower. Ego's $500 self-propelled push mower might not be internet-connected, but it's as clever and innovative as anything else on this list. Sure, $500 is more than most push mowers cost, but that extra cash will save your eardrums (thanks, electric engine), your time (it takes 30 minutes to charge) and your money in the long run (no more trips to the gas station).
For automatic watering
Eve Aqua
If you have a garden or lawn like mine that needs water every morning, but you hate throwing on clothes at 7 a.m. to run out and turn on the sprinkler, the Eve Aqua smart sprinkler controller is a simple solution. You hook it between your spigot and your hose, set a schedule on the app and voila! Your sprinkler will now water on a preset timer.
Eve has an app, but it also works with Apple's Home app and Siri.
A privacy-oriented smart home hub
Hubitat
With voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant quarterbacking most connected home devices, the smart home hub might seem like a relic of yesteryear. But Hubitat's Elevation hub offers a level of privacy unparalleled by its larger competitors. For $110, the Hubitat hub will process all the automation and voice control (with Alexa and Google Assistant) locally, rather than on the cloud.
For many consumers, the added privacy won't be worth the cost and setup. But for security- and privacy-minded customers, Hubitat might have a clever, fairly cheap solution to the rapidly expanding problem of data collection in big tech.
Smartening remote-controlled fans
Bond
So you have a remote-controlled ceiling fan, but you're always losing the remote and just using the wall switch anyway? Bond has the answer. Basically, it connects your ceiling fan to an app, to Google Assistant or to Alexa. Then you can stow the remote and just tell your voice assistant to switch the fan on or off.
A cheap, modular smart speaker
Echo Flex (Update: Currently unavailable)
The Echo Flex is a sort of jack-of-all-trades. It has an Alexa-powered speaker and a USB port for adding one of a range of modules, from motion sensors to nightlights. The Flex is a great gadget to bring the smarts of Alexa into the nooks and crannies of your house that don't merit a whole speaker, but where it might be nice to have quick access to setting timers. The modular design also means you get some cool extra features, to make the gadget more security-oriented or more helpful for lighting a dark hallway at night.
Pretty much anyone who uses Alexa could find a useful spot for the Flex.
A $100 security kit
Wyze Home Security System
Smart cameras are getting more and more affordable, but no company has pushed that boundary more than Wyze. Its $30 camera is a fantastic product for the price, but I actually prefer their home security Core Kit even more. For $100, it includes a Wyze hub, a keypad, a motion sense and two door/window contact sensors. It's easy to install and useful for anyone who travels or just wants an extra measure of security at home.
Note: A Wyze subscription is required to take full advantage of this kit's features.
A super creative smart home remote
Nanoleaf Remote (Update: Currently Unavailable)
A smart home remote might not seem like the most interesting smart device, but hear me out: This lit dodecahedron device controls any smart light switch, smart light bulb and other home accessories when you rotate it to different sides. Sure, that may not be the most practical way to turn your lights off, but this smart gadget is guaranteed to make you feel like a James Bond villain while you're doing mundane tasks -- and that alone deserves some kudos.
