Source: Nick Sutrich / Android Central

Choosing a smart home ecosystem is a pretty big decision. Assuming you go all-in, you will be with your choice for a long, long time. If you are just starting your journey to make your home smarter, we can help you make an informed choice. Here's how to choose the right smart home ecosystem for your home.

How to choose the right smart home ecosystem Know your options

Before you dive into the most important things, you need to consider, first, look at your options. The most popular smart home ecosystems are Google Home, Amazon Echo, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple HomeKit. Don't mix smart home ecosystems with smart hubs for individual products, such as the Philips Hue Bridge used for Philips lights and strips.

The center of any smart home ecosystem is its physical center, which acts as the heart of all the smart products in your home. A hub allows you to control every IoT device connected to it from a central point. You can just as easily install an app on your phone to replace that hub, but you'll lose some features, accessibility, and convenience. For example, Google's smart hub includes the Nest range, such as the Google Nest Hub. For Amazon, the Echo range of smart speakers or the Echo Show smart displays are the ones that act as the central hub.

Source: Android Central

Things are a little different from Samsung. There is a dedicated Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub, and you can also use the Samsung Connect Home Wi-Fi system to get started with SmartThings. Strangely, the Samsung Smart Home Hub relies on Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, unlike Bixby for voice commands. In a way, it makes sense because Samsung's voice assistant is not a hit with the masses. However, this overlap with Google and Amazon means that you can choose any of the ecosystems and still purchase Samsung SmartThings products.

Finally, we have the Apple HomeKit, which can be controlled using HomePod or HomePod mini as the main smart hub in addition to the iOS application. It may be Android Central, but letting go of such a strong competitor doesn't make sense. However, here's the bottom line: Apple HomeKit technology isn't compatible with any Android device.

How to choose the right smart home ecosystem Factors to consider

So what's the biggest factor? First of all, realize how much you are willing to spend to improve your home. This includes not only the initial cost of the hub, but also all the other accessories and gadgets that you will add over time. When you look at all the smart home products available today, you will realize that price is not such a big hurdle. Smart home products range from the most premium to the most affordable, priced under $ 100. However, when looking at products for all ecosystems, keep in mind that Apple products generally cost the most. This is due to the limited compatibility of HomeKit and third party compatible devices.

The second thing to consider is preferred operating system for phones and other mobile devices. If you're leaning towards iOS devices, such as iPhones and iPads, Apple Homekit is a simple idea. As mentioned earlier, none of the HomeKit products work with an Android phone. On the other hand, many of the most popular smart home products aren't compatible with the Apple ecosystem, so you can't use them with your iOS device either. Examples include smart lights from Govee and Blink smart cameras. Android users have access to a much larger market for smart home devices.

Availability of compatible products is the next thing to think about. Most brands create smart light bulbs, wall outlets, or other smart gadgets that are compatible with at least two or three ecosystems. Above all, almost every provider adds Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integration to such devices. Because you can connect SmartThings products to the Google Nest range and Amazon Echo devices, this nullifies Samsung as a suitable competitor. You can simply opt for the Google or Amazon ecosystem and continue to purchase any smartThing device that tickles your fancy.

Finally, you should definitely look into your favorite voice assistant in this decision-making process. Each smart home ecosystem supports a specific assistant, except Samsung SmartThings. Apple integrates Siri, Amazon products use Alexa, and Google Home products support Google Assistant. SmartThings offers both Alexa and Google Assistant. You'll use voice commands to control your smart home gadgets, so it's crucial to choose an ecosystem that uses your chosen smart assistant.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Android users were left with two options: Google or Amazon. Choosing either a smart home ecosystem does not deprive you of anything. Both ecosystems offer smart displays, cameras, locks, security systems, speakers, lights, thermostats and a lot more. You won't miss a thing. The final choice depends entirely on your taste.

If you like the look and feel of Google Nest Hub Max over the Amazon Echo Show 10, go ahead and put all your eggs in your Google cart. On the other hand, if you'd rather talk to Alexa than Google Assistant, that's fine! Make sure you look at what each ecosystem has to offer and whether those characteristics agree with you or not. Take a look at the software and design to help you make that final leap.

Our top equipment choices

If you own one of the best Android phones, you will definitely choose the Amazon or Google Home smart home ecosystem. Amazon offers an excellent selection of Echo Show smart displays and Echo smart speakers to act as your home's smart hub. We are in love with the new Echo Show 15, which can create profiles for every member of the family. She is big, bold and beautiful.

Google Nest devices also have smart speakers and displays. Nest speakers offer a minimalist, unobtrusive design, so they fit well with any decor. It is undeniable that a smart display is more useful because it can display information and crowd many functions. Google Nest Hub (second generation) integrates all smart home products and works as a mini-TV with apps like Netflix and YouTube on board.