It can be overwhelming when you decide to start your smart home journey, especially when it comes to choosing the best smart home system. Fortunately, if you take some time to decide what you want from your smart home system in advance, you can reduce the amount you spend and avoid compatibility issues.
See also: What is a smart home?
Smart Home Commands
The whole reason why you are really thinking of investing and installing smart home devices! While every major smart home system, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Homekit, has these features, the diversity of compatible devices is what sets them apart. Be sure to check system compatibility before deciding which system to choose, or you'll find the purchase of replacement devices that work with your system.
Basic features
While most smart home systems offer the same basic features, such as voice recognition, smart home control, and media, you need to make sure that the desired basic features are available in the system you are considering. Here is a list of basic features that you should make sure they are present.
The basic control functions of a smart home system include:
- Lighting
- Smart plugs
- THERMOSTATS
- Audio
- TV
- Surveillance cameras
- Smart locks
Some advanced controls to look for, especially if you want to explore your home automation options in the future, include:
- Home security system compatibility
- Stage programming or automation
- Smart device controls
Make sure you consider the specific use cases for which you want a smart home, because you choose the best smart home system for your home. For example, if you only want to have control over basic smart devices, such as , switches and lighting, Alexa and Google Assistant excel in this field. Homekit devices, while generally more expensive and fewer, are much easier to control via the Apple Home app, especially for novice smart homeowners.
Is it hard for you to decide? We have some guides to help you make the choice.
Smart home guides: