The Best Smart Home Bundles
As the years have passed, controlling your home has never been easier. Gone are the days when you’d need to patrol your house, making sure every light was turned off. No longer do you have to ask a neighbor to check for suspicious activity while you’re on vacation. Smart devices are here to make your life easier and give you more peace of mind when you’re away. Check out the list of our favorite bundles below to find one that is right for you.
What to Look For
When choosing our favorite smart home bundles, we looked for ones that give you control of your devices remotely, feature easy and user-friendly set-ups, and are a great value for their price. The Amazon Echo Dot Kids Owl bundle takes our top spot with its playful design and nightlight that kids can enjoy. Ring’s home security system, on the other hand, is a great bundle for those who want to be able to virtually monitor their home. Keep on reading to learn more.
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen Kids Owl with Echo Glow
The bedtime buddy
Nighttime can be scary for young kids, but Amazon’s 5th-gen Echo Dot can be the comforting friend they need. This bundle comes with their Owl Edition Dot, a cute and powerful smart hub that kids can use to read them a bedtime story, play music, or control other smart devices in their room. It also includes the Echo Glow, a smart lamp that’s controllable by voice. Together, these devices can create a safe and cozy atmosphere to help your kids sleep soundly each night.
Pros:
- Voice commands are extremely easy to use
- The owl pattern looks cute and comforting
- Comes with tons of content specifically for young children
Cons:
- Child-safe filters are limited and can be tricky to set up
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen with Philips Hue Smart Bulb
If you got a small room or a corner you want to be able to light up without having to mess with a switch, consider this Echo bundle. It comes with a standard 5th-generation Echo Dot and a smart bulb that you can turn on with your voice. The bulb has preset light scenes that can help dim or brighten it for the perfect ambiance. Best yet, you can control the hue using Bluetooth for additional customizability.
Pros:
- Hue Bridge is perfect for setting the proper warmth in lighting
- Preset light scenes help you dim or brighten the light quickly
- Pairing the two devices is extremely easy
Cons:
- The tap feature can take getting used to
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen with Clock and Smart Bulbs
It’s always good to know what time it is. This Echo Dot has a clock on its face, saving you from having to buy one separately for your room. Even better, it can also display other notifications like the current song playing, the weather, and more. And if that wasn’t enough, it also comes with two smart bulbs to help you control your lighting without ever having to get up.
Pros:
- Scrolling notifications keep you updated with just a quick glance
- The sound quality is really good compared to older models
- Bulbs can be controlled from your phone if you’re not home
Cons:
- Voice alerts can be a bit loud and may startle people if they’re not expecting it
GE SYNC Smart Plug Bundle
Reduce your waste
GE’s SYNC smart plug bundle can help you save money and give you extra peace of mind. With two indoor smart plugs and one outdoor, you have wireless access to your lights or devices. They can be paired with Amazon or Google smart hubs, allowing you to power them off and on with your voice. Best yet, the outdoor outlets allow you to control your lights without having to step foot from the warmth of your home inside.
Pros:
- Remote control of any device plugged in is extremely convenient
- Seamless pairing with Google and Amazon smart hubs
- The weatherproof outdoor outlet can survive rain and snow
Cons:
- Doesn’t have sunset and sunrise detection or functionality
Ring Alarm Home Security Bundle
In the past, you would have to ask friends or family to check in on your house while you travel. Ring’s smart home security bundle, however, can keep you constantly updated on the safety of your house no matter how far away you are. It comes with a base station, keypads, motion detectors, and more, so you can fully monitor every possible entrance to your home. And if anything gets triggered, you can receive instant notifications straight to your mobile phone.
Pros:
- Comes with enough devices to monitor two to four different locations
- Extremely affordable for full-home protection
- The mobile app is very easy to customize the settings to your liking
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with any cameras for additional surveillance
Frequently Asked Questions
Do smart devices require a smart hub?
If you want to be able to control your smart devices with your voice, you’ll likely need a smart hub. However, if you just want remote access to them, a smart hub isn’t necessary. Most smart devices come with a mobile app that allows you to control them with your phone.
Do I need to use Bluetooth or WiFi for my smart devices?
If you’re trying to pair your smart devices with a hub, they’ll need to connect to it via Bluetooth. If you’re not using a hub, however, then you can connect to them using Bluetooth from your mobile device. Smart hubs can benefit from being connected to your home’s WiFi to automatically update and receive live updates and to remotely control your devices when you’re traveling.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.