Best Smart Home Systems in 2020

The Smart Home system is becoming more and more popular every year. Developers compete with each other, offering the buyer new devices with automatic and remote control, which make life more comfortable, save energy, protect the home from intruders and prevent emergencies. The market is so saturated with such offers that it is difficult for an inexperienced consumer to decide on the choice of a suitable option. To help future users, the editorial staff of the site "bestx.htgetrid.com/en/" offers you an overview of the best Smart Home systems in 2020, based on reviews from buyers and experts.

"Smart home", what is it

Modern housing is full of life support systems and a variety of household appliances that make our life easier and provide maximum comfort. These are heating, electricity supply, hot and cold water, natural gas. Our life already seems unthinkable without a refrigerator, automatic washing machine, microwave oven, televisions, computers, tablets and smartphones. "Smart Home" is a comprehensive automation of all home equipment for performing everyday tasks:

• regulation and control of lighting and temperature in rooms;
• monitoring the condition of the water supply and gas pipelines, protection against leaks;
• protection against unauthorized entry;
• fire alarm;
• control of household appliances from light bulbs to microwaves and refrigerators, etc.

With the word "automation", there are associations with the concept of "programming". However, the “Smart House” system is good because no programming is required. Smart devices communicate with the control center via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ZigBee. You just need to download a special application to your smartphone and start managing your home.

What's in the system

The control system is built from "smart" things. These are not ordinary electrical appliances, but devices that can communicate with each other and the control center wirelessly:

1. Sensors (sensors), thermostats. They control the parameters of temperature, pressure, humidity, movement (whether or not), smoke, etc. When the set value of the monitored parameter is exceeded or decreased, signals are sent to the programmable controller. The controller sends a message to the owner's smartphone. All that remains for him is to receive and read incoming SMS.
2. Executive equipment - all smart devices that execute commands from remote access: from a light bulb, a switch and a socket, to a coffee maker, an air conditioner, electric drives of valves for hot and cold water supply, etc.

In the entrances of many houses, a motion sensor is connected with an electric lamp. It might seem like this is an example of how a smart home works. Of course there is something similar. But end-to-end home automation can do more:

• wireless communication between elements;
• turning on and off equipment from a smartphone;
• voice commands;
• the ability to create your own control scenarios;
• video surveillance of the home and the courtyard of a country house.

To do this, you need to provide communication between smart things (or IoT devices), the control center and the owner of the house.

Types of communication and connections

There are only two options:

• connection and connections between elements by wire;
• wireless connection and signal exchange.

The first option works more reliably, the exchange of signals and reactions are faster, the components are cheaper. All components are connected by wires. A win-win option for new buildings. Before starting installation work, it is necessary to develop a project. It is better to entrust the design to professionals. Depending on the functionality and size of the apartment (house), there can be a lot of wires. The amount of material for installation is also determined by the project. Concealed wiring is carried out through channels punched in the walls (so-called shtraba). At the end of the installation and switching, the steps are closed, the wiring is not visible (hidden). The method is applicable for an apartment and for a country house if it is a new building or renovation is planned.

The wireless version does not require wiring between components and is quick to install. However, its components are more expensive and their batteries require timely and frequent replacement.

Where to begin

Lighting adjustment

It is with this function that the implementation of home automation most often begins. The light can be turned on and off by the motion sensor, adjust the light intensity by voice without getting out of bed or without looking up from the computer. This is really the 21st century.

Intelligent socket

Everyone knows the fears about the iron, which they forgot to turn off when leaving for work. Such thoughts can poison the existence of the owner of the iron for the whole working day. The owner just needs to enter the application on his smartphone, find and disconnect the power outlet with a light touch of the screen.

Internet of things

The market for IoT devices is expanding every year. Locks, bells, air fresheners, curtains and blinds, mirrors and toilets are added to lights and sockets. Soon, the ability to integrate into a home control scheme will become standard for all electrical appliances.

Smart home allows the owner to configure and control not only individual devices, but also to develop "scenarios" for a complex of devices in one or more rooms:

1. "I'm on vacation". Heating switches to economy mode. The temperature in the premises is maintained at 15 degrees C. The valves for cold water supply are closed. The security alarm is alerted.
2. "I'm at home". The heating mode changes from economical to normal, with the air temperature in the rooms - 23 degrees C. The smart home will set it up without user intervention. The geolocation of the smartphone will tell him about the return of the owner.

Modern home automation is extremely flexible. It can be customized solely to suit your needs. In addition to enhancing comfort, efficiency and safety, it improves the lives of people with disabilities.

What ecosystems are there and which one is better to choose

An ecosystem is called a smart home control from a central control panel or remote access. How to make him "wiser"? There are only two options:

1. Assemble the circuit yourself using various hubs. For each device, manually select and configure your plugin. Manage with awkward apps.
2. Buy a ready-made starter kit, then start purchasing devices compatible with it, connect them to the hub, download a special application to your smartphone and enjoy your smart home.

In the second case, the user receives a ready-made solution and a guaranteed result. At the same time, the amount of investment can be quite democratic. It is enough to purchase a basic set, which includes safety control in case of fire, water leakage, unauthorized entry. Installing the kit "out of the box" along with unpacking will take no more than an hour. No configuration required. Plug it in and try it. The rest of the devices can be purchased and installed as you "get a taste" and accumulate funds.In addition, the Internet of Things market is developing so rapidly that some elements that are really expensive today will become quite affordable in a year.

How to choose by price

One of the decisive factors in choosing a particular product is its cost. "I'm not rich enough to buy cheap stuff." This aphorism is attributed to one of the Rothschilds, and it is difficult to disagree with him. Cheap does not mean high quality. So it's not worth choosing a product at the lowest prices. The market is filled with offers ranging from hundreds to several thousand dollars.

Attention! When buying systems at very low prices, you can run into a cheap fake that will have to be thrown away without even having time to set up.

On the other hand, an expensive construction is not necessary at all for a small apartment. Therefore, when asking the price of a product, it is better to opt for some average cost. Equipment with such a price will have the necessary functionality and sufficient reliability.

Important! Trust renowned manufacturers who are in demand and known for their quality and reliability

Most popular models

• Apple HomeKit

The product was released in 2014. He made it possible to control home equipment from the iPhone using just one application - Home. You can control your voice by giving orders to your personal assistant Siri. You don't even need to unlock your iPhone. It is enough to wake up in the morning, ask Siri to open the curtains in the bedroom and turn on the coffee maker. The command will be executed immediately.

• Amazon

Developing such a successful idea of ​​managing the use of a voice assistant, Amazon in the same 2014 delighted users with its Amazon Echo column by "placing" an assistant named Alexa in it. This device combines the functions of a music center and a control controller. You can also communicate with him by voice, transmitting certain instructions. Alexa will do it exactly.

• Google home

In 2016, Google enters the market with its Google Home speaker and Google voice assistant. In 2018, the Google Home control application for smartphones was developed. In the same year, Apple's HomePod column appears with an assistant already familiar to users - Siri.

• Xiaomi

In 2014, a product about the Chinese company Xiaomi appears on the market. The Smart Home Suite included:

1. smart socket;
2. Surveillance Camera;
3. smart light bulb;
4. infrared control unit.

To combine these elements into a single scheme, the MiHome application is installed on the smartphone. The connection is established via the Wi - Fi 2.4 GHz protocol.

The Xiaomi platform differs from Apple HomeKit, Amazon, Google Home, not only in its affordable price. The company has established the production of many different types of IoT devices, from kettles to refrigerators built into the structure of a smart home.

In addition to the above brands, other well-known manufacturers supply their developments to the market:

• Redmond. It features the richest selection of devices that can be controlled from one application.
• Ajax Systems. Offers an effective security system that can distinguish between people and pets.
• TP - Link. Using a Wi-Fi booster to eliminate dead spots. The kit includes PTZ cameras and a smart plug.
• Gal. Offers a very simple basic package at an affordable price, with detailed instructions.
• Rostelecom. Starter kits of security systems can be purchased cheaper, taking into account promotions and discounts for their users.
• Rubetek. Offers excellent ready-made kits with different configurations.

And this is not a complete list of manufacturers.

What to look for

Hardware compatibility with platforms from different manufacturers
Not all devices fit into different ecosystems indiscriminately. Apple HomeKit socket, won't work with Amazon, etc. Home appliance manufacturers make products specifically for Apple, Google or Amazon. When buying components, you need to find special stickers on the packaging indicating which platform these elements will work with:

• “Works with HomeKit” means the appliances will work with Apple HomeKit;
• devices that work with Google are marked with the phrase “Works with Google Assistant;
• respectively for Amazon, equipment is marked with the phrase “Works with Amazon Alexa.

Control center

The most convenient way to control IoT devices, according to buyers, are speakers from Apple, Google, and Amazon. Of these, only Siri, the Apple HomeKit voice assistant, is Russified.

Alexa, Amazon's assistant, will probably never speak Russian. Some users are not afraid of this. Learning a few phrases in English is easy. This will not only eliminate the language barrier with Alexa, but also there will be an iron motivation for learning a foreign language.

Xiaomi is perfectly controlled using the voice assistant Siri. Since this assistant understands and speaks our way, there will be no problems with command transmission.

When deciding to purchase a Smart Home system, start collecting useful information. Find out where to buy it, how it works, how to install it. Go to the forums, talk to friends who know what it is, listen to their advice and recommendations. Ask the seller in the store which company is the best to buy the system, how much the starter kit costs, and whether you can add items to it later. Study the principle of operation, characteristics and description of the product carefully. This will help to avoid mistakes when choosing a kit.

Best Smart Home Systems

Having understood the selection criteria for ourselves, we proceed to the rating of quality products "Smart Home" in 2020, compiled according to customer reviews and expert opinion.

Rostelecom

The top ten manufacturers are opened by the most famous domestic company in this segment, Rostelecom. Her specialization is security systems. Almost all elements are purchased only in the basic and extended kits. In the first option, there are "essential" devices:

• controller;
• motion sensors;
• sensors that control temperature and lighting in rooms;
• sensors that fix the position of doors and windows (open / closed).

The extended kit includes smoke detectors and water leakage sensors. At the request of the buyer, for a fee, a Wi-Fi camera can be added to the kit. The average price of the basic kit is 11,590 rubles, the extended one is 16,590 rubles.

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Gal SH - 1000

A simple and affordable solution for protecting various premises. The company has developed several "boxes". However, most buyers preferred the Gal CH - 1000 starter kit. The price is very affordable, no more than 5000 rubles. Despite this, the equipment is quite decent:

• controller;
• Power Supply;
• entrance door position control sensor;
• water leakage control sensor;
• keychain - control panel.

Affordable price and good set of elements make Gal CH - 1000 one of the best budget options. The kit comes with detailed instructions and is easy to customize. The app that manages the components is popular with customers. An excellent balance of price and quality in the class of inexpensive ecosystems.

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The ninth line in the ranking.

TP - Link

A Chinese brand renowned for its affordable IoT devices. The buyer has the opportunity to independently choose the necessary components for their home with Wi - Fi communication:

• socket with monitoring of electricity consumption - 1,790 rubles;
• router (router) aka the control center, TP Link Deco M9 Plus - 20,366 rubles;
• lamp TP Link LB 110 - 1244 rubles;
• Wi - Fi amplifier TP Link TL - WA855RE - 1153 rubles;
• sensors for door position, movement;
• PTZ HD night vision cameras.

The list of equipment manufactured by TP Link presented here is far from complete. However, he makes it clear that in addition to security systems, with the help of these gadgets you can make your home truly smart: regulate the economical consumption of heat, electricity, control light, etc. Unlike "box" kits, all elements of this brand are purchased separately. The Kasa application has been developed to control devices, compatible with iOS and Android.

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TP Link is ranked eighth in our ranking.

Ajax StarterKit

The Ukrainian brand Ajax presents its smart home system with security control. Ajax StarterKit will warn the owner about unauthorized entry, fire, flooding. The kit includes:

• central controller;
• siren;
• keychain with remote control function;
• sensors for the position of doors and windows (open / closed);
• broken glass;
• water leaks;
• movement (distinguishes between people and animals).

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Average price: 12,550 rubles. Available in black and white. It occupies the 7th line in our rating.

Xiaomi

A famous Chinese company producing high quality electronics. Its ecosystem is not limited to the basic set, it produces many smart devices at affordable prices. This allows you to organize a smart home with wide functionality.

Mijia gateway, combines the functions of a night light, a radio, a hub. Windows and doors sensors, track unauthorized entry, send a message to the owner and turn on the camera. When you open the window in the morning, the air freshener is automatically turned on. When you open the doors in the morning to the child's bedroom, they turn on a pleasant alarm melody.

The wireless switch (wireless button) allows you to wake up the child with one touch while preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Leaving for work, you can de-energize all electrical appliances with one click.
Smart socket. By connecting it to a multifunctional gateway using an application on a smartphone, you can separately program the switching on and off of any electrical equipment according to the time of day. To do this, the application configures its own icons for each device.

Motion Sensor. Turns on the light in the hallway when you open the front door, the air conditioner when you go to bed, light a night light or LED strip if you need to visit the toilet at night.

The whole set costs 4990 rubles.

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Xiaomi is a great combination of functionality, reasonable price and decent quality. It occupies the sixth line in the ranking.

Redmond

The products of this brand are distinguished by the widest selection of devices controlled by one application. Among the top five manufacturers of complete home automation systems. Voice control has not yet been implemented, but in terms of the number of equipment produced, Redmond is in the lead.
The kit includes a socket, a motion sensor, a door position control sensor (reed switch). Other devices, including the Redmond SkyCenter 11S, are sold separately.

The cost of the control center is 2850 rubles. The "management and security" set will cost the buyer 3670 rubles. IR - remote costs 2200.In total, the basic kit costs 8720 rubles.

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It occupies the fifth line of the rating.

Google

The top four is an American brand of Chinese production. His smart home is controlled by both a mobile application and a voice. The assistant will respond to the "Okay Google" greeting and fulfill the request to turn on the music, start the alarm, etc. A music column (the only device produced by Google) is used as a control center. All other gadgets are developed by partner firms of the giant, the same Xiaomi, TP-Link or Phillips. Therefore, the list of compatible equipment is quite large.

The average price of a Google Home speaker is 8,400 rubles. Google Home Mini - only 2920 rubles. The rest of the equipment is purchased separately from other manufacturers. The cost of a kit capable of regulating lighting, heat, water, and other household equipment will have to be determined individually in each case.

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Amazon

Google Home's closest competitor, Chinese-made American. Its control system is built around its smart speaker, with which IoT devices from various manufacturers work wonderfully. This makes it easier for users to assemble the required kit, with the possibility of further expansion. Amazon is considered to be the most flexible and promising brand in the lineup, considering its wide compatibility, high quality, a lot of the latest developments and reasonable prices.

Just like Google Home, it itself produces only a column, the average price of which is 11,990 rubles. The rest of the equipment is completed by other manufacturers. Third place in our ranking.

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Apple

Representative of the world's elite electronic equipment. The products of this company are distinguished by the highest quality, thoughtfulness, stylish design and reliability. This is the undoubted leader in its class of high-tech equipment, enjoying well-deserved popularity in our market, especially since its voice assistant is the only (so far) Russian-speaking assistant.

Apple HomeKit can offer the buyer a completely functional kit, consisting of:

• control panel;
• sockets;
• multicolor lamps;
• wireless sensors of movement, position of windows and doors, water leaks;
• weather station;
• heating radiator valve.

This set is quite enough to build a starter set of smart home functions. More extensive scripting automation is achieved using third-party components that are compatible with Apple HomeKit.

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Rubetek

Russian development, Chinese production. The popularity of Rubetek models in the Russian market is high enough to compete with American brands. The company has developed several dozen out-of-the-box kits with various functionality. Of course, Rubetek does not stand up to comparison with Apple, Google or Amazon in the number of settings for all kinds of scenarios and embedding many devices in a smart home. But for a wide range of users, it is much more important to quickly find a kit on the market that provides control of smoke, water leakage, door position and broken glass.Or all of the above, plus PTZ cameras for indoor and outdoor use, lighting control and adjustment, smart plugs and climate control.

Rubetek elements are controlled from IPhone and Android. Integration with HomeKit made voice control available via Siri. Users leave the best reviews about the products of this company.

The average cost of a set of control and management system "Dom" is 11950 rubles. The basic set contains:

• control center;
• relay for one-button switch;
• power socket;
• smoke sensor;
• sensors for opening windows / doors.

The set can be supplemented with a variety of devices that can greatly improve the comfort of the home.

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Disadvantages:

General characteristics	Developer / Production	Starter kit	Additional Information	average cost
Gal	Russia / China	Control center; sensors: leaks, open / close; adapter; Remote Control.	Ability to add more devices	4999 RUB
Rostelecom	Russia / China	Controller; sensors: open doors, motion, leaks, smoke.	Promotions and discounts for Rostelecom clients	RUB 16,990
Ajax starterKIT	Ukraine	Control controller; smoke detector; motion sensor 2 pcs; broken window sensor; Door / window opening sensor; flood sensor; siren; keychain - remote control.	Protected radio channel; control center backup power	RUB 12,990
TP - Link	China	Wi - Fi router TP - Link Deco M 9 Plus	Two operating modes - router and access point; built-in antivirus; support for Bluetooth 4.2 for IoT; Amazon Alexa support; USB 2.0 port reserved for future functions (in future software releases)	RUB 20426
Redmond	USA / Russia / China	Smart socket Gateway REDMOND SkyGuard 102S-E	Smart control center REDMOND SkyCenter (RSC-11S); not included in the delivery set, sold separately, cost 2190 rubles	3690 RUB
Xiaomi Mi Smart HOME Kit	China	Smart home control unit; motion sensor; door / window opening sensor; wireless button; smart socket.	The ability to use the voice assistant Siri; support for Apple Home Kit and Google Home applications.	4290 RUB
Amazon	USA / China	Smart speaker	Broadband speakers; built-in 7 "screen, video, smart home control; voice assistant Alexa; the ability to connect additional devices	RUB 20660
Google	USA / China	Smart speaker	Support for streaming audio services; broadband speakers; built-in voice assistant Google Assistant; smart home control; the ability to connect add. devices.	RUB 8400
Rubetek - 3505	Russia / China	Control center; opening sensor; leakage sensor; mini video camera; Relay for 2-gang switch	Connect over 300 devices	RUB 15,990
Apple	USA / China	Smart speaker	Touch control surface, Wi-Fi MIMO support, Apple A8 embedded processor Apple Siri voice assistant	RUB 20,990

The market of IoT devices will replenish this year with smart mirrors, which, in addition to your image, will show you the current weather forecast, will give you the opportunity to view your pages on social networks, view your e-mail and even listen to music while you brush your teeth or shave.

Intelligent doorbells, in your absence, will record a visitor on the built-in camera, send you a message about the visit and show you a video.

Door locks are endowed with the same gift. In addition, you can open the doors with your voice, fingerprint or from the application on your smartphone if you forgot your house keys.

Curtains and blinds will open according to a certain scenario without your participation or at your voice command.

Smart home is not a fantasy, not an expensive and useless toy for raising the owner's image. These are safety, economical (up to 40%) consumption of energy resources, the ability to prevent accidents on heating and water supply networks (within the apartment), a completely new level of comfort. Comprehensive home automation will greatly facilitate the lives of people with disabilities, enable them to serve themselves without outside help.To automate your home, you don't need to spend crazy money today. Kits and individual items are on sale at affordable prices and will be cheaper tomorrow. Try to change your life for the better. Our rating will help you make the right choice.