GUIDE · Home Automation
Smart Home Products Actually Worth Buying
We tracked which of 90 devices were still in daily use after a year.
Daniel Reyes · August 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Smart Home Desk
Home Automation
Everything the smart home desk has published on home automation — tested, measured and updated as products change.
More on Home Automation
2 stories
NEWS · Home Automation
The Smart-Home Devices People Actually Keep Using
Interaction rates collapse for most categories by week twelve. Four survive.
Tested in this category
Independently scored
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
The most polished heating control, with scheduling that genuinely reduces runtime.
- Score
- 8.9 / 10
- Price band
- $250 – $300
Best for: Households wanting set-and-forget savings
Price band last checked 2026-08-11. Live pricing arrives with our retailer feed.
Philips Hue Hue White & Color Starter Kit
Still the most reliable smart lighting system once you're past two rooms.
- Score
- 8.8 / 10
- Price band
- $180 – $220
Best for: Whole-home lighting scenes
Price band last checked 2026-08-11. Live pricing arrives with our retailer feed.
Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch
A slim retrofit smart lock with reliable fingerprint entry and real key backup options.
- Score
- 8.5 / 10
- Price band
- $220 – $300
Best for: Renters and retrofit installs
Price band last checked 2026-08-11. Live pricing arrives with our retailer feed.
Related reading
BEST · Smart Lighting
The Best Smart Lighting Systems
Cheap smart bulbs fail in the same three ways. Here's what to buy instead.
REVIEW · Robot Vacuums
Roborock S9 MaxV Ultra Review
The most capable robot vacuum we've tested — and the maintenance you still can't avoid.
BEST · Smart Locks
The Best Smart Locks
Fingerprint speed, battery honesty and what happens when the lock fails — the three things that matter.
BEST · Office Chairs
The Best Office Chairs
The chairs that hold up over a full working day — and the parts that fail first.
COMPARE · Robot Vacuums
Roomba vs Roborock: The Robot Vacuum Question
Two philosophies of robot cleaning, tested over six months in the same home.
GUIDE · Small Offices
How to Design a Home Office You'll Actually Work In
Layout, acoustics and equipment for people who work where they live.
The Home Brief
Smarter ideas, better products and the home stories worth knowing.
Several mornings a week. No filler, no fake urgency, unsubscribe in one click.