The best smart home assistant-ready devices for 2020

Turn on and control your TV with Logitech Harmony, Amazon Fire Stick and Google Chromecast

5. Logitech Harmony Elite with Harmony Hub

I like to watch TV while I make lunch. I used to have to walk into the living room, turn the TV on, wait for it to start up and then pick a show before I could start making lunch in the kitchen. With the Logitech Harmony Hub, I can just tell my smart assistant to turn the TV on and control it with my voice. The Harmony Hub comes on its own or with the universal Elite Remote Control to let you simplify your remote situation. I can ask it to switch the input to a smart TV hub and then use that through a smart assistant.

6. Amazon Fire Stick

If I was using the Amazon Fire Stick, I’d be asking Alexa to turn on my latest show.

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7. Google Chromecast

If I was using the Google Chromecast, I’d ask the Google smart assistant for it.

With either of the above options (or additional alternative like the Apple TV, Roku TV and others), I’d be choosing the day’s streaming content all while I’m making a sandwich.

Smart thermostats from Google and ecobee allow you to control, schedule or just tweak the temperature

8. ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control

The biggest draw of a smart thermostat like the Google Nest Learning Thermostat or Ecobee SmartThermostat is automation: If you program it right, you’ll rarely have to touch it again. It can automatically change the temperature in the morning when you leave for work, in the evening when you come home, at night when you go to sleep and on a mix of these while you’re off on vacation or out of town. Such automation can also go a long way in saving you on your utility bills since you can keep heaters or the A/C off when you don’t need them working.

But sometimes you still need to adjust the thermostat by a degree or two in the moment, and I can’t tell you how convenient it is to do so with a simple voice command — especially when the lone, wall-mounted thermostat is on the other side of the house from you or you just don’t feel like getting up. Bonus: The Ecobee SmartThermostat comes with an Alexa-ready microphone built-in so you don’t actually need a smart assistant for it to work.

9. Google Nest Smart Thermostat E

Google Nest’s more budget-friendly option is another good way to get started on your smart home temperature control.

10. ecobee3 lite Smart Thermostat

And the similarly priced ecobee3 lite is your budget-friendly and Alexa-centric option.

Clean your home — and maintain it — with a smart vacuum from Roomba, Eufy and others

11. iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum With Wi-Fi Connectivity

I always dreamed of having a robot butler and the Roomba brings me one step closer to my imaginary utopia. If you spring for one of the Wi-Fi connected models — like the Roomba 675 or Roomba 960 — you’ll be able to start a cleaning job with a simple voice command. You’ll also also be able to easily find it if it goes missing under a bed or couch or tell it to “go home” — that is, return to it charging dock — when company unexpectedly arrives at the door.

12. eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 35C Robot Vacuum Cleaner With Wi-Fi

Some relatively budget-friendly vacuums like the Eufy RoboVac 35C also support Alexa commands as well.

Turn any appliance into a (somewhat) smart device with smart plugs from Belkin, AUKEY and more

13. Belkin WeMo Mini Smart Plug

When there isn’t a smart version of the product you want — or you already have a perfectly good non-smart version at home — a smart plug can help bridge the gap. With a simple voice command, you can turn on a lamp, fountain, space heater, or any other plug-in device. Belkin’s WeMo Mini is one of the more popular, brand-name products.

14. AUKEY Wi-Fi Smart Plug 2-Pack

AUKEY has a solid budget-friendly option for about half the price of the Belkin WeMo.

Smart home devices: endless possibilities for your doorknobs, yard, music and more

I could go on forever. These days, just about any smart home device worth its salt will support Alexa and Google Assistant Whatever you’re looking to control with your voice, there’s probably something out there for you

15. Smart locks

16. Smart speakers

17. Smart sprinkler systems

18. Smart garage door openers

19. Smart security cameras

Look for legitimate tags like “Works with Alexa” or “Works with Google Assistant” labels on the box (or product page), and you should be good to go.

More tech and smart home guides

source: nbcnews.com