UNDER $1000
Smart homes on a budget!
If you’ve got a budget of around $1,000, you can take your smart home to the next level, upgrading key components and adding smart appliances for convenience and enhanced control. Below is a carefully curated selection of devices that offer high quality, reliability, and a seamless user experience without unnecessary subscription costs.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat
$190
While the Nest Thermostat is often a popular choice, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat remains a top pick for its advanced features, ease of use, and energy savings. It’s a step up from the Ecobee3 Lite and provides more control over your home’s temperature.
KEY BENEFITS
▶ Voice Control & Room Sensors: Unlike the Lite version, the full Ecobee Smart Thermostat includes voice control through Alexa, eliminating the need for a separate voice assistant for thermostat control. It also supports room sensors (sold separately), which help regulate temperatures in different zones.
▶ Smart Schedules & Learning: The thermostat can learn your daily routine, adjusting the temperature automatically to save energy and improve comfort.
▶ Broad Compatibility & HomeKit Support: Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, making it an all-around excellent choice for various smart home ecosystems.
Echo Show 8
$150
The Echo Show 8 balances display size, features, and cost, making it a fantastic choice as your smart home hub. Its 8-inch screen provides just enough real estate to control your smart devices, see your security cameras, and manage your daily schedule.
KEY BENEFITS
▶ Smart Home Hub & Entertainment: You can control all your smart devices with simple voice commands, view camera feeds, check the weather, and play music or videos. The Echo Show 8 is perfect for a kitchen counter or living room.
▶ Alternative Option: Echo Hub ($180): If you're more focused on home automation and less on entertainment, the Echo Hub is a purpose-built device for smart home control. It provides a customizable dashboard for managing your devices without any ads, and it can connect to an external speaker for audio streaming if desired.
Eufy L60 Robot Vacuum
$279
A robot vacuum is a great way to bring automation into your home cleaning routine. The Eufy L60 is a great-value option that includes LiDAR navigation, an essential feature for efficient and accurate cleaning.
KEY BENEFITS
▶ Efficient Cleaning & Mapping: The LiDAR sensor (look for the spinning puck on top) provides precise scanning of your home to create an accurate floor plan and carry out methodical cleaning, reducing missed spots and boosting efficiency.
▶ Scheduled & Zoned Cleaning: Set up custom schedules or create no-go zones for the vacuum to clean only specific areas, making it an easy addition to your smart home routine.
▶ Deal Shopping Tip: Look for discounts around Prime Days, Black Friday, or other sales events, as robot vacuums frequently go on sale, allowing you to stay within budget.
Ring Wired Doorbell Plus
$160
The Ring Wired Doorbell Plus brings added security and peace of mind to your front door. As a wired device, it offers more reliable connectivity and faster notifications compared to battery-powered models.
KEY BENEFITS
▶ Reliable & Real-Time Alerts: With hardwiring into your existing doorbell wiring, you don't have to worry about recharging batteries, and you get near-instant notifications to your smartphone when someone approaches your door.
▶ Seamless Integration: Works smoothly with the Echo Show 8, allowing you to see who’s at the door and communicate through the smart display.
▶ Product Note: If you've come across the term Ring Doorbell Video Pro, it’s now rebranded as Ring Wired Doorbell Plus. Same great features, just a new name.
Schlage Encode
$300
Pairing security with convenience, the Schlage Encode smart lock provides a top-tier experience with strong security features. For those with Apple devices, the Schlage Encode Plus adds even more functionality through Apple Key.
KEY BENEFITS
▶ Easy Access & Remote Control: The Schlage Encode lets you lock and unlock your door remotely via the app, or use voice commands through Alexa or Google Assistant.
▶ Apple Key Support for iOS Users: If you're an iPhone user, the Plus version’s Apple Key feature lets you unlock your door by tapping your phone or watch—no need to unlock your device.
▶ No Subscription Fees & Strong Battery Life: There’s no need for a hub or monthly fees, and the lock boasts long battery life for fewer worries.
$50
While it may be tempting to add Wi-Fi-connected smart switches or bulbs to your home, it's wiser to stick to Zigbee-based switches like those from Enbrighten. This will help avoid potential Wi-Fi network issues and ensure more reliable smart home control.
KEY BENEFITS
▶Minimized Network Congestion: Wi-Fi devices can add congestion to your network, leading to unreliable performance and potential disconnections. Zigbee devices don’t use your Wi-Fi network, ensuring smoother operation.
▶ Direct Pairing with Echo Devices: If you have an Echo device with a built-in Zigbee hub (like some versions of the Echo Show or Echo Hub), these switches pair directly without needing any additional bridge or hub.
▶ Reliable Operation & Enhanced Control: Zigbee switches offer stable performance for turning lights on/off and setting schedules or automation routines.
Why These Devices?
This setup covers crucial aspects of a smart home: climate control, security, convenience, and automation. By focusing on Zigbee switches for reliability, LiDAR-based vacuuming for clean floors, and an efficient smart thermostat for energy savings, you’re making smart choices that improve your living experience without overwhelming your network or your budget.
THE BUDGET BREAKDOWN
▶ Ecobee Smart Thermostat – $190
▶ Echo Show 8 or Echo Hub – $150-$180
▶ Eufy L50 Robot Vacuum – $200
▶ Ring Wired Doorbell Plus – $160
▶ Schlage Encode Smart Lock – $300
▶ Enbrighten Zigbee Smart Switches – $50
TOTAL: $1,000 (Approx.)
This setup keeps you within the $1,000 budget and sets you up for future smart home expansion—just add devices like smart bulbs, sensors, or cameras as your needs and budget grow!