Smart Home

Smart Hubs

  • hub: Home Assistant
    • AI accelerator: Coral
    • ZigBee: Sonoff USB 3.0 Zigbee dongle plus
    • Z-Wave: Zooz 800 series Z-Wave stick ZST39
    • Matter over Thread: Connect ZST-1 (previously called “SkyConnect”)
  • display panel: Sonoff NSPanel Pro
    • alternative: cheap Android tablet

Smart Speakers + Voice Control

  • voice assistant: Mycroft / OpenVoiceOS
    • alternative: Assist (Home Assistant)
  • smart speakers
    • cheaper: Ikea Symfonysk
    • standard: Sonos

Smart Plugs and Outlets

  • plugs
    • standard: TP-Link Kasa (WiFi)
      • alternative: Eve Energy (Matter over Thread)
    • best HA integration: Sonoff S31 (WiFi / Zigbee)
    • Zigbee alternative: Third Reality
  • outdoor plugs: TP-Link Tapo (WiFi)
    • alternative: Eve Energy Outdoor (Matter over Thread)
  • power strip: TP-Link Kasa (WiFi)
    • alternative: Eve Energy Power Strip (WiFi)
  • outlets: Leviton Decora (WiFi)
    • alternative: Eve Energy Outlet (Matter over Thread)

Smart Sensors

  • motion: Aqara P1 (Zigbee)
  • precence: Aqara FP2 (WiFi)
  • contact (door and window): Aqara (Zigbee)
  • temperature + humidity: Aqara (Zigbee)
  • smart thermostats
    • “dumb looking”: Honeywell T6 Pro (WiFi / Z-Wave)
    • “smart looking”: Ecobee (WiFi)

Usage Monitors

  • power: Emporia Vue
  • water: Flume

Safety

  • smoke + CO: First Alert
  • water leak sensors: Aqara (Zigbee)

Controls

  • buttons: Zigbee buttons
  • knobs: Zigbee knobs

Shades

  • cheaper: Ikea (WiFi)
  • standard: SmartWings (WiFi / Zigbee / Matter over Thread)
    • easier to set up: Eve MotionBlinds
  • upgrade: Lutron Serena