The Best Smart Home Gadgets for Your First Apartment

You can think of the Echo Show 5 as the command center for your automated home. Amazon has tweaked its smallest display in 2023 to make it a little faster and a little bassier than its predecessor, and it’s still a good smart display in a compact space. It shows footage from your connected cameras and allows voice control of your smart plugs and other devices. It also plays your music or podcasts, tells you the weather, and even streams your favorite show (though note that the Netflix app is not supported).

Connected light bulbs may be the easiest way to turn your analog home into a “smart” home. A single smart light can ensure you never enter a dark home again. You can set schedules for your daily routines or make it seem like you’re home even when you’re not. Being able to turn things off with just your voice or through an app can save you the hassle of getting out of bed when you’re about to crash. Our senior trade editor Valentina Palladino tested a range of bulbs for our guide and thinks TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Bulbs give you the best value for money. Thanks to Kasa’s clean and simple app, installation will be easy even for those new to smart devices. Note that voice control is only available with Alexa or Google Assistant. Unfortunately, Siri is not compatible.

Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K turns any screen with an HDMI port into a smart TV for under $50. Our trade writer Nicole Lee likes Roku’s straightforward interface and the fact that it supports universal search, so you can find out which service a particular show is on. Unlike some streaming sticks, Roku works with all major voice assistants: Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa. You can even control your TV by saying “Hey Roku” using the included remote or the Roku app. The same app turns your phone into a second remote control and also allows private listening through your headphones. The 4K dongle is designed for high-resolution screens. However, if you don’t have a 4K TV and want to save more money, Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Lite is our favorite budget option.

With an indoor security camera, you can keep an eye on your pets when you’re out or just give yourself peace of mind when you’re away for the weekend. The updated Blink Mini 2 camera is now a real eye-catcher, offers better night vision and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. This increased the price by $10, but it is still one of the cheaper smart security cameras on the market. Blink is an Amazon brand, so the camera should sync easily with Echo Show displays, but also send video feeds to your phone or Fire TV. The built-in microphone and speaker means you can hear and talk to everyone in the room – handy for confusing the cat or frightening your guests.

Whether it’s traffic fumes in the city, pollen in the suburbs, or smoke from forest fires everywhere, it’s not always ideal to open your home’s windows to get some fresh air. An air purifier can help keep your indoor air healthier when you’re cooped up indoors, and we like this little room device from Levoit. The Core 300S smart air purifier is an app-compatible device that can automatically adjust its fan speed based on how much particulate matter it detects in the air. We found it runs almost silently at low speeds and isn’t too distracting at high speeds. Plus, it’s relatively affordable and the replacement filters only cost around $35.

I found the kitschiest and greatest lamp in the lobby of one of my first homes and I treasure it to this day – but its dial is extremely difficult to turn. I’ve since plugged it into one of Kasa’s EP25 smart plugs and now it automatically turns on and off just before sunset when I say goodnight to Alexa (or ask it to turn off the “ugly lamp”). Many smart plugs on the market do this, but the EP25 comes out on top in our guide because we think it’s easy to connect, works reliably, and is compatible with all four major smart home platforms.

No one resorts to Christmas lights as decorations, but strip lights are a slightly more elegant way to add flair to your space. You can use it to illuminate bookshelves, create atmosphere for your streaming setup, or transform your bedroom into a color-coordinated oasis. Govee makes many different smart LED strips, but the only one that senior trade editor Valentina recommends in our guide is the M1 RGBIC. She was impressed by the brightness of the light and the wide range of hues available. You can control different segments independently, and the app features an “effects lab” that offers pre-programmed lighting presets like sunsets, starry nights, and movie-themed color palettes.

Engadget’s Valentina Palladino has tested more than a dozen robot vacuums and recommends iRobot’s Roomba 694 to anyone who wants to keep their floors clean without spending too much money (or time). The company’s companion app is simple and probably the 694’s biggest selling point. It walks you through installation and programming. The vacuum can handle hard floors and carpets and runs for about 45 minutes on a charge, which should be enough for most smaller homes. You’ll have to help it out if it gets snagged on a cord and empty the bin when it’s full, but otherwise it’s a pretty straightforward way to get cleaner floors.

The Sonos Roam is both a smart and portable speaker that offers a decent amount of utility in a $180 package. Although it’s not the cheapest on the market, it’s relatively affordable for Sonos, a brand known for high-quality audio. The Roam plays whatever music service you prefer and delivers clear highs and impressive bass for its size. Alexa is built in and you can also access Google Assistant so you can control your compatible smart home devices through the speaker. And when it’s time to relax, you can ask Roam to play almost any song you can think of.

Thick walls, strange floor plans, and other factors can affect your home’s Wi-Fi reception. If there are dead zones in your home, a WiFi extender can be helpful. TP-Link’s AC1200 RE315 is our budget favorite: it covers 1,500 square meters and delivers speeds of up to 1,200 Mbps – fast enough for streaming and working from home. It also has a built-in Ethernet port, which should provide an even more reliable connection to important devices like your TV or gaming console.

Cooking for yourself is one of the bigger adjustments of growing up – it certainly was for me. Fortunately, a large amount of beans and rice can keep most people alive much longer than you think. The Instant Pot Duo cooks beans without soaking and makes fluffy rice; Add a jar of salsa and you have a pretty well-rounded meal. Of course, you can also use it to prepare more complex things: Search for Instant Pot recipes and you’ll get ideas for a lifetime. We recommend a larger version in our kitchen gadgets guide, but this 3-quart model is both cheaper and a better size for just one or two people.