5 smart home gadgets I consider completely non-negotiable - and why

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Tech is best when it makes your life easier. And with a plethora of gadgets, gizmos, and gear on the market in every major category, it isn't always easy sorting out what's good from what's great. Home tech isn't spared from this fate, either. With robot lawn mowers and window washers, automated vacuum mops, and more, we're probably closer to the life we saw on The Jetsons than ever before.

Also: 10 useful smart home gadgets that make life so much easier

But not every new product is practical or fit for your lifestyle. It takes plenty of trial and error and intentional upgrades to take your home from totally typically to sneakily smart. Here are the five smart home gadgets I use in my home, and why I think you should consider them, too.

Also: I automated my home's most unexpected electronics - here are 5 ingenious results

The smart home gadgets I recommend most

My new house has a small living room, and I didn't want the TV to be the main focal point. That's why I scooped up this Hisense art TV that doesn't lack any smart features. It's made plenty of guests do a double-take, and it gets endless compliments.

Also: My canvas art TV gets endless compliments, and it's cheaper than Samsung's Frame TV

The Hisense Canvas TV has been praised by ZDNET experts as a direct competitor to the more expensive Samsung Frame TV, a popular choice for those looking for a TV that blends seamlessly into decor. Like Samsung, Hisense's Canvas TV is a QLED set treated with a matte, anti-reflection layer and wooden borders to make it look as close as possible to a piece of art decor.

I have the older 2024 model, which is on sale now, but the newest 2026 models are available, too. I will never go back to a traditional TV in my main living space. The art frame truly makes it dual-purpose, and since this TV operates on Google's OS, I can sync other smart accessories and access my Google account.

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I priced out motorized blinds months before moving into my townhome, and it's incredibly expensive when you go through popular installation companies. Nevertheless, smart blinds were not something I could skip. My home is on the corner of a busy cross street in our neighborhood, and the entire street can quite literally peer in. I knew we'd need shades, and an easy and reliable way to open and close them.

We found our answer in SelectBlind's offerings of smart blinds and shades. I'll have a full review coming soon on my home's setup thus far (and how I'm using them), but the customizable options make it easy to find a blind type and style that fits your space. I was pleasantly surprised with the pricing and ease of installation, too. Plus, the SmartConnect bridge allows me to sync up my blinds together and keep them on a schedule to open and close. I can control via a remote or my phone via a mobile app.

The blinds open in the morning 30 minutes after my alarm, just as I'm heading downstairs (my bedroom faces the street), and our main floor blinds are already open in time for my first cup of coffee. They close 30 minutes before sunset, and I never have to worry about opening and closing tons of curtains or shades (or shoving myself behind my couch to do so).

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The Ting fire sensor is a plug-in gadget recommended by my colleagues Maria Diaz and David Gewirtz. It's a smart sensor that provides key insights into your home's risk of electrical fires, and also tracks other events like power outages or circuit trips.

Also: This tiny device quietly monitors your home for electrical hazards

My Ting was provided for free by my home insurer, so be sure to check out what options your policy may offer for preventative devices. The app makes it easy to check in on any reported abnormalities, and it's a great piece of mind as a new homeowner.

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Upon building my home, I had the option to install smart thermostats. Ecobee's enhanced smart thermostat perfectly fit the bill. I have a unit on each floor of my home, and like many other smart home gadgets, I can control the temperature right from my phone. I also can set schedules for heating or cooling, check in on service or maintenance, adjust temperatures, and more. These are a great upgrade from a traditional setup, but keep in mind they are linked to your Wi-Fi. If there's an outage, you have to make changes via your app with cellular service.

Ecobee also says its thermostat "helps set recommendations for minor temperature adjustments that maximize savings, cools or heats your home when energy is less expensive, and adjusts the temperature to account for humidity so your home always feels like the temperature you've set." I liked them just for the convenience, but the added energy-saving benefits are great too.

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These Kasa smart plugs are a longtime favorite of ZDNET editors like myself and smart home reviewer Maria Diaz. I love using these for automating home lights, kitchen appliances, and more, and I even keep a box packed away in my Christmas decor for controlling my tree lights with one click. They're truly essential for all the gadgets and gizmos in my home.

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