Canadians have been working from home more than ever since the start of 2020, making smart home solutions extremely popular. You can’t step inside someone’s house these days without seeing, at the very least, a robot vacuum or a smart thermostat. Convenience is king, and convenience means home automation in Canada.
With so many options on the market, it can be hard to decide on the right product to purchase if you’re new to smart home technology. You might want to stick to a particular tech brand you’re loyal to, like Google or Apple — or you might wish to find the best option available regardless of affiliation.
Like all things tech, most items are updated and upgraded every year, so while you might already have a setup that works fine — if you’re looking for the latest bells and whistles — here are the smart home solutions we like best.
| Product | Look | Function | Price |
| Amazon Echo 4th Gen |  | Smart Speaker | $129.99 |
| Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip |  | Smart Plug | $109.00 |
| Eufy Security 2K Indoor Cam Pan & Tilt |  | Smart Security | $69.99 |
| Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control |  | Smart Thermostat | $293.98 |
| Nest Doorbell (Battery) |  | Smart Doorbell | $239.99 |
Best Smart Speaker
Amazon Echo 4th Gen $129.99
Source: amazon.ca
The Amazon Echo comes out on top of all other smart speakers available for one big reason — the sound capabilities. The sound goes above and beyond what the competition offers, and considering most people use their smart speaker to ask for a song to be played or audiobook to be read, quality sound matters. The bass, in particular, is impressive here. And unlike some of the other smart home solution speakers, it also features an audio output jack, meaning true audiophiles can plug it into high fidelity speakers for the best sound experience possible.
The Echo has every feature you would expect from a smart speaker: ask anything, and it’s ready to complete the task with voice control for entertainment, hands-free calls, privacy protection and more. It also includes a microphone-off feature and the available best sound system. Amazon Alexa is also compatible with more smart home devices than any speaker on the market.
Best Smart Plug
Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip $109
Source: amazon.ca
The Kasa Smart Power Plug Strip is perfect for a fully connected home, offering six plugs and three USB ports with surge protection. This means you can connect a wide variety of smart appliances to it and control them all through your phone or your smart home solution speaker. It also works with If This Then That (IFTTT), an automation tool, allowing your devices to work with one another depending on the triggers you create. This is not an entry-level smart plug, but if you already love the functionality of a basic smart plug, this will make your connected life that much easier.
It features wi-fi, surge protection, voice control, IFTTT integration and most importantly, energy monitoring — which many smart plugs don’t yet allow for.
Best Smart Security Camera
Eufy Security 2K Indoor Cam Pan & Tilt $69.99
Source: Eufy
In terms of home security cameras, the Eufy reigns supreme. It is an affordable high-definition camera; it also features other specs you would usually only find on more expensive devices. In addition, Eufy has perks like automatic motion tracking, 2K resolution, cloud and local storage options, sound and motion detection, full smart speaker integration, and more. However, some features are not available with Apple’s HomeKit.
The device is simple to install and by far the best option available for the price, leaving no excuse to secure your home with a security camera — even if it’s to watch the dog when you’re at the office.
Best Smart Thermostat
Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control $293.98
The Ecobee SmartThermostat is a life-changing device for anyone who likes their temperature just right. It allows you to control your home’s temperature through voice or your phone and will enable you to set a schedule, so your home is warmer when you get out of bed and cooler when you’re winding down.
The feature that sets this device apart from other smart thermostats is the remote sensor you can place in various rooms to ensure the temperature throughout your home. Smaller rooms tend to heat up and cool down much faster than larger rooms, so this feature is a game-changer for making sure each room is just how you like it. And suppose you really want to get fancy. In that case, you can also purchase the SmartSensors, which can detect when a door or window is open — pausing the air conditioning until your home is sealed up again for serious sustainability and maximum savings on your hydro bill.
Best Smart Video Doorbell
Nest Doorbell (Battery) $239.99
Source: Google
Google’s Nest Doorbell (Battery) wins top honours because the battery function allows anyone to use a doorbell camera regardless of doorbell wiring quickly. This means installation is straightforward, and even apartment dwellers can use it. Even better, it works well without a paid subscription, which most doorbell cameras require even the most basic storage and functionality these days. That said, its paid subscription does offer much more storage and capabilities should you want them.
It features person, package, animal and vehicle alerts—allowing you to scoop up your package before someone else does. It also features three hours of event storage without a subscription, which is better than you’ll find elsewhere. It’s the perfect video doorbell for any first-time user looking to test the waters — and if you find you want more, you can subscribe to Nest Aware for its thoroughly flushed-out functionality.
When it comes to outfitting your Canadian smart home with home technology, it’s generally best to take the time to do your research first and find the best possible device available at the time of purchase — since devices go out of date fast. This ensures your device will have the latest technology and features available while lasting you long. If you’re looking for the best smart home ideas to improve your daily routine, you won’t go wrong with any of these items. And if you’re looking for an upgrade, they’ll work well for that too.
