A decade ago, some of these gadgets sounded like expensive toys. Now they’re quietly becoming part of everyday home life.
Robot Lawn Mowers
The idea of a robot cutting the grass sounds futuristic until one is quietly circling the backyard. The category has expanded rapidly, with robot lawn mowers now appearing alongside robot vacuums as a major smart-home category.
Smart Plugs
A tiny adapter that lets a phone control an ordinary lamp once seemed unnecessary. Now smart plugs are an inexpensive way to automate lights, coffee makers and other basic appliances without replacing them.
Video Doorbells
Doorbells used to simply announce that someone was outside. Now they can show who arrived, record activity and send an alert before anyone touches the door.
Smart Locks
Keys are no longer the only way into some homes. Smart locks can use codes, phones or other digital access methods, making it possible to unlock a door without digging through a pocket for keys.
Air-Quality Monitors
Indoor air used to be something people rarely measured. Now small sensors can track things such as particulate matter, carbon dioxide and humidity—and some homeowners actually check the numbers.
Smart Pet Feeders
The pet bowl has entered the connected-home era. Automated feeders can dispense food on schedules and let owners monitor feeding remotely, turning a very ordinary household chore into something programmable.
