Over the past decade, our lives have been transformed by a wave of connected devices—from MP3 players and smartphones to tablets, wearables, computers, and even smart appliances like wireless light bulbs and thermostats.
While each device enhances convenience individually, managing a fragmented ecosystem can be overwhelming. Enter the smart home hub: a central controller that ties everything together. As experts who've tested dozens of these systems at MakeUseOf, we've seen hubs evolve from basic remotes to sophisticated brains. We recently launched a dedicated Smart Home section—but what's available now, and what's on the horizon?
Early smart hubs were straightforward: they connected to a handful of devices and offered mobile app control for timers and basic automation. The vision of a truly responsive home—adjusting lights or heat based on your presence—remained out of reach.
Today, some entry-level hubs stick to these basics, which suits simple needs perfectly. Staples' Connect Home Hub integrates with numerous devices via a straightforward iOS and Android app. Despite its basic features and dated interface, it's lauded for quick setup and budget-friendly pricing by users and reviewers alike.
Competitors abound. Lowe's Iris offers reliable battery and cellular backups for power or internet outages. Home Depot's Wink Hub costs just $49.99, while Insteon's Insteon Hub is priced at $129 and excels in smart lighting setups.
These are ideal for targeted goals like lighting or security but may limit future expansions. While upgrades are possible, they lag behind more advanced options.
Basic hubs act as simple bridges to your phone; true intelligence requires conditional behavior—devices responding to detected events, like turning on the heat only when you enter the door, not just at a set time.
Nest, now owned by Google, leads here. Starting as a smart thermostat, it expanded with the Nest Protect smoke alarm and supports diverse devices plus IFTTT recipes. Philips Hue bulbs integrate seamlessly for intelligent lighting. At $249, it's a premium thermostat-hub hybrid—not ideal for renters or budgets.
A more affordable pick is SmartThings, a crowdfunding success now under Samsung. Its $99 hub controls myriad devices via app, with built-in conditional logic and IFTTT. Expand easily with sensors like door detectors using accelerometers to sense your arrival.
Newer entrant Logitech Harmony Home Hub ($99) leverages Logitech's home theater expertise from the Harmony Ultimate line. It pairs app control, IFTTT, and entertainment automation but lacks ZigBee/Z-Wave support, limiting device compatibility. It shines with high-end AV setups.
Conditional hubs demand more investment in sensors and setup time but offer scalable smarts for growing systems.
Amazon's Echo voice assistant surprised by focusing on queries, calendars, and shopping lists—not direct home control. Yet its expandability hints at future integrations.
Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4 already handle voice commands and could pivot to hubs via software updates. Media players like the Google Nexus Player hold similar potential.
Apple looms large, with iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, and Apple TV providing the ecosystem for a full launch.
Smart hubs have matured: Google bought Nest, Samsung acquired SmartThings, and big players back the rest. A hub war brews, but you'll win with greater convenience.
Own a smart hub? Share your experiences in the comments!
