Many smart home gadgets are expensive–look no further than robot vacuums or robot lawn mowers for a prime example. But building a robust smart home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, many cool devices can be had for under $100, yet they bring some serious functionality to your daily life. From smart bulbs and smart speakers to video doorbells and more, here’s a look at the best smart home devices under $100.
If you’re patient, many of these are discounted to even lower prices during big shopping holidays like Black Friday and Prime Day — so consider adding them to your wishlist and waiting around for a good deal.
The Google Nest Mini is small but mighty. Offering impressive sound for a $50 speaker, the Nest Mini is the perfect option for folks just starting to piece together their smart home. Not only does it work as a great central hub for all your other gadgets (thanks to built-in Google Assistant), but its minimal design allows it to fit anywhere in your home.
Smart plugs don’t sound very exciting, but you’d be shocked at their versatility. These affordable gadgets can be used to remotely turn on devices such as lights, fans, and other appliances – giving your “dumb” electronics a bit of “smart” functionality. Amazon Smart Plugs are some of the best on the market, and they clock in at a wallet-friendly $25.
If you don’t mind doing a bit of rewiring, the Ring Video Doorbell (Wired) is an absolute steal. Priced at $65, you’ll get video monitoring of your front door, along with the ability to talk with folks outside via a smartphone app. You can even set up notifications to alert you when someone walks by your front door.
The Sengled Smart Bulb offers an easy way to quickly change the atmosphere of your home. Whether you want to dim the lights for a romantic dinner or schedule them to turn off when it’s time to go to bed, these affordable smart bulbs bring plenty of functionality to the table. All the action is powered by an intuitive smartphone app that lets you control their performance remotely.
Lock or unlock your front door with a password or fingerprint instead of a key. The Wyze Lock Bolt replaces your current deadbolt and can be installed in around 20 minutes. A sleek design, 12-month battery life, and useful smartphone app round out the package, making this $74 smart lock one of the best on the market.
Whether you want to call them a smart home product or not, you can’t deny that AirTags bring some impressive smarts to your household. These nifty little devices can be used to monitor the location of just about everything — from keys and purses to pets and luggage, the Bluetooth trackers make it easy to keep tabs on everything important in your life. They’re also pretty cheap, and only become cheaper if you purchase them in a bundle.
Clocking in at just $40 (and often on sale for much less), the Echo Pop is the perfect smart speaker for shoppers on a budget. It offers full support for Alexa and works with Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and even SiriusXM — giving you a number of ways to access your favorite tunes. Four different color options are up for grabs (lavender bloom, charcoal, glacier white, and midnight teal), so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find something to match your home décor. Toss in a cool design, tiny footprint, and a mic off button to ensure your privacy, and you’ve got a well-rounded gadget that’s remarkably affordable.
As for how to find other budget smart home devices? Check out other items from Wyze and Amazon. Both brands have a roster of reasonably priced gadgets. We’d recommend steering clear of unknown manufacturers you’ll find on Amazon, however, as these products might carry a low price tag but are often built to low quality standards and won’t survive long before needing to be replaced. Instead, stick to trusted companies (Wyze, Amazon, Google, Samsung, Ecobee, etc.) even if it means spending a few more bucks.
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites beyond Digital Trends, including The Wall Street Journal, Metacritic, GameSpot, and Slickdeals. He holds a degree in Biology and previously worked as a Medical Editor.
When not playing video games, he can be found running, reading, or checking out the latest series on Netflix.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.