Beginners guide to smart home automation by experts
Get the right advice on cool gadgets and the latest smart technology before you buy
Don’t waste your money on a smart home system, smart thermostat, smart lighting, or a smart hub in your home before you read our in-depth buyer’s guides and product reviews. Find out which smart appliances are right for you and how to connect them up.
Here's How to Build the Best Smart Home System
We write about how to build the best home automation system (or smart home) for the common homeowner. The IOT in TheIOTpad refers to “the internet of things“. This refers to the network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for connecting over the Internet. Many smart home products use WiFi, Bluetooth and the latest technological innovations. We review the best products and systems so you can find one right for you.
Here you’ll find straight forward advice on home automation products that can be easily sourced. You won’t find any custom components that you have to solder or hack to make work.
Best guide to Build a Smart Home in 2022
Once you’ve learned what a smart home is and what home automation can do for you and your family, it is time to get started putting a system together to to build a smart home. It can be a little
Choose a Smart Home Platform – Guide
This is the first step in our How to Build a Smart Home series, which takes a beginner through the process of selecting the right components for their home automation needs. Read this article if you don’t yet have a
Install Smart Thermostat at home – Complete Guide
If you want to know how to install smart thermostat then this is the best guide for you with features you should look in a thermostat. This is step two in our How to Build a Smart Home series, which
Get the best automation device for your home
We do all the research, reviews and comparisons so you don't have to
When you come to the best home automation device reviews, you can expect well-researched and helpful information, buyer guides, reviews and comparisons for smart devices of all styles and brands.
We are technology enthusiasts who love to research the details and bring easy-to-read summaries so you can fully understand the products and make smart buying decisions to save time and money.
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The Internet of Things (TheIOTPad) website is founded on the principle of honest, objective reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products.
And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
Latest Articles
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Top 7 LED Color Changing Lights for Room 2022
LED color changing lights have become an essential lighting system in contemporary homes. They are economical and power-saving, with a selection of colors that can instantly change your room’s ambiance. When picking out the best brand for your residential spaces, you’ll keep several criteria in mind.
What is a dimmer switch and how does it work?
Have you ever wondered how does a dimmer switch work? Modern-day homes typically have this switch connected to their light fixtures. The dimmer switch allows you to control the brightness of the lights to change the room’s ambiance.
Nest Note N260 Error Code: What is it and How to fix It?
The Nest Note N260 error code indicates that your thermostat needs a common or C wire. The most exciting feature of advanced smart thermostats is that they can inform you when and why there’s a malfunction. So, when you see the Nest Error N260, you’ll know that it’s missing a C wire.
Top 5 Honeywell Pro Series Thermostat – Review & Buyer Guide 2022
The Honeywell Pro Series thermostat is one of the top branded products preferred by contemporary homes and workplaces. With more homeowners relying on the Internet of Things (IoT) to run their appliances, a thermostat is an indispensable component.
How We Compare & Choose
Expert knowledge to help you buy smart
We provide expert knowledge about smart home hubs, systems, light bulbs & switches, smart thermostats and accessories, and ratings and data about how they measure up in various performance categories.
We explain what sets a product apart from its competitors and suggest other comparable products based on price or use.
We also look at how the smart devices have been designed and what type of building they are targeted – so you can make your decision based on what is right for you and your riding style.
Our Buyer's Guide To Smart Home
Factors in choosing smart devices for your home
1. Easy to Use
2. Universal device from any manufacturer
The ideal system will allow you to choose from a wide variety of components from whichever manufacturer you prefer.
This is a challenge with the range of proprietary communications protocols on the market, but it is achievable.
Think about it, you can use an iPhone to call a landline or an Android phone. You can send a text file from your Mac at home to your Windows PC at the office. Smart home systems should be no different.
This will require IOT (Internet of things) standards to be established and agreed to by the various manufacturers and programmers, but it is doable.
3. Expandable, Upgradable, and Backwards Compatible
4. Secure
Last, but most definitely not least is security. Our smart homes must be secure – just as secure as our cell phones and online banking. Security is challenging, especially since we also want ultimate flexibility and universality. However, device manufacturers cannot skimp on security just to add another gimmicky feature. Security first, features later – we can’t stress this enough.
5. Smart, but not Gimmicky
Of course, smart homes should be smart. However, they aren’t currently as smart as they should be. Yes, your Nest Learning Thermostat is quite smart in that it can learn your temperature preferences, it keeps track of your energy use, and sends you a report on how you are doing. However, thermostats are one of the few product groups that has this level of intelligence. We need all of our devices to track power consumption and to ask you if something seems odd. Wouldn’t it be great if your oven sent an alert to your phone after it has been left on an hour longer than the timer you set?
Right now, a lot of devices (especially lighting) are gimmicky. Do you really want your lights to turn purple? Do you really need to turn your lights off by voice command if you are standing right next to the switch? We know that “the smarts” will develop and overtake the gimmick, but we can’t wait for that to happen.
Smart Home Systems
Smart Home System for Apartments and Renters
This smart home system build is for people living in rented apartments who cannot modify their wiring or other aspects of their home. All device suggestions are wireless or non-intrusive so your landlord shouldn’t have a problem.
Wink Smart Home System
This example smart home system is built with the Wink Hub at its core. Wink works with lots of devices and we suggest the best plus alternate options. Be confident that everything works together.
Smart Home Hubs
Wink Hub 2 Review, Features and Pros & Cons
The Wink Hub 2 is a classic hardware smart home hub that includes Z-Wave and Zigbee radios. It works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. The Wink Hub is a great choice if you want a wide range of device options and if you don’t mind a little tinkering.
Samsung Smartthings hub Review & Buyer Guide 2022
The Samsung Smartthings Hub is the main hub or heart of your entire SmartThings ecosystem, helping you to wirelessly connect multiple smart devices together, connected to apps as well as to the cloud. All you have to do is pair the device with the smartthings hub and you’re good to go.
Smart Home Thermostats
Top 5 Honeywell Pro Series Thermostat – Review & Buyer Guide 2022
The Honeywell Pro Series thermostat is one of the top branded products preferred by contemporary homes and workplaces. With more homeowners relying on the Internet of Things (IoT) to run their appliances, a thermostat is an indispensable component.
Mysa Smart Thermostat for Electric Baseboard Heaters – Review and Buyer Guide 2022
Regulating your home temperature has never been easier, thanks to the Mysa Smart Thermostat for electric baseboard heaters. Stylish with a contemporary look, the device fits seamlessly with your decor enhancing it with its white color and finish.
Smart Home Lighting
iotty Smart Switch Review – Elegant Light Switch with Integrated Wi-Fi
With its super trendy Italian tempered glass faceplate and backlighting, the iotty Smart Switch is one of the best switches available today.
Philips Hue Dimmer Switch V2: Review, Features, Pros & Cons
With a sleeker, more contemporary look and feel, the Philips Hue dimmer switch V2 is the newest offering from Philips. Trust the brand to take dimmer switches and controls to a whole new level.
Our Most Popular Articles
iotty Smart Switch Review – Elegant Light Switch with Integrated Wi-Fi
With its super trendy Italian tempered glass faceplate and backlighting, the iotty Smart Switch is one of the best switches available today.
Philips Hue Dimmer Switch V2: Review, Features, Pros & Cons
With a sleeker, more contemporary look and feel, the Philips Hue dimmer switch V2 is the newest offering from Philips. Trust the brand to take dimmer switches and controls to a whole new level.
Top 7 LED Color Changing Lights for Room 2022
LED color changing lights have become an essential lighting system in contemporary homes. They are economical and power-saving, with a selection of colors that can instantly change your room’s ambiance. When picking out the best brand for your residential spaces, you’ll keep several criteria in mind.
What is a dimmer switch and how does it work?
Have you ever wondered how does a dimmer switch work? Modern-day homes typically have this switch connected to their light fixtures. The dimmer switch allows you to control the brightness of the lights to change the room’s ambiance.
Nest Note N260 Error Code: What is it and How to fix It?
The Nest Note N260 error code indicates that your thermostat needs a common or C wire. The most exciting feature of advanced smart thermostats is that they can inform you when and why there’s a malfunction. So, when you see the Nest Error N260, you’ll know that it’s missing a C wire.
Top 5 Honeywell Pro Series Thermostat – Review & Buyer Guide 2022
The Honeywell Pro Series thermostat is one of the top branded products preferred by contemporary homes and workplaces. With more homeowners relying on the Internet of Things (IoT) to run their appliances, a thermostat is an indispensable component.