The smart home of 2022: Here is what to upgrade this year, and what to keep
As 2021 — and indeed the decade — comes to a close, it's time to look ahead and predict what 2022 might have in store. For the smart home, this means planning on what upgrades you want to tackle in 2022, and which devices you should hold onto for another 12 months.
From lights and locks, to switches, speakers, cameras, doorbells and thermostats, the smart home has grown quickly these last few years. But — as we outlined this time last year — that doesn't mean you should prepare to upgrade everything each year. Thankfully, smart home products have yet to hit the annual upgrade cycle of our smartphones, so your credit card can breathe a sigh of relief.
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Instead, let us look at each of the main product categories in turn, and decide if 2022 is your year to upgrade, or if 2023 is a better bet.
Smart home hub
The smart home hub felt forgotten in 2019. We previously recommended the Wink 2 to anyone who didn't want a smart speaker with a voice assistant, but the company has been out of stock for months.
Instead, the Samsung SmartThings is a solid choice, and so too is the Apple TV 4K if you want to go down the Apple HomeKit route. But, for 2020, we suggest you wait until you buy a new hub. (Check out The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility checker to see the other compatible products that work with Samsung SmartThings.)
A great new option might replace the Wink 2, but we think smart speakers and displays will likely replace dedicated hubs. Those unsure about bringing an always-listening voice assistant into their homes might not have much choice.
Smart speakers and smart displays
In brighter news, the smart speaker and display markets are booming, with more choices than ever. However, given the last couple of years, we will unlikely see any new smart speakers come to market. In 2021, Amazon announced new Echo speakers and displays at its annual hardware event last year. Google also revealed new smart home devices in 202,0, which are still good smart speakers or displays.
One of these devices' good features is that most of their computing is done online, so an old Echo Dot or Google Home has the same intelligence as the latest model—at least for now.
Google Nest Hub Max on Sale at Walmart Here
The original Google Home is rather old, having not received an update since its launch in 2017. However, Google Nest did shift the Google Home line entirely to a Nest-branded line in 2020. So, it might be worth picking up a Nest Hub 2nd Gen or Nest Hub Max for all your Google Assistant needs.
The Google Nest Mini and Amazon Echo Dot are still safe to buy, and neither company will soon replace its smart displays with major upgrades. So go ahead, reach for that credit card.
Lighting
In 2019, Ikea continued to put pressure on more established smart lighting brands like Philips Hue by cutting prices. For now, Hue still offers the largest range (for both indoors and outdoors), but prices remain high, and the fundamental technology hasn't changed since the new Hue bridge arrived in 2015.
It is very unlikely that any smart lighting company will roll out such a major update that older bulbs will become useless overnight, so you'll be safe to keep buying into your preferred ecosystem in 2022. But if you are yet to get into smart lighting, we suggest you check out Ikea.
Ikea now has smart LED bulbs and offers LED panels, smart lighting kits, smart integrated lighting systems, and under-the-counter lighting. All of these new smart lighting are fashionable indoor fittings worth a look. If not, you are free to pick whichever system you prefer and whichever fits suits your budget. (Check out The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility checker to see the other compatible products that work with Philips Hue smart lights.)
Smart plugs and switches
Smart plugs are such simple items that your current devices will continue to work just fine in 2022. We don't see much headroom here, and it's unlikely that any company will disrupt the smart plug market in any meaningful way.
We would, however, suggest buyers keep an eye on in-wall options. Devices like the new ConnectSense Smart In-Wall Outlet put a smart plug in the space of your existing wall outlets for a neater solution. It also supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.
Those unafraid of some simple wiring should certainly consider smart plug sockets like these for 2022.
Smart Door locks
Another slow-burning sector of the smart home market, but one which does see the occasional leap forward. In 2020, we saw the launch of the Level Bolt, which hides its technology inside your door and uses your existing deadbolt. This makes for a neater solution than other, chunkier smart locks from the likes of August and Yale, but the feature set remains the same. Then, last year, we saw biometric-controlled smart locks come into smart homes. Level Touch was one of them. This smart deadbolt lock is a well-designed, well-built Apple HomeKit-compatible smart lock that is easy to set up and control. It allows you to use your finger to lock and unlock your smart lock.
For 2022, we could see more of the same — smart locks which are controlled through biometrics, smaller and more aesthetically pleasing than before. But we don't expect a major leap forward in features or performance. If you already have a smart door lock, then we see no real reason to upgrade for now, unless you want a different design or add another way to lock and unlock your smart lock.
Cameras
Industry leaders like Nest, Arlo and Ring will likely announce new home security cameras in 2022. We expect to see improvements in AI and battery life, plus small changes to their design and overall feature set. But what we hope mist of all, is that any new models continue to work with users' existing systems. That way, a new camera can be added to an old system with minimal effort and financial outlay.
In 2020, budget smart home company Wyze re-introduced AI person detection for its $20 indoor smart camera. The feature disappeared with a software update in January 2020 due to a decision made by the technology provider. Wyze created its own AI and rolled it out to its camera for free in 2020. We expect to see new smart budget security cameras enter the market in 2022. We urge buyers to think carefully before paying for cut-price smart home products, especially with expensive features like AI motion detection.
Video doorbell
Another device that doesn't need annual updates is the video doorbell. Ring offers a range of options, and some got updated in 2020. In 2021, we saw newer models introduced, like the Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) and Ring Video Doorbell 4. Each has extended battery life for the wireless models, higher-resolution cameras, and improved artificial intelligence with motion detection.
In 2021, Amazon-owned Ring increase its smart home product portfolio with the company's first smart light bulbs recently passing through the FCC. It also launched new smart flood light cams and other smart lighting accessories. For 2022, the company launched a new smart home security system with a built-in Wi-Fi 6 router. The new Ring Alarm Pro Security Kit has an eero Wi-Fi 6 router built-in to the Base station to provide exceptional connectivity and security.
Whether you upgrade to a new video doorbell depends on which model you already have and whether you think improved video quality or a smart new design will be worth the investment. We'd say probably not, but if you haven't bought one yet, 2022 is a great time to do so, with plenty of options to consider.
Connected thermostat
Nest's third-generation Learning Thermostat was three years old by the end of 2020, and it's still a viable smart thermostat for you to consider. We wonder if a new model is coming in 2022, especially as new models are being introduced this year. For instance, rival Ecobee has new models, and Amazon introduced a new smart thermostat powered by Honeywell. And recently, GE Lighting, a Savant Home company, launched 2022 a new smart thermostat.
For 2022, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat is a very safe bet as the Cync Smart Thermostat. But if you'd rather buy into a Nest system, we still recommend the Nest 3rd Gen Thermostat. It is an electronic, programmable and Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostat which is easy to set-up and works with Google Assistant. If you are an Amazon Alexa home, the Amazon Smart Thermostat will work for you . But no matter whichever one you buy, check to see if you need a C-Wire. Most smart thermostats require a C-Wire or sell a C-Wire adapter kit to work with your HVAC system.
Garden tech
This is one of the more niche sectors of the smart home market, but one that is nonetheless growing. Since 2019, we have seen weather-resistant outdoor speakers from Sonos and a robotic lawn mower from iRobot, the maker of Roomba vacuum cleaners. Now, WORX, the maker of The Landroid, has added its smartest, safest, and most innovative robot mower to the market, and Philips Hue is continuing to expand its range of outdoor smart lighting.
These all make for worthwhile purchases in 2022 (and the WORX mower is on sale). We advise focusing on the 'smart garden' in 2022. We wouldn't be surprised to see outdoor lighting options from Ikea and Lifx to rival the Hue range.
Smart irrigation systems like those from Rachio are also worth considering in 2022. These have a slower update cycle than most, so fitting one in time for the summer is likely a safe bet. In any case, we doubt a new model would make you envious, as the current offerings are already packed full of useful features to keep your garden watered and healthy.
Window blinds
Ikea's cut-price smart window blinds finally arrived in late 2019late 2019. These blinds seriously undercut the competition and tap into the company's existing Tradfri smart home ecosystem. However, they currently lack some features, like the ability to open and close in sync with sunrise and sunset.
Features like this can be added via a software update, but what's interesting to us is whether other companies follow suit and offer low-priced smart blinds. Ikea's entry into the market might force pricier companies like Lutron, Pella, and Somfy to offer something cheaper.
As with most categories listed here, we recommend waiting to see if any new models will arrive in 2022. If not—and if the Ikea options fit your needs or Somfy's new controls—then we would say go for it; extra features could well be added via future software updates.
