Smart home starter kit: five devices worth buying first

A smart home does not need to be expensive or complicated. Thanks to the Matter standard, devices from different brands now work together, and most set up in under five minutes with your phone.

1. A hub with a screen

The Novalux Home Hub is the control centre: a touchscreen for lights and cameras, a Thread border router for the newest devices and a privacy shutter on the camera.

2. Smart bulbs in the rooms you use most

Start with the living room and bedroom. Schedules and a sunrise alarm are the features people keep using after the novelty wears off.

3. An indoor camera

Choose one with local storage so you are not tied to a monthly subscription. The Cam 360 records to microSD and tracks motion around the room.

4. A robot vacuum

LiDAR navigation is worth paying for: it maps the home in one run and cleans in neat lines instead of bouncing around.

5. Fast charging everywhere

More devices means more charging. One GaN charger per room keeps phones, tablets and laptops topped up.