For a long time, home automation remained inaccessible to most people. This automated central management of home systems was then reserved for large commercial brands. The advent of the connected home automation box has changed the deal. Almost 7.1% of French households have already taken the plunge. If you're tempted, check out our guide to the best connected home automation boxes.
Here is our commitment, to make sure that we provide the best user experience and content quality:
You can support us by using our links to make your purchases (at no extra cost to you)! This sometimes earns us a commission which allows us to remain independent. More about us
Our selection
"For assured remote control, choose this Somfy connected home automation box. It allows you to control your home appliances from a smartphone, tablet or laptop."
"The Echo Dot is one of the most popular home automation products. This fourth generation of Amazon's bestseller allows you to live fully and peacefully…"
"The Homey Pro will be perfect for a wireless home automation network. Compatible with many modules, it allows you to control your home equipment, including…"
"The most economical and secure solution is without a doubt this Bosch home automation pack delivered with motion and smoke detectors. It is very accessible…"
For assured remote control, choose this Somfy connected home automation box. It allows you to control your home appliances from a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
240 £ on AmazonSomfy is one of the leading brands in home automation. It offers here a fully functional box dedicated to the control of domestic objects and appliances. With this device, you can adjust your blinds, shutters, thermostat, etc. Your appliances can be activated according to the weather, for example, thanks to the detectors and sensors of this box. You should also know that with this connected home automation box, you can program anything you want: stop a motorized machine at a specific time, open the window... You will even have the chance to create typical days that you will record in your calendar!
The Echo Dot is one of the most popular home automation products. This fourth generation of Amazon's bestseller allows you to live fully and peacefully at home.
55,99 £ on Amazon
The Homey Pro will be perfect for a wireless home automation network. Compatible with many modules, it allows you to control your home equipment, including appliances.
319 £ on AmazonCompatible with more than 1,000 brands of electronic devices, this connected home automation box is close to perfection! The Homey Pro, as it is called, is extremely powerful, it can trigger more than 40 integrations at the same time! And its executions are carried out in all fluidity. This connected home automation box for advanced users works with 7 wireless technologies: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Z-Ware, Zigbee, infrared, 433 MHz and 868 MHz. It really has everything to please! Moreover, it uses an intuitive and easy-to-use application. You will have no difficulty in automating the use of your home devices.
The most economical and secure solution is without a doubt this Bosch home automation pack delivered with motion and smoke detectors. It is very accessible in terms of price, efficiency and simplicity.
240 £ on AmazonIncluding a central controller, a motion detector and a smoke detector, this Bosch Smart Home 8750000284 home automation kit will make your home completely secure. Through the Bosch Smart Home home automation application, you can program scripts that will act as a deterrent in case of intrusion. These security elements can be used on the local network, and even on the move, as they are very easy to carry and versatile. Nevertheless, this is a starter kit for beginners with home automation.
Any specific needs?
The best connected home automation box in 2021
The best entry-level connected home automation box
The best high-end connected home automation box
The best home automation package for beginners
Your guide :
Rate this buying guide :By rating this buying guide, you are helping us to reward our best writers. Thank you!
| TOP OF THE LINE | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
8/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Somfy 2401354 TaHoma Box
|
Echo Dot 4e génération
|
Homey Pro
|
Kit Bosch Smart Home 8750000284
|
|
For assured remote control, choose this Somfy connected home automation box. It allows you to control your home appliances from a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
|
The Echo Dot is one of the most popular home automation products. This fourth generation of Amazon's bestseller allows you to live fully and peacefully at home.
|
The Homey Pro will be perfect for a wireless home automation network. Compatible with many modules, it allows you to control your home equipment, including appliances.
|
The most economical and secure solution is without a doubt this Bosch home automation pack delivered with motion and smoke detectors. It is very accessible in terms of price, efficiency and simplicity.
|
|
|
Compatibility
|
Somfy, Atlantic, Hitachi, CIAT, Honeywell, Danfoss, Philips Hue, GU, KFV, HOPPE, Velux, Sonos
|
Amazon Alexa voice assistant and products with built-in Alexa
|
Sonos, Philips Hue, Amazon Alexa, Spotify Connect, Nest, Chromecast, Neato, IKEA Tradfri, Google Home, Somfy, Tado, Xiaomi and over 1000 brands
|
Bosch, Amazon Alexa
|
|
Color
|
White
|
White
|
White (Pro)
|
White
|
|
Wired or wireless
|
Wired
|
Wireless
|
Wireless
|
Wireless
|
|
Dimensions
|
9.6 x 10.9 x 11.7 cm
|
10 x 10 x 8.9 cm
|
-
|
-
|
|
Package contents
|
1 box; 1 power cable; 1 Ethernet cable; 1 remote control; 1 Quick Start notice; 1 legal notice
|
Echo Dot with clock, white power adapter (15 W) and quick start guide.
|
1 box
|
1 Controller; 1 door/window contact; 1 motion detector; 1 smoke detector; Installation Guides
|
Help us improve this table:
Report an error, request the addition of a feature to the table, or suggest another product. Thank you for your kindness!
We spend thousands of hours each year studying the major specialized websites, analyzing products of hundreds of brands and reading user feedback to advise you on the best products.
We are a product review company with a single mission: to simplify your buying decisions. Our research and testing helps millions of people every year find the best products for their personal needs and budget.
To support us you can: use our links to make your purchases (which often earns us a small commission), share our articles on social networks, or recommend our site on your blog. Thanks in advance for your support!
It is important to make sure that the box is compatible with different connected objects and different systems from other brands. You can check if it will be able to support the appliances and equipment you already have and want to control. Also, don't forget to think about the machines you'll want to add to your setup in the future. Even if you want to upgrade some devices or buy the latest appliances, to avoid making a mistake in your choice, always prefer a versatile model.
A wise buyer asks about the possibilities of reduced connectivity based on equipment location and interference. He or she should pay attention to the range of connection protocols supported by the box. Fortunately, the best models we mentioned above offer a long range. Their sensors using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth , Z-Wave, Zigbee... protocols, although they can be launched at different distances, are perfectly suitable for a large house.
There are home automation boxes that work with or without the cloud. Using the cloud may be necessary in order to control one's devices through a single online platform. It can also be useful when you need to control your home security remotely. The cloud allows you to securely connect certain connected objects in your home with a connected device like a smartphone.
Ideally, it is best to buy a home automation box at the same time as the other home automation components in order to benefit from perfectly compatible and functional systems.
Many home automation devices use IFTTT or "IF THIS THEN THAT". This application adopts a simple process "If" or "When" something happens "Then" the home automation system "Performs something" or "Performs something else". If you have any notion of algorithms, you can see that this scenario is simple. However, it is powerful because it connects different devices so that they can act automatically and intelligently. For example, thanks to IFTTT, a water leak or smoke detection will be announced through the diffusion of a red light in the whole house. Your box must therefore support IFTT.
To ensure that your home automation system can function during a power outage, you can choose a model that comes with a battery backup. However, most home automation receivers that are manufactured for security purposes use electricity exclusively to be able to stay on. So a battery backup, while useful in the event of a long power outage, is still an optional extra. It is especially suitable for second homes that are not connected to a telecom network.
The latest generation of home automation boxes are easy to install. The installation process requires that the home automation box is first connected to an Internet router.
The next step is to install the modules where the electrical outlets, light bulbs, switches and sensors must also be installed in the house. The modules, taken individually, each have their own specificities. The sensors are an evaluation system and in this sense they ensure the safety of the home in an intuitive way. They support the detection of different types of movements.
Sockets, on the other hand, allow for remote control of appliances. Connected switches make it easy to turn on lamps remotely and control them to create a personalized environment with the colors you want.
Communication protocols are required by the modules to carry out the setpoint emitted by the box. These protocols are like a language that the modules understand.
We group below the different types of home automation box connected.
Many smart boxes are connected to your devices via an Ethernet cable. This is a good feature, but it can also be a problem when using the latest generation of routers, especially those that use wireless ports like TP-Link Deco M5, Google Wi-Fi, Eero, etc. A wired system can be directly integrated into your electrical installation during your renovation or construction work. Some models work in radio or wired mode. They are compatible with multiple protocols like SOMFY, Z-Wave, EnOcean, etc.
Using a wireless home automation box is advantageous because you can stand anywhere within the router's range to control your equipment, which improves flexibility. This box allows you to use recent wireless routers such as Google Wi-Fi, Eero and TP-Link Deco M5. This solution can be economical because it avoids the installation work. Its installation can be done easily, unlike the wired home automation box that requires the intervention of a professional home automation installer.
You can install yourself the content of a home automation pack. This complete package includes the box, some sensors and peripherals. It can provide the necessary elements to control for example a radiator. This is the ideal solution for beginners! Nevertheless, you have to make sure that it is not limited to one use. The accessories provided should guarantee both your comfort (e.g. for heating) and your security (e.g. alarm, motion detector...). These packages are generally more economical. Instead of buying a box and modules separately, you will save more by using a complete home automation offer.
Make sure the builder is sustainable. If they go out of business, your box may not be useful to you anymore.
It is more convenient to use a home automation box because it is the brain of the house. It connects the data collected through different sensors and orders the peripherals, for example, to close the shutters at a specific time, to turn off the light, to lower the temperature, etc. Nevertheless, this solution will be less economical if it does not integrate the modules.
Sometimes, you don't need to refer to complete home automation box offerings. You can install completely independent connected objects in your house to manage your home. Whether it's for your garden, monitoring the interior with cameras, regulating the temperature or opening the garage door. There are many independent modules that make your home autonomous and smart. However, assembling several elements can be very expensive.
If you buy independent connected objects to make your home smart, you will have to spend a significant amount of money, including the money you will have to allocate to installers. The ideal solution is to invest in a package that includes a box and peripherals.
Manage all household appliances
By using a connected home automation box you can manage all your home appliances from one place. The convenience factor here is huge. Being able to keep all the technology in your home connected via a single interface is a huge step forward for technology and home management. Theoretically, all you have to do is learn how to use an app on your smartphone and tablet, and you'll be able to access countless functions and devices throughout your home. This greatly reduces the learning curve for new users, makes it easier to access the features you really want for your home.
Flexibility for new devices and appliances
The systems used by a connected home automation box tend to be wonderfully flexible when it comes to hosting new appliances and devices and other technologies. No matter how cutting edge your appliances seem today, newer and more impressive models will be developed over time. Beyond that, you will likely add to your suite of appliances as you replace old ones or discover new technologies to accompany your indoor and outdoor spaces.
Maximizing home security
When you incorporate security and monitoring features into your connected home automation box, your home security can skyrocket. There are tons of options here, only a few dozen of which are currently under consideration. For example, home automation systems can connect motion sensors, surveillance cameras, automated door locks, and other tangible security measures throughout your home so you can activate them from a mobile device before you go to bed. You can also choose to receive security alerts on your various devices based on the time of day an alert is triggered and monitor activity in real time, whether you're at home or halfway around the world.
Increased energy efficiency
Depending on how you use your smart home technology, it is possible to make your space more energy efficient. For example, you can have more precise control over your home's heating and cooling with a programmable smart thermostat that learns your schedule and temperature preferences, then suggests the best energy-efficient settings throughout the day. Motorized lights and blinds can be programmed to switch to evening mode when the sun goes down, or lights can automatically turn on and off when you enter or leave the room, so you never have to worry about wasting energy.
Enhanced device functionality
Connecting your appliances and other systems to the connected home automation box technology will improve the efficiency of your device and make your home life much easier and more enjoyable.
Security
Home automation boxes reinforce the security of homes. You can check the status of your home at any time thanks to the home automation box. Indeed, the motion detection data and those collected by the surveillance cameras are centralized so that you can control the security at any time. It is possible to record scenarios that will be triggered when there is an intrusion. You can also simulate a presence.
Installation
Latest home automation boxes can easily be installed. You just need to connect the box to an Internet router. Thereafter, various modules (sensors, switches, electrical outlets, light bulbs...) are to be set up.
Heating
Heating control allows you to precisely adjust the temperature of the house using a smartphone. It also allows to control consumption and therefore reduce costs. Savings from connected heating are estimated at 20%.
Maximum number of modules
Each
home automation box can support a maximum number of modules. In general, this amount is 200, some boxes can hold many more modules, others do not have many. It is important to take this criterion into account.
Subscription
Some
home automation units offer additional features if the user subscribes to them. If you don't intend to pay a monthly fee for your home automation box, consider subscribing.
The best connected home automation box depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best at the moment.
The box is used to automate your home, connect it and control certain functions remotely.
As far as we know, the boxes transmit less waves than smartphones, so in our opinion, the danger is certainly minimal.
The main advantage of home automation is to improve living comfort, save electricity, etc. And to increase the security of your home.
That's what the boxes work for! For the most part, they work with iOS and Android systems.
Every month we help more than 1 000 000 people buy better and smarter.
Copyright © 2022 - Made with ♥ by buyingbetter.co.uk
Your reviews and buying guides 0% advertising, 100% independent!
