Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jul 15
ZDNET Recommends 5 Smart Home Gadgets for Practical Upgrades
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jul 15

ZDNET Recommends 5 Smart Home Gadgets for Practical Upgrades

2 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jul 15

Summary

  • ZDNET’s latest smart-home roundup names five “non-negotiable” devices: an art-style TV, smart blinds, a Ting fire sensor, Ecobee thermostats, and Kasa smart plugs.
  • The list emphasizes practical gains over novelty, highlighting privacy, automation, safety, energy management, and easier control through phone apps, schedules, and smart-home platforms.
  • Hisense’s Canvas TV is pitched as a dual-purpose centerpiece that blends into decor, while SelectBlinds’ smart shades automate opening and closing around daily routines and sunset timing.
  • Ting’s plug-in sensor is recommended for monitoring electrical-fire risks, outages, and circuit trips, and the report notes some home insurers may provide the device at no cost.
  • Ecobee thermostats and Kasa plugs round out the picks as convenience-focused upgrades that can also trim energy use, reflecting ZDNET’s broader focus on useful rather than flashy home tech.

Insights

How can you future-proof your smart home investment against becoming obsolete in just a few years?
As insurers push smart sensors, are we trading fire risk for a greater home cyber threat?
Beyond the price tag, what are the hidden privacy and data costs of an automated lifestyle?