Smart Home Devices That Provide High-Utility
By: Harsh Jain
Tags: Smart Home, Xiaomi, Home Automation, Mijia, Wyze

Currently, the smart home market is filled with a plethora of devices, making it difficult to choose the right one. While companies like ring and nest provide high-quality products, the cost at scale is very high. Many Chinese and US-based companies have now developed low-cost products without any compromise on the quality of the hardware. They also provide compatibility with services like Google Assistant, Alexa, and IFTTT — providing great value for money.

Here’s a list of products that provide high-utility at affordable costs:

Wyze Sense Kit + Wyze Cam V2 ($40 / ₹2,900)

A combination of Wyze Sense Kit ($20) and Wyze Cam V2 ($20) is perfect for those looking to secure their homes. Wyze Sense Kit includes a contact sensor to check when a door or window is opened/closed and motion sensor to check for any motion within a room. The Wyze Cam V2 includes motion and sound detection, night vision, and 2-way audio, allowing you to communicate with the person in the room. At $20 for 4 additional contact sensors and $6 for the additional motion sensor, you cannot go wrong with it.

It notifies and allows you to watch a live stream when:

A burglar breaks into your home through the door or window

You accidentally leave the door open (Useful for people with pets and kids)

Someone tries to access your safe or cupboards

Automate actions when a door is open/closed

Perform various actions when there is motion in the room

…along with various other utilities.

Buy: https://wyze.com/

Xiaomi Gateway 3 (~$25 / ₹1,900)

The third iteration of the Xiaomi gateway has a minimalistic design and supports a variety of protocols. It allows you to connect child devices using the Wifi, Zigbee 3.0, or Bluetooth protocol, providing high-utility for a budget. It also has Apple HomeKit support, allowing you to control the devices through the Apple Home application, instead of the Xiaomi Mijia application.

The hub not only connects to Xiaomi Mijia devices but also provides support for Aqara and specific IKEA devices. One drawback would be that you have to connect the gateway through the china server. So, you will not be able to use existing Xiaomi devices that are connected to other servers. If you are planning to connect devices like the Xiaomi door sensor, wireless switch, or Aqara wall switch, this product will provide the best value.

Buy on AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000467901553.html

Xiaomi Door Sensor (~$9 / ₹660)

Unless you live in the US, it is difficult to get your hands on the Wyze contact sensor. Xiaomi door sensor is then the perfect alternative since you can order the door sensor through AliExpress. The door sensor connects to the Mijia application through the above-mentioned Xiaomi Gateway 3. Similar to the Wyze contact sensor, it allows you to define automation rules when a door is opened/closed. While the Wyze contact sensor allows IFTTT integration, automation rules for this device can only be set through the Mijia application, which is not an issue unless you’re a developer.

Buy on AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32802779181.html

Xiaomi Wireless Switch (~$5 / ₹360)

Another cool home automation device that you can add to your collection is the Xiaomi wireless switch. Again, the switch connects through the Xiaomi gateway. Once connected, you can perform actions like turning on/off a plug, a group of lights, or even perform entire routines. You can single, double, or long-press the switch, giving you a ton of flexibility on a single switch. For $5, this has to be the best home automation device you can buy — considering its features.

Buy on AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000589859711.html