Smart home devices can make your home more efficient. But that doesn’t mean they’re all worth your money. In addition to being expensive, the wrong smart home devices can add a layer of complexity to your daily routine and compromise your home’s security. As these devices become more common, it can seem like every new gadget is a necessity. But the truth is, some of these devices aren’t necessary and probably won’t add any real value to your daily life.
With that said, here's a look at smart home devices I don't think I'll ever buy. Check out these important tips before installing smart lights in your home.
1. Smart refrigerator
Are smart fridges worth the hype? In my opinion, no. There may come a time when smart fridges are all we have to choose from. But until then, I’ll stick with my regular “dumb” fridge.
Sure, a smart fridge lets you control some aspects of your fridge remotely, like adjusting the temperature or viewing what’s inside without having to open the door. But these features come at a hefty price, and I’m not entirely sure they’re worth the investment. I’d rather save money on the initial purchase and avoid potential headaches later if the software crashes or becomes unresponsive.
2. Smart pet feeder
There are a lot of smart home devices for pets these days, from security cameras to smart water fountains to self-cleaning litter boxes. And while I use a lot of these devices for my cats, there’s one thing I still worry about: the smart pet feeder.
The idea sounds really convenient, especially if you’re going to be away from home a lot, but there’s a chance the device could break down. All technology fails from time to time, and if that happens, I’d rather my pet not be hungry until I get back. So until a safer smart feeder comes out, I’ll stick with the regular bowl and feeding schedule. Check out real-life experiences that reveal the challenges of integrating pets with smart home gadgets.
3. Smart toaster
I can see the appeal of some smart home appliances, even if I wouldn’t personally buy them. But a smart toaster is something I can’t stand. These devices let you select your preferred toasting level from your smartphone, offer faster toasting speeds in some cases, and even let you toast two pieces of bread to different levels.
While these are useful features, the biggest issue I have with a smart toaster is the cost. Not everyone can or wants to spend a few hundred dollars on a device that just toasts bread. Most people don’t need the kind of advanced features these devices offer unless they’re very particular about toasting their bread. For the average person, a basic toaster will do the job just fine.
4. Smart washers and dryers
You probably already know what smart washers and dryers are and what they can do, but are they worth the money? For some, they might be. These devices allow users to start and manage cycles when they’re not home and check on progress remotely. Plus, some of these devices can be more energy efficient than regular ones.
But despite these benefits, I don’t see myself buying one. While the ability to manage laundry remotely is nice, it’s not a necessity for me at this point, especially when I still have to load and unload my laundry manually.
Plus, smart washers and dryers can be quite expensive, and future breakdowns are likely to cost more to fix, too. At least for now, the simpler the better.
5. Smart toilets
One smart bathroom gadget I never see myself investing in is a smart toilet. These toilets come with a ton of features and configurations, from automatic flushing to heated seats and sometimes even health monitoring features.
But they’re often expensive and installation can be difficult (you’ll probably have to pay someone a good amount of money to do it). I’m also not comfortable with the amount of data sharing required with some smart toilets. Ultimately, I prefer a simple, tech-free toilet that will serve me reliably for years.
Not every gadget needs to be a smart device. When it comes to these types of devices, I prefer to opt for simpler technology instead. You can now check out Not Every Gadget Needs to Be a Smart Device: Here’s Why.
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