With quite a range of smart home devices, it’s hard to pick what one to go for. Comparing each hub will allow you to see the difference between them, including their pros and cons. Our guide saves you the endless hours scrolling through reviews on different websites and narrows it all down for you into one place.
Who makes the best smart home hub?
It’s hard to distinguish which device is the ‘best one’ as it really depends on how you’re going to use your digital assistant on a day-to-day basis. They are capable of different things and have different functions. We’ve made a small comparison list so you can narrow down what you’ll be using it for and what best suits your needs.
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John Lewis
Google Home
Available at John Lewis
| £129.00
John Lewis
Google Home
Available at John Lewis | £129.00
The Google Home is the device that can answer the majority of your questions with built in voice activation, due to owning the search engine. With an easy set-up and simple design, you can start playing around with it straight away. It’s compatible with iPhone and Android handsets and comes built in to almost all Android phones. The customisable base allows you to match it to the colour of your décor. Snazzy!
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John Lewis
Amazon Echo
Available at John Lewis
| £89.99
John Lewis
Amazon Echo
Available at John Lewis | £89.99
The Amazon Echo has voice activation built-in – say hello to the infamous Alexa! Alexa can be used for a variety of things, dubbed skills including access to recipe books and guided meditation. You can also send voice or text messages to anybody with an Echo device or the Alexa app – great for you to let the family know dinner is ready without shouting up the stairs.
John Lewis" buy_link="https://www.johnlewis.com/apple-homepod/p3417359?colour=White" buy_text="SHOP IT" brand="Available at John Lewis" price="£319.00"/>
John Lewis
Apple HomePod
Available at John Lewis
| £319.00
John Lewis
Apple HomePod
Available at John Lewis | £319.00
With the Apple HomePod, your on-call assistant is, of course, Siri. It can do numerous tasks, from giving you news updates to sending messages to playing your music through Apple Music – connecting to your account and accessing the playlists you already have. With a simple design, the one button on top allows you to play your music, adjust the volume or turn the speaker off.
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Currys PC World
Samsung SmartThings Hub
Available at Currys PC World
| £99.99
Currys PC World
Samsung SmartThings Hub
Available at Currys PC World | £99.99
The Samsung SmartThings Hub can control a number of different features in your home. If you buy all the other components, you can control just about everything, from your lighting to the heating. The Hub itself has many different compatible devices, including the Amazon Echo, allowing you to download the app and monitor your home when you’re not in it, and you can set it up to send you notifications when you’re home.
John Lewis" buy_link="https://www.johnlewis.com/google-home-mini-hands-free-smart-speaker/p3342693?colour=Chalk" buy_text="SHOP IT" brand="Available at John Lewis" price="£49.00"/>
John Lewis
Google Home Mini Smart Speaker
Available at John Lewis
| £49.00
John Lewis
Google Home Mini Smart Speaker
Available at John Lewis | £49.00
Literally the size of a donut but not to be underestimated, this mini device is needed to make your morning routine that bit easier. It uses Google Assistant to answer your questions. The built-in far-field microphone ensures it can always hear and respond to you. The voice recognition allows it to distinguish between different people, giving you a personalised experience. For an easy set-up and control, just download the app. This device may be little, but its capable of a lot!
John Lewis" buy_link="https://www.johnlewis.com/nest-learning-thermostat-3rd-generation/p2321168?colour=Copper" buy_text="SHOP IT" brand="Available at John Lewis" price="£219.00"/>
John Lewis
Nest Learning Thermostat
Available at John Lewis
| £219.00
John Lewis
Nest Learning Thermostat
Available at John Lewis | £219.00
This clever little device gets to know your energy routine so it can create a schedule for you. It learns when you put the heating up or down, so it's ready for you when you get home from work. When you leave the house, the Auto-Away function turns off the heating, and if you’re not back after a few days, it turns off the hot water. Available in four different colours, you can pick one to suit your home. It may seem a bit on the pricey side, but in the long run it isn’t with all the money it will save you!
Furbo" buy_link="https://shopuk.furbo.com/products/furbo-dog-camera" buy_text="SHOP IT" brand="Available at Furbo" price="£199.00"/>
Furbo
Furbo Dog Camera
Available at Furbo
| £199.00
Furbo
Furbo Dog Camera
Available at Furbo | £199.00
If you’re a dog lover, you NEED a Furbo. With a live streaming video camera built in and two-way audio microphone, you can see and talk to your dog when you’re not even home. See them behaving while you’re not there? Use the interactive treat tossing to reward them! There’s an auto barking detection that sends you notifications, and there’s even a customised snack call. This spill-proof device is a must have for any dog person.
