Best Smart Sensors: Alexa, Siri HomeKit and Google Assistant

Beyond connected lights, smart speakers and voice commands, home automation goes much further and an important part of any smart home is automation. Smart sensors can be more interesting and useful than you think. So, here is how to take advantage of them and the most interesting for each voice assistant.

Smart sensors, what are they?

smart-sensors
A sensor is a small device capable of detecting things such as temperature variations, movement or, for example, when a door is opened or closed. Thanks to that, when it occurs, the sensor sends an order that works as a switch.

An example of the use of this type of sensors is the services of a restaurant. When you open the door and the light automatically turns on it is because a motion sensor has detected presence or that the door opened.

With this basic idea already in the lead, the difference between these sensors and intelligent sensors lies in the integration they offer for use with other devices in the home and intelligent assistants. That is when all the magic of the smart home and the automation of actions begins.

Depending on the type of sensor and its integration with Alexa, Google Assistant or even HomeKit , you will be able to take advantage of options that these intelligent systems offer such as routines or skills. That is, you can substitute both the voice commands and the actions you have set in your mobile application to do things like turn on the room lights, start playing music on Spotify and check the weather.

Uso sensores hogar inteligente

Of course, this would also be something relatively simple and basic. The idea is that you experiment and see different ways to take advantage of each of the different existing sensors. For example, a door sensor can not only be used to launch an action, but also to ask Alexa if the house door is open or closed can answer you. Or also imagine to automatically turn off the air conditioner or purifier if it detects that a window is open.

As you can see, the limitations are placed by the user’s imagination. But now, what smart sensors to buy or where to start. Until the arrival or advancement of that proposal in which all manufacturers will make their devices live with any voice assistant, you will have to look for them based on their compatibility with Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant.

The Best Smart Sensors

If you are sure which system you are going to use, it will be much easier to choose sensors, although you can always opt for those that offer as many options as possible. After seeing many options, here are the most interesting smart sensors for options and price. Remember that you will need a HUB to connect them. Some, depending on the zigbee or z-wave standard, may be integrated into compatible systems, but keep that in mind.

Sensor Philips Hue

  • Philips Hue motion sensor , compatible with all three assistants and available in a pack with one or two switches or individually. You can find it here for 34 euros.

Koogeek

  • Koogeek door sensor compatible with all three assistants too and there are packs with up to three sensors. A single sensor can be found for 18 euros.

SmartThings

  • Multipurpose sensor and Samsung SmartThings movement , for 30 euros and 33 euros at Amazon you have these sensors that work well with Alexa and Assistant.

Xioami Mi Sensor Kit

  • Xiaomi Mi Smart Sensor Set , is not exactly a single sensor but a starter kit, but for the price it is worth it and its HUB supports several platforms. 69 euros on Amazon.

If you are looking for you will see that there are many more options, some very similar and others that may be the same or better, but also with somewhat higher prices. The important thing, again, is that they adapt to your needs and are compatible with the system you have decided to use. If you think that you use Alexa today and tomorrow will be Assistant, or if you live with both, then you will have to choose more calmly.