Nest Hub
Photo: GoogleTarget, Best buy, Outdoor shower bed
Smart displays are very similar to smart speakers in that they do many of the same functions, but as you might have guessed, they have a screen. This is useful because when you request a weather report for example, you will be able to see all the details for yourself. This model is small enough to be useful on a nightstand or kitchen counter (and doesn’t have a camera). It can also track your sleep, although the feature is in beta when we tested it and not very polished.
Target, Best buy, Outdoor shower bed, Walmart
Benefits of having a camera on smart screen is that you can video call with friends and family. On the Nest Hub Max (8/10, Recommend with WIRED), it works through the Google Duo app. This monitor has better speakers than its sibling above, and the larger display makes it better for following recipes and if you need it to pause alarms, timers or lessons. sing, just bring it to the palm of your hand — great if you’re in the kitchen and don’t want to touch the screen.
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Nest Cam
Photo: NestTarget, Best buy, Outdoor shower bed, Walmart
The new Nest Cam is in our guide to Best outdoor security camera, but it works just as well in-house. The device is battery operated, so you can place it anywhere (within range of your Wi-Fi network) and the battery only needs to be recharged after a month or so. When it needs to be charged, you simply remove it from the holder — it attaches magnetically. The 1080p video quality is very stable and the motion alerts are seamless. You can pay for a Nest Aware subscription ($6 per month) so it can learn faces, get access to 60-day event history, and more. The wired version is also on sale for significantly cheaper $80 ($20 off).
Target, Best buy, Outdoor shower bed, Walmart
We haven’t tested this version of the Nest Doorbell, but it adds HDR and night vision. The sun or street lights won’t affect the image and ruin your shot. You can get customized alerts for people, packages, animals and cars, and you can talk through the doorbell when you’re not at home.
Amazon, Target ($100), Best Buy ($100)
We haven’t tried this model yet, but we have tested and liked previous Nest Thermostats. You can control heating and cooling in your home from your phone and set schedules. It can remind you when to change the filter and can detect when you leave the house to turn on Eco mode to save energy.
