{"id":115444,"date":"2020-12-18T12:38:06","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T20:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=115444"},"modified":"2025-08-12T00:55:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T07:55:21","slug":"best-smart-home-devices-for-a-connected-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/mobile-security\/best-smart-home-devices-for-a-connected-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Smart Home Devices for a Connected New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/b>Like many of you, I spent a lot of time at home this year, but it came with an unexpected upside: an excuse to upgrade all my home tech! With so many great new products on the market, from 5G devices to smart TVs, cameras, and more, there\u2019s a lot to choose from this holiday season, and into the New Year.<\/p>\n

How to Protect Your Devices<\/h2>\n

In fact, the smart home market is set to grow by nearly 12%<\/a> over the next five years, to $135 billion, so I\u2019m sure even more devices are coming. But for now, here are the devices on my wish list, and how to protect them once they\u2019re unboxed.<\/p>\n

Smart Thermostats<\/strong>\u2014These have been around for a while, but the newest additions include features that keep your home comfortable, and eco-friendly, by giving you greater control over your energy use. Some thermostats can detect your habits, and heat or cool different areas of your home, depending on which rooms you are using. And others now connect to smart speakers, allowing you to stream your favorite music and podcasts, or receive calendar alerts.<\/p>\n

Bluetooth Speakers<\/strong>\u2014Speaking of high-tech speakers, this category has taken off in recent years, but now there are more options for different types of users. While some people like the voice command features that turn their speakers into personal assistants, other users just want portable speakers with great sound quality and a sleek style. Now you can find a variety of different designs, sizes, and price points.<\/p>\n

Smart TVs<\/strong>\u2014With the explosion of streaming content services, and the demand for more in-home entertainment during the pandemic, smart TVs have become a must-have item for many. The latest offer 4K streaming video, which gives you higher resolution, although you need to stream 4K content to get the benefit. It may be worth the investment for other new features, however, such as a faster user interface, and a built-in universal search engine that will allow you to easily locate a favorite movie, actor, or genre.<\/p>\n

IP Cameras<\/strong>\u2014 Internet-connected cameras can be an affordable security option, and the latest versions offer extra surveillance with wide-angle lenses, night vision, and wireless options for outdoors. Some cameras even do motion tracking, and offer facial recognition, in case you want to know right away if the person on your property is a known entity or a stranger. Just keep in mind that to get the advanced features you usually need to sign up for a subscription service as well.<\/p>\n

Gaming Router<\/strong>\u2014As the father of two school-aged children, I know a lot of parents are wary of online gaming<\/a>, but here’s why a gaming router may be a great gift, even if there are no hardcore gamers in the house. These routers aim to give you a more reliable internet connection, while allowing multiple devices to simultaneously receive data streams, which could be a game changer if your whole family is trying to work and learn online from home.<\/p>\n

Some routers even offer Wi-Fi 6, which is a huge jump in potential speed to 9.6 Gbps from the current 3.5 Gbps. This also means that all the devices connected to your network could see a significant speed increase, but only if you have devices that can take advantage of it.<\/p>\n

Here are a few more great holiday gifts ideas:<\/p>\n