Smart homes are no longer a futuristic fantasy; they’re a present-day reality, and at the heart of many is Amazon’s Alexa. This versatile voice assistant can transform your living space into a hub of convenience and automation, but What Can Alexa Control exactly? The answer is vast and continuously expanding, encompassing a wide array of devices from lighting and entertainment to security and climate control.
Imagine commanding your home with just your voice, dimming the lights for movie night, locking your doors as you head to bed, or even adjusting your thermostat without lifting a finger. Alexa makes this seamless control a reality, bridging the gap between you and your smart devices. This article dives deep into the world of Alexa-compatible devices, highlighting the best options available and illustrating just how much power you can put at your fingertips.
Expanding Your Alexa Ecosystem: Top Device Categories
Alexa’s strength lies in its ability to integrate with a multitude of smart home devices. To help you navigate the options, we’ve compiled a list of key categories where Alexa truly shines, showcasing top-rated products within each.
Immersive Entertainment at Your Command
Alexa excels at managing your home entertainment setup, offering voice control over streaming, audio, and visual experiences.
Best Streaming Device
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022)
A close-up of the Fire TV Cube (2022) with its blue Alexa bar glowing
The Amazon Fire TV Cube stands out as the ultimate Alexa-enabled streaming device. Beyond delivering stunning 4K video and smooth gaming, it acts as a central Alexa speaker for your living room. Its integrated IR controller allows voice commands to manage your cable box, soundbar, and even your TV’s volume and inputs. The latest model enhances connectivity with Ethernet and USB-A ports, plus an HDMI-in port for device versatility. While the Super Resolution Upscaling offers subtle improvements to non-4K content, the Fire TV Cube’s core strength remains its speed and seamless Alexa integration for a truly voice-controlled entertainment experience.
Top-Tier Soundbar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar under Samsung Q80T QLED TV
For premium audio with integrated Alexa voice control, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is unmatched. This soundbar elevates your TV audio with Dolby Atmos and a wide 3D soundstage, creating a cinematic experience in your home. Its re-tuned drivers prioritize vocal clarity, perfect for dialogue-heavy content. Beyond sound quality, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 seamlessly integrates with the Alexa ecosystem, allowing voice commands for music playback, smart home control, and more. Features like NFC setup and TruePlay tuning further enhance user experience, making it an ideal Alexa-controlled sound solution for TVs 55 inches and smaller.
Smart 4K Television
LG C3 OLED TV
The LG C3 OLED 42-inch model in our testing labs.
The LG C3 OLED TV is not just a visually stunning display; it’s also a smart hub with Alexa built right in. As one of the best OLED TVs on the market, it offers impeccable picture quality, a sleek design, and a user-friendly smart TV platform (webOS). Its integrated Alexa support means you can control the TV itself with voice commands – changing channels, adjusting volume, and launching apps – as well as manage other Alexa-compatible smart home devices from your couch. With multiple HDMI 2.1 ports and advanced gaming features, the LG C3 OLED is a versatile centerpiece for any Alexa-powered smart home entertainment system.
Crafting the Perfect Home Ambiance
Beyond entertainment, Alexa plays a crucial role in shaping your home environment, controlling lighting, climate, and even air quality.
Best Smart Lights
Philips Hue White LED Starter Kit
best Alexa compatible devices: Philips Hue White LED Starter Kit
When it comes to smart lighting, Philips Hue reigns supreme as the best Alexa compatible option. Offering the widest range of bulb types and a feature-rich app, Philips Hue lights provide unparalleled control and customization. The Hue White Starter Kit includes two dimmable bulbs and a hub for Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing seamless voice control via Alexa to adjust brightness and create lighting scenes. While this kit features white bulbs, Philips Hue offers a vast ecosystem including color-changing options and various light fixtures, all designed to work harmoniously with Alexa for a truly personalized lighting experience.
Top Smart Plug
Wemo WiFi Smart Plug
best Alexa compatible devices: WeMo WiFi Smart Plug
The Wemo WiFi Smart Plug is a budget-friendly yet highly effective way to make your existing appliances Alexa-controllable. This compact smart plug fits discreetly into outlets and offers robust scheduling features within the Wemo app. Seamless integration with Alexa allows voice control to turn devices on/off, creating routines, and managing appliances remotely. The Wemo Smart Plug even includes a physical control button for manual operation. While lacking energy monitoring, its affordability, reliability, and easy Alexa integration make it the best smart plug for expanding your voice-controlled home.
Smart Thermostat Excellence
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
best Alexa compatible devices: Ecobee 5th generation thermostat
For intelligent climate control and integrated Alexa functionality, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is the top choice. This flagship thermostat boasts a built-in Alexa speaker, allowing full access to Alexa’s features directly from your wall. Beyond voice control of temperature, it offers improved sound quality for music playback and enhanced remote sensors for zone-based heating and cooling. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium seamlessly blends smart climate management with Alexa’s voice assistant capabilities, creating a truly intelligent home environment.
Superior Air Quality Monitoring
Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor
Amazon Air Quality monitor with green LED showing clear air
The Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor provides crucial insights into your home’s air, working seamlessly within the Alexa ecosystem. This device continuously monitors for particulate matter, VOCs, carbon monoxide, humidity, and temperature, providing a simple air quality score and detailed trends in the Alexa app. Its real power lies in its ability to trigger Alexa routines and control other smart devices. For example, it can automatically turn on an Alexa-compatible air purifier or smart fan when air quality drops or temperature rises, ensuring a healthier and more comfortable home environment controlled by Alexa intelligence.
Enhancing Home Security and Convenience
Alexa extends its control to home security and everyday convenience, managing access, safety, and even your morning routine.
Best Smart Lock
August WiFi Smart Lock
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock review
The August WiFi Smart Lock brings voice-controlled security to your doorstep, seamlessly integrating with Alexa. This smart lock replaces the interior portion of your existing deadbolt, adding smart functionality without altering your home’s exterior. With built-in Wi-Fi, it connects directly to your network, enabling remote control and Alexa voice commands to lock, unlock, and check door status. The August Smart Lock enhances security and convenience, allowing you to manage home access with simple voice commands through Alexa.
Top DIY Home Security Kit
Simplisafe Essentials
Best Alexa compatible devices: Simplisafe Essentials
For comprehensive home security with Alexa integration, Simplisafe Essentials is a top DIY choice. This system is easy to install and offers a wide range of sensors and accessories for customizable protection. Simplisafe integrates with Alexa, allowing voice commands to arm your system as you leave or check its status. Optional professional monitoring provides added security and smart home connectivity, making Simplisafe Essentials a robust and Alexa-compatible solution for peace of mind.
Smart Alarm Clock Innovation
Amazon Echo Spot
Echo Spot on nightstand
The Amazon Echo Spot redefines the alarm clock with Alexa’s smart features. This compact device functions as both an alarm clock and a smart speaker, blending seamlessly into bedrooms or bathrooms. While lacking a camera for privacy, it offers a vibrant display for time, weather, and information, plus full Alexa voice control. The Echo Spot also includes a motion sensor for triggering Alexa routines, such as turning on lights upon entering a room. Its rich sound and smart home capabilities make it the best Alexa alarm clock for a connected morning routine.
Choosing the Right Alexa Compatible Devices
With a vast market of Alexa-compatible devices, making informed choices is key. Consider these factors when selecting your smart home gadgets:
- Design: Opt for well-designed products that fit your home aesthetically and practically. For example, a slim smart plug won’t obstruct adjacent outlets.
- Functionality: Evaluate the features offered beyond basic Alexa compatibility. Does a smart light offer scheduling, color adjustments, or home/away modes?
- Price: Balance your budget with desired features and quality. While cheaper options exist, prioritize devices that meet your needs reliably.
Our Testing Methodology
Our recommendations are based on rigorous testing and analysis. We evaluate smart home devices based on:
- Ease of Setup: We assess the simplicity of installation and initial configuration.
- Features: We compare features against competitors in the same price range.
- Performance: We verify advertised functionality and assess app usability and reliability.
- Price: We consider value by comparing price to performance and features.
By considering these factors, we strive to provide you with the most reliable and helpful recommendations for building your Alexa-powered smart home.
Conclusion: Alexa at the Center of Your Smart World
What can Alexa control? As you can see, the answer is a significant portion of your home environment. From entertainment and lighting to security and climate, Alexa’s voice-controlled ecosystem offers unparalleled convenience and automation. By choosing the right Alexa-compatible devices, you can transform your house into a truly smart home, simplifying daily tasks and enhancing your living experience. The devices highlighted here represent just a fraction of what’s possible, but they offer a solid foundation for building a powerful and personalized Alexa-controlled smart home.
