How many of us can think of having an assistant for our everyday chores? Someone who could remind us of our activities of everyday living, handle our commitments and interact on behalf of us? Well, if this sounds luxury to you, think again.
Table could not be displayed.With Amazon’s Alexa, you can escalate your life to unparalleled luxury, as this voice assistant can read your news, remind you of your commitments, and perform a lot of interactive operations to reduce your burdens with personal life and official commitments.
Alexa is more than a personal assistant, as she can control your smart home and enhance its entertainment system through her artificial intelligence.
The applications of the voice assistant are numerous and if you are still not sure how to make your life easier with Alexa, we will show you where to begin.
Further reading: What Is Alexa And What Does Alexa Do?
The Best Alexa Compatible Devices You Can Buy Today
Devices that are compatible with Alexa will enhance the home’s IQ system as this smart assistant is capable of pairing with smart lights, speakers, locks, Television, and a lot more.
You can control all of these devices with just your voice and there are hundredths of smart home devices that are compatible with Alexa.
Amazon Fire TV Cube
The Amazon Fire TV cube is the fastest television streaming device that combines features of voice control in a single device.
With this device, you can ask Alexa to turn on the Television and play the show and dim the lights to create a theatre ambiance.
You can control the audio-visual receiver and the compatible soundbar and also change channels with voice commands.
This is the perfect device to stream your favorite video from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Pluto TV, and a lot more.
Even when the Television is off, you can use its voice assistant feature for a variety of functions, such as checking on the weather, making and receiving calls through compatible devices, etc.
The device is built with expert privacy protection controls and is compatible with all leading television brands.
You can use the power and the volume buttons on the Alexa voice remote to control the Television, and everything around you for perfect leisure, after a hard day at work.
Amazon Smart Plug
The Amazon smart plug transforms as the brain of the devices you use at home when they are connected with this plug.
It is compatible with the existing outlets in the walls and enables you to control the devices plugged in it through the Alexa app.
You can set the timers and routines for the smart plugs in the home and control the devices easily with your voice.
This plug features a compact design and doesn’t block its adjacent ports. It is compatible with the Alexa app on the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
When the devices are plugged in this smart plug, you get to control them without making any physical contact.
The possibilities in this device are endless, as it can be used to switch on and off the electrical appliances, get a cup of coffee ready on the coffee maker, regulate kid’s screen time, and practically everything in-between.
Philips Hue White LED Starter Kit
This smart LED light starter kit has one smart button, one hue hub to hook up with Alexa, and three A19 60W LED smart bulbs with mounting plates.
With the help of the hue hub, you can connect the smart bulbs with other smart home devices such as Google Assistant, Apple Home Kit, and Amazon Alexa, for a thorough, smart home experience.
The hue hubs are easy to install and can be mounted in multiple locations without requiring any hand wiring. This hub helps control the lights, without using the smartphone.
You can set routines with the Philips hue app to switch on the lights after it is dark, and switch off the lights when it is time to bed, and even turn off the lights gradually in sequence as you head to bed.
You can also control the lights when you are out on a holiday with the help of your smartphone app, and get them to switch on when you reach the parking lot.
Lifx Mini
These are a pack of four LED bulbs that cater to the needs of day and dusk. They are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and the Apple Home kit for ambient voice control.
As they screw up like any ordinary light bulb, they are easy to set up and connect with the Wi-Fi instantly, without requiring any hub.
You can achieve complete control over your home’s lighting system as the Lifx mini is compatible with Android, Windows 10, and Lifx iOS apps.
It comes as a pack of four lights, and you can control them either individually or as a group. The lights have more than 1000 shades of light, to adapt to your different moods and render about 800 lumens of brightness.
You can choose from a range of warm to cool whites, customize flicker effects and also alter its brightness to suit your mood, all with simple controls over the app.
The Lifx Mini is designed for the great home atmosphere, and it pretty much soft on the eye.
WeMo Mini
Want to have complete control over your home from anywhere? Then add WeMo Mini to your shopping list.
This is a Wi-Fi-enabled smart plug that helps you control all the electronic devices in your home, right from your phone or tablet to your Television and music system.
Its compact and sleek design fits in any socket, without obstructing the fellow sockets. You can choose to have an additional smart plug in the same outlet.
This smart plug works on your home Wi-Fi network, to establish wireless controls over the lamps, fans, and other appliances, without requiring a hub.
You only have to plug in the WeMo mini in any standard electrical outlet and plug the device on to this smart plug.
You then get to control the device with the help of an Apple home kit, Amazon Alexa, Google voice assistant, or the WeMo app.
August Smart Lock Pro
This Wi-Fi-enabled smart lock is the best solution to safeguard your home from burglars and intruders.
This is perhaps the smartest lock system available and can pair with a smart keypad to enable key-code entry.
It is compact, sleek, and extremely powerful. With this device installed on the door bolt, you can lock or unlock the door remotely, check the status of the door, visualize visitors, and offer virtual keys to your guests.
You can get Alexa to control the door and connect seamlessly with the existing home Wi-Fi system.
The August Smart Lock pro locks the door after you leave and unlocks it when you come home, and thus you don’t have to use your keys every time.
You can control and manage it with your smartphone or watch and helps people live safely and securely with absolute peace of mind.
Ecobee 5th Generation Thermostat
This Alexa-compatible thermostat helps balance the temperature of your home automatically with the help of the smartphone app or voice assistant.
It can be placed in any room of the home or office for complete temperature regulation.
The device will detect your presence and will control the temperature of the room automatically.
It is certified by energy star to render at least 23% savings on the energy cost. You also get to monitor and control the temperature of your home from any of the Android and iOS devices.
It is also enabled with calling and message features and connects with the smart speaker system through Bluetooth.
Arlo Q
The Arlo Q is a 1080-pixel indoor security camera with built-in audio. With this smart device, you can stay connected to your home anywhere through its live audio and video streaming features.
When motion is detected in your home, it sends instant alerts on your phone. Its high definition 1080p video clarity, night vision mode, and the two-way audio system ensure that you never miss a moment in your home when you are away.
You can also listen and talk back to Arlo Q’s built-in speaker and mic through the smartphone.
The camera has a convenient stand to place it at a convenient angle in any room.
It connects with its AC cable for continuous power and internet connectivity.
It can be controlled and synchronized with Alexa and Google voice assistant.
Samsung SmartThings hub V3
With this smart hub, you can bring all of your smart devices under single control.
It helps you to monitor all compatible devices and sensors in one place and get them to work together in harmony.
Setting up customized modes and routines with the appliances at home becomes as easy as a breeze with this smart hub.
The hub is compatible with Alexa and helps you to customize time-based modes for morning and evening with just voice control.
LG C9 OLED TV
This Television is far beyond its predecessors as it flaunts numerous smart features. The Television features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and its AI ThinQ feature is compatible with Alexa and google assistant.
Its Gen 2 intelligent processor and AI acoustic tuning make it an excellent entertaining appliance that is compatible with other smart devices. You can control the appliance with your voice which is everyone’s dream to enjoy their leisure or when in the holiday mood.
Sonos Beam
Sonos Beam is your ultimate home entertainment system and is a smart and compact soundbar for music and Television.
You can play anything that soothes your mind through the beam and also control it with the help of your voice through Alexa, remote, and also the Sonos app.
This award-winning sound streaming system emphasizes human voice so that you get to hear every single voice.
As it is compatible with Alexa and google assistant, you can use the beam to check the news, set alarms, play music, and get the questions answered, absolutely hands-free.
SimpliSafe Wireless Home Security
Simplisafe is an absolute 12-piece home security system with an HD camera and smoke detector.
It features a base station with a keypad, motion sensors, four entry sensors, an HD security camera, a water sensor, a smoke detector, and a key-chain remote.
The security camera detects motion and streams HD live videos directly at the connected smart device.
Its base station emits a 95 dB siren if someone tries to break into the home. Its motion sensors are designed to stay out of the way and they feature a 30’ range and a 90-degree field of view.
The smoke detectors have photoelectric sensors and even if power fails at home, the device has a battery back up to cover for another 24 hours.
This is a comprehensive and easy-to-set-up home security system that is compatible with Alexa to help with complete peace of mind.
Ring Video Doorbell
This is perhaps the smartest wireless doorbell that connects with dual-band Wi-Fi and is compatible with Alexa and IFTTT support. This doorbell communicates with the visitors through its two-way audio and noise cancellation feature.
When the visitors trigger the built-in motion sensors or press the doorbell, you will get instant alerts.
This doorbell system helps you to watch your home both day and night with the help of crystal clear HD videos.
Its camera captures a 1080 p video and has a 160-degree field of view. There are also four infrared LED lights for nighttime recording as well.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat
This thermostat can be placed in one room to help control the entire temperature of the home. Its sensors will automatically regulate the comfort of the home, in terms of temperature and based on occupancy.
You can control the thermostat easily through iOS applications and Android devices and it is compatible with Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, Apple Home kits, etc. Its built-in Alexa not just helps in regulating the temperature but also to play music, set timer, and routes other voice functions.
Blink Indoor Security System
This is a smart indoor and outdoor camera with cloud storage and a two-way audio feature. It is a battery-powered HD security camera system that is used for recording and streaming motion and activity inside the home. This is indeed a security camera that helps you to access suspected intruder activity in the home. It is easy to install and integrates seamlessly with Alexa and other smart home devices.
Insignia Fire TV
The Insignia is a smart high definition television that delivers 720 pixels’ picture quality with rich colors and deep blacks.
It offers a true Fire TV experience and streams thousands of channels and streams Disney +, YouTube, Netflix, prime video, etc. You can easily control this smart Television with an Alexa voice assistant.
You can use it to search for movies, albums, to play music, and to switch inputs, with just your voice.
Acer Spin 5 Laptop
The Acer spin 5 is a thin and lightweight convertible laptop that features a high-quality display, long battery life, and very strong performance.
Its intelligent personal assistant features help you to stay ahead of time for important tasks and help you to schedule meetings and synchronize with multiple devices.
Other best features of this laptop are the 11th generation Intel core processor, 15 hours of battery life, extremely high level of processing, and multiple cooling modes.
How To Pick The Best Alexa-compatible Devices?
There are an array of Alexa compatible devices, that you can use daily to listen to you, to watch you, and to make your life simpler and technology compliant. But what devices should you choose and how should you choose them, depends on certain parameters and those are,
Features of the device
Before choosing to buy an Alexa-compatible device, make sure that it has rich features to render automated experiences based on the time of the day and triggers.
The device should act proactively, based on your daily routines, such as turning off the lights before going to bed, locking the door when kids fail to do so, turning on the camera to detect motion at home, etc.
You should also be able to add your device to other smart home devices with simple commands. Also, look for the following features before finalizing on your Alexa compatible device
- The device should simplify your life by securing and automating your home with smart devices.
- It should enable you to stay productive and helps with small details such as timers, calendars, alarms, etc. so that you can stay focused on other important activities.
- Helps with shopping, entertainment, and communications with family and friends.
- Helps you to set routines and handle multiple things at the same time at home.
- The device should be quick and easy to set up and works seamlessly with other devices
Ease of setup
The Alexa compatible smart devices are easy to set up and are quick to install, without requiring any complex wiring. Frustration-free setup is the protocol of Amazon’s Alexa which helps in setting up the device instantly by incorporating technology. These devices ready to power up and use as soon as they are out of the box.
The frustration-free setup is integrated into almost all of its device types such as cameras, speakers, Television, etc. The ease of setup built into Alexa devices helps in simplifying the network connectivity process.
You only have to place the device at the desired place in your home, open the Alexa app and tap the devices icon on the bottom toolbar.
Tap the name of the newly found device and navigate to the settings gear found on the upper right corner of the screen.
You can also use this setting to disable the device or move it to the trash can if you are no longer using it. It is also possible to manually add the device to the Alexa app with Bluetooth.
Performance
Alexa devices are high performing, as they respond to the commands of the voice. For instance, when you talk to a friend and your friend responds immediately, you get reassurance that your friend is actively engaged in your conversation. Similarly, when you talk to your Alexa-compatible smart devices, you can expect them to respond and react quickly.
When you speak to Alexa, the recording of your voice is sent to Amazon’s cloud where your request is processed along with other information before responding to you. The process is very quick and happens in seconds, mimicking a normal conversation. The high-performing devices respond to your commands instantly and will never fail to engage you and retain their interest.
Alexa has framed a unique platform for smart devices through its vast array of speakers and smart devices.
This is the top best voice assistant available to date to help you control multiple devices around your home, just with your voice. These devices are small, wireless, and adapt to the existing ambiance of the home, rendering paramount performance.
No wonder, houses with Alexa-compatible devices are called smart homes, as they are controlled by artificial intelligence, which is far beyond human imagination.
Design of the devices
The Alexa-compatible devices integrate into the existing structures of the home and do not require any complex installation. They are designed exceptionally well so that they integrate with the home décor.
These devices are adaptable and it allows users to speak in their own words and still respond to them.
You can individualize your interaction with the Alexa compatible devices and customize all the options to make your life simpler and smarter.
Price
Budget is an important constraint while making any purchase. The price of Alexa compatible devices is on the higher end and it is up to you to make a choice-based decision. If you want to transform your life the smarter way, then the cost of these devices shouldn’t come in the way.
You can smart with simple units and get accustomed to it before they transform your entire house into a smart home. Dozens of smart home devices are being launched every year and with time, we can witness that the cost of these devices will be well within the reach of the common man.
You may also like: The Best Wired Speaker For Echo Dot
Alexa Compatible devices – FAQs
- How do the smart home devices and Alexa work together?
Alexa helps you to operate, control, and check your smart home devices such as lights, switches, plugs, thermostats, Television, security cameras, etc. You only have to connect the device with Alexa through the smart home feature and keep controlling them, just over voice.
- Is there any privacy breach by using Alexa-compatible devices?
By pairing smart home devices with Alexa, you will be sharing information about the device, such as device name, type, and features. The status of the device and its usage history will be retained to personalize the experience further. But personal information is not retained or shared and thus there is no scope for any privacy breach.
- Will Alexa intimate me when my devices don’t work?
Yes, with hunches, Alexa will alert you through voice or app if your devices are not working in their usual state. Alexa will also take action for certain types of hunches if you enable automatic action options.
- Will Alexa call emergency services if required?
By default, Alexa is not allowed to make emergency calls, and the relevant services should only be contacted through a mobile or a landline phone.
- How does Alexa handle false wakes?
False wakes or triggers happens when Alexa interprets another word or sound as its signal. But the world-class scientists are constantly working to improve the word detection technology of Alexa to help keep false wakes at the minimum.
Conclusion
Millions of people all over the world use voice command with amazon compatible devices to escalate the quality of their lives to new levels. There is a vast array of things that Alexa can do to enhance the quality of our lives.
She turns on the lights, plays the songs, answers questions, sets timers, and even wakes you up.
She can be your best friend forever and does everything on your behalf based on artificial intelligence. All the Alexa-enabled devices that are sold by Amazon respond to the name Alexa.
Their applications are vast and are easily available for purchase. We hope our list of Alexa compatible devices and their buying guide helps you in choosing the best devices to transform your life simpler and easier.