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Ring's Door View Cam works well with Alexa.
Chris Monroe / CNET
Alexa is the voice assistant of Amazon, accessible via a compatible connection Alexa smart speakers and displays. Start with the word "Alexa" and ask your speaker to give you local weather forecasts, order food for delivery and even adjust your settings. thermostat, lights and much more.
Amazon introduced its first Amazon Echo speaker in 2014. Since then, voice commands are playing an increasingly important role in how we interact with our smart devices. Google Assistant and Siri have embarked with their own smart speakers and voice commands, but Alexa was the first to defend voice integrations in the smart home.
So, what are the best smart home appliances enabled by Alexa today, ask yourself? We will take a look.
Best Google Assistant devices: What are our favorite gadgets enabled by Google Assistant?
Best HomeKit appliances: Which smart home products work well with Siri?
Disclosure: Note that the products discussed here are independently selected by our publishers. CNET can get a share of the revenue if you buy something that is presented on our site.
The best Alexa devices
Echo Dot is currently in its third iteration – and it continues to improve. This 2018 third-generation model not only has an improved design, but sounds better.
Although there are a large number of Alexa devices to choose from, Echo Dot continues to stand out with its impressive performance, small footprint and even better price. At just $ 50 for an Echo Dot, this smart quart-sized speaker is a great entry point into the world of Alexa voice control.
Lauren Routt / CNET
Ring View $ 199 Door View Cam is a unique product for the Amazon-owned company. Rather than mounting on a door frame or somewhere on the side of your door, the door viewing camera replaces a traditional peephole.
This means that this product is perfect for people living in apartments that want a smart doorbell, but do not want to handle a wired device – or otherwise upset a door frame for installation. None of Ring's leading competitors offer this type of seamless solution to apartment occupants, which makes it particularly innovative alongside other devices available today.
Not only that, but the View Cam door has the easiest installation of all the doorbells that I've tested to date. He has also advanced Alexa integrations. Yes, you can view the live stream on an Amazon smart screen, but you can also chat with anyone who is at your door on the smart screen with the command "Alexa, answer the door of entry."
This bidirectional conversation feature via an Alexa smart display is unique for Ring devices.
Other notable ring ringtones include the Ring Video Door ringtone ring with $ 199 battery or cable and the $ 249 wired ringtone Doorbell Doorbell Pro.
Chris Monroe / CNET
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat is a $ 249 connected thermostat. This model replaces the Ecobee4, but has many of the same features.
Control your smart thermostat through the Ecobee app and use the Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri voice commands to adjust the temperature of your thermostat. These are the Alexa voice capabilities that really stand out here because the thermostat has an integrated Alexa speaker.
This means that you do not need a separate Echo device – just connect your thermostat, turn on the speakerphone and start asking Alexa questions.
Tyler Lizenby / CNET
Amazon Echo Show 5 is the latest smart display from Amazon. Unlike Echo Show, the Show 5 has a smaller 5-inch screen and costs only $ 90.
Echo Show 5 has an integrated Alexa speaker. This means that you can use this smart display to execute your orders via Alexa voice commands. Plus, since it's a smart screen, it also offers advanced compatibility with Alexa-compatible security cameras.
Ask Alexa to "answer the door" when someone rings your Ring Door View camera and you can see the live update of your Show 5 – and talk to that person , directly from the smart screen.
Tyler Lizenby / CNET
August Smart Lock Pro, bundled with the Connect Wi-Fi module, is an excellent smart lock. The Smart Lock Pro fits most standard deadbolts, thus avoiding complicated installation. The Connect module allows you to access your smart lock and control it remotely, outside the Bluetooth range.
This product also has an open / close sensor, called DoorSense, which attaches to the door where your Smart Lock Pro is installed. In this way, the application can not only tell you if the door is locked or not, but also whether the door is open or closed.
The Smart Lock Pro works with Alexa. So you can lock and unlock your door with the help of an Alexa compatible smart speaker.
Chris Monroe / CNET
SimpliSafe is a robust home security system with many accessories, allowing you to upgrade the system to your needs. The starter kit costs $ 230 for the hub, keypad, key ring, motion sensor and door / window sensor.
SimpliSafe also works with Alexa. You can arm the system and check its status using simple voice commands.
SimpliSafe does not require a contract, but monthly fees start at $ 15 to access the application and can go up to $ 25 if you want professional supervision.
Tyler Lizenby / CNET
The latest version of Hue White LED from Philips works with ZigBee and Bluetooth. The addition of Bluetooth is important because it means you do not need a Philips hub to make these lights work.
Instead, they connect directly to your phone and work with Alexa voice commands. Ask Alexa to turn on the lights in the living room or reduce the lights in the dining room to 70%.
They also only cost $ 15 each, which means you do not have to shell out a lot of money to buy these simple activated ampoules for Alexa.
Chris Monroe / CNET
The TP-Link Smart Kasa Mini Wi-Fi Plug is a great name for a tiny plug that costs just $ 30. Smart plugs like this one connect directly to a wall socket and turn your non-smart lights, fans and other devices into smart gadgets for the home.
Use the TP-Link app to connect and control devices – or send Alexa to the list. Say "Alexa, turn on the reading light" so that Plug Mini can easily control the devices that are connected to it.
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Amazon Echo Show 5 helps Alexa to adapt perfectly to your …
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The Alexa landscape
The voice assistant of Amazon makes it easy to control the devices at home, setting the timer and the time it will take you to get to the office. But the protection of privacy has become a growing concern as the popularity of loudspeakers and smart screens increases.
Reports that Amazon keeps transcripts of your voice conversationsEven after you removed the Alexa audio recordings, concerns were expressed about the privacy of the users. Senator Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, wrote a letter to the CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos look for answers on Amazon's Alexa user data and their storage. Amazon has since introduced the "Alexa, delete all that I said today" feature. The tech giant says that's also work in new ways for customers to delete their transcripts.
The latest smart screen of Amazon, Echo Show 5, has an integrated privacy screen, unlike previous Echo Show devices.
Amazon is not alone. Facebook, Google and other large technology companies have faced their own privacy issues, raising questions about the use of data.
Fortunately, Amazon and others seem to be trying to regain our trust. Did these privacy issues prevent you from buying a voice assistant (Alexa or other)? Weigh in the comments section below.
Still have questions? Learn more about Alexa.
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