Remember what life was like when you had to leave the sofa to turn things on and off? No? Well, us neither. We’ve become so ingrained in home automation that we can control most activities with a simple phrase or click of the smartphone. Of course, none of this would be possible without a smart hub. These handy devices allow you to sync your gadgets in one place and control them individually. You can also set up complex routines and never have to worry about turning off the iron half way through your holiday again.
While options such as Nest and Samsung don’t come with in-built voice functionality, they pair perfectly with the voice assistants of Amazon and Google, and are essential for controlling many tech devices which require a hub to sync up.
On the other hand, the Alexa and Google assistant devices can work with many third-party smart devices, and offer a huge range of features, such as music playback, voice-controlled search engines and even joke telling - we kid you not. So, it’s time to dive in to our top picks for the best smart hubs.
The Best Smart Hubs
1 of 8Amazon Echo (3rd Gen)
Amazon's Echo is billed as a smart speaker. It works with the cloud based Alexa virtual assistant, which allows you to play music (with a relevant subscription), set timers and control smart home devices, and so much more. You can use it to call other Amazon Echo devices, as long as they're in your contacts, and the new 360 degree speaker design boasts Dolby Processing for superior sound. It also boasts seven microphones with beam-forming tech and noise cancelling for perfect pick up. We love the way you can also pair this with the free Alexa app on your smartphone, and the Skills allow you to add some fun and useful extras, including games, news reports and so much more.
2 of 8Google Nest Hub - £119
Having acquired Nest, Google has taken its advanced Google Assistant tech and mixed it with smart home management and a glorious 7-inch touchscreen LCD with Far-Field microphones and an Ambient EQ Light Sensor. Not only can you command smart devices such as lights, plugs, home security cameras, a learning thermostat and carbon monoxide detectors, but you can also catch your favourite tracks on YouTube Music and browse your family photos from the cloud. This really does take some beating, and if you have the budget to splash out a little, it's a worthwhile companion.store.google.com
3 of 8Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen - £29
This tiny input device come speaker uses the Google Assistant - a common feature on this list - and provides better sound than the original. The durable top fabric is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, and it's capable of all the usual commands. Whether it's streaming music from Spotify. setting a timer or controlling your smartphone devices, this is a great budget entry-point. store.google.com
4 of 8Samsung SmartThings Hub 3rd Generation
Much like the Hive, the SmartThings hub acts as a conduit between you and home automation. However, it fully pairs with Alexa and Googles Assistant to allow for voice commands and will support a wide range of third party devices, such as Philips Hue and LIFX bulbs, Arlo security doorbells and even the Yale door lock! However, Samsung does a wide range of sensors to detect water leaks, motion and unauthorised entry. If you're like us and get a bit paranoid by leaky pipes or sneaky cat burglars, this is probably the one for you.
5 of 8Apple HomePod - £229
Granted, Apple's HomePod hasn't quite made good on the company's promise to rule the world, but that doesn't mean it's not a capable alternative. An Apple A8 chip allows the Siri virtual assistant to hear you from across the room, even over the music. It supports AirPlay 2 and gives you one of the better audio experiences - especially in multi-room. It doesn't work with quite as many smart devices as Google and Alexa, but it's a list that's growing all the time. apple.com
6 of 8JBl Link 20 - £180
This voice-activated speaker takes third-party liberties and bundles with the Google Assistant. It's a lot like Alexa, with a wealth of capabilities and full integration with the largest search site in the world - not a bad thing at all. Far-field voice recognition makes sure it can hear you barking commands clearly, and it's easy to set up with the Google Home app on iOS and Android devices. jbl.com
7 of 8Google Home - £89
An alternative to the Echo, the Google Home comes with the Google Assistant to cater to all your needs. You can control everything with your voice, and it boasts the same functionality as Amazon's alternative. One bonus is the ability to work with Google's Chromecast - perfect for streaming to your smart TV. It comes with a two-mic array, and Voice Match to recognise and personalise the information supplied to you. It's a worthy challenger for the Alexa tech, though it's kind of a Nintendo vs Sega/PC vs Mac debate. Whichever side you're on, you won't be disappointed.store.google.com
8 of 8Hive Nano Hub
Hive is as well-known as Nest in the home automation market, and has a wide range of associated gizmos and gadgets for you to control. There's the obligatory lights and plugs, but you can also get the smart thermostat or outdoor security camera to ensure even when you've left the home, you've never truly left. Of course, this hub is more of a gateway to sync your devices and isn't voice controlled, but it does link up to your Alexa or Google Assistant to make things easier, and the free app makes controlling your home a snap!