Best Smart Home & Automation Picks for Connected Homes in 2026

Connected Acre tracks flagship smart home & automation gear with real model numbers, pricing context, and ecosystem fit. These are the products our team is watching this season for whole-home upgrades above the $500 tier.

August Video Doorbell 15156

Model: 15156 · MSRP: $650

August positions this SKU for premium connected-home buyers who want Matter-ready or app-controlled workflows without compromising build quality.

Official page · Amazon

Arlo Thermostat 1198

Model: 1198 · MSRP: $175

Arlo positions this SKU for premium connected-home buyers who want Matter-ready or app-controlled workflows without compromising build quality.

Official page · Amazon

Phyn Video Doorbell 11506

Model: 11506 · MSRP: $900

Phyn positions this SKU for premium connected-home buyers who want Matter-ready or app-controlled workflows without compromising build quality.

Official page · Amazon

Ultraloq Video Doorbell 15406

Model: 15406 · MSRP: $600

Ultraloq positions this SKU for premium connected-home buyers who want Matter-ready or app-controlled workflows without compromising build quality.

Official page · Amazon

Apple HomeKit Video Doorbell 14706

Model: 14706 · MSRP: $500

Apple HomeKit positions this SKU for premium connected-home buyers who want Matter-ready or app-controlled workflows without compromising build quality.

Official page · Amazon

Before you buy, map your hub ecosystem (Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, or SmartThings) and confirm Matter or native integration for every device on the list. Connected Acre publishes hands-on reviews as our video pipeline fills in for each model.