You should never ignore the importance of smoke detectors, but old models are being replaced by smart smoke detectors for more safety features and extra convenience. If you haven’t upgraded yet, it’s highly recommended that you do so with the best smart smoke detectors that we’ve rounded up here. There are many kinds to choose from, so we selected smart smoke detectors that cater to different needs. Once you’ve installed your purchase, you’ll regret not making the switch much sooner.
The best smart smoke detectors
- Buy the Google Nest Protect if you want the best smart smoke detector in the market.
- Buy the First Alert Z-Wave Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Alarm if you have a Ring smart home setup.
- Buy the Aegislink Wi-Fi Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector if you want visual status updates.
- Buy the X-Sense Smart Smoke Detector if you want an affordable smart smoke detector.
- Buy the Kidde Smart Smoke Detector if you want a hardwired smart smoke detector.
Google Nest Protect
Best smart smoke detector for any home
| Pros | Cons |
| Google Nest’s split-spectrum sensor | Relatively expensive |
| Alerts through Google Home app | |
| Carbon monoxide sensor |
The Google Nest Protect continues to be our top choice among the best smart smoke detectors partly because of its split-spectrum sensor that can test itself for accuracy, double-check reading, and just make sure that there’s really an emergency situation before it sounds the alarm. Alerts go straight to your smartphone through the Google Home app, and it can also send out voice alerts to provide an early warning for any danger. The Google Nest Protect can also detect the invisible but deadly carbon monoxide, and it can also serve as a night light when you walk under it in the dark.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power source | Battery |
| Weight | 16 ounces |
| Sensor type | Split-spectrum |
First Alert Z-Wave Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Best smart smoke detector for Ring-powered smart homes
| Pros | Cons |
| Works seamlessly with Ring system | Small lights for status |
| Detects smoke and carbon monoxide | |
| 85-decibel horn |
If you’ve already invested in the Ring ecosystem of smart home devices, including the Ring Alarm Base Station, the First Alert Z-Wave Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Alarm is an excellent choice. You’ll receive real-time notifications in the Ring app when it detects smoke or carbon monoxide, and it’s also equipped with an 85-decibel horn that alerts everyone in the house when there’s danger. It runs on 2 AA batteries, which can easily be replaced through its battery door at its side.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power source | Battery |
| Weight | 11 ounces |
| Sensor type | Electrochemical, photoelectric |
Aegislink Wi-Fi Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
Best smart smoke detector for your peace of mind
| Pros | Cons |
| Colored LED status light with display | No smart home integration |
| Checks itself every 60 seconds | |
| Lateral air vents |
Some people may have the incessant need to keep checking if their smoke detector is working properly. While this is less of a hassle with smart smoke detectors as you can check through their app, the Aegislink Wi-Fi Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector makes this even easier with its colored LED light that signals if there’s an issue, plus a display that gives you information on what’s going on in your home. The device checks itself ever 60 seconds to make sure that there’s no problem, and its lateral air vents make it easier for its sensors to detect smoke and carbon monoxide.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power source | Battery |
| Weight | 3.2 ounces |
| Sensor type | Electrochemical, photoelectric |
X-Sense Smart Smoke Detector
Best smart smoke detector for those on a tight budget
| Pros | Cons |
| Real-time notifications to up to 12 people | No visual status indicator |
| Compact design | |
| Fire truck dispatch with Protect+ Premium |
The X-Sense Smart Smoke Detector may be affordable, but it has what it takes to protect your family with its ability to send real-time notifications for alarms, faults, and low battery warnings to the X-Sense Home Security app. Its compact design will even allow you to bring one when you travel, and you can share the device with up to 12 different accounts on various devices. You can also subscribe to Protect+ Premium, which will dispatch a fire truck to your home when an alarm is triggered.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power source | Battery |
| Weight | 4.5 ounces |
| Sensor type | Photoelectric |
Kidde Smart Smoke Detector
Best smart smoke detector for no battery replacements
| Pros | Cons |
| Hardwired with backup battery | Doesn’t detect carbon monoxide |
| Voice alerts and alarm | |
| QR code for setting up |
The Kidde Smart Smoke Detector is hardwired, which means you don’t have to worry about replacing its batteries every once in a while, though it also has a 10-year backup battery to keep you protected in case of a power outage. The smart smoke detector can send real-time notifications to the Kidde app on your phone, but it can also issue voice alerts and ring an 85-decibel alarm. Once installed, you can set it up simply by scanning its QR code on the app, and you can monitor its status through its LED light.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power source | Hardwired |
| Weight | 11.2 ounces |
| Sensor type | Photoelectric |
How we chose these smart smoke detectors
You should always have an active smoke detector in your home for your family’s safety, and a smart smoke detector will further improve your protection against fires. There’s an overwhelming number of options out there though, but we narrowed everything down to our selection of the best smart smoke detectors by focusing on the features that should be considered as the most important.
Reliability
Your family’s safety in case of a fire depends on your smart smoke detector, so buying a reliable one is the highest priority. You wouldn’t want to end up with a smart smoke detectors that fails right when you need it the most, so we stuck with the most trustworthy brands and those with excellent reviews from other shoppers. There are many other options in the market, but the ones that we’ve highlighted above are among the top choices that you can depend on.
Compatibility
One of the biggest reasons to upgrade to a smart smoke detector is its compatibility with your smartphone or your smart home setup, so you won’t be maximizing the device if it won’t work with what you currently own. We chose smart smoke detectors that are compatible with the most popular systems to make sure that you can access their features, because if you can’t, there’s no point in upgrading from an old smoke detector.
Value for money
You have the choice between affordable and expensive smart smoke detectors, but no matter which one you go for, we made sure that you’ll be getting your money’s worth. Cheap smart smoke detectors should still offer what you should expect from such devices, while premium ones shouldn’t have exorbitantly high prices because of technology that you may not be able to maximize. If you’re going to spend on a smart smoke detector, you shouldn’t lose sight of the goal of getting the absolute best value for your cash.
This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.
