Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

The Ezlo Atom is the smallest smart home hub you’ve ever seen

Alina Bradford
By

The next step in home automation may be a tiny one. Ezlo Innovation, a developer of smart solutions for homes and businesses founded in 2017, just announced the Atom. Ezlo proclaims it is “the smallest, most energy-efficient control hub available on the market.” Available for pre-order starting Wednesday, September 4, this tiny smart home hub is an interesting choice.

For those looking for an inexpensive way to automate, the Atom is affordable. On its release, it will be priced at $30, which is comparable to other small smart home devices, like the Google Home Mini, which retails for $29, and the Amazon Echo Dot that retails for $30.

Recommended Videos

The Atom is quite a bit smaller, though. Measuring in at less than two inches long and sporting a USB connection, this smart home hub looks a lot like a flash drive for your computer. While it doesn’t look like much, Ezlo says the device can connect as many devices as you like. It does this using Z-Wave Protocol, which connects devices through low-energy radio waves. Many tech enthusiasts love devices with this type of connection because it is believed to be harder to hack than Wi-Fi connections and doesn’t interfere with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. The Z-Wave Protocol also powers the hub, which makes it very energy efficient. It can also connect with Wi-Fi devices. 

Related

The main drawback may be that the tiny hub needs to be plugged into the USB port of a computer or phone to work, unlike standalone hubs like Amazon Echo or Google Home. Ezlo recommends plugging it directly into an extra USB adapter you have at home. This will provide a continuous source of power.

After the Atom iis plugged in, you use the Vera mobile app to control your smart home devices. Unfortunately, you can’t control devices with voice commands, like with other popular hubs, yet. Support for voice control is coming soon, though, according to Ezlo.

Overall, if you’re looking for something compact and affordable that works with Z-Wave or Wi-Fi, the Ezlo Atom look like it may be a strong contender.  

Update: We have been informed by Ezlo that there are new features to the Atom. We will update this article when more information is available.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Alina Bradford
Alina Bradford
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alina Bradford has been a tech, lifestyle and science writer for more than 20 years. Her work is read by millions each month…
What is IFTTT and how can you use it in your smart home?
A bunch of colorful shapes on a black background.

If you've spent any time shopping for smart home gadgets, you've probably noticed that many are built with support for Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home. These are smart home platforms, and they let you access all your devices through a single app or interface. You've probably also noticed support for something known as IFTTT. But what exactly is IFTTT? And is it something you should be concerned with? Here's a closer look at the unique (and incredibly useful) software.
What is IFTTT?

IFTTT stands for, "if this, then that." It's terminology often used in programming, allowing software to chain together functions and perform certain tasks if other tasks are detected. For example, if the user inputs the incorrect password, then they'll be notified to try logging in again.

Read more
Echo Show 8 vs. Nest Hub: Does Amazon or Google offer the best smart display?
Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen on table.

Anyone in the market for a reasonably priced smart display has probably stumbled across the Echo Show 8 and Nest Hub. Both clock in at under $150 (often less when on sale) yet provide homes with many of the same features found on premium alternatives like the Nest Hub Max and Echo Show 10.

But is the Echo Show 8 better than the Nest Hub? And what exactly is the difference between these two smart displays? Here's a comprehensive look at both to help you decide which one to bring into your smart home.
Pricing and design

Read more
Nest Hub Max vs. Echo Show 10: which is the better smart display?
The Nest Hub Max on a table.

The world of smart displays is dominated by two companies -- Amazon and Google. Amazon is responsible for the Echo Show 10, while Google is behind the Nest Hub Max. Both offer large screens, access to a massive roster of apps, and the ability to connect (and control) the rest of your smart home. There are a lot of similarities between the two popular displays, but there are a few key differences you should be aware of before adding one to your home.

Here's a closer look at the Echo Show 10 and Nest Hub Max to help you decide which is best.
Pricing and design

Read more