Thứ Ba, Tháng Hai 11, 2025
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HomeTechnology6 warning signs to stay away from a smart home brand

6 warning signs to stay away from a smart home brand

With so many smart home products on the market today, it can be difficult to distinguish which brands are worth the money and which are not. But with a little due diligence, you can make your purchasing decision much easier. Here are some warning signs you should keep in mind when choosing devices for your smart home.

1. Mobile apps have poor reviews

One of the easiest ways to determine if a smart home product is worth your time is to look at the brand's apps. If you interact with a product every day, it's likely that you primarily use mobile apps to do so.

This means you'll want to avoid any inconvenience arising from a poorly designed or maintained smart home app. So when you find yourself interested in a device, check out the app reviews to see how the community rates it. You'll want to sort by “recent” reviews if possible. And if you notice an app has mostly negative reviews, it's a clear sign that you need to consider avoiding that product or brand altogether.

Additionally, reviews can also be a good indicator of how a brand will respond to your concerns about a product. However, that doesn't mean that ALL negatively reviewed apps are instant deal-breakers. But it's important to take note of what most people are saying before investing your money in a particular device.

2. Only positive reviews

Google Maps on smartphones has a 5-star rating icon
Google Maps on smartphones has a 5-star rating icon

A recent trend in the smart home device industry is to attach some type of bonus or reward for a positive online review. The way it works is simple: you buy a product and inside the packaging is a postcard or flyer offering to send you a gift for reviewing the product on sites like Amazon or Trustpilot.

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The problem is, for many of the reviews prompted by this tactic, the buyer hasn't spent much time using the product. Plus, some people worry that if they leave a bad review, the company won't send them a gift. This means that many people tend to leave more positive reviews than they would if they weren't being subtly “bribed” by the company.

Furthermore, sometimes companies decide to post only positive reviews to make the brand look more reputable than it actually is. Not only is that dishonest, but it can also cause you to waste money if you're not careful. You should always be skeptical of brands that have only positive reviews – statistically, not everyone likes the products they buy.

3. Poor compatibility with the Big Four

Smartphones associated with many smart home device icons
Smartphones associated with many smart home device icons

Currently, most reputable smart home device brands support at least one of the four major smart assistants in the industry: Apple Home, SmartThings, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home. Most support two or three assistants. This is because most reputable brands understand that smart home owners prefer to use one of these assistants to streamline their interactions with technology.

So if a brand isn't easily compatible with the big four assistants, or if they insist on you only using their proprietary apps, it should make you think twice before making a purchase. Part of the reason here has to do with future usage.

If a company's product does not support an established standard, you should be concerned that the product may not last. But there's also a bit of concern that a device that isn't supported by the big four brands won't be developed enough to stand out among other products.

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4. Brands overlooked by major publications in the smart home industry

Little-known smart home manufacturers often approach technology reporters to tout their latest products. Many times they will offer to submit a review unit of their new merchandise as a way to attract attention. But often, the reason these companies don't have a big foothold in the industry is because their products aren't exceptional.

From experience, the amount of media coverage a product receives is almost always related to the quality of that product.

Remember, there is not just one journalist invited to review smart home products. But if many other journalists ignore a device, they're probably doing so for good reason.

That doesn't mean major publications don't make mistakes and overlook lesser-known, standout smart home gadgets. However, in most cases, if a product is overlooked by industry experts, it's probably not worth your time.

5. Unreasonably deep discounts

Like it or not, buying cheap smart home technology is rarely a good idea. Think about this: You often install devices that make your home safe, connect to your home's electrical system, and/or automate important tasks.

But what if your cheap garage door opener keeps opening in the middle of the night? What if the cheap smart plug shorts out and causes a fire? Or what if a cheap robot vacuum gets hacked and becomes an Internet gateway to breaking into your home?

Of course, that doesn't mean you shouldn't look for the highest priced products, but it's better to avoid smart device purchases that are deeply discounted for no apparent reason. You should also keep in mind ways to protect your smart home from hackers.

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6. Brands that influencers love but everyone else hates

This is the last warning sign on this list, and it shows how influencers are increasingly being used to promote products. Social networks are still a battleground for companies wanting to make money from celebrity influence. If an influencer seems to love a particular product, but no one else does, it's likely that they're being paid to promote that product.

According to Cornell Law School, in the United States, sponsored advertisements are required by law to disclose this information. But social networks are still a bit difficult to control. Influencers know this and some will actively try to make money while remaining secretive. Additionally, a recent study conducted at the University of Washington indicates that influencers can make a lot of money by spreading misinformation.

Of course, not all influencer marketing is bad, but some influencers are not trustworthy. Their job is to influence you in some way, and most established influencers are very good at this without you realizing it. This is why critical thinking is so important before opening your wallet.

Overall, this list of warning signs is not intended to discourage you from experimenting with devices in your smart home or getting excited about new technology. That's part of the fun. This list is just to remind you to stay alert so you can be confident that you are building the smart home of your dreams, instead of your nightmare.

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