Our homes are getting smarter! Sometimes it seems like everything in our world is now Wi-fi connected. Televisions, doorbells, appliances, air conditioners, and even showers can be controlled by a smartphone or tablet.
Many consumers are willing to spend more money for a home with smart technology. Smart homes provide some major benefits. It’s about time that home appliances incorporate the modern technology we know and love today.
What can a smart appliances do for you?
Safety and security: smart appliances provide surveillance and peace of mind. Get a notification if your oven is running or if your refrigerator door is left ajar.
Auto replenishment: subscribe to auto replenishment and get everything from groceries, to detergent shipped right to your door.
Customization: third party app integrations provide a custom user experience from personalized guided cooking to specialty cycles to best care for your garments.
Maintinance and repairs: many smart home appliances have self diagnostics meaning they can monitor their own health, and in some cases identify service issues.
2020 was an infamous year that changed our lives in many ways. The biggest change this year was a growing importance on the way consumers buy, prepare, and store food. This bodes especially well for smart appliances as many of their built-in features and third party app integrations have gone from extravagant to essential.
Avoid Companion App Overload
Every smart product today has a companion app. When you buy a smart product make sure to download the companion app to register your product for an easier service experience. Most smart home users however don’t use all the companion apps all the time.
So many apps can be overwhelming and in some cases is more of a hassle than it’s worth. It’s important to make sure all of your smart devices can be controlled in one place. Many smart home inhabitants use their smart speaker as a go-to controller for all smart products. You can simply ask Alexa or Google to preheat your oven, or run your dishwasher. There are a number of apps out there that can also act as a hub for all your smart home devices.
1. GE Appliances NEW Smart Integrated Kitchen Hub with Built-In Microwave (Not Available Yet)
This year GE debuted their new kitchen hub at CES 2020. So what is this new age appliance? The GE kitchen hub is a one-of-a-kind appliance. The hub has a 27” display screen that serves as a media center, cooker hood, and microwave oven in one. This new version is more exciting than past iterations of the hub due to the added built-in microwave.
Noteworthy Benefits:
Dual cameras make it possible to video chat with friends, or film a bird’s-eye-view of your cooking.
Z-Wave compatible makes it easy to connect to your home’s smart hub.
Guided cooking apps make it easy to find recipes and follow step-by-step cooking instructions.
Catch up on your favorite shows or listen to your favorite music while you’re cooking.
Is your dry cleaning bill too high? The styler is the new laundry room companion to your washer dryer set. The styler looks like a mini wardrobe, meant to steam, refresh, sanitize, and clean your clothes. The styler can clean and extend the life of your “dry clean only” items without adding harmful chemicals. It’s also especially useful for eliminating germs and bacteria from hard-to-clean items like pillows and stuffed animals.
Noteworthy Benefits:
Sanitary cycle is great for keeping your family healthy, sanitize kids plush toys, throw blankets, and pillows
SmartThinQ® Technology allows you to download specialty cycles to clean items the right way
TrueSteam® technology eliminates odors from smoke, food, sweat, and pets
Monogram is a luxury appliance brand. They were one of the first luxury brands to incorporate smart technology into their products. The Monogram Minimalist Series is Monogram’s new appliance line, and is a great fit for transitional and contemporary kitchens alike.
Noteworthy Benefits
Compatible with many apps for a fully integrated smart ecosystem including: Nest, IFTTT, Alexa, Google, Innit, and Drop
Air Fryers are a hot trend for enjoying fried flavor and less guilt. Save counter space and get an oven with air frying technology.
Two ways to keep your oven clean: traditional self-cleaning, and steam cleaning. Steam cleaning is a safer way to clean your oven.
Today Samsung Family Hub refrigerators come in multiple shapes and sizes. Samsung made these top selling smart refrigerators a few years ago. When I first introduced clients to the Family Hub it was regarded as a new-age novelty appliance. However the benefits of the Family Hub refrigerators can imrpove the user experience of technophiles and smarthome newbies alike.
For example, Samsung was one of the first manufacturers to leverage smart connectivity to help reduce food waste. This refrigerator can help you manage your grocery list, and you can set up automatic ordering. If an item is about to expire, the Family Hub can notify you and provide recipe recommendations.
Noteworthy Benefits:
The Family Hub™ Wi-Fi touchscreen allows you to leave notes and reminders, upload and display your photos, stream videos and music, watch television and manage your calendar.
This Family Hub™ refrigerator features three interior cameras that you can access via your smartphone, so you can check to see what you need during trips to the grocery store.
Select models have a FlexZone™ compartment with five preset temperature selections ranging from -8°F to 41°F, so it can be used for refrigeration or for freezing, depending on your needs.
For years Bosch has been a top selling dishwasher brand. Bosch makes high quality dishwashers at a fair price. The biggest complaint about Bosch dishwashers was that Bosch uses condensation to dry dishes. Although this method is energy efficient, many consumers complained about wet dishes, especially plastic items. Last year Bosch revamped its drying technology with CrystalDry. This feature is chemical-free and energy efficient. CrystalDry technology uses zeolite rocks that create heat when wet.
Noteworthy Benefits:
Access your dishwasher via a smartphone or tablet, receive notifications once the cycle of your dishwasher is complete or when it begins to run low on detergent tabs, or if there is ever a leakage that happens
CrystalDry transforms moisture into heat to get dishes, including plastics, 60% drier
Flexible third rack features expandable wings that easily lower to accommodate more of your deeper items while adjustable tines let you customize the rack’s loading space to fit awkward bulky items
This smart range is a foodie’s dream. Signature Kitchen Suite is a new luxury appliance brand built from the ground up. All of their appliances are Wi-fi connected. This range is a showstopper incorporating sous vide, induction, steam convection, and powerful gas cooking all into one.
Noteworthy Benefits:
Most versatile range incorporating pro gas, sous vide, induction, and steam cooking into one.
Two zone induction is a great companion to pro gas cooking.
Convertible wok grate makes it possible to cook with round bottomed cookware.
Dacor is a luxury appliance brand that was purchased by Samsung in 2016. Since Dacor Appliances were always known for techie features, the acquisition by Samsung made sense. The Dacor Contemporary Series cooktop is the most technologically advanced out there. It has built-in recipes with video tutorials walking you through every step of the cooking process. In addition, this cooktop can be Bluetooth connected to a Dacor hood for optimal ventilation.
Noteworthy Benefits:
Seamlessly integrate into the SmartThings connected platform, providing an exceptional foundation for an ever growing ecosystem of smart connectivity.
Use the Flex Zone ™ with nine flexible cooking modules to accommodate pots and pans of all shapes and sizes with a simple swipe of the finger.
VirtualFlame ™ creates a beautiful LED virtual flame to provide an attractive visual cue that the heat is on.
This smart electric range from Whirlpool is both feature-loaded and affordable. With so many app integrations, you can use your Wi-fi oven to create meals the whole family will enjoy. This range is available in a variety of colors including stainless steel, black, white, and black stainless steel.
Noteworthy Benefits:
Scan-to-cook technology makes cooking easy! Scan a food barcode with your smartphone and customized cooking settings will be sent to the oven.
FrozenBake™ Technology allows you to cook frozen food with pre-programmed settings to get your meals table ready in less time.
Use your smart device to put your range into Party Mode to remotely active the keep warm setting so your dishes stay ready to serve.
Steam ovens have been a huge trend in the luxury kitchen design space. Steam ovens are the healthiest cooking appliance, maximizing color, flavor, and nutritional value without adding oil and fat. Thermador recently revamped their wall ovens and this combination oven with steam convection has been a top seller because of its large capacity and sleek design.
Noteworthy Benefits:
Commercial style rotisserie with 12 pound capacity
Full Access® telescopic rack holds up to 45 pounds, integrated easy grip handle
Door gently closes without slamming
I was pleasantly surprised to see this innovative washing machine from GE. It’s known in the industry that front loading washers are the best for their energy efficiency and features. However front loaders are prone to mold and mildew problems. GE spent years working to solve the issue. With the bacteria resistant microban technology, and UltraFresh vent system I’m curious this set should be a gamechanger for front load users.
Noteworthy Benefits:
The first and only UltraFresh Vent System with OdorBlock™ eliminates excess moisture to help prevent odors ensuring your washer stays fresh and clean.
Save time and make laundry effortless with an intelligent dispenser that holds up to 32 loads of detergent and automatically dispenses the right amount each time.
Use built-in Wi-fi to start, stop and monitor your laundry from anywhere while receiving real-time notifications and updates.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt that smart home technology will revolutionize how we interact with our apliances. To be candid, home appliances are relatively late to the game. Think about it, the world around you is getting smarter. Over the last decade you probably adopted a smartphone, purchased a smart television, and bought a vehicle with Wi-fi connectivity. Ready or not, smart home appliances are here to stay.
