Get a smart home for less than £150 in the sales

Smart home devices can cost a small fortune - it's easy to splash out hundreds, possibly even thousands, on gadgets to automate your home. 

However, you really don't need deep pockets to set up a smart home - we show how you can get a great set up for less than £150. That includes a security camera, smart doorbell, smart light bulb and smart plug, along with an Amazon Alexa speaker to act as the central hub.

If you are shopping for smart devices this Christmas, you should also think about your data privacy. Further down, get tips on staying safe while using smart devices. 

If you can't find what you want from the suggestions ahead, check our full smart home device reviews for plenty more options.

A smart speaker

Smart speakers combine the functionality of a music speaker with a voice activated hub for controlling your smart devices. You can usually access a voice assistant, such as Amazon's Alexa - useful for asking questions but also controlling other gadgets, such as security cameras. If you go for a smart display with a built-in screen, you could view the camera footage, too.

What to look out for: As the speaker acts as your central hub, you need to ensure it will work with all your other smart home devices. This is often based on the voice assistant you want to use, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. Compatibility could also be based on brand, such as Alexa working with Philips Hue lights. 

How much do they cost?: There are plenty of cheap smart speakers, including the Echo Dot and Echo Pop, both available for easily under £50. However, you will sacrifice on speaker quality at that level, so if you want to play music or podcasts, you should look elsewhere. Some smart speakers can run into the hundreds of pounds, but if you just want the device to act as a smart home hub, then such an outlay could be overkill. 

Our pick: The Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) combines good sound with strong functionality, including an 8-inch screen on which to access devices, such as for the Ring smart doorbell below. 

• Also consider: The Echo Pop (SQUIRREL_TEXT_50010380) – which is currently on offer for a two-pack with a Philips Hue White Smart Light Bulb.

A smart doorbell

Smart doorbells act as a digital receptionist for the front door of your home. They can be used to greet visitors, whether that's a delivery driver or a friend arriving for dinner, as well as keep an eye out for possible intruders. 

What to look out for: You don't want to struggle seeing who's at your door, so go for a Full HD 1080p resolution camera. It's also useful to get as wide a field of view as possible, so you easily see what is going on outside. 

How much do they cost?: Getting a decent smart doorbell for under £100 isn't easy. Most of our tested models cost more than that, with one tipping over £300. As you look higher up the price range it is always worth considering if you really need the functions that are being added. If not, you could be just as well served with a cheaper model. 

Our pick: Amazon's Ring has done an impressive job with the Ring Video Doorbell Wired. It does require mains power, so might need to be professionally installed, but it's easy to use and is available at a budget-friendly price. 

• Also consider: The Ring Video Doorbell plus an Echo Pop - SQUIRREL_TEXT_50010421.

A wireless security camera

A security camera is an always watching guard dog for your smart home, ready to alert you if it spots someone up to no good. Cameras can be purchased for either inside or outdoors at your home, although some models are dual purpose and can do both. 

What to look out for: As with doorbells, it's worth investing in a decent resolution video quality and a good microphone/speaker sound array - that way you will always see and hear what is going. Some cameras have a fixed angle, so you'll need to think where you place them. Others have motorised pan and tilt, so you can scan around to see what has happened. 

How much do they cost?: There is plenty of choice in the sub £100 market in security cameras, particualrly for indoor models. We have plenty at £50 or under that would do a great job of keeping an eye on the inside of your home. Outdoor cameras can be more expensive, going into the many hundreds of pounds, but you'd only pay that if you want a near CCTV level system to protect your home. 

Our pick: The TP-Link Tapo C100 indoor security camera offers fantastic value. It has good video quality and is easy to use. If you're not bothered about having a smart doorbell, you could use those funds on an additional outdoor security camera. The TP-Link Tapo C310 is only a little more, and you can record video clips on local storage without needing an additional subscription. 

How to save money on smart tech subscription costs - We show you how to save money on smart home extras, and also record and store video clips in case you need them.

A smart plug

No more struggling behind the sofa to flick off a lamp, now you can do it via an app using a smart plug. These nifty gadgets are great for convenience, but also security. Set a light to come on using a schedule, and you can trick potential burglars that you are home while actually on holiday. 

What to look out for: Energy monitoring is a great feature to have on a smart plug as it means you can track the power use of any appliance that is connected. This could be a known energy guzzler or new energy enigma. Knowing how much power a device uses, and when, over a day, week or even a year, enables you to use it more efficiently. 

How much do they cost?: The good news is that there are plenty of smart plugs worth considering that cost around £10, or even cheaper. You'd pay more primarily to get a smart plug multipack - usually four plug bundles that cost around £20-30. 

Our pick: The TP-Link Tapo P110 is our choice, as it combines all the traditional smart plug features with energy monitoring, at a great price.

Smart lighting

If the humble plug is going smart, why shouldn't your lighting? With just a flick of an app on your phone, smart lights can be turned off, dimmed or even changed colour depending on your mood. We no longer test smart lightbulbs, but you can read more about them in our smart lighting guide.

What to look out for: As with all smart products, compatibility is key. If you want to ask Alexa to turn off your lights, then Amazon voice assistant needs to be able to talk to your lightbulbs (yes, we realise how ridiculous that sounds). You might also need an additional 'bridge' to enable lighting to connect to your wi-fi. 

How much do they cost?: Smart lighting solutions come in all shapes and sizes, from single bulbs to floor lamps to colour-shifting strip lights. If you just want bulbs, you can often buy them in multipacks of two, three or even four. The costs can rack up though - a Philips starter kit with three bulbs and bridge costs around £170. 

Our pick: We haven't tested it, but Philips Hue is a well-established brand and the Philips Hue WO Fil 7W ES Classic costs just £20 for a single bulb, so could be a good way to test out if you really get much benefit from making your lightting smart. 

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Protect your privacy while using smart devices

As we reported in our investigation into smart devices and privacy, it is rarely possible to have full control over what data you share via smart devices, and how that information is used by companies. However, there are steps you can take to improve your data privacy while buying and using smart devices. 

• Do your research: Always check and learn more about the brand behind the device you are considering. Read some reviews and any news stories about the company. And if the device you are considering has a relatively unknown brand, or no brand at all, do proceed with caution. 
• Physical privacy features: Some cameras have dedicated privacy shields, and others have privacy settings, enabling you to customise the device to only track what you want. 
• Permissions and privacy policy: On iOS and Android app stores, you can review permission requests before downloading an app, and check what each app has access to in your settings. You can also usually read the privacy policy - it's typically a long document so can just focus on the data collection section to save time. 
• Care what you share: When you are setting up your smart device, bear in mind that some data collection is optional, and that means you can opt out. Only share what you’re comfortable with.
• Deny access: In your phone settings, you can potentially deny or limit access to data such as location and contacts. Although, that might stop or limit some of the app's functions.
• Check update policies: all smart devices need to be supported with regular updates, to ensure they are safe from hackers and continue to receive the latest features. Unfortunately, some brands abandon their products long before the end of their natural life. Read our guide to smart device support to see how long smart device brands promise to keep their products up to date.

The Information Commissioner's Office has produced its own consumer guide to safeguarding your privacy while using smart devices. Read more about it on the ICO website.