Best smart security devices 2020: what they do, and which ones to buy – T3

Security is one area where the rise of smart tech has been an immediate and obvious improvement the best smart security tech enables you to know whether there's a problem at home the second something happens, and even gives you the power to see what's happening from anywhere, and respond appropriately.

It's brought the cost of effective home security down massively, and removes the need to have someone come in and install products onto the building itself, so smart security tech is viable for renters as well as owners.

There are many different approaches to smart security devices, though, so you need to know which is going to work best for your situation. These range from very low-impact options such as a single standalone smart camera with motion detection, right up to multi-sensor security systems with sirens and the full works (but that can send you notifications if anything happens when you're out, as well as blaring an alarm to the neighbours).

We've outlined the key smart security device types below, what each kind of device is useful for, and our pick of the best of them.

If youre looking for a way to add comprehensive security improvements to your home in a low-touch way, smart camera systems are the way to go. By a 'smart security camera system', we mean a set that uses satellite cameras usually connected to a base station, giving the cameras their own dedicated wireless connection so their feeds are less likely to be disrupted. The base station will perform some of the smart functions, and usually has the option of local storage, so if your internet drops out, the footage is still recorded centrally. These camera systems often have a lot of features beyond just recording footage that help them function more like larger security setups theyll have motion detection, and may have features such as spotlights, built-in sirens, two-way communication and more.

See all of the best smart security camera systems

(Image credit: Arlo)

A smart security camera system that does a lot more too

+Loads of great security features+Totally wireless camera design+Excellent image quality

-Quite expensive-Options may be overwhelming for some

This is an expensive setup to get into, but thats because its so comprehensive. The Arlo Pro 3 gives you totally wireless cameras that mount magnetically (starter packs will come with some mounts, but you can buy whatever you need) and are weatherproof, so you place them absolutely anywhere.

An Arlo starter system will give you a base station to connect to your router, and a number of cameras that connect to it over its own wireless connection. You can choose packs that come with two, three or four cameras to begin with, but you can also buy Arlo cameras individually and add them to your system later its designed to be really flexible.

The reason we rate Arlo Pro 3 so highly is that it does so much, and it does it all excellently. The simple business of recording images is handled really well HDR recording means it works great in bright sunlight, colour night vision means it gives you really useful images at night. A spotlight on each camera means they can be used as mini-floodlights (and will scare away some would-be intruders). Two-way talk on each camera means you can hear whats going on, and yell at people. Each camera can also act as a siren, which you can trigger manually easily. But the cameras also listen out for things that sound like alarms, so can tell you if your fire alarm has gone off even when youre out of the house.

Theres motion detection, of course, but the cameras can detect whether something is human, animal or another kind of motion, so you dont get worried just because the cats in the garden.

And you can impressively customise what features should automatically activate themselves and when. Its an in-depth system in terms of what it can do, but if you want comprehensive home security with nothing to install other than screwing a few mounts in place, theres no better option.

It also works with Apple HomeKit, and with Alexa and Google Assistant, for viewing your camera feeds on compatible devices.

If you want to keep an eye on your home, but dont need the depth and elaborateness of the kind of system mentioned above, you can grab a smart camera designed with security in mind, but that isnt so heavy on features. A standard smart home camera will have motion detection, night vision and cloud recording, which are the key things you need to be able to watch your home from afar. As you go up in price, more options will be added. Theyre usually plugged in, rather than battery powered, and though some can be wall mounted, most are designed to sit on a shelf or side. If you want more security, you can usually add more than one of the same kind of camera to their apps with making things much more complicated.

See more of the best smart cameras

(Image credit: Ring)

The perfect smart starter cam

+Flexible design works anywhere+Excellent image quality+Simple-to-use app

-Not the most advanced image recognition features

Rings products are very easy to set up and the app is really simple to use, which is a big part of what makes this our top recommendation. You get really solid security features, but you dont have to work for them. On top of this, this is more flexible than a lot of rival options: its designed to sit on a shelf or be wall-mounted, thanks to a flexible hinge system, and its available wired or wireless. Its also weatherproof, so you can use it outdoors, if you choose.

It can detect and warn you about motion, and it has excellent Full HD image quality day or night.

Its biggest downside is that it has no local storage option it only stores videos in the cloud, and it costs 2.50/$3 per month for the privilege. It also has a slightly limited field of view at 115 cameras like this can offer 180, meaning they can watch a much wider area. This certainly won't be a problem for everyone, though.

It also might cost more than some are looking to spend if youre looking for a cheaper option, we thoroughly recommend the Neos SmartCam. For under 30, this also includes motion detection and night vision, and 1080p recording. It comes with free cloud recording, but also the ability to install a microSD card for local recording instead (or as well). It can also be wall-mounted, or can sit on a shelf.

A smart security system is a lot like the classic style of home security system, but extra connectivity can make it easier to control, and means it tells you when there's a problem with a notification on your smartphone wherever you are and it can tie together with other smart home tech. A system will include a control pad for arming and disarming, a siren that usually doubles as a hub for communicating with accessories, and a number of additional sensors, such as door and window opening sensors and motion detectors. Some include additional smart options, such as wireless tags to disarm the system with no effort.

(Image credit: Yale)

A comprehensive smart security starter set

+Great set of core security options+Highly expandable+Works with other smart home tech

-Fairly expensive to get into-No cellular backup

There are smart security system options from many manufacturers, and actually a lot of them are very similar in features, so it may be worth thinking about the ecosystem you want to go with if you like the look of the Ring camera mentioned above, the Ring Alarm Security System might be your best choice, for example. But assuming you're not coming into it with any kind of existing ecosystem pull, this is our recommendation.

Obviously, Yale is a trusted name in security, but its security system gets our nod for being a really well thought-out setup in its own right, both in terms of the original kit and the expansion options.

This Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm Family Kit is built around a base station, and all the other accessories connect to it wirelessly.

The accessories include a siren, of course, plus a keypad unit for arming and disarming the system, and three sensors: two motion detectors, and a door/window contact sensor. The motion detectors are exactly what they sound like, and you can tuck them into the corners of the ceiling to look over key areas of the house. The door/window contact sensor fits on the frame of a door or window, and can tell if it's been opened. They can all talk to the base unit over a range of around 200m, so distance is no problem.

The extendability is what we really like here: you can add more of the same motion sensors or door/window sensors, of course, but you can also add motion sensors that are smart enough to ignore pets, or a smoke/heat detector unit, or a panic button, and even special key fobs that turn off the alarm without you needing to actually bother with the code.

It also works with other smart home gear for example, you can ask Alexa to check the current security status or to arm the system, and you can connect it to your Philips Hue lights, so they might come on or change colour when something unexpected happens.

Our only real issues is that, for telling you on your phone when something has happened, it relies totally on your Wi-Fi so if that goes down, it becomes a regular 'dumb' alarm system. This is true for most of the competition too, though the Honeywell Evohome Security system does include a cellular backup communication option, if that's a dealbreaker for you.

The idea of smart door locks is to keep your home as secure as ever, but to help avoid situations where someone with a key just cant be home when needed, or to skip having to get a mass of spares cut for guests. With a smart lock, the door can be accessed by other means, which will depend on the lock. Some have keypads, and you can set up a code that will last only for a limited amount of time (or even single-use). Some have wireless access, and you can share the authority to unlock a door with someones phone (and, again, time-limit it or revoke it whenever you want). And they can be handy for locking and unlocking remotely, so that someone comes without their keys you can open it for them, or if someone tries to deliver something, you can open the door just to let them pop the parcel inside (this pairs really well with a smart doorbell see below).

(Image credit: Yale)

The best smart lock, taking full advantage of the possibilities

+Clever keyless design+Really flexible ways to provide access

-Only for multi-point locks (see below for alternative)

The Yale Conexis L1 Smart Lock is designed for multi-point locks (the kind where you lift the handle) Yale also makes the Keyless Connected Smart Door Lock for nightlatches. This is totally keyless, in the traditional sense of something you insert in the door. You can still use physical objects to unlock it, but theyre little tags you place on the door. Otherwise, you can use your phone to unlock the door and give guest access to other peoples phones for as long as you want them to have it, then their access stops. That actually goes for the physical key tags too you could give one to your neighbour so they can feed the cat while you're away, but only have it function when youre actually gone. You can order more physical tags if you need them.

Because every access type is personal, you can keep a record of exactly who is unlocking the door too, and when.

The Keyless Connected Smart Door Lock also has these options, but adds a numerical keypad too both locks are designed to balance flexibility and security well.

Smart doorbells are a major convenience getting a notification on your phone whenever someone presses the button no matter where you are, and being able to see and talk to whoevers there, means youll never miss a parcel or an important visit. But they can also be part of your home security setup, keeping an eye on the front of your house from eye level.

See all the best video doorbells

(Image credit: Ring)

Easy to install, and works wired or wirelessly

+Great video quality+Good battery life+Some clever motion-detection features

-Smarts are a little limited-Fairly expensive

This is the most advanced doorbell from the company thats become synonymous with the field it includes intelligent motion detection (including being able to discern close movement from far away, and to tell when movement is a person rather than something else), Full HD video, two-way talk and, of course, it will notify you when someone presses the button or when it detects motion (your choice).

It can record video to the cloud (which requires a subscription) or you can use it solely to view live video without a subscription. The key feature thats only available in this Plus version is Pre-Roll Video, which enables you to see four seconds of black and white video of what happened before the motion detector triggered or the button was pushed, as well as what came after.

It runs on batteries or a wired connection, and its easy to pop the battery out for recharging, but it will last around two months anyway. It comes with all the major things you need to install it, including two optional wedge mounts to get the optimum viewing angle. Installation and setup are really easy, too.

For the privacy-conscious, a useful new feature is the ability to black out sections of the screen, blocking the cameras views of those sections entirely you could use this for your neighbours garden or windows, for example.

Security systems are usually based on a couple of key types of sensor: motion and contact. Motion sensors passively detect whether someone or something is moving about in range. Many smart cameras have this functionality built in, but you dont need anything so techy for it there are options that are more passive. These can then send a notification if they detect something, or can be set up to talk to other smart home tech. For example, a motion detector in the hallway could turn on some lighting when it detects someone walking past or it can trigger a smart alarm to start blaring. Contact sensors are used on doors or windows, and they simply have a couple of units that can tell you whether that door or window is open or not. Again, they can be set to tell you when this happens (if a door opens when youre out, for example), or they can trigger other smart home gear when this happens.

You'll have noticed that these sensors do feature as part of our smart security system choice further up the list, but here we're looking at getting the same functions without the siren and keypad and so on.

(Image credit: Samsung)

Great sensors for doors/windows, and motion detection

+Inexpensive sensors+Some extra useful functionality+Wide smart home platform compatibility

-Require a hub to work

Samsungs smart home system is called SmartThings, and encompasses a broad range of product types. Its the sensors were interested here, though it sells both a motion sensor (called the SmartThings Motion Sensor) and a contact sensor (called the SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor) that also detects temperature and vibration, so it can detect if a door is being knocked on, or if someone is attempting to force a window.

The SmartThings system works with a wide range of other products, so theres lots of other smart home tech these can tie into, or you can just use them to get notifications if anything changes.

They require a hub of some kind you can use an official SmartThings hub, but they can also connect directly to the Amazon Echo Plus built-in control hub. This SmartThings Starter Kit is really good value it's a hub and a number of sensors, plus a smart plug control unit.

There is a whole smart security alarm system that works with them, very similar to the Yale system above, too. However, if you just want the sensors rather than the alarm and the rest of the gear, you can do that with SmartThings and save some money.

They may not be security products in the more traditional sense, but smoke detectors are definitely vital to the overall safety of your home, and actually they can feature as part of a security setup, because some will function as the noisy part of a burglar alarm-type smart system. Were mostly focused on their core functions here, though: detecting smoke (and, in many cases, carbon monoxide) and warning you when thats the case, even if youre not at home.

(Image credit: Google)

So much better than a regular smoke alarm

+Wired or wireless+Gives warnings before it goes off+Loads of really thoughtful features

-Nothing major

This sleek box keeps a watch for both smoke and carbon monoxide, and what has always impressed us about it is that its smart in the clever sense as well as the connected sense it feels like it was made for real-life, not to tick things off a spec list.

For a start, when it first detects smoke, it doesnt go straight to a blaring alarm. It sends you a notification saying smoke has been detected, and announcers out loud in a friendly voice that smoke has been spotted, and that the alarm will sound if nothing changes. If the problem is just burnt chips, this gives you a grace period to open the window and clear the smoke, or you can just manually silence the alarm, knowing that youve got the situation under control. If you have more than one Nest Protect, it will also tell you exactly which room the problem is in when all this happens.

That feature alone makes us never want to go back to normal smoke detectors no more false alarms that terrify the cat! but it does lots more still. It self checks, for example, testing its own components multiple times per day, and running its own sound check once per month (in which its own microphone listens out for the sound, so it can run this while youre out of the house). And when you turn the lights off, it gives you a single gentle flash of a green light to let you know everything is working correctly before you go to sleep.

It can also discern steam from smoke, so you dont get false positives from a steamed up bathroom being opened. And it even functions as a night light: when someone walks under, it gives the perfect gentle glow to help you see your way.

And you can buy it to be battery powered or cabled in your choice, and its the same price either way. Its actually the smart home product wed recommend most people should start with its a truly undeniable upgrade over the dumb old system.

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Best smart security devices 2020: what they do, and which ones to buy - T3