Smart plugs like the
Aukey can turn regular products into smart devices. When you plug your lights into smart plugs, you gain voice control to turn them on and off with Alexa.
Amazon Echo products come with built-in speakers, but audiophiles might long for something more powerful. The
Sonos One is a stronger smart speaker with Alexa built in, so it will work just like an Echo device. But it offers a much more robust speaker that takes your music to the next level.
The
Amazon Fire TV Stick makes any TV smart. It gives you complete voice control over your television so you can turn it on and off, change the volume, and control apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video.
Of any smart hub, Alexa gives you the widest range of compatible smart devices. It’s the only smart hub with built-in compatibility with Zigbee-enabled products. But Echo devices don’t have a built-in Z-Wave chip, meaning not all Z-Wave products will be automatically compatible with Alexa.
That said, Amazon has ensured the Alexa is compatible with most leading smart home products. Even for most Z-Wave products, you can likely download an Amazon Skill that gives you control over smart devices even if they’re not directly compatible with the Echo. Wemo products, for example, are compatible with Alexa only once you’ve downloaded the Wemo skill through Amazon. So you’re not likely to run into many smart devices that won’t work with Alexa.