The word ‘smart’ can mean many things in the context of consumer technology, and applies widely to cover all manner of gadgets and appliances. However, it generally means that a device is connected to the Internet, and can draw some additional functionality using this connection. This can be used to do something as simple as turning the smart device on or off remotely by using a smartphone app, or even being able to keep an eye on your home in real-time from a different continent using a smart camera. The possibilities are endless.

There are many Internet-of-Things (IoT) products available in the Indian market covering various use cases, and new products continue to launch frequently. A lot of these devices can even work together; for example, you could use a smart speaker or smart display to control your smart appliances through voice commands, with many IoT products supporting Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri. There’s a lot you can do, so we’ve come up with this guide to help you make your home a smart one. Read on to find out which are our top picks among IoT gadgets and appliances in India right now.

However, before we get into our recommendations, it’s important to explain just what an IoT device is, and how it works.

What is the Internet-of-Things?

The entire purpose of IoT is to add Internet connectivity to regular devices and appliances, thus making them operable in different scenarios. The most common way to use this kind of connectivity is to make it possible to operate certain devices and appliances remotely using a smartphone, smart display app, or through voice commands. Some examples of this include being able to switch on or off smart bulbs without actually flicking a switch, viewing a camera feed of your home when you’re away, turning on an air purifier, and more.

While the smart home and IoT segments in India are still growing, markets in other regions show just how capable and impressive IoT devices can be, with everything from air conditioners to door bells gaining connected capabilities. The Internet of Things also has a lot of scope in the fields of elder care and healthcare. In India, the space already widely covers products such as air purifiers, cleaning robots, bulbs, and plugs, to name a few.

What do I need to use a smart device?

The most important thing to use any smart device is a good Internet connection. You need stable connectivity since your smart devices will need to always be connected to the Internet and hence, need to be within the range of your Wi-Fi router. The quality of the router is also important, as it will need to cover the range of your home to connect to all devices, and also be able to handle multiple connections.

Apart from this, you’ll need to install the individual apps for all of your smart devices, and it may therefore make sense to stick to a single or a handful of brands at best for all your smart devices so you’re not juggling between too many apps. If you have a smart speaker or smart display, this makes it even easier to use IoT devices and appliances within your home, as many such devices allow for hands-free voice controls through the speakers. It’s advisable to look for IoT devices that work with Amazon Alexa and/or Google Assistant, since this way, you can control them directly via Google Home or Amazon Alexa apps and smart speakers.

You’ll also need to make sure your smart devices match with the inputs, sockets, and existing appliances in your home. For example, smart bulbs will need to fit into the correct socket holders, smart plugs will need to be matched to appliances according to their rated voltage capacity, and devices such as air purifiers and smart air conditioners will need to be connected to an active power supply at all times. A mismatch here could cause damage to not only your smart devices, but also to any devices or sockets they are connected to. You’ll also need to ensure that your devices can connect to your router; many smart devices require a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection to work and dont always support the 5GHz band.

The Best Smart Speaker: Google Nest Audio

The Google Nest Audio is our top pick among smart speakers, for a number of reasons. With very good microphones for voice recognition, good sound quality, and access to Google Assistant, the Rs. 7,999 Google Nest Audio is among the most versatile smart speakers you can buy right now.

Support for Google Assistant means that the Google Nest Audio can be used to control IoT devices around the home, as most third-party products such as smart bulbs, smart plugs, air purifiers, and more, are designed to work with Google’s voice assistant. You can also stream music and other audio content on the speaker, and the good tuning and sound makes for a decent and convenient listening experience.

The Best Smart Display: Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)

One step above the smart speaker is the smart display, and the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is the absolute best you can buy right now. While it is expensive at Rs. 24,999, it’s also the most advanced product of its kind, with a screen that can turn to follow the gaze of the user.

Apart from voice controls for supported IoT products from a number of brands including Xiaomi, Philips, and more, the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) also works well for video calls, music, and watching the occasional video content on its 10.1-inch screen. This is a great addition to any smart home, if you have the budget for it.

The Best Smart Bulb: Mi LED Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

The simplest and often most affordable IoT product you can buy is the smart bulb, and this is a great way to get started with setting up your home automation. Among the best smart bulbs you can buy right now is the Mi LED Wi-Fi Smart Bulb, which is priced at Rs. 1,299 in India. It’s possible to control this smart bulb using an app from anywhere in the world, provided you have Internet connectivity and the bulb is connected to your home Wi-Fi.

You can also change the colour of the light as the 10W bulb supports 16 million colours and works directly without the need for an IoT bridge controller. It’s rated to work for up to 11 years. You can adjust the brightness and it even works with Google Assistant and Alexa for voice controlled operation. It’s among the most versatile and feature-filled smart bulbs in the market.

The Best Smart Plug: Realme Smart Plug

Among the most affordable 6A smart plugs you can buy right now, the Rs. 799 Realme Smart Plug is simple but effective in controlling any connected devices and appliances. It can be voice-controlled using Google Assistant and Alexa, and also works with the Realme Link app where you can set timers or control the power state.

There is a physical button to control the smart plug, and it’s also considerably smaller than its competitors, thus making it a bit easier to use in tight spaces. It’s a great way to make smaller devices such as lamps, mosquito repellent machines, and power strips automated and connected.

The Best Smart Cleaning Robot: 360 S7

One of the most useful applications of the Internet-of-Things is cleaning robots; you can control your robot to automatically clean your home at any time and from any place using a smartphone app. Among the best cleaning robots we’ve reviewed in recent times is the 360 S7, which is currently priced at around Rs. 30,000 in India.

The 360 S7 features both vacuuming and mopping functions, uses laser navigation, and has a detailed app with the ability to very precisely control the cleaning tasks for the device. You can also control the robot using Alexa voice commands.

The Best Smart Air Purifier: Dyson Purifier Cool

Dyson is best known for its handheld vacuum cleaners, but the company’s air purifiers are equally impressive, particularly from the IoT point-of-view. The Dyson Purifier Cool is priced at around Rs. 50,000, and offers flagship-grade air purification for your home, along with all of the benefits of IoT connectivity to enable remote operation and monitoring.

Unlike the more expensive Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool, the ‘Cool’ model does not have a built-in heater for the air, but can be plugged into any 6A power outlet for easier operation, and a focus on air purification and fan-based cooling. The Dyson Link app helps to control the device remotely, and stable connectivity and detailed graphs of the air purification statistics make this the best air purifier you can buy in India right now.

The Best Smart Camera: Godrej Spotlight Pan-Tilt Home Security Camera

The Godrej Spotlight Pan-Tilt Home Security Camera is a bit more expensive than competing options from brands such as Xiaomi and Realme, but has the benefit of being a reputed player in the security solutions business in India for decades. The camera has a wide field of vision, can be controlled using the Godrej Spotlight app, has microSD and cloud storage for video clips, and also features two-way communication.

Also Consider

Mi Air Purifier 3: Priced at Rs. 10,999, the Mi Air Purifier 3 offers good air purification at a reasonable price with a display for air quality, app controls, and support for voice assistants.

iRobot Roomba i3+: Although not quite as versatile as the 360 S7, the iRobot Roomba i3+ offers effective vacuuming, and can also have the vacuum bin on the robot automatically cleaned by the Clean Base docking station.

Apple HomePod mini: The Apple HomePod mini isn’t as capable as the Google Nest Audio or Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) when it comes to IoT compatibility, but it’s a good smart speaker that’s worth having if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem.

Sonos One (2nd Gen): The Sonos One (2nd Gen) is expensive and strangely didn’t have support for voice assistants in India at the time of our review, but sounds exceptional. There’s also app-based controls and support for Apple AirPlay 2.

Realme Smart Cam 360: The Realme Smart Cam 360 is a good alternative to the Godrej Home Security Camera, with similar features and specifications.

Google Nest Hub: Although not as capable as the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) but considerably more affordable at Rs. 6,999, the Google Nest Hub integrates with your Google account to give you visual prompts for Google Assistant functionality.

Philips Hue Smart Bulb: One of the earliest brands in the smart bulb segment, Philips has expanded its Hue range significantly over the years. However, Hue bulbs are still a bit expensive, and not quite as smart as the competition.

Amazon Smart Plug: At Rs. 1,999, The Amazon Smart Plug is much more expensive than the Realme Smart Plug. It works only with Alexa, and is fairly large in size. However, it has a feature called ‘power state retention’ that’s very useful for India where power cuts are frequent in some parts of the country.

Apple AirTag: This small gadget doesn’t do much on its own, but it does come in handy to keep track of your belongings and helps you find them when they are misplaced. It only works if you have an iOS device to use it with, though.

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Sonos is one of the earliest pioneers of multi-room audio setups and wireless home audio streaming. Although the company’s product range now covers even portable audio products, it’s still best known for its connected smart speakers, such as the Sonos One, which I’m reviewing today. Now officially available in India through a distributor, Sonos hopes to take on existing smart speaker brands such as Amazon and Google with a major differentiator – a focus on sound quality.

Priced at Rs. 21,999 in India, the Sonos One (Gen 2) is a Wi-Fi speaker with support for Apple AirPlay 2, and has the ability to stream music directly off the Internet. Although it is more expensive than options such as the Google Nest Audio and Amazon Echo series, the Sonos One promises better sound quality. Does this smart speaker live up to the hype? Find out in this review.

The Sonos One (2nd Gen) works with the Sonos app, which is available on Android and iOS

 

Sonos One (Gen 2) design and specifications

Sonos is best known for its high-end speakers and home audio solutions, but some of the company’s more recent products are positioned as more affordable one-box solutions that are easier to install and use. The Sonos One (Gen 2) is like many of the other smart speakers currently on the market, in the sense that it’s a single device that must be connected to a power socket and is intended to remain in one place.

The Sonos One (Gen 2) speaker has a rectangular block-like shape, with a metal grille on around it, and a plastic base and top. The bottom of the speaker has a socket for the included power adapter. The back has an Ethernet port for wired connectivity and a single button that controls some pairing-related functions. The speaker weighs 1.85kg, and is quite heavy for a product of its size.

The top of the Sonos One (Gen 2) has a touch-sensitive zone, which is used to control playback and the volume. There’s also a microphone button if you need to mute the mic. The play/pause button and volume controls work with single taps, while swiping from left to right or right to left in this area will skip to the next or previous track respectively. You can also control these functions from your smartphone.

The audio drivers on the Sonos One (Gen 2) consist of one tweeter and one mid-woofer. The speaker is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and has 1GB of RAM. The Sonos One (Gen 2) does not have Bluetooth connectivity, and uses only Wi-Fi to stream music off the Internet through linked services. Google’s Chromecast protocol is not supported on the Sonos One (Gen 2) either, so you won’t be able to cast music to the speaker from an Android phone, even with supported apps.

Although the company mentions that both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi are supported, I had various connectivity issues with 5GHz Wi-Fi and had to use a 2.4GHz connection to use the Sonos One (Gen 2) properly. Sonos’ famous multi-room implementation can be set up through the app if you have multiple speakers in your home, and you can also set up a stereo pair with two Sonos One speakers in the same room.

Since the Sonos One (Gen 2) is a Wi-Fi-enabled speaker, you need the Sonos app to set it up (available on iOS and Android). The process took around 10 minutes in total, including connecting the speaker to my Wi-Fi router and linking my streaming services to it. You can also go through the ‘TruePlay’ tuning process which is said to optimise sound based on the acoustics of your room.

The app is quite simple to use once fully set up, with tabs for quick access to recently played tracks, playlists and curations in your linked streaming services, and settings for the Sonos One itself. There’s also a useful Search tab that lets you search across all linked services and your own playlists with keywords.

The Sonos One (2nd Gen) supports various streaming services, including Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music

 

Services that can be linked with the Sonos One (Gen 2) include Apple Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, Gaana, and JioSaavn. You also get free, pre-authenticated access to Sonos Radio, which lets you stream curated Internet radio stations and playlists on the speaker.

If you’re using the Sonos One (Gen 2) with any AirPlay-compatible device such as an iPhone or iPad, you can play audio directly on the speaker using any of the supported apps on the device itself, thanks to AirPlay 2 support. This naturally makes the Sonos One particularly well-suited for use with Apple devices. The Sonos One supports linking Google Assistant or Alexa for hands-free voice commands in some countries, but disappointingly, this feature was not supported in India at the time of this review.

Sonos One (Gen 2) performance

The Sonos One (Gen 2) is a smart speaker for all intents and purposes, but the inability to set up a voice assistant in India is a considerable drawback. As of now, it isn’t possible to just ask the speaker for the content you want. This is a very basic and fundamental feature for any smart speaker such as the Amazon Echo range or the Apple HomePod mini. However, the Sonos One is still very usable even without this feature, albeit with a few more steps needed to play what you want.

You might wonder why buyers should even consider this device over competing smart speakers, given this significant drawback and its high price, but I think this can be answered with one very strong point – sound quality. The Sonos One is very impressive when it comes to sound quality, delivering loud, enjoyable, and refined sound that is comfortably superior to what I’ve heard on any other mainstream smart speaker, including the similarly priced Amazon Echo Studio.

You can connect an Ethernet cable to the Sonos One, as an alternative to Wi-Fi

 

I used the Sonos One (Gen 2) with an Apple iPhone as the controlling device. I found that using AirPlay from within apps such as Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Audible was a lot easier than using the Sonos app. The latter works decently well for fetching content, and this will be your only option if you’re using an Android phone. There were a couple of occasions on which the apps weren’t able to detect the speaker through AirPlay, but this was easily fixed by rebooting either the speaker or my router.

Once connected using AirPlay, streaming was stable and lag-free, sound quality was as good as it could be, and playback and volume controls were quick and responsive. While all of this would have been a lot easier with a voice assistant, none of the other functionality of the speaker is crippled so it’s not a total loss.

Apple’s Siri voice assistant is typically able to hand music off from one device to another using AirPlay protocols, but all of my attempts to do this with audio from my AirPods Pro to the Sonos One using voice commands were met with errors. This did work properly when using AirPlay within the Apple Music app; the music paused on my earphones and resumed on the Sonos speaker after a moment. Once again, voice commands don’t seem to work with the Sonos One (Gen 2) at all.

The controls of the Sonos One (2nd Gen) are at the top, as is the microphone

 

Sound quality on the Sonos One (Gen 2) is, as stated above, exceptional for a smart speaker of this price and size. The speaker is loud, refined, cohesive, and detailed with all genres, and the sonic signature is flexible enough to adapt well to just about any kind of audio content being played. Even at high volumes, there wasn’t much distortion or struggle to be heard from the speaker, and it quite easily delivered powerful sound that could be heard clearly even from different rooms in my home.

Listening to Let’s Groove by Earth, Wind & Fire, the Sonos One offered up tight, refined bass, while allowing for plenty of sparkle in the highs and definition in the mid-range of this disco track. The sound was lively and enjoyable, with much more energy being delivered than what I expected from a speaker of this size. The flexibility of the sound was noticeable even with different types of music, including the punchy and aggressive Boom by Tiesto, with the speaker delivering exactly what was needed.

Even with gentler tracks such as Truth by Kamasi Washington, the Sonos One allowed detail to shine through. With audio books, I was able to hear Ray Porter’s excellent narration of Heaven’s River by Dennis E. Taylor clearly and attentively even from about 10 feet away. The Sonos One is a well-tuned smart speaker that easily outperforms all of its competitors when it comes to sound quality.

TruePlay tuning on the Sonos One (Gen 2) is quite a tedious process, since it requires you to move around the room with your phone for around 10-15 minutes to measure sound using its microphone, all while keeping things quiet. The process failed and needed to be started over a couple of times when I tried this, because of even the slightest disturbance such as someone speaking in a different room, or a doorbell ringing. However, once completed, I found the sound a bit more lively and open with TruePlay active, and would recommend going through these steps for best results.

Verdict

Smart speakers typically need to check some boxes when it comes to features such as Internet connectivity, the ability to link with popular streaming services, and access to voice assistants. As of now, the Sonos One (Gen 2) only fulfills two of the above requirements, although it is possible that the company could roll out support for voice assistants in India in the future. However, on all other counts such as connectivity, usability, and sound quality, the Sonos One is an excellent smart speaker.

Although expensive at Rs. 21,999, the Sonos One (Gen 2) sounds considerably better than any other smart speaker I’ve heard, and this alone makes it worth considering if you have the budget. It might also be worth considering the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen), which although not as good in terms of sound quality, does have an excellent 10-inch screen and full-fledged access to Alexa, for a more complete smart experience.

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