Alexa: The best compatible devices and systems

Alexa shows us youtube videos. She also tells jokes and sets the egg timer. The Amazon voice assistant makes a lot more sense for controlling smart home devices. With the right Alexa-compatible devices, you can put together your own smart home system, which can be controlled via a smart speaker such as Amazon Echo.

Table of contents Table of contents Amazon Alexa: Overview of compatible devices and systems

• How does the control of Alexa-compatible devices work?
• Category 1: WiFi adapter for Alexa
• Category 2: Heating control for Alexa
• Category 3: surveillance cameras for Alexa
• Category 4: Light control for Alexa
• Category 5: robot vacuum for Alexa
• Category 6: Music control with Alexa
• Category 7: Smart TVs for Alexa
• Category 8: Smart Home Systems for Alexa
• Conclusion: Does Alexa replace a "real" smart home system?
• Outlook: More Alexa-compatible devices and systems

Table of contents Table of contents Amazon Alexa: Overview of compatible devices and systems

• How does the control of Alexa-compatible devices work?
• Category 1: WiFi adapter for Alexa
• Category 2: Heating control for Alexa
• Category 3: surveillance cameras for Alexa
• Category 4: Light control for Alexa
• Category 5: robot vacuum for Alexa
• Category 6: Music control with Alexa
• Category 7: Smart TVs for Alexa
• Category 8: Smart Home Systems for Alexa
• Conclusion: Does Alexa replace a "real" smart home system?
• Outlook: More Alexa-compatible devices and systems

Alexa is arguably the most versatile voice assistant in the world. In Germany alone, she has over 6, 000 different skills. Some of them are pure gimmick, but now there are also many useful Alexa skills for the handless control of smart home devices and systems: from Sonos Multiroom speakers to vacuum robots. DASHAUS presents the best Alexa-compatible devices in 9 categories.

How does the control of Alexa-compatible devices work?

The principle is simple: The Alexa app is installed on a smartphone or tablet. The desired Alexa skills are activated in the app, which gradually expand the ability of the smart home system. Most manufacturers now provide a suitable skill that makes their smart home devices Alexa-compatible.

So that the Alexa-compatible devices can now also be controlled by voice command, you need a smart speaker with an integrated microphone, which of course must also be Alexa-compatible. Smart speakers that make the most sense for use in smart homes are those that support WLAN as well as other wireless standards such as Bluetooth, ZigBee and Z-Wave. Because the more radio languages ​​the smart speaker speaks, the more devices it can “understand”.

The Amazon Echo Studio and Show models are currently particularly suitable for smart home use, as they have ZigBee radio in addition to WLAN. For example, smart lighting systems such as Philips Hue and Osram Ledvance can be integrated.

Alexa compatible: these are the best devices in 9 categories

Category 1: WiFi adapter for Alexa

Adapter plugs, often referred to as smart sockets, allow you to control any power supply device by voice and integrate it into the Echo Smart Home. Popular areas of application are floor lamps, coffee machines, washing machines and irons. Many Alexa-compatible adapters also measure the power consumption of the connected device, so you can quickly discover power guzzlers and draw their juice. It is also practical if the Smart Plug has a button on the device itself, so that the Alexa controllable device can also be switched manually.

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT (e.g. Samsung SmartThings)

Schedules: Yes

Measure power consumption: No.

On / Off button: Yes

USB ports: -

Price: approx. 14 euros

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT

Schedules: Yes

Measure power consumption: Yes

On / Off button: Yes

USB ports: 2

Price: approx. 34 euros

With your smartphone, you can easily dim your light thanks to the compatible socket.

Photo: MoKo

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant

Schedules: Yes

Measure power consumption: No.

On / Off button: Yes

USB ports: 2

Price: approx. 16 euros

Category 2: Heating control for Alexa

One of the most popular smart home areas is smart heating. Automation allows the heating to be programmed to save energy and the temperature to be adjusted on demand. Smart thermostats have also often installed a window open detection, which ensures that the heating shuts down when the window is open. Tado ° is one of the pioneers in the field of smart heating control, but there are now many other providers with Alexa compatibility. The Tado ° alternatives are cheaper, but you make slight compromises in functionality. For example, only Tado ° has a geofencing function, in which the system heats up automatically when a family member moves towards the house.

Compatible with: Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT

Geofencing: yes (approx.1.50 euros / month)

Open window detection: Yes (approx.1.50 / month)

Indoor climate monitoring: yes

Smart Home Hub required: Yes

Price: approx. 110 euros

You can control the thermostat anytime and anywhere via the Meross app. The control can also take place via the voice command via Alexa.

Photo: Meross

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT

Geofencing: No.

Open window detection: Yes

Indoor climate monitoring: no

Smart Home Hub required: Yes

Price: approx. 70 euros

Compatible with: Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT

Geofencing: No.

Open window detection: Yes

Indoor climate monitoring: yes

Smart Home Hub required: Yes

Price: approx. 70 euros

Category 3: surveillance cameras for Alexa

Video surveillance in the smart home has become even easier since the invention of the Amazon Echo Show. The camera image can be viewed at any time on the screen of the smart home speaker. Whether outside, inside or in front of the door, there are Alexa-compatible surveillance cameras for all applications. An alternative to the classic surveillance camera is a WLAN video doorbell. They can be used to greet friends from the garden chair or postmen from the supermarket.

With a smart surveillance camera, you can track unwanted visitors immediately.

Photo: Koogeek

Compatible with: Alexa

Battery / power operation: battery

Angle: 110 °

Two-way audio: yes

Data storage: cloud or SD card

Price: approx. 46 euros

Compatible with: Alexa, IFTTT

Battery / power operation: battery

Angle: 110 °

Two-way audio: No.

Data storage: cloud

Price: approx. 65 euros

Compatible with: Alexa, IFTTT

Battery / power operation: rechargeable battery

Angle: 160 °

Two-way audio: yes

Data storage: cloud

Price: approx. 280 euros

Category 4: Light control for Alexa

Dimming the light to Alexa using a voice command is particularly convenient. Smart lighting systems offer other advantages too: presence can be simulated on vacation, and when waking up, smart LEDs imitate a colorful sunrise. The best light control for Alexa is still Philips Hue, as the compatible lighting system offers the largest range of functions. Tradfri from the Ikea Home Smart System is a cheap alternative, Nanoleaf Aurora consists of square LED modules that are more design elements than classic lighting.

With the Philips Hue you can adjust the light to your mood.

Photo: Philips

Compatible with: Alexa, HomeKit, IFTTT, Google Assistant

Sunrise function: Yes

Burglary protection function: Yes, integrated in the app

Smart Home Hub required: Yes

Price starter set: approx. 156 euros

Now a blue light, later a green light - with the IKEA TRADFRI set this is no longer a problem.

Photo: IKEA

Compatible with: Alexa, HomeKit, Google Assistant

Sunrise function: Yes

Burglary protection function: only self-programmed

Smart Home Hub required: Yes

Price starter set: approx. 75 euros

Compatible with: Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT

Sunrise function: Yes, via IFTTT

Burglary protection function: only programmed by yourself

Smart Home Hub required: Yes, mini module

Price starter set: approx. 150 euros

Category 5: robot vacuum for Alexa

Suction robots are not yet a complete replacement for manual suction tours, but thanks to the small robot they are much shorter. Especially if you are dealing with animal hair or crumbling toddlers. A vacuum robot with voice control is particularly suitable for seniors. But even in hectic everyday family life, it is good if you can pause the sucker for a phone call or a quiet minute.

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant

Volume: 60 decibels

Weight: 4.2 kg

Collection container: 600 ml

Price: approx. 170 euros

Two multi-floor brushes pull in animal hair, pearls, dust, dirt and large crumbs in no time.

Photo: iRobot

Compatible with: Alexa

Volume: 58 decibels

Weight: 3.8 kg

Collection container: 600 ml

Price: approx. 390 euros

Compatible with: Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT

Volume: 55 decibels

Weight: 2.7 kg

Collection container: 600 ml

Price: approx. 250 euros

Category 6: Music control with Alexa

Alexa is made for smart music control. After all, it is annoying to go to the PC or smartphone for every skipping and every volume adjustment. If you don't have a smart home speaker for voice control, you can even combine the practical with the musical and bring a strong speaker into the living room that already has a microphone for Alexa control. This is our selection of the best Alexa compatible speakers:

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant, AirPlay, HomeKit

Integrated microphone: Yes

Stereo: Yes, via IFTTT

Connections: LAN

Bluetooth: yes

Price: approx. 220 euros

Five speakers ensure powerful bass, dynamic mids and crystal clear highs.

Photo: Amazon

Compatible with: Alexa, ZigBee

Integrated microphone: Yes

Stereo: yes

Connections: 3.5mm audio output

Bluetooth: yes

Price: approx. 200 euros

Compatible with: Alexa

Integrated microphone: No.

Stereo: yes

Connections: LAN

Bluetooth: yes

Price: approx. 170 euros

Category 7: Smart TVs for Alexa

No more searching for the remote control … this becomes possible with an alexa-compatible Smart TV. Since the demands on a television are very different, the selection of the best alexa-compatible smart TVs was particularly difficult. Therefore, the selected televisions are only to be understood as examples - very good examples that have proven themselves in practical tests.

The Techwood Smart TV is easy to connect to your Alexa, so you can easily control your TV with a voice command.

Photo: Techwood

Compatible with: Alexa

Inch variants: 32, 39, 40

Resolution: 1, 920 x 1, 080 pixels (Full HD)

Price: approx. 260 euros

Compatible with: Alexa

Inch variants: 39, 40, 43, 49

Resolution: 1, 920 x 1, 080 pixels (Full HD)

Price: approx. 290 euros

Compatible with: Alexa

Inch variants: 43, 50, 55, 58, 65, 75

Resolution: 3, 840 x 2, 160 pixels (4K / Ultra HD)

Price: approx. 385 euros

Category 8: Smart Home Systems for Alexa

The Alexa-compatible devices presented so far are primarily WLAN gadgets (e.g. vacuum cleaner robots, surveillance cameras) or WLAN systems (light control, heating control), which can be controlled via the respective manufacturer app and Alexa. In the following, we present smart home systems that link different smart home devices together via a central gateway. Via a central app, numerous manufacturers 'and non-manufacturers' devices can then be grouped and interconnected in if-then rules. Here is a selection of the best Alexa compatible smart home systems:

Magenta Smart Home was one of the first commercial smart home systems. As a result, the system is well thought-out, offers many magenta-compatible components (for example for burglary protection) and is also open to a large number of external manufacturers. This makes Magenta one of the most flexible smart home systems that can be controlled via Alexa. However, a monthly fee of 5 euros or more is payable for app control.

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant

Integrable radio standards: WLAN, HomeMatic, HomeMaticIP, ZigBee, DECT ULE

Open to third-party manufacturers: Yes (official partner products)

Starter package: approx. 90 euros

A cozy atmosphere can be conjured up at the push of a button or by voice command.

Photo: IKEA

IKEA's Smart Home System is the youngest in comparison. So far, there are correspondingly few devices that can be controlled via the IKEA HomeSmart app. These include, for example, a lighting system and a smart roller shutter control. Nevertheless, IKEA HomeSmart deserves a place in the list of the best Alexa devices, because the components are cheap, practical and look good. The system is also future-proof and is constantly being expanded.

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant

Integrable radio standards: WLAN, ZigBee

Open to third-party manufacturers: No.

Starter package light control: approx. 65 euros

Starter package roller shutter control: approx. 130 euros

Gigaset Elements is an affordable, manageable security system that specializes in burglary protection, fire and flood protection. A special feature of this Alexa-compatible system is the option for the smart home for seniors: family members are informed about unusual events in the person requiring care via a special remote monitoring app.

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant, Philips Hue

Integrable radio standards: WLAN, ZigBee

Open to third-party manufacturers: limited

Starter package light control: approx. 60 euros

If you own Homee, you can buy radio modules as needed and thus expand your repertoire of compatible devices.

Photo: Homee

Homee is currently the only smart home system that offers an open, fully compatible base station. This means that the user can buy radio modules (e.g. ZigBee, Z-Wave, Enocean) and connect the corresponding radio devices according to their own needs. Homee itself does not offer any smart home devices. The system is open to all manufacturers as long as they are part of the software. A list of the tested compatible devices can be found on the homee homepage. Small entry hurdle: Each Homee radio module costs just under 100 euros.

Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Shortcuts

Integrable radio standards: WLAN, ZigBee, Z-Wave, EnOcean

Open to third-party manufacturers: yes

Starter package: approx. 199 euros

Conclusion: Does Alexa replace a "real" smart home system?

The Alexa-compatible devices not only listen to your word, they can also be automated and interconnected like a real smart home system. Example: The roller shutters close every day at 8 p.m., the lighting system is activated automatically. For this purpose, the Alexa app has the "Routines" category, in which you can define such rules.

However, what is not (yet) possible in the Alexa Smart Home is the activation or deactivation of Alexa-compatible devices depending on certain sensor information. This is possible with a smart home system such as homee or magenta. Example: The roller shutters close automatically when the weather station notices strong sunshine or sunset. If you enjoy this type of automation, you won't be able to avoid an additional smart home system. Alexa-compatible devices are an ideal addition to "real" smart home systems or a simple entry into the smart home world.

Outlook: More Alexa-compatible devices and systems

• Amazon Echo Smart Home speakers
• Alexa-compatible door / window contacts
• Alexa-compatible light switch
• Alexa-compatible roller shutter control
• Amazon Fire TV sticks
• Homematic IP Smart Home

Alina Günder