The best smart home upgrades of the season, as seen on NBC News Now
The weather is consistently getting warmer, so you might consider making a few home upgrades this season. We stopped by NBC News Now to share some of our favorite outdoor and indoor products this time of year, all of which are smart gadgets. Each of our recommendations is Wi-Fi-enabled and pairs with an app, letting you conveniently control them from wherever you are, customize features and set up automations. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. The best smart home products of the season, as seen on NBC News Now Cielo Breez Lite To save money on your energy bill during the warmer months, experts recommend setting your air conditioner to a higher temperature when you're not home and a lower temperature when you're back. You can easily do so with the Breez Lite, which converts most standard air conditioners to smart units by pairing with their remote. Then, you can control your AC with your phone from wherever you are — the brand's app lets you adjust the temperature and mode, set schedules and view usage history. The Breeze Lite, which is small enough to hide in your space, also makes your AC responsive to voice commands, and it has built-in temperature and humidity sensors. It's compatible with ductless window, mini-split, portable and PTAC units. Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights Upgrade your home's outdoor decor this season with these smart string lights. You can control them from inside or outside your home using the brand's app, which also lets you customize their color, color pattern and brightness. You can set timers in the app and sync the lights with music so they change color or flash with the song's beat — that makes them ideal for parties. The string lights come in two lengths: 48 feet and 96 feet. They can respond to voice commands and are made with water-resistant, shatter-resistant bulbs. Kasa Smart Outdoor Dual Plug Automate devices like sprinklers, lights and fans by connecting them to this outdoor smart plug. It has two individual outlets, and using the app, you can set customized schedules and timers for each one and manually turn them on and off. The smart plug responds to voice commands, too. It's made from a water-resistant material that can withstand temperatures from -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the brand. Netvue by Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with Camera The Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder has a built-in camera that live streams footage to an app, letting you get a good look at critters who stop by. The app sends real-time notifications when the camera detects movement so you know when to tune in. It also stores up to 30 days of recordings at a time, letting you share clips with family and friends. The bird feeder's tray holds up to 50 ounces of bird feed, and its camera films in color during the day and night. The device is water-resistant, wireless and battery-powered — you need to charge it every six months, according to the brand. If you buy Birdfy's AI subscription for an additional fee, the app automatically identifies bird species. Levoit Core 200S-P Air Purifier Using an air purifier like this one helps clean the air in your home, especially during the warmer months when factors like pollen, smog and smoke can cause increased air pollution. It has three filters to capture particles and absorb odors and three fan speeds. The air purifier covers spaces up to 916 square-feet and using the app, you can turn it on and off, set up schedules, start timers and turn on sleep mode, which makes the device even quieter than it already is. There's also a built-in night light you can opt to use. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who has covered home products since 2020. To write this article, I rounded up our editors' favorite smart home products that solve common warm-weather problems. I also appeared in a related segment on NBC News Now. Catch up on NBC Select's in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
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