Many smart home devices – from lights and plugs to sensors, cameras, locks and thermostats – work via their own apps. But if you want to control them all from one place, or create automations that involve different products from multiple brands, you need a hub.
Some of the best smart speakers and displays – like Amazon’s Echo range – can act as hubs, but dedicated smart home hubs focus entirely on device control. They often support more standards, work more quickly, and don’t lean more favourably towards one platform or content provider over another.
