There is a lot of talk about smart Albuquerque homes, which may require a hub.

It makes life easier when you automate your home. Using a smart home hub, you can connect devices from different manufacturers and then have them interact with one another. With an automation hub, you can control everything connected to your home from one app.

However, automation hubs aren't always necessary. You can control most smart home devices through an app. They may come with a hub or bridge if they need one. Again, a multi-purpose hub allows you to control everything through one app, so it is an option that some people prefer, although it is not a necessity for everyone.

Do You Need a Hub?

Consider the components of your smart home system as well as how many devices you need to control when deciding whether or not you need a hub.

Many devices come with their own hubs or don't require one at all. For example, Philips Hue Smart Lights have their own hub that connects to a router, serving as a bridge between your smartphone and the devices.

Also, Nest thermostats, Sonos speakers, and Ring doorbells work without a hub.

The popularity of LG and Samsung TVs serving as hubs is rising, and Apple TV can serve as a hub if you have HomeKit-compatible devices.

You may need a hub as you add more smart products to the mix.

You can also use a hub to control several devices simultaneously and create “scenes.” For example, if you’re going to watch a movie, you might have a programmed scene so that your hub will automatically dim your lights, close the blinds, lock the doors and adjust the heating in your living room.

Which Hubs Are Available?

With the popularity of smart home devices and the Internet of Things, as you might guess, there are many hub options out there.

Amazon Echo 4th Generation is good if you’re an Alexa user.

There are numerous low-power devices that can be connected to the Amazon Echo 4th generation. Due to Alexa's advanced routines, you can use a lot of triggers to control other devices. Along with Alexa Guard, it can detect smoke alarms and glass breaking and activate your home's lights in an emergency.

The Samsung SmartThings Hub v3 is also an excellent choice. It has Zigbee and Z-Wave inside it, and you can connect to hundreds of devices. You can also create a lot of different scenes and scenarios, and SmartThings, as of fairly recently, works with Nest products.

Apple HomeKit supports fewer devices than Google’s platform, but it does let you create routines and scenes with more complexity.

The HomePod mini works with HomeKit, and it’s a smart speaker and a HomeKit hub so you can connect your lights, locks, and other low-power devices.

The Amazon EchoDot is one of the cheaper hubs, and it will work if your devices have WiFi or Bluetooth, although it doesn’t have Z-Wave or Zigbee.

Finally, another good choice is the Google Nest Hub Max.

One of its strongest points is the smart display with a large 10-inch screen. It has powerful dual speakers, and the camera is perfect for Google Duo video calls.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread are all included with the Nest Hub Max. As long as your security cameras are compatible with Google Assistant, you can use the display to view live footage. Video doorbells and baby monitors can also be viewed, and the on-screen controls allow you to adjust the brightness.

When comparing all the available options, you need to think about your goals and what you plan to control. You may not need a hub if you have just one or two smart devices. If you have several, a hub can be worth it to you.