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• We’ve updated our Best for Alexa smoke detector with a new model.

Smoke detectors save lives. And thanks to smart technology, smoke detectors are more effective than ever. With a host of integrated smart features, you can easily keep track of your smoke detector on your smartphone, and ensure it’s working at optimum efficiency to protect your home.

UPDATE: 02/02/2024

We’ve updated our Best for Alexa smoke detector with a new model.

Google Nest Protect

Best Smart Smoke Detector Overall
$130 at Amazon

X-Sense XS01-WX Smart Smoke Detector

Best Budget Smart Smoke Detector
$40 at Amazon

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  Ring

Ring Alarm Smoke & Co Listener

Best Smart Smoke Detector for Alexa
$35 at Amazon

Kidde Hardwired Smart Smoke Detector

Best Smart Smoke Detector for Google Home
See at Walmart

Onelink Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector

Best Smart Smoke Detector for Homekit
$143 at Amazon

What to Look for in a Smart Smoke Detector in 2024

A regular smoke detector is all well and good, but there are several advantages to going smart and investing in a smoke detector that offers a little more.

For a start, it’s all too easy to leave run-of-the-mill smoke detectors unattended or forgotten for months. Who knows if the batteries are still good? Will the alarm still sound in an emergency?

Smart smoke detectors are connected to your home’s Wi-Fi, enabling you to check the current status from anywhere using your smartphone. Many smart smoke detectors can perform self-tests and provide you with a diagnostic report via its companion app. These convenient features provide peace of mind and mean you never have to wonder whether your smoke detector is working as it should.

With a smart smoke detector, you can receive real-time notifications, alerting you to emergencies or letting you know if the batteries are dying. They can pinpoint the location of the emergency and keep track of current carbon monoxide levels throughout the home. And should there be a false alarm, most smart smoke detectors can also be silenced remotely.

By installing smart smoke detectors at home, you can set up an interconnected network of smoke alarms throughout the household and keep tabs on all of them remotely. And for added convenience, many are also compatible with smart home voice assistants.

If you don’t want to replace all your existing smoke alarms with smart upgrades, you might consider a smart listening device instead. Products like the Ring Alarm Smoke & Co Listener or the Adobe Smoke Alarm Monitor can be installed next to your smoke alarm. As their name suggests, these devices ‘listen’ to your smoke alarm, and when it sounds, they send an instant alert to your phone.

To help you decide what type of smart smoke detector is right for you, check out our recommendations below.

How-To Geek’s product recommendations come from the same team of experts that have helped people fix their gadgets over one billion times. We only recommend the best products based on our research and expertise. We never accept payment to endorse or review a product. Read More »

Best Smart Smoke Detector Overall: Google Nest Protect

Google

Having been first released back in 2015, the Google Nest Protect has been around for some time already—and it’s a testament to its quality that it remains the best smart smoke detector on the market.

This dual-purpose smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector uses a split spectrum sensor to search for smoke produced by fast-burning and smoldering fires. In contrast, its CO sensor automatically scans for traces of this silent killer.

Once installed, Google Nest Protect will automatically monitor your home for smoke and carbon monoxide, and a voice alert will be triggered should anything untoward be detected. By connecting Nest Protect to your Wi-Fi network, you can receive notifications that the alarm is sounding the batteries are running out. With the Google Nest app you can access its smart functions, including the ability to silence the alarm remotely using the App Silence feature.

These nightly diagnostics are handled by Google Nest Protect’s ‘Nightly Promise’ feature, which runs a full set of self-tests at the press of a button. A full report on your device’s performance is then delivered via the app. Provided that everything is functioning properly, your Nest Protect will light up in a reassuring green hue, and you can retire for the night, safe in the knowledge that you’re fully protected against smoke or carbon monoxide.

With a host of smart features on offer here, plus a carbon monoxide sensor that will last for ten years, there’s plenty to justify Google Nest Protect’s price tag.

Best Smart Smoke Detector Overall

Google Nest Protect

$130 $149 Save $19

Google’s battery-powered Nest Protect alarm detects both smoke and carbon monoxide, offers smartphone or voice assistant control, and automatically interconnects with other Nest Protect alarms.

$130 at Amazon See at bestbuy

Best Budget Smart Smoke Detector: X-Sense XS01-WX Smart Smoke Detector

X-Sense

Costing a fraction of the price of many other smart smoke detectors, the X-Sense Smart Smoke Detector is a battery-powered smoke detector with smart features that can be controlled remotely via the X-Sense app . This unit employs a photoelectric sensor to detect slow-burning and smoldering fires and carries a 10-year sensor life.

The X-Sense Smart Smoke Detector does not feature a built-in carbon monoxide detector, but that’s to be expected at this price point. Instead, this compact unit provides efficient smoke detection with real-time app notifications for alarms, faults, or low battery warnings. In the event of a false alarm, you can silence the XS01-WX remotely.

Setup is relatively straightforward, and connection to your home’s Wi-Fi doesn’t require a base station. It’s made from fire-retardant ABS material, has a loud 85-decibel alarm, and demonstrates good value for money overall.

This smoke detector is cost-effective enough for several units to be installed around the home and linked together, and it can identify which area of the home fire or smoke has been detected and give you an instant heads-up.

For an additional premium, you can subscribe to the Protect + service , which provides a professional 24/7 monitoring service. Once an alarm is triggered, it sends a message from the monitoring service within three seconds to verify whether there’s a real emergency. Verifying the emergency results in a fire truck is immediately dispatched.

But for those that don’t subscribe, this is still a reliable and safe smart smoke detector that offers longevity and a bit more relief to the wallet. If you want to enjoy the benefits of a smart smoke detector but don’t require all the trimmings of something more elaborate like the Google Nest Protect, the X-Sense XS01-WX Smart Smoke Detector does the job nicely.

Best Budget Smart Smoke Detector

X-Sense XS01-WX Smart Smoke Detector

The X-Sense XS01-WX smart smoke detector uses a photoelectric sensor to detect slow-burning or smoldering fires. It provides several smartphone features, including the ability to silence the alarm remotely, in a false alarm situation.

$40 at Amazon

Best Smart Smoke Detector for Alexa: Ring Alarm Smoke & Co Listener

Ring

If you have an existing smoke detector that’s less than 10 years old, don’t want the hassle or expense of replacing it, but do want to give it a bit of a smart makeover, then the Ring Alarm Smoke & Co Listener is for you.

This device is not an entire smart smoke detector. Rather, it is a listening device that sends an alert to your smartphone if your existing alarm is triggered. It needs to be placed within six inches of your pre-installed smoke detector and will listen out for the alarm tone, sending a signal to your phone or tablet the moment it detects a disruption.

Contrary to what you might think, the Ring Alarm Smoke & Co Listener is a Z-wave device and does not use a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection. It requires you to own either the Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro and it connects to the base station included in that package. However, once connected, it can be integrated with other third-party products, such as Echo and Alexa.

Once integrated with your Ring Alarm, you’ll have access to Ring’s in-app features, which include digital notifications, as well as remote arming and disarming features. And the good news is that these features can be controlled via Alexa too, giving you the added convenience of syncing your smoke listener with your home’s Alexa devices.

The Ring Alarm Smoke & Co Listener is an excellent and low-cost option if you already own a Ring security kit, and want to incorporate it into your Alexa-enabled devices.

Best Smart Smoke Detector for Alexa

Ring Alarm Smoke & Co Listener

Upgrade your existing non-smart smoke alarm with the Ring Alarm Smoke & Co Listener, and receive smartphone alerts when your alarm is triggered.

$35 at Amazon

Best Smart Smoke Detector for Google Home: Kidde Hardwired Smart Smoke Detector

Kidde

When thinking about the best smart smoke detector for Google Home, it’s natural to think of Google Nest Protect first and foremost. But oranges are not the only fruit, and the Nest Protect is not the only Google Home-compatible smart smoke detector. So if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, you might want to consider the Kidde Hardwired Smart Smoke Detector instead.

This hardwired Wi-Fi-enabled smoke detector uses photoelectric sensors to detect smoke and fire particles and sends real-time alerts to your smartphone. It issues loud voice alerts and a series of alarms when it detects a threat and will also announce the nature of that threat.

Connecting your alarm to the Kidde app is nice and simple—download the app, scan the QR code on the alarm, and you’ll be connected within seconds.

As a Google Home-compatible smart alarm and can therefore be controlled remotely via the Google Home app . As such, you’ll be able to perform alarm tests, receive alerts, and silence false alarms with the push of a button or with voice prompts. And for Alexa-enabled homes, this device can also be connected as part of that setup.

The internal sealed battery is good for ten years of use, and your Kidde alarm will even notify you when your unit needs to be replaced. The 10-year lifespan represents good value for money, offering 24/7 smoke protection with a failsafe that ensures it continues to function even during a power outage.

On the downside, this smart smoke alarm is only available as a hardwired model and doesn’t contain a carbon monoxide detector. In all other respects, this is an excellent choice of smart smoke alarm from one of the industry-leading brands.

Best Smart Smoke Detector for Google Home

Kidde Hardwired Smart Smoke Detector

Google’s battery-powered Nest Protect alarm detects both smoke and carbon monoxide, offers smartphone or voice assistant control, and automatically interconnects with other Nest Protect alarms.

See at Walmart

Best Smart Smoke Detector for Homekit: Onelink Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector

Onelink

It’s not always easy to find smart devices compatible with HomeKit, and the Onelink Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector is the best smart smoke detector for those using Apple’s smart home ecosystem. This battery-powered version can be placed anywhere in the home and doesn’t require any hardwiring.

The Onelink is a dual-purpose smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and comes with a three-cell five-year battery pack. It works with the First Alert Onelink app and is easy to add to your Homekit setup.

With the app, you can receive emergency alerts directly to your smartphone or tablet and silence the alarm remotely if required. Voice alerts will notify you of danger, specifying the alert’s nature and the disturbance’s source. Other app-enabled features allow you to review alarm self-test results, check carbon monoxide levels and customize light settings.

Once you have connected your Onelink to your Wi-Fi and HomeKit, it’s easy to integrate it with any other HomeKit-enabled devices around the home, sync it with any automated functions already set up, and issue voice commands via Siri.

It can wirelessly interconnect with other Onelink alarms to create a network that can then be controlled via the app. Should one alarm sound, it will then trigger all other interconnected alarms as a failsafe, ensuring that everyone in the home is alerted to the danger and can quickly and safely evacuate.

For smart homes that already operate with HomeKit, this smart smoke detector is worthy of adding to your roster of compatible devices. A hardwired version is also available (costing a little more), but for ease of installation, this battery-powered version could not be simpler to set up.

Best Smart Smoke Detector for Homekit

Onelink Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector

Need a smart smoke detector compatible with Apple Homekit? he Onelink Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector works with Homekit and provides dependable protection for the home.

$143 at Amazon See at Target

FAQ

How many smoke detectors do I need?

Fire Services recommend that you install at least one smoke detector on every level of your home, including basement areas.

Where should I place smoke detectors?

It’s a good idea to place smoke detectors in circulation areas of your home, such as landings or hallways. Consider placing a smoke alarm within 3 meters of each bedroom in the household too, to ensure they can be heard clearly if residents are asleep.

How often should I replace a smart smoke detector?

Most smoke detectors have a lifespan of 10 years or thereabouts, and should be replaced after this time.

Can smart smoke detectors be disabled?

Battery powered smart smoke detectors can be disabled by removing the batteries and pressing and holding the test button. For hardwired smart smoke detectors, you will need to remove the smoke detector from its bracket and then disconnect the power cable. Once you have done this, pressing and holding the test button should silence the alarm.

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