Building a smart home across different brands? Here's what you should know

Getting all of your devices to talk to each other doesn't have to be hard.

By Roger Fingas Nov. 8, 2026 1:00 pm EST Nanoleaf Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

On paper, the easiest way to build a smart home is to pick a single brand with a broad range of accessories, and stick with it. That greatly simplifies setup and control, not to mention potential choice paralysis, given the sheer number of accessories out there. And really, simplicity is the whole point of smart home technology.