The Best Outdoor Smart Home Devices for 2023

The Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera is one of the most feature-rich outdoor security cameras we’ve tested. It delivers crisp 2K video with color night vision; works with numerous third-party smart devices; supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands; and integrates with Apple’s HomeKit and Samsung’s SmartThings home automation platforms. It offers motion tracking and auto-zoom, and because it’s completely wireless, is easy to install. You have to subscribe to an Arlo Smart plan to view video recordings and take advantage of some features such as Package Detection and Advanced Object Detection, but that doesn’t prevent the Arlo Pro 4 from earning our Editors’ Choice award.

Light strips are ideal for subtle effects, but if you want a more festive way to illuminate your patio, porch, or any other outdoor space, you’re better off with string lights like the Govee Lynx Dream. Available in lengths of 48 or 96 feet, each string has dimmable multicolor LED bulbs that you can control with your voice or phone. They also support IFTTT applets, and you get a generous selection of preset lighting scenes and a fun Music Sync mode that’s great for parties. We would have preferred tighter spacing between the bulbs, but the Lynx Dream String Lights still earn our Editors’ Choice award for outdoor smart lighting.

JBL’s portable, outdoor-friendly Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker remains an excellent choice. It has a dust-tight build for the beach, features powerful drivers, sports dual passive radiators, and outputs an impressive amount of sound for its size. You don’t get a speakerphone function or an adjustable EQ in the companion app, but those are relatively minor drawbacks. For less than $200, you can’t do much better.

Most TVs aren’t built to survive the elements, let alone pouring rain, blowing snow, flying sand, or scorching heat, but SunBriteTV’s Veranda Series 3 is up to the task. It offers a few key advantages over previous Veranda models, including a brighter and much more colorful picture with support for Dolby Vision, as well as a full suite of Android TV features such as streaming media services, Google Assistant voice controls, and the ability to mirror your phone. At $2,898.95, the 55-inch SB-V3-55-4KHDR-BL model we tested is notably pricier than even high-end indoor TVs, but you’re paying a premium for a TV you can use outside without worry.

The cylindrical Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector packs a lot of features into a small package. Fully portable thanks to a built-in rechargeable battery that can outlast most full-length movies, it relies on the Android TV 11 OS for streaming over Wi-Fi and supports external sources via an HDMI port. The Nebula Capsule 3 has a native resolution of 1080p, accepts 4K inputs, and handles HDR scenes far better than most competitors. And, at 6.7 by 3.3 inches (HD) and 2.1 pounds, it’s convenient to carry around and take outside for a backyard movie night.

There aren’t a lot of smart pool water monitors on the market, but the few that we’ve tested all float around in your pool and require a hub to connect to your network and a mobile app. The WaterGuru Sense takes a different approach: It sits inside your pool’s skimmer reservoir and connects directly to your home network via a built-in Wi-Fi radio. It doesn’t offer voice controls, but it’s easy to install, operates without a subscription, and helps you balance your water chemistry.

Polaris’ robotic pool cleaners have long been our favorites because of their sturdy build and superb cleaning performance. It’s no surprise then that the Polaris Alpha IQ+ also impresses. It’s easy to use and comes with a debris canister that you can empty and clean without getting your hands dirty. The robot also offers a few new features, including water temperature readings, additional cleaning modes, and a more efficient navigation system. It’s not cheap, but it can save you hours of work in your efforts to keep your pool spotless.

Pesky mosquitoes can ruin an otherwise enjoyable evening in your backyard, but traditional bug sprays are usually unpleasant to use. The Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System is a high-tech alternative that relies on heat-activated repellent cartridges to create 20-foot barriers of protection. The system worked well in testing and we didn’t see any vapors or smell any chemicals. You get three repellers in the basic kit, but keep in mind that the system specifically defends against mosquitoes, which means other types of bugs might continue to buzz about. Regardless, it supports both app and voice controls for maximum convenience.

If you love your lawn enough to install a sprinkler system, you need a good sprinkler controller. The Rachio 3 is one of the best: It supports up to eight separate sprinkler zones with automatic weather-based or custom app-controlled watering schedules. You can even control it with Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands and IFTTT applets.

As with every robot lawnmower we’ve reviewed, the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD doesn’t come cheap, but it does an excellent job of mowing and trimming your lawn. It features both GPS and cellular radios, plus it connects to a slick companion app that enables remote controls, mowing schedules, and IFTTT integrations. Best of all (depending on your yard), it won’t struggle to handle hilly terrain.