BBC Focus - 09.2019

HUGH’S PICK OF SMART

HOME SECURITY GADGETS

SHOULD HELP KEEP YOUR

BELONGINGS SAFE

GET

SMART

RADAR

SIMPLISAFE

The clue is in the name: SimpliSafe’s security

system is a breeze to install and use. There’s a

heap of dierent bundles to choose from, or you

can build a custom package from scratch,

starting with cameras and moving up to panic

buons and glass-break sensors. Professional

monitoring costs a monthly fee, but SimpliSafe

still works as a local alarm without it.

£279 (FOR THE STARTER), SIMPLISAFE.CO.UK

ARLO PRO 2

As far as smart security cameras go, the Arlo Pro

2 is hard to beat for indoor and outdoor use. It’s

wireless and weatherproof, and oers crisp

1080p HD video along with zone detection

(for highlighting specific areas) and two-way

audio for yelling at any chancing intruders.

Although the upfront cost is high, there’s ample

free storage. Works with Apple HomeKit, too.

£569.99 (FOR TWO CAMERAS), ARLO.COM

SAMSUNG SMARTTHINGS

Samsung’s smart home platform has come on

leaps and bounds, with new devices being added

all the time. Beer yet is the wide-ranging

support for other companies’ cameras, doorbells

and more that can play nicely with your

SmartThings system. My top accessory is the

Multipurpose Sensor, which monitors doors,

windows and even temperature. Just remember

you need the SmartThings Hub to run it all.

£79 (HUB ONLY), SAMSUNG.CO.UK

GOOGLE NEST CAM IQ INDOOR

Google’s indoor smart home camera comes in a

cheaper model, but the IQ is superior in that it’s

smart enough to tell the dierence between

general motion and people. There’s two-way

audio so you can scare o burglars, and a 4K

sensor for a sharp picture. Pay a bit more for a

Nest Aware subscription and it will even

recognise faces.

£299, STORE.GOOGLE.COM

RING VIDEO DOORBELL 2
Ring has the best smart doorbell,
in my opinion. My favourite
feature is the rechargeable baery,
so you don’t have to wire it into
the wall (although you can if you’d
prefer), along with the ability to
see and talk to any visitors
through the mobile app. There’s
motion detection too and, handily,
infrared night vision.
£179, EN-UK.RING.COM