A Guide to 2023’s Best Backyard Smart Home Gadgets

There’s nothing like spending the summer enjoying your backyard with family and friends. And today, you can take it to the next level by creating the perfect outdoor oasis with a full assortment of smart gadgets.

The right technology can create the perfect ambiance by giving you on-the-go control of the lighting, music, and more. Whether you want to set the mood for a cozy night, host a lively outdoor gathering, or make yard work easier, smart technology can help.

Find out how you can turn your backyard, balcony, porch, or poolside into the perfect family-friendly retreat.

Smart Outdoor Lighting

Smart technology provides the ultimate convenience for lighting your outdoor space. You can control your outdoor lights remotely, set on/off schedules, and activate motion sensors to provide the right light at the right time while enhancing security.

Options include tabletop lights, string lights, floodlights, patterned lights, or nearly any style you prefer.

Phillips, Govee, and Twinkly are some popular brands that offer smart lights and accessories. Most smart light systems are simple to install and would be a light DIY project. However, some are more involved, and it may be best to contact a professional lighting company or electrician for installation.

Smart Outdoor Entertainment Systems

Smart home entertainment isn’t exclusive to the indoors. You can grab your smartphone and blast your favorite music through all-weather smart speakers or even stream a movie on an outdoor smart TV or portable projector.

Smart Speakers

Sound, connectivity, and design are features to consider when buying outdoor speakers. JBL, Bose, and other brands offer weather-resistant speakers in unobtrusive designs to blend in with your landscaping.

The Bose Soundlink Flex Bluetooth Speaker provides up to 12 hours of playtime per charge, pairs with other Bose speakers, is waterproof (it even floats), and delivers excellent sound.

The JBL Xtreme 3 offers 15 hours of playtime, is waterproof and dustproof, and comes with PartyBoost to connect multiple speakers for even better sound.

Smart TV Projectors

Hosting the perfect outdoor movie night is a breeze with the latest backyard gadgets. You can watch all of your favorite shows outside as well as stream the best new movies at home from your pool, patio, or lawn chair. Set up an outdoor viewing screen and connect a portable projector to your WiFi to stream all your favorite shows.

The Kodak Luma line of products gives you various projector options for your outdoor cinema. Nebula, MoGo Pro, and WeMax are other reliable outdoor projector options.

Smart TVs

You can watch all your favorite shows and movies on your back porch or patio with an outdoor TV. Select a TV with a bright anti-glare LED screen built to handle humidity and extreme temperatures. Samsung, Peerless, and Element offer a variety of outdoor TVs suitable for most spaces.

Outdoor Kitchen Smart Gadgets

What good is your outdoor haven without the perfect meal? Check out these smart gadgets that make it easier to feed a hungry crowd.

Smart Grills

Feed your family a barbecue smorgasbord cooked to perfection from an app-connected grill designed to control fuel source and temperature. Smart grills include all the bells and whistles you need to make grilling easy.

With the Traeger Timberline 850 you can monitor your food, adjust the grill temperature, and access over 1,600 recipes through the Traeger App or smart home devices.

The Weber Genesis EPX-335 smart propane gas grill will alert you when your food is up to temperature so you don’t accidentally overcook your steak.

Already have a grill? Use the Weber Connect grilling device that turns any grill into a smart grill.

Smart Meat Thermometers

When you connect a meat thermometer to Bluetooth and monitor the food temperature from afar, you won’t under- or over-cook your food ever again.

Here are a few popular choices:

• Meater Plus Smart Meat Thermometer
• ThermoPro Wireless Meat Thermometer
• NutriChef Smart Wireless Grill Thermometer

Fire Pit Grilling

A smart hibachi-style grill is great for cooking up delicious meals and serves as a source of heat on chilly evenings.

For example, the BioLite Fire Pit uses Bluetooth connectivity and built-in technology so you can run inside and continue to cook by adjusting the flames remotely with your smartphone.

Keep Your Home and Family Safe

Smart Security Cameras

One easy way to protect your home and loved ones is to install home security cameras around your property. Doorbell cameras and outdoor mounted cameras are heavily marketed, but do your research before you buy anything.

The best smart security cameras are wireless and easy to install, motion-activated, have an adequate range of view, offer live and still views, and have subscription plans offering unlimited video cloud storage.

Arlo Pro 4 is PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice for outdoor security cameras. Other familiar smart home security camera brands include Nest (owned by Google), Blink, and Ring (owned by Amazon).

Smart Locks

Aside from cameras, you can protect your home by purchasing a smart lock. These devices allow you to leave your house keys behind and lock and unlock your door using a touchpad, app, or voice command. Some of the best smart locks include the Wyze Lock and the Smart Locks.

Convenient and Easy Yard and Pool Maintenance

Did you know there are even smart gadgets for lawn and pool maintenance? Here are some types of maintenance gadgets available today that can make your life easier:

• Automatic lawn sprinklers
• AI recognition bird feeder cameras
• Mosquito repellent systems
• Pool water monitors
• Robotic lawn mowers
• Robotic pool skimmers and cleaners

Extend Your Wireless Reach

Most smart products are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. Check the product to make sure it works with your technology. Also, it’s important to remember that your smart technology will only work with a strong wireless connection. You may require additional devices, like a WiFi extender, to ensure your new outdoor tech can function at its full potential.

WiFi Extenders

The best WiFi extenders are compatible with most WiFi routers and offer a significant increase in range. For outside use, look for products that are waterproof, rugged, and designed for the outdoors.

One highly recommended extender is the Netgear Orbi Outdoor WiFi Extender.

Smart Outdoor Plugs

You can also add smart plugs to enhance the functionality of your setup. Outdoor smart plugs are weather-resistant and extend your WiFi range outside. The Wyze Plug Outdoor is app- and voice-controlled using Alexa and Google voice commands. Ring and GE also offer outdoor smart plug options.

Find the Right Internet Plan to Connect Your Outdoor Devices

To power your smart house — inside and out — you need a good Internet plan with fast speeds to connect all your devices.

We can help you get connected today. With SmartMove, finding the right Internet provider is a breeze, guaranteeing you speedy and reliable service at an affordable price.