Smart Home Guide 2026 - What to Buy, Platform Updates, and More!

It's 2026 and A LOT has changed in the world of smart homes. We'll walk you through all of it. From the latest updates to the Matter and ALIRO smart lock standards to what's changed across major smart home platforms like Google Home, Amazon, Apple Home, Home Assistant, Homey and more! Plus, we'll take you through the smart home devices we actually use and recommend, including thermostats, cameras, appliances, smart blinds, smart lighting, and more. 📑Blog Post: https://6monthslater.net/2026/03/smart-home-guide-2026-what-to-buy-platform-updates-more/ 🛒 Product Links: https://6monthslater.net/2026/03/smart-home-guide-2026-what-to-buy-platform-updates-more/#featured-products 👉 View all of our recommended products: https://6monthslater.net/shop 🔗 Related Video links: 👉 2025 Smart Home Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFtvYFZhlao 👉 Google Nest Thermostat (4th Gen) Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzpJ8VhflpU 👉 Home Assistant Green Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V3Jestsoq0 👋 Follow Josh: 👉 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/joshteder.bsky.social 👉 Threads: https://www.threads.net/@joshteder 👉 RSS Feeds: https://6monthslater.net/feeds/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshteder/ 👉 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/joshteder/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshteder/ 🎥 Video Production Equipment we use 📹 https://amzn.to/3Ejc1JR 🕰️Timestamps: 0:00 - Matter Standard 5:22 - ALIRO Smart Lock Standard 9:32 - Google Home Updates 10:05 - Amazon/Alexa Updates 10:47 - Apple Home Updates 11:31 - Samsung SmartThings Updates 11:50 - Homey Updates 12:41 - Home Assistant Updates 13:02 - Hubitat 13:32 - Why Use Smart Home Hubs vs. Platforms 17:43 - Smart Home Device Recommendations 18:49 - Smart Thermostats 19:35 - Security Cameras and Doorbells 20:45 - Smart Appliances 23:02 - Smart Blinds 24:12 - Smart Lighting 26:06 - Smart Plugs and Light Switches 📜 Disclosures 📃 - Learn more at https://6monthslater.net/ethics Any music used is licensed from artlist.io: https://artlist.io/referral/1878516/Josh 6 Months Later received a media discount from Lutron on the smart blinds seen in this video. We also received the Home Pro Mini shown at no cost. This video has no sponsor. Any Amazon links we provide in our descriptions are in conjunction with our Amazon partnership. The channel receives a small percentage of revenue from any sales generated by viewers clicking the links. #SmartHome #Matter #ALIRO #SmartLock #HomeAssistant #GoogleHome #AppleHome #PhilipsHue #Lutron #NestThermostat