This story is part of the 2023 Gear Patrol Tech Awards. To see the full list of winners, click here.

Creating a smart home doesn’t have to be difficult. You can start with a smart speaker — which you likely already have — and then, little by little, add things like smart plugs and smart lights. Soon you’ll advance to a smart video doorbell and a smart home camera (probably just to watch your dog). And then, once you’re fully infected with the smart home bug, you go balls-to-the-wall with a mesh router and a smart security system.

The point is: a smart home doesn’t have to be an instant, all-encompassing project. It can (and probably should) be a gradual development. Below, we’ve rounded up the smart home gadgets you can find in 2023 to get you on your way.

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