Top 5 Consumer IoT Devices for 2024

Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming our homes and daily lives. As an industry analyst focusing on emerging technologies, I predict the most impactful consumer IoT devices that will gain popularity in 2024. In this article, I will provide my top 5 picks for the consumer IoT devices to watch in 2024 and delve into the key features that will drive adoption.

1. Smart Home Hubs

Smart home hubs like the Amazon Echo and Google Home will continue to be must-have devices in 2024. These hubs act as a central controller for various connected devices and appliances in the home. With built-in voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, smart home hubs enable users to control devices and appliances using voice commands.

Key reasons smart home hubs will be essential in 2024:

• Convenience: Controlling devices and appliances through voice is extremely convenient compared to using multiple apps or remote controls. Smart home hubs like the Amazon Echo are always listening for wake words like “Alexa”.

• Smart home ecosystem: Major players like Amazon, Google and Apple have robust smart home ecosystems. Their smart home hubs integrate well with other devices they sell like smart bulbs, switches, cameras etc. This seamless connectivity within an ecosystem is a key driver.

• Advancing voice assistant capabilities: The natural language processing and context awareness of voice assistants is improving rapidly. More complex voice commands will be understood and smart home hubs will be able to personalize responses.

I predict smart home hubs will evolve into intelligent home assistants capable of conversing naturally. They will become the central hub controlling and coordinating all connected devices.

2. Smart Watches

Smart watches like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch will be essential smart accessories by 2024. Major capabilities that will drive widespread adoption of smart watches:

• Health & fitness tracking: Smart watches can track steps, heart rate, sleep etc. Fitness enthusiasts will find the 24/7 activity tracking very useful.

• Notifications: Smart watches display notifications from the smartphone conveniently on the wrist. This allows users to screen notifications and decide if they need to use their phone.

• Payments: Smart watches enable contactless payments through services like Apple Pay. Not needing to carry physical cards or phones is a major convenience factor.

• Voice assistants: Smart watches either have built-in voice assistants or integrate with smartphone assistants. Quick voice searches and commands will be commonly used.

With their health tracking capabilities and integration with IoT ecosystems, smart watches will be valuable additions rather than just luxury items.

3. Smart Appliances

Smart home appliances like refrigerators, ovens, thermostats and more will gain adoption driven by these factors:

• Remote monitoring/control: Users can control and monitor smart appliances remotely using a smartphone app. Starting the washing machine from the office or checking if the fridge door is closed will be possible.

• Usage analytics: Smart appliances can track detailed usage analytics. This helps users optimize appliance usage, save energy and find issues proactively.

• Automation: Tasks can be automated based on user location, preferences and habits. For example, the air conditioner starts 10 minutes before the user reaches home from the office daily.

• Voice control: Controlling appliances through voice commands using a smart home hub will be commonplace.

With their automation, remote control capabilities and usage insights, smart appliances will provide great value addition over conventional appliances.

4. Smart Security Systems

Smart security systems will witness a surge in adoption driven by:

• Remote monitoring: Users can monitor live footage from security cameras on smartphones and voice displays. Alerts are sent instantaneously in case of suspicious activity.

• Automated actions: Actions like lights turning on or alarms sounding can be automated based on triggers from security cameras and sensors.

• AI capabilities: AI is enabling smart cameras to only send alerts for recognized faces, objects or anomalies rather than continuous streaming. Edge computing improves response times.

• Ecosystem integration: Security systems now integrate with smart home hubs, allowing voice control and connectivity with other smart devices to create scenes and automations.

Smart security systems will keep getting smarter, providing intelligent monitoring, timely alerts and automation capabilities for comprehensive protection.

5. Digital Assistants

Dedicated voice-controlled assistants like the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub will gain wider usage in 2024. Key drivers:

• Touch screens: The assistant devices come with touch screens allowing a visual interface as well as voice. The screen can show supplementary information like weather forecast, maps etc. during interactions.

• Video calling: Users will frequently utilize the video calling capabilities on these devices due to their stationary nature and hands-free usage.

• Visual responses: The assistant devices can now respond visually displaying information on screen as well as through speech. This enhances the interaction experience.

• Home automation hub: The devices double up as a control hub for other smart home devices in addition to being voice assistants. This increases their utility.

With screens and cameras getting integrated into voice assistants, they will become interactive home hubs – facilitating managing smart homes through touch, voice and visuals.

Conclusion

Advancements in AI, edge computing and ubiquitous connectivity will expand the capabilities of consumer IoT devices. Smart home hubs, watches, appliances, security systems and dedicated assistants will gain mainstream adoption driven by their convenience, automation, insights and ecosystem integration. These key categories of consumer IoT devices will have a profound impact on our daily lives in 2024 and beyond.