One of my favorite episodes of the Simpsons is the one where they invest in a smart-home aptly named “Ultrahouse 3000”. My experience with AduroSmart was, not nearly as futuristic. It was still very good though. If you’re expecting a fully sentient house fully voiced by Pierce Brosnan, you will be disappointed. However, the alternative is surprisingly, not that far off and is very seriously the next best thing.
The AduroSmart ERIA starter kit comes in a very nice black and orange box with a various logos of the seemingly endless other platforms and systems it works with. From a quick overview you can see Philips HUE, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. Inside the package, the various electrical components are well packaged in fitted packaging to prevent them jostling around. For this starter kit, you get the Hub, 2 color-changing bulbs, an ethernet cable, power cable, wall adapter, and a manual.
Initial setup is quick and very easy. The entire process of setting up took me 10 minutes, probably less. Setup is no more than connecting the cables, downloading the app, registering, and then following simple instructions through the app. The bulbs set up easily by simply turning them on/off 5x to put them into pairing mode. The bulbs have clear flashes to indicate their pairing mode, and you’re greeted by a clearly visible green flash when the bulbs are paired.
The colors for the bulbs are very vibrant and bright. They are om-par when compared to a main-stay like the Philips HUE bulbs, and they completely low the Sylvania bulbs out of the water in terms of colors. Colors are easily controlled using the app. You can control each light individually or control the whole grouping.
However, the best part comes when you add additional devices. Motion sensors have effectively automated my house to the point where I can’t remember the last time I used a switch. Alexa integration allowed further smart home features by allowing me to use voice control and set routines. Alexa can even detect when someone is at the door and alert you instantly. You can even set a welcome message when the door sensor detects that you are home.
So, if you want an experience as close to the “Ultrahome 3000”, there really is only one option. The wide array of devices and systems supported by AduroSmart in combination with the ease of use makes it one of the best smart home systems out there. If you simply want smart lighting, there are other options out there. But if you’re looking for a complete smart home eco-system, the answer is AduroSmart.