The cross-manufacturer Matter standard has finally reached the point in 2026 where devices from different brands reliably work together — a real win for anyone building a smart home step by step instead of locking into one manufacturer.
Energy monitoring is also gaining real traction: smart plugs with consumption tracking make power-hungry devices visible, often with surprising results.
Simple automations too — lighting that adapts to the time of day, or heating that reacts to occupancy — are no longer a gimmick but a noticeable contribution to energy efficiency.