The likes of Apple’s HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings may get all the credit, but they’re not the only smart home ecosystems around. There’s also Wink, which has been quietly building its ecosystem of products for a while now.
To take advantage of the Wink ecosystem of products, you’ll need a Wink Hub, and we recommend buying the second version of the hub if you haven’t bought one yet. The hub is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant — so you can still take advantage of voice controls. (Go here for Google Home Assistant compatible devices, and here for Amazon Alexa compatible devices.)
Once you are set up with a hub, you’ll probably want to start building out your smart home devices. There are dozens of smart home devices out there, and they’re not all created equal. That, however, is why we’ve put together this guide — to help you find some of the best smart home devices to work with your Wink smart home.
Philips Hue Starter Kit
Price: $98
Why it’s great: Philips Hue bulbs are easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and highly compatible. So much so, that we actually also recommended them in our Amazon Alexa and Google Home guides too. With Philips Hue, you’ll be able to control your lights straight from your smartphone. You will need a Hue Bridge to get started, but once you have the Bridge, you’ll be able to connect up to a whopping 50 light bulbs and 12 accessories — so one Bridge should be enough to light your entire home. With Wink, you won’t have to use the Philips Hue app either — you’ll be able to control your light through the Wink app, and set them to turn on and off based on the status of your other devices.
Shop Now: $98
Nest Learning Thermostat
Price: $212
Why it’s great: Nest is known for building the original smart thermostat, and since its original launch it has introduced a few new iterations. Currently on its third generation, the Nest Learning Thermostat is extremely easy to use, both from the thermostat itself and from the app, and is compatible with Wink.
From the Wink app, you’ll be able to control the temperature of the thermostat and set Nest to go into Home or Away modes. You’ll also be able to set up home automation with Nest, which can unlock a ton of potential from your smart home.
Shop Now: $212
Sylvania Smart+ plug
Price: $24
Why it’s great: Smart plugs can basically turn all your dumb appliances into smart ones at a relatively low price — meaning you don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars for smart appliances. Simply plug the plug in to the wall, then the appliance into the plug, and you should be able to turn your appliance on and off straight from your phone or voice assistant.
Wink is compatible with a few built-in switches and plugs, but if you’re looking for an external plug then the Sylvania Smart+ plug is probably your best bet. The plug has a physical on/off switch, but you probably won’t need to use it — you’ll be able to control the switch from the Wink app and automate it to work with your other devices.
Shop Now: $24
Canary All-In-One Security
Price: $110
Why it’s great: Canary has been building some awesome security cameras for some time now, and the Canary All-In-One Indoor camera is one of its best. The camera records video in 1,080p, plus they have a built-in siren and can even monitor air quality — which is perfect for monitoring smoke.
With the Canary camera, you can see a stream of what’s being recorded right from your phone, plus, with Wink, you can monitor that stream from the Wink app instead of the Canary app. To get full advantage of Canary, you will need a subscription — but its a small price to pay for improved home security.
Shop Now: $110
Ring Video Doorbell 2
Price: $199
Why it’s great: Home security doesn’t have to exist only inside the home — it should start outside the home. The Ring Video Doorbell 2 sits outside your door and can start recording video if motion is detected. On top of that, it acts as a doorbell — so if someone comes to the door, it’ll alert you that they’re there. Having a smart doorbell has its advantages — it means you can use the speaker and microphone to talk to the person at the door even if you’re on the other side of the world, so you won’t miss any packages or other important visitors.
Shop Now: $199
