by Have you ever received a smart home device as a gift? You’re in good company: more than half of smart home customers received their first device as a gift and have since expanded their collection. In a survey of 2,000 US adults with smart devices in their homes — devices that connect to the internet and can be used to control other things around the home or as digital assistants — it was found that 54% gave their first smart devices as gifts or bought for you. And for those who bought their first devices, the average starting cost was just $110. One in five (19%) said they could get their first device for less than $75. The most popular “first” devices that people flocked to were either cameras (18%) or streaming devices (16%). In fact, 45% of people with at least one smart home device reported owning a smart camera. Other popular devices likely to appear in the home are speakers (40%), streaming devices (40%), doorbells (27%) and lamps (24%). The study, commissioned by Google Nest and conducted by OnePoll, also examined Americans’ habits with their smart home devices. Half interacted with their devices at least once a day and 85% said they were pros with their devices within a week of setup. The fastest adopters of smart home technology were baby boomers – 66% said they “immediately” started using their smart home devices on a daily basis. Slowest adopters: Gen Z, where surprisingly 46% said it takes them at least four days to get used to their devices. However, Gen Z probably had the least resistance to owning smart home devices (63%), while Millennials had the greatest initial resistance (25%). “When people think of smart homes, a lot of them think these devices are for a really tech-savvy homeowner,” said Karen Yao, director of product at Google Nest. “In reality, with new smart home protocols like Matter, smart homes are more customizable and require less analysis to determine the best starting point or ecosystem for you. People can pair any of their Matter-enabled devices together to create a home that’s more integrated and helpful than ever.” Over a third (37%) said they have confidence in their smart home expertise, and 41% agreed that a “smart” home can only be achieved if you know how to use it to automate your home. Just over half (51%) of respondents said they’ve tried setting up automations and routines throughout their home that let their devices do basic tasks — like turning lights on and off or playing music – without human intervention. The most popular routines that respondents were proud of were bedtime routines (22%), morning routines (17%), and safety-related routines (15%). However, there were still many who were reluctant to use their devices. Over a third (34%) said they would be more likely to automate more of their home if they understood the benefits of home automation up front. Another 27% said they would be more inclined to use their devices if they could learn more about how best to use them. “The beginning is always the most difficult step. There are a lot of choices, like what to buy and how to set it up,” explains Karen. “I started by asking friends and family for their device recommendations and helpful automations/routines. These devices can offer so much creative and practical use. As a working mom, I can tell you that if you need hands-free help at home, they are a lifesaver.” TOP 7 SMART HOME “NEEDS” FOR DEVICES -It must be easy to install and use – 40% -It must help me keeping my family and home safe – 40% -It needs to be private and secure – 39% -It needs to last for years – 37% -It needs to work with other devices in my home – 36% -It needs to do multiple things – 33 % – it must make me aware of certain things – 32% Poll Methodology: This random double opt-in poll of 2,000 Americans who own at least one smart home device was conducted by Google Nest between April 1st and 6th December 2022 commissioned. It was conducted by market research firm OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and are members of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
