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There are many ways to make the most of old devices we no longer use. For example, I have a couple of old Fire tablets that I turned into Echo Shows for my home use. However, one of the best uses for an old tablet is to become a smart home control panel. In fact, it's one of the easiest and cheapest upgrades you can make in your home.
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If you have a lot of smart lights, plugs, switches, and other devices, you'll likely benefit from adding a control panel to manage them all from one spot. Setting up an old tablet as a central control center not only breathes new life into the device but also gives you a hub that anyone at home can access.
How to use an old tablet as a smart home display
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
What you need: an old tablet, a charging cord, a wall mount (optional), or a stand (optional).
1. Choose your smart home automation system The smart home automation system you choose will act as the brain that controls your devices. It'll also be the platform you use on your tablet-turned-control panel to manage your smart home. You probably already have a preferred smart home automation system, especially if you already have a smart home set up, but here's how the most popular options compare: Home Assistant: This open-source option offers the most control over your dashboard, devices, and automations. It's the top option for power users and smart home enthusiasts who enjoy tinkering to make the system work the way they want. It works locally and is very fast, so your devices are reliably responsive to Home Assistant. This is also one of the most compatible smart home automation systems available, so you can combine devices from different brands under a single controller, even if they don't all support Matter.
This open-source option offers the most control over your dashboard, devices, and automations. It's the top option for power users and smart home enthusiasts who enjoy tinkering to make the system work the way they want. It works locally and is very fast, so your devices are reliably responsive to Home Assistant. This is also one of the most compatible smart home automation systems available, so you can combine devices from different brands under a single controller, even if they don't all support Matter. Amazon Alexa A top pick for beginners and smart home users who enjoy voice control, Alexa is one of the most reliable and responsive voice assistants. It works with the Alexa app, Echo devices, and, most recently, online on Alexa.com. With the recent release of Alexa+, it's also a generative AI-powered voice assistant, so you can give it more complex commands, like turning off multiple types of devices in a single request.
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