Americans Continue to Adopt Smart Home Devices, Despite Issues

Smart home technology is continuing to see accelerated uptake, despite prevalent consumer sentiment that these devices are often more complicated than they need to be, a new Secure Data Recovery study found.

According to the study, 1 in 6 consumers surveyed said smart devices make daily tasks more complicated than they need to be, with the average American spending two hours per week maintaining smart home devices.

Of consumers surveyed, 1 in 3 also said smart devices don’t add value to their life beyond entertainment.

Despite these struggles, uptake across the U.S. is, generally, continuing to boom. Connecticut, Utah and Maryland have the smartest homes, with 28.2%, 27.8% and 27.6% of the states’ respective populations saying they use smart tech. 

Arizona, Connecticut and Nebraska have had the greatest acceleration in smart home tech over time, reporting adoption increases of roughly 22% each.

Still, some states have been slow to embrace smart home technology. Only 13% of Alaskans have integrated smart technology into their homes. Mississippi, Hawaii, Wyoming and Maine also have low adoption rates, between 14.2% and 15.9%.

Overall, the report found America has seen an “electrifying surge” in smart home tech adoption, with smart households increasing from 6.9% in 2015 to 22.3% in 2023. The primary driver being the smart entertainment industry.

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“America's love affair with smart home technology leans heavily toward entertainment,” the report said. “Seventy-two percent of smart home users have adopted entertainment technology, such as smart TVs or virtual reality headsets. It's clear that for many, the allure of a technologically enhanced entertainment is irresistible.”

Issues remain with daily use, and security systems were highlighted as causing particular user dissatisfaction, with 1 in 5 respondents saying they are the most troublesome smart tech.

Overall, the report found smart home technology is a trend that’s here to stay in the U.S. and, despite some sticking points with consumers, Americans are continuing to find value in incorporating it into their daily lives.