My top picks for smart home devices for a desk or office in 2026

Smart home products aren’t just useful In your kitchen And the living room or l Guarding your front door. It also pairs well with A Home officeWhether you have a dedicated office or a free-for-all space where you can keep the family computer.

Here are the devices that make the biggest difference on and around my desk, including smart lights, a multi-purpose smart speaker, and smart displays that can be used in a variety of ways. Read on to find out how you can give your desk a new, high-tech life.

Intelligent surge protector to protect all your other devices

A powerful surge protector is the glue that holds all your other office equipment together – protecting them from dangerous electrical surges. I hope Complete list of recommendationsBut consider it A smart surge protector like the Tapo model ($42) To make a bigger difference.

These smart power strips let you name each included plug and outlet based on what you plug into them, and control them remotely, including through popular apps like Google Home or Apple Home. You can also turn them on or off using voice commands when they’re categorized correctly in the app, which is great if you have lights connected (more on that later) or fans.

The Tapo version also allows you to track energy costs, which is a big plus if you’re worried your office equipment is draining too much power.

Read more: Best smart plugs of 2026

Smart speaker for music and voice commands

Yes, I like to use My smart speaker For basic things like asking about the weather and traffic, or setting a timer to remember to get up and stretch. But smart speakers can actually put the “assistant” in a voice assistant when used at a desk.

I cover this in more detail in guides such as Tricks for using Google Home and Nestbut you can use smart speakers to set reminders or add events to your calendar while answering an email or creating a to-do list. Many of them also have other abilities that make them willing to help. They can connect to your streaming services to play music whenever you want.

These office-friendly headphones are small in size but have very good sound for their size. Versions like Echo Dot 5 Small and priced at around $50, but for a significant audio upgrade, consider something like Echo Dot Max, Apple HomePod Mini or Google’s new home speaker.

And that’s without getting into all the AI ​​features of upgraded voice assistants like Gemini for Home or Alexa Plus. Alexa Plus is especially noticeable here Because it’s free with an Amazon Prime subscription, you can connect it to third-party services like Uber/Uber Eats, Ticketmaster, TaskRabbit, and more for quick ordering while you make plans.

Smart screen for multitasking and dual screen use

Think about Smart screen As a smart speaker with a touch screen. This can be surprisingly useful, especially as a desktop companion. You get all the benefits of a smart speaker, plus the ability to check its operation when creating events or to-do lists — plus the option to watch videos, do a quick internet search, or even just glance at your video doorbell.

This second monitor next to your computer can serve many in-depth purposes as well. You can sign up for a show, watch how-to videos, or refer to a step-by-step game guide as you play. I’ve found that smart displays are a little slower to respond than tablets, but the sound is much better, so using these displays as a music source or perhaps video chat is much easier.

Check options like Echo display 11 ($220) and Nest Hub Max To know what I’m talking about.

Intelligent heater for programmable and cost-saving heat

It’s nice to have regular heaters near your desk, but they can be a fire hazard, drain energy, and aren’t always easy to operate. I suggest a smart upgrade. this Boulder radiant heater ($400) It is an example of high-end, But you can see how It uses less electricity, poses less fire risks and can be wall-mounted to fit on a desk without taking up a lot of space.

Also, don’t rule out the ability to control your space heater via the app. This allows you to set schedules to make sure your office area is warm before you get there, or make sure the heater is turned off no matter where you are.

Smart light to set moods and send reminders

Lamps fit well on a computer desk, especially if you don’t have lights or windows nearby and need extra lighting. but Smart lite versionlike the ones in my guide, provide greater versatility and utility.

You can adjust Smart light to any brightness and color you want, allowing you to adjust the color temperature and make the light as easy on your eyes as you want. You can even connect these lights to other smart devices in the home to act as visual notifications.

For example, you can program the light to turn blue when… Smart lock It is open, green when the door sensor is activated or red when the TV is on in another room.

You have two options to adopt these smart lights. Depending on the size of the lamp, you may be able to upgrade an existing desk lamp With smart bulb Without changing anything else. Or you can replace the light with something like Warmblitz smart bulb from IKEA If you have the room.

Light strips for fun and entertainment

If you use your desk more for gaming, watching movies, or other entertainment, consider a different type of upgrade. Light strips placed around the edges of your desk or screen (or floor, etc.) can change colors, flash with the music and match the theme of whatever you’re playing or watching. They usually only need one available port to get started, and some can even be downsized.

One of my favorite options for this is Jovi Toy Lighting Ropewhich lets you set scenes, sync to music, and program it exactly the way you want using the highly capable Govee app (which now includes an AI assistant that you can make prompts to). In fact, you might want to take a look at The entire gaming and office section of Goveebecause there is so much you can play with.

Smart fan nearby to help cool

A large computer can get hot, and there’s nothing better than a fan to help cool things down, especially in summer heatwaves. However, placing the fan directly on the desk takes up a lot of space and is very inconvenient for many people. I suggest placing the fans far apart in the same room instead. Our list of the best smart tower lovers An excellent place to start. It’s surprisingly fun to be able to control fan speed and direction remotely using your phone (or smart display), but we have other, less complicated options as well.

If you have a nearby rack or prefer to have your fan up close and personal, you can Also consider SwitchBot’s smart desk fanand it is the most advanced model I have ever tested.

For more information, check out My guide to my favorite smart home devices In general, and The best technology for my home, even after I finished my reviews.