Convincing customers to buy smart appliances is tricky because the savings aren’t as apparent as with smart lights, plugs and security devices. After all, you still load smart washers, prepare meals to cook in smart ovens and throw out old food from smart fridges. In many cases, simply adding Wi-Fi for remote control isn’t enough.
That said, smart appliances can leverage advanced features to simplify home maintenance, clothing care and food preparation in an increasingly busy world. Here are four recent smart home appliance innovations worth pitching to your customers.
Perfecta AI Powered Grill by Seergrills
It’s undeniable that many people love barbecuing. Seergrills hopes its AI-powered Perfecta propane grill will find a speedy new niche among grillers. To that end, Perfecta uses a unique design where users place food between two vertical grill plates that slide into the center of the grill — between two infrared burners, eliminating the need to flip food during cooking. The grill then uses AI to track the cooking progress and adjust temperatures automatically based on preferences grillers choose using the built-in touchscreen or mobile app.
Seergrills claims that Perfecta can cut cooking times by 90 percent while producing outstanding results. In other words, this means cooking an entire steak in less time than it takes to sear one side on a traditional gas grill. However, the retail price of $3,499 is a big hurdle for most consumers, so don’t expect this grill to set the world on fire when it ships in Q4 2024. Still, it’s a fascinating window into the future of outdoor grilling.
GE Profile UltraFast Combo Ventless Washer/Dryer
Ventless washer/dryer combos aren’t new to the market and even fill a respectable niche in smaller homes where separate appliances are impractical — it’s certainly the appeal of the GE Profile UltraFast Combo, which retails for $2,899. The beauty of this design is that customers won’t need to remember to switch loads, making it easier to start the laundry before going to bed or leaving for the day. There’s even an integrated tray that dispenses detergent automatically based on the size of the load, which is helpful when this unit offers so many wash/dry settings.
Still, you should inform your customers that ventless washer/dryer combos may have problems with lint buildup. Without regular lint filter cleaning, the lint can interfere with the heat pump that powers the dryer. Until lint no longer creates issues, it’s safe to continue offering separate washers and dryers to customers as well.
Airthings Renew Air Purifier
The main appeal of Airthings is its lineup of smart air quality sensors that precisely track indoor pollutants. Unfortunately, sensors don’t do much good without a way to clean the air, so it’s great to see the company’s first air purifier is ready for primetime. The Airthings Renew air purifier, retailing for $400, comes with built-in particulate sensors to track air quality as it cleans the air using a four-stage filter setup.
By pairing the air purifier with a mobile app, users receive real-time alerts when the air quality drops in a room. They’ll also see reminders to replace the filters and have an in-app option to order replacements. As of launch, Airthings Renew doesn’t support Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant, but the company expects to add compatibility eventually.
Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex
One of the strengths of Samsung’s Bespoke line of smart appliances is customization. So it’s fitting that the Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex offers three separate refrigeration zones instead of the standard refrigerator and freezer with which most people are familiar. The innovation here is that the third zone functions as a refrigerator or freezer to suit the customer’s needs. This flexibility means setting multiple temperatures in the fridge to store different types of food safely. Beyond the customizable third zone, users can monitor energy usage, temperature changes and water filter status using the SmartThings app.
Smart home appliances often aren’t easy to sell due to their steep markup over traditional appliances. Still, they also have an excitement factor that catches the eye and brings in curious customers.
About the Author
John Carlsen has covered smart home, home security and consumer technology since 2013. In addition to his freelance work, he’s written articles and reviews on staff for SafeWise, ASecureLife and Top Ten Reviews.
See also: Another View: 3 Smart Home Trends Retailers Should Watch This Year
