Is Your 'Smart' Device Actually Smart? A Simple Test

Your refrigerator wants to show you ads. Your washer wants to send you notifications. Every appliance is begging for your WiFi password.

Before you connect that next device, ask yourself one simple question: Does this actually make my life better?

The Washer That Failed the Test

I have a “smart” washer and dryer. Here’s what “smart” means:

What it does: Sends a notification when the cycle is done.

What it doesn’t do:

• Start loads remotely
• Add 10 minutes to prevent wrinkles
• Literally anything else useful

So I’m supposed to connect my laundry room to the internet, create another account, and accept privacy/security risks… for a notification I don’t need?

The smart features stay off. The washer still washes clothes just fine.

Full Disclosure: I Run a Smart Home

Here’s what’s connected in my house:

• Home Assistant hub
• Alexa devices
• Smart irrigation (Rachio)
• Smart weather station (Tempest)
• Smart switches and bulbs
• Smart locks
• Tons of sensors

But here’s the difference: I’m a security professional with network segmentation, VLANs, and configurations most consumers don’t have. More importantly, each device passed my risk/benefit test.

The One-Question Framework

Before connecting anything, ask:

Does the specific benefit outweigh the specific risk?

My smart, weather-aware irrigation system (Rachio + Tempest):

• Benefit: Saves water, adjusts for hyper-local weather, prevents overwatering, significantly reduces my water bill
• Risk: Usage data, account requirement, internet dependency
• Decision: WORTH IT. The water savings and convenience are substantial.

My smart switches/bulbs:

• Benefit: Automate lighting based on time/occupancy, reduce energy use, improve security when away
• Risk: Usage patterns, network access, potential surveillance
• Decision: WORTH IT. The automation genuinely improves daily life.

The “Smart” washer/dryer:

• Benefit: Sends alert to my phone when a load is complete
• Risk: Data collection, network access
• Decision: NOT WORTH IT. There’s already an audio alert for me when my laundry is complete. That I ignore, just like I would a phone alert…

What “Benefit” Actually Means

Not all smart features are created equal. Real benefits:

✅ Saves meaningful money (smart thermostat, irrigation)
✅ Saves significant time (automations you use daily)
✅ Improves security (cameras with useful alerts)
✅ Provides accessibility (voice control for disabilities)
✅ Enables something impossible otherwise (remote access for elderly parents’ home)

Fake benefits:

❌ Notifications for things you already know
❌ Apps for basic functions
❌ “Convenience” features you’ll never use
❌ Solutions looking for problems
❌ Marketing gimmicks (WiFi-enabled toasters, really?)

The Three Questions

If you’re not sure whether a device is worth it:

1. Will I actually use this feature weekly?
If not daily, at least weekly. If you’re thinking “maybe occasionally,” that’s a no.

2. Can I achieve the same result another way?
If a $15 timer does the same job as a $100 smart plug, you don’t need the smart plug.

3. What happens when it breaks or the company shuts down?
If the device becomes useless e-waste, think twice.

My Setup (For the Curious)

Since I run a full smart home, here’s how I manage the risks:

• Separate network for IoT devices (isolated from main network)
• No IoT devices in private spaces (bedrooms, bathrooms)
• Local control when possible (Home Assistant for things that work offline)
• Each device justified by specific, measurable benefit

But most consumers don’t have this setup. That’s okay—just be more selective.

The Bottom Line

I’m not saying don’t buy smart devices. I’m saying be picky about which ones.

Before you connect anything:

• Ask if the benefit is real and significant
• Consider the privacy/security tradeoff
• Make sure it works without internet when possible
• Think about what happens in 2-5 years

Your refrigerator’s job is to keep food cold, not show you ads. Your washer’s job is to wash clothes, not send unnecessary notifications.

The smartest decision? Only connect devices that genuinely earn the privilege.

Quick Decision Matrix

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