We’re building a smarter way to let go of old tech—and bring trusted gear into your home without the waste or guesswork.📦 Trade in your smart home devices
🛠 Buy tested secondhand gear
🧠 Get advice on what works together
Join out waitlist below and as a thank-you, we’ll send you our free guide:
“Top 5 Starter Devices for a Smart Home” + a bonus gift on our top recommended smart home hubs🎁
🌀 Why We’re Building SoftReset
We love smart home technology. The magic of a voice-controlled light, an automated routine, or a perfectly timed thermostat never gets old. But part of loving this space means we’re always upgrading—and with every upgrade comes a pile of cables, sensors, and perfectly good gear with nowhere to go.That’s where SoftReset comes in.
Our idea is simple:
You send us your old smart home gear—thermostats, sensors, cameras, cables, remotes—and we test it, clean it, and give it a second life.We list your devices at a fair secondhand market price, and when it sells, you get paid. Or, if you’d rather, we donate the proceeds to animal shelters right here in Texas.It’s not just resale—it’s resetting the cycle, building a more sustainable way to upgrade, and helping others build smarter homes without starting from scratch.
🏠 Top 5 Starter Devices for Your Smart Home
# 🏠 Top 5 Starter Devices for Your Smart Home
A free guide from SoftResetYou don’t need 50 devices to make your home feel smart — just the right 5 to start. This guide outlines the most essential gear to automate your space, plus our picks for the best platforms to build on.---## 1. Smart Thermostat
The upgrade that pays for itself.If you’re only going to install one smart device, make it your thermostat. It controls comfort, saves energy, and often pays for itself within a year.What to look for:
- Intelligent scheduling
- App + remote control
- Voice/hub compatibility
- HVAC supportTop Picks:
• Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
• Google Nest Learning Thermostat
• Honeywell T9💡 Pro tip: If using Home Assistant, check for local control support.---## 2. Smart Lightbulbs
Set the vibe, save energy.Control color, brightness, and timing — all from your phone or voice.What to look for:
- Dimmable / tunable color
- Ecosystem compatibility
- Grouping + scenes
- Matter support (optional)Top Picks:
• Philips Hue A19 Starter Kit
• Nanoleaf Essentials
• TP-Link Kasa Smart Bulbs💡 Want to automate a whole room? Try smart dimmers like Lutron Caséta.---## 3. Smart Speakers / Voice Assistants
Your hands-free command center.Set timers, trigger scenes, or stream music — no hands needed.What to look for:
- Voice assistant preference
- Cross-platform support
- Decent audio qualityTop Picks:
• Apple HomePod Mini
• Sonos One (Gen 2)
• Nest Audio
• Amazon Echo (5th Gen)💡 Privacy-conscious? Look into Josh.ai or Home Assistant voice.---## 4. Smart TV or Streaming Device
More than Netflix.Use your TV as part of routines, like dimming lights during movies.What to look for:
- Platform compatibility
- HDMI-CEC support
- Smart app accessTop Picks:
• Apple TV 4K
• NVIDIA Shield TV
• Roku Ultra
• Samsung Smart TVs (watch for firmware issues)---## 5. Smart Outlets / Switches
Instant smarts for “dumb” devices.Turn lamps, fans, or coffee makers into smart devices in seconds.What to look for:
- Compact design
- Voice/app control
- Energy monitoring (optional)Top Picks:
• TP-Link Kasa Plug Mini
• Shelly Plug S
• Wemo Smart Plug (Thread)
• Lutron Caséta Lamp Dimmer---## 🎁 BONUS: Smart Home Hubs — Ranked🥇 1. Home Assistant
• Local-first, powerful, and customizable
• Steeper learning curve, but unmatched flexibility🥈 2. Google Home
• Great displays and speakers
• Broad Matter support🥈 2. Apple HomeKit
• Excellent if you’re fully in the Apple ecosystem
• Limited compatibility with non-Apple gear🥉 3. Amazon Alexa
• Huge device support
• Slower and less intuitive than othersHonorable Mentions:
Hubitat, Homie, Samsung SmartThings---SoftReset helps you upgrade, trade in, and build smarter — without starting from scratch.