Your beginner’s guide to smart home appliances.
Getting started with smart home appliances is easier than most people expect, but the sheer volume of available products makes it hard to know where to begin. Choosing the wrong starting point leads to wasted spend and a drawer full of devices that never quite worked together.
The practical approach is to focus on three categories that deliver clear, immediate benefits without requiring a full smart home overhaul. Each one works independently, connects to a standard Wi-Fi network, and produces results you can measure within the first month of use.
Key takeaways from this guide:
- Smart home security cameras for indoors and outdoors are among the most practical connected home starting points for South African households
- A connected washing machine with AI energy management reduces electricity and water use from the first cycle
- A smart fridge with food management and remote monitoring reduces waste and improves kitchen efficiency
- All three products work with the Samsung SmartThings app or the Ring app, no additional hub required
Three Features Worth Prioritising
- Smart home security with connected indoor and outdoor cameras
- A Wi-Fi connected washing machine with AI energy management
- A smart refrigerator with food monitoring and remote control
Is Smart Home Security a Good Starting Point?
For South African homeowners, yes. Smart home security cameras offer one of the most immediately practical entry points into connected home technology, and both indoor and outdoor models are straightforward to set up without professional installation.
Smart home security cameras are Wi-Fi-connected devices that stream live video to a smartphone app, send motion-triggered alerts in real time, and allow two-way audio between the camera and whoever is monitoring it. The category covers both plug-in indoor models and battery-powered outdoor units, with setup handled entirely through a companion app after a quick Wi-Fi pairing process.
Pairing an indoor camera with an outdoor unit gives a household coverage of both interior spaces and perimeter areas from a single app. An indoor camera monitors rooms, pets, or entry points inside the home. An outdoor battery camera covers driveways, gates, and garden areas without requiring a power cable run to the mounting position. Both send real-time motion alerts to your phone and allow you to view, hear, and respond to whatever the camera detects, whether you are at home or elsewhere.
Hirsch’s stocks both indoor and outdoor Ring cameras.
- The Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) in Black is a plug-in 1080p HD indoor camera with Colour Night Vision, Two-Way Talk with noise cancellation, a built-in privacy cover that disables the camera and mic with a single swivel, and a remote-activated siren. It connects to the Ring app via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and is also compatible with Amazon Alexa.
- The Ring Outdoor Cam Plus 2K Battery (2-Pack) in White is a battery-powered outdoor unit with Retinal 2K video, Low-Light Sight for full-colour clarity in near-dark conditions, a 160-degree field of view, Two-Way Talk, and a weather-resistant build rated for temperatures from -20°C to 50°C. It uses dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and connects to the Ring app. The 2-pack format makes it practical to cover two areas, such as a front gate and a back garden, from a single purchase.
The full range of Hirsch’s smart home security products is available online and in-store.
Why Is a Smart Washing Machine Worth Considering?
A connected washing machine delivers more measurable daily value than most other smart appliances because laundry is a high-frequency household task with a direct, visible impact on electricity and water consumption.
Smart washing machines are front-loading or top-loading appliances that connect to a home Wi-Fi network and can be monitored, started, or adjusted remotely via a smartphone app. The most advanced models use AI to detect fabric type, automatically adjust cycle settings, and optimise energy consumption based on load size and soil level, rather than applying a fixed programme regardless of what is actually in the drum.
The energy benefit is concrete. AI Energy Mode on compatible machines can reduce electricity use by up to 70% per cycle by washing with cooler water and adjusting cycle time, rather than defaulting to a standard warm cycle. Over a month of regular use, this represents a meaningful reduction in both electricity spend and water consumption.
The Samsung 9kg Black Front Loader with AI EcoBubble (WW90DG6U94LB) is available at Hirschs and illustrates what a well-specified connected washing machine can do.
- AI EcoBubble technology generates bubbles that penetrate fabric quickly, removing up to 24% more soil at cool temperatures.
- The machine connects to Samsung SmartThings, allowing remote start, cycle monitoring, and wash cycle recommendations through the app.
- Super Speed mode completes a full load in 39 minutes
- The built-in Hygiene Steam function handles items that need a deeper clean without requiring a separate appliance.
Smart washing machine feature comparison
| Feature | What It Does | Novice Benefit |
| AI EcoBubble | Turns detergent into bubbles for effective cool-water washing | Saves up to 70% energy vs warm-water cycles |
| AI Energy Mode | Monitors and adapts power use per cycle via SmartThings app | Real data on electricity use per wash |
| SmartThings App | Remote start, cycle status, wash recommendations | Control and monitor from your phone |
| Super Speed | Full 9kg load washed in 39 minutes | Reduces total daily time spent on laundry |
| Hygiene Steam | Steam cycle for deep cleaning without hot water | Sanitises items without a separate appliance |
What Does a Smart Fridge Actually Do?
A smart refrigerator connects to your home Wi-Fi and allows you to monitor temperature, receive door-open alerts, and manage energy consumption remotely through a companion app. The more advanced models add food tracking, cooling optimisation, and integration with other smart home appliances on the same platform.
Refrigerators account for a substantial portion of household electricity use because they run continuously, 24 hours a day. A connected fridge with AI energy management adapts its compressor behaviour to usage patterns, reducing unnecessary cooling cycles during low-activity periods. Samsung’s AI Energy Mode, available through the SmartThings app, can reduce fridge energy consumption by up to 15% compared to a unit running on fixed settings.
The Food Showcase design, used in several side-by-side models, addresses a practical storage problem. A secondary inner door within the main fridge compartment keeps the most frequently accessed items, drinks, condiments, and snacks, accessible without opening the full fridge. This reduces cold air loss per access, which benefits both food freshness and energy efficiency over time.
The Samsung 609L Black Side-by-Side Food Showcase Bespoke AI with SmartThings (RS80F64G2FFA) is available at Hirschs and is a practical example of what a connected refrigerator can offer a household transitioning to smarter appliances.
- The 609L capacity splits into 407L fridge and 202L freezer sections.
- All-Around Cooling maintains an even temperature throughout both compartments.
- The fridge connects to Samsung SmartThings for remote temperature control, door-open alerts, and energy monitoring.
- Auto Open Door sensors allow hands-free access when your hands are full.
- Metal Cooling duct technology in the rear wall retains cold air more effectively after the door closes, reducing temperature fluctuation and energy draw.
Do These Three Products Work Together?
The Samsung washing machine and Samsung fridge both connect to the Samsung SmartThings platform, which means they can be monitored and managed from a single app. The Ring Indoor Cam and Ring Outdoor Cam Plus both operate on the Ring app and are compatible with Amazon Alexa, which is a widely used voice assistant platform.
For a novice, running two separate apps is a reasonable starting position. The SmartThings app handles the two Samsung appliances, while the Ring app handles home security. Both are free, available on Android and iOS, and do not require a subscription for basic functionality.
If you want to unify everything under one platform later, both SmartThings and Amazon Alexa support cross-platform routines, so the option to integrate exists without any hardware changes.
How Do Smart Appliances Handle Load Shedding?
Smart appliances require power to operate, so they are inactive during load shedding like any other device. However, all three products above retain their settings and app connections when power is restored, so schedules and preferences do not need to be re-entered after an outage.
The Ring Outdoor Cam Plus uses a removable, rechargeable Quick Release Battery Pack and continues to operate independently during a power cut, as the unit draws from its own battery rather than the home’s mains supply. This is a practical consideration for South African households where mains reliability cannot be taken for granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A free Samsung account is required to use the SmartThings app and connect Samsung appliances. The app is available on Android and iOS and connects to any Samsung SmartThings-compatible device on a standard 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Yes. Both Ring cameras function without a paid subscription for live view, two-way audio, and motion alerts. A Ring Home subscription adds cloud video storage (up to 180 days), AI-powered alert descriptions, and advanced features like Familiar Faces recognition. The basic functionality works out of the box with no ongoing cost, and a free 30-day trial of Ring Home is included with each camera purchase.
Yes. The 9kg drum capacity is suited to households of three to five people. The Super Speed function handles a full load in 39 minutes, and the SpaceMax design accommodates bulkier items like bedding without increasing the machine’s external footprint.
Yes, the built-in water and ice dispenser requires a plumbed water connection. This is standard for side-by-side refrigerators with this feature and is typically handled during installation. The smart functions and SmartThings connectivity do not require plumbing and work independently of the dispenser.
Yes. Each product operates independently and delivers value on its own. Starting with whichever addresses your most immediate need, whether that is security, laundry efficiency, or food management, is the most practical approach. They do not need to be purchased or installed together.
Starting With the Right Products
Smart home technology works best when each product solves a real, daily problem. Connected indoor and outdoor cameras address security and perimeter awareness. A connected washing machine with AI energy management reduces electricity and water use from the first load. A smart refrigerator with remote monitoring and food showcase design reduces waste and improves kitchen efficiency.
All three are available at Hirsch’s, stocked alongside staff who can walk you through setup and compatibility before you buy.