A TV Can Add Another Control Point to an Alexa Smart Home, but Setup Still Matters

One Alexa user says cross-platform compatibility can make a connected home more flexible, though it can also add complexity.

A smart TV can become another device in an Alexa-centered home, but it is not necessarily a replacement for a dedicated smart-home hub or speaker.

Consumer-tech contributor Chris Hachey says he uses Amazon Alexa as the core of his smart-home setup and values being able to control compatible devices across different standards, protocols, and technologies.

The appeal is convenience. Hachey describes using voice control when moving around the house or when his hands are occupied, such as while carrying clothes upstairs or caring for one of his children. In those moments, asking a smart speaker to switch on a smart bulb or a lamp connected to a smart plug can be easier than reaching for a wall switch.

He also notes that his home includes devices from other manufacturers that work with platforms including Samsung SmartThings and Apple HomeKit. That cross-platform support can broaden the range of products available in an Alexa-based setup.

The trade-off is that compatibility does not automatically mean every device will work the same way everywhere. Smart-home owners may still need to determine which platform supports a given product and how controls are shared between services.

For people who already use Alexa alongside SmartThings- or HomeKit-compatible products, a TV may be another useful screen or control point in the home. But the available evidence supports an individual setup, not a universal recommendation to buy a television specifically for smart-home control.