First Alert’s New Smart Smoke Alarms: Google Home Compatible and Nest Protect Alternative

First Alert Unveils New Smart Smoke Alarms Compatible with Google Home

First Alert, a leading manufacturer of home safety devices, has announced the launch of a new line of smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarms designed to work seamlessly with Google Home. This new product line fills the void left by the discontinued Nest Protect smart smoke alarm, offering users a compatible alternative.

The new alarms, which are set to be available in both hardwired and battery-powered options, will be priced at $129.99. Preorders are currently being accepted on FirstAlert.com, with availability expected later this year in the United States and Canada.

One of the key features of these new alarms is their compatibility with existing Nest Protect alarms through Nest’s Weave communication protocol. This ensures that users who already have Nest Protect devices installed can easily integrate the new First Alert alarms into their existing setup.

The smart alarms come equipped with several advanced features, including automatic safety checkups and “Heads-up Early Warning” alerts. Users will have the ability to silence alarms from both the First Alert and Google Home apps, providing convenient control options. The hardwired version comes with a 10-year battery, while the battery-powered option includes backup batteries.

To address the common annoyance of middle-of-the-night low battery chirps, the alarms will send low battery warnings via the app. While these new alarms lack the presence sensor and nightlight features found in the Nest Protect, they can trigger a live feed from Nest security cameras in the Home app when an alarm is activated.

First Alert’s new smart alarms utilize the company’s Precision Detection technology with photoelectric sensing and connect over Wi-Fi to both Google Home and First Alert apps.

This launch follows recent market developments, including Kidde’s introduction of a smart smoke alarm compatible with Ring. Kidde’s offerings are priced lower and will be available at The Home Depot. First Alert has also phased out its previous Onelink models in favor of these new Google Home-compatible devices.

Industry experts note that these new alarms do not currently support Matter, the new smart home standard. However, Resideo, the parent company of First Alert, is a member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance overseeing Matter, suggesting potential future integration with the Matter specification for broader compatibility.

As the smart home market continues to evolve, First Alert’s new line of Google Home-compatible smoke and carbon monoxide alarms represents a significant development in home safety technology, offering consumers advanced features and seamless integration with popular smart home ecosystems.