What once seemed futuristic is now everyday life in many Portuguese homes. A new Product of the Year study shows that smart home tech—robot vacuums, connected appliances, smart lighting—is rapidly gaining ground, driven by comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency.
Robot Vacuums Lead the Way
Robot cleaners top the list, used by 21% of respondents. Smart appliances like fridges and washing machines follow (17%), along with smart lighting (15%). Security systems (14%), voice assistants (13%), sound systems (8%), and thermostats (6%) round out the list.
Notably, 51% of users only started adopting these technologies in the past three years.
Why Go Smart? Comfort, Convenience, Savings
The top motivator is comfort (32%), followed by time-saving automation (25%) and energy savings (23%). Around 27% say their daily life has improved thanks to easier chores, and 26% report greater comfort at home.
High Costs Still a Barrier
Price is the top obstacle, influencing 23% of purchase decisions and cited by 45% as the main reason for holding back. Other concerns include installation complexity (15%), lack of tech knowledge (14%), and data privacy (9%).
Still, the future looks bright—11% of those without smart tech say they plan to buy soon.
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