Review: Smoke Detectors

One of my older Firex Smoke Detectors stopped working in our master bedroom (after a shower, it was activated but refused to be silenced). I started looking for the best replacement for my home's detectors.

 

I looked at multiple reviews of Smoke Detectors on Amazon.com, but I needed help identifying the best one. I have tried the following smoke detectors so far:

1. X-Sense Smoke Alarm, 10-Year Battery Fire Alarm Smoke Detector with LED Indicator & Silence Button, SD2J0AX
• Highlights
• 10-year sealed battery
• Inexpensive ($15)
• Easy to install (no A/C wiring required)
• Lowlights
• No standby lights (green LED)
• Hard to see the blinking Red LED
• No wifi
2. Kidde Smoke Detector, Hardwired Smoke Alarm with 9-Volt Battery Backup, Test-Reset Button, Interconnect Capability
• Highlights
• Inexpensive ($19)
• Green LED indicates A/C Power is on
• Lowlights
• 9V battery is more complicated to replace (need to remove the whole detector)
3. Kidde Smoke Detector, Hardwired Smoke Alarm with Battery Backup, Front-Load Battery Door, Test-Silence Button
• Highlights
• Inexpensive
• 9V battery is easy to replace
• Lowlights
• No wifi
4. Kidde Smart Smoke Detector, wifi, Alexa Compatible Device, Hardwired w/Battery Backup, Voice & App Alerts
• Model P4010ACS-WF
• Highlights
• 10-year sealed battery (no need to replace 9V batteries anymore)
• Photoelectric sensor
• Wifi 2.4G support built-in
• Kidde App access to test/ping alarm
• Voice announcements (not just beeps)
• Lowlights
• No standby lights (green or blinking LEDs
• No daily alarm self-test (unlike Nest Protect)
• More expensive ($54)
5. Google Nest Protect - Smoke Alarm - Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector
• Highlights
• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide 
• Integration with Google Home/Nest
• Wifi 2.4G
• Standby lights
• Self-testing
• Lowlights
• Expensive ($119) but available for $199 for 2 at Costco.com
  
• 3 AA Batteries need to be replaced 
• Short Warranty (2 years)

After installing the Google Nest Protect v2, I like it more than the Kidde Smart Smoke Detector. The Standby green light tells me the detector is on, and having carbon monoxide checks is a significant plus.