Smart tech has quietly and slowly moved from “nice to have” to “how did we ever live without this?”, we’re heating, lighting, locking and living a little smarter every day - often without even thinking about it.

But where in the UK is this connected revolution moving fastest, and what’s really driving it?

In the UK’s Smartest Homes Index, Argos takes a closer look at how the nation is embracing connected living — by region, by generation and by lifestyle. We’ve blended national survey insights, real search behaviour and public data to uncover who’s leading the way, and how energy, convenience and security are shaping the UK’s connected homes.

Smart technology is no longer niche - it’s fast becoming a staple of British homes.

Our survey of 2,000 UK adults who own smart home tech found that three-quarters (74%) of households now own a smart speaker, almost as many (73%) have a smart TV, and the average smart home uses four to five connected devices.

And this isn’t a short-term fling with technology. Over half of respondents (53%) interact with their smart devices every day, and nearly one in three (30%) have been using them for more than five years.

Of course, not every region plugs in at the same pace. Some parts of the country are already living in the fast lane of connected comfort, while others are just getting warmed up.

By looking at confidence, device ownership and how ready homes are for smart living, we’ve uncovered the regions leading the way.

Score: 75.8/100

London takes the top spot - no surprises for a city that loves staying one step ahead. A huge 11% of homes own ten or more smart devices (the highest in the UK), and 93% say they find smart tech easy to use. Confidence? Off the charts.

It helps that almost 90% of homes have access to gigabit broadband, second only to Northern Ireland, so connected living actually feels seamless. And with more than 40,000 smart home–related searches every month, Londoners aren’t just keeping up with new tech, they’re actively hunting down their next upgrade.

As for what they want to make smart next? Cleaning and maintenance top the list. Because in a city that never sits still, letting a robot vacuum pick up the slack just makes perfect sense. London keeps moving, and the gadgets happily keep up.

Score: 58.8/100

Yorkshire and the Humber takes second place thanks to its maturity and confidence with smart technology. More than a third of homes (38%) have been using smart tech for over five years, and 85% say they get on with it just fine.

It is also one of the most security-conscious parts of the UK, with six in ten households (61%) now owning a smart security device. It’s a sign of how Yorkshire residents are using connected tech to feel more in control at home.

Score: 56.0/100

The North East has been living smart long before it was cool. Four in ten (44%) residents have been using smart tech for more than five years, the highest rate in the country. That experience shows: almost nine in ten (88%) users say they find smart tech easy to use, making this one of the country’s most confident connected communities.

When asked about challenges, voice assistants' misunderstanding of commands came up most often (37%). Honestly, who hasn’t repeated “No, lights off” five times?

Connectivity issues (26%) and device costs (25%) follow, reminding us that as homes fill with more tech, simplicity matters more than ever. The North East proves that the future feels smoother when everything just… works.

Score: 50.2/100

Homes in the North West are well on their way to becoming truly connected. Most households now own four to five smart devices, with smart TVs and streaming gadgets taking the top spot - clearly a region that loves its entertainment.

And they’re clearly not stopping there. With around 26,000 smart home-related searches every month, people here are not just keeping pace with technology; they’re already eyeing up their next upgrade.

Energy is a big part of the story, too. For 17% of residents, the appeal of smart tech starts with saving energy. With the highest electricity unit rate in England (27.11p per kWh), it makes sense that one in three households (34%) now use smart heating or thermostats. It’s all about staying warm, staying efficient, and staying in control.

Score: 50.2/100

Rounding off the top five, the West Midlands is a region that really embraces smart living. Residents here are curious, clued up, and always exploring. They rank second only to London for smart tech-related searches across almost every category, proving they’re always on the lookout for the next clever upgrade.

Their most-searched-for items? Smart TVs, robot vacuums, smart plugs, smart thermostats and smart speakers. A line-up of comfort, convenience and little life-improvers. We can’t say we blame them!

And it fits the mindset perfectly: 38% of people in the West Midlands say convenience and comfort are their top priorities when it comes to smart living. A region that knows what works and likes to make life a little easier!

East of England: 44.0/100

South East: 42.5/100

East Midlands: 42.0/100

South West: 36.9/100

Scotland: 33.3/100

Wales: 30.3/100

Northern Ireland: 19.7/100

Smart living isn’t just for the tech-savvy or the young anymore; it’s woven into daily life for every generation. Whether it’s parents streamlining the morning rush or homeowners dialling in comfort at the end of a long day, everyone’s finding their own way to plug in, power up and make life run a little smoother.

But one age group stands out for making smart tech feel almost second nature.

The UK’s 35 to 44-year-olds are the true power users of smart home technology.

They’re the most confident and consistent users of smart technology. Nearly eight in ten (78%) own three or more smart devices, and more than half (56%) use them daily. That is more than any other age group. Confidence levels are sky high too, with 93% saying they find smart tech easy to use.

If you want to know what’s really driving the smart home boom, just look at what people are buying.

Our survey shows that among those who own smart home tech, 74% have a smart speaker, closely followed by smart TVs or streaming devices (73%). Smart security devices come next at 58%, showing just how much peace of mind matters.

Completing the top five are smart thermostats or heating systems (35%) and smart lighting (27%), proving comfort and control are cornerstones of the modern home.

When we ask what people want next, the wishlist stays refreshingly practical: cleaning and maintenance (20%), security and doors (15%) and heating and energy control (13%). Less “sci-fi takeover,” more “make my day easier, please.”

Over the past three months, searches for “smart thermostat” jumped 311%, with “smart heating” up 173%. As temperatures drop, the UK is clearly on the hunt for smarter, more efficient ways to stay warm (without living in their fluffiest jumper).

As smart technology becomes more capable and more accessible, connected living will feel less like an upgrade and more like the natural next step for homes across the UK.

“Our Smartest Homes Index shows just how quickly the UK is moving towards connected living. Customers are not just bringing devices into their homes anymore, they’re building ecosystems that work together behind the scenes. From tech that helps optimise energy use to tools that support comfort and wellbeing, the next generation of smart living is already emerging. We want to give customers the confidence to choose smart tech that's reliable, effective and tailored to their needs - whether that's established solutions or the latest market trends.” - Will Jones, Argos Head of Buying - Technology.

And for anyone ready to take that next step, Argos is here to help you find the smart tech that fits your home - and your life - perfectly.

The UK’s Smartest Homes Index is built using a combination of survey data, search trends and publicly available metrics.

To understand consumer behaviour, including adoption, engagement and sentiment across regions and age groups, we conducted a nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK smart home tech users in November 2025.

Third-party and public data were collected, including:

• Google Keyword Planner: Search trends for smart home and device-related keywords
• Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk): Gigabit broadband availability by region
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (gov.uk): Smart meter coverage across the UK
• Ofgem (Ofgem.gov.uk): Electricity unit rates by region
• Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk), Scottish Government (gov.scot) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (psni.police.uk): Residential burglary rates by region

Where appropriate, data was normalised by regional population before being combined into the final index ranking.