A working smoke detector isn’t just another household gadget—it’s a critical safety device that can mean the difference between a minor incident and a devastating fire. In 2024 alone, U.S. fire departments responded to over 365,000 home fires, resulting in 2,800 deaths and over $8.4 billion in property damage. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes without functioning smoke alarms.
Given these alarming statistics, choosing the right smoke detector is an essential step in home safety. The SimpliSafe Smoke Detector stands out as a modern solution, offering early smoke detection, wireless alerts, and seamless integration with smart home security systems.
- Photoelectric Sensors – Detects smoke at the earliest ember stage to reduce false alarms.
- Wireless Connectivity – Sends instant alerts to your phone and, with a monitoring plan, notifies emergency services.
- Smartphone Integration – Monitors your detector’s status via the SimpliSafe app with daily system checks.
- Long Battery Life – Operates on battery power for 3–5 years, ensuring reliability even during power outages.
- Easy Installation – No wiring required; setup takes minutes.
This review takes a closer look at how the SimpliSafe Smoke Detector performs in real-world conditions, how it compares to traditional alarms, and whether it’s the right choice for protecting your home.
Key Takeaways
- The SimpliSafe Smoke Detector uses photoelectric sensors to detect smoke early, reducing the risk of false alarms.
- Wireless connectivity allows for smartphone alerts and, with a monitoring plan, automatic emergency dispatch.
- The battery lasts 3-5 years, with low-battery alerts to ensure continued functionality.
- Unlike traditional smoke detectors, this model provides remote monitoring through the SimpliSafe app.
- Installation is quick and simple, requiring no hardwiring and working independently or within a SimpliSafe security system.
- At $34.99, it offers an affordable yet effective home safety solution compared to premium smart smoke detectors.
Contents
Overview Of SimpliSafe Smoke Detector
The Simplisafe smoke detector offers a simple yet reliable smoke-detecting solution. It does what any self-respecting smoke detector should do: detect smoke, but it has a few other helpful features that can be literal life savers.
We will go into more detail about these features shortly, but the detector prioritizes easy setup and comprehensive alert methods in the unfortunate case of a fire.
Importance Of Smoke Detectors In Home Security
A smoke detector is one of those tools you hope to never need, but it’s also one you should never be caught without. No matter how careful you are, fires are always a possibility. They can be caused by faulty electrical connections, a spark from a candle, or any number of possible triggers.
When a fire breaks out, stopping it as soon as possible is imperative if you wish to avoid damage. Smoke detectors can be one of the best tools for this, as they not only alert you to a fire as soon as possible but can also be used to alert the fire department for a swift response.
Features And Benefits
The Simplisafe smoke detector keeps things simple, limiting its functions to the essentials. This is actually an upside, as smoke detectors don’t need any frills as they are there to provide one main function. Despite this, the SimpliSafe detector does have some great features.
- Photoelectric sensors
As we mentioned previously, the earlier a fire can be detected, the better. That’s why the SimpliSafe uses photoelectric sensors to detect fires in their earliest stages. Typically, the detector aims to detect fires in the ember stage before they’ve started to really build up to a blaze.
- Wireless Connectivity
The SimpliSafe has wireless functions that can help alert you to potential fires. Not only will the detector send alerts straight to your smartphone, but it will also alert local authorities. Bear in mind that this may depend on certain monitoring plans that you have to sign up for.
- Battery Life Of 3-5 Years
The SimpliSafe detector is not reliant on a power connection, meaning it will work perfectly during an outage or if a fire damages electrical wires. Instead, it is powered by a battery that will last between 3-5 years.
The detector will alert you when the battery is low, so this is something that won’t be something you need to keep a constant eye on.
- Smartphone Alerts
As we mentioned earlier, the SimpliSafe will alert you and local authorities in the case of an emergency, but it doesn’t stop there. You can also check your home’s status using the SimpliSafe app, and the app will do daily checks to ensure your detector is functioning as intended.
- Comparison To Traditional Detectors
The wireless connectivity and alert systems set this detector apart from more traditional methods. In years past, a detector would set off an alarm and then leave it up to you or people nearby to alert the authorities.
This could of course prove a problem if you were not home at the time, so having alerts sent to you no matter where you are can make a huge difference.
Design
The SimpliSafe detector has a simple yet functional design. It is small, round and white, so it does look like a fairly typical smoke detector. This means that it won’t detract from decor or home design too much while still serving its purpose.
Installation
This detector is really simple to setup and install, so it won’t take much time or expertise to set up. This video by SimpliSafe shows off how you will set up your detector and how easy it is.
Compatibility With Other SimpliSafe Products
The SimpliSafe smoke detector works fairly independently and thus doesn’t really need to connect to other products. It can, however, be paired with the SimpliSafe app for more features and more accurate alerts.
Additionally, the detector can also be paired with devices such as the SimpliSafe Carbon Monoxide Detector for extra protection.
Performance and Reliability
SimpliSafe provides a great option for an affordable smoke detector that does what it needs to do with no fuss. Reviews on the Best Buy product page had an average of 4.0 stars out of 5, with most customers indicating that the detector worked exactly as expected.
A user on this Reddit thread did have a few false alarms, but these were mitigated by occasional minor maintenance.
Alarms such as the Google Nest are a more premium option that offers a few additional features such as more precise alerts and an included light, but these are luxuries that aren’t really essential.
At $34.99, the SimpliSafe option offers an affordable and reliable choice for simple home safety.
Pros And Cons
Throughout this review, we have covered a few of the benefits and downsides of this detector, but now we will sum them up.
In terms of pros, we have:
- Easy setup
- Early fire detection
- Smart app connection
- Long battery life
- Affordable price
In terms of some drawbacks, there are only a few:
- Some mild maintenance might be needed
- The battery will need to be monitored.
- A subscription to the SimpliSafe app may be needed to use all features.
As we can see, even with a general overview it is clear that the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
Conclusion
After testing the SimpliSafe Smoke Detector in real-world conditions, it’s clear that this device offers a solid balance of reliability, affordability, and smart functionality. While it doesn’t have the premium features of high-end smart detectors like the Google Nest Protect, it does exactly what a smoke detector should—detect smoke quickly and alert you effectively.
During testing, the photoelectric sensor successfully detected early signs of smoke without false alarms, something cheaper ionization-based alarms often struggle with. The wireless connectivity proved valuable, instantly sending alerts to the smartphone app, which is crucial when you’re away from home. For households with SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring plan, the added benefit of automatic emergency dispatch offers extra peace of mind.
Considering that three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms, having a device that reliably detects smoke and alerts you instantly is non-negotiable. At $34.99, the SimpliSafe Smoke Detector is an excellent option for homeowners seeking an easy-to-install, smart-enabled solution without breaking the bank. If you want a no-fuss detector that integrates seamlessly with a broader home security system, this is a worthwhile investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Reset SimpliSafe Smoke Detector
The SimpliSafe detector can be reset by briefly removing the battery and then setting it up again.
Are SimpliSafe Smoke Detectors Good?
SimpliSafe is a quality brand with a great track record, and its smoke detectors are no exception.
Are SimpliSafe Smoke Connectors Interconnected?
While multiple smoke detectors can be connected to the app, they will work independently from one another.
Are SimpliSafe Smoke Detectors Hard Wired?
As the smoke detector is battery-operated, there is no hard wiring required.
Does SimpliSafe Smoke Detector Detect Carbon Monoxide?
The smoke detector does not detect carbon monoxide, but SimpliSafe does offer a Carbon Monoxide Detector that performs this function.
