Top IoT Trends in 2026

Rachid Idali

by Rachid Idali

Below you'll find the top 50 iot trends for 2026, spotted by Rising Trends's trend radar algorithm.

These topics were detected from online sources including TikTok, X (Twitter), Instagram, Reddit, news outlets, and Google Search data. Each trend has at least 1,000+ monthly searches and over 20% year-over-year growth.

Top 50 Fastest-Growing IoT Trends

All iot trends with over 20% year-over-year growth, ranked by search volume.

1

Smart Home Device

550K vol11.1X
2

Smart Thermostat

550K vol11.1X
3

Mesh Network

550K vol37.2X
4

Smart Lock

550K vol20.3X
5

Smart Lighting

450K vol55.6X
6

Bas

246K vol5.0X
7

Smart Glasses

165K vol+82%
8

Raspberry Pi 5

165K vol2.7X
9

Bird Feeder

135K vol+23%
10

Robot Vacuum Cleaner

110K vol+22%
11

Valve

110K vol+22%
12

Robot Vacuum

110K vol+22%
13

Fiber Internet

74K vol+22%
14

Automatic Litter Box

74K vol+22%
15

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus

74K vol13.7X
16

Humanoid Robot

60.5K vol+22%
17

Dcos

49.5K vol+22%
18

Robot Mower

49.5K vol+22%
19

Robot Vacuum And Mop

49.5K vol+50%
20

Robotic Mower

49.5K vol+22%
21

Esp32

49.5K vol+50%
22

Flipper One

40.5K vol11.3X
23

Mimo

40.5K vol+49%
24

Camera Enforcement

33.1K vol3.3X
25

Smart Bird Feeder

33.1K vol2.7X
26

Smart Home Security

27.1K vol+22%
27

Lora

27.1K vol+22%
28

Smart Home App

22.2K vol6.2X
29

Smart Mattress

22.2K vol9.3X
30

Smart Bars

22.2K vol+23%
31

Sixnine

18.1K vol2.2X
32

Smart Scale

18.1K vol+50%
33

Window Cleaning Robot

18.1K vol2.7X
34

Smart Plug

18.1K vol+22%
35

Play City

18.1K vol+50%
36

Robot Window Cleaner

18.1K vol2.7X
37

Smart Mug

18.1K vol13.9X
38

Co2 Detector

14.8K vol+22%
39

Google Nest Learning Thermostat

14.8K vol3.4X
40

Calendar Sharing App

14.8K vol+22%
41

Bluetooth Tracker

12.1K vol2.2X
42

Esp32 S3

12.1K vol2.2X
43

Smart Irrigation Controllers

12.1K vol+49%
44

Smart Home Ecosystems

12.1K vol25.2X
45

Business Wireless Plans

12.1K vol46.5X
46

Mini Computer

12.1K vol+22%
47

Smart Deadbolt

12.1K vol4.2X
48

Smart Doorbell

9.9K vol2.8X
49

Starlink Phone

9.9K vol+22%
50

Biosense Mask

9.9K vol+22%

Showing top 10 of 50 iot trends

The Internet of Things in 2026: The Smart Home Goes Mainstream

Theme Market Size Growth Leaders
Smart Home Security ~$60B ~15% CAGR Ring, SimpliSafe
Thermostats & Lighting ~$45B ~20% CAGR Google Nest, Philips Hue
Wearables & Health IoT ~$85B ~14% CAGR Withings, Oura
Smart Appliances & Robots ~$45B ~23% CAGR iRobot, Roborock
Networking & Standards ~$30B ~16% CAGR TP-Link, Espressif

CAGR = compound annual growth rate

We built this list on July 13, 2026 from our live trend database, the same feed that powers the table above. The headline: the smart home has finally gone mainstream. Connected locks, thermostats, and lighting now pull hundreds of thousands of searches each, home robots are moving from novelty to everyday appliance, and health wearables keep expanding from wrists to scales, mattresses, and glasses. Underneath it all, the Matter and Thread standards plus stronger mesh networks are quietly making these devices easier to connect. Every search-volume and growth figure below is pulled from that live data.

If you want to explore more trends like this across categories, sign up for Rising Trends and unlock the full experience.


1. Smart Locks, Doorbells, and Home Security

Security is the entry point to the smart home, and demand is huge. "Smart lock" now pulls 550,000 monthly searches and has broken out over the past year, making it one of the largest connected-home searches of all. "Smart deadbolt" is up +317% at 12,100 searches as retrofit keyless entry spreads, while "smart doorbell" is up +175% at 9,900 searches and "smart home security cameras" are up +184% at 5,400 searches. Even hardware-light options are climbing, with "smart lock retrofit" up +108% at 1,000 searches.

Smart Lock

550KVolume
13x5Y
0201K402K603K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

Smart Deadbolt

12KVolume
+236%5Y
2K6K11K16K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

The pattern is keyless, app-managed access paired with cameras and sensors, so a phone becomes the front door, the alarm panel, and the doorbell all at once.

Why Smart Home Security Is Surging

Connected security is booming because:

  • Keyless is the default: Deadbolts and retrofit locks let people ditch physical keys for phones and codes
  • See-and-speak: Video doorbells and cameras turn every entry point into a live feed
  • Renter-friendly retrofits: Retrofit locks add smarts without replacing the whole deadbolt
  • One app to rule it: Buyers want locks, cameras, and sensors in a single dashboard
  • Package and porch safety: Delivery theft keeps camera and doorbell demand high

What's Gaining Momentum

Smart Deadbolt (12,100 searches, +317% YoY) – Keyless deadbolts leading the shift away from physical keys.

Smart Home Security Cameras (5,400 searches, +184% YoY) – Connected cameras anchoring the DIY security setup.

Smart Doorbell (9,900 searches, +175% YoY) – Video doorbells becoming a standard first line of defense.

Smart Lock Retrofit (1,000 searches, +108% YoY) – Add-on locks that upgrade an existing deadbolt.

Smart Home Security (27,100 searches, +22% YoY) – The broad category holding a large, steady base of demand.

Key Players

  • Ring – Video doorbell and camera brand that defined DIY home security
  • SimpliSafe – Self-install alarm and sensor system built around a single app
  • Wyze – Low-cost cameras, locks, and sensors bringing security to the mass market

2. Connected Lighting and Climate Control

Everyday comfort is where the smart home earns its keep. "Smart thermostat" pulls 550,000 monthly searches and has climbed sharply on energy-saving demand, while "smart lighting" is a breakout at 450,000 searches as color and scheduling go mainstream. Named products drive the category too: "google nest learning thermostat" is up +236% at 14,800 searches. Accent and wellness lighting is rising fast, with "circadian lighting" up +190% at 2,900 searches, and simple upgrades like the "smart plug" (18,100 searches, +22%) and "smart power strips" (5,400 searches, +23%) make any device controllable.

Smart Thermostat

550KVolume
13x5Y
0201K401K602K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

Smart Lighting

450KVolume
36x5Y
0165K329K494K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

The through-line is comfort plus savings: lighting and climate that adjust themselves to the time of day, the weather, and the electricity bill instead of a manual switch.

Why Connected Climate and Lighting Are Rising

Automated comfort is growing because:

  • Energy bills bite: Smart thermostats promise real savings on heating and cooling
  • Scenes over switches: Scheduled lighting and scenes replace flipping a wall switch
  • Wellness lighting: Circadian and tunable light is sold as better for sleep and mood
  • Cheap entry point: Smart plugs and strips make dumb devices controllable for a few dollars
  • Voice and routine: Lights and heat that respond to voice and daily routines feel effortless

What's Gaining Momentum

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (14,800 searches, +236% YoY) – The category-defining learning thermostat back in high demand.

Circadian Lighting (2,900 searches, +190% YoY) – Tunable, time-of-day light marketed for sleep and focus.

Smart Power Strips (5,400 searches, +23% YoY) – Multi-outlet control for whole clusters of devices.

Smart Plug (18,100 searches, +22% YoY) – The cheapest way to make any appliance app-controlled.

Heating Control (2,400 searches, +26% YoY) – App-managed heating as a core energy-saving use case.

Key Players

  • Google Nest – Learning thermostats and connected-home devices at mass scale
  • ecobee – Smart thermostats and sensors focused on energy savings
  • Philips Hue – The benchmark connected-lighting ecosystem for color and scenes

3. Wearables and Health IoT

Connected devices are spreading across the body and the bedroom. "Smart glasses" pull 165,000 monthly searches, up +82%, as camera-and-audio frames go mainstream, while "smart scale" holds 18,100 searches, up +50%, tracking weight and body metrics. Health sensing is broadening fast: "smart mattress" is up +825% at 22,200 searches, "smart bathroom scales" are up +173% at 2,400 searches, and "affordable smart glasses" jumped +387% to 1,900 searches. Newer form factors are emerging too, from the "ai necklace" (1,300 searches, +81%) to "smart floss" (1,900 searches, +90%).

Smart Glasses

165KVolume
+509%5Y
0201K402K603K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

Smart Scale

18KVolume
+50%5Y
3K17K30K44K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

The pattern is continuous, passive health data: devices that measure sleep, weight, and vitals in the background instead of a once-a-year checkup.

Why Health IoT Is Rising

Connected health devices are growing because:

  • Passive tracking: Mattresses, scales, and rings log data without any effort
  • Glasses go mainstream: Camera-and-audio frames make wearables socially normal
  • Whole-body picture: Buyers want sleep, weight, and vitals in one connected view
  • Affordable options: Lower-cost smart glasses and scales widen the market fast
  • New form factors: Necklaces, floss, and other devices push sensing into daily habits

What's Gaining Momentum

Smart Mattress (22,200 searches, +825% YoY) – Sleep-tracking, temperature-adjusting beds moving into the mainstream.

Affordable Smart Glasses (1,900 searches, +387% YoY) – Lower-cost frames opening up the wearable-display market.

Smart Bathroom Scales (2,400 searches, +173% YoY) – Connected scales tracking body metrics over time.

Smart Floss (1,900 searches, +90% YoY) – Connected oral-care devices extending health sensing to the bathroom.

Smart Scale (18,100 searches, +50% YoY) – A steady, growing base for at-home body measurement.

Key Players

  • Withings – Smart scales, watches, and health sensors for the connected home
  • Oura – Sleep and readiness tracking in a ring form factor
  • Garmin – Wearables and health tracking spanning fitness and everyday use

4. Smart Appliances and Home Robots

Robots are becoming ordinary household appliances. "Robot vacuum" pulls 110,000 monthly searches, up +22%, as automated floor care becomes a default purchase, while "robot window cleaner" is up +174% at 18,100 searches for a chore people never wanted to do. Connected appliances are climbing across the home: "smart air purifiers" are up +313% at 6,600 searches, "automatic litter box" holds 74,000 searches (+22%), and the "smart fragrance diffuser" is a breakout at 8,100 searches. Pet and utility devices round it out, from the "smart pet feeder" (1,300 searches, +81%) to "smart dehumidifiers" (1,600 searches, +23%).

Robot Vacuum

110KVolume
+22%5Y
57K126K194K263K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

Robot Window Cleaner

18KVolume
+654%5Y
08K16K24K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

The through-line is chore automation: appliances that clean, purify, and dispense on their own, managed from a phone and scheduled to run while the house is empty.

Why Smart Appliances and Robots Are Rising

Connected appliances are growing because:

  • Chores on autopilot: Vacuums, mops, and window bots handle cleaning without a person
  • Always-on comfort: Purifiers, diffusers, and dehumidifiers run and adjust automatically
  • Pet care from afar: Feeders and litter boxes let owners manage pets remotely
  • Scheduling is the feature: Devices that run while you are out are the main appeal
  • Falling prices: Cheaper robots and appliances push these from luxury to everyday

What's Gaining Momentum

Robot Window Cleaner (18,100 searches, +174% YoY) – Automating a chore most people avoid entirely.

Smart Air Purifiers (6,600 searches, +313% YoY) – Connected air quality control gaining fast.

Smart Pet Feeder (1,300 searches, +81% YoY) – App-scheduled feeding for pets while owners are away.

Smart Litter Box (2,400 searches, +26% YoY) – Self-cleaning, app-monitored litter boxes rising steadily.

Automatic Litter Box (74,000 searches, +22% YoY) – A large base for hands-off pet care.

Key Players

  • iRobot – The Roomba maker that turned robot vacuums into a household category
  • Roborock – High-end vacuum-and-mop robots pushing the automation frontier
  • Ecovacs – Broad lineup of cleaning robots including window and floor bots

5. Networking, Edge, and the Matter Standard

The plumbing behind the smart home is a trend in its own right. "Mesh network" pulls 550,000 monthly searches and has broken out as whole-home coverage becomes essential for dozens of devices. Maker and edge hardware is booming: "raspberry pi 5" is up +173% at 165,000 searches and "esp32" is up +50% at 49,500 searches as hobbyists build their own sensors. Long-range and ambient networking are climbing too, with "lora" at 27,100 searches (+22%) and "wifi sensing" up +156% at 1,000 searches. The unifying Matter standard is gaining ground, from "matter hub" (2,400 searches, +85%) to "matter smart home" (2,900 searches, +21%) and "matter devices" (1,600 searches, +23%).

Raspberry Pi 5

165KVolume
30x5Y
074K147K221K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

Esp32

50KVolume
+309%5Y
6K22K38K53K06/2106/2206/2306/2406/2505/26

The pattern is a push toward reliable, interoperable connectivity: strong mesh coverage, cheap edge hardware, and cross-brand standards so devices from different makers finally work together.

Why IoT Networking and Standards Are Rising

Connectivity and standards are growing because:

  • Whole-home coverage: Mesh networks keep dozens of devices online in every room
  • Cross-brand standards: Matter and Thread promise devices that work regardless of brand
  • DIY edge hardware: Raspberry Pi and ESP32 let makers build custom sensors cheaply
  • Long-range and low-power: LoRa and similar links extend IoT beyond the home
  • Ambient sensing: WiFi sensing turns the network itself into a motion detector

What's Gaining Momentum

Raspberry Pi 5 (165,000 searches, +173% YoY) – The go-to single-board computer for DIY IoT projects.

WiFi Sensing (1,000 searches, +156% YoY) – Using WiFi signals to detect presence and motion.

Matter Hub (2,400 searches, +85% YoY) – Central hubs bridging brands under the Matter standard.

ESP32 (49,500 searches, +50% YoY) – The low-cost microcontroller powering countless connected builds.

Matter Devices (1,600 searches, +23% YoY) – Cross-compatible gear as the Matter ecosystem grows.

Key Players

  • TP-Link – Mesh routers and smart-home gear spanning networking and devices
  • Raspberry Pi – Single-board computers at the heart of DIY IoT
  • Espressif – Maker of the ESP32 chips behind low-cost connected devices

Summary

The IoT landscape of 2026 is defined by the smart home reaching everyday scale. Whether the search is for a smart lock (550K searches, breakout), a smart thermostat (550K searches, up sharply), smart glasses (165K searches, +82%), a robot vacuum (110K searches, +22%), or a mesh network (550K searches, breakout), the common thread is connected hardware that is easier to buy, install, and live with than ever before.

The winning approaches in consumer IoT share these characteristics:

  • Security-first devices, led by keyless locks, video doorbells, and DIY cameras
  • Comfort automation, from smart thermostats to scene-based and circadian lighting
  • Passive health sensing, spreading from wrists to scales, mattresses, and glasses
  • Chore-killing robots and appliances that run on a schedule from a phone

For device makers, retailers, and platforms, the data points to several high-growth opportunities: connected security, energy-saving climate and lighting, health wearables, home robots, and the networking and Matter standards that tie them together. See how Rising Trends helps you track IoT market shifts as consumer preferences evolve.

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Written By

Rachid Idali

Founder of Rising Trends, helping entrepreneurs identify and capitalize on emerging market opportunities through expert trend analysis and insights.