The South West has been ranked 9th in the UK for smart home technology adoption

The South West has been ranked 9th in the UK for smart home technology adoption in a new nationwide study commissioned by Argos.

The UK's Smartest Homes Index explores how the nation is embracing connected living by region, generation and lifestyle. It combines a nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults who use smart home tech with search trend analysis and official third-party data, including gigabit broadband availability, smart meter coverage and electricity unit rates.

This data was then weighted and combined to calculate each region's score and produce a final ranking. 

The findings show that the South West is emerging to be an engaged and forward-looking smart-tech region, placing 9th with a score of 36.9/100.

The UK's top 10 smartest regions

1. London: 75.8/100

2. Yorkshire and the Humber: 58.8/100

3. North East: 56.0/100

4. North West: 50.2/100

5. West Midlands: 50.2/100

6. East of England: 44.0/100

7. South East: 42.5/100

8. East Midlands: 42.0/100

9. South West: 36.9:/100

10. Scotland: 33.3/100

South West's smart home insights: 

• The region stands out for one of the highest levels of usage and engagement, with 41% respondents interacting with their smart home tech multiple times a day. 
• Most households surveyed now own 4–5 smart devices, with smart speakers leading (owned by 70% of respondents).
• The region shows strong curiosity and interest in smart home upgrades, with around 17,000 smart device–related searches each month. Survey respondents also highlighted cleaning and maintenance as their most desired next category.
• Following convenience and comfort, security and safety are the second biggest adoption drivers, as cited by 24% of respondents. As a result, nearly half of households (46%) surveyed now own a smart security device, highlighting how connected tech is being used to feel more in control at home.
• The South West is among the most mature regions for smart living, with nearly one in three (32%) having used smart tech for 5+ years.

Other findings in the study include

• Londoners lead the revolution, owning more smart home tech than anywhere else in the UK, with 11% of homes surveyed owning 10+ smart devices (the highest concentration nationally). 

• Yorkshire and the Humber places second and stands out for smart security adoption, with three in five (61%) households owning a smart security device.

• The North East is the most experienced region, with 44% having used smart tech for 5+ years (highest in the UK).

• Generational trend: 35–44-year-olds are the true power users, with 78% owning 3+ devices and 56% using smart tech daily.

• Searches for smart-heating solutions are surging nationwide; "smart thermostat" is up 311% and "smart heating" is up 173% in the last three months alone.

"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.