X-Sense XP0A-SR smoke alarm review: Value-priced protection

Best Prices Today: X-Sense XP0A-SR smoke/CO detector

Let’s start this review with an acknowledgement that the latest “smart” smoke and carbon monoxide detector from X-Sense is smart only in the loosest of terms. Yes, it includes an LCD readout that indicates carbon monoxide levels and provides voice alerts that are preferable to only offering a standard siren, but it doesn’t include any mobile app features or wireless connectivity. It doesn’t have any interconnect features that allow it to trigger other alarms, either.

Physically, the device comes in a familiar puck design, a bit over 5 inches across and 1.2 inches thick. The mounting bracket is a slim disc that’s flush with the wall, with no visible lip around the rear edge of the detector. When removed from the bracket you’ll have access to the battery: a single, replaceable 3-volt CR123A cell (one is included). X-Sense says the included battery will last 5 years; the detector has a rated life span of 10 years, so after a single battery replacement it should be retired.

The X-Sense XP0A-SR’s $30 price tag is decidedly low—even in comparison to commodity-class combination detectors.

Operationally, the device uses two sensors—one photoelectric and one electrochemical—to detect both smoke and carbon monoxide. Alarms include both a plenty loud siren and spoken alerts that run through a variety of clear warnings about the specific threat. When activated, the alarm also activates a blue backlight behind the LCD readout and flashes a small, additional red LED to provide a further visual alert to ambient problems. This red LED continues to flash for 9 minutes, even after the alarm is silenced.

This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smoke detectors.

Assuming your home is operating normally, the LED readout should never display anything other than 0, representing the amount of CO in the room in ppm. If CO goes above 30ppm, the LED will flash green to alert you to potentially dangerous conditions brewing, but the alarm will not sound until CO hits 70ppm.

I didn’t test the CO detection features of the alarm, but I did test its smoke detection capabilities and found it both quick to respond and easy to silence with the accessible mute/test button. Standard smoke, however, does not cause the LED readout to change, so I was unable to observe any rising CO PPM levels in real time.

If you need a CO detector for a particularly sensitive area where the risk of rising CO levels is high, the LED feature may have some value. Most homeowners, however, will probably find it to be overkill and, perhaps, even an unwanted feature that mars the aesthetics of a utilitarian device that they might prefer to blend into the background as much as possible.

That said, the $30 price tag is decidedly low—even in comparison to commodity-class combination detectors with no technological features at all. If you don’t mind the look, it’s a solid buy for a non-smart detector.

Note that the $30 price quoted here is if you purchase direct from the vendor, but you’ll need to add for shipping unless your total purchase exceeds $35. Amazon is selling the device for $39.99, but you can clip a coupon to reduce the price by 20 percent, bringing the final price to $32 (with free shipping for Prime members).

Sensors, Smart Home