The Smart Device Compare comparison

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm vs YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm

Understand the differences. Decide what matters to your home.

Before you compare every specification

Key differences between First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm and YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm

A summary of selected recorded differences between these smoke & co detectors. Check the full specification table below for details and conditions.

Feature differences among your selected devices

Co Alerts (alerts): First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm — Yes; YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm — No.
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (connectivity): First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm — Yes; YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm — No.
Automations (features): First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm — No; YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm — Yes.
Steam Check (features): First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm — Yes (Precision Detection technology better distinguishes between cooking smoke or steam and a fire emergency to reduce nuisance alarms.); YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm — No.

Specifications to check side by side

Other (connectivity): First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm — No; YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm — LoRa (YoLink hub required).

Information still to confirm

4 of 37 comparison fields lack a resolved value for at least one selected device. Missing information is not evidence that a feature is absent.
Check the full table and manufacturer documentation before ruling out a device.

These observations are derived from recorded catalog data and have not all been independently verified. Confirm details with the manufacturer before purchasing.

Compare capabilities, compatibility and setup requirements.

Option 1 · First Alert

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm

Last updated October 2026

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Option 2 · YoLink

YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm

Last updated September 2026

View full device profile

What the catalog tells us

Understand the tradeoffs.

These counts describe the available data, not a quality score. More features do not automatically make a better device.

9differences with recorded values for every device

4rows with missing or unspecified information

Your priorities, side by side

Focus on what changes.

Mark the specifications you care about. Open manufacturer sources for verification scope; fields without citations remain catalog data. Expand notes for other qualifications.

Differences onlyMy priorities (0)

Showing 37 of 37 rows. “Not recorded” does not mean “No”.

Reading layout

Alerts

Air Quality Alerts

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Co Alerts

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Fire Alerts

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
Voice alerts with Heads-Up warning tell you the type and location of danger in your home, plus mobile alerts through the First Alert app.
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
App, SMS and email alerts through a YoLink hub

Low Battery Alerts

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
Notifies when the backup battery is low, plus an End-of-Life Warning when it is time to replace the alarm.
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: Yes

Temperature Alerts

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Connectivity

2.4 GHz Wi-Fi

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

5 GHz Wi-Fi

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Bluetooth

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Other

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: LoRa (YoLink hub required)

Thread

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Z Wave

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Zigbee

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Display

Screen

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Screen Type

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Not applicable / unspecified
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: Not applicable / unspecified

Features

Automations

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: Yes

Built In Light

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Built In Siren

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
85dB alarm at 10 feet with voice alerts.
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: Yes

Pathlight

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Steam Check

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
Precision Detection technology better distinguishes between cooking smoke or steam and a fire emergency to reduce nuisance alarms.
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Tests Itself

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: Yes

Integrations

Alexa

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
Catalog note
First Alert builds the SC5 around the Google Home app as a Nest Protect replacement and lists no Alexa support; Alexa has no smoke or CO alarm type outside Matter
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No
Catalog note
Alexa's smart home API has no smoke or CO alarm type: the only supported route is the Matter Smoke CO Alarm device type, which this alarm does not speak

Apple Home

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Google Home

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
Works with and replaces Google's Nest Protect Alarm. Compatibility with Google Nest Protect requires the Google Home app and a Google Account.
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Home Assistant

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Not recorded
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: Yes

Matter

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

SmartThings

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Power

Battery Life

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Not recorded
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: 5 years

Battery Type

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: 3V Lithium (backup)
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: Not recorded

Wired

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
Hardwired with a Quick Connect Plug for easy installation, plus battery backup for continuous protection during power outages.
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Sensors

Air Quality

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Ambient Light

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
Electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor.
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Humidity

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Motion

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Occupancy

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Smoke

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
Photoelectric sensing technology, generally more sensitive to smoldering fires.
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: Yes
Catalog note
Photoelectric sensor certified to UL 217 10th Edition and CAN/ULC S531

Temperature

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm: No
YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: No

Specifications for First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm versus YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm
Specification	First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm	YoLink Photoelectric Smoke Alarm
Alerts
Air Quality Alerts	No	No
Co Alerts	Yes	No
Fire Alerts	Yes Catalog note Voice alerts with Heads-Up warning tell you the type and location of danger in your home, plus mobile alerts through the First Alert app.	Yes Catalog note App, SMS and email alerts through a YoLink hub
Low Battery Alerts	Yes Catalog note Notifies when the backup battery is low, plus an End-of-Life Warning when it is time to replace the alarm.	Yes
Temperature Alerts	No	No
Connectivity
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi	Yes	No
5 GHz Wi-Fi	No	No
Bluetooth	No	No
Other	No	LoRa (YoLink hub required)
Thread	No	No
Z Wave	No	No
Zigbee	No	No
Display
Screen	No	No
Screen Type	Not applicable / unspecified	Not applicable / unspecified
Features
Automations	No	Yes
Built In Light	No	No
Built In Siren	Yes Catalog note 85dB alarm at 10 feet with voice alerts.	Yes
Pathlight	No	No
Steam Check	Yes Catalog note Precision Detection technology better distinguishes between cooking smoke or steam and a fire emergency to reduce nuisance alarms.	No
Tests Itself	No	Yes
Integrations
Alexa	No Catalog note First Alert builds the SC5 around the Google Home app as a Nest Protect replacement and lists no Alexa support; Alexa has no smoke or CO alarm type outside Matter	No Catalog note Alexa's smart home API has no smoke or CO alarm type: the only supported route is the Matter Smoke CO Alarm device type, which this alarm does not speak
Apple Home	No	No
Google Home	Yes Catalog note Works with and replaces Google's Nest Protect Alarm. Compatibility with Google Nest Protect requires the Google Home app and a Google Account.	No
Home Assistant	Not recorded	Yes
Matter	No	No
SmartThings	No	No
Power
Battery Life	Not recorded	5 years
Battery Type	3V Lithium (backup)	Not recorded
Wired	Yes Catalog note Hardwired with a Quick Connect Plug for easy installation, plus battery backup for continuous protection during power outages.	No
Sensors
Air Quality	No	No
Ambient Light	No	No
Co	Yes Catalog note Electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor.	No
Humidity	No	No
Motion	No	No
Occupancy	No	No
Smoke	Yes Catalog note Photoelectric sensing technology, generally more sensitive to smoldering fires.	Yes Catalog note Photoelectric sensor certified to UL 217 10th Edition and CAN/ULC S531
Temperature	No	No

Know what’s behind the comparison.

The table matches specifications by section and field. It preserves notes, separates missing data from explicit “No” values, and keeps qualifications attached to their values. No overall winner is assigned from feature counts.

Read our comparison methodology