Opinion: After acquiring SnapAV, private equity giant Hellman & Friedman likely will follow up with 'transformational transaction' that disrupts home-technology landscape: Control4? Savant? Core Brands? Interlogix? PlumChoice?

The access control category has exploded. Control4 nearly triples its total, while Savant does triple its tally.

Control4, Crestron and Savant lead the whole-house automation category, as Lutron and Alarm.com emerge beyond lighting and security to follow.

Lutron and Control4 remain the top brands in lighting control, followed by Crestron, Vantage and Savant, which made slight gains.

Apple now leads the category as Control4 pulls into a near dead heat with longtime commanding category leader URC for second place.

Lutron affirms its position as the go-to automated window solution provider. QMotion comes in second and Crestron takes third.