12 smart home gifts that people really want

Building a smart home can be rewarding, but knowing which parts to buy (and in what order) can be tricky. If you’re the techie in your family, save your family and friends the stress by giving them smart home gifts they’ll actually use. Whether they’re interested in home security or just want to be able to turn on their lights without having to flip a switch, we have the right recommendations.

Amazon echo

Smart home accessories can always be controlled via an app on an iPhone or Android phone, but it is much cooler to use your voice. The Amazon Echo smart speaker lets you control smart home accessories with Alexa, Amazon’s smart home assistant. Once everything is configured, you can say commands like “Alexa, turn off the bedroom lights” and watch the smart bulbs (more on this later) turn off. Alexa can also be used to set timers, play music, get answers to questions, and even send audio messages to other Echo speakers.

Few smart home devices offer the pure convenience upgrade that comes with a smart lock. This smart door lock can remotely indicate whether the door is locked or unlocked, so you no longer have to worry when you leave the house. If the door does happen to be unlocked, this smart setup can lock it with one tap. The Assure Lock 2 can also be unlocked with a programmed code, fingerprint or physical key. One of the best reasons to gift a smart door lock is the extra peace of mind that comes with it. Your giftee will be notified every time the door is unlocked (and by whom, if he or she uses a specific numeric code), so he or she will know if anyone has entered. Yale also offers a smart Lever Lock lock, in case their door is configured that way.

GE Cync Dynamic Effects Smart Light Bulbs (2-Pack)

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Smart bulbs are the most practical smart home gift you can give because they are the easiest to install. This set of two smart bulbs from GE’s Cync line fits into any standard-sized lighting fixture, without adapters or special tools. Once installed, the lights can be turned on and off, dimmed or set to one of up to four million colors using the Cync app. An underrated feature is the ability to turn lights on and off on a set schedule, which is useful if you’re installing the lights outdoors and want them to turn on and off at sunrise and sunset, respectively.

Nest Learning Thermostat

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A smart home gift should have a material impact on the person you give it to, and the latest generation Nest learning thermostat checks that box. The thermostat can be controlled via a smartphone app, but its best feature is the ability to learn when you’re home and when you’re not. This allows him to manage your HVAC system (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) as efficiently as possible. By running your heating and cooling systems less often, this thermostat can help reduce energy bills. This generation of Nest Learning Thermostat comes with a temperature sensor. If you have a room that is always too hot or too cold, this sensor can let the thermostat know when that room needs a little more attention.

Eureka J20 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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No one wants to clean the floor, and with the J20 from Eureka you can spare someone in your life that chore. The robot vacuum cleaner and mop scan the entire floor of a house and intelligently clean it as efficiently as possible. The J20 can be set to run on a set schedule or initiate a cleaning session on command, all via Eureka’s app. The best part is that it automatically returns to the charging station if the dust or water tank gets too dirty. This automatic emptying system makes cleaning the J20 as hands-free as possible. This is an ultra-luxe gift, but one that will save the person you’re giving it to a lot of time each week.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus

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Ring’s Battery Doorbell Plus makes an excellent gift for smart home security this holiday season. The HD camera alerts the owner’s smartphone every time the motion sensor is activated or the button is pressed. Thanks to a microphone and speaker system, they can communicate with the person at the door. The camera can record video in 1536P (better than high definition) and capture a larger field of view. Once the sun sets, a night vision mode automatically turns on to ensure a clear image is captured 24 hours a day. We prefer the Battery Doorbell Plus as a gift over other Ring models because installation does not require existing doorbell wiring.

Blink wireless indoor security camera (2-pack)

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Our final recommendation for a smart-home security gift is a pair of Blink’s wireless indoor security cameras. These battery-powered cameras can be installed out of sight, so anyone snooping around is less likely to notice them. Each camera runs on a pair of AA batteries, and Blink says they can last up to two years without needing to be replaced. The Blink cameras will notify the owner every time their motion sensor is triggered. A microphone and speaker system also allows them to talk to anyone in the house at any time. Blink offers its smart security cameras in larger bundles, which may be necessary for larger homes, but this set of two is perfect for keeping an eye on the front and back doors.

TP-Link Kasa smart plug (4-pack)

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If you know someone who likes the idea of ​​a smart home but doesn’t feel comfortable replacing their perfectly good appliances and gadgets with newer models, buy them this pack of four smart plugs. This accessory allows them to turn on or off whatever is connected to it. This might mean turning on the coffee maker in the morning or turning on a lamp across the room in the evening when they want to read. TP-Link designed its smart plugs so small that two could be used side by side. Smart plugs require a little creativity to use effectively, but the possibilities they offer make them a great gift.

GE Profile smart indoor smoker

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GE’s Profile Smart Indoor Smoker is the high-tech kitchen gadget your friend or family member never knew they needed. The pellet smoker intelligently and automatically manages the smoke in the smoker using fans, while the spent pellets fall into a water bath. This system ensures that the smoke smell does not come out while the food is bathing in it. Presets for different types of food (wings, ribs, brisket) make it easy to dial in the right settings for whatever you’re cooking. However, you can manually control the smoker’s temperature, time, and smoke level. This smoker works with GE’s SmartHQ smartphone app, which allows you to start and monitor cooking remotely.

Breville the Smart Oven Airfryer Pro

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The Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro from Breville is the ultimate countertop appliance and will instantly become the sous chef of anyone you give it as a gift. The smart oven has specific modes for both cooking styles (baking, roasting, roasting, rising, air frying) and food (cookies and pizza), so it can be used in almost any situation. Breville says it designed this smart oven to cook food in 30 percent less time by independently controlling six quartz elements. The Air Fryer Pro works with the Breville+ app, which offers more than 1,000 guided recipes. This countertop appliance is so powerful that your giftee may not need to turn on their full-sized oven more than a handful of times a year.

Rachio 3: Smart sprinkler controller with 8 zones

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We all know someone who is obsessed with keeping their lawn in pristine condition, and you can help them out by giving them the Rachio 3 as a gift. This smart 8-zone sprinkler controller allows him or her to intelligently and independently manage the sprinklers in different parts of his lawn. Rachio’s app tells them the current soil moisture percentage, along with the last time the sprinkler system was run. Once they are armed with that information, they can start or schedule the sprinklers to go off as needed. The best feature of the Rachio 3 is that it can keep up with the weather and skip scheduled waterings if it has rained recently. The company says the Rachio 3 is compatible with 99 percent of existing sprinkler controllers and can be installed in about half an hour. Help your friend or family member have the healthiest lawn on the street, without having to lift more than a finger.

Hisense 65U8N

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Hisense’s U8N is an incredible smart TV that deserves to be the crown jewel of any home theater system. The U8N runs on the Google TV operating system, giving you quick access to all major streaming services. Special buttons on the TV remote control allow you to start the most popular services at the touch of a button, ideal for all ages. The U8N supports Dolby Vision IQ HDR, so the colors of well-mastered films, TV shows and games really pop. Special IMAX and Filmmaker modes let you watch video the way producers and editors intended when creating their films and shows. The U8N’s 144 Hz VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) panel makes the U8N an excellent choice for gamers who need the highest level of reliability to play games at top speed. Hisense has even built a 2.1.2 speaker system into the TV, so both stereo and Dolby Atmos audio sound great. Anyone using an older TV or a smaller screen will be amazed at what Hisense’s U8N has to offer.

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