Whether your home is already fully wired or you haven’t been keeping up with all the latest tech for your home, the holidays are the perfect time to pick up some smart home gadgets. Holiday sale prices make them even more affordable, and you’ll find that there’s a little something for everyone.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of some affordable gadgets that will make great Christmas gifts. While we steered clear of full smart home systems as suggestions, we couldn’t help ourselves from adding in a few splurges for anyone on the super-nice list this year!
Read on to find some great ideas for everyone in your family.
Personal Assistants
Both Amazon and Google have a selection of smart personal assistants that can work with your home. Both Amazon’s Alexa family (including the Echo, the Dot, and the Echo Show) and Google Home products (which include the Home, Home Mini and Home Max) – offer great ways to play music, podcasts, and, on certain products, even TV shows and movies. You might have one already, but the holidays may be a good time to pick up an extra one for the bedroom or to a family member. The Echo Show is great for family and friends who live far away since you can make video calls.
Amazon also has the Fire Stick, which allows you to stream some of your favourite shows. Of course, Google also has an equivalent product, the Chromecast, which you can also use to stream to your TV. These and other smart personal assistants are a popular gift every year – a trend likely to continue.
Smart Thermostats
Do you have a family member who loves to constantly tinker with the temperature? If so, a smart thermostat might be the perfect gift for them this Christmas! There are a wide selection of products available here too, and once again Google is one of the main competitors. Their Nest thermostats can be handy for people who already own other smart home products by Google or who have an Android phone, as these devices are designed to all work together seamlessly. However, there are also a lot of very strong competitors, such as the Canadian company Echobee, whose thermostat will work with almost any smart home system, including Google Home and Apple’s Homekit.
Smart Plugs
A smart plug is a great way to dip your toe into the smart home market without making a big commitment. They plug into any outlet, allowing you to control what you’ve plugged into it from your phone. For instance, you might plug a lamp or a music player into this so that you can easily turn it on and off. It’s a great way to turn almost any regular electronic device into a smart gadget! There are a huge variety of smart plugs available, many of which have bonus features like voice activation, surge protection, and a ‘vacation mode’ which will turn your lights on and off to make it look like there’s someone home. Make sure you shop around to find the smart plug that has exactly what you need.
Multiport Charger
Even if your family is fairly low-tech, you probably have a lot of devices that you need to charge on a regular basis. Whether it’s multiple phones, kids’ gaming devices, tablets or e-readers. Multiport chargers allow you to charge multiple devices at once. It’s a great solution for those who want to create a charging station somewhere in their home. This is also a great solution for those who worry about their kids’ screen time. When you take the devices overnight to charge, your kids will have one less distraction in their nighttime routine.
Wi-Fi Extender
Do you have Wi-Fi dead spots in your home? A Wi-Fi extender will boost the signal so that you’re able to access the WI-FI from anywhere in your home. It’s a small thing that people don’t always realize is available and makes for a great gift.
Longer Charging Cords
Looking for a few stocking stuffers? It might sound silly, but a longer charging cord is a big luxury. We’ve all experienced having to put ourselves into an uncomfortable position when we want to use a device that’s being charged. With a 5’+ cord, you can comfortably sit on the couch or in bed while charging. Best of all, you can usually pick these up for less than $20.
Connected Coffee Maker
Does someone on your list love coffee? A smart coffee maker could be the perfect gift for them! While more traditional models do have options that allow you to set a timer to brew the coffee in the morning, connected coffee makers tend to offer a few more options. For instance, you can start brewing from bed with a push of a button on the app. Some even allow you to set up different “coffee profiles” to make coffee just the way that you want it.
Smart Lighting Systems
If you already have a lot of the smart home gadgets that have made your life easier, the Nanoleaf light panels are just a fun addition. They look sleek on the wall and lend a neat ambiance to any room. It’s perfect for anyone who likes to entertain and wants to wow their guests.
As you can see, it’s easy to find fun smart home gifts to fit any budget. We think that any of these gifts will make your friends and family smile this Christmas.
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