If your friends and family are eager to create their own smart home systems this Christmas, it can be hard to know where to start as a gift giver. Technology can be a landmine if it is not really your area, and things can quickly become expensive. That’s why we’re here to launch a range of practical smart home device recommendations.
First you need to keep in mind the various smart home ecosystems. The big players are Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung and ZigBee, so it’s worth finding out the set of products your giver has invested in, to make sure your carefully considered gifts do not match. If they do not yet have a complete smart home system, it is worth remembering whether they already have the Amazon Echo or Google Assistant Speaker. If they have an iPhone, inquire about smart gear related to the Apple Home Kit.
Nowadays there are brilliant devices for everything: smart door bells, security cameras, light bulbs and many more, available to your tech-minded loved ones. Not sure where to start? Here are some Christmas Smart Home gift ideas to make shopping a little easier.
Sonos One
The best smart speaker you can buy
Reasons to buy
+Rich sound+Alexa, Google Assistant and AirPlay2+Alexa reads music while disabled
Reasons to avoid
–No hi-res audio support
The best smart home starts with a smart speaker – and the Sonos One is one of the best you can buy.
With Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, you can only control your music and your other smart home gadgets with your voice – and support for the Apple AirPlay 2 makes this speaker truly unbiased when it comes to the services and smart home ecosystems you love. To buy.
Plus, the Sonos One audio brand boasts of multi-room smartphones, so you can connect it to other Sonos speakers for a truly connected home – a hard-working Christmas gift.
read more: Sonos One Review
Ring Video Tourbell 3
The best smart door bell on the market
Reasons to buy
+Attractive design+Better motion tracking+The app is easy to use
Reasons to avoid
–No free video storage
Creating the perfect smart home starts at your front door, and what better way to protect your loved one’s home than buying the best Smart Door Bell, Ring Video Tourbell 3?
This Nifty device transforms your traditional doorstep and adds a camera that allows you to see who is on your doorstep – even if you are away from home. When someone approaches your door, you will receive a notification on your phone, and if they press the button, a video call will appear on your phone.
Support for Google Assistant and Alexa means you can control it via your other smart gadgets – for example, you can ask Google Assistant to display the display from your front door on your Google Nest Hub Max Smart Display.
Phillips Hugh
The best smart light bulb to brighten up your home
Reasons to buy
+Widely supported+Easy to install+Excellent use
Reasons to avoid
–Can be precious
One of the easiest ways to make your ‘dumb’ house smart is to invest in some smart light bulbs – and the best ones you can buy are in the Philips Hue range.
The Philips Hue range for LED bulbs comes in a variety of shapes and sizes for any home lighting needs, as well as different colors for fans of mood lights.
If you choose Philips Hue bulbs, you should get the Philips Bridge, which is like a hub for your lights. However, the advantage is reliability, and the fact that the system is compatible with various standards and home control systems, including the Apple Home Kit, Nest and Samsung Smart Dings.
read more: Phillips Hugh Review
Nest learning thermostat
Let the best smart thermostat adapt to your custom
Reasons to buy
+Elegant design+Clever
Reasons to avoid
–Apple Homekit has no compatibility
When you start looking at smart thermostats for your technofile lover, you are guaranteed to see Nest products; The company owned by Google dominates the market, for good reason. The Nest Learning Thermostat is a heating system that uses its smarts to learn your routine, so you can eventually allow it to do so.
This can be a little confusing for tech newcomers, and the lack of its zoning control means you have to replace the radiators in individual rooms, investing in a Google-backed smart thermostat is a great way to go if you build a wide range of smartphones. Housing system. Location-based features that turn the heat on or off depending on the location of your phone are also a nice touch.
read more: Nest Learning Thermostat Review
Anchor Uficom2
Best All Round Smart Camera
Reasons to buy
+No monthly subscription +365 days battery life+Weather proof IP67 rating
Reasons to avoid
–Posts only when triggered
For most people looking for a smart security camera, the Anchor UFCom 2 is a reliable mid-range option. It does not have excellent video clarity, it only records when triggered, but it has a variety of features, and the absence of a mandatory subscription reduces costs.
This, with a 365-day battery and IP67 weather-based rating, makes the UFCom 2 the best affordable smart security camera option for most people, without any hassle-free maintenance costs.
read more: Anchor Uficom 2 Review
August Smart Lock Pro
This smart lock is expensive, but worth the money
Reasons to buy
+Good compatibility+Strong+Automatic features
If you are serious about security, smart lock is a great choice. August is the best of the Smart Lock Pro clusters, which matches your existing deadbolt and allows you to use your existing key – with all the benefits of a smart boot.
It allows you to lock and unlock your door remotely, which is easy if you want to let someone in when you are away, and you can set it to open automatically when you are within 200 feet of your home.
You can also set up smart alerts to let you know if the door is locked or unlocked. Or if you accidentally open your door – a great gift for the forgotten person in your life.
read more: August Smart Lock Pro Review