Science
10 Gadgets to Take Your Home to the Next Level
Having a smart home isn’t all getting the news from your washer-dryer or yelling at your fridge to make a dentist appointment; there are smaller and, dare I say it, more significant ways technology can help you life your best life. And they don’t all cost a bunch of money, either. Even a modest smart home is well within the means of most people now, and it’d be silly not to make your life easier, and your home a better place to be, with just a few small, easy upgrades.
Even the smallest smart devices can change the whole game: You can turn your AC on or off with the touch of a button on your smartphone; you can watch high-definition live TV without shelling out for cable; you can even check, from the comfort of your office, how many things the dog has peed on today. We searched Amazon for the perfect smart home gadgets for everyone from the beginner to the pro.
Ring Video Doorbell in Bronze
See who’s at your door in live HD video, and talk to them, from literally anywhere in the world. The UPS guys will never be able to ghost you again.
Alternatives:
Astrodot Wifi Smart Plugs, 4-Pack
Connect these to the wifi, plug them into an outlet, and turn literally any device into a smart device. That 15-year-old stereo system? You can now hit play from your phone.
Alternative:
RENPHO Smart Humidifier
Humidifiers and Essential Oil Diffusers are great, but this one can be controlled from anywhere.
Alternatives:
Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
YI 1080p Home Camera
For a home camera security system, this is by far the cheapest we’ve found that still functions as a reliable and easy to use home camera.
Alternatives:
Amazon Echo Dot
The best-selling smart speaker is best-selling for a reason. Connect it with other smart devices and you can dim light, close the blinds, and play music with just a simple voice command.
KMC 3 Pack Wi-Fi Smart Plugs
Another set of smart plugs, in case the last set didn’t do it for ya.
Philips Hue Go
The Hue Go is Philip’s answer to the humble table lamp. It can be set at an angle or upright, has a ton of colors and modes to choose from, and doesn’t require a bridge to work.
Nest Learning Thermostat
Because your current thermostat REFUSES to learn that you don’t like when it’s suddenly 95 degrees at 5am.
Toshiba 43-inch 4K Smart LED TV
Smart TVs have been around for a while, but can you honestly say you’ve seen a better-priced 4K TV from a big brand in your life?