Echo Dot 3rd Generation
Best smart home gift
Looking for an affordable smart speaker to buy for someone on your list? You could gift an Amazon Echo Dot (3rd generation). The Dot is ideal for someone who does a lot of Amazon shopping, uses FireTV, or for someone who has a lot of smart home devices.
Instant Pot 6-quart Pressure Cooker
Best smart kitchen gift
Many people have heard the words “Instant Pot” quite a bit over the past couple of years. So, what’s all of the fuss about? Is it really as great as people say it is? Yes, it is. The Instant Pot makes cooking meals at home so much easier. The Duo, one of the more popular Instant Pot models, is seven appliances in one — slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, sauté machine, steamer, yogurt maker, and warmer. It reduces cooking times, and generally makes life easier for the home cook.
Ninja Hot and Cold Brew Coffee System
Best smart coffee gift
If you give someone the Ninja Hot and Cold Brew, it’s pretty much a guaranteed hit. This machine doesn’t take up a ton of space, yet it has so many options, it’s like having a coffee shop in the kitchen. Having this machine lets you enjoy virtually any type of coffee or tea drink you can imagine, and you can show off your barista skills when guests come over. You can make a classic coffee, cold brew coffee, cold brew tea, iced coffee, or specialty coffee or tea (like a frappe or a cappuccino drink). Instead of having to wait 12 to 24 hours for cold brew, this machine cold brews in as little as 10 minutes, and it has a frother you can use on hot or cold liquids. It has six different brew sizes, but it doesn’t use those expensive pods. It has a thermal carafe to keep hot coffee hot, but the carafe is cool to the touch on the outside. It has specially designed separate coffee and tea baskets that keep coffee and tea flavors separate for optimal flavor.
The machine is so smart, it knows which basket you insert into the machine, and displays which options are available for that specific basket. We were incredibly impressed with this machine overall. Think of the all of the savings from never having to go to a coffee shop again.
Wyze Cam 2 Security Camera
Best smart security gift
We’d think this camera was too good to be true if we hadn’t tested the camera ourselves. This gift gives the recipient a lot — added home security, piece of mind, and cool features they’d get with more expensive cameras (like night vision, motion detection, two-way audio, cloud storage, and support for local micro SD storage).
Anova Nano Sous Vide Machine
Best smart gift for precise cooking
Want to give the ability to make absolutely perfect steak? Sous vide machines cook foods in a water bath at an exact and steady temperature. While this used to be a cooking method used primarily in fine dining, it has recently become much more popular as a home cooking method, and the Anova Nano is one of the best affordable machines you can buy.
With the ability to control the machine from a smartphone or using the controls on the device, the machine offers flexibility. Its small size makes it easy to store, and it’s extremely accurate. The Nano is an awesome gift.
Ring Video Doorbell 3
Best smart doorbell gift
Video doorbells provide security, convenience, and a cool gadget to play with all in one device. If you have a loved one who lives alone, you’re giving that person the ability to see and speak to visitors without opening the door. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 has two-way talk, wide-angle HD video, mobile alerts, and more. Some of the Ring’s features (like video recording and video reviewing) require a subscription.
What we really like about the Ring 3 is that it can be hard-wired or battery powered. It has a quick-release rechargeable battery, so you don’t need to remove the device to recharge the battery.
Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum
Best smart cleaning gift
For someone who has back problems, or for someone who just hates vacuuming, giving them a robot vacuum can be a thoughtful gesture. The Roomba i7 plus has all the bells and whistles, from multi-floor room mapping to voice control. It even empties itself into an enclosed disposable bag that holds 30 bins full of debris.
