2021 Smart Home Holiday Gift Guide
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Holiday shopping can be stressful enough without having to worry about finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Luckily, there are plenty of smart home gadgets and tech products that won’t break the bank.
Whether you’re looking for a new smart display, a video doorbell, or even a smart pet feeder, these smart device gifts are sure to please anyone on your list.
Amazon Echo Show 10
The Echo Show line from Amazon is a versatile gift with many use cases for people of all walks of life. They make a great gadget for the living room, bedroom, kitchen or really anywhere you find it most useful.
I have one on my kitchen countertop where it’s used mostly for displaying recipes, Food Network cooking shows and just random Netflix series while we’re cooking. My stepson has an Echo Show in his bedroom where he’s usually watching comedic YouTube videos.
It does so much more than that though. Just say “Hey Alexa, show me the front door camera”, “Alexa, turn on the hallway light”, or “Alexa, how many cups are in a quart?”. Of course, you’ll need to add on some compatible smart products to do some of these tasks.
The Amazon Echo Show 10 is the newest and hottest Alexa-enabled smart display available right now. Not only does it feature a stylish new contemporary design, but it’s packed with more features than its predecessors. Namely, its rotating base.
The new Show 10 will follow you around the room so that you can still view the screen, or allow the camera to see you – in the case of you being on a video call, for instance.
In my book, this is the ultimate smart home gift for anyone who doesn’t have one yet.
- Featuring Amazon Alexa, the voice assistant that works everywhere.
- Built-in smart home hub
- Use your voice to play music, check traffic conditions, set timers, read the news, find sports scores, control smart home devices, order a pizza, and much more.
- See video clips, photos, maps, and other content right on the screen.
- Control compatible lights, switches, thermostats, locks, garage doors, and more using only your voice.
- Add hands-free convenience to your phone calls by calling people back through the Echo speaker.
Other Amazon Echo Options:
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top Top Top | Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) | HD smart display with motion and Alexa | Charcoal | PrimeEligible | View On Amazon | |
 Top Top | Echo (4th Gen) | With premium sound, smart home hub, and Alexa | Charcoal | PrimeEligible | View On Amazon | |
 | Echo Show 15, Full HD 15.6" smart display for family organization with Alexa | PrimeEligible | View On Amazon | |
 Top Top | Echo Dot (4th Gen) | Smart speaker with clock and Alexa | Twilight Blue | PrimeEligible | View On Amazon |
Ring Video Doorbell 4
Video doorbells add security and peace of mind for you and your loved ones. There’s no need to worry about knowing who’s at the door before approaching when you can see them on your compatible smart devices. Also, it’s nice to have motion alerts at your front door when you’re away.
Ring smart doorbells are the industry standard and I’ve used them for gifts several times. Features include a built-in camera with night vision and motion detection technology. It also has a speaker and a built-in microphone.
If someone rings the bell, you can see them on the video feed and even talk to them through the app on your smartphone, tablet, computer or even your Echo Show. The motion sensor will allow you to adjust the range and sensitivity, so you can eliminate useless push notifications.
We recommend picking up the Ring Video Doorbell 4. It’s compatible for anyone who does or doesn’t have an existing traditional doorbell. In fact, the only real requirement is a WiFi connection.
– See, hear, and speak to visitors at your home.
– Record up to 30 seconds of footage before anyone rings the bell.
– Use the included motion sensor to automatically start recording when movement is detected.
– You can set up other Ring Cameras to monitor other parts of your property in the same app.
iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal
I’m sure you’ve seen many renditions of robotic vacuum cleaners lining store shelves. They’ve been around for quite a while now, and yet hardly anyone has one. Most people think they’re not very efficient. Well, they’re wrong!
Robotic vacuums have come a long way over the years and they’re only getting smarter. In this case, we have a few that can even dump themselves when they get full. Of course, this makes cleaning up even more hands-off.
The Roomba i3+, j7+ and the s9+ from iRobot have an automatic dirt disposal bin built into their charging base. Their dump stations can hold up to 60 days’ worth of dirt and grime before requiring any type of human intervention.
The Roomba will map out your entire home, learn your cleaning habits, allow you to program cleaning schedules and can be voice-activated with Alexa or Google assistant. Want to kick it up a notch? Pair it with the Braava Jet m6 robotic mop and they will communicate together as a synchronized cleaning crew.
Pets usually have a love-hate relationship with robotic vacuum cleaners, so that’s one thing to keep in mind. I’d like to add that I’ve anecdotally conducted a verbal survey with multiple ladies who have given the green light for this being an appropriate gift!
– Clean floors without lifting a finger.
– Map out your entire home, learn your cleaning habits, allow you to program cleaning schedules and can be voice-activated with Alexa or Google assistant.
– Dump itself when it gets full.
– Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Top | iRobot Roomba i3+ (3550) Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal Disposal - Empties Itself for up to 60 days, Wi-Fi Connected Mapping, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair, Carpets | PrimeEligible | View On Amazon | |
 Top | iRobot Roomba j7+ (7550) Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum – Identifies and avoids obstacles like pet waste & cords, Empties itself for 60 days, Smart Mapping, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair | PrimeEligible | View On Amazon | |
 Top | iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550) Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal-Empties Itself for up to 60 Days, Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Powerful Suction, Corners & Edges, Ideal for Pet Hair, Black | PrimeEligible | View On Amazon |
PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Pet Feeder
A smart pet feeder is a fantastic gift for pet owners. This allows them to program a daily schedule to determine feeding times, and the appropriate amount of food dispensed based on their pet’s diet.
With The PetSafe Smart Feed, you can schedule up to 12 meals a day, with a measurement range of between 1/8 of a cup to 4 cups per meal. You can also manually dispense a meal from anywhere in the world with the accompanying smart app (or you can just ask Alexa to feed your pet).
With many animals having issues related to eating too fast, the Smart Feed has an option to dispense each meal slowly over a 15 minute period. This is a game-changer for some pets.
Not only will the device alert you by push notification that you’re low on food, but you can set it up to automatically order from Amazon when you reach a certain level. How’s that for automation?
Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Almost everyone has at least one TV in their home that isn’t connected to a streaming device or cable box. Even more people have a streaming device that is outdated and slow.
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a quick solution anyone with a WiFi connection can implement. It features an upgraded CPU, GPU, 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage and the option to utilize WiFi 6 if you have it.
In addition, Fire TV Stick 4K includes support for Dolby Vision HDR10 content, allowing you to enjoy premium entertainment experiences like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, HBO GO, Sling TV, Apple TV, and other streaming services.
Apple AirTag
Everyone knows the feeling. You’re running late, on your way out of the door and you can’t find your keys or your purse. The Apple AirTag eliminates that from the equation.
You can attach an AirTag to just about anything you want to keep track of. Put one on your key ring, one in your purse, one on your kid’s book bag and even one on your dog’s collar. Now, your friend or loved one will be able to use their iPhone to locate whatever they have deemed important.
In close quarters you can tap a button on your iPhone (or ask Siri) and the built-in speaker will alert you of its location. In other situations, for instance tracking down your lost dog, you’ll be able to use the app to locate the AirTag on a map.
There are a couple of limitations though. They’ll need to be using an iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later, so Android users are left out of this device (however, for Android users, I recommend getting a Tile Mate – found here on Amazon).
Also, for long-range applications, the AirTag anonymously uses the Bluetooth signal from nearby iOS devices to track its location. So it isn’t quite as helpful as GPS, but there are bound to be some nearby people with an iPhone.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope this list helps you pick out great gifts for friends, family members, and co-workers.
We’re always posting new Smart Home information, so make sure to check back for more!
