Looking for the perfect gift to give a smart home enthusiast this Christmas? Or Maybe you have a little extra money from not going out so much this year, and want to get something smart for yourself. Read on – in this list we go over smart devices that will make this the best Christmas yet.
It doesn’t matter if you are giving these gifts to a tech-savvy IT person, or someone who doesn’t own a single smart home gadget yet. People will always love things that make their life easier. And a gift is the perfect opportunity to open someone’s eyes to all the benefits that smart homes bring.
Smart home devices not only make routine tasks easier, but they are also fun to use. They are time savers that additionally function as creative outlets. Some of our most rewarding experiences have been through using these gadgets in novel ways to solve problems around our house.
(Check out our guide to smart home devices that can help with event hosting)
Let’s take a look at some of the best Christmas gifts you can give to a smart home lover (or yourself).
1. Lockly Secure Pro
Security is paramount when it comes to smart homes. This is pretty much the only do-it-all smart deadbolt on the market, and it’s no surprise that it’s from long-time smart lock maker Lockly. It’s one of those things we all look at, but end up going for a cheaper, less feature-rich option. And this lock not only has all the bells and whistles, it puts them to use in an effective way. For starters, it has you basic smart lock features of a motorized lock you can control with your phone. It offers manual key entry, and then adds on a keypad, but with a twist – it has a special feature that shifts the numbers each time, making sure no one can tell the code from fingerprints on the screen. Where almost all locks stop here at their features, the Lockly Pro goes on to include a fingerprint scanner on the side, allowing for quick access without having to look at the pad.
2. Weber iGrill Mini
This smart mini grill lets you make perfectly cooked grilled foods without getting into any hassle. It’s pretty easy to use; you just download the app, insert the probe into your food, and monitor your food’s temperature through your phone. You can set a temperature and time in the app and it will send you a push notifications when it’s done. The probe is made up of safe-for-food material. And is safe for temperatures up to 716 °F, so you can leave it on the grill or in the oven while you’re spending time with your family.
3. Phillips Hue Smart Light Bulb Starter Kit
No smart home is complete (or even really started) without including smart lights. You can’t overlook the appeal good lighting can add to your home. Phillips Hue has become the brand to beat when it comes to smart bulbs. Their easy-to-use app and dependable connection allow anyone to control them. Moreover, your would-be gift-getter can dim them with voice commands using Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, or Google Assistant. The user can light up the house when they are away, ensuring peace of mind. This starter kit comes with the required hub, 3 smart bulbs, and a smart button that allows for additional lighting control. Please note, however, that if you are getting these as a gift for someone who already has a Phillips hue system, do not get the starter kit. You don’t need more than one hub. If you want, you can use the extra money to get them additional bulbs (found here).
(If you are looking specifically for smart Edison bulbs, check out our guide here.)
4. Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer Switch Starter Kit
Smart bulbs can be great in specific situations (just starting out, adding to an existing system, control of individual bulbs, etc..). But when you’re talking about whole-home integration, smart switches will definitely serve you better (you can read more on this here). And Lutron Caseta is the best-in-class for smart dimmers. For starters, they’re incredibly easy to set up – being one of the few smart switches on the market not requiring a neutral wire. Don’t even worry about 3-way switches – these cut your electrical work in half with their Pico remote. This starter kit includes the bridge, 2 smart dimmer switches, and 2 Pico remotes. It’s the perfect Christmas gift for someone looking to step up their smart home lighting.
5. Eero Wi-Fi 6 mesh
A good Wi-Fi 6 mesh system is the backbone of a fully automated house (as we’ve covered extensively, here and here). Eero has a great history of providing great Wi-Fi mesh systems, and we have already pre-ordered our own. This system ticks all the right boxes, including a tri-band setup, Alexa built-in, WPA3 security, 75+ device capacity, and AX4200 speed. It’ll provide value for years not come. Not to mention, there’s a bonus Fire TV cube with a built in speaker, Zigbee hub, and a ton of smart TV apps.
6. Ring Home Security Kit (2nd Gen)
Home security is more important now than ever. And when it comes to smart home security, Ring is the top player for a reason. Their devices have great connectivity and integration, as well as cheap, no-contract monitoring. They also use Z-wave, which is a huge plus for any smart home enthusiast trying to save traffic on their Wi-Fi channels. This product is the 2nd Gen model – the connectivity is improved between the devices, which are also smaller and easier to attach onto doors, windows, etc. The kit doesn’t require professional installation; anyone can set it up in a few minutes. So, if you know someone who could use a sophisticated and reliable home security system, without a complicated setup or long-term contracts, Ring smart home-security kit is an ideal Christmas gift.
And if they already have a Ring system, consider getting them something to add to their security, like a video doorbell or a combination flood light / security camera.
7. Switchbot Smart Button Pusher
Oh Switchbot… Everyone’s favorite little automated button pusher. It truly is amazing that only one company has done this type of product well. For those that don’t know, Switchbot has a small automated arm that can push buttons and flip switches. This means you can take pretty much any device with a switch/button on it, and turn it into a smart gadget. It comes with a wire for adapting it to toggle switches, as well. This is one device that you can never have to many of.
(Note that if this is someone’s first switchbot, they will need the hub. Get this one. It’s small, looks great, and still has an IR blaster. Don’t get this one. It’s big and ugly, and you can’t program its lights, no matter how hard you try.)
8. WeMax Dice Smart Portable Projector
A good projector can be an appealing addition to a home. A great portable projecter can be an awesome addition to a smart home, a pool party, tailgating, camping… the list goes on. The WeMax Dice stands out for it’s 1080p display, 700 ANSI lumen output, and portable power bank (up to 3 hours of watch time without being plugged in). It also has autofocus that lets you adjust what you want your screen size to be, from 80 inches all the way up to 120 inches. The software includes over 5000 apps, and it connects via bluetooth with both iOS and Android compatibility. All that in a tiny little box that measures 6.3 inches in its largest dimension.
Note that in terms of projectors, you mostly get what you pay for. If you do need to go with a budget device, the best option is from Kodak. It’s a bit of a step down in quality, but also in price. You can find it on Amazon here.
9. Tapplock lite Fingerprint Bluetooth Biometric Keyless Smart Padlock
This smart padlock would make a great little present for the smart home lovers this Christmas. Every gym rat, school-aged kid, or anyone who just needs to keep their stuff safe in a locker would benefit from the ease a fingerprint padlock offers. With this smart padlock, not only you can access your locker without a key or combination, but you will also be able to open it from your smartphone via Bluetooth. So if you are looking for a small-size smart gadget or stocking-stuffer for a smart gadget enthusiast this Christmas, this smart padlock is an excellent gift idea.
10. Sonos One (2nd Gen) or Echo Studio
So there’s a bit of a debate on this one. Here’s what you need to know if you want to get a higher-end smart speaker as a gift for someone this Christmas:
In terms of all-around functionality, the Sonos One is the best option to go with. It has great sound, is compact, and can be combined with other Sonos speakers to create a surround-sound or multi-room speaker system. The main plus for this speaker over the Echo Studio is the fact that it can be controlled by both Alexa and Google Assistant.
Learn more about the Sonos One on Amazon here.
The Echo Studio also has great sound, can fit most spaces, and can be combined with other Echo speakers to create a multi-speaker set up. And the microphone on the show is slightly better than the Sonos One. But it can only be controlled with Alexa.
Learn more about the Echo Studio on Amazon here.
So if you know that the person you’re getting this for is firmly entrenched in the Amazon ecosystem, you should opt for the Echo Studio. Otherwise, you’re probably better going with the Sonos One.
11. GoSound Smart Power Strip With Surge Protection
When it comes to surge protection, there should be no compromise. You want to make sure you go with a reputable company that has been around for a while. GoSound may not be a name you immediately recognize, but if you’re getting this for a smart home enthusiast, they certainly will. Best known for their smart plugs, GoSound is a major player in home automation electronics. This power strip features 3 always-on outlets, 3 smart plugs, and 3 USB chargers. And there’s no point in taking a huge step up in price for something like the Kasa Smart Strip from TP Link unless the person you’re getting this for will definitely use all 6 of the smart plugs.
12. GoSound Smart Outlet Plug
Power strips are a great way to automate a lot of outlets all at once, but nothing can beat the portability of a smart plug. The biggest asset of smart plugs is not in their ability to make a single device smart; it’s the ability to combine a ton of actions all at once to create intricate automations through IFTTT and routines. They make great stocking stuffers.
13. Sense Energy Monitor
This falls in the category of gifts that pay for themselves. Sense gives you real-time data about how energy is being used throughout the house. It allows you to identify devices that are leaching power when they’re not even being used. It also identifies patterns in usage to get better energy efficiency. Sense energy monitor is the perfect gift for someone trying to make a “green” smart home, or for anyone looking to save money on their utilities.
14. Muggo Smart Mug
Christmas is the perfect time to cozy up with a warm cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. This smart mug from Muggo is the way to keep that drink nice and warm. It’s the most dependable of the smart mugs on the market, and it has a appealing functional – but not intrusive – LED touch indicator for adjusting temperature. The 3 hour battery life is nothing to scoff at, either.
15. Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)
We love our 2nd Gen Echo Show 10, but this latest offering from Amazon takes things to another level. First, the automatically rotating screen is the feature we never knew we needed. The ability to keep seeing a recipe or video while cooking is nice, but the biggest pro for this will be checking in on your house while you’re away. Also, they updated the already amazing speaker system, and went from a respectable 5 MP cameral all the way up to a 13 MP one. And due to popular demand, this device now supports Netflix. This is a gift anyone would be happy to get.
16. Tile
Know someone who is always losing their keys? Maybe you are that someone? No judgements – just know that there are device that can help. And when it comes to those devices, the reigning and undisputed champion is Tile. Their vast network lets you find devices wherever you left them. And they make a range of products you can attach to just about anything. This starter pack comes with a mate (for keychains), a wallet card, and 2 stickers.
17. Fire TV Stick 4K
It’s pretty hard to just give someone a TV as a gift these days. For starters, they’re expensive. And then there are so many features on smart TV’s now, you would need to know exactly what a person is looking for if you wanted to buy it for them (see our guide on the 6 things you need to know about smart TV’s here). But there’s a simple, less expensive solution if you want to gift someone a smart TV: A Fire TV Stick. These little plug-and-play devices enable all the favorite streaming apps to be used through any TV with an HDMI port (ie pretty much any TV these days). And this 4K version makes sure that the quality of the video doesn’t suffer.
Digital Smart Home Christmas Gifts
Maybe your would-be Christmas gift-getter is very particular about their devices and you don’t know exactly which one to get. Maybe you’re not sure what they would use, and want to get something more general. Or maybe you just hate wrapping gifts. There are lots of justified reasons to opt for a digital Christmas gift this year for the smart home enthusiast in your life. Here are a few options that most of us would love to get.
18. Amazon Prime Membership
Most of us have prime subscriptions and know all the benefits: Free 2 day shipping, Prime Video with all their shows and movies, occasional free kindle ebooks, Prime deals, etc.. You can take the task off someone’s hands for a discounted price this Christmas.
19. Kindle Unlimited Membership
Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s subscription for reading/listening to certain titles as much as you want, without paying for the specific titles individually. It does have a lot of popular titles, such as the Harry Potter series, but the main draw for this one is all of the continually updated content. You get unlimited access to a fair number of new-release magazines, as well as a ton of audio books. Podcasts are also included, and it helps to support the content creators.
20. Audible Gold Membership
A lot of cooking, cleaning, and house prep gets done during the holidays. And nothing makes the time spent doing these go by faster than losing yourself in an audiobook. An Audible Gold subscription is a step up from Kindle Unlimited, where you get most of the same benefits, but also a credit each month you can exchange for an audiobook that isn’t in the free kindle library (“premium selection titles”). The nice thing is that if you don’t like the book, you can exchange it for another; no questions asked. You also get 30% off all additional premium selection titles you want to get, as well as access to exclusive sales.
Final Thoughts
Smart home people realize the value that smart devices add to their daily routine. It’s why we try to pack as much smartness as possible into our lives.
If you’re giving a gift to a person who loves smart devices, it gives you a great way to narrow your search for a present tailored to their interests.
There are a multitude of smart gadgets that can improve your living, however, and choosing the right one as a Christmas gift requires some research. Hopefully this article has helped you to find a smart gadget that will brighten someone’s day this Christmas.
Feel free to comment below with any questions, or with suggestions on how we can improve our list!
Interested in learning more about smart home devices?
- Check out our educational content in the learning center here.
Looking to get a specific product?
- See the latest and greatest with our Buyer’s Guides.
- Check out our smart home swag!