Holiday shopping for someone who’s tricky to buy for? A smart home upgrade may be just the ticket. The gadgets below can help clean their floors without any effort, keep an eye on packages while they’re away, or even help them check in on pets from across the country.
All of our picks have been thoroughly tested by our expert reviewers, and nearly all of them have earned our esteemed Editors’ Choice award. Most of our selections don't require wired installation, but if you pick a product that does and your giftee isn't electrically inclined, consider hiring a pro to handle the job through a service like Taskrabbit.
For more gadget gift ideas, check out our lists of best picks for men and women.
For the Distant Relative
The Aura Aspen digital picture frame boasts a gorgeous 12-inch screen that makes shots look lifelike. The device supports both landscape and portrait orientations and offers unlimited cloud storage. You can send photos to the frame from the app, and it supports a variety of file formats. Best of all, you can easily preload it with images and a gift message for the recipient that will appear on the screen.
For Front Porch Security
The Arlo Video Doorbell, our top pick for the best video doorbell overall, provides a clear, head-to-toe view of the porch, along with smart motion alerts and interactive notifications. The device offers broad compatibility with third-party devices and voice controls, and it supports easy wireless installation, providing approximately four months of battery life between charges. Alternatively, you can hardwire it using a standard 8-24V transformer.
For Bird Watchers
The Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro uses a 2K camera to snap 5MP photos and social-ready vertical videos of any feathered friends who stop by for a snack. We especially love this easy-to-set-up smart bird feeder for its companion app, which accurately identifies the species of pictured birds, making it perfect for anyone with even a passing interest in ornithology.
For Smart Home Tech Newbies
If you have a family member or friend who wants to get started with smart home technology but isn’t sure where to begin, consider giving them the AiDot Linkind Matter Smart Plug. It’s a simple and affordable way to add app control support to any old gadget that plugs into a wall. It works with all the major home automation platforms, including Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and SmartThings.
For the Grill Guru
A useful gadget for the grillmaster in your life, the TempSpike Pro comes with multiple probes that proved easy to use and exceptionally precise in testing. You can check the temperature of the probes using either the included handheld wireless display or the ThermoPro mobile app (available for Android and iOS). The app also features a database of target temperatures, providing guidance on cooking various proteins.
For the Person Who's Always Too Hot or Cold
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is an affordable smart thermostat featuring a color touch screen and broad compatibility with third-party platforms for voice control. It works with optional temperature sensors for precise room control, and it performed flawlessly in our testing. Your giftee will be delighted at how easy it is to increase the efficiency of their HVAC system.
For Those Who Hate Chores
Robot vacuums are great because they automate an otherwise tedious chore. The high-tech Deebot X8 actually automates two chores: It vacuums and mops. Its innovative roller mop design cleans itself as it works, avoiding cross-contamination, and the base station empties the dustbin and washes the mop to minimize manual maintenance.
For Touchless Sleep Sensing
The Google Nest Hub smart display features mics that listen for voice commands, plus a 7-inch touch screen that offers intuitive smart home controls. Google is updating its line of smart gadgets with Gemini, allowing them to respond to commands in a more conversational manner. The Nest Hub, which works with both iOS and Android phones, is especially great for the nightstand because it can use its embedded motion sensors to detect how well you slept.
For Smart Home Fans Looking for Outdoor Security
If your giftee is already invested in smart home tech and could use a means of surveilling their perimeter, the Aqara Camera Hub outdoor security camera delivers sharp video, night vision, AI-powered motion alerts, and free local video storage. It also doubles as a smart home hub with built-in Thread and Zigbee support, as well as support for Matter. Meaning you can easily integrate it with the Alexa, Google, HomeKit, and SmartThings home automation platforms.
For The Person Who Always Loses Their Keys
The Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint is an elegant and highly capable smart lock with support for all major third-party platforms, including Apple HomeKit. The Bolt doesn’t require a hub as it has built-in Wi-Fi, and it’s unlockable via fingerprint scanning, voice controls, and more. All unlocking methods performed reliably in testing, so your giftee is guaranteed flexibility and peace of mind.
For a Pool Owner Who Hates Skimming
Any pool owner will surely appreciate spending less time cleaning their pool and more time swimming in it. If you have a big budget, get them the Dreame Z1 Pro, which precisely maps your pool, and then thoroughly cleans the floor, walls, and waterline. It features a light-activated remote control, allowing you to steer it underwater, a rare capability for cordless robot pool cleaners.
For Amazon Prime Subscribers
Smart speakers make for a good starting point for any smart home collection. In addition to playing music, they serve as a voice-powered information resource and a controller for other devices. The Echo Dot Max strikes the perfect balance between sound quality, affordability, and smarts. Make sure your giftee has Amazon Prime, which allows them to enjoy free access to the conversational Alexa+ AI assistant.
For Dog Lovers
Know someone who desperately misses their doggo when they're apart? Get them the Furbo 360 Dog Camera, which pans left and right, so you can look around the room when you're away. The device will send an alert if it senses barking, and it boasts a function traditional security cameras don't have: the ability to toss treats on demand. There's also a version for cats.
For Convenient Outdoor Security
A unique gift for the tech lover in your life, the Lorex 2K Smart Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera combines a high-resolution security camera with a smart LED bulb, allowing any compatible indoor or outdoor light fixture to become a surveillance station. The camera delivers sharp 2K video with color night vision and intelligent motion detection. It also offers Alexa and Google voice control, as well as mechanical pan and tilt.
For All-In-One Entryway Convenience
A hybrid smart lock and video doorbell, this Eufy device stands out from competing products for its neat interior display, which functions like a digital peephole, allowing you see what’s going on outside without opening the door. The video doorbell features internal storage and sends intelligent motion alerts, while the lock includes a palm scanner and a touch-screen keypad.