It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and you know what that means – it’s gift-buying (and giving) season. And this year, you’ll want to go smart with your purchases. I mean that both literally and figuratively.
That smart home train is unstoppable, and we’re all inevitably climbing aboard. According to Statista, the household penetration rate of the smart home market is “projected to increase from 47.9% in 2023 to 75.1% by 2028.” So you might as well hop on now.
Luckily, smart home devices are getting more and more affordable each year as they rapidly become the new norm. Affordable, practical, time-saving, and life-altering in that they make our lives a lot easier, they make for the perfect gifts during the holiday season.
The best part is that there’s something for everyone, no matter their budget, dwelling, and lifestyle, which is why I put together this extensive gift guide on the best smart home devices for every user, from the homeowners and apartment dwellers to pet lovers, people who love to host parties, and students; I even have picks for the tech-averse.
Follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings, and hot holiday deals! You might also want to check out our guides to the best Christmas sales in the US and Boxing Day sales in the UK, for even more great holiday and Christmas gift ideas.
The best smart home gifts for the budget-minded
A cheap smart display
Smart displays are much more versatile and useful than smart speakers, but the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is the best option for budget users. Besides its touch display, it also comes with a built-in camera for video calls and the capability to stream shows and movies. Often discounted on Amazon, you'll find it under $50 during sale events.
Prefer to stick with audio? Get the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Light up the room for less
There are a lot of smart light bulbs out there, but Govee's offering is one of the most reliable of the cheaper options. It can display 16 million colors as well as 54 dynamic scenes so users can set it to whatever suits their mood. You can get a set of four for less than $50, and it's also often discounted at big sale events, including during the holidays.
Another affordable option? Check out the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials
Never miss a package again
Ring may be the popular video doorbell brand, but its low-cost sibling, Blink, has the best options for budget-minded users. This cheap option, which comes with two-way audio, motion detection, and Alexa support, can come wired or wireless. Its battery life also lasts up to two years. It's currently discounted for the holiday so it's under $40.
Willing to pay a little more? The Ring Video Doorbell is often discounted
The best smart home gifts for homeowners
Ideal for bigger households
With a massive touchscreen display, the Echo Show 10 is the best smart display for big homes and big households, especially for users with a lot of smart devices and need a built-in smart hub. It's got powerful speakers and a 13MP camera with auto framing. And it's capable of streaming video and music from many of the top services.
Too big? Consider the new Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) instead
First line of defense
One of Ring's latest outdoor home security cameras, this premium option has two-way audio, 3D motion detection with bird's eye zones, and color night vision. It's also able to record a few extra seconds of events, thanks to its feature called Color Pre-Roll. Being an outdoor camera, it's weather-proofed. It's expensive, but its advanced features are worth it.
Too expensive? The Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) is much more affordable
Clean through 2024 effortlessly
One of eufy's budget robot vacuum models, this is also currently discounted for the holidays so it's even cheaper and a fantastic gift for busy homeowners who want to keep their house clean. Among its smart features include voice control via Alexa and app support for home mapping, setting up no-go zones, and per room cleaning.
Want a self-emptying one? Check the ECOVACS Deebot N8 Pro+
The best smart home gifts for apartment dwellers
Perfect speaker for apartments
Alexa's best smart speaker for most people is also the best one for apartments. You can get the Echo Dot, but this one has more powerful audio. Your giftee can use it to play music and podcasts as well as control all your smart home devices. It also has built-in occupant detection it can be set to turn on devices when it detects a person in the room its in.
Need more options? See our best smart speakers list
Easiest to install
Some apartment owners don't let tenants change their deadbolt, but this one fits most existing deadbolts so its inconspicuous, only visible from inside the apartment. It's also very easy to install, fairly affordable, and works with most smart assistants including Alexa. Plus, it can be programmed to give temporary access to house guests.
Looking for one with a keypad? The eufy C220 is terrific and affordable
No hard-wiring needed
Offering deep discounts during sale events, this may just be the best video doorbell for most people. For apartment dwellers, it's even more ideal since it doesn't require hard-wiring, at least if you choose the rechargeable battery option. It boasts motion detection, improved night vision, and compatibility with some Alexa-enabled devices.
More options? Our best video doorbells list has a few alternatives
The best smart home gifts for pet lovers
Stay in touch with your pets
Pet owners who are at work all day like to check in with their fur babies during the day, and this indoor security camera from Kasa lets them do just that. It can pan and tilt to look around the room, it has motion and sound detection, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant. We think it's one of the best budget options on the market.
Need AI features? The Psync Camera Genie S is brilliant and cheap
Hands-free feeding
If you've got a busy pet owner in your life, you can give them the gift of convenience with this smart cat feeder, which not only offers app support but also works with Alexa. It can be set to deliver up to 30 meals a day, with up to 12 portions per meal, taking a time-consuming chore off your giftee's hands.
Want a wet food feeder? See Happy Llama's Refrigerated Smart Feeder
Perfect for homes with pets
Shark is a trusted name in vacuums, and this smart and powerful robot vacuum is a great gift for pet owners. It's capable of cleaning hard and carpeted floors, and powerful enough to suck up every pet hair and pet messes, as well as other daily dirt. It's a pricier gift, but Shark often offers big discounts, and right now this robot vac is 50% off.
A few more alternatives? Check our best video doorbells list
The best smart home gifts for food lovers
Follow those recipes easily
The best smart display for most people, the new and improved Echo Show 8 comes with a touch display large enough to offer and enjoyable recipe-viewing experience. It also has improved audio, as well as special features like Adaptive Content, Visual ID personalization, and a built-in smart device hub. It's a little pricier, but Amazon already has it discounted for the holidays.
For a bigger display, the Echo Show 10 is a great, if pricier, alternative
Roast chicken, anyone?
The food lover in your life is probably not going to be content with a simple air fryer. With this air fryer oven, however, they can be more versatile in what they can make - including rotisserie chicken. Because it's a large-capacity model, they can easily whip up feasts for their family and friends. It's a little pricey, but if you're willing to splurge, it's a great gift.
More air fryer gifts? Our air fryer gift guide should give you a few ideas
Impress at dinner parties
If your loved one wants to prepare chef-approved meals, this smart sous vide station is a premium gift they'll absolutely love. It doesn't work with voice assistants, but it does work with the Typhur app, which includes many chef-guided and designed recipes. You can set it, start cooking, leave the house, and monitor its progress via the app.
Too pricey? We found the best sous vide cooking machine deals for you
The best smart home gifts for music lovers
Alexa speaker you can take with you
Amazon's aren't the only smart speakers out there, and if you've got an active person in your life who also loves music, this is the perfect portable speaker with Alexa built in to get them. It sounds impressive, with powerful audio, and boasts that signature B&O sound profile. It's a little pricey, but it's discounted right now for the holidays.
A bigger budget? The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is highly-rated too
Powerful speaker, powerful sound
If you're looking for something more powerful than the Amazon Echo, then the premium Echo Studio is the one to get the music lover in your life. While it offers most of Echo's smart features, including a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, it delivers a more elevated and booming sound, thanks to its 5.3-inch woofer for that satisfying bass.
Want something more premium? Check out the Bose Home Speaker 500
Fun lights that sync to your music
To be clear, there are a lot of smart lights on the market that offer music sync. But these superior smart light panels are arguably the best out there thanks to their bright and vibrant 3D lighting. Each panel has three surfaces and two sets of lines, all of which are highly customizable. It's discounted both at Amazon and the Govee shop.
Need more smart light options? Look at our best smart lights list
The best smart home gifts for students
Adorable smart speaker that's cheap
Best for college dorms and kids' bedroom, the Amazon Echo Pop is such a stylish smart speaker that comes in several different colors, so you can choose the best one to match your kid's aesthetic. It comes with many of the smart home features that the Echo offers, and best of all, it's very cheap, especially now that Amazon is offering it at 55% off for Christmas.
Shopping for younger kids? The Echo Dot Kids is a good option
Reliable but space-saving
Also perfect for dorm rooms, this mini air fryer with a two-quart basket is not just space-saving, it's also money-saving and time-saving. It'll let your college kid save money by cooking their own food without limiting them to instant ramen and Spam, and it's an appliance that many universities allow in dorm kitchens. This particular model comes in a few different colors.
The COSORI Small Air Fryer is another great option
Make other appliances smart
College kids aren't able to completely turn their entire dorm room smart, but getting them smart plugs should get them closer to that. This Amazon one is the best choice, and it's able to do things like turn on lamps, coffee makers, and more with voice commands. It's also reliable, unlike options for lesser-known brands. And it's affordable and very easy to use.
Need more outlets? The Amazon Smart Power Strip is affordable too
The best smart home gifts for people who love hosting parties
With Chime for alerting you to visitors
While other video doorbells typically do not come with a Chime, this affordable one from Roku does, which makes it perfect for that person in your life who loves hosting and throwing parties. The video doorbell itself boasts color night vision, motion and sound detection, and two-way audio. It also works with Alexa and other voice assistants.
Something cheaper? There's the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell w/ Chime
Twice the basket, half the cooking time
Hosting parties is not exactly effortless, but it's easier with a large-capacity air fryer that saves you a lot of cooking time. This two-basket Ninja one takes that even a step further as it allows you to cook two different dishes at the same time, regardless of cooking time and temperature. It's also regularly discounted, including now with a holiday deal on Amazon.
A bigger capacity? The Instant Pot Vortex Pro lets you roast chicken
Set the mood for every occasion
These versatile light panels are just the perfect smart lights for setting the mood, and they're great not just for hosting parties but also every day use as well. This set comes with more than 16 million colors and different lighting scenes, as has a modular design, so you can put them up in a way that suits your aesthetic. They're the perfect gift for your favorite host.
Want classier light panels? Nanoleaf Elements are the perfect choice
More US holiday sales
- Amazon: 70% off Kindle, TVs, tablets & clothing
- Apple: AirPods, Apple Watch & iPads from $79
- Adidas: 40% off running shoes & clothing
- Beauty: 51% off makeup, skincare & hair tools
- Best Buy: $800 off TVs, laptops & headphones
- Cheap TVs: big-screen 4K TVs from $269.99
- Christmas: 40% off decor, pajamas & trees
- Dell: Inspiron and XPS laptops from $260
- DreamCloud: 40% off all mattresses
- Family pajamas: Christmas PJs from $12.99
- Gaming: console bundles from $289.99
- Lenovo: 76% off laptops, desktops & printers
- Lowe's: up to $800 off major appliances
- Nectar: mattress deals starting at $359
- Nordstrom: 40% off Nike, Levi's & UGGs
- Patagonia: pullovers starting at $64.99
- Samsung: $2,000 of TVs, phones and appliances
- Shopbop: 25% off sitewide with code Holiday
- Target: 40% off Christmas decor, TVs & toys
- Toys: Disney, Barbie & Lego from $14.99
- Walmart: cheap TVs, air fryers, PS5 & toys
