The Summer season is nearly upon us. And with it comes the most amazing time of year, Christmas Day! Of course, for those in the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas is celebrated in the depths of the winter months. While we lucky Australians get to enjoy Xmas under the sweltering sun.
Xmas is a time to shower your loved ones with gifts. But it isn’t always easy to find that perfect present. But you can never go wrong with gadgets. Especially if your friends or family are homeowners. We have put together this guide of our top picks for the best home gadgets of 2023. Hopefully, you might be able to find some good gift ideas here.
Google Home
A Google Home is not so different from an Alexa, functionally speaking. They are both voice-operated home assistants that double as a speaker. But, in our opinion, Google Home is a huge improvement over Alexa. In fact, we would rank the Google Home, and the smaller Google Nest, as the best bluetooth speaker / virtual assistant on the market.
The Google Home speakers are of an amazing quality. Their bluetooth range is large enough that your phone can stay connected wherever you are in your house. And our testing has shown them to suffer far less wi-fi connectivity issues than its competitors. When searching the web, Google Home pulls up better results and provides much more vocal information as well.
Google Home products are also compatible with most other smart home technologies, except Apple products. They can easily be linked up to different devices. This allows you to control all your smart devices with your Google Home. Nothing says Sci-Fi like asking your Google Home to turn on your shower or unlock your front door.
Home Security Cameras
Home security is something a lot of people take for granted. People are far too lax with it, until it is already too late. Which is why a home security camera is a fantastic investment or gift. Often, the mere presence of a security camera on your property is enough to deter potential intruders. And, if something bad does happen, the recorded footage will help you make a claim on your insurance.
Most of the home security cameras available in Australia are now smart home compatible as well. This means you can access the camera feed from your phone from anywhere, provided you have an internet connection. They can also be linked up to motion detectors and your home security system. This will improve your home’s security and give you peace of mind while you aren’t at home.
Smart Lighting
There is nothing that pulls a home together quite like nice ambient lighting. Sometimes the way you have decorated a room, or the mood you are trying to set, can’t be complete with normal lighting. In those cases you might want soft red, or dark blue, or even light green lighting. Which is why you should consider getting some smart lights.
Smart lights come in many different shapes and sizes. You could change all your light bulbs with smart lights, allowing you to fully control a room’s ambient lighting with ease. Or you could get some LED strip lights and create a more focused lighting effect around your TV or computer screen. Smart lights can be controlled from your phone, or by your voice assistant device like the Google Home.
USB Mug Warmer
There is nothing worse than making yourself a cup of tea or coffee and forgetting about it. When you finally remember it is there, it has gone stone cold. It is an issue many people who work from home face. Which is why a USB Mug Warmer is the perfect gadget for anyone who spends a lot of time at their desk.
The premise is simple. Plug it into your computer, place the mug on the pad, and it will keep your cup warm for as long as you need. You can modify the temperature of the pad as well, ensuring your drink is kept at whatever temperature is perfect for you.
Arc Reactor Wireless Charger
Wireless charging pads are one of the best technological advancements we have seen in recent years. They work by passing through the coils to create an electromagnetic field. This field is then put through the magnetic plate into your phone, charging it.
There are hundreds of different wireless charging pads available. But our top pick has to be the Arc Reactor pad. If you are a Marvel comics fan then this is perfect for you. Designed to resemble the Arc Reactor found in the center of Iron Man’s suit. The device even plays the suit-up noise when you place your phone upon it.
