Best 5 smart home gadgets to make you look cool in front of your guests

We’ve all gotten used to smartphones and smart TVs but there are now so many more ‘smart’ devices available that promise to make life easier (and cooler).

You can now buy everything from smart lighting to smart door locks, and even smart water bottles.

The trend is only going to accelerate in coming years with more devices connecting over the internet. So now is the perfect time to grab some new smart home tech and stay ahead of the curve.

Here are 5 of the coolest and best smart homes gadgets available today.

READ MORE: 10 cheap gadgets that will breathe new life into your car

1. Smart door locks

Our phones can now replace almost everything we used to have to carry in our pockets.

But they do just fall short.

One way you can get closer to that freedom is with a smart door lock.

There are now lots of these locks available that allow you to unlock your door with just a tap of your phone. Many of them even work with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant, and let you send digital keys to your friends and family.

2. Smart light panels

Good lighting can completely change the look of a room.

And nothing is better at setting the mood than these LED panels from Nanoleaf.

Nanoleaf panels come in a range of shapes and sizes that easily click together to create any pattern you want.

They allow you to change the color, brightness and even design through Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit integration.

So changing between the perfect lighting for work, gaming, or movie night is as easy as taping the app or shouting “Hey Siri turn the lights blue”.

3. Smart alarm clock

I originally thought a smart clock was a silly idea but after using one from Lenovo for the past year, I’m not a total convert.

The Lenovo Smart Clock displays the date and temperature alongside the time on an auto-dimming screen. This means it’s always visible without being glaringly bright during the night.

While that is a nice feature, the part that makes this clock truly smart is the integration with Google Assistant.

You can do everything you would expect from a dedicated smart speaker, so everything from getting the weather forecast to asking for terrible jokes.

It’s also able to control all of your other smart home gadgets.

4. Smart blinds

It may sound really lazy to want blinds you can control without even getting out of bed, but it can be surprisingly useful to have internet-connected window smart blinds.

Most of these look just like normal blinds but feature electric motors that are controlled by an app, or your favourite virtual assistant. The best part is being able to set schedules so it automatically opens or closes, even when you’re not at home.

Just imagine the look on your friend’s face when the blinds start moving all by themselves.

5. Smart video doorbell

Not being at home when somebody knocks on your door can be really annoying.

If you’ve ever missed the knock for that important package, or the neighbour telling you the dogs have escaped, then a video doorbell could be for you.

Whenever somebody rings the bell you’ll get an alert on your phone which gives you the option to both see and hear the person at the door.

The built-in camera also doubles as a handy security device to check in on your home from anywhere in the world.

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