SHS Gift Guide 2020

Give the gift of a smarter home

With so many developments for smart homes in 2020 - from Google merging its home lines to Apple making a splash in the home control sector - we decided to put together this gift guide.  As more companies enter the market to provide connectivity within our homes, the cost goes down and we win. Take a look at our recommendations below, but if you are new to this, check out our Getting Started Guide.

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Best gifts under $50

There are so many players in the smart home space this year, and luckily with price-conscious brands like Wyze, and TP-link, giving the gift of a smarter home is more economical than ever.

Wyze Sense Starter Kit
Wyze Sense Starter - $49
Motion and contact sensors open up a whole new world of smart home capabilities and Wyze packs a whole lot of value into this starter pack including an indoor camera.
buy now at Home Depot
google home mini
Google Nest Mini - $29
On sale for Black Friday, Google has arguably the best voice assistant on the market and their entry-level speaker doesn't dissapoint. With deep integrations to Android phones, this is a must-have for people in the Google ecosystem.
buy now at Best Buy
TP Link Kasa Smart Dimmer
Kasa Wifi Dimmer - $18
Light switches are a great way to upgrade your home secretly. It works just like a regular switch but adds additional functionality like being able to schedule or talk to your lights. Compatible with Google and Alexa, this is a solid entry-level option.
buy now on amazon
Chamberlain MyQ Garage Door Opener
MyQ Garage Door - $30
Add this into your garage to make any garage door smart. Compatible with all ecosystems (Apple needs a bridge) you can now know when your door is left open, or open it through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay as you arrive home.
buy now on amazon
Eufy Indoor Camera
Eufy Indoor Cam - $29
Eufy has a range of HomeKit compatible smart home products, but this is a great way to get started. One of the very few cameras able to use HomeKit Secure Video, it can record to the Apple cloud for those who are more privacy-conscious.
buy now on amazon
Google Nest Home Hub 7" screen
Nest Hub - $49
Smart displays are great for your kitchen counter, or mounting near the entrance of your home. They can show you who is at the door, command the house, work as a picture frame and take video calls. Google has done an amazing job with this mid-range product, now even better on sale.
buy now at Best Buy
Wyze Cam v3 - $20
At $20 these robust cameras work well inside or outside any home. No direct Apple compatibility, but at this price using the app is a good compromise. Wyze has made quite a name for themselves in the cheap market, and with 14 days of free cloud storage, SD card slot, and waterproofing it is hard to beat.
buy now at wyze
Vocolink Color Changing Bulbs
Vocolink A21, 2 pack - $35
One of the better light bulbs on the market. While Lifx has more accurate colors and Phillips is industry leader, these bulbs offer great color changing capability in all three ecosystems.
buy now on amazon
Vocolink Smart Plugs
Vocolink Plug, 2 pack - $24
Compatible with all the ecosystems, this is a cheap way to get any device to be smart. Now your coffee maker turns on in the morning, your printer saves energy at night, or more conventionally you can turn a lamp on and off.
buy now on amazon

Best gifts under $100

These gifts start to get out from behind the scenes and expose the interfaces and power of smart home products. These gifts will surely make an impact.

Logitech Harmony Hub with Remote
Harmony Smart Remote - $87
Control multiple devices all from one remote. Use Google and Alexa to change the channel, turn the volume up, or pause the movie. Get ready for movie night turning everything to the right mode, aiming the lights and drawing the blinds.
buy now on amazon
Apple HomePod Mini
HomePod Mini - $99
Incredible Sound. Privacy focused. Now Apple has a wallet-friendly way to get Siri into every room. Now enhanced with intercom capability, a more robust home operating system and you pair them together for even more impressive sound.
buy now at Best Buy
Arlo Video Doorbell
Arlo Doorbell - $99
A leader in home security cameras, Arlo's video doorbell is a great product. Image quality is great, and uses your existing doorbell wiring to stay powered so you never have to think about it again.
buy now on Amazon
Nest Audio
Nest Audio - $99
A competitor to the HomePod Mini, this midrange speaker offers great sound and Google built in. They work in tandem like all the other home speakers, so you can fill your home with one blanket of audio.
buy now at Best Buy
philips hue starter kit
Philips Hue, 2 pack - $89
Philips Hue works independent of WiFi which is usually more responsive. An expandnding ecosystem, this is a great way to jump in. Add the Hue Hub for Apple compatibility.
buy now on amazon
lutron caseta starter kit
Lutron Caseta Starter - $79
Works as a regular light switch and with all the home assistants, that way you (or guests) can use it like they always have without messing up your smart home integrations. We cannot recommend this solution more highly.
buy now on amazon

Best gifts under $250

In this price category we are looking at gifts that are a major staple. These will be consciously used on a daily basis and are sure to delight.

august lock thumbnail
August WiFi - $220
The best smart lock we have ever reviewed. Now sleeker and smaller for 2020, it is the best it has ever been. People constantly put this in the top 3 of their favorite smart home additions.
buy now on amazon
ecobee 3 lite thumbnail
Ecobee 3 Lite - $150
An industry leader in HVAC, Ecobee makes one of the best thermostats on the plantet (and helps you save it). Look for additional rebates from your utility provider.
buy now on amazon
Eero pro wifi
Eero Pro 6 - $183
WiFi 6 is the latest generation of WiFi, and a huge leap in performance. Starting with this single base station should be more than enough for the average home, but it can be expanded with additional access points later.
buy now on amazon
Eufy 30C Max Vacuum cleaner
Eufy 30C Max - $189
This vacuum has great suction and cleaning capability. While it doesn't have the bells and whistles of laser navigation, the app connectivity, integration with home assistants, and it's performance make it a great gift.
buy now on amazon
SimpliSafe security kit
SimpliSafe Kit 8pc - $179
One of the best things about smart homes is feeling secure and knowing what is going on. SimpliSafe works with Alexa and Google and allows you to use it's sensors as triggers to make your home even smarter.
buy now on amazon
Apple TV 4K
Apple TV 4K - $179
Arguably one of best streaming device on the market, it supports all the latest standards for high quality video and audio and can play some great games available on Apple Arcade. It also operates as a hub for the start of a HomeKit house.
buy now at Best Buy