The most stylish smart home gadgets you can buy right now
Even just five years ago, most ‘smart home’ technology was built to be discreetly installed, often hidden away inside the walls of expensive flats and new-build homes.
But as ‘smart home’ devices have evolved, with the addition of wireless connections and voice controls, the gadgets now take pride of place and add a serious dash of style.
Here’s some of the best-looking smart home gadgets on the market right now, from Wi-Fi connected lights to intelligent air purifiers.
Philips Hue Go
The Hue Go (£70) is a portable lamp styled like a bowl of light, which is controlled via an Android or iPhone app, and offers 16 million colours.
It lasts for three hours on one charge, and can be programmed to light up at specific times, or even change colours in specific locations .
HiMirror Plus+
This Wi-Fi connected mirror (£320) provides users with a personalised skincare report using a built-in camera which identifies wrinkles, pores, red spots, brightness levels and firmness.
It records changes over time, so users can easily see which beauty products are working for them (and which are not doing anything). Users can also virtually ‘try on’ new looks using an augmented reality feature.
Grohe Aquasymphony
This ‘smart’ shower can be controlled via an iPhone and Android app, with rainbow-coloured light shows, plus a ‘steam’ option.
Users can also fine-tune how the shower itself sprays them, ranging from an invigorating ‘Waterfall XL’ down to a pulsing massage-style spray.
Nespresso Prodigio
Nespresso’s ‘connected’ coffee machine is like a Goblin Teasmade for the 21st Century, with an app which allows coffee drinkers to schedule an espresso for when their alarm goes off.
You will have to load it with a capsule the previous night, and choose what size of coffee you want (there’s three). The Bluetooth device also reminds users when they’re running low on capsules,
Falmec Bellaria
This is a table-top ionisation system (£849) which purifies the air. It has a leaf-shaped indicator on the front which turns yellow when there are pollutants in the air and slowly turns green when the air is purified.
The system generates negative ions to reduce polluting agents in the air such as bacteria, viruses, dust mites, pollen, spores, various dusts, foul odours and cigarette smoke.
It’s made from Italian Murano glass, and comes in red, yellow, white and grey.
Hive Home View
Created by industrial designer Yves Behar, Hive’s Home View camera (£189) is designed to be seen, with finishes in black and copper or white and gold.
Users can move the portable, wire-free camera anywhere in the home, and choose to ‘look through it’ at any time via the app.
NEST Thermostat
The NEST thermostat (£220) brings app-controlled intelligence to home central heating control and can save users hundreds on heating bills.
The latest generation comes with Alexa voice control so it can be controlled directly from smart speakers, and can also adjust your hot water schedule.
Amazon Echo
Many early smart home gadgets came with unsightly control panels and remotes, but Amazon’s voice assistant helps keep your home clutter free.
The Echo and Echo Show allows users to control many smart home gadgets via voice, from lighting to heating to entertainment.
Simplehuman Semi-Round Sensor Can
No one likes to have to touch the bin more than they have to, and this ‘smart’ bin ensures you don’t with an automatic sensor system.
Just wave a hand near the top and the 40-litre bin (£80) will open automatically.
Click & Grow Indoor Smart Herb Garden
This ‘smart’ herb garden (from £70) uses an array of sensors and a built-in LED lamp to help herbs grow quickly and healthily.
Sensors built into the pot ensure plants get a perfect combination of water, oxygen, and nutrients.
Wiz Hero
The Wiz lighting system connects directly to Wi-Fi, so you don’t need to plug a box into your router (unlike with Philips Hue).
You can opt for bulbs which plug into normal lamps or standalone lamps such as the Hero (£90).
You can select effects such as ‘romance’ (a pinky-purple colour, or any of 14-million colours controlled either via an app or via voice using Amazon Alexa.
Philips Ambilight
Philips Ambilight televisions ‘spill’ light out of the screen, courtesy of LED projectors built into the edge of the television, and can synchronise with Hue lights to create a light show synced to what’s on the TV.
The latest Philips 9002 OLED set (£1,800) also has an ultra-thin OLED screen, which offers incredible contrast, deep blacks and bright colours. It’s also extremely fast (so it’s great for sport).
