2025 Smart Home Holiday Gift Guide
Welcome to our twelfth annual smart home holiday gift guide! We are just home from a couple of weeks of vacation and it feels like the world has changed from Halloween to Holiday shopping overnight.
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We started this guide in 2014 focused exclusively on smart home gadgets. The good news is that we are still actually using three of the five products we first recommended, and only two of them are obsolete, so we still feel good about our choices. We still love compiling this guide and look forward to sharing it every year.
Our list has continued to evolve. Since this is a gift guide, we try to stick to things that are easy for your loved ones to enjoy right out of the box. There are a lot of complex things we love but we don’t want you to spend your holiday as technical support for your family.
All of these gift ideas are things we have personally tested and would recommend. Some of our favorites keep coming back year after year. I’m looking at you, Ember Mug. It’s still my favorite gadget of all time.
Make sure you check out our Amazon Shopping List and our YouTube channel for more in-depth reviews of these gift ideas.
What do you think? Have you bought any of these gifts? Where did you find the best deal? Have we missed anything? We’d love to hear from you.
Stocking Stuffers
MAGEASY iPhone Cases
Watch: Quick Look MAGEASY Clear Case
Watch: Quick Look MAGEASY Odyssey Ultra Case
Buy MAGEASY iPhone Cases : Amazon
The new iPhone 17 models are out and of course they require new cases to fit the new cameras, buttons and other features.
This year I was really excited that Apple finally released a phone in Cosmic Orange so I needed a case that would still let me see the beautiful color. Mark needed a sturdy case with a strap for our recent trip. We rode in Zodiac boats and he didn’t want his iPhone swimming. We were able to find something we both loved thanks to MAGEASY.
MAGEASY has lots of different options for each new model, some with straps, some with stands, and all that are compatible for MagSafe charging. If your loved one has an older iPhone there are lots of cases available for those as well. Just make sure you pick the right model and size when you order.
Anker USB-C Outlet Extender
Watch: Anker USB-C Outlet Extender Quick Look
Buy: Amazon
With so many devices to plug in, it seems like we never have enough outlets. This little cube changes one outlet into three AC outlets, plus 2 USB-A and one USB-C, and its compact size means it is great for home, office, dorm, garage, or wherever you could use a few more outlets inside.
It plugs in firmly and includes Anker’s 7-point safety system to give you peace of mind wherever you use it.
Liddle Speaker Pro
Watch: Quick Look Liddle Speaker Pro
Buy: Amazon
We met the inventors of the Liddle Speaker a few years ago at CES. It’s a tiny speaker with great sound that attaches magnetically to the back of your phone or any other magnetic surface. In January they were back with their newest edition, the Liddle Speaker Pro, upgraded with USB-C and wireless charging, and a high-fidelity microphone that makes it great for phone calls too. It works with Apple or Android phones, is water and dust-proof and plays for up to 8 hours.
Buy one or two for your mobile music lover since they will work as a studio pair. For your golf lovers, there is a version with the same great features that looks like a golf ball that you can find only on their website.
Anker 140 Watt MAX USB-C 4-port charger
Watch: Quick Look Anker 140 Watt Charger
Buy: Amazon
For your road warrior who needs fast charging for their laptop and their other devices, this is a great choice. It can charge up to 4 different devices at the same time, three USB-C and one USB-A and it has a display so you can see the power output to each port. With all that power it charges faster so your loved one can get their laptops and other devices going. It comes in two colors and includes a high-quality USB cable.
For your Favorite Travelers
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Buy: Amazon
When you’re flying, the noise ranges from about 65 and 105 decibels, with cruising altitude about 85 db. After a while you may not notice it that much, but when you use noise-canceling headphones, it becomes so much more quiet and relaxing.
On a recent flight I forgot to charge my Bose QuietComfort Headphones and had to suffer through an hour of just blocking out the sound with my (not latest generation) Apple AirPods listening to music.
It was better than nothing but still grating compared to the in-flight bliss I get from my Bose over the ear pair. We’ve both been using these for more than 20 years, upgrading every so often to get new features like Bluetooth and USB-C charging.
This year Bose has three versions for sale, QuietComfort, QuietComfort Ultra, and QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen). Ultra adds immersive audio and the 2nd Gen adds cinema mode and a few hours more battery life. No matter which you choose, we think your favorite traveler will love the luxurious gift.
AirFly
Watch: Quick Look Airfly SE
Buy: Amazon
Whether your favorite traveler uses the Bose or other Bluetooth headphones, they will appreciate having an AirFly so they can use them to connect wirelessly on a plane, at the gym or to a gaming console.
The AirFly is a small transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack and allows you to use your wireless earbuds. The original AirFly works for one person and the AirFly Pro 2 or Deluxe lets two people listen together. Any AirFly makes a nice stocking stuffer or accessory for a new pair of headphones.
Apple AirTags
Watch: Apple AirTags Review
Buy: Amazon
Airlines seem to do a lot better at tracking your bags these days, but I know that I feel much better when I’m on the plane and I can pull up my iPhone and see that my checked bag is on the plane with me, thanks to my Apple AirTag.
Even if your loved one is not a frequent flier, they can use AirTags inside their backpacks, purses, or attached to their keys. The Apple FindMy App makes it easy to locate them and will even remind you if you’ve left your bag behind. There are lots of clever bits and bobs designed to hold these or conceal them inside your bag, or a backpack that has a spot for one.
If you want to keep track of a wallet, we also like the Eufy Security SmartTrack Card E30. It uses both the eufy app and with Apple Find My. It’s flat and not much thicker than a credit card and unlike AirTags, has a rechargeable battery.
If your loved one uses an Android phone, Tile is a good alternative and will work with both phone platforms.
HyperPack Backpack
Watch: Quick Look HyperPack 22L Slim Backpack
Buy: Amazon
Over the years we have both used and abused many computer backpacks on the road and it’s always nice to get a new one. Especially a sleek and functional one like the HyperPack.
The HyperPack will hold up to a 16 inch laptop, but still has a sleek slim profile. There are lots of clever features like special pockets for charging bricks and a pass-through for the cable, expandable water bottle holders, and a built-in spot to store your AirTag or Hyper compatible tracking device.
I just used mine for the first time on a recent trip to Patagonia and my favorite feature was the magnetic clips on the front that made carrying the bag on my back much more comfortable.
It’s a great gift for anyone who travels with a computer. Buy it alone, add a tracker or a HyperJuice battery pack.
For Creators
ShiftCam SnapGrip Pro
Watch: Quick Look SnapGrip Pro
Buy: Amazon
Remember that nice ergonomic grip and shutter button on your favorite SLR camera? Well now your favorite creator can use that to capture photos and video AND keep their phone charged too.
The ShiftCam Snap Grip Pro is a MagSafe-compatible power bank and phone camera grip all in one. You can use the grip to shoot content in portrait or landscape mode, and you can even use it as a stand for watching videos or doing conference calls. The Qi2 wireless charging charges fast too to keep your loved one productive on the go. It comes in two elegant colors, midnight and sand gray.
For Coffee (or Tea) Drinkers
Ember Mug
Watch: Ember Mug Review
Buy: Amazon
I got my Ember Mug for Christmas in 2021 and the only thing wrong with it was that it was too small. So Mark kept the 10 ounce version and bought a 14 ounce one for me. We’ve been using them almost daily ever since and they are still going strong.
We still think they are the perfect gift for anyone who loves coffee or tea. You won’t believe how much better hot drinks taste when they stay hot.
Not much has really changed with the mugs over the last few years. They have added some new colors and form factors like the cup in 6 and 14 oz. With the lid it will stay warm for up to two and a half hours versus 80 minutes without. Regardless, your favorite coffee lover will be thanking you for years to come.
For Home Chefs and Entertainers
Meater Wireless Meat Thermometer
Watch: Meater Pro Quick Look
Buy: Amazon
The Meater wireless meat thermometer is another perennial gift guide favorite for your home cooks and grill masters. Just plug the Meater into your favorite protein, use their app to set up a cook, and you’ll get a notification on your phone when it reaches its perfect temperature.
We are big fans of the Meater Pro. This probe can be safely used in ambient cooking temperatures up to 1000 degrees fahrenheit, so it can be used for long term cooks and even deep frying. It comes individually, in a Duo with two probes, or the Pro XL with four probes so you can cook multiple proteins to individual temps for your whole family or backyard barbecue.
This season Meater also introduced the SE that comes in a sleek black plastic case with a lower price point. It can’t be used at as high a temperature as the pro but for most home cooks 557 degrees fahrenheit should be enough.
Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Electric Cooler
Watch: Quick Look Anker Solix EverFrost 2
Buy: Amazon
If your loved one likes to host backyard barbecues or get outdoors, chances are they would appreciate a nice cooler. Coolers have come a long way since the styrofoam ones from the grocery store but you still have to remember to get the ice or freeze the ice packs.
The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 smart electric cooler is a rechargeable 40 liter cooler that never needs ice. Just charge it up and it will keep things chilled, or even frozen. You can dial the temperature from -4 to 68 degrees fahrenheit using the onboard display or companion app. They claim it can keep stuff at 39 degrees for 52 hours on a single battery. Keeping it going is easy – you can add a second battery, plug it into your car port, or charge it with optional solar panels.
If you’re wondering how big 40 liters is, we were able to hold around 28 cans of soda or a full case of wine in ours. It’s amazing how much room you have when you don’t need to worry about ice! It has a pop-up tray and wheels to make it easier to bring with you. Oh and if you need more room they have a 58 liter model as well.
Gardyn Hydroponic Indoor Garden
Watch: Gardyn Studio Review
Buy: Gardyn.com
Buy: Amazon
If your loved one craves fresh vegetables but either doesn’t have the space or the patience to grow them outside, they may love to have their own Gardyn hydroponic system.
The Gardyn comes in two sizes – the Gardyn Home that packs 30 plants in just 2 square feet, or the Gardyn Studio that grows 16 plants in 1.4 square feet. Both systems make it really easy to grow, with starter packs of plant pods and Kelby, the personal master gardner who guides you every step of the way through the Gardyn app.
We’ve been using the original Gardyn studio for almost a year and have had so much fun growing and eating our fresh vegetables. Gardyn just announced the Studio 2 that is easier to clean and has a higher resolution camera to really keep an eye on the growth.
If you’re gifting one, we recommend bundling it with the Gardyn membership to set your loved one up for success.
For Nature Lovers
Third Reality Soil Sensor
Watch: Quick Look ThirdReality Soil Sensor
Buy: Amazon
For your loved ones who like to garden with actual soil, the ThirdReality Soil Sensor makes a great little gift. It measures soil moisture and temperature so you can measure how your plants are doing. It works best indoors but we have also had success using it in our courtyard.
This gift does require your loved one to have some kind of Zigbee compatible smart home hub to use it, such as SmartThings, Homey, Home Assistant or Hubitat. You can get them individually or in packs of two or three.
ThirdReality also makes a smart watering kit that will work with or without the sensor to keep your plants hydrated.
Birdfy Smart Bird Feeders
Watch: Birdfy Metal Review
Watch: Birdfy Pole Unboxing
Buy on Amazon: Birdfy Metal
Buy on Amazon: Birdfy Pole
If you have a bird watcher on your list, or someone who loves nature, they will love the Birdfy smart bird feeders. Just fill it up, connect it to Wi-Fi, and pretty soon you will have a parade of birds pinging your phone. We have loved getting to know our backyard birds better.
Birdfy makes many different models, including one specifically for hummingbirds. We really like using the Birdfy Metal because it’s really sturdy and just the right size to accommodate a few birds at a time. We suggest you buy the version with the lifetime AI bird identification included.
If you are going to gift one of these, we also highly recommend you add the Birdfy Pole for mounting. It has hooks for hanging the feeder and most important, a baffle in the middle that deters squirrels and other rodents from hogging all the bird seed. You can buy it with or without an additional camera.
Kodak Photo Printers
Watch: Kodak Dock Plus 4×6 Printer
Watch: Kodak Mini 3 Retro Printer Review
Buy: Dock Plus:Amazon
Buy: Mini Retro: Amazon
We all have thousands of photos stored on our phones and computers, but there is nothing like a photo print you can hold in your own hand. We love the Kodak photo printers and they come in several versions that make great gifts.
The Kodak Dock Plus 4-pass printer prints high-quality 4×6 photos, both with and without a border, ready for giving, framing, or scrapbooking. The Kodak Dock ERA Plus uses the same printing technology but with a newer retro design aesthetic. Both connect to your phone with USB-C.
They even have a portable rechargable Mini Retro printer that prints smaller photos in a compact package not much bigger than your phone.
You can buy the printers by themselves, but for giving, we recommend the accessory bundle that includes a nice case, extra cartridges and paper.
Toniebox and Tonies
Watch: Toniebox and Tonies Review
Buy Toniebox 2 Starter Kit: Amazon
We have been recommending the Toniebox for a few years now, a colorful, screen free companion for kids three and up. The box works with smart little characters, called Tonies, who activate stories, songs and games when you put them on top. The child can listen through the included speaker or with headphones.
This year they introduced the next generation, the Toniebox 2 and we think that parents will love the new version. Its new design can be used by kids as young as 1 but also has interactive game play features designed to appeal to kids 9 plus. It also includes smart sleep features and a sunrise alarm, more storage and charges via standard USB-C instead of a proprietary base.
And of course the Toniebox 2 works with the existing library of Tonies, with more than 125 million sold since the company started in 2014.
Shop our Holiday Gift Guide on Amazon.com
Smart Home Appliances and Lighting
These gifts are more traditional smart home appliances and lighting for safety, comfort and style that we think will work for many people on your list.
Hydrific Droplet
Watch: Hydrific Droplet Review
Buy: Hydrific
Almost every homeowner on your list could benefit from the Droplet from Hydrific. Water leaks can be hard to find until it’s too late, and no one wants to deal with a burst pipe and the havoc it can create inside the home.
The Droplet is an elegantly-designed simple device that clamps on to the main water pipe without any special tools. Then you just plug it in, pair it to the app and you can immediately start monitoring your water usage.
It is a great gift for anyone concerned about wasting water, saving money, or preventing water damage before it starts and it’s so easy to install you can feel confident that anyone that has a phone can use it.
Mila Air Mini
Watch: Mila Air Mini Unboxing
Buy: Amazon
If you have someone on your list heading off to college or moving to their first apartment, the Mila Air Mini is a thoughtful gift to help keep their airspace clean and fresh.
The Mila Air Mini is a small but mighty air purifier that is great for any 1 bedroom apartment or single room up to 714 square feet. It’s packed with eight sensors that detect particles, VOCs as well as monitor temperature and humidity. And Mila claims it purifies the air just as well as purifiers twice its size.
What we love best about the Mila Air Mini is that it not only purifiers the air, it looks super cute while doing it. It comes in six colors and looks like a piece of furniture instead of a sterile appliance. Your loved one is sure to appreciate its stylish aesthetic.
DREO Turbo PolyFan 707S
Watch: DREO TurboPoly Fan Review
Buy: Amazon
When we saw the DREO TurboPoly Fan at CES this year, we knew it had to be on our favorites list for the show. Why? Well when you’re using a fan at home, how often does it cool exactly where you want? This fan has a built-in millimeter wave sensor that senses your presence and follows you dynamically around the room.
At first I wasn’t sure where to put the fan, then I figured out the perfect spot – upstairs in our studio/gym. Even in the winter it can get really hot up there, especially during really tough workouts. I have a small fan on my Peloton bike but that doesn’t cut it for lifting weights. We put the Dreo fan in the indoor gym and it worked perfectly.
Beyond the wave sensor, it is a really nice fan with 3D Oscillation to keep your room fresh. Your loved one can control it with the DREO app, their favorite voice assistant, or just go old school with the included remote.
Govee Uplighter and Tree Floor Lamps
Watch: Govee Uplighter and Tree Floor Lamp Review
Shop Floor Lamps: Govee.com
Buy on Amazon: Uplighter
Buy on Amazon: Tree
Speaking of smart style, we think the Govee floor lamps will make a great gift for anyone on your list. While we love our smart switches and bulbs, sometimes you need a floor lamp to get that perfect look, and why not make it smart?
Govee offers several different smart floor lamps, but our favorites are the Govee Uplighter and the Govee Tree. The Govee Uplighter has a ripple light on the top that creates beautiful effects on the ceiling, as well as other adjustable lamps you can use for ambient light or reading. The Govee Tree Lamp has three different lamps that you can move around and control individually.
Both lamps are easy to control and create amazing effects with the Govee app. If you can’t pick one of your own, just describe what you want to the Govee AI and it will pick a design for you. Your loved one can also control the lights using their favorite smart home platform, Alexa, Google or Matter-compatible hubs.
Govee Mini Panel Lights
Watch: Govee Mini Panel Lights Review
Buy: Govee.com
Buy: Amazon
Over the last couple of years we have had a blast trying different types of wall LED panels that you can mount in different designs. While there are lots of different types of kits, we think the Govee Mini Panel Lights are some of the easiest to use and therefore easier to gift.
The Mini Panel Lights are small cubes that you can buy in a kit of 10 or 20. A single power adapter can connect up to 70 individual lights. Just imagine what your loved one might create. You can experiment with all kinds of different lighting scenes and sync them to music or gaming with the Govee App.
Holiday Lighting Inside and Out
Govee Christmas Sparkle String Lights
Buy: Govee.com
Buy: Amazon
Holiday lights are a perfect candidate for home automation. You put them up once a year and generally want them to turn on and off on a schedule. When we first started automating our home we did this with a simple smart plug and asked Alexa to turn on the Christmas tree.
Since then smart LED lighting has gotten way more sophisticated. Govee’s newest set of Christmas lights features bullet-head LED lights that provide a starlight effect, just like a glowing winter wonderland. You can choose from 16 million colors and 140 plus pre-set scenes to create different lighting effects. And for a wonderful vibe, you can sync them to your favorite holiday tunes.
The lights come in two different lengths and integrate nicely with the smart home using Google, Alexa and Matter.
eufy Permanent Outdoor Lights S4
Watch: Quick Look Eufy Permanent Outdoor Lights S4
Buy: Eufy.com
Buy: Amazon
No one likes to get up on a ladder to put up holiday lights every year. With the eufy Permanent Outdoor Lights S4, you can do it once and keep using them year after year.
The lights are designed for outdoor use and durability, waterproof and UV resistant. The lights have a triple LED design and are adjustable with lots of colors and variable brightness up to 9000K.
This year Eufy has improved the design and added a radar motion detector so they can even become part of your home security setup.
Our Holiday Wish
LG Double Oven
After years of saying that we didn’t need any smart appliances, suddenly we have three – an LG Refrigerator, Dishwasher and our newest purchase, a Washer/Dryer Combo.
This year we are hoping that Smart Home Santa will recognize our needs and our loyalty and replace our other home appliances with LG models using the ThinQ App.
All we need now is a new double oven, microwave, cooktop and range hood. But maybe just the double oven is a good start so we don’t have to remodel our whole kitchen this year.
Summary
We hope you enjoyed our twelfth holiday gift guide. As always, we’d love your feedback. Did we miss anything? Are you looking for something special that’s not listed? Hit us up on Facebook or Threads.
Shop our Holiday Gift Guide on Amazon.com
