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We live in the Smart era of hi-tech devices, futuristic cool apartment gadgets, Internet-powered personal items, and many, many more. There are so many cool things for your apartment, you’d be hard-pressed to run out of devices to spend money on.
Either you just bought your first home or you intend to revamp your domain with high-tech apartment gadgets that will make your life easier or will just be nice to show off to family and friends, we have the perfect choices for you right here.
After all, our tech-savvy generation loves its wi-fi and apps like the desert loves the rain. So here are the most innovative and best apartment gadgets this year!
1. Smart Robo Vacuum Cleaner
Yes, we swear, they’re a lot better now! Let’s face it: the best house chores are the ones you do not have to do yourself.
Put aside the past decades of classic vacuuming (even if you always hum Queen’s “I Want to Break Free” while getting Freddy’s groove on) and embrace the future: robotic vacuum cleaners.
You can train most robot vacuums to learn how and where to clean your apartment without your lifting a finger (at most, you’re gonna have to raise your feet to let them pass by the couch).
Many smart autonomous vacuums come with a handful of impressive features such as:
- Phone control;
- Scheduled cleans;
- Long battery life;
- Home device integration;
- Perfect hoverboard for your cat;
What’s not to love?
And if you still don’t think they’re worth it, see the Neato D7, arguably the most advanced robot vacuum. It features Alexa integration, no-go lines, options for multiple floors, wi-fi, an app, and a lot more!
2. Smart Wi-Fi Coffee Maker
If you are anything like some people we know (me, me), you won’t utter a word before you’ve had your first cup o’ java ☕, ideally first thing in the morning.
Some people are even dangerous when engaged before their daily dose of life commonly known as coffee.
If you want to prevent injuries and start your morning in your human form, a smart Wi-Fi coffee maker is probably the best of all cool gadgets to buy for your apartment.
Unlike regular coffee makers (check out our absolute coffee maker buying guide here), these smart products allow you to:
- Set timers;
- Program their functions;
- Control them via your smartphone;
- Make the best brew ever: the one you do not have to wait for long. We’re just kidding. Many Wi-Fi coffee machines make excellent coffee.
We have to stress the point: the best coffee makers are the ones that tend to and fulfill your needs, and satisfy them beyond expectations.
So make sure you put these smart devices on your cool apartment gadgets list!
3. Smart Thermostat
An efficient home needs more than just smart gadgets. It also requires the best infrastructure to help you enjoy life at home, and do it in supreme comfort ♨️ while not forgoing energy efficiency (because Dad knows best).
Now that the house is clean and you have your well-deserved share of hot, flavorful coffee, it is time to grab your smart e-reader and relax on a chilly evening. But how much chill can you take?
A smart thermostat usually comes together with underfloor heating, but it can work with your current heating system as well.
You can include the following on its list of great characteristics:
- It allows you to take full control over the temperature and the atmosphere in your home – also, it can do so both when you are in and when you are out;
- A smart thermostat can connect to your phone, so you can set the right warmth level and arrive at a well-heated apartment;
- During the summer months, it can control your air conditioner, so it will help cool you off without sending those unpleasant chills down your spine at the sight of the electric bill.
Make sure you pick one matching your cooling/heating system and enjoy a warm (or colder) home – it’s only some app taps away!
The coolest apartment gadget in this category is hands down the Nest Learning Thermostat.
With it, you can control basically anything from the comfort of your living room, directly from your smartphone while enjoying Nest’s out-of-this-world smart features. And you can get one for Dad too.
4. Smart Microwave Oven
Microwave ovens do much more than just heat your meals or defrost them or cooking ingredients. Smart microwave ovens, in particular, can:
- Connect via Wi-Fi to other intelligent appliances in your apartment;
- Scan barcodes so you can download cooking instructions;
- Function and operate via voice control;
- Send your phone notifications on the status or your cooking, and more.
There are few things smart and novel microwave ovens cannot do these days (unfortunately, sending pizza slices flying right at you is one of them).
But some of their most appealing features are as follows:
- Starts cooking when you tell them to via your smartphone and alert you when the food is ready.
- Tracks your cooking routines and the dishes you most often make to personalize its settings and tailor them to your culinary tastes and habits.
- Offers a blend of convection technology and other heating elements for you to toast, crisp, brown, boil, grill, and air-fry foods.
- Has moisture control sensors that monitor your meals to prevent overcooking or food drying.
- Some smart ovens will even talk to you (it’s not just in my mind then).
- They power-save themselves to conserve energy and money when not in use.
If classic microwave ovens have features that make your cooking habits a delight, smart ones are definitely a 2019 upgrade you should consider for your kitchen.
5. (Very) Smart Door Locks
It is the best of times, and it is the worst of times to be alive in this tech-savvy world.
Since safety of all kinds is on everybody’s minds these days, we thought of giving you some suggestions regarding the best ways to lock and secure your cool apartment 🔒.
After all, what is the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the efficient smart homes we build if we cannot protect them too?
What should a smart door lock do? Allow you to enter your house when you find yourself left on the outside, for instance (without calling the locksmith, of course).
More than that, your lock should act like the tech-savvy version of Kevin McCallister and keep the intruders outside at all costs.
Here are the best features of a smart lock to consider before choosing one:
- Integration with your other smart devices
- Connectivity via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (or both)
- Geofencing/location services
- Guest access
- Alarm tampering notifications
- Voice activation, and more.
A smart alarm is not a bad idea either. Your valuables and of course, yourself, will be a lot safer with a brainy lock and a phone-controlled security system.
August Smart Lock has reached the third generation and hasn’t ceased to amaze us. If you need something to remind you whether the door is locked or not or if you’re just lazy to get out of bed and lock the doors yourself, the August Home Smart Lock will do it for you (without nagging).
Setting it up is a breeze (in less than 5 minutes, firmware updates might take a bit longer) and the great part is that you don’t have to tweak the outside of the lock, so no wannabe hacker would ever know you have one.
6. Alexa & Amazon Echo Devices
It might finally be time to go for something Alexa enabled. Not only is Alexa tech getting cheaper and cheaper, but it’s also getting way more intuitive and cool and full of features.
You could start off with just a basic Amazon Echo or an Amazon Echo Dot and then gradually buy more Alexa compatible devices depending on your necessities (see the links on this page if you feel like it now!).
There’s one major advantage to smart virtual assistants like Alexa or Google Home have over all the other devices here. They fit on a coffee table!
No need for a big microwave or coffee maker to make your home “smart”. If you live in a small apartment, Amazon Alexa is perfect in terms of smart home devices.
Not to mention all the futuristic stuff you can do with it, like say, program it to respond to “Computer” instead of “Alexa.” How cool is that? Your personal Star Trek fantasy, or, for that matter Dexter’s Laboratory.
Here are some of the coolest things you can do with Alexa:
- Control light bulbs and temperature to set the mood
- Get help cooking while also having the music on (yes, she can hear through the music), while also running multiple timers
- Play games
- Control your smart TV
- Command Spotify
We got 100+ commands Alexa can do right here complete with a PDF!
7. Smart TVs
It might be time! We believe it’s the moment to get a new TV – and a smart one at that. Not only have Smart TVs become increasingly cheaper, but the software is getting better and better.
You can browse the huge selection of Smart TVs on Amazon, we’ll probably make a list too at some point.
Here are the big advantages of Smart TVs right now:
- You can watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Go, Hulu, & other streaming services at the push of a button.
- You can use your Smart TV to browse YouTube and really take advantage of YouTube’s sharp video quality.
- Smart TVs are available in a wide range of sizes that all use more or less the same TV wall mount sizes – so with a bit of research, you can switch your TV without picking a new wall mount.
- Smart Wi-Fi connectivity – take advantage of your Wi-Fi and control all the different apps on your TV through your phone. YouTube’s TV software is particularly difficult to use, but if you simply pair your mobile device, it gets so much easier!
- Smart TV channel selection is particularly easy right now: simply plug in your cable and select your provider. Most TVs now come with standard settings for the main providers in your area. No more cards, receivers, or any other dohickeys. Simply plug in your cable, select your provider, and the channels are already being set up in the proper order.
8. Air Quality Monitor
Yeah, an air quality monitor is cool apartment gadget to have around especially if you’re prone to allergies or were just born with a scientific mindset.
The Awair Air Quality Monitor (2nd Edition) allows you to “see the invisible” because breathing clean air is as important as not drinking dirty water, right? This monitor can detect air humidity, temperature, airborne chemicals, and fine dust, and offer you real-time reports and actionable tips.
The monitor can be easily paired with Alexa and other smart home assistants and can be controlled from virtually everywhere via the internet from your smartphone.
9. Wireless Pet Camera (and Treat Dispenser)
Our list of cool apartment gadgets would be incomplete without a device that makes your four legged friend’s life easier and gives you the peace of mind that Fido is well-fed and entertained while your away.
The Furbo Dog Camera is a 3-in-1 automatic dog treat dispenser, wireless HD dog camera, and two-way radio that is compatible with Alexa. It comes with night vision, ‘bark notifications,’ and ‘person notifications.’
Since the audio is two-way, you can listen in to your beloved pooch to see if it’s ok while you’re out and allows you to communicate with your dog as if the two of you would be in the same room. The life feeds of your pet’s whereabouts will become a great source of entertainment for both you and your bored-to-death co-workers.
If you’re more of a cat person, check out the Petcube Play Smart Pet Camera. It comes with an in-built Interactive Laser Toy your favorite fluff ball will never get tired of chasing around.
10. Smart Garage Door Opener
Yes that’s a thing. And if you got a driveway and a garage – it will obviously be such a lifesaver. The advantage of a smart garage door opener over a traditional one? You can control it from wherever you are.
Why would that be an advantage? Remember the times you’ve left home without remembering whether you’ve locked the garage door. This is specifically designed so you can check that on your phone from home.
Here’s all that a smart garage door opener can help you with:
- Check if you locked it while away from home
- Set an alarm if anyone tries to open your garage
- Schedule it to open just as you come home
- Integrates with other smart devices
- Set up warnings if the door is left open for over 15 minutes
See the Chamberlain Hub garage door opener and other amazing gadgets in this exhaustive list:
List of Cool Apartment Gadgets? Check ✔️
Which of these cool apartment gadgets interest you the most and does your cool apartment boast with one of them already?
This article was updated in November 2019 to include more gadgets that are all the rage right now!
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