Homes today are working towards a PhD. Becoming smarter one gadget at a time.

With so many home appliances and smart gadgets in the market, it’s rather overwhelming to begin. Of course changing your kitchen appliances or the home heating system is a huge ask, but incorporating small yet stylish tech-decor which elevates your living style, makes your home smarter (and greener) is a no-brainer. Scroll below for gadgets which are worthy of becoming your household staple.

1. Secure Entrance

Gone are the days when your pup was a guard dog, today we have technology to turn to make our homes secure. From a bar that keeps the main door shut to motion-activated flood lights,  video doorbells, window alarms to prevent unwanted snoopers to complete fancy security system that make your family feel safe and have the potential to change the outcome of the Home Alone movies. 

Top pick: Nest Cam Outdoor

There are several outdoor surveillance systems in the market but the Google Nest Cam, just about everything you could possibly want or need in an outdoor camera. Powered with features like HD video, two-way audio, night vision, familiar face detection, and a 24/7 recording option, the Nest’s smart camera alerts you to any suspicious activity directly on its app. However, if you want a more robust, weather-resistant security camera, the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight is also a brilliant choice. Wireless, easy to install, comes with all the features essential in an outdoor security system, highly favoured for its accurate and intelligent motion detection, you really can’t go wrong with either choice. 

2. Robovac

We love a spotless home but dust, kids, cats, sand stuck in shoes, coffee stains and happy-hour spills happen. There’s no point in crying over spilled Merlot (that’s a phrase, right?) and we possibly can’t put love and life on hold to scrub the stains of our beige sofa and white rug! Sweat not,  regular vacuums are so 2010s -and-late – in 2022 you get to create *actual* magic with robotic cleaners whilst you just spritz, wipe, and pour yourself a new glass.

Top pick: Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro

I’ve been in the market for a RoboVac for quite sometime, Xiaomi’s Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro comes across as an exceptional device – a vacuum cleaner and a fully functional mop all rolled into one. It’s slim, elegant design is a winner for getting to the nooks and crannies of your Hong Kong apartment and all the tight spaces which are impossible to navigate with an upright manual vacuum. At 10,000 vibrations/minute power it cleans tough stains, mop function comes equipped with microfibres to ensure even penetration of water, a hard scrub and quick drying for the floor.
Leave this little guy in charge of your home for an hour and it will literally save your life!

3. Smart Speakers

We’ve done a detailed post on the top home speakers covering the entire range from budget to premium – but AI powered speakers are more than music players. Powered with an in-built voice assistant which controls playback – skips tracks, switches between playlists, it can even serve game scores or major headlines in the middle of your music session – from Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri – there’s a smart speaker for your needs. 

Also Read: Introducing ‘The Wall’ by Samsung (Hint: It’s not a wall at all)

Top pick: Amazon Echo 

Not many negatives, the latest spherical Amazon Echo is a total revamp of the brand’s flagship smart speaker. The aesthetic overhaul, while impressive, is just the half of it: with improved audio, a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, and a new AZ1 neural edge processor that will reduce the time it takes for Alexa to respond to commands, it’s a complete tech-nerd’s delight. 

4. Smart Bulbs

Smart bulls are the easiest and most affordable way to deep dive into smart home technology –  easy to install, simple to set-up – there’s an array of hues, effects and controls available. Swap the existing bulbs with a smart bulb and play with the customisable options. 

Top pick: Phillips Hue

The Phillips Hue smart lighting system is a bestseller for a reason – turns up and down the ambiance of the room to match your mood. It comes in a range of hues with preset themes and is one of the easiest smart bulb to set up, takes less than a minute – once connected to the Wifi, it can be programmed to your vanity’s content via your smartphone. 

5. Air Purifier
With Covid in the air, you might be scrubbing every surface down but particulate matter in the air is not an easy clean. The best solution? Invest in a top quality air purifier system to filter out the pollutants and breathe easy. 

Top pick: ActivPro active Air Purifier

The ActivTek INDUCT 2000 has a NASA-certified space technology as the only air purification system that effectively adapts and cleans the air. It substantially reduces odours, visible smoke in the air, and eliminates harmful airborne micro-particles, as well as allergens such as dust and pollen from the air. It’s the best investment for your family to breathe safer and healthier at home.

Also Read: Futuristic smart TVs to buy

6. Active Noise Cancellation

Covid and lockdown life need a noise cancellation device, it’s non-negotiable. How else can you get away from the noise to isolate, focus and deep-dive into work deadlines? 

Top pick: Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro

Premium wireless earbuds are dominated by giants like Apple and Samsung but it’s truly impossible to ignore the budget-friendly options which Xiaomi offers. It’s latest weapon, the Buds 3T Pro is a cool noise-cancellation ear bud and we love that in terms of design it has its own distinct look and doesn’t come across as an AirPod clone. It’s lightweight, ergonomic, absolutely comfortable, blocks up to 40dB of noise, comes with a long battery life, in-ear detection feature, and a balanced sound profile. If you use a Xiaomi phone, the Buds 3T is a must-have step-up gadget. 

7. Coffee Maker

From locating your keys to taking care of the kids, there’s a ton to do before you leave home in the morning. So cut minutes off making your own coffee – while traditional barista machines seem like huge, unmanageable beasts, at home espresso machines can have you pulling a shot of goof cream in zero time. 

Top Pick: Nespresso Essenza Mini Piano Black Coffee Machine 

Compact, affordable and simple to use (one-touch operation, your child can master it), the Nespresso Essenza Mini Piano Black Coffee Machine promises to bridge the gap between flavourful espresso and ease-of-use. You don’t have to be trained at barista-level to be able to enjoy a top-notch cuppa at home, it won’t take up too much counter space, a perfect choice if you live in a typical Hong Kong apartment. 

Also Read: Top at-home speakers for an elevated cinematic experience