31 cool tech gifts for the home that suit every kind of budget

A portable projector that turns any space into a mini home theater

Anker Nebula Capsule Projector, $349.99, available at Amazon

This device is about the size of a soda can, but don't let its looks deceive you — it's a surprisingly powerful projector that boasts 360 degree sound, Android 7.1 software, and is wire-free to boot. Whether they're traveling or relaxing at home, this portable projector will help them turn any device into a big screen experience.

A convenient, wireless charging dock

Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad, $38.84, available at Amazon

Sure, you could give them a regular charging cord to juice up their phone, but a wireless charging pad is undeniably cooler. This is one of our favorites for its compatibility with many iPhone and Android models, speedy charging abilities, and minimalist design that looks nice in their space.

A turntable with modern specs

Audio Technica Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo, $99, available at Amazon

This makes a thoughtful gift for the vinyl aficionado in your life. They can plug this turntable into speakers of their choice to hear that clean, authentic sound that you really can only get with vinyl. Your loved one will thank you for helping them finally put that old record collection to use.

A multi-port USB hub that charges multiple devices at once

Anker USB Charger Port, $29.99, available at Amazon

Help them save outlet space and minimize cord clutter with this charging port. With four standard USB ports and one USB-C port, it's a practical gift for any gadget-loving person.

A sous vide device that makes restaurant quality meals at home

ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide, $199, available at Amazon

This device will transform average home cooks into dinner heroes. All they have to do is season their meat (or whatever else they would like to cook), seal it in a plastic bag, place the bag in a pot of water with the Joule, and let the device do its work. The end result of juicy, delicious meat will leave them, and their dinner party guests to come, so impressed.

A smart garden that grows plants and herbs indoors

Click & Grow Smart Garden, $99.95, available at Amazon

Who doesn't love fresh herbs and vegetables? This self-watering indoor garden makes growing herbs from the comfort of their own kitchen easy, so they can enjoy fresh basil and tomatoes, or whatever else they choose to grow, all year long.

A smart speaker that's small but mighty

Echo Dot (3rd generation), $49.99, available at Amazon

For those looking to enter the smart home realm, start them off with an Echo Dot. This speaker is the smallest of the Echo family, but it's Alexa-enabled just like its siblings so they can use it to do all sorts of cool things like control lights, listen to their favorite songs, or play Jeopardy. The modest size and updated look mean that this gadget can pretty much live anywhere.

A home security camera that can store footage

Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera, $119.99, available at Amazon

There are plenty of home security cameras on the market, but Amazon's Cloud Cam is a great option for anyone who prefers Alexa-enabled hardware. This camera makes it easy to stay connected 24/7 with its mobile app, notifications whenever the cam sees activity, and two-way audio so they can communicate with whoever is on the other end. There are also a variety of different plans they can choose to add if they decide they want to store video footage in the cloud.

A touch lamp that uses light to communicate with loved ones who live far away

Long Distance Friendship Lamp, $170 (for two), available at Uncommon Goods

Show your family members or friends from out of town that you're thinking of them with this thoughtful lamp. Purchase a set, then send one to said parent, grandparent, friend, etc. and keep one for yourself. Once set up, all you have to do it tap the top of your lamp and both lamps in the set will light up the same color, no matter how far apart they are. You can even set up multiple lamps and assign everyone a specific color, so you know who's tapping at all times. It's a small but sweet way to let your loved ones know you're thinking of them when you don't have time to talk, plus you get a nice gift out of it too.

A dog camera that lets them keep up with their pup and send treats when they're away

Furbo Dog Camera, $199, available at Amazon

When it comes to most dog owners, no length is too far to go to pamper their pooch. This is a gift dog owners and their pups will thank you for. Not only does it let them keep up with their dog's activity while they're not home, but through the Furbo app, they can also communicate with their dogs and even toss them treats when it's time for a snack.

A shower curtain that holds tech so they can watch tv in the shower

Better than Bubbles Tech Friendly Shower Curtain, $22.97, available at Amazon

Smartphones, tablets, computers — we use these gadgets so often they are almost appendages at this point, but there's one place we can't take them — the shower. Maybe that's a good thing, but maybe your giftee wants to watch the latest episode of Shameless from the comfort of their bath tub. For "screenagers" of all ages who hate parting with their beloved gadgets but also crave the luxuries of a warm bubble bath, this curtain (which has eight pockets to hold different-sized devices) lets them have the best of both worlds.

An alarm clock that wakes them up naturally

Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock, $46.20, available at Amazon

Our bodies wake naturally with sunlight, thanks to our circadian rhythm, but certain conditions like work schedules, late nights, and blackout shades make it impossible for us to truly rise when the sun does. A wake-up light that simulate sunlight will help them wake up feeling more energized. The light that gradually brightens will ease them into waking up, which is decidedly more pleasant than waking up to the abrupt noise of a regular alarm clock.

A robot vacuum that will clean floors with minimum effort on their part

iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum, $287, available at Amazon

As much as I wish it did exist, right now there is no gift that will magically clean your home for you, save for a cleaning service. Maybe technology will get there one day (here's hoping), but right now a robot vacuum is your best bet.

This iRobot Roomba can clean carpet, rugs, tile, hardwood, and laminate floors, with little effort on their part. It's also Wi-Fi enabled, so they can control it with their voice through Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant.

A video doorbell so they know who's knocking

Ring Video Doorbell, $99.99, available at Amazon

Indoor security cameras are great for surveillance inside the home, but a video doorbell is a great way to see what's going on right outside the front door. Ring lets them see, hear, and speak to visitors from their phone, tablet or computer, so they can check in on their home even while away. It even works on homes with no existing doorbell wires, so you can get it for anyone, even if you can't remember if they have a doorbell to begin with.

A pack of smart plugs that lets them control devices wherever they are

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug (2-pack), $38.99, available at Amazon

If you've ever left the house only to realize you didn't unplug a hot iron, you've likely been in the predicament of deciding if you should return to unplug said electronics or risk it all, keep moving, and hope the house doesn't burn down.

Your more forgetful friends and family members will appreciate these easy to use smart plugs that they can control and access through any smart device, so they always have the peace of mind that their electronics are off and their house is safe.

A digital photo frame to display all of their favorite pictures

Micca Digital Photo Frame, $54.99, available at Amazon

A framed photo is one of the most special ways to decorate a space. Nowadays, it's easy to take quality photos with smartphones, but most of these photos stay in phone libraries, or maybe make it to a Facebook album or Instagram post. Give friends and family the opportunity to show off all of their favorite shots in one frame with this digital frame, which cycles through their favorite shots in a constant slideshow.

A coffee bar that can make all of their favorite beverages at home

Ninja Coffee Bar Auto-iQ, $119.99, available at Amazon

Everyone loves a good coffee drink, but there's nothing better than a coffee-shop-quality latte that they can sip in their own living room. Caffeine fiends will love this coffee bar system, which can brew coffee five ways in seven sizes, and even has a built-in frother for the final touch.

A waterproof speaker that lets them rock out in the shower

SoundBot Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker, $13.99, available at Amazon

There's a reason singing in the shower is a thing. This speaker is waterproof, wireless, and has a suction-cup to stick to the wall, so your friends can lather, rinse, and repeat while belting along to their favorite tunes.

A charging hub for your friend with a lot of Apple products

elago 3-in-1 Charging Hub, $24.99, available at Amazon

iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch — the Apple trifecta, some might say. Help your Apple-loving friends and family streamline their charging with this hub that is made to perfectly fit all of their favorite devices, because no one likes to wake up to a dead battery. Not to mention it will look pretty sleek on their bedside table.

A blender that can track ingredients to help them make healthier meals

NutriBullet Balance Smart Blender, $134.95, available at Amazon

A smoothie sounds like a healthy way to start the day, but it could be loaded with unwanted calories, fats, and carbs. This smart blender connects to an app that will actually tell them the nutritional information of all of the ingredients they add to the mix. It's a little extra effort than making a regular smoothie, but health-conscious and fitness-focused pals will love the extra knowledge this device provides.

A set of smart light bulbs that they can control remotely and provide ambiance

Philips Hue White Ambiance Starter Kit, $139.23, available at Amazon

Spending $140 on a set of light bulbs is a lot, which is why some people probably won't buy these for themselves. That's also why, as the gifter, you totally should. These smart lights offer 50,000 shades of white light and can be controlled with an app or their voice, so they can easily adjust the light to create an ambiance that suits how they want to feel.

A light strip that adds just enough light to help them make the trip for a midnight snack

Philips Hue Lightstrip, $71.96, available at Amazon

Philips Hue doesn't just have light bulbs, they also have a light strips that can be placed under drawers, bed frames, and bars to provide substantial, but not too bright lighting for late night trips to the fridge, bathroom, or just to add a fun, colorful accent when they feel like it.

A phone charger that will also sanitized their most used device

PhoneSoap 3 UV Cell Phone Sanitizer, $59.95, available at Amazon

We use our phones every day, charge them every night, but we clean them...never. Phones are pretty dirty, which is why anyone could use this sanitizer that cleans their phone while it's charging at night. The germaphobe in your life will seriously thank you for this one.

A smart TV that has all of their favorite streaming apps already built in

Samsung 32” Class Smart HDTV, $249.99, available at Best Buy

With plenty of streaming options that offer great content and a lower price than cable, these days many are cutting the cord and saying goodbye to cable for good. If you know someone who just did, or is planning to cut cable out, a smart TV is an awesome gift. Once connected to your WiFi, it lets them access all of the most popular streaming apps for music, tv shows, and movies.

A streaming stick that transforms their regular TV into a smart TV

Roku Express, $29.88, available at Amazon

If you want to give the gift of a smart TV without the price tag of an actual TV, the Roku is a great choice. This streaming stick has thousands of free streaming channels, as well as their favorite paid streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu. For tech, it's a great value at $30.

A sleek, modern lamp that they can control with just a tap

Santino Wireless Rechargable 13” Desk Lamp, $38.99, available at Wayfair

This futuristic-looking lamp has some modern specs too. It's wireless, so they can place it anywhere, and it's touch-controlled, which is practical and pretty fun to use. Plus, this piece adds a mod touch to any space.

A stylish, minimalist speaker with serious sound

Urbanears Lotsen, $199, available at Urbanears

For those in your life who want quality tech but won't sacrifice on aesthetics, these minimalist speakers are just the right gift . With a beautiful modern design and full-bodied sound, both music and design types can find common ground with this speaker. Our tech reporter called the largest size the best wireless speaker he had ever tested at the time, and our editor swears by the smaller sizes for her apartment.

A motion sensor night-light that also emits essentials oils

Smart Motion Sensor Nightlight, $80, available at Uncommon Goods

Imagine if, when you woke up at night, your night-light automatically turned on because it just knew. Well, this motion sensor night-light can do just that. They can even change its colors and add essential oils for some light aromatherapy as a bonus.

An interactive tablet that's their new virtual assistant

Google Home Hub, $149, available at Best Buy

This Google device is somewhat of a marriage between a speaker and a tablet. With Google Assistant, they can control their smart home, access their calendar and reminders, watch news and stream television shows, ask the weather and get a visual answer, among other things, all on this seven-inch display.

A sound bar that rivals home theater systems

All-New Sonos Beam, $399, available at Amazon

If you're searching for a gift for an audiophile, this is it. While it's pricey, this soundbar delivers high-quality sound, functions as a smart home hub thanks to Alexa, is also compatible with the Apple HomeKit, and is just over two feet wide, making it an efficient choice for those low on space. Check out our full review here.

An electric wine opener that makes drinking wine even better

Oster Electric Wine Opener, $16.45, available at Amazon

Nobody really needs an electric wine opener, but never having to fumble around with a manual wine opener and cork ever again? That sounds pretty good to me, and the wine connoisseurs in your life will love it t00.

Do you have someone in your life who's difficult to shop for? Fill out this form and we will reply to you with personalized gift suggestions.