I reviewed a lot of smart technology this year\u2014and the best of what I reviewed made my life more efficient, saved me some money, and relieved anxiety. That\u2019s what good smart tech should do. Surprisingly, however, some of the best finds this year were the least essential\u2014they just quietly made life better. Here are the products I\u2019m still using at the end of the year, long after the review was published.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of the most surprising successes<\/a> I found this year was the smart diffuser from Pura<\/u><\/a>. I\u2019m not even a candle person, and I always found plug-in scents to be aggressive and kind of gross. I certainly couldn\u2019t see how an app would improve the essential oil experience. However, many months after testing the Pura, I use it almost every day and added a second to the house. The ability to adjust how much scent you get, which scent, and when, without getting off the couch, turned out to be the game changer.\u00a0 Non-smart plug-ins mean setting it and forgetting it, so you just got overwhelmed with scent all the time until it ran out and you\u2019d forget to refill it. Choosing from hundreds of premium scents from luxury brands like Brooklyn Candle, Antica Farmacista and Votivo was the hardest part of the process, but each vial lasts me about six weeks (usage will vary), so it turns out to be pretty affordable.\u00a0 I’m such a fan, I’m trying their car diffuser<\/a>, which six months ago you\u2019d have had to bribe me with migraine medicine to try.<\/p>\n Every smart tech company on earth makes smart plugs, and despite every smart product out there, they are the secret cog of most homes, turning basic lights, humidifiers, and coffeemakers into automated machines. Meross smart plugs<\/a> don’t have the problems<\/a> others do, like suddenly disconnecting from wifi, or just burning out. I upgraded many of my Meross plugs to the new Matter-enabled <\/a>version this year, and many months in, they are still humming along. I also tested plugs from four or five other brands; like clockwork, they all failed and were replaced by Meross plugs. <\/p>\n I doubt I\u2019d have ever sought these out, but as I keep saying, they are my absolute favorite smart item this year<\/a>. They are not essential. They solve no real \u201cproblem.” They’re just good vibes. I\u2019ve not only fleshed out my living room and bedroom with more Nanoleaf lights<\/u><\/a>, I sent kits to all my friends experiencing even a hint of depression and anyone I knew with kids on the autism spectrum, all to huge success. Turn off your overhead lights, turn on the Nanoleafs and adjust the colors or rhythm in the mobile or desktop app. It creates a light aura that reflects onto walls, like the aurora borealis in your room. Shapes like hexagons, squares and lines are touch-sensitive and interactive. There is no mindful app that has made me as peaceful or happy as my Nanoleaf lights.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Smart heaters are new to the market, and I happily tested every single one that was on the market by a big brand. While I liked the Dyson Hot+Cool<\/u><\/a> (and it is warming my feet as we speak and will be back come summer to keep me cool), I loved<\/em><\/a> the Smart Envi<\/u><\/a> by eHeat. Put aside that it stays off the floor by mounting its slim profile to the wall: At only 500 watts, it magically (the comment section was feisty on how this was possible) keeps a 200+ sq foot room at temperature without making a sound, where 1500 watt heaters really struggled and cost a bundle. I am eagerly anticipating the release of the larger Smart Envi Max<\/a> in the next month or two to tackle my living room.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is less about a particular product (although I still love the original Switchbot bot<\/u><\/a>) but a love letter<\/a> to the brand, which is evident in every single product. Switchbot hubs, sensors, controllers\u2014heck, even a Switchbot robot I\u2019m currently testing\u2014are all reliable, chonky, small and above all, adorable.\u00a0 Each and everything is thought out, even packaging that is accessible and well-designed. A hub <\/a>doubles as a temperature and humidity sensor; the curtain controllers<\/a> come with solar chargers that capture light from the window. The top of the robot vacuum<\/a>, a place dust and dirt usually collects, comes off entirely, secured by a magnet, so it\u2019s easy to clean. Switchbot devices want to be touched, held, and adored.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you hate standing over the stove or barbecue, as I do, or fret about cooking your meat long enough, a wireless thermometer is going to help you chill out. Of all the wireless probes I tested this year, Combustion<\/u><\/a> came out on top <\/a>as staying consistently connected to Bluetooth, and making the process of using the thermometer painless. You can even pop it into a sous vide bag. While I\u2019m not letting go of my instant read thermometers, for anything that\u2019s going to sit and cook for a bit, I\u2019ve been using my Combustion. A recent update gives users even more information, easing your mind that food has cooked enough, while not necessarily hitting the high USDA temp ranges that tend to overcook.\u00a0<\/p>\n With CES around the corner, I\u2019m excited to see what these brands are bringing out this year. The new year promises to be full of new tech to make your home (and everywhere else you go) smarter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
I reviewed a lot of smart technology this year\u2014and the best of what I reviewed made my life more efficient, saved me some money, and relieved anxiety. That\u2019s what good smart tech should do. Surprisingly, however, some of the best … Continue reading Meross Smart Plugs<\/h2>\n
Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror + Lightstrip Kit<\/h2>\n
The Smart Envi Heater<\/h2>\n
Switchbot<\/h2>\n
Combustion Wireless Thermometer<\/h2>\n
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\nSource: LifeHacker – My Favorite Smart Tech Devices of 2023<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"