Moving into your first bachelor pad or looking to upgrade the one in which you currently live? Then you’ve landed on the right page, because we’re going to chat about all the tech you need to transform your crib into a true smart home.
From robot vacuums to AI toilets and more, this round-up is guaranteed to take your pad well into the 22nd century. To see all our essential picks for smart home living, read on.
Smart Home Tech to Buy for Your Bachelor Pad
Buy at Walmart
You’ve heard the hype and wanna know if Google Home is for you. We can’t say for sure, but what we can say is that this device packs a massive punch of fun features, including voice-automated audio play, weather updates, personalized scheduling help, news alerts, voice calls, and much more. If having a true smart home is your aim, you’ll definitely want to keep a couple of these bad boys around.
Buy at Walmart
One of the coolest gadgets on the market right now is the Door View Cam from Ring, which replaces your old front door peephole with an HD camera. Once it’s all set up, you’ll receive a ping on your phone whenever anyone presses the built-in doorbell or knocks on the door. You can then interact with them face-to-face via the camera built into the device. Sleek, compact, and security-focused, this is a must-have for any high-tech pad.
Buy at Amazon
So you’re in need of a new theater system, but don’t want to fuss with any cables. We’ve got you! Enter the Enclave Wireless Audio System, which provides the 5.1 channel surround sound you’re after without the cumbersome wires. Set up is a breeze, and once you’ve got the speakers situated around your room, you can get the party started by plugging the smart center into your TV using a single cable. How ‘bout that?
Buy at Amazon
No techified bachelor pad would be complete without an ultra-thin, ultra-smart TV. There are dozens of fantastic options floating around the Internet these days, but, for our money, there’s no better pick than this 55” model from OLED. The “ThinQ” as it’s called has Google Assistant built in, so you can control all your smart home devices via the TV remote. Other perks include 4K Cinema HDR, LG OLED display, Dolby Atmos audio, and Pixel Level Dimming for an extra crisp picture.
Buy at Amazon
Making your home “smart” isn’t just about stocking up on a bunch of futuristic toys; more than anything, it’s about filling your space with practical gadgets to improve your quality of life. That’s why we’ve thrown the Roomba i7+ on this list, a device designed to do just that. The latest version of the original robot vacuum is not only Wi-Fi connected but is also able to dispose of its own dirt and debris. Simply tell it where you want it to clean and let the Roomba take care of the rest!
Buy at Amazon
Sure, your hard-partying days may be long behind you, but why not keep the good times rolling with your own personal kegerator? Though it’s a totally unnecessary luxury, it’s a pretty darn fun one, especially if you enjoy having friends over for drinks and also like brewing your own beer. This compact kegerator holds up to five gallons of your favorite craft brew and flows out of a single tap. Measuring 18” wide, this little beauty shouldn’t take up too much space in your kitchen and is sure to liven up your next celebration.
Buy at Amazon
If you’re on the prowl for a totally unique piece of functional home tech, look no further than the Sobro coffee table. Not only is this bad boy great for propping up your feet after a long day, but it’s also built with a cooler drawer for brews, ports for wireless charging, bluetooth speakers, motion-sensor lighting, and much more. Plus, it’s Alex and Google Home compatible, so you’ll be able to sync it up with your entire smart home system.
Buy at Amazon
For those unfamiliar with the idea of sous vide, it’s essentially a method of cooking in which food is placed in a plastic pouch and cooked in a temperature-controlled water bath for several hours. Though time-consuming, it’s a standby of top tier chefs as it produces incredibly tender and flavorful dishes. To capitalize on the much talked about trend, we suggest bringing a Bluetooth precision cooker (like this model from Anova) into your kitchen. Set it and forget it, all while controlling the cooking process — and water temps — with your smartphone.
Buy at Amazon
Claiming to contain seven appliances in one (including an air fryer, convection oven, broiler, and toaster), the June Oven is the cooking device of the future. While you may not need this little guy if you’ve already got a souped-up oven, this could be a great buy for guys with smaller apartment kitchens as it takes up minimal counter space. Though it’s currently sold out, interested customers can hop on the waitlist and snag a June by July.
Once your home is loaded down with tech, you’ll need a handy way to control it all, so we suggest getting your hands on a Smart Switch. Featuring an easy-to-read face with icons for lights, music, climate, locks, and Alexa/Google Home, this baby allows you to dim what you need to dim and amp up what you need to amp up all in one convenient wall-mounted hub.
Buy at Many Bidets
Didn’t think we’d leave out the bathroom, did you? If you’re looking for total home smartification, you’ve gotta include your toilet, specifically the Aimes Washlet from Toto. Complete with seat warmer, air deodorizer, warm air dryer, night light, front and rear water cleansing, and auto flush, this commode is ready to take full command of your bathroom routine. Is it a little extravagant? Maybe, but you’re worth it.
Now that you’ve got the tech side of the home figured out, why not warm things up a bit with another living thing? Check out the best unkillable houseplants, and the best dogs for apartments so you’re not living in a lifeless dystopian smart-tech future.
