7 Smart Gadgets That Look Premium But Are Unexpectedly Affordable

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Smart tech has gotten a reputation for being expensive. However, that's not always the case. There are tons of affordable smart gadgets that work just as well as their more expensive counterparts. And if you're lucky, you can sometimes find these gadgets on sale.

Premium smart gadgets aren't always the most expensive, especially if you don't need every feature imaginable. Maybe you just want a way to turn the coffee pot on from your phone before you get out of bed each morning. Or maybe you want to know without a shadow of a doubt that your grilled meat is cooked to perfection every time, without having to cut into it first. Whatever the case, you can get less expensive smart products that work like they should without skimping on quality or aesthetics.

Here's a look at several smart gadgets with a premium look and feel that are surprisingly affordable, just in time for your holiday shopping.

Smart plugs like the Kasa Smart Plug Mini offer a low bar to smart home automation. These plugs connect to your smart home hub or an app on your phone, allowing you to control power to the plug remotely or using voice commands.

These smart plugs have a myriad of uses. They give you peace of mind when you leave the house without worrying whether you unplugged the toaster or the curling iron. With a few taps on your phone, you can cut power to the plug and forget about it. Or, you could do the opposite: flick on a lamp before you arrive home, turn on the coffee maker from the bathroom while you're getting ready in the morning, or use fans to cool off a room. Smart plugs will also let you visualize your power usage. See which appliances and products are drawing the most power; those are great candidates for smart plugs since you can turn off their power consumption without unplugging them.

Cupping therapy has been around for ages, but for the most part, it's only been available in health spas. Home devices, like this smart cupping therapy massager, make cupping more accessible. It involves using a cup-like device placed on the skin to create suction. The suction draws blood away from the body and allegedly helps with inflammation, circulation, and pain relief. Some users liken it to a deep tissue massage.

This smart cupping therapy massager combines heat, massaging, red light therapy, and suction in a single device. It automatically shifts between slow pressure and quick release pressure. It's earned more than 4,500 reviews on Amazon with an average 4.2-star rating. Users consistently mention its professional-grade quality and ease of use. As with any health device, remember that results can vary by person. 

No one wants to eat undercooked meat, but you also don't want to constantly poke holes in your precious cuts to find out if it's done (and let all the juices drain out). Smart meat thermometers like the ThermoPro TempSpike solve both problems, giving you peace of mind that your meat is well-cooked, without the guesswork.

ThermoPro TempSpike is a smart meat thermometer you can monitor from your phone. Unlike wired meat probes, this one is wireless and uses Bluetooth to send updates to your phone. It's ready to use right out of the box, without creating an account or connecting it to your Wi-Fi. To use, you'll insert the probe into the meat and cook or grill as you normally would. You can choose the type of meat you're cooking, and the thermometer will automatically alert you when it reaches the ideal internal temperature. You can also use the app to track your meat's cooking progress.

Single-use hand warmers have been the go-to for years, but require constant purchasing. After a few hours, they're ready for the trash, and your hands are cold again. These AI-powered rechargeable hand warmers are a more cost-effective solution and arguably better for the planet. You purchase them one time and use them over and over.

This two-pack of rechargeable hand warmers uses AI to automatically adjust the heat. Intelligent temperature control monitors the temperature of the device as well as your hands so it can properly distribute heat and maximize the device's battery life. You can combine the two devices to create a 360-degree heater, or separate them to hold one in each pocket. Each device has a battery indicator light so you can gauge how much heat you have left before you'll need to recharge.

Air purifiers can be game-changing for your home. You might not realize how dusty, musty, stale, or unclean your indoor air is until you start using an air purifier. This isn't always the case, but the general spike in interest for health and wellness at home has led more people to explore the benefits of a smart air purifier.

This mini purifier by GoveeLife is an inexpensive one to start with. It's small enough to fit on a countertop or dresser, and big enough to purify a room up to 376 square feet in an hour. An app lets you control its operation, such as turning it on or off or setting specific schedules. It will also send you filter change reminders to keep your air clean. There's a fragrance disc under the air vent where you can add drops of your favorite essential oils. It works quietly in the background, but you'll notice the difference in the way your room smells and feels.

For content creators, videographers, photographers, Zoom-friendly employees, or anyone with a moment of inspiration, a smartphone tripod is invaluable. It lets you mount your phone right where you want it and skip the awkward selfies. This smart auto face tracking tripod takes things up a notch by automatically keeping you in the frame, even if you're moving around while recording. It's like having your own cameraman in your back pocket.

The tripod looks like most other tripods. A secure mount fits any smartphone in landscape or portrait mode. The difference is in its electronics; instead of just holding the camera, it uses AI to identify faces and automatically rotate to keep you in the frame. It also recognizes hand signs, like the "Okay" gesture that tells it to start recording or an open palm that tells the video to pause. You might be taking a video call or trying to create your latest TikTok; either way, you can stay focused and get the shot you need. It runs on a rechargeable battery so that no cords can get in the way of your recording.

Smart appliances tend to feel more premium and luxurious than their non-smart counterparts. They also typically command a higher price, given their extra features. However, that's not always the case, and this smart toaster is a prime example.

This four-slot digital smart toaster includes wide slots to fit more than standard loaf bread. They're big enough for bagels and thick sourdough slices, so you have more ways to use it. There are five digital presets for different foods, like waffles and English muffins, and buttons that show visual levels of toastiness so you know how your food will look when it's done. One-tap settings save a little time and guesswork when you're hungry. The toaster also learns your preferences to get consistently good food each time you use it. Other thoughtful features include an easy-to-remove crumb tray, hidden cord storage, and smart slot detection that only heats the toaster slots in use.