The top hightech gadgets
From robot hoovers to winter alarm clocks, appliances are getting smarter, says Nicole Garcia Merida
Echo Show 8
Alexa – Amazon’s digital assistant – has got an upgrade with the Echo Show 8. The 8-inch HD touchscreen allows you to make video calls, and its stereo speakers offer high quality sound. The screen can show your calendars and reminders, and you can ask Alexa to set timers, check the weather or create a shopping list. You can also monitor your home when you’re away via the Alexa app, thanks to its built-in camera. Pair it with the Amazon Smart Plug, and you’ll be able to control any electrical socket with voice control: schedule lights and appliances automatically or remotely if you’re away. Echo Show 8 £119.99, amazon.co.uk; Amazon Smart Plug £24.99, amazon.co.uk
iRobot Roomba i7+
iRobot’s Roomba i7+ cleans up after you and after itself. The robot vacuum cleaner automatically empties its bin into a disposable bag that holds 30 bins worth of dirt, allowing you to go weeks without thinking about hoovering. Roomba automatically maximises suction on carpets, while an angled corner brush cleans out hard-to-reach spots. It will learn the layout of your home with its smart mapping technology, and you can choose which rooms to clean when using the iRobot app. It also knows when to plug itself back into its dock to recharge. £799.99 (£599.99 without automatic collection bin), shop.irobot.co.uk
Nest Learning Thermostat
Nest estimates its thermostat has saved over 39 billion kWh of energy in millions of homes around the world. It doesn’t need to be programmed – instead, it will get to know the temperatures you like after a few days of you setting them. It creates a weekly temperature schedule for different times of the day, learns how quickly your home heats and cools, and factors in outside weather conditions. That way it can figure out how early it needs to turn on to get the temperature to where you want it. When you’re away, it automatically switches to Eco Temperature mode to save energy. £219, store.google.com
Lumie Bodyclock Luxe750DAB
The winter means later sunrises, which makes it harder to wake up. Get ahead of the dawn with Lumie’s Bodyclock Luxe, which wakes you up by gently increasing its brightness to mimic agradual sunrise. Waking up to gradual light is said to boost your mood, productivity, and energy levels. You can choose from over 20 sleep and wake-up sounds. It’s also recommended for seasonal affective disorder, and for those prone to winter blues, as it helps to regulate the sleep cycle. £199, lumie.com
Samsung RF9000 Family Hub Fridge Freezer
Samsung’s Family Hub Fridge Freezer has a screen to allow you to share news, messages, your calendar, and other media from your phone, making sure the whole family knows what’s happening for dinner. You can also access the internet to search for a recipe or shop directly from the screen by adding ingredients to your shopping list and transferring them to the basket of your online supermarket of choice. The Food AI system allows you to see inside the fridge from anywhere with the SmartThings app, letting you check what you need when you go to the shop. It also tags expiration dates to reduce waste. £2,999, samsung.com/uk