Having a smart home is The Exotic Time Machine (1998)cool, but it's a trickier proposition for renters. Unless you have the best landlord ever, if you don't own your place you may not have the flexibility to mess with ceiling lights or power outlets, or even hang frames on the wall.
SEE ALSO: Next-level tech gift ideas for the techie who has it allFortunately, there are a host of smart home devices that don't require any major in-home changes but still add some extra functionality to anyone's humble abode. Here are some of our picks. Buy them for your friend who rents — or yourself.
1. Google Nest Hub
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Google rebranded its Home line as "Nest" products earlier this year, but they're just as useful.
The screen on the device now known as Nest Hub makes it great as a digital photo frame, but it's also pretty handy for controlling other smart devices around the home.
As a fun bonus, the Hub can be also used to watch YouTube videos or control music. It does everything over WiFi, so all that's needed is a power outlet. Additionally, the newer Nest Hub Max packs a bigger screen and more features, though you might be fine with just the regular Nest Hub.
Price:$129 on the Google Store
2. Amazon Echo Show 8
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable For the same price as the regular Nest Hub, Amazon sells an Alexa-powered alternative. The Amazon Echo Show 8 doesn't ship until Nov. 21, but it'll do plenty of the same smart home things as Google's device.
It can show off photos, play videos, and manage other devices based on voice commands. If you like Alexa, this might be your best bet.
Price:$129.99 on Amazon
3. Sonos One
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable For better quality sound with smart speaker features, the Sonos One is a good start. The One's sound blows equivalently priced rivals out of the water, and it can wirelessly hook up to other Sonos devices for multi-room sound.
The Sonos One sits nicely on a bookshelf or a stand, and it's compact enough to move around the house — or when you're ready to move apartments again. Sonos released a second-generation version of the One speaker in 2019, but aside from some more horsepower, it's basically the same device.
Price:$199 on Amazon
4. Roku Smart Soundbar
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Streaming device giant Roku released a soundbar (with an optional subwoofer) in 2019, and we think it's one of the better streaming options out there. For $180, you get a decent home theater speaker setup with a 4K- and HDR-enabled streaming box inside of it.
It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant-powered devices, hence the "Smart" part of its name. There's also a $130 version exclusively at Walmart, but that doesn't come with the voice remote.
Price:$180 on Roku's website, $130 at Walmart without voice remote
5. TP-Link's mini smart plug
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Make a dumb device clever with the addition of a smart plug. It's handy for things like fans, which you can then turn off and on remotely with your smartphone or voice assistant. You can also set a timer via the plug, in case your loved one likes to fall asleep to a breeze.
TP-Link's mini smart plug will work with a home's power outlet, and it connects over Wi-Fi, so there's no socket to have to mess with.
Price:$15.82 for TP-Link's mini smart plug
6. Google Chromecast Ultra
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable The regular Chromecast is still great and much cheaper than the beefed up Ultra, but it's time to upgrade. Chances are you either have a 4K TV or you'll get one in the next few years, whether you like it or not. It's getting tough to find non-4K TVs these days.
That's where the Chromecast Ultra comes in. For $70, you can cast pretty much whatever you want to your TV, but with the added benefit of super-sharp 4K resolution. Oh, and Chromecast Ultra might be the best way to play Google Stadia games once that service launches.
Price:$70 from the Google Store
7. Nest Hello
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Easy to install and a cool, conversation-starting home improvement, the Nest Hello is a video doorbell which lets one see who's at the door and also continuously records video at the front of one's home. It's definitely pricier than other video doorbells on the market, however.
Installing Nest Hello involves some basic wiring and changing of a doorbell, so make sure the person you're getting this for has a cool landlord.
Price:$229 at the Google Store
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