Amy Cutmore
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like I need a degree in electronic engineering just to figure out half the gadgets people rave about these days. From smart plugs to AI-fridges, home tech can feel like it’s made for tech bros and not for women like us who just want things that make life easier, not more complicated. At woman&home, we’ve tested more devices than we can count and we’ve quietly set aside plenty that never really made sense for our lives.
So, this isn’t one of those overwhelming lists of "must-haves" that leave you wondering if you’re hopelessly behind. Instead, we’re sharing the smart home tech we actually use and love. Think of it as a friendly roundup from women who, like you, want practical solutions that simplify everyday life. Whether it’s the robot vacuum that saves you from daily sweeping or the Alexa assistant that sets reminders in that lovely calm voice, everything here earns its keep in a real home.
From AirTags (for when your handbag seems to vanish into thin air) to Ring doorbells (because we’d like to know who’s knocking, thank you very much), these are the five pieces of tech that have made our lives a little calmer, cleaner, and more in control. No jargon, no fluff, just honest recommendations for women who’ve got enough on their plates.
Quick links: latest big-brand home appliance deals on Amazon
- Amazon Devices: Fire TV Sticks, Echos and Kindles up to 40% cheaper
- Ring Doorbells: top tier models to notice stickers and range extenders
1. Peace of mind in your pocket: Ring Doorbell
Whether you're at home alone, upstairs in the bath, or away on holiday, it's nice to have some reassurance on who's knocking at your door. That's why I call this one 'peace of mind in your pocket.'
There are a few ring doorbells and devices, but Aleesha. Beauty eCommerce Editor picked out the best of the bunch. "We have a busy house of people coming and going and working different hours - and between running a family catering business from home and me always testing beauty products, we don't go a day without at least a handful of deliveries coming through," Aleesha says.
"The Ring doorbell is probably our most useful piece of home tech. With an easy-to-use app that shows our doorbell as well as other Ring security cameras we have dotted around the outside of the house, it's convenient to use, sends useful alerts and saves a history - which can sometimes make for interesting watching."
"It's small and unassuming on the front of the house, and the sleek black and silver design makes for a chic-looking exterior. For an added layer of security, you can also get it with Ring branded stickers and/or a sign to signal that your home is protected by cameras. Whether we need to answer virtually and give instructions for a delivery, or just screen before answering in case the work-from-home attire isn't up to scratch, it's a device we couldn't go a day without."
2. The ever-useful Air Tag
Apple's Air Tag surprised me. It's the second home tech piece on the list, because when I asked the team what home tech they use the most (and recommend the highest), this was by far the most popular recommendation. Tamara, our Head of Lifestyle, uses it to track her beautiful dog. She loves the air tag, praising the design for being "really lightweight and far smaller than those bulky trackers."
Aside from dog-tracking, we had Luisa (social media editor), using hers to track her purse and handbag; Heidi using hers to keep an eye on her mum (and her mum's handbag); as well as people popping these in luggage on holiday, on a bike in London (the place where they seem to vanish) and my parents keep theirs in the car, so we never walk around a parking lot wondering where we decided to leave the car. The possibilities on offer with an air tag are seemingly endless.
They're on sale individually, but if you want to plan-ahead for Christmas, you can bulk buy a pack of four for 30% off and hand them out as gifts to your loved ones. That was my brother's trick last year.
3. Your right-hand Amazon Echo Dot
I you want a second-brain that will play music, set timers, and remind you of birthdays, a home assistant is a smart accessory to have around. It's hands-free and hassle free. When I asked the team for their favourites, I found myself debating between Google, Apple, and Amazon's models. However, in the end, Amazon won.
Emily, Digital Homes Writer made the winning case for hers. "Since buying my Amazon Alexa Echo Dot a few years ago I have literally been unable to live without it. I've moved a few times and it's always the first thing I set up in my room and the last thing I'll pack away."
She says "I use it daily for music, weather checking, alarm setting and even random questions that pop into my mind. I'm not really a tech savvy person but I've found it so easy to use, set-up and troubleshoot if there's ever been problems with it. I've even found myself going to say 'Alexa...' when I've been away from home, maybe I'm a little too reliant on it!"
4. Turning up (and down) the heat: Google Nest Thermostat
If you're anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself wrapped in a blanket one minute and flinging open a window the next. It doesn't have to be because of the weather, it might be down to your hormones or what's going on at home. Whatever the reason, this is a place where the Google Nest.
Lauren Scott, Audience Development Manager, confessed "I'm a bit of a luddite when it comes to home tech, but I really recommend the Google Nest." It’s a clever little gadget that learns your routine and keeps your home at just the right temperature, without you having to lift a finger (or fiddle with dials). You can control it from your phone, even when you're out and about, so no more coming home to a freezing house or waking up in a sweat. It’s smart, stylish, and surprisingly easy to use, even if you’re not super techy. Honestly, it just makes life that bit more comfortable.
5. A clean sweep: the eufy robot vaccum
This last recommendation is one of mine. Whilst there are lots of things you'll wish you knew before buying a robot vacuum, the main one I want to share is this: they're brilliant.
They don't suit everyone, but if you think vacuuming feels like one of those chores that just never ends, the Eufy Robot Vacuum in particular might just be your new best friend. It quietly gets on with the job while you do literally anything else, whether that’s popping out for a walk, putting your feet up with a cuppa, or tackling your to-do list.
It’s slim enough to scoot under sofas and beds (places we’d rather not crawl under anymore) and clever enough to avoid stairs and obstacles. For women who are juggling busy lives, achy knees, or just craving a bit more ‘me time’, it’s a total game-changer. Clean floors, no effort, yes please.
How to sign up to Amazon Prime
All the deals that you can see above come from Amazon's. You don't need to have an Amazon Prime account to shop them, but you can get better shipping (and some better deals) if you do have one. It's totally free for the first month, so you could sign up for the sale event and then cancel if you want to. However, with the benefits that it brings, I suspect you'll keep hold of your account.
Amy's top tips for Amazon success
Amy Cutmore, a home tech expert, has shared her top tips for shopping Amazon on Amazon to make sure that you pick up the best price for your tech. Here's what she has to say.
1. Make a shopping list – and stick to it
My first long-standing rule when it comes to any sale is to avoid impulse buys by making a shopping list. Because, in reality, you're only making a true saving if the item was an absolute essential in the first place. Otherwise, you are probably spending money you didn't need to spend.
In the case of Amazon shopping you can do this easily by creating a wish list in your account.
If you have your heart set on a particular model, say of vacuum cleaner, it could be a good idea to pop each iteration of that model into your basket, so you can make a quick call when any deal goes live. For example, Shark vacuum cleaners often come in different 'bundles' with extra tools and battery packs. Some may or may not be discounted, or some might have better discounts than others.
2. Research prices
Now you have your list, have a scout about online to see what price Amazon other retailers are selling the item for now. When a deal goes live, check again to see if other retailers have price matched or out-discounted Amazon's deal, so you can be sure that you're really getting a bargain.
You may decide that if the product is price matched, you may prefer to buy from another retailer because it offers a better guarantee, installation, or a more convenient in-store returns service.
You could also use a price comparison tool, such as PriceRunner or Idealo, to check prices, but don't assume they'll check all retailers or catch all deals. For tech, make sure you check against all the big names – AO.com, Argos, Currys and John Lewis.
For Amazon shoppers, the free Amazon price tracker CamelCamelCamel is an essential tool. Enter the Amazon URL or the name of the product you are looking to buy, and you'll be given a graph that shows the price history of that product on Amazon.
For example, the Amazon Echo Dot Kids (5th edition, 2022), has a current selling price of £64.99, but we can see that from November 19th 2023 through to the end of the Black Friday sales period, it was reduced in price to £26.99 – something we expect to see replicated, or hopefully bettered, and one sale (hopefully).
3. Don't dawdle
Usually, when shopping, I'd advise anyone to give themselves a 24-hour cooling off period before making a purchase. Pop the item in your basket, wait a day, and if you still really want it, then click to buy. An advantage of this is that some retailers may see you have an item in your basket and then send you an extra discount code by email to entice you into making a purchase - it's happened to this writer at least half a dozen times.
BUT on Amazon's sale events, I'd advise against this. If you are CONVINCED you've got the best deal available, buy straight away or you could miss out. This happened to me last year on a vacuum cleaner deal, and it took a while to get over it.
'Lightning Deals' especially, might only last between three and 12 hours or while stock lasts, which can be a very short time frame indeed. And even deals that are said to last the duration of Amazon's sale events might end early if stocks run out.
So if you're happy you're getting the best price, strike while the iron is hot.
Of course, there's plenty more home technology to explore, but I don't like to complicate things. I think these five are a great place to start and then if you want to leap into the realms of fancier technology, by all means do. Maybe you can write the sixth item in this article.
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