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CNET updated its 2026 smart home gift guide on October 9 with tested device recommendations for different homes and budgets. The picks span security, lighting, comfort, safety and pet care, with the guide emphasizing ease of setup, practical benefits and avoiding required subscriptions where possible.
CNET updated its 2026 smart home gift guide on October 9, featuring devices its reviewer says he has tested, from a subscription-free security camera to smart lighting, leak detection and pet-care products. The recommendations focus on practical use, straightforward setup and cost—factors that matter when buying connected devices for someone else.
The guide’s central advice is to choose gifts that are easy to understand and install, provide a useful benefit and do not impose surprise costs or privacy trade-offs. CNET notes that some smart home products rely on subscriptions for key features, while others can work without a recurring fee. Many devices use apps or platforms recipients may already have, including Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa.
For home security, CNET recommends the EufyCam C35, citing local video storage via a microSD card and features such as human detection and privacy zones without a subscription, according to the guide. It also suggests a microSD card as a possible add-on. The Level Lock Pro is another security pick: the article says it keeps the appearance of a traditional lock while adding smart features, including support for Apple Home Keys, Google Home and Alexa. The guide says it does not require a subscription.
Other listed categories include smart plugs, wallet trackers, smoke detectors, thermostats, doorbells, heaters and leak sensors. The guide also covers devices for pets and household chores, including a pet water fountain, an automatic litter box, a portable stain vacuum and a pool-cleaning robot. CNET presents these as recommendations from its reviewer; the source material does not provide full pricing, test results or product details for every item in the list.
2026 GIFT GUIDE · SMART HOME
Ideas for Every Kind of Home
A practical guide to connected gifts for security, comfort, safety, lighting and pet care. Choose useful devices that are straightforward to set up, fit the recipient’s home and avoid surprise recurring costs.
THE SHORTLIST
Match the gift to the home
The roundup spans simple starter devices and more specialized household helpers. Treat these as categories to explore, then confirm current product details before buying.
EufyCam C35
The guide cites local microSD video storage, human detection and privacy zones without a subscription. A microSD card may be a useful add-on.
Level Lock Pro
A traditional lock appearance with smart features. CNET describes support for Apple Home Keys, Google Home and Alexa, with no required subscription.
Easy connected upgrades
Smart plugs, lighting and wallet trackers can add convenience, while thermostats and heaters focus on home comfort.
Watch for risks
Smoke detectors and leak sensors have practical safety roles. Check installation needs and whether they suit the home’s layout.
Help around the house
The guide also includes a pet water fountain, automatic litter box, portable stain vacuum and pool-cleaning robot.
Doorbells
Consider app requirements, recording options and subscription terms. The excerpt does not specify compatibility for every listed product.
A BETTER BUYING SEQUENCE
Check fit before checkout
Gifts bring another person’s phone, platform, comfort with apps and home setup into the decision.
Consider their habits, phone and willingness to manage an app.
Check Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa support where relevant.
Review current price, required subscriptions and any add-ons.
Check storage, access controls, installation needs and home layout.
WHY THESE DETAILS MATTER
Useful beats complicated
A connected device can add convenience, but setup demands, platform limits and recurring charges can change how welcome it feels as a gift.
Know where data goes
Local storage may suit someone who prefers to avoid cloud storage fees or sharing recordings with a service.
Start with a simple win
A plug or bulb can be an approachable introduction. Safety devices offer a more direct household purpose.
A roundup, not a lab report
The excerpt does not include complete prices, detailed measurements or the reasoning behind every selection.
FROM THE GUIDE
Two picks, two practical angles
CNET presents these as recommendations from its reviewer. Product features and availability can change.
“It’s affordable, supports local video storage with a microSD card and offers all features subscription-free, including human detection and privacy zones.”
EufyCam C35 · CNET guide description
SHOPPER CHECKLIST
Questions to ask before buying
Use the guide as a shortlist, then verify product-specific details with current listings and specifications.
When was the guide updated?
The page says October 9, 2026, at 3:20 a.m. EDT.
Which camera does it recommend?
The EufyCam C35, with local microSD storage cited; the guide suggests a card as an add-on.
Are all picks subscription-free?
The excerpt specifically says the EufyCam C35 and Level Lock Pro do not require subscriptions. It gives no fee details for every item.
What should I verify?
Phone and platform compatibility, subscription terms, privacy and storage, installation needs, current price and availability.
Choosing Gifts That Fit Real Homes
Connected devices can add convenience or help people monitor parts of a home, but they can also bring setup demands, compatibility limits and ongoing costs. Those considerations are especially relevant for gifts: the recipient may not use the same phone, smart-home platform or comfort level with apps as the buyer.
CNET’s recommendations make those practical issues part of the selection criteria. A product with local storage and no required subscription, for example, may suit someone who does not want to pay for cloud storage or share footage with a service. A smart plug or light bulb may be a lower-cost way to introduce connected features, while a leak detector or smoke alarm has a more direct household-safety purpose. Buyers still need to check that each device fits the recipient’s home and habits.
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How the Guide Frames Smart Gifts
The guide is an editorial product roundup, not a report of a new product launch or an industry-wide study. CNET says its reviewer has spent more than a dozen years working with and testing smart home and security technology. The article page also describes CNET’s review operation and links to its testing and ethics information.
Its definition of a smart home gift is broad: the devices generally use an app for operation or alerts, but may connect to services the recipient already uses. The range is intended to accommodate renters, older family members and people who already own many devices, rather than assuming every recipient wants to build a fully connected home. The source identifies the guide as updated on October 9, 2026, at 3:20 a.m. EDT.
“The best gift choices are devices that are easy to understand and set up, don’t require any subscriptions or extra steps to use and offer real, useful benefits that won’t endanger anyone’s privacy.”
— CNET’s smart home gift guide
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Prices and Compatibility Need Checking
The provided guide excerpt does not give a complete price list, detailed test measurements or the full reasoning behind every recommendation. Product availability and prices may also vary by retailer and over time. Readers should check the current product specifications and confirm compatibility with the recipient’s phone, smart-home platform, wiring and home layout before buying.
The excerpt says the Eufy camera supports local microSD storage and describes the Level Lock Pro’s platform support, but it does not establish that every listed device works with every smart-home system. It is also not clear from the material how the reviewer tested each product, how the recommendations compare with alternatives or whether any products have changed since the guide was updated.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Check Details Before Buying
The article is a current gift guide rather than a scheduled product announcement, so the next step for shoppers is to use its category recommendations as a shortlist and verify details before purchase. Check current price, subscription terms, app requirements and platform compatibility, and consider whether the recipient will be comfortable setting up and maintaining the device.
For security cameras and other devices that collect household information, review storage options, privacy controls and who can access alerts or recordings. The guide may change as products, prices and availability shift; the source does not announce a specific date for another update.
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Key Questions
When was CNET’s 2026 smart home gift guide updated?
The guide page says it was updated on October 9, 2026, at 3:20 a.m. EDT.
Which security camera does the guide recommend?
CNET recommends the EufyCam C35, citing local microSD storage and features the guide says are available without a subscription. It suggests buying a microSD card as an add-on.
Does the guide recommend smart home products without subscriptions?
It favors gifts that do not require subscriptions or extra steps, and specifically describes the EufyCam C35 and Level Lock Pro as not requiring subscriptions. The source excerpt does not provide subscription details for every product listed.
What should I check before buying a smart home gift?
Confirm the device works with the recipient’s phone, smart-home platform and home setup. Review subscription costs, privacy and storage options, installation needs and current availability before ordering.
Source: CNET
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