The best holiday tech gifts for grandparents 2023
Grandparents love to give gifts — but getting them is wonderful too. Over the past few years, staying in touch with our grandparents has been particularly hard due to the pandemic and other market conditions. Even giving a present to help bring them closer to your life has been hard, but it is something they're sure to adore this year. To help you find the right gift for grandma and grandpa, we have compiled a list of smart tech devices this year that can help spruce up their home, keep you in contact with them, and help them stay healthy. They are also easy to install and maintain even if you can't get there to help them set up these devices.
(Visit our 2024 Best Holiday Gifts for Grandparents version to see the most recent list.)
MeatStick 4X
We have a great gift idea for Grandparents who like to cook: MeatStick 4. This smart colling device is a Wireless Meat Thermometer that monitors the meat’s internal and ambient temperatures throughout the cook via a smartphone app. The MeatStick can help Grandma or Grandpa remove the guesswork and achieve perfect meat doneness whenever you come for dinner. We are testing this special smart device and really like how it works.
The MeatStick 4 can take ambient temp up to 572F and internal temp up to 212F and has an unlimited range with your home Wi-Fi network. Its batteries will last for 24+ hours, and it works not only on a grill/smoker but can be used in a sous-vide, deep fryer, and air fryer and be cleaned in a dishwasher.
The Meatstick comes in a variety of sets which are based on the Wi-Fi range. For a limited range, The MeatStick 4 set is only $94.99. For the 650 ft range, there is the MeatStick X set, which costs $124.99, These sets are available on the company website, Amazon, and Walmart.
ADT MEDICAL ALERT SYSTEMS
Suppose you are a caregiver with an ADT home security system and need help remotely monitoring your parents or grandparents. Why not consider getting a medical alert system by ADT this year? ADT offers a medical alert system that automatically sends an alert if a fall occurs in your grandparent's house, ensuring they get help immediately. ADT monitoring professionals can check when an alert is sent out to see what kind of help is needed. Then alert caregivers and/or emergency responders based on your grandparent's needs and preferences.
ADT has three types of medical alert systems: One-the-Go, Medical Alert Plus, and Medical Alert Basic. Plans start around $27.99 a month.
ADT is running a special offer on their medical alert systems. ADT customers can get up to 50% on Fall Detection Monitoring. However, you are required to have a month-to-month ADT agreement that excludes taxes. Also, the first-month monitoring fee is due at the time of purchase.
Get More Details from ADT
Hubble Connected Nursery Pal Deluxe Smart Baby Monitoring System
All grandparents should have a smart baby monitor to use when their grandkids sleepover. One to consider is the Hubble Connected Nursery Pal Deluxe, which is the perfect smart baby monitor. This smart baby monitoring system has an HD camera and a separate 5-inch HD color touchscreen display. The display is perfect for your grandchildren to use when not sleeping, too. It can function as an interactive viewer with educational games and videos for them to watch when awake. The Hubble Connected system is also Amazon Alexa compatible and costs only $199.99. It is available on the company website and Best Buy, Target, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Amazon. They do offer HubbleClub monitoring service for $2.99 per month, which provides several good features like smart scheduling, video storage, and a fixed baby zone for monitoring. But you can operate this system without the monthly service. (Read GearBrain’s full review here.)
Fieldsheer Mobile Warming Collection
Fieldsheer’s Mobile Warming Collection: How would you like a pair of socks or gloves with which you can control the heat levels via a mobile app? Fieldsheer has a collection of clothing items, including shirts, jackets, gloves, and socks, with their Mobile Warming technology built into each item. They are Bluetooth-based and use a specialized MW Connect smartphone app to control the heat levels. Key advantages their Mobile Warming technology offers over other heated clothing lines include easy wireless pairing, solid construction, long battery life, and the thinnest heating panels on the market.
GearBrain tested a few items from their Mobile Warming collection and liked what we saw. (See our full review.) The quality of the jackets and vest are top-notch and make for a great gift for grandma or grandpa. Price varies by type of product, but you can easily spend as little as $80 on a pair of thermal heated unisex socks to as high as $330 for a headed parka.
See the full collection here.
Aura digital frames
Photo frames make perfect tech gifts for your grandparents. They can help you see your loved ones all year long and are easy to operate. GearBrain has tested many of Aura Frames and likes how you can easily invite other family members to add images and even get notified if someone has added new images. Their most popular smart digital frame, the 10.1 inch Carver Mat, comes with the company's highest resolution display, support for video/sound, a craftsman-inspired frame design, and free, unlimited storage for photos and videos, making sharing memories effortlessly. It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant-enabled devices. It costs $179 and is available in Gravel and Clay with a white mat. You can get it on Aura's site. Other Aura Frame models are available on the company website for purchase and on Amazon.
Smart Video Doorbell
A video doorbell is a great gift for your grandparents for a number of reasons. It can help them stay safe and secure by allowing your grandparents to see and speak to visitors before they open the door. This can help them to avoid scams and unwanted visitors. Knowing that they can see who is at the door without having to open it can give your grandparents peace of mind, especially if they live alone. Video doorbells are very easy to use, even for people who are not tech-savvy. Your grandparents should be able to figure out how to use it with minimal assistance from you. And if your grandparents have family and friends who live far away, a video doorbell can be a convenient way to stay connected. They can see and speak to their loved ones without having to leave their home.
What are good ones to consider as a gift for your grandparents? We would recommend any of the video doorbells below:
- Google Nest Doorbell: If your grandparents are using Google Assistant-enabled devices in their home, the perfect smart video doorbell to get this year is the new Google Nest Doorbell. The Google Nest Doorbell is a battery-powered smart video doorbell with all the expected features you need to secure your front or back door. It's easy to install and comes with a 1.3-megapixel color sensor, PIR (Passive Infrared) motion sensor, 6x digital zoom capabilities, a 145-degree field of view (FOV), and a 3:4 aspect ratio. The 3:4 ratio is perfect for your grandparents since they don't have to tilt their smartphone to get a full glimpse at the person at your door. They will be able to see the visitor from head to toe on their screen. It costs $179.99 and it comes in four colors (Ash, Ivy, Linen, and Snow). This doorbell is available on Best Buy, Walmart, ABT Electronics, and other electronic outlets.
Buy on Walmart
- Ring Video Doorbell: Another good video doorbell to consider this holiday season for grandma and grandpa is a Ring Video Doorbell, especially if they are using Amazon Alexa-enabled devices. Reason: Ring is owned by Amazon, and Ring devices work seamlessly with smart displays and speakers with the Amazon Alexa voice platform. Ring Video Doorbells are resourceful smart Wi-Fi video doorbells packed with the latest technology and security features to protect your smart home. The most popular Ring doorbell is their Ring Video Doorbell, which features a 1080p HD camera, 160-degree field-of-view (FOV), two-way communication with noise cancellation, a Live View of your doorbell in the free Ring app, color night vision, and customizable motion controls. It also works on a Wi-Fi connection using either a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz setting. And setup is quick and easy whether you have an existing wired doorbell or not. This smart video doorbell by Ring costs $99.99 and is available on the company website, Amazon, Best Buy, The Home Depot, and other consumer electronics stores.
- Blink Video Doorbell: If you are looking for a less expensive video doorbell that can monitor the outside of your grandparent's house, we would recommend the Blink Video Doorbell. The Blink Video Doorbell is a smart video doorbell that connects to your existing doorbell wiring or works as a battery-powered video doorbell. It works on a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection and is available in black or white. This smart video doorbell features a 1080P HD video camera which can record in Full HD or 1920 X1080P, has two-way audio, and the ability to get notifications when someone rings your doorbell or motion is detected by the doorbell’s HD camera. It only costs $59.99 and can be picked up on Amazon, Best Buy, or other online retailers. (Read our full review.)
Overall, a video doorbell is a great gift for your grandparents because it can help them to stay safe, secure, and connected. It is also a convenient and easy-to-use device.
Smart Air Purifier
Do you know what smart device would make a great holiday gift for your grandparents this year? A smart air purifier. It can help grandparents breathe cleaner air. Smart air purifiers can remove pollutants, allergens, and other harmful particles from the air, which can improve air quality and help grandparents breathe easier. This is especially beneficial for grandparents who have allergies or respiratory problems.
A smart air purifier can help grandparents live healthier lives. Exposure to air pollution can have a number of negative health effects, including respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer. Smart air purifiers can help to reduce grandparents' exposure to air pollution and improve their overall health. They are also easy to use. Grandparents should be able to figure out how to use one with minimal assistance from you. And if not, we are confident one of the grandchildren can help them get up and running.
Lastly, many smart air purifiers can be monitored and controlled remotely using a smartphone app. This can be helpful for you to make sure that your grandparents' air purifier is working properly and that the air quality in their home is good.
Which ones should you consider getting for your grandparents, we've tested these devices and would recommend you consider buying the one that works best for your house:
- Afloia Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms - Read our full review. Costs $153.09 on Amazon
- Dreo Macro Max S Smart Air Purifier - Read our full review. Costs $239.99 but is available on the company site for $219.99 and on Amazon for slightly more.
- Toshiba Smart Air Purifier with Alexa - Read our full review. It costs $ 284.99 but is on sale on Amazon for only $189.99. Buy on Amazon
Overall, smart air purifiers are a great gift for grandparents because they can help them to breathe cleaner air, live healthier lives, and sleep better. They are also easy to use and can be monitored and controlled remotely.
Smart Robot Vacuum
Robot Vacuums make great gifts since they are easy to set up and can do one thing well: clean your floors. Some of these smart robot vacuums can vacuum, while others mop. And if you can afford it, robot vacuums can vacuum, mop, and self-empty the robot. And this year, there are robot vacuums that can vacuum, mop, and self-empty dust, dirt, and dirty water These are called 5-in-1 systems and normally run over $1,000 and up. So, which ones should you consider? Listed below are a few that will make a great holiday gift for your grandparents:
- yeedi cube All-in-One Robot Vacuum and Mop with Handle: This device is a self-emptying vacuum and mop cleaner that can intelligently identify the type of floor to clean and choose the right cleaning method. It has powerful suction (5100Pa), smart mapping, and navigation features and works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant-enabled devices. But this smart robot vacuum can also self-empty the dirt water after cleaning and air dry the mopping pad so no germs accumulate. (Read our full review for more information.). The yeedi Cube is the only 5-in-1 robot vacuum on our list that costs less than $1,000. It has a MRSP of $699.99 but is on sale today for only $599.99 (20% off) and is available on Amazon.
Buy on Amazon
- Ecovacs Deebot X1 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mopping Cleaner: Here is a robot vacuum that can mop, vacuum, self-empty, monitor your floors, act as an air freshener, and comes with its own voice assistant. It is one of three models of the Ecovacs Omni line: X1 Plus, X1 Turbo, and X1 Omni. Each of these robot vacuums comes with Ecovacs AIVI 3D advanced obstacle avoidance system with TrueDetect 2.0, TrueMapping 2.0 with DToF navigation, a 5200mAh rechargeable battery with 180 minutes of run time on a single charge, and 5000Pa maximum suction power. Each also has an HD Home monitoring camera, smart speaker integrations, and 3D mapping feature in the Ecovacs mobile app. Robot vacuums can pick up dust, dirt, and allergens from floors, which can help to improve air quality in the home. The Deebot X1 line is especially beneficial for grandparents with allergies or asthma. You can read our full review for more info on the X1 Plus, which costs $1,149. All Ecovacs robot vacuums are available for purchase on the company site and Amazon.
Buy Ecovacs Deebot X1 Plus
HelloTech
After you've bought your grandparents a new tablet, robot vacuum, or TV, consider splurging for the one thing you know they'll definitely need — some tech assistance. HelloTech is a service that lets you make an appointment to have qualified people come to your home to install products and maintain technology, or you can get online support. The company does have service plans that start at $69 a year, which includes phone and online support. Users can also get discounts on in-home visits. This is a great gift for your grandparents, especially ones who don't want to leave their home and want the help to come to them.
Contact HelloTech Here
Smart Outdoor TV
How about getting Grandpa a smart outdoor TV so he can watch his favorite team outside in either full or partial sunlight? It can get him out of the house and moving around. If so, a good smart outdoor TV to consider is the Furrion Aurora Full Sun Smart 4K UHD LED Outdoor TV. This is the TV of all outdoor TVs and is designed for watching TV outside in full sunlight. Most smart outdoor TVs work only in partial or full shade, but not many offer TVs that work in full sunlight. Furrion does offer other smart TVs that work in any lighting and would make a perfect gift for any grandparents who live in climates where their backyard is like a second living room. The TV starts at a 43-inch size and goes up to 65 inches, and each screen has QLED HD 4K resolution. The Furrion Aurora Full Sun Smart 4K UHD LED Outdoor TV is weatherproof (IP54 rating) and can work in any outdoor conditions if the temperature is between -4 degrees F and 122 degrees Fahrenheit. It can withstand the elements because this smart TV’s housing is very durable, and the outputs and inputs are protected by a weather-resistant media bay on the backside of the TV. Of course, it connects to Wi-Fi, so you (or your grandparents) can stream Netflix, Apple TV, and more. The TV starts at $2,199.99 and goes up to $4,099.99 for 65-inch. So this may be one of those gifts where everyone in the family (hello, second cousins) may want to chip in for this big (very big) gift.
Smart Speaker or Displays
Smart speakers and smart displays like the Echo Show are great gifts for grandparents for a number of reasons. They can help grandparents stay connected with family and friends. They can use smart speakers and smart displays to make and receive video calls, send and receive messages, and share photos and videos with their loved ones. This can be especially helpful for grandparents who live far away from their family and friends. They can help grandparents stay informed by watching the news, getting weather updates, and checking sports scores. They can also use them to learn new things, such as recipes, languages, and history. Smart speakers and displays can entertain your grandparents. They can listen to music, watch videos, play games, and get audiobooks. This can help them to stay entertained and engaged. And these smart devices are easy to use, even for people who are not tech-savvy. Grandparents should be able to figure out how to use them with minimal assistance from you.
Which ones should you consider? Here is a list of smart speakers and displays to get your grandparents this holiday season:
- If your grandparents use Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, we would recommend
- All-new Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) | Smart display with 2x the bass and clearer sound - lists for $89.99 but on sale for $49.99. Buy on Amazon
- Amazon Echo Do (5th Gen): lists for $49.99, but we expect this to go on sale for a lot less. Check for the latest price here.
- Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) | HD smart display with motion and Alexa - this smart display can also function like a smart digital frame if needed. It lists for $249.99 and is available on Amazon. See the latest price.
- If your grandparents use Google Assistant devices, then you should consider these smart speakers and displays:
- Nest Hub 7” Smart Display with Google Assistant (2nd Gen) - Charcoal - lists for $99.99 but is currently on sale for $59.99 at Best Buy, Target, Lowe's, Walmart, and The Home Depot. Buy on Best Buy
- Nest Hub Max - Smart Home Speaker and 10 in. Display with Google Assistant - lists for $229 and is available on Best Buy, Home Depot, Walmart and other online retailers. Buy on Walmart for less than $185
- Nest Audio Smart Speaker, Google's answer to Amazon Echo smart speaker. The Nest Audio lists for $99.99 and is available at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Lowe's, and Home Depot. Buy at Walmart for $65.
- Nest Mini (2nd Generation) with Google Assistant smart speaker - this is the Google Nest speaker that is similar to Amazon Echo Dot. The Nest Mini costs $49.99 but normally goes on sale for the holiday-buying season. You can pick one up at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Lowe's, The Home Depot, and other online retailers. See the lowest price on Walmart.
- And for Apple users, here are your choices:
- Apple HomePod (2nd Gen): This is Apple's answer to Amazon's Echo and Google Nest Audio smart speakers. This Apple smart speaker costs $299.99 and is available on Best Buy, Walmart, and Apple's website. Buy on Best Buy.
- Apple HomePod Mini: This small smart speaker competes with Amazon Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini smart speakers. it retails for $99.99, and you can pick one up at Best Buy, Walmart, or the Apple Store (or online.).
Buy at Best Buy
Plus, check out The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility find engine, to see the other compatible products that work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant-enabled devices.
