Smart Home Gifts That Are Not Another Speaker

Smart Home Gifts That Are Not Another Speaker

Most smart home gifts end up on a shelf next to the other speakers. A gift that changes how a room feels every single day is rarer. A motor that opens the living room shades at sunrise is one of them, and it works on the shades the recipient already owns.

This guide sorts RYSE gift ideas by the person you are shopping for. One check applies to every idea: look at how the recipient's window covering is operated. A shade with a beaded chain or cord loop is a match for SmartShade. A curtain hung on a rod is a match for SmartCurtain.

For the Renter in Your Life: SmartShade

A SmartShade ($149.99) attaches to an existing beaded chain, so it works with roller, zebra, and solar shades. The recipient controls it with the button on the device, the RYSE app, or Bluetooth. Because it is a retrofit, nothing about the window itself has to change.

If the recipient has no outlet nearby, choose the wire-free version with a BatteryPack, SmartShade Wire-free ($199.99). The battery is detachable and charges over micro-USB. The help center advises fully charging it before connecting it to the shade.

For the Person With Heavy Curtains: SmartCurtain

The SmartCurtain ($199.99) motorizes curtains on an existing rod and installs without tools. It is a good fit for a bedroom, where drapes are usually the heaviest thing in the room and the hardest to reach from bed.

For the Grandparent or Anyone Who Dislikes Apps: Add a SmartButton

Not everyone wants to open a phone to raise a shade. A SmartButton ($49.99) is a small remote with up and down buttons. According to the help center pairing guide, a V2 SmartButton connects with up to 4 SmartShades or SmartCurtains. The older V1 button works with SmartShades only, so a SmartCurtain gift needs the V2 version.

Pairing a SmartShade with a SmartButton makes a complete gift for about $200 before tax and shipping ($149.99 plus $49.99 is $199.98). The recipient never has to touch an app.

For the Voice Assistant Household: Add a SmartBridge

The SmartBridge ($49.99) is the Wi-Fi hub that unlocks voice control through Alexa, Google, and Apple HomeKit. It also enables schedules, routines, remote access, and sharing with the rest of the household. Without it, a SmartShade still works through the device button, the app, and Bluetooth.

Ready to Pick One?

Start with the window, then match the product. Check the chain or the rod, decide between a button and voice, and you have a gift that gets used every morning.

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