Smart home gifts that'll connect with your holiday spirit

Amazon took its best-selling smart speaker and its growingly popular virtual assistant Alexa and packed both into a package that's more afforable than ever -- $50. Plus, it's the only Echo product you can use with an external audio setup.

If you don't want your thermostat learning your habits over time, but still want some app-enabled controls, the $160 Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat by Emerson fits the bill. You do all of the programming yourself -- and because of that, it's one of the most affordable smart thermostats on the market. Plus, it works with Amazon's Alexa-enabled voice control products -- and that's something worth talking about.

They aren't the cheapest smart bulbs you can buy, but Stack's $45 LEDs include built-in motion sensors and can automatically change tones throughout the day. They'll work with Amazon's Alexa, too.

A $130 smart speaker that talks back, Google Home is a lot like the Amazon Echo Dot, only it includes the Google Assistant and thus has more conversational awareness. You'll still be able to control your smart home, but Home also helps you plan your route to work using Google Maps, and can play music or videos on any Chromecast streamer.

If you want to keep your current deadbolt intact, but wish for some sort of smart-tech monitoring your comings and goings, look no further than August's $230 Smart Lock. You can use Alexa to lock your door, and support from Apple's HomeKit platform is an added bonus: iPhone users can give commands to Siri as well.

The triangular Nanoleaf Aurora panels are fully color-changeable, and they'll work with Apple HomeKit (and thus, Siri), as well. The nine-panel starter kit costs $200 -- roughly what you'll pay for a Philips Hue starter kit with three color-changing bulbs.

Speaking of Philips Hue, it's the most well-developed, well-connected smart lighting platform on the market, and this $70 white-light starter kit is your most affordable way in. If you want, you can add color-changing bulbs to your setup a la carte style.

The surprisingly affordable $50 Kinsa Smart Ear Thermometer is both reliable -- measuring temps in under a second -- and clever. The app helps you monitor your child's other symptoms to see if a visit to the doctor is in order.

Toucan is a $200 security camera that hides discreetly under outdoor wall lights. With help from a handy USB cord, you can power this smart camera without adapters or wires.

Feeling lazy? August's $200 Doorbell Cam makes it possible to answer your front door without moving a muscle. Not only can you view a live feed 24-7, you can also talk to guests via its built-in microphone and speaker.

Beddi is part alarm clock, part Swiss army knife for your smart home. Aside from waking you up with customizable alarms, color-changing lights, and real-time traffic and weather, the $100 Beddi's programmable buttons can control smart lights, switches and thermostats, or even order you an Uber.

A $190 air purifier modeled after a jet engine, Wynd creates a clean-air bubble around users. It's currently in production after a successful crowdfunding campaign, with a planned release date in November.

The $100 Ludela Smart Candle is a real candle with a real flame. Well, it's a crowdfunded gadget, so it's probably real. But you can light it with the tap of a button. It's totally, probably safe. Actually, with extra safety features that extinguish the wick in case of tipping or other hazards, Ludela might actually be safer than a standard candle. It's a good fit for the atmosphere-loving family member with a fondness for cool novelties.

Speaking of novelties, the $100 Logitech Pop Switch is a button you can use to control your smart home gadgets -- in case you think voice controls are overrated. You can single press, double press, or long press, and a few big name smart home platforms -- such as Lifx, Philips Hue and Insteon -- will be ready to be pushed around when the Logitech button launches this fall.

Like a microwave that makes beer, the $1,000 PicoBrew Pico uses a prepackaged mix of ingredients and cooks your beer for you within two hours. You'll still need to wait a couple of weeks while it ferments, but if you have a family member that wants to try homebrewing but is scared off by the hassle, the Pico will make a great gift.