If you’re a tech-minded Dad and believe leading tech pundits, your Father’s Day should yield a bounty of Internet-connected gifts. If you are wondering what to buy, the latest research for Father’s Day 2017 indicates that the best way to a Dad’s heart is through his desire for an electronic gift (18%), now beating out power tools (15%), sporting event tickets (14%) and camping/fishing/hunting related gifts (10%). Who would have thought?
BEST OF FATHER’S DAY CONNECTED GIFT GUIDES
As you might expect, the typical Father’s Day gift list for 2017 boasts many connected entertainment devices like 1) Roku or Chromecast, 2) high-quality wireless headphones or speakers, and 3) fitness aids like FitBit or a smart watches. Drones also continue to rise to the top some lists.
Next are the smart home/consumer IoT devices. Amazon Echo/Alexa or Google Home are gaining popularity for Dads this year. For example, the CNET Father’s Day Tech 2017 article proclaimed the Amazon Echo Dot as the best gift under $50 for Dads. Amazon Tap and Google Home were also recommended for gifts priced for over $100.
Among the more utilitarian gifts, CNET suggests the Philips Hue LED Starter Kit in the under $100 gifts category. Also nestled among suggestions for Dad is the iHome iSP8 SmartPlug, an accessory to make any ‘dumb’ lamp controllable.
Many of CNET’s suggested Smart Home gifts for Dad are the same as for Mom and you may recognize them from our Mother’s Day gift list. They include the Anova Precision Cooker, the Nest thermostat, and the Neato Botvac robotic vacuum. But one CNET gift idea that did not make the Mom’s list was the Roost Smart Water Leak & Freeze Detector.
ULTIMATE DAD GIFTS
The Huffington Post’s Ultimate Tech Gift Guide for Father’s Day features more upscale suggestions, including the Char-Broil Digital Electric Smoker for grillmeister Dads. This $284 Wi-Fi connected 750-watt vertical smoker has SmartChef Technology that allows Dad to use his smartphone to monitor temperature and receive a notification when the meat is smoked to perfection. The app also comes with a library of recipes.
For Dads who don’t do windows, HuffPo suggests the Ecovacs Robotic Winbot 950 Window Cleaning Robot for $395.
And, among the more novel ‘smart’ gifts for Dad this year is the SmartRazor. With patented warm blade technology, it is designed to replicate the hot barbershop shave and is available for pre-order on Indiegogo for $59. The razor has surpassed its fundraising goal and is expected to be delivered sometime in December 2017. So that makes this either a gift certificate for Father’s Day, or a Christmas gift instead. The SmartRazor comes equipped with a microprocessor that heats the razor’s six replaceable blades to the optimal shaving temperature for a close and comfortable shave. It’s not a connected product yet, but can that be far behind?
Need a last minute Father’s Day gift? The best at this late date is to head over to Amazon to see what top gifts can still be delivered in time! Better yet, just ask Alexa.
