As your grad moves out to college or the wide world afterward, they’ll need a lot of stuff they’ve never used before. Here are some of the best smart devices to help them make a home their own, whether it’s a dorm or an apartment.
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Neato Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum
Product Review: http://www.cnet.com/products/neato-botvac-connected-robot-vacuum/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Neato Botvac Connected is the best-performing robot vacuum we’ve ever tested. The new Neato app is well-designed and easy to use, and finally brings remote control functionality to the Botvac line.
The bad: At $700, it’s the most expensive Neato yet — $200 more than the previous generation. We also encountered a few usability quirks during testing.
The cost: $699.99
The bottom line: The Neato Botvac Connected is better at cleaning floors than any other robot vacuum on the market, and it costs less than its app-enabled rival, the iRobot Roomba 980. If you’re willing to live without remote controls, you can save some money by sticking with the previous generation of Neatos — but we think this one’s worth the splurge.
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Fizzics
Product Review: http://www.cnet.com/products/fizzics/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: Fizzics turns your store bought beer into a surprisingly capable imitation of draft beer without needing a keg or a gas cartridge. It’s lightweight, portable, and compatible with a variety of bottles, cans and growlers.
The bad: Some beers, particularly sweet ones, taste better after the Fizzics treatment, but the way it smoothes carbonation and brings out the malty flavors hurts the complexity of hoppy beers.
The cost: $169.99
The bottom line: Fizzics isn’t for everybody, especially beer drinkers that value bitterness and don’t want to alter the way their beer tastes. For those who enjoy experimenting and value a smooth-mouth feel, a creamy head, or a sweet flavor profile, it’s a fun gadget that’s easy to use and not overly costly.
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Amazon Tap
Product Review: http://www.cnet.com/products/amazon-tap-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: Now in battery-powered form within the portable Amazon Tap, Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa is as good as ever. You can play music, command your smart home or add something to your to do list — all with your voice. The Tap is lightweight and fun to travel with, and the battery power and sound quality are respectable.
The bad: Because it’s not always listening — you have to push a button to talk — Alexa isn’t as convenient to use on the Tap as it is on the other Echo devices. The audio distorts at high volumes and the bass is flat, so you can find better sound performance on similarly priced Bluetooth speakers.
The cost: $129.00 to $129.99
The bottom line: The Amazon Tap is a competent mix of portable Bluetooth speaker and digital assistant. It’s worth a look if you want Alexa on the go, but the Tap isn’t the best Bluetooth speaker or the best Alexa-enabled device you can find.
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Ninja Coffee Bar
Product Review: http://www.cnet.com/products/ninja-coffee-bar-cf080/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The Ninja Coffee Bar offers ways to brew satisfying hot or iced java drinks in various container sizes and for a competitive price.
The bad: Those searching for superb brewing performance will find the Ninja Coffee Bar’s tendency to over extract its beans a bitter pill to swallow. Lots of cheap plastic materials make the machine far from luxurious.
The cost: $159.95 to $204.54
The bottom line: The Ninja Coffee Bar provides an unmatched list of features and capabilities for a price that’s difficult to match — just don’t expect the ultimate in style or brewing performance.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Senior Editor Brian Bennett, Executive Editor David Carnoy, Associate Editor Ry Crist, Associate Editor Andrew Gebhart, Associate Editor David Priest and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
