by It’s not long until Valentine’s Day – actually it’s tomorrow! If you don’t have to buy a gift yet, don’t worry because we’ve put together a selection of gadgets and smart home gadgets that your loved one will appreciate.
Not to be too cliché, many (but not all) of the items we choose for the home arrive in either a pink or red color – because let’s be honest, there aren’t many occasions where we can get away with that. But this is a great opportunity to show what these colors can bring to your home.
Valentine’s flowers are always beautiful, but who isn’t a fan of a gadget that can make their everyday life easier? So, on our list of gift ideas, you’ll find a robot hoover, coffee maker and blender that could be gifts well beyond Valentine’s Day. Along with a few other gadgets, keep an eye out for some smart lighting ideas to brighten up your home.
Last minute gift ideas for Valentine’s Day
1. KitchenAid Artisan Blender 4.7L Hibiscus
One home appliance we’d absolutely applaud is a stand mixer – and we love KitchenAid Artisan in Hibiscus, the brand’s color of the year. In bright fuchsia with a matte finish, this appliance will brighten the mood in any kitchen.
This model comes with a stainless steel bowl; However, other options are available to enhance your blender of choice. From ceramic designs to quilted and hammered effects, if you don’t opt for bright colors, the bowl is a great way to add some interest to your kitchen decor.
2. Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer with Clear Cook
Air fryers are very popular and while there was pretty much no stock at the end of last year, some of the best air fryers have returned this year. The one that continues to claim our top spot (as picked by our reviewers) is the Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer.
It does a great job of crisping up foods like chips and chicken wings, and is also incredibly versatile with functions for baking, roasting, grilling, reheating and dehydrating, and air frying. We love that it has a window and light so you can easily keep an eye on the food you are cooking. We also applaud its mid-range price of £149.99/$149.99, making it within easy reach of many aspiring air fryer home cooks.
Read our full Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 hot air fryer with ClearCook & OdorErase on test
3. Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is a significant improvement over its predecessors, adding a temperature sensor, helpful typing, and better sound. And it’s on the latter that we’re going to focus, because this is one of the best smart speakers, after all.
With Alexa built-in, you can control the speaker with your voice. Fancy The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights? Just ask Alexa to play it. If you’re a Prime member, you get free access to two million songs and over a thousand playlists and stations through Amazon Music. If you don’t, it will cost you $8.99/£8.99 per month once the 30-day free trial ends. However, if you’re looking for good vibes, the Echo Dot (5th Gen) delivers.
Read our full Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation) in the test
4. Moccamaster KBGV Select
The Moccamaster coffee maker is a beauty. With only two switches to operate, this handcrafted device is easy to use and brews a delicious cup of coffee. We were so impressed during our testing that we gave it five stars, gave it a TechRadar recommendation badge, and voted it our best coffee maker for February.
Available in a wide range of colours, including pink and red, you’re sure to find a model to complement your home decor. It’s not cheap, but we think it’s guaranteed to make someone, even you, very happy.
Read our full Moccamaster KBGV Select in the test
5. Eufy RoboVac 11S
If you really want to rack up some brownie points, buying one of the best robot vacuums should be a serious consideration. In our opinion, the Eufy RoboVac 11S is the best budget option, so it won’t break the bank – although admittedly it will cost you more than a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates.
Simple yet effective, it’ll surely make it a lot easier to keep track of general vacuuming – and honestly, who wouldn’t be excited about that?
Read our full Eufy RoboVac 11S review
6. Dyson Airwrap Styler
This one is a real treat. If you really want to pamper your loved one and splash the big bucks, the coveted Dyson Airwrap Styler would make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Designed to create curls, soft waves and bouncy blow-dryers, it styles hair without using the extreme heat that can leave hair frizzy and dry.
We’ve found it to work very well on straight or wavy, medium to long lengths. If you have shorter or heavily curly hair, it’s not as effective.
Read our full Dyson Airwrap Styler review
7. Shark FlexStyle
Both a hair dryer and a hair styler, Shark’s FlexStyle is one of the best hair dryers we’ve seen in quite a while. It’s the closest we’ve come to a true Dyson Airwrap rival, which will surely save you some cash.
Not only does it look super stylish, you can use it in a variety of ways. It’s easy to rotate the cylinders, switch between styling and drying hair, and Eve comes with numerous styling attachments to cater to a variety of hair types.
In testing, we found it performed better on longer, thicker hair for styling, but was just as impressive when drying on thinner hair.
Read our full Review of the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Hair Drying System
8. Nanoleaf Lines
At TechRadar, we’re big fans of the Nanoleaf. The brand specializes in smart lighting, and in our opinion, the brand’s Lines lights are some of the most eye-catching yet.
They can be mounted on a wall (or ceiling) in almost any way you like, and as soon as you turn them on, the gorgeous colors will transform a room. It’s mood lighting at its finest for those special date nights in.
Read our full Review of Nanoleaf Lines
9. Philips Hue Signe
Do you prefer something more subtle? Available as a table or floor lamp, the Philips Hue Signe produces some of the most beautiful colors we’ve ever seen. One of Signe’s unique selling points is that it uses gradient technology to blend multiple light colors into a single fixture. For a lamp so unassuming, it produces an impressive glow that fills an entire room.
10. SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker
SodaStream is best known for sparkling water, and now the brand is taking it up a notch — you can now add a variety of flavors from Pepsi, Mountain Dew and 7 Up to mixers like Lemon, Lime and Bitter too. The carbon dioxide tank is refillable, with the option to arrange a collection and exchange – or, if you need it quickly, you can stop by a local store identified by the store locator (opens in new tab).
The SodaStream Art makes a fabulous gift for anyone who loves sparkling, flavored water – and for those looking to reduce their soft drink spend.
11. Dualit Lite Kettle & Toaster
Breakfast in bed? Yes, please! And the appliance to fulfill that request is the matching Dualit Lite kettle and 2-slot toaster in that beautiful glossy red.
The upright kettle is easy to use and offers smooth pouring, while the toaster has an eight-level browning function to achieve the perfect toast color.
In this eye-catching shade, it will look fabulous on any kitchen countertop.
12. Cuisinart 2-in-1 waffle and pancake maker
Valentine’s Day isn’t the only day this gadget will come in handy, Pancake Day will follow soon after as well. In fact, pancakes are always good – and the Cuisinart 2-in-1 Waffle and Pancake Maker ensures you serve brilliant breakfasts, superb snacks and delicious desserts every time.
Looks quite attractive on the countertop and doesn’t take up too much space either. We also appreciate that the removable plates are dishwasher safe; but most of all we love this bright pastel pink color!
13. Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser
Apologies to our US readers – the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser is only available to our UK readers, but if you’re wondering what it actually does, then ask yourself no more: it’s a hot chocolate making machine.
Simply add some Hotel Chocolat chocolate flakes to the jug, top up with your favorite milk and then press the button to prepare a super luxurious drink. It is so easy. Available in a choice of white, copper or charcoal (sorry, there is no red) the Velvetiser is the perfect gadget for quickly satisfying chocolate cravings any time of year – but even better for an indulgent indulgence this valentines day.
