• Uncategorised

7 smart outdoor tech gadgets for creating a backyard oasis

It’s that time of year when all you can think about is relaxing in the backyard without a care in the world. Whether you’re gathering with friends around the patio table, sinking into the hot tub, or just lazing about in a hammock, making your space the best it can be pays dividends. Not only will you save money on restaurants and bars by making your place better than going out, but you’ll also be able to de-stress, get a great nap in, and really enjoy the summer.

The outdoors can be tricky for a tech fan due to the elements, limited Wi-Fi range, and lack of places to plug in. With advances in battery storage, connectivity, and waterproofing, your problems have been solved. It’s time to make your backyard that perfect oasis you can escape to when work’s over for the day.

We’ve got some great picks to help make things exactly the way you want and automate things along the way.

Show 3 more items
Terry Walsh/Digital Trends

Philips Hue Outdoor lights

Add color to your garden

  • 16 million colors with adjustable output to 900 lumens
  • Weatherproof operation in all conditions
  • Freestanding or screw-clip mounting options
  • Simple installation with extension kit available for longer runs
  • Support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Strips can’t be cut to size
  • Drab silicone cladding

Outdoor lighting is a key first step in creating the perfect backyard ambiance. Added lighting can keep you safer from hidden hazards you might trip on and also from prowlers. Best of all, it can really make a statement.

Imagine your yard lit up in colors, allowing you to keep the party going long after sunset. Philips Hue Outdoor Light Strips are a great choice here. You can use them to line the walkway, make a border for a flowerbed, or hang them from the side of your building.

They come with mounting clips for placing them along railings or posts. These lights have an IP67 rating, meaning they can endure pretty much any kind of weather without worry. They work with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant, and you can create routines to turn them into specific colors and modes.

You can also control the appearance and brightness of the lights with the Hue app. The lights are dimmable, have a diffused lighting effect, and can change color.

Philips Hue Outdoor lights

Add color to your garden

Bose SoundLink Flex

Waterproof sound for rugged pursuits

  • Small, portable
  • Great sound
  • Floats

In the past, outdoor speakers meant either carrying your boombox around or running a lot of speaker wire to a location that was safe from rain. These days, we have wireless connectivity and waterproof devices.

You can take your tunes anywhere and even customize the sound and point it where you want. There are a couple of solid options for wireless outdoor speakers. The Bose Soundlink Flex offers high-quality sound from a relatively small speaker.

Bose has made a name by providing amazing speakers, and the Soundlink Flex is no exception. It has a 30-foot range from your device and remembers the last eight devices paired to it. The app offers custom algorithms and sound balancing, and the speaker can also receive calls from your phone.

It offers 12 hours of playtime before recharging and has an IP67 rating. It even floats!

Bose SoundLink Flex

Waterproof sound for rugged pursuitsTed Kritsonis/Digital Trends

JBL Flip 6

Popular and effective

  • Solid build quality
  • Loud and clear sound
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Excellent water and dust protection
  • EQ offers some sound tweaking
  • Works with JBL Portable app and PartyBoost
  • Can’t stereo pair with non-Flip 6 JBL speakers
  • Doesn’t work as a speakerphone
  • Not drastically different from Flip 5

JBL’s Flip 6 allows you to stream music from two separate mobile devices so that you can share DJ duties. It has a two-way speaker system and even features a separate tweeter to expand the sound range.

Like the Soundlink Flex, it’s IP67 rated, so it can withstand the elements, and the battery should last 12 hours before needing a recharge. It also offers simple controls on the unit itself and an app to fine-tune the sound. It comes in a number of fun colors and designs.

JBL Flip 6

Popular and effectiveTerry Walsh/Digital Trends

Ring Spotlight Cam

Add light and security

  • Robust, compact, and weather-resistant
  • Integrated spotlight, siren, and motion detection
  • Simple installation
  • Ring controller app offers lots of features
  • Video recording requires subscription
  • Delays when editing motion zones

It’s always a good idea to have an extra set of eyes on your home.

That’s where security cameras can help. Ring has a great line of outdoor cameras, whether you have a place to wire them or need a battery-powered model. They feature two-way audio, advanced motion detection, and a wide field of view to ensure the whole yard is in the frame.

The app allows you to see the camera live or review captured footage. They’re also compatible with Amazon Alexa.

Ring Spotlight Cam

Add light and security

Weber Genesis II 3-Burner Gas Grill

All the grilling power, plus tech smarts!

  • Nice design
  • Durable build
  • Easy to light
  • Smart technology built in
  • AC or Power bank option for smart module
  • Lots of storage
  • Extra burner is handy
  • Cost?
  • Learning curve with Weber app
  • Assembly takes a while

The party isn’t hopping until the grill is lit, and smart grills are all the rage. They’re adaptable and will help you ensure your food turns out perfect every time.

You can use the app to connect to probes on the grill and watch cooking temperatures as the day progresses. The Weber Genesis Smart Grill has built-in probes that connect wirelessly to their app, allowing you to monitor the temperature of what you’re grilling. The app also walks you through the recipe step-by-step from prep to serving and will alert you when it’s time to take the food off the grill.

There’s optional grill lighting that illuminates the cooking area and the front knobs.

Weber Genesis II 3-Burner Gas Grill

All the grilling power, plus tech smarts!

Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller

Use less water on your grass during the summer

  • Effortless control
  • Easy to program/schedule
  • Works Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit(TM), Google Assistant, Nest, IFTTT, and more
  • Need a full sprinkler system already
  • May not be compatible with all systems

Rachio has made managing your sprinkler system almost effortless. Install the sprinkler control box, then connect to your smartphone or another device to set the schedule and see how much water your grass is getting. It also checks local weather to determine if there’s been rain.

If so, it will change the schedule to avoid overwatering.

The system will also adjust the amount of water the sprinklers are using based on what you’re watering (bushes, vegetable garden, grass, etc.).

Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller

Use less water on your grass during the summer

Editors’ Recommendations

Tags:

high-street-tv listed on couponmatrix.ukiherb listed on couponmatrix.ukjust-park listed on couponmatrix.ukoxygen-freejumping listed on couponmatrix.uksmyths listed on couponmatrix.ukzavetti listed on couponmatrix.uk
high-street-tv listed on couponmatrix.ukWith three dedicated 24/7 shopping channels and over 200 hours of television advertising a day, High Street TV is one of the UK’s leading distributors of inventive and engaging products. High Street TV stocks a huge variety of products that will make daily tasks a breeze and your day to day life easier. At Groupon we’re always bringing you the very best new deals and discounts from across the web, with the site being updated with new savings every day. We have lots of ways for you to save on your purchases with High Street TV, so you can focus on enjoying their great products. If you’d like to see your desired product in action before you make your purchase, then you can pay a visit to one of High Street TV’s dedicated shopping channels where you can see how the product is used and the results that you can expect from it. When you shop with High Street TV you don’t need to leave anything up to the imagination.
iherb listed on couponmatrix.ukiHerb is an affordable health, beauty and supplement retailer that offers rock-bottom prices and a super-generous rewards scheme. Stocking all your favourites like Aveeno, Garden of Life, K-Beauty and Simply Organic, at iHerb you can feel your best for less – make sure you bag an iHerb discount code from us for rock-bottom prices! From face masks and makeup to probiotics and plant-based proteins, shop at iHerb to start feeling great from the inside out.
just-park listed on couponmatrix.ukJustPark has been rethinking parking for the 21st century. By unlocking over 20,000 previously underused car parking spaces across the UK, Just Park are able to provide cheaper, more convenient parking to over 1 million UK drivers. With your Just Park promo code, you can find, reserve and pay for a convenient parking spot without the hassle or expensive price tag in over 1,000 cities.
oxygen-freejumping listed on couponmatrix.ukBounce, spin and flip your way through hours of fun at Oxygen Freejumping, the trampoline park for people of all ages. With four unique and colourful parks to enjoy throughout the country, find your local freejumping centre and get a great deal on your first booking with an Oxygen Freejumping promo code. With kids classes, annual passes and enough capacity for parties, it’s the perfect spot to bounce off some steam.
smyths listed on couponmatrix.ukStocking the latest and greatest children’s toys in the UK, Smyths promises fantastic quality, competitive prices and excellent customer service. From dolls and dinosaurs to slime and science kits, there’s something to keep every kid entertained at Smyths. Make every celebration affordable with a Smyths discount code and enjoy gifting your little ones for less. Action figures are always a favourite among kids, that’s why Smyths provides such a hugely diverse range, including the likes of Barbie, Paw Patrol, Lego and hundreds more. Get the whole family active with outdoor games, bikes, scooters and keep everyone feeling happy and healthy.
zavetti listed on couponmatrix.ukEmbrace your inner Italian stallion and turn heads everywhere with Zavetti, the modern fashion brand that brings the collective confidence of the Italian Peninsula directly to your wardrobe. Pick from comfy cargo pants and trendy t-shirts, then make the most of a Zavetti discount code to bulk out your wardrobe on a budget. Hosting both lightweight summer designs from the Zavetti Milano branch and wintery trends from the Zavetti Canada store in one single space, there’s no country or temperature unfit for the Zavetti style.