Living spaces are more interconnected and intuitive than ever, thanks to the rise of smart tech.
Living spaces are more interconnected and intuitive than ever, thanks to the rise of smart tech. Tap into the latest home gadgets and gizmos BY ELIZABETH LIEW
Featuring a sleek profile, the Loewe bild 5 OLED TV, $6,399, from Atlas Sound & Vision is thinner than the average smartphone and can be set up depending on your preferences – place it on a media console, mount it on the wall or an oak floor stand. OLED technology also means high-quality blacks and true-to-life visuals.
Enhance Your Vision
Take your TV-viewing experience to the next level with state-of-the-art flatscreens that offer excellent picture quality and elevate the look of your home with a host of unique design features.
Boasting more accurate colours and razorsharp details, the Samsung QLED Q7F TV, from $4,499, incorporates anti-reflection technology for more comfortable viewing even in bright daylight. When wall-mounted, the screen can be changed to artwork or a family photo, or even altered to mimic your wall so it blends seamlessly into the background, all via Samsung’s smartphone app.
The voice-activated LG OLED TV, from $4,699, lets you surf channels and control volume more simply – you just need to speak into the remote control. Enjoy richer colours and clarity as its improved processor effectively lowers visual noise on the screen, and it’s also equipped with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for a more cinematic experience.
Each Panasonic TH-65FZ1000S OLED TV, from $10,999, is said to be tuned in Hollywood, so you can expect a high level of picture quality the way it’s intended to be, with brilliant colour reproduction and deeper blacks to give you natural and more authentic-looking visuals.
Surround Sound
Complete your home cinema experience with these slim soundbars that pack a punch.
Bring your beloved soundtracks to life with vivid clarity on cinema mode or blast your favourite songs on wide music mode with the versatile BlueSound Pulse Soundbar, $1,399, which fits snugly under your TV.
The glasstopped, low profile Bose SoundTouch 300 Soundbar, $1,099, is integrated with custom-shaped speakers, and features topof- the-line technology to deliver deep, crystal-clear and full-bodied sounds.
Pump out powerful audio with the Jamo Studio SB 36 Soundbar, $399, which features a built-in subwoofer and a Dolby Audio Decoder to give you cinematic virtual surround sound without the need for additional speakers.
Hub Of The Home
Say goodbye to WiFi dead zones and manage all your home’s smart devices on one platform with the newest mesh systems.
Boost weak signal spots by strategically placing one or more TP-Link Deco M9 Plus, from $199, around your home – your devices will automatically switch to the faster router no matter where you roam indoors. It can also connect over 100 devices from lights to security cameras, which you can then monitor and manage via a user-friendly app.
The Samsung Connect Home, $198, helps you achieve more stable and seamless connectivity throughout your home, whether you’re streaming your favourite Korean drama or making a Skype call. Automating your home is also a breeze as you can connect smart appliances to it using the Samsung SmartThings app.
Cool Down
These stylish, top-of-theline fans do more than just keep your home wellventilated.
The advanced Novita GreenFan F2, $268, is able to oscillate both horizontally and vertically, essentially providing you with 25 per cent more coverage while circulating air smoothly at an energy-efficient two watts power.
Unlike traditional ceiling fans, the Haiku H Series Fan, from $1,500, features a more streamlined design that maximises airflow, as well as built-in automatic LED mood lighting and 10 advanced settings such as a timer and sleep mode.
Loaded with an improved HEPA filter and better oscillation, Dyson’s latest Pure Cool Tower Purifier Fan, $899, works to project a powerful stream of clean, purified air around your entire room, while a brand new LCD display shows you air quality information in real time.
Just Say It
These revolutionary voice-activated Bluetooth speakers can help you perform a myriad of tasks without you even having to lift a finger.
Driven by Amazon’s voice control assistant, Alexa, the latest Echo Dot, $149, features an improved speech processor and can be relied on for functions such as playing music, reading the news, and is compatible with other smart home devices from lights to air conditioners.
Powered by Google Assistant, the compact Google Home Mini, $79, makes managing each household member’s daily tasks or controlling your smart devices easier – ask for traffic updates, stream music or turn on the lights without a remote control. It recognises up to six different voices – even Singlish accents!
Combining HD audio with built-in Google Assistant and Chromecast, the smart JBL Link 300, $359, is a goto for powering your next house party or movie night. Easily stream content from entertainment apps, adjust the volume, play music and so much more.
Hit The Lights
Set your desired ambiance with customisable lighting solutions.
Get your creative juices flowing with Nanoleaf Light Panels Smarter Kit (with nine panels), $359. This modular wall LED light system can be connected and arranged however you like, with a myriad of different colour combinations that you can configure via smartphone.
Personalise your home lighting to suit various settings with Philips Hue White And Colour Ambiance Starter Kit, $289, from Signify. These WiFi-enabled LED bulbs can be controlled via your smartphone, and can even sync to music.
TP-Link’s Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb with tunable white light, $69, lets you easily adjust brightness, from cosy soft white to energetic daylight, straight from your smartphone or with voice control.
Chill Out
Keep energy bills low and your home cool on perennially hot days with these advanced air conditioners.
In addition to having five ticks for maximum energy efficiency, the Daikin Smile Series air conditioners can also be paired with Daikin’s D’SmartHome app so you can operate and schedule all your air conditioners remotely. Price upon request.
The five-tick Panasonic XS Series Multi-Split air conditioner, from $2,499, is engineered with Econavi technology to help you save on energy bills and equipped with nanoe technology, which works to clean the air even as it cools.
Guard Your Air
Purge indoor air of pollutants and breathe healthier air with the latest generation of air purifiers.
For cleaner and more comfortable indoor air, Novita 3-in-1 PuriClean Complete Air Purifier NAP002Hi, $799, works to kill 99.97 per cent of airborne allergens, boost humidity when air is too dry, and release negative ions which has calming, stressrelieving effects.
Equipped with a highly-advanced sensor that can identify fine particles smaller than PM2.5, the Philips Air Purifier Series 3000i, $899, intuitively detects any drop in air quality to automatically get to work. You can remotely control it with an app too.
Activate the futuristic Cuckoo B Model Air Purifier, $1,499, from the comfort of your couch, thanks to its voice control function. Its eight-level filtration includes a four-stage HEPA filter, a toxic gas filter, and a plasma ionizer to protect against bacteria in the air.
The Airfree Iris, $638, is constructed with a ceramic core to burn away even the tiniest microorganism, thus sterilising the air. It’s easy to use with virtually no maintenance needed, and emits coloured light to enhance the atmosphere.
