We’re in the midst of a smart gadget revolution. Anything that can be given wireless connectivity is getting it, from refrigerators and home lighting to smoke detectors and doorbells. While many smart gadgets have broad usage and many more solve specific, niche problems, there are a lot of weird devices out there that leave us scratching our heads. Today we’re running down some of the weirdest smart devices that you can buy right this minute, so settle in for some tech oddities.
Before diving in, keep in mind that while these gadgets may appear weird, they still have the potential to be useful. We’re not saying these devices aren’t worth the money or that they’re entirely without utility. Instead, the gadgets on this list may fill a niche that we didn’t know needed filling or take an interesting approach to solving a common problem. Remember: strange products can still be practical.
Over the past decade or so, we’ve seen a lot of kitchen appliances become internet-connected smart home gadgets. The kitchen has gone through an internet-of-things revolution, undoubtedly prompting companies to explore the appliances and tools they can outfit with displays and WiFi radios next. If you figured we’d eventually see toasters donning touchscreen displays, pat yourself on the back because your prediction was right on the money.
The InstaGLO R180 smart toaster from Revolution is quite possibly the most high-end toaster we’ve ever laid eyes on. While it doesn’t connect to the internet or sync with any mobile apps, it does come with a large touchscreen display on its front and uses a “smart toasting algorithm” to perfectly brown your toastables. In addition, it offers five different food settings – breads, bagels, English muffins, toaster pastries, and yes, even waffles – along with fresh, frozen, and reheat toasting modes.
There are even seven different toasting levels you can pick for each food, ranging from a very light toast to what appears to be completely burnt. While the whole thing seems a little excessive, we’ve certainly charred enough pieces of bread beyond recognition using cheap, $20 toasters to wonder if it’s worth upgrading to the precision toasting of the R180. However, with a price tag of $300, the R180 is no mere impulse buy and one that’s probably best left to only the wealthiest of toast lovers.