Home Entertainment Gadgets For Movie Lovers
For movie lovers who love a cozy night in, these gifts will help make their at-home film watching experiences even better. They include everything from a slick new projector to a deluxe blanket for cuddling up with popcorn.
This fun gift lets classics fans keep track of films they’ve seen with a unique scratch-off poster. It also serves as a motivational tool to push them to see more of the blockbuster and cult classics.
Roku Streaming Stick+
Since its debut in 2017, the Roku Streaming Stick+ has been CNET’s favorite streaming device for the price. This compact media player plugs right into your TV and lets you watch HD, 4K and Dolby Vision movies and shows. It offers a huge selection of content, including free titles, and also boasts worthwhile features like a voice remote with buttons that control your TV.
Setup is a breeze and the device is ENERGY STAR certified to save you money on utility bills. A redesigned long-range Wi-Fi receiver improves performance, and Roku offers an optional external antenna for better reception.
The Streaming Stick+’s remote feels a lot more premium than previous models and is comfortable to hold. It’s also rechargeable, so you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries.
Wi-Fi Extender
A Wi-Fi extender takes the internet signal that your router transmits and rebroadcasts it over a new, extended network. You can use it to fill in gaps in your home or office’s wireless range without drilling holes in your walls and running ethernet cables.
Typically, you can connect devices to a range extender by installing an app or manually entering the device’s login information in your browser. Many of the extenders we’ve tested have built-in QR codes that let you scan them or enter them into your smartphone for easy setup.
Desktop range extenders look like small routers and usually have multiple Ethernet ports for boosting your internet speed. Plug-in extenders are smaller and slide right into an electrical outlet and often have external antennas for a less obtrusive profile.
Anker Nebula
The Capsule is an all-in-one portable projector that can serve up a movie night at home, on a road trip, or in the backcountry. It features a decently sized battery, excellent speakers, and Android TV operating system.
It’s not the most portable projector, but it is one of the few that can run a native version of Netflix and other streaming apps, as well as share screens with mobile devices using AirPlay or Screen Cast. And the image quality is pretty good for a pico projector, as long as you have a reasonably dark room to work with.
The only drawback is the lack of a backlit remote, but for the price it’s not that big of a deal. The button on the top of the device is used to power it on and off, while holding it down for two seconds will bring it out of standby mode.
Philips Hue Smart Bulbs
Philips Hue bulbs offer a variety of features that will enhance your movie experience. You can use their app with all major voice assistants, and they also integrate well with other smart home devices like SmartThings, IFTTT, and more. You’ll need a separate hub called the Bridge to connect the bulbs to your router, but that’s not too uncommon for these kinds of devices.
For a more traditional look, the company has a line of bulbs that feature a twisted filament. They work with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant, but don’t support color. You can also add a switch that lets you control presets without your phone, but it doesn’t cut out the need for an app entirely.
Samsung The Freestyle
Samsung’s sophisticated LED portable is a jack-of-all-trades that brings largescreen fun to any room in no time. It’s a smart TV, projector and speaker all in one, with built-in far-field microphones that support Bixby or Amazon Alexa voice assistants.
The Freestyle can be set up in seconds with automatic keystoning, levelling and focusing. Point it at a wall or the ceiling and choose an image size between 30 and 100 inches.
The Freestyle automatically optimises projection based on wall color for the best viewing experience. It also delivers Full HD resolution with vivid colours. Stream content from certified OTT services and the Smart Hub app. The Battery Base is optional, providing up to 3 hours of battery usage for portable movie play. Requires Wi-Fi, compatible smartphone and SmartHub subscription (data, device and gaming service subscriptions may apply). *Alternative power source is external battery via USB-C (sold separately). Warranty does not cover third-party batteries.
Samsung The Frame
The Frame is a smart TV that lets you display artwork, pictures, movies and even shows. It’s got a 4K screen that’s incredibly bright, offers super dark blacks and more than one billion accurate colors. It also has several picture modes, including Game mode that offers ideal settings for gaming and Movie mode that automatically adjusts image quality for watching movies. The 2024 version of Samsung’s Frame has a few improvements, including a matte finish that reduces glare and is Pantone Validated for color accuracy; a new art selection service that provides a monthly curation that you can display on your TV; and a motion sensor that turns off the TV when nobody’s around.
Press the power button to switch to “Art Mode,” and you’ll see a picture that looks like a framed piece of artwork up close. It uses less electricity than TV mode, too.