Summer’s almost here, and if you’ve got outdoor space, like a patio, pool, or backyard, you’re likely looking for any excuse to make the most of it. Whether you’re hosting a weekend cookout, lazing around the pool with a cold drink, or just enjoying a relaxing evening, there are a few smart gadgets that can take the whole experience up a notch. Here are some tech products worth getting to upgrade your patio and pool this season.
Beatbot Sora 70 – Four-in-one all-purpose AI high-efficiency pool cleaning robot
If you’ve ever finished a tedious pool-cleaning session only to realize you missed the waterline, or the shallow end steps are still grimy, an automated pool cleaning system that covers everything would feel like a dream come true. That’s now a reality with the Beatbot Sora 70.
The headline feature is full-zone coverage of the floor, walls, waterline, and water surface with a single cordless robot. Surface cleaning is a particularly impressive addition, since it’s a feature that’s usually missing with other pool cleaners in this price range.
SonicSense™ is Sora 70’s proprietary AI feature that helps it better understand your pool. Using real-time ultrasonic signals, it cuts through water reflections and wall clutter to detect actual obstacles and avoid false alarms.
It also automatically maps your pool’s long and short edges, dynamically adjusting its S-shaped cleaning path, shortening strides around curves, and navigating tricky corners with precision. The Sora 70 captures signals, measures dimensions, and plots the most efficient route, giving you a thorough, intelligent cleaning every time.
The Sora 70’s JetPulse™ system handles surface skimming with twin jets that actively pull floating debris inward rather than pushing it away. And instead of making the cleaner go through a full cycle every time, the Sora 70 even has a dedicated Water Surface Mode.
The 10,000 mAh battery is solid, giving you 7 hours of surface cleaning or 5 hours on the floor. And with 65W fast charging, it’ll be back up and running in just 4.5 hours.
Its cleaning capabilities are, of course, impressive, as well. 6,800 GPH suction, an extended 6.7-inch inlet, and eight motors mean it handles everything from fine sand to larger debris in one pass. And with a 6L debris basket, you won’t have to empty it out too often.
It also features shallow-platform cleaning, with the Sora 70 capable of operating in water as shallow as eight inches, which is useful for pools with steps, benches, or sun shelves.
Once the Sora 70 has finished cleaning, another major feature kicks in: Smart Water Surface Parking. The pool cleaner automatically floats to the pool’s edge, so you’re not fishing a heavy robot out of the deep end every time.
If you’re looking for a complete pool-cleaning package, the Sora 70 should be on your radar. And during Beatbot’s Anniversary Sale, you can get the Sora 70 for just $1,149 ($350 off).
Crystal Water Monitor
Keeping a pool or hot tub properly balanced is one of those chores that’s more tedious than it appears at first. You’re either fumbling with test strips that aren’t accurate, or carrying water samples around to stores to make sure you have the dosing right. The Crystal Water Monitor takes that effort out of the equation.
The device sits in your pool, hot tub, or swim spa and uses lab-grade, platinum-coated sensors to continuously monitor pH, ORP, and temperature. Unlike competitors that check your water once a day, the Crystal monitor does it 144 times, so you’ll have a much more accurate idea of what’s going on in your water.
There’s an app, available on both Android and iOS, that’ll send you a push notification immediately if it senses something’s off. It also tells you exactly which chemical to add and how much.
All you have to do is connect the monitor to your Wi-Fi and drop it in the water. If you’ve been spending your summer stressing about water chemistry, the Crystal Smart Water Monitor is worth a look. It’s priced at $449 and includes a free subscription for the first year.
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4
A good outdoor speaker is a must-have for summer. You’ll want something loud, tough enough to withstand a splash or accidental drop, and with long battery life. The UE MEGABOOM 4 checks all the right boxes.
The speaker delivers 360-degree sound, so it doesn’t matter where you place it; there’s no “dead zone” to worry about. The bass is notably deep for a speaker this size, and if you like to fine-tune things, the UE app lets you adjust the EQ and choose from preset sound modes.
An IP67 rating means it’s fully dustproof and can handle being submerged up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. So it’ll be fine even if it takes a dunk in the pool.
Another handy feature is PartyUp mode, which lets you link more than 150 compatible UE speakers. For a no-fuss, waterproof outdoor speaker that works great, the MEGABOOM 4 is a solid pick. It’s currently priced at $167.
Sylvox Pool Pro 3.0 outdoor TV
If you’ve ever tried watching a normal TV outside on a sunny day, it has likely been washed out and barely visible. The Sylvox Pool Pro 3.0 is built specifically to prevent that.
The headline is its 2,000 nits of brightness. That means the Pool Pro 3.0 is anywhere from six to eight times brighter than most standard TVs, which is what you need to get a sharp, vivid picture even in full, direct sunlight. It comes with a 4K resolution and supports HDR10 and Dolby Atmos for audio.
The whole unit is built around a full metal housing, which means it handles rain, wind, and heat, while the IP56 waterproof rating covers it for water and dust resistance. And even the remote is IP66-rated.
It runs Google TV with built-in Chromecast, so you’ll have access to all your favorite streaming apps. And with Google Assistant baked in, you can change channels, search for content, or control compatible smart home devices using your voice.
The Pool Pro 3.0 is available in multiple screen sizes from 43 inches to 75 inches, and is priced starting at $1,560. For serious outdoor entertainment, this is an excellent choice.
Nebula Mars 3
Not everyone wants a permanently mounted outdoor TV. If you’d rather have the flexibility to set up a big-screen movie night anywhere, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is one of the best portable projectors you can get.
It features 1,000 ANSI lumens and delivers a true 1080p image, which is plenty for evening outdoor viewing. The maximum screen size is 200 inches, so you can go as big as you want if you have the wall space. Features like auto-focus, auto-keystone, and auto-framing mean you don’t have to fiddle with settings every time you move it. It also has a small, adjustable built-in stand.
The built-in battery gives you up to 5 hours in Eco mode, and up to 2 hours at full brightness. That’s enough for a full movie without needing a nearby power source. The battery also doubles as a power bank, so you can charge other devices from it. The three-speaker audio system built into the unit is solid, but you can also pair a Bluetooth speaker.
It runs Android TV 11 and includes Chromecast support, giving you access to all your streaming apps. For a portable, easy-to-set-up media watching experience, the Nebula Mars 3 is worth buying. It’s currently priced at $740.
Thermacell Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller EX90
This one isn’t glamorous, but might actually be the most essential. For many, the biggest obstacle outdoors isn’t the weather, but rather, mosquitoes. Bug sprays work, but are smelly, sticky, and need to be reapplied often, while bug zappers can get quite loud. The Thermacell Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller takes a different approach.
The device is compact, runs on a rechargeable battery that charges via USB-C, and includes a replaceable cartridge containing metofluthrin. When you press the button to turn it on, a built-in heating element warms the cartridge, dispersing the repellent into the air and creating a 20-foot protection zone around the device.
It takes about 15 minutes to fully establish the coverage zone, and once it’s active, it works reliably. Battery life varies by model, but this EX90 version provides up to 9 hours of use on a single charge.
If you’re planning to spend any meaningful time outdoors, this is one of the most useful gadgets you can buy this summer. The Thermacell EX90 is priced at around $43.
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