Home Tech & Gadgets: What's Actually Worth Buying in May 2026
If you're thinking about upgrading your home setup or grabbing something useful for yourself, the current deals lean toward practical tech rather than trendy lifestyle stuff. Let's break down what's actually worth the money and what has real limitations.
Security Cameras: The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro at $139.99
The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro with 2K video is sitting at $139.99 at Best Buy right now. This is the battery-powered version, which matters because it means no wiring headaches. The 2K resolution is sharp enough for identifying faces and package thieves. The LED lights and 3D motion detection are legitimate features—the lights work as both a deterrent and illuminate footage at night, while 3D detection cuts down on false alerts from trees moving or rain.
The real catch: battery life. Even with "long-lasting" batteries, you're swapping them out every few months depending on activity. If your home gets a lot of motion, you'll be maintaining these more often than a wired system. The wifi needs to be solid too, or you'll get lag in live view. At $139.99, it's reasonable if you want security without running conduit through your walls.
Wi-Fi: The TP-Link Mesh System for Larger Homes
The TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-pack at $249.99 from Best Buy covers serious ground—this is WiFi 6E, which means faster speeds and less congestion if you have multiple devices hammering your network. Three units will handle a large home or small estate.
The tradeoff: WiFi 6E only helps if your devices actually support it. Most phones and laptops still use WiFi 6. You're paying for future-proofing here. Setup is straightforward through their app, but if you're not tech-comfortable, the mesh concept itself might require some troubleshooting.
Hair Removal: The Braun IPL at $219.99
The Braun Silk-expert Pro 3 at Target for $219.99 is a solid mid-range IPL system. IPL works best on darker hair and lighter skin—if you have very dark skin or very fine hair, results are less dramatic. You'll need multiple sessions, and it requires consistency (treatments every 2 weeks initially, then maintenance).
The honest part: IPL isn't permanent hair removal, it's permanent hair reduction. You'll still need touch-ups. At $219.99, it's cheaper than a year of professional treatments, but the time commitment is real.
Power and Cleaning Gear
The Dewalt 20V Max Power Cleaner at Home Depot for $149 is genuinely useful if you have outdoor surfaces. At 550 PSI, it handles light to medium cleaning—driveways, fences, deck prep. Don't expect it to strip paint or tackle heavy industrial work. It's cordless, so no extension cords, but battery life runs 30-45 minutes depending on pressure setting.
The Dyson Cool Tower Fan at $299.99 from Best Buy is expensive for a fan. It moves air well and looks minimal, but you're paying $200+ for aesthetics and brand. A standard tower fan does the same job for $50. Only grab this if the design matters to your space.
The Real Talk
These deals represent practical upgrades rather than impulse buys. None of them are steals—they're fair prices on solid products. Buy the Ring and mesh system if you actually need them. Skip the Dyson fan unless form factor is worth $250 to you.