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Smart appliance and home tech gifts for your grad

Facing the real world can be daunting. Here are a few home tech products that can help make post-education dwelling feel more comforting.

Rich Brown
Rich was the editorial lead for CNET's Home and Wellness sections, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Before moving to Louisville in 2013, Rich ran CNET's desktop computer review section for 10 years in New York City. He has worked as a tech journalist since 1994, covering everything from 3D printing to Z-Wave smart locks.
Rich Brown
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1 of 9 Colin West McDonald/CNET

Bunn MyCafe MCU

The only product so far to earn an Editor's Choice award from our Appliance reviews team, the Bunn MyCafe MCU makes a fantastic cup of coffee, using either K-Cup pods or fresh grounds.

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2 of 9 Colin West McDonald/CNET

Cree 60-Watt Replancment LED

Keep those utility bills down by switching to LED light bulbs. This Cree 60-watt Replacement bulb is our favorite.

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3 of 9 Colin West McDonald/CNET

Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

The $59.99 Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget 6 Qt. Programmable Slow Cooker With Spoon/Lid  offers all of the basics, plus a spoon rest on the top handle and a thermometer probe that lets you check the temperature of your food.

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4 of 9 Colin West McDonald/CNET

Hoover Platinum Collection Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum

This Hoover Linx cordless stick vacuum has some of the best performance in its class at a reasonable price. It's also simple, with no storage-hogging attachments to take up space in a small apartment.

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5 of 9 Colin West McDonald/CNET

Neato XV Signature Pro

This Roomba alternative goes about its cleaning business in orderly fashion. If your grad has a tidiness learning curve to climb, the Neato XV Signature Pro can help.

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6 of 9 Colin West McDonald/CNET

Ninja Ultimate Blender BL810

Help make sure your grad eats right by springing for Ninja's  lethally-effective blender. A single-serve cup accessory for smoothies is a welcome extra.

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7 of 9 Colin West McDonald/CNET

Blacksumac Piper

This all-in-one security and sensor hub is perfect for small apartment dwellers that want to keep an eye on things at home while they're out. Tech-oriented grads will also like that it can work as a home automation hub thanks to a built-in Z-Wave receiver.

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8 of 9 Colind West McDonald/CNET

Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven

The retro-styled Panasonic FlashXpress toaster oven is a powerful countertop cooking device that cooks fast, has a pleasing loo, and won't take up too much space on a counter top.

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9 of 9 Colin West McDonald/CNET

PowerPractical PowerPot V

Outdoorsy grads will appreciate this handy camp pot that can charge portable devices while it boils water.

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