13 cool tech gadgets sure to liven up your next backyard party

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As you start planning all the pool parties and backyard barbecues that you’re going to throw this summer, it’s also time to start thinking about what gadgets would help make hosting easier.

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There are a wide range of high-tech products specially designed for use outdoors, including everything from rechargeable mosquito repellers to smart pool monitoring systems, and many of these devices can help take your summer soirees to the next level.

Whether you’re planning an intimate get-together with friends or an all-out block party, here are some of our favorite gadgets to help you become a legendary host or hostess.

1. Wyze Plug Outdoor

No one likes having to crawl under the table or behind the couch to plug in lights, fans, or other outdoor electronics, which is why a smart plug is a must-have for your party space.

The Wyze Plus Outdoor is the best outdoor smart plug we’ve tested, as it offers two independently-controlled outlets that sync up to a user-friendly app.

The plug will even respond to voice commands from Alexa or Google Assistant, and it can be exposed to rain, dust, dirt and snow, allowing you to place it just about anywhere in your yard.

Get the Wyze Plug Outdoor at Amazon for $17

2. Pyle Wall Mount Home Speaker System

No party is complete without music, and these wall-mounted outdoor speakers make it easy to crank up your favorite tunes.

The speakers are water- and UV-resistant, meaning they’re safe to install on your deck or patio, and they have a built-in Bluetooth receiver that allows you to stream music right from your smartphone or laptop.

The speakers deliver full-range audio with a built-in amplifier, and the included mounting brackets allow you to hang them in a variety of positions for optimal sound projection.

Get the Pyle Wall Mount Home Speaker System at Amazon for $126

3. Govee Waterproof Outdoor LED Strip Lights

Set the mood in your backyard with the help of these smart LED strip lights. They come in a 33-foot-long strip, and the lights have an IP65 water-resistant rating, meaning they’re safe to install outdoors.

Using the Grovee Home app, you’re able to adjust the lights to millions of different colors, creating custom “scenes” and even syncing them up with music, and you can even put them on a timer so your backyard is beautifully lit up every night.

Get the Govee Waterproof Outdoor LED Strip Lights at Amazon for $70

4. Mr.Go 8-inch LED Glowing Ball Light

Here’s another fun light to set up during your backyard parties. The 8-inch LED ball runs off a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 12 hours, allowing you to put it just about anywhere in your yard.

It comes with a compact remote that allows you to choose between 16 colors and four lighting effects, and yes, it can even be floated in your pool or other water feature, if desired!

Plus, the ball is available in a variety of other sizes, allowing you to create a cool multi-colored display that’s sure to wow your guests.

Get the Mr.Go 8-inch LED Glowing Ball Light at Amazon for $42

5. Meater Plus Smart Meat Thermometer

Nothing puts a damper on a cookout quite like overcooked food, but you won’t have to worry about burning the brisket when you have this smart meat thermometer.

The Meater Plus can be inserted into whatever you’re cooking or grilling, and the cordless thermometer will monitor the temperature of your food.

It syncs up to your phone with an extra-long range of 165 feet, and it will send you a notification when the food reaches your desired temperature.

Get the Meater Plus Smart Meat Thermometer at Amazon for $100

6. Nebula Mars II Portable Projector

Did someone say movie night? You can watch your favorite films just about anywhere—your backyard included—with this portable projector. The Nebula Mars II is the best portable projector that we’ve tested, edging out the competition thanks to its superior picture quality and user-friendly design.

The battery-powered unit delivers up to four hours of playtime on a single charge, and it features an Android operating system that comes with popular streaming apps like Netflix, Youtube, and Amazon Video already installed.

Get the Nebula Mars II Portable Projector at Amazon for $500

7. Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 Wood Pellet Grill

You can keep tabs on the burgers while you socialize with guests using the Traeger Pro Series 575.

This wood pellet grill not only makes delicious, flavorful food, but it has built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to control its settings right from your phone. It even has a temperature probe that will monitor the doneness of your meat, sending you a smartphone notification when it’s perfectly cooked.

Really, the only thing you have to do is take the food off the grill!

Get the Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 Wood Pellet Grill at Amazon for $900

8. BioLite FirePit+

A fire pit that’s smokeless and Bluetooth-enabled? We really are living in the future! The BioLit FirePit+ runs on regular firewood, and its adjustable fan speed allows you to control the flame intensity.

It also features patented airflow technology that minimizes smoke output, making the fire more enjoyable to sit next to—and during testing, we confirmed that the technology really does work.

Get the BioLite FirePit+ Outdoor Smokeless FirePit and Grill at Amazon for $225

9. WaterGuru Sense Smart Pool Monitoring System

As you’re running around preparing for your party, the last thing you need to worry about is whether your pool chemicals are balanced—luckily, the WaterGuru Sense will take care of that for you.

This sneaky gadget is designed to replace the cover on your skimmer, and it has a cartridge that hangs down into the water, monitoring data like the chlorine levels, pH, temperature and flow. All this information is sent right to your phone, and the app will provide guidance on what needs to be done to maintain perfectly clean, clear water.

Get the WaterGuru Sense Smart Pool Monitoring System at Amazon for $295

10. Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights

Get the party started with these fun smart string lights. Designed for outdoor use, these lights are 48 feet long and feature color-changing LED bulbs.

They connect up to your smartphone via Wi-Fi, allowing you to change the color, dim the brightness, create fun light patterns, and even sync the lights up to music.

Plus, you can control the lights via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for adjustments on the fly.

Get the Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights at Amazon for $70

11. Samsung 55-inch QLED The Terrace Outdoor TV

You can watch the big game or your favorite TV show out on the patio with The Terrace Outdoor TV. It’s available in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch models, and you can choose from full- or partial-sun models, depending on where you plan to put it.

The TV’s QLED picture looks vivid and bright, even in daylight, and its anti-glare screen allows you to watch from practically any angle.

Plus, it has a built-in smart TV platform to stream your favorite apps and can be controlled via Alexa.

Get the Samsung 55-inch Class QLED The Terrace Outdoor TV at Amazon for $2,998

12. Thermacell E-Series Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller

Don’t let mosquitoes crash your party! This rechargeable mosquito repeller from Thermacell uses a heat-activated repellent to create an invisible protection zone, and it can cover up to 20 square feet.

The repellent is odorless and doesn’t require any messy spray, and each refill provides up to 12 hours of protection.

Get the Thermacell E-Series Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller at Amazon for $40

13. Netgear Orbi Outdoor Satellite Wi-Fi Extender

If you’re going to have all these smart gadgets out on your patio, it’s probably a good idea to make sure your Wi-Fi can reach them. That’s where the Netgear Orbi comes in.

This Wi-Fi extender works with any router or gateway, and it’s specifically designed to be used outdoors thanks to its weather-resistant, IP66 rating.

This gadget can extend your Wi-Fi coverage up to 2,500 square feet, allowing you to stream music, watch online content and more, no matter where you are in your yard.

Get the Netgear Orbi Outdoor Satellite WiFi Extender at Amazon for $250

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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: Shop tech gadgets from Mr.Go, Nebula, Traeger and more at Amazon