This year's edition of CES was a very different experience from previous gatherings, but it didn't perturb the biggest names in the tech world from releasing a slew of new gadgets over the course of the week.

One of the most popular sectors at CES is always smart home devices, and despite the virtual nature of the 2021 event, that trend was no different this time around.

Here are some of the hottest new smart home gadgets we saw at CES 2021.

Smart Kitchen Tech

You no longer need to be Gordon Ramsey to whip up Michelin Star-grade delicacies.

1. ColdSnap Ice Cream Maker

This prototype ice cream maker from ColdSnap can make a selection of frozen desserts in just 90 seconds.

It might taste lovely, but critics panned the device for its environmental impact. It uses Keurig-esque pods, leading to the Right to Repair Association granting it a worst-in-show award.

2. Alexa-Enabled Microwave From Sharp

Sharp used the CES warm-up event, Techfluence, to announce its first counter-top Alexa-enabled microwave.

You can use Alexa to issue basic instructions to your microwave (such as start/stop, add time, set food type, etc.), but there are also plenty of third-party integrations available.

Smart Bathroom Tech

Your bathroom is about to become a whole lot more high-tech if these companies' devices are successful.

3. TOTO's Bathroom of the Future

Bathroom equipment manufacturer TOTO was on the virtual show floor to show off its range of new smart bathroom tech.

With a focus on wellness and health monitoring, its new devices included a toilet that can analyze your feces and a bidet with a built-in blow dryer for your bottom. How very futuristic...

4. Kohler's $16,000 Bathtub

CES wouldn't be CES without some outrageously priced bathroom tech.

This year, it was Kohler's turn to do the honors. Its $16,000 bathtub, complete with a fog machine, aromatherapy scents, and lighting system, is sure to be a hit among those parts of society that can afford it.

But before you hit the shops, just be aware that you'll need to remodel your entire bathroom suite in order to accommodate its complex design.

5. Hydraloop H600 Water Recycling Unit

The average household wastes gallons of water every day. Just think how much money you could save if you could reuse that water in other parts of your home.

That's what the Hydraloop H600 Water Recycling Unit offers. It has the capacity to clean 1,000 liters a day, with the manufacturer claiming that the machine can recirculate up to 85 percent of the water that goes down your plug hole.

Smart Home Security Tech

CES regular Ring was a surprising absentee from this year's show (though the company still timed the rollout of its new end-to-end encryption feature to coincide with CES).

Thankfully, Ring's absence didn't stop other smart home security companies from rolling out a bevy of new products.

6. Touchless Doorbell From Arlo

Pandemic-themed tech was big news at CES 2021—even Razer managed to get in on the act with its smart face mask.

One of the most obviously beneficial products, however, was Arlo's touchless doorbell.

Doorbells are seen as a transmission weak spot, especially with more people than ever ordering basic household supplied online and taking deliveries. A touchless doorbell helps to slash the transmission risk.

7. Smart Mimic's Portable Alarm

If you have a lot of valuable, non-fixed items in your home, the new Mimic GO might be the security solution you need.

The palm-sized device can attach to most surfaces and will issue an alert if it detects that the item to which it is affixed is moved.

It's ideal for items such as lawnmowers, bikes, garden furniture, and safety deposit boxes.

8. Owl Wired Home Security System

The new Owl Wired home security system will ship in late 2021. It provides a complete set of tools to keep your home safe and secure, including an internet-enabled smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, and security monitor.

Third-party services like Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT are all supported, meaning the system easily integrates with the rest of your smart home gadgets.

9. Nobi Smart Lamp With Fall Detection

For older people, one of the biggest dangers of being at home is a bad fall.

If you have an elderly relative who lives alone, you should consider the new Nobi smart light. It uses sensors and AI software to detect when someone falls over, then immediately reaches out to their emergency contact.

The smart light feature can also recognize when someone wakes up or gets off the couch and adjust the lighting in the room accordingly. The idea is that a better-lit room will reduce the chances of a fall in the first place.

Smart Outdoor Tech

If you want to tech-ify your garden, there was no shortage of new devices for you to dig into.

10. Lutron's New Outdoor Smart Plug

lutron ring ces

Lutron is best known for its smart lighting systems. At CES, however, the company branched out into a new area with the release of its outdoor smart plug.

The plug, which has an IP65 water and dust resistance rating, is ideal if you want to hook up thematic outdoor lights, security floodlights, and holiday lights.

11. ELIoT Smart Vertical Garden

Who said you need to have a garden to enjoy plants, flowers, and other greenery?

GardenStuff used CES to bring the outdoors into your lounge with the release of its new smart vertical garden.

The wall-mounted garden is packed with smart features. It uses five sensors to provide continuous feedback to the accompanying smartphone app, giving you unrivaled insight into your plants' progress and health.

Smart Kids Tech

Finally, let's take a look at some of the newest CES products aimed at kids and parents in 2021.

12. The Tata Pad: Never Forget Your Child Again

tata pad

Kids locked in cars are more common than you might think.

The Tata Pad is a lifesaver for those forgetful moms and dads. Attach it to your kid's car seat and it will alert you if you walk away from your vehicle while the kid is still inside.

13. Skoog Cube

The best CES device for very young children was Skoog Cube's sensory toy. The device, which is packed with a whole suite of games and learning activities, was at the tradeshow to announce a new partnership with Sesame Street.

14. Hatch Rest Mini: Better Sleep for Babies

Multiple years of sleepless nights for new parents might be a thing of the past thanks to a new smart sleep product from Hatch.

The new device, called the Hatch Rest Mini, is a smaller version of the full-featured Rest+. The new Mini device is a sound machine with eight different loops, all of which are scientifically proven to help babies get a more restful night. The available sounds are white noise, ocean waves, running water, rain, soft wind, chirping birds, a steady heartbeat, and a dryer.

And the Rest...

We couldn't possibly cover all the cool smart home gadgets we saw in a single article. After all, there were more than 2,000 exhibitors on the show floor.

However, a few other honorable mentions include the OneLife X air purifier, Trova's biometric security box, and Nooie's new smart lightbulb.

Check out the articles if you would like to learn more about each product.