From Vanity to Genius: How Smart Mirrors Upgrade Mornings

Today's mirrors have evolved from just showing your reflection to also delivering your daily schedule, informing you of the weather, and even recommending the perfect products for your skin. Called smart mirrors, these low-profile, high-tech devices might just be one of the coolest smart home gadgets you can buy.

What Is a Smart Mirror?

You know what a mirror is. A smart mirror is the same thing, but it's packed with technology to enable you to do much more than just watch yourself brush your teeth. There's a hidden screen behind its surface that can show helpful information like the time and weather, while still working like a normal mirror.

By showing some of the same information you'd normally check on your phone, a smart mirror helps you stay up to date with what's important while you're getting ready, which can cut out extra steps in your routine.

What Can a Smart Mirror Do?

Much like a smartphone or computer, a smart mirror's possibilities extend far beyond its basic purpose. From showing personal information and health metrics to offering entertainment and productivity tools, below are some of the ways a smart mirror can enhance your daily routine and keep important details right where you need them.

• Display daily essentials: Set alarms and reminders, and show the current time, date, and upcoming events so that you're always on track.
• Provide quick updates: Real-time news headlines, weather forecasts, traffic reports, and market information, all in one place, means you can keep your phone in the other room.
• Control your home: Link your smart mirror to your other smart devices to turn it into a central hub where you can control the thermostat and lights from your bedroom or bathroom.
• Suggest beauty tips: Some smart mirrors can look back at you to analyze your skin and suggest new routines, makeup, hairstyles, etc.
• Keep you connected: A smart mirror connected to your phone can enable video calls, and some include full app stores, letting you download all the same apps you're used to using on your phone.
• Respond to your commands: Use your voice or gestures to navigate features on the smart mirror, or have the display wake up when you approach it. Facial recognition is also possible in a smart mirror.
• Entertain and teach: While they aren't full-fledged TVs, some smart mirrors can display videos and instructional content like guided exercise routines. Built-in speakers are also common.
• Personalize your view: Many smart mirrors include custom lighting options so that you can dim them in the morning or brighten them for bathroom selfies or intricate makeup sessions. An anti-fog feature is also common.

Should I Get a Smart Mirror?

A smart mirror can be appealing if you like the idea of adding more tech to your daily routine. They offer a modern design that brings useful information into a space you frequent. But smart mirrors aren't for everyone; they are often expensive, and unless you're handy, you might need to hire a professional to install the mirror.

Depending on the design, the built-in screen can be quite small, which might make it feel less useful for the price. And for some people, a smart mirror could end up being just another source of distraction when all you really need the mirror for is a quick check before heading out the door.

It's up to you to decide if that combo of style and function is a smart upgrade or just more tech that will get in your way.

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