A shiny iPhone 12 makes for a great gift, but you should do some research before buying it for someone else. .

Black Friday is less than a week away, meaning it's nearly time to start saving money when you're shopping for holiday gifts.

With the holidays getting closer, time is running out to think over exactly what you're going to give to that special someone or distant relative.

Or if they have a house full of Google Home smart speakers, a smart home gift that uses only Amazon's Alexa assistant probably isn't a good fit. .

If you have a general idea of what kind of device (or devices) the giftee already uses around the house, we have a smart home compatibility chart that lays it all out for you.

Here are more specific angles to consider when giving smart home gifts.

If you're buying someone a phone, pat yourself on the back for your thoughtfulness and generosity.

Just make sure you've thought through all the angles.

The most important one is making sure that the phone you're buying someone will work with their wireless carrier of choice.

Another aspect to consider is price plan, especially if you're going to buy a 5G phone, with most carriers requiring a specific, and sometimes more expensive, plan in order to access 5G service. .

Either directly ask the gift recipient which wireless carrier they use or consider buying an unlocked phone.

Keep your receipt handy, and make sure to tell your recipient that there are no hard feelings if they ultimately want to return or exchange the phone.

Even if you're OK with having an Amazon Echo and its always-on microphone in your home, a friend or loved one might not be as comfortable with the idea.

At the least, you should take note of companies such as Facebook or Amazon, which are constantly surrounded by privacy questions and concerns, if you're considering buying a Facebook Portal or one of Amazon's Ring smart doorbells as a gift. .

If you're shopping for a phone, Apple's iPhone and Google's Pixel lineup receive the most consistent and timely updates

Software updates for smart speakers and streaming devices such as a Chromecast are handled in the background, without you ever knowing

Even if you're handed a list with a specific gadget gift idea, do your own research by reading reviews of the product