In an era where technology and innovation reign supreme, the idea of a smart mirror is no longer merely a concept of the future or an element from a sci-fi movie. A smart mirror, also known as a magic mirror, is an advanced version of a mirror equipped with features such as a display of date, time, weather updates, news feeds, social network notifications, calendar events, and more. This technologically sophisticated mirror has increasingly become a point of fascination for tech enthusiasts and DIY aficionados.
Building a smart mirror may seem like an intense and expensive project; however, it’s surprising how affordable it can be when you know the right components to purchase. This guide aims to detail some affordable and readily available components for constructing your very own smart mirror.
Raspberry Pi
Acting as the brain of your smart mirror project, the Raspberry Pi is a budget-friendly, small, and versatile computer that can run the software required for your smart mirror. A Raspberry Pi 3 Model B will cost approx $30-$40. You might be able to pick up an earlier model for less, and it would likely still perform effectively for this application.
Acrylic See-Through Mirror
Commonly known as a two-way mirror, an acrylic see-through mirror will form the principal part of your smart mirror setup. This specific type of mirror exhibits properties that reflect light and also allow light to permeate through, an essential function to display your mirror’s smart attributes. The size of the mirror you choose will dictate the cost, but a standard mirror around the size of a computer monitor should cost approximately $30-$40.
Monitor
The information displayed on your smart mirror will be provided by an old monitor that you no longer need. Alternatively, a used monitor can also be bought online for a reasonable price. Ideally, an LED/LCD monitor with an HDMI input will be best suited for this. A 24-inch monitor can often be found between $50 and $100.
HDMI Cable and Adapters
To connect your Raspberry Pi to your monitor, you will need an HDMI cable. Depending on the ports available on your monitor and Raspberry Pi, you might also need HDMI adapters. This shouldn’t cost you more than $10-$15 in total.
Wi-Fi Adapter
If you’re using an earlier Raspberry Pi model, you’ll also need a Wi-Fi adapter to connect the device to the internet. However, this isn’t necessary with newer models, as they have built-in Wi-Fi. A good Wi-Fi adapter costs around $10-$20.
Micro SD Card
A microSD card acts as the hard drive for your Raspberry Pi. It’s on this card you’ll install the operating system and the software for your smart mirror. An 8GB card should be enough and can be found for as little as $5-$10.
Power Supplies
You’ll need power supplies for your Raspberry Pi and your monitor. Ensure these match the requirements for each device, and remember, these components can often be found at home already plugged into unused devices. Alternatively, new power supplies should only cost about $15-$20 each.
Frame
Providing you’re feeling a little crafty, building a frame for your smart mirror can be a cheap and fun addition to your project. Your frame can be made from anything you’d like, but commonly, wood is used. The cost of wood and finish will vary greatly depending on what you choose, but using budget options should keep the cost below $20.
Software
Several free software options are available for your smart mirror, all of which are open source and well-documented, perfect for any level of coding ability:
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MagicMirror2: This is one of the most popular software options, with a supportive community for when you need help with customization.
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HomeMirror: Used for Android systems, excellent for its simplicity and easy customizability.
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Smart-Mirror by Evan Cohen: Comes with excellent documentation and helpful setup guides.
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My Magic Mirror: Based on electron and express. It’s a newer player in this space but already very impressive.
In conclusion, for under $200, you can create a customizable and functional smart mirror project of your own. With a little bit of searching for deals and bargains, you may even land under this price point. Therefore, building a smart mirror is not out of reach for everyday tech enthusiasts and is certainly an affordable and exciting project to light your creative spark. Happy building!
