Wes Ott tries out the new Aliro standard with the Nuki smart lock. He goes over why this new standard from the CSA matters and how it will change smart home keys.

The new Siri AI is not coming to all devices, and recent price increases make it more painful to upgrade to new devices all at once. CNET’s Bridget Carey has been testing out the new Siri AI in beta on her phone and says a new Apple TV box and new HomePods are a sure bet this fall -- it just may be more expensive to upgrade than we all expected.

Get ready to say goodbye to some of Google's older smart home products.

The Nest MIni and Nest Audio smart speakers have been discontinued by the search engine giant, TechAdvisor reports. The former was a $35 entry-level smart speaker released in 2019, with the latter launching in 2019 as a $100 version that offered a larger form factor and better audio quality.

“As we continue to build the future of the smart home, we are refining our portfolio of Google Home and Nest devices," Google told TechAdvisor via a statement. "As part of this evolution, we have ended production of the Google Nest Mini and Google Nest Audio.”

Google also said it would continue supporting the Nest Mini and Nest Audio speakers via patches, security updates, and customer service.

Sunsetting products that launched more than five years ago is hardly unusual, and it's made all the more unsurprising by the fact that Google just unveiled a new, all-purpose $100 Google Home Speaker this week.

That device was made with Gemini AI interactions in mind, theoretically making it a more sophisticated and capable device. But if you want to keep using your old Nest speakers, you'll be fine — at least for a while.

I'm not saying that you can expect every robot vacuum that mops to scrub your kitchen grout with the same tenacity as you could by hand with a toothbrush. But the best robot vacuum and mop combos have gotten much closer to true deep cleaning versus the ol' wet light dusting of the cheap mopping robot vacuums of the early 2020s.

Many have smart mopping settings that unleash deeper scrubbing on specified spills or stains, and some even use AI sensors and cameras to assess whether a mess has been sufficiently cleaned. The mopping mechanisms themselves are also just more physically able to do a better job — from downward-pressing dual-rotating mops that can actually get close to the wall to sturdy roller mops that rinse themselves as they go, automated mopping involves more elbow grease and brainpower than you may be expecting.

You can also set your robot vacuum to take multiple passes over dirty floors in the app's settings — one of my go-to tips for making your vacuum work better.

The self-emptying docks of 2-in-1 robot vacuums are far more advanced than they were a few years ago. The best robot mop combos will also self-dispense detergent, automatically wash and dry their mopping pads, and then refill themselves with clean water. In theory, mopping pad maintenance should be nearly as automated as the cleaning itself.

Recent changes to this guide

• June 2026: I added the Narwal Flow 2 as the new pick for best roller mop robot vacuum overall, bumping the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow to the best roller mop robot vacuum under $1,000. The Narwal Flow 2 has stronger suction power and more advanced AI spill detection.

• March 2026: I replaced the Eufy X10 Pro Omni with the Eufy C28 as my pick for the best budget robot vacuum mop combo. The X10 Pro Omni is two years old at this point, and its suction power, mopping skills, and small obstacle avoidance simply can't keep up with the C28 — especially when their price difference is less than $100.

• February 2025: The Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete takes over as the best robot vacuum in 2026 so far, and the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow replaces the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller as the best roller mop robot vacuum. Due to the X60 Max Ultra Complete's meticulous corner cleaning and market-leading suction power, the Roborock Saros 10R has been removed from the list.

• November 2025: The Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra has been named the best robot vacuum mop combo under $1,000, a mark that it hits when on sale. The Eufy X10 Pro Omni got a similar update: It's now named the best robot vacuum mop combo under $500, which refers to a sale price it hits quite often.

• October 2025: The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller has been added as the best roller mop robot vacuum. Previously our top pick as the best robot vacuum and mop, I've now named the Roborock Saros 10R as the best corner mopping robot vacuum.

The 2026 Google Home Speaker is built around Gemini, and for the first time, talking to a smart speaker should actually feel natural. At around $100, the speaker isn’t super-expensive. Just know that the best features cost extra.

Google's first smart speaker in years is finally here.

Or, it will be when it launches on June 25, anyway. Google finally gave us all the details on the new Google Home Speaker, which it says is the first smart speaker in its portfolio that was built with Gemini AI commands in mind. The device costs $99 and comes in four colors: Hazel, Porcelain, Jade, and Berry.

The news from Google also confirms a leak from earlier this month, though now we have additional details and photos.

There they are. Credit: Google

As expected, since Google first teased the product last year, this is very similar to the old Nest line of smart speakers in appearance, but it is now a Gemini-powered device. That means it can (theoretically) take natural-language commands that are more complex than what the old Google Assistant devices could do. One example given in Google's press release was "turn off all the lights except my bedside lamp." You'll also be able to string multiple commands together in one sentence.

The main problem with all of this is that $99 doesn't get you access to everything this speaker can do.

If you want all the tricks, you'll need a Google Home Premium subscription (which starts at $10/mo) in order to access conversations with Gemini Live or to ask about things happening on any Nest cameras you have installed. There's also a Home Brief feature that can catch you up on anything that happened around the house while you've been gone, but that seems to be locked behind Home Premium, too.

On the plus side, users who already have a subscription to Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription plans will automatically get access to Google Home Premium at no extra cost. If you're on the more expensive AI Ultra plan, you'll additionally get access to Google Home Premium Advanced, also at no extra cost.

One potential issue here is the efficacy of AI voice commands. Last year, users of previous Google Home products complained about Gemini being worse at taking commands than Google Assistant was. It's been a year, and this is a new generation of more powerful hardware, so that doesn't necessarily mean the new Home Speaker will succumb to these same problems. However, Google may need to earn back some goodwill with the new speaker

TL;DR: The Riley RS1 Plus Electric Scooter combines a foldable commuter-friendly design, removable battery, 25 mph speeds, and fast charging for $389.99.

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Credit: Riley Scooters

Riley RS1 Plus Electric Scooter

$389.99
$499.99 Save $110

 

Get Deal

A lot of city travel ends up feeling strangely inefficient. Drive somewhere five minutes away, spend ten minutes finding parking, then carry half your life with you because you can’t leave anything in the car.

That’s part of the appeal behind the Riley RS1 Plus Electric Scooter for $389.99 (reg. $499.99).

The RS1 Plus is new to the U.S. market and feels designed for people who want a simpler way to get around on everyday trips without fully committing to bike ownership or to public transit schedules.

The biggest convenience feature might actually be the removable battery.

Unlike many scooters that require dragging the entire frame indoors to recharge, the RS1 Plus lets riders detach the Panasonic battery pack and charge it separately at home, at work, or wherever there’s an outlet nearby. Add in the fast two-hour charging time, and the scooter feels much easier to live with day to day.

Performance-wise, it’s built for real commuting rather than novelty rides. The 350W motor with 700W peak output supports speeds up to 25 mph with up to 15 miles of range, while puncture-resistant 10-inch pneumatic tires help smooth out rougher city streets.

The foldable frame also matters more than expected. Folded down, the scooter is easy to store in apartments, offices, trunks, or public transit spaces where full-size mobility gear becomes awkward fast.

And for just $389.99 instead of $499.99, you save about $110 while getting a brand-new commuter scooter backed by a two-year warranty.

An ideal earth-friendly option for commuters, apartment dwellers, students, and anyone trying to make short-distance travel less annoying, this electric scooter feels less like a gadget purchase and more like a practical upgrade to your daily living.

Get the Riley RS1 Plus Electric Scooter for just $389.99 (reg. $499.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get the brand-new ECOVACS Yeedi Vac Station K781+ for $169.99 (reg. $428.99) and let a robot vacuum, mop, map, and empty itself while you do almost anything else.

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Credit: ECOVACS

Ecovacs Yeedi Vac Station K781+

$169.99
$428.99 Save $259

 

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The annoying thing about cleaning is that it’s one of those chores that somehow regenerates immediately after you finish. Which is probably why robot vacuums keep getting smarter.

The brand-new ECOVACS Yeedi Vac Station K781+ is currently $169.99 (reg. $428.99), and this feels less like buying a gadget and more like outsourcing two very repetitive, not-so-fun household responsibilities.

The appeal here isn’t just that it vacuums. It vacuums and mops in one cleaning session, then heads back to its station and empties itself into a 2.5L dust bag, giving you up to 60 days before you need to deal with cleanup again.

And yes, the dock also helps handle the mess instead of handing it back to you.

The smart navigation system maps your home automatically and creates efficient routes instead of randomly pinballing around the room. Through the app, you can adjust schedules, set room preferences, and customize where it cleans.

It also keeps a slimmer profile than bulkier robot vacs, so it can actually get under furniture.

With 3000Pa suction, support for hard floors and carpets, 200 minutes of runtime, and auto recharge and resume, it’s built for real homes. And at just $169.99 instead of $428.99, you’re keeping $259 in your pocket while getting a brand-new model.

This isn’t about avoiding chores forever. It’s about deciding that vacuuming doesn’t need your full attention anymore.

Get this new ECOVACS Yeedi Vac Station K781+ for just $169.99 (reg. $428.99) while you can.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a Grade A refurbished Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum and Mop for $129.97 (reg. $299.99) and let it vacuum, mop, and empty itself.

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Credit: Shark

Shark Matrix™ Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop (Refurbished)

$129.97
$299.99 Save $170.02

 

Get Deal

There’s definitely optimism involved when you spot some debris and tell yourself you’ll vacuum later. Later turns into tomorrow, tomorrow turns into next weekend, and suddenly there’s a suspicious amount of dust under the dining table that everyone has collectively agreed not to acknowledge.

That’s why robot vacuums are becoming less of a gadget and more of a lifestyle adjustment. For $129.97 (reg. $299.99) through May 31, this Grade A refurbished Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum and Mop makes a pretty compelling argument for retiring at least one household chore.

This one has been cleaned and inspected to work like new, which is the reason why your are getting it for much less than retail.

The Shark Matrix Plus combines vacuuming and sonic mopping in one machine while using Matrix Clean technology to make multiple passes over dirt and debris instead of assuming one lap was enough.

It also uses 360° LiDAR mapping to build a layout of your home, navigate around objects, and clean more methodically.

The details are what make this feel like a practical buy. CleanEdge Detect helps pull dirt out of corners. The self-cleaning brush-roll handles pet hair without turning maintenance into another chore. The HEPA filtration system helps trap dust in the base.

And, amazingly, the self-emptying base can hold up to 60 days of dirt without requiring replacement bags.

For less than the cost of ordering takeout for a group, this is one of those purchases that doesn’t feel like simply buying a gadget; It really is like buying back a little of your time.

Get the Grade A refurbished Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum and Mop for just $129.97 (reg. $299.99) through May 31.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Nothing beats summer days by the pool, but spending a hard-earned Saturday morning cleaning it by hand can leave you questioning whether all that fun is really worth the maintenance. 

Question no more, because Beatbot is here to save your summer. Its range of high-tech robotic pool cleaners takes the hard work out of pool maintenance, giving you time back to enjoy a swim in your beautifully clean pool. 

Beatbot has options to suit every need and budget. Read on to find the best fit for your pool. 

Make an impressive entry 

If you’re new or fairly new to robotic pool cleaners, Beatbot’s Sora series is the ideal place to start. Each product in the range is easy to adopt with simple settings and functions, and right now, you can score a deal as part of the Beatbot Anniversary celebration. 

Here’s the low-down on which Sora is right for you: 

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Credit: Beatbot

Sora 10 Robotic Pool Cleaner

$499 at Beatbot
$699 Save $200

Sora 10 is accessible and easy to adopt, making it the best cordless cleaner for first-time robotic pool care users.

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Credit: Beatbot

Sora 30 Robotic Pool Cleaner

$699 at Beatbot
$999 Save $300

Sora 30 is a 3-in-1 cleaner that covers floor, walls, and waterline, making it a stronger everyday cleaning product.

Get Deal

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Credit: Beatbot

Sora 70 Robotic Pool Cleaner

$1,149 at Beatbot
$1,499 Save $350

Sora 70 offers 4-in-1 cleaning across floor, walls, waterline, and surface, making it the most complete Sora model.

Get Deal

The elite upgrade for true tech heads

Already made the transition to cordless pool cleaning? Graduate to a more premium smart pool care model with the AquaSense X, Beatbot’s most innovative and advanced model offering.

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Credit: Beatbot

AquaSense X AI Robotic Pool Cleaner

$4,250 at Beatbot

The do-everything model with enhanced navigation features and elite cleaning performance.

Shop Now

With advanced navigation, stronger automation, and high-performance all-zone coverage, it gives a more precise clean and boasts flagship-level engineering.

If you’re a pool-owning tech-head who wants the best of the best, the AquaSense X is for you. Available at Beatbot, $3,999, down from $4,250.

The long-term solution for busy people

For many of us, especially the parents, summer is about juggling priorities, and every minute is precious. 

The iSkim is Beatbot’s most hands-off pool cleaner. It has an extra-large 9L filter basket with a wide skimming inlet, significantly reducing the frequency of emptying. It’s also powered by a 10,000 mAh battery and a 24W solar panel, delivering up to 28 hours of operation and enabling 24/7 cleaning. 

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Credit: Beatbot

iSkim Robotic Pool Skimmer

$419 at Beatbot
$499 Save $80

Capable of operating for up to 28 hours from a single charge.

Get Deal

If you’re looking for truly hassle-free pool care, the iSkim is for you. Available at Beatbot, $419, down from $499 

The Beatbot Anniversary Promotion is running through May 25, 2026.

What's in a name? It turns out Cosori was right to call its new $249 air fryer the "Iconic." With a polished stainless steel design, versatile cooking functions, and generally useful smart features, it's basically the Cadillac of basket air fryers. But that's not the only reason I think it's worth the splurge after several months of testing.

Unlike many other air fryers, the Iconic doesn't contain any plastic components that can leach microplastics at high temperatures, and its basket isn't coated in harmful forever chemicals, or PFAS, including PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, aka Teflon). As someone who's overly picky about kitchenware for the sake of myself and my pets — Teflon is super dangerous for my parrot — I have no qualms about firing up the Iconic on a regular basis.

Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel 6.5-quart Smart Air Fryer

$249 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Cosori Shop Now at Best Buy

Design and construction

Myriad air fryers have a stainless steel finish over black plastic construction, including other Cosori models, but the Iconic has a more premium build that's almost fully stainless steel inside and out. One exception is its basket handle, which is made from plastic only so you don't scorch your hand when you grab it. Most of its exterior gets hot to the touch when it runs on a higher setting for more than a few minutes.

There's no plastic in here. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Iconic's other non-stainless parts are its basket interior and metal crisper plate, both of which have a ceramic nonstick coating. According to a chemical disclosure statement by VeSync, Cosori's parent company, it doesn't contain any Teflon. (I'll mention here that Cosori's top-selling air fryer on Amazon, the $119.99 TurboBlaze, does use Teflon.) Anecdotally, I didn't notice any weird synthetic smells when the Iconic was running.

The Iconic has a tempered glass control panel. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Cleaner cooking aside, the Iconic's mainly stainless build makes a big aesthetic impact. It looks luxe and matches the other brushed stainless steel appliances in my kitchen. What's more, I was surprised to find that it doesn't cling to fingerprints very easily — unlike my stainless Samsung fridge, which is a smudge magnet. Any crumbs or food crud that gets on its surface is easy to erase with a dishcloth or a damp paper towel.

The Iconic's basket and crisper plate also wipe down nicely between food batches, and you can toss them in the dishwasher for a more thorough scrubbing at the end of a meal.

The Iconic STUNS in stainless steel. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

I'm usually very anti-countertop clutter, but the Iconic is so sleek that I can tolerate it sitting out. I also don't really have a choice because it's too big to fit in any of my cabinets. It weighs just over 14 pounds, stands about a foot tall, and has a footprint of about 15 by 12 inches, so it's a little bulky.

Cooking modes

My Iconic creations. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

On the tippy-top of the Iconic, you'll find a glass touch control panel with six different cooking functions: Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dry, Proof, and Reheat. Each function has its own temperature and time presets ranging from 90 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and one minute to 24 hours. They also have set fan speeds; Dry and Proof are basically inaudible, while Air Fry and Roast whir the loudest. I'd say they're still less than half as loud as my hair dryer, the Shark FlexStyle.

If you need a reminder to flip your food, you can press a separate Shake button that makes the Iconic beep a few times halfway through an Air Fry cycle. (It only works with that mode.)

I tried all of the Iconic's cooking functions, and they work wonderfully. Air Fry produced a slightly charred, still-pink cheeseburger and crispy fries without any oil. Roast caramelized a medley of broccoli and red onions without burning them. I used Bake to make some crusty-but-fluffy brownies, and Dry to dehydrate Honeycrisp apples and bell peppers (some snacks for the aforementioned parrot). Reheat warmed up leftovers without making them soggy; it's put my microwave out of business.

Sometimes you don't want to fire up the grill for a single burger. I literally get it. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

I even made whole wheat sourdough in the Iconic. The dough formed an unsightly crust on top after proofing for two hours, but it disappeared in the shaping/baking process and left me with a cute little loaf of very moist, very edible sandwich bread.

While ninety degrees is technically too hot for proofing sourdough, or really any kind of dough, this little loaf turned out fine. (Ugly and a bit over-proofed, but fine.) Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Iconic has a 6.5-quart basket, making it a good size for a small household. It comfortably fit a whole bag of fries, four single-serve brownies (in ramekins), and every sliced round of a fat apple (laid flat in one layer).

The Iconic is parrot-approved. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Smart features

The Iconic supports smart controls via VeSync's mobile app if you connect it to WiFi, and they feel about 70 percent useful.

With the Cooking Functions feature, you can select settings from your phone and send them to the Iconic; they'll appear on its control panel in seconds. You can't actually start it remotely, but that's a safety feature. The app will show a timer once the cooking cycle begins and send you a notification when your food is ready.

The app will show you how much cook time is left. Credit: Screenshots via VeSync

If you're not sure how to cook a particular food, a Cooking Chart feature can suggest settings based on the serving size and "status" (i.e., whether a vegetable is chopped or meat is bone-in).

Get a little extra help from the app's Cooking Chart. Credit: Screenshots via VeSync

Hypothetically, you can also pull up settings by scanning bar codes on foods' packaging through the VeSync app, but it didn't work with most of the things I've tried. That includes Purdue popcorn chicken and every Trader Joe's snack I had in my freezer (hashbrown patties, falafel, breaded fish filets, and mozzarella sticks). I finally had luck with some frozen garlic breadsticks, which turned out well when I air fried them on the recommended settings — golden brown on the outside, soft on the inside.

Success. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The app contains a History list of your past cooking cycles in case you want to reuse settings. There's also an Achievements counter where you can see a weekly recap of your meals and any badges you've earned for cooking certain foods regularly. (I don't know anyone who would actually use this. Some things just don't need to be gamified!)

If you need some cooking inspo, there's a library of healthy air fryer recipes in the app under a Diet tab. It lets you add your own recipes and create shopping lists of ingredients.

Some alternatives

Other non-toxic, plastic-free air fryer options include the Ninja Crispi ($179.99), the Our Place Wonder Oven ($185 to $245, depending on the size), and the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer ($349.99). The Iconic is in the middle of the pack price-wise, but it has the best warranty: five years to everyone else's one.

For what it's worth, I also own and love the Crispi. It's easy to store and has glass baskets that double as storage containers for leftovers, though it has few settings and can't fit full bags of fries. Ninja's newer Crispi Pro has more settings, a bigger temperature range, and a larger basket than the original Crispi, but it costs $299.99. Neither model supports smart controls.

Cosori versus Crispi. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Our Place and Breville models are both oven-style air fryers that let you cook multiple trays of food at once, which is super convenient. But the Wonder Oven doesn't have a companion app, and the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is expensive. Plus, its pizza pan has a Teflon coating.

If you're someone who likes traditional basket-style air fryers, wants smart features and recipe guidance, and you regularly feed at least two people, you'll probably prefer the Iconic over the competition.

Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel 6.5-quart Smart Air Fryer

$249 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Cosori Shop Now at Best Buy

Iyaz Akhtar looks into what happened to Google’s smart home ecosystem. Google’s move toward Gemini appears to have disrupted Google Home’s once smooth experience. The result is a system that feels less reliable and more inconsistent. Here’s what’s going wrong right now.

TL;DR: Get a taste of summer early with the Ninja Slushi Professional Frozen Drink Maker, on sale now for $199.99 (reg. $349.99).

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Credit: Ninja

Ninja Slushi Professional Frozen Drink Maker 96-oz. Capacity (Refurbished)

$199.99
$349.99 Save $150

 

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Spring is here, and we’re all finally starting to defrost. It’s time to start dreaming of beach vacations and sipping drinks poolside. If you want to get an early taste of a delicious frozen drink, the Ninja Slushi Professional Frozen Drink Maker makes it easy. Make delicious drinks with just one touch thanks to this fun appliance, on sale now for just $199.99 (reg. $349.99).

Whether you love a piña colada or want to change up the way you drink your morning coffee, Ninja Slushi is ready to revolutionize your cold drinks. This frozen-beverage appliance makes smooth, flavorful slushies with the touch of a button and no ice needed.

Choose from five preset programs that deliver the ideal texture for your beverage: Slush, Spiked Slush, Frappe, Milkshake, or Frozen Juice. You’ll see the RapidChill technology work in real time — freezing liquids evenly without even a cube of ice. And unlike your usual blender, this Ninja Slushi offers quiet performance and a one-touch operation. Just pour your drink in, pick a program, and start.

A 96-ounce capacity makes this perfect for a pool party or other gatherings where you’d like to serve chilly drinks for friends. The WhisperChill compressor even keeps your drink tasty and cold for up to 12 hours. Everything is dishwasher safe, so afterwards you can tidy up without any hassle.

You’re saving big on this Ninja Slushi thanks to its grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with minimal to zero scuffing, while you enjoy a deep discount.

Get the Ninja Slushi Professional Frozen Drink Maker for only $199.99 (reg. $349.99).

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The best Echo deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale:

---

Best Echo deal

Echo Show 11

$169.99 (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best budget deal

Amazon Echo Spot

$49.99 (save $30)

Get Deal

---

Best kids deal

Amazon Echo Pop Kids

$29.99 (save $20)

Get Deal

I’ll be the first to admit that I rely on my Amazon Echo devices a little too much. But they’re just so convenient for literally everything — from setting cooking timers to checking the weather and even turning off my TV (yes, I'm getting a little lazy these days). Alexa+ has made it way too easy.

Amazon is notorious for discounting its own tech during major shopping events, and that's especially true for this year's Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Consider it the first major savings event before Prime Day. We had Presidents' Day, sure, but that doesn't hold a candle to what this sale is offering.

Running from March 25 through March 31, the Big Spring Sale will let shoppers snag discounts across just about every category. Last year, we saw markdowns of up to 71% off, and it already looks like this year is showcasing more of the same.

Here are the best Echo deals you can shop during the Big Spring Sale now.

Best Amazon Echo deal

Amazon Echo Show 11

$219.99 at Amazon

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home setup during the Big Spring Sale, the new Amazon Echo Show 11 is our top pick. It has a vibrant 11-inch full-HD touch screen and is designed for Amazon's new, conversational AI assistant, Alexa+. Bonus: It's $169.99 right now, which is the lowest price we've tracked to date. (If you want something a little cheaper, you can get the 8-inch screen for $139.99.)

Over at our sister site, PCMag, Andrew Gebhart dubbed the device the best way to bring Alexa+ to big rooms. Gebhart notes that its 1,900 x 1,200-pixel resolution provides a crisper, better picture quality than Amazon's larger, much pricier Echo Show 15 and 21 models.

More Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Echo Show 5 — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)

• Amazon Echo Dot Max — $74.99 $99.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Echo Show 8 — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Echo Studio — $189.99 $219.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Echo Show 15 — $254.99 $299.99 (save $45)

The best Echo deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale:

---

Best Echo deal

Echo Show 11

$169.99 (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best budget deal

Amazon Echo Spot

$49.99 (save $30)

Get Deal

---

Best kids deal

Amazon Echo Pop Kids

$29.99 (save $20)

Get Deal

I’ll be the first to admit that I rely on my Amazon Echo devices a little too much. But they’re just so convenient for literally everything — from setting cooking timers to checking the weather and even turning off my TV (yes, I'm getting a little lazy these days). Alexa+ has made it way too easy.

Amazon is notorious for discounting its own tech during major shopping events, and that's especially true for this year's Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Consider it the first major savings event before Prime Day. We had Presidents' Day, sure, but that doesn't hold a candle to what this sale is offering.

Running from March 25 through March 31, the Big Spring Sale will let shoppers snag discounts across just about every category. Last year, we saw markdowns of up to 71% off, and it already looks like this year is showcasing more of the same.

Here are the best Echo deals you can shop during the Big Spring Sale now.

Best Amazon Echo deal

Amazon Echo Show 11

$219.99 at Amazon

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home setup during the Big Spring Sale, the new Amazon Echo Show 11 is our top pick. It has a vibrant 11-inch full-HD touch screen and is designed for Amazon's new, conversational AI assistant, Alexa+. Bonus: It's $169.99 right now, which is the lowest price we've tracked to date. (If you want something a little cheaper, you can get the 8-inch screen for $139.99.)

Over at our sister site, PCMag, Andrew Gebhart dubbed the device the best way to bring Alexa+ to big rooms. Gebhart notes that its 1,900 x 1,200-pixel resolution provides a crisper, better picture quality than Amazon's larger, much pricier Echo Show 15 and 21 models.

More Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Echo Show 5 — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)

• Amazon Echo Dot Max — $74.99 $99.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Echo Show 8 — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Echo Studio — $189.99 $219.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Echo Show 15 — $254.99 $299.99 (save $45)

If you're ready to invest in an Echo, you don't need to buy these devices at full price. They always go on sale during events like Prime Day and Black Friday, so it's worth holding out until the next big sale.

The next sale happens to be right around the corner, too. Amazon's Big Spring Sale runs from March 25 to 31. Like any Amazon sale, we expect some of the biggest discounts will be on Amazon's own devices, and that includes Echos. The sale hasn't even started, and we've spotted great savings on the Echo Show and Echo Spot. So if you're ready to buy, take advantage of these 40% discounts before the sale ends.

New Echos in 2025

On Sept. 30, 2025, Amazon debuted several new Echo devices. We've yet to test the new Amazon Echo Dot Max or the refreshed Echo Studio, however, once we've completed testing, we'll add them to this guide.

Changes to existing Echo devices in 2025

For existing Echo owners, or those looking to become ones, a major change happened in 2025 that affects user privacy. Amazon sent out an email to users saying the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature on the device will no longer be available as of March 28, 2025. But what does that mean?

Previously, the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting allowed the devices to process requests locally without sending them to Amazon servers. However, with that setting no longer supported, all requests will now go through Amazon servers. Plus, if you do have that setting turned on after the change goes into effect, you'll lose access to the Voice ID feature as well.

While Amazon promises that all information requests are encrypted and secure, it still means that the retailer has access to all of that data.

What can an Echo smart speaker do?

Trying out the new Echo Spot smart alarm clock. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All Echo devices utilize Amazon Alexa's AI superpowers — it's just a matter of which form you want your Echo to take. The Echo and Echo Dot are smart speakers that you can use for music, phone calls, calendar reminders, or news alerts. Amazon Echo Show devices, on the other hand, can do all of the aforementioned audio stuff, but they also boast colorful displays for making video calls, streaming entertainment, or managing your day. Think of Echo Shows as stationary, more affordable tablets, essentially.

Most Echo devices are designed to act as smart hubs within your home, but some Echo devices can also be taken on the road. Echo Auto brings hands-free Alexa functionality to the car, while Echo Buds and Echo Frames can travel with you anywhere.

What can Alexa+ do?

Alexa is to Amazon as Siri is to Apple, and is the driving force behind every Echo. But Alexa just got a big upgrade. Now there's Alexa+, a new AI-powered version of Alexa introduced to Echo devices in March 2025. For Prime subscribers, Alexa+ will be included in membership, and non-subscribers will have to pay $19.99 per month for the service.

Alexa has an answer to almost anything you ask. Just by shouting out, you can play music, adjust the volume, and set an alarm or timer. And that's just naming a few options. On devices like the Echo Show, you can also ask Alexa to pull up recipes or answer questions that come up while cooking. With Alexa+, the AI agent doesn't just respond to commands but can actually engage in conversation.

Here's a short list of what Alexa+ can do:

• Provide a highlight reel of the day's security footage

• Read stories to kids

• Plan a date night

• Book restaurant reservations

• Control your smart home technology from one central hub

• Access your calendars and set reminders

• Get answers to any question you can think of

• Make phone calls (and video calls with an Echo Show)

• Get the latest weather and news

• Follow recipes

• Shop on Amazon

• Stream music (and video on an Amazon Echo Show)

• Play games

There are more than 100,000 Alexa skills that you can utilize via an Echo device, and Amazon is always adding more.

Alexa gets supercharged when other smart home tech comes into the picture. If you have a smart thermostat or smart light bulbs, as long as they're compatible with the Alexa system, you can create routines through your Echo. That can be as simple as telling Alexa to turn on the lights in one room or programming Alexa to turn the thermostat down before you come home.

If you're ready for an Alexa-powered home, read on for the 10 best Amazon Echo devices of 2025.

In 2023, the internet was ablaze with IKEA's Varmblixt lamp, aka the viral donut lamp. If you were among the crowd trekking to IKEA, attempting to find the donut lamp in stock, we've got some news for you — there's a new version of the lamp to covet. At CES 2026, IKEA unveiled a smart version of its viral donut lamp. Now you can enjoy the same shape lamp in a whole new array of colors.

As the owner of an OG Varmblixt lamp, I've been waiting for the smart version to drop, and it's finally here. And I got to go hands-on with the new donut lamp to see what it's all about.

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Credit: IKEA

IKEA Varmblixt Smart Lamp

$99.99 at Ikea

 

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About the IKEA Varmblixt lamp

The OG Varmblixt lamp has the donut design, encased in a warm orange glass shade. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The IKEA Varmblixt lamp first debuted in 2023, designed by Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis. Operating as either a table or wall lamp, the Varmblixt is crafted from orange glass, bringing gorgeous ambient glow to any room.

Differences between the OG and smart Varmblixt lamp

The new Varmblixt lamp has a glowing white light, compared to the warm orange of the original lamp. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

With the Varmblixt lamp getting the smart upgrade, it's a slight departure from the original. The Varmblixt still has the same donut shape and can still be installed as a table or wall lamp. However, unlike the OG, it's no longer orange. Instead, the updated smart Varmblixt has a matte white glass finish. The color instead comes from the inside with a color-changing bulb. The old Varmblixt has a simple on/off switch, while the new version has a remote to adjust the lamp's color and brightness. Plus, the smart Varmblixt is a Matter device, meaning it will connect to any smart home hub.

How does the new Varmblixt lamp work?

The new Varmblixt doesn't look as exciting from the outside with its white base. But once you turn on the lamp, you can adjust the color and brightness with the included remote.

Using the Varmblixt required a bit more trial and error than I anticipated because, as I should have expected, IKEA's instructions were sparse. You don't need a smart home hub to operate the Varmblixt, although it will connect to yours if you have one.

In classic IKEA fashion, the remote didn't come with explanation of its controls. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

If you don't have a smart hub (or even if you do), use the included remote to turn the lamp on or off, adjust the color, and adjust the brightness. IKEA doesn't provide instructions on which remote buttons do what. Luckily for you, I struggled through some trial-and-error, so you don't need to.

The remote has two buttons, marked by a large dot and a small dot. To change the lamp's color, double-click the large or small button. The large button moves you forward through the color wheel, but you can move back if you skip over a color you like, using the small button. To dim the light, hold the small button; to increase the brightness, hold the large button.

You can swap the Varmblixt bases

A cool feature of all Varmblixt lamps is that the base and glass shades are swappable. So, potentially, I could move the smart base to my existing orange shade, a huge boon for smart home aficionados who want to turn on the Varmblixt with their smart home hub.

How does the new Varmblixt look?

While the OG Varmblixt lamp embraced the warm, orange tones, the new smart version is notably cooler. The matte white shade is quite stark and bright, so to warm it up, adjust the color toward orange or red hues.

The full smart Varmblixt color range. Credit: IKEA

The color palette of the Varmblixt is not as extensive as you'll find in other smart light bulbs that let you choose from millions of hues. The IKEA colors are preprogrammed and tend to be cooler pastel shades. It's a definite departure from the warmth of the original Varmblixt. Luckily, if you're not into the cool pastels, the OG orange lamp is available.

Will I be swapping the new Varmblixt for the old?

While I don't love the cool tone of the new Varmblixt lamp, I see its potential. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The new smart Varmblixt lamp is a fun progression in the lamp's lineup, but will I be swapping out my own? Probably not. We're not big into smart home in my house, so I don't get the benefit of its Matter connectivity. And while I like the new colors, I still prefer the OG's warm orange shade that adds an ambient glow to my house. While I could see myself incorporating the new smart Varmblixt elsewhere in my home, it's not going to take the OG's spotlight.

Do I think the new light is worth it? Certainly. Especially for those excited about its smart home potential.

The best Echo deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale:

---

Best Echo deal

Echo Show 11

$219.99 (save $50)

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---

Best budget deal

Amazon Echo Spot

$49.99 (save $30)

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---

Best kids deal

Amazon Echo Pop Kids

$29.99 (save $20)

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I’ll be the first to admit that I rely on my Amazon Echo devices a little too much. But they’re just so damn convenient for literally everything — from setting cooking timers to checking the weather and even turning off my TV (yes, I'm getting a little lazy these days). Alexa+ has made it way too easy.

Amazon is notorious for discounting its own tech during major shopping events, and there’s a big one right around the corner: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Consider it the first major savings event before Prime Day. We had Presidents' Day, sure, but that doesn't hold a candle to what this sale is going to be.

Running from March 25 to March 31, the Big Spring Sale will let shoppers snag discounts across just about every category. Last year, we saw markdowns of up to 71% off, and we’re expecting this year to bring more of the same.

Here are the best Echo deals you can shop right now.

Best Amazon Echo deal

Amazon Echo Show 11

$219.99 at Amazon

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home setup during the Big Spring Sale, the new Amazon Echo Show 11 is our top pick. It has a vibrant 11-inch full-HD touch screen and is designed for Amazon's new, conversational AI assistant, Alexa+. Bonus: It's $169.99 right now, which is the lowest price we've tracked to date. (If you want something a little cheaper, you can get the 8-inch screen for $139.99.)

Over at our sister site PCMag, Andrew Gebhart dubbed the device the best way to bring Alexa+ to big rooms. Gebhart notes that its 1,900-by-1,200 pixel resolution provides a crisper, better picture quality than Amazon's larger, much pricier Echo Show 15 and 21 models.

More Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Echo Show 5 — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)

• Amazon Echo Dot Max — $74.99 $99.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Echo Show 8 — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Echo Studio — $189.99 $219.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Echo Show 15 — $254.99 $299.99 (save $45)

TL;DR: Enjoy professional-level styling at home with this Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long, now only $349.99.

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Credit: Dyson

Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long - Nickel/Copper (Refurbished)

$349.99
$649.99 Save $300

 

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If you have long hair, you know how tough it can be to style it like the pros. You need the right tools — and the Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long was literally made for you. It works with chest-length hair or longer, and is compatible with multiple hair types. Right now, you can get this expensive tool refurbished for just $349.99.

There’s a reason people pay the big bucks for Dyson hair products — they allow you to replicate salon-quality style at home. The Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long comes with re-engineered attachments to make it even quicker and easier to style your tresses, and this refurbished model lets you do it for a fraction of the usual price.

Curl, shape, smooth, and hide your flyaways with this Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler. It doesn’t use extreme heat, while still managing to help you dry and style simultaneously. The Enhanced Coanda airflow — which helps you style with air, not heat — enables greater control by attracting the hair to the surface of the Dyson’s brushes.

Go from wet to damp in pre-styling mode, or finish up your styling with the smoothing mode, which leaves you with up to 58% less frizz and flyaways. You can craft clockwise and counterclockwise curls with just one barrel, while the Enhanced Conada airflow attracts and self-wraps hair in both directions around these re-engineered barrels that create gorgeous curls or waves.

This Dyson Airwrap is powered by the Dyson digital motor V9, and intelligent heat control measures the airflow temperature more than 40 times a second, so you won’t be left with any heat damage. It also uses negative ions to help reduce static in your hair, so you’re left with a silky, smooth look.

Get this refurbished Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long for $349.99 while supplies last.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Tidy up without putting in the elbow grease thanks to this Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum and Mop, now only $134.99 (reg. $299.99).

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Credit: Shark

Shark Matrix™ Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop (Refurbished)

$134.99
$299.99 Save $165

 

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Want to cut back on your spring cleaning hours? Why not get a vacuum that will take a chore off your to-do list? That’s exactly what the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum and Mop brings to the table — futuristic self-cleaning you don’t have to worry about.

Now, just in time for spring cleaning, you can score this Shark Matrix for just $134.99 (reg. $299.99).

If you’re looking to cross something off your weekly chore list, allow us to introduce you to the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum and Mop. This game-changing cleaning device will not only vacuum your whole house but also empty its own dustbin and charge itself.

If you’re assuming this self-cleaning device can’t rival your own skills, think again. The Shark Matrix offers serious power and features like vacuuming in a precision matrix grid for the best coverage, and CleanEdge Detect to get the debris from edges and corners.

You don’t have to worry about the Shark Matrix bumping into your stuff thanks to the 360° LiDAR vision that maps your home and avoids objects. The self-cleaning brush roll digs deep into your carpets and directly engages your hard floors, so it won’t miss a speck of debris, hair, or dirt. True HEPA filtration also ensures that 99.97% of dust and allergens are captured and trapped.

This device pulls double duty, with mopping abilities that scrub hard floors 100 times per minute. You don’t have to worry about the dustbin, thanks to a bagless base that holds up to 60 days of dirt and debris and empties itself. It also returns to the base by itself and recharges, so you can set it up and forget about it.

This Shark Matrix comes with a grade-A refurbished rating, meaning your vacuum will arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to no scuffing.

Get this Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum and Mop for just $134.99 (reg. $299.99) while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we live in ways you may not even realize. Maybe you don't let AI write your e-mail replies, but you might be surprised by how many products use AI. From searching Google to find the best Thai restaurant to checking your fitness tracker for sleep data, AI isn't some far-off, futuristic technology — it's all around us.

One of the most beneficial ways to harness the intelligence of artificial intelligence is with smart-home commands. If you regularly use AI chatbots or smart home gadgets that accept voice commands, then you may already be doing this.

There are tons of smart-home-centric commands that can make your life easier. Many of them go much deeper than simply letting AI add frozen peas to your shopping list when you use the last of the bag.

So, to help you smarten up your smart home, here are some of the best ways to integrate AI assistant commands into your everyday life.

Get the right lighting

"Activate my vacation lighting schedule."

We're done with harsh overhead lighting. One of the most helpful uses for AI in your home comes from setting a lighting schedule. With smart plugs, smart lamps, smart bulbs, and smart wall light switches, you can create your own custom lighting setups and schedules.

Once you've connected your lights to your smart assistant, you'll be able to set schedules and use voice commands to turn lights on and off. That's especially useful for turning on the lights when you arrive home at night or for creating the illusion that someone is home when you're away on vacation.

Some devices even go an extra step and include an occupancy detector. This extra feature gives you the ability to turn lights on automatically when someone enters a room and then turn off once the space is unoccupied.

Set ideal wake-up and nighttime schedules

"Start my night-time routine."

We all know sleep is important, and we're repeatedly told that going to bed and waking up on a consistent schedule is useful. In theory, that sounds simple, but in practice, it's a big ask, especially when your smartphone is constantly begging for attention. Instead of scrolling mindlessly before bedtime, use technology to create a better wind-down routine.

At night, your smart home assistant can dim the lights, play calming music, and drop the temp before bed. Come morning, turn on the lights, raise the blinds, and get some music going. For extra credit, use a smart sunrise alarm clock to help wake up naturally.

Now, when it's time to sleep, simply ask your assistant to start your nighttime routine.

Ditch the paid language app

"Talk to me in Spanish."

The greatest polyglots on Earth can't compete with AI's ability to speak in almost any language. Instead of feeling guilty every time you ignore the notifications from your language app, make language learning an everyday routine with AI.

Modern smart assistants are fluent in many languages and can help you brush up on your vocabulary at any time. You can even challenge yourself by setting the default language of your smart home devices into the language you're learning. It's the next best thing to language immersion.

Get the kids on task

"Remind the kids to do their homework."

Life with kids is busy. Some of the most stressful moments come when getting ready in the morning, but AI is happy to lend a hand. With a smart speaker, parents can record messages to kids that play at a designated time each day. Let them know it's time to get out of bed, get dressed for school, make their beds, and come to the kitchen for breakfast.

Make story time better than ever

"Tell me a funny story about a lost kangaroo."

Smart assistants with AI features are usually powered by large-language models. And LLMs are excellent wordsmiths. Put that talent to good use by having it spin up a bedtime story just for your kids. You can even tailor the story to a specific reading level. Tomorrow night, you can ask your AI storyteller to pick up right where you left off.

Set the dinner menu

"Plan a dinner menu with what's left in the fridge."

It's Thursday night, and no one has been to the store since last weekend. Ingredients are running thin, and you're not in the mood to eat pasta with a jar of sauce. Instead, ask AI to create a dinner menu based on the ingredients you currently have at home.

If you don't have a smart refrigerator, simply read off a list of your ingredients to your phone or smart speaker and let the AI come up with the dinner plan. Of course, you can also get AI to add items to your shopping list and set yourself a reminder to stop by the store on the way home from work tomorrow night.

Keep your smart home safe

"Who's at the front door?"

By now, most of us have smart home safety integrations in place. Smart doorbells, security cameras, floodlights, and smart locks help us stay safe. Many of these devices will send you notifications when something unexpected happens, whether a stranger is at the front door, a loud noise has been detected, or a family of raccoons has taken an interest in your garbage cans.

Go old-school with a home intercom system

"Tell the kids to come inside at 5 p.m."

Growing up, did any of your friends' parents have an intercom system in their houses? Now, you don't have to be wealthy or live in a sprawling estate to install an intercom in your home.

So long as you have a smart speaker in each room and a video doorbell or camera on the front porch, you'll be able to make house-wide announcements. This'll be great for reminding kids it's time to come inside without hitting pause on dinner prep.

Abide by quiet hours

"Activate quiet time protocol every night at 10:55 p.m."

If you live in an apartment, dorm, or a duplex, you probably have set quiet hours. Ignoring these can come with angry neighbors or warnings from the landlord. But it's not always easy on Saturday night when belting out Britney Spears karaoke songs to keep track of the time. Instead of getting a knock on your door at 11 p.m., set your speaker or the TV to automatically lower the volume at a set time. Your party will automatically get the memo that it's time to wind down.

Ditch the doldrums

"Turn on my happy routine."

For many of us, it's been a long, cold winter. Sometimes, changing your physical environment can help with regaining some feel-good vibes. Fortunately, you can have your AI assistant of choice kick in with a "feel good" mode, turning on a pre-made playlist of joyful tunes, turning on mood lighting, or playing your favorite sitcom episodes on the TV. A combination of smart plugs, lights, and gadgets could help change the vibe.

Find a misplaced phone

"Help me find my phone!"

Is your phone permanently on silent mode? Same. Of course, this habit comes with a really obvious downside — when you misplace your phone, you can't just call it and follow the ringtone. Instead of going into panic mode, AI can help find a phone that's likely hiding in a pile of blankets.

Some smart assistants can activate a "Find My Phone" function to help with this exact emergency. Keep in mind you'll need to enable this skill before you lose your phone.

Keep a comfortable temperature

"Help me lower my energy bill."

One of the most useful smart home capabilities? Upgrading to a smart thermostat. These smart gadgets can learn your ideal temperature preferences and set schedules throughout the day that keep you comfortable and save energy.

If there's anything grandparents and older relatives love, it's getting photos of the kids. That's why the Aura Frame has been my favorite gift to give in recent years.

It lets me upload new photos whenever I want and have them show on loved ones' frames, no matter where they are. It's an easy way to help relatives to stay connected across generations, even when we're physically far apart.

I can send snapshots from my phone to my parents' Aura frame and surprise them with photos while on the go. When you upload photos to the app, you can control whose frames you want to send them to, and they'll appear in the rotation. I love that my parents don't have to look up anything on their phone or set up anything complicated. Other perks include unlimited storage and no subscription fees.

If you're looking for a great gift for a family member that doubles as a conversation starter, the Aura Frame is a tech-y gift suitable for family members of all ages.

This story is part of Holidays With Heart, a series in which Mashable and other CNET Group Perspectives contributors share personal stories involving technology.

SAVE UP TO $40: As of Feb. 3, the new Amazon Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 are both on sale for their lowest prices to date. Grab the Echo Show 8 for just $149.99 (reg. $179.99) or the Echo Show 11 for $179.99 (reg. $219.99) — that's a savings of 17% and 18%, respectively.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Echo Show 8

$149.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $30

 

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Echo Show 11

$179.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $40

 

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Amazon dropped four new Echo devices last fall that were built specifically for Alexa+, the new AI-enhanced version of the beloved voice assistant. The lineup includes two Death Star-like orb speakers and two upgraded smart displays — and the latter just dropped to their lowest prices since launch.

As of Feb. 3, you can grab the new Echo Show 8 for just $149.99 (reg. $179.99) or the Echo Show 11 for $179.99 (reg. $219.99) at Amazon. That's up to $40 in savings and the best price on record for both devices — even beating Black Friday.

Referred to as Amazon's "most advanced smart displays yet," both the Echo Show 8 and 11 feature the new in-house AZ3 Pro chips and Omnisense technology for AI-based, highly personalized experiences. They both include a new audio architecture with front-facing stereo speakers and a custom woofer for spatial audio. Not to mention, the combination of in-cell touch and the negative liquid crystal design make for the best viewing experience yet, with ambient visuals that adapt to the brightness of your environment. The built-in 13-megapixel camera can even recognize whoever walks up to it and show you the info you want to see.

Needless to say, both Echo Shows also act as smart home hubs for all of your devices as well as tiny entertainment centers. The only real difference between the two is the size — the Echo Show 8 features an 8.7-inch HD display, while the Echo Show 11 features an 11-inch full HD display. Either pick will give you the full Alexa+ experience.

We love to see it — that house on the commute home from work that always has festive decorations lit up to celebrate each holiday. Even on horrible days, seeing that cheery house is a nice feeling. There’s just one glaring issue with having festive lights on your home — it’s a massive pain to actually get them up on the house.

Without fail, it always feels like a sketchy situation to get on the ladder and work with arms overhead and a staple gun. Just ask Clark Griswold. That same inconvenience hits if a bulb burns out and needs a replacement. Luckily, Govee is giving us the ability to keep lights on year-round with bulbs that’ll never need replacing.

Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism

$539.99 at Amazon

 

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A never-ending party

For years now, Govee has made outdoor lights that are designed to be permanent. Just one trip up the ladder and/or onto the roof and the lights can stay up year-round.

But in the fall of 2025, Govee launched the new Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism. Unlike previous Govee models, the Prism version has triple-color lighting heads on each light module. In less fancy terms, each individual light consists of three lights that can all display their own individual color. The result looks like the coolest lighting party that your neighbors will envy.

Home is where the celebrations happen, so putting up permanent lights is a top-tier life hack. Holidays, birthday parties, graduation, retirement, backyard barbecues, and every party in between will have a new element of celebratory vibes. Plus, Govee’s app makes choosing your lighting situation incredibly enjoyable. As an added bonus, the lights are awesome for illuminating the front door and your home’s perimeter both for better visibility when walking around and better home security.

A fancy upgrade from the original Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights

As a surprise to no one, Govee does lighting incredibly well and the Prism version of the brand’s permanent outdoor lights are spectacular, in my opinion. The triple-light module makes for an amazing display. I first heard about these lights when I was covering exciting launches at IFA 2025 and I knew they’d be cool, but once I got them up, I was enamored. They’re more than just cool. The triple color effect is really awesome.

You can't deny that's an awesome display. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Govee went all out with this design, from the lights themselves to the durable build. For starters, they’re safe to use in a massive temperature range from -22 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit which again, plays into the permanent aspect of these lights. They’re also waterproof, carrying an IP68 rating. The power adapter and control box come with an IP67 rating. 

If you like more technical specs, each light has a rating of 60 lumens with a color temperature range between 2,700K and 6,500K. You’ve probably heard of the RGB term (red, green, blue) but these Govee lights operate with RGBWWIC which adds in warm white, and independent control. That means you get 16 million color options to choose from, all with tunable gradients and brightness levels. If that feels intimidating, you can choose from over 100 preset Govee modes.

A playful app

Immediately, I was in love with the look of the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism. I’m a huge sucker for great ambient lighting as well as lighting that helps set the mood and these lights do both in a majorly successful way.

But knowing I was testing these for others, I went deep into the Govee app to see just what these spendy lights were capable of. What happened next was me sitting outside for hours playing with the app and then looking at the lights to say, “Oh this one is the coolest!” over and over again.

I spent hours in this app clicking through the options. Credit: Govee app screenshot

The Govee app you’ll use to control the lights offers endless options of lighting vibes for every holiday, celebration, event, mood, and more. When I was testing, Govee even had options to celebrate the new release of Zootopia 2, and then I played around with dozens of pre-set options that covered major sports teams from the NFL, NHL, MLB, and more. That’s an awesome feature to immediately switch your lights to your team’s colors on game days. 

There’s also nature scenes, festivals, and the option to have the lights bop along with your music. And then I found Govee’s “Effects Lab.” Here, I tested out light colors and displays that depict settings from all around the world like Santorini, the Sydney Opera House, and the Tokyo Tower. You can display common colors of the lagoon triggerfish or plants or even pulling colors from famous paintings. 

I actually like the Govee AI Lighting Bot 2.0. Credit: Govee app screenshot

Get your lights to bop along with your music. Credit: Govee app screenshot

The Govee app is also one of the few instances I can support using AI. The Govee AI Lighting Bot 2.0 was a joy to use, and it crafted me red and white lighting displays after my prompt. But you can also give the Bot 2.0 a vibe you’re going for and it’ll do its best to convey that mood in lighting form. 

What I don’t love

Not everything is 100% perfect with the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism and after having them up for a few weeks, I have two small gripes.

First, the light modules are super spread out. A 100-foot set includes 36 lighting heads. That means there’s about 2.7 feet between each light. I’m gonna assume Govee did this on purpose. Because each light is actually three-in-one and the outer two are angled in such a way to project over a wide area, each light module projects in a fairly wide area. Because of this, I don’t think many people will be upset about the spacing but I wish they were a smidge closer together.

These lights require to get tucked under an overhang. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The only other negative I see about the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism strands is that they need to be attached under an overhang. You won’t be able to get the right effect from these lights if you string them up on a backyard fence or wind them around a pole, for example. The shining performance of these Prism lights with a triple light effect really requires them to project downward onto a wall.

What’s the lifespan of permanent outdoor lights?

Govee notes the Prism permanent outdoor lights can last for up to 50,000 hours. That equals 2,083 days or about 5.5 years if you never turn the lights off, ever. Assuming you would turn the lights off during daylight hours, we’ll adjust that to keeping them on for 10 hours per day. That equals a lifespan of 5,000 days of use or about 13.7 years. 

So these Govee lights are not permanent in the sense that they'll last a lifetime but rather, they’re permanent in that you won’t have to take them down after each holiday. Thanks to their durability, weather-resistance, and LED light technology, these lights should last an incredibly long time. Certainly long enough to stay up on your roof until you move or you decide to upgrade to newer lights with fancier tech sometime within the next 13 years.

Are the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism worth the price?

The Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism are top-of-the-line and use some of the most advanced technology we have when it comes to lighting. Because of this and their durable build, these lights don’t come cheap. A 100-foot set has 36 lighting heads and comes with a list price of $539.99. Up that to a 150-foot set with 54 lights and the price jumps to $699.99. A 200-foot set with 72 lightning heads comes with a wincing price tag of $859.99.

The permanent aspect will be well worth the price for many homes. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

That’s a lot of money for exterior lights. But put into real-life context, I think it’s well worth the price for many people. It saves you the hassle, questionable safety, and time of getting up on the ladder and/or on the roof each year to hang the Christmas lights and then take them down in sketchy wet weather come January. The price becomes even more warranted if you typically hire someone to hang Christmas lights for you each year, which can often come with an astronomical price. The permanence of the Govee lights is likely well worth it for plenty of homes.

If you’re not thrilled about paying the premium for the Prism version, Govee makes several other outdoor permanent lights that come in at a more affordable price like the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro and the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2. Both of those options are a downgrade in terms of display options, but they serve the same purpose of getting lights on your house that won’t need to come down for a very, very long time. Plus, they’re awesome, and that counts for quite a bit.

Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights options

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Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism (100 feet)

$539.99 at Amazon

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Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism (150 feet)

$699.99 at Amazon

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Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism (200 feet)

$859.99 at Amazon

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Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro (100 feet)

$439.99 at Amazon

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Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 (100 feet)

$329.99 at Amazon

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SAVE $30: As of Jan. 23, the Amazon Echo Studio is on sale for $189.99 with the on-page coupon code ECHOSTUDIO30. That's a savings of about 14% and drops it down to its record-low Black Friday price.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Echo Studio

$189.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $30

with code ECHOSTUDIO30

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Last fall, Amazon launched four new Echo devices specifically built for Alexa+ — including a superpowered Echo Studio smart speaker. Previously debuting in 2019, this is technically the Echo Studio's first update in six years, though it looks and acts quite different. The speaker saw its first discount ever during Amazon's Black Friday sale. And now that same discount has reappeared.

As of Jan. 23, you can pick up the Amazon Echo Studio speaker for $189.99 instead of $219.99. Just enter the code ECHOSTUDIO30 at checkout (or click "redeem" next to the on-page coupon) to shave $30 or 14% off the price.

According to Amazon, you "can't find any smart speaker that sounds this amazing at this size." Despite being 40 percent smaller than its predecessor (it measures 6.1 inches by 5.8 inches), it packs Dolby Atmos and spatial audio support. You can even link up to five Studio (or Echo Dot Max) devices to Fire TV Sticks and get a home theater sound going. Plus, of course, it' s built for Alexa+, the superpowered AI assistant that can do more than ever before.

As for the look, Mashable's tech editor says it resembles the Death Star, with a circular orb design and flat control panel. Whether or not that's a selling point for you, we think it's pretty sleek. It comes in two shades (both of white are on sale): glacier white and graphite.

SAVE $350: As of Jan. 21, get the Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum for $299.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $649.99. That's a discount of 54%.

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Credit: Amazon

Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum

$299.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $350

 

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It's 2025. Who's actually spending time pushing around a vacuum anymore? Let a robot vacuum take care of the dirty work and save some money while you're at it. This deal on a fantastic Shark robot vacuum is one that you won't want to miss.

As of Jan. 21, get the Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum for $299.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $649.99. That's a discount of 54%.

This robot vacuum can do just about everything, so you get a truly hands-off cleaning experience. With a 120-minute runtime and powerful suction, it can tackle all your most difficult areas with ease. It has a bagless, self-emptying base that can contain up to 60 days of dirt and debris, so you don't have to do anything with it at all. Just let it run and pick up your dirt and whatnot, and empty it much later.

It can map your home effortlessly using 360-degree LiDAR vision, so it can navigate the space without continuously bumping into things. Plus, it has a Recharge and Resume feature that lets it automatically head back to its dock to recharge and return to where it left off all on its own when charged.

Plus, it has support for voice control and other mapping and scheduling options that you can use to have it put together a routine that lets you continue to stay hands-off. Not a bad way to automate your household.

If you're ready to change the way you clean, be sure to pick up this discounted robot vacuum while it's still up for grabs.

Juggling my jam-packed schedule of briefings, pre-briefings, demos, and media events ahead of CES 2026 this week has been a feat of organization and sustained caffeine intake. My kingdom for a Calendar 2, the updated version of Skylight's popular digital wall calendar.

The device made its debut at CES' Pepcom showcase Tuesday night and fully launches in a matter of weeks.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Skylight Calendar is a WiFi-connected calendar that can keep track of multiple family members' schedules, to-do lists, and chores. Our reviewer tried and loved the larger Calendar Max model, which measures 27 inches across and features rounded corners. It even nabbed one of our coveted Mashable Choice Awards. "Once I got the Skylight Calendar, my life instantly felt more organized," wrote Jae Thomas for Mashable.

A Skylight rep told me that the company decided to update the device based on a recurring tidbit of customer feedback: the calendar's design should be more customizable because everybody's home decor is different. The new 15-inch Calendar 2 has interchangeable magnetic frames and an adjustable tabletop stand that can tilt 180 degrees. It also sports the same rounded corners as the Calendar Max, whereas its 15-inch predecessor had squared-off corners. It's 20 percent thinner, too.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

This redesign also appears to address our reviewer's biggest issue with the original Skylight Calendar, which was that its plastic frame didn't fit on its screen when they were assembling it; they wound using it unframed. When I played around with the Calendar 2 at Pepcom, I was able to snap its frame on and off easily.

Skylight also gave the Calendar 2 a new processor that makes it three times faster than the older version. Additionally, its touchscreen is sharper, brighter, and more color-accurate.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

A limited-edition Calendar 2 with a brass frame and six exclusive screensavers launched in December at Target as part of a collaboration with Joanna Gaines' Hearth and Hand with Magnolia brand. It costs $339.99, but the standard version will retail for $299.99, the same price as the first-gen model. It's set for an official release in February.

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Credit: Target

Skylight Calendar 2 Antique Brass - Hearth & Hand with Magnolia

$339.99 at Target

 

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Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

If there’s a single through line at CES 2026, it’s AI living. Every major brand wants you fully embedded in its vision of the smart home — a place where your appliances talk to each other, anticipate your needs, and quietly judge your lifestyle choices. LG even showcased an AI robot butler that resembled R.O.B. from Super Smash Bros., except this one performs laundry and engages in conversation with your air conditioner.

Samsung, however, wants to go bigger.

Tucked inside the Wynn casino in Las Vegas, Samsung’s AI Living Exhibit is a sprawling showcase of what the company calls its "Companion to AI Living" vision — a fully integrated ecosystem where the term 'AI' is omnipresent. The setup walks press and attendees through a large museum with Samsung products that all promise to think, respond, and collaborate on your behalf.

And when I say everything has AI slapped onto it, I mean everything. The company debuted a first-of-its-kind 130-inch Micro RGB TV that uses AI to dynamically tweak picture quality, strip out commentary from soccer broadcasts, or boost crowd noise to stadium levels. There are also AI-enabled appliances that gamify the process of finding a recipe based on what’s in your fridge, then send instructions directly to your oven. There’s even an OLED "record player" that doesn’t play records at all — it just looks like one, presumably for vibes.

Behold. The world’s first 130-Inch Micro RGB TV Credit: Chance Townsend / Mashable

Samsung’s Vision AI Companion sits at the center of this whole operation, acting as the connective tissue between TVs, phones, appliances, and wearables.

Samsung wants its AI to be the omniscient power driving your home. Since at least 2017, tech journalists have been loudly declaring that there’s no escaping the smart home (and yes, I’m guilty, too), but with each passing year, we inch closer to that headline becoming less prediction and more lived reality. Your TV suggests dinner, your fridge confirms the ingredients, your washer times its cycle around your schedule, and your robot vacuum keeps an eye on the dog while you’re out.

Does all of this actually require artificial intelligence? That’s debatable. But CES has never been about restraint. Is it excessive? Absolutely. Is it impressive? Also yes, even if "AI living" sometimes feels like marketing.

The Tri-fold is here too, by the way

It's essentially a very sleek tablet. Credit: Chance Townsend / Mashable

I’ll mention this last — fittingly, since Samsung is treating it the same way — but tucked inside the AI Living Exhibit is something people actually want to touch: the Galaxy Z Tri-Fold.

Because this is CES and not an Unpacked event, Samsung is being low-key about it. There’s no stage demo, no dramatic reveal, no "one more thing." That’s likely because the Tri-Fold is already on the market in South Korea, and Samsung clearly doesn’t want to step on its own marketing calendar.

If history is any indication, the phone will surface during a proper Unpacked event. That could mean January, sometime in the late spring or summer, or the fall window around September or October. Converted to U.S. pricing, the Galaxy Z Tri-Fold rings in at roughly $2,400 (or 3,590,400 Korean won), which helps explain why early reviews have been… divided. One particularly blunt headline labeled the device "expensive and half-baked," which feels both harsh and, depending on your tolerance for folding screens, not entirely unfair.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Govee is known for stretching our perception of lamps and lighting. And the brand's CES 2026 showcase, with a vision of "lighting the future," is here to wow us once more.

With three new flagship products unveiled at CES 2026, as well as advancements across the brand's core technologies — LuminBlend+ color system, AI Lighting Bot 2.0, and the new DaySync adaptive lighting system — plus a new partnership with Samsung SmartThings, Govee is carrying us into a new era of immersive lighting. The enhanced LuminBlend+ color management system features a new 16-bit precision chip for smoother, more precise color transitions, and an industry-leading 1000K–10000K color-temperature range. The upgraded AI Lighting Bot 2.0 is more emotionally responsive and intuitive than ever, enabling real-time reactions to mood and context and learning behaviors over time. And finally, the brand's redesigned DaySync adaptive lighting system (rolling out in April 2026) simplifies matching indoor lighting to the time of day, automatically adjusting brightness, color, and temperature for a natural home lighting rhythm.

With its new partnership with Samsung SmartThings, Govee lighting products can be managed alongside other smart home devices in one place. It incorporates the brand seamlessly into your smart home ecosystem for even more effortless automation.

Govee CES 2026 product announcements

Govee Floor Lamp 3

Govee's flagship Floor Lamp is more powerful and precise than ever. Credit: Govee

The first of the three flagship products announced is the Govee Floor Lamp 3, what the brand calls its "most advanced floor lamp yet." It's supported by LuminBlend+ for ultra-precise color and a massive color-temperature range, as well as the upgraded AI Lighting Bot 2.0 and new DaySync system. These technologies come together to deliver a personalized, adaptive, and time-aware ambient experience. It still features the same sculptural design of the previous generations of floor lamps, which slips seamlessly into any corner of any room.

Govee Ceiling Light Ultra

Personalize your living space with overhead lighting effects. Credit: Govee

Equipped with an industry-leading 616-pixel LED matrix and AI Lighting Bot 2.0, the Ceiling Light Ultra allows for DIY overhead lighting effects, patterns, and animations. From everyday comfort to visual clarity to creative expression, the enhanced DIY tools let you illuminate your space in any way you desire while maintaining "a natural, true-to-life appearance across objects and skin tones."

Govee Sky Ceiling Light

Simulate daylight inside your home with the Govee Sky Ceiling Light. Credit: Govee

Finally, the Sky Ceiling Light is built to simulate daylight through custom-engineered LED and architectural gradient illumination. It's ideal for enclosed, dim, or windowless spaces that need a boost of atmosphere. The refined white-light performance recreates the soft, comfortable tones of skylight transitions with an edge-lighting halo effect.

CES attendees can experience the latest Govee products in person at CES 2026 from Jan. 6 to 9. While there's no official release date yet, you can head over to the Govee CES 2026 webpage for updates.

SAVE $50: As of Jan. 2, get the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's a discount of 18% and the lowest price we've seen.

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Credit: Amazon

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

$229.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $50

 

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The winter chill has been taunting many of us for quite a few weeks now, and it's also translated into higher energy bills. If you're tired of spending an arm and a leg to heat your home, it might be time to look into a smart thermostat. Case in point: a Google Next smart thermostat that can not only help making heating your home less of a chore, but save you some serious cash. And it can only make your smart home better.

As of Jan. 2, get the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's a discount of 18% and the lowest price we've seen.

This newly-released smart thermostat, which debuted in August 2025, lets you set and adjust the temperature of your home manually or via connected app. It works with most systems and doesn't need a C-wire or a complicated install. It comes in a number of colors that can match just about any decor, too.

You can set the thermostat yourself, program times when it's off and on, or let it learn your routines to help you save money. It will eventually set up its own timing to optimize when you'll need cooling or heat so you don't have to do all the guesswork.

With a bright, easily readable display, ways to control it even when you're far away from home, and an affordable price, this is the best way to go about cutting those bills. And you can get the thermostat itself for a great price too.

SAVE $350: As of Dec. 17, the Eufy E20 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum is on sale for just $299.99 with the coupon code WS24T2070111. That's 54% off its MSRP and its lowest price ever.

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Credit: Eufy

Eufy E20 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum, Stick Vacuum, and Hand Vacuum

$299.99 at Eufy
$649.99 Save $350

Use coupon code WS24T2070111

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Sidewalk salt, traction grit, and other cold weather-related crud can make a mess of your floors in the winter. Enter: the Eufy E20, a 3-in-1 robovac that can transform into a cordless stick vacuum or a handheld vacuum in a few clicks. Our resident floor cleaning expert Leah Stodart called it "the most underrated robot vacuum of 2025," and it just so happens to be on sale for a record-low price right now.

As of mid-December, the Eufy E20 is only $299.99 through Eufy's website if you apply the coupon code WS24T2070111. That takes $350 off its usual sticker price of $649.99, saving you just over 50%. It's currently $50 more expensive at Amazon and Walmart.

Most people would benefit from having a robot vacuum and a stick vacuum on hand, says Stodart: "That way, you're securing hands-free light upkeep on a day-to-day basis, but have the option to do a more detailed manual cleaning when you have time." The Eufy E20's convertible form factor makes it a great option for smaller apartments where storage space is limited.

Perhaps most impressively, the Eufy E20's party trick doesn't detract from its actual cleaning power, Stodart adds. It offers 8,000 Pa of suction, smart mapping capabilities, and self-emptying functionality as a robovac, making it competitive with other models $500 to $700 price range. It jumps up to 30,000 Pa of suction in cordless stick mode to handle clingy pet hairs and other particularly stubborn messes.

The additional handheld mode is the cherry on top. "I'd simply spiral if I had no way to tend to the areas where a robot vacuum or full-sized stick vacuum can't go, like my desk, windowsills, couch cushions, and car seats — all places where my cats shed or people eat snacks," Stodart writes.

SAVE $20: As of Dec. 10, the new Amazon Echo Dot Max is on sale for $79.99. That's 20% off its list price and its lowest price to date.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Echo Dot Max

$79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20

 

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One of Amazon's most popular smart home speakers got a boost earlier this fall. The Echo Dot Max is one of four new Echo devices built specifically for Alexa+, the superpowered AI assistant that can do more than ever before. And it just got its biggest discount since launch.

As of Dec. 10, you can grab the new Amazon Echo Dot Max for just $79.99 instead of $99.99. That's 20% off its list price and beats its Black Friday price by $10. For a speaker just over a month old, that's a pretty solid discount.

While it's just slightly bigger than the Echo Dot, the Dot Max features nearly three times the bass. It's powerful enough to fill large spaces with its 0.8-inch tweeter and a 2.5-inch woofer that support lossless, high-definition audio. It can even adapt to its environment to provide the best sound possible. Now that the original Echo is obsolete, the Dot Max seems to be taking its place, with a similar look and the exact price point.

Just like other Echo smart speakers, you can use it to control lights, locks, and other smart home devices, set routines, ask it for the weather, and so much more without needing a separate hub. And since it was built for Alexa+, you'll get access to a more natural and conversational voice assistant that's wildly advanced.

Whether you're in the market for a new smart home speaker or you're looking for a gift for someone on your list, the brand-new Echo Dot Max has a lot to offer — especially at its lowest price to date.

SAVE $100: As of Dec. 9, get the Blink Outdoor 4 + Mini 2 bundle for $69.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $169.98. That's a discount of 59%.

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Credit: Amazon

Blink Outdoor 4 + Mini 2 Bundle

$69.98 at Amazon
$169.98 Save $100.00

 

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This holiday season, it's prudent to keep an eye on your home and your surroundings. Porch pirates are everywhere, and if you're waiting on packages full of gifts, you don't want to be caught unaware. Beyond that, it's a good idea in general to have a home security system in place for your own safety. But commercial options can be expensive, and you'll have to buy multiple cameras for your own home version. That's what makes this Blink bundle such a great pick, and it's on sale right now.

As of Dec. 9, get the Blink Outdoor 4 + Mini 2 bundle for $69.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $169.98. That's $100 off and a discount of 59%.

Both the Blink Outdoor 4 and Blink Mini 2 are Mashable Readers' Choice Award winners, and you get them in an all-in-one package here. That includes two Blink Outdoor 4 cameras and one Blink Mini 2, all for just $70, with a Sync Module Core added to the package that's usually sold separately.

The Outdoor 4 cameras feature enhanced motion detection, person detection, and additional features that make checking in on your home and property extremely simple. After getting them set up outside, you can connect via the Blink app for 1080p HD live video with infrared night vision and two-way audio in case you need to chat with (or scream at) someone. Plus, they have a two-year battery life that's powered by two AA lithium batteries that are included.

Alternatively, the Mini 2 can be used indoors or outdoors, and comes with many of the same features, though it isn't wireless or battery-powered. It's still a very capable camera no matter your use case, and it completes your setup by adding another view for your new Blink camera system.

If it's time to take your home security seriously, you really can't go wrong with this bundle. Grab yours before it goes out of stock.

Save $40: The Blink video doorbell is currently on sale for $29.99 over at Amazon. That’s $40 off its regular price or 57% off.

Blink video doorbell

$23.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $36

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Cyber Monday is here, and if you've partaken in a little retail therapy or holiday shopping, keep your deliveries safe with a video doorbell. The Blink video doorbell lets you see who’s in front of your door through your Blink app every time the doorbell is pressed. It has a 150-degree head-to-toe field of view, ensuring you can see everything.

The doorbell also sports a two-year battery life and is easily replaceable with AA lithium batteries if needed. It has infrared night vision, which lets you see even in low-light conditions and at night. With the two-way talk feature, you’ll also be able to speak with the person on the other side.

If you subscribe to the Blink subscription plan, you’ll gain access to features like Blink Moments, which puts clips into a single video for you to share, as well as secure cloud storage. This way, you won’t miss a single thing.

The Blink Video Doorbell is available now for $29.99, and it typically goes for $69.99, so don’t miss out on this deal. Blink is a Mashable Readers’ Choice Award winner, and don’t forget to check out our other Amazon Cyber Monday deals, too.

Still looking for more deals? See the biggest discounts at Amazon’s epic Cyber Monday sale and save up to 70% on popular gifts, gadgets, and more goodies.

SAVE $45: The Govee RGBIC Floor Lamp is on sale for $54.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. This is $45 off its regular price, and its lowest price since last Black Friday.

Govee RGBIC Floor Lamp

$64.98 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $35.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Black Friday is finally upon us, and that means we’ve got more deals coming. If you’re an avid Alexa user, you’ll want to check out the Govee RGBIC Floor Lamp. It’s compatible with other devices that work with Alexa, such as the Amazon Echo, so you can add voice controls to make your life more convenient.

You can customize the colors of each lamp segment, and they will all show simultaneously. With over 16 million colors and 85 different scene modes, there’s bound to be a lighting setup that you love. Its slick and minimalist design makes it a great family gift for the holidays.

This particular lamp provides up to 1000 lumens for daily lighting, and reaches 136 centimeters vertically. It comes with four aluminum light pole sections, one aluminum base, one silicone light strip, and a power adapter.

Don’t miss out on the Govvee RGBIC Floor lamp at this low price on Amazon. If you’re also looking for an Amazon Echo to pair it with, be sure to check out our breakdown of Amazon Echo deals this Black Friday.

Shop more of the best Black Friday deals at Amazon.

Home products have gotten much "smarter" in recent years. According to Statista, smart home penetration will reach 89.5 percent in 2025, and will hit 99 percent by 2029. That means virtually every household in the U.S. is using some form of smart home device. We've come a long way since the days of The Clapper.

Smart home devices can add a level of convenience to daily life, assuming that they’re set up correctly and genuinely offer seamless integration and a user-friendly experience.

But that leads us to question: Which home devices are actually worthy of being smart?

Instead of simply answering that ourselves, we put it out to you, our readers. In our first-ever Readers’ Choice Awards, we asked you which smart home brands you use and love across different smart home categories.

Best home security cameras in 2025

First up is security cameras. In a survey conducted by U.S. News & World Report, 62 percent of respondents use outdoor security cameras, while 36 percent use indoor security cameras. Home security cameras can obviously be great for some peace of mind and a sense of safety, or monitoring porch pirates. But your privacy is also an important factor to consider in a device that captures constant footage of you, your home, and your neighborhood.

Blink was the winner here in overall satisfaction with a score of 7.8 out of 10, narrowly beating out Ring and Wyze, which both secured a 7.7 rating. A note from us: We don't endorse Ring in our product recommendations because of a host of privacy issues.

(Make sure to click the arrows on the chart below to cycle through each of the categories from our survey results.)

The three brands were pretty even across the board, but each stood out in some areas. Blink users appreciated the ease of setup and use, budget-friendly pricing, and free cloud storage.

Wyze was rated the best for cost, but rated lowest in audio quality and motion detection, so that could be a potential trade-off. Price was definitely a big factor with survey respondents, with comments such as, "Great products. Reasonably priced," "The cameras work good and the price was within budget," and "Wyze security cameras are decent for the price."

Our readers lauded Ring for its easy setup, with two respondents writing, "I've owned several generations of cameras over 20 years and Ring are the easiest to set up and use," and "I've had security cameras in the past. None were as easy to set up and use as Ring."

A common complaint across all three brands was that the cameras don't record enough time before motion is detected.

Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera

$39.99 at Amazon

 

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Blink Outdoor 4

$27.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $52

 

Shop Now at Amazon

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Credit: Ring

Ring Spotlight Cam Plus

$149.99 at Amazon

 

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Credit: Wyze

Wyze Cam OG Indoor/Outdoor

$29.60 at Amazon

 

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Best smart home assistants in 2025

Smart assistants are like the brain of a smart home. They act as a hub to control other devices via voice, schedule, or other triggers. Smart assistant devices can range from small speakers that take up very little room to large screens that sit on your countertop or mount to the wall. Apple's Siri is arguably the most popular among smartphones, while Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are the big names in smart home devices.

Google was our winner across the board, though Amazon Alexa was a close second. One survey respondent said, "I like Alexa for routine items and integrations, but Google Assistant [is] better [at] answering questions."

Some survey takers had similar experiences in that they like the convenience provided by their smart assistant, but they've had frustrating interactions as well.

One wrote: "I've had a pretty good experience with Amazon Alexa. One of the best moments was when I set up my smart home with Alexa and connected everything from lights to thermostats to smart plugs. It was so easy to control everything with just my voice. For example, I could tell Alexa to turn off the lights or set the temperature, which made life a lot more convenient, especially when my hands were full. However, I did run into some issues. There were times when Alexa misunderstood my commands, especially if there was background noise or if I wasn't very clear. It was a bit frustrating when it didn't respond properly. Sometimes, Alexa also didn't sync correctly with certain smart devices, which required troubleshooting. Overall, though, I've found Alexa to be helpful and a great addition to my home automation."

And a Google user wrote: "Our whole house has Google displays, speakers, TVs integrated with Google TV, and third-party plugs, bulbs, and the like. Just recently, I upgraded to a Google Mesh router. The third-party devices can occasionally be a bit tricky to set up, but once everything is working, it's nice to be able to control everything right in the Google Home app."

Amazon Echo Dot

$49.99 at Amazon

 

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Credit: Google

Google Nest Mini

$49 at Google Store

 

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Amazon Echo Show 8

$149.99 at Amazon

 

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Credit: Google

Google Nest Hub

$99.99 at Google Store

 

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Best smart lights in 2025

Smart bulbs and smart plugs are some of the most accessible smart home devices in terms of price and ease of use. Philips Hue, Govee, and TP-Link (Kasa) are some of the big names in smart lights. Each has a smattering of product offerings from basic dimmable white light bulbs to programmable outdoor string lights or TV backlights.

Philips Hue is a more premium brand with a higher price point, and that was apparent in our survey results. Just a note: TP-Link has been under investigation for security vulnerabilities with its routers and predatory pricing.

TP-Link took the cake for most of our survey categories; although, both TP-Link and Philips Hue were rated the same for likelihood to recommend.

One reader wrote, "The only reason I am not 'extremely likely' to recommend Philips Hue is they are relatively expensive compared to other brands." And we saw that reflected in TP-Link users' comments, with one person writing, "I had another brand before and found them so frustrating. I was glad to find these worked to my liking at a lower cost."

TP-Link Kasa color-changing smart bulbs (4-pack)

$31.99 at Amazon

 

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Philips Hue A19 white and color bulbs (3-pack)

$137.99 at Best Buy
$147.99 Save $10

 

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Best smart vacuum brands in 2025

Our resident vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, says, "Actual cleaning performance plays a huge role in how spotless your floors will be, of course. But if your vacuum is a pain to clean with, you won't feel like using it — whether it's an upright vacuum that's too clunky to get out of the closet or a robot vacuum that gets stuck more often than not." And these are the types of functions we wanted to ask you all about.

Only two brands made the cut for our readers, but Stodart tests upright vacuums and robot vacuums in her apartment and has some great recommendations from other brands.

iRobot offers different price points, ranging from basic and budget-friendly to high-tech and downright expensive. Our survey participants had some newer models as well as older, simpler models that get the job done without any extras. One wrote, "It's an easy-to-use, simple feature, low-end smart vacuum robot; however, that makes it desirable for a lot of people like me because it's easier to use than complicated systems."

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Mashable's Readers' Choice: Smartest Home survey ran from Nov. 16, 2024, to March 20, 2025. Stay tuned for our next survey.

Mashable recently introduced our first-ever Readers' Choice Awards, where we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The final results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. You can check out our full results, but we also asked readers about specific smart home products, like security cameras.

Continue reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred security cameras.

Your favorite security cameras

It was a tight race, but Blink won by a hair. Our survey respondents rated Blink 7.8 out of 10 for overall satisfaction, while Ring and Wyze scored 7.7. Blink didn't take the lead in every category, so tab through the chart below to see where each brand excelled (or fell flat).

Editor's note: Although our readers use and love Ring, we do not endorse Ring in our product recommendations because of a host of past privacy issues.

Click the arrow buttons or the dropdown menu to see all scoring categories within the chart.

Cost and setup

There's a clear winner in the cost category: Wyze secured a 9.1 rating, blowing Blink (8.1) and Ring (7.5) out of the water. Wyze's more favorable cost might be the reason it scored weaker in some other categories, though. Ring got the lowest cost score, which makes sense because it's billed as a more premium brand than Blink or Wyze. (Blink and Ring are both Amazon-owned companies.)

Both Ring and Blink scored pretty middle-of-the-road on monitoring costs, aka the extra subscription costs associated with security cameras, such as cloud storage or access to additional smart features. One survey respondent did highlight Blink's free cloud storage as a pro for the brand. Meanwhile, a Ring user said, "My experience with the Ring security camera has been mostly great. The only thing that I do not feel overwhelmingly positive about is the monthly subscription fee. I would be happy to keep data on a local server that I could delete after a certain time period that I chose. I don't really find the monthly service necessary or a value for the money."

In addition to cost, Wyze also scored the best for setup, followed by Ring, then Blink.

Audio and video quality

Owning a security camera becomes moot if you can't actually see or hear anything it captures, which is why audio and video quality are such important factors to consider. Blink, Ring, and Wyze all scored highly in video quality, but the scores dropped in the audio department. Wyze took the biggest hit with a score of 6.7 out of 10 in audio (compared to its 7.8 for audio). If you want the best combo of audio and video, Blink is the way to go, according to our readers.

One Blink user said, "The audio quality of the recordings can be a bit muffled at times," and, "While generally good, the image quality isn't as sharp as I'd hoped for in certain situations, like during heavy rain."

A Ring user commented that their security camera's video quality is good compared to others.

Motion detection

A common gripe with security cameras and video doorbells is that they either don't capture enough footage before a movement occurs, or they're too sensitive and bombard your phone with motion detection alerts. Both of these were comments we received in our Readers' Choice survey. Ring scored the best in this category, with an impressive 8.1 satisfaction rate.

In the words of one respondent: "The picture quality, motion detection feature, and two-way voice capabilities are absolutely sufficient for my needs." On the other hand, another Ring user wrote, "I've set motion detection to the highest sensitivity, but there are still movements it doesn't pick up sometimes." And conversely, another user said, "Smart motion detection consistently identifies spiders, raccoons, and opossums as people." So, it's a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to people's experiences with motion detection.

And the same goes for Blink. One respondent reported, "Motion detection works well, and I get alerts to my phone right away." While another said, "Often the wind sets off the motion sensor, causing the alarm to go off over and over."

Likelihood to recommend

All three of our readers' favorite security camera brands scored decently well on likelihood to recommend. Ring was the highest at 8.0, with Wyze right behind it at 7.9, and Blink trailing closely at 7.8.

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In case you missed it, we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. As part of that survey, we also asked our readers about their smart assistants of choice, pitting Alexa against Siri and Google Home.

This is a space that's rapidly changing, with Google revamping Google Home devices with Gemini AI, and both Alexa and Siri getting key upgrades for the AI era. While this is going on behind the scenes, millions of people are just looking for a quick download on the day's weather. So, when you need to automate your home's lights or find out whether you need an umbrella, which smart home assistant do you trust?

Check out our full Readers' Choice results, and continue reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred smart assistants.

Your favorite smart assistants

Google is our readers' favored assistant, with an 8 out of 10 overall satisfaction rating. Amazon's Alexa follows behind with a 7.7, and Apple trailing at 7.2. Google was also rated highest for "most likely to recommend." To see how the brands scored across different categories, click through the chart below using either the arrow keys or the dropdown menu.

Voice recognition and response to prompts

Google is ahead of the competition in voice recognition, in our readers' experiences. It secured an 8.5 out of 10 rating, while Amazon received a 7.7 and Apple got a 7.6. Survey respondents called their Google Assistant-enabled products "reliable" and "awesome." One reported that Google Assistant seems to always find the answers to the questions they ask.

Another Google user said that they were overall very satisfied, but that occasionally, the assistant stops understanding or commands stop working.

A respondent who uses Amazon products said, "Overall, I've found the Alexa system to be 99.9 percent reliable. On a rare occasion, it will not catch a command to turn on or off a light. Its answers to questions beyond general knowledge are not strong (Google is much better), but suffice for most daily things." Another said, "Sometimes Alexa activates, indicating it is on, but does not respond to my command."

In addition to voice recognition, Google also took the cake in responses to questions and commands, scoring 8 out of 10, while Amazon and Apple scored 7.1 and 7.2, respectively.

Programmable actions, routines, and automations

Not enough respondents rated Google or Apple in programmable actions, so Amazon wins by default in this category. For routines and automation, though, Google is rated higher at 8.2 compared to Amazon's 7.5.

One survey respondent said that they like Alexa for routine items and integrations, but Google Assistant is better at answering questions.

An Alexa user reported that they have a morning routine that provides the weather report, reads news headlines, and turns on their office lights. That same person also uses Alexa to create shopping lists. They wrote, "The more I use it, the more things I find I can do."

For another reader, their best experience with the Amazon smart assistant is when they set up their smart home with Alexa and "connected everything from lights to thermostats to smart plugs." They enjoy the ease of controlling everything with their voice, especially when their hands are full.

A Google user wrote, "Our whole house has Google displays, speakers, TVs integrated with Google TV, and third-party plugs, bulbs, and the like. Just recently, I upgraded to a Google Mesh router. The third-party devices can occasionally be a bit tricky to set up, but once everything is working, it's nice to be able to control everything right in the Google Home app."

Likelihood to recommend

Mashable readers are most likely to recommend Google Assistant, with an 8.2 rating. Amazon Alexa follows behind with 7.8, while Apple's Siri trails at 7.1.

Google users appreciate being able to change the assistant's voice, the safety and convenience voice commands provide, Google's music recommendations, and the reliability.

Siri users called the assistant "awesome" and said it gives the proper information they need.

Multiple Amazon users said that they "love" their Alexa devices. One wrote, "My family owns a few different models of Alexa devices...I would recommend and will purchase more Amazon Echo devices in the future."

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In case you missed it, we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. Smart lights are some of the most approachable and accessible smart home gadgets, thanks to their low entry pricing and ease of use. They can be controlled via your smartphone or smart home assistants, giving you some versatility on how you integrate them into your home. Check out our full survey results, or continue reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred smart lights.

Your favorite smart lights

Readers narrowed down their favorite smart lights to just two brands: TP-Link (Kasa) and Philips Hue. Kasa won in most categories, including overall satisfaction, where it cinched an 8.6 out of 10 rating (compared to Philips Hue's 8.1). See how each brand fared in different categories in the chart below by clicking the arrows or using the dropdown menu.

Editor's note: TP-Link has been under investigation for security vulnerabilities with its routers and predatory pricing.

Cost and installment

Smart light bulbs are one of the more accessible smart home devices, thanks to their relatively low cost. However, when comparing smart lights, you'll find a clear divide in this product category between premium-priced brands and more budget-friendly brands. It's clear from our survey responses that Philips Hue and Kasa are on different ends of the price spectrum. Philips was rated pretty low at 6.4, while readers favored Kasa at 8.7.

"The only reason I am not 'extremely likely' to recommend Philips Hue is they are relatively expensive compared to other brands," one respondent wrote.

A Kasa user commented, "I had another brand before and found them so frustrating. I was glad to find these worked to my liking at a lower cost."

Using the smart bulbs

Both Kasa and Philips Hue scored favorably in ease of use, reliability, and integration with smart assistants.

"Mostly, they work extremely well. We primarily control them by voice through Alexa," one respondent said about their Philips Hue lights.

Multiple survey respondents noted integrating their smart lights with either Alexa or Google Assistant. From a Kasa user: "I have a bunch of these bulbs throughout the interior and exterior of the house. The exterior ones had issues, but after upgrading to a mesh router, I haven't had any since. I can set them up for specific times, on and off at sunset/sunrise, and they have the ability to change colors. They integrate into my Google Home system without any problems."

Not enough respondents rated their TP-Link (Kasa) bulbs on lifetime of bulb, preset color themes, or routines and automation to generate a score, but Philips Hue received high marks in all of these areas.

Likelihood to recommend

Mashable readers equally recommend TP-Link (Kasa) and Philips Hue, each cinching a score of 8.1 out of 10.

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In case you missed it, we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The Mashable Readers' Choice 2025 results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. We also asked our readers which smart home brands they trust in the vacuum category, and you probably won't be surprised to learn that Dyson and iRobot scored highly.

Keep reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred vacuum brands.

Your favorite vacuum brands

Dyson and iRobot were the two most popular vacuum brands with Mashable readers, with Dyson slightly beating out iRobot in the overall satisfaction ranking (7.6 and 7.4 out of 10, respectively). See how they fared against each other in the chart below. Pro tip: Use the arrow keys or dropdown menu to cycle through different scoring categories. And check out more vacuum guides from our experts.

Reliability and ease of use

iRobot Roomba scored more favorably on reliability (7.7 compared to 6.1) and ease of use (7.9 compared to 5.9) than Dyson. One respondent said of their Roomba robot vacuum, "It's an easy-to-use, simple feature, low-end smart vacuum robot; however, that makes it desirable for a lot of people like me because it's easier to use than complicated systems."

Cleaning performance

Our survey found Roomba to have better cleaning efficiency among the brands (though our vacuum expert swears by her Dyson stick vacuum). A survey respondent who has a Roomba commented that it vacuums well and they prefer it to using a traditional vacuum.

Another said, "I have had the Roomba for more than five years, couldn't be happier. I use it just about every other day — has never needed repairs. I am very satisfied. I wish I had another one."

Likelihood to recommend

Even though there were clear preferences in some of the scoring categories, the overall likelihood to recommend was about even for our readers' top two brands. Dyson secured a 7.3, while iRobot landed at 7.2. And, according to our in-house vacuum expert, both are solid brands worth adding to your cleaning arsenal.

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Smart home products have become increasingly popular in recent years. According to one survey, 45 percent of U.S. households connected to the internet have at least one smart home device, and 18 percent have six or more. 

With that in mind, we set out to ask our readers about the smart home devices they use in our Readers’ Choice Smartest Home survey. We asked about a swath of gadgets, and you all rated your gear. The winners have been crowned across various categories, and Blink was a major winner in the home security camera category, securing the highest overall satisfactory score.

How Mashable readers rate Blink

We asked readers to score their Blink security camera devices on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on multiple factors, including video and audio quality, reliability, and motion detection. Here’s how Blink fared compared to the competition. (Interact with the chart below by clicking the arrow buttons or using the dropdown menu.)

Testimony from Blink users

In addition to the ratings, we asked Mashable readers for commentary on whether they had a particularly good or bad experience with Blink.

Multiple survey respondents expressed that Blink cameras were easy to set up and easy to use. Others commended Blink’s durability and highlighted positive interactions with Blink’s customer service. On durability, one respondent said, “The cameras have held up perfectly fine in a variety of weather conditions.”

One area we saw complaints from readers was the short video clips. One user said, “Cameras sometimes catch the middle or end of a motion event inside, leaving out people until they leave the house, and I just get the video of the door closing without knowing who it was.” And another reported, “The short clips can be frustrating. I often miss the beginning or end of events because of the short duration.”

Overall, that last reader said, “Despite the minor drawbacks, I'm pretty happy with my Blink Outdoor Security Camera System. It provides a good level of security for my home at a reasonable price. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a basic and easy-to-use home security solution.”

Blink received a 7.8 out of 10 from our readers when asked about their likelihood to recommend the brand.

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As smart home products become more integrated into U.S. homes, they need the best smart home hub to operate successfully. Smart assistants act as the centralized brain for a smart home, connecting to various devices so you can set routines, use voice commands, and more to seamlessly operate your gadgets.

We polled our readers to learn about the smart home products they use in our Readers’ Choice Smartest Home survey. When it comes to smart assistants, Google was the clear winner.

How Mashable readers rate Google Assistant

We asked readers to score their Google Assistant devices on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on multiple factors, including voice recognition, smart home controls, and programmable actions. Here’s how Google fared compared to the competition. (Interact with the chart below by clicking the arrow buttons or using the dropdown menu.)

Testimony from Google Assistant users

Our readers who use Google Assistant in their homes lauded it for being reliable, saying they use Google for cooking, asking questions, and smart home controls like turning on the lights.

One respondent said, “Our whole house has Google displays, speakers, TVs integrated with Google TV, and third-party plugs, bulbs, and the like. Just recently, I upgraded to a Google mesh router. The third-party devices can occasionally be a bit tricky to set up, but once everything is working, it's nice to be able to control everything right in the Google Home app.”

Others called Google Assistant “awesome” and said that they are “overall very satisfied.” On the likelihood to recommend, Google Assistant scored 8.2 out of 10.

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You can’t have a conversation about smart home devices without including Amazon’s Alexa in the picture. As of 2025, the number of Amazon Echo users is expected to reach about 69.9 million, and as of 2024, the Echo is the most popular smart speaker in the U.S., according to Electro IQ.

We surveyed our readers about the smart home products they use, and Amazon’s Alexa was among the top smart assistants used. 

How Mashable readers rate Amazon Alexa

In our Readers’ Choice Smartest Home survey, we asked readers to score their Amazon Alexa devices on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on multiple factors, including voice recognition, smart home controls, and programmable actions. Here’s how Amazon fared compared to the competition. (Interact with the chart below by clicking the arrow buttons or using the dropdown menu.)

Testimony from Alexa users

Mashable readers reported that their Alexa devices are easy to use and that they rarely have issues.

“Overall, I've found the Alexa system to be 99.9 percent reliable. On a rare occasion, it will not catch a command to turn on or off a light. Its answers to questions beyond general knowledge are not strong (Google is much better), but suffice for most daily things,” one respondent wrote.

A common complaint among respondents is that Alexa’s voice recognition is inconsistent, stating that it sometimes starts talking without being addressed or can be non-responsive at times. Regardless, respondents lauded Alexa’s integration with other smart home products.

“I've had a pretty good experience with Amazon Alexa,” one respondent said. “One of the best moments was when I set up my smart home with Alexa and connected everything from lights to thermostats to smart plugs. It was so easy to control everything with just my voice. For example, I could tell Alexa to turn off the lights or set the temperature, which made life a lot more convenient, especially when my hands were full.”

Others appreciated updates and user experience improvements: “One thing about Alexa that tickles me is that it responds to me with the same audio level I use to speak to it. If I whisper a command, it whispers in reply. That is a thoughtful UX detail I would not have anticipated.”

Amazon Alexa scored 7.8 on our 10-point scale on respondents’ likelihood to recommend the brand. One survey taker, who rated Alexa a 9 in both overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend, said, “I would recommend and will purchase more Amazon Echo devices in the future.”

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Our product experts love to test the latest robot vacuums and stick vacuums from top brands, and we certainly have our favorites. But, through our Readers’ Choice survey, we wanted to hear about which vacuum cleaners Mashable readers use in their homes.

Unsurprisingly, iRobot Roomba was named one of the top vacuum brands — Roomba is essentially synonymous with robot vacuum. Our vacuum expert says this notoriety makes sense because “not only did iRobot launch the first successful commercial robot vacuum back in the day, but the company has consistently delivered some of the most reliable robot vacuum models for two decades.”

We know why it’s one of our favorite brands, but let’s dig into why it’s yours.

How Mashable readers rate iRobot

In our Readers’ Choice Smartest Home survey, we asked readers to score their iRobot Roomba vacuums on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on multiple factors, including reliability and cleaning efficiency. Here’s how iRobot fared compared to the competition. (Interact with the chart below by clicking the arrow buttons or using the dropdown menu.)

Testimony from iRobot Roomba users

Our readers praised iRobot for its convenience and noted that they were grateful for how much time it saves them. One reader, who rated iRobot a 10 in both overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend, highlighted that they use their Roomba to clean their living room, dining area, and kitchen, and no longer use a standard push vacuum cleaner.

Another reader agreed that they “definitely prefer using it versus a traditional vacuum,” adding, “just press the button and I don’t have to lift a finger.”

Other than the Roomba occasionally getting stuck under furniture, one reader said their Roomba is “fantastic.”

When asked about their likelihood to recommend, Mashable readers rated iRobot 7.2 out of 10. One respondent who scored it a 10 said, “I have had the Roomba for more than five years, couldn't be happier. I use it just about every other day — has never needed repairs. I am very satisfied. I wish I had another one.”

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We recently polled Mashable readers about the smart home products they use in their homes, and the results are in. One of the easiest entry points into smart home devices is smart lighting. Smart bulbs are relatively inexpensive and easy to integrate into everyday use — whether you use a smart assistant for voice commands or just control them through an app on your phone.

One of the biggest names in smart lighting is Philips Hue, which has won a Mashable Readers’ Choice Award. I personally use Philips Hue bulbs in my apartment and highly recommend them, so I was happy to see that our readers think highly of them as well.

How Mashable readers rate Philips Hue

Of all the smart light brands we included in our Readers’ Choice Smartest Home survey, only two were awarded a Readers’ Choice Award: Philips Hue and TP-Link. 

We asked readers to score their smart bulbs on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on multiple factors, including lifetime of bulbs, routines and automation, and integration with smart assistants. Here’s how Philips Hue fared compared to the competition. (Interact with the chart below by clicking the arrow buttons or using the dropdown menu.)

Testimony from Philips Hue users

Multiple survey respondents said that Philips Hue lights were “easy to use,” with one adding, “what a great product.” Another respondent said that they have not had any issues with their lights.

One reader, who primarily controls their lights via Alexa voice commands, said, “Mostly they work extremely well,” and rated Philips a 9 out of 10 for both overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend.

The common complaint amongst Philips Hue users, which I expected to see, is that the brand is expensive. A single color-changing bulb starts at $24.99. A survey respondent, who rated Philips Hue a 10 for overall satisfaction and an 8 for likelihood to recommend, wrote, “The only reason I am not 'extremely likely' to recommend Philips Hue is they are relatively expensive compared to other brands.”

Philips Hue snagged an 8.1 rating on likelihood to recommend, which is the same score TP-Link received.

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Philps Hue Essential A19 smart bulb

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Philips Hue A19 white and color smart bulbs (2-pack)

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In Mashable’s Smartest Home Readers’ Choice survey, we asked our readers about the smart home devices and gadgets they use. One of the easiest entry points into smart homes is smart lighting, thanks to its relative affordability and ease of use.

A winner among Mashable readers is TP-Link, a budget-friendly smart light brand.

Just a note: TP-Link has been under investigation for security vulnerabilities with its routers and predatory pricing.

How Mashable readers rate TP-Link (Kasa)

Of all the smart light brands we asked about in our survey, only two were selected for a Readers’ Choice Award: Philips Hue and TP-Link. 

We asked readers to score their smart bulbs on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on multiple factors, including lifetime of bulbs, routines and automation, and integration with smart assistants. Here’s how TP-Link (Kasa) fared compared to the competition. (Interact with the chart below by clicking the arrow buttons or using the dropdown menu.)

Testimony from TP-Link (Kasa) users

A couple of survey respondents mentioned that they have multiple TP-Link lights in their homes and businesses. One wrote, “We have our whole business lit up with Kasa plugs and light switches so we can control remotely as well as through Alexa. Really handy for when you have your hands full, or when you just got into bed and remember you forgot to turn off some lights. I can just tell Alexa to turn off all lights, and it is done without me getting out of bed.”

And another said, “I have a bunch of these bulbs throughout the interior and exterior of the house. The exterior ones had issues, but after upgrading to a mesh router, I haven't had any since. I can set them up for specific times, on and off at sunset/sunrise, and they have the ability to change colors. They integrate into my Google Home system without any problems.”

Compared to Philips Hue and other premium brands, TP-Link lights are more budget-friendly, with a four-pack of color-changing smart bulbs costing $26.99. On the cost, one reader said, “I had another brand before and found them so frustrating. I was glad to find these worked to my liking at a lower cost.”

TP-Link (Kasa) scored an 8.1 likelihood to recommend rating, and an even higher 8.6 overall satisfaction score.

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Kasa A19 dimmable smart light bulb KL110

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Google’s Gemini for Home voice assistant is officially two weeks into its rollout, and early reactions from users suggest it’s already changing how people talk to their smart homes.

A Nov. 11 update on the Google Nest Community blog said the Gemini for Home team has been collecting feedback "across support channels, social media, in-app feedback, and the community itself." The post claims users have praised the Gemini upgrade for making Google Home "actually useful beyond asking for today’s weather" and called it a "massive improvement" over the old Google Assistant.

The biggest question, however, remains: when will everyone get it? Google said the Gemini for Home rollout is still limited to U.S. users but will expand to other regions starting in early 2026. The company advised users to make sure their home address is current in the Google Home app.

Google also clarified confusion for people managing multiple homes. Gemini for Home is enabled at the Home level, not per account — meaning an upgrade in one household doesn’t automatically apply to others linked to the same user.

The post noted updates to the FAQ page addressing early-access questions, including troubleshooting, and how to submit feedback directly by saying, "Hey Google, send feedback."

Google said its teams are investigating reported issues and iterating quickly. Future progress updates will be posted on the company’s "Things to Know" blog.

"Your feedback is critical to helping us improve," the post said. "Please keep it coming."

Ikea is known for many things: its cafeteria meatballs, assembly instructions that drive you to madness, and now, it's venturing into smart home. While the home goods purveyor is mostly known for its affordable, assemble-it-yourself furniture, is branching out into tech, specifically smart home.

Ikea is launching a collection of 21 new smart home devices centered on lighting, sensors, and controls. All of the devices will be Matter-over-Thread, meaning that they speak the universal smart home language so they can work with your Apple HomePods and Google Homes.

Ikea is known for its affordability, and they're staying true to that as they expand their smart home collection. “Until now, smart home technology hasn’t been easy enough to use for most people — or affordable enough for many to consider. This launch brings us closer to helping everyone feel ready and confident to get started,” says David Granath, Range Manager at Ikea of Sweden. 

The new light bulbs in Ikea's smart home collection can add a colorful touch to your home. Credit: Ikea

This isn't actually Ikea's first foray into smart home. Previously, its tech came in the form of sneaky built in appliances like air purifiers built into side tables or speakers that blend into book shelves. But this is the first line with Matter certified products.

Matter is a system developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, to allow any smart home device to speak to another, regardless of what brand makes the device. This means your Google Home can connect to your new Ikea lightbulbs, and you don't need a new smart home hub to control them.

Ikea's devices will also be Thread connected. Thread is another away of connecting devices, similar to how many devices connect via WiFi.

What's coming to Ikea's Matter-over-Thread collection?

Ikea's new smart home devices include light bulbs and remotes that work together. Credit: Ikea

Ikea has broken down its collection into three categories: lighting, sensors and controls. The lighting will include a new line-up of light bulbs as well as sensors that monitor your homes well-being. No release date or pricing has been provided for the products as it will vary between markets. Here are all the new smart home products coming soon.

Lighting

Kajplats smart light bulbs will be available in all shapes and sizes. These are the new options:

• E27/E26 – standard globe shape, 60 mm diameter. Available in white and colour. Dimmable options available.
  Colour and white spectrum, 1 055 lm – colour-changing  

• P45 E14* – compact profile, 45 mm diameter. Available in white and colour. Dimmable options available.

• GU10 – directional spotlight. Available in white and colour. Dimmable options available.

• Clear-glass decorative bulbs. Available only in white. Sizes available include E14 and E27 standard and large globe.

Sensors

• Myggspray: Motion sensor for indoor and outdoor use that turns on lighting automatically in areas like entrances, staircases, garages, or anywhere you need hands-free light. 

• Myggbett: Door/Window sensor. Detects when a door or window is opened or closed, and if connected to a smart system you can get notifications on your phone. Also works for spaces like walk-in closets, where it can trigger a light to turn on or off. 

• Timmerflotte: Temperature and Humidity Sensor. Measures the indoor climate at home. Press the button to view temperature, followed by humidity — one after the other. 

• Alpstuga: Air quality sensor. Measures CO₂, particles (PM2.5), temperature, and humidity to show the air quality in your home. Built to work together with IKEA air purifiers for better indoor air. Can also display the time.

• Klippbok: Water leakage sensor. Detects leaks and alerts you with a sound — and can also send a notification to your phone when connected to a hub. Small enough to place under sinks, appliances, or other risk areas. 

Remotes

• Bilresa remote control with dual button: A simple way to control smart products from afar. Use it to switch lights on or off, adjust brightness, change colour, or trigger a preset scene. 

• Bilresa remote control with scroll wheel: Lets you adjust smart products with a simple turn. Use it to switch lights on or off, dim, change colour, or control a group or preset scene. 

• Bilresa Remote Control Kits (2x): Kits of three colorful versions of the remote controls, in green, red and beige. One kit with three scroll wheels, and the other is with remote control with dual buttons. 

• Grillplats smart plug: This smart plug lets you control ordinary lamps or smaller appliances remotely — turning them into smart products. It also tracks energy use and can be paired with a remote or motion sensor.

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Credit: Amazon

Yale Smart Lock 2

 

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The cold of winter is finally about to set in. You'll probably be spending a lot more time indoors when the holidays arrive, and that means you'll want to feel safe in your space. A smart lock is a great way to achieve that. With Black Friday on the way, would it be possible to see a new record-low price on one of the best and most simple to install smart locks out there?

Why we love the Yale Smart Lock 2

There are plenty of reasons to love the Yale Smart Lock 2, but most of them stem from its convenience and ease of use. From unboxing to installation, it only takes minutes to get up and running. It offers keyless access to your home, but it also allows you to use the same key you already use to unlock your door. It adds options to use a voice assistant, keypad, and auto-unlocking via app, so you can do what you're most comfortable with. If you forget your key, as long as you've got your phone, you're good to go.

That means you don't have to hire a locksmith to get you into your home or spend on having new keys made. And if you forget to check if you locked the door before you leave your house, a quick glance at the app will tell you its status. You can send a push for it to lock on its own, or have the peace of mind that it's locked securely. Plus, you can even set it to auto-unlock as you approach with your phone.

One thing that makes it perfect for renters, however, is how temporary it can be if you want it. There's nothing permanent to install and no one can see that you're using it from the outside. So if your rental agreement prevents any modification to your lock or outside of your unit or apartment, it's invisible to the eye but works just as well as if you'd installed a new lock.

Black Friday deal we hope to see on the Yale Smart Lock 2

While any price drop for this smart lock would be great, seeing it head under its sale price of $120, its current lowest price ever, would be a win for Black Friday. It's seen several price drops over the past year, but usually doesn't drop past the mid $160s or $170s, with its lowest price happening on Nov. 21, 2023 and not returning for some time.

It has a list price of $259.99, with a current discount of 8%, so seeing a significant price drop for Black Friday, when we'll likely also see serious savings on smart home equipment, would be a fantastic score for the biggest sale event of the year. We'll be keeping our eyes and ears (but not our doors) open.

SHOP NOW: As of Oct. 29, shop the new Amazon Echo Studio. It's the most advanced smart speaker from Amazon, now featuring Dolby Atmos.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Echo Studio

$219.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

On Sept. 30, 2025, Amazon debuted a new collection of Echo devices, built for Alexa+. The new AI-powered voice assistant does a lot more than play whatever music you ask it to. Now Alexa+ can hold a conversation or plan a date night. To keep up with its innovative internal tech, Amazon launched the Echo Dot Max, Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, and Echo Studio. The latter, the Echo Studio, is the brand's finest speaker yet, offering a larger design and Dolby Atmos.

The Echo Studio got its first update in six years — it previously debuted in 2019, and the 2025 model looks quite different. As noted by Mashable's tech editor, Timothy Bech Werth, the new Echo Studio looks a little bit like the Death Star, with its circular orb design and flat control panel. The front panel has simple controls for volume and turning off the voice controls. It's covered in a new 3D knit material and a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker.

The new Amazon Echo Studio design reminds us of the Death Star. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The speaker includes spatial audio as well as Dolby Atmos. So while it does a spectacular job playing music, the Echo Studio can also be used for your in-home theater, creating a true surround sound experience.

It's going to be Amazon's biggest screenless speaker, measuring 6.1 inches by 5.8 inches. It's slightly bigger than Amazon's old flagship Echo, which seems to have been discontinued.

After a month-long preorder period, the Amazon Echo Studio is now available for purchase for $219.99, making it the second most expensive device in the Echo lineup.

SHOP NOW: As of Oct. 29, the Amazon Echo Dot Max is now available to purchase. Shop the smart speaker at Amazon for $99.99.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Echo Dot Max

$99.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

In February 2025, Amazon announced its revamped voice assistant called Alexa+. The AI-powered assistant can do more than ever before, including holding conversations, drafting messages, and analyzing documents. With all of these new capabilities, Amazon announced a new collection of Echo devices to support Alexa+ in September of this year.

One of those devices was the Amazon Echo Dot Max, which is available to purchase as of Oct. 29. Amazon seems to have done away with its classic Echo, now offering the Echo Dot Max, a device with a similar look and the exact price point of the former Echo.

The Amazon Echo Dot Max comes in three shades: graphite, amethyst, and glacier white. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

It's just slightly bigger than Amazon's popular Echo Dot, a small but powerful speaker. The Echo Dot Max is capable of filling large spaces, and in addition to built-in Alexa, it has an included smart home hub. It has a 0.8-inch tweeter and a 2.5-inch woofer to support lossless, high-definition audio, even adapting to the room it's in to provide the best sound possible.

Alongside the new Echo device come two new accessories, a wall mount and a charging stand.

The Amazon Echo Dot Max is available to buy at Amazon now for $99.99.

Save $45: As of Oct. 4, the Owl edition of Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow is 50% off, down $45 from its list price of $90 on Amazon.

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Credit: Amazon

Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow

$49 at Amazon
$89 Save $40

 

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Amazon’s Alexa device built for kids is on sale right now. This is coming on the heels of their recent reveal of their new models of the Echo, Amazon’s Alexa-enabled smart speakers. The Kids Echo Dot with Echo Glow is a smart speaker designed especially for family use. Set timers with different color lights, play music, listen to bedtime stories, or audiobooks on the Echo Dot. This particular bundle comes with a year subscription to Amazon Kids+, which gives you access to tons of stories, games, and educational Alexa features.

Parents have complete control of the device through the Amazon Dashboard, which can set limits on use, filter any media, and review the device use history at any time. The Echo Dot and Echo Glow can foster creativity and independence by letting kids set their own timers for chores, call approved contacts, or control smart lights.

You can even change the color of the Echo Glow to signify things like dinner time, bedtime, or quiet time. Together, both devices can improve and streamline routines and expand their imaginations during play.

Amazon states that privacy is a major priority for this device, which has a prominent mic-off button and strict data protection. 

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

We all want our homes to be safe and secure. That's part of what makes it a home, after all. In the 21st Century, being safe and secure home means upgrading your home the latest and best smart tech around. In other words, a smart security camera.

Security cameras work as an effective deterrent against break-ins and unwanted visitors, but they're also great for monitoring your home at all times. It's little wonder that smart security cameras are very popular, as evidenced by the always advancing smart tech and range of available models.

But how do you know which home security camera is the best for you and your family? Selecting any technology for your home is hard. It's easy to get blindsided by specifications, complicated by the fact that everyone's home and daily routine is different. But don't fret: We're here to help secure your home. Here's some helpful information and a roundup of the best security cameras currently available.

What is a smart security camera?

A smart security camera connects to an app or to your WiFi. They tend to stream live video directly to your smart device (such as a phone or tablet) and will generally have features that can be controlled remotely or via a voice assistant, They may even be powered by AI technology, with features such as automatic motion detection. You don't have to choose a smart security camera, of course, though all of the cameras on this roundup have smart tech capabilities. It's pretty much the standard now.

What’s the difference between indoor and outdoor security cameras?

Outdoor cameras must be robust enough to withstand changes in temperature and a variety of weather conditions. And when it comes to indoor cameras, most people prefer devices that easily blend into their home/decor. You don’t want anyone to be aware that they’re being recorded. After all, intruders are notoriously camera shy!

Are wireless security cameras reliable?

It’s important to consider what kind of “juice” a camera needs to operate. Does it rely on batteries or does it require a power source? You might face constraints as to where you can place a camera that needs a power source. Conversely, batteries obviously have a limited life. We can say with some degree of confidence that a dead camera isn’t incredibly useful. It’s not a case of which is best, but which type better suits you.

Do security cameras have audio?

Some cameras do indeed offer audio surveillance as well as imagery. Some options will simply have a microphone that allows them to capture sound. Others can both capture and emit sound, turning them into a sort-of intercom with two-way audio.

Do security cameras require WiFi?

Like the vast majority of technology today, many security cameras available have WiFi capability. This is great for a handful of reasons including the fact that it's harder to disable them. Moreover, most cameras with WiFi allow you to turn your house into a smart home. They can integrate with Amazon and Google and allow you to remotely lock your door and control your lights, as well as sending you texts/alerts.

How do you access your video footage?

Though some cameras come with microSD cards, most models rely on cloud services for storage and offer you remote access. Keep in mind that not all storage is alike. Some might save footage for a month, others only a week. Additionally, you may have to pay a subscription fee for the cloud service.

What is the best security camera?

It’s all about which security camera suits you and your home. Your lifestyle or comings and goings may require a particular set of features. What you need are options. That’s why we’ve done the research for you and pulled together some of the top picks.

These are the best security cameras in 2025.

Just a day after Amazon rolled out new products, Google is answering with a lineup of Nest smart home devices, as both companies vie for dominance in AI-powered living.

The new devices include an indoor ($100) and outdoor Nest Cam ($150), a Nest Doorbell ($180), and a Google Home Speaker ($99). The camera-based products are available now, but the directional speaker won’t hit shelves until spring 2026.

Credit: Google

The updated cameras bring a few notable upgrades: sharper 2K video resolution (up from 1080p), HDR recording, and wider fields of view. The Nest Cam now captures a 152-degree perspective, while the new Nest Doorbell stretches that to a 166-degree diagonal view.

Still, the real centerpiece of the event was Gemini for Home, which replaces Google Assistant across the company's smart devices. According to the company, the Google Home app has been revamped with new tabs for Home, Activity, and Automations. A standout feature is "Ask Home," pitched as a "natural command center" designed to make managing your devices more conversational.

Credit: Google

Gemini Live will also be available on all speakers and displays, but there’s a catch: Most of the new functionality sits behind a paywall. Google Home Advanced costs $20 per month (or $200 annually) and unlocks the full suite of Gemini for Home features.

A cheaper, $10-per-month plan offers 30-day event history, intelligent alerts, and Gemini Live, but excludes the upgraded Gemini for Home tools.

Philips has just announced a monster list of new products for its Hue lineup, part of an overhaul announced at the IFA conference in Berlin.

In recent years, the Philips Hue line has struggled, as cheaper smart lights (that don't require a complicated hub) entered the market.

The new products include smart light bulbs, the new Hue Bridge Pro, and not one, but seven new light strip products. Tucked in the announcement was a neat new feature called MotionAware, which will activate your lights when they sense motion. 

A press release states:

Built with a processor five times more powerful and a memory 15 times larger than the Philips Hue Bridge, the Hue Bridge Pro allows users to store over 500 custom lighting scenes and enjoy faster response times across the system. It’s powered by the new Hue Chip Pro and enables cutting-edge capabilities like Hue Motion Aware – an advanced smart feature that transforms Philips Hue lights into motion sensors which turn on the lights when motion is detected.

This new feature can be useful in a variety of ways, and the way it works is pretty neat, too. It works when using Zigbee by measuring fluctuations in the wireless signal strength that occur when a person walks through them. Once it measures this fluctuation, the lights will turn on all on their own without any voice or app commands. 

Credit: Philips

Credit: Philips

The obvious use case for this feature would be having your lights turn on automatically when you get home from work or get up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water. However, this can also be part of a home security system. Someone uninvited coming into your home won’t have the cover of darkness as an advantage anymore, as any room set up for MotionAware will light up like New Year’s Eve as they pass through it. 

Per Philips, MotionSense can be set up in any room that has enough lights to accurately measure the aforementioned fluctuations and can be customized so that they only work during certain times of the day. Philips also notes that this is for indoor use only and can’t be used with lights in different rooms. 

Credit: Philips

So, while it is a very cool feature, you’ll have to invest in a sizable number of Hue lights to make it work. In addition, you’ll need Philips’ new third-generation Hue Bridge Pro, a nearly $100 upgrade that will enable the feature on compatible lights automatically. The updated bridge also adds more features to Philips’ Zigbee bulbs, like lighting scenes and out-of-house controls. 

The good news is that Philips says that the “vast majority of Hue products support Huge MotionAware technology.” Philips has a helpful list that shows the products that do not support MotionAware, so if your lights aren’t on the list, they’ll work for it. A cursory glance over the list shows that very nearly all Philips Hue bulbs and light strips are compatible, including the newest ones. 

According to a press release, most of the new Philips Hue products will be available in North America starting in September, with some products to follow in November.

With the iPhone 17 set to be released in early September, we're getting a steady stream of Apple rumors, news, and potential leaks — many of which aren't worth writing about. But when Bloomberg's Mark Gurman drops a new update, we pay close attention.

Case in point: The trusted Apple oracle reports today that Apple is planning a major push into the smart home market, with AI-powered smart speakers, security cameras, and, intriguingly, an Apple robot.

Before you let your imagination go too far, we should note that Gurman describes it as a "tabletop robot." Specifically, a tabletop robot that "resembles an iPad mounted on a movable limb."

The new products would come with a more conversational, AI version of Siri, which would be able to talk to users and accomplish tasks. According to multiple reports from outlets like the New York Times and Bloomberg, building an AI version of Siri has proven extremely difficult for Apple, which has so far lagged far, far behind in the artificial intelligence race.

As Google, Meta, and OpenAI develop new models and AI-based products, Apple's generative AI offerings are limited to modest Apple Intelligence features on some of its devices. For iOS 26, rather than introducing its own AI model, Apple will be working with OpenAI's new GPT-5 model.

However, as Bloomberg reports, Apple is now "plotting its artificial intelligence comeback," with the tabletop robot slash virtual companion at the center. The new AI-powered smart home devices from Apple could potentially arrive in 2027, Gurman says, citing Apple insiders.

In the smart home space, Apple has had some success with Apple TV streaming devices and its HomePod smart speakers. Still, rival tech companies like Amazon and Google have a much larger presence in this category.

However, Apple could be a formidable competitor in this space thanks to its brand loyalty, widely adopted operating systems, and signature product design. Of course, AI devices also have a rocky history with consumers, and a tabletop robot could be too little, too late in the AI arms race.

TL;DR: Keep spaces clean without lifting a finger thanks to the ECOVACS Deebot NEO+ Robot Vacuum and Mop with Auto-Empty Station, now on sale for just $229.99 (reg. $499.99).

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Credit: ECOVACS

ECOVACS Deebot NEO+ Robot Vacuum & Mop with Auto-Empty Station

$229.99
$499.99 Save $270

 

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Want to keep things tidy without breaking a sweat? It’s time to call in robot reinforcements. The ECOVACS Deebot NEO+ Robot Vacuum and Mop offers hands-free cleaning that you can schedule, and right now you can get one for 54% off the usual price at just $229.99 (reg. $499.99).

Say goodbye to two annoying chores with help from this 2-in-1 robot vacuum

The ECOVACS Deebot NEO+ Robot Vacuum and Mop is a 2-in-1 cleaning solution, letting you check off two chores at once. It can vacuum up pet hair, dirt, and dust with a 4,000Pa suction, offering twice the power of many competing robot vacuums, while also handling your daily mopping needs.

The ECOVACS Deebot has laser-enabled TrueMapping that maps out your home and utilizes smart sensors, making sure the mop raises when it reaches rugs or carpet and that suction kicks in. It’s also smart enough to avoid furniture or running into things, and was made in a compact, under-furniture-ready design that cleans hard to reach spots. An OZMO Mopping System also makes sure the ECOVACS Deebot isn’t over-soaking your hard floors.

The Auto-Empty Station can hold up to 2.5L in a hypoallergenic bag, which holds about 30 to 60 days’ worth of debris. That means you can go for weeks without even touching the vacuum, letting it clean up while you tackle more important things. The 5,200 mAh battery also offers 170 minutes of continuous cleaning on a full charge.

Let the ECOVACS Deebot NEO+ Robot Vacuum and Mop with Auto-Empty Station conveniently keep your space clean, now for just $229.99 (reg. $499.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Google Nest users have a widespread complaint: that the verbal command "turn off the lights" isn't working.

A writer for Android Authority pointed out that the device didn't work for her, and several users on Reddit have reported the same issue. Some Google Home users say they can still control individual lights, but not groups of lights; others report individual bulbs won't turn on or off; and other times, the Google devices can't understand the difference between lights in separate bedrooms.

The issue seems to be contained to using Assistant voice commands, with most users saying that the controls work as they normally should within the Google Home app.

Google responded to several posts on r/googlehome, acknowledging the problem: "Hey all, We're aware of an issue with using voice commands to control some lights. We’ll share an update as soon as possible, thanks for your patience."

This onslaught of complaints follows criticism from Google Home users over the "enshittification" of Google Home smart speakers and hubs. Redditors have been complaining about glitches, delayed responses, and the deterioration of several basic features.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer of Google Home and Nest, responded to these complaints earlier in July, reassuring users that Google is "actively working on major improvements" and that the team would have more to share in coming months.

The crisis over Google Home gadgets may be getting worse. According to Tech Radar, US law firm Kaplan Gore has begun investigating a possible class action against Google for "failing to remedy increasing problems with its Google Home 'smart home' service." The law firm is asking Google users to share complaints over failing features, such as "unrecognized voice commands, automations and routines not functioning."

A number of Reddit users say that Google’s smart home ecosystem is falling apart — another casualty of what’s been dubbed "enshittification." A July 21 Reddit thread has drawn hundreds of comments from users venting about how unreliable Google Home smart speakers and hubs have become in recent years.

"We had a good run with Google Home, but it’s been on its way out for almost two years," one user wrote. "I only try to do the very basics with mine now, and I’m happy to have lighting, outlets, and inaccurate weather."

Other Redditors echoed these frustrations: voice commands being misheard, delayed responses, multi-room speaker setups breaking, and basic functionality deteriorating. Features that once "just worked" now frequently don’t.

So what’s going wrong?

Aging hardware could be to blame for some user complaints. In April, Google officially dropped update support for its first- and second-generation Nest thermostats to focus on newer models. Around the same time, it also cut off support for third-party smart displays. Another theory points to Google’s increasing reliance on AI in the smart home experience — particularly how large language models like Gemini are less adept at understanding context.

In response to Mashable's questions, a Google representative pointed us to an X post by Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer of Google Home and Nest, who responded directly to the complaints:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Kattukaran added, "We hear you loud and clear and are committed to getting this right -- and making sure we have a long term solution that provides better reliability and capability. We have been actively working on major improvements for sometime and will have more to share in the fall."

For users watching their devices quietly degrade over time, their concern is clear: what was once a reliable smart home platform now feels like a slow, silent phase-out.

"The best example of this, for me, is asking ‘what’s this song?’ while I have music playing," one user explained. "Originally, the assistant understood I was listening to music and would tell me what was playing. After some backend change years ago, it just started telling me that ‘This Song’ is a track by George Harrison."

That shift reflects a known weakness in modern large language models like Gemini: limited context windows, which restrict their ability to handle ongoing, situational interactions.

"I guarantee they’ll shove Gemini into all the existing Google Home things," another user complained. "And then instead of 25% of the time getting an error, you’ll get ‘I’m sorry but I’m just a large language model and cannot support that feature yet’ 60% of the time."

Best Echo device deals from Prime Day 2025:

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BEST ECHO DISPLAY DEAL

Amazon Echo Hub

$119.99 (Save $60)

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BEST ECHO SPEAKER DEAL

Echo Spot

$44.99 (save $35)

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BEST ECHO DEAL FOR KIDS

Echo Pop Kids

$21.99 (Save $28)

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HONORABLE MENTION

Echo Frames (Sunglasses)

$129.99 (save $200)

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Amazon Prime Day 2025 is officially here and everything is getting the deal treatment, from TVs to headphones. Amazon's own devices typically see some of the biggest discounts during the summer shopping event, but, if we're being honest, we're slightly disappointed in the Echo deals this go around.

While some Amazon Echo devices are at their lowest prices on record (like the Echo Frames and Echo Hub), others aren't seeing that big of price drops — like the Echo Pop, for example. It's currently sitting at $21.99 on Prime Day, but we've seen it drop to $17.99 on random days throughout the year.

Below, we've rounded up the best Amazon Echo device deals of Prime Day 2025. These deals end tonight, so hurry if you want to grab any of them.

Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices.

Best Prime Day Echo deal

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Credit: Amazon

Echo Hub 🔥

$119.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $60.00

 

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Why we like it

If you have several smart home devices, the Amazon Echo Hub gives you a way to control them all from one central spot. Serving as your smart home's brain, it offers a full-featured control panel with instant access to all of your gadgets — lights, cameras, switches, doorbells, thermostat, etc. Anyone in your home can play music, stream videos, ask Alexa questions, dim the lights, adjust the temperature, and more from a singular spot. We've seen the Echo Hub drop as low as $124.99 before, but this is the first time it's ever reached sub-$120.

More Echo device deals

• Echo Auto — $14.99 $54.99 (save $40) 🔥

• Echo Pop — $21.99 $39.99 (save $18)

• Echo Pop Kids — $21.99 $49.99 (save $28) 🔥

• Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) — $28.99 $34.99 (save $6)

• Echo Dot — $31.99 $49.99 (save $18)

• Echo Dot Kids — $31.99 $49.99 (save $18)

• Echo Pop Kids with Echo Glow — $31.99 $79.98 (save $47.99 with Prime)

• Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow — $41.99 $89.98 (save $47.99 with Prime)

• Echo Spot — $44.99 $79.99 (save $35) 🔥

• Echo Buds with ANC — $44.99 $139.99 (save $95) 🔥

• Echo Show 5 — $59.99 $89.99 (save $30)

• Echo Show 5 Kids — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)

• Echo Show 5 Kids with Echo Glow — $69.99 $129.98 (save $59.99)

• Echo Show 8 — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40)

• Echo Frames — $129.99 $299.99 (save $170) 🔥

• Echo Frames (Sunglasses) — $129.99 $329.99 (save $200) 🔥

SAVE $15: The Blink Mini security camera is on sale for just $14.99 during Amazon Prime Day. That's half off its usual price of $29.99 and its biggest discount to date.

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Credit: Blink

Blink Mini

$14.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $15.00

 

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I bought Amazon's original Blink Mini indoor security camera years ago in a moment of desperation: Princess, my elderly fantail goldfish, fell ill right before I had to go out of town for a week. I needed to be able to check in on her from afar, so I found the Blink Mini in stock at a nearby Target — it was the cheapest option there — and zipped over to buy it within minutes. As an anxious pet owner, it was some of the best money I've ever spent. (Don't worry, Princess made a full recovery.)

Nowadays, my Blink Mini clocks in under far less stressful circumstances. I've plugged it in when I run errands to see what my dog Pierogi does when no one's home. (Sleep.) I've booted it up to find out which phrases my parrot Melon practices saying when I leave the room — he's shy. ("Are you a good baby?" is a recent favorite.) I can pull up its feed in seconds no matter where I am; the Blink Mini connects right to my phone via the Blink Home Monitor app. It also has clear two-way audio so I can remind my critters that they're Very Good anytime, anywhere.

I'm pretty sure I paid full price for my Blink Mini, but you won't have to if you snag one during Amazon's 2025 Prime Day sale (live through July 11). It's now on sale for just $14.99, or 50% off its $29.99 MSRP. That's a match of its record-low price from last June.

SAVE $55.35: A three-pack of Philips Hue color and white smart bulbs is on sale for $79.64, down from its usual $134.99 this Prime Day.

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Credit: Philips

Philips Hue A19 LED Smart Light Bulb

$79.64 at Amazon
$134.99 Save $55.35

 

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I’ve been using Philips Hue smart bulbs in my home for a while now, and honestly, they’ve been one of my favorite smart home upgrades. If you’ve been thinking about trying them, this Prime Day deal is one of the best I’ve seen: a three-pack of the Philips Hue A19 White and Color Ambiance LED Smart Bulbs is on sale for $79.64, down from the usual $134.99.

These are the same bulbs I use every day. However, it’s important to know before you buy: This set doesn’t include the Hue Bridge — the hub that unlocks advanced features like automation, remote control, and full-color customization. That’s sold separately for around $60, though it’s also discounted for Prime Day at $46.99.

They’re easy to set up, work seamlessly with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, and offer a ton of flexibility. I use them for everything — from warm, white lighting in the mornings to soft, colorful ambiance in the evenings. You can dial in millions of colors, adjust brightness levels, and even set routines to have them turn on or off automatically.

What I appreciate most is that they just work. I've had my four bulbs plus the TV light strip for the last four years. They’ve become a staple in my daily routine, whether I'm home alone or hosting get-togethers with my friends.

If you’ve been curious about smart lighting or just want to expand your setup, this is a great price.

Best Echo device deals from Prime Day 2025:

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BEST ECHO DISPLAY DEAL

Amazon Echo Hub

$119.99 (Save $60)

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BEST ECHO SPEAKER DEAL

Echo Spot

$44.99 (save $35)

Get Deal

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BEST ECHO DEAL FOR KIDS

Echo Pop Kids

$21.99 (Save $28)

Get Deal

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HONORABLE MENTION

Echo Frames (Sunglasses)

$129.99 (save $200)

Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day 2025 is officially here and everything is getting the deal treatment, from TVs to headphones. Amazon's own devices typically see some of the biggest discounts during the summer shopping event, but, if we're being honest, we're slightly disappointed in the Echo deals this go around.

While some Amazon Echo devices are at their lowest prices on record (like the Echo Frames and Echo Hub), others aren't seeing that big of price drops — like the Echo Pop, for example. It's currently sitting at $21.99 on Prime Day, but we've seen it drop to $17.99 on random days throughout the year. Given that Prime Day is now four days long, there is a chance these prices could drop further. We'll definitely be crossing our fingers and keeping an eye on things throughout the week.

Below, we've rounded up the best Amazon Echo device deals of Prime Day 2025. We'll be updating this page throughout the event, so check back to see if any new deals or further discounts go live.

Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices.

Best Prime Day Echo deal

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Credit: Amazon

Echo Hub 🔥

$119.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $60.00

 

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Why we like it

If you have several smart home devices, the Amazon Echo Hub gives you a way to control them all from one central spot. Serving as your smart home's brain, it offers a full-featured control panel with instant access to all of your gadgets — lights, cameras, switches, doorbells, thermostat, etc. Anyone in your home can play music, stream videos, ask Alexa questions, dim the lights, adjust the temperature, and more from a singular spot. We've seen the Echo Hub drop as low as $124.99 before, but this is the first time it's ever reached sub-$120.

More Echo device deals

• Echo Auto — $14.99 $54.99 (save $40) 🔥

• Echo Pop — $21.99 $39.99 (save $18)

• Echo Pop Kids — $21.99 $49.99 (save $28) 🔥

• Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) — $28.99 $34.99 (save $6)

• Echo Dot — $31.99 $49.99 (save $18)

• Echo Dot Kids — $31.99 $49.99 (save $18)

• Echo Pop Kids with Echo Glow — $31.99 $79.98 (save $47.99 with Prime)

• Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow — $41.99 $89.98 (save $47.99 with Prime)

• Echo Spot — $44.99 $79.99 (save $35) 🔥

• Echo Buds with ANC — $44.99 $139.99 (save $95) 🔥

• Echo Show 5 — $59.99 $89.99 (save $30)

• Echo Show 5 Kids — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)

• Echo Show 5 Kids with Echo Glow — $69.99 $129.98 (save $59.99)

• Echo Show 8 — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40)

• Echo Frames — $129.99 $299.99 (save $170) 🔥

• Echo Frames (Sunglasses) — $129.99 $329.99 (save $200) 🔥

SAVE OVER $300: As of July 8, get the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum for $297.99, down from its usual price of $599 at Amazon. That's a discount of 50% for Prime Day.

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Credit: SharkNinja

Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum (AV2501S)

$297.99 at Amazon
$599 Save $301.01

 

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Here's a Prime Day deal that kinda sucks — but in the best possible way — because it's the high-spec, high-performance Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum. And gadgets like this are exactly what Prime Day is all about: Big ticket tech that's just too expensive for many of us on any regular day of the week. And this one's a serious bargain.

As of July 8, the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum is available for just $297.99, marked down from its premium list price of $599 at Amazon. That's a saving of more than $300 for an overall discount of 50%.

This robot vacuum is a serious multitasker — just pop it on the floor and put your feet up. It can do the rest. It uses AI tech to map a route around your home and cleans in a special matrix grid pattern, taking multiple passes over your floors to ensure no dirt is left behind. It also empties itself into a charging base that holds up to 60 days of dirt.

The vacuum uses 360-degree LiDAR vision to find its way around your home and has obstacle avoidance to minimize accidental bumps. It's also great for pet homes, with a self-cleaning anti-tangle brush roller, and offers voice control.

Don't miss your chance to own the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum for literally half the price — get it on Prime Day for just $297.99.

Best early Echo device deals from Prime Day 2025

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Best Echo deal

Amazon Echo Show 8

$109.99 (Save $40)

Get Deal

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Best kids Echo deal

Echo Pop Kids (Marvel's Avengers)

$21.99 (Save $28)

Get Deal

With Amazon Prime Day 2025 starting tomorrow, it's no surprise that the early deals are really starting to ramp up — specifically when it comes to Amazon's popular line of Echo smart speakers. While we foresee these Echo devices getting even cheaper on Prime Day proper, we wouldn't blame you for picking one up now, because they're pretty affordable as it stands.

Read on to find our favorite Echo device deals ahead of Prime Day 2025, and make sure to check back throughout the sale event, because we'll be adding to this page as more deals go live.

Best Echo deal

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Credit: Amazon

Echo Show 8

$109.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $40.00

 

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Why we like it

The Echo Show 8 is perfect for those who want a visual element added to their smart speaker experience. It can do everything that the basic Echo devices can do, but throws in an 8-inch touchscreen display that allows for video calls, streaming, and more. Pick one up ahead of Prime Day for $109.99, saving you $40.

More Echo device deals

• Echo Auto — $14.99 $54.99 (save $40)

• Echo Pop — $21.99 $39.99 (save $18)

• Echo Pop Kids (Marvel's Avengers) — $21.99 $49.99 (save $28)

• Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) — $28.99 $34.99 (save $6)

• Echo Dot — $31.99 $49.99 (save $18)

• Echo Dot Kids — $31.99 $49.99 (save $18)

• Echo Spot — $44.99 $79.99 (save $35)

• Echo Show 5 — $59.99 $89.99 (save $30)

• Echo Show 5 Kids — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)

• Echo Hub — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)

Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Specs

Credit: Chart: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable

Design: We like color options

The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop are nearly the same size, but while the Echo Dot is round, the Echo Pop has a flat face. It basically looks like a cross-section of the Dot.

The Echo Dot (left) and Echo Pop (right) — as you can see, the Dot has been graced by toddler spaghetti fingers. Credit: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable

The Echo Dot also comes in three fairly muted colors (gray, white, and blue), but the Echo Pop is available in some, well, poppier colors (lavender and teal in addition to gray and white).

Overall, I like the appearance of the Echo Pop a little better. The brighter colors add a cute splash of color to a corner shelf. The Pop can serve as a more discreet Alexa assistant than the Echo Dot (which is fairly universally recognized as a smart home gadget).

Both have a modern, sleek appearance that can easily complement or blend into your home decor.

Winner: Echo Pop

Setup and ease of use

Amazon has made setting up these devices extremely easy. You’ll need the Alexa app on your phone, and it walks you through setup step-by-step. The app is also where you’ll connect other apps like Spotify or Audible to stream them on your Echo devices using Alexa voice commands.

The devices themselves are also very straightforward. The physical buttons on them allow you to mute and unmute the microphone and adjust the volume. Everything else is done through voice commands or through the Alexa app. I had no problems setting up either device and both were highly responsive to my “Hey, Alexa’s.”

Winner: Tie

Sound quality is almost identical

Amazon describes the Echo Pop’s sound as a “full sound” that’s a good fit for bedrooms and small spaces and the Echo Dot’s sound as a “bigger vibrant sound” for any room.

In my side-by-side comparisons of the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop, I couldn’t detect a difference in sound quality between the two devices. Both devices were excellent for playing background music in my office or listening to podcasts while doing housework, providing fuller, clearer sound and increased volume compared to my smartphone.

The Echo Pop does have an ever-so-slightly larger speaker. However, the Dot’s round shape can help it to fill a space with sound no matter where it’s placed.

Winner: Echo Dot

Alexa integration and smart home connectivity

Both the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop integrate with Alexa through the Amazon Alexa app. You can use Alexa to ask questions, check the weather, set timers and alarms, and open connected apps (like music or streaming apps including Spotify, Pandora, Audible, and Amazon Music). 

Personally, I have always found Alexa devices most handy in the office and in the kitchen. They provide a hands-free, screen-free way to set timers (for productivity or pizza) or to stream audio. A centrally-located Echo device is also a great way to free up space in your brain. I’ve used Alexa to remind me to water my plants, put birthday cards in the mail, and check the water level in the pool at regular intervals when filling it up for the season.

However, the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop here in two key ways: temperature sensing and motion detection. So your Echo Dot can execute Alexa Routines that involve temperature or motion, while the Echo Pop can’t. Some examples: 

• The Echo Dot can adjust your smart thermostat settings when it reaches a certain temperature

• The Echo Dot can turn on smart lightbulbs when it senses motion in a room

Winner: Echo Dot

Considering additional features

The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop can both serve as WiFi extenders if you have an existing Amazon Eero network, adding up to 1,000 square feet of additional WiFi coverage.

However, once again the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop in terms of extra features. As mentioned above, the Dot comes equipped with motion and temperature detection capabilities. 

Winner: Echo Dot

Smart speakers like Amazon's Echo family of products are a great starting point if you’re looking to get a smarter home. They're affordable and easy to use, and beyond just playing music, they can help you find your next binge-watch, read the news, and adjust room settings. 

Since debuting a decade ago, Amazon’s Echo devices have multiplied quickly. There are nearly a dozen iterations of the smart home devices, but let’s not overcomplicate it. The Echo (Fourth Generation) and Echo Dot (Fifth Generation) fall in the middle of the Echo lineup. While they look like virtually the same device, the Dot offers the perks of an Echo in a smaller package.

So what’s one to do? To help you out, we compared these smart speakers side by side. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re deciding between the Echo and the Echo Dot.

When is the best time to buy an Echo or Echo Dot?

Before we even get into all the logistics of both devices, you should be prepared for when to shop. Yes, they start at affordable prices — the Echo starts at $99.99 and the Dot at $49.99. However, you don't need to (and shouldn't) buy them at full price. The best time to buy is during shopping holidays like Black Friday, when you'll find Echos at their lowest prices ever. We've seen the Echo Dot go as low as $22.99.

Because Echos are Amazon devices, Amazon Prime Day presents huge savings opportunities. Be sure to stay on the lookout when Prime Day 2025 kicks off on July 8.

Privacy concerns on Echo devices

Another thing to mention before we get into the Echo vs. Echo Dot debate is something that affects all Echo users, no matter the specific device. Rightfully so, there are privacy concerns around Echos as they've been known to record entire conversations, listening in when you're talking about potentially sensitive information.

To limit some of this risk, in the Alexa app, you can review your daily voice history and delete anything you don't vibe with, manage the access to data certain skills have, and more. On the exterior of both the 4th Gen Echo and 5th Gen Echo Dot, you can also find a mic-off button that will prevent any audio input from reaching Alexa.

However, in 2025, Amazon is making even bigger changes that could affect user privacy. Previously, users could choose "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" in settings, which meant that all requests you made were processed locally rather than getting sent off to Amazon's servers. As of March 28, 2025, Amazon is taking away this setting, meaning all requests will be sent through Amazon servers.

While Amazon promises that all information requests are encrypted and secure, it still means that the retailer has access to all user data now. If you have concerns, there are other smart home options to explore with better privacy.

Good things come in colorful packages. Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable

Difference between Echo and Echo Dot

Amazon Echo smart speaker review (4th Gen)

Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

$99.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

The Echo weighs 34.2 ounces and its dimensions are 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 inches. On its round exterior, you'll find an action button, volume buttons, a mic-off button, a light-up ring, a power port, and a 3.5-millimeter audio output. With three distinct color options currently available at Amazon, this under-$100 device is sure to fit your home decor seamlessly.

Setting up the Echo is also seamless and you can use it within minutes. Indeed, the only things inside the package are the device itself, a power adapter, and two guides. The setup guide is highly visual, which is always a perk. To begin, you have to download the Alexa app and sign in. No, you don't need to have a Prime account to use an Amazon smart device (though its range of possibilities surely increases for those of us who are Prime members). Plug in the included power adapter into the Echo and then plug the Echo into a wall outlet. The light ring on the Echo will turn blue when it’s on and then orange when Alexa greets you. Next, connect the Echo to your home WiFi network. The Alexa app will then walk you through the rest of the setup process, including customizing your "wake word," mastering the pronunciation of your name, allowing access to phone contacts, and more.

Once all that is ready, you're good to go. Give your newest smart home companion a warm welcome: After all, it will be your go-to from now on for blasting music, waking you up in the morning, providing news and weather reports, calling loved ones, and so much more.

Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker review (5th Gen)

Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release)

$49.99 at Amazon

 

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The Echo Dot takes smart living to a new level. Though this device is two years newer than the aforementioned Echo (4th Gen), it's actually $50 cheaper.

The Echo Dot weighs 10.7 ounces, a third of the size of the Echo, and its dimensions are 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches. This baby can easily fit on countertops, shelves, or nightstands. Similar to the Echo, it boasts an action button, a microphone-off button, volume controls, a light ring, and a power port. It pretty much comes with the same color options as the bigger Echo, except for its deep sea blue shade being slightly darker than the Echo's twilight blue shade. Potayto, potahto.

Setup is also a breeze with the Echo Dot. First, plug it into a wall outlet and open the Alexa app to start setup. (You’ll need to download the Alexa app on your smartphone beforehand.) Once you open the app, select “devices” and then select the “+” icon. Follow the on-screen instructions from that point on and personalize the device to your liking.

What you get when you order an Amazon Echo Dot. Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable

Smarter, easier living features

Echo

The Amazon Echo functions as your personal butler and best friend. Since it's a smart speaker that connects to the Alexa Voice Service, you use it to do everything from playing the latest hits to purchasing some kitchen staples to killing your boredom with a round of Jeopardy! Advanced sound technology helps the Echo immediately respond to you and recognize your voice. In fact, during the setup process on the Alexa app, Echo learns your voice's cadences and pitch by making you repeat some sample prompts. Impressive.

You can tell Alexa exactly what to put on your grocery list and manage the items on your Alexa app. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Prompt response: Beamforming technology, noise-cancellation, and seven microphones will enable the Echo to hear you from your nearby location. Just speak the wake word and say commands like “Alexa, find an Amazon Music playlist,” or “Alexa, call Dad” for immediate assistance. Something to note: Your speaker does not by any means have to be called Alexa. Other fun options include Echo, Ziggy, or Santa. Referring to your device as that last option unlocks a whole new Ho-Ho-Ho personality for it. Another thing to note: Amazon is getting better about accessibility, in the form of Adaptive Listening. This feature, when enabled, essentially gives you more time to finish speaking — Alexa's way of accommodating speech patterns like stuttering.

Beats master: Of course the Echo can play music, but it’s more than a basic speaker. It comes with Dolby premium sound that fills a whole room — with deep bass and clear high notes alike. If you have two Echo devices in one room, you can actually tell one of them to "play music everywhere," which will amplify sound to even higher levels and make for an actual at-home clubbing experience. Word of caution, however — Alexa didn't cooperate with me, strangely, when I tried to test out this feature. For those of us who are highly picky about music streaming services, Amazon lets you set default options which you can change at any time. Do you want Alexa to pick music from Apple Music but podcasts from Spotify? No problem, there's an option for that.

Hands-free communication: If you need to message or call loved ones, the Echo has your back. You can use Alexa to communicate with people via phone or text on the Echo, without grabbing your smartphone. Plus, Alexa can also make household announcements across Amazon Echo devices at home, so your family knows if dinner is ready or guests are arriving. Use the Drop-In feature to connect to other Amazon Echo devices or the Announcement feature to record cute messages in your own voice (accompanied by a range of sound effect offerings, including dinner bell, kiss, trumpet, as well as, a bit alarmingly, toilet flush and fart).

Control smart devices: If you have other smart devices that work with Alexa, you can easily control them with Echo's Zigbee smart home hub. Just ask Alexa to dim the lights, adjust the room temperature, or turn on a compatible smart-plug-connected appliance. The best thing about this? You don’t have to press any buttons, and you can even engineer routines for yourself ahead of time to set these processes in motion at a certain time in your home.

The Echo can double as a night light Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable

Echo Dot

Making the smart living switch isn’t always budget-friendly, but the Echo Dot is affordable and provides great voice control features. These features aren't all that different from what you get with the Echo. The only true upgrades are new motion sensors that let you touch-control the device, the 1.73-inch front-firing speaker (versus a woofer and tweeters), and "Eero mesh network support so the Echo Dot can serve as a node for your Eero network if you use one," according to our sister site, PCMag. Use the Dot to receive reminders, save cookie recipes to your app for future reference, bask your room in a night light glow, communicate with friends and family, soothe yourself with some white noise, and beyond.

Listening companion: We’ve all tried the conventional speaker setup, which typically involves too many outlets and wires. Echo Dot offers the opposite experience for all your listening needs. You can use your voice to play music through streaming services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify. Plus, Audible and other media forms are available on the Echo Dot. Ask Alexa to find the perfect playlist or podcast, and you’ll have something to listen to when you cook in the kitchen, lounge on the couch, or work out in your living room. Another extra-cool feature? The Dot will start playing deep sleep music when it detects sounds of snoring — if you enable it to do so.

Task help: There are times we wish that we had a personal assistant for little things, including making lists and scheduling calendars. The Echo Dot helps make your everyday routine (and entertainment) more seamless with voice control. Try saying: "Alexa, set a timer for five minutes," "Alexa, play the Reuters news briefing," "Alexa, open my daily horoscope," or "Alexa, find my phone." The possibilities are endless. Be sure to reference the "more" tab on the Alexa app to browse through all of the Echo Dot's offerings.

Use the Dot to send messages to houseguests, remind you of tasks, and more! Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Converse with and check in on loved ones: Like the Echo, the Echo Dot allows you to send messages, make phone calls, and use other Echo devices as intercoms. Enjoy hands-free communication with loved ones and make announcements via Drop-In to keep everyone in touch at home. If you have elderly parents at home, you can also take advantage of Alexa Together — Amazon's remote caregiving offering that does cost extra but allows you to connect compatible fall detection devices to the Echo Dot, see snapshots of your loved ones' daily interactions with Alexa, get 24/7 access to trained agents who can call 911 in case of an emergency, create gentle reminders such as "take your pills," and more.

Monitor your smart home environment: The Echo Dot also offers the option to monitor smart devices at home. If you have light bulbs, thermostats, or streaming media players that are compatible with Alexa, you can control their activity with the Echo Dot. Just speak to Alexa in your room of choice, and you can easily monitor lighting, temperature, and more with verbal commands. Also, if you enable sound detection routines, you can program a particular sound (dog barking, oven dinging, door opening) to trigger a certain Alexa Routine. This feature has an accessibility bonus since it can be used as a way to provide visual cues to those with hearing challenges. For instance, "if Alexa detects running water for a period of time... she can trigger the living room smart lights to flash on and off, serving as a visual reminder to shut off the faucet," as reported in USA Today.

Don't let the Dot's size fool you — it's mighty smart. Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable

Price and competition

Echo

At $99.99, the Echo is moderately priced, but it comes with benefits that go beyond other smart speakers. With its high-tech sound features, including Dolby audio, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite beats at the right volume. When you’re entertaining guests, you can engage the multi-room music feature to turn your pad into a dance floor (adjusting bass settings accordingly). In addition to playing music, the Echo allows you to control smart devices and communicate with loved ones via voice control. It also comes with a skills range so extensive that it might take you months to try them all out.

The Echo comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship. If you would like additional protection, you can buy an extended warranty separately at Amazon.

In terms of competition, the $99.99 Apple HomePod mini can be considered a pretty close match (at least price-wise). It's teeny compared to the Echo, though, and a larger/more advanced Apple smart speaker — the HomePod — will cost you $299 (see our full review of the Apple Homepod). While this competitor might be a better choice for Apple fans, due to its easy iOS compatibility, Siri isn't as smart or loyal of an assistant as Alexa in our opinion.

Echo Dot

For those on a technology budget, the 5th Gen Echo Dot delivers all the smart speaker benefits at a fraction of the price. At $49.99, it’s more affordable than other Amazon Echo devices (despite being the newest Dot) and still has desirable features like advanced voice recognition, smart device control, and assistance with small tasks via Alexa.

Unlike the Echo, the Echo Dot only comes with a 90-day limited warranty. It’s applicable to defects in materials and workmanship and you can contact Amazon’s Customer Service for assistance. This warranty, too, can be extended to a one-year, two-year, or even three-year plan for an additional fee.

If we're talking about what's available on the smart speaker market that can compare to the Dot, the Google-Assistant-powered Nest Mini (2nd Generation) immediately comes to mind, as it also costs $49.99. The Nest Mini is cute as a button (and weighs almost as much). It's compatible with streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, and iHeart Radio, as well as Youtube, has smart home pairing with Arlo, Nest, Ring, and other appliances, and it allows you to voice-purchase essentials from storefronts that aren't limited to Amazon. Still, with the Dot's new-and-improved front-firing speaker, there's no question that it wins the contest when it comes to quality audio. Also, with its upgraded temperature and movement sensors, the Dot seems to be leading the smart home game. I mean, what other speaker will listen for the sound of broken glass and immediately alert you to a potential robbery happening when you're MIA?

Clearly, the Echo is way bigger than the Echo Dot (reflected in their price difference). Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable

So, to Echo or to Echo Dot?

If you want a large smart speaker that delivers high-quality sound, allows you to engage in hands-free control, and use your voice to communicate with loved ones, the $99.99 4th Gen Echo is a good call. Another perk of this device is that it’s customizable: You can choose a decorative shell to compliment your home decor vibe. Plus, it works with other Amazon Echo devices for the ultimate sound setup whenever you need it.

If you don’t want to fork over a lot of cash for a smart speaker, the Echo Dot is a great pick — especially considering it's newer than the 4th Gen Echo. At only $49.99, it’s a steal compared to other Amazon-connected devices and offers the same smart speaker benefits... and then some.

SAVE $300.01: As of June 13, get the Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop for $399.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's a discount of 43%.

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Credit: Amazon

Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop

$399.98 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $300.01

 

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If you live in a home where you're constantly vacuuming and mopping, you're probably tired of the seemingly endless cycle of dirt, clean, repeat. But we live in the future, which means you don't have to worry about manually pushing a stick vacuum or dunking a mop into a bucket for tidy floors. You can just have a robot do the dirty work for you. And right now, you can do so at a significant discount.

As of June 13, get the Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop at Amazon for $399.98, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's $300.01 off and a discount of 43%.

This all-in-one vacuum and mop combo can handle every part of the cleaning process on its own, from vacuuming on a schedule and making its way around your home to mopping and drying as it goes. It offers 7,000 Pa of suction with a rolling brush and side brush to cut through hair and other dirt and debris. It also features a mop that features 180 rotations per minute and 6N of pressure so it can scrub tougher stains, mopping and drying with room temperature air as it goes along.

You can control the vacuum and mop with the Eufy app, set up cleaning schedules, safe zones, and much more for a customized cleaning plan that doesn't have to involve you. Plus, when it's full, it can handle emptying its dustbin on its own so that's one less chore you have to focus on.

This could make a great gift or an auspicious addition to your smart home setup, especially since it can work with virtual voice-controlled assistants. And at this price, it's even nicer than usual.

GET $15 OFF: As of May 5th, the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor is on sale for $54.99 for a savings of $15 or 21% off.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor

$54.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $15.00

 

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Whether to combat spring sniffles or alert you to mold problems, a good air quality monitor can keep you abreast of changes in air quality in your home when it matters. The Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor senses life-threatening CO leaks, irritants like mold, and often-ignored gasses like VOCs and updates you on buildups when they matter.

Right now, the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor is on sale for 21% off. Get it for $54.99 and save $15.

Beyond its critical CO sensitivity and VOC and particulate monitoring, the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor also tracks temperature and humidity. Altogether, it gives you a full picture of your home, alerting you to dangerous pollutants as well as factors that affect comfort.

The Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor pairs with Alexa, ensuring it stays in communication with smart alerts on your phone or announcements from Echo devices. In the app, you'll see spikes in pollutants mapped over time, showing you when air quality deteriorated.

Right now, the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor is on sale for $54.99, saving you 21% or $15.

Use Routines to pair your Air Quality Monitor with other home tech. Pair it with a dehumidifier or air purifier to respond to humidity or spikes in emissions from your gas stove, respectively.

SAVE UP TO 30% OFF: As of May 2, you can get up to 30% off select Echo devices at Amazon.

Best Echo deals as of May 2:

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Best deal overall

Amazon Echo Dot

$37.99 (save $12 )

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Best Echo Show deal

Amazon Echo Show 5

$64.99 (save $25 )

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Best budget pick

Amazon Echo Pop

$27.99 (save $12 )

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If you’re looking for a Bluetooth speaker that’s affordable and doubles as a voice assistant and smart home hub, you should probably forgo the stacks and opt for an Amazon Echo.

Right now, you can snag an Echo device for up to 30% off at Amazon. There’s even a cool Star Wars Echo Bundle available that comes with an Echo Dot and a Star Wars Tie Fighter Echo Dot stand.

Here are some of the best Echo devices that are currently on sale at Amazon.

Best deal overall

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 Release)

$49.99 at Amazon

 

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Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Dot (2022) is a surprisingly good speaker, given its size. I’ve had mine for years, and still use it all the time.

The Amazon Echo Dot can do everything that a full-sized Echo can do, like playing music, answering questions, setting timers, controlling smart home devices, and making calls. It’s also small enough to fit in any room without being too obtrusive, and you can get it in multiple colors, including charcoal, deep sea blue, and glacier white.

More Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Spot — $64.99 $79.99 (save $)

• Star Wars Echo Dot Bundle — $97.98 $109.98 (save $12)

• Amazon Echo Hub — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

All fitness and weight loss journeys are different. But many of them have the same starting point: on the dreaded bathroom scales. We say dreaded because so many of us dread looking down after stepping on. And it's hard work rolling back those numbers, but it's worth the effort. What you need is focus, commitment, and a helping hand. In this day and age that means tech-based assistance.

There are plenty of devices out there to help make your journey a little easier — running watches, for instance, can give you the advantage on the track. But what about a set of smart scales? With all the advanced tech included, stepping onto a smart scale could be that first crucial leap towards your ultimate fitness goal.

But before you jump ahead and start shopping, let us help take some weight off your mind — and maybe your body — by explaining what makes these scales so smart.

What are smart scales?

Regular old scales only measure your weight, which is fine if that’s all you need. Smart scales provide you with extra data that helps tailor your weight-loss plan, with apps or online services to track various metrics and store information for you.

Most of the apps are compatible with the likes of Fitbit, Apple Health, and Google Fit, so you can sync your data to provide a clearer picture of your progress. Smart scales can provide the motivation to lose, maintain, or even gain weight.

Once you step on the scale, your information is recorded and sent to the accompanying app. These apps track your weight, providing charts that let you set goals for yourself. The ability to see goals and monitor progress can motivate you in ways that simply jotting down your weight can't or won't.

How do smart scales work?

Some scales use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology to measure body composition. This technology uses electrical currents to gather measurements, so consult your doctor before hopping on if you are pregnant or have a pacemaker.

The number of measurements that are tracked will vary from scale to scale. Some only track a handful of metrics, like weight, fat, lean mass, and body mass index (BMI). Others, such as the RENPHO scale, track 13 different body composition metrics.

Some of these measurements might be surplus to your fitness journey requirements. If you are just casually watching your weight, for instance, you probably don’t need to track bone mass and skeletal muscle. Finding the right smart scales depends on which specific metrics you want to track, which features suit your lifestyle, goals, and medical history.

What is the perfect weight?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this, because it depends on your size and various factors, such as age, muscle-fat ratio, height, sex, and body shape.

The best way to determine whether you’re at a healthy weight is to measure your BMI. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. A BMI over 30 is considered obese. BMI measurement is standard on smart scales.

It's important to not obsess over these numbers. Everyone has a different set of circumstances that may influence where you fall on the scale. The most important thing to remember is that you're on your own personal fitness journey, and things take time. Focus on feeling fitter and healthier, and the rest will fall into place.

Which app do you need for smart scales?

The best app will depend on which smart scale you purchase. Some will need you to download and use a specific app, while others will have universal compatibility that syncs with popular fitness apps such as Garmin Connect, Nike+, and Google Fit. Check this out before making a purchase — it could mean extra costs.

What is the best smart scale?

There’s a whole world of smart scales out there – and lots of brands you’ve probably never come across. You might feel more comfortable going with a brand you know, such as Fitbit or Garmin. These are well-trusted, top-of-the-range fitness tech manufacturers and their smart scales sync with their other devices.

We've scoured the internet and weighed up the pros and cons of the best smart scales from the top brands. There should be something for everyone and every budget in this list. All you need to do is pick a favourite and jump on.

These are the best smart scales in 2025.

SAVE $50: The Amazon Echo Hub is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $179.99. That's a 28% discount.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Echo Hub

$129.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $50

 

Get Deal

Smart home devices are some of the most convenient upgrades we've seen in tech in the last decade. From video doorbells to smart lighting, our homes have never been better connected. If you've outfitted your house with smart devices, there's a single panel to control them all and it happens to be on sale today at Amazon.

As of April 15, the Amazon Echo Hub is on sale for $129.99, marked down from the standard price of $179.99. That's a savings of $50 from a 28% discount. This sale price also comes within $5 of the lowest we've ever seen Amazon offer.

If you've jumped on the smart home bandwagon, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by how many control panels you need to access. There's one for the thermostat, the video doorbell, the security system, the lights in the bedroom, the ceiling fan in the dining room, and the smart plug in the living room. Instead of dealing with all of those separately, the Amazon Echo Hub conveniently combines them all into one eight-inch display.

Amazon considers the Echo Hub to be a central control panel for your smart home devices, and it's compatible with thousands of gadgets. It easily mounts to a wall in your home and gives you access to controls you'll use everyday like turning the air conditioning on and viewing who's at the door. You can play music directly from the Echo Hub or connect it to another smart speaker.

The Amazon Echo Hub also allows you to see calendars, reminders, and make lists. Plus, it comes packed with Alexa's help who can order groceries for you, keep track of a timer, or remind you to schedule that doctor's appointment.

If you could use some simplifying when it comes to smart devices, today's sale price on the Echo Hub means this is a great time to upgrade. One central control hub will streamline your favorite devices.

SAVE $50.01: The Google Nest Cam is on sale at Amazon for $129.98, down from the standard price of $179.99. That's a 28% discount.

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Credit: Google

Google Nest Cam

$129.98 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $50.01

 

Get Deal

When we were young, some of us said our chosen superpower would be to see through walls. While technology hasn't quite gotten us there yet, we do have some pretty great tech advances that help us keep an eye on places we're not currently located in. If you've been meaning to grab some extra security cameras for your home, there's a nice deal at Amazon today.

As of April 7, the Google Nest Cam is on sale for $129.98, marked down from the normal price of $179.99. That's a 28% discount that shaves $50.01 off the list price.

Now that we're into the spring break and summer vacation era of 2025, it's time to consider if home security is up to snuff. If you're in need of some extra eyes, the Google Nest Cam is a reliable option that's worthy of using indoors or outside.

It comes with plenty of features you want in a home security camera like a built-in microphone and speaker, so you'll be able to thank the delivery driver without needing to be home. But it also comes with super easy installation. Since this Google Nest Cam is battery-powered, you won't need to worry about hooking up wires or finding a place to plug it in. The weather resistant material means it's ready to get soaked during the summer storm. Plus, if the power and WiFi get knocked out, the Google Nest Cam can keep up to an hour of local backup storage.

You'll need to access the camera's live feed through the Google Home app, which is free to download. Once in the app, you'll have access to three hours of event history your camera recorded. Google also uses its Intelligent Alerts technology with this model. It's designed to detect people, animals, motion, and vehicles while ignoring stuff like blowing leaves or heavy rain.

If you'll be away from home during upcoming holidays, ramp up your home's security thanks to today's deal on the Google Nest Cam. Since installation takes no time at all, you'll easily be able to keep a better eye on your home while you're away. The $50 discount is a bonus that means you can splurge a bit more on vacation.

SAVE $70: The Arlo Video Doorbell is on sale at Amazon for just $59.99, down from the list price of $129.99. That's a 54% discount that matches the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

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Credit: Arlo

Arlo Video Doorbell (2K)

$59.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $70

 

Get Deal

The Amazon Big Spring Sale is officially over, but Amazon has an olive branch for those of us wo didn't get around to shopping the sale. We're still seeing plenty of great discounts on Apple products, smart home devices, and kitchen gadgets. If you have plans to ramp up home security, check out this still-live Amazon Spring Sale deal.

As of April 1, the Arlo Video Doorbell is still just $59.99, marked down from the normal price of $129.99. That's a 54% discount that takes $70 off the price. It also matches the lowest price we've ever seen.

The Arlo Video Doorbell comes with all the great features we love about having a camera on a doorbell. For starters, it has a large range of view that measures 180 degrees, so you won't be left wondering what was happening on the corner of the porch. It also has two-way audio which is nice for letting the delivery person know you appreciate their hard work. Plus, the doorbell is weather resistant so there's no issue if your front door area isn't covered.

The Arlo Video Doorbell records in 2K and gives you real-time notifications with motion activation. It also has a night vision mode for better recording while it's dark and you'll have remote siren activation.

If you have spring or summer travel plans, now is a great time to upgrade your home's security before you leave. Thanks to this lingering Amazon Big Spring Sale deal, the Arlo Video Doorbell can be yours for the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon of just $59.99. But since the sale is officially over, it's smart to jump on this deal quickly since it could disappear soon.

SAVE $32: As of March 28, you can get the Loftie smart alarm clock for $127.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount and a $32 price cut.

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Credit: Loftie

Loftie Smart Alarm Clock

$127.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $32.00

 

Get Deal

If you’re not a morning person or you share a bed with someone who isn’t, you might want to look into getting a smart alarm clock.

Unlike traditional alarms, these little gadgets feature white noise, meditations, and other soothing sounds that can help you fall asleep, and they offer gentler wake-up methods that prevent you from starting the day on the wrong foot. (I actually have the Hatch Restore 2 on my nightstand, and I love it.)

And right now, you can get the Loftie smart alarm clock for $127.99, down from $159.99. That’s a discount of 20% or $32.

The Loftie smart alarm clock doubles as a sound machine. There are more than 100 free tracks, including breathwork, white noise, nature sounds, and sound baths. What makes it unique, however, is that it has a two-phase alarm system. The first alarm gently lulls you awake, and then, nine minutes later, a second alarm gets you out of bed.

It has other features, too, like a dimmable display, a sleep timer, and a night light. You can also use it without WiFi, which is great if don't want another device connected to the internet.

SAVE $7.50: Amazon has a three-pack of WiZ 60W A19 LED Smart Light Bulbs on sale for just $17.49 (normally $24.99) during its Big Spring Sale. That's a 30% savings and their lowest price to date.

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Credit: WiZ

WiZ 60W A19 LED Smart Light Bulbs (3-pack)

$17.49 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $7.50

 

Get Deal

I was admittedly very late to the game when it comes to smart home adaptation. It's mostly because I've never loved the idea of my devices listening to me, but also because the benefits never felt worth the extra spend. Buying a new speaker or a bunch of plugs just because they featured app and voice control seemed superfluous. And then I got my orb.

Last Christmas, the Ikea FADO spherical table lamp was at the top of my wish list for a family gift exchange. I needed an alternative to The Big Light in my living room, and the FADO kept popping up in aesthetic home decor videos on my TikTok For You Page. It looked the coziest when it was glowing a warm amber, and I figured creators were achieving that with color-changing smart bulbs. So I added a WiZ A19 Color LED Smart Bulb to my wish list, too: It was rated highly for easy setup, brightness, and a wide range of color options, including dynamic presets. Most importantly, it didn't push me over the $50 gift exchange budget.

Shoutout to the brother-in-law who drew my name. After setting up my new FADO with the WiZ bulb this past winter, I'm now officially on the smart light bandwagon — nay, I'm driving that thing. Having a colorful light that I can adjust or dim from my phone is the one thing that's made the biggest different in my home decor. Is it superfluous? Probably, yeah. But the vibes in here are too immaculate for me to care anymore.

I've since added another WiZ bulb to a tripod floor lamp in the same room, and I'll probably grab a couple more of them for other lights around the house sometime this week: There's a three-pack marked down to just $17.49 on Amazon during its Big Spring Sale, which runs through Tuesday, March 31. That's 30% off its $24.99 MSRP and an exact match of its all-time low from last Black Friday, according to the Amazon price-tracking site CamelCamelCamel. (You're basically getting three bulbs for less than the price of two: They retail for $10.99 individually.)

UPDATE: Mar. 25, 2025, 3:45 p.m. EDT This list has been updated to show current deal pricing.

The best Amazon Big Spring Sale smart home deals

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Smart light deals

Kasa Smart Light Bulbs

$15.99 (Save $9)

Get Deal

---

Smart switch deals

Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch

$21.99 (Save $8)

Get Deal

---

Smart security deals

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock with Door Sensor

$149.99 (Save $30)

Get Deal

---

Smart smoke detector deals

X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station

$97.49 (Save $42.50)

Get Deal

---

Best Fire Stick deal

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

39.99 at Amazon (save $20)

Get Deal

What goes in your smart home? Today, home tech can be used to automate all sorts of tasks around the house. Smart switches help us control lighting and smart systems in our home, smart lights give us great control over our home's ambience and respond to our commands, while smart scales help us gain a better understanding of our personal health. Most of the time, individual smart tech can be connected to a smart assistant or hub, to give us vocal control and more.

Whatever your automation aims, now is a great time to invest. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is here with a huge offering of smart tech deals for you to scoop up, like $30 off the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock. The Amazon Big Spring Sale lasts from March 25-31. Here are the best smart home deals of the Big Spring Sale:

Smart light deals

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Credit: Kasa

Kasa Smart Light Bulbs

$15.19 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $9.80

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

There are few simpler ways to tweak the ambience of your room than to invest in smart lights. Kasa Smart Light Bulbs have vast palettes of available color available and dim to match your needs.

Tweak these using the Kasa smart app or set them to automatically adjust with natural light. As LED bulbs, they use less energy than traditional light bulbs, but with energy monitoring and scheduling tools, you'll be able to tune them to save more by ensuring they're always off when you're out of the house.

As of now, the Kasa Smart Light Bulbs are on sale for $15.19, saving you $9.80, or 39%.

More smart light deals

• TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Bulbs — $14.98 $17.99 (save $3.01)

• Govee Floor Lamp 2 — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40)

• Govee Smart Light Bulbs — $26.99 $34.99 (save $8)

• Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights H7021 — $57.99 $99.99 (save $42)

• Philips Hue A19 LED Smart Light Bulb — $79.99 $134.99 (save $55)

• Kasa Smart Light Bulbs — $26.09 $39.99 (save $13.90)

Smart switch deals

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Credit: Kasa

Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch

$21.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $8

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

What if you could talk to your switches? The Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch turns your light switch into a multi-functional control node with access to integrated smart home tech. With a touch, use it to dim your smart lights, or speak to it to turn the lights on when your hands are full. When you're out, you can even interact with the smart switch to control your lights via the Kasa App.

For many, the most useful parts of the Kasa Matter Smart Dimmer Switch will be its simple integrations and its timers. Matter is the smart home protocol that integrates with multiple systems, including Alexa, Google Home, and more, meaning that you can connect this switch to tech from lots of different brands. When you do, its timers and scheduling empower you to ensure your lights and devices are off when you're out of the house, and on when you need them.

Right now, the Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch is on sale for $21.99, saving you $8, or 27%.

More smart switch deals

• TP-Link Tapo Matter Smart Light Switch — $10.69 $24.99 (save $14.30)

• Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch HS220P3 — $43.99 $74.99 (save $31)

Amazon Fire Stick deals

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

$39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20

 

Get Deal

If you're not in the market for a whole ass new TV just yet, you can basically turn any old TV into a smart TV with an Amazon Fire Stick. Just plug it into the side of the TV, click on that HDMI port, follow the WiFi setup instructions and boom: You're perusing Amazon's well laid out interface of streaming apps without cable or a satellite.

The one highlighted here is the 4K Max version, which supports WiFi 6E and unlocks the ability to play Xbox games without a console.

More Fire Stick deals

• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD — $19.99 $34.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

Smart security deals

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Credit: Ultraloq

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock

$149.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $30

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

Smart locks are some of the most useful smart home technology around. Unlock your door remotely for a house painter, or create a lock code to give out to a BNB guest, smart locks give you many more ways to play with security. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock is an 8-in-1 entry pad.

Set up the Ultraloq with a biometric thumb print to come and go with a touch. The Ultraloq might have lots of ways to gain access digitally, but it also includes two mechanical keys that turn in a hidden keyhole behind the biometric scanner.

Right now the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock is on sale for $149.99, saving you 17%, or $30.

More smart security deals

• Kasa Indoor Pan/Tilt Smart Security Camera — $19.91 $29.99 (save $10.08)

• Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Deadbolt — $204.33 $243.26 (save $38.93)

• Philips Smart Lock with Handles — $159.99 $239.99 (save $80)

• eufy Security Smart Lock C220 — $94.99 $149.99 (save $55)

Smart alarm deals

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Credit: X-Sense

X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station

$97.49 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $42.50

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

What's the benefit of a smart smoke detector? Immediate notice.

While traditional smoke detectors can be impossible to ignore when you're home, they don't do much if a fire breaks out while the house is empty. The X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station is made to let you know anytime it senses smoke in your home, whether you're there or away. Set it up to get smart alerts on your phone whenever smoke is sensed.

Right now, shop the Amazon Big Spring Sale to get the X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station for $97.49 to save 30%, or $42.50.

More smart alarm deals

• ecobee Smart Sensor 2 Pack — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Kasa Smart Motion Sensor Switch — $34.99 $41.99 (save $7)

• Govee WiFi Water Sensor — $23.39 $29.99 (save $6.60)

• GoveeLife WiFi Water Ieak Detector 2 for Home — $59.99 $89.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor — $54.99 $69.99 (save $15)

• Govee WiFi Water Sensor 3 Pack — $43.99 $54.99 (save $11)

More smart home deals

• Withings Smart Scales with Full Body Analysis — $339.95 $399.99 (save $60.04)

• Withings Body Smart Scale — $79.95 $99.95 (save $20)

• Etekcity Smart Scale for Body Weight — $19.98 $23.99 (save $4.01)

• Qtbvae TV Antenna Indoor — $31.44 $52.99 (save $21.55)

• Uriiu Smart TV Antenna — $47.49 $79.99 (save $32.50)

The best early Amazon Big Spring Sale security camera deals:

---

Best Arlo Security Camera Deal

Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera

$119.93 (save $60.06)

Get Deal

---

Best TP-Link Security Camera Deal

TP-Link Tapo 2K QHD Security Camera

$24.99 (save $15)

Get Deal

Looking for an easy and affordable way to keep a watchful eye over your home? Shop the Amazon Big Spring Sale right now, where you can find deals on the best security cameras sprouting up like the colorful flowers the season itself brings. We're talking brands like Arlo, TP-Link, and much more rounding out what's available right now, all at a great price that you can go ahead and shop.

But if you don't have time to sift through all of what's currently available, we totally get it. That's why we've gone ahead and curated some of our favorite picks for you.

We'll be updating this list as the sale goes on, so keep checking back to see additional discounts as they pop up throughout the event. There are a wide variety of brands and form factors that could go on sale at any moment.

Best Arlo security camera deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera

$119.93 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $60.06

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

Keep an eye on your home day or night with this feature-rich outdoor wireless camera. With 2K HDR video quality, it offers livestreaming and notification delivery with motion activation and alerts to keep you abreast of what's happening outside. Use the included Arlo app to activate a remote siren, use color night vision, and its integrated spotlight to see what's really happening outdoors when you can't physically peek out of the window. With a 160-degree field of view and small footprint, this small camera has a large feature set and everything you need to keep you and your loved ones safe without having to move from the sofa. Plus, get more features and storage space with a paid Arlo Secure plan with a monthly fee.

Best TP-Link security camera deal

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Credit: Amazon

TP-Link Tapo 2K QHD Security Camera

$24.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $15.00

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

This affordable camera is even cheaper right now, and it's an excellent indoor option for just about any household. With 2K resolution that offers crisp and crystal clear imagery, it's a super versatile camera that you can use both indoors and outdoors. It boasts an IP66 rating so it can stand up to the elements, including rain and dust, and it can be mounted to any metal surface thanks to its magnetic base, meaning it's simple to set up and get going. It features night vision with a built-in sensor and two spotlights, and up to 30 feet of viewing with its IR light. Plus, it uses AI to detect people, pets, and cars and will alert you via app to keep you in the loop on what's happening in and out of your home.

More security camera deals

• Kasa Cam Outdoor — $34.99 $44.99 (save $10)

• TP-Link Tapo CF20WS 2K QHD outdoor pan/tilt security camera — $55.99 $69.99 (save $15)

• TP-Link ColorPro outdoor camera — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• Google Nest Cam — $150 $179.99 (save $29.99)

• Remo+ DoorCam 3 Over-the-Door Wireless Security Camera — $149.99 $179.99 (save $30)

• Kasa Smart Indoor Pan-Tilt Home Security Camera — $19.99 $34.99 (save $15)

The best early Amazon Big Spring Sale security camera deals:

---

Best Arlo Security Camera Deal

Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera

$119.99 (save $60)

Get Deal

---

Best TP-Link Security Camera Deal

TP-Link Tapo 2K QHD Security Camera

$29.99 (save $10)

Get Deal

Looking for an easy and affordable way to keep a watchful eye over your home? Shop Amazon's Big Spring Sale right now, where you can find deals on the best security cameras sprouting up like the colorful flowers the season itself brings. We're talking brands like Arlo, TP-Link, and much more rounding out what's available right now, all at a great price that you can go ahead and shop.

But if you don't have time to sift through all of what's currently available, we totally get it. That's why we've gone ahead and curated some of our favorite picks for you.

We'll be updating this list as the sale goes on, so keep checking back to see additional discounts as they pop up throughout the event. There are a wide variety of brands and form factors that could go on sale at any moment.

Best Arlo security camera deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera

$119.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $60.00

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

Keep an eye on your home day or night with this feature-rich outdoor wireless camera. With 2K HDR video quality, it offers livestreaming and notification delivery with motion activation and alerts to keep you abreast of what's happening outside. Use the included Arlo app to activate a remote siren, use color night vision, and its integrated spotlight to see what's really happening outdoors when you can't physically peek out of the window. With a 160-degree field of view and small footprint, this small camera has a large feature set and everything you need to keep you and your loved ones safe without having to move from the sofa. Plus, get more features and storage space with a paid Arlo Secure plan with a monthly fee.

Best TP-Link security camera deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

TP-Link Tapo 2K QHD Security Camera

$29.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $10.00

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

This affordable camera is even cheaper right now, and it's an excellent indoor option for just about any household. With 2K resolution that offers crisp and crystal clear imagery, it's a super versatile camera that you can use both indoors and outdoors. It boasts an IP66 rating so it can stand up to the elements, including rain and dust, and it can be mounted to any metal surface thanks to its magnetic base, meaning it's simple to set up and get going. It features night vision with a built-in sensor and two spotlights, and up to 30 feet of viewing with its IR light. Plus, it uses AI to detect people, pets, and cars and will alert you via app to keep you in the loop on what's happening in and out of your home.

More security camera deals

• Kasa Cam Outdoor — $41.99 $44.99 (save $3)

• TP-Link Tapo CF20WS 2K QHD outdoor pan/tilt security camera — $65.99 $69.99 (save $5)

• TP-Link ColorPro outdoor camera — $82.99 $99.99 (save $17)

• Google Nest Cam — $150 $179.99 (save $29.99)

UPDATE: Mar. 18, 2025, 9:30 a.m. EDT This list has been updated to show current deal pricing.

The best Amazon Big Spring Sale smart home deals

---

Smart switch deals

Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch

$21.99 (Save $8)

Get Deal

---

Smart security deals

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock with Door Sensor

$149.99 (Save $30)

Get Deal

---

Smart smoke detector deals

X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station

$97.49 (Save $42.50)

Get Deal

---

Smart light deals

Kasa Smart Light Bulbs

$15.99 (Save $9)

Get Deal

What goes in your smart home? Today, home tech can be used to automate all sorts of tasks around the house. Smart switches help us control lighting and smart systems in our home, smart lights give us great control over our home's ambience and respond to our commands, while smart scales help us gain a better understanding of our personal health. Most of the time, individual smart tech can be connected to a smart assistant or hub, to give us vocal control and more.

Whatever your automation aims, now is a great time to invest. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is here with a huge offering of smart tech deals for you to scoop up, like $30 off the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock. The Amazon Big Spring Sale lasts from March 25-31. Here are the best smart home deals of the Big Spring Sale:

Smart switch deals

Opens in a new window

Credit: Kasa

Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch

$21.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $8

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

What if you could talk to your switches? The Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch turns your light switch into a multi-functional control node with access to integrated smart home tech. With a touch, use it to dim your smart lights, or speak to it to turn the lights on when your hands are full. When you're out, you can even interact with the smart switch to control your lights via the Kasa App.

For many, the most useful parts of the Kasa Matter Smart Dimmer Switch will be its simple integrations and its timers. Matter is the smart home protocol that integrates with multiple systems, including Alexa, Google Home, and more, meaning that you can connect this switch to tech from lots of different brands. When you do, its timers and scheduling empower you to ensure your lights and devices are off when you're out of the house, and on when you need them.

Right now, the Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch is on sale for $21.99, saving you $8, or 27%.

More smart switch deals

• TP-Link Tapo Matter Smart Light Switch — $12.99 $24.99 (save $12.00)

Smart security deals

Opens in a new window

Credit: Ultraloq

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock

$149.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $30

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

Smart locks are some of the most useful smart home technology around. Unlock your door remotely for a house painter, or create a lock code to give out to a BNB guest, smart locks give you many more ways to play with security. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock is an 8-in-1 entry pad.

Set up the Ultraloq with a biometric thumb print to come and go with a touch. The Ultraloq might have lots of ways to gain access digitally, but it also includes two mechanical keys that turn in a hidden keyhole behind the biometric scanner.

Right now the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock is on sale for $149.99, saving you 17%, or $30.

More smart security deals

• Kasa Indoor Pan/Tilt Smart Security Camera — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6.00)

Smart alarm deals

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Credit: X-Sense

X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station

$97.49 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $42.50

 

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Why we like it

What's the benefit of a smart smoke detector? Immediate notice.

While traditional smoke detectors can be impossible to ignore when you're home, they don't do much if a fire breaks out while the house is empty. The X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station is made to let you know anytime it senses smoke in your home, whether you're there or away. Set it up to get smart alerts on your phone whenever smoke is sensed.

Right now, shop the Amazon Big Spring Sale to get the X-Sense Smart Smoke Detectors with SBS50 Base Station for $97.49 to save 30%, or $42.50.

More smart alarm deals

• Govee WiFi Water Sensor 3 Pack — $43.99 $54.99 (save $11)

Smart light deals

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Credit: Kasa

Kasa Smart Light Bulbs

$15.99 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $9.00

 

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Why we like it

There are few simpler ways to tweak the ambience of your room than to invest in smart lights. Kasa Smart Light Bulbs have vast palettes of available color available and dim to match your needs.

Tweak these using the Kasa smart app or set them to automatically adjust with natural light. As LED bulbs, they use less energy than traditional light bulbs, but with energy monitoring and scheduling tools, you'll be able to tune them to save more by ensuring they're always off when you're out of the house.

As of now, the Kasa Smart Light Bulbs are on sale for $15.99, saving you $9, or 36%.

More smart light deals

• TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Bulbs — $14.98 $17.99 (save $3.01)

More smart home deals

• Withings Smart Scales with Full Body Analysis — $339.95 $399.99 (save $60.04)

• Withings Body Smart Scale — $79.95 $99.95 (save $20)

• Etekcity Smart Scale for Body Weight — $19.98 $23.99 (save $4.01)

• Qtbvae TV Antenna Indoor — $31.44 $52.99 (save $21.55)

• Uriiu Smart TV Antenna — $47.49 $79.99 (save $32.50)

Take the smart home survey.

Here at Mashable, we’re always trying out the latest tech products to help our readers determine whether or not they’re worth it. But now, we want to hear from you about the products you use and love. In our first edition of our Smartest Home Readers’ Choice Awards, we’re asking Mashable readers about the smart home devices you use in your home and daily life.

So, take a few minutes to fill out our Smartest Home survey. Your thoughts and feedback might just grant your favorite gadgets a Mashable Readers’ Choice Award — plus you could win a $250 Amazon gift card.

We’ll be running this survey for about two months, and then we’ll crunch the numbers to see what you all deemed the best smart home tech.

How to enter

There are two methods to enter the Sweepstakes: (1) fill out the online survey, or (2) enter by mail.

1. Survey Entry: To enter the Sweepstakes through the online survey, go to the survey page and complete the current survey during the Sweepstakes Period.

2. Mail Entry: To enter the Sweepstakes by mail, on a 3 x 5-inch card, print your first and last name, street address, city, state, zip code, phone number, and email address. Mail your completed entry to:

Readers' Choice Sweepstakes - Smartest Home
c/o M. Kern
360 Park Ave South, Floor 17
New York, NY 10010

Mail Entries must be postmarked by March 14, 2025, and received by March 20, 2025. For official sweepstakes rules and promotion start and end dates, please click HERE.

SAVE 49%: A 4-pack of the Arlo Pro 5S Spotlight Camera is on sale at Amazon for just $249.99, down from the normal price of $492.32. That's a savings of $242.33 and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

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Credit: Arlo

Arlo Pro 5S Spotlight Camera (4-pack)

$249.99 at Amazon
$492.32 Save $242.33

 

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Installing a home security system is one of the best smart home upgrades around. Outdoor cameras especially allow you to keep an eye on your home at all times, even when you're away on vacation. If you could use some extra eyes on your home, check out today's deal at Amazon on a great bundle.

As of Feb. 4, a 4-pack of the Arlo Arlo Pro 5S Spotlight Camera is on sale Amazon for $249.99, marked down from the standard list price of $492.32. That means you'll save $242.33 with an impressive 49% discount. This sale price also marks the lowest we've ever spotted at Amazon.

On the Mashable roundup of the best home security cameras, the older Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight earns the top spot, so grabbing this newer model is a great option. With a wireless design, the Arlo Pro 5S four-pack allows you the opportunity to keep tabs on four areas around your house. Place one at the front door, one facing the driveway, one in the backyard, and another on the side of the house, and you'll be in for whole-home security.

Each Arlo Pro 5S camera also serves as a spotlight, illuminating the area when motion is detected. Since the cameras are battery-powered, you won't have to struggle with connecting wires. You'll simply need to connect each camera to your home's 2.4 or 5 GHz WiFi network, and you'll be on your way to better home security.

Gift yourself peace of mind by snagging this four-pack of reliable and weather-resistant home security cameras.

SAVE 41%: Get a 144-foot set of the Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights 2 for just $100.02, down from the usual price of $169.99, at Amazon with an on-page coupon. That's $69.97 off.

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Credit: Govee

Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights 2 (144-feet)

$100.02 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $69.97

with on-page coupon

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There's something magical about string lights, even year-roud. Hung up indoors as ambient lighting or outside on a patio, string lights can transform a dull space into something bright and joyful. Smart string lights are even better, adding in the ability to change the color on a whim from your smartphone. Thanks to today's coupon at Amazon, a massive set is on sale.

Until Jan. 20, a 144-foot set of Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights 2 is on sale for just $100.02, down from the usual price of $169.69 with the on-page coupon. That means you'll shave 41% off the normal price, or $69.70. This sale price brings the lights within three cents of the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

With an intuitive app, the Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights 2 can illuminate into any color imaginable. Choose your own color from the wheel, or opt for one of Govee's vibrant scene modes. In total, you can choose from 16 million colors and over 40 pre-set options that coincide with holidays and celebrations.

The Govee lights are safe to use both indoors and outdoors thanks to their shatterproof design and anti-UV material. Both the lights and the control box are waterproof, so you won't have to worry about taking outdoor lights down should bad weather hit.

Govee mentions the LED bulbs in the lights are designed to get 25,000 hours of use. That comes close to three years if you leave them on 24/7.

You can also head into Music Sync Mode which turns the lights into a party, reacting to the music via an integrated mic.

If you could use some brightness this winter, or you have big plans for summer backyard parties, you have until Jan. 20 to save 41% on a massive 144-foot set of Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights 2.

CES 2025 has officially kicked off, and amidst all the news about new graphics cards and very expensive EVs, home and pet owners should be pleasantly surprised by LG's AeroCatTower. Every cat owner knows the struggle of finding functional feline furniture that's not an eyesore, and this sleek cat tower solves that problem.

Part sleek air purifier, part feline-friendly perch, this futuristic gadget not only cleans the air but doubles as a weight-monitoring throne for your furry overlord.

Unveiled at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the AeroCatTower stood out from the typical CES lineup. The demo setup featured a delightfully bizarre scene: a stuffed cat (decidedly creepy) and two more furry stand-ins (mercifully less creepy) lounging around the device.

Per the reps at the booth, the tower's air-purifying abilities adjust when the cat is sitting on it. When your furry buddy is onboard, the tower can use a lower flow so as not to disturb them, then ramp back up when they're gone.

Mashable / Chance Townsend Credit: Rest in power little buddy.

The AeroCatTower cleverly combines functionality with a bit of whimsy. Its dome-shaped seat is perfect for your feline companion. LG might have delivered the CES sleeper hit of the year for cat owners who want to pamper their pets while keeping their air free of dust and allergens.

The AeroCatTower also features a built-in heater and an attachable stepper designed to help older cats easily reach the top. For those interested in its pet health-tracking capabilities, the device integrates seamlessly with LG's ThinQ app. You can also track how long your furry friend sleeps — very fun.

There's no price or release date yet, but be on the lookout for this in the future.

Mashable is on the ground live at CES 2025! We’re covering all the wildest and most important developments this week, so please keep checking back in with us. Want to submit a product you represent for our teams’ consideration as we identify the Best of CES? Here’s more info on how to do it.

The Skylight Calendar was one of the hottest gifts of the year, and for good reason. If you're determined to stay more organized in 2025, the Skylight Calendar is a practical (and fun) way to keep track of your calendar, to-do list, grocery list, and chores.

Yes, you could get an Echo Show device, but if you're not an Amazon Echo household, you might not need all the features that come with an Echo Show. Think of the Skylight Calendar as the Kindle of digital home displays: It gives you everything you need, and nothing extra. There's no access to browsers, no additional apps, and no smart home control. It's just a straightforward digital calendar that syncs up with your existing Google, iCloud, Microsoft, Yahoo, or Cozi calendars, and gives you organizational tools to stay on top of all your to-do lists.

I juggle quite a few activities on a weekly basis, and it can be rough managing a busy schedule. I'm a journalist and editor, a dog trainer, and I work at a kennel one day per week. On top of hanging out with friends and managing my day-to-day household chores, I was starting to forget appointments and generally felt disorganized. My partner was constantly asking me, "What do you have going on today?" to which I usually responded with, "I'm not sure." Once I got the Skylight calendar, my life instantly felt more organized.

I can see everything on my schedule at a glance. Credit: Jae Thomas / Mashable

Simple setup

It took about 20 minutes to get the Skylight Calendar out of the box, mounted on the wall, and synced to my Google Calendar. The test unit I tried is the massive 27-inch Calendar Max, which is more of a small TV than a tablet. Note that the Max size was on backorder at the time of writing, and is expected to arrive at the end of January.

The other sizes of the Skylight Calendar can be wall-mounted or used on top of a table or counter with a stand, but the Max size needs to be wall-mounted. It comes with a handy paper mounting guide to make sure you drill the holes in the right spots, and the mounting bracket is a lightweight metal piece, so it only requires one person to install. The only tool required for installation is a drill — the calendar comes with everything else you need (including a level built into the mounting bracket).

Once the mounting bracket is drilled into the wall, you simply slide the screen onto it, then you can commence the actual calendar setup. Of the calendars I synced with Skylight, Google Calendars was the easiest. Just download the Skylight app, click on sync a new calendar, then select Google, and the app will prompt you to log into the Gmail account associated with the calendar you want to sync. You can then select which specific calendars you want to sync to the skylight, and it'll load all your existing events to the device.

To sync an iCloud calendar, you need to find the iCloud calendar's URL and paste it into the Skylight app. I found syncing Skylight to iCloud to be more finicky than Google, and it took me a few tries to get it to sync up properly.

The only qualm I have about the setup is that the plastic frame that came with the calendar didn't quite fit on the screen. One of the pieces was too long to fit properly around the screen. The unit looks just as good without the frame though, so I just took it off.

The ill-fitting frame was a bit of an eyesore, so I just took it off. Credit: Jae Thomas / Mashable

The Skylight Calendar makes it easy for families to stay organized

If you're sharing a vehicle with a partner, or need to keep track of who's picking up the kids or running the dog to the groomer, the Skylight Calendar will keep everything arranged (and visible) to all members of your household.

You can sync multiple calendars and assign colors to each person, so you know who needs to be where, and when. I love the to-do lists and chores lists you can assign to each family member, and the rewards feature is great for kids. The more they complete their chores, the more stars they earn. You set how many stars equal a reward, and you can set different rewards for different amounts of stars.

You can also make grocery lists and manage meal plans with the Skylight calendar, though the meal planning function requires a Skylight Plus subscription.

The chore lists let you assign items to your household. Credit: Jae Thomas / Mashable

How much is the Skylight Calendar?

The Skylight Calendar comes in three different sizes and price points: The 10-inch calendar is $159.99, the 15-inch calendar is $299.99, and the 27-inch Calendar Max is $599.99 from Skylight's website. The 15-inch calendar is also available at Amazon, but it's more expensive than buying directly from Skylight — $319.99 compared to Skylight's $299.99. Skylight also frequently runs small discounts on its calendars, and you can save anywhere from an additional $10 to $30 by buying it directly from Skylight.

Though the huge display on the Calendar Max is visually appealing and makes it easy to see from far away, the size (and price) is likely overkill for most households. It feels like it would be more suited in a small business or an office because of the size. The smaller sizes of the Skylight Calendar feel more practical and are a bit easier on the budget than the Calendar Max.

If you want to use the photo screensaver feature (basically, using your calendar as a Skylight digital photo frame), you'll need to purchase a subscription. The photo screensaver feature cycles through uploaded photos when the calendar isn't being used, and your family and friends can send photos to the Calendar so you can stay connected. This is probably the most important feature that's missing without purchasing the subscription. Without it, you'll also miss out on access to Meal Planning and Magic Import (which adds calendar events from uploaded PDFs). These features are nice but don't feel totally necessary. With that being said, the subscription is only $39 per year, so if you want to use the photo screensaver function, it's worth the added cost.

Is the Skylight Calendar worth it?

The photo screensaver feature is a great way to stay connected with family and revisit memories. Credit: Jae Thomas / Mashable

Yes, you could just share your Google calendar with everyone in your household for free, but having a hub to look at and add/change events, meetings, appointments, and to-do lists makes me more likely to stay organized. I find myself getting little hits of dopamine when I check things off my to-do lists, and it's easier for me and my partner to stay in sync on where we'll both be during the week. I truly wish I had this when we were sharing a car — it would have saved us many arguments and miscommunications about scheduling.

If you have a big family or lots of appointments to keep track of, the Skylight Calendar is a user-friendly device that encourages you to stay in the know about what's going on in your family/household's life. I think the smaller options are worth the price, even if just for the amount of stress it's taken off my shoulders around scheduling.

Skylight Calendar

$299 at Amazon
$319.99 Save $20.99

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Skylight

The Internet of Things, or the vast networks of "smart objects" now powering most of our digitally connected lives, is a step closer to living in a single ecosystem.

Google Home, Apple's HomeKit, and Samsung's SmartThings are all now accepting a new smart home testing and compatibility certification that will enable a wider array of smart gadgets to connect to your home network, according to the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). The CSA is a coalition of companies and technologists building toward universal open standards for smart devices and connected technology.

Amazon's Alexa-enabled smart home system has yet to opt-in.

Consumer products certified with the Matter badge, as its called, can bypass individual testing and certification with each Big Tech ecosystem — the previous, oft-time consuming process — under the single standards body. Launched by the CSA in 2022, the Matter standard was designed to reimagine interoperability between smart devices on the path toward a universal connectivity standard. It harnesses multiple existing connection technologies (Thread, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ethernet) to bring products together locally. Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, LG, and smart home companies, like Lutron, iRobot, Signify (Philips Hue), and Ikea, joined the Build with Matter initiative tasked with designing the system.

But the Matter certification and recertification process has been slow to move in the years since, and while all the major smart home providers signaled their support after the initial unveiling, none had fully phased out their individual testing requirements under the single process. According to the CSA, today's announcement hopes to simplify and streamline the future of it's universal certifications.

SAVE 55%: As of Dec. 23, you can save up to 55% on select Echo devices. Shop the Echo Dot, Echo Spot, or Echo Pop and have it delivered before Christmas.

Best Echo deals as of Dec. 23:

---

Best deal overall

Echo Spot

$44.99 (save $35)

Get Deal

---

Best runner-up deal

Echo Dot

$22.99 (save $27 )

Get Deal

---

Best budget pick

Echo Pop

$17.99 (save $22)

Get Deal

With Christmas just two days away, it’s hard to believe anything would ship in time to sneak under the tree, but Amazon’s working hard to get everyone their holiday tech gifts before the big day.

As of Dec. 23, you can snag an Echo device for up to 55% off and still get it delivered before December 25th.

Here are our top picks for the best Echo deals you can get right now:

Best deal overall

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Credit: Amazon

Echo Spot

$44.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $35.00

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

The all-new Amazon Echo Spot (newest model) is just $44.99 right now, down from $79.99. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen this model go for, according to CamelCamelCamel’s price tracking data, and $35 off the regular price.

The Amazon Echo Spot features a smart alarm clock that displays the time, weather, song titles, and more. You can customize the clock face, set routines, control other smart home devices (as long as they’re compatible), and listen to your favorite music, news, and podcasts.

Best runner-up deal

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Credit: Amazon

Echo Dot

$22.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $27.00

 

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Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Dot (2022) is also on sale for $22.99, down from $49.99 — another all-time low price.

This new and improved version of the Echo Dot has an upgraded speaker and eero built-in to boost your WiFi coverage. It's the perfect size for smaller rooms or putting on your nightstand. But, if you want something a little bigger, the Amazon Echo (4th gen) is also down to $54.99 from $99.99.

Best budget deal

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Credit: Amazon

Echo Pop

$17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

If you thought you couldn’t get an Echo device for under $20, Amazon’s selling the Echo Pop for $17.99. That’s $22 off the list price and the lowest price this model’s ever been.

The Echo Pop is smaller than most Echo devices, but the sound quality is still great for its size. Plus, you can do everything the more expensive Echos can, like voice control smart home devices, set timers and alarms, check the weather, play music, and more.

SAVE $23: Select Amazon accounts are eligible to buy an Amazon Smart Plug for just $1.99 with code PLUG, down from the list price of $24.99. That's a 92% discount. Check the product page to see if your account is eligible.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Smart Plug

$1.99 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $23

eligible for select Amazon accounts only with checkout code PLUG

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A smart plug is one of the simplest, yet most convenient additions if you prefer smart home devices. For some lucky Amazon accounts, you can grab a smart plug for an epically low price through the end of the month.

Until Dec. 31, the Amazon Smart Plug is just $1.99 for select Amazon accounts with discount code PLUG, down from the list price of $24.99. That's a 92% discount or a savings of $23.99. To check if you're eligible, head to the product page and look for the exclusive pricing offer.

Perfect for your Christmas tree or holiday lights, the Amazon Smart Plug allows you to turn the plug on or off through the Alexa app on your smartphone. That means you'll no longer have to maneuver behind the Christmas tree to unplug the lights.

The Amazon Smart Plug is also simple to set up, only requiring you to plug it in and open the Alexa app to get going. Amazon recommends using it with lamps, fans, coffee makers, and more.

Through the Alexa app, you can also set schedules for the Smart Plug, programming the Christmas tree lights to turn on at 5 p.m. and off at midnight, for example. Keep in mind it's only for use indoors and it'll need to connect to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.

The Amazon Smart Plug can also be a great addition if you'll be going away for the holidays. With the plug, control a living room lamp to turn on and off whenever you feel like it, giving the impression someone is home. Kevin really could have used a smart plug when he got left behind at home.

Not all Amazon accounts are eligible for the deal, so you'll need to check the Smart Plug product page to see if it shows up for you. It's also non-transferrable so you won't be able to share the promo code with others. But if you're one of the lucky ones, be sure to jump on this great deal to get an Amazon Smart Plug for only $1.99.

Editor's note: This comparison originally focused on the 2021 models of the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8. New models (with only modest changes) were released in 2023, so the older versions are no longer available to purchase as new. We've updated our links to take you to the current Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8. Our original comparison follows.

It can be exciting when a brand like Amazon drops new versions of its devices, but it can also be overwhelming to figure out which one is best for you (and if it's worth paying more than its original version). After testing the second generations of both the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8, I'll walk you through what’s the same, what’s different, what they bring to the table compared to the first gen versions.

While these smart displays don’t have the portability or functionality of an iPad or a Surface tablet, they work flawlessly with Alexa and serve as a smart home HQ to make your day-to-day life just a little bit more streamlined.

Size: It's in the name

The most noticeable difference between the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8 is, of course, their size. The Echo Show 5 has a 5.5-inch screen and 6-inch x 3-inch footprint, while the Echo Show 8 is significantly larger — boasting an 8-inch screen and an 8-inch x 4-inch footprint.

Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) is smaller and would work better in a bedroom or office. Credit: Amazon

Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) is significantly larger — best for a central house hub. Credit: amazon

In my opinion, that makes the Echo Show 8 way better suited to be your family “hub” — located in a central location like the kitchen or dining room for easy video calls with the grandparents using Alexa. All you have to do is add contacts you’d like to call in the Alexa app on your phone. However, it may not be a necessary purchase if you already have a tablet with great video functionality. And if you want a larger device as your smart home hub, the Echo Show 10 is an even better choice.

Regardless, the Echo Show 8 offers some other advantages for video calls in addition to its size.

On the other hand, the Echo Show 5 would be better in places where you want the device's functionality, without it being front and center — like your desk or nightstand.

And if you're a sucker for colorways, the Echo Show 8 only comes in the glacier white and charcoal color options. You can get more variety with the new Echo Show 5, which comes in glacier white, charcoal, and deep sea blue. The Echo Show 5 Kids comes in chameleon green.

Camera and video calling

The Echo Show 5 got a decent camera upgrade from its 1st gen version — increasing the megapixels from one to two. However, it was a whole different ball game for the Echo Show 8. While the 1st gen Echo Show 8 offered a 1 MP camera, the revamped 2021 model came equipped with a 13 MP camera, which carried over into the 2023 model.

The image is incredibly crisp, and alongside the larger screen makes the Echo Show 8 the video call winner. But that’s not even the best part: The Echo Show 8 features auto-framing functions that automatically pan and zoom the camera to keep it focused on the people in view.

Both devices also feature some handy connectivity features, like intercom to page every Alexa device in the house (“We’re leaving in 15 minutes, so be ready!”) and drop-in, which allows you to video chat with any connected Alexa device.

Zoom calls

The Echo Show 8 can also join Zoom calls, while the Echo Show 5 can’t. To be totally honest, I could not get the Zoom call feature to work after several tries because none of the calls I joined had a dial-in number.

I’ll still say the Echo Show 8 wins on this one just because it’s theoretically possible, and I’m really hoping to be able to join Zoom calls from it soon to free up my laptop and extra monitor for in-meeting multi-tasking.

Kid-friendly content

During the initial setup, you can choose to make any Echo Show device a dedicated device for a kid. This gives you access to some expanded parental controls, which is great for older children, tweens, and teens that you still want to shield from some of the worst things the internet has to offer.

However, the Echo Show 5 Kids is the first and only Echo Show that’s bottom-to-top and side-to-side designed for kids. It features a fun design (the chameleon color looks like dinosaur scales, according to my 5-year-old), and comes with a free year of Amazon Kids (usually $5.99 per month) — which offers curated books, games, and videos just for kids far beyond what’s available through a basic Prime membership. In addition, it comes with souped-up parental controls so you can tweak things even more.

Alexa functionality

Both the 2nd gen Echo Show 5 and the 2nd gen Echo Show 8 have some Alexa abilities that their 1st gen counterparts don’t.

First up is the home monitoring function, where you can remotely access the camera on your device from the Alexa app just to check in on things. You’ll need a WiFi connection to do it, but I had no problems getting it to work. I can imagine it would be great to check in on pets, the babysitter, or just to take a peek at your home while on vacation to make sure everything is on the up and up.

Next is the addition of motion-enabled routines. This allows Alexa to detect when you enter or leave a room and use that activity to start a routine. Fair warning, this can open a can of worms re: privacy, but it also opens up some exciting possibilities for the smart home buff. You could have Alexa read your calendar when you walk into your office, or turn off all smart-enabled devices when there’s no motion detected in the living room — and those are just two simple ideas. With the addition of Alexa-enabled devices or smart plugs, your options open up even more. Amazon does offer ways to manage these settings if you'd like to delete recordings or manage your data.

All of these devices feature the same Alexa functionality you came to expect from the previous iteration of Echo Show devices.

Echo Show 5 vs. Echo Show 8: Which one is better?

For only $45 more, the Echo Show 8 was the clear winner for me. Not only does it have a larger screen and a 13 MP camera with auto-framing (making it the best for video calling), it also allows you to hop on Zoom meetings, if/when you can get that function to work properly.

If video calls and Zoom meetings aren’t your concern, then the Echo Show 5 is still a great choice — like the 2nd gen Echo Show 8, the new Echo Show 5 boasts many of the same expanded Alexa functions, like home monitoring and motion detection routines. And of course, if you want one made for kids, then you’ll want to go with the Echo Show 5 Kids.

Overall, I’m a fan of both, but the Echo Show 8 came out on top for our home.

Amazon Echo Show 8

$149.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy

The holiday travel season is coming up, which means loads of empty homes and packages sitting on porches, ripe for the plucking. All the more reason to gift the people on your list, and yourself, a Ring security device that will shine a spotlight on dark places around the house, alert them to when someone’s lurking, and let them know when packages arrive, all in real time. 

Check out these top Ring picks that’ll keep tabs on their space while they’re at grandma’s — and they can uplevel their device’s capabilities with a Ring Home plan.

SAVE $27: As of Dec. 6, you can snag an Echo Dot (5th gen) for just $22.99, down from $49.99, at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. That's 54% off.

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Credit: Amazon

Echo Dot (5th gen)

$22.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $27.00

 

Get Deal

Echo devices are pricey throughout the year, so if you’re looking to get one for a discounted price, now’s the time to go online and hit “add to cart.”

As of Dec. 6, you can snag an Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) for just $22.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. That’s 54% off the list price, or a savings of $27.

The Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) is the newest version of Amazon’s most popular smart speaker. According to Amazon, it’s the company’s “best-sounding Echo yet," with updated speakers and speech recognition technology that can hear you from across the room, even when music is playing.

You can set alarms and reminders, control your other smart home device (I use mine to turn my Christmas tree on and off), or learn about the news, weather, and more.

With the holidays right around the corner, this Echo Dot deal could be the perfect gift for anyone on your list. Plus, at only $22.99, it’s a steal.

Robot vacuums have become an increasingly popular tool for maintaining a clean and tidy home with minimal effort, and over the past decade, the market has grown increasingly competitive. One of the more recent major players in the game is Eureka, and if you're looking for a way to simplify your cleaning routine, the Eureka E10s Robot Vacuum might be the solution you need.

What is the Eureka E10s?

The Eureka E10s is a hybrid robot vacuum and mop from Eureka that offers up a range of new features designed to streamline household cleaning. As a mid-range offering (RRP A$1,099), the E10s has a lot going for it. Ultra-high precision laser navigation and a 2L transparent dust cup design help protect the environment and save you money by eliminating the need to purchase dust bags. It’s self charging, with 180 minutes of continuous battery life, 4,000pa suction power, and an operating volume of 65Db. It can automatically detect your floor type to avoid wetting the carpet, has a range of smart features and tools to help it navigate a wide variety of surfaces and spaces and a powerful app that is fairly straightforward.

Want to know more? We’ve got you covered. Here are all the key features that the Eureka E10s brings to the table:

Self charging, and self-emptying

The E10s takes care of recharging itself. When the battery runs low, it automatically returns to its charging dock and resumes cleaning when fully charged. This feature saves you from having to monitor the vacuum, ensuring it’s always ready for the next cleaning session without wasting energy. The 2L super-sized dustbin can store up to 45 days' days of dust and floor debris.

Smart mapping & controls

The Eureka Smart Mapping technology quickly learns the layout of your home, with a scanning speed of 3.5 seconds per square metre. This helps it to clean efficiently straight away, covering every key area, avoiding obstacles, and minimising missed spots. This also allows you to create custom zones to direct the vacuum’s behaviour within the app, like focusing on specific rooms or high-traffic areas in your home.

Multi-surface functionality

Whether your floors are hardwood, tile, or carpet, the E10s automatically detects the floor in a room and adjusts to handle them all. Its suction power adapts to the surface, delivering effective cleaning across different floor types, and it will lift its cleaning cloth to avoid wetting carpet. This versatility means you won’t have to worry about changing settings manually.

Accessibility

The E10s is designed to be user-friendly, and is complimented by an impressively simple app. Its automated features and remote controls make it easy for anyone to use, including older people, the technologically illiterate or those with mobility challenges. With just a few taps on the app or a simple voice command using Alexa or Google Assistant, you can keep your home clean effortlessly.

Designed with pets in mind

If you have pets, you know how quickly hair and dander accumulate. The Eureka E10s is equipped with strong suction and specialised brushes to collect pet hair effectively. It can help you keep floors free from fur and allergens, creating a cleaner environment for you and your family.

Small and quiet

With its slim design, the E10s can clean under furniture and reach tight spaces that traditional vacuums might miss. It also takes up very little storage space, making it a good fit for small homes or apartments where storage space is limited. It also operates with minimal noise, so it can clean during the day while you work or at night without disturbing your sleep.

Instead of requiring you to constantly change out the bag in the charging dock like other robot vacuums, the Eureka E10s features a self-emptying base station where a transparent, reusable dust cup is used instead. Emptying the dust container works similar to traditional cyclonic vacuum cleaners, and an in-built HEPA filter helps to hold most particles inside.

Key specifications

Credit: Eureka

Is the Eureka E10s right for you?

For households with pets, busy schedules, or for those just seeking more accessible cleaning solutions, the Eureka E10s is a robot vacuum worth considering.  While it may feel like a large upfront investment, a decent robot vacuum and mop can save you money over time on professional cleaning services. Additionally, keeping floors consistently clean can help prevent damage caused by dirt and debris, potentially extending the life of your floors. While it may not replace deeper cleaning methods entirely, it can complement existing cleaning routines and help users maintain a more consistently tidy home. You can pick one up on Amazon in Australia here.

Best early Black Friday security camera and video doorbell deals

---

Best security camera deal overall

Blink Outdoor 4 [Newest Model]

$99.99 (save $160)

Get Deal

---

Best video doorbell deal overall

Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell (AVD1001B)

$29.97 (save $100.02)

Get Deal

Don't wait for Black Friday! Pre-Black Friday sales are already in full swing, and you can find deals on everything from home goods to home security systems.

Maybe it's because people are becoming more privacy-conscious these days, but everyone seems to be doubling down on surveillance systems for their homes and vehicles. If you haven’t seen that dash cam video of the staged car crash scam, you really should — it's definitely a wake-up call for the need to document everything.

These gadgets also make great gifts for the security-conscious folks in your life. A couple of years ago, I bought my parents a video doorbell, and they love checking to see if someone’s turning around in their drive and the animals scurrying through their yard whenever they’re out of town. (I named their local raccoon Little King Trashmouth, IYKYK.)

Now, Amazon has deals with top brands like Blink, Arlo, Google Nest, and TP-Link Tapo.

Here are a few to keep an eye on:

Best security camera deal overall

Opens in a new window

Credit: Blink

Blink Outdoor 4 [Newest Model]

$99.99 at Amazon
$259.99 Save $160

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

If you’re looking for a home security camera that offers great image quality, motion detection, and a budget-friendly price, the Blink Outdoor 4 [Newest Model] is a solid choice.

Right now, you can get this wireless outdoor/indoor home security camera system (it comes with three cameras) for just $99.99 — that’s 62% off the list price and the lowest price we’ve seen on this camera to date.

This home security system lets you see every camera from your phone in 1080p HD live view. It also has night vision and two-way audio to talk to visitors or scare off would-be burglars. It also has a two-year battery life and can be set up in minutes without the help of a professional. With the included 30-day trial of a Blink Subscription, you can record, save, and share your video clips.

Bonus: If you have an Alexa-enabled device, you can use voice commands to access your live camera feed.

More early Black Friday security camera deals

• Roku Outdoor Camera — $19.99 $43.03 (save $23.04)

• Blink Mini 2 — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)

• Arlo Pro 3 Wireless LED Floodlight Security Camera — $154.99 $249.99 (save $95)

• SimpliSafe 7-Piece Wireless Outdoor Camera Home Security System — $224.99 $449.99 (save $225)

• ecobee Total Security Bundle (Smart Doorbell, SmartSensor, Smart Thermostat) — $369.97 $489.97 (save $120)

Best video doorbell deal overall

Opens in a new window

Credit: Arlo

Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell (AVD1001B)

$29.97 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $100.02

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell (AVD1001B) is only $29.97 at Amazon. That’s a 77% discount and a record-low price for this model.

This HD video doorbell is wired, so installation will require existing electrical wiring with a voltage between 16V AC and 24V AC to power it. But for under $30, it’s definitely worth considering as an option over the more expensive smart home gadgets out there.

The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell (AVD1001B) features two-way audio, smart alerts, night vision, and the ability to see visitors from your phone wherever you are. It also works with compatible smart devices like Alexa and Google Assistant.

With more than 19K Amazon reviews and a 4-star average rating, it's a popular choice for shoppers looking for an affordable, feature-packed video doorbell.

More early Black Friday video doorbell deals

• Kasa Smart Video Doorbell (KD110) — $37.99 $59.99 (save $22)

• Tapo TP-Link Smart Video Doorbell Camera (D230S1) — $79.99 $119.99 (save $40)

• Arlo Video Doorbell (AVDK4001-100CNS) — $89.99 $149.99 (save $60)

• Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen) — $98 $179.99 (save $81.99)

SAVE OVER $50: As of Dec. 1, the Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow is available for $37.99 in Amazon's early Cyber Monday sale. That's a 57% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow

$37.99 at Amazon
$89.98 Save $51.99

 

Get Deal

Black Friday may be done and dusted, but the Cyber Monday deals are just getting started at Amazon. Which is great news for the bargain hunters among us. An here's a deal that's caught our eye — particularly for any shoppers who are looking to stock up on kids' gifts ahead of Christmas.

As of Dec. 1, the Echo Dot Kids with Echo Glow is down to just $37.99, which is an incredible saving of over $50 on list price. That's a massive 57% off the regular list price.

If you're not already acquainted with the Echo Dot Kids, it's the kid-friendly version of Amazon's excellent smart speaker, with a kid-friendly dragon design and a free year's subscription to Amazon Kids. That means access to almost countless games, audiobooks, and learning tools — all with assistance from Alexa.

And trust us, kids love playing and learning with Alexa.

As an added bonus, this one comes with the Echo Glow, a smart lamp that syncs with the Echo Dot or other Alexa-enabled devices you might already have around the home. Using voice commands, you can control the color and brightness and set lighting timers and routines. In other words, it's an incredible smart night light that can also remind kids when it's time to do their homework or brush their teeth.

There are just two days to go, with the Amazon Cyber Monday celebrations ending on Dec. 2, so now's the time to grab these deals.

And at this price, the Echo Dot Kids and Echo Glow is perfect for the Christmas stocking. Make sure you get it — just in case Santa forgets.

Best early Black Friday security camera and video doorbell deals

---

Best security camera deal overall

Blink Outdoor 4 [Newest Model]

$99.99 (save $160)

Get Deal

---

Best video doorbell deal overall

Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell (AVD1001B)

$29.97 (save $100.02)

Get Deal

Don't wait for Black Friday! Pre-Black Friday sales are already in full swing, and you can find deals on everything from home goods to home security systems.

Maybe it's because people are becoming more privacy-conscious these days, but everyone seems to be doubling down on surveillance systems for their homes and vehicles. If you haven’t seen that dash cam video of the staged car crash scam, you really should — it's definitely a wake-up call for the need to document everything.

These gadgets also make great gifts for the security-conscious folks in your life. A couple of years ago, I bought my parents a video doorbell, and they love checking to see if someone’s turning around in their drive and the animals scurrying through their yard whenever they’re out of town. (I named their local raccoon Little King Trashmouth, IYKYK.)

Now, Amazon has deals with top brands like Blink, Arlo, Google Nest, and TP-Link Tapo.

Here are a few to keep an eye on:

Best security camera deal overall

Opens in a new window

Credit: Blink

Blink Outdoor 4 [Newest Model]

$99.99 at Amazon
$259.99 Save $160

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

If you’re looking for a home security camera that offers great image quality, motion detection, and a budget-friendly price, the Blink Outdoor 4 [Newest Model] is a solid choice.

Right now, you can get this wireless outdoor/indoor home security camera system (it comes with three cameras) for just $99.99 — that’s 62% off the list price and the lowest price we’ve seen on this camera to date.

This home security system lets you see every camera from your phone in 1080p HD live view. It also has night vision and two-way audio to talk to visitors or scare off would-be burglars. It also has a two-year battery life and can be set up in minutes without the help of a professional. With the included 30-day trial of a Blink Subscription, you can record, save, and share your video clips.

Bonus: If you have an Alexa-enabled device, you can use voice commands to access your live camera feed.

More early Black Friday security camera deals

• Roku Outdoor Camera — $19.99 $43.03 (save $23.04)

• Blink Mini 2 — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)

• Arlo Pro 3 Wireless LED Floodlight Security Camera — $154.99 $249.99 (save $95)

• SimpliSafe 7-Piece Wireless Outdoor Camera Home Security System — $224.99 $449.99 (save $225)

• ecobee Total Security Bundle (Smart Doorbell, SmartSensor, Smart Thermostat) — $369.97 $489.97 (save $120)

Best video doorbell deal overall

Opens in a new window

Credit: Arlo

Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell (AVD1001B)

$29.97 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $100.02

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell (AVD1001B) is only $29.97 at Amazon. That’s a 77% discount and a record-low price for this model.

This HD video doorbell is wired, so installation will require existing electrical wiring with a voltage between 16V AC and 24V AC to power it. But for under $30, it’s definitely worth considering as an option over the more expensive smart home gadgets out there.

The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell (AVD1001B) features two-way audio, smart alerts, night vision, and the ability to see visitors from your phone wherever you are. It also works with compatible smart devices like Alexa and Google Assistant.

With more than 19K Amazon reviews and a 4-star average rating, it's a popular choice for shoppers looking for an affordable, feature-packed video doorbell.

More early Black Friday video doorbell deals

• Kasa Smart Video Doorbell (KD110) — $37.99 $59.99 (save $22)

• Tapo TP-Link Smart Video Doorbell Camera (D230S1) — $79.99 $119.99 (save $40)

• Arlo Video Doorbell (AVDK4001-100CNS) — $89.99 $149.99 (save $60)

• Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen) — $98 $179.99 (save $81.99)