Amazon’s annual Prime Day sale returns on July 11, and some deals are already live in the run-up to the event. Not surprisingly, this includes isolated deals on Echo accessories, ero routers and other Amazon devices, some of which are already available at significant discounts.
This is part of the story Amazon Prime DayCNET’s guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
If you’re an Alexa user interested in expanding the assistant’s footprint in your home, you’ll definitely want to check out those deals, but other smart home manufacturers may be in the mix as well. from Smart Light per Robot vacuumIt’s a safe bet that you’ll be able to find Prime Day discounts across categories, and from individual manufacturers and competing retailers Walmart, good shopping And the target Figure to be in the mix with their own smart home sales, too.
That said, as far as smart home gadgets are concerned, the best discounts of the year usually come in November, when Black Friday brings a flood of deals aimed at holiday shoppers. Your best bet is to save any big purchases for then — but Prime Day can still be a great time to expand your smart home setup with a new device or two, or try something completely different. Here’s what you should know when shopping.
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Prime Day pickings are thinner than Black Friday
Don’t get me wrong, we’re definitely going to see discounted smart home tech for Prime Day, and some of those deals can be pretty enticing indeed. You may already find better deals App-connected robot vacuums, High speed mesh router, Alexa-enabled earbuds And more, many of which bring prices for those products to the lowest levels we’ve seen all year.
Historically, however, the best sales of the year come around the holiday shopping season — specifically, on Black Friday and Cyber Monday at the end of November. Simply put, more and more buyers are ready to spend; Instead, it means more and more manufacturers are pulling out all the stops to compete for your dollars.
After all, your Prime Day picks are going to lean heavily toward Amazon, which has many of the best discounts reserved for Echo speaker and others Alexa-compatible devices. It’s not all Alexa, though. Echo Stuff aside, a good number of these third-party devices will also work with Google Assistant smart homes and, in some cases, Apple HomeKit smart homes. Meanwhile, like other retailers good shopping And the target Counter-programming Amazon with their own sales during the summer could provide some additional diversity in brands and devices. Still, for the most part, Prime Day’s smart home deals are always going to lean toward Alexa. Maybe that’s exactly what you’re looking for — but maybe not.
Ultimately, a deal is a deal, so if there’s a smart home gadget you want to add to your setup and you find it at a nice discount in the coming days, feel free to pull the trigger. But if it’s a big purchase and you’re trying to find the best prices of the year, consider holding your fire for Black Friday, when you’ll have more options to choose from (and the potential for better savings, too).
Try to avoid impulse buying
It happens to the best of us — you’re not shopping for something specific, but a big sale comes along and you don’t want to miss out. You see a good deal on a neat product that you hadn’t even considered for your home and suddenly, it arrives at your door. I get it.
With smart home gadgets, however, you’ll want to try to put a little more thought into your purchases. For starters, many devices won’t work with all platforms (Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, SmartThings, what have you), so you don’t want to buy something only to find out it doesn’t work with other devices in your home. And when we’re talking about internet-connected technology finding a place in your home, impulse buying is always going to be a bit ill-advised.
Your best course of action is to come to Prime Day with a plan. All deals aside, is there anything specific to add to your smart home setup? Maybe you want to try a smart lock that works with your favorite voice assistant, or maybe you’re a smart light user who wants to add a few extra bulbs to your setup. Regardless, understand your options before the sale, then keep your eyes peeled.
Think outside the smart box
One last thing: You don’t have to buy new smart home gadgets on Prime Day to make your smart home better. With a variety of home products marked for the occasion, there’s room to get creative by choosing peripheral devices that pair well with your existing setup.
Here is a simple example. Have an old smart plug sitting in a drawer that you’re not using? Keep an eye out for deals on desk fans or space heaters with a physical dial that you can leave in the “on” position, as such appliances work great with smart plugs that can turn on and off automatically. Or maybe someone gifted you a smart sous vide cooking device for your kitchen — Prime Day could be a great time to pick up a vacuum sealer or cooking torch.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for secret sales on smart home-connected gear as I sift through thousands of offers to monitor Prime Day’s best deals and discounts. If I find something interesting, you’ll be able to read all about it in our deal rundowns, so stay tuned for those.
