It’s time to make your home smarter with a little help from Christmas in July. Yes, Amazon.com dives into its Amazon Prime Day 2022 sellathon on Tuesday, July 12 through Wednesday July 13. But why wait?
Already, Amazon has rolled out Prime Day deals ahead of the real deal as competitors roll out rival deals. The online retail giant is enticing its 200 million Prime members and luring new ones (or former Prime members who didn’t reup or canceled because of 2022’s price increase) with fresh Prime-related price cuts on thousands of items ahead of Prime Day. To its array of best perks for Amazon Prime members, Amazon just tossed in a free year of Grubhub delivery. Things like that.
Take it for granted that Amazon’s going to slash prices on its proprietary products: Kindles, Echos, Amazon TVs, Ring devices, etc. You’ll see sales of up to 50% and 60% off regular prices. Given that’s a given, we’ve searched out other smart home products that aren’t in Amazon’s own wheelhouse. And we’ve played fast and loose with “smart home” (hey, a Vitamix FoodCycler might make you smarter about your home; just sayin’).
So check out these 15 Best Amazon Prime Deals on Smart Devices for the Home.
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PetSafe Drinkwell Gallon Fountain: Was $59.99, now $45.95, Amazon.com
If your dog or cat still doesn’t know how to fill a decent glass of water, this is the way to go. The PetSafe Drinkwell Fountain provides fresh, filtered, flowing water that’s easily accessible to your fur baby. This one-gallon size is perfect for small- to medium-sized dogs or cats. You can customize the water flow, in case your shy cat isn’t down with the sound and flow. The open bowl design and tray is whisker-friendly and will hold water even if the power is cut off. The carbon filter is replaceable, and the foam filter catches pet hair and debris to keep the water clean. Buy now
Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum: Was $319.99, now $219.99, Amazon.com
This vacuum cleaner just may do the trick to get rid of that pet hair that’s stuck in every nook and cranny of your abode. With this Shark smart machine, you can lift the pod away to more easily maneuver the nozzle in clean difficult-to-reach places (say, under furniture), because the powered brushroll will just keep on spinning). The anti-allergen complete seal design is matched with a HEPA filter to help contain dust and allergens in the unit. The larger-than-average, nearly quart-size dust cup capacity holds more, and is fast to remove. And those LED lights? Perfect for sighting pet hair. Buy now
Champion Power Equipment 200988 4500-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator, Electric Start: Was $1,359, now $982.71, Amazon.com
Right out of the box, this puppy is ready to generate juice, running on either gasoline or propane. That’s perfect as you retire in an RV or need reliable backup power in your Florida home. The Champion dual fuel portable inverter generator has a three-year limited warranty with free lifetime technical support from dedicated experts at Champion. The quiet operation is perfect for your RV, camping, or as a backup generator for your home. It offers A 14-hour run time on gasoline. Buy now
Echo Dot (4th Generation) Smart speaker with Alexa: Was $49.99, now $19.99, Amazon.com
Smart speakers have been a boon to many of us hunkered down in the work-from-home world. The fourth generation Echo Dot is a gem. The rich, balanced bass sound is wonderful for listening to online radio stations or streaming music including Amazon Music (of course), Apple Music (surprise!), SiriusXM, Spotify and others. Oh, and you can also put Echo Dot to work on motivating your other smart devices to get working. Smart plug or smart light bulb systems integrate well with Alexa's voice commands. You can also adjust smart thermostat settings and turn on a fan. Buy now
Amazon Smart Plug, for home automation, Works with Alexa: Was $24.99, now $12.99, Amazon.com
Add me to the crew that’s all aboard the smart plug train, especially after recently finding (and trying to use) an old push-button plug-in timer. The Amazon Smart Plug is a pre-Amazon Prime Day and Amazon Prime Day good deal. It comes with a built-in look of horror (that’s the outlet), and is a breeze to set up and use. All you have to do is plug it in, then control via the Alexa app. That's it; a timer set in no time.
Oh, and please know it has to be connected to your Wi-Fi, again easy to set up on the Amazon Smart Plug. Buy now
Amazon Smart Thermostat with C-Wire Power Adaptor: Was $84.98, now $56.98, Amazon.com
If you’re thinking it’s about time to go rogue and make your thermostat a smart one, the Amazon Smart Thermostat is a good play. At its heart, it is powered by Honeywell Home Technology, masters at the thermostat game. By design (and on Energy Star orders to manufacturers), you’ll save money on your home energy bills. Note this: While it is a smart thermostat, it isn’t operated directly by voice (it doesn’t have a microphone or speaker). You can control it by voice using the Alexa app (“Alexa, turn the thermostat to 72 degrees”) or, say, an Amazon Echo smart speaker. It’s up to you. Buy now
iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Personalized Cleaning Recommendations, Works with Alexa: Was $299.99, now $179.99, Amazon.com
I’m a huge convert to robo-vacs, so much so that I have two, one on each floor (note, you can move your droids between floors, but I found it easier to let two learn and understand their space). This iRobot Roomba 692 has big fans, and the price is excellent. You’ll wonder why you waited so long as you watch it seemingly haphazardly breeze around the rooms, relegating your old canister vac to 1986 where it belongs. Oh, and cleaning is as easy as scheduling it to clean up daily dirt, dust, and debris with the iRobot HOME app or your voice assistant. Buy now
Coway Airmega 400S App-Enabled Smart Technology, Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home True HEPA Air Purifier: Was $849, now $437.06, Amazon.com
Who doesn’t need a decent air purifier? At 49% off, the Coway Airmega may be the way to go. It’s filter-rich, with a built-in pollution sensor communicating indoor air quality testing in real-time. The Coway Airmega Max2 filter, which is a combined activated carbon and True HEPA filter, is a magnet for pollen, pollutants and other allergens. Also on board is a washable and permanent pre-filter to catch larger dust particles. The aforementioned fan speed automatically adjusts based on the room's air quality and lighting conditions to improve air quality. Onboard timers can be set, and indicators for filter lifetime for both the washable pre-filter and Max2 filter will alert you when to replace. Buy now
PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Pet Fence with Replaceable Battery Collar: Was $349.99, now $262.95, Amazon.com
When “I SAID STAY IN THE YARD!” just doesn’t cut it, it’s time for PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Pet Fence. It comes from the folks who make the trusted Invisible Fence brand border fence, which safely and effectively secured two beagles (Bert and Ernie) and a golden retriever (Moonshadow) in my backyard. That was with buried wire and a much larger lot. This wireless, circular boundary sets up in just a few hours. Your pet isn’t warned or shocked when they exit the boundary to come back in the house or otherwise leave the secure area with your permission. Also, unlike other, uh, invisible fences, this one’s portable, so you can take it camping, to a vacation home or wherever your pet needs a secure boundary. Buy now
Blink Mini – Compact indoor plug-in smart security camera, 1080p HD video, night vision, motion detection, two-way audio, easy set up: Was $34.99, now $29.99, Amazon.com
Affordable home security cameras are here. Take the Blink Mini, clocking in at less than 30 bucks as an early Amazon Prime Day deal, it’s
built with all the bells and whistles of more expensive cameras. The setup is easy: Plug it in, connect to your Wi-Fi, and use the Blink Home Monitor app. It also works with Alexa, of course, being as they’re Amazon kin. Once it’s ready to go, you’ll get alerts on your smartphone whenever motion is detected. You can also customize motion detection zones you care the most to visually access. Buy now
Blink Outdoor - wireless, weather-resistant HD security camera, two-year battery life, motion detection, set up in minutes – 2 camera kit: Was $179.99, now $99.99, Amazon.com
OK, this one thrills me. I have a wired Nest outdoor camera watching for deer and bear in my backyard and it’s a pain because it’s … wired. I like that these are battery powered, and with Amazon’s name – well, Blink – on it, I’m pretty sure my satisfaction is guaranteed. These cameras are easy to set up, and will help you monitor your property day and night. There’s two-way audio on these cameras, too, so I can yell at the deer to get off my lawn. But sharing and storing video clips require a separate Blink subscription. Buy now
Insignia 43-inch Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (NS-43F301NA22, 2021 Model): Was $299.99, now $189.99, Amazon.com
Your smart home needs a smart TV and this is a good one at an excellent price. You get a solid 4K experience, and with Amazon’s proprietary Fire TV, you can speak commands into the Alexa-controlled remote, like searching for titles, going to live TV, playing music, etc. You also have access to thousands of shows utilizing Fire TV. Oh, yeah, it also connects to Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Sling TV, Prime Video, and other services. Buy now
Fire 7 Kids Pro tablet, 7" display, ages 6+, 16 GB, Doodle: Was $99.99, now $49.99, Amazon.com
Let it go, grandparents. This is what gets the grandkids over the river and through the woods peacefully, and it gives the parents in the front seat a break. These kid-friendly devices feature a quad-core processor, 7-inch display, dual cameras, Micro USB port, and up to 512 GB of expandable storage. Oh, there’s retail on board, but don’t you worry: Kids Pro tablets can’ access app, game and ebook stores but parents approve purchases and downloads. Buy now
Logitech HD Laptop Webcam C615 with Fold-and-Go Design, 360-Degree Swivel, 1080p Camera: Was $69.99, now $29.30, Amazon.com
Paying less than 30 bucks for a much better camera than the company laptop offers is a pretty good bargain. You can get clear videos even in dim or poorly backlit settings. That’s the automatic light correction at play. The Logitech HD Laptop Webcam works with Windows 7 or higher, macOS X 10.10 or higher, Chrome OS and Android. But reviews note this older model plays well with some older operating systems as well. Buy now
Vitamix 068051 FoodCycler FC-50, 2L Capacity: Was $399.95, now $297.99, Amazon.com
Isn’t this something you’ve always dreamed about having in your kitchen? A composting device? Vitamix (and Amazon) promise it’s fast, thorough and – you’ve thought of this, yes? – odorless. Think of it: Those banana peels you throw in the trash every morning can be turned into fertilizer and sprinkled on your gardens within hours. It looks easy to clean, and the empty bucket can go directly into your dishwasher. And, listen, you don’t have to keep it in your kitchen. The Vitamix FoodCycler can be stored anywhere with power. It’s a snap to operate, and processing time is just four to eight hours. Buy now
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