Top 7 Smart Home Purchases for Prime Day
Are you ready for Prime Day on July 15th?
Prime Day is Amazon’s annual shopping event that’s exclusive to Prime members with awesome deals across nearly all of Amazon’s product catalog. Don’t worry if you’re not a Prime member yet, you can still sign up for a free trial.
Amazon is teasing impressive savings on its own brands, including an Echo Input for $14.99 and nearly 50% off a Ring Video Doorbell. But there’s no reason to stop with Amazon’s own products–in fact you may want to steer clear of Ring’s 3-star app altogether. Amazon’s sneak peek suggests that there will also be 30%+ savings on all kinds of connected home devices, but how can you be sure you’re getting a great deal and not an internet connected headache?
When checking out something new on Amazon, most people will rely on the product reviews to find what’s best. But for smart home products, those Amazon reviews only tell half the story. The other half can be found in the App Store or Google Play Store reviews for the companion app. When you buy a connected device, you’re also buying the app you use to control it. Nothing spoils unboxing your latest haul like dealing with a buggy app to get your lights shining or camera watching–okay, almost nothing.
Prime Day has timed deals to encourage impulse purchases, but don’t stress, we’ve done some homework for you! Here are our picks for smart home devices to add to your Prime Day list based on a comprehensive overview of product and app reviews.
1. Kasa Smart Plug by TP-Link
This low-profile plug will allow you to add smarts to any regular device. Reviewers rave about the easy set up and a (nearly) perfect app.
Amazon: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.3), 5k reviews
App Store: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.8), 11k reviews
Google Play: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.7), 39k reviews
2. August Smart Lock Pro + Connect
Reviewers love the easy installation and being able to keep track of who’s been in and out of the home. Be sure to get the Connect Bridge for integrations, like with Alexa.
Amazon: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.1), 2k reviews
App Store: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.8), 53k reviews
Google Play: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.6), 5k reviews
3. Bond WiFi Bridge
Ceiling fans have long been holdouts in the smart home. They tend to be costly to upgrade with limited style options. That’s why customers rave about the Bond Bridge. It adds smarts to your existing ceiling fan simply and cost effectively.
Amazon: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.1), 1k reviews
App Store: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.6), 2k reviews
Google Play: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.3), 500 reviews
4. MyQ Garage Door Opener by Chamberlain
Want to be sure all of your Prime Day deliveries are safe? Chamberlain MyQ works with the Amazon Key service to support secure package delivery. Reviews praise the intuitiveness of the app, but beware of monthly fees for extra features.
Amazon: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.8), 1k reviews
App Store: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.8), 197k reviews
Google Play: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.4), 23k reviews
5. Sensi Thermostat by Emerson
The Sensi thermostat works nearly every residential HVAC system, and the simple yet powerful app make it a no-brainer if you’re looking to upgrade your existing programmable thermostat to take advantage of extra energy efficiency.
Amazon: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5), 2k reviews
App Store: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5), 32k reviews
Google Play: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.7), 2k reviews
6. Arlo Security Camera System
Common among many of the reviews are the simple installation and easy-to-use app. While the initial price tag may be higher than some alternatives, Arlo offers more functionality than competitors without requiring a monthly subscription.
Amazon: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.1), 4k reviews
App Store: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.9), 49k reviews
Google Play: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.0), 85k reviews
7. Philips Hue Lights
Hue lights have led the smart lighting market for years, and continued investment has paid dividends both in terms of their product performance and also a well-regarded app. Maybe wait until the next Prime Day to pick up the new bluetooth bulbs though–there may be some teething problems.
Amazon: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.2), 1k reviews
App Store: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.4), 8k reviews
Google Play: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.6), 19k reviews
Kraftful builds mobile apps for smart home devices that people actually want to use. Our software solution includes mobile apps, cloud backend services, and fully-managed updates to help ship delightful apps for connected devices without a dependency on internal engineering talent. Get in touch if you’re looking for a delightful app for your smart home device.
