Black Friday draws near, and just like recent years, that means that a wide range of smart home gadgets and gizmos are getting marked down to their best prices of the year. Many of those deals are live already, so if you’ve been itching to add some new color-changing lights to your setup, upgrade your Wi-Fi routeror try out something new like a fingerprint-scanning smart lock or a self-emptying robot vacuumnow’s the time to start shopping.
To that end, we’ll be keeping track of the best deals of the season right here, so check back regularly for updates as new offers go live. For now, here’s a rundown of the earlybird deals that are already catching our attention.
Best Black Friday Smart Home Deals Available Now
Amazon
Amazon released new Echo Dots earlier this fall, and as expected, they’re getting their first major discounts right in time for Black Friday. That includes all colors of the spherical smart speaker for $25, or half off — but as an extra incentive, you can also bundle in a free 75W replacement white light smart bulb from Philips Hue. Together, they’d normally cost $66, but you’re paying just $25 for the pair.
Would you prefer a color-changing smart bulb? In that case, head to Best Buy, where you’ll find the new Echo Dot bundled with a full-color Sengled smart bulb for the same $25 sale price.
Other smart speaker deals
Lenovo
I’ll be honest, I didn’t even realize that Lenovo sold a version of its 4-inch smart display that sits beside a wireless charging dock for your phone, but it’s a pretty decent bedside pitch. With built-in Google Assistant voice controls, a simplified screen experience, and no camera whatsoever, this was a pretty likable device to begin with even before it offered to charge your phone each night.
Now, the gadget is half off for Black Friday week, down to $45. If you’re looking for an “oh-what-the-heck” splurge in the smart home category, this one fits the bill without breaking the bank.
You’re receiving price alerts for Lenovo Smart Clock (2nd gen) with Google Assistant and Wireless Charging Dock: $45
Other smart display deals
Ry Crist/CNET
I spent part of my summer testing out some of the latest smart locks on the market, and my favorite of the bunch might have been the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. Along with a fingerprint scanner, the deadbolt features physical buttons for coded entry (much better for mittens and rainy days than touchpad controls), as well as a great app for managing access, strong Wi-Fi range, and an insanely clever design that sees the entire front face fold down to reveal the keyway. Plus, it’s an ANSI grade 1 deadbolt, which means that it’s as secure as can be against brute force attacks.
Normally priced at $250 or so, Amazon currently has the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro marked down to $139 as an early Black Friday special. It isn’t the fanciest version of the lock that includes its own built-in Wi-Fi radio in addition to Bluetooth — instead, this one comes with a separate, plug-in Wi-Fi adaptor. That’s totally fine, because you’re still getting everything that makes this an outstanding smart lock at an all-time low price.
You’re receiving price alerts for Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Smart Deadbolt with Wi-Fi adaptor: $139
Other smart lock deals
The Arlo Essential Wi-Fi Video Doorbell is CNET’s top pick for among doorbell cameras, which is no easy feat given how competitive that category is. An Editor’s Choice-winner, the Arlo essential won out thanks to strong features like package and object detection and broad compatibility with Alexa, Google, and Apple HomeKit, as well as strong privacy standards with full, end-to-end encryption for your feed.
Usually priced at $150, you can find the Arlo Essential on sale right now at major retailers for $80, which is an excellent deal.
You’re receiving price alerts for Arlo Essential Video Doorbell: $80
Other video doorbell deals
Nanoleaf
It’s not the biggest deal of the season, but if you’re looking to stock up on color-changing smart bulbs that will work well with Matter, the new universal smart home standard backed by Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung and countless others, then you’d be smart to go with Nanoleaf. The company’s offering up a 3-pack of color-changing bulbs for $37 as an early Black Friday special — they already work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, but on top of that, they also feature built-in support for Thread, a Wi-Fi-based protocol that’s a big part of Matter’s vision for a more unified smart home experience. In other words, they’ll work great with whatever platform you prefer right now, and they’ll work great with Matter in the coming years, too.
You’re receiving price alerts for Nanoleaf Essentials Multicolor Smart Bulb 3-pack: $37
