Grabbing an Echo Dot with a free lightbulb? A bright idea indeed. (Photo: Amazon)
Need to brighten up your day a bit? Try one of these great Amazon Echo deals — each includes a free smart bulb with purchase! The prices are amazing — take the 5th Gen Echo Dot. It's been marked down to just $28 — you'll save nearly 60%. If you've never used a smart device before, think back to the days of the Clapper and those hilarious TV ads. Now you can just say, "Hey Alexa, turn off the lights." You can even set up routines so that your smart assistant responds to, "Hey Alexa, goodnight." The possibilities are endless, and you won't sound like you're cheering for bedtime (though we won't blame you if you do).
Setup is so simple — even the most hardcore Luddite can handle the Echo. And with such a wide range of uses, it's sure to make life simpler, as AI intended. With some equally clever add-ons (sold separately) you can adjust your thermostats, dim lights, open drapery and lock doors.
At this price — only 28 bucks! — you can afford to fit out every room in the house. "This the first time owning an Echo Dot, and I must say I'm very impressed," shared a newly converted five-star fan. "All of my lamps have smart bulbs. and now I can simply control their brightness, color, also turn them on/off with my voice. I also have the Echo Dot paired with my bedroom TV. I must say the sound is pretty impressive when watching movies, etc. I will get another one to improve the sound. My voice is easily recognizable and the Wi-Fi signal is excellent. I am in the process of converting to a smart home; the Echo Dot is a massive step."
"I am thrilled with my new Echo," shared another fan who calls Alexa her new best friend. "I had major surgery recently, and I have been able to get reminders to take my meds, call people without using my hands, listen to relaxing music before sleep and get answers to many questions I have about my recovery. The sound quality is excellent and setup was a breeze. Money well spent."
One fan says it's great even if you're not tech-savvy: "First, being in our late 70s, my hubby and I are no techies. Setting most devices up requires a lot of repenting for the swear words. That said, our 7-year-old granddaughter convinced us we needed Alexa. So, of course, we complied. I was expecting our daughter to have to set it up for us. However, I downloaded the Alexa app, plugged it in, synced it with the app...wham bam, in less than two minutes we have beautiful Christmas music playing. We are both very happy with the music and answers to our simple questions. This little blue dot is pretty dang great."
That's not the only Amazon device deal to be had right now. The Echo Dot with Clock also comes with a free bulb, and you can pick it up for just $40 — nearly 50% off!
Looking for a "timeless" option? You can grab the 4th Gen version for a whopping 47% off.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
We’ve got your holiday shopping list covered with fantastic gift ideas for everyone on your list. You’ll find expert picks on the best tech gifts on Engadget, the best gift ideas for car lovers at Autoblog, gifts for the young (and young at heart) at In the Know, and picks for just about everyone else on your list (moms, dads, teens, nurses, you name it!) in Yahoo’s holiday gift ideas section. On AOL, you'll find for gift ideas for seniors shopping for moms, dads, teens and toddlers.
