You can control your Echo Dot with your voice, or just tap the device to pause your music or snooze the alarm.(Amazon)
For almost a decade, the Amazon Echo Dot has been a go-to for anyone looking to dive into the sometimes overwhelming world of smart home tech, and right now, it’s more enticing than ever. The price is slashed to $23 — that's over half off — before October Prime Day even begins, making this compact speaker even more of a must-have.
Never lose your luggage, purse, car, keys — anything, really — again. Just attach one of these smart tags to the item you want to track, and you'll be alerted to its whereabouts via your phone. The deal on this four-pack brings each tag down to about $16 (they typically retail for $25 to $30 a pop). Grab a few for your, er, forgetful family members...
Make fighting with your family members over power outlets a thing of the past, courtesy of this electrifying gadget. It's equipped with five AC outlets and four USB ports, enough for everyone to charge their iPads, iPhones, MacBooks (you get the picture) all at once. Oh, and it's so much sleeker than having a power strip on your floor — and you won't have to worry about tripping over it.
No, it's not a massive discount, but this bestseller is within a dollar of its all-time low (and it's retailed for as much as $20 in the past).
You can't really put a price on having more peace of mind, but we'll take 45% off! This isn't the absolute lowest it's been, but it's the best price we're seeing on the internet for this popular model.
If your car doesn't have built-in charging ports for your phone and other devices, don't worry. This adapter can juice up two devices at a time while you're on the go (and it charges fast!). Shoppers are impressed: It's earned a five-star rating from over 30,000 reviewers.
"This charger fits my car's port very snugly, which means a much more positive connection," another reviewer wrote. "The two USB ports are handy, and the circuitry prevents damage, as well as detects what charge amount/rate each connected device requires, without needing switches. Simply plug into the car port, then plug in the device, nothing more, easy-peasy and worry-free."
Listen up: Our senior tech writer, Rick Broida, has spent the past two decades testing (and testing, and re-testing) hundreds of earbuds. So, when he's surprised by just how good a $40 pair performs, you need to check them out ASAP. When he tested some of the best earbuds on the market, he named this pair the best budget option, praising their sound quality and noise-canceling abilities. And this wallet-friendly option just got even more budget-friendly, currently down to $20 — the lowest we've ever seen them.
You, your kids and your grandkids will have a blast playing with this highly rated drone, which easily connects to your phone for taking photos and videos from above. Use it in the yard or even bring it on your next trip for a bird's-eye view of your vacation. And yeah: It can do 360-degree flips!
Full disclosure: We've yet to see it top $90, so the original list price is likely overstated. That said, getting it for $50 is still fab.
This smart speaker may be small, but it packs a serious punch. It's compact enough to easily fit on a nightstand or office bookshelf, and it takes voice commands via Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa. You can set alarms, create reminders, find out the weather and so much more just by asking. Take it from Yahoo's Rick Broida: "The Echo Dot an excellent device, one that's incredibly useful and versatile. Whether it's your first foray into smart speakers or simply an extension of an existing smart-home setup, you'll find it an amazing asset. Plus, at only $50 it's quite affordable..."
The Echo Dot makes smart home tech and surprisingly high-quality audio available to everyone, and $23 is an especially impressive price — it matches the Dot's all-time low, and we haven't seen it dip this far since December of last year. And you're getting plenty of bang for your buck: The compact design means it can deliver music, podcasts and more in any space that has an outlet and Wi-Fi.
You might be wondering, "What can this little speaker really do?" The answer: quite a bit. The Echo Dot packs a surprising audio punch for its size, allowing you to stream songs and more with clarity. And with Alexa on your side, you can control your smart home devices, turn your lights on and off and even check the weather — all without lifting a finger. Talk about convenient.
The Dot is also a game-changer for anyone wanting to simplify their daily routine. With Alexa, it's easy to set reminders and create shopping lists just using your voice. You can wake up and get a rundown of your schedule without getting out of bed.
Additionally, with over 140,000 Alexa-compatible devices out there, the Echo Dot is a compact hub for your smart home. You can control pretty much anything, from smart lights to thermostats and even coffeemakers. Check out our full Echo Dot review for a more thorough list.
With over 100,000 five-star reviews, it's safe to say that the Echo Dot has more than a few fans. Here's what some of them have to say:
Pros 👍
"We use this in lieu of a home phone," said one Dot fan. "My first Echo was a gift and lasted two and a half years. I'm replacing it with this one. My teen likes having it in his room to add reminders, call me when he doesn't have his phone, as an alarm and for music and audiobooks. I use mine for recipes and dropping in on my son on the way home. We gifted a couple of these to close relatives who live far away so we can 'drop in' on each other. Texting is short and sweet but dropping in with your real-time voice is fun for loved ones you don't get to see enough."
Another user highlighted how it enhanced their life as someone with limited mobility: "Being able to speak to my Dot has made it so I don't have to walk or even move if my back or hips are having a particularly bad day. Dot has literally improved [my] quality of life. I have discovered that this small sphere, with its powerful speaker, will be key in maintaining my ability to live independently for as long as possible."
A final fan who uses the Dot as an alarm clock noted that setup was fast and simple. "I just downloaded the app and it took care of everything," they remarked. "I set the time, chose a premade sound (because who isn't in a better mood getting woken up by The Grand Tour guys?), set the light to turn on at 30% brightness and added 10 minutes of Spotify. And it works! I still fumble groggily around for a bit, but I'm awake."
Cons 👎
Unlike some pricier Amazon smart devices, the Echo Dot doesn't have a screen. In our testing, tech editor Rick Broida noted that the sound quality isn't the best at high volumes, and the tap-to-pause feature is a bit finicky. "It was hard to find the sweet spot, and I felt like if I tapped too hard, I might hit the microphone-mute button by accident," he said. "But, again, just use your voice: 'Alexa, pause.'"
"One small downside I've noticed is that sometimes there's a slight delay when using smart home controls, but it's not frequent enough to be a major issue," said this four-star fan. "For the most part, it integrates well with my other devices and makes managing my home a lot easier."
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 $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.
