Got a new Echo Dot on Prime Day These are the smart home devices I d pair it with TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Got a new Echo Dot on Prime Day These are the smart home devices I d pair it with By Michelle Rae Uy published 13 July 2022 The Echo Dot is just your gateway smart home drug (Image credit: Amazon) So, you've just purchased your first Echo Dot (opens in new tab) on Prime Day. Congrats and welcome to the world of smart home devices. It's an absolute, futuristic dream, one that comes with many advantages and some fringe benefits. You're going to love it. But, your Echo Dot is just the beginning. Consider it your gateway drug of sorts to this admittedly addicting world. I've been trying to "smarten" my apartment now since I purchased my very smart speaker – the now defunct first-generation Echo Plus, may it rest in device heaven – and I know from experience that the only way you're going to take full advantage of its endless list of functionalities is to expand. Here are my top five smart home device recommendations to set you off to a great start in your journey. With many Prime Day deals still offering deep discounts on smart home devices that work beautifully with your new Echo Dot (and Alexa), now's the best time to get them. (opens in new tab)Kasa Smart Light Bulbs: $24.99 $16.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab) Save $8 - If you're just starting to break into the world of smart homes, smart lights are the best way to start. One of the best ones out there is Kasa's smart bulb, which is dimmable and displays up to 16 million colors. This 2-pack also doesn't need a hub either so it's an easy setup for a beginner.View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)August Wi-Fi smart lock: $229.99 $149.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab) Save $80 - Never get locked out of your home again. If you are a beginner smart home user who lives in an apartment, this smart lock is easy to setup and non-intrusive, especially if your building forbids permanent modifications. It also works with most exisiting deadbolts.View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)Govee TV LED Backlights: $109.99 $69.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab) Save $40 - Another smart home device that's easy to setup but can have a major impact in your experience is this TV smart backlight kit from Govee. By mimicking the colors your TV is displaying and bouncing those colors on the wall behind, it gives those movies, shows and games a bit more oomph to viewers.View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)Blink Outdoor: $99.99 $59.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab) Save $40 - These days, setting up home security isn't as expensive or complicated, thanks to smart security cameras like this cable-free outdoor one from Blink. It works best with one of Amazon's smart displays so you can see the footage, but if you're just starting out, you can use it with your Echo Dot alongside Blink's mobile app.View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid: $649.95 $379.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab) Save $270 - Our eufy RoboVac X8 review (opens in new tab), which gave it a 4.5 out of 5 rating, proves that this line boasts some of the best suction prowess in the market. It's intelligent mapping feature, on the other hand, makes it more efficient. This hybrid model offers all that plus mopping abilities to remove stains and splatters.View Deal (opens in new tab) Obviously, you can't just go all out and buy all the best smart home devices out there. I've learned the hard way that building a smart home takes a bit of research and careful planning, lest you end up with a hopeless mess of devices. But, you also have to start somewhere. Otherwise, you'll just be using your Echo Dot to ask Alexa to play music, tell lame jokes, do quick research, and add items to your Amazon shopping cart. Maybe play Jeopardy with you when you're bored and tell PG-rated "scary" stories on Halloween. Hey, if those are more than enough functionalities for you, I'm supportive of that. I too have spent some nights with friends or family playing trivia games with Alexa. Still, there's a wealth of features there you'd really want to take advantage. My smart lights and robot vacuum, for example, have helped simplify my chaotic life and taken menial tasks off my plate, giving me time for the more important ones. Meanwhile, my smart lock and home security camera made my home a lot more secure without forcing me to spend a lot of money on a home security service. As a single woman living alone in a big city, that part is just vital to me. And the Govee TV immersion lights in my list above have changed my TV watching experience forever. Non-lit TVs are just boring to me now. Your new smart speaker can do a lot more for you (and your family), as mine does. Even if it's something as simple as never needing to physically switch your lights on/off again. Trust me: invest. More Prime Day dealsAmazon Devices: cheapest ever Echo Dot and Fire Stick (opens in new tab)Appliances: up to 29% off Instant Pot (opens in new tab)Apple: Apple Watch 7 for the cheapest price yet (opens in new tab)Cheap TVs: budget Smart TVs from $89 (opens in new tab)Fashion: up to 66% off men's and women's fashion (opens in new tab)Groceries: $20 back when you buy P&G essentials (opens in new tab)Home: 15% off Levoit Air Purifier (opens in new tab)Kindle: up to 50% off ereader bundles (opens in new tab)Laptops: $200 off 14-inch MacBook Pro (opens in new tab)Mattresses: up to $490 off Casper mattresses (opens in new tab)PS5: register for the next PS5 restock (opens in new tab)Security: Blink Home Security bundles from $44.99 (opens in new tab)Smart home: Echo Show 5 smart display for $34.99 (opens in new tab)Smartwatch: Amazon Halo View up to 55% off (opens in new tab)Speakers: JBL portable speakers from $29.95 (opens in new tab)Storage: up to 39% off Samsung SSDs (opens in new tab)Tablets: Fire 7 tablet for $29.99 (opens in new tab)TVs: up to $700 off Fire TVs (opens in new tab)Vacuum cleaners: save on Shark, iRobot and Bissell (opens in new tab) Michelle Rae UyBuying Guides EditorMichelle Rae Uy is the Buying Guides Editor here at TechRadar. She's a Los Angeles-based tech, travel and lifestyle writer covering a wide range of topics, from computing to the latest in green commutes to the best hiking trails. She's an ambivert who enjoys communing with nature and traveling for months at a time just as much as watching movies and playing sim games at home. That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives. TechRadar Newsletter Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me2Stop saying Mario doesn't have an accent in The Super Mario Bros. Movie3Google Pixel Tablet is what Apple should've done ages ago4RTX 4090 too expensive? 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