Fire TV Stick

Amazon continues to run a good sale on its Fire TV Sticks for Prime members. Use the code 4KFIRETV to get a Fire TV Stick 4K for $25, which is 50 percent off its normal price. The regular Fire TV Stick is down to $23, which is the lowest price we’ve seen it hit outside of Cyber Week and Amazon Prime Day.

Square Enix Switch sale

There’s still time to load up your Nintendo Switch with Final Fantasy games, as all of the main games are still on sale at the Nintendo eShop. Many games are 40 to 50 percent off, and ahead of the remake coming soon, Final Fantasy VII now costs $8. While there are a number of good deals in this sale, we also particularly like Collection of Mana for $20 because you’re getting three games for half the normal price.

Google Pixel 3a

One of the best affordable smartphones is even cheaper than normal right now: Amazon has the Google Pixel 3a for $300 and the 3a XL for $380. The Pixel 3a normally starts at $400, and while this isn’t the lowest starting price we’ve seen ($280), it’s close enough that it’s still a great deal. Keep in mind, though, that a Google Pixel 4a may be right around the corner — it may be best to wait if you want the newest possible Pixel device.

Moog and Korg synth apps

Stay-at-home musicians can get a few extra tools with Moog and Korg apps that are still free. Moog’s Minimoog Model D iOS synth app remains free to download, and Korg’s Android and iOS Kaossilator apps are also free for a limited time (both of the latter are normally $20, making this a great deal). Today is the final day Android users can grab Korg’s app, and iOS users have until March 31.

Affinity apps free trial

Serif continues to offer a 90-day free trial for anyone who wants to try out Affinity software. You can download Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher and try them out without any necessary purchase at the end of the trial. But Serif sweetened the deal for those who do want to buy: until April 20, you can get 50 percent off the computer and mobile versions of all Affinity programs — yes, that includes the iPad version of Affinity Photo, which is now $10.

New deal additions

Master & Dynamic WFH sale

Audio company Master & Dynamic hopes to make the transition to work-from-home life easier for some with its work-from-home sale that slashes up to 50 percent off some of its popular headphones, earbuds and speakers. Use the code WFH50 to save on select items, including the MW07 wireless earbuds (Engadget’s Billy Steele reviewed the updated model, the MW07 Plus). Most of the sale items are older models, but considering Master & Dynamic devices can be quite expensive to begin with, it’s worth grabbing all the discounts you can get. The sale ends Sunday, March 22.

Disco Elysium

The award-winning detective game Disco Elysium is back down to its lowest price ever — $30 — on Steam. The game has dropped to this price before, but this is a good time to buy it if you’re looking for a new PC game to dive into during your free time. Disco Elysium developer ZA/UM also recently added a “Hardcore True Detective” mode that you’ll want to try, but only once you get used to the base game.

Apple Watch Series 5

While the Apple Watch Series 5 doesn’t see huge discounts, Amazon has a 40mm model for $360 now. That’s $40 off it’s normal price of $400, and only $5 more expensive than the lowest price we’ve seen it. With the next version of the Apple Watch likely six months away, now’s a good time to buy the Series 5 while it’s slightly more affordable than normal.

Apple Mac mini

After Apple modestly updated the Mac mini earlier this week, B&H Photo has discounted the 2018 Mac mini. A model with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage is now $880, which is $20 less than its previous lowest price. While less powerful Mac mini models are also on sale, this deal has the right specs at the right price.

SanDisk Ultra microSDXC card with adapter

If your Nintendo Switch or your smartphone needs some extra storage, consider Newegg’s deal on a 256GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC card with adapter. Use the code EMCDEGR28 to take an extra $5 off to get this bundle for only $31. This deal ends tonight, so it’s one to grab sooner rather than later.

Best smart light bulbs for Alexa

Photo: Michael Hession

The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 smart bulb was the first smart product to join Alexa’s friends list, and it’s our pick as the best smart light bulb. All current Hue models work with Alexa, allowing you to power multiple lights on and off, dim them, change a bulb’s color, and even create light groups to enable color schemes throughout the house on command. Just know that in addition to your Alexa device, you’ll also need the Hue Bridge (unless you get the Echo Plus, which includes a Zigbee radio like the Hue Bridge), a hub that can handle up to 50 Hue-ified lights.

Similar to the Philips Hue, the LIFX A19 bulb works with Alexa, so you can verbally power, dim, and change the colors of the lights. LIFX doesn’t have quite as many partners or the same versatility as the Hue lineup. However, LIFX bulbs work with Wi-Fi (versus Zigbee for the Hue series), so you don’t need a separate hub or gateway.

Best smart plugs for Alexa

Photo: Rachel Cericola

The Wemo Mini smart plug (our preferred plug-in smart outlet) is one of the many Wemo devices that you can control with Alexa. It plugs into any outlet and connects to your Wi-Fi network, so you can turn fans, lights, coffee makers, and pretty much anything else on and off from your smartphone or using Alexa voice commands. The app also allows you to group outlets with lights and other appliances, so you can control everything with a single voice command.

Although not quite as versatile as the Wemo, the iClever IC-BS06 is one of the few smart plugs that can be used outdoors. It’s also the only Alexa-compatible unit that features two outlets that you can control independently using the sound of your voice.

Best smart light switches for Alexa

Photo: Rachel Cericola

Lutron’s Caséta is a strong wireless lighting-control system on its own, and one that we recommend to people who want a good lighting system but don’t necessarily need all of the other features that a system like SmartThings offers. Alexa works with Caséta in-wall dimmer switches and plug-in dimmer switches, and you can group them so you can turn off lights in an entire room or section of the house with the sound of your voice. For instance, you can put the Caséta system in your entertainment space and make a room movie-ready by saying something like, “Alexa, turn off all theater lights.” You can even use your voice to set dimming levels. It’s also convenient that Caséta switches are often paired with a separate remote, which you can mount or leave in that room; that way, you can bring up the lights while the action is still on-screen without having to call out.

If you don’t want or need another device (or at least the expense of one), the Wemo Dimmer can turn lights on, off, and to specific dimming levels using any existing Wi-Fi network and Alexa.

Best smart thermostats for Alexa

Photo: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

What’s the current temperature setting on your Nest Thermostat E? Ask Alexa. The voice assistant can also raise and lower temperatures or set our top smart-thermostat pick to Away mode. If you don’t use the Nest’s geofencing features (and many people don’t), the ability to verbally adjust temperature settings can be a favorite feature. Multiple-thermostat owners can also call for specific devices by naming each Nest.

The Ecobee4 works with Alexa in the same way as the Nest, and actually has the voice assistant built in, so you have no need for a separate device. You can just say, “Alexa, tell Ecobee I’m hot,” and the assistant will adjust the temperature a few degrees for you. Another big difference between the two smart thermostats is that the Ecobee model includes sensors that you can place in any room, so you can ask Alexa about the temperature all around your home. Alexa can also use the Ecobee model to control your system’s fan, tell you what equipment is running, and switch between heat, cool, and auto modes.

Best robot vacuums for Alexa

Photo: Liam McCabe

Few people love vacuuming. Of course, robot vacuums make the chore as easy as pushing a button. However, the iRobot Roomba 690 and iRobot Roomba 960 ensure that you never even have to lift that one finger, thanks to Alexa integration.

Alexa allows you to bark out orders to command that Wi-Fi–connected robot army to start, stop, or resume cleaning. You can even ask Alexa to locate the little buggers, if they’ve gone rogue and wandered off into another part of the house. We go into more detail about each model in our guide to the best robot vacuums, but the main difference is that the Roomba 960 is designed for larger spaces—and currently costs about twice as much as the 690.

Best home security cameras for Alexa

Photo: Michael Hession

Adding Alexa control to Wi-Fi security cameras allows you to arm and disarm cameras as you enter and exit your home, as well as to call up specific cameras located around the house to view live feeds through the Echo Show, Echo Spot, or Amazon Fire TV.

Logitech’s Circle 2 works with the Echo Show, Echo Spot, and Fire TV, so you can call up live feeds from different devices around the house. Designed to work indoors and outdoors, our favorite indoor security camera can also accept prompts through Alexa to turn the camera on, disable the privacy mode, and even initiate recordings on command.

If you’re looking for a peek at the outdoors, Netgear’s Arlo Pro 2 offers views almost anywhere, with a rechargeable battery that provides the option to go completely wireless. The Nest Cam Outdoor, our top pick among outdoor security cameras, does have a cord—the only weatherproof one we found included with the purchase—as well as the ability to distinguish between people and pets (with a paid Nest Aware subscription). You can bring up both on the Echo Show or the Fire TV for a peek at outside action from the couch or under a blanket.

Best smart door locks for Alexa

Photo: Jon Chase

For easy keyless entry to your home via smartphone or keypad, the Yale Assure SL Connected by August can’t be beat. With Alexa you can use your voice to check door lock status or lock the door at bedtime. Our favorite Alexa-compatible smart lock includes a handy keypad, making it easy for guests to use. It comes with the August Connect gateway, which connects the lock to the Internet for remote access.

Best doorbell cameras for Alexa

Photo: Michael Hession

As we describe in our guide to smart doorbell cameras, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 offers a quick peek at who’s on the other side of the door, using the Echo Show, Echo Spot, or Fire TV. At this time, however, you can’t use Alexa to talk to the person on the other side of the camera.

Like the Ring, the Nest Hello will show you who is at the door, but won’t allow you to talk to welcome and unwelcome guests. However, it offers 24/7 video recording, AI-powered motion detection, and facial recognition—but only with an active Nest Aware subscription.

Best smart garage-door controllers for Alexa

Photo: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

The Gogogate 2 is our favorite smart garage-door controller with Alexa support—when you’re carrying groceries, luggage, or children, you can ask Alexa to open and close the door and have it respond accordingly. As our upgrade pick, it can even integrate cameras, so you can view the status of your door from the app.

Best smart sprinkler controllers for Alexa

Photo: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

The Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller can smarten up yard work with an easy-to-use interface and Alexa support. That means you can ask Alexa to have the system turn on and off, water specific zones, and delay run times. As we mention in our guide, the one drawback is that this system lacks any type of local control, so if your Internet service is down, you won’t be able to make any schedule adjustments.

Best media streaming devices for Alexa

Photo: Chris Heinonen

You can find a lot of devices that allow you to get your Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, or other streaming fix—and not just in our guide to the best media streaming devices. However, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is currently the most compact model that also packs the power of Alexa. Having voice control can save you a lot of time and help you avoid the hassle that comes with navigating tens of thousands of streaming options. You can also use one voice command to fire up Netflix, find episodes of Game of Thrones, or even compile a collection of rom-coms. In this situation, it may also be helpful that Alexa can also order a pizza, with the right skill enabled.

If you’re having trouble navigating all of the TV networks, Dish Network includes Alexa support on the Hopper DVR and Wally mobile TV receiver. Instead of channel flipping, TV watchers can surf through the lineup by calling out a network name, channel number, show title, or actor. Voice commands also work on the DVR features to pause, rewind, and fast-forward live and recorded content, as well as to call up stored programs on demand.

Best kitchen appliances for Alexa

Photo: Sarah Kobos

For the most part, Alexa’s kitchen utility is limited to its timer-setting abilities and basic recipe-reading skills. But some appliances are beginning to integrate voice controls to varying degrees of success. Web-enabled sous vide circulators are among the earliest adopters thus far.

Cooking sous vide (French for “under vacuum”) allows you to experience restaurant-quality dishes at home by submerging vacuum-sealed food in a water bath. These cookers have been available for home use for a while and recently have become very affordable—and also very high-tech.

Putting an Echo speaker in your kitchen lets you rock out while preparing a meal. Now it can also help you cook. Although our top sous vide pick doesn’t have Alexa capability, our runner-up, the ChefSteps Joule, does, making it the perfect sous chef. You can call out to check the status of a steak, adjust temperatures, and even get a little extra direction.

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