It’s October 1, which means it’s officially Spooky Season. And while I’m sure we’re all excited to share our terrifying 12-foot skeletonsThere’s nothing nice about the fear of a package being stolen from your porch. A video doorbell is a good way to keep an eye on your sidewalk.
The wired version of the Eufy Dual video doorbell is available at Amazon or direct from Eufy for $149.99 ($50 off). Amazon requires you to click on the $50 coupon on the page, while Eufy has a coupon code of WSCP856PGC to be used at checkout for the discounted price. The appeal of the Eufy is that it has two separate lenses, one to see who’s at the door and one focused on the threshold that clearly shows what packages have been left there.
However, the really special thing about the Eufy Dual is that you don’t have to rely on a monthly subscription to use it. This wired model with an included bell has 8GB of local storage that fits up to 90 days of 2K video, and you can even use it with Google Home or Amazon Alexa smart home systems. It’s nice not to be forced into a subscription or to go to bed with just one system. That’s why the Dual was our pick for the best no-subscription video doorbell in our buying guide. Read our review of the battery-powered version.
Now if you’re looking for a bargain when it comes to a video doorbell, it’s hard to beat Ring. The Amazon-owned company has models for all kinds of prices, including some very cheap ones. Right now, for example, you can get the 2020 standard wireless Ring Video Doorbell for $69.99 ($30 off) from Amazon or Best Buy. It has table stakes features like 1080p video and night vision, along with months of battery life. Or, for even less you get the wired 2021 Ring Doorbell for only $39.99 ($25 off) direct from Ring.
Though you’re really going to sleep with Amazon for those low starting prices, as the more robust features like video history, person alerts, and helpful notifications are locked behind the paywall of a Ring Protect subscription. You also need to use smart devices like an Echo Show to get the most out of a Ring. There is also always a chance that your footage will be shared with the local police, which people may or may not be comfortable with.
Echo Show 5’s latest smart display is on sale for $34.99 ($50 off) at Target and Amazon. This equates to the all-time lowest price we’d normally only see during a Black Friday or Prime Day lightning deal. While Amazon announced all sorts of new devices earlier this week, including a new Echo Dot, the 2021 Echo Show 5 soldiers is on the way. (That feels appropriate, as the inexpensive and often discounted device is quite simple to use.) It serves a user best as a bedside smart display to show the weather and news first thing in the morning, acting as a very smart alarm clock with easy access to Alexa voice control for your smart home. Read our review.
Another Amazon device that will no doubt be phased out with a replacement on the way is the second-generation Fire TV Cube. Amazon has announced that a new fabric-covered Fire TV streaming box is coming on October 29 for a more expensive $139.99. The new model supports Wi-Fi 6E and even has HDMI pass-through for controlling your cable box (like an Xbox One), but that now means it’s time for some early fire sales on the 2019 model.