Here’s the Smart Tech I’d Splurge on for Prime Day

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Over the past year, I’ve tested a ton of smart cameras, sensors, and robots of all kinds and have come up with a few favorites. What would be great about smart technologies is if they were less expensive so that everyone could realize the accessibility and labor problems they can solve. That’s why Prime Day is a great time to consider one of these devices, since prices are likely to drop. Here are my favorite smart devices from last year that I’d recommend checking out.

The best robotic lawn mowers

Credit: Amanda Bloom

After testing several robotic lawnmowers, I realized that the Luba 2’s simplicity and reliability make it my favorite . With a variety of features ranging from video monitoring to GPS location when removed from the yard, the Luba now even has the ability to print on the lawn (I wasn’t impressed, but I printed a bunch of stars on the lawn for the Fourth of July. The only reason to choose Another lawn mower – if your lawn is too small or has a lot of obstacles, the Luba 2 is durable and will handle everything from a medium-sized yard to a field with ease. The Luba 2 comes in a variety of capacities with its Prime Day discount.

If your lawn is smaller, you may want to consider the Segway Navimow. The difference I make between the Luba 2 and the Navimow is that the Luba is really solid, but it lacks the grace to turn quickly or navigate obstacles neatly. For small yards, Navimow is a great and incredibly reliable option. He doesn’t like to dive in the yard or on a hill, so you need to make sure the terrain is fairly level, but he can handle inclines without issue.

Credit: Amanda Bloom

The best outdoor security camera

I’m not saying you should put lights on them, but you can. Credit: Amanda Bloom

There are many good outdoor cameras out there, but whenever I finish testing the others, I turn my Eufy Solocams back on. There’s a lot to like here, including the extraordinary viewing range that’s achieved thanks to a spherical pan-tilt mechanism that allows the camera to rotate nearly 360 degrees. In fact, each has two cameras – one for macro viewing, the other for micro viewing. The microview is impressively detailed: I can actually look at individual plants in my yard in detail while I’m away. I like that you don’t need a monthly plan if you have an Eufy hub to store clips locally, and that live viewing happens reliably and with minimal latency every time. The two cameras on sale are wired spotlights – the S330 and E340 . I have both as we speak, but also be sure to check out the solar powered s340 , which is out of stock but still worth it to use in places where you don’t have the option to hardwire.

Best indoor security camera

Credit: Akara/Amazon

I firmly believe that all security cameras should have pan and tilt capabilities. The ability to move focus around the room and find what you need is very important, especially for an indoor camera. It’s too frustrating to be away from home and have something out of reach. For this reason, I really liked the Aqara 2K E1 indoor security camera. Its durable, low profile will never tip over and allows you to find exactly what you’re looking for in the room.

The best robot vacuum cleaners

Credit: Amanda Bloom

I’d like to say that all robot vacuums, especially the expensive ones, are comparable and that you’ll probably get a good one if you just spend enough. Unfortunately, this is not my experience. Even within a brand, differences between models can be stark. However, Roborock models have consistently remained my favorites over the past year. If I were going to buy a floor robot tomorrow, it would be the Roborock S8 line. The S8 Pro Ultra excels on both carpets and hard floors. It has the fewest problems in terms of rollers getting lost, getting stuck, or having to be cleaned. The mopping function is not an add-on; it cleans the floor efficiently. The S8 Max Ultra is also a beast, with improvements in every feature above. Arms reach closer to the wall, the docking station has a special slot for floor cleaner, and floor cleaning just got better. Pick any of these and you’ll be making a good investment, but in my opinion you should spend the extra $150 on the Max Ultra.

  • Roborock S8 Pro Ultra Regular – $1,599.99, July 15-21 – $949.99.

  • Roborock S8 Max Ultra Regular – $1,599.99, July 15 to 21 – $1,199.99.

Credit: Credit: Switchbot/YouTube

If you have a small house, apartment, or just a dedicated space where you want to add a robot vacuum, my hands-down favorite is the Switchbot k10+. Its miniature size allows it to get closer to walls and chair legs than conventional floor robots. Although it’s technically a vacuum cleaner and a mop, there’s no need to worry about the floor-cleaning function—if you just focus on it as a vacuum cleaner, you’ll be impressed by it.

The best smart sensors

When I need a smart sensor for any reason, Aqara is my first choice. Their range is wide and I find these sensors to be more reliable than most others. They are easy to set up and have a nice, clear application interface; I have temperature and humidity sensors , as well as water sensors in different parts of my house.

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