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Written by the automationhomeguide team — UK-based smart home experts.

  • ✓ 8+ years real-world testing across HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home
  • ✓ 150+ products tested personally in real homes
  • ✓ All products purchased with personal funds — no free samples
  • ✓ Methodical, data-driven testing on every product
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Best Smart Home Black Friday Deals 2026 — What's Worth Buying

Last Updated: May 21, 2026  |  Black Friday 2026: November 29  |  When to Buy: Week before Black Friday typically has the best smart home deals

Black Friday is the best time of year to buy smart home devices — prices drop 30-50% on most major brands. But many "deals" are fake discounts on products we wouldn't recommend at full price.

This guide tells you exactly which smart home products are worth buying on Black Friday and which to skip even at 50% off.

When to Buy

Smart home deals typically appear in this order:

  1. Amazon Prime Day (July) — deepest discounts on Amazon-owned brands (Ring, Blink, Echo, Eero)
  2. October (pre-Black Friday) — brands start discounting early to capture early shoppers
  3. Black Friday week — best overall selection across all brands
  4. Cyber Monday — typically 24-48 hours more of the same deals
Set price alerts on CamelCamelCamel.com for any smart home product you're considering. It tracks Amazon price history and alerts you when a price drops below your target. Many "Black Friday deals" are simply products returning to their normal price after a temporary increase.

Worth Buying — If Discounted Below These Prices

✅ Philips Hue Starter Kit — Buy If Under £/$60

Normal price: ~£90/$90 for 2 bulbs + Bridge. Target Black Friday price: £60/$60 or less. At £60 this is genuinely good value — the Bridge enables HomeKit and is worth having for any serious Hue user.

View on Amazon

✅ Ecobee SmartThermostat — Buy If Under £/$150

Normal price: ~$250. Black Friday frequently drops to $150-180. At $150 the payback period versus energy savings is under 9 months. This is one of the best smart home deals of the year when it appears.

View on Amazon

✅ Ring Video Doorbell 4 — Buy If Under £/$60

Normal price: ~$100. Black Friday regularly drops to $60-70. At that price the subscription cost is the bigger consideration — but the doorbell itself is excellent value. Note you'll need Ring Protect ($3.99/month) for video history.

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✅ Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) — Buy If Under £/$25

Normal price: ~$50. Black Friday almost always drops to $22-29. If you need another Echo for a room, this is the best time. At $22 it's an easy decision. Multiple Echos throughout the house improve voice recognition and reduce "Alexa didn't hear me" frustrations.

View on Amazon

✅ Apple HomePod mini — Buy If Under £/$70

Normal price: ~$99. Apple rarely discounts, but third-party retailers (John Lewis, Currys) sometimes hit $70-75 on Black Friday. Worth watching — a second HomePod mini significantly improves Thread mesh coverage.

View on Amazon

✅ Arlo Pro 4 (2-pack) — Buy If Under £/$250

Normal price: ~$350 for 2-pack. Black Friday target: $250 or less. This appears regularly on Black Friday and is the best time to buy into the Arlo ecosystem.

View on Amazon

Skip — Even At 50% Off

❌ Govee Smart Bulbs

They look cheap and appealing at 50% off. Our testing showed 91.3% uptime — roughly 1 in 11 commands doesn't work. A "deal" on a product you'll find frustrating is not a deal. Skip and spend slightly more on Wyze or LIFX.

❌ Unbranded "Smart Home Starter Kits"

Amazon Black Friday surfaces a lot of unbranded bundles — "10-device smart home kit for £/$49". These are typically incompatible devices bundled together, with apps that see zero updates after 6 months. Skip.

❌ Ring cameras at any price if you don't want a subscription

Ring Protect Basic is $3.99/month per camera for video history. Without it you get live view only. Over 3 years that's ~$144 extra. If you don't want a subscription, buy Wyze or Arlo instead regardless of Ring's Black Friday price.

Predicted Black Friday 2026 Prices

ProductNormal PriceExpected BF PriceWorth It?
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen~$50~$22-28✅ Yes
Echo Show 8~$130~$80-90✅ Yes
Ring Doorbell 4~$100~$60-70✅ If you want Ring
Ecobee Premium~$250~$150-180✅ Yes, best deal of BF
Philips Hue Starter~$90~$60-70✅ Yes
Arlo Pro 4 2-pack~$350~$220-260✅ Yes
Apple HomePod mini~$99~$70-80✅ If available
Nest Thermostat~$130~$80-90⚠️ Only if no HomeKit

Predictions based on previous years' Black Friday and Prime Day discounts. Actual prices vary.

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