Amazon’s early Prime Day sale started off slow, but as the event draws closer to its official kickoff on July 8th, it’s beginning to pick up steam. Right now, for example, Prime members can grab an Amazon Echo Hub at Amazon for just $119.99 ($60 off), marking a new low price.
As you might expect, Amazon’s controller makes managing your smart home a breeze. Rather than switching between apps or using voice commands, the Echo Hub allows you to control your smart home from a single, easy-to-use interface. With just a tap of its eight-inch touchscreen, anyone at home can turn on lights, adjust the smart thermostat, or view a live feed from their video doorbell or security camera. If you use Alexa Routines, you can even create personalized shortcuts to automate multiple tasks, meaning you can dim the lights, lock the doors, and adjust the thermostat with just a single tap. And while it works best with other Amazon devices, what makes it a terrific value is that it also supports both Matter and Thread, allowing you to connect it to platforms beyond Alexa.
As an added bonus, the Echo Hub can function like a stripped-down Echo Show, one you can power via a single ethernet cable and place either on your counter or mount on your wall for a cleaner, more streamlined setup. You can also use it to showcase favorite photos, check your to-do list, play music, and even stream videos. The sound quality isn’t as impressive as it is on Amazon’s newer smart displays — and it lacks support for video calls — but it makes up for it by offering a more private, distraction-free experience that’s void of both ads and unwanted cameras.