I test smart home devices for a living - and these are the Black Friday deals I'd grab

Amazon Echo (4th Gen): was $99.99 $54.99 at Amazon
It may be three years old, but I still rely on my Amazon Echo (4th Gen) for all my voice-control, music listening, and other needs. It's a powerful and great-sounding smart speaker that's very still very responsive, despite its age. So if you're looking for a smart speaker deal, this is the one to get. It's just $5 more than the record-low we saw during Black Friday.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen, 2023): was $149.99 now $104.99 at Amazon
New record low - If you're ready to raise the bar in the way you connect with your smart home devices, I recommend getting a smart display instead of a smart speaker. And this new Echo Show 8 is the one to get. It has smart home hub functionality as well as powerful speakers so you're already getting two smart devices in one. That's without mentioning the fact that you can use it for video calling, media streaming, looking at your home security camera feed, and more. Plus, though it's a new release, it's already 30% off on Amazon, hitting a new record-low price.

Blink Video Doorbell: was $49.99 now $29.99 at Amazon
50% discount - You don't need to spend a lot of money on a video doorbell, especially if you're an apartment dweller who doesn't have the option to do a wired connection. Blink, Ring's budget sibling, has this battery-operated video doorbell that's still packed with features including motion-detection alerts, infrared night vision, two-way audio, and Amazon Alexa for hands-free control. And it's beating last year's Black Friday record-low by $5 with this 50% Black Friday smart home deal.

Ring Video Doorbell: was $99.95 now $54.99 at Amazon
Lowest price - If you do want a more premium option, the Ring Video Doorbell is also on sale for just $54.99 at Amazon - $5 less than last year's Black Friday record-low. The smart doorbell features advanced motion detection and allows you to see, hear, and speak to anyone from your phone or computer. The Ring also works with Amazon Alexa to send alerts to your Echo devices.

Philips Hue White and Color Ambience Starter Kit: was $179.99 now $125.99 at Amazon
Record low - I have more than 15 smart lights in my one-bedroom apartment, and while I have sidelined my Philips Hue smart bulbs to test other brands, they remain the best of the best. The problem is, they're also the most expensive option. If you want to get on the Hue bandwagon, you must take advantage of this deal. This starter kit is complete with three A19 White and Color Ambience smart bulbs, a Hue Bridge, and a Smart Button to control your new setup. At $50 less than its list price, this is a great Black Friday smart home deal.

Govee Envisual TV LED Backlight T2: was $139.99 now $79.99 at Amazon
Lowest price - Black Friday isn't just about prudent purchases; sometimes you have to treat yourself. And if you're a movie fan like me, this smart lighting system from Govee is an immersive treat. It captures the colors showing on your screen and displays them as backlighting via the smart light strips you stick in the rear of your TV. And I have to say, I can't watch my movies at home now without this. It's an expensive buy, but with this 43% Black Friday deal, this smart home device is worth grabbing.

Nest Smart Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen): was $249 now $179 at Walmart
Still the best - The Nest Smart Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) may be old at this point, but I still consider it the best smart thermostat for most people. It's an easy way of saving money on your future heating bills, and it's also easy to operate - though the setup may be tricky for some people. It's one of the pricier smart home devices, I give you that, but it'll save you money in the long run, especially in the cold months. And this Walmart deal knocks $70 off the price, making it a bit more accessible to people on a tighter budget.

Ring Stick Up Cam Battery HD Security Camera: was $99.99 now $59.99 at Amazon
40% discount - The latest generation of Ring's Stick Up camera comes with Alexa-enabled security camera features, motion-activated notifications, and two-way talk and can be placed indoors or outdoors. And while it's not a cheap proposition, Amazon's Black Friday sale has the Ring Stick Up Cam on sale for $59.99 - the cheapest price we've ever seen. 

All-new Blink Outdoor Security Camera: was $109.99 now $65.99 at Amazon
Lowest price - The gorgeous Blink Outdoor Security Camera may be a new release, but it's already on sale for 65.99 at Amazon's Black Friday smart home sale. That's a 40% discount and the lowest price you can find. This 4th generation outdoor security camera features two-way audio, a two-year battery life, and works with Amazon Alexa for hands-free control - and an excellent way to secure your home from the outside for less.

Dreo WH719S Smart Wall-Mounted Heater: was $129.99 now $106.59 at Dreo
I love Dreo's wall-mounted smart heaters for two reasons - I can mount them on the wall, reducing clutter in my home, and they're incredibly responsive to voice commands via Alexa. This cheaper version of Dreo's wall-mounted smart heater is discounted for Black Friday, if you're looking to spend even less. It'll let you set the room temp anywhere from 41 to 95°F and offers a 120-degree oscillation. Naturally, all smart home features are included as well.