Prime Day Prep: What to Watch Before the Sale
Prime Day (usually July, with a second sale in October) is when Amazon's own devices typically see their biggest discounts. The smart move is to decide what you actually want before the sale starts. Here are the Amazon devices from our catalog worth putting on a watch list. We don't post deal prices, so check current price during the event.
How we pick: we research specs, owner feedback and expert reviews. We haven’t tested these products hands-on. Scores are our editorial opinion, not Amazon customer ratings, and we never list prices because they change. We earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links.
Comparison at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Who it’s for | HashMonkey score | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Show 8 | Smart display | Alexa households, especially kitchens, and anyone building out a smart home | 4/5 | Check price |
| Echo Dot Max | Speaker | Living rooms and medium spaces in Alexa homes | 4/5 | Check price |
| Kindle Paperwhite (2024) | E-reader | Regular readers, commuters and travelers who want a comfortable, focused reading device | 4.5/5 | Check price |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Plus | Streaming | 4K TV owners who want a capable streamer without paying for the Max | 4/5 | Check price |
| Ring Battery Doorbell 2K Plus | Doorbell | Homeowners and renters who want a reliable, easy-install video doorbell | 4/5 | Check price |
| Blink Outdoor 2K+ | Outdoor camera | Renters and homeowners who want easy, wire-free outdoor coverage | 4/5 | Check price |
| eero 6+ | Mesh Wi-Fi | Most families with gigabit or slower plans who want reliable whole-home Wi-Fi | 4.5/5 | Check price |
1. Echo Show 8: Smart display
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: The Echo most homes should consider. The Echo Show 8 hits the sweet spot between the cramped small Shows and the pricey big ones. Its screen is large enough for recipes and video calls, and it doubles as a hub that quietly ties your smart home together.
Who it’s for: Alexa households, especially kitchens, and anyone building out a smart home.
Keep in mind
- Reviewers often point to the home screen promoting Amazon content and suggestions.
- It has a camera, so be thoughtful about placement; check the listing for its privacy controls.
2. Echo Dot Max: Speaker
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: Bigger Echo sound in a small speaker. The Echo Dot Max fixes the Dot's biggest weakness, thin sound, while keeping a compact size. It's the Echo for living rooms where you actually want to listen to music.
Who it’s for: Living rooms and medium spaces in Alexa homes.
Keep in mind
- It costs more than the regular Dot.
- Audiophiles will still prefer the Echo Studio.
3. Kindle Paperwhite (2024): E-reader
HashMonkey score: 4.5/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: The default Kindle pick. If you read more than a handful of books a year, a dedicated e-reader beats a phone, and the 2024 Paperwhite is the sweet spot of Amazon's lineup. It's quick, comfortable and blissfully free of distractions.
Who it’s for: Regular readers, commuters and travelers who want a comfortable, focused reading device.
Keep in mind
- The standard version shows lock-screen ads unless you pay to remove them, a perennial gripe.
- You're locked into Amazon's store; library and outside ebooks take extra steps.
Read our full Kindle Paperwhite (2024) review · Check price on Amazon
4. Fire TV Stick 4K Plus: Streaming
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: A sweet-spot 4K streamer. The 4K Plus sits between the HD stick and the 4K Max. It has all the 4K and HDR formats most people need, plus cloud gaming, without paying for the top model.
Who it’s for: 4K TV owners who want a capable streamer without paying for the Max.
Keep in mind
- The interface shows ads.
- It's a little slower and has less storage than the 4K Max.
Read our full Fire TV Stick 4K Plus review · Check price on Amazon
5. Ring Battery Doorbell 2K Plus: Doorbell
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: A wire-free video doorbell. Ring made the video doorbell mainstream, and the Battery Doorbell 2K Plus is its current wire-free favorite. Sharper video and a quick-release battery make it an easy upgrade for most front doors.
Who it’s for: Homeowners and renters who want a reliable, easy-install video doorbell.
Keep in mind
- Recorded video history and many smart features need a Ring subscription.
- You'll need to recharge the battery periodically.
Read our full Ring Battery Doorbell 2K Plus review · Check price on Amazon
6. Blink Outdoor 2K+: Outdoor camera
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: An easy battery camera for outside. Blink's newest outdoor camera keeps what people like (wire-free install and very long battery life) and adds sharper 2K video and better audio.
Who it’s for: Renters and homeowners who want easy, wire-free outdoor coverage.
Keep in mind
- It requires a Sync Module (check whether yours is included).
- Smart detection needs a subscription.
Read our full Blink Outdoor 2K+ review · Check price on Amazon
7. eero 6+: Mesh Wi-Fi
HashMonkey score: 4.5/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: Affordable gigabit mesh Wi-Fi. Most homes don't need Wi-Fi 7. The eero 6+ delivers reliable gigabit-class Wi-Fi 6 mesh coverage at a far friendlier level, with eero's famously easy setup.
Who it’s for: Most families with gigabit or slower plans who want reliable whole-home Wi-Fi.
Keep in mind
- It's not for multi-gig plans; look at eero Pro 7.
- Some advanced features need eero Plus.