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Tom's Guide
8 hours ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Amazon's Mid-Year Sale is officially here — shop the best 63 deals from the event right now
It's officially June, and the end-of-financial-year bargains are trickling in fast. And there's no better way to kick off the months-long deals fest than with none other than Amazon's Mid-Year Sale. This year, the online retailer is hosting a major bargain bonanza from Monday, June 2, lasting all the way to the wee hours of Sunday, June 8. The retailer has slashed prices on a range of categories, including the latest tech, appliances, home and lifestyle products and more. The Mid-Year Sale often acts as a precursor to Amazon Prime Day, which takes place in July. Like with most Amazon sales, it pays to be an Amazon Prime member, as there are plenty of Prime-exclusive discounts and benefits, like same-day shipping, to be had. If you aren't a Prime subscriber already, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial now, and take advantage of all the best Prime deals this week will hold. The Tom's Guide team will be on deck throughout the sale to bring you all the very best Amazon deals that we can find. And what's even more interesting is that we're bringing them to you live as they appear, so you'll need to act fast if you want to snag a damn good bargain. Scroll on to find the best deals on Amazon's own devices, tech, appliances, lifestyle and more. Amazon devices Amazon Echo Auto: was AU$99 now AU$49 at Amazon Save AU$50 Take Alexa on the road with the Echo Auto, which lets you stream your favourite music apps, podcasts and more, hands-free. Featuring a slim design that's easy to place on your dashboard, 5 built-in mics that'll hear you over your tunes, and a fast phone charger, this little device is a road-trip staple — and it's 51% off! Blink Mini 2 Indoor Camera: was AU$69 now AU$45 at Amazon Save AU$24 The Blink Mini 2 is an affordable indoor camera with a wired connection that offers high-resolution live-view footage, a built-in LED spotlight and two-way audio. The camera also detects motion, so you can put your mind at ease when away from home. You can arm, disarm or simply check on your house from anywhere using the Blink app or via the Alexa Blink smart home skill on any Echo device. Prime exclusive Amazon Echo Pop: was AU$79 now AU$49 at Amazon Save AU$30 Right now, Amazon's entry-level smart speaker has an underwhelming discount considering we saw it drop to AU$29 during Black Friday 2024. But this is the best deal since, and not a terrible buy all things considered. Apart from being a good Wi-Fi speaker with Bluetooth capability, it's also an incredibly affordable way to bring Alexa into your household for full smart home control. Blink Outdoor 4 Camera: was AU$149 now AU$97 at Amazon Save AU$52 Blink's outdoor camera offering, the Outdoor 4, comes with 1080p HD real-time footage, infrared night vision, two-way audio and a wider field of view, so you can see all the nooks and crannies outside your home. The camera also features dual-zone detection and comes with a Blink Sync Module 2, so you can store your footage locally. While the camera was briefly just AU$75 last year, this smaller 25% discount is the best we have seen since. Ring Floodlight Cam Plus (wired): was AU$299 now AU$209 at Amazon Save AU$90 Looking to bolster your home security? This Ring Floodlight Cam Plus can help you do just that. Plus, it's AU$20 cheaper than last time it was on sale. This wired version means you'll never have to worry about it running out of charge, and it'll automatically notify you of any movement or noise outside of your home. What's more, you can enable two-way talk, and an alert siren and link it to your Ring app for peace of mind. Phones and powerbanks Prime exclusive UGREEN HDMI Bidirectional Splitter Switch 4K 60Hz: was AU$23.99 now AU$12.99 at Amazon Save AU$11 This handy item lets you connect two devices to one HDMI port, or alternatively, split one HDMI output to two displays. Right now, UGREEN's Bidirectional splitter switch, which can output at 4K and 60Hz, is discounted to an unbelievable price. Samsung Galaxy A55: was AU$699 now AU$548 at Amazon Save AU$151 Not the biggest discount ever, but when you consider that Samsung's excellent A-series handsets are already pretty cheap to begin with, this is a great deal. The Galaxy A55 offers a stylish design and nice build quality for the price, and even provides some AI features, including the popular Circle to Search function. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE 5G (128GB): was AU$1,098 now AU$737 at Amazon Save AU$361 The most affordable handset in Samsung's Galaxy S24 range is now even more approachable thanks to this exceptional deal. Get access to Samsung's Galaxy AI features and 128GB of storage with this option, now discounted in Graphite, Mint and Blue colourways. INIU B64 140W 27,000 mAh power bank: was AU$169.99 now AU$101.99 at Amazon Save AU$68 The INIU B64 is a top-rated power bank, and while this isn't the lowest price it's ever been, it's still a nice saving. This power bank has up to a massive 140W output for fast charging anything from a phone to a laptop or portable gaming devices, and it can charge three devices at once. Vrurc T2055 20,000mAh 20W power bank: was AU$49.99 now AU$32.99 at Amazon Save AU$17 With a 20,000mAh capacity and 20W power delivery, this option from Vrurc is ideal for those who need to extend their phone's battery life well beyond what it's typically capable of, and who don't want to lug around a bulky bank. Anker 735 (NANO 2) 65W Charger: was AU$68 now AU$35.99 at Amazon Save AU$32.01 An excellent option for laptop charging, this 65W charger from Anker is also great for smartphones which support super-fast charging. Best of all, you can charge three devices simultaneously thanks to its 1x USB-A port and 2x USB-C ports. Of course, to get the full 65W transfer rate, you'll have to charge one device at a time. Now at a huge 47% discount. Anker 321 MagGo wireless power bank: was AU$63.99 now AU$31.99 at Amazon Save AU$32 with promo code: 0UM0L34W Sick of your corded power bank? This handy little accessory can deliver a charge to your iPhone (12 or later) using the magnetic MagSafe tech. The 5,000 mAh capacity is enough to bring most iPhones from 20% back to a full charge, and it's small enough to slip into a pocket or bag without fear of it falling off! Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Blue): was AU$599 now AU$398 at Amazon Save AU$201 This entry-level smartphone from Motorola packs a mighty punch, including a 6.7-inch display, an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, 256GB storage capacity and a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 CPU. If you're after a gorgeous, yet budget-friendly handset, this one is hard to pass up. Laptops and tablets HP Chromebook 14: was AU$579 now AU$329.95 at Amazon Save AU$249.05 Typically, we don't see a huge variety of Chromebooks in Australia, but the ones that are available suit students or those on a tight budget pretty well. If you're looking for a laptop for some basic browsing and light word processing, this 14-inch Chromebook will get you there, with 64GB of flash storage and 4GB of system memory. Televisions and projectors Samsung OLED S90D (83", 2024): was AU$7,999 now AU$5,134 at Appliances Online Save AU$2,865 It may be last year's model, but Samsung's S90D OLED TV remains a compelling option, particularly for those seeking a reasonably priced 83-inch display with excellent image quality. While it lacks the anti-glare technology of the 2024 flagship S95D, its impressive contrast and stunning picture quality provide an exceptional viewing experience. Sony A90K OLED TV (42-inch): was AU$1,999 now AU$1,599 at Amazon Save AU$400 If you're looking to upgrade your home entertainment setup, this Sony A90K is a great option. While it is a few years old now, Sony has yet to debut a suitable replacement for the screen, as it delivers sensational colour reproduction, excellent detail and has great support for gaming too. Audio and wearables Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: was AU$1,299 now AU$864.83 at Amazon Save AU$434.17 Looking for a powerful watch that'll keep up with your intensive workouts? The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is designed for fitness lovers who love a challenge. Its resistance levels make it perfect for water activities, and its dual-frequency GPS gives it precise location accuracy. Plus, the watch has a gorgeous 44mm display on a 47mm chassis. Sony WF-C510: was AU$108 now AU$71.99 at Amazon Save AU$36.01 Need a cheap pair of buds that'll deliver some solid Spatial audio? Meet the Sony WF-C510s. These buds deliver some punchy, detailed sound, with support for 360 Reality Audio, nice ANC and impressive battery life. Just make sure to check "Apply AU$5.01 coupon" to score this price. Ace deal Withings Scanwatch 2 Hybrid Smartwatch (38mm, Rose Gold): was AU$599 now AU$480 at Amazon Save AU$119 Love the idea of smartwatches but hate the way they typically look? Withings skirts this hurdle by bringing smart tracking features to classic timepiece designs. The Scanwatch 2 Hybrid is a great example of this, offering health tracking features and a skin temperature tracker on a small digital display. Samsung Galaxy Buds3 (Silver): was AU$299 now AU$154.99 at Amazon Save AU$144.01 Samsung's third-gen Galaxy Buds may not be as powerful as its Galaxy Buds Pro 3, but they're far cheaper and offer excellent battery life, great noise cancellation and live translation features when paired to a recent Galaxy smartphone. Now discounted to just AU$155. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: was AU$349 now AU$244.99 at Amazon Save AU$104.01 A fantastic set of earbuds that is frequently used by this particular writer, Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro delivers hi-res 24-bit end-to-end audio support as well as Dolby Atmos, great noise cancellation and IPX7 waterproofing. You'll get around five hours of battery life from the buds alone, though you'll get an additional 18 hours from the provided charging case. Sony WF-C700N wireless earbuds : was AU$199 now AU$128 at Amazon Save AU$71 An affordable alternative to Sony's flagship WF-1000XM5 earbuds, the mid-range Sony WF-C700N buds punch well above their weight, with excellent noise cancelling and a bass-heavy sound signature at the forefront. In fact, we gave these impressive buds 4.5 stars in our review, stating that they "deliver flagship performance and features in an attractive package." Lowest price Sennheiser Momentum 4 (Special Edition): was AU$625 now AU$350 at Amazon Save AU$275 Sennheiser's Momentum 4 Wireless headphones are one of its finest creations to date, boasting refined audio, terrific ANC and transparency, support for hi-res streaming codecs, and an impressive 60 hours of battery life. While we have seen them a little bit cheaper, this is still a great price. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini: was AU$1,299 now AU$820 at Amazon Save AU$479 This Sennheiser soundbar is beyond qualified to deliver a huge, detailed and precise sound into any room. What's more, the Sennheiser companion app is one of the best around, offering total sound and EQ customisation. That said, its only flaw is that it doesn't support HDMI passthrough. PC, gaming and peripherals Star Wars Outlaws (PlayStation 5): was AU$109.95 now AU$40 at Amazon Save AU$69.95 A nice 55% saving on this open-world Star Wars endeavour will have fans in a tizzy. If you love a low-stakes, stealth game, this one is quite the novelty and it's even better knowing it came out in August last year. If you're keen to get shootin' and scootin' as an Outlaw, there's no better time to pick this game up. Nintendo Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch): was AU$79.95 now AU$69 at Amazon Save AU$10.95 A GameCube-era classic has been given a Nintendo Switch glow-up with this remastered edition of Super Mario RPG! Assemble an unlikely party of heroes, which includes Mario, Peach and even Bowser in an attempt to save Star Road and stop the dastardly Smithy Gang from wreaking havoc. Logitech POP wireless mouse : was AU$59.95 now AU$39 at Amazon Save AU$20.95 Here's a nice AU$20.95 saving on Logitech's cutesy wireless mouse, in the Mist Sand colourway. Weighing only 82 grams and offering up to two years' battery life (via a single AAA battery), the POP mouse can connect to your computer via Bluetooth. Govee Envisual TV LED backlight: was AU$229.99 now AU$129.97 at Amazon Save AU$100.02 Slicing a massive 43% off RRP, this Govee backlight will change the way you watch movies, game or stream music on your smart TV. The lights can sync up to any form of entertainment using the accompanying app and dance along to your favourite tunes or enhance any film. Prime exclusive Asus ZenWiFi XD4S wireless mesh router (2-pack): was AU$379 now AU$164 at Amazon Save AU$215 Get an enormous 55% saving on this Asus mesh Wi-Fi 2-pack, which is said to provide coverage of up to 300m² in your home. Sure, this is an entry-level Wi-Fi 6 set, but it's capable of combined transfer speeds of up to 1,800Mbps thanks to its AX1800 tech. An affordable option for those in need of a mesh network. Home and Appliances Shark Cordless Detect Pro w/ auto-empty system: was AU$999 now AU$529.99 at Amazon Save AU$469.01 It may not have as many attachments as some of the more expensive vacuums on the market, but the Shark Cordless Detect Pro with auto-empty system is an absolute beast on hard floors and carpets. It can automatically adjust its power level to help conserve battery or remove stubborn dirt, and it's great for getting into corners. Ninja DoubleStack Air Fryer: was AU$479.99 now AU$389 at Amazon Save AU$90.99 Roast, bake, or crisp twice as many dishes with Ninja's DoubleStack air fryer tower. This model houses two independently controlled drawers that can cook up to four different foods at once, all while taking up less counter space than a typical extra-large air fryer. With a massive 9.5L capacity, you can even control the timings so that your meal is done at the exact same time. Shark IZ102 Cordless Vacuum: was AU$549.99 now AU$359 at Amazon Save AU$190.99 If you're looking to save some extra pennies on a stick vac purchase, this deal is for you. Shaving a massive 33% off, this Shark IZ102 cordless vac offers powerful suction and a self-cleaning brush roll. Plus, the nozzle has LED lights that'll reveal any hidden dust and debris as you vacuum. Sunbeam Multi Zone Air Fryer Oven: was AU$299 now AU$192.95 at Amazon Save AU$106.05 There's no denying this Sunbeam Air Fryer is large and in charge, but it's a great addition to any home cook's lineup. It's capable of cooking, baking or roasting multiple dishes at once between two zones, or one dish in the mega 11.4L zone. You can trust that all of your favourite dishes will be cooked to perfection, whether that's a roast, some fries or a cake. Shark FlexBreeze Fan: was AU$249.99 now AU$219.99 at Amazon Save AU$30 Just months after its release, this new product in Shark's arsenal has been reduced by AU$30. Our friends at TechRadar gave it a glowing 4.5 stars in their review. It's super versatile and can be used virtually anywhere, thanks to its completely detachable head. It's also super quiet, cordless, and rechargeable, with a single charge lasting up to 24 hours. Tineco Floor One S7 Flashdry: was AU$1,299 now AU$779.99 at Amazon Save AU$519.01 Tineco's latest floor washer, the S7 Flashdry, packs a mighty punch when cleaning up spills on hard floors. It effortlessly cleans tough messes and fast-dries them. Plus, with its self-drying brush roll, you can clean again in minutes. Now discounted by a massive AU$519, if you need a combo wet/dry vac, this deal is hard to pass up. Nespresso Vertuo Creatista capsule coffee machine: was AU$1,099 now AU$699 at Amazon Save AU$400 Yearning for more out of your current capsule coffee machine? This Nespresso Vertuo Creatista model easily blends simplicity and quality into one touch. With capsule sizes ranging from espresso to mug, and a built-in milk frother, this classy-looking machine will elevate your home coffee experience. Inkbird INT-12-BW Wireless Bluetooth BBQ Thermometer: was AU$235 now AU$99 at Amazon Save AU$136 Using built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility, you can easily monitor your cooking progress and temperature with Inkbird's BBQ thermometer. The kit has two detachable probes, an LCD screen displaying temperature and a charging cord. Made out of food-grade stainless steel, the probes are waterproof, heat-resistant and wear-resistant, meaning they can be popped into the dishwasher after use for easy cleaning. Now discounted by 58% for Amazon's Mid-Year Sale. KitchenAid KSM-150 Artisan Stand Mixer: was AU$899 now AU$529 at Amazon Save AU$370 Now at its best price ever on Amazon, this versatile kitchen appliance is within reach. The KitchenAid KM-150 Artisan Stand Mixer is more than just a whipping and mixing machine. When paired with additional attachments, you can slice veggies, grind meat or even make pasta — the options are endless. That said, this discount is pretty major, but you'll only get the standard mixer with the whisk, dough hook and flat beater attachments inside the box. Available in Almond Cream, Empire Red and Matte Black under the same listing. Breville Barista Express: was AU$899 now AU$688 at Amazon Save AU$211 This Australian-designed semi-automatic machine does most of the work of making a coffee for you (however you take it), and of course, produces beautiful results. This isn't quite an all-time low price, but this is a fair price to pay for this powerhouse little unit. Tineco Floor One Switch S6: was AU$999 now AU$638.96 at Amazon Save AU$360.04 Settling for a single vacuum cleaner? The Floor One Switch S6 is a combination of a stick vac, a hard floor mop, and a handheld vacuum. It even comes with attachments for upholstery and an extending pole to reach your ceilings. The motor can be switched out and used with each attachment with ease, and it self-cleans! Now discounted by an impressive AU$360 for Amazon's Mid-Year Sale, this 3-in-1 is worth grabbing. Sihoo M102C-M101: was AU$299.99 now AU$196.99 at Amazon Save AU$103 While we haven't tested this Sihoo seat for ourselves, we've been rather impressed with other chairs offered by the brand. If you need a new desk chair, the M102C might be one to consider, thanks to its easy assembly, mesh design, lumbar pillow and headrest. Philips Essential Airfyer XL 3000 Series (HD9270/21): was AU$299 now AU$226.92 at Amazon Save AU$72.08 Air frying is all the rage these days, but it can be hard to find the right one for your needs amongst so many options. That said, the Philips Essential Air Fryer XL 3000 is great for all occasions, thanks to its impressive air flow and large-ish capacity. You also get 7 presets and 14 functions, which is great at this discounted price that's equal to the lowest we have seen. Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Absolute: was AU$1,549 now AU$988 at Amazon Save AU$560 Now down to a low of AU$989, Dyson's Detect Submarine houses a powerful suction and a superb runtime of up to 60 minutes. It can handle all floor types, including wet and dry messes, and now it's discounted by 36%. Just make sure to apply the AU$10 coupon before checkout! Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima: was AU$749 now AU$639.20 at Amazon Save AU$109.80 If you're looking to elevate your pod coffee experience, Nespresso's Lattissima machine will do just that. With the usual one-touch coffee convenience you'll find with Nespresso, this fully automatic machine produces 6 cup sizes, from espresso to alto, as well as 3 milk-based presets, like a cappuccino or a latte. The built-in frothing wand takes care of your milk's business by aerating it to warm and foamy heaven. Roborock Q8 Max+: was AU$1,299 now AU$649 at Amazon Save AU$650 Typically discounted during most sales events, there's a massive AU$650 off the Roborock Q8 Max+. This stellar robovac packs punches of suction power and can mop as well as vacuum (simultaneously on hard floors). Ninja Slushi: was AU$499 now AU$424.15 at Amazon Save AU$74.85 The Ninja Slushi turns liquids into smooth frozen drinks by using specialised RapidChill technology, so you don't need ice. With a selection of different settings, like frappe, spiked slush and smoothie, you'll have a blast slushing (and slurping) your favourite frozen beverages. Personal care Dyson Airstrait (Ceramic Pink / Rose Gold): was AU$749 now AU$597 at Amazon Save AU$152 Slashing 20% off RRP, the Dyson Airstrait can take your hair styling routine to a whole new level. The no-hot-plate hair straightener is also a dryer that can dry totally wet hair to a naturally straight finish in just a matter of minutes. With three temperature settings and precise airflow blades, this hair tool is ideal for those looking to reduce their drying and styling time. Also included in the box is a non-slip heat-resistant mat, which can be used to place the styler down in between sections. This discount is also available in the Iron / Copper colourway. Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer: was AU$749 now AU$499 at Amazon Save AU$250 With new smart settings and a brand-new diffuser attachment for curly hair types, the Dyson Supersonic Nural is perfect for anyone. It features all the beloved settings of the original, but also comes packed with sensors and attachments. The latter are intelligent too, allowing the hair dryer to remember the last settings used. Now, for AU$250 off, this hair dryer is worth picking up quicksmart. Also available in the Jasper Plum colourway for AU$597.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Keep your home safe and save 50% off the Blink Video Doorbell
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. There's nothing quite as important as keeping your home safe. For one, you live there. It's also where all your stuff is. And likely, your family. If you're anything like us, we imagine that you hold all of the above near and dear to you, and would hate to see any of them threatened or damaged. Luckily, for ultimate ease of mind, there's a solution. And ever luckier? That solution is on sale. Today on Amazon, you can snag the highly-rated Blink Video Doorbell + Sync Module 2 at the lowest price its been in years. Enjoy peace of mind in minutes. With Blink, you can see what's happening with a crystal-clear live view and night vision, speak with people (and pets) using the crisp two-way audio, and receive alerts when people are at your front door. It's like being home, even when you're not. Amazon The Blink Video Doorbell with Sync Module 2 offers an affordable, DIY-friendly home security solution. It delivers 1080p HD video, two-way audio, and motion alerts, all controllable via the Blink app. The Sync Module 2 enables local storage with a USB drive (sold separately) and extends battery life. Compatible with Alexa, it supports both wired and wireless setups. Best of all? It's available for 50% off this week on Amazon. This article was written by P.J. McCormick, New York Post Commerce Deals Writer/Reporter. P.J. is an expert deal-finder, sifting through endless brands and retailers to deliver only the best savings opportunities on truly worthwhile products. P.J. finds Prime Day-worthy deals all year long on some of our favorite products we've tested and our readers' beloved best-sellers, from Wayfair furniture sales to the lowest prices on Apple AirPods. P.J. has been scouring sales for Post Wanted shoppers since 2022 and previously held positions at Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and Hyperallergic. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change. Looking for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping Post Wanted.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Amazon-owned Blink debuts doorbell cam with wider view, person detection
The full line-up of Blink devices. — Amazon Blink, the Inc-owned hardware brand known for its connected doorbells and video cameras, introduced new devices on May 29, the latest entries in a saturated market for smart-home gadgets. Compared with its predecessor, the newest Blink Video Doorbell provides a more expansive 150˚ "head-to-toe' field of view that should give a fuller preview of guests and package deliveries, according to the company. The device runs on three standard AA batteries and is rated for as much as two years of battery life, it added. The camera is available today for US$70 (RM297) in black or white. Also new to the Video Doorbell is computer vision-enabled person detection, letting those with a Blink subscription receive notifications when people are captured by the camera. The notification system is designed to ignore movements from animals or objects, the company said. Compared with its predecessor, the newest Blink Video Doorbell provides a more expansive 150˚ 'head-to-toe' field of view that should give a fuller preview of guests and package deliveries, according to the company. — Amazon Amazon continues to separately operate both Blink and Ring, another brand known for its smart-home cameras, despite significant overlap in their products and services. Ring's devices tend to be priced slightly higher, however, giving Amazon a two-pronged strategy in a competitive category as it faces challengers like Arlo Technologies Inc, Roku Inc and Eufy, which is owned by Anker Innovations Technology Co. Aside from price, the long battery life on Blink's cameras is another potential differentiator. Blink's basic plan covers a single camera and costs US$3 (RM13) per month or US$30 (RM127) annually; the "Plus' tier extends that to unlimited devices for US$10 (RM42) a month or US$100 (RM424) per year. The subscription is required for features such as motion event recording, 90-minute live views of the camera feed, unlimited cloud storage, automatic local backup and person detection. Other Blink cameras already support the latter, but it's new to the video doorbell. The company on Thursday also introduced a redesigned Sync Module Core that serves as a hub for as many as 10 Blink-branded devices and is compatible with Amazon's Alexa smart-home platform, including its popular Echo speakers. – Bloomberg
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Amazon updates Blink Video Doorbell with wider view and person detection
Amazon has released a new Blink video doorbell that comes with a few new features and updates to the cameras. And at $60, the new doorbell cam remains affordable — essential, since it has to compete with Ring, which Amazon also owns, to be among the best video doorbells. If you already own a Blink Video Doorbell, the upgrades may not make you rush out and pick up a new one, but if you're looking for a new one or an update, there are some notable improvements. To start, the latest Blink Video Doorbell features a new "head-to-toe" HD live view with a 1:1 aspect ratio. This means you should get a more complete view of what's going in outside your door. The camera also has a 150-degree field of view, a decent bump from the 135 degrees in the previous generation. The camera is also getting a higher resolution of 1440p, compared to 1080p. Lastly, it has an improved IP65 rating to resist inclement weather better. The latest version of the Blink Video Doorbell adds a head-to-toe HD live view for a better view of who's at your front door. The field-of-view has been extended from the previous version as well. The Blink is rated to last up to two years on a trio of AA batteries, the same as the previous generation. One new feature is person detection, which sends you alerts when a human being is at your door, rather than an animal or other detected movements. This does require a Blink subscription plan. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. One big difference between the new Blink and the old one is that you need to have a Sync Module Core hub which is required to use the doorbell, and is sold separately. By itself, the doorbell costs $59.99, with the cost rising to $79.99 when bundled with the hub. Basically, this hub lets you store your video feeds locally. If you don't mind the cloud, you can sign up for the $3-a-month Blink subscription which can store up to 60 days of video. There are expensive options to increase your local storage including the Sync Module 2 ($50) which can have a 256GB USB flash drive attached or the Sync Module XR ($70) which has a microSD card slot. If you care about local storage, those are your best bets. The hubs do let you control other Blink devices like the Blink Mini and Mini 2.
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Amazon Launches a Powerful New Affordable Blink Video Doorbell, but There's a Catch
Amazon has released a new version of its Blink video doorbell with new features and improvements over the previous generation. Best of all, it's still incredibly affordable, at only $60, especially when you pit it against something like Google's Nest doorbell. However, before you place your order, know that it comes with a catch. It might not be a big deal for everyone, but it could be for some. Below, we'll fill you in on what's new with the updated Blink Doorbell and what you should know before purchasing one. For more, don't miss our expert picks for the best wireless home security cameras in 2025. What's new in the latest Blink doorbell? While there are some meaningful upgrades, it would be a stretch to say there's a ton of differences to the latest version of the Blink doorbell. Then again, there's only so much one should expect for a video doorbell at this price point. From up top, there's a new "head-to-toe" HD live view with a 1:1 aspect ratio that will allow you to get a fuller view of what appears in front of your door. This was something we felt was a missed opportunity with the last Blink doorbell, so this is very much a welcomed upgrade. Additional updates for video include an expanded 150 degree field of view (up from 135 degrees) and a resolution bump from 1080p to 1440p for better viewing across the board. There's also better ingress protection this time around, coming in with an IP65 rating so it can weather the elements better. Finally, person detection is available for those who have a Blink subscription plan, allowing you to get alerts when an actual person is at your door instead of an animal or object. Up to two years of life with the included batteries The Blink should also last up to two years using the included AA batteries, which is a promise made with the previous doorbell as well, though we were unable to test it out for that full length of time. However, CNET's home security editor, Tyler Lacoma, has been testing the Blink Outdoor 4 camera with a similar two-year battery life promise. After more than a year, he says the camera is definitely on track to meet that two-year rating before the batteries need to be replaced. The Sync Module and storage catch We'd call this a catch more than a feature, but also new with this Blink doorbell model is that the Sync Module is now required for use and isn't included. You can buy a bundle with both the doorbell and the Sync Module for only $70. That price point still feels like a good deal, but if you're looking to store your video feeds locally, well, you can't do that with this $10 Sync Module. If you don't mind using the cloud, the basic Blink subscription allows you to store up to 60 days of video feed that you can access from the app. If you want more control of your storage, you'll need to opt for a more expensive add on, like the Sync Module 2 or Sync Module XR. The Sync Module 2 will cost you $50 and allows for a 256GB USB flash drive to be attached for local storage where the XR version runs for $70 and comes with a microSD card slot. So if local storage is important to you, expect to pay near or over double the cost of the doorbell itself for that convenience. And don't forget you'll need to purchase your storage drive, too. A catch like that may have some people pausing on their purchase but for those who don't mind using the cloud for storage, it shouldn't be a problem. For more, don't miss the worst home security myths that everyone needs to stop believing.
