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As summer winds down, Labor Day approaches and a new series of smart home security discounts arrive so you can protect your home as the days get cooler. Those deals include tech you may have been missing in your house, from smart locks and bike locks to cheap video doorbells and plenty more handy devices.
In other words, it's one of the best times of year to get your first home security device or add the missing link to your system. Below, we're covering our favorite home security deals, where you can save $20, $50 or even hundreds of dollars on some excellent brands.
Best home security cam deals
Ring has a whole crop of video doorbells, but this 1080p, battery-powered option is one of the most affordable, no-nonsense versions that's still receives updates to get the latest Ring features. Those include customizable privacy zones and audio privacy for two-way talking, as well as improved night vision. It works particularly well with Alexa too. A Ring Protect plan will be necessary to store video footage and get smart alerts.
The Blink Mini 2 is an improvement on the Blink Mini in almost every way, including a far better field of view, outdoor options and generally better performance. There's even a mini spotlight buried in this tiny cam. The second generation model was pricier than the first, but not with this discount, which makes it one of the most affordable, feature-packed home security cams on the market, especially for small spaces.
The Blink Outdoor 4 is a particularly well-rounded security cam that's at home anywhere outdoors, with lithium-ion replaceable batteries that can last for years. In addition to the easy-to-use Blink app, the cam has motion detection, two-way audio, night vision and many settings options. You'll need a Blink subscription or a spare USB drive for video storage.
One of our favorite Blink additions to the Outdoor 3 was a floodlight version for extra illumination, and now that upgrade has finally come to the Outdoor 4 and currently at a huge discount. It's one of the most affordable spotlight cams available, and it includes all the bells and whistles of the Blink Outdoor 4, including motion detection to trigger the lights, a long battery life and more. Like other Blink cams, it works with Alexa but no other voice assistants.
This big Prime Day discount makes the Ring Indoor Cam one of the most affordable options for indoor security. While it's not battery-powered like some of our favorite Ring cams, it does have color night vision, two-way audio and highly customizable alerts (a Ring Protect plan is necessary for saving cloud video). You can add an extended power cable for trickier mounting situations or just plop it on a shelf and let it go to work.
Google's HD Nest Cam is an extra-sturdy model that offers a few hours of cloud storage for free, giving you plenty of time to check up on alerts if you can view live video immediately. It also includes Google's very accurate object recognition, which can immediately pick up on animals versus people or ignore whichever you please. Nest Cams support motion zones as well and, of course, work especially well with Google Assistant.
This powerful outdoor camera is excellent for commercial placements like parking lots and can also work for school yards, daycare yards and more. This powerful camera is expensive, but has a very nice discount if you'd like to save while getting security -- including a huge night vision radius -- for a very large place.
This Arlo floodlight model is one of our favorite security cameras with lights, a compact and easy-to-use option with a well-made LED panel. It also has a 2K resolution and as one of the few wireless floodlight cams, you can put it in all sorts of places.
Best home security bundle deals
Arlo cameras are accurate, durable and easy to install. This three-pack of Essential cams has a high, 2K resolution and great battery life too. Color night vision, noise-canceling two-way audio and an integrated spotlight make the cams excellent all-around watchdogs for your home. An Arlo Secure plan really elevates these cams, with its cloud storage and smart alerts, so we suggest planning for a subscription if you want all the best features.
Eufy's complete 3K SoloCam with dual lenses and panning is of the most powerful home outdoor cams you can find. Add in the HomeBase, and you have smarter features plus the option to rely on local storage for video. Eufy's package also includes a built-in solar panel so you don't have to worry much about charging this wireless cam.
Best smart lock deals
August Home's durable smart construction often comes with a price to match, but this deal lets you get a fourth-generation August smart lock on more affordable terms. The Wi-Fi smart lock fits onto your existing deadbolt, providing it with app management including the ability to share digital keys. You can also set schedules or make sure the door automatically locks after a certain period. The lock also has excellent compatibility, working with platforms including Alexa, HomeKit, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings.
Aqara's smart lock has a huge number of control options, from geofencing to working with Apple Home or Bluetooth proximity (with more features added using an Aqara hub). It's also sturdy, responsive and has great fingerprint capabilities. If you need a smart lock, it's currently one of our favorites and now on sale.
Best deals on smart home tech
Arlo's home security system has interesting capabilities that have landed it on a couple of our recommendation lists. The sensors don't only sense motion and whether doors/windows are open or closed: They can also sense air quality, temperature, water and lots more. That means you can put them anywhere depending on the tasks you have in mind. This kit comes with two, but you can add more as needed. It also works with Arlo's doorbell!
If you're looking for simpler security tech, these little doorstops sound an alarm when they're activated. That's it. They just help you know when a door has been opened. Sometimes that's all you need, and at under $15, this pair is currently a very good deal.
Best sale security platform pick
SimpliSafe offers some of the biggest deals for holidays, and Labor Day doesn't disappoint. This year, the security company is offering up to 50% off for a new security system if you also purchase its Fast Protect monitoring plan (around $30 per month). The brand will also throw in a free outdoor security camera, making this one of the best Labor Day deals we've seen if you're willing to go big from the start.
When's the best time to buy home security devices?
Though prices fluctuate year-round and Black Friday and holiday sales bring some great buys, the best prices on home security devices, including cameras and smart locks, often show up during Amazon's Prime Day, when the gigantic e-tailer slashes prices and its competitors step up to match those cuts.
How we choose the best security device deals
At CNET we have a team of expert shoppers and deal hunters with years of experience. Our goal is to make sure buyers understand which major sales and deals -- such as Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other shopping events -- are legitimately good and which are more routine. We've gotten very good at weeding out scams and superficial deals so you see only the best offers on security devices from retailers all over.
We look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing a deal to show you.
- Real discounts mean exactly that. We look at the price history for that product to make sure no manufacturers are inflating prices to make the discount seem more substantial than it is.
- Reviews are important for any product, but especially for deeply discounted items. If an item breaks the first time you use it, the deal isn't a good one at any price.
- Remaining sale time is a huge part of our vetting process. If a deal seems like it will be around for only a short while or will be available only for the remaining stock, we'll let you know up front so you don't come back to the deal later only to be disappointed.
We keep our articles as up to date as possible to bring you the best current prices.