Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Best Amazon and Walmart July 4th deals on Alexa and Google smart speakers

Amazon and Walmart are gearing up for Prime Day with early deals on smart home devices. The two retail giants are going head-to-head this 4th of July with deals and competitive prices for smart speakers, the gateway products you need to talk with Alexa or Google Assistant to manage your smart home with voice commands.

Walmart partners with Google promoting devices for the Google Nest smart home platform, and Amazon focuses on its own Amazon Echo smart home devices. Walmart doesn’t sell Amazon Echo devices, and Amazon doesn’t sell Google Nest gear. Because both retailers sell pretty much everything else on the planet, their respective positioning behind the two major smart home platforms and refusal to sell the other brand smart home devices keeps the price pressure on  — which means you win.

We’ve found the best 4th of July prices on Amazon for Echo smart speakers and comparable Google Nest products at Walmart and put them all in one place. Whether you are just starting to build a smart home configuration for security, entertainment, or convenience, or if you’re building up to an existing smart home network, these are the best deals today (in addition to the Black Friday deals) on Amazon and Walmart.

Tiny smart speakers

Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot are the best-selling smart speakers for their brands. They’re small, inexpensive, and have all the information, entertainment, and smart home control functions of the larger models in their respective smart home platforms.

Echo Dot (3rd Gen)

— $25

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Image used with permission by copyright holder

The best-selling smart speaker in the world, the Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is an awesome introduction to smart home voice control. Normally priced at $50, the Echo Dot is just $25 during the sale. If you want to get started talking with Alexa or add smart speakers to more rooms in your home, this is a great chance to buy this powerful device at a temporarily low price.

Buy Now

Google Home Mini

— $25

Google Home Mini Image used with permission by copyright holder

A hit as soon as it was introduced, the Google Home Mini is a powerful little smart speaker that looks good and doesn’t take up much space. Buy one to get started with a Google Assistant smart home configuration or pick up extras, so you ask Google questions and control your smart home from every room. Regularly priced, $49, the $25 deal price won’t last.

Buy Now

Standard size smart speakers

Google Home and Amazon Echo (2nd Gen) Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Google Home and Amazon Echo smart speakers were each the first devices in their smart home platforms, although the current Echo is the second generation model. These “standard-size” smart speakers don’t have greater functionality than their smaller brandmates above, but they sound better. Both platforms have larger smart speakers with enhanced music playback sound quality — and higher prices — but the Google Home and Amazon Echo are fine for filling a room with music for casual listening.

Amazon Echo (2nd Gen)

— $70

Amazon Echo (2nd Gen) Image used with permission by copyright holder

Normally priced at $100, the Amazon Echo (2nd Gen) $70 during this sale. If you want to add a smart speaker with Dolby processing-enhanced music quality, this is a great opportunity to save money at this excellent price.

Buy No

w

Google Home

— $69

Google Home Image used with permission by copyright holder

Originally priced at $129, the Google Home smart speaker is to $69 for this sale. The sound quality won’t rock your walls and bring your neighbors, but the Google Home is a significant step up in music playback quality from the Google Mini. If you want to begin speaking to Google Assistant and don’t want to settle for just minimal audio, this is a great time to pick up a Google Home at a competitive price.

Buy Now

Music-enhanced smart speakers

Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen) and Google Home Max Image used with permission by copyright holder

If music is a vital part of your life, you may want to choose a smart speaker with added sound quality components. Both music-enhanced smart speakers below have the same functionality as the models above; the difference is they bring the party to your smart home network.

Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen)

— $150

amazon echo plus 2nd gen
Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen) Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

Usually $165, the Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen) is $150 during this sale. The Echo Plus adds Dolby 360-degree audio for crisper vocals and deeper bass than the standard Echo. You can also pair two Echo Plus units for powerful stereo. If want and Alexa-compatible smart speaker but you’re not willing to compromise on sound quality, take advantage of this discounted price.

Buy Now

Google Home Max

— $249

Google Home Max Review
Google Home Max Juliana Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Google Home Max is physically larger than the Echo Plus, measuring 13.8-inches wide and 6.0-inches tall. Inside the Max dual 4.5-inch woofers and two tweeters play music with stronger low notes and high-frequency sounds with greater clarity than the Google Home. Normally priced at $299, reduced from its original $399 price, the Google Home Max is $249 during this sale.

Buy Now

Smart displays

Amazon Echo Show 5 and Google Nest Hub Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google Nest and Amazon Echo Show smart displays perform the same functions as smart speakers but add color displays so you can view your favorite photos, watch the news, stream video content, and make video calls.

Amazon Echo Show 5

— $90

Amazon Echo Show 5
Amazon Echo Show 5 Image used with permission by copyright holder

For sale at its normal $90 price, the Echo Show 5 is the newest Amazon Echo smart home device. With the Show 5’s 5.5-inch diagonal screen you can cook with step-by-step instructions, see visual news and weather reports, view photos, and make video calls. The Echo Show 5 has an integrated camera for two-way video calls, but you can slide a shutter over the lens for privacy.

Buy Now

Google Nest Hub

— $79

Google Nest Hub Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Google Nest Hub includes a free Smart Light Kit, consisting of a Google Home Mini and a GE C-Life smart light bulb. Normally priced $110 if purchased separately, this bundle is $79 during this sale. If you want a smart display to view video content and photos, this is a great opportunity to save on a bundle that also includes a separate smart speaker. The Google Nest Hub has a 7-inch touchscreen display but does not include a camera.

Buy Now

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
This Google Nest speaker deal cuts the price in half
Nest Audio speaker in a moody dark room.

If you're thinking about buying a smart speaker but you prefer Google Assistant over Amazon's Alexa, then the Google Nest Audio should be your choice. You're actually going to want to make the purchase right now, as the device is available from Best Buy with a 50% discount. From its original price of $100, it's on sale for only $50, which is a fantastic price for this smart speaker. We're not sure how much time is remaining on this offer though, so if you want to take advantage of it, push through with the transaction immediately.

Why you should buy the Google Nest Audio smart speaker
The Google Nest Audio is featured in our list of the best smart speakers as the top option for Google Assistant, which isn't a surprise. It's a proper Google Home successor, with our Google Nest Audio versus Google Home comparison highlighting upgrades such as a more modern design with small dimensions and an entirely fabric exterior, improved audio output with its 19mm tweeter and 75mm mid-woofer, and more far-field microphones so it can listen to you better.

Read more
Missed Prime Day? The Amazon Echo is half off at Best Buy
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) on table.

For great Amazon Echo deals, check out what Best Buy has to offer. It might not be Prime Day any more, but you can still snag some great bargains on Amazon Echo speakers. That includes the Echo Dot as well as the Echo Show 5, so there is something for everyone here. Read up on which Amazon Echo you should buy, then take a look at what we can tell you about each. In both cases, assume the discounts are strictly limited and will end very soon.
Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) -- $25, was $50

The Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) is one of the best Amazon Alexa smart speakers around thanks to it being so small that you can fit it pretty much anywhere in your home. It’s pretty cute, but it still offers deeper bass than you would expect for the size, along with clear vocals. At all times, you can speak to Alexa to get news updates, info on the weather, or simply to get her to play a game or play some music for you. It also means you can control your smart home devices with your voice. It’s surprisingly powerful and a great entry point to making your home smarter with minimal effort.

Read more
Best Kasa Prime Day deals: $12 smart plugs available today
Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug installed next to dining room.

Kasa is a smart home brand that regularly turns out quality tech that ranges from smart plugs to security cameras, and while Prime Day has officially ended Kasa is still turning out some decent Prime Day deals. If you're thinking of adding some smart plugs to your smart home setup you'll find several by Kasa discounted today, as well as some of the best Prime Day security camera deals among Kasa's Prime Day offerings. We've rounded up all of the best Kasa Prime Day deals still going on below, and whether you're shopping for something small or more involved for your smart home you'll need to make a purchase quickly, as there's no telling when these deals may expire. You can also take a look at the remaining Eufy Prime Day deals and Arlo Prime Day deals for some similar smart home savings.
Best Kasa smart plug Prime Day deals

If you buy from Kasa smart plug Prime Day deals, you'll get a device that will give smart capabilities to the power outlets of your home. After connecting the smart plug to your home's Wi-Fi network, you'll be able to switch them on and off through your smartphone, allowing you to control the appliances that you've plugged into them. Different models of Kasa smart plugs offer other features, such as energy monitoring to keep track of your electricity usage and timers to schedule when your appliances will turn on or off.

Read more