Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. Evergreens

Amazon Devices & Services livestream: Alternatives to every announced product

Add as a preferred source on Google

Amazon recently debuted a bunch of new gadgets, including the Kindle Scribe, Rise Halo, a slew of new Echo Dot smart speakers, and more. And while just about everything revealed during the Devices & Services livestream looked fantastic, there are already a lot of existing smart home products that fill a similar niche.

Whether you’re looking for a budget replacement or simply can’t wait for a release date that’s over a month away, here are some great alternatives to consider. All of these are available for purchase today and feature a skill set that’s comparable to Amazon’s latest devices.

Recommended Videos

Hatch Restore is an affordable Halo Rise alternative

The Hatch Restore glowing purple on a nightstand.
Hatch

Halo Rise is shaping up to be an innovative new solution to sleep tracking, giving users the ability to monitor their sleep without wearing a smartwatch or other device. It also comes with a built-in light and smart alarm that make it easier for you to wake up. The Buy at Amazon is a similar product, but one that’s already on the market and carries an affordable price tag.

It offers a similar wind-down and wake-up experience with its built-in lights, although it lacks any sleep monitoring capabilities. But, if you don’t mind that omission, it’s a great budget product for folks looking to enhance their sleep routines.

Skip the Echo Dot upgrade and get a Sonos One

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Amazon revealed a stable of upgraded Echo Dot products in September, including an upgraded Echo Studio. But whether you’re looking for your first smart speaker or you’re looking to upgrade your existing setup, the Buy at Amazon is a great alternative for most of the Echo Dot lineup. It’s the closest in price and performance to the Echo Studio, although our Sonos One review found it to be the “perfect smart speaker” — and it’s more than worth the extra money.

Streaming with Roku isn’t square

The Roku Streambar on a media console.
Roku

Make no mistake: The Amazon Fire TV Cube looks like a great revision of the existing product. The ability to act as both a central smart speaker and streaming hub is a special combination, making the Cube uniquely positioned in the marketplace. However, the Buy at Dell offers solid competition. It’s much larger than the Fire TV Cube (it’s essentially a soundbar) but offers robust audio, 4K support, and tons of included streaming apps that make it a great centerpiece for your home theater.

Get Wyze for your outdoor security

Wyze Cam Outdoor angled
John Velasco / Digital Trends

Amazon used its Devices & Services event to reveal a surprising number of security cameras — and that includes the premium Ring Spotlight Pro. Offering 1080p video capture, smart notifications, and impeccable detection via radar, the camera has positioned itself as one of the most sophisticated options available. But if you’re looking for something reliable that won’t flatten your wallet, consider taking a look at the Buy at Amazon . Just like the Ring Spotlight Pro, it offers 1080p video capture, is IP65 rated for inclement weather, and boasts an 130-degree field of view — allowing you to eliminate every blind spot in your yard.

Get 360-degree security with the Eufy Security Solo

ufy Security Indoor Cam 2K.
John Velasco / Digital Trends

The Blink Mini is finally getting a mount that’ll let you pivot its view vertically and horizontally. If you already own the camera, then picking up the mount makes a lot of sense. But, if you’re in the market for an entirely new setup, the Buy at Amazon should be high on your list. Not only can it pivot in all directions, but it can reach all 360 degrees of its environment. It’s also right in line with what you’d pay for a Blink Mini and its Pan and Tilt stand.

Check out the reMarkable 2 for a serious Kindle Scribe competitor

A person using the reMarkable 2 to take notes.
Remarkable

The Scribe will be the first Kindle that lets you take notes on its screen. However, it’s not the first ereader to offer that functionality. Right now, that space is largely dominated by the reMarkable 2. The device doesn’t support as many ebooks as Kindle, but its note-taking chops are second to none. Toss in a slick design paired with a long battery life, and it’s a pretty enticing package.

Jon Bitner
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
Apple’s next home robot could turn its screen to follow you, but it might cost you $1,000 to do so
A smart display that pans, watches, and decides.
Apple HomeView feature

Remember the hopping Pixar lamp that famously squashes the letter “I” in the studio logo at the beginning of almost every Pixar movie? Apple may be building something similar, except this Pixar-inspired device won't actually hop or roll around your room. 

Instead, its motorized robotic arm could swivel the screen around (basically moving it left to right, or vice versa, on an axis). According to a new report from The Information, the Cupertino giant is working on a larger, robotic version of its recently-announced HomeView smart display, and it might arrive as soon as next year. 

Read more
Apple might be turning its HomeView into a security camera, and it makes perfect sense
HomeView's built-in camera might soon have a few more uses beyond FaceTime calls.
Apple HomeView feature

Apple’s recently unveiled HomeView smart display could also function as a home security camera, according to a new finding in its software. The device, which already has a built-in camera for FaceTime calls and facial recognition, could supposedly use the same hardware for motion detection, live streaming, and video recording through HomeKit Secure Video.

The feature was spotted by a Reddit user in the settings files of HomeView Software 27.2 (via TheVerge). Apple hasn’t officially announced anything about it yet, but the references suggest there are going to be a few more uses for the built-in camera.

Read more
What Mattress Firmness Is Right for Back Pain?
Why the right balance of cushioning and support matters for better sleep
Sleeping

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Sleep Number.

Waking up with a stiff back is a miserable way to start the day. The usual advice is to buy the firmest mattress you can find. It sounds reasonable, but your spine, shoulders, and hips don’t work that way. The needs differ for each person, but there are a few ways you can get that healthy sleep with the right mattress.

Read more