Have a Safe New Year With January’s Best Smart Security Deals

The new year offers the perfect opportunity to get things in order and prepare for what’s ahead, and home security is a big part of that. Modern systems now incorporate smart cameras that feature motion sensing, night vision, object and human detection, and more. Security cameras come in indoor and outdoor models, can be built into doorbells and other devices, and integrate with locks and entry sensors to deliver alerts to your phone or other device and trigger sirens and alarms. No matter what your needs are, there’s tech that’ll handle them. Here are our favorite smart security deals from the top brands in January.

Many security systems have optional subscription plans that allow you to store and access the videos your cameras record from anywhere for a monthly fee. Others require a separate hub unit to control the cameras and contain local storage. Both types typically allow you to access your video feeds in real time via your phone, computer, or smart display. We also recommend cameras that allow for two-way audio interaction with whoever’s on the other side of the lens, and having a spotlight function for night vision is a nice option as well. The main choice you’ll need to make with your smart doorbell is whether or not you need a wired or wireless option; from there, camera specifications and additional features will vary. 

Security Camera Deals

Amazon’s Blink cameras are sturdy and compact models that are simple to install, but if you’re tired of charging batteries, here’s an eco-conscious deal that lets you use the power of the sun to maintain your security network. In our review of the third-generation Blink Outdoor Camera, we gave it an “Excellent” rating and praised the unit’s weatherproof construction, sharp 1080p camera capture, and support for both local video storage and cloud access with a Blink subscription. The included Solar Charging Mount is a breeze to set up, and the panel can be up to two feet from the camera.

We don’t have a review of the just-released 2025 Nest Cam Outdoor yet, but you can be sure we’ll put it through its paces soon enough. We did test out the 2021 version, and were impressed by its simple installation, smart alerts, and cool features you can unlock with a Google Home subscription, including facial recognition. The new version ups the camera resolution to full 2K and increases the field of view to 152 degrees for better captures. It’s a serious improvement, and 20% is a serious discount.

The Aquara G5 Pro Camera Hub snagged an Editors’ Choice award in our review, impressing us with sharp 2K video, color night vision, and dual-band Wi-Fi. We also loved its interoperability, with simple integration to Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Samsung SmartThings home automation systems. The 8GB of built-in flash memory gives you dependable local storage, and the AI-powered motion alerts can distinguish animals, delivered packages, people, faces, and vehicles, along with notifying you if the lens is obscured or obstructed. A $60 price drop is awesome.

For a few more bucks, Eufy gives you more features and flexibility for your home security setup. They’re rechargeable, for one, and between the full field of view, infrared night vision, and 1080p resolution, the footage you get is pretty detailed. They also deliver smart notifications like motion alerts that can tell the difference between the neighborhood cat and a delivery driver arriving at your doorstep (and with two-way audio, you can interact with them as well). This package also includes a home hub for months of video storage with no monthly fee.

Video Doorbell Deals

Google’s Nest doorbell isn’t the newest model on the market, but it has a sleek and stylish appearance and works great. This is the 2022 refresh of the unit, which reduced its size by 30% from the 2018 original (which we reviewed here) and added HDR functionality and better picture quality. The unit stores three hours of recent video history, and an optional Google Home plan gives you access to up to 60 days of storage in the cloud. Google Home also enables cool AI-powered video interpretation and alerts, so it’s definitely worth it.

Eufy’s flagship video doorbell works with a twin-camera system, one for monitoring people and the other for packages. This combination approach makes it a great choice for securing your front door, and with a 23% discount at Amazon, it’s even better. You can read our full review for all the specs, but the Cliff’s Notes is that installation is simple, it works with many smart home systems, and with the addition of an optional Eufy HomeBase 3 module, you can store footage locally and enable cross-camera tracking and other cool features. This bundle comes with a physical chime speaker as well.

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The Editors’ Choice-winning Arlo Video Doorbell 2K just saw a permanent price drop to $59.99 from $130, and we have an extra $10 to take off from that. In our gushing review, we lauded this compact and durable unit’s breezy wireless installation, wide 180-degree field of view, and smart object detection. Third-party device support is also extensive. We did ding it a point for only offering black and white night vision, but that’s a minor complaint. For playback of stored video and other advanced features, you’ll need an Arlo Secure subscription.

If you don’t mind doing a little light electrical work to splice in the power, the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera is a strong option with a 25% discount. In our review, we were impressed by its head-to-toe 1080p video, which is just sharp enough to capture people and packages with good detail. It integrates well with multiple other home automation systems and plays especially well with other Ecobee products. Note that cloud video storage and certain other advanced features require an Ecobee Standard plan, which costs $5 per month.

Security System Deals

We gave an Editors’ Choice award to SimpliSafe’s security offerings in our review, noting their extensive array of packages for all types of homes. Right now, Amazon has a great 36% discount on a ten-piece bundle, which gives you four entry sensors for windows and doors, along with two precise and effective motion sensors and an indoor-outdoor camera. It’s a breeze to set up yourself and doesn’t require a monthly subscription, but SimpliSafe offers a wide variety of paid additional services, including professional installation and real-time monitoring with the ability to contact law enforcement.

If you have a lot of different entry points to cover, this hefty 40% discount on an 8-piece Ring alarm kit will get the job done. In our review, we found that this system was a breeze to install on your own, with simple and effective contact sensors for doors and windows, as well as a motion sensor for more extensive monitoring. The included range extender boosts the Z-Wave radios used by the units up to 250 feet, making it more than enough for bigger houses. Ring also offers professional monitoring plans and other services.

Smart Lock Deals

Yale is one of the most storied lock brands in America, dating all the way back to 1868. They’ve kept up well with the times, and we gave an “Excellent” rating to the Yale Assure 2 smart lock in our 2022 review. This stylish and durable unit is a breeze to install, fitting into standard deadbolt sockets and working with a wide variety of third-party security and automation systems, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Philips Hue, Ring, and Samsung SmartThings. The unit takes four AA batteries, but they last a long time in standard use. This is a keyless model with a touchscreen and bank-grade encryption for the ultimate safe and secure feeling.

Lockmakers are always coming up with new ways to improve their products, and the Eufy FamiLock S3 Max introduces the ability to unlock your door with a scan of the veins in your palm. Boasting 99.9% accuracy and incredibly difficult to fake, it’s just one of the many cool pieces of this next-gen smart lock. In our review, we noted the FamiLock S3 Max’s many features, including an interior video screen and integrated camera, smart alerts, and more, made it worthy of an Editors’ Choice award. Our only criticism was the price, so a 30% discount at Amazon solves that.

Amazon offering 37% off makes this an exceptionally solid deal on a good-looking smart lock that will keep you safe. In our review of the Aqara Smart Lock U100, Delaney said that this setup was “a versatile smart lock that allows you to lock and unlock your door in multiple ways, including with a keypad and a traditional keyway and with your fingerprint, voice, or phone.” It’s simple to install and works especially well with Apple’s HomeKit automation system. An optional hub lets you extend it even further.

About Our Experts

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Experience

I’m PCMag’s managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I’m also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

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K. Thor Jensen

Contributing Writer

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Experience

K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.

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