Buying Refurbished Smart Home Devices: Echo, Nest, Ring, and More
Smart home devices are one of the best categories for refurbished buying — but not all of them. Some smart devices are nearly identical refurbished vs. new. Others have hidden risks that make the savings not worth it. Here’s the breakdown by category.
Great to Buy Refurbished
Amazon Echo Speakers (All Models)
Savings: 30–50% off new price
Echo speakers are solid refurbished buys. They have no moving parts, no battery to degrade, and Amazon’s Certified Refurbished program includes the same 1-year warranty as new. An Echo Dot (5th gen) refurbished is $22–30 vs. $50 new. The Echo Show 8 is $60–80 vs. $150 new.
Google Nest Hub / Nest Mini
Savings: 25–40% off
Same story as Echo devices. No battery, no wear parts, full software support. Google’s refurbished units look and perform identically to new ones.
Smart Plugs and Switches
Savings: 20–40% off
TP-Link Kasa, Wemo, and Lutron smart plugs/switches are solid-state electronics. They either work or they don’t — there’s nothing to wear out. Refurbished units from Amazon Warehouse are a no-brainer.
Okay to Buy Refurbished (With Caveats)
Ring Video Doorbells
Savings: 20–35% off
Ring doorbells are fine refurbished IF you get a wired model (Ring Video Doorbell Wired, Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2). Battery models (Ring Video Doorbell 4, Ring Battery Doorbell Plus) have rechargeable batteries that degrade over 2–3 years of outdoor temperature cycling. A refurbished battery Ring doorbell might only last 1–2 years before the battery won’t hold a charge.
Nest Thermostat / Ecobee
Savings: 25–40% off
Smart thermostats are solid refurbished picks. The only concern is the internal battery (used for WiFi connectivity during power outages), but these last 5–10 years and are replaceable. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat refurbished at $130–160 vs. $250 new is a great deal.
Avoid Buying Refurbished
Robot Vacuums (Roomba, Roborock)
Robot vacuums have motors, brushes, batteries, and sensors that all degrade with use. A refurbished Roomba might look new but have a battery at 60% capacity and worn brushrolls. The savings (usually 20–30%) aren’t enough to offset the replacement parts you’ll need within 6 months.
Smart Locks with Batteries
Smart locks like August and Yale use batteries that drain faster in refurbished units. More importantly, a lock is a security device — you want the latest firmware and hardware revision, not a 2-year-old model.
Where to Buy
- Amazon Renewed: best for Echo/Ring/Blink devices (Amazon is the manufacturer)
- eBay: best prices but verify seller ratings (99%+ feedback, 100+ sales)
- Manufacturer refurbished: Google Store, TP-Link, and Ecobee sell refurbished direct
- Woot.com: Amazon-owned, frequent smart home deals with 90-day warranty
Find smart home deals on eBay
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