Lenovo’s Budget-Friendly Smart Clock Essential is 50% Off Today Only – CNET [CNET]

This simplified smart clock gets you all the basic features like music streaming and voice control for just $25 right now at Best Buy.

If you’re still slapping a dusty alarm clock with a brass bell on top, you should know that alarm clocks have gotten much smarter, just like everything else. Lenovo makes a series of smart clocks like the Smart Clock 2 and the original model. A few years ago, the brand released a simpler version of the smart clock with only the essential features. Right now that very Smart Clock Essential is back to the all-time low of $25 at Best Buy. This deal expires at 9:59 p.m. PT (12:59 a.m. ET), so snag one for 50% off while you can.

A full-on smart display is probably too much as a nightstand alarm clock, but Lenovo’s Smart Clock Essential was engineered to be a bedside companion: The 4-inch color display delivers the basics (time, weather), and the unit doubles as a fairly capable Google Assistant and solid Bluetooth speaker, too.

CNET’s Andrew Gebhart reviewed the Smart Clock Essential: He dug the simple interface and responsive mics and praised the sound quality, too. However, the digital clock face still casts a faint glow even on its lowest setting and the controls are not as intuitive as they could be. But for $25, these may be concessions you can stomach.