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The best gaming deals for Amazon Prime Day 2023

Amazon Prime Day has brought several discounts on gaming gear we like, from mice and keyboards to laptops and headsets. If you've been looking to build out your gaming rig, now's a great time to pick up a few much-needed accessories, or even a bigger investment like a gaming laptop from the models that are on sale. We’ve compiled the best Prime Day gaming deals we can find below, including accessories from Razer, Logitech, SteelSeries, HyperX and more.

Logitech G Pro X Superlight

The Logitech G Pro X Superlight is back down to an all-time low of $105, which is about $35 off its average going rate. This is a high-end wireless mouse whose praises we’ve sung in the past. It’s sturdily built and wonderfully light at roughly 63g, and its mostly ambidextrous shape should be suitable for most hand sizes. Performance is exceptional across the board, and while it lacks RGB lighting, it won’t look gaudy in an office setting. To be clear, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro – which isn't notably discounted for Prime Day – remains our favorite premium model, as it lasts longer on a charge and uses USB-C instead of the microUSB port found here. Still, the G Pro X Superlight is a fine choice for enthusiasts.

Logitech G305 Lightspeed

The Logitech G305 Lightspeed is a budget wireless gaming mouse we highlight in our buying guide, and it’s down to $30 for Prime Day. While that’s a few bucks more than the lowest price we’ve seen, it’s about $10 less than the mouse’s usual going rate. The G305 is on the smaller side, but its symmetrical design doesn’t feel particularly cheap and should accommodate most claw and fingertip grippers. For the money, its sensor performance is great. It does require a single AA battery for power, so it isn’t the lightest option at roughly 100g, but Logitech says it can last up to 250 hours before needing a change.

Samsung Evo Select

The 512GB Samsung Evo Select is available for $30, which is a new all-time low. Typically, we’ve seen this microSD card go for $10 or $15 more in recent months. The Evo Select is the “best value” pick in our guide to the best microSD cards: It’s certainly not the fastest card we’ve tested, but it’s a great buy for expanding the storage of a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. Both of thosesystems are limited to official UHS-I bus speeds, so game launch and load times are virtually identical across microSD cards so long as your card meets a certain threshold (which the Evo Select does). What you mainly want is lots of storage space for a little amount of money. At this price, the Evo Select provides that.

If you need more space, the 1TB SanDisk Ultra is also worth a shout at $80, which is an all-time low. This card is slower than the Evo Select, which is already a budget model, so it may be a little too sluggish to install games for comfort. But $80 for 1TB is a fantastic value.

The top pick in our microSD card guide, Samsung’s Pro Plus, is a bit pricier but still down to all-time lows of $20 for 256GB and $40 for 512GB. While this won’t be any faster to launch Switch or Steam Deck games than the Evo Select, its superior random and sequential write speeds should make it a little quicker for installing games or copying files to the card.

Samsung 980 Pro

The 1TB Samsung 980 Pro SSD is down to $50, which is its lowest price ever and about $25 off its average street price as of late. This isn’t Samsung’s fastest SSD – that’d be the 990 Pro – but we highlight it here because it meets Sony’s requirements for expanding the PS5’s storage. You’ll want to grab a heatsink to go with it, but you can do that and still pay less than what it’d cost to buy the variant that comes with a heatsink pre-installed.

Logitech G535

The Logitech G535 is on sale for $80, which is the second-best price we’ve tracked outside of a very brief dip below $50 last month. Normally, it costs around $100. The G535 is an honorable mention in our guide to the best gaming headsets: It’s light and airy at 236g, and while it can make mid-range details sound thin, it has an agreeable and relatively well-balanced sound overall. The included boom mic is just OK, however, and the closed-back design doesn’t block much outside noise. Still, finding a good wireless gaming headset for less than $100 is difficult, and the G535 gets close enough.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is another honorable mention in our gaming headset guide, and it’s down to $199 for Prime Day. This is an all-time low for both the Xbox and PlayStation/PC models; each typically goes for about $40 more on average. This is a premium, well-padded headset that’s comfy to wear over long sessions. Its retractable mic is great, and it comes with a DAC that lets you adjust the headset’s EQ and game/chat audio mix on the fly. It does well to reproduce bass and mid-range sounds, too, though it can be harsh in the treble, and it doesn’t sound as spacious as an open-back pair like the Astro A40, our top pick, which isn’t any cheaper than usual for Prime Day. Still, if you have money to burn on a gaming headset and prioritize comfort and mic quality, this isn’t a bad choice.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X, meanwhile, is available for $150, which is the lowest price we’ve seen and about $25 below its usual street price. We note the Arctis Nova 7X in our gaming headset guide as a worthy wireless option for Xbox owners. Its mic quality is solid, albeit worse than the pricier Nova Pro, and it’s comfy to wear over time, with cloth earpads that don’t clamp down too hard. It has a bass-forward sound profile, so explosions and other effects carry a real sense of oomph, though a dip in the treble can make in-game dialogue sound underemphasized. The pair can connect over Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable in addition to its wireless dongle, though, plus it can last more than 30 hours on a charge.

Razer Huntsman Mini

The compact Razer Huntsman Mini is down to $70 for a model with either Clicky Purple or Linear Red opto-mechanical switches. Neither deal is quite an all-time low, but the two models have usually retailed in the $80 to $100 range over the last few months. The Huntsman Mini is the top pick in our guide to the best 60 percent keyboards, as its keys are pleasant and consistently responsive for gaming. The whole thing feels well-built, with quality PBT keycaps and RGB lighting on a per-key basis. Each key can be programmed through macros as well. The switches here aren’t ideal for those who like a springy and more tactile, though, and the ultracompact design won’t be for everyone.

HyperX Alloy Origins 60

The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is the runner up in our 60 percent keyboard guide, and it’s on sale for $60. That’s about $20 off the usual price for this model with HyperX’s Aqua switches. The Aqua resembles a Cherry MX Brown (albeit slightly faster), so this deal should appeal to those who want a small gaming keyboard with a more tactile feel than the Huntsman Mini. The board itself has a sturdy aluminum chassis that should hold up well to rough keystrokes over time, plus it puts its secondary arrow keys in a natural spot at the bottom right of the deck. It offers PBT keycaps, per-key RGB lighting and macro-programmable keys as well, though the use of metal does make it relatively heavy.

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL

The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is on sale for $132, which is a new low and $58 off the tenkeyless gaming keyboard’s list price. While we haven’t reviewed the Apex Pro TKL ourselves, it has received consistentlyhighmarkselsewhere for its robust build quality, PBT keycaps, per-key backlighting and deeply adjustable OmniPoint 2.0 switches. The latter allows you to customize the actuation point of each individual key in increments of 0.1mm, within a range of 0.2mm-3.8mm. You can make each keystroke super fast for gaming or raise the travel distance and make everything less sensitive when you want to type. This is also one of the few tenkeyless keyboards that comes with a wrist rest.

A few other variants of the Apex Pro are discounted, too, including the wireless TKL model for $174, the full-size Apex Pro for $134 and the 60 percent Apex Pro Mini for $176. The first two of those are down to all-time lows, but note that the full-size model uses cheaper ABS keycaps. These are pricey and relatively niche keyboards either way, but if you think you’d benefit from the customization, they’re at least a little more affordable now.

The Asus ROG Azoth is another highlyratedcompactkeyboard with enthusiast-level features like a gasket-mounted design for softer typing and a hot-swappable PCB. It’s available for $195 with a $15 coupon, which is a serious chunk of change for a wireless keyboard but $50 less than usual.

Logitech G915 TKL

The Logitech G915 TKL is down to $150 for a model with tactile switches, which matches the keyboard's lowest price and comes in about $45 below its usual price. If you want a numpad, the full-size G915 Lightspeed with linear switches is roughly $60 off at $170. The G915 is worth considering if you specifically want a wireless keyboard with low-profile typing experience. While its flatter keys may not feel as smooth as the best full-height keyboards, they’re fast, and the metal frame is noticeably slim. The cheaper ABS keycaps and limited macro functionality are disappointing at this price, but you do get dedicated media controls, per-key RGB lighting and 30 hours of battery life with the backlight at max brightness. You can read our 2020 write-up for more details.

Razer Blade laptops

A configuration of the Razer Blade 15 with a Core i7-12800H processor, GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, 240Hz QHD display, 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD is down to $1,923 for Prime Day. That’s about $375 off its usual street price in recent months. We gave the Blade 15 a review score of 86 last year, and we currently recommend it as a premium pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops. This config is a 2022 model – the latest version is largely a spec bump – but it’ll still be powerful enough to play most modern games at high settings and frame rates, particularly with DLSS. The main reason to pay the premium for any Blade laptop, though, is because it packs that power in a slim and premium-feeling aluminum design. Just note that it can run hot, and that its battery life is fairly short.

If you want a larger 17-inch display, a version of the Blade 17 with similar specs is available for $2,000. The smaller Blade 14, meanwhile, is more modestly discounted at $2,300 for a 2022 config with a Ryzen 9 6900HX, RTX 3080 Ti and 165Hz display.

Acer Nitro 5

The Acer Nitro 5 is the runner up pick in our guide to the best budget gaming laptops, and right now a configuration with a Core i5-12500H, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, 144Hz 1080p display, 16GB of RAM and 512GB is available for $780. That’s a new low and roughly $120 off this model’s typical street price. This is a chunky plastic machine, and you’ll need to ratchet down the settings in certain games to hit a decent frame rate. But getting a 144Hz display and enough power to keep up with modern games is a plus at this price. As an affordable yet competent entry point to PC gaming, it’s a fine value.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-gaming-deals-132537938.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day laptop deals for 2023

Amazon’s latest Prime Day sale includes a handful of deals on notebooks we like, from MacBooks to Chromebooks to gaming laptops. We still recommend buying directly from your manufacturer of choice if you want to spec out your new machine, but if you’re OK with buying a pre-configured model, here are the best Prime Day laptop deals we can find. Note that you'll need to be an Amazon Prime member to see some of the discounts. 

Apple MacBook Air M2 (15-inch)

The 15.3-inch version of Apple’s MacBook Air M2 is down to $1,399 for a configuration with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. That’s a modest $50 drop from its usual price on Amazon, but the notebook only just arrived last month, and it's $100 less than buying from Apple directly. The M2 Air is the top pick in our guide to the best laptops, and we gave it a review score of 96 in June. It checks just about all the requisite boxes for a mainstream notebook, with a thin and light design, bright and accurate display, comfortable keyboard, long-lasting battery, and more than enough performance for everyday use. This 15-inch model has all the same benefits of the prior 13-inch model, but adds a more powerful speaker system and slightly upgraded GPU alongside the bigger screen.

Apple MacBook Air M1

The M1 MacBook Air released back in 2020, but it remains a worthy option if you want a Mac for light work and web browsing for as little cash as possible. The entry-level configuration is now on sale for $750, which is a new low. Apple sells this device for $999, though we’ve seen it go for $799 for most of the past few months. This model’s keyboard, trackpad, display and battery life continue to impress, and the quiet M1 chip is still fast enough for the essentials. This configuration is strictly for casual use, though, as it only has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. You’ll have to live with a more basic 720p webcam, too, and you’ll miss out on the improved speakers and slimmer bezels of the M2 model. We gave the M1 Air a review score of 94 at launch.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is down to $469 for a version with a Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. That’s a new low and about $150 less than usual. If you’re willing to trade some power for a more premium look and feel, the Surface Laptop Go 2’s lightweight frame is nicer than most laptops we see in this price range. Its battery life is strong, too. The specs here are only suitable for lighter use, and the 12.4-inch, 1,536 x 1,024 resolution display is short of full HD. There’s no keyboard backlight, either. But those shortcomings should be easier to accept at this price. We gave the Surface Laptop Go 2 a score of 86 last year and highlight it in our guide to the best cheap Windows laptops.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5

The 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is down to $1,680 for a high-end model with a Core i7-1255U, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. That’s about $370 below its typical street price. We can’t say this is the best Windows laptop you can buy, as the port selection is lacking, the 720p webcam is mediocre and there are more performant notebooks in this price range. Still, the slim and tasteful design, crisp 3:2 display, and respectable battery keep this a fine general-purpose option for those who like the Surface design language. We reviewed the 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 5 late last year, giving it a score of 83.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

The Surface Pro 9 is the top Windows pick in our tablet buying guide, and a configuration that includes a Core i7-1255U processor, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD is now on sale for $1,600. Clearly, that’s not cheap, but it’s $300 off this model's recent street price and represents the lowest price we’ve tracked for this variant. You probably know where you stand on the Surface Pro at this point: It’s still not particularly comfortable to use on your lap, but it remains the gold standard for 2-in-1s that behave and perform like a laptop more than a traditional tablet. While this version isn’t a huge shake-up, it should be a nice bump for those upgrading from a three- to five-year-old model. Just note that this deal doesn’t include a keyboard or stylus.

Acer Nitro 5

The Acer Nitro 5 is the runner up pick in our guide to the best budget gaming laptops, and right now a configuration with a Core i5-12500H, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, 144Hz 1080p display, 16GB of RAM and 512GB is available for $780. That’s a new low and roughly $120 off this model’s typical street price. This is a chunky plastic machine, and you’ll need to ratchet down the settings in certain games to hit a decent frame rate. But getting a 144Hz display and enough power to keep up with modern games is a plus at this price. As an affordable yet competent entry point to PC gaming, it’s a fine value.

Razer Blade 15

A configuration of the Razer Blade 15 with a Core i7-12800H processor, GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, 240Hz QHD display, 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD is down to $1,923 for Prime Day. That’s about $375 off its usual street price in recent months. We gave the Blade 15 a review score of 86 last year, and we currently recommend it as a premium pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops. This config is a 2022 model – the latest version is largely a spec bump – but it’ll still be powerful enough to play most modern games at high settings and frame rates, particularly with DLSS. The main reason to pay the premium for any Blade laptop, though, is because it packs that power in a slim and premium-feeling aluminum design. Just note that it can run hot, and that its battery life is fairly short.

If you want a larger 17-inch display, a version of the Blade 17 with similar specs is available for $2,000. The smaller Blade 14, meanwhile, is more modestly discounted at $2,300 for a 2022 config with a Ryzen 9 6900HX, RTX 3080 Ti and 165Hz display.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-laptop-deals-121228884.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day headphone deals for 2023

Amazon Prime Day has brought several headphones and earbuds we recommend down to, or at least close to, the lowest prices we’ve tracked. If you’ve been looking to grab a new pair, now's a great time to. doso since Prime Day is typically only matched by Black Friday when it comes to sales on the latest headphones. We’ve rounded up the best Prime Day headphone deals we can find, covering models from Sony, Bose, Apple, Beats and several others.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is down to $328 for Prime Day, which is a new all-time low and $70 off the noise-canceling pair’s list price. It's part of a larger Sony headphones sale that includes a number of solid models. The XM5 is the top pick in our guide to the best wireless headphones. We gave it a review score of 95 last year, praising its comfortable fit, effective active noise cancellation (ANC), crisp call quality and 30-ish hours of battery life. By default, they have a bass-forward sound that’s best suited for hip-hop and EDM, but you can customize the EQ through Sony’s companion app. Like many Sony headphones, they also come with a range of useful bonus features, such as Speak-to-Chat, which automatically pauses whatever you’re playing when the microphones detect you are speaking.

Sony WH-1000XM4

The XM5’s predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM4, is also on sale for $248. That isn’t an all-time low, but it’s $100 off the pair’s MSRP and $30 below its typical sale price. Though we rate the XM5 higher, the XM4 still delivers powerful ANC, 30+ hours of battery life and a similar feature set. It can fold up, unlike its successor, and its headband has more plush padding. Some may also prefer to avoid the XM5’s adaptive ANC system, which adjusts automatically based on your environment. However, XM4 isn’t quite as adept at muting mid- and high-frequency noises, it sounds a little boomier out of the box and it doesn’t feel as light on the head. Its call quality is worse, too. But for less than $250, it’s still a great buy.

Bose QuietComfort 45

If you want a premium set of noise-canceling headphones for less than $200, the Bose QuietComfort 45 is another strong value at its Prime Day price of $199. That’s tied for an all-time low and roughly $110 below the pair’s average street price. We gave the QC 45 a review score of 86 in 2021 and call it a worthy alternative in our buying guide. It isn’t as fully-featured as the XM5 and only lasts around 20 hours per charge, but it has a more neutral sound by default, still-powerful ANC and a design that’s about as comfy yet doesn’t sacrifice the ability to fold up. They also use physical buttons instead of touch controls.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are on sale for $249, which is $20 more than its all-time low but still about $25 off its average street price. This is the “best noise cancellation” pick in our guide to the best wireless earbuds, and it earned a review score of 87 last year. Its ANC is among the strongest we’ve heard on any headphone, let alone a true wireless pair. It’s adept across low-, mid- and treble-range frequencies, so it can mute nearby voices, plane engines or the hum of an air conditioner with similar success. This pair is on the bulky side, however, and its lack of wireless charging and multipoint connectivity is disappointing at this price. It did gain single-bud support earlier this year, though.

Anker Soundcore Space A40

The Soundcore Space A40 was already our favorite pair of wireless earbuds for those on a budget, and now it’s even more affordable at $55. That’s $24 below its usual going rate. The Space A40 provides the kind of performance and features you’d expect from true wireless earbuds that cost twice as much: strong ANC, a small and light design, a warm sound that’s enjoyable out of the box but customizable through a companion app, a transparency mode, wireless charging, solid battery life around eight hours per charge and the ability to connect to two devices at once. It can’t auto-pause music when you remove an earbud, nor can it fully match the best premium pairs when it comes to ANC strength, sound quality or mic clarity. But it’s not far off, and it’s way easier on the wallet.

Apple AirPods Pro

The Apple AirPods Pro are available for $199, which is a deal we've seen for most of the last few months but still $50 less than Apple's list price. This set continues to be an excellent option for iPhone owners, as it connects easily with other Apple devices, bakes its controls directly into iOS, supports Find My tracking and lets you access Siri hands-free. Its ANC isn’t as broadly powerful as the QuietComfort Earbuds II, but it’s good, and its transparency mode is among the clearest we’ve heard. While you can’t manually customize the AirPods Pro’s sound, it’s pleasingly warm by default. That said, the six-hour battery life is just OK, the control scheme takes some getting used to, and you really need to be committed to the Apple ecosystem to get the most out of it. We gave the Pro a score of 88 last year and call it the “best for iOS” pick in our wireless earbuds guide.

Amazon Echo Buds (2023)

The latest Amazon Echo Buds are down to $35 for Prime members, which is a $15 discount and an all-time low. We recommend this pair in our budget wireless earbuds guide to those who prefer an open design instead of one that fully inserts into the ear canal. Its audio quality is solid for the price and form factor, and it supports features we don’t often see in this range, including auto-pausing, multipoint and EQ customization. It’s not sweat-resistant enough for the gym, but the design rests lightly in the ear. Naturally, it also has Alexa baked in. Don’t expect super rich sound or more than five hours of battery life, but if you can’t stand the feeling of in-ear headphones, the Echo Buds are a decent option at this price.

Apple AirPods (3rd gen)

The third-gen Apple AirPods are on sale for $140, tying its all-time low. Apple sells these earbuds for $169, though we often see them for $20 less on Amazon. It’s another open-back pair, but its balanced sound is a noticeable step up from the Echo Buds, with more bass depth than usual for unsealed earbuds (albeit not a ton). There’s no ANC, as expected, but you still get wireless charging, button-like touch controls and a host of Apple-friendly features. Just note that the earpieces are a little large, so they may not fit well with certain ear shapes. We gave the third-gen AirPods a review score of 88 in late 2021.

Apple AirPods (2nd gen)

The second-gen AirPods, meanwhile, are available for $90. That’s $10 off its typical street price. It’s hard to call this a great value in 2023: Its five-hour battery life is worse than the third-gen AirPods, the one-size-fits-all design can be finicky and you can get better sound for much less. But if you’re an iPhone user who wants the usual AirPods suite of software perks in an unsealed design, this older model may still work. The third-gen set gives a big upgrade in audio quality, but the thinner earpieces here may fit some better.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 are down to $329, a $70 drop that matches the best price we’ve tracked. This is the runner up pick in our wireless headphones guide, and we gave it a score of 85 last year. It’s worth considering over the WH-1000XM5 if you’re willing to trade ANC strength for a more luxurious design. The hyped-up sound should particularly appeal to bass lovers, the battery lasts more than 30 hours per charge, and while the ANC can’t touch the best from Sony and Bose, it’s still useful. The XM5 offers better call quality and a wider range of software features, though, including a more extensive custom EQ tool.

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT

Audio-Technica’s ATH-M20xBT are on sale for $55, which is a $24 discount and a new low. This is the budget pick in our wireless headphones guide, delivering a light fit, impressive battery life rated at 60 hours per charge, multipoint connectivity and good enough sound for the money. It has few bonus features, and its build quality isn’t exactly refined, but the M20xBT should fit the bill if you just want a no-frills wireless headphone on the cheap.

Anker Soundcore Life Q30

If you’re on a budget but don’t want to give up ANC, Anker’s Soundcore Life Q30 is another pair of wallet-friendly over-ears we like. It’s down to $56, which isn’t the best price we’ve seen but a $24 discount all the same. The Q30’s ample padding, 40 to 50 hours of battery life and multi-device pairing are nice, and though its ANC certainly isn’t top-tier, it’s beyond adequate at this price. Audio quality isn’t as nice as the M20xBT out of the box, as it massively inflates the bass, but you can rein it in somewhat through the Soundcore app. That said, the sound gets worse when ANC is off, and the plastic design is a little flimsy.

A couple of similar Soundcore headphones are also on sale for Prime Day, with the Soundcore Life Q35 down to $80 and the Soundcore Space Q45 down to an all-time low of $100. The former is $20 off its average street price, while the latter is a roughly $45 discount. The Q35 is a modest upgrade that improves call quality and adds support for the LDAC audio codec. The Q45 feels sturdier than either pair, improves the ANC and isn’t quite as bass-heavy by default. It also uses an adaptive ANC system. The Q45 is the best of the three for those willing to pay for it, though it trails the pricier options above, and the Q30 is the better bargain for those looking to spend as little as possible.

EarFun Air Pro 3

You can grab the EarFun Air Pro 3 for $50 when you use the code EAP3ANC1 at checkout. That’s $30 below its typical price. The Air Pro 3 is the runner up pick in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds. It has a similar feature set to the Space A40, but its battery life and ANC are slightly worse, and it’s a little more amped in the bass and treble by default. Its mic quality and IPX5-rated water resistance are upgrades, however, so if you want to save a few bucks or just prefer an AirPods-style “stem” design, it’s a fine choice.

EarFun Free 2S

The EarFun Free 2S, meanwhile, are down to $27 with the checkout code FREE2SPD1, which is a $23 drop. We list the Free 2S as the “under $50” pick in our budget earbuds guide. It’s another one that’s heavy on the bass, but it’s a better example of a “fun” sound signature than most in its price range, and it’s comfortable to wear for hours at a time. It’s also fully waterproof. It lacks features like ANC, wear detection, multi-device pairing or a transparency mode, but for less than $30, its shortcomings are easier to accept.

JLab Go Air Pop

If you want a pair of competent wireless earbuds for the lowest amount possible, consider the JLab Go Air Pop. Right now it’s available for $16, which is a few bucks higher than its all-time low but $7 below its usual street price in recent months. We highlight the Go Air Pop in our budget wireless earbuds guide: For less than a Jackson, it provides a compact design, eight-ish hours of battery, IPX4 water resistance and a full set of functional touch controls. While there’s no app, JLab bakes three EQ presets into the earbuds themselves. The boomy sound is worse than the EarFun Free 2S, but this is a $16 set of earbuds that aren’t awful. As a backup for your main pair, you could do much worse.

Beats Studio Buds +

Prime Day has brought the first discount on the Beats Studio Buds +, as the recently released pair is $20 off at $150. We gave these earbuds a review score of 84 in May, praising their improved sound, ANC and call quality compared to the original Studio Buds. Like that pair, they’re tiny and comfortable, but they don’t use an Apple H1 or H2 chip, so they lack certain AirPods-style tricks such as automatic device switching and audio sharing. Others like fast pairing, Find My tracking and hands-free Siri are still available, though, and Beats supports similar features on Android. To be clear, the Studio Buds +’s ANC, battery life and audio quality slot behind the top picks in our buying guide, and their lack of auto-pausing and wireless charging is hard to swallow. But if you want a set of Apple earbuds that cost less than the AirPods Pro, they should have appeal.

For a cheaper alternative, the base Studio Buds are on sale for $90. They aren’t a better buy than the Space A40, but if you like the Studio Buds’ aesthetic, they’re still decent. We’ll also mention the Beats Fit Pro; that one isn't significantly discounted for Prime Day, but it’s our favorite true wireless pair for workouts and does utilize Apple’s H1 chip.

Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony LinkBuds S are on sale for $128, which matches their all-time low and sits about $35 below its average street price. This is an honorable mention in our wireless earbuds guide, as it delivers a small design that’s easy to wear over time, decent ANC and sound quality for the price and, like other Sony headphones, a useful suite of bonus features.

The top pick in our guide, Sony’s WF-1000XM4, is down to $198, but we’re hesitant to call it a good deal. The earbuds themselves are great, with better battery life, audio quality and ANC than the LinkBuds S (albeit in a larger frame). But severalrecentreports suggest that Sony will launch a follow-up in the near future. Most people should hold off on the current model for now, especially since we’ve seen this deal price for much of the last few months.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

The Google Pixel Buds Pro is down to $139, which is within $5 of the earbuds’ all-time low and roughly $45 off their typical going rate. This is the “best for Android” pick in our buying guide, since it offers AirPods-style integration with Google’s OS and Pixel phones in particular. Its ANC and punchy, V-shaped sound profile are pleasing (though not superlative), and it can get a good 11-ish hours of battery life with ANC off (or a decent seven hours with it on). Its call quality and transparency mode are mediocre, however, and the fit may be tricky for those with smaller ears. Still, this a decent mid-range option when it’s discounted to this extent. We gave the Pixel Buds Pro a score of 87 last year.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-amazon-prime-day-headphone-deals-163351574.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day TV deals for 2023

Amazon Prime Day has begun, and it’s brought a number of TV discounts along with it. If you’ve been looking to pick up a new set, we’ve rounded up the best Prime Day TV deals we could find below. While we don’t formally review TVs at Engadget, we’ve pored over reviews from users and other sites we trust to ensure you don’t waste your money. The TV market itself is in a bit of a transition period, so be aware that many of our picks are 2022 models that are close enough to their successors but cost much less. And if you don’t need a new TV, we’ve also included a few Prime Day deals on media streamers.

Samsung S95B

The 65-inch Samsung S95B is on sale for $1,598, matching its all-time low. Typically, this highly-rated set has cost an extra $100 to $200 in recent months.

The S95B’s QD-OLED panel combines OLED tech with a quantum dot layer, allowing it to deliver high contrast and wide viewing angles without sacrificing as much as typical OLED TVs in terms of brightness and color saturation. This means it should provide a rich image even in brighter rooms. It can also play up to 4K 120Hz, which is handy for the PS5 or Xbox Series X, but like all Samsung TVs, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR.

The S95B is a 2022 model, so it’s on the way out in favor of the new S95C. The latter supports a faster 144Hz refresh rate and runs its ports through an external box, which makes the design thinner. Other reviewerssay it can get a bit brighter, too. But the S95 currently costs $2,298 and $2,298 for a 55- and 65-inch model, respectively, and its upgrades don’t appear to be massive enough to justify that extra cost for most. If you’re in the market for a premium TV, the S95B should remain the better value while it’s still available.

LG C2

For a (relatively) more affordable OLED TV, the 55-inch LG C2 is down to $1,097, while the 42-inch model is available for $797. Neither offer is an all-time low, but they're each about $140 below their respective street prices. The C2 can't match the brightness and color range of a QD-OLED set like the Samsung S95B, but it still offers excellent contrast, deep black levels and wide viewing angles. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports that can play 4K at 120Hz, it supports gaming-friendly features like VRR and ALLM, and it comes in a wider range of sizes than the S95B. It works with all the major HDR formats, too, Dolby Vision included. It's just less ideal in a brightly-lit room. 

LG has rolled out a new C3 model for 2023, but it’s pricier, and manyreviewssuggest it’s only a marginal upgrade outside of adding support for DTS audio.

Sony A80K

If the LG C2 goes out of stock, the Sony A80K is another commendable OLED TV. It's down to $1,098 for a 55-inch model and $1,498 for a 65-inch model. Both deals mark new lows: The former is about $250 off its recent street price, while the latter is a roughly $300 discount. The C2 is broadly considered a better option thanks to its superior brightness levels and two extra HDMI 2.1 ports, but the A80K still gets you the core benefits of an OLED display. It also runs on Google TV, which some may prefer to LG's webOS platform. Like the C2, you'll get the most out of it if you stay away from glare. 

Sony’s 2023 follow-up, the A80L, should be a better buy when prices come down, but right now it starts at $1,698. At that price, most should be better off with the Samsung S95B.

Samsung QN90B

The Samsung QN90B is back down to $1,098 for a 55-inch model. If you’re looking for a smaller set, the 43-inch version is on sale for $898 as well. The QN90B is an LCD TV, so it can’t supply the near-perfect blacks and super wide viewing angles of an OLED panel, but it can get significantly brighter, and reviewssayitprovides better contrast than most non-OLED TVs thanks to its Mini LED backlight. There’s still no Dolby Vision, but it gives you four full HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K/120Hz support and multiple types of VRR. If you want a high-end TV for a room plagued by glare, it’s a good buy.

The new QN90C is out but costs much more, so again, last year’s set is still the better buy for now. If you opt for the 43-inch model, note that it has worse viewing angles than the larger variants but also supports a faster 144Hz refresh rate. That feature should be useful if you want a TV that can double as a gaming PC monitor.

Samsung The Frame TV

Samsung’s 55-inch The Frame TV is down to $988, which is a new low and about $450 off its typical street price. The Frame is a TV for those willing to trade some picture quality for classy aesthetics, as it’s designed to look like a piece of art you can mount against a wall. When you aren’t watching something, you can use it to display artwork and photos. A few pieces come included, while others are sold with a subscription. The Frame’s QLED panel lacks local dimming, so its contrast and HDR performance can’t really compete with the best options in its price range. It only has one HDMI 2.1 port, too. But the image is still far from poor, and its design does well to blend into a wall, as we’ve professed before.

Hisense U8H

For those on a tighter budget, the 55-inch Hisense U8H is a strong value at $600. That’s only $50 or so less than the price we’ve seen for most of the last few months, but it ties the TV’s all-time low. For the money, the U8H’s Mini LED backlight, quantum dots and full-array local dimming deliver impressive contrast, brightness and black uniformity. It supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and its two HDMI 2.1 ports can play 4K content at a smooth 120Hz. It’s still a step down from the premium TVs above, particularly when it comes to viewing angles. But at this price, it’s hard to top, and it should work in bright or dark rooms.

The just-released Hisense U8K, meanwhile, promises a 144Hz refresh rate and more local dimming zones, but it currently starts at $800, and we can’t say how much of an upgrade it is in practice just yet.

TCL 6-Series R655

TCL’s 6-Series TV is down to $650 for a 55-inch model, which is $50 off its usual rate. This is a close competitor to the Hisense U8H: Its contrast and peak brightness aren’t as strong according to reviewsaround the web, but it still performs well for the price, and it might be worth a look if you prefer Roku OS to the U8H’s Google TV platform.

Several of TCL’s 2023 TVs are down to new lows as well, including the 55-inch Q6 for $400, the 55-inch Q7 for $550 and 65-inch flagship QM8 for $1,200. None of these are really a one-to-one replacement for the 6-Series, though. The Q7 is the closest, but it lacks the 6-Series TV’s Mini LED backlight. The QM8 does have Mini LED tech, but it’s priced to compete with OLED and higher-end LCD sets. We’ve yet to test the new TCL TVs and reviews elsewhere are sparse, so consider this a PSA more than a full recommendation.

Hisense A6H

The Hisense A6H is down to $228 for a 50-inch model and $198 for a 43-inch set. Both deals match all-time lows. The A6H is very much an entry-level 4K TV, so don’t expect especially high contrast or rich colors compared to pricier options. There’s no local dimming, and it’s limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. But for this price, its picture is perfectly fine. The 50-inch model’s VA panel should be particularly decent in a dark room, though it’ll have narrower viewing angles than the 43-inch set’s IPS display. And while it can be sluggish to navigate apps, its Google TV interface makes it easy to find things to watch. None of this will blow you away, but as a cheap secondary TV, the A6H should do the job.

If you’re looking for a middle ground between the A6H and U8H, consider the Hisense U6K. It costs $500 for a 55-inch model and offers Mini LED backlighting, which is rare for the cost. Recentreviews say it delivers better contrast control and color volume than most TVs in its price range as a result, though it’s still limited to 60Hz and doesn’t have the widest viewing angles. It’s not priced any lower than usual for Prime Day, either.

Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series

Amazon’s Fire TV Omni QLED Series is on sale in several sizes for Prime Day, with the 43-, 50-, 55- and 65-inch models down to $380, $400, $430 and $600, respectively. Those match the best prices to date for the 43- and 65-inch sets; the other two are $30 more than their previous lows. You’d get the Omni QLED if you’re especially fond of Amazon’s Fire OS, as its useful voice remote, hands-free Alexa support and tight integration with Amazon services are like having a Fire TV Cube baked into the TV. (You can turn off the mics with a built-in switch.) Its picture quality isn’t bad, either, but reviews say its brightness lags behind competing models from Hisense and TCL.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the top pick in our guide to the best media streamers, and right now it’s available for $35. While that’s $10 more than the lowest price we’ve tracked, it’s $15 below Roku’s list price and $5 less than the typical sale price we’ve seen this year.

The Streaming Stick 4K supports all the major apps and HDR standards, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. Its compact design plugs directly into an HDMI port, while its remote has volume and power controls for your TV. The whole thing is quick to load apps, and for those with Apple devices, it also supports AirPlay 2. While Roku’s OS is blander than rivals from Google and Amazon, its grid-style UI is dead simple to navigate, and its search function does well to present shows from across streaming services.

Note that Roku also sells the Streaming Stick 4K+, which has an upgraded voice remote with a rechargeable battery, a lost remote finder and a headphone jack for private listening. (The Streaming Stick 4K can also do private listening, but only through the Roku mobile app.) The Plus model is better if you can afford it, but it’s not on sale as of this writing.

Roku Express 4K+

If you want a more affordable 4K Roku streamer, the Roku Express 4K+ is worth considering at its Prime Day price of $27. While that’s not an all-time low, it’s $13 off Roku’s MSRP. The Express 4K+ offers the same general experience as the Streaming Stick 4K, but it can’t plug directly into a TV, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision and it has slightly slower WiFi, so it may have more trouble if your internet is particularly finicky. The Streaming Stick 4K is the safer buy when both devices are on sale, but if you really want to save, this is a fine value.

Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

The Google Chromecast with Google TV is down to $40, which is a deal we’ve seen several times before but still comes in $10 below its list price. This is the runner-up pick in our buying guide: It’s getting a bit long in the tooth, but it’s worth grabbing over a Roku streamer if you want a device that’s more proactive about recommending shows you might like based on your viewing history. Compared to Roku OS, Google TV is centered more on content than apps (though it’s still easy to reach the latter), and it’s more nuanced when it comes to voice controls and searching for content. Naturally, it also works better with Google services like YouTube TV, though it doesn’t support AirPlay or Apple TV+.

Google makes an HD version of the Chromecast that outputs in 1080p but otherwise works like the 4K model. It’s not on sale now, but it’s a good choice if you like the Google TV experience and want to add streaming functionality to an older or smaller set.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale for $25, which is $30 below its list price and $10 lower than the usual sale price we’ve seen. This is Amazon’s fastest streaming stick, and its remote comes with Alexa baked in. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, and like the rest of the Fire TV lineup, it has just about all of the necessary streaming apps. Unlike the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, it includes a WiFi 6 radio, though you’ll need a compatible router and an unusually fast internet connection to see any advantage from that.

We generally prefer Roku’s and Google’s interfaces over Amazon’s Fire TV OS, which more aggressively displays ads on its home screen and prioritizes Amazon’s content throughout the UI. It lacks AirPlay support as well. But these issues might be easier to look past if you often use Alexa and Prime Video, especially when the upfront cost is this low.

Amazon Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite

The standard Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite are best used with older TVs, as they each top out at a 1080p resolution instead of 4K. Both lack Dolby Vision HDR – though they retain HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG – and can be more sluggish than the 4K Max when switching between apps as well. That said, the rest of the experience is similar. The main difference is that the base Fire TV Stick’s voice remote has app shortcuts and TV controls for volume and power, while the Fire TV Stick Lite’s remote does not.

Most people who really want a Fire TV streamer should just get the 4K Max, but if you want to upgrade an office or bedroom TV on the cheap, the Fire TV Stick is down to $17, while the Fire TV Stick Lite is down to $15. Both deals represent all-time lows.

NVIDIA Shield TV Pro

The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is available for $170 this Prime Day, a $30 drop that matches the set-top box’s all-time low. This is the most niche player we recommend in our guide, as it released in 2019, still costs a ton and uses Android TV instead of the newer Google TV platform found on the Chromecast. We highlight it for gaming specifically, as its still-speedy Tegra X1+ chip plays well with NVIDIA's GeForce Now game streaming service and various Android games. If you’re looking to run a Plex media server or emulate older games, it makes sense there as well. The box itself is loaded with ports, and it uses upscaling technology to make 1080p content look crisper on 4K TVs.

It’s hard to call the Shield TV Pro a great value at this price in 2023, but if you’re an enthusiast who has had their eye out for a sale, this is a chance to save at least a little bit.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-amazon-prime-day-tv-deals-100719094.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day Fire Stick deals for 2023

It’s Prime Day, and that means deals on Fire TV devices. Though we have some broader issues with Amazon’s media streamers – each one peppers the UI with ads and tends to prioritize the company’s own apps and content – the models on sale today can still provide good value, especially if you already use services like Alexa and Prime Video on a regular basis. (If you don’t, consider the top picks from Roku and Google in our best streaming devices guide.) We’ve compiled the best Prime Day Fire TV deals we can find below. Note that you’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member to see the discounts.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale for $25, which is $30 below its list price and $10 lower than the usual sale price we’ve seen over the course of the year. This is Amazon’s fastest streaming stick, and its remote comes with Alexa baked in. It supports the major HDR standards in Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HDR10+, and like the rest of the Fire TV lineup, it works with just about all of the necessary streaming apps. Unlike the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, it also has a WiFi 6 radio, though you’ll need a compatible router and an unusually fast internet connection to ever see any advantage from that.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

The Fire TV Stick 4K is nearly the same as the 4K Max, but it’s a little slower to load menus and sticks to WiFi 5. Most people should pay up for the 4K Max, if only for that extra bit of futureproofing. If you just want the cheapest 4K streaming stick possible, however, this model is down to $23, which is about $17 below its average street price.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

The standard Fire TV Stick is best used with older TVs, as it tops out at a 1080p resolution instead of 4K. It lacks Dolby Vision HDR as well – though it retains HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG – and it can be more sluggish than the 4K Max when switching between apps. That said, the rest of the experience is similar, and the device still includes an Alexa voice remote with app shortcuts and TV controls for volume and power. Again, most people should just get the 4K Max, but if you want to upgrade a secondary TV on the cheap, this model is on sale for $17. That's $23 less than usual.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Lite

We call the Fire TV Stick Lite the best budget pick in our guide to the best streaming devices. It’s essentially the same as the standard Fire TV Stick, only its remote lacks built-in volume and TV controls. It can’t output Dolby Atmos audio to a compatible sound system, either. It makes up for all of this by being extremely affordable, and Prime Day has only furthered that: The device is down to $15, which is a 50 percent discount.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Fire TV Cube blends a 4K media streamer with a hands-free Alexa speaker, and right now it’s down to $110 for Prime Day. That’s $30 below Amazon’s list price and a new all-time low. This is the most powerful Fire TV device by a comfortable margin, and because it’s a box instead of a stick, it has a host of ports, including an Ethernet jack and an HDMI input. The latter means you can run a game console or cable box through the Cube yet still see an Alexa overlay whenever you call on the assistant. (This passthrough is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, though.) It also supports WiFi 6E.

The Cube runs the same OS as any other Fire TV streamer, so it can be hard to justify over devices with less ad-heavy UIs like the Apple TV 4K. Its lack of AirPlay or Google Cast support is harder to swallow at this price, too. But if you don’t own an Echo and want the ability to use Alexa hands-free, it’s the only streamer with that functionality.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-fire-stick-deals-093004088.html?src=rss

The best Amazon Prime Day iPad and tablet deals for 2023

A number of tablets we recommend are on sale for Prime Day, including various iPads and Amazon Fire tablets. Remember that you’ll need to subscribe to Amazon Prime to take advantage of some of the offers — but thankfully, not all of the deals this year are exclusive to Prime members. If you’ve been looking to buy a new slate, we’ve rounded up the best tablet deals for Amazon Prime Day that we could find below.

Apple iPad (9th gen)

Apple’s 10.2-inch iPad is down to $250, which matches the tablet’s all-time low. Apple normally sells this 64GB model for $329, though we’ve frequently seen it retail around $275 for most of the past few months. The 9th-gen iPad is the top budget pick in our iPad buying guide, and we gave it a review score of 86 in 2021. If you need more storage, the 256GB model is also on sale for $389.

This iPad’s design is dated next to newer models, as it still has a Lightning port, Home button, thick bezels and a non-laminated display. But it still gets you a huge array of apps, and its A13 Bionic chip remains fast enough for light work and casual media consumption. It’s also the only current iPad to still carry a headphone jack.

Apple iPad Air

The iPad Air is the iPad we recommend for most people, and right now it’s available for $500. That’s $100 off its usual going rate. The Air earned a review score of 90 last year. While it lacks the 120Hz refresh rate, 128GB of base storage and better speakers of the iPad Pro, it provides a similarly elegant design for less cash, with a faster M1 chip, superior display and wider accessory support than the 9th-gen and 10th-gen iPads.

Apple iPad (10th gen)

The 64GB 10th-gen iPad is down to a new low of $380, which is about $45 off the average street price we’ve seen in recent months. The 256GB model is also down to a new low at $529. Our review gave this 10.9-inch iPad a score of 85 last year.

This tablet sits in an awkward middle ground between the 10.2-inch iPad and the iPad Air: It has a faster chip, more modern design and a larger screen than the former, but it lacks the laminated display and broader accessory support of the latter. Most notably, it doesn’t work with the second-gen Apple Pencil. If you can’t spend more than $400, though, it’s a clear upgrade over the 9th-gen model. And since it’s the only iPad with a front camera on its landscape edge, it’s particularly convenient for video calls.

Apple iPad Mini

The iPad Mini is also down to an all-time low of $380. That’s roughly $65 off the 8.3-inch tablet’s typical street price and $120 off Apple’s MSRP. We gave the latest Mini a score of 89 back in 2021, but it remains the best compact tablet on the market, as it’s essentially a smaller version of the iPad Air. It uses Apple’s A15 Bionic chip instead of the more powerful M1, but the former is still plenty quick for most needs.

The big downside, as with most non-Pro iPads, is that it only has 64GB of storage by default. For more space, the 256GB variant is on sale for a new low of $529.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro, meanwhile, is down to $1,049. That’s $50 off the jumbo-sized tablet’s typical street price. The 12.9-inch Pro has all the hardware upgrades of its 11-inch counterpart, but its “Liquid Retina” display offers better brightness and contrast thanks to its Mini LED backlighting. It’s the closest any iPad comes to being a full-on laptop replacement, though iPadOS still has its share of issues with multitasking and productivity. Still, if you just want the most luxurious iPad possible, or if a tablet fits better into your workflow than a traditional notebook, it’s worth considering.

Amazon Fire HD 10

Amazon’s Fire HD tablets are worth a look if all you want is a competent device for basic streaming and web browsing for as little as possible. The Fire HD 10 is the best value in the lineup for most people, and it’s back down to its all-time low of $75 for Prime Day. This 32GB model usually costs around $130. The 64GB version is also on sale for $90.

All Fire tablets are a step down from an iPad in terms of performance and build quality, and their OS still pushes you toward Amazon apps like Kindle or Prime Video. The app store is far less robust in general, with no official support for Google services like YouTube or Gmail. You’ll also have to deal with lock screen ads unless you pay an extra fee. But the Fire HD 10’s 10.1-inch 1080p display is nice enough for casual media consumption, and its processor is fast enough to not be a dealbreaker. Plus, its matte plastic design is comfortable, it gets a solid 10 or so hours of battery life, and it has a microSD slot for adding storage. This version of the Fire HD 10 released back in 2021, but it’s still hard to do better at this deal price.

We’ll also note that the Fire HD 10 Plus is on sale for $95. This variant adds an extra gigabyte of RAM (4GB total) and wireless charging support. It might be compelling if you want to buy a charging dock and use the tablet like an Alexa smart display, but the base model should be enough for most people in need of an affordable tablet.

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids and Kids Pro

The Fire HD 10 Kids and Kids Pro are each down to $120, matching their lowest prices to date. These devices have similar hardware as the base Fire HD 10, but like all of Amazon’s Kids tablets, add a protective bumper case, built-in kickstands, a longer two-year warranty, and a year to Amazon’s Kids+ service (which includes a variety of child-friendly books, games and apps). They ship with a simplified UI by default, and mercifully, they don’t feature ads on the lock screen.

Between the two, the Kids edition has a larger rubbery case, while the Kids Pro model has a slimmer hard-plastic case designed for slightly older children. If you’re not comfortable giving your kid an iPad, these are decent substitutes.

Amazon Fire HD 8

If you’re on a super tight budget, the Fire HD 8 is a decent value at $55, which again matches the best price we’ve seen. Normally, this tablet retails around $90. It has a smaller (8-inch) and lower-resolution (1,280x800) display than the Fire HD 10, and it's not as quick in day-to-day use, but its performance is adequate for the basics, it still gets 10-ish hours of battery life and it's light in the hand.

Amazon also makes a “Plus” model of the Fire HD 8 with 3GB of RAM (instead of two), wireless charging support and a marginally better camera. Given that the Fire HD 8 isn’t all that fast, the Fire HD 8 Plus might be worth the step up if you prefer a small slate. It’s now on sale for $70, which is 42 percent off its usual street price.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids and Kids Pro

The Fire HD 8 Kids and Kids Pro are both available for $75. That marks a new low and comes in $55 below their average going rate. These two come with the same extra features as the Fire HD 10 Kids models above, but they use the Fire HD 8 as their base, so they aren’t as fast or spacious. If you want to save some cash on a streaming and reading machine for your kid, though, they’re solid values at this price.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 is on sale for $500, which matches the best price we’ve seen outside of trade-in deals. We’ve typically seen this 11-inch slate retail around $635 in recent months. The Galaxy Tab S8 line is the top Android pick in our guide to the best tablets thanks to their lively displays and robust S Pen stylus support. The base Tab S8 has an LCD panel with a fast 120Hz refresh rate and sharp 2,560 x 1,600 resolution, along with a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM. Samsung says it will supply software updates to the Tab S8 lineup through early 2026 as well.

That said, you should only get this if you’re deeply committed to Android. Google’s OS still isn’t as accommodating to productivity as iPadOS or Windows, nor does it have as many apps that are explicitly designed for large screens. But if you own a Galaxy phone or just don’t want to jump into Apple land, this is still good hardware.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+

The 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S8+ is available for $600, which is more than $200 below its usual street price and matches its all-time low. This variant has the same general strengths as the standard Tab S8, but it has a more vibrant OLED display that ranks among the best on any tablet, plus it’s slightly thinner (0.22” instead of 0.25”). It also has a larger battery to make up for the bigger display. Again, though, this is a good chunk of change to spend on an Android slate. Like the standard Tab S8, it also lacks a headphone jack. We gave the Galaxy Tab S8+ a review score of 85 last year.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

The Surface Pro 9 is the top Windows pick in our tablet buying guide, and a configuration that includes a Core i7-1255U processor, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD is now on sale for $1,600. Clearly, that’s not cheap, but it’s $300 off the tablet’s recent street price and represents the lowest price we’ve tracked for this variant.

You probably know where you stand on the Surface Pro at this point: It’s still not particularly comfortable to use on your lap, but it remains the gold standard for 2-in-1s that behave and perform like a laptop more than a traditional tablet. While this version isn’t a huge shake-up, it should be a nice bump for those upgrading from a three- to five-year-old model. Just note that this deal doesn’t include a keyboard or stylus.

Amazon Fire Max 11

The recently released Fire Max 11 is down to $150, which is the first major discount we’ve seen and 35 percent off its standard going rate. This is the largest and most powerful tablet Amazon sells, with an 11-inch 2,000 x 1,200 resolution display and a beefier octa-core processor than the one in the Fire HD 10. Its chassis is made of aluminum instead of plastic as well. The issue is that it still runs Fire OS, whose shortcomings in app support and productivity features (plus its built-in ads) are harder to swallow when you’re spending more than $100 to use it. But if you’re in the niche group that wants a more premium Fire tablet without spending iPad or Galaxy Tab money, it could have appeal.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-ipad-deals-091507663.html?src=rss

The best early Prime Day deals for 2023

Amazon Prime Day 2023 is a few hours out, but you can still snag some early deals before the two-day shopping event begins in earnest. We've rounded up the best early Prime Day deals we can find below. Remember that you'll need to subscribe to Prime to take advantage of many (but not all) of the offers, and that there's always a chance that prices drop lower during the event itself. For those with no interest in Prime, we've also included a few of the best tech deals that aren't explicitly tied to the event.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max has dropped to $25 for Prime members before Prime Day, which is more than half off its regular price and ties its all-time low. This the most powerful streaming dongle Amazon makes, with a superior processor than the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, plus support for WiFi 6, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio. While Amazon's Fire TV OS can be messy compared to other platforms from Roku, Google and Apple, it still gets you access to just about all of the major streaming apps. A few other Fire streaming devices have been discounted as well, including the latest Fire TV Cube, which Prime members can pick up for $110.

Fire TV Stick Lite

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Lite is half off and down to only $15. It was slightly cheaper last Prime Day when it was on sale for $12, but nevertheless, this is a great sale on Amazon’s most affordable streaming dongle. With its support for 1080p video and WiFi 5 connectivity, it’s arguably best for those on tight budgets who just want to upgrade an old TV with basic streaming chops.

Amazon Fire HD 8

If you're on an ultra-tight budget and need a new tablet, the Fire HD 8 is worth considering at its current deal price of $55, which matches its lowest price to date. Normally, the device retails around $90. This tablet has a smaller (8-inch) and lower-resolution (1,280x800) display than the Fire HD 10, and it isn’t as quick in day-to-day use. Like all Fire tablets, its app support lags well behind iPadOS, which is most noticeable in its lack of Google apps. But it has just enough power for the basics, it gets a solid 10-ish hours of battery life and it’s light in the hand. You can expand its 32GB of storage with a microSD card, too. If all you want is a competent tablet for casual reading and streaming for as little as possible, it should do the job.

Amazon Fire Max 11

Amazon's recently released Fire Max 11 tablet is on sale for $150 for Prime Day. It's the best discount we've seen since Amazon's most powerful tablet launched in May. The slab has an 11-inch 2000 x 1200 touchscreen, an octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, up to 128GB of built-in storage and up to 14 hours of battery life. It can also work with a detachable keyboard and stylus, so you could use it like a 2-in-1 laptop.

Amazon Echo Buds (2023)

The latest Echo Buds just arrived in May yet they’re already 30 percent off at Amazon for Prime members. You can get them for $35, which is $15 off and ties the lowest price we’ve seen. We recommended the Echo Buds to those who prefer an open design in our best budget wireless earbuds guide. They lack active noise cancellation and don't completely seal off the ear canal, but their sound quality is decent for the price, and they come with features we don't often see in cheap earbuds, such as multipoint connectivity, auto-pausing and a customizable EQ tool. Naturally, they also work well with Alexa. If you hate the feeling of in-ear headphones, they'll be a good value.  

Amazon eGift Card + $5 promo credit

Amazon is giving Prime members a $5 promotional credit when they buy an eGift card valued at $50 or more before July 10th. You'll need to use the promo credit by August 25, 2023, but the only things it won't apply to are items sold by third-party merchants and e-books.

Blink Mini

Prime members can get a two-pack of Blink Mini security cameras for $34 right now. Single cameras are also on sale for $18. While these Blink cameras are wired, they have most of the same features as the standard wireless models, including 1080p video recording, motion alerts and support for two-way talk. Several other Blink wireless cameras are on sale as well.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus

The new Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is down to a new low of $130 for Prime members. This model just came out this year and it’s powered by a quick-release, rechargeable battery that you can easily remove when the device needs more power. It also supports some of the latest Ring Doorbell features including 156p video recording, color night vision, two-way talk, Quick Replies and customizable motion zones.

Amazon Kindle Unlimited 3-month membership

If you're a Prime member who has never subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, you can get a three-month trial to Amazon's e-book service for no extra cost. Normally, the subscription goes for $12 a month after a 30-day free trial. Just note that the membership will be set to auto-renew by default. As a refresher, Kindle Unlimited makes a selection of e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines accessible on-demand. It doesn't include every e-book in the Kindle library, but it may still be worthwhile if you're a particularly avid reader. If nothing else, this deal makes it easier to figure out if it's worth paying for. 

Audible Premium Plus 3-month membership

Similar to that Kindle Unlimited offer, Prime members who are new to Audible Premium Plus can get three months of the audiobook service for free. This membership usually costs $14.95 a month after a 30-day free trial, so you're saving about $30. Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: Like the less expensive Audible Plus, it provides an assortment of audiobooks, podcasts and other audio content you can access on-demand. The main difference is that it also includes a monthly credit that you can use to buy any book in the Audible store permanently. As with Kindle Unlimited, Premium Plus will be most worth it if you burn through audiobooks and podcasts quickly, but this extended trial is a comfier way to see if it's useful. Again, be aware that the subscription will be set to auto-renew by default.

Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon has knocked the latest Echo Dot down to $23, which is roughly half off its typical street price, and is throwing in a Sengled color smart bulb for no extra cost. We consider the Echo Dot the best smart speaker you can get for less than $50 thanks to its compact design, surprisingly good sound quality for its size and handy Alexa integration. The newest Echo Dots can also act as Eero WiFi boosters, adding up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to your existing Eero system.

Amazon Echo

Amazon has discounted several other Echo speakers as well. The base Echo, for one, is down to $55, which is $5 more than its all-time low but still $35 off its typical going rate. This is the top pick for less than $100 in our smart speaker buying guide, as it represents a clear step-up from the Echo Dot in terms of sound quality. If you aren’t tied to Apple or Google, we generally found it to outperform the HomePod Mini and Nest Audio as well.

If you’re looking for something more affordable than the Echo Dot, the unidirectional Echo Pop doesn’t sound as nice, but it offers most of the same Alexa capabilities and is currently on sale for $18. The Echo Dot with Clock, meanwhile, has similar hardware to the standard Dot, but adds an LED display that can show the time and basic weather and music info. That one is down to a new low of $30. And while the larger Echo Studio can’t top something like the Sonos Era 100, it’s still the best-sounding Echo, and it could be a decent value at its current price of $155 if you already own several other Alexa speakers and want to save some cash. That deal also matches the lowest price we’ve tracked.

Amazon Echo Show 5

The latest Echo Show 5 is half off and down to a record low of $45. We’ve previously recommended the Show 5 to those who prefer Alexa over the Google Assistant and want a smart display that won’t take up much space. It’s particularly useful as a smart alarm clock, as it has a gentle sunrise alarm feature and a tap-to-snooze function. This new model has a faster processor, a slightly larger speaker and an extra mic for better Alexa performance.

Amazon Echo Show 8

If you don’t need something so compact, the Echo Show 8 is our favorite Amazon smart display overall and is currently on sale for $60. That’s a new all-time low and roughly $45 off the device’s average street price. Compared to the 5.5-inch panel on the Echo Show 5, the 8-inch touchscreen here is much better suited for making video calls or viewing photos. You get a vastly superior camera, more powerful speakers and a faster processor as well. As with the Show 5, there's also a physical camera shutter and mic mute button.

The more spacious Echo Show 10 and Echo Show 15 are also down to new lows at $163 and $182, respectively. Neither of those devices are outright bad, but our reviews found them to be less universally appealing than their smaller and more affordable siblings.

Ring Video Doorbell + Echo Show 5

Amazon’s sweeping early Prime Day sale on Ring devices includes a bundle that gives you the Ring Video Doorbell plus an Echo Show 5 for only $65. Considering the Video Doorbell alone is going for $55 as an early Prime Day deal, that means you’ll only spend $10 on the Show 5 if you opt for the bundle. The Video Doorbell itself is a fairly basic 1080p option, but it's easy to install and generally accurate at delivering motion alerts

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids

The 16GB version of Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite Kids is down to $105, which is $65 off and a new low. While this e-reader is marketed toward children, it features the same hardware as the standard Paperwhite, with a lightweight and waterproof design, 6.8-inch 300 ppi display, 10-week battery life and extensive e-book library. Here, though, you also get a cover case, a longer two-year warranty and a year of Amazon's Kids+ service (which you can ignore if you aren’t buying for a little one). We gave the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition a review score of 97 back in 2021. The Kids edition lacks that model’s ad-free lock screen (when you aren't using a child account, at least), upgraded front light, wireless charging and 32GB of storage, but the two devices are otherwise similar.

Motorola Razr+

The foldable Moto Razr+ only just arrived last month, but it's already received a 15 percent discount for Prime Day, albeit in a roundabout way. You'll need to be a Prime member and request an invite first, after which you’ll be able to buy the phone on Prime Day for the discounted price. While jumping through Amazon’s hoops is annoying, doing so will get you an unlocked Razr+ for $850 instead of $1,000.

We spent some time with the new foldable before it came out last month and gave it a full review upon its debut. The verdict? Samsung’s Galaxy foldables have some serious competition. The Razr+ has a 6.9-inch screen when open and offers a 3.6-inch screen when folded, which is much larger than the 1.9-inch exterior screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The foldable design unlocks different uses, as it can act as its own tripod in addition to taking up less space in your pocket. 

Eero Pro routers

A number of Eero and Eero Pro WiFi router packs have been discounted for Prime members ahead of the shopping event. You can pick up one Eero router for as low as $45, or an Eero Pro router for $70. We recommend going for the Eero Pro if you can, since it's a tri-band system that supports speeds up to 1Gbps and covers slightly more square feet than the standard Eero does. Just keep in mind that these are not the latest Eero systems; for WiFi 6 support, you'll have to shell out a bit more money for an Eero 6 set.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen)

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are back on sale for $200, which is $50 off their usual rate and a record low. These remain the best true wireless earbuds for Apple lovers, even though the company didn't drastically overhaul the design with this latest model. Most of the new features are under the hood, with Apple noticeably improving the pair's sound quality, noise cancellation and transparency mode.

Samsung Pro Plus microSD card

The 256GB version of Samsung's latest Pro Plus microSD card is down to a new low of $20. That's $10 off its MSRP. If you need more space, the 512GB model is within a couple dollars of its best price at $43.52. The Pro Plus is the top pick in our guide to the best microSD cards, as it finished at or near the top of all of our sequential and random speed tests. It's also backed by a 10-year warranty.

Samsung 980 Pro

The 2TB version of Samsung's 980 Pro is down to a new low of $100. We've seen this SSD steadily drop in price over the course of the year, but this deal marks a roughly $35 drop from the device’s average street price in recent months. The 980 Pro isn’t Samsung’s fastest SSD – that would be the 990 Pro, the 1TB model of which is down to $70 – but it still meets Sony's requirements for expanding the PS5’s storage. You’ll just need to add a heatsink for a few bucks more to go along with it. If you aren't buying for a PS5 specifically, a speedy PCIe 4.0 drive like this may be overkill but will provide fast storage all the same.

Both this and the Evo Plus microSD card deal come as part of a wider sale on Samsung storage devices. This includes the Fit Plus, a tiny flash drive we recommend in our best SSDs guide, down to $22, and the T7 Shield, a ruggedized version of one of our favorite portable SSDs, back down to $75. Both deals match the lowest prices we’ve tracked, and nothing in the sale is exclusive to Prime subscribers.

Apple iPad (9th gen)

The 64GB model of Apple's 9th-gen iPad is down to $250 at Amazon, matching the lowest price we've tracked. You'll see the price listed as $279 and an additional $29 discount will apply at checkout. Apple normally sells the device for $329, though we've seen it retail closer to $275 in recent months. This is the budget pick in our iPad buying guide: It lacks the accessory support, thinner bezels and laminated display of the iPad Air, but it's by far the most affordable route into iPadOS, and it remains fast and comfortable enough for casual reading, streaming and gaming. It's also the only current iPad with a headphone jack.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is down to $199 for a 40mm model and $229 for a 44mm model. We gave the Galaxy Watch 5 a score of 85 last year, and it's currently the "best for Android users" pick in our smartwatch buying guide. While its battery life could be better, its design is durable and attractive, its OS is easy to navigate and its health tracking is relatively comprehensive. Samsung is expected to announce a Galaxy Watch 6 in the coming weeks, however, so it may be worth waiting to see how that model stacks up if you don't need a new smartwatch right this instant.

Google Pixel 7a

Google’s Pixel 7a is $50 off and down to a new low of $449 right now. It’s currently the best midrange phone you can get thanks to its fast Tensor G2 chipset, smooth 90Hz display, IP67 water resistance, fantastic cameras and support for wireless charging. If you’re willing to spend an extra $50, you can spend $500 and upgrade to the Pixel 7.

Elgato Stream Deck +

Elgato’s Stream Deck + is 10 percent off right now and down to $180 in one of the first real discounts we’ve seen on the gaming accessory. In addition to eight customizable buttons, the Deck+ also has a touch bar and four knobs that make it easier to control things like lighting and sound during a stream. The Deck+ also supports plugins for Camera Hub, Elgato Wave Link, Spotify, Twitch and more.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know, and hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-prime-day-early-amazon-deals-2023-040014747.html?src=rss

What we bought: The last gamepad I’ll need to buy for Switch and PC

If you regularly play video games, there’s a good chance you’ve dealt with stick drift. You may be lining up a shot in Apex Legends or surveying the land in Tears of the Kingdom, and suddenly, you notice your cursor slowly dragging to one side on its own. This, to put it nicely, sucks. It takes you out of the game, and you quickly realize that your state-of-the-art $70 controller is now a degraded hunk of plastic.

The Switch’s Joy-Cons are infamous for developing drift, but PlayStation and Xbox controllers aren’t immune to it either. Over the past year or so, however, there’s been a mini-resurgence in controllers that use magnets and “Hall effect” sensors in their joysticks instead of traditional potentiometers, making them less susceptible to wear over time. A few months back, I grabbed 8BitDo’s Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, which costs $70, works with Switch and PC and has these Hall effect sticks.

Let’s take a step back. Most game controllers use analog joysticks with potentiometers, little electromechanical components that measure the stick’s position by sliding a contact arm (or “wiper”) against a sensor to read its resistance. This is generally precise, but because the wiper has to make repeated physical contact with the resistor, the mechanism will eventually wear down, increasing the likelihood of unreliable readings. Hall effect setups, meanwhile, use magnets and an electrical conductor that don’t physically touch. As the former moves in relation to the latter, the resulting change in voltage generated by the magnetic field is converted to positional data for the joystick.

This tech isn’t new, and Hall effect sticks still aren’t totally immune to drift. Everything breaks down eventually, and it’s always possible to get a defective unit. If made right, though, Hall effect joysticks should last for several years. They also won’t be as vulnerable to dust and grime.

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

How does all of this feel in practice with 8BitDo’s controller? Well…normal. There’s little immediate difference between the sticks on the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller and those on a DualSense or Switch Pro Controller, which is a good thing. You can customize the controller’s dead zone — something many controllers use to mask eventual drift issues — through 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software app, but by default, the joysticks feel smooth and responsive. The real benefit here is their long-term durability. It’s hard to predict the future, but I’ve waited six months to make this recommendation, and so far, so good.

There are other Hall effect controllers from brands like NYXI and GuliKit (the company that makes the joysticks used here), but 8BitDo has built several quality accessories over the years, many of which we've recommended. (It sells a couple of cheaper variants of this controller as well, but those lack the higher-quality joysticks.) I had already used the company’s SN30 Pro gamepad and GBros. Adapter for a few years prior to picking up the Ultimate Controller and have had no troubles with reliability.

The Hall effect sticks are the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller’s major selling point, but most of its other aspects are commendable as well. I’ve always found asymmetrical joysticks more natural than a side-by-side layout, so I appreciate that the general design is shaped like an Xbox controller. The whole thing is a little smaller than a Series X/S controller, but not to the point of discomfort for my relatively large hands. The face buttons are crisp and well-spaced (albeit not quite as large as the Switch Pro Controller), the bumpers are ample-sized and the analog triggers have a pleasing amount of travel.

On the back are two paddles that sit almost flush against the grips, right where my fingers naturally rest. As a racing game aficionado, I appreciate having back buttons when I’m too lazy to hook up my wheel: in F1 23, for instance, being able to manually shift gears without taking my thumb off the steering input gives me better control over the car. The d-pad, while on the stiffer side, has been consistently accurate for rapidly moving pieces during my semi-regular Tetris (or TETR.IO) binges, too.

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

I also appreciate that the controller is so customizable. 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software app lets me remap just about any button, assign macros, and create up to three settings profiles, which save to the pad itself. It’s also possible to adjust the sensitivity of the vibration, joysticks and triggers. Do I constantly use all of these tweaks? No, because the default experience is pretty good. But if something ever does feel off, I can more easily address it. I have a profile for shooters like Overwatch 2, for example, that raises the sensitivity of the triggers so my shots register faster.

The Ultimate Bluetooth Controller costs $70, the same as a Switch Pro Controller or a DualSense. Here, though, you also get a slick-looking charging dock, which powers up via USB-C and stores the included USB wireless dongle. On the whole, the pad can connect over the dongle, Bluetooth or a USB-C cable. A switch on the back swaps between Bluetooth or WiFi, but confusingly, the former only works on Switch. I almost always use a 2.4GHz connection anyway since Bluetooth can add latency, but if I lost the dongle, I’d have to use a wire on PC. Pairing is simple, though; you just have to turn on the Switch's “Pro Controller Wired Communication” setting before using the dongle with that system's dock.

There are other minor issues. The 20-ish hours of battery life isn’t bad, but it’s well short of the 40+ hours of the Switch Pro Controller. The Switch-style face button layout is inverted on PC, so B is usually “A.” Like most third-party Switch controllers, the 8BitDo pad doesn’t work with the console’s “HD Rumble” feature, nor does it have an NFC reader for scanning Amiibos (if you’re into that). It is one of the few non-Nintendo pads that can wake the Switch from sleep mode — but you have to awkwardly shake the controller to do so, and the feature only works over Bluetooth. And while the gyro controls work fine most of the time, they can be thrown off when the controller vibrates.

Those aren't dealbreakers, though. I immediately turn off most forms of motion control anyway and I’m not starting an Amiibo collection anytime soon. So far, the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller has proven to be a comfortable and versatile pro-style pad that should stay alive over the long haul. After many hours of play, I think I can safely call it my endgame controller for both Switch and PC.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/what-we-bought-the-last-gamepad-ill-need-to-buy-for-switch-and-pc-140047518.html?src=rss

The best early Prime Day deals for 2023

Amazon Prime Day 2023 is almost here, but you can still snag some early deals before the two-day shopping event begins in earnest. We've rounded up the best early Prime Day deals we can find below. Remember that you'll need to subscribe to Prime to take advantage of many (but not all) of the offers, and that there's always a chance that prices drop lower during the event itself. For those with no interest in Prime, we've also included a few of the best tech deals that aren't explicitly tied to the event.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max has dropped to $25 for Prime members before Prime Day, which is more than half off its regular price and ties its all-time low. This the most powerful streaming dongle Amazon makes, with a superior processor than the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, plus support for WiFi 6, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio. While Amazon's Fire TV OS can be messy compared to other platforms from Roku, Google and Apple, it still gets you access to just about all of the major streaming apps. A few other Fire streaming devices have been discounted as well, including the latest Fire TV Cube, which Prime members can pick up for $110.

Fire TV Stick Lite

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Lite is half off and down to only $15. It was slightly cheaper last Prime Day when it was on sale for $12, but nevertheless, this is a great sale on Amazon’s most affordable streaming dongle. With its support for 1080p video and WiFi 5 connectivity, it’s arguably best for those on tight budgets who just want to upgrade an old TV with basic streaming chops.

Amazon Fire HD 8

If you're on an ultra-tight budget and need a new tablet, the Fire HD 8 is worth considering at its current deal price of $55, which matches its lowest price to date. Normally, the device retails around $90. This tablet has a smaller (8-inch) and lower-resolution (1,280x800) display than the Fire HD 10, and it isn’t as quick in day-to-day use. Like all Fire tablets, its app support lags well behind iPadOS, which is most noticeable in its lack of Google apps. But it has just enough power for the basics, it gets a solid 10-ish hours of battery life and it’s light in the hand. You can expand its 32GB of storage with a microSD card, too. If all you want is a competent tablet for casual reading and streaming for as little as possible, it should do the job.

Amazon Echo Buds (2023)

The latest Echo Buds just arrived in May yet they’re already 30 percent off at Amazon for Prime members. You can get them for $35, which is $15 off and ties the lowest price we’ve seen. We recommended the Echo Buds to those who prefer an open design in our best budget wireless earbuds guide. They lack active noise cancellation and don't completely seal off the ear canal, but their sound quality is decent for the price, and they come with features we don't often see in cheap earbuds, such as multipoint connectivity, auto-pausing and a customizable EQ tool. Naturally, they also work well with Alexa. If you hate the feeling of in-ear headphones, they'll be a good value.  

Amazon eGift Card + $5 promo credit

Amazon is giving Prime members a $5 promotional credit when they buy an eGift card valued at $50 or more before July 10th. You'll need to use the promo credit by August 25, 2023, but the only things it won't apply to are items sold by third-party merchants and e-books.

Blink Mini

Prime members can get a two-pack of Blink Mini security cameras for $34 right now. Single cameras are also on sale for $18. While these Blink cameras are wired, they have most of the same features as the standard wireless models, including 1080p video recording, motion alerts and support for two-way talk. Several other Blink wireless cameras are on sale as well.

Amazon Kindle Unlimited 3-month membership

If you're a Prime member who has never subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, you can get a three-month trial to Amazon's e-book service for no extra cost. Normally, the subscription goes for $12 a month after a 30-day free trial. Just note that the membership will be set to auto-renew by default. As a refresher, Kindle Unlimited makes a selection of e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines accessible on-demand. It doesn't include every e-book in the Kindle library, but it may still be worthwhile if you're a particularly avid reader. If nothing else, this deal makes it easier to figure out if it's worth paying for. 

Audible Premium Plus 3-month membership

Similar to that Kindle Unlimited offer, Prime members who are new to Audible Premium Plus can get three months of the audiobook service for free. This membership usually costs $14.95 a month after a 30-day free trial, so you're saving about $30. Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: Like the less expensive Audible Plus, it provides an assortment of audiobooks, podcasts and other audio content you can access on-demand. The main difference is that it also includes a monthly credit that you can use to buy any book in the Audible store permanently. As with Kindle Unlimited, Premium Plus will be most worth it if you burn through audiobooks and podcasts quickly, but this extended trial is a comfier way to see if it's useful. Again, be aware that the subscription will be set to auto-renew by default.

Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon has knocked the latest Echo Dot down to $23, which is roughly half off its typical street price, and is throwing in a Sengled color smart bulb for no extra cost. We consider the Echo Dot the best smart speaker you can get for less than $50 thanks to its compact design, surprisingly good sound quality for its size and handy Alexa integration. The newest Echo Dots can also act as Eero WiFi boosters, adding up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to your existing Eero system.

Amazon Echo

Amazon has discounted several other Echo speakers as well. The base Echo, for one, is down to $55, which is $5 more than its all-time low but still $35 off its typical going rate. This is the top pick for less than $100 in our smart speaker buying guide, as it represents a clear step-up from the Echo Dot in terms of sound quality. If you aren’t tied to Apple or Google, we generally found it to outperform the HomePod Mini and Nest Audio as well.

If you’re looking for something more affordable than the Echo Dot, the unidirectional Echo Pop doesn’t sound as nice, but it offers most of the same Alexa capabilities and is currently on sale for $18. The Echo Dot with Clock, meanwhile, has similar hardware to the standard Dot, but adds an LED display that can show the time and basic weather and music info. That one is down to a new low of $30. And while the larger Echo Studio can’t top something like the Sonos Era 100, it’s still the best-sounding Echo, and it could be a decent value at its current price of $155 if you already own several other Alexa speakers and want to save some cash. That deal also matches the lowest price we’ve tracked.

Amazon Echo Show 5

The latest Echo Show 5 is half off and down to a record low of $45. We’ve previously recommended the Show 5 to those who prefer Alexa over the Google Assistant and want a smart display that won’t take up much space. It’s particularly useful as a smart alarm clock, as it has a gentle sunrise alarm feature and a tap-to-snooze function. This new model has a faster processor, a slightly larger speaker and an extra mic for better Alexa performance.

Amazon Echo Show 8

If you don’t need something so compact, the Echo Show 8 is our favorite Amazon smart display overall and is currently on sale for $60. That’s a new all-time low and roughly $45 off the device’s average street price. Compared to the 5.5-inch panel on the Echo Show 5, the 8-inch touchscreen here is much better suited for making video calls or viewing photos. You get a vastly superior camera, more powerful speakers and a faster processor as well. As with the Show 5, there's also a physical camera shutter and mic mute button.

The more spacious Echo Show 10 and Echo Show 15 are also down to new lows at $163 and $182, respectively. Neither of those devices are outright bad, but our reviews found them to be less universally appealing than their smaller and more affordable siblings.

Ring Video Doorbell + Echo Show 5

Amazon’s sweeping early Prime Day sale on Ring devices includes a bundle that gives you the Ring Video Doorbell plus an Echo Show 5 for only $65. Considering the Video Doorbell alone is going for $55 as an early Prime Day deal, that means you’ll only spend $10 on the Show 5 if you opt for the bundle. The Video Doorbell itself is a fairly basic 1080p option, but it's easy to install and generally accurate at delivering motion alerts

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids

The 16GB version of Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite Kids is down to $105, which is $65 off and a new low. While this e-reader is marketed toward children, it features the same hardware as the standard Paperwhite, with a lightweight and waterproof design, 6.8-inch 300 ppi display, 10-week battery life and extensive e-book library. Here, though, you also get a cover case, a longer two-year warranty and a year of Amazon's Kids+ service (which you can ignore if you aren’t buying for a little one). We gave the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition a review score of 97 back in 2021. The Kids edition lacks that model’s ad-free lock screen (when you aren't using a child account, at least), upgraded front light, wireless charging and 32GB of storage, but the two devices are otherwise similar.

Motorola Razr+

The foldable Moto Razr+ only just arrived last month, but it's already received a 15 percent discount for Prime Day, albeit in a roundabout way. You'll need to be a Prime member and request an invite first, after which you’ll be able to buy the phone on Prime Day for the discounted price. While jumping through Amazon’s hoops is annoying, doing so will get you an unlocked Razr+ for $850 instead of $1,000.

We spent some time with the new foldable before it came out last month and gave it a full review upon its debut. The verdict? Samsung’s Galaxy foldables have some serious competition. The Razr+ has a 6.9-inch screen when open and offers a 3.6-inch screen when folded, which is much larger than the 1.9-inch exterior screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The foldable design unlocks different uses, as it can act as its own tripod in addition to taking up less space in your pocket. 

Eero Pro routers

A number of Eero and Eero Pro WiFi router packs have been discounted for Prime members ahead of the shopping event. You can pick up one Eero router for as low as $45, or an Eero Pro router for $70. We recommend going for the Eero Pro if you can, since it's a tri-band system that supports speeds up to 1Gbps and covers slightly more square feet than the standard Eero does. Just keep in mind that these are not the latest Eero systems; for WiFi 6 support, you'll have to shell out a bit more money for an Eero 6 set.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen)

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are back on sale for $200, which is $50 off their usual rate and a record low. These remain the best true wireless earbuds for Apple lovers, even though the company didn't drastically overhaul the design with this latest model. Most of the new features are under the hood, with Apple noticeably improving the pair's sound quality, noise cancellation and transparency mode.

Samsung Pro Plus microSD card

The 256GB version of Samsung's latest Pro Plus microSD card is down to a new low of $20. That's $10 off its MSRP. If you need more space, the 512GB model is within a couple dollars of its best price at $43.52. The Pro Plus is the top pick in our guide to the best microSD cards, as it finished at or near the top of all of our sequential and random speed tests. It's also backed by a 10-year warranty.

Samsung 980 Pro

The 2TB version of Samsung's 980 Pro is down to a new low of $100. We've seen this SSD steadily drop in price over the course of the year, but this deal marks a roughly $35 drop from the device’s average street price in recent months. The 980 Pro isn’t Samsung’s fastest SSD – that would be the 990 Pro, the 1TB model of which is down to $70 – but it still meets Sony's requirements for expanding the PS5’s storage. You’ll just need to add a heatsink for a few bucks more to go along with it. If you aren't buying for a PS5 specifically, a speedy PCIe 4.0 drive like this may be overkill but will provide fast storage all the same.

Both this and the Evo Plus microSD card deal come as part of a wider sale on Samsung storage devices. This includes the Fit Plus, a tiny flash drive we recommend in our best SSDs guide, down to $22, and the T7 Shield, a ruggedized version of one of our favorite portable SSDs, back down to $75. Both deals match the lowest prices we’ve tracked, and nothing in the sale is exclusive to Prime subscribers.

Apple iPad (9th gen)

The 64GB model of Apple's 9th-gen iPad is down to $250 at Amazon, matching the lowest price we've tracked. You'll see the price listed as $279 and an additional $29 discount will apply at checkout. Apple normally sells the device for $329, though we've seen it retail closer to $275 in recent months. This is the budget pick in our iPad buying guide: It lacks the accessory support, thinner bezels and laminated display of the iPad Air, but it's by far the most affordable route into iPadOS, and it remains fast and comfortable enough for casual reading, streaming and gaming. It's also the only current iPad with a headphone jack.

Shark RV1001AE

Shark makes some of our favorite robot vacuums and right now the Shark RV1001AE is half price, bringing it down to $300. This model has a bagless, self-emptying base, that you won’t have to empty for quite some time as it has a claimed capacity of up to 45 days. While we didn’t try this exact model, we have found robovacs from Shark to be simple to set up, with a particularly easy-to-use companion app. Shark's mapping function is typically accurate and the bagless base here should save you money in the long run, as buying device-specific bags can get pricey.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is down to $199 for a 40mm model and $229 for a 44mm model. We gave the Galaxy Watch 5 a score of 85 last year, and it's currently the "best for Android users" pick in our smartwatch buying guide. While its battery life could be better, its design is durable and attractive, its OS is easy to navigate and its health tracking is relatively comprehensive. Samsung is expected to announce a Galaxy Watch 6 in the coming weeks, however, so it may be worth waiting to see how that model stacks up if you don't need a new smartwatch right this instant.

Anker 511 20W Nano Pro charger

Anker's compact 20W USB-C charger is cheaper than ever right now and down to $12. Not only is it much smaller than Apple's 20W adapter, but it can fast-charge the latest iPhones as well. It also has Anker's Dynamic Temperature Sensor that helps prevent overheating, and its Power Tuner Chip that adjusts power output depending on the device you have connected.

Google Pixel 7a

Google’s Pixel 7a is $50 off and down to a new low of $449 right now. It’s currently the best midrange phone you can get thanks to its fast Tensor G2 chipset, smooth 90Hz display, IP67 water resistance, fantastic cameras and support for wireless charging. If you’re willing to spend an extra $50, you can spend $500 and upgrade to the Pixel 7.

Elgato Stream Deck +

Elgato’s Stream Deck + is 10 percent off right now and down to $180 in one of the first real discounts we’ve seen on the gaming accessory. In addition to eight customizable buttons, the Deck+ also has a touch bar and four knobs that make it easier to control things like lighting and sound during a stream. The Deck+ also supports plugins for Camera Hub, Elgato Wave Link, Spotify, Twitch and more.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know, and hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-prime-day-2023-early-amazon-deals-130503691.html?src=rss

The best early Prime Day deals for 2023

Amazon Prime Day 2023 is a few days away on July 11th, but you don't have to wait until then to get a good deal. The company has started to roll out a few early Prime Day deals before the two-day shopping event officially commences, including, as expected, several discounts on its own devices and services. We've rounded up the best early Prime Day deals we can find below. Remember that you'll need to subscribe to Prime to take advantage of many (but not all) of the offers, and that there's always a chance that prices drop lower during the event itself. For those with no interest in Prime, we've also included a few of the best tech deals from this week that aren't explicitly tied to the event. We'll stay on the lookout over the next few days and update this roundup with new offers as they arise.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max has dropped to $25 for Prime members before Prime Day, which is more than half off its regular price and ties its all-time low. This the most powerful streaming dongle Amazon makes, with a superior processor than the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, plus support for WiFi 6, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio. While Amazon's Fire TV OS can be messy compared to other platforms from Roku, Google and Apple, it still gets you access to just about all of the major streaming apps. A few other Fire streaming devices have been discounted as well, including the latest Fire TV Cube, which Prime members can pick up for $110.

Amazon Fire HD 8

If you're on an ultra-tight budget and need a new tablet, the Fire HD 8 is worth considering at its current deal price of $55, which matches its lowest price to date. Normally, the device retails around $90. This tablet has a smaller (8-inch) and lower-resolution (1,280x800) display than the Fire HD 10, and it isn’t as quick in day-to-day use. Like all Fire tablets, its app support lags well behind iPadOS, which is most noticeable in its lack of Google apps. But it has just enough power for the basics, it gets a solid 10-ish hours of battery life and it’s light in the hand. You can expand its 32GB of storage with a microSD card, too. If all you want is a competent tablet for casual reading and streaming for as little as possible, it should do the job.

Amazon Echo Buds (2023)

The latest Echo Buds just arrived in May yet they’re already 30 percent off at Amazon for Prime members. You can get them for $35, which is $15 off and ties the lowest price we’ve seen. We recommended the Echo Buds to those who prefer an open design in our best budget wireless earbuds guide. They lack active noise cancellation and don't completely seal off the ear canal, but their sound quality is decent for the price, and they come with features we don't often see in cheap earbuds, such as multipoint connectivity, auto-pausing and a customizable EQ tool. Naturally, they also work well with Alexa. If you hate the feeling of in-ear headphones, they'll be a good value.  

Amazon eGift Card + $5 promo credit

Amazon is giving Prime members a $5 promotional credit when they buy an eGift card valued at $50 or more before July 10th. You'll need to use the promo credit by August 25, 2023, but the only things it won't apply to are items sold by third-party merchants and e-books.

Blink Mini

Prime members can get a two-pack of Blink Mini security cameras for $34 right now. Single cameras are also on sale for $18. While these Blink cameras are wired, they have most of the same features as the standard wireless models, including 1080p video recording, motion alerts and support for two-way talk. Several other Blink wireless cameras are on sale as well.

Amazon Kindle Unlimited 3-month membership

If you're a Prime member who has never subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, you can get a three-month trial to Amazon's e-book service for no extra cost. Normally, the subscription goes for $12 a month after a 30-day free trial. Just note that the membership will be set to auto-renew by default. As a refresher, Kindle Unlimited makes a selection of e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines accessible on-demand. It doesn't include every e-book in the Kindle library, but it may still be worthwhile if you're a particularly avid reader. If nothing else, this deal makes it easier to figure out if it's worth paying for. 

Audible Premium Plus 3-month membership

Similar to that Kindle Unlimited offer, Prime members who are new to Audible Premium Plus can get three months of the audiobook service for free. This membership usually costs $14.95 a month after a 30-day free trial, so you're saving about $30. Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: Like the less expensive Audible Plus, it provides an assortment of audiobooks, podcasts and other audio content you can access on-demand. The main difference is that it also includes a monthly credit that you can use to buy any book in the Audible store permanently. As with Kindle Unlimited, Premium Plus will be most worth it if you burn through audiobooks and podcasts quickly, but this extended trial is a comfier way to see if it's useful. Again, be aware that the subscription will be set to auto-renew by default.

Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon has knocked the latest Echo Dot down to $23, which is roughly half off its typical street price, and is throwing in a Sengled color smart bulb for no extra cost. We consider the Echo Dot the best smart speaker you can get for less than $50 thanks to its compact design, surprisingly good sound quality for its size and handy Alexa integration. The newest Echo Dots can also act as Eero WiFi boosters, adding up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to your existing Eero system.

Amazon Echo

Amazon has discounted several other Echo speakers as well. The base Echo, for one, is down to $55, which is $5 more than its all-time low but still $35 off its typical going rate. This is the top pick for less than $100 in our smart speaker buying guide, as it represents a clear step-up from the Echo Dot in terms of sound quality. If you aren’t tied to Apple or Google, we generally found it to outperform the HomePod Mini and Nest Audio as well.

If you’re looking for something more affordable than the Echo Dot, the unidirectional Echo Pop doesn’t sound as nice, but it offers most of the same Alexa capabilities and is currently on sale for $18. The Echo Dot with Clock, meanwhile, has similar hardware to the standard Dot, but adds an LED display that can show the time and basic weather and music info. That one is down to a new low of $30. And while the larger Echo Studio can’t top something like the Sonos Era 100, it’s still the best-sounding Echo, and it could be a decent value at its current price of $155 if you already own several other Alexa speakers and want to save some cash. That deal also matches the lowest price we’ve tracked.

Amazon Echo Show 5

The latest Echo Show 5 is half off and down to a record low of $45. We’ve previously recommended the Show 5 to those who prefer Alexa over the Google Assistant and want a smart display that won’t take up much space. It’s particularly useful as a smart alarm clock, as it has a gentle sunrise alarm feature and a tap-to-snooze function. This new model has a faster processor, a slightly larger speaker and an extra mic for better Alexa performance.

Amazon Echo Show 8

If you don’t need something so compact, the Echo Show 8 is our favorite Amazon smart display overall and is currently on sale for $60. That’s a new all-time low and roughly $45 off the device’s average street price. Compared to the 5.5-inch panel on the Echo Show 5, the 8-inch touchscreen here is much better suited for making video calls or viewing photos. You get a vastly superior camera, more powerful speakers and a faster processor as well. As with the Show 5, there's also a physical camera shutter and mic mute button.

The more spacious Echo Show 10 and Echo Show 15 are also down to new lows at $163 and $182, respectively. Neither of those devices are outright bad, but our reviews found them to be less universally appealing than their smaller and more affordable siblings.

Ring Video Doorbell + Echo Show 5

Amazon’s sweeping early Prime Day sale on Ring devices includes a bundle that gives you the Ring Video Doorbell plus an Echo Show 5 for only $65. Considering the Video Doorbell alone is going for $55 as an early Prime Day deal, that means you’ll only spend $10 on the Show 5 if you opt for the bundle. The Video Doorbell itself is a fairly basic 1080p option, but it's easy to install and generally accurate at delivering motion alerts

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids

The 16GB version of Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite Kids is down to $105, which is $65 off and a new low. While this e-reader is marketed toward children, it features the same hardware as the standard Paperwhite, with a lightweight and waterproof design, 6.8-inch 300 ppi display, 10-week battery life and extensive e-book library. Here, though, you also get a cover case, a longer two-year warranty and a year of Amazon's Kids+ service (which you can ignore if you aren’t buying for a little one). We gave the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition a review score of 97 back in 2021. The Kids edition lacks that model’s ad-free lock screen (when you aren't using a child account, at least), upgraded front light, wireless charging and 32GB of storage, but the two devices are otherwise similar.

Motorola Razr+

The foldable Moto Razr+ only just arrived last month, but it's already received a 15 percent discount for Prime Day, albeit in a roundabout way. You'll need to be a Prime member and request an invite first, after which you’ll be able to buy the phone on Prime Day for the discounted price. While jumping through Amazon’s hoops is annoying, doing so will get you an unlocked Razr+ for $850 instead of $1,000.

We spent some time with the new foldable before it came out last month and gave it a full review upon its debut. The verdict? Samsung’s Galaxy foldables have some serious competition. The Razr+ has a 6.9-inch screen when open and offers a 3.6-inch screen when folded, which is much larger than the 1.9-inch exterior screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The foldable design unlocks different uses, as it can act as its own tripod in addition to taking up less space in your pocket. 

Eero Pro routers

A number of Eero and Eero Pro WiFi router packs have been discounted for Prime members ahead of the shopping event. You can pick up one Eero router for as low as $45, or an Eero Pro router for $70. We recommend going for the Eero Pro if you can, since it's a tri-band system that supports speeds up to 1Gbps and covers slightly more square feet than the standard Eero does. Just keep in mind that these are not the latest Eero systems; for WiFi 6 support, you'll have to shell out a bit more money for an Eero 6 set.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen)

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are back on sale for $200, which is $50 off their usual rate and a record low. These remain the best true wireless earbuds for Apple lovers, even though the company didn't drastically overhaul the design with this latest model. Most of the new features are under the hood, with Apple noticeably improving the pair's sound quality, noise cancellation and transparency mode.

Samsung Pro Plus microSD card

The 256GB version of Samsung's latest Pro Plus microSD card is down to a new low of $20. That's $10 off its MSRP. If you need more space, the 512GB model is within a couple dollars of its best price at $43.52. The Pro Plus is the top pick in our guide to the best microSD cards, as it finished at or near the top of all of our sequential and random speed tests. It's also backed by a 10-year warranty.

Samsung 980 Pro

The 2TB version of Samsung's 980 Pro is down to a new low of $100. We've seen this SSD steadily drop in price over the course of the year, but this deal marks a roughly $35 drop from the device’s average street price in recent months. The 980 Pro isn’t Samsung’s fastest SSD – that would be the 990 Pro, the 1TB model of which is down to $70 – but it still meets Sony's requirements for expanding the PS5’s storage. You’ll just need to add a heatsink for a few bucks more to go along with it. If you aren't buying for a PS5 specifically, a speedy PCIe 4.0 drive like this may be overkill but will provide fast storage all the same.

Both this and the Evo Plus microSD card deal come as part of a wider sale on Samsung storage devices. This includes the Fit Plus, a tiny flash drive we recommend in our best SSDs guide, down to $22, and the T7 Shield, a ruggedized version of one of our favorite portable SSDs, back down to $75. Both deals match the lowest prices we’ve tracked, and nothing in the sale is exclusive to Prime subscribers.

Apple iPad (9th gen)

The 64GB model of Apple's 9th-gen iPad is down to $250 at Amazon, matching the lowest price we've tracked. You'll see the price listed as $279 and an additional $29 discount will apply at checkout. Apple normally sells the device for $329, though we've seen it retail closer to $275 in recent months. This is the budget pick in our iPad buying guide: It lacks the accessory support, thinner bezels and laminated display of the iPad Air, but it's by far the most affordable route into iPadOS, and it remains fast and comfortable enough for casual reading, streaming and gaming. It's also the only current iPad with a headphone jack.

Shark RV1001AE

Shark makes some of our favorite robot vacuums and right now the Shark RV1001AE is half price, bringing it down to $300. This model has a bagless, self-emptying base, that you won’t have to empty for quite some time as it has a claimed capacity of up to 45 days. While we didn’t try this exact model, we have found robovacs from Shark to be simple to set up, with a particularly easy-to-use companion app. Shark's mapping function is typically accurate and the bagless base here should save you money in the long run, as buying device-specific bags can get pricey.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is down to $199 for a 40mm model and $229 for a 44mm model. We gave the Galaxy Watch 5 a score of 85 last year, and it's currently the "best for Android users" pick in our smartwatch buying guide. While its battery life could be better, its design is durable and attractive, its OS is easy to navigate and its health tracking is relatively comprehensive. Samsung is expected to announce a Galaxy Watch 6 in the coming weeks, however, so it may be worth waiting to see how that model stacks up if you don't need a new smartwatch right this instant.

Anker 511 20W Nano Pro charger

Anker's compact 20W USB-C charger is cheaper than ever right now and down to $12. Not only is it much smaller than Apple's 20W adapter, but it can fast-charge the latest iPhones as well. It also has Anker's Dynamic Temperature Sensor that helps prevent overheating, and its Power Tuner Chip that adjusts power output depending on the device you have connected.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know, and hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-prime-day-2023-amazon-early-deals-130503705.html?src=rss