Amazon has almost every smart home device, sound bar, thin TV, and replacement charger available on the market. And a significant portion of that offering is on deep discount for Prime Day 2, the second day of the annual shopping bonanza that moves more AirPods than a Taylor Swift album drop. That said, a word of caution to smart shoppers: Not all discounts are created equal.
Historical price trackers show that some brands – not Amazon, but some big ones – mark up their goods prior to the Prime Day madness so that deals look more enticing than they truly are. As such, SPY‘s editors and experts have combed through thousands of enticing-looking deals to find the standout opportunities.
The choices below, recommended by our editors and readers, stand out even among the thousands of deals on offer.
Fire TV Stick
If you have a TV, and access to more than one streaming service, Roku or a Fire streaming TV device is basically essential at this point – it’s like a concierge for your streaming experience. The verdict for superior device is a toss up, but Fire TV makes a good case for itself this Prime Day at a nearly 60% discount. Cheap, easy to navigate, and includes voice assistant access with Amazon’s Alexa.
Apple Watch (Series 8)
It knows when you’re sleeping, it knows when you’re awake — and now it’s on sale. The cream of the smartwatch crop, and the newest one from Apple, is nearly 20% off for Prime Day. It does more than a Rolex ever could, even if it’s less flashy: it can track your sleep cycle, fitness, and even monitor your heartbeat. It’s a good deal for devotees to the House of Apple.
Samsung The Frame TV
Do you want to pretend that you’re too good to have a TV in your home? Want to give the impression that you spend Sundays at the museum and haven’t seen The Idol? Samsung’s squarely named “The Frame” is a good bet. It’s a television that doubles as a painting. It displays any image of your choice – some Dutch Master’s contemplation of a rotting orange – when you’re not using it. Images pop on the matte screen.
Much cheaper (and more expensive) frame TV options have emerged as the products have become more popular (TikTok decorators have even demonstrated how to manually install frames on regular TVs), but Samsung’s is still the standard-bearer.
Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)
If you don’t have wireless headphones yet, you’ve got it tangled. Wireless is convenient and, for the moment anyway, affordable. These 2nd generation AirPods (not to be confused with the Pros) are a good sub-$100 choice. The sound quality is excellent, there’s hands-free Siri access, and the mic is solid. AirPods Pro models may offer nifty features like background noise reduction, but for the discounted price, this older pair is a good bet.
Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbud Headphones with Alexa Built-in
Sony’s LinkBuds are the brand’s answer to AirPods – down to its competing price point. Linkbuds cost only slightly more than the second generation AirPods, but may be more of a peer to the AirPods Pro. Like the Pro, LinkBuds have silicone tips to fit in your ears better and have a noise-canceling mode. The Sony model also offers EQ adjustments through the Sony app, meaning you can customize your sound – something Apple doesn’t have.
If you want something that’s on par with the newer AirPods Pro models, LinkBuds are a solid option – especially if you’re dead-set against the Apple Industrial Complex.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series – Wireless Earbuds – Headphones with Bluetooth
The Google Pixel Buds are a fantastic budget option for those looking to cut the cord(s), and they’re nearly half off for Prime Day. They’re comfortable, connect to phones pretty seamlessly, and have solid sound quality – although as reviewers note, it’s a lot better for making calls than listening to music, although still serviceable for the latter.
Google Nest Cam
Having home surveillance access from a tap or two of your smartphone has emerged as a priority for many in recent years. Ring’s video doorbells are popular, but a two pack of Google’s Nest Cam is nearly $100 off on Prime Day, and a better bargain than the former’s twin pack. Nest Cams also come with night vision, floodlights, and compatibility with multiple streaming outputs (tablets, smart TVs, etc).
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 Android Tablet, 10.5″ LCD Screen
If you’re looking to spend under $150 on a tablet, this Samsung Galaxy one is a solid deal for those priced out of the iPad class. It’s a pristine budget option – the display is the Galaxy Tab’s standout feature, making it a great option for someone mostly looking to stream videos and play games. The battery life and camera aren’t anything to write home about, but that’s an acceptable compromise given the price.
Belkin SoundForm Elite Hi-Fi Smart Speaker
If you want something a little more music-forward, the Belkin SoundForm Elite is a great option that offers phone-charging capabilities and the ability to connect to Amazon’s Alexa (another version lets you connect to Google Assistant). As with the Amazon devices, you can use Alexa to manage tasks, control other smart devices, and browse the internet for you.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Gaming Laptop
Lenovo has the best Prime Day deal for gaming laptops, slashing the price of its IdeaPad 3 by a full third. For less than $600, you get a lot of bang for your buck; it’s well built, has a decently long battery life, and you can upgrade its RAM, as gamers occasionally do. The Prime Day deal for the Minecraft set.
Belkin Boost↑Charge™ Wireless Power Bank 5K w/ MagSafe Compatible 7.5W Charging
For those with older iPhone models (and accompanying battery life that leaves much to be desired), a battery pack is essential – especially for commuters. Even if you’ve got one of the snazzier models, a battery pack is a life saver at one point or another, i.e. a long hike, air travel, or entertaining a child with Cocomelon videos. Belkin’s magnetic charger attaches easily to the back of your phone, simply extending your case, and even comes with a magnetic kickstand (for the Cocomelon binges). Belkin claims to offer 19 hours of extended video playback for the iPhone 14 on a full charge.
Belkin MagSafe Wireless Charger Pad
Belkin’s a giant in the charging business. This wireless pad is beloved by many, including a few members of the SPY staff. The cord length is ideal, the clip adjusts easily,, and casing feels durable.
LG Sound Bar
“Soundbars” have become a hot item on many home entertainment center wishlists (between speakers and televisions that hide in plain sight, we’re approaching the day living rooms will contain nothing at all). This LG model runs much cheaper than other brands’ – Samsung has a $1,000+ soundbar that uses Dolby Atmos – and has speakers on the sides and in the middle, providing a more immersive soundscape.