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Amazon devices including Echo speakers, Fire TV Sticks and Blink cameras are up to 68 percent off for October Prime Day 2024
October Prime Day presents a good opportunity for Prime members to snag holiday gifts early, and that’s perhaps most relevant for those eyeing Amazon’s own devices. Gadgets like Echo speakers, Fire TV sticks and Kindles are almost guaranteed to be on sale during members-only sale events like this, and this time around, we’re seeing some of the best prices we’ve seen all year. That means it’s the time to stock up — if you’re a Prime member and have wanted another Echo speaker for your office, a Fire tablet for your young child or a new Kindle to replace your aging one, these deals are the ones to snag. Here are the best deals we found on Amazon devices for October Prime Day 2024.
Prime Day deals on Echo speakers and displays
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
If you’re keen on making your home a bit smarter, an Echo speaker or smart display can help by giving you an easy way to interact with Alexa. The voice assistant is compatible with so many smart home devices at this point, including smart light bulbs and robot vacuum cleaners, and it’s convenient that there’s an Echo device for nearly every budget now.
Echo Dot for $23 ($27 off): This is one of the best smart speakers you can get right now thanks to its compact design, physical button controls that compliment voice commands and its solid sound quality for its size.
Echo Pop for $18 ($22 off): One of Amazon’s newest smart devices, the Pop sports a 1.95-inch front-facing speaker, a physical mic mute switch for extra privacy and eero compatibility.
Amazon Echo Spot for $45 ($35 off): This recently revived smart display is billed as a smart alarm clock, and it features a customizable screen, big sound for its size and all the perks for Alexa voice commands. You can also grab it bundled with a free TP-Link smart light bulb.
Echo for $55 ($45 off): We consider this to be the best smart speaker for $100 or less at the moment thanks to its loud audio with good bass quality, the ability to pair two together for stereo sound and Alexa’s utility.
Echo Show 5 for $50 ($40 off): This is one of our favorite smart displays thanks to its compact design, ambient light sensor and sunrise alarm feature, all of which make it an excellent smart alarm clock. Amazon improved the speaker quality on this latest model, which gives sound deeper bass and clearer vocals.
Echo Show 8 for $85 ($65 off): This is our current top pick for the best smart display with Amazon’s Alexa thanks in part to its 8-inch touchscreen, 13MP camera that supports auto-framing for better video chats and its built-in Zigbee smart home hub.
Echo Buds for $25 ($25 off): These are one of our top picks for the best budget wireless earbuds you can get right now thanks to their comfortable design, pocket-friendly case, automatic wear detection, multi-device connectivity and, of course, built-in Alexa voice controls.
Prime Day deals on Kindle ereaders
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
The three best times of the year to buy a new Kindle ereader are Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Prime Day. Typically the latter is the best of the three, and we’re seeing solid sale prices across the entire Kindle lineup right now.
Kindle Paperwhite for $125 ($25 off): The latest version of the Paperwhite has thinner bezels, an adjustable warm light, speedier page turns and a battery that can last up to 10 weeks on a single charge. This model is also IPX8 waterproof and has built-in Audible integration.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids for $115 ($55 off): This kids bundle includes the standard Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of RAM, a kid-friendly cover, a two-year warranty and one free year of access to Amazon Kids+.
Kindle Scribe for $255 ($85 off): The Scribe is one of the best E-Ink tablets you can buy at the moment, and certainly the top pick if you want a writable table that also excels as an ereader. It provides a great reading and writing experience, thanks in part to its ability to access the entire Kindle ebook library, and it has handy Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox integration.
Prime Day deals on Fire tablets
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Amazon’s Fire tablets make great couch devices, or first tablets for kids who have no business touching their parents’ fancy iPads and Galaxy tabs. While they go on sale semi-frequently throughout the year, Prime Day is the time where you’re likely to get the greatest discounts.
Fire HD 8 tablet for $55 ($45 off): Amazon just released this new version of the HD 8 tablet, which includes more RAM, a better camera and new AI features not found on the previous model.
Fire HD 10 tablet for $75 ($65 off): This slab has a 10-inch FHD touchscreen, improved camera for video calls, 13 hours of battery life and it works with a stylus (although you have to buy that separately). If you’re looking for a cheap tablet that doesn’t compromise too many of the basics, this is a good option.
Fire Max 11 tablet for $140 ($90 off): Amazon’s most powerful tablet sports an 11-inch 2,000 x 1,200 touchscreen, an octa-core processor, up to 128GB of storage and 14 hours of battery life. It also works with a number of optional accessories, including a stylus and keyboard case.
Fire HD 10 Kids tablet for $110 ($80 off): Designed for kids aged three to seven, this tablet comes with full parental controls plus one year of Amazon Kids+ for free with the tablet purchase. It also has a 10-inch FHD touchscreen, an octa-core processor and 13 hours of battery life, plus it comes with a two-year warranty and a protective case.
Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet for $110 ($80 off): This model is designed for kids aged six to 12 and comes with a slimmer protective case, a two-year warranty and one year of access to Amazon Kids+. Otherwise, you get a very similar experience here that you would with the non-Pro version, including parental controls, a 10-inch touchscreen, solid performance and a 13-hour battery life.
Prime Day deals on Fire TV devices
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Fire TV devices can help turn an old TV into a smart one, or give you respite from a smart TV interface that you despise (as long as you can deal with Fire TV OS pushing Prime Video content in your face). But arguably the best thing about these devices is that there’s an option for every budget, and the barrier to entry lowers even further with Prime Day deals.
Fire TV Stick Lite streamer for $18 ($12 off): This is already the most affordable Fire TV streaming stick, but it’s a steal at this sale price. It supports 1080p content and comes with a “lite” version of the Alexa Voice Remote.
Fire TV Stick streamer for $20 ($20 off): This dongle ups the ante on the TV Stick Lite by adding support for Dolby Atmos audio, plus it comes with the regular version of the Alexa Voice Remote. It also supports Wi-Fi 5 and comes with 8GB of internal storage.
Fire TV Stick 4K streamer for $25 ($25 off): This mode is the cheapest Fire TV Stick you can get to stream 4K content, plus it has support for Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision and Atmos. With its live picture-in-picture feature, you can view security camera feeds right on your TV while you’re watching your favorite show or movie.
Fire TV Stick 4K Max streamer for $35 ($25 off): In addition to 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision and Atmos support, the 4K Max dongle includes Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, 16GB of built-in storage and live picture-in-picture capabilities.
Fire TV Cube set-top box for $100 ($40 off): This model will provide the best performance of any Fire TV streaming device, and it supports 4K HDR content, Dolby Vision and Atmos and an enhanced version of the Alexa Voice Remote. Along with live picture-in-picture view and the Fire TV ambient experience, you can also hardware other devices to the Fire TV Cube including a cable box or a game console.
Prime Day deals on Ring and Blink devices
Ring
You may not immediately think of them when you think about Amazon's own tech, but the shopping giant also owns Ring and Blink. Gadgets from these companies make up most of Amazon's home security offerings, and you can usually find steep discounts during Prime Day on security cameras, alarm systems and other bundles.
Ring pan and tilt security camera for $50 ($30 off): This security camera joined the Ring lineup only a few months ago, and this is the best price we've seen on it. It's part of a larger Ring sale that discounts home security gear by up to 50 percent.
Ring Video Doorbell for $60 ($40 off): This entry-level security doorbell records 1080p video, supports motion detection and privacy zones and has a built-in, rechargable battery and can be hardwired to your doorbell wiring.
Blink Outdoor 4 + Blink Mini 2 bundle for $50 ($90 off): It's almost a guarantee that Blink security systems will be on sale for Prime Day(s) and this time is no different. This bundle is 64 percent off, and there are a bunch of other bundles on sale that include cameras, video doorbells and more.
Blink Outdoor 4 + Echo Show 5 bundle for $60 ($130 off): This bundle gives you a one-camera Blink system that can be used indoors or outdoors along with an Echo Show 5, which you can use to see camera feeds just by using Alexa voice commands.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-devices-including-echo-speakers-fire-tv-sticks-and-blink-cameras-are-up-to-68-percent-off-for-october-prime-day-2024-083236781.html?src=rss
Apple's 9th-gen iPad returns to an all-time low of $199 for Prime Day
Prime Day is here and we've been busy rounding up the best deals we can find. There's an iPad offer in particular that matches one we've seen before, but it's definitely worth highlighting. The 9th-gen iPad has dropped back down to $199, which matches a record low. That's 40 percent off the regular price of $329.
Let's be very clear: this iPad is quite old at this point. Apple released it in 2021 and the company has since rolled out another base iPad, along with several mini, Pro and Air models. If you're looking for a more recent model that Apple will support for longer, you can check out our guide on how to pick the best iPad for you. This sale feels very much like a case of trying to clear out old stock, but there are plenty of valid reasons to opt for the 9th-gen iPad instead of a more powerful model.
We gave the 9th-gen iPad a score of 81 in our review, due to its solid camera, performance and base storage (64GB) upgrades and the solid battery life. It lasted for 14 hours on a single charge during our initial video-streaming tests. It even has a headphone jack, which is a definite plus point.
The tablet will certainly do the trick if all you really need is a tablet to catch up on reading, browse the web, handle some emails and watch videos — more so if you're already in the Apple ecosystem. You'll be able to doodle on this iPad with the original Apple Pencil, but this model is not best suited for professional-level design work or productivity.
Apple tends to support iPads for at least five years in terms of iPadOS updates, so it's likely (but not a sure thing) that you'll be able to install up to iPadOS 20 on this thing. As such, you should be able to stream video via the likes of Netflix to this tablet for several years to come.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-9th-gen-ipad-returns-to-an-all-time-low-of-199-for-prime-day-155016921.html?src=rss
More than a dozen states sue TikTok, alleging that it’s designed to addict kids
Fourteen states have just filed lawsuits against TikTok that claim the social media platform damages the mental health of young users and collects their data without consent. Each lawsuit was filed individually. The suits, which are led by the attorneys general of New York and California, say the platform violated the law by “falsely claiming its platform is safe for young people.”
The lawsuits spotlight what the plaintiffs call “addictive” features. These include the kinds of things present with many modern social media apps, like 24/7 notifications and autoplay videos. However, the lawsuit also focuses on “dangerous TikTok challenges.” There have been plenty of these, from challenges that task people with taking an excessive amount of Benadryl to messing with an electrical outlet.
“Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. “TikTok claims that their platform is safe for young people, but that is far from true.”
It’s worth noting that the aforementioned challenges were issued by other TikTok users, and not by the platform itself. However, the suits do attempt to illustrate TikTok's “underlying business model”, which is accused of “maximizing young users’ times on the platform so the company can boost revenue from selling targeted ads.”
The suits also accuse TikTok and parent company ByteDance of collecting the data of young users without consent. This is not a new complaint, as the Department of Justice filed a suit back in August that charged TikTok of collecting the personal information of children on the platform and failing to comply with requests for that data to be deleted. Texas also recently sued the platform for violating child privacy laws.
Today’s suits seek to impose financial penalties on the platform, including “the disgorgement of all profits resulting from the fraudulent and illegal practices, and to collect damages for users that have been harmed.”
This is all happening as parent company ByteDance faces a decision to either sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer or experience a nationwide ban. The current deadline for this decision is January 17, but the company’s lawyers recently argued that the terms of this law were unconstitutional.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/more-than-a-dozen-states-sue-tiktok-alleging-that-its-designed-to-addict-kids-151242893.html?src=rss
Prime Day Lego deals discount Super Mario and Star Wars sets by up to 41 percent
Amazon uses October Prime Day to kickstart the holiday shopping season — even if you haven't even thought about the holidays yet, you should give the latest Prime Day Lego deals a look. A number of Lego sets from the Super Mario, Star Wars and Harry Potter collections are already on sale for up to 41 percent off. There are even steeper savings on general Lego sets as well.
On the Star Wars side of things, this Spider Tank set is 36 percent off and down to only $32, which is the lowest it's ever been. It includes 526 pieces that replicate the spider tank from season three of The Mandalorian, plus three minifigures: Din Djarin, Bo-Katan Kryze and Grogu. Once built, the spider tank has grabbing claws, flexible legs and a little cockpit in which one of the figures can sit. Also on sale is this Boarding The Tantive IV set in which you recreate the iconic scene from Star Wars: A New Hope. That will set you back $44, which represents a 20-percent discount.
In the Mario space, this Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam expansion set has the biggest discount: 41 percent off and down to $16. It has 174 pieces along with buildable Dixie Kong and Squawks figures that both come with musical accessories. Mario fans who are old enough to have a work-from-home setup might appreciate this displayable Piranha Plant set that would look great in the background of any video conference call. It's 20 percent off and down to $48.
Rounding things out with Harry Potter sets, this Hogwarts Castle and Grounds set is down to $136 and has never been cheaper. It includes 2,660 pieces that create a final product that's over eight inches high, 13 inches wide and 10 inches deep. Plus, it comes with a cute, golden Hogwarts architect statue minifigure.
If you're looking for more general Lego sets, two of the best deals we found are on the Classic Medium Creative Brick Box, down to $19, and the Lego City 2024 advent calendar, down to $26. The former includes 484 pieces in all different sizes and colors, and would make a great gift for anyone who just likes to build with Lego without following a set of instructions. As for the latter, you probably know someone who loves a good advent calendar this time of year, and this Lego one has 24 surprise gifts that include seasonal minifigures, mini builds and more.
Best Prime Day Lego deals
Lego Star Wars Spider Tank 75361 for $32 (36 percent off)
Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Boarding The Tantive IV Fantasy Toy 75387 for $44 (20 percent off)
Lego Star Wars Droideka Model 75381 for $52 (20 percent off)
Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant 71426 for $48 (20 percent off)
Lego Super Mario Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam Expansion Set 71421 for $16 (41 percent off)
Lego Super Mario Bowser’s Muscle Car Expansion Set 71431 for $24 (20 percent off)
Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds 76419 for $136 (20 percent off)
Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle Owlery Toy 76430 for $36 (20 percent off)
Lego Harry Potter Hedwig at 4 Privet Drive 76425 for $16 (20 percent off)
Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit Building Set 42179 for $60 (20 percent off)
Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 for $19 (46 percent off)
Lego City 2024 Advent Calendar 60436 for $26 (20 percent off)
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-lego-deals-discount-super-mario-and-star-wars-sets-by-up-to-41-percent-143008478.html?src=rss
Prime Day deals drop Apple's AirPods Pro 2 to $169, an all-time low on Amazon
Prime Day deals are here and you can grab Apple's AirPods Pro 2 for the best price we've seen. The October Prime Day sale has brought the wireless earbuds down to $169, which represents an $80 discount. Apple may not have fully revamped these buds back in September like it did with the standard AirPods, but it did bring a bunch of new features to the AirPods Pro 2. Voice isolation is designed to make you sound better on calls, while Siri interactions let you use gestures like a head nod to say yes to Siri during times when you can't use your voice to reply.
Arguably the biggest new feature coming to the AirPods Pro is the hearing test and the ability to use the earbuds as over-the-counter hearing aids. That hasn't rolled out just yet, but it's expected sometime before the end of the year.
Otherwise, the AirPods Pro 2 have excellent sound quality, with equally solid ANC to match, plus a Transparency Mode that's hard to beat. Like all other Apple earbuds, the Pros support seamless pairing and switching between other Apple devices. So while they're great for folks with an iPhone, you'll get even more use out of them if you live within the Apple ecosystem and have other devices like an iPad or a MacBook.
Their design might be a little stale at this point, and you could say their battery life is just average, but the AirPods Pro remain a solid option for iPhone users looking for a reliable pair of wireless earbuds. If you're not willing to spend quite so much, consider the AirPods Pro 4 with ANC, which just came out last month.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-deals-drop-apples-airpods-pro-2-to-169-an-all-time-low-on-amazon-072650206.html?src=rss
Ooni pizza ovens are up to $280 off for Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day is here, flooding the internet with all kinds of wild deals. Even Ooni pizza ovens are available at remarkable discounts. For instance, the Karu 16 is now $519, which is $281 off the usual price. That’s quite a sale.
The Ooni Karu 16 topped our list of the best pizza ovens, and with good reason. This is a fantastic appliance that could turn the most hesitant home chef into a true-blue pizzaiola. It’s the company’s largest multi-fuel model, meaning you can choose between wood, charcoal and gas. There’s a hinged glass door for peeping in on your pies and a digital thermometer for zeroing in on the absolute correct temperature. To that end, the oven can reach a crust-charring 950 F.
The “16” in the name refers to the size of the interior, which translates to larger pizza pies when compared to rival ovens. This also means that the oven can accommodate pans and large cast iron cookware, so it can whip up stuff other than pizza. However, pizza rules and other types of food drool.
The major downside here is regarding the price. The typical cost is $800, which is a massive splurge for a pizza oven. This sale alleviates much of that frustration. However, the Karu 16 requires a gas burner for that type of cook, and these burners are sold separately.
Today’s discounts aren't just for the Karu 16. The company’s Volt 12 electric pizza oven is also on sale for $720, which is a discount of $180. As the name suggests, this is an indoor appliance that runs on good ole electricity. It can actually reach a maximum temperature of 850 F, which is a fantastic metric for an indoor oven.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ooni-pizza-ovens-are-up-to-280-off-for-amazon-prime-day-114521277.html?src=rss
Red Dead Redemption finally comes to PC 14 years after its original release
Fourteen years after it debuted on PS3 and Xbox 360, and endless rumors later, Red Dead Redemption is finally coming to PC. It will hit the Rockstar Store, Steam and the Epic Games Store on October 29 with the Undead Nightmare standalone expansion included.
Developer Double Eleven helped Rockstar with the port, which has many of the bells and whistles you'd come to expect from a PC version of a classic. Rockstar says RDR will run at up to 144Hz (no unlocked framerates, sadly) in a native 4K resolution if you have capable hardware. There's support for HDR 10 along with Ultrawide (21:9) and Super Ultrawide (32:9) monitors. You'll be able to play with a keyboard and mouse too.
Upscaling tech in the form of NVIDIA DLSS 3.7 and AMD FSR 3 is supported. So too are NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation, adjustable draw distances, shadow quality settings and other things that would sound like newfangled gobbledygook to John Marston.
Rockstar brought RDR to PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch last year, but it's the PC version that many folks have long been waiting for. I can't wait to see what modders do with this one.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/red-dead-redemption-finally-comes-to-pc-14-years-after-its-original-release-141709270.html?src=rss
Prime Day TV deals include sets from LG, Samsung, Sony and more at record-low prices
Amazon’s October Prime Day sale is here, and it includes several noteworthy price drops on well-reviewed TVs. Not all of the discounts are exclusive to the two-day event, and it’s entirely possible that things will drop lower as we get closer to Black Friday. For now, though, we’re seeing all-time low (or at least near-low) prices on recommended sets from LG, Samsung, Sony, Hisense and more. Below we’ve rounded up the best October Prime Day TV deals we can find, and we’ll update this post as we find more. Just note that you need to be a Prime subscriber to access some of the discounts.
Best Prime Day TV deals
Samsung's The Frame TV.
Amy Skorheim
Samsung S90D (55") OLED TV for $1,297 ($500 off MSRP): The S90D is notable for using a QD-OLED panel, which blends the typical advantages of an OLED display with a layer of quantum dots. That helps the TV display a wider gamut of more vibrant colors and broadly improve brightness. This discount marks a new low for the 55-inch model and takes $100 off the street price we've seen over the past couple of months. The 65-inch version is also discounted for a low of $1,498. If you want a smaller or extra large size, be aware that the 42-, 48- and 83-models use an inferior WOLED panel, so they won't look as nice.
LG C4 (55”) OLED TV for $1,297 ($703 off): LG’s midrange OLED isn’t quite as bright or color-rich as a QD-OLED TV like the Samsung S90D, but it still offers a superb image with deep black tones, high contrast, clear motion, wide viewing angles and 4K/144Hz support. Its main advantage over the S90D is its support for the popular Dolby Vision HDR format, which isn't available on any Samsung TV. This drop has been available for a few weeks, but it ties the lowest price we’ve found. The 65-inch set is available for $200 more, though that's not quite the best price we've seen.
LG C3 (65") OLED TV for $1,297 ($203 off): The C3 is the predecessor to the C4, having launched in 2023. It should be a slight downgrade from the C4 in terms of brightness and color performance, and it tops out at a 120Hz refresh rate instead of 144Hz, but it isn't a big drop-off on the whole. If you really want to save a couple hundred bucks on a 65-inch set, it's likely the better value. This discount is about $200 off the typical street price we've seen in recent months.
LG B4 (55”) OLED TV for $997 ($300 off): The B4 is the entry-level model in LG’s 2024 OLED lineup. It gets you most of the same features as the C4, but it’s less bright across the board, so it’ll work best away from direct sunlight and glare. This deal marks the best price we’ve seen for the 55-inch model. Other sizes are down to all-time lows as well, including the 48-inch set for $700 at Best Buy.
Samsung The Frame TV (55”) + bezel for $998 ($668 off): Samsung’s The Frame series has always been for people who care about their TV’s aesthetic more than its picture quality, as it’s designed to resemble a framed piece of wall art. It’s still pricey for a TV with no local dimming or Dolby Vision HDR, but this deal nevertheless represents the best price we’ve seen for the bundle that includes colored bezel covers. Other sizes are also on sale.
Hisense U7N (65”) QLED TV for $748 ($352 off): The Hisense U7N looks to be one of the better values among this year’s crop of TVs. According to various reviews around the web, it pumps out impressive brightness and contrast for the money, plus it can play in 4K at a 144Hz refresh rate. Its image can wash out when viewed from the side, though, and for gamers, it’s limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports. We saw this deal a couple of times over the summer, but it’s still the lowest price to date for the 65-inch variant.
The LG C3 OLED TV.
LG
Sony Bravia 7 (75”) QLED TV for $1,998 ($502 off): The Bravia 7 is a relatively premium non-OLED TV with a mini LED backlight to improve contrast and quantum dots to boost colors. If other Sony TVs are any indication, it should deliver solid color accuracy out of the box and good image processing for lower-resolution content. It only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, its viewing angles are narrow, and it can’t provide the deep black tones of a good OLED set, but it does get brighter. This deal marks a new low for the 75-inch set.
Samsung QN90D (55") QLED TV for $1,298 ($500 off): The QN90D is another premium LED TV for those willing to trade the contrast, colors and viewing angles of an OLED set for much higher brightness. Reviews suggest it's a close rival to the Bravia 7: It lacks Dolby Vision and may not be as accurate, but it has two more HDMI 2.1 ports, which is helpful for gamers with multiple consoles. This deal beats the 55-inch model's previous low by $200.
TCL QM8 (65”) QLED TV for $998 ($502 off): The latest TCL QM8 appears to be a decent alternative to the Hisense U8N — a step-up model from the U7N that’s available for the same price but isn’t significantly discounted as of this writing — if you just want a TV that’s extremely bright, though it has slightly worse contrast according to reviews. This is another discount that ties the lowest price we’ve tracked.
TCL QM7 (55”) QLED TV for $498 ($302 off): The QM7, meanwhile, is more of a competitor to the Hisense U7N. It’s still worth looking to that set’s 55-inch model first, as it should perform better in well-lit rooms. But if you see that the U7N is significantly more expensive, this matches the lowest price we could find for TCL’s model.
TCL Q65 (65”) QLED TV for $430 ($120 off): The TCL Q65 is a fairly basic LED TV in terms of picture quality, though it might appeal to gamers since it can play at a 120Hz refresh rate if you drop the resolution down to 1080p or 1440p. It technically supports Dolby Vision HDR, too, though it doesn’t have the contrast or brightness levels to truly take advantage of it. Still, for a low of $430, the 65-inch model is a decent value. Other sizes are discounted as well; just note that these sets use Amazon’s Fire TV interface.
TCL S5 (55”) LED TV for $265 ($65 off): The S5 is an even more rudimentary set with a 60Hz refresh rate, no local dimming and no HDMI 2.1 ports, but it should be OK if all you need is a usable second (or third) set for the basement or back bedroom. This deal on the 55-inch version comes with $5 of an all-time low and beats the set’s usual street price by $15 or so. It’s another one that ships with the Fire TV interface as standard.
Roku Select Series (55”) LED TV for $260 ($70 off): The Roku Select Series has a similarly budget-level image as the TCL S5, but it might be worth a look if you’d prefer your dirt-cheap TV to run Roku’s OS instead. This is another low, and other sizes are also on sale. If this TV is out of stock at Amazon, note that Best Buy has it for the same price.
Best Prime Day streaming device deals
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 ($25 off): All Fire TV devices tend to promote Prime Video and other Amazon services above all else, but if you can live with that, the 4K Max runs fast, works with the major HDR formats and supports all the requisite apps. It also performs surprisingly well as a retro gaming device. This deal matches an all-time low.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K for $25 ($25 off): If you really want to save $10, the standard Fire TV Stick 4K offers the same core experience as the Max, just with a slightly slower processor, half the internal storage (8GB) and Wi-Fi 6 instead of 6E. This is another joint-low.
Roku Ultra (2024) for $79 ($20 off): Roku’s streamers have a more neutral interface than rivals like the Fire TV Stick; the company’s newest set-top box includes a faster processor, a backlit voice remote and Wi-Fi 6 support on top. This discount represents an all-time low.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-tv-deals-include-sets-from-lg-samsung-sony-and-more-at-record-low-prices-074335351.html?src=rss
The best October Prime Day Kindle deals are up to 48 percent off on Amazon right now
A new Kindle is no doubt on the horizon — the latest model, the Kindle Scribe, came out nearly two years ago. And now that other ereader companies, like Kobo and Boox, have color models, Amazon will no doubt want to catch up. That said, an ereader is, at its heart, a method for reading words on a page. All current-model Kindles sport 300-dpi screens, which is the standard and makes text look beautifully crisp. Plus, unlike smartphones or tablets, ereader updates don’t come with a ton of new features that might make an older model feel obsolete.
In short, any Kindle you buy while it’s on sale for October Prime Day 2024 should still serve you for years of reading to come. Here are the best Prime Day deals you can get on Kindle ereaders.
October Prime Day 2024 Kindle deals
Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Amazon Kindles dominate the ereader market, and right now there are four models to choose from. Of course, a new Kindle is likely on the horizon — rumors suggest as much and the last entry in the lineup came over two years ago. But since ereaders aren't as tech-heavy as a tablet, the generational bump may not make as much difference. What you buy today should still serve its basic function —displaying crisp text — for years to come. Here are the best Prime Day Kindle deals.
Amazon Kindle for $80 ($20 off): The base-model ereader is our pick for the best budget ereader you can buy. It’s got a clear, 300-ppi screen, long battery life and a display that’s easy to customize to your reading preferences.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for $125 ($25 off): The Paperwhite is an upgraded Kindle, adding a larger display, an adjustable warm light and a waterproof build. The flush-front screen makes page turns easier and a faster processor makes that action speedier, too.
Amazon Kindle Scribe for $255 ($85 off): You can write as well as read with this tablet. It has a large 10.2-inch display, auto-adjusting warm front light and an auto-rotating display. It comes with the Basic pen so you can use the notebook feature that even converts handwriting to text.
October Prime Day 2024 Kindle Kids deals
Amazon
Kindles geared towards kids are basically the same thing as their “adult” counterparts, but these come with a cover, extended warranty and a free trial of Amazon Kids+ that lets youngsters access kid-friendly audiobooks, stories and more. Plus they don’t have ads on the lock screen (Amazon makes you pay $20 for that concession on the standard devices).
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids for $115 ($55 off): The kids edition of the upgraded Paperwhite ereader has a flush-front design, waterproof build and warm front lights for late-night reading. It comes with a cover, a two-year warranty and a year of the kids subscription.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-october-prime-day-kindle-deals-are-up-to-48-percent-off-on-amazon-right-now-080333306.html?src=rss
Machine learning pioneers, including the 'Godfather of AI,' are awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics
Two scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.” John Hopfield, an emeritus professor of Princeton University, devised an associative memory that's able to store and reconstruct images and other types of patterns in data. Geoffrey Hinton, who has been dubbed the "Godfather of AI," pioneered a way to autonomously find properties in data, leading to the ability to identify certain elements in pictures.
"This year’s physics laureates’ breakthroughs stand on the foundations of physical science. They have showed a completely new way for us to use computers to aid and to guide us to tackle many of the challenges our society face," the committee wrote on X. "Thanks to their work humanity now has a new item in its toolbox, which we can choose to use for good purposes. Machine learning based on artificial neural networks is currently revolutionizing science, engineering and daily life."
This year’s physics laureates’ breakthroughs stand on the foundations of physical science. They have showed a completely new way for us to use computers to aid and to guide us to tackle many of the
challenges our society face.
Thanks to their work humanity now has a new item in… pic.twitter.com/0sGCbEoMsS
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 8, 2024
However, Hinton has grown concerned about machine learning and its potential impact on society. He was part of Google's deep-learning artificial intelligence team (Google Brain, which merged with DeepMind last year) for many years before resigning in May 2023 so he could "freely speak out about the risks of AI." At the time, he expressed concern about generative AI spurring a tsunami of misinformation and having the potential to wipe out jobs, along with the possibility of fully autonomous weapons emerging.
Although Hinton acknowledged the likelihood that machine learning and AI will improve health care, "it’s going to exceed people in intellectual ability. We have no experience of what it’s like to have things smarter than us,” he told reporters, according to The New York Times. That said, Hinton, a Turing Award winner and professor of computer science at the University of Toronto, was “flabbergasted” to learn that he had become a Nobel Prize laureate.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/machine-learning-pioneers-including-the-godfather-of-ai-are-awarded-the-nobel-prize-in-physics-132124417.html?src=rss
Google Docs adds tabs to help you stay organized
Google has released a new feature for Docs that will make it easier to break down — and, later, to find and access — information into separate sections. It's adding tabs to Docs, so that you can "build content in a way that makes it possible for you to find what you’re looking for quickly." Instead of creating multiple Doc files or merely using headings to organize information, you can write down whatever you want into distinct tabs, which will be much quicker to parse than a lengthy document. Tabs could also make collaborating with classmates or co-workers less chaotic.
In its announcement, Google enumerated several examples of how tabs could help people. "A project manager," the company wrote, "can create a tab for budget, roles and responsibilities, goals, and key dates so that their working team can stay on track." In addition to Google's examples, we could also see the feature being useful to authors, who can use separate tabs for their outline, character profiles, plot plans, scenario details and other important notes.
Document tabs will take up the left-hand section of the Google Docs interface. You can create several subtabs under each tab if you want to break down the information that's supposed to go into that section each further. If you edit a tab's name, you'll also be able to set an emoji to best represent what it's about, which will then replace the default article icon. The new feature has already started rolling out and will be making its way to all Google Workspace users, as well as everyone with personal Gmail accounts, over the next 15 days.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/google-docs-adds-tabs-to-help-you-stay-organized-130016429.html?src=rss
Prime Day deals on laptops include the M2 MacBook Air for a record low of $749 on Amazon
Now that October Prime Day is here, we're seeing all of the deals the online retailer has to offer for its fall sale event. One of the best Prime Day Apple deals is on the M2-powered MacBook Air laptop, which you can snag right now for $749. That's $250 off and a new record low on the machine we consider to be the best budget MacBook in Apple's laptop lineup.
In our initial M2 MacBook Air review, we were impressed by the laptop's thinner design, gorgeous 13.6-inch display, great quad-speaker setup and the M2 chip's excellent performance. It had been our top pick for the best MacBook, period, but the new M3 model has taken that top slot. However, the M2 Air doesn't skimp — those on a budget (or anyone simply looking to save some cash) will still get a lot of laptop and a lot of power choosing this machine.
One could argue, and our Daniel Cooper did, that the best thing about the M3 MacBook Air was the price drop given to the M2 Air after its launch. The M3 chip is pretty similar to the M2, and while there's no doubt that those who want the latest and greatest should get an M3 machine, an M2 laptop will be more than enough for most people using it as a daily driver. And, when you consider the M2 started at $1,200 when it first came out in 2022, it makes this discount even more compelling (it only received a price drop to $1,000 after the M3's debut).
There are other discounts on the MacBook lineup at Amazon at the moment, too. The M3 MacBook Air is $250 off and down to $849, which is only $50 more than its record-low price. The 15-inch MacBook with an M3 chip is $255 off and on sale for $1,044.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-deals-on-laptops-include-the-m2-macbook-air-for-a-record-low-of-749-on-amazon-121848095.html?src=rss
Amazon's Kindle Scribe is $85 off for Prime Day
The Kindle that lets you take handwritten notes is on sale for Amazon Prime Day. The 16GB model of the Kindle Scribe is currently $85 off and down to $255 instead of the usual $340. That's not an all-time low — the ereader hit $240 as recently as July's Prime Day — but this is the lowest price we've tracked since then. And, while there's likely a new Kindle or two on the horizon, nothing is confirmed just yet.
The Kindle Scribe is our pick for the best E Ink tablet that's also an ereader. The latency is next to nothing when it comes to drawing and handwriting notes, and we like that the basic stylus is included in the price (instead of coming as a separate purchase like with some E Ink slabs). You also get a number of brush types to choose from, like fountain pen, marker and pencil, and it's easy to create and manage notebooks in which you can put those stroke styles to work.
We gave the device a score of 85 in our full review of the Kindle Scribe, again praising the writing experience as well as the premium build and ample screen size. One caveat is the lack of support for writing in the margins on most Kindle ebooks. While there's a small library of titles that allow you to scribble directly on the page, they're mostly crosswords and planner titles. For most ebooks, you'll make notes in a pop-up window linked to the text.
As an ereader, the Scribe has a few abilities other ereaders don't, such as letting you read two pages side-by-side when the screen is in landscape orientation. It also has a flush-front display and auto-adjusting warm front lights. We also like how easy it is to read borrowed library books on a Kindle. Plus a recent update enabled handwriting-to-text conversions that you can email to your contacts.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-kindle-scribe-is-85-off-for-prime-day-120059393.html?src=rss
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The best Prime Day tech deals under $50
Smaller yet useful tech accessories — batteries, cables, phone cases and so on — are what keep the big ticket items going. And Amazon’s Prime Day is a good time to stock up on them. Only problem is, not everything on Amazon’s site passes muster, and the cheaper stuff can be particularly questionable. Luckily, we’ve tested plenty of these devices for one buyer’s guide or another, so we think stuff picked from this list should serve you well. Here are the best Prime Day Tech deals under $50.
Best October Prime Day tech deals under $25
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
If you’ve got $25 and some change in an account somewhere, you can get something decent from Amazon’s sale (particularly if you’re a Prime member and don’t have to pay for shipping). We searched for the most useful tech we could find and came up with smart home speakers, cameras and plugs, plus a mouse, a streaming stick and some cable — all for less than $25.
Echo Pop with TP-Link smart color bulb for $18 (72 percent off): Amazon’s smallest smart speaker has sold for $17 in Prime Days past, and here it is for that same price with a free smart bulb thrown in. Makes a perfect smart home starter kit.
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite for $18 (40 percent off): The budget pick in our guide to streaming devices isn’t quite beating its Black Friday price from last year, but this is still a good deal if you just need a basic way to watch your streaming apps on any screen with an HDMI port.
Apple AirTag for $24 ($4 off): Apple’s popular Bluetooth tracker is close to an all-time low. It anonymously pings nearby iPhones to create a crazy-vast finding network to help locate your lost keys, luggage or anything else you attach one to (using an accessory, of course).
Amazon Smart Plug for $13 ($12 off): I was impressed how well this plug works with my Echo Dot speaker. It was easy to set up and stayed reliably connected in my tests. And this is close to an all-time low price.
Belkin Apple AirTag Secure Holder for $14 ($6 off): We named this one of the best ways to secure your AirTag to just about anything. The wire cable is extra tough and attaches with an allen wrench. A less intense Belkin AirTag holder with a strap is also on sale.
J-Tech Digital Ergonomic Mouse for $17 ($13 off): One of our favorite ergonomic mice is cheaper than last Prime Day thanks to a discount and a 5 percent off coupon. We like the natural, vertical grip design and the optional LED lights.
Roku Express streaming stick for $18 ($12 off): For just a dollar more than its all-time low price, you can snag the runner up budget pick in our streaming device guide. It’s an affordable and capable HD streaming device that lets you watch tons of free shows and movies.
Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug (EP40A) for $17 ($13 off): One of the best ways to schedule and control your holiday lights is with an outdoor plug. We tried this one and found it to be easy to connect with Siri, who doesn’t always play nice with smart devices.
Anker USB-C to USB-C Cable (240W, 6ft) for $12 ($5 off): Stocking up on things like cables is a Prime Day must-do — you’ll always need more of them so snag them while they're cheap. Anker’s cords are solid and this one is rated to 240W with a just-right, six-foot length.
Blink Mini 2 for $19.99 ($20 off): I’m currently testing this camera for an upcoming guide and I’ve been impressed with the accuracy of its person detection — though that feature requires a subscription, which you get to try free for 30 days.
Amazon Echo Buds (2023) for $24.99 (50 percent off): Open design earbuds don’t go all the way into your ear canal and are therefore more comfortable for some. We named the Echo Buds best low-cost pick in that category in our budget earbud guide.
Amazon Echo Pop Kids for $23 ($50 off): The Echo Pop Kids comes covered in either Marvel heroes or Disney princesses and ships with a year of access to Amazon Kids+.
Amazon Echo Dot for $23 ($27 off): Amazon is matching last year’s Black Friday low on the Echo Dot — and beating July’s Prime Day price, too. It’s the top smart speaker on our list and puts out impressive sound for its size. I rely on mine daily for weather updates and smart light control.
EarFun Free 2S Wireless Earbuds for $24.99 ($15 off): You don’t always get much for less than $25 when it comes to earbuds. But we found these to have a comfortable fit and lively sound. Good enough for a knock-around pair.
TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender for $23 ($27 off): If you have Wi-Fi dead spots in your home and need a low-cost solution, grab one of these at half price. We tested this model and found it was easy to set up and reliable. We named it our budget pick in Engadget’s Wi-Fi extender guide.
Meross Dual Smart Plug for $25 ($5 off): For about a dollar less than its most recent low, you can snag a two pack of our favorite dual-outlet smart plugs. These work with all four smart home assistants and each outlet can be controlled individually.
Best October Prime Day tech deals under $30
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Add a few more dollars to your budget and you can snag Apple’s new fast charger or a doorbell camera to keep tabs on your front porch while you’re at work. Here’s the best gadgets for less than $30 for Prime Day.
Ring Indoor Cam for $29.99 ($30 off): Snag this half price deal on an indoor smart camera that was updated just last year and helps you keep tabs on any room, with 1080p and color night vision. This sale matches its all-time low price.
Kasa Smart Plug Mini 15A (4-pack) for $29.99 ($20 off): The prior low we saw on this set was $34, making this an even better deal. It’s the top pick in our smart plug guide because it works with all the smart assistants, isn’t frustrating to set up and stays reliably connected.
Amazon Echo Dot Kids for $28 ($32 off): The kids version of the smart speaker is the same basic hardware, but this one comes with a cute cover, parental controls and a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+ with kid-friendly audiobooks and more.
Blink Video Doorbell for $29.99 ($30 off): You can keep tabs on your porch from anywhere for just $30. Just note that you’ll need to hardwire it or purchase the Sync Module if you want to see video on-demand, otherwise you’ll need to wait for a motion-detection alert.
Best October Prime Day tech deals under $40
LEGO
Under the $40 mark, there are power banks, streaming devices and one of our favorite speakers. There’s even an advent calendar filled with stuff that’s way more exciting than chocolate.
LEGO Star Wars 2024 Advent Calendar for $36 ($9 off): The key to advent calendars is getting one early. Wait until November and the good ones are gone. That may be the case with this one, which has Leia and Luke in Christmas sweaters and is currently 20 percent off.
Apple MagSafe Charger (1m) for $33 ($7 off): Apple slipped in a new MagSafe charger with the release of the iPhone 16. It boosts wireless charging speeds for the new handset, supporting a maximum rate of 25W.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 ($25 off): This is the cheapest price yet on Amazon’s most powerful streaming stick. It supports 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio, plus it lets you play Xbox games without a console (but with a subscription).
Anker Nano Power Bank 10K for $32 ($8 off): We gave this a shout-out in our guide to power banks and this is the cheapest price we've seen. It has a handy connecting USB-C cable built in.
Amazon Echo Buds with ANC (2021) for in our review
Roku Streaming Stick 4K for $34 ($16 off): That’s about $6 more than the streamer sold for last Prime Day, but if you don’t want to wait and see whether it goes for less during Black Friday, grab it now and start enjoying our favorite streaming device for free and live content.
Best October Prime Day tech deals under $50
Chris Velazco/Engadget
Items in the priciest category on this list still aren't terribly expensive. For less than $50 you can get, for example, a smart display-and-bulb bundle. Pair them up and ask Alexa to turn on the light…and make it green. Then ask to turn it off again. Then on. Then off again at 10 pm. Then have it come on tomorrow, but pink. That’s worth at least $50 right there.
Apple iPhone 16 Silicone Case for $38 ($11 off): From year to year, Apple makes just enough tweaks to the design of the iPhone that last year’s case won’t work. Those with an iPhone 16 can save a few bucks on a case that accommodates the new design and Camera Control button.
Amazon Echo Spot and smart bulb for $45 ($35 off): Amazon’s revamped smart speaker has a half screen to show simple details like the weather, time and the song you’re listening to. The other half houses an improved speaker for music and chatting it up with Alexa.
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam for $49.99 ($30 off): The motorized base can rotate 360 degrees to give you a complete view of the room and captures HD video. It has the same features as other indoor Ring cams, such as Live View and two-way talk.
Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds for $45 ($35 off): Our top budget earbuds are down to a new low price for Prime Day. We’re fans of the pleasant, warm sound and solid ANC. Plus they’re comfortable and go for eight-ish hours on a charge.
Anker 100W USB C charger block for $40 ($35 off): When you need to recharge your devices quickly, you might need more than that 25-watt brick you have lying around. This one from Anker is speedy and just sneaks under the $50 mark after a $25 discount.
Echo Show 5 with TP-Link smart color bulb for $49.99 (56 percent off): The screen here is small (measuring just 5.5 inches diagonally) but it’s enough to display your Alexa-enabled smart camera feeds and show you cooking videos. Plus the included smart bulb lets your Show do tricks right out of the box.
Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 for $48 ($32 off): We like the smallest speaker in our guide because it packs serious sound for its size. The audio isn’t the highest fidelity, but the rubbery strap is perfect for strapping onto a pack, bike handlebar or elsewhere.
Blink Outdoor 4 + Blink Mini 2 bundle for $49.99 ($90 off): A bundle with both an indoor and outdoor camera is 64 percent off, so you can start your home-monitoring system on the cheap. As an Amazon brand, Blink works best with other Alexa-enabled smart home devices.
Anker PowerConf C200 2K webcam for $48 ($12 off): The budget pick from our webcam guide is even more budget-friendly now. It offers good video quality and does a good job of making you appear clear in low-light settings.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
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iRobot's Roomba Combo j9+ robot vacuum and mop is $600 off for Prime Day
Prime Day has returned for the fall, which means there are tons of deals to check out at Amazon. Robot vacuums (and cordless ones for that matter) are some of the machines we most recommend picking up during sale events like this because you can often save hundreds on the stick price. One of the best Prime Day robot vacuum deals we found is on the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, which is a vac-and-mop hybrid. You can snag it for $800 right now, which is $600 off.
This is our pick for the best robot vacuum and mop combo. The Roomba Combo j9+ covers all the bases — and floor types — as it offers just about everything you could want in such a device.
It has strong suction, the ability to give your floors a deep scrub and the intelligence to avoid obstacles. The accompanying Clean Base not only allows the Combo j9+ to self-empty, it refills the robot's liquid tank with water or solution. As such, you shouldn't have to empty the debris bin or top up the base's liquid tank for weeks at a time.
You can set up vacuuming and mopping routines, and ask Alexa or Google Assistant to start an ad hoc cleaning. The Combo j9+ can map out your home faster than previous models and you can label objects to help direct the Roomba to clean a specific area.
The Combo j9+ is certainly a more premium option, but there are other Roombas on sale for Prime Day. Another vacuum and mop combo (Y0140) has dropped from $275 to $219. Meanwhile, you can pick up the even more budget-friendly Roomba Q0120 vacuum for $190. It usually costs $250.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/irobots-roomba-combo-j9-robot-vacuum-and-mop-is-600-off-for-prime-day-172009289.html?src=rss
The best Prime Day speaker deals during Amazon's Big Deal Days Sale
At Engadget, we’ve tested scads of audio equipment. In our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers and smart speakers, we break down which, out of the thousands out there, are worth your money. Not surprisingly, many of those picks come from stalwart brands like Bose, JBL, Ultimate Ears and Marshall — but few of the picks are cheap.
Now that Amazon’s October Prime Day has arrived, many of those speakers are currently discounted and some are cheaper than ever. Here are the best Prime Day speaker deals we could find on the models we recommend.
Best October Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals
Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget
There’s a portable speaker for just about every situation in our guide to Bluetooth speakers. Whether you just want some tunes as you horbgorble around at home or need to entertain some coworkers at a music dance experience, there’s something for you here — and best of all, these are on sale.
Tribit StormBox Micro 2 for $48 ($32 off): This is the smallest music box on our list, and we like it because it packs serious sound for its size. The audio isn’t the highest fidelity, but the rubbery strap is perfect for strapping onto a pack, bike handlebar or elsewhere.
JBL Flip 6 for $80 ($50 off): After reading our guide, this is the speaker I bought, and I can confirm this crowler-sized device has great sound quality, is durable as heck and I love that it sounds great on its side or stood on end.
Marshall Emberton II for $100 ($70 off): This clutchable model has two 10-watt drivers and passive radiators for 360-degree sound. While it’s not super loud, we found the output to be nicely balanced. You’ll get up to 30 hours of play on a charge and it has a IP67 water- and dust-resistance rating.
Marshall Middleton for $250 ($50 off): This is the flagship in Marshall’s waterproof/portable line. We like the top-notch sound quality and impressive output from the dual woofers, tweeters for the front and back, and passive radiators along each side.
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom for $320 ($130 off): At 13 pounds, this UE speaker pushes the boundaries of portable, verging into shelf speaker territory. It made the cut in our guide thanks to its good looks, loud output and ample port options. It’ll play for 24 hours on a charge, too.
Best October Prime Day smart speaker deals
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
I never thought I’d own a smart speaker, but now I ask Alexa for everything — turn on the smart lights, set a noodle timer, remind me about Saturday’s group FaceTime and, most importantly, tell me the weather today. It’s always a good idea to get these devices on sale, so take advantage of these Prime Day prices while you can.
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) for $23 ($27 off): The Dot is the most popular model in Amazon’s smart speaker family. Though it’s small, it puts out decent volume and music sounds pretty good from its speakers. But where it really shines is acting as your daily smart home assistant.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) for $50 ($50 off):The full-sized model is probably a better option if you plan to use your Echo as a music source regularly — not surprisingly, its bigger size makes for bigger sound, plus you can pair two together. It’s our recommendation for a smart speaker under $100.
Amazon Echo Spot (2nd gen) for $45 ($35 off): The half-a-softball Spot with its tiny display went away for a time, but came back with a new look and a half-moon screen that can display the time, weather and the song that’s playing.
Amazon Echo Pop for $18 ($22 off): The tiniest Echo device is best suited to a small space where it would be helpful to have Alexa’s assistance. It’s not built for high fidelity music playing, but will bop out a song as you get ready or make some dinner.
Best October Prime Day soundbar deals
Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
It’s not just you. The dialogue in TV shows is getting tougher to suss out. In my house, a soundbar has made a world of difference. Of course, these long speakers and sets also make movies more immersive. Engadget’s Billy Steele tested out a bunch, putting his favorites in our soundbar guide and, in good news for anyone ready to turn off the subtitles, Prime Day deals extend to a number of these things.
Sennheiser Ambeo Mini for $600 ($200 off): The Ambeo Mini got a favorable review from us when it came out last year. Just note that it needs the Ambeo subwoofer or else the bass just gets lost in large, or even medium, rooms.
Sonos Beam for $399 ($100 off): The Sonos Beam is our favorite midrange soundbar. It has solid sound quality, support for Dolby Atmos and is easy to set up. Just note that it only has one HDMI port, so you can’t hook up a console directly to the speaker.
Sonos Ray for $169 ($110 off): With over $100 off, the Sonos Ray is an affordable option that puts out excellent sound in a compact bar with easy setup.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-prime-day-speaker-deals-during-amazons-big-deal-days-sale-073606635.html?src=rss
The best Prime Day deals on robot vacuums include up to $600 off machines from iRobot, Dyson, Shark and others
October Prime Day typically has deals on all kinds of electronics, but it’s a smart move to look for big-ticket items on your list first and foremost. If you’ve been meaning to buy a robot vacuum, now’s a great time to do so. These are some of the more expensive smart home gadgets you can get, but snagging them on discount during October Prime Day can mean saving hundreds off the sticker price. This year, Prime Day deals have brought some of our top picks for the best robot vacuums down to record-low prices, and there are even some decent deals on cordless stick vacuums as well. Here are the best October Prime Day vacuum cleaner deals we could find.
Prime Day deals on robot vacuums
iRobot
The best robot vacuums take a chore than many of us would rather not do and automates it to the point where the most you have to do is set a cleaning schedule and empty a bin every once in a while. Of course, that level of smart home automation comes at a cost — which is why it’s a good idea to take the leap on that robo-vac you’ve been eyeing while it’s on sale for October Prime Day.
iRobot Roomba Vac robot vacuum for $190 ($60 off): This affordable Roomba gives you strong suction power in a sleek design, plus a companion app that makes it easy to set cleaning schedules.
iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ robot vacuum and mop for $699 ($401 off): This combo robo-vac and mop will drop its mopping pad down when it runs over hard flooring, and it comes with a self-emptying base.
iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ robot vacuum and mop for $799 ($600 off): This higher-end robot vacuum and mop has a design that allows for better edge and corner cleaning, superior suction power and a self-emptying base that will automatically refill the mop cleaning solution when needed.
Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum cleaner for $370 ($30 off): Shark’s robo-vac can clean both carpet and hard floors well and maps your home while it cleans so you can more easily send it to specific rooms and areas when you want. Its self-emptying base can also hold up to 30 days worth of debris.
Anker Eufy Boost 11S Max robot vacuum cleaner for $130 ($120 off): This is one of the best budget robot vacuums available now thanks to its good suction power, long battery life and slim design that lets it get underneath more furniture than other, taller machines.
Prime Day deals on cordless vacuums
Photo by Valentina Palladino / Engadget
There are some of us who actually enjoy vacuuming (guilty!), and for those folks, a cordless vacuum makes the most sense in 2024. They’re lighter and easier to maneuver than traditional, upright vacs, and some of them even come with self-emptying bases like their robot counterparts do. These are some of our favorites that have been discounted for Prime Day.
Dyson V15 Detect Plus cordless vacuum cleaner for $700 ($50 off): This version of our top pick in our best cordless vacuum cleaner guide has superior suction power and can handle pet hair without breaking a sweat, plus it has 60 minutes of run time and comes with a number of cleaner-head accessories.
Shark PowerDetect Clean cordless vacuum cleaner for $400 ($100 off): The “multiflex” arm on this Shark cordless vacuum can help you clean better under furniture, and the included self-emptying base means you do not have to empty its dustbin yourself.
Shark Detect Pro cordless vacuum cleaner for $330 ($120 off): This relatively lightweight cordless vacuum does a good job cleaning carpeted and hard surfaces, and its charging dock includes a self-emptying base into which it’ll dump its contents after every job.
Tineco Pure One S11 cordless vacuum cleaner for $200 ($100 off): Our top pick for the best budget cordless vacuum is even cheaper right now.
Tineco Pure One Station Furfree cordless vacuum cleaner for $500 ($300 off): This strong cordless vacuum has a heavy-duty self-emptying base, and it comes with accessories to help you groom your furry friends.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-prime-day-deals-on-robot-vacuums-include-up-to-600-off-machines-from-irobot-dyson-shark-and-others-084931583.html?src=rss
Amazon devices including Echo speakers, Fire TV Sticks and Blink cameras are up to 68 percent off for October Prime Day 2024
While you can often find discounts on Echo speakers, Fire tablets, Kindles and other Amazon devices throughout the year, October Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to buy them. Amazon usually discounts most of its gadgets for members-only, Prime Day sale events, and those sale prices are typically only rivaled by Black Friday deals.
For this year’s October Prime Day, you’ll find most of Amazon’s devices on sale for record-low prices (or close to them). These are the best October Prime Day deals you can get on Kindles, Fire TVs, Echos and more.
Prime Day deals on Echo speakers and displays
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
If you’re keen on making your home a bit smarter, an Echo speaker or smart display can help by giving you an easy way to interact with Alexa. The voice assistant is compatible with so many smart home devices at this point, including smart light bulbs and robot vacuum cleaners, and it’s convenient that there’s an Echo device for nearly every budget now.
Echo Dot for $23 ($27 off): This is one of the best smart speakers you can get right now thanks to its compact design, physical button controls that compliment voice commands and its solid sound quality for its size.
Echo Pop for $18 ($22 off): One of Amazon’s newest smart devices, the Pop sports a 1.95-inch front-facing speaker, a physical mic mute switch for extra privacy and eero compatibility.
Amazon Echo Spot for $45 ($35 off): This recently revived smart display is billed as a smart alarm clock, and it features a customizable screen, big sound for its size and all the perks for Alexa voice commands. You can also grab it bundled with a free TP-Link smart light bulb.
Echo for $55 ($45 off): We consider this to be the best smart speaker for $100 or less at the moment thanks to its loud audio with good bass quality, the ability to pair two together for stereo sound and Alexa’s utility.
Echo Show 5 for $50 ($40 off): This is one of our favorite smart displays thanks to its compact design, ambient light sensor and sunrise alarm feature, all of which make it an excellent smart alarm clock. Amazon improved the speaker quality on this latest model, which gives sound deeper bass and clearer vocals.
Echo Show 8 for $85 ($65 off): This is our current top pick for the best smart display with Amazon’s Alexa thanks in part to its 8-inch touchscreen, 13MP camera that supports auto-framing for better video chats and its built-in Zigbee smart home hub.
Echo Buds for $25 ($25 off): These are one of our top picks for the best budget wireless earbuds you can get right now thanks to their comfortable design, pocket-friendly case, automatic wear detection, multi-device connectivity and, of course, built-in Alexa voice controls.
Prime Day deals on Kindle ereaders
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
The three best times of the year to buy a new Kindle ereader are Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Prime Day. Typically the latter is the best of the three, and we’re seeing solid sale prices across the entire Kindle lineup right now.
Kindle Paperwhite for $125 ($25 off): The latest version of the Paperwhite has thinner bezels, an adjustable warm light, speedier page turns and a battery that can last up to 10 weeks on a single charge. This model is also IPX8 waterproof and has built-in Audible integration.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids for $115 ($55 off): This kids bundle includes the standard Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of RAM, a kid-friendly cover, a two-year warranty and one free year of access to Amazon Kids+.
Kindle Scribe for $255 ($85 off): The Scribe is one of the best E-Ink tablets you can buy at the moment, and certainly the top pick if you want a writable table that also excels as an ereader. It provides a great reading and writing experience, thanks in part to its ability to access the entire Kindle ebook library, and it has handy Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox integration.
Prime Day deals on Fire tablets
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Amazon’s Fire tablets make great couch devices, or first tablets for kids who have no business touching their parents’ fancy iPads and Galaxy tabs. While they go on sale semi-frequently throughout the year, Prime Day is the time where you’re likely to get the greatest discounts.
Fire HD 8 tablet for $55 ($45 off): Amazon just released this new version of the HD 8 tablet, which includes more RAM, a better camera and new AI features not found on the previous model.
Fire HD 10 tablet for $75 ($65 off): This slab has a 10-inch FHD touchscreen, improved camera for video calls, 13 hours of battery life and it works with a stylus (although you have to buy that separately). If you’re looking for a cheap tablet that doesn’t compromise too many of the basics, this is a good option.
Fire Max 11 tablet for $140 ($90 off): Amazon’s most powerful tablet sports an 11-inch 2,000 x 1,200 touchscreen, an octa-core processor, up to 128GB of storage and 14 hours of battery life. It also works with a number of optional accessories, including a stylus and keyboard case.
Fire HD 10 Kids tablet for $110 ($80 off): Designed for kids aged three to seven, this tablet comes with full parental controls plus one year of Amazon Kids+ for free with the tablet purchase. It also has a 10-inch FHD touchscreen, an octa-core processor and 13 hours of battery life, plus it comes with a two-year warranty and a protective case.
Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet for $110 ($80 off): This model is designed for kids aged six to 12 and comes with a slimmer protective case, a two-year warranty and one year of access to Amazon Kids+. Otherwise, you get a very similar experience here that you would with the non-Pro version, including parental controls, a 10-inch touchscreen, solid performance and a 13-hour battery life.
Prime Day deals on Fire TV devices
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Fire TV devices can help turn an old TV into a smart one, or give you respite from a smart TV interface that you despise (as long as you can deal with Fire TV OS pushing Prime Video content in your face). But arguably the best thing about these devices is that there’s an option for every budget, and the barrier to entry lowers even further with Prime Day deals.
Fire TV Stick Lite streamer for $18 ($12 off): This is already the most affordable Fire TV streaming stick, but it’s a steal at this sale price. It supports 1080p content and comes with a “lite” version of the Alexa Voice Remote.
Fire TV Stick streamer for $20 ($20 off): This dongle ups the ante on the TV Stick Lite by adding support for Dolby Atmos audio, plus it comes with the regular version of the Alexa Voice Remote. It also supports Wi-Fi 5 and comes with 8GB of internal storage.
Fire TV Stick 4K streamer for $25 ($25 off): This mode is the cheapest Fire TV Stick you can get to stream 4K content, plus it has support for Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision and Atmos. With its live picture-in-picture feature, you can view security camera feeds right on your TV while you’re watching your favorite show or movie.
Fire TV Stick 4K Max streamer for $35 ($25 off): In addition to 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision and Atmos support, the 4K Max dongle includes Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, 16GB of built-in storage and live picture-in-picture capabilities.
Fire TV Cube set-top box for $100 ($40 off): This model will provide the best performance of any Fire TV streaming device, and it supports 4K HDR content, Dolby Vision and Atmos and an enhanced version of the Alexa Voice Remote. Along with live picture-in-picture view and the Fire TV ambient experience, you can also hardware other devices to the Fire TV Cube including a cable box or a game console.
Prime Day deals on Ring and Blink devices
Ring
You may not immediately think of them when you think about Amazon's own tech, but the shopping giant also owns Ring and Blink. Gadgets from these companies make up most of Amazon's home security offerings, and you can usually find steep discounts during Prime Day on security cameras, alarm systems and other bundles.
Ring pan and tilt security camera for $50 ($30 off): This security camera joined the Ring lineup only a few months ago, and this is the best price we've seen on it. It's part of a larger Ring sale that discounts home security gear by up to 50 percent.
Ring Video Doorbell for $60 ($40 off): This entry-level security doorbell records 1080p video, supports motion detection and privacy zones and has a built-in, rechargable battery and can be hardwired to your doorbell wiring.
Blink Outdoor 4 + Blink Mini 2 bundle for $50 ($90 off): It's almost a guarantee that Blink security systems will be on sale for Prime Day(s) and this time is no different. This bundle is 64 percent off, and there are a bunch of other bundles on sale that include cameras, video doorbells and more.
Blink Outdoor 4 + Echo Show 5 bundle for $60 ($130 off): This bundle gives you a one-camera Blink system that can be used indoors or outdoors along with an Echo Show 5, which you can use to see camera feeds just by using Alexa voice commands.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-devices-including-echo-speakers-fire-tv-sticks-and-blink-cameras-are-up-to-68-percent-off-for-october-prime-day-2024-083236781.html?src=rss
Prime Day laptop deals for 2024: All of the best discounts from Apple, Acer, Lenovo during the Big Deal Days sale
Those looking to upgrade from an aging laptop should check out the October Prime Day deals on Amazon right now. With the holidays being right around the corner, Amazon typically uses its fall Prime Day event as an unofficial kickoff to the biggest shopping season of the year. That means October Prime Day deals can be the same, or very close to, the discounts we might see during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
In the laptops department, there are some solid deals to be had this year. We generally recommend going straight to the manufacturer if you want to really customize your next daily driver. However, if you’re ok getting a pre-configured model, you can find some good discounts on Amazon right now. These are the best laptop deals we could find during the Prime Big Deal Days sale.
Prime Day deals on Apple MacBooks
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
MacBooks are not exempt from our general laptop buying advice: if you want to truly make your next MacBook your own, you should go directly to Apple to get the specs you want. However, you can often find solid deals on entry-level machines at Amazon, and even some configurations with extra storage.
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M2 for $749 ($250 off): Despite having a slightly older chipset, the M2 MacBook Air remains a great budget option for most anyone, save those who regularly push their daily driver to the limit with activities like video editing.
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M3 for $849 ($250 off): This is our top pick for the best MacBook you can buy right now thanks to its excellent performance, thin-and-light design, bright screen and comfortable keyboard and trackpad.
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro M3 for $1,300 ($300 off): This Pro-level MacBook is best for creatives and those who regularly need the most power possible from their notebook.
Prime Day deals on Chromebooks
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Chromebooks remain affordable alternatives to traditional laptops if you spend most of your time in a browser. But unlike this space a few years ago, there are more high-powered Chromebooks available now than ever before. Prime Day presents a good opportunity to save on all types of Chromebooks, affordable to high-end alike.
Lenovo 14-inch IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook for $435 ($34 off): Our top pick for the best Chromebook available right now, this Lenovo laptop impressed us with its solid build quality, good display and solid performance for the price.
Acer 14-inch Chromebook Plus 514 for $325 ($55 off): If you're looking for a basic Chromebook that won't break the bank, this is a decent pick thanks to its Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Acer 14-inch Chromebook Spin 714 for $551 ($199 off): This is a big discount on a high-powered Chromebook that has a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a 14-inch IPS touchscreen.
Prime Day deals on Windows laptops
Amazon / LG
There are so many different flavors of Windows laptops out there that it can be hard to choose the best one for you. Whether you've had your eye on a premium gaming machine or an upgraded model that's just a little better than your current daily driver, Prime Day deals on laptops can help you save a bit of cash on your next purchase.
LG 15.6-inch Gram laptop for $1,425 ($575 off): This ultra-thin laptop has a Core Ultra 7, 32GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD, plus a 15-inch FHD OLED screen with a superior contrast ratio and true-to-life colors.
Acer 16-inch Nitro gaming laptop for $800 ($200 off): In addition to a Ryzen 5 7640HS processor and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, this gaming laptop has 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and a 16-inch WUXGA screen with a max refresh rate of 165Hz.
Acer 16-inch Predator Triton Neo gaming laptop for $1,500 ($400 off): Along with AI capabilities, you're getting an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD on this 16-inch gaming laptop.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-laptop-deals-for-2024-all-of-the-best-discounts-from-apple-acer-lenovo-during-the-big-deal-days-sale-091240166.html?src=rss
The Google Pixel 8a falls to a new record low of $379 for Prime Day
Google's A-series Pixel phones are a great option for those looking to upgrade without spending a ton of money. Now thanks to Prime Day deals, you can get the Pixel 8a for the best price we've seen. It's down to $379, which is $120 off its usual price.
The Pixel 8a is our pick for the best midrange smartphone you can buy right now. We gave it a score of 90 in our review in May. It has some excellent hardware for a phone in this price range, including terrific cameras, a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and great battery life (it lasted for 20 and a half hours on our video rundown test).
What’s more, the Pixel 8a runs on the Tensor G3, which is the same chipset found in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. As such, it can run the same AI features as the flagship handsets, including Magic Eraser and other camera trickery, web article summaries and narration via Google Assistant, wallpaper generation and faster Face Unlock.
Elsewhere, features like IP67 dust and water resistance are very welcome. On the downside, the bezels are a little thicker than some may like. Qi wireless charging is slow too at a rate of 7.5W. Still, those are minor quibbles for an otherwise great midrange phone.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-google-pixel-8a-falls-to-a-new-record-low-of-379-for-prime-day-144717301.html?src=rss