Amazon Prime Day is big. Huge. As you can imagine, there are a ton of deals out there, and even if you've been following our super-detailed coverage (live blog here and mega-huge list of deals here), you might get lost in the sea of deals to cover.
You sit there and you Really If you need a bonsai pruner, we suggest a different approach: here are five bargains that are truly worth the money.
Wait, why listen to me? Good question. Well, I turn to technology all day, every day. I buy a lot of gadgets, and often get even more gadgets sent to me by companies. And I understand that everyone has different needs and wants when it comes to electronics, gizmos, and gadgets of any kind. But every once in a while, you happen to have that moment where you find something really good at a really good price and you think, “this might be worth buying.”
So when Mashable's shopping team asked me to pick the top five deals from a ton of them, that's exactly what I was looking for.
Now, let me show you what I found.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max
Credit: Apple
No, I don't need AirPods Max. I have at least five pairs of headphones at home and have probably lost another pair or two. And to be honest, I don't like the look of the Smart Case that comes with the AirPods Max. It looks weird. What's up with that, Apple?
But the AirPods Max are surprisingly comfortable, sound great, look great, and work great with Apple gadgets, which is a big plus, because not all other wireless headphones are as easy to connect to (or switch between) with Apple devices.
This year, you can get the AirPods Max for just $394.99, 28% off the usual price of $550. We've never seen them that cheap. Even better, for that price you get all five colors: green, pink, silver, sky blue, and space gray.
Best of all, I think this is a bargain, since AirPods Max is not something I would normally buy. A deal on AirPods Pro (currently down from $249 to $168.99) is nice, but I already have a pair, and to be honest, if I lose them I'll buy new ones no matter what. But buying AirPods Max at a deep discount would boost my dopamine to levels I haven't seen since my last online impulse buy. And I mean, years. Yeah, years. Or months, weeks? Please don't judge me.
Amazon Kindle Scribe
Amazon Kindle Scribe
Credit: Amazon
If you ask me which Kindle to buy, I say: Buy the Kindle Paperwhite. I'm serious about this. It's a great buy, with all the features you need in an e-reader, and Amazon's huge library.
But this year's Kindle sales are… not so good (you can get the Paperwhite for $15 off, for $134.99), with the exception of the Kindle Scribe.
For those of you who don't know what Kindle Scribe is, it's a Kindle that lets you take notes with a digital pen (included) and converts your handwritten notes into text. Does anyone need this? Definitely not. But if you'd like to try it out to see if it's for you, now's your chance: Amazon has slashed the price by 31%, from $339.99 to $234.99.
For your money, you get a device with a beautiful 10.2-inch display (the display is a Paperwhite at 300 ppi), 16GB of storage, and a Basic Pen. It's more than enough to start your reading and note-taking journey.
Samsung 75-inch QN85C QLED 4K TV
Samsung Neo QLED QN85C 4K TV
Credit: Samsung
There's a saying about TVs: you can never have too big. Seriously. Never. Even if it doesn't fit on your living room wall. Make your living room wall bigger. But let's digress. Let's say you want to buy a bigger TV this year to wow your friends and neighbors and annoy your partner, who wants more than just a giant TV on his living room wall.
The one to grab for Prime Day is Samsung's 75-inch QN85C QLED monster. It's $1,000 off, currently going for $1,497.99. At under $20 per inch, it's a great deal.
I'll admit it: I haven't tried this TV myself. But the reviews are good, and the “QN85C” designation puts it about in the middle of Samsung's QLED TV series, with the N standing for NEO QLED, which delivers a brighter, sharper picture than regular QLED. Is there a better TV out there? Yes, but you'll be hard-pressed to find one at this price.
Ultimate Years Megaboom 3
Ultimate Years Megaboom 3
Credit: Ultimate Ears
Outside of cell phones, we're often asked what portable speaker to buy. There's something about portable speakers that makes them the best gadgets to own even if you're not into gadgets. Going camping? Bring a speaker. Traveling basically anywhere? You might need a speaker. A pool party? A waterproof speaker.
Mashable Deals
I bought the Ultimate Ears Megaboom a while back and it's perfect – it's waterproof, sounds great no matter where you put it, and the battery lasts long enough for any party.
Then I sold it and bought another portable speaker. Then another, and another. But I still wanted that old Megaboom. Other speakers may sound better in certain situations, look fancier, or have more features, but the Megaboom is just the right size and is so easy to use that it remains my recommended portable speaker.
During Prime Day, you can get the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 for $129.99 (save $70). Or, get the Boom 3. It's not as loud, but it's easy to carry and has pretty good sound quality. During Prime Day, you can get it for $100.99 (save $49).
Apple Watch SE (40mm)
Apple Watch
Credit: Apple
What can I say, I love Apple products, but this is a completely different type of purchase than the aforementioned AirPods Max. Like the AirPods Max, the Apple Watch SE (40mm) is available on Prime Day for a record low price of $169.99 (down from $249).
But this isn't something you buy to satisfy your desire to own something shiny. This is a “is this for me?” type of purchase. Sitting at the bottom of the Apple Watch lineup, the SE is an entry-level smartwatch, making it the ideal buy for those who aren't sure if they really need one or don't want to spend a ton of money on it.
Frankly, the regular asking price is (in typical Apple fashion) just a little more than what most people would expect to pay for such a device, but with the price now discounted to $169.99, now might be the time to buy.
For that price, you're getting an incredibly capable smartwatch with fitness and sleep trackers, a heart rate monitor, voice control, and some special Apple features like collision detection and Emergency SOS. You won't be able to get every color at this price, and they seem to be selling out fast, so don't get in touch if you get one and it's no longer available.
