Best Early Prime Big Deal Days Sales on Tech

The TCL 75QM6K just dropped $100 compared to its sale price last week. This TV is part of TCL’s entry-level QM series of 2025 TVs that use Mini LED backlights, and it offers very good overall picture quality but only so-so HDR performance. It has a fairly wide viewing angle for an LCD/LED-based set. Like other QM-series models for 2025, it uses the Google TV smart platform with Google Assistant built in. Though it has a Mini LED backlight with local dimming, it has fewer dimmable zones than the step-up QM-series models.

The Samsung QN65Q80D is the top model in the company’s regular QLED lineup, below the Neo QLED sets. Instead of the Mini LED backlights that those sets get, which can help improve black levels and contrast, this model has a full-array LED backlight with local dimming. It offers very good overall picture quality and sound, plus a great HDR experience. Like other Samsung sets, it supports HDR10+ but not Dolby Vision. The Samsung QN65Q80DD model is similar but is sold via warehouse clubs.

This 65-inch TCL set, a midtier model in the company’s higher-end Precision Dimming Series of step-up models with Mini LED backlights for 2025, offers great overall picture quality and a satisfying HDR experience. It also has very good sound. It uses the Google TV smart system, with Google Assistant built in. It’s $100 more than we saw during Prime Day, so the price will likely fall again during the next big sale, possibly even for Labor Day. It may be worth keeping an eye on it to save more in a few weeks.

This 55-inch smart TV, a new model for 2025, is an entry-level QLED set that nonetheless provides a satisfying picture, though it lacks the brightness to deliver a compelling HDR experience. (The TV supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ HDR, plus Dolby Atmos audio.) It also lacks some features, such as local dimming, found in step-up models. Sound quality isn’t great, so you might consider adding a soundbar. It uses the Amazon Fire TV smart system with Alexa built in.

The Amazon Fire TV Cube, back to the low price we rarely see outside of Amazon’s big sales, is a mashup of an Amazon Echo and a 4K Fire TV streamer. Its universal remote control capabilities let you control a host of other compatible A/V gear, including TVs, soundbars, receivers, and even some cable and satellite boxes. New features include HDMI 2.1 connections—one input and one output—for controlling other devices using your voice. (One cool trick is that the Cube will also upscale any content from a source connected to its HDMI input.) Other features include support for WiFi 6E, support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ HDR, and an Off button that disconnects the microphones if you don’t want the device in an always-listening mode.

This is the standard sale price we see during Amazon’s big sales. It never gets better than this. The second-gen Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is basically an updated version of the previous model, with a slightly faster processor, more storage (16GB instead of 8GB), and support for a newer wireless protocol, WiFi 6. It also has a new feature, called the Fire TV Ambient Experience, which has only been available on Amazon’s Omni-series QLED TVs until now. Basically, it lets you see information such as calendars and reminders, control smart devices, and view artwork or photos on the screen when you’re not watching TV.

Dyson On Trac noise-cancelling headphones are the vacuum company’s first audio-only product—Dyson’s heavy and expensive Zone headphones add an air purifier feature—and there’s a lot to like about them. The On Tracs are beautifully designed, allow for color customization, and sound superb. Early production models emitted an obnoxious, loud noise when you switched from noise-canceling to transparency mode. If that’s been fixed, the On Tracs represent a real Prime Day value.

While there’s nothing revolutionary about the design of Sonos’s first headphone, it is well-executed. If you like the Sonos brand, this is a good opportunity to get this model at a discount, as it doesn’t go on sale often. The sleek and even minimalist Ace is actually flattering when sitting on your head. The wireless noise-canceling model also offers warm, comforting sound and solid bass.

JBL Tune 510BT headphones feel like they’re built with quality in mind: They’re cheap, but they don’t seem cheap. This Bluetooth model delivers pretty good sound quality, it has a 40-hour advertised battery life, and we’ve seen it selling at remarkably low prices. The 510BT sits on the ears, which some people find more comfortable than being engulfed by the more common over-ear style. As an extra perk, you can also use them with a cable if you forget to charge them.

The sphere-shaped Dot has been revamped with new speaker drivers and electronics that promise improved sound. Despite its small size and low price, the Dot offers the same smart speaker functionality as its far more expensive brethren. It can also serve as an inexpensive way to introduce smart speaker functionality throughout your home in an Alexa-based multiroom system. You can even pair an Echo to a Bluetooth speaker you already own to lend that one smart speaker functionality. The Dot provides an inexpensive way to test the smart speaker waters, and the price makes it a reasonable gift even if you’re on a budget.

The Amazon Echo Pop is the perfect way to test out a smart speaker in your home at a low cost. It’s been as low as $20, so you may want to wait for Big Deal Days to see if you can save that extra $5. The sound quality leaves a lot to be desired, so it may not be ideal if you’re looking primarily for music playback. But if you are more excited about adding smart functionality to any room in your house, this may fit the bill.

Looking for a really good, inexpensive small speaker? The Flip 6 is at a fantastic discount at Walmart right now. This speaker is very similar to the venerable Flip 5, and that’s a good thing. It’s water and dust-resistant, has a 12-hour battery life, and is just the right size to slip into a bag or even the water bottle pocket on a backpack.

Anyone looking to save some space—or cut down on items to plug into their TV—should consider the Roku Streambar SE, a soundbar that includes a built-in Roku streaming player. Given its small footprint, it probably works best for smaller TVs, not that jumbo-sized set you’ve been eyeing.

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i may be a good choice for college students on the go. It lasted longer than most other laptops of its size in web browsing battery tests, at almost 20 hours. The screen shows a wide range of colors that appear accurate in display tests. Performance speeds are quick for complex productivity work, and are able to handle most demanding tasks.

This model may not have “Gaming” in its name, but it should deliver a solid streaming experience. It has a 16-inch display and a big, comfortable keyboard, complete with RGB lighting that makes typing in the dark easier and more colorful. The display supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, which can make games appear silky smooth in motion.

This 14-inch model weighs next to nothing—2.9 pounds to be precise—and delivers nearly 19 hours’ worth of battery life per charge. Our testers note that it’s not the fastest Chromebook you’ll see, but if you’re just doing typical Chromebook-y tasks, that shouldn’t be much of an issue.

If you’re looking for a low-cost option, this might be it, especially because the price dropped $50 in the last two weeks. The Galaxy Chromebook Go has a solid battery life of almost 13 hours for web browsing (and nearly 8 hours for more demanding tasks), and our testers said the keyboard is comfortable to use as well. Performance is about average, and the display is merely so-so, but as long as you treat this as a low-cost productivity device rather than the only computer you’ll ever need, you should be okay.

It’s a small discount, but it’s one of the best Chromebooks under $300.

If you want to stick with an iPad, this entry-level model is our pick as the best tablet for most people. It has a beautiful 10.9-inch display, 128GB of storage, and the ability to record HD video. And its battery lasts a decently long time in our testing: 14 hours during video playback and 9 hours browsing the web.

The Anker Nano is particularly pint-sized, at just 3.6 ounces. It receives solid marks for charging speed, both when it’s charging a device and when it’s being recharged at the wall. And it has two USB-C ports, including a foldable male USB-C port you can plug directly into your phone—no connecting cable needed. The Anker Nano only has enough capacity to fully charge an average smartphone from zero battery about once or to top it off a few times—so this wouldn’t be the charger to take on a days-long trip. But it does have handy LED lights that show you its battery status, so you know when it’s time to plug it back into an outlet.

This compact, budget-friendly charger can be handy to toss in your kid’s backpack, especially if they need something that connects via USB-C. It’s roughly the size of a credit card and has two USB-A ports as well as a USB-C port, so it can charge three devices simultaneously. Iniu claims it can charge a pair of AirPods Pro over 10 times on a single charge and an iPhone 13 nearly twice.

Much like trackers made by Samsung and Tile, Apple AirTags work best if it’s within Bluetooth range (roughly 30 feet) of your own phone. But, that said, there are millions of iPhones and other Apple devices roaming around out there that can pick up a signal and discreetly convey it to you when you find yourself searching, say, a park or a school campus for the keys you dropped. Is the tracking pinpoint accurate? No. But it’s close enough to give you a huge head start in your search.

The main thing that the Canon PIXMA TS7720, an all-in-one inkjet, has going for it is its price. It’s been selling for $99 for a long time, but now it’s discounted significantly, making it a great time to buy. The real street price is closer to $100 than the original $150, but you’re still getting nice savings here. Our estimate of ink cost is $68 a year, pretty typical for a cartridge printer. The lab results it turns in are decent, not extraordinary.

The Arlo Essential 2K (VMC3050-100NAS) is one of Arlo’s newer, more budget-friendly security cameras. It performs well in our tests and features a built-in spotlight, a siren, and voice/app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Additional features, such as activity zones, person detection, and cloud video storage, require an Arlo Secure subscription.

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced is one of the company’s newer smart thermostats. It performs well in our tests for manual operation and offers an array of smart features, but it’s not as proficient at learning your routine and making adjustments automatically. It features a new radar-based occupancy sensor and works with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings for voice and app control. It doesn’t come with one of Ecobee’s wireless temperature sensors (called SmartSensors), but you can buy those separately in a two-pack for $100 at Best Buy and Ecobee.

The Google Nest Video Doorbell (Battery) offers impressive data security, speedy response times, and decent video quality in our lab tests. It’s also one of the few video doorbells to give you monitoring zones, object recognition (of people, packages, animals, and vehicles), and three free hours of cloud video storage without a monthly subscription. Cloud video storage and additional features (such as facial recognition) require a Google Nest Aware subscription.

If you’re looking to upgrade your Apple Watch (or invest in a smartwatch for the first time), the top-rated Series 10—reviewed here for CR members—comes with a bigger, brighter display than the previous model and faster charging capabilities, which might make tracking your sleep easier. This Apple Watch allows for cellular connectivity.

Prices keep fluctuating this week on Samsung’s rugged-looking (and top-rated) premium smartwatch, but you can still get a good deal. The watch is aimed at outdoors enthusiasts—or anyone who wants the latest premium health—and fitness-tracking features. It has a very long claimed battery life of up to 60 hours, or 100 hours in Power Saving mode. Galaxy Watches work only with Android devices. Note that the prices at the listed retailers vary depending on options including the color of the watch and band.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch7, now $30 more than its Prime Day price, is a high-performing pick, particularly if you own a Galaxy phone, and its stylish design means you can feel comfortable wearing it just about anywhere. The Watch7 offers the latest health, fitness, and safety features—including sleep apnea detection, swim stroke analysis, and AI-enabled Sleep and Energy scores. Its other features include automatic workout tracking, heart-rate and blood-oxygen-level monitoring, and heart rate variability tracking. This is the Bluetooth-only model; the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 LTE with cellular connectivity is also currently $100 off. 

This is a good deal on a wireless router that does quite well in our ratings. It’s not a mesh router, but if a single-unit router is sufficient to envelop your home in WiFi, this one should do a good job. Our testers note high speeds (technically referred to as “throughput”) across near, medium, and far distances, as well as useful features like automatic firmware updating (which helps keep you and your data safe) and the ability to manage everything from a smartphone app.