Best Prime Big Deal Days Sales Under $100 Still Available
Don't break the bank with these budget buys on top kitchen tools, tech gear, and sleep essentials
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If you missed Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, which ended yesterday, Walmart and Best Buy’s sales are still going on through the weekend, which means there are plenty of deals available at all three retailers (and plenty of other stores too). We’ve been scouring the sales all week for products under $100 to help you find the best offers. With so many neon signs pointing every which way, it can be hard to know where to look and what to buy. So the experts at Consumer Reports are here to help. We look more closely at every offer to determine whether it’s worth your money, taking into account typical prices and how well it actually works (based on our lab results and hands-on evaluations).
This list focuses on products priced between $50 and $100. If you’re looking for something that costs more (or less), check out the CR Deals Hub, where you can find everything we’ve found on sale in one place.
Kitchen
De'Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine
The Stilosa is a great choice if you want to make espresso at home but don’t want to shell out hundreds for a machine. Spending less on this model will mean sacrificing certain things, such as using plastic parts instead of metal and simpler controls than you might find on a higher-end model. But for the price, it still gets the job done. Our evaluator found it brewed with consistent pressure and resulted in a balanced espresso. They even wound up appreciating the simple controls. We do recommend reading a bit more about our evaluation before you run off to buy this model, so you know more of what to expect, but if it sounds like a good fit, the price is definitely worth it.
Oxo Stainless Steel Salad Spinner, 6.34 Qt
Oxo makes so many good kitchen utensils that it’s no surprise that this big spinner was among the top performers. It removed 97.7 percent of the water from our greens, making it the second-best performer for drying behind the Farberware. This Oxo model can accommodate a maximum of 200.32 grams of dry salad mix, second, again, to the winner. It’s the only stainless steel model we tested, so if you’re trying to cut down on your plastic purchases this could be a good model for you.
Like many hand mixers in our tests, the KitchenAid KHM6118CU 6 Speed earns impressive marks in all of our performance tests, mixing egg whites to fluffy peaks, whipping voluminous whipped cream, and making nicely frothy pancake batter. We also find it pretty easy to use. We’ve seen this mixer priced this low several times in the past year, but if you’re in the market for a hand mixer now this one could be the right choice for you.
Bluetooth Speakers
The 2nd-gen Soundlink Flex has a lot going for it. This midsized Bose sounds good for a modestly priced portable speaker, and it has IP67 water and dust resistance, so it’s right at home on the beach or by the pool. The bass is a bit on the boomy side, according to our testers, but the three-band equalizer helps tame that. The speaker produces only enough volume to fill a medium-sized room, but it can be positioned horizontally or vertically, and the audio adjusts automatically to the orientation. The controls are easy to use as well. And at around $100, it’s a great gift for a friend, a relative, or even yourself.
The Sony ULT Field 1 is an amenable companion for a trip to the pool or the beach. It’s pleasant-sounding and has a strong, impactful bass, ideal for summer tunes. It doesn’t play super loud, but that’s largely a function of its modest size. It boasts an IP67 rating, which means it’s well sealed against sand and dirt and can take a modest dunking.
Fitness Trackers
The Fitbit Inspire 3 represents an upgrade from the older Inspire 2, with the biggest change being a bright OLED color display that replaces the 2’s monochrome screen. The Inspire 3 is a great option if you’re looking to save money, especially at this sale price. It’s lightweight and slim, and pairs easily with both iPhones and Android smartphones.
This watch is now $5 more than it was for Prime Big Deal Days. If you’re thinking of getting it as a holiday gift, it would be better to wait for Black Friday, when the price has a good chance of being lower.
Headphones
Apple AirPods 4
While Apple claims the AirPods 4 are improved over the AirPods 3, our testers were less impressed. They’re still solid headphones if you prefer not to have eartips stuck in your ear. The fit, despite Apple’s tweaks, is pretty much the same as previous models, as is the sound. These headphones were $15 less for Black Friday last year, so you may be able to save more in a couple of months.
Sleep
Despite the "cooling" in its name, this Nectar pillow doesn’t actually have cooling properties. Still, it’s one of the most breathable pillows we’ve evaluated, and our tests show that it doesn’t retain warmth. This polyurethane foam and polyester pillow is also quite resilient and excels at offering support for side sleepers. Back sleepers, however, would be better served by the Coop Original.
Floor Care
If you’re tired of lugging around a heavy hand vacuum while cleaning, you should consider the Shark Ion W1 WV201. At 1.4 pounds, it’s one of the lightest hand vacs we’ve tested. And despite its strong cleaning performance, it’s also fairly quiet. The downside is that its bin is on the small side, so you have to empty it frequently when tackling big messes.
This is $20 more than the lowest price I’ve seen in months, so there’s still a chance the price could drop this week.
Hair Styling Tools
BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Extended Barrel Curling Iron
The BaBylissPro’s extra-long titanium barrel delivered long-lasting Rapunzel-quality curls in our evaluations. It has variable heat settings and begins to heat up the moment it’s plugged in. (It must be unplugged immediately after use to turn it off.) But the lack of a barrier between the heated barrel and the handle makes it easier to burn your hand.
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Evolve Ionic Salon Hair Flat Iron
Hot Tools hair styling tools are a common sight at hair salons, and for good reason—and this one just dropped $20 to boot. Our evaluators found that this flat iron heated up fast and was easy to use. It has variable heat settings for more control, and the plates are slightly longer than most straighteners, which could be useful for styling longer hair. It’s important to note that temperature consistency isn’t reliable and can vary by up to 20°F from the set temperature during use. It has a 2-hour window before it automatically shuts off, so you’ll want to remember to unplug it after every use.
Pets
Petlibro Granary Smart Feeder
The Petlibro Granary Smart Feeder is easy to use and has an app that makes setting schedules and dispensing food a breeze. This automatic dog feeder dispenses precise amounts of dry food for dogs or cats and includes a voice recording feature that lets you call your pet for meals.
Costway PetSite 3-in-1 Pet Stroller
The PetSite 3-in-1 is multifunctional, easy to assemble and fold, lightweight, and sturdy. It’s also really versatile for travel. It serves as both a car seat and portable carrier, complete with a carrying strap. It has a maximum capacity of 33 pounds, so you could potentially fit two small animals in it, and the mesh top makes it easy to keep an eye on them. Our evaluator reported that it was easy to assemble and that the stroller moved smoothly, even on bumpier surfaces.
Personal Care
The WiFi- and Bluetooth-enabled Omron Body Composition Monitor and Scale BCM-500 is accurate, consistent, and gives repeatable results even if your weight isn’t evenly distributed. In addition to your weight, measured in 0.1-pound increments, the Omron also calculates BMI based on the user’s entered profile.
Fitness
The Giro Syntax MIPS is a relatively expensive road/mountain bike helmet that keeps your head ventilated and absorbs impact. It’s easy to use and fits a variety of head sizes, too. The helmet comes in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes and features an adjustable retention strap to further customize the fit. The Syntax MIPS is lightweight at 322 grams and features technology designed to reduce concussion risk. It has a one-year warranty.
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