Our 7 Favorite Deals Right Now
Of all the sales on CR-rated products, these stand out for their exceptional value
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If you’re here, you love a good bargain, and I’m the perfect person to help you find one. I spend every day combing through page after page of retailer sites, checking prices of everything we test here at Consumer Reports. So I know right away when something is at a better discount than usual.
A deal isn’t just about the size of the discount. I’ve chosen these products because they’re not only at great prices, but they’re also top performers in our lab tests and home evaluations. I’m a firm believer in a good deal starting with a high-quality product, so that’s always the No. 1 factor in determining whether something is worth your money. Price is obviously important, too, so I’m taking into account the average price, the typical discounts, and how often an item goes on sale when I determine how impressive a deal really is.
There aren’t too many standout offers right now, and for good reason. In less than two weeks, all the major retailers will be running big sales. Amazon’s two-day Prime Big Deal Days sale will be held October 6 and 7, Target’s Circle Deal Days sale is taking place at the same time, and Walmart and Best Buy are having weeklong sales from October 5 through 11. These sales are the unofficial and very early start to the holiday season, giving shoppers a head start. Prices are a bit better than they’ve been throughout the year, but typically not quite as good as they’ll be on Black Friday (though don’t expect a massive difference for most items if you wait until November to shop).
There are other items on sale as well, so if you want to keep hunting for more discounts, head over to the CR Deals Hub, where I share the top offers on everything CR tests, including tech devices like headphones and TVs, kitchen appliances such as air fryers and stand mixers, and home goods including air purifiers and lawn-care tools.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 represents an upgrade from the 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.
The Leebein Power Spin Scrubber ANS-8050 hasn’t been on sale in quite a while, making this discount worth a look. It is a strong scrubber with an incredibly long battery life. It can last about an hour on its highest power mode, so it’s unlikely that it will die on you in the middle of cleaning. It scores well for ease of use because it comes with 8 attachments, the most among the models we tested, including a scouring brush for greasy kitchen areas, a sponge brush for glass, a wool-like brush for polishing a car, and cloth brushes for leather and floor cleaning. It’s also relatively light and features an extension wand that extends up to 50 inches, giving you a wide reach. The angle of the scrubber’s head is fixed and can’t be adjusted. Unlike some of the other models, it comes with an IPX7 waterproof rating, meaning it can withstand brief immersion in water.
The GE G9OAAASSPSS received excellent scores for ease of use and ease of cleaning–good news, especially if you’re new to air-frying. We also found that this model reliably turns out evenly browned toast, whether you’re toasting one piece or a full batch (though the latter might take some time). It’s only so-so at reheating food, which we tested by reheating lasagna and taking various temperature readings to look for even heating.
The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s top-of-the-line earbuds, and they’re packed with features. The new functions include live translation and a workout mode that allows you to leave your Apple Watch at home. They still offer a clinical-grade hearing test and the option of turning your Pro 3s into an over-the-counter hearing aid. They also sound good and offer a better fit and noise cancelling than last year’s Pro 2s. This is the usual sale price that’s available regularly. When the big sales hit next month, they will likely get a bit cheaper, but you likely won’t see a big difference in price until Black Friday.
The Bissell FlexClean FurForce 4270L is back down to its best price. It’s a force to be reckoned with when it comes to both vacuuming and mopping functions. However, compared to some other robot vacuum-and-mop combos we’ve tested, it lacks certain amenities. The base automatically empties the device’s dustbin, but you’ll need to clean the device’s mopping pads and refill the robot with cleaning formula yourself.
The Chefman RJ38-2T air fryer is a small, easy-to-use, basic model with a digital display and a reminder to shake your food for even crispness. After making chicken nuggets and fries in this air fryer, we found it easy to clean. It’s also whisper-quiet. We’ve seen this air fryer dip to this price before, but at this price it’s a steal, given its performance in our tests.
Google’s newest smart thermostat, the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th gen, comes with a remote temperature sensor that you can place in another room to balance heating and cooling. It’s one of just a few Matter-compatible smart thermostats on the market, meaning it works with any major smart home system, including Apple Home.
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