Amazon Prime Day is back, baby! Okay, maybe not technically speaking, but there are so many discounted Amazon devices at Best Buy and other retailers right now that it’s giving us a big sense of deja vu. Right now, for example, you can pick up Amazon’s excellent Smart Thermostat at Best Buy and Target for just $41.99 ($18 off), an all-time Prime Day low.
The budget thermostat will blend in with most decor and can even learn and adapt to your habits like more expensive options. Note, however, that you can’t integrate the device with voice assistants beyond Alexa, and there are no native temperature sensors. Still, if these caveats don’t bother you, Amazon’s smart thermostat is a great option to consider, which could help you save money on your energy bills. Read our review.
Amazon Smart Thermostat
Developed in partnership with Resideo, the Amazon Smart Thermostat lets you control your home’s temperature using Alexa voice controls and remotely via an app.
Some of Amazon’s smart displays and speakers are also back on sale today, despite the recentness of Prime Day. If you’re looking for a smaller smart speaker, you can currently pick up the spherical fourth-generation Echo Dot for $19.99 instead of $49.99 at Best Buy and Target. The latest model may have been released in 2020, but it still sounds great for its size and lets you set alarms, control multiple smart home devices, and perform a host of tasks with just your voice. Read our fourth-generation Echo Dot review.
Amazon Echo Dot (fourth generation)
The Echo Dot 2020 features a more spherical design than an actual dot, but it can still do all the things Alexa does with other Echo models.
If you prefer a smart display that you can watch movies on and use to look up recipes, Best Buy is also selling the second-generation Echo Show 5 for $34.99 instead of $84.99, which is Target. The small 5.5-inch screen makes a great nighttime alarm clock, that is, because you can use it to quickly check the time and snooze it with just a tap.
However, if you prefer something bigger, you can also pick up the 2019 Echo Show 8 8-inch from Best Buy for $54.99 ($55 off). The older screen still sounds better than the second-generation Echo Show 5 and includes a built-in shutter to block the camera. Sure, the 2019 model still comes equipped with a 1MP camera and a slower processor than the latest Echo Show 8, but it’s still an Alexa-capable smart display that’s perfectly suited to the kitchen or the living room. Read our reviews of the second-generation Echo Show 5 and the first-generation Echo Show 8.
Amazon Echo Show 5 (second generation)
Amazon’s Echo Show 5 is a smart display ideal for a bedside table. You can set alarms with Alexa with your voice, play music, control smart displays, get a weather report, and more. When the alarm goes off, just tap the top of the Echo Show 5 to snooze it.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (first generation)
The latest generation Echo Show 8 is Amazon’s mid-sized smart display. It has a sharp 8-inch screen and most of the features found in the second-gen model, though it lacks the latter’s 13MP camera and speedy performance.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with a beautiful Mini LED display and an excellent selection of ports. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
In a way, we are already approaching the start of a new school year. And if you’re a college student who needs a powerful Apple laptop that’s great for content creation, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is available today to My Best Buy members for its lowest price yet.
Regularly $1,999, you can buy the Space Gray MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM, an M1 Pro octa-core processor, and 512GB of storage for $1,699. The 14-inch machine offers an impressive selection of ports and A-grade performance, battery life that beats most other laptops we’ve seen, and a beautiful Mini LED display, something even the new MacBook Air M2 does not have. Note that My Best Buy is the retailer’s free rewards program, distinct from Best Buy’s Premium TotalTech service. Read our review.
A few more deals to kick off the weekend
- If you’re in the market for a great-sounding portable speaker, you can currently pick up the refurbished Sonos Roam from Sonos for $139 instead of $179, the price the speaker normally retails for when new. The rugged Bluetooth speaker offers a number of great features, including an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and compatibility with Apple’s AirPlay 2. Read our review.
- As part of its new sale, Nomad is taking up to 85 percent off a range of wearable and Apple-centric accessories. The ongoing promotion includes discounts on Apple Watch leather straps, iPhone and AirPods cases and more.
- If you’re someone who’s prone to seasonal allergies or wildfire smoke, Coway’s Airmega 200M is on sale at Walmart now for $129.99 ($100 off), which is easily the best price which we have seen in the practical HEPA air purifier.
- The latest Apple TV 4K is discounted again in the 32GB configuration to $129.99 at Best Buy and Amazon (with delayed shipping). The future-proof streaming box supports 4K HDR content, along with more modern specs like HDMI 2.1 and Wi-Fi 6. Read our review.
- Want to get out of the house this weekend, but hesitate considering how expensive it is to buy gas these days? Segway’s Ninebot Max G30LP Electric Scooter is on sale at Best Buy now for $749.99, down from its regular price of $899.99. This is a great commuter scooter with a removable seat, good range and a top speed of 18.6 miles per hour.
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