I'm a tech editor and cover shopping events. Here are my 9 favorite October Prime Day deals

Posted by Admin October 8, 2024 Shopping

ZDNET

Amazon’s October Prime Day is live now, and you can grab serious savings on top tech, home, and beyond ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Also: The best October Prime Day deals you can shop

And while everyone loves a sale, it can be hard to know what is actually worth your money, and what is a too-good-to-be-true offer up-charged to make you think you’re scoring big. Lucky for ZDNET readers, our team of experts knows what to do. I’ve covered every major sale event over the past year live, including July Prime Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and more, and I regularly write about discounts on top tech products like robot vacuums, smartphones, mobile accessories, and more.

Also: The best anti-Prime Day deals: Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, and more

Here are the 9 deals I’d swipe up on the first day of October Prime Day (that’s today) — and why.

My top October Prime Day deals

AirTag 4-Pack for $80 (save $19): You can’t really go wrong with swiping up everyday essentials during Prime Day, and this AirTag 4-Pack is exactly that. I use AirTags to track my keys, wallet, suitcases, totes, and more, so their usefulness is certainly not understated. They’re also easy options for tracking pets and children, as well as other incidentals like TV remotes and more. Plus, this 4-Pack isn’t likely to drop any lower than $75 throughout the holiday period based on last year’s sale trends and my daily deal experience, so you don’t have to worry about shopping too early and missing out on a ton of extra savings.

Amazon Echo Spot Alarm Clock for $45 (save $35): Not only is this the best deal we’ve seen on the new Echo Spot alarm clock since it was released in July, but Amazon’s Echo products make great purchases during Prime Day, when they’re typically at their lowest price and are sometimes available in bundle offers. They’re also great for housewarming or holiday gifts, or for amping up your own smart home system. The Echo Spot doubles as a smart speaker and alarm clock, and it even easily displays the weather.

Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Machine for $110 (save $69): I’m more of a Dunkin girl myself, but I’ve recently been considering upgrading to an at-home machine that’s more sophisticated than a standard Keurig or Mr. Coffee machine. Several ZDNET staff members own and enjoy the VertuoPlus model of this Nespresso machine (which is also 25% off right now), but as an infrequent at-home coffee drinker, I think this model would best suit my lifestyle. It’s certainly never going to make me ditch my Dunkin, but the $110 price tag is quite enticing.

iRobot Roomba Q011 Robot Vacuum for $140 (save $110): Robot vacuums and mops are not cheap. Despite this, their promise of always-sparkling floors without having to vacuum every nook and cranny in your house is quite tempting. But there’s no way I would splash out hundreds of dollars on a robot vacuum without knowing if it really fit my lifestyle, needs, or wants, so a budget pick is a great entryway if you’re unsure or looking to get your feet wet in the robot vacuum field. iRobot is one of the most popular brands, and right now Prime members can score early access to this Q011 model for $110 off. That’s 44% off one of iRobot’s base models, and take it from someone who vets these deals quite often — snagging a reputable robot vacuum for under $150 is a good buy.

Anker Nano Portable Charger for $18 (save $8): As an editor who frequently tests MagSafe battery packs, wireless chargers, and other battery-boosting options, I firmly believe in always carrying some type of backup battery booster. There’s nothing worse than being without a functional phone than when you need it most, and as a chronically online Gen Zer, my iPhone 14 Pro is under 50% battery as early as midday. This Anker Nano Power Bank is as small as a lipstick tube, is a ZDNET favorite, and is just enough to juice your phone up in case of an emergency or unexpected situation. I keep one in my purse at all times (yes, it even fits in the tiniest of micro bags), and $18 is very close to the lowest I’ve seen this sold for, which was only for $1-2 less during July Prime Day. If you have a USB-C charger on your phone, you can nab that USB-C model for $20 right now (save $10).

Even more of my top October Prime Day deals

Current price: $23
Original price: $75

This is perhaps one of the best smart home and Echo device deals available now. Amazon is currently selling the Echo Dot (5th Gen) individually for $23, which based on my experience covering shopping, is the lowest the Echo Dot will sell for through Prime Day. But this bundle takes it a step further, and you’re basically getting a free smart lightbulb from TP-Link to connect with your smart home system. You save 69% with this offer, and that’s one of the greatest amounts of savings I’ve seen while scouring early deals. This deal will sell out, and for good reason. You’re grabbing one of Amazon’s most popular smart speakers for less than $25 and getting a freebie offer that’s actually not useless.

Also: The best early October Prime Day Amazon Echo device deals

Current price: $20
Original price: $40

Prime Day is one of the best times to shop for home security and smart security gear. That’s because there are price cuts on nearly every product from most of the top brands, such as Blink, Arlo, Ring, and more, and it’s generally the lowest prices you’ll see, especially on individual products and sometimes even bundle offers. This Mini 2 Indoor Cam from Blink is 50% off ahead of October Prime Day, and it’s perfect for monitoring pets while you’re away, keeping an eye on small children, or for bulking up your indoor home security. And at $20, it’s really a deal that’s too good to pass up. For the record, that’s essentially the same price as three grande pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks.

Also: The best early October Prime Day Ring camera deals

Current price: $85
Original price: $150

If you’re starting your smart home system and are going the Alexa route, the Echo Show 8 is a great option for your setup. Released in late 2023, Amazon’s latest Echo Show features faster speeds and an ambient display to streamline your smart home experience. Plus, it’s normally discounted for Prime Day, and right now it’s down to $85, the lowest price we’ve seen since July Prime Day. This would make a great housewarming gift, holiday gift, or upgrade for your own home.

Also: Amazon’s Echo Show 8 is only $85 before October Prime Day

Current price: $90
Original price: $200

Remember when I said home security is always on sale during Prime Day? Right now you can snag this Blink home bundle for just $90 (that’s 55% off). I shouldn’t have to outline the immense value being offered in this bundle it’s that obvious, but I will. You’ll get a Blink Video Doorbell, Outdoor 4 Camera, Mini Indoor 2 Cam, and a Sync Module 2. Essentially everything you need to get started on a home security system for under $100. Plus, you can add voice control by combining with a screen Alexa device, such as the Echo Show 8, that’s also conveniently on sale, too. Even with all of the Prime Day sales prices considered, it’s still cheaper to buy this bundle than it is to buy the doorbell, outdoor cam, and indoor cam separately, and you don’t even get the sync module.

FAQs

When is Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days?

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days (a.k.a. October Prime Day) is a two-day sales event for Prime members. This year, sales are live from Tuesday, Oct. 8, through the end of Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Are other retailers offering deals?

Amazon isn’t the only retailer you can find savings at this time of year. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and others will all hold competing sales during the same week as October Prime Day (and even before). Shop around the different sites to compare deals and prices.

How did we choose these October Prime Day deals?

As a ZDNET editor, I only write about deals myself or a team member would want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. I looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.

I also examined customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals I recommend. These recommendations may also be based on my own testing (or testing by another ZDNET expert) — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.