The best early Prime Day deals for 2023

The best early Prime Day deals for 2023

Amazon Prime Day 2023 is a week away on July 11, but you don’t have to wait until then to snag a good deal. The company has started rolling out some early Prime Day deals ahead of the official start of the two-day shopping event, including expected multiple discounts on its own devices and services. Below we’ve rounded up the best Early Access Prime Day deals we can find. Keep in mind that you’ll need a Prime subscription to take advantage of many (but not all) offers, and there’s always a chance during the event itself that prices will go down. For those not interested in Prime, we’ve also rounded up some of this week’s best tech deals that aren’t explicitly tied to the event. We’re staying on the alert as Prime Day approaches and will update this round-up with new deals as they surface.

Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet

Exclusive to Prime

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet

Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet

Amazon’s largest tablet is great for streaming and browsing, and now Prime members can snag it for half the price.

Prime members can currently save 50 percent on Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet, which is $75 off the $150 list price and the lowest price we’ve seen for the company’s largest tablet. It is a good entertainment companion that you can use to stream videos, surf the web, dive into social media, and make Zoom calls. It has a 1080p screen resolution, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Note that the 50 percent discount applies to the version with lock screen ads. So you will see promotions both when your device is idle and at the bottom of your home screen. If you want a Fire HD 10 with no ads, you’ll pay $90, which is still a 45 percent discount, though again only for Prime members

Echo Buds (2023)

Exclusive to Prime

All-New Echo Buds (Release 2023)

Amazon

All-New Echo Buds (Release 2023)

Amazon’s latest earbuds don’t have active noise-cancelling, but they do add a few hours of charging time to the case. And right now, Prime members can get them for as little as $35.

The latest generation of Echo Buds only came onto the market in May, but Amazon already offers a 30 percent discount for Prime members. Normally $50, you can get them for $35, which is $15 off and the lowest price we’ve seen so far. For Amazon’s third-generation headphones, the company dropped the starting price by $70 from the second-generation headphones, but also removed the active noise-cancellation and changed the shape to remove the in-ear attachment. Most other specs stayed the same, including built-in Alexa support and customizable tap controls. The charging capacity of the case has even increased by a few hours, so you can spend a total of 20 hours with the headphones and the case together.

Blink Mini

Exclusive to Prime

Blink Mini IS (2-Pack)

Flash

Blink Mini IS (2-Pack)

$65

A two-pack of Blink Mini Security Cameras is currently on sale for $34, or you can pick one up for as little as $18.

A two-pack of Blink Mini Security Cameras is currently on sale for $34, or you can pick one up for as little as $18. Although these cameras are wired, they have most of the same features as the standard Blink wireless cameras, including 1080p video recording and support for two-way talk and motion alerts. Most of the other Blink wireless cameras are also currently on sale, allowing you to multi-camera your entire room for a lot less than usual.

Exclusive to Prime

Amazon $5 Prime Day credit with the purchase of a $50 Amazon eGift card

Amazon

Amazon is giving Prime members a $5 promotional credit if they purchase a $50 or more e-gift card before July 10th. You must use the promo credit by August 25, 2023, but there are a variety of things you can use it for. The only things you can’t buy with the promotional credit are third-party items and e-books.

Ring Video Doorbell + Echo Show 5

Exclusive to Prime

Ring Video Doorbell Bundle with Echo Show 5

ring

Amazon’s huge Ring Early Prime Day sale includes a bundle that gives you the Ring Video Doorbell and an Echo Show 5 for just $65. Considering the video doorbell alone is $55 as an early Prime Day deal, that means you’re only spending $10 on the Show 5 if you opt for the bundle. Now is a good time to expand your existing Ring security system or start from scratch, while Prime members get up to half off most of the range.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Exclusive to Prime

Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon

Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is down to just $25 for Prime members ahead of Prime Day, more than half the regular price.

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is down to just $25 for Prime members ahead of Prime Day, more than half the regular price. This is Amazon’s most powerful streaming dongle, with 40 percent more power than the standard Fire TV Stick 4K and support for WiFi 6, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio. A few other Fire streaming devices have also been discounted, including the latest Fire TV Cube, which Prime members can pick up for $110.

Amazon Kindle Unlimited 3 Month Membership

Exclusive to Prime

Amazon Kindle Unlimited (3 months)

Amazon

If you’re a Prime member and have never subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, you can try Amazon’s e-book service for three months at no additional cost. Normally, the subscription costs $12 per month after a 30-day free trial. Please note that membership is set to auto-renew by default. As a reminder, Kindle Unlimited provides an on-demand selection of e-books, audio books, and digital magazines. It doesn’t include every e-book in the Kindle library, but it can still be worth checking out if you’re a particularly avid reader. Last but not least, this offer makes it easier to find out if it’s worth paying for.

Audible Premium Plus 3 Month Membership

Exclusive to Prime

Audible Premium Plus (3 months)

Amazon

Audible Premium Plus (3 months)

Prime members can try Audible Premium Plus for three months free of charge if they have never subscribed to the audiobook service.

Similar to this Kindle Unlimited deal, Prime members who are new to Audible Premium Plus can use the audiobook service for free for three months. This membership typically costs $14.95 per month after a 30-day free trial, so you save about $30. Premium Plus is Audible’s top tier: like the cheaper Audible Plus, it offers a selection of audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio content that you can access when you need it. The main difference is that it also comes with a monthly credit that you can use to permanently buy any book in the Audible store. As with Kindle Unlimited, Premium Plus is most worthwhile if you’re quickly burning through audiobooks and podcasts, but this extended trial is a more convenient way to test whether it’s useful. Again, note that the subscription is set to auto-renew by default.

Motorola Razr+

Exclusive to Prime

Motorola Razr+ (2023, unlocked)

Photo by Cherlynn Low/Engadget

Motorola Razr+ (2023, unlocked)

Motorola’s new foldable phone launched less than a month ago and is already getting a discount on Amazon – albeit only for Prime members and only on Prime Day. Enter your email address to be “invited” to buy the phone on July 11th.

The foldable Moto Razr+, which only went on sale this week, is already getting a 15 percent discount on Amazon on Prime Day. The promotion is for Prime members only and you must request an invite. You can then buy the phone at a discounted price on Prime day. While it’s a little annoying jumping through Amazon’s borders, you get an unlocked Razr+ for $850 instead of $1,000.

We spent some time with the new foldable device before it launched and gave it an in-depth review when it debuted. The judgment? Samsung’s foldable Galaxy devices have serious competition. The Razr+ has a 6.9-inch screen when open and offers a 3.6-inch screen when folded, which is much larger than the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s 1.9-inch outer screen. The foldable Design opens up various uses, also as a standalone tripod and takes up less space in your bag. Also, the compact puck has a cool retro vibe while feeling futuristic at the same time.

Eero Pro router

Exclusive to Prime

Amazon eero Pro Mesh WiFi Router

eero

Amazon eero Pro Mesh WiFi Router

Ahead of the shopping event, some Eero and Eero Pro wireless router packages have been discounted for Prime members. You can buy an Eero router for just $45 or an Eero Pro router for $70.

Ahead of the shopping event, some Eero and Eero Pro wireless router packages have been discounted for Prime members. You can get an Eero router for just $45 or an Eero Pro router for $70. We recommend choosing the Eero Pro if possible, as it’s a tri-band system, capable of speeds up to 1Gbps, and covers slightly more square feet than the standard Eero. However, keep in mind that these aren’t the latest Eero systems. For WiFi 6 support, you’ll need to shell out a little more money for an Eero 6 set.

Amazon Eero 6+ System + FireTV Stick 4K Max

Exclusive to Prime

Amazon Eero 6+ System (3-Pack) with FireTV Stick 4K Max

Ero

Amazon Eero 6+ System (3-Pack) with FireTV Stick 4K Max

With the Eero 6+ system you can access the WiFi 6 standard and cover your home with a connectivity speed of up to a gigabit (provided you have a corresponding internet service). This bundle includes three routers plus a Fire TV Stick 4K Max and is the lowest price we’ve seen for the set.

If you’ve signed up for gigabit internet with your ISP, this might be a good time to get a mesh WiFi system that can deliver those speeds. Amazon is currently selling three Eero 6+ mesh WiFi routers bundled with a FireTV Stick 4K Max for $195 to Prime members. That’s $160 less than you would pay for the four devices individually. The streaming device can make any TV smart, supporting not only 4K video but also the improved throughput of WiFi 6. If you don’t need the FireTV Stick, the three Eero 6+ mesh routers alone will cost the same $195 Dollars sold is a 35 percent discount off the list price.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)

Apple

Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro are available again for $200, which is $50 off the usual price and a record low. These remain the best true wireless earbuds for Apple lovers, even if the company hasn’t overhauled its design with the latest update. All the new features are under the hood, with Apple making noticeable improvements to sound quality, noise cancellation, and transparency mode.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is $10 off Amazon and Walmart, bringing the hit Switch game down to a more traditional $60 price point. As our review notes, Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t stray too far from Breath of the Wild, but it enriches the ideas of its groundbreaking predecessor with a full-size underworld, fantastical sky islands, and malleable crafting mechanics. Most importantly, it properly delivers on the core promise of a Zelda game: the feeling of being in another world and experiencing adventure.

There are a few other notable video game offerings. For the Switch, Metroid Dread, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses are each discounted to $42, the remake of the classic RPG Live A Live is $35, and the Portal Companion Collection is $10. On PC, the open-world racer Forza Horizon 5 is just $30, while Prime members can claim a few underrated older gems, space FPS Prey and 2D Metroidvania SteamWorld Dig 2, at no extra cost.

Samsung Pro Plus microSD card

Samsung Pro Plus (128GB)

Photo by Jeff Dunn/Engadget

The 128GB version of Samsung’s latest Pro Plus microSD card has dropped to a new low of $13. That’s $6 off the MSRP. If you need more storage, the 512GB model is just pennies off its best price at $43.52. The Pro Plus is our top pick in our guide to the best microSD cards, scoring at or near the top in all of our sequential and random speed tests. There is also a 10-year guarantee.

Apple Watch Series 8

Apple Watch Series 8

Apple

Apple Watch Series 8

Apple’s flagship smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 8, normally retails for $399 for the 41mm GPS model, but Amazon is currently selling it for $329, which is its all-time low.

Apple’s flagship smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 8, normally retails for $399 for the 41mm GPS model, but Amazon is currently selling it for $329, which is its all-time low. The smartwatch has claimed this discount a number of times over the past few months and this time it applies to the Midnight, Silver and Starlight color variants, not the Product Red version. The option with the larger 45mm case is currently $359, or 16 percent off the usual $429, but only in Midnight or Starlight — Product Red and Silver aren’t on sale. The Series 8 is our top pick in our smartwatch guide because it combines in-depth health and fitness tracking with seamless iPhone integration. New features include temperature sensors, EKG and blood oxygen readings, accident detection, and improved sleep metrics.

Apple iPad (9th generation)

Apple iPad (9th generation, 64GB)

Photo by Nathan Ingraham/Engadget

The 64GB model of Apple’s 9th generation iPad is discounted to $250 on Amazon, which is the lowest price we’ve found. The price shown is $279 and an additional $29 discount is applied at checkout. Apple normally sells the device for $329, although we’ve seen it retail for closer to $275 over the past few months. This is the best-value pick in our iPad buying guide: It lacks the accessory support, thinner frame, and laminated display of the iPad Air, but it’s by far the cheapest entry into iPadOS, and it remains fast and comfortable enough for casual reading and streaming gaming. It’s also the only current iPad with a headphone jack.

Apple MacBook Air M1

Apple MacBook Air (M1)

Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Apple MacBook Air (M1)

That’s the all-time low for Apple’s entry-level M1 MacBook Air configuration with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

Apple’s M1 MacBook Air is back on sale for $800. That’s a offering we’ve seen multiple times before, but hits the laptop’s all-time low. Like the 9th generation iPad, the M1 MacBook Air is a bit older these days; If you can afford the latest Air with an updated design, better webcam, and faster M2 chip, it’s worth doing. However, if all you need is a capable MacBook that does light work and web browsing for the least possible cash, the M1 Air is still a solid value at this price point. The keyboard, trackpad, and battery life are still excellent, and the M1 chip is still fast enough for the essentials. Make sure you stick to lighter workloads, though, as this model only has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

Xbox Series X + Bonus Controller Bundle

Xbox Series X + bonus controller

Photo by Aaron Souppouris/Engadget

Microsoft made a grand entrance at Summer Game Fest this month. So if you’re planning on getting an Xbox Series before the arrival of Starfield and Forza Motorsport, that’s nothing crazy, but replacement Xbox controllers typically cost around $50, and discounts of any kind for the Series X were rare. In fact, Microsoft announced this week that it will increase the price of the console in much of the world on August 1st. The $300 Xbox Series S is still good value for those who don’t care about premium hardware, but if you need a drive and smoother performance, the Series X is your best bet.

Shark RV1001AE

Shark RV1001AE IQ Robot Self-Empty XL

shark

Shark RV1001AE IQ Robot Self-Empty XL

Shark makes some of our most popular robot vacuums and this one is currently half price. It comes with a self-draining base that you may only need to empty every 45 days (depending on usage).

Shark makes some of our most popular robot vacuums and currently the Shark RV1001AE is half price, which is $300 instead of the street price of $600. This model features a bagless, self-draining base, so you won’t have to spend a long time emptying it as the advertised capacity is up to 45 days. While we haven’t exactly tried this model, we’ve found Shark’s vacuums to be easy to set up and appreciate Shark’s easy-to-use companion app. Shark’s mapping capability is also accurate, and the bagless base saves you money in the long run, as purchasing device-specific bags can get expensive.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm)

Photo by Cherlynn Low/Engadget

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is down to $199 for a 40mm model and $229 for a 44mm model. We gave the Galaxy Watch 5 a score of 85 last year and it’s currently the “Best Choice for Android Users” in our smartwatch buying guide.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is down to $199 for a 40mm model and $229 for a 44mm model. We gave the Galaxy Watch 5 a score of 85 last year and it’s currently the “Best Choice for Android Users” in our smartwatch buying guide. While battery life could be better, the design is durable and attractive, the operating system is easy to navigate, and health monitoring is fairly comprehensive. However, Samsung is expected to announce a Galaxy Watch 6 in the coming weeks. So it may be worth waiting to see how this model fares if you don’t need a new smartwatch right away.

Google Pixel 7a + Pixel Buds A series

Google Pixel 7a + Pixel Buds A series

Google

Google Pixel 7a + Pixel Buds A series

Amazon saved $100 on a bundle that includes the Google Pixel 7a smartphone and Pixel Buds A-Series, down to $499. This is a great package if you need a phone upgrade but don’t want to spend a lot of money.

Amazon saved $100 on a bundle that includes the Google Pixel 7a smartphone and Pixel Buds A-Series, down to $499. This is a great package if you need a phone upgrade but don’t want to spend a lot of money. The Pixel 7a is the best mid-range phone you can get right now, thanks to its fast Tensor G2 chipset, smooth 90Hz display, IP67 water resistance, awesome cameras, and wireless charging support. The Pixel Buds A series are almost the earbud complement to the Pixel 7a – they’re not as feature-rich as the Pixel Buds Pro, but they do have extensive Google Assistant integration, solid sound quality, and a comfortable fit.

Xbox Wireless Headset

Xbox Wireless Headset

Xbox

Xbox Wireless Headset

Xbox’s wireless headset is currently 20 percent off and only $80 off. It’s designed to work with the Xbox Series X, S, and One, as well as Windows 10 devices.

Xbox’s wireless headset is currently 20 percent off and only $80 off. It’s designed to work with the Xbox Series X, S, and One, as well as Windows 10 devices. It supports spatial audio technologies like Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone:X and has a battery life of up to 15 hours.

Your Prime Day shopping guide: Check out all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Find out more about Prime Day trends on In the Know and find out which must-buy Prime Day deals from the auto experts at AutoMK.