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You can step into new worlds with the Meta Quest 3 and other gaming gear at record low prices. | Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge

If you’ve worked hard this year, you deserve to play even harder, and you can do that on a modest budget with some of the Prime Day gaming deals available right now. Amazon’s Prime Day 2024 sale is currently live and offers plenty of discounts on video games, controllers, headsets, storage, and other gear and accessories to level up your experience.

We’re seeing new all-time low prices on some of the top games that have released over the past couple of years. There’s a healthy assortment of titles to consider, whether you’re playing on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox Series X / S. There’s also quite a few deals for actual hardware, too — though no consoles apart from the Meta Quest 3 as of now.
We’ll keep this space updated with the latest Prime Day gaming deals that pop up over the next couple of days, including limited Lightning Deals and some that may be exclusive to day two. Check in with us periodically to ensure you don’t miss out on all-time low prices and rare discounts.

The best Prime Day video game deals

Mech mayhem is at its finest in Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon, now down to $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon for PS5 and Xbox Series X / S. The newest in the series, Rubicon features fast-paced action in a series of both ground and aerial skirmishes. You can customize your mechs with the ideal kit to meet the unique challenges of each mission.

Final Fantasy XVI for PlayStation 5 is now available for a new all-time low price of $29.99 ($20 off) at Amazon. You guide Clive Rosfield as he wields the power of the Eikons to protect the realm. It’s an original tale that’s gained acclaim as one of Square Enix’s best Final Fantasy games of the modern era. Read our review.
If you haven’t already experienced the brutally difficult Demon’s Souls, you can get the soulslike PS5 game at Amazon for $29.99 ($40 off), which is just $5 more than the best price to date. The game is a remake of FromSoftware’s PS3 release of Demon’s Souls, which brought a refreshing take on the successful Dark Souls formula.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition for PS5 is down to $29.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, which is $10 more than the record price. The titular character follows after Peter Parker’s web-slinging example in a new spin on what many consider one of the best superhero video game franchises.
Have you ever dreamed of being a cat? Dream no more: Stray for PlayStation 5 is down to $21.80 (about $8 off) at Amazon. You can take nightly strolls to scavenge and explore foggy alleys while annoying passersby in the simple and relaxing experience. Read our review.

Super Mario RPG is only $39.75 (about $20 off) at Amazon, which is just about the lowest price we’ve seen. The remake of Nintendo’s classic RPG has been updated with improved visuals and a remastered soundtrack to go with the familiar story, faces, and turn-based combat. Read our review.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for PS5 has dropped to $29.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, nearly matching the all-time low. The iconic duo of PlayStation’s senior platforming mascots embark on a new journey that requires jumping through different dimensions to save their world from a sentient mechanical threat. Read our review.

Returnal for PS5 is down to $29.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, which is just a few dollars more than the lowest price it’s been. Your goal is to escape after crash-landing on a hostile ever-changing world once home to an ancient civilization. The roguelike game forces you to start over after each death, and because the world is procedurally generated, you can’t simply retrace your steps.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge for Nintendo Switch is going for $24.99 ($10 off) at Amazon, narrowly missing the all-time low by a couple of dollars. The six-player co-op beat ’em up is a charming throwback to the classic Turtles arcade games. Read our review.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion originally launched for the PlayStation Portable in 2007, but you can now get the PS5 remaster for just $19.99 ($10 off) at Amazon, which is a new price record. The action RPG takes place seven years before Final Fantasy VII, which follows Zack Fair as he uncovers dark truths surrounding the origin of Shinra’s grotesque monsters.

The best Prime Day controller deals

A pack of four Scuf Elite Series 2 paddles for the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is down to $14.99 ($5 off) at Amazon. The paddles are a bit shorter than the standard ones that come with Microsoft’s controller, which may offer a more comfortable gaming experience for some.

Scuf’s Pro Grip Kit for the Xbox Wireless Controller is down to $19.99 ($5 off) at Amazon. In addition to a textured grip, it includes built-in switches that allow you to customize the travel of the default Xbox controller’s triggers.
You can get an Xbox version of PowerA’s Advantage Wired Controller for $33.89 (about $11 off) at Amazon, beating the all-time low price by a hair. The controller has two programmable back buttons, three configurable profiles, adjustable trigger locks, and several zones of customizable RGB lighting, which border the controller and its various buttons and analog sticks. You can also use its IR blaster to control PowerA’s Lumectra LED strips if you happen to have them.

Razer Kishi V2 for Android phones is $59.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, which is a new all-time low. The controller clasps your smartphone and offers a full complement of buttons and triggers to play advanced mobile titles. The Razer Nexus app can help you uncover more than a thousand compatible games. Read our review.
The PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Switch in its Mario Pop design is down to $42.99 ($17 off) at Amazon, the only retailer that sells the exclusive colorway. It has a red chassis with blue trim and features a mosaic design of Mario and some of the helpful power-ups, weapons, coins, and blocks he’s often interacting with.

The Hori Split Pad Pro Attachment set is down to $69.92 (about $10 off) at Amazon. If you have a pair of Split Pad Pro controllers, you can slot them into a frame that becomes a full-fledged wired Switch controller with turbo functionality and a 3.5mm port. Read our review.

The best Prime Day gaming headset deals

The wired version of SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova Pro is down to $189.99 ($60 off) at Amazon. The multiplatform headset uses the same GameDac 2 control base as the wireless version and uses the same spatial-ready speakers and noise-canceling microphone, but you’ll need to remain tethered to your audio source, whether that’s an Xbox, PlayStation, PC, or Switch.

Amazon is selling the SteelSeries 7P Plus and the 7X Plus for $99.99 each ($50 off). The wireless headsets are quite similar — the main difference is the 7P Plus is designed to work with PlayStation consoles and the 7X Plus pairs perfectly with Xbox. Both can also work with PC, Switch, and mobile.

The best Prime Day storage deals

SanDisk’s 1TB Xbox Series X / S expansion card is down to $117.79 ($38 off) at Amazon. The officially licensed SSD is required to play games designed for the newest Xbox consoles. It supports the consoles’ custom Velocity architecture, which enables superfast read and write speeds that make features like Quick Resume possible.
You can get a 2TB Seagate Game Drive for $74.99 ($15 off) at Amazon. It’s an ordinary USB external hard drive that’s officially licensed for Xbox, complete with a green LED glow and the brand’s logo to make that obvious. You’ll get three years of Seagate’s Rescue Data Recovery Services, which can help save your files if the hard drive suffers failures.

Amazon has Western Digital’s WD_Black SN850X NVMe SSD priced at $132.99 ($57 off) for 2TB and $246.99 ($453 off original MSRP) for 4TB. These internal drives are very speedy at 7,300MBps read speed / 6,600MBps write speed, making them a good fit for gaming PCs or a PlayStation 5 (with an added heatsink).

Samsung’s 512GB Pro Plus microSD card is $39.99 (about $15 off) at Amazon and can add a ton of storage to a Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, or Nintendo Switch.

The best Prime Day streaming tech deals

Amazon is selling the Logitech Blue Yeti for $76.70 (about $53 off). Although newer microphones or more visually and functionally appealing, the Yeti is a classic plug-and-play USB option that reliably captures very good audio.
The Razer Kiyo Pro is down to $83.59 (around $116 off) at Amazon. You can use the 1080p, 60fps webcam for streaming or work calls. It’s a little bulky, but that’s necessary for the adjustable field of view of the wide-angle lens.

Other miscellaneous Prime Day gaming deals

You can pick up the wireless Logitech G502 Lightspeed gaming mouse for $75.99 ($74 off) at Amazon, which matches its Black Friday price. The 25,000dpi Hero sensor has enough range to help you dial in the perfect sensitivity. You can customize its colors and lighting patterns within Logitech Hub, customize its heaviness with the included weights, and pair it with a PowerPlay mousepad for continuous wire-free charging.
The 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is down to $1,599.99 ($900 off) at Amazon, which is a new all-time low. The curved ultrawide 4K gaming monitor runs at a speedy 240Hz (with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to keep microstutters and screen tearing in check) with a 1ms response time. It uses Mini LED backlighting for a panel that supports DisplayHDR 1000, and an LED component on the rear can read what’s on your screen to project its colors onto the wall behind it.

You can step into new worlds with the Meta Quest 3 and other gaming gear at record low prices. | Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge

If you’ve worked hard this year, you deserve to play even harder, and you can do that on a modest budget with some of the Prime Day gaming deals available right now. Amazon’s Prime Day 2024 sale is currently live and offers plenty of discounts on video games, controllers, headsets, storage, and other gear and accessories to level up your experience.

We’re seeing new all-time low prices on some of the top games that have released over the past couple of years. There’s a healthy assortment of titles to consider, whether you’re playing on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox Series X / S. There’s also quite a few deals for actual hardware, too — though no consoles apart from the Meta Quest 3 as of now.

We’ll keep this space updated with the latest Prime Day gaming deals that pop up over the next couple of days, including limited Lightning Deals and some that may be exclusive to day two. Check in with us periodically to ensure you don’t miss out on all-time low prices and rare discounts.

The best Prime Day video game deals

Mech mayhem is at its finest in Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon, now down to $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon for PS5 and Xbox Series X / S. The newest in the series, Rubicon features fast-paced action in a series of both ground and aerial skirmishes. You can customize your mechs with the ideal kit to meet the unique challenges of each mission.

Final Fantasy XVI for PlayStation 5 is now available for a new all-time low price of $29.99 ($20 off) at Amazon. You guide Clive Rosfield as he wields the power of the Eikons to protect the realm. It’s an original tale that’s gained acclaim as one of Square Enix’s best Final Fantasy games of the modern era. Read our review.
If you haven’t already experienced the brutally difficult Demon’s Souls, you can get the soulslike PS5 game at Amazon for $29.99 ($40 off), which is just $5 more than the best price to date. The game is a remake of FromSoftware’s PS3 release of Demon’s Souls, which brought a refreshing take on the successful Dark Souls formula.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition for PS5 is down to $29.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, which is $10 more than the record price. The titular character follows after Peter Parker’s web-slinging example in a new spin on what many consider one of the best superhero video game franchises.
Have you ever dreamed of being a cat? Dream no more: Stray for PlayStation 5 is down to $21.80 (about $8 off) at Amazon. You can take nightly strolls to scavenge and explore foggy alleys while annoying passersby in the simple and relaxing experience. Read our review.

Super Mario RPG is only $39.75 (about $20 off) at Amazon, which is just about the lowest price we’ve seen. The remake of Nintendo’s classic RPG has been updated with improved visuals and a remastered soundtrack to go with the familiar story, faces, and turn-based combat. Read our review.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for PS5 has dropped to $29.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, nearly matching the all-time low. The iconic duo of PlayStation’s senior platforming mascots embark on a new journey that requires jumping through different dimensions to save their world from a sentient mechanical threat. Read our review.

Returnal for PS5 is down to $29.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, which is just a few dollars more than the lowest price it’s been. Your goal is to escape after crash-landing on a hostile ever-changing world once home to an ancient civilization. The roguelike game forces you to start over after each death, and because the world is procedurally generated, you can’t simply retrace your steps.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge for Nintendo Switch is going for $24.99 ($10 off) at Amazon, narrowly missing the all-time low by a couple of dollars. The six-player co-op beat ’em up is a charming throwback to the classic Turtles arcade games. Read our review.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion originally launched for the PlayStation Portable in 2007, but you can now get the PS5 remaster for just $19.99 ($10 off) at Amazon, which is a new price record. The action RPG takes place seven years before Final Fantasy VII, which follows Zack Fair as he uncovers dark truths surrounding the origin of Shinra’s grotesque monsters.

The best Prime Day controller deals

A pack of four Scuf Elite Series 2 paddles for the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is down to $14.99 ($5 off) at Amazon. The paddles are a bit shorter than the standard ones that come with Microsoft’s controller, which may offer a more comfortable gaming experience for some.

Scuf’s Pro Grip Kit for the Xbox Wireless Controller is down to $19.99 ($5 off) at Amazon. In addition to a textured grip, it includes built-in switches that allow you to customize the travel of the default Xbox controller’s triggers.
You can get an Xbox version of PowerA’s Advantage Wired Controller for $33.89 (about $11 off) at Amazon, beating the all-time low price by a hair. The controller has two programmable back buttons, three configurable profiles, adjustable trigger locks, and several zones of customizable RGB lighting, which border the controller and its various buttons and analog sticks. You can also use its IR blaster to control PowerA’s Lumectra LED strips if you happen to have them.

Razer Kishi V2 for Android phones is $59.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, which is a new all-time low. The controller clasps your smartphone and offers a full complement of buttons and triggers to play advanced mobile titles. The Razer Nexus app can help you uncover more than a thousand compatible games. Read our review.
The PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Switch in its Mario Pop design is down to $42.99 ($17 off) at Amazon, the only retailer that sells the exclusive colorway. It has a red chassis with blue trim and features a mosaic design of Mario and some of the helpful power-ups, weapons, coins, and blocks he’s often interacting with.

The Hori Split Pad Pro Attachment set is down to $69.92 (about $10 off) at Amazon. If you have a pair of Split Pad Pro controllers, you can slot them into a frame that becomes a full-fledged wired Switch controller with turbo functionality and a 3.5mm port. Read our review.

The best Prime Day gaming headset deals

The wired version of SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova Pro is down to $189.99 ($60 off) at Amazon. The multiplatform headset uses the same GameDac 2 control base as the wireless version and uses the same spatial-ready speakers and noise-canceling microphone, but you’ll need to remain tethered to your audio source, whether that’s an Xbox, PlayStation, PC, or Switch.

Amazon is selling the SteelSeries 7P Plus and the 7X Plus for $99.99 each ($50 off). The wireless headsets are quite similar — the main difference is the 7P Plus is designed to work with PlayStation consoles and the 7X Plus pairs perfectly with Xbox. Both can also work with PC, Switch, and mobile.

The best Prime Day storage deals

SanDisk’s 1TB Xbox Series X / S expansion card is down to $117.79 ($38 off) at Amazon. The officially licensed SSD is required to play games designed for the newest Xbox consoles. It supports the consoles’ custom Velocity architecture, which enables superfast read and write speeds that make features like Quick Resume possible.
You can get a 2TB Seagate Game Drive for $74.99 ($15 off) at Amazon. It’s an ordinary USB external hard drive that’s officially licensed for Xbox, complete with a green LED glow and the brand’s logo to make that obvious. You’ll get three years of Seagate’s Rescue Data Recovery Services, which can help save your files if the hard drive suffers failures.

Amazon has Western Digital’s WD_Black SN850X NVMe SSD priced at $132.99 ($57 off) for 2TB and $246.99 ($453 off original MSRP) for 4TB. These internal drives are very speedy at 7,300MBps read speed / 6,600MBps write speed, making them a good fit for gaming PCs or a PlayStation 5 (with an added heatsink).

Samsung’s 512GB Pro Plus microSD card is $39.99 (about $15 off) at Amazon and can add a ton of storage to a Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, or Nintendo Switch.

The best Prime Day streaming tech deals

Amazon is selling the Logitech Blue Yeti for $76.70 (about $53 off). Although newer microphones or more visually and functionally appealing, the Yeti is a classic plug-and-play USB option that reliably captures very good audio.
The Razer Kiyo Pro is down to $83.59 (around $116 off) at Amazon. You can use the 1080p, 60fps webcam for streaming or work calls. It’s a little bulky, but that’s necessary for the adjustable field of view of the wide-angle lens.

Other miscellaneous Prime Day gaming deals

You can pick up the wireless Logitech G502 Lightspeed gaming mouse for $75.99 ($74 off) at Amazon, which matches its Black Friday price. The 25,000dpi Hero sensor has enough range to help you dial in the perfect sensitivity. You can customize its colors and lighting patterns within Logitech Hub, customize its heaviness with the included weights, and pair it with a PowerPlay mousepad for continuous wire-free charging.
The 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is down to $1,599.99 ($900 off) at Amazon, which is a new all-time low. The curved ultrawide 4K gaming monitor runs at a speedy 240Hz (with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to keep microstutters and screen tearing in check) with a 1ms response time. It uses Mini LED backlighting for a panel that supports DisplayHDR 1000, and an LED component on the rear can read what’s on your screen to project its colors onto the wall behind it.

Read More 

Yes folks, I am happy to report that the briefcase TV is on sale. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Conventional wisdom says that if you want the very lowest prices on a 4K TV you wait until Black Friday / Cyber Monday in November, but Amazon’s Prime Day can offer some solid discounts during the dog days of summer.

And what you plug into your TV is just as important, especially since many modern TVs have terrible built-in audio that sounds tinny or leaves spoken dialogue difficult to hear, and app interfaces that are slow and annoying to use. Thankfully, some of these shortcomings can be countered by a decent soundbar or a streaming device from the likes of Amazon, Roku, and others.
So if you’re in the market right now for a big and flashy new TV, something modestly sized for a kitchen or bedroom, or some of the accessories that pull down your streaming content in the best picture and sound quality we’ve got you covered.
The best Prime Day deals on 4K TVs

The best Prime Day deals on 1080p TVs

A projector isn’t technically a TV, but we should give a nod to the Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro that’s selling for $369 (around $130 off) at Amazon. This take-anywhere projector has a built-in Bluetooth speaker and surprisingly nice 1080p picture if you’re not in too bright of a space. Read our review.
The best Prime Day deals on streaming devices

The best Prime Day deals on soundbars

Amazon is selling its Fire TV Soundbar for $89.99 ($30 off) for Prime members. The compact, 24-inch soundbar sounds bigger than it looks and also has Fire TV streaming content built in. Read our initial hands-on.

Yes folks, I am happy to report that the briefcase TV is on sale. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Conventional wisdom says that if you want the very lowest prices on a 4K TV you wait until Black Friday / Cyber Monday in November, but Amazon’s Prime Day can offer some solid discounts during the dog days of summer.

And what you plug into your TV is just as important, especially since many modern TVs have terrible built-in audio that sounds tinny or leaves spoken dialogue difficult to hear, and app interfaces that are slow and annoying to use. Thankfully, some of these shortcomings can be countered by a decent soundbar or a streaming device from the likes of Amazon, Roku, and others.

So if you’re in the market right now for a big and flashy new TV, something modestly sized for a kitchen or bedroom, or some of the accessories that pull down your streaming content in the best picture and sound quality we’ve got you covered.

The best Prime Day deals on 4K TVs

The best Prime Day deals on 1080p TVs

A projector isn’t technically a TV, but we should give a nod to the Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro that’s selling for $369 (around $130 off) at Amazon. This take-anywhere projector has a built-in Bluetooth speaker and surprisingly nice 1080p picture if you’re not in too bright of a space. Read our review.

The best Prime Day deals on streaming devices

The best Prime Day deals on soundbars

Amazon is selling its Fire TV Soundbar for $89.99 ($30 off) for Prime members. The compact, 24-inch soundbar sounds bigger than it looks and also has Fire TV streaming content built in. Read our initial hands-on.

Read More 

The OnePlus Pad 2’s optional Stylo 2 stylus vibrates to simulate the feeling of pen on paper. | Image: OnePlus

With a larger 12.1-inch screen now powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile platform, the new OnePlus Pad 2 brings several performance upgrades to the company’s original tablet. But the most interesting is an optional new stylus accessory that simulates the pen on paper experience using vibrations.
The new Stylo 2 stylus is now made with a leather-like material, offering improved grip, a jump from 4,096 to 16,000 levels of pressure sensitivity, swipe controls, and a linear motor inside that makes the tip vibrate to give you that feeling of a pen writing on paper.
There are other improvements as well. The OnePlus Pad 2’s larger screen, up from 11.6 inches on the original, also gets a resolution bump from 2800 x 2000 pixels to 3000 x 2120 pixels and a boost to almost twice the brightness with support for Dolby Vision HDR content. The company is carrying forward the original’s unusual 7:5 screen ratio and a refresh rate that automatically adjusts between 30Hz and 144Hz depending on what you’re using it for to improve battery life.
The OnePlus Pad 2 gains two additional speakers, bringing the total to six, but the original’s 8MP front-facing camera and 13MP rear camera remain unchanged on the new tablet. It’s the same story for the OnePlus Pad 2’s 9,510mAh battery, which still claims an 81-minute charging time using its 67W charger.

Image: OnePlus
A slightly larger screen on the OnePlus Pad 2 allows three split-screen apps to run simultaneously.

A new optional OnePlus Smart Keyboard is also on the way; the tablet will connect to it physically using a magnetic port or wirelessly over Bluetooth. The keyboard accessory will also add NFC capabilities, allowing files to be shared from a OnePlus smartphone with a tap, even while the tablet is locked. (Both devices need to be logged in to the same OnePlus account.)

Image: OnePlus
The new OnePlus Smart Keyboard accessory includes a touchpad that’s twice as large as last year’s version.

The OnePlus Pad 2 will be available starting on July 30th with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $549.99. Color choices are limited to a single “nimbus gray” option that’s subtler than the original OnePlus Pad’s “halo green” tint. The OnePlus Stylo 2 will be available on the same day for $99.99 as well as the $149.99 Smart Keyboard and a simple $39.99 Folio Case 2.

The OnePlus Pad 2’s optional Stylo 2 stylus vibrates to simulate the feeling of pen on paper. | Image: OnePlus

With a larger 12.1-inch screen now powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile platform, the new OnePlus Pad 2 brings several performance upgrades to the company’s original tablet. But the most interesting is an optional new stylus accessory that simulates the pen on paper experience using vibrations.

The new Stylo 2 stylus is now made with a leather-like material, offering improved grip, a jump from 4,096 to 16,000 levels of pressure sensitivity, swipe controls, and a linear motor inside that makes the tip vibrate to give you that feeling of a pen writing on paper.

There are other improvements as well. The OnePlus Pad 2’s larger screen, up from 11.6 inches on the original, also gets a resolution bump from 2800 x 2000 pixels to 3000 x 2120 pixels and a boost to almost twice the brightness with support for Dolby Vision HDR content. The company is carrying forward the original’s unusual 7:5 screen ratio and a refresh rate that automatically adjusts between 30Hz and 144Hz depending on what you’re using it for to improve battery life.

The OnePlus Pad 2 gains two additional speakers, bringing the total to six, but the original’s 8MP front-facing camera and 13MP rear camera remain unchanged on the new tablet. It’s the same story for the OnePlus Pad 2’s 9,510mAh battery, which still claims an 81-minute charging time using its 67W charger.

Image: OnePlus
A slightly larger screen on the OnePlus Pad 2 allows three split-screen apps to run simultaneously.

A new optional OnePlus Smart Keyboard is also on the way; the tablet will connect to it physically using a magnetic port or wirelessly over Bluetooth. The keyboard accessory will also add NFC capabilities, allowing files to be shared from a OnePlus smartphone with a tap, even while the tablet is locked. (Both devices need to be logged in to the same OnePlus account.)

Image: OnePlus
The new OnePlus Smart Keyboard accessory includes a touchpad that’s twice as large as last year’s version.

The OnePlus Pad 2 will be available starting on July 30th with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $549.99. Color choices are limited to a single “nimbus gray” option that’s subtler than the original OnePlus Pad’s “halo green” tint. The OnePlus Stylo 2 will be available on the same day for $99.99 as well as the $149.99 Smart Keyboard and a simple $39.99 Folio Case 2.

Read More 

Take a couple hundred bucks off the price of a Pixel 8. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

It’s the most Prime-iest day of the year, which is to say, Prime Day is back. Also back: some of the best prices of the year on phones and accessories. It’s an especially good time to stock up on things like chargers, cables, and stands, but if you’ve been waiting for a good price on a Pixel phone or one of Motorola’s new foldables, well, your patience is about to be rewarded.

The best Prime Day Samsung Galaxy deals

The best Prime Day Google Pixel deals

The best Prime Day Motorola phone deals

Best Prime Day OnePlus phone deals

The best Prime Day phone accessory deals

You can charge your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch simultaneously with Belkin’s 3-in-1 MagSafe stand. A version with fast charging for the Apple Watch Series 7 and newer is marked down to $104.99 from $149.99 at Amazon after you clip the on-page coupon.

Apple’s official 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter charges two gadgets for the price of one, and it’s currently on sale at Amazon for $43.99 instead of $59.
For even more power, Anker’s 100W three-port charging brick is available at Amazon for $42.99, down from $74.99.

Amazon is also offering Anker’s 6,600mAh MagGo Power Bank with Qi2, which can charge devices at 15W wirelessly, for $45.99 instead of $69.99.
We love a braided cable, and a two-pack of Anker’s three-foot USB-C to USB-C nylon charging cables costs just $7.99 at Amazon, down from $13.99.

Take a couple hundred bucks off the price of a Pixel 8. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

It’s the most Prime-iest day of the year, which is to say, Prime Day is back. Also back: some of the best prices of the year on phones and accessories. It’s an especially good time to stock up on things like chargers, cables, and stands, but if you’ve been waiting for a good price on a Pixel phone or one of Motorola’s new foldables, well, your patience is about to be rewarded.

The best Prime Day Samsung Galaxy deals

The best Prime Day Google Pixel deals

The best Prime Day Motorola phone deals

Best Prime Day OnePlus phone deals

The best Prime Day phone accessory deals

You can charge your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch simultaneously with Belkin’s 3-in-1 MagSafe stand. A version with fast charging for the Apple Watch Series 7 and newer is marked down to $104.99 from $149.99 at Amazon after you clip the on-page coupon.

Apple’s official 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter charges two gadgets for the price of one, and it’s currently on sale at Amazon for $43.99 instead of $59.
For even more power, Anker’s 100W three-port charging brick is available at Amazon for $42.99, down from $74.99.

Amazon is also offering Anker’s 6,600mAh MagGo Power Bank with Qi2, which can charge devices at 15W wirelessly, for $45.99 instead of $69.99.
We love a braided cable, and a two-pack of Anker’s three-foot USB-C to USB-C nylon charging cables costs just $7.99 at Amazon, down from $13.99.

Read More 

The Bird Buddy smart bird feeder is getting an AI-powered update allowing users to name specific birds who frequently visit. | Image: Bird Buddy

The Bird Buddy smart bird feeder is getting a collection of new features as part of a recently announced Nature Intelligence update. The feeder’s ability to identify the species of a visiting bird is being expanded, and users will now get notifications when individual birds stop by.
The company describes the Bird Buddy’s new Name That Bird feature as being a noninvasive form of bird tagging — a practice that usually keeps tabs on the movements of birds using trackers or tags physically attached to their legs. The Bird Buddy instead relies on images captured by the smart feeder’s camera and AI image recognition that can spot the differences between individual birds.
“The detail made available by the 5MP high-resolution Bird Buddy sensor present in all our feeders along with its close-up format is designed to bring out the full character of visiting birds. This makes Bird Buddy uniquely capable of capturing the features required to make this work,” says Franci Zidar, Bird Buddy’s CEO, in a press release.
Being able to recognize your favorite blue jay and know how frequently it visits your yard is a feature that makes the $239 feeder more appealing, but how well it actually works remains to be seen. The company describes it as an experimental feature for now, and birds have to actually land on the feeder to be identified.

Other features coming to the Bird Buddy as part of the Nature Intelligence update include notifications when a sick or injured bird is detected so users can potentially help aid in its recovery. Its recognition capabilities are also being expanded to include butterflies, bees, lizards, raccoons, squirrels, and even pets like cats and dogs, helping users know when the feeder may need to be relocated to avoid unwanted visitors.
The Nature Intelligence update and new Nature Connected Home feature, which streams video and sounds from the feeder to smart devices around a home, are available as part of the Bird Buddy Pro subscription service, which starts at $5.99 per month.

The Bird Buddy smart bird feeder is getting an AI-powered update allowing users to name specific birds who frequently visit. | Image: Bird Buddy

The Bird Buddy smart bird feeder is getting a collection of new features as part of a recently announced Nature Intelligence update. The feeder’s ability to identify the species of a visiting bird is being expanded, and users will now get notifications when individual birds stop by.

The company describes the Bird Buddy’s new Name That Bird feature as being a noninvasive form of bird tagging — a practice that usually keeps tabs on the movements of birds using trackers or tags physically attached to their legs. The Bird Buddy instead relies on images captured by the smart feeder’s camera and AI image recognition that can spot the differences between individual birds.

“The detail made available by the 5MP high-resolution Bird Buddy sensor present in all our feeders along with its close-up format is designed to bring out the full character of visiting birds. This makes Bird Buddy uniquely capable of capturing the features required to make this work,” says Franci Zidar, Bird Buddy’s CEO, in a press release.

Being able to recognize your favorite blue jay and know how frequently it visits your yard is a feature that makes the $239 feeder more appealing, but how well it actually works remains to be seen. The company describes it as an experimental feature for now, and birds have to actually land on the feeder to be identified.

Other features coming to the Bird Buddy as part of the Nature Intelligence update include notifications when a sick or injured bird is detected so users can potentially help aid in its recovery. Its recognition capabilities are also being expanded to include butterflies, bees, lizards, raccoons, squirrels, and even pets like cats and dogs, helping users know when the feeder may need to be relocated to avoid unwanted visitors.

The Nature Intelligence update and new Nature Connected Home feature, which streams video and sounds from the feeder to smart devices around a home, are available as part of the Bird Buddy Pro subscription service, which starts at $5.99 per month.

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Photo: Space Cowboys

Amazon’s fall Prime Day event is underway! For more deals we recommend across all categories, check out our full roundup.
Every month or so, we like to ask our staff about their favorite stuff — whether it’s board games, smart tech, or kitchen gadgets. And the results are usually very different, very interesting, and a lot of fun.
Since Amazon is currently pushing a lot of deals through its current Prime Day sales, we looked through some of our recent “favorites” articles and found deals on a lot of the devices we like. So we thought we’d list a few in case you have read about them in the past and thought, well, that sort of sounds good, but it’s a bit pricey. (Or — that’s pretty cheap, but maybe I’ll wait until the price goes down some more…)
So here are some of our staff’s most-liked games, gear and gadgets.
Games
Strategy card game
Becca Farsace, senior producer

The best part about the game Splendor is taking a moment to look around and watch your friends thinking really, really hard. This is a board game that has no board, just cards and chips, where the objective is to collect gems and acquire capital and property. It is best played with three to five people on a large table. And it involves a whole lot of strategizing, thinking, and endlessly scanning cards. This makes for great thinking faces!
I ditched the box for a small pouch and now bring this game to most bar hangs. And when I’m at home, I find it best when paired with a long playlist that you won’t have to spend any extra mental strength thinking about.

Ecological board game
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, reviewer

Finding a board game that will entertain a 13-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, my partner, and me is a challenge. We’ve cycled through all the classics as well as newer options — Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Catan, and more. While these are all great, inevitably one of the group develops a passionate dislike for the game (usually after a few too many losses) and it drops off our rotation. However, Evolution: Oceans has been a constant crowd-pleaser for over six months now, and we all love it.
Part of the Evolution series from NorthStar Game Studio, Oceans is a beautiful, complicated, compelling, and challenging strategy game. You create new species to fill your ocean and fight to develop them and keep them alive using adaptations and abilities such as schooling and speed, tentacles, and parasitic abilities.
Cards give you your powers, and these are gorgeously illustrated, making this game a visual feast. It does have a fairly steep learning curve, but once you get going and the strategies unfold, the gameplay is smooth and relatively fast-paced. There is a fair amount of player-to-player interaction, so we’ve had a couple of temper tantrums, but nothing big enough to knock this one off our family’s top spot… at least not yet.

Smart home devices
Keep your grass green
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, reviewer

Don’t you hate it when you come home during a rainstorm and your sprinklers are running? What a waste of water! With a smart sprinkler controller, you can avoid this kind of insult to Mother Earth. I’ve used a Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller for a few years now, and it reliably adjusts my irrigation system to not run before, during, or after a rainstorm, even adapting based on the amount of rain that falls. The Wi-Fi-connected system uses local weather data, so I do have to keep an eye on it; if the forecast calls for an inch of rain but we only get a sprinkle, my garden might go thirsty. But its easy-to-use app makes this adjustment something I can do from the comfort of my couch. It’s a lot like using a smart thermostat and just as satisfying in terms of feeling good about saving precious resources (and money).

A smart garage opener
Wes Davis, weekend news editor

Most of the things I own are, frankly, just unreliable enough to be annoying. All except for one or two — and of those, the one I love most of all is the Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener for HomeKit. And my love for it isn’t just about its rock-solid performance — it’s because, as far as I can tell, it’s compatible with almost any garage door opener on the market and across time itself. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration, either. The chunky mustard yellow all-metal box that cranks my garage door open — the Model 455 by Automatic Doorman — was made, by my loose estimation, sometime between the fall of Rome and 1975.
But Meross’ adapter was $30 — and to my amazement, after a very simple installation, it worked and continues to do so almost every time I need it to. Best of all, I don’t have to carry the chunky remote with me on my bike when I leave because I can just talk into my Apple Watch when I return and coast right in.

A reliable smart plug
Sean Hollister, senior editor

The single fastest and most reliable device in my entire smart home… is whichever dumb-as-a-brick appliance I plug into this tiny box. Seriously, I’m pretty sure the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini is the only smart home device that’s never let me down. Whether it’s a string of Christmas lights, a garage freezer, a hot water recirculation pump, a humidifier, a bedside lamp, or a fan — all genuine examples from my home — I always know Alexa or Google or Siri or Home Assistant will flick that virtual switch in an instant and / or follow my programmed schedule.
Plus, I get some energy savings, too! My Brother printer used to draw 4W all day every day; now, I only spend 0.5–0.8W for the Smart Plug Mini it’s plugged into. I just wish TP-Link stopped making so many new versions so I could tell you which one to buy. I do know I’d have bought these energy-monitoring ones if I’d had a little more foresight.

A door lock upgrade
Victoria Song, senior reviewer

I always lose my keys. I must open the Find My app every single time I need to leave the house to find them. It’s worse when I go for a run because it means having to stuff them in a running belt, pocket, or worst of all — my sports bra. So installing the Nest x Yale Lock has been a game-changer for me.
For runs and walks, I can head out the door with nothing but my headphones and smartwatch. It’s so freeing! Same for just leaving my house to do literally anything. My spouse and I have the questionable habit of listening to scary true crime podcasts right before bed. That used to mean playing rock, paper, scissors to see which of us had to run down three flights of stairs to check if the door was locked. Not anymore! Now we can just ask Google Assistant or whip out the phone. I love that we can also create temporary guest passcodes for pet sitters or relatives that visit. It’s only been a few weeks, but this has been the simplest yet most high-impact quality-of-life upgrade I’ve done in a long time.

Kitchen helpers
Old-fashioned toaster oven
Amelia Holowaty Krales, senior photo editor

I love a toaster oven! It’s compact, works fast, and is perfect for reheating pizza, making nachos, and yes, even toast. I use my toaster oven more than my regular oven for sure — and probably more than any other item in my kitchen. I have a pretty basic model like this one, but these days, many come with other features, like air frying and convection oven capabilities.

Multipurpose rice cooker
Victoria Song, senior reviewer

A lot of people will tell you that rice cookers are single-use appliances meant only for rice — they’re wrong. A rice cooker is best at cooking rice, but it can do a lot of the same things as an Instant Pot. For instance, you can use it to cook hardboiled eggs or oatmeal, steam vegetables, make porridge, make one-pot meals, and even bake a cake.
I grew up with giant 10-cup rice cookers at home, but I didn’t appreciate how versatile this appliance was until I left the country for college. A tiny two-cup rice cooker kept me fed in my cramped 250-square-foot Tokyo apartment. It was programmable, so I could wash my rice, stick it in the cooker, and know that when I woke up late for class, I could still whip up some ochazuke or oatmeal for a quick, cheap, and nutritious breakfast. (It also took the hassle out of steel-cut oats.) Whenever I had a craving for sweets, it was so easy to take pancake mix and bake a Japanese-style cheesecake for one.
I’ve since graduated to a 5.5-cup Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker, and it’s one of the handiest tools I have for meal prepping. When I was sick I made ample use of its porridge setting to make a congee-type dish with chicken and ginger — just like my mom used to make when I was a kid. The fact that it’ll keep something warm for days, meant I could crawl out of bed, scoop out some porridge, and crawl back into bed with minimal effort. When I’m feeling lazy, I throw eggs in there, and bam — some extra hard-boiled protein. Mine also comes with a little basket, so it’s super easy to throw in veggies or steam frozen dumplings.
But what I like most is that rice cookers are more space-efficient than Instant Pots. In my kitchen, the one spot where I could fit an Instant Pot is instead occupied by a rice cooker, blender, and spoon rest. A multitasking kitchen gadget that doesn’t take over your entire counter? That’s a must if you live in a small space.

Garlic rocker
Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor

We use a lot of garlic in my household, and traditional garlic presses never did it for us — they usually produced a messy, slushy paste. A friend of ours introduced us to the garlic rocker, which is not only fun to play with but produces beautifully minced pieces of garlic, perfect for sautéing and other uses. And it looks like a strange work of art, which means we can keep it on the counter just for show.

Photo: Space Cowboys

Amazon’s fall Prime Day event is underway! For more deals we recommend across all categories, check out our full roundup.

Every month or so, we like to ask our staff about their favorite stuff — whether it’s board games, smart tech, or kitchen gadgets. And the results are usually very different, very interesting, and a lot of fun.

Since Amazon is currently pushing a lot of deals through its current Prime Day sales, we looked through some of our recent “favorites” articles and found deals on a lot of the devices we like. So we thought we’d list a few in case you have read about them in the past and thought, well, that sort of sounds good, but it’s a bit pricey. (Or — that’s pretty cheap, but maybe I’ll wait until the price goes down some more…)

So here are some of our staff’s most-liked games, gear and gadgets.

Games

Strategy card game

Becca Farsace, senior producer

The best part about the game Splendor is taking a moment to look around and watch your friends thinking really, really hard. This is a board game that has no board, just cards and chips, where the objective is to collect gems and acquire capital and property. It is best played with three to five people on a large table. And it involves a whole lot of strategizing, thinking, and endlessly scanning cards. This makes for great thinking faces!

I ditched the box for a small pouch and now bring this game to most bar hangs. And when I’m at home, I find it best when paired with a long playlist that you won’t have to spend any extra mental strength thinking about.

Ecological board game

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, reviewer

Finding a board game that will entertain a 13-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, my partner, and me is a challenge. We’ve cycled through all the classics as well as newer options — Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Catan, and more. While these are all great, inevitably one of the group develops a passionate dislike for the game (usually after a few too many losses) and it drops off our rotation. However, Evolution: Oceans has been a constant crowd-pleaser for over six months now, and we all love it.

Part of the Evolution series from NorthStar Game Studio, Oceans is a beautiful, complicated, compelling, and challenging strategy game. You create new species to fill your ocean and fight to develop them and keep them alive using adaptations and abilities such as schooling and speed, tentacles, and parasitic abilities.

Cards give you your powers, and these are gorgeously illustrated, making this game a visual feast. It does have a fairly steep learning curve, but once you get going and the strategies unfold, the gameplay is smooth and relatively fast-paced. There is a fair amount of player-to-player interaction, so we’ve had a couple of temper tantrums, but nothing big enough to knock this one off our family’s top spot… at least not yet.

Smart home devices

Keep your grass green

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, reviewer

Don’t you hate it when you come home during a rainstorm and your sprinklers are running? What a waste of water! With a smart sprinkler controller, you can avoid this kind of insult to Mother Earth. I’ve used a Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller for a few years now, and it reliably adjusts my irrigation system to not run before, during, or after a rainstorm, even adapting based on the amount of rain that falls. The Wi-Fi-connected system uses local weather data, so I do have to keep an eye on it; if the forecast calls for an inch of rain but we only get a sprinkle, my garden might go thirsty. But its easy-to-use app makes this adjustment something I can do from the comfort of my couch. It’s a lot like using a smart thermostat and just as satisfying in terms of feeling good about saving precious resources (and money).

A smart garage opener

Wes Davis, weekend news editor

Most of the things I own are, frankly, just unreliable enough to be annoying. All except for one or two — and of those, the one I love most of all is the Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener for HomeKit. And my love for it isn’t just about its rock-solid performance — it’s because, as far as I can tell, it’s compatible with almost any garage door opener on the market and across time itself. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration, either. The chunky mustard yellow all-metal box that cranks my garage door open — the Model 455 by Automatic Doorman — was made, by my loose estimation, sometime between the fall of Rome and 1975.

But Meross’ adapter was $30 — and to my amazement, after a very simple installation, it worked and continues to do so almost every time I need it to. Best of all, I don’t have to carry the chunky remote with me on my bike when I leave because I can just talk into my Apple Watch when I return and coast right in.

A reliable smart plug

Sean Hollister, senior editor

The single fastest and most reliable device in my entire smart home… is whichever dumb-as-a-brick appliance I plug into this tiny box. Seriously, I’m pretty sure the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini is the only smart home device that’s never let me down. Whether it’s a string of Christmas lights, a garage freezer, a hot water recirculation pump, a humidifier, a bedside lamp, or a fan — all genuine examples from my home — I always know Alexa or Google or Siri or Home Assistant will flick that virtual switch in an instant and / or follow my programmed schedule.

Plus, I get some energy savings, too! My Brother printer used to draw 4W all day every day; now, I only spend 0.5–0.8W for the Smart Plug Mini it’s plugged into. I just wish TP-Link stopped making so many new versions so I could tell you which one to buy. I do know I’d have bought these energy-monitoring ones if I’d had a little more foresight.

A door lock upgrade

Victoria Song, senior reviewer

I always lose my keys. I must open the Find My app every single time I need to leave the house to find them. It’s worse when I go for a run because it means having to stuff them in a running belt, pocket, or worst of all — my sports bra. So installing the Nest x Yale Lock has been a game-changer for me.

For runs and walks, I can head out the door with nothing but my headphones and smartwatch. It’s so freeing! Same for just leaving my house to do literally anything. My spouse and I have the questionable habit of listening to scary true crime podcasts right before bed. That used to mean playing rock, paper, scissors to see which of us had to run down three flights of stairs to check if the door was locked. Not anymore! Now we can just ask Google Assistant or whip out the phone. I love that we can also create temporary guest passcodes for pet sitters or relatives that visit. It’s only been a few weeks, but this has been the simplest yet most high-impact quality-of-life upgrade I’ve done in a long time.

Kitchen helpers

Old-fashioned toaster oven

Amelia Holowaty Krales, senior photo editor

I love a toaster oven! It’s compact, works fast, and is perfect for reheating pizza, making nachos, and yes, even toast. I use my toaster oven more than my regular oven for sure — and probably more than any other item in my kitchen. I have a pretty basic model like this one, but these days, many come with other features, like air frying and convection oven capabilities.

Multipurpose rice cooker

Victoria Song, senior reviewer

A lot of people will tell you that rice cookers are single-use appliances meant only for rice — they’re wrong. A rice cooker is best at cooking rice, but it can do a lot of the same things as an Instant Pot. For instance, you can use it to cook hardboiled eggs or oatmeal, steam vegetables, make porridge, make one-pot meals, and even bake a cake.

I grew up with giant 10-cup rice cookers at home, but I didn’t appreciate how versatile this appliance was until I left the country for college. A tiny two-cup rice cooker kept me fed in my cramped 250-square-foot Tokyo apartment. It was programmable, so I could wash my rice, stick it in the cooker, and know that when I woke up late for class, I could still whip up some ochazuke or oatmeal for a quick, cheap, and nutritious breakfast. (It also took the hassle out of steel-cut oats.) Whenever I had a craving for sweets, it was so easy to take pancake mix and bake a Japanese-style cheesecake for one.

I’ve since graduated to a 5.5-cup Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker, and it’s one of the handiest tools I have for meal prepping. When I was sick I made ample use of its porridge setting to make a congee-type dish with chicken and ginger — just like my mom used to make when I was a kid. The fact that it’ll keep something warm for days, meant I could crawl out of bed, scoop out some porridge, and crawl back into bed with minimal effort. When I’m feeling lazy, I throw eggs in there, and bam — some extra hard-boiled protein. Mine also comes with a little basket, so it’s super easy to throw in veggies or steam frozen dumplings.

But what I like most is that rice cookers are more space-efficient than Instant Pots. In my kitchen, the one spot where I could fit an Instant Pot is instead occupied by a rice cooker, blender, and spoon rest. A multitasking kitchen gadget that doesn’t take over your entire counter? That’s a must if you live in a small space.

Garlic rocker

Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor

We use a lot of garlic in my household, and traditional garlic presses never did it for us — they usually produced a messy, slushy paste. A friend of ours introduced us to the garlic rocker, which is not only fun to play with but produces beautifully minced pieces of garlic, perfect for sautéing and other uses. And it looks like a strange work of art, which means we can keep it on the counter just for show.

Read More 

The best Echo smart display — the Echo Show 8 —is at its lowest price ever. | Photo by Alex Cranz / The Verge

Amazon’s Prime Day 2024 runs Tuesday, July 16th, through Wednesday, July 17th, and is an excellent way to stock up on smart home gear. I spent hours sifting through the best deals to bring you my picks for the best buys.
Grab some serious bargains on robot vacuums, smart kitchen gadgets, and lots of smart plugs. Plus, smart lighting favorites Philips Hue and Lutron Caseta have some select savings on their popular products. Read on for all the latest deals, and be sure to check back, as I’ll keep this updated throughout the sale.
Best deals on Amazon Echo devices
Several of my favorite Echo smart speakers and displays are on sale this Prime Day. If you’re looking for good sound and a smart home hub that adds support for Thread, Zigbee, and Matter smart home connectivity — the Echo 4th Gen is a great device for just $55 (down from $100).

Stepping down in size and price, the Echo Dot 5th Gen for $25 is an excellent buy. Two on either side of the bed make for surprisingly good stereo sound in a bedroom. These are also Matter controllers, but no Thread or Zigbee. While I prefer the Dot with Clock version, strangely both the 4th gen and 5th gen Dots with Clocks are out of stock on Amazon — so no deals to be had there.
Speaking of clocks, Amazon’s resurrection of the Echo Spot has been the smart home highlight of my summer so far. For just $45 on sale, this small screened smart display shows just enough info to be useful and not enough space for Amazon to show me any ads (yet …).
If you want a bit more display with your smart display, the excellent Echo Show 8 smart display is at an all-time low of $85. This is the best smart display you can buy today: a great size, good sound, and useful widgets, making it a handy tool for checking my calendar, picking a recent playlist, or turning on the kitchen lights. It packs the same smart home radios as the Echo 4th gen — Zigbee, Thread, Matter — so it is an all-around smart home hub. Read my review.

Best robot vacuum deals

The excellent Eufy x10 Omni is $200 off at Amazon — just $599.99. That’s one of the lowest prices you’ll find for a robot that can empty its dustbin, refill its mopping tank, and wash and dry its mop. It also has a nice, compact design and an impressive 8,000Pa of suction, plus AI-powered obstacle avoidance, so it dodges most common household clutter.
My favorite top-of-the-line Roomba — the Roomba Combo j9 Plus — is on a stellar sale, over 40 percent off at $799 at Amazon, down from $1400. This is the first Roomba that can refill its water tank and empty its bin, and its mopping prowess has improved thanks to a new SmartScrub feature. The dock is also the nicest-looking of any robot vacuum I’ve tested, making this one more likely to fit in with your home decor. Read my review.

My previous top pick for a robot vacuum, the Roomba j7 Plus, is now $399.99, and that’s with the auto-empty dock. That a great price for an excellent robot vacuum with good navigation skills and the best obstacle avoidance of any bot I’ve tested.
My favorite budget Roomba the i3 (aka the i4) is on sale for $239.99 (down from $400). It is getting harder to find as it’s being replaced by the Roomba Combo i5, which is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon ($100 off). I’ve not finished testing the i5, but my initial impressions are positive, and it’s very similar to the i3, adding a removable mopping tank and a smaller auto-empty dock (which costs extra and is on sale for $399). Either bot would be a great buy this Prime Day.
The previous top-of-the-line Dreame L20 Ultra is down to $799.99, originally retailing for $1,500. This is my former top pick for a vacuuming and mopping bot because of its neat trick, where it removes its mopping pads automatically when it’s time to vacuum — so it won’t get your carpets wet. It’s being replaced by the Dreame X40, which has some impressive enhancements, but the L20 is still a great robot, especially at this price — the X40 Ultra is $1,900, although it’s on sale for $1,700.
The Narwal Freo X Ultra is my favorite bot if you’re looking for a vacuum robot that excels at mopping. It’s seeing its biggest discount ever with $450 off, taking it to $949.99 from $1,399.99.

The SwitchBot S10 robot vacuum and mop is also at an all-time low of $739.99 (with an additional on-page coupon) — a discount of $460 — at Amazon. This innovative robot hooks directly into your plumbing, so you don’t have to deal with filling and emptying large water tanks. Read my review.

At a 45 percent discount, the Shark AI Robot Self-Empty XL is a steal at $299.99 for a solid, self-emptying robot vacuum that doesn’t need replaceable bags (it has a washable bin). It’s loud and rattles but does a great job getting everywhere it needs to go, although it lacks advanced obstacle avoidance, so you’ll need to clean up before you run it.
The Roborock Q5 Pro is one of my favorite budget robot vacuums thanks to is huge 770ml bin, double roller brushes, and 5,500 Pa suction power, which make it a great choice for tackling pet hair. It’s 44 percent off at $220 right now. You can also add an auto-empty dock for $160 more.

Best bargains on video doorbells and smart locks

Two of my favorite wireless Ring doorbells are on sale: the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus for $99.99 ($50 off) at Amazon and the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro for $149.99 ($80 off) at Amazon. These both have a head-to-toe view, something earlier battery-powered Ring’s didn’t offer, plus a higher resolution at 1526p. The major difference is that Pro has Ring’s radar motion detection, significantly reducing false alerts. So, if you have a lot of action at your front door, you don’t want to be notified about spring for the Pro, otherwise the Plus will do you very well.
If you’re looking for a real bargain buzzer, the Blink Video Doorbell — my favorite budget option — is on sale for $30. But get it with the Sync Module for $5 more ($35), as this lets you see a live view and use local storage, so no need for a subscription.

My current favorite smart lock — the Yale Assure Lock 2 — is seeing decent discounts on its various models (read my review). The best deal is the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch in black suede with Wi-Fi, no keyhole, a touchscreen keypad, and a fingerprint reader. It’s 32 percent off at $189.71 at Amazon. It works with all the major smart home platforms, including Apple Home (but not HomeKey), and has a nice, discreet look on your front door.
The ingenious SwitchBot Lock — a retrofit lock that works with pretty much any lock — is down to $119 at Amazon from $170, including a keypad with a fingerprint reader and the Hub Mini needed to connect to smart home platforms for voice control. This is a great solution for renters as there is no drilling at all (read my review).
The newer model SwitchBot Lock Pro is also on sale, for $140 — a 30 percent discount, and includes a Matter-enabled hub and keypad. It’s more robust but does require removing your existing thumb-turn, which might be an issue for some.

Best savings on smart lighting

The ultra-reliable Lutron Caseta smart lighting system has two good deals going for Prime Day. If you’re new to the system — which is based around smart switches that use Lutron’s proprietary radio frequency through a Lutron bridge — the Diva Smart Dimmer Switch starter kit is the place to begin. It’s on sale for $89.95 from $119.95 and includes one paddle-style smart dimmer switch, a bridge, and a tabletop Pico remote.
If you’re already all in on Lutron Caseta, the Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Kit gets you a two-pack of dimmers with the Pico remotes for $135.95, down from $170. (Note: this is the older style.) All Caseta models work with all the major smart home platforms.

If smart bulbs are more your scene, a three-pack of the excellent Philips Hue’s 60-watt A19 color and white bulbs is down to $80 from $135 at Amazon.
To get the most out of the Hue smart lighting system, you need a Hue Bridge, which you can get in this Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit; where it comes bundled with three 75 watt white and color A19 bulbs and a smart button for wireless control of the lights. It’s on sale for $125.99 at Amazon, a savings of $54. Hue works with all the major smart home platforms and Matter.

Nanoleaf’s A19 smart bulbs are slightly cheaper and do not require a proprietary hub. They work over Thread and are compatible with Matter. A three-pack of Nanoleaf A19 full-color bulbs is on sale for $35 at Amazon, down from $50. Read my review.
Another hub-free option for smart lighting is TP-Link’s Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Switches. These also work with Matter, so they are compatible with the major smart home platforms. You can get the standard on/off switch for $20 for a two-pack or two dimmers for $25.

Best prices on smart plugs

The energy monitoring Eve Energy smart plug is just $55 for a two-pack, under $30 per plug, which usually retails for $40 each. A compact, Matter-compatible plug that works over Thread, it can be used to add smarts to lamps, TVs, coffee makers, and more and can keep track of energy use. Read our review.

If you don’t need energy monitoring, Tapo’s mini Matter-compatible smart plug (Wi-Fi) is a whopping 60 percent off at just $8 a plug, or pick up a 3-pack for $21, just $7 per plug.
A four-pack of Matter-compatible energy-monitoring Kasa smart plugs (Wi-Fi) (Tapo’s sister brand) are going for $39.94, $30 off, and just under $10 each at Amazon.
If you plan to pack a lot of power outlets into one place, the Meross Smart Power Strip has four outlets and four USB ports. You can control it from your smart home platform of choice, including Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings. It works over Wi-Fi and is on sale for $32.46 at Amazon, down from $52.99.
If you want to take your smarts outdoors, TP-Link’s Tapo Matter Outdoor smart plug (Wi-Fi) is down to $18 from $25 at Amazon. It has two individually controllable outlets and long-range Wi-Fi to reach the chicken coop or pool pump at the end of the garden.

Best bargains on smart kitchen gear

If you fancy smoking indoors, the GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker does a decent job of replicating the hard work of an outdoor smoker from the cool comfort of your kitchen. It’s $300 off for Prime Day at $699.99. Read my review.

I recently tested the latest GE Profile smart nugget ice maker and fell in love with everything but the $630 price. Sadly, it’s not on sale, but the older model, the GE Profile Opal 2.0 XL Countertop Nugget Ice Maker is. At $479 ($200 off) at Amazon, it’s closer to affordable, and you only miss out on a few upgrades — such as a magnetic scoop and a more streamlined cleaning process.

Best savings on smart security cameras
My favorite type of security camera is a wired floodlight cam — you get a camera and lights in one and never have to worry about battery life. Eve’s excellent Eve Outdoor Camera is down to $172 from $249.95 on Amazon (with on page coupon) and features a bright, motion-activated light. As one of the only outdoor cameras that works with Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video service, it’s a great option for Apple Home users.

There are some good deals on wireless cameras, too, including the all-in-one Eufy Solo Cam (2K). This is a great battery-powered outdoor camera that doesn’t require a Eufy HomeBase and has a built-in solar panel, so it can keep itself charged. It’s just $70 at Amazon, down from $130, and it has the option of local storage, so there are no subscription fees.
Similarly, the Tapo MagCam is a battery-powered camera with onboard local storage. Thanks to its magnetic base, it’s also one of the easiest cameras to install. It’s half-price for Prime Day at $60, but you’ll need to buy the solar panel separately if you want it to charge itself.

Ring’s versatile Stick Up Cam Battery is $45 off right now at Amazon; you can get it for just $54.99. These simple cameras are easy to put anywhere thanks to a versatile mount and weatherproofing. You will need a Ring Protect plan for any recorded video.
For a great budget buy you can’t beat the Blink Mini 2 indoor/outdoor for just $20. You’ll need to pay extra for an outdoor-rated cable and pick up a Sync Module if you want local storage. But you can get cloud storage for $3 a month, making this a great little wired camera for keeping an eye on your home, inside or out. Read my review.

The best Echo smart display — the Echo Show 8 —is at its lowest price ever. | Photo by Alex Cranz / The Verge

Amazon’s Prime Day 2024 runs Tuesday, July 16th, through Wednesday, July 17th, and is an excellent way to stock up on smart home gear. I spent hours sifting through the best deals to bring you my picks for the best buys.

Grab some serious bargains on robot vacuums, smart kitchen gadgets, and lots of smart plugs. Plus, smart lighting favorites Philips Hue and Lutron Caseta have some select savings on their popular products. Read on for all the latest deals, and be sure to check back, as I’ll keep this updated throughout the sale.

Best deals on Amazon Echo devices

Several of my favorite Echo smart speakers and displays are on sale this Prime Day. If you’re looking for good sound and a smart home hub that adds support for Thread, Zigbee, and Matter smart home connectivity — the Echo 4th Gen is a great device for just $55 (down from $100).

Stepping down in size and price, the Echo Dot 5th Gen for $25 is an excellent buy. Two on either side of the bed make for surprisingly good stereo sound in a bedroom. These are also Matter controllers, but no Thread or Zigbee. While I prefer the Dot with Clock version, strangely both the 4th gen and 5th gen Dots with Clocks are out of stock on Amazon — so no deals to be had there.
Speaking of clocks, Amazon’s resurrection of the Echo Spot has been the smart home highlight of my summer so far. For just $45 on sale, this small screened smart display shows just enough info to be useful and not enough space for Amazon to show me any ads (yet …).
If you want a bit more display with your smart display, the excellent Echo Show 8 smart display is at an all-time low of $85. This is the best smart display you can buy today: a great size, good sound, and useful widgets, making it a handy tool for checking my calendar, picking a recent playlist, or turning on the kitchen lights. It packs the same smart home radios as the Echo 4th gen — Zigbee, Thread, Matter — so it is an all-around smart home hub. Read my review.

Best robot vacuum deals

The excellent Eufy x10 Omni is $200 off at Amazon — just $599.99. That’s one of the lowest prices you’ll find for a robot that can empty its dustbin, refill its mopping tank, and wash and dry its mop. It also has a nice, compact design and an impressive 8,000Pa of suction, plus AI-powered obstacle avoidance, so it dodges most common household clutter.
My favorite top-of-the-line Roomba — the Roomba Combo j9 Plus — is on a stellar sale, over 40 percent off at $799 at Amazon, down from $1400. This is the first Roomba that can refill its water tank and empty its bin, and its mopping prowess has improved thanks to a new SmartScrub feature. The dock is also the nicest-looking of any robot vacuum I’ve tested, making this one more likely to fit in with your home decor. Read my review.

My previous top pick for a robot vacuum, the Roomba j7 Plus, is now $399.99, and that’s with the auto-empty dock. That a great price for an excellent robot vacuum with good navigation skills and the best obstacle avoidance of any bot I’ve tested.
My favorite budget Roomba the i3 (aka the i4) is on sale for $239.99 (down from $400). It is getting harder to find as it’s being replaced by the Roomba Combo i5, which is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon ($100 off). I’ve not finished testing the i5, but my initial impressions are positive, and it’s very similar to the i3, adding a removable mopping tank and a smaller auto-empty dock (which costs extra and is on sale for $399). Either bot would be a great buy this Prime Day.
The previous top-of-the-line Dreame L20 Ultra is down to $799.99, originally retailing for $1,500. This is my former top pick for a vacuuming and mopping bot because of its neat trick, where it removes its mopping pads automatically when it’s time to vacuum — so it won’t get your carpets wet. It’s being replaced by the Dreame X40, which has some impressive enhancements, but the L20 is still a great robot, especially at this price — the X40 Ultra is $1,900, although it’s on sale for $1,700.
The Narwal Freo X Ultra is my favorite bot if you’re looking for a vacuum robot that excels at mopping. It’s seeing its biggest discount ever with $450 off, taking it to $949.99 from $1,399.99.

The SwitchBot S10 robot vacuum and mop is also at an all-time low of $739.99 (with an additional on-page coupon) — a discount of $460 — at Amazon. This innovative robot hooks directly into your plumbing, so you don’t have to deal with filling and emptying large water tanks. Read my review.

At a 45 percent discount, the Shark AI Robot Self-Empty XL is a steal at $299.99 for a solid, self-emptying robot vacuum that doesn’t need replaceable bags (it has a washable bin). It’s loud and rattles but does a great job getting everywhere it needs to go, although it lacks advanced obstacle avoidance, so you’ll need to clean up before you run it.
The Roborock Q5 Pro is one of my favorite budget robot vacuums thanks to is huge 770ml bin, double roller brushes, and 5,500 Pa suction power, which make it a great choice for tackling pet hair. It’s 44 percent off at $220 right now. You can also add an auto-empty dock for $160 more.

Best bargains on video doorbells and smart locks

Two of my favorite wireless Ring doorbells are on sale: the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus for $99.99 ($50 off) at Amazon and the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro for $149.99 ($80 off) at Amazon. These both have a head-to-toe view, something earlier battery-powered Ring’s didn’t offer, plus a higher resolution at 1526p. The major difference is that Pro has Ring’s radar motion detection, significantly reducing false alerts. So, if you have a lot of action at your front door, you don’t want to be notified about spring for the Pro, otherwise the Plus will do you very well.
If you’re looking for a real bargain buzzer, the Blink Video Doorbell — my favorite budget option — is on sale for $30. But get it with the Sync Module for $5 more ($35), as this lets you see a live view and use local storage, so no need for a subscription.

My current favorite smart lock — the Yale Assure Lock 2 — is seeing decent discounts on its various models (read my review). The best deal is the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch in black suede with Wi-Fi, no keyhole, a touchscreen keypad, and a fingerprint reader. It’s 32 percent off at $189.71 at Amazon. It works with all the major smart home platforms, including Apple Home (but not HomeKey), and has a nice, discreet look on your front door.
The ingenious SwitchBot Lock — a retrofit lock that works with pretty much any lock — is down to $119 at Amazon from $170, including a keypad with a fingerprint reader and the Hub Mini needed to connect to smart home platforms for voice control. This is a great solution for renters as there is no drilling at all (read my review).
The newer model SwitchBot Lock Pro is also on sale, for $140 — a 30 percent discount, and includes a Matter-enabled hub and keypad. It’s more robust but does require removing your existing thumb-turn, which might be an issue for some.

Best savings on smart lighting

The ultra-reliable Lutron Caseta smart lighting system has two good deals going for Prime Day. If you’re new to the system — which is based around smart switches that use Lutron’s proprietary radio frequency through a Lutron bridge — the Diva Smart Dimmer Switch starter kit is the place to begin. It’s on sale for $89.95 from $119.95 and includes one paddle-style smart dimmer switch, a bridge, and a tabletop Pico remote.
If you’re already all in on Lutron Caseta, the Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Kit gets you a two-pack of dimmers with the Pico remotes for $135.95, down from $170. (Note: this is the older style.) All Caseta models work with all the major smart home platforms.

If smart bulbs are more your scene, a three-pack of the excellent Philips Hue’s 60-watt A19 color and white bulbs is down to $80 from $135 at Amazon.
To get the most out of the Hue smart lighting system, you need a Hue Bridge, which you can get in this Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit; where it comes bundled with three 75 watt white and color A19 bulbs and a smart button for wireless control of the lights. It’s on sale for $125.99 at Amazon, a savings of $54. Hue works with all the major smart home platforms and Matter.

Nanoleaf’s A19 smart bulbs are slightly cheaper and do not require a proprietary hub. They work over Thread and are compatible with Matter. A three-pack of Nanoleaf A19 full-color bulbs is on sale for $35 at Amazon, down from $50. Read my review.
Another hub-free option for smart lighting is TP-Link’s Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Switches. These also work with Matter, so they are compatible with the major smart home platforms. You can get the standard on/off switch for $20 for a two-pack or two dimmers for $25.

Best prices on smart plugs

The energy monitoring Eve Energy smart plug is just $55 for a two-pack, under $30 per plug, which usually retails for $40 each. A compact, Matter-compatible plug that works over Thread, it can be used to add smarts to lamps, TVs, coffee makers, and more and can keep track of energy use. Read our review.

If you don’t need energy monitoring, Tapo’s mini Matter-compatible smart plug (Wi-Fi) is a whopping 60 percent off at just $8 a plug, or pick up a 3-pack for $21, just $7 per plug.
A four-pack of Matter-compatible energy-monitoring Kasa smart plugs (Wi-Fi) (Tapo’s sister brand) are going for $39.94, $30 off, and just under $10 each at Amazon.
If you plan to pack a lot of power outlets into one place, the Meross Smart Power Strip has four outlets and four USB ports. You can control it from your smart home platform of choice, including Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings. It works over Wi-Fi and is on sale for $32.46 at Amazon, down from $52.99.
If you want to take your smarts outdoors, TP-Link’s Tapo Matter Outdoor smart plug (Wi-Fi) is down to $18 from $25 at Amazon. It has two individually controllable outlets and long-range Wi-Fi to reach the chicken coop or pool pump at the end of the garden.

Best bargains on smart kitchen gear

If you fancy smoking indoors, the GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker does a decent job of replicating the hard work of an outdoor smoker from the cool comfort of your kitchen. It’s $300 off for Prime Day at $699.99. Read my review.

I recently tested the latest GE Profile smart nugget ice maker and fell in love with everything but the $630 price. Sadly, it’s not on sale, but the older model, the GE Profile Opal 2.0 XL Countertop Nugget Ice Maker is. At $479 ($200 off) at Amazon, it’s closer to affordable, and you only miss out on a few upgrades — such as a magnetic scoop and a more streamlined cleaning process.

Best savings on smart security cameras

My favorite type of security camera is a wired floodlight cam — you get a camera and lights in one and never have to worry about battery life. Eve’s excellent Eve Outdoor Camera is down to $172 from $249.95 on Amazon (with on page coupon) and features a bright, motion-activated light. As one of the only outdoor cameras that works with Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video service, it’s a great option for Apple Home users.

There are some good deals on wireless cameras, too, including the all-in-one Eufy Solo Cam (2K). This is a great battery-powered outdoor camera that doesn’t require a Eufy HomeBase and has a built-in solar panel, so it can keep itself charged. It’s just $70 at Amazon, down from $130, and it has the option of local storage, so there are no subscription fees.
Similarly, the Tapo MagCam is a battery-powered camera with onboard local storage. Thanks to its magnetic base, it’s also one of the easiest cameras to install. It’s half-price for Prime Day at $60, but you’ll need to buy the solar panel separately if you want it to charge itself.

Ring’s versatile Stick Up Cam Battery is $45 off right now at Amazon; you can get it for just $54.99. These simple cameras are easy to put anywhere thanks to a versatile mount and weatherproofing. You will need a Ring Protect plan for any recorded video.
For a great budget buy you can’t beat the Blink Mini 2 indoor/outdoor for just $20. You’ll need to pay extra for an outdoor-rated cable and pick up a Sync Module if you want local storage. But you can get cloud storage for $3 a month, making this a great little wired camera for keeping an eye on your home, inside or out. Read my review.

Read More 

Image: Shira Inbar for The Verge

Day one of Prime Day is underway, and we’ve got the skinny on which tech deals are worth your attention (and maybe your money). Amazon’s annual Prime Day sale is here through July 17th, offering you a chance to save big on all kinds of gadgets and endless amounts of other junk you probably don’t need. And we’re here to help you separate the wheat from the chaff.
We’re surfacing discounts that are actually worth the time and attention of a voracious tech enthusiast — or just someone looking to at least save something on a nice little upgrade of an aging device.

Below, we’ve compiled our most comprehensive and wide-ranging roundup of Prime Day deals, which includes noise-canceling headphones, tablets, TVs, smart home accessories, and much more. Many of these deals require an Amazon Prime membership, though you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to access them (and always cancel later).
We try to pool together a little somethin’-somethin’ for everyone, but if you don’t find anything here that moves your needle, be sure to check out the full breadth of our coverage — including more specific posts covering categories like games, streaming devices, and a competing sales event that doesn’t require a subscription.

Prime Day deals spotlight

The best Prime Day deals on headphones and earbuds

The AirPods Max are on sale at Amazon for their all-time low of $394.99 ($155 off). Apple’s luxurious headphones are built from hefty aluminum and feature impressive sound with support for spatial audio. Just keep in mind they lack a 3.5mm jack and, instead, rely on Bluetooth unless you buy an optional Lightning to 3.5mm cable for $35. Read our review.
The Beats Studio Pro are down to $169.99 (a massive $180 off) at Amazon. The noise-canceling headphones may have a slightly outdated look (they look like many prior sets of Beats), but they’re an excellent value if you want flexibility across Android and iOS. Read our review.
The Beats Studio Buds are still a serviceable pair of noise-canceling earbuds even if they’re a few years old since they’re just $79 (around $70 off) at Amazon. Just keep in mind the newer Studio Buds Plus have a variety of improvements and an even more fun, see-through design for $129.99 ($40 off). Read our review.

Google’s Pixel Buds A-Series are selling for their usual all-time low of $69 ($30 off) at Amazon. They’re a little long in the tooth for a midrange pair of wireless earbuds, but they remain a great low-cost option for Pixel phone owners. Read our review.
Amazon is selling the Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation with a wired charging case for $34.99 ($85 off) or a wireless charging case for $44.99 ($95 off). It’s hard to beat the value of these ANC buds, even if other models have better noise cancellation. Read our review.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds FE may be a little no-frills since they lack features like wireless charging and multipoint connectivity; however, at just $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, they remain Samsung’s cheapest pair of noise-canceling earbuds. Read our review.

The donut-shaped Sony LinkBuds are selling for $128 ($50 off) at Amazon, matching the best price we’ve seen on the open-style earbuds. Their unique design offers a comfy fit that allows outside noise in, helping keep you aware of your surroundings. Read our review.
If you don’t need a cutting-edge pair of headphones, it’s hard to deny how good Sony’s WH-1000XM4 still sound, especially when you can grab them at Amazon for $198 ($150 off). Plus, unlike the newer XM5 that has usurped them, the older XM4 fold down for more convenient storage and travel. Read our review.
Are you on a tighter budget but still want some noise-canceling headphones? Check out the Sony WH-CH720N, which are selling for $88 (about $61 off) at Amazon. They’re not as fancy as the pricier XM models, but they have up to 35 hours of battery life and weigh just 192 grams.

The best Prime Day deals on smart speakers and smart displays

Amazon is selling its new Echo Spot for $44.99 ($35 off), exclusively for Prime members. The semicircular smart display supports customizable clock faces and Alexa, allowing you to set your alarm and pull up the weather with your voice.
The fourth-gen Echo is on sale at Amazon for $54.99 ($45 off). The Prime-exclusive deal takes $35 off the spherical smart speaker, which can be easily used to control smart home features via Alexa or double as a Wi-Fi extender for Eero mesh systems. Read our review.
The Echo Show 5 (third-gen) is down to $49.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, nearly matching its all-time low. The latest Show 5 is one of Amazon’s smallest smart displays, making it ideal for just about any room in the house where you might want a little bit of music, news updates, or access to video calls. Ring owners can also easily integrate it with their video doorbells for live feeds of the front door.

The best Prime Day deals on tablets and e-readers

Apple’s latest iPad Mini is on sale at Amazon starting at $379.99 ($120 off) in its base configuration with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage. The Mini was redesigned back in 2021 with a USB-C port and A15 Bionic processor, and it remains the go-to option if you want a smaller, 8.3-inch tablet from Apple. Read our review.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 features a lovely OLED screen, speedy performance, and some great speakers for a tablet. It’s currently on sale in several colors at Amazon with 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi starting at $599.99 ($200 off). Read our review.
Amazon’s latest Kindle Paperwhite Kids is selling for $149.99 ($20 off) at Amazon right now. The kid-friendly editions are often the low-key best value for a Kindle when they go on sale, especially since this incarnation of the 6.8-inch e-reader doesn’t have ads and includes a case and an extended warranty. Just keep the parental lock features turned off if you plan on using it. Read our review.

The best Prime Day deals on TVs and streaming devices

The best Prime Day deals on phones

The OnePlus 12R is selling for just $349.99 ($150 off) at Amazon. The midrange phone comes with a flagship-level processor and a large 6.78-inch display. It lacks wireless charging, but it makes up for it slightly with superfast 80W wired charging. Read our review.
The Samsung A35 5G is $299.99 ($100 off) at Amazon. It’s got surprisingly good specs for a budget-friendly phone, including IP67 water and dust resistance usually reserved for much pricier handsets. Read our buying guide.

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 FE is $449.99 ($150 off) at Amazon, which is a good deal for the colorful midrange phone (though it was $50 cheaper last holiday season). The S23 FE is one of Samsung’s rehashed “FE” models, meaning it has the processor of the older S22 flagship but offered at a lower price. Read our review.

The best Prime Day deals on laptops and computer accessories

If you need a basic, no-frills way to elevate your laptop to eye level, then this Nulaxy Laptop Stand is likely to get the job done. It’s on sale for just $15.86 ($6 off) when you click the on-page coupon at Amazon.
The Ugreen USB 3.0 Switcher, which allows you to share four USB ports across two computers, is down to $35.99 ($10 off) at Amazon. It’s particularly handy if you work from home and want to use the same accessories for work and personal computers.

Logitech’s Litra Glow is on sale for $45.11 (about $15 off) at Amazon. The compact streaming light has controllable brightness and a simple foot for mounting atop a laptop or monitor.

The best Prime Day deals on smart home tech

Ring’s Wired Doorbell Pro (formerly known as the Video Doorbell Pro 2) is selling for $149.99 ($70 off) at Amazon for Prime subscribers. This model may be a few years old, but it has excellent 1536 x 1536-resolution square video with HDR to show your whole porch. If your house has the wiring, it remains one of the fastest-responding video doorbells you can get. Read our review.

Amazon is selling its newer Ring Battery Doorbell Plus for $99.99 ($50 off) for Prime members. This is our top pick for battery-powered video doorbells thanks to its speedy response time and square head-to-toe view (1536 x 1536 resolution), which can also be found on the Pro models. Read our buying guide.

Amazon’s Smart Air Quality Monitor is down to $46.99 ($23 off) at Amazon for Prime subscribers. The compact monitor can give you voice alerts when air quality is low and trigger Alexa Routines to turn on a compatible purifier, dehumidifier, or fan. Read our review.
The Withings Body Smart scale offers a unique approach to weigh-ins, allowing you to focus less on the number and more on how you’re trending with gentle emoji. It’s available at Amazon for $79.95 ($20 off) in either black or white. Read our review.

A four-pack of Matter-compatible Kasa smart plugs are $39.99 ($30 off) at Amazon. Since these are Matter certified they are interoperable with Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Home ecosystems, allowing you to control various non-smart appliances around your house with whichever compatible app you choose.
Amazon is selling the Google Nest Wifi Pro mesh router as a single unit for $149.99 ($50 off), a two-pack for $219.99 ($80 off), or a three-pack for $289.99 ($110 off). They’re easy to set up with the Google Home app and include support for Wi-Fi 6E — which is still great unless you want to be at the cutting edge with Wi-Fi 7. Read our review.
The Level Lock Plus is selling for $263.20 (about $66 off) at Amazon. Its simple, unbranded styling makes it one of the best-looking smart locks you can buy, and it is very simple to install. Read our review.

The best Prime Day deals on robot vacuums

The best Prime Day deals on smartwatches and fitness trackers

Polar’s H10 heart rate monitor chest strap is a great alternative to smartwatches that’s actually more accurate and works for anyone with tattoos on their wrists. It’s selling for $84.95 (about $15 off) at Amazon.
The Amazfit Band 7 is on sale for $41.99 ($8 off) at Amazon. It’s not a huge discount, but these inexpensive fitness bands are a rare breed these days. The Band 7 is comfortable on the wrist and offers two weeks of battery on a single charge (with an always-on OLED display). Read our review.

The Whoop 4.0 fitness tracker is selling for $199 (about $40 off) at Amazon. Whoop specializes in some heavy-duty fitness tracking with oodles of recovery data, though it comes with a $30 monthly subscription requirement, making it only for the most hardcore or deep-pocketed athletes. Read our review.

The best Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

It’s hard to beat the JBL Clip 4 in handiness and affordability, especially since the travel-friendly lock-shaped Bluetooth speaker is going for $48.30 ($31 off) at Amazon. The compact, water-resistant speaker sounds good for its size, and its built-in carabiner allows it to clip to all kinds of bags and straps. Read our buying guide.
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is a low-key fave of some of us here at The Verge, offering a 10W Bluetooth speaker that can get quite loud and easily attach to a bike’s handlebars or a hiking backpack. It’s currently available for $42.99 ($27 off) at Amazon after clicking the on-page coupon.

The best Prime Day deals on games and gaming accessories

Amazon is offering the 2TB version of Western Digital’s WD_Black SN850X NVMe SSD for $132.99 ($58 off) and the 4TB version for $255.54 ($444 off). These internal drives are very speedy, with 7,300MBps read speeds / 6,600MBps write speeds, making them a good fit for gaming PCs or a PlayStation 5 (with an added heatsink).

Samsung’s 512GB Pro Plus microSD card is down to $39.99 (about $15 off) at Amazon and can add a ton of storage to a Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, or Nintendo Switch.

Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon is selling for $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon. Last year’s Action Game of the Year is a return to form for FromSoftware, one that resurrects its long-dormant mech combat game with right mix of nostalgia and Dark Souls-like difficulty.

Final Fantasy XVI is currently matching its all-time low of $29.99 ($30 off) at Amazon. It’s the most grimdark of Final Fantasy games, telling a very cutthroat, Game of Thrones-like story. But the PS5 exclusive also features adorable chocobos. Read our review.
The incredibly charming Super Mario RPG remake for the Nintendo Switch is down to $39.75 ($20 off) at Amazon. The quirky classic is a turn-based RPG originally made by Squaresoft (long before its merger with Enix), offering a unique journey around the Mushroom Kingdom. Read our review.

The best Prime Day deals on charging accessories

The best Prime Day deals on Verge Favorites

The Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic gel blaster is on sale for $31.49 ($48.50 off) at Amazon. The Gelfire Mythic propels water-infused gel pellets instead of the usual foam darts, and it comes with 10,000 of them.

Catan is selling for $37.49 (around $12 off) at Amazon. The iconic tabletop game of trading and building is one of those games that can easily consume many game nights if it really clicks with your family or friend group. Just try not to argue over sheep too much.

Amazon is selling the Lego Star Wars Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing for $34.99 ($15 off). It’s one of the most iconic crafts in all of Star Wars, and this small 474-piece Lego set is being retired, so get it while you can.
The Glocusent Book Light is a favorite among resident Verge bookworms, and it’s selling for $17.99 ($15 off) at Amazon. The neck-worn light easily illuminates what you’re reading without you having to clamp anything to your book.

The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 with Stand is selling for $241.49 ($103 off) at Amazon. The Bonfire 2.0 makes a great backyard addition for outdoor gatherings, and it also travels well if you want to light up some marshmallows at the beach.

If you’re looking for a basic charger for your car, the iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2 is on sale for $39.95 ($10 off) at Amazon. It can wirelessly deliver up to 7.5W of power to iPhones and up to 10W of power to Android phones, and firmly attaches to most car vents.

You can get a Zojirushi 5.5-cup rice cooker for $154.98 (about $78 off) at Amazon. These are some of the best rice cookers around and are known for their reliability — because you don’t want to mess around with poorly cooked rice.

Love Letter, a tabletop card game that’s a mainstay in our gift guides, is on sale for just $10.99 ($4 off) at Amazon. This game is the perfect ice breaker at parties, as it’s simple to pick up and play and it gets people casually competing with a fun card-counting mechanic.

Pandemic: Fall of Rome is down to $22.99 ($6 off) at Amazon. The four-player co-op board game has you working together to stave off the fall of the Roman empire, and just like the original Pandemic, which was about a worldwide biological outbreak, even losing can be a whole lot of fun.
The 14-ounce Yeti Rambler can keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold for hours on end, and it’s currently just $19.50 ($10.50 off) at Amazon. It’s the humble, logical alternative to those pricey Ember mugs many of us love so much.

Image: Shira Inbar for The Verge

Day one of Prime Day is underway, and we’ve got the skinny on which tech deals are worth your attention (and maybe your money).

Amazon’s annual Prime Day sale is here through July 17th, offering you a chance to save big on all kinds of gadgets and endless amounts of other junk you probably don’t need. And we’re here to help you separate the wheat from the chaff.

We’re surfacing discounts that are actually worth the time and attention of a voracious tech enthusiast — or just someone looking to at least save something on a nice little upgrade of an aging device.

Below, we’ve compiled our most comprehensive and wide-ranging roundup of Prime Day deals, which includes noise-canceling headphones, tablets, TVs, smart home accessories, and much more. Many of these deals require an Amazon Prime membership, though you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to access them (and always cancel later).

We try to pool together a little somethin’-somethin’ for everyone, but if you don’t find anything here that moves your needle, be sure to check out the full breadth of our coverage — including more specific posts covering categories like games, streaming devices, and a competing sales event that doesn’t require a subscription.

Prime Day deals spotlight

The best Prime Day deals on headphones and earbuds

The AirPods Max are on sale at Amazon for their all-time low of $394.99 ($155 off). Apple’s luxurious headphones are built from hefty aluminum and feature impressive sound with support for spatial audio. Just keep in mind they lack a 3.5mm jack and, instead, rely on Bluetooth unless you buy an optional Lightning to 3.5mm cable for $35. Read our review.
The Beats Studio Pro are down to $169.99 (a massive $180 off) at Amazon. The noise-canceling headphones may have a slightly outdated look (they look like many prior sets of Beats), but they’re an excellent value if you want flexibility across Android and iOS. Read our review.
The Beats Studio Buds are still a serviceable pair of noise-canceling earbuds even if they’re a few years old since they’re just $79 (around $70 off) at Amazon. Just keep in mind the newer Studio Buds Plus have a variety of improvements and an even more fun, see-through design for $129.99 ($40 off). Read our review.

Google’s Pixel Buds A-Series are selling for their usual all-time low of $69 ($30 off) at Amazon. They’re a little long in the tooth for a midrange pair of wireless earbuds, but they remain a great low-cost option for Pixel phone owners. Read our review.
Amazon is selling the Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation with a wired charging case for $34.99 ($85 off) or a wireless charging case for $44.99 ($95 off). It’s hard to beat the value of these ANC buds, even if other models have better noise cancellation. Read our review.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds FE may be a little no-frills since they lack features like wireless charging and multipoint connectivity; however, at just $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, they remain Samsung’s cheapest pair of noise-canceling earbuds. Read our review.

The donut-shaped Sony LinkBuds are selling for $128 ($50 off) at Amazon, matching the best price we’ve seen on the open-style earbuds. Their unique design offers a comfy fit that allows outside noise in, helping keep you aware of your surroundings. Read our review.
If you don’t need a cutting-edge pair of headphones, it’s hard to deny how good Sony’s WH-1000XM4 still sound, especially when you can grab them at Amazon for $198 ($150 off). Plus, unlike the newer XM5 that has usurped them, the older XM4 fold down for more convenient storage and travel. Read our review.
Are you on a tighter budget but still want some noise-canceling headphones? Check out the Sony WH-CH720N, which are selling for $88 (about $61 off) at Amazon. They’re not as fancy as the pricier XM models, but they have up to 35 hours of battery life and weigh just 192 grams.

The best Prime Day deals on smart speakers and smart displays

Amazon is selling its new Echo Spot for $44.99 ($35 off), exclusively for Prime members. The semicircular smart display supports customizable clock faces and Alexa, allowing you to set your alarm and pull up the weather with your voice.
The fourth-gen Echo is on sale at Amazon for $54.99 ($45 off). The Prime-exclusive deal takes $35 off the spherical smart speaker, which can be easily used to control smart home features via Alexa or double as a Wi-Fi extender for Eero mesh systems. Read our review.
The Echo Show 5 (third-gen) is down to $49.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, nearly matching its all-time low. The latest Show 5 is one of Amazon’s smallest smart displays, making it ideal for just about any room in the house where you might want a little bit of music, news updates, or access to video calls. Ring owners can also easily integrate it with their video doorbells for live feeds of the front door.

The best Prime Day deals on tablets and e-readers

Apple’s latest iPad Mini is on sale at Amazon starting at $379.99 ($120 off) in its base configuration with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage. The Mini was redesigned back in 2021 with a USB-C port and A15 Bionic processor, and it remains the go-to option if you want a smaller, 8.3-inch tablet from Apple. Read our review.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 features a lovely OLED screen, speedy performance, and some great speakers for a tablet. It’s currently on sale in several colors at Amazon with 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi starting at $599.99 ($200 off). Read our review.
Amazon’s latest Kindle Paperwhite Kids is selling for $149.99 ($20 off) at Amazon right now. The kid-friendly editions are often the low-key best value for a Kindle when they go on sale, especially since this incarnation of the 6.8-inch e-reader doesn’t have ads and includes a case and an extended warranty. Just keep the parental lock features turned off if you plan on using it. Read our review.

The best Prime Day deals on TVs and streaming devices

The best Prime Day deals on phones

The OnePlus 12R is selling for just $349.99 ($150 off) at Amazon. The midrange phone comes with a flagship-level processor and a large 6.78-inch display. It lacks wireless charging, but it makes up for it slightly with superfast 80W wired charging. Read our review.
The Samsung A35 5G is $299.99 ($100 off) at Amazon. It’s got surprisingly good specs for a budget-friendly phone, including IP67 water and dust resistance usually reserved for much pricier handsets. Read our buying guide.

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 FE is $449.99 ($150 off) at Amazon, which is a good deal for the colorful midrange phone (though it was $50 cheaper last holiday season). The S23 FE is one of Samsung’s rehashed “FE” models, meaning it has the processor of the older S22 flagship but offered at a lower price. Read our review.

The best Prime Day deals on laptops and computer accessories

If you need a basic, no-frills way to elevate your laptop to eye level, then this Nulaxy Laptop Stand is likely to get the job done. It’s on sale for just $15.86 ($6 off) when you click the on-page coupon at Amazon.
The Ugreen USB 3.0 Switcher, which allows you to share four USB ports across two computers, is down to $35.99 ($10 off) at Amazon. It’s particularly handy if you work from home and want to use the same accessories for work and personal computers.

Logitech’s Litra Glow is on sale for $45.11 (about $15 off) at Amazon. The compact streaming light has controllable brightness and a simple foot for mounting atop a laptop or monitor.

The best Prime Day deals on smart home tech

Ring’s Wired Doorbell Pro (formerly known as the Video Doorbell Pro 2) is selling for $149.99 ($70 off) at Amazon for Prime subscribers. This model may be a few years old, but it has excellent 1536 x 1536-resolution square video with HDR to show your whole porch. If your house has the wiring, it remains one of the fastest-responding video doorbells you can get. Read our review.

Amazon is selling its newer Ring Battery Doorbell Plus for $99.99 ($50 off) for Prime members. This is our top pick for battery-powered video doorbells thanks to its speedy response time and square head-to-toe view (1536 x 1536 resolution), which can also be found on the Pro models. Read our buying guide.

Amazon’s Smart Air Quality Monitor is down to $46.99 ($23 off) at Amazon for Prime subscribers. The compact monitor can give you voice alerts when air quality is low and trigger Alexa Routines to turn on a compatible purifier, dehumidifier, or fan. Read our review.
The Withings Body Smart scale offers a unique approach to weigh-ins, allowing you to focus less on the number and more on how you’re trending with gentle emoji. It’s available at Amazon for $79.95 ($20 off) in either black or white. Read our review.

A four-pack of Matter-compatible Kasa smart plugs are $39.99 ($30 off) at Amazon. Since these are Matter certified they are interoperable with Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Home ecosystems, allowing you to control various non-smart appliances around your house with whichever compatible app you choose.
Amazon is selling the Google Nest Wifi Pro mesh router as a single unit for $149.99 ($50 off), a two-pack for $219.99 ($80 off), or a three-pack for $289.99 ($110 off). They’re easy to set up with the Google Home app and include support for Wi-Fi 6E — which is still great unless you want to be at the cutting edge with Wi-Fi 7. Read our review.
The Level Lock Plus is selling for $263.20 (about $66 off) at Amazon. Its simple, unbranded styling makes it one of the best-looking smart locks you can buy, and it is very simple to install. Read our review.

The best Prime Day deals on robot vacuums

The best Prime Day deals on smartwatches and fitness trackers

Polar’s H10 heart rate monitor chest strap is a great alternative to smartwatches that’s actually more accurate and works for anyone with tattoos on their wrists. It’s selling for $84.95 (about $15 off) at Amazon.
The Amazfit Band 7 is on sale for $41.99 ($8 off) at Amazon. It’s not a huge discount, but these inexpensive fitness bands are a rare breed these days. The Band 7 is comfortable on the wrist and offers two weeks of battery on a single charge (with an always-on OLED display). Read our review.

The Whoop 4.0 fitness tracker is selling for $199 (about $40 off) at Amazon. Whoop specializes in some heavy-duty fitness tracking with oodles of recovery data, though it comes with a $30 monthly subscription requirement, making it only for the most hardcore or deep-pocketed athletes. Read our review.

The best Prime Day Bluetooth speaker deals

It’s hard to beat the JBL Clip 4 in handiness and affordability, especially since the travel-friendly lock-shaped Bluetooth speaker is going for $48.30 ($31 off) at Amazon. The compact, water-resistant speaker sounds good for its size, and its built-in carabiner allows it to clip to all kinds of bags and straps. Read our buying guide.
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is a low-key fave of some of us here at The Verge, offering a 10W Bluetooth speaker that can get quite loud and easily attach to a bike’s handlebars or a hiking backpack. It’s currently available for $42.99 ($27 off) at Amazon after clicking the on-page coupon.

The best Prime Day deals on games and gaming accessories

Amazon is offering the 2TB version of Western Digital’s WD_Black SN850X NVMe SSD for $132.99 ($58 off) and the 4TB version for $255.54 ($444 off). These internal drives are very speedy, with 7,300MBps read speeds / 6,600MBps write speeds, making them a good fit for gaming PCs or a PlayStation 5 (with an added heatsink).

Samsung’s 512GB Pro Plus microSD card is down to $39.99 (about $15 off) at Amazon and can add a ton of storage to a Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, or Nintendo Switch.

Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon is selling for $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon. Last year’s Action Game of the Year is a return to form for FromSoftware, one that resurrects its long-dormant mech combat game with right mix of nostalgia and Dark Souls-like difficulty.

Final Fantasy XVI is currently matching its all-time low of $29.99 ($30 off) at Amazon. It’s the most grimdark of Final Fantasy games, telling a very cutthroat, Game of Thrones-like story. But the PS5 exclusive also features adorable chocobos. Read our review.
The incredibly charming Super Mario RPG remake for the Nintendo Switch is down to $39.75 ($20 off) at Amazon. The quirky classic is a turn-based RPG originally made by Squaresoft (long before its merger with Enix), offering a unique journey around the Mushroom Kingdom. Read our review.

The best Prime Day deals on charging accessories

The best Prime Day deals on Verge Favorites

The Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic gel blaster is on sale for $31.49 ($48.50 off) at Amazon. The Gelfire Mythic propels water-infused gel pellets instead of the usual foam darts, and it comes with 10,000 of them.

Catan is selling for $37.49 (around $12 off) at Amazon. The iconic tabletop game of trading and building is one of those games that can easily consume many game nights if it really clicks with your family or friend group. Just try not to argue over sheep too much.

Amazon is selling the Lego Star Wars Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing for $34.99 ($15 off). It’s one of the most iconic crafts in all of Star Wars, and this small 474-piece Lego set is being retired, so get it while you can.
The Glocusent Book Light is a favorite among resident Verge bookworms, and it’s selling for $17.99 ($15 off) at Amazon. The neck-worn light easily illuminates what you’re reading without you having to clamp anything to your book.

The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 with Stand is selling for $241.49 ($103 off) at Amazon. The Bonfire 2.0 makes a great backyard addition for outdoor gatherings, and it also travels well if you want to light up some marshmallows at the beach.

If you’re looking for a basic charger for your car, the iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2 is on sale for $39.95 ($10 off) at Amazon. It can wirelessly deliver up to 7.5W of power to iPhones and up to 10W of power to Android phones, and firmly attaches to most car vents.

You can get a Zojirushi 5.5-cup rice cooker for $154.98 (about $78 off) at Amazon. These are some of the best rice cookers around and are known for their reliability — because you don’t want to mess around with poorly cooked rice.

Love Letter, a tabletop card game that’s a mainstay in our gift guides, is on sale for just $10.99 ($4 off) at Amazon. This game is the perfect ice breaker at parties, as it’s simple to pick up and play and it gets people casually competing with a fun card-counting mechanic.

Pandemic: Fall of Rome is down to $22.99 ($6 off) at Amazon. The four-player co-op board game has you working together to stave off the fall of the Roman empire, and just like the original Pandemic, which was about a worldwide biological outbreak, even losing can be a whole lot of fun.
The 14-ounce Yeti Rambler can keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold for hours on end, and it’s currently just $19.50 ($10.50 off) at Amazon. It’s the humble, logical alternative to those pricey Ember mugs many of us love so much.

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You’re telling me this took 14 years to develop? | Image: David Pierce / The Verge

The new Calculator app in iPadOS 18 is, at first glance, wildly unimpressive. When I installed the new operating system, which is now in public beta, I tapped the Calculator icon expecting something that felt uniquely tablet-focused and powerful. I got, well, the iPhone’s Calculator app — only slightly larger. It’s a nice addition to the iPad, sure, but there’s nothing here that took 14 years to make.
The Calculator app doesn’t really matter, though. I suspect you’ll hardly ever use it. What’s actually extremely cool and innovative about iPadOS 18 and iOS 18 is that there is a calculator baked into the operating system itself. Tap in the text box in Messages and type “225/4=” and it’ll automatically tell you that your friend owes you $56.25. You can type out your equation in the body of an email, then tap to replace it with just the final answer. So far, this works in basically any text box but only in Apple’s built-in apps; I suspect we’ll see it everywhere as apps update. It’s the kind of feature that immediately becomes second nature.
But on the iPad, at least, it’s Math Notes that really shines. Instead of forcing you to work within the confines of calculator buttons, Math Notes lets you do your arithmetic however you like. You can create a Math Note from within the Calculator app, but the easier strategy is just to open up the Notes app and start drawing. Write “56 + 48 + 35 * 4 / 6 =” and, a second or two after you write the equals sign, the answer pops up (127.33, in case you’re wondering). Write a bunch of numbers in a column, draw a horizontal line underneath, and Notes will sum them up for you automatically. Change a number, and it’ll change the total.
You can do impressively wonky things within Math Notes, including solving equations and generating graphs. Its ability to work with variables is the most impressive thing I’ve seen: if you write out your equation and then change a variable, it’ll rewrite all your answers and redo all your graphs in real time. A lot of the more complex stuff is great for students and physicists and maybe not many others, but it’s extremely fun to play with. Oh, and fair warning: like any AI system, it will not be right all the time. YouTube is already full of fun examples of Math Notes getting things wrong.

Image: David Pierce / The Verge
Math Notes can handle a lot… but it is easily confused.

Even in the best case, Math Notes is extremely exacting. It requires you to write neatly and carefully, for starters, which has been a challenge for my terrible handwriting. If the iPad doesn’t recognize a number or letter in an equation, it adds a dotted red border to the unknown bit and essentially asks you to try again. (I’ve had pretty good luck with number recognition, for what it’s worth, and a much worse experience with letters and other symbols.) You’ll also get the red border if the iPad can’t figure out the equation you’re trying to solve or if something is missing in your syntax. It doesn’t try to solve your problems or even tell you what they are — it’s like the Check Engine light in your car, just telling you something’s wrong.
Even in the best case, Math Notes is extremely exacting
In my testing so far, there are also lots of beta-type quirks left for Apple to work out. If you write an equation that takes up most of the screen, the solution will sometimes either appear on top of the equation or spill over the edge of the screen where you can’t see it anymore. Another feature in iPadOS tries to match your handwriting — and use AI to ever-so-slightly improve it as you write — but what it writes looks nothing like what I write. The app also gets tripped up easily by other things on your notes: I can write a list of numbers, and it works fine, but as soon as I write “food” next to one of those numbers and “beer” next to another, it gets confused.
There are a couple of obvious, simple things it can’t do. You can’t use one of the generated solutions in another equation — if you try to, say, divide that answer by six, it doesn’t recognize what you’re trying to do at all. The Math Notes answers aren’t actually part of your note, really. They’re more like a layer on top that you don’t get to touch or interact with. It’s weird.

Image: David Pierce / The Verge
Math Notes + Quick Notes = best scratchpad ever.

My favorite use for Math Notes so far has been through the iPad’s Quick Notes feature. I grab the Pencil, swipe in from the bottom left corner of my iPad, and up pops a small note above whatever I’m doing. I write out whatever I’m trying to work out, get the answer, and I’m done. Now, I’m neither a student nor an engineer, the two demographics Apple seems to have most in mind, and as Math Notes improve, I suspect a lot of people will appreciate the ability to write notes that update and move in real time. For the rest of us, it’s the best way yet to figure out the rough cost of a weekend away or figure out who owes what once it’s all over.
I’m still not sure why it took Apple this long to put a calculator app on the iPad, but credit where credit’s due: the company found a uniquely touch- and tablet-friendly way to implement one. I just hope your handwriting is better than mine.

You’re telling me this took 14 years to develop? | Image: David Pierce / The Verge

The new Calculator app in iPadOS 18 is, at first glance, wildly unimpressive. When I installed the new operating system, which is now in public beta, I tapped the Calculator icon expecting something that felt uniquely tablet-focused and powerful. I got, well, the iPhone’s Calculator app — only slightly larger. It’s a nice addition to the iPad, sure, but there’s nothing here that took 14 years to make.

The Calculator app doesn’t really matter, though. I suspect you’ll hardly ever use it. What’s actually extremely cool and innovative about iPadOS 18 and iOS 18 is that there is a calculator baked into the operating system itself. Tap in the text box in Messages and type “225/4=” and it’ll automatically tell you that your friend owes you $56.25. You can type out your equation in the body of an email, then tap to replace it with just the final answer. So far, this works in basically any text box but only in Apple’s built-in apps; I suspect we’ll see it everywhere as apps update. It’s the kind of feature that immediately becomes second nature.

But on the iPad, at least, it’s Math Notes that really shines. Instead of forcing you to work within the confines of calculator buttons, Math Notes lets you do your arithmetic however you like. You can create a Math Note from within the Calculator app, but the easier strategy is just to open up the Notes app and start drawing. Write “56 + 48 + 35 * 4 / 6 =” and, a second or two after you write the equals sign, the answer pops up (127.33, in case you’re wondering). Write a bunch of numbers in a column, draw a horizontal line underneath, and Notes will sum them up for you automatically. Change a number, and it’ll change the total.

You can do impressively wonky things within Math Notes, including solving equations and generating graphs. Its ability to work with variables is the most impressive thing I’ve seen: if you write out your equation and then change a variable, it’ll rewrite all your answers and redo all your graphs in real time. A lot of the more complex stuff is great for students and physicists and maybe not many others, but it’s extremely fun to play with. Oh, and fair warning: like any AI system, it will not be right all the time. YouTube is already full of fun examples of Math Notes getting things wrong.

Image: David Pierce / The Verge
Math Notes can handle a lot… but it is easily confused.

Even in the best case, Math Notes is extremely exacting. It requires you to write neatly and carefully, for starters, which has been a challenge for my terrible handwriting. If the iPad doesn’t recognize a number or letter in an equation, it adds a dotted red border to the unknown bit and essentially asks you to try again. (I’ve had pretty good luck with number recognition, for what it’s worth, and a much worse experience with letters and other symbols.) You’ll also get the red border if the iPad can’t figure out the equation you’re trying to solve or if something is missing in your syntax. It doesn’t try to solve your problems or even tell you what they are — it’s like the Check Engine light in your car, just telling you something’s wrong.

In my testing so far, there are also lots of beta-type quirks left for Apple to work out. If you write an equation that takes up most of the screen, the solution will sometimes either appear on top of the equation or spill over the edge of the screen where you can’t see it anymore. Another feature in iPadOS tries to match your handwriting — and use AI to ever-so-slightly improve it as you write — but what it writes looks nothing like what I write. The app also gets tripped up easily by other things on your notes: I can write a list of numbers, and it works fine, but as soon as I write “food” next to one of those numbers and “beer” next to another, it gets confused.

There are a couple of obvious, simple things it can’t do. You can’t use one of the generated solutions in another equation — if you try to, say, divide that answer by six, it doesn’t recognize what you’re trying to do at all. The Math Notes answers aren’t actually part of your note, really. They’re more like a layer on top that you don’t get to touch or interact with. It’s weird.

Image: David Pierce / The Verge
Math Notes + Quick Notes = best scratchpad ever.

My favorite use for Math Notes so far has been through the iPad’s Quick Notes feature. I grab the Pencil, swipe in from the bottom left corner of my iPad, and up pops a small note above whatever I’m doing. I write out whatever I’m trying to work out, get the answer, and I’m done. Now, I’m neither a student nor an engineer, the two demographics Apple seems to have most in mind, and as Math Notes improve, I suspect a lot of people will appreciate the ability to write notes that update and move in real time. For the rest of us, it’s the best way yet to figure out the rough cost of a weekend away or figure out who owes what once it’s all over.

I’m still not sure why it took Apple this long to put a calculator app on the iPad, but credit where credit’s due: the company found a uniquely touch- and tablet-friendly way to implement one. I just hope your handwriting is better than mine.

Read More 

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The Apple Watch often sees its fair share of limited-time discounts throughout the year, but Amazon’s Prime Day offers a chance for someone to shop deals across most available models all at once.

For this Prime Day, we’re seeing some worthwhile sales across the range of the 2022 Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 9, and even the pricey Apple Watch Ultra 2. Most of these require an Amazon Prime subscription, but Amazon’s excellent $100 discount on the Ultra 2 does not.
While most Apple Watches are pretty similar at their core (iOS notifications on your wrist, fitness tracking, health metrics, etc.), it’s the extra features added or omitted from some models that often determines which is right for you — as well as your budget, of course. Be sure to check out our buying guide for some additional advice from our resident wearables reviewer, Vee Song, and let us highlight what deals you can nab for the right Apple Watch for you this Prime Day.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The Apple Watch often sees its fair share of limited-time discounts throughout the year, but Amazon’s Prime Day offers a chance for someone to shop deals across most available models all at once.

For this Prime Day, we’re seeing some worthwhile sales across the range of the 2022 Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 9, and even the pricey Apple Watch Ultra 2. Most of these require an Amazon Prime subscription, but Amazon’s excellent $100 discount on the Ultra 2 does not.

While most Apple Watches are pretty similar at their core (iOS notifications on your wrist, fitness tracking, health metrics, etc.), it’s the extra features added or omitted from some models that often determines which is right for you — as well as your budget, of course. Be sure to check out our buying guide for some additional advice from our resident wearables reviewer, Vee Song, and let us highlight what deals you can nab for the right Apple Watch for you this Prime Day.

Read More