If you’re in need of a new laptop for work or for the upcoming school year, you could grab one for less on Prime Day. Amazon has discounted a bunch of notebooks from Lenovo, HP, Acer, Razer and others, and you’ll find plenty of options both at the high…
iRobot’s Roomba i7+ is half off and down to $500 for Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day can be a great time to pick up a robot vacuum for much less than usual. This year, you can pick up iRobot’s Roomba i7+ for only $500, which is 50 percent off its normal price and the cheapest we’ve seen it. It’s not the newest robo-vac in iRobot’s lineup, but it remains one of the most powerful. Also on sale are the entry-level Roomba 692, which you can pick up for $180, and the midrange Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum, which is on sale for $380.
Buy Roomba i7+ at Amazon – $500Buy Roomba 692 at Amazon – $180Buy Shark AI robot vacuum at Amazon – $380
The Roomba i7+ impressed us when it first came out for its strong cleaning abilities, accurate home mapping and handy clean base. It has 10x the suction power of more basic Roombas, plus dual multi-surface brushes that do a good job capturing dirt, debris and pet hair. After one or two cleaning jobs, the machine builds a map of your home that you can then edit and label in iRobot’s companion mobile app. This will let you send the i7+ to specific rooms for targeted cleaning jobs and set “keep out zones” if you have spaces of your home that you don’t want to robot to clean.
But the machine’s clean base is what sets it apart from other robot vacuums. After each job, the i7+ will automatically return to its base to recharge, and it will also empty its dustbin into the clean base. That means you don’t have to empty the dustbin every time, rather you’ll only have to change the bag in the clean base about once every two months. If you’re someone who wants a robot vacuum that takes almost all of the work out of the chore, the Roomba i7+, or a machine like it with a clean base, is the best option.
Shark’s AV2501AE robo-vac is similar in that it also comes with a clean base, and some may prefer it because it’s a bagless system. You’ll simply pop part of the base off every time you need to empty it, and it snaps back into place when you’re finished. This Shark device is actually our favorite robot vacuum right now because it combines good suction power with a clean base and an easy to use mobile app.
On the budget end of things, the Roomba 692 is a solid option. You won’t get a clean base, as those are reserved for more expensive machines, but you will get good cleaning capabilities thanks to dual multi-surface brushes, adaptive navigation for better obstacle avoidance and Alexa and Google Assistant support.
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Amazon knocks the Ring Video Doorbell down to $75 for Prime Day
Amazon has discounted most of Ring’s Video Doorbells for Prime Day this year. The cheapest of the bunch is the 2020 Ring Video Doorbell, which is 25 percent off and down to $75. The upgraded Ring Video Doorbell 3 is $40 off and down to $160, while the latest model, the Video Doorbell 4, is $50 off and down to $170. While they all have some differences between them, each of these IoT devices do the same thing: let you see who’s outside your front door at all times.
Buy Ring Video Doorbell at Amazon – $75Buy Ring Video Doorbell 3 at Amazon – $160Buy Ring Video Doorbell 4 at Amazon – $170
The standard Video Doorbell likely has everything most people would need in a gadget like this. It records 1080p video and supports two-way talking, so you can see and speak to visitors without actually answering your door. The device will also send alerts to your smartphone when it detects motion, so you’ll know when you have a visitor or a package as soon as they arrive. Setup is fairly simple and you have the option to keep the device running on its rechargeable battery or hardwire it into your existing doorbell system. And if you have Echo Shows around your home, you’ll be able to see the doorbell’s video feed on their screens.
Opting for the Video Doorbell 3 or 4 gets you some extra perks. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 connects to 5 GHz WiFi rather than 2.4 GHz networks, plus it has a removable battery pack, interchangeable face plates and an included corner kit. The 4th iteration of the device has all of the features the Doorbell 3 does, plus a new color video previews and a new Quick Replies feature. The latter lets you program common responses you may have to people at your door, such as “please leave the package outside,” and use them whenever you’re too busy to respond to visitors yourself.
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The best deals on iPads, AirPods and other Apple devices for Amazon Prime Day 2022
If you’re searching for Apple gadgets you can get for less on Prime Day, you’re not alone. They’re always in high demand, but even more so during sales events like Amazon Prime Day, since they present some of the best opportunities to pick up a pair of…
Sony’s budget-friendly WH-CH710N headphones are on sale for $68 right now
Sony’s WH-CH710N headphones have been our favorite budget cans for a while now, and they’re even better when you can get them on sale. Amazon Prime Day has knocked these headphones down to a new all-time low of $68, which is $82 off and the cheapest we’ve seen them. While there are some tradeoffs to be expected in a pair of affordable headphones like these, they’re hard to beat if you’re on a tight budget but still want a pair of solid ANC cans.
Buy WH-CH710N at Amazon – $68Shop Sony audio deals at Amazon
There’s a lot to like about the WH-CH710N — while not as slick as the WH-1000XM5, these are nice looking headphones with comfortable earcups and a swivel design. Their ANC chops are pretty impressive as they use Sony’s dual-sensor technology to pick up a lot of the noises around you and automatically adjust ANC levels to accommodate them. They also support ambient sound mode, which you can activate when you need to hear what’s going on in your vicinity. Is ANC as strong as that on flagships like the XM5? No, but it’ll serve most people well in a variety of environments.
The biggest downside to the WH-CH710N comes in audio quality. These headphones have decent range and good clarity, but the bass isn’t as deep or punchy as you’ll find on more expensive devices. We think that’s an acceptable sacrifice to make for an otherwise solid pair of ANC headphones at a fantastic price. Also, you’re getting an excellent, 35-hour battery life on these cans, too.
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The best Amazon Prime Day 2022 headphone and earbud deals
Amazon Prime Day brings a great opportunity to grab a new pair of cans or wireless earbuds for yourself or someone you love. A plethora of audio gadgets are on sale for a members-only shopping event, including some of the best models from Sony, Bose, B…
August’s WiFi smart lock drops to new low of $150 for Prime Day
There are tons of smart locks on the market now, but one of our favorites remains August’s 4th-gen WiFi smart lock. Normally priced at $230, the IoT gadget is on sale for $150 for Prime Day. That’s $80 off and the best price we’ve seen it. There’s also a bundle with the lock and its keypad on sale for 30 percent off, for a total of $189.
Buy August WiFi smart lock at Amazon – $150Buy August smart lock + keypad at Amazon – $189
The smart lock earned a score of 80 from us when we reviewed it in 2020. August improved upon the previous version by making this model slimmer and WiFi-connected, which means you don’t need a bridge to use it in your home. Setup is pretty easy as the lock fits over most existing deadbolts, but be sure to check out the company’s support page to make sure it’ll work with your lock. We also like that the setup process forces you to turn on two-factor authentication, adding a much-needed extra layer of security. This version of the smart lock also supports Bluetooth encryption along with AES 128-bit and TLS encryption.
The whole point of a smart lock is to be able to control entry into your home when you’re not around. August’s device lets you remotely lock or unlock your door using the companion smartphone app, allowing you to let friends and family members into your home even when you’re not around. You can also send them limited-time entry keys so they can get in on their own. We appreciate the device’s Auto-Lock feature, too, which automatically secures the door when the device detects that it’s been shut. And you don’t have to worry if you’re not ready to part with your old-school, physical keys — they’ll still work even with the August smart lock installed, so you always have another way to get into your home.
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Amazon’s Echo Dot is on sale for only $20 for Prime Day
While Prime Day deals have discounted most of Amazon’s gadgets, one of the most affordable you can get is the Echo Dot. The company has knocked 60 percent off the small smart speaker, bringing it down to a new record low of $20. The Echo Dot with Clock is also cheaper than ever right now at only $33, while the full-sized Echo speaker has dropped to $60.
Buy Echo Dot at Amazon – $20Buy Echo Dot with Clock at Amazon – $33Buy Echo at Amazon – $60Shop Echo deals at Amazon
We’ve recommended the Echo Dot in many gift guides because it combines Alexa chops with decent audio quality in an attractive, compact package. The fabric-covered orb is small enough to fit on a nightstand easily and we like that you can control it via Alexa commands or the few touch options on the device itself. In addition to supporting numerous music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music and others, the Dot works as a Bluetooth speaker, too, if you prefer to connect to it that way. Its 1.6-inch front-firing speaker sounds pretty good considering the device’s overall size, and it pumps out sound with decent bass and clarity.
The Dot can also work as an alarm clock, and you can snooze your alarm with just a tap to the top of the device. If you spring for the Clock version, you’ll be able to glance at the device’s LED display to see the time. And if you ask Alexa to tell you about the weather, the display will briefly show you the current temperature.
The Echo Dot is best for those that don’t have a ton of space to work with but want a capable Alexa gadget in their homes. But if you have a bit more space and are willing to spend more, the regular Echo speaker is a good upgrade. We gave it a score of 89 when it first came out thanks to its solid Alexa capabilities, great sound quality and the ability to pair two of them together for stereo audio. We also appreciate that the larger Echo has a similar orb-like design, plus light indicators on the bottom to show things like volume adjustments.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S22 lineup is cheaper than ever for Prime Day
Samsung’s latest smartphones are some of the best Android devices you can get, and they’ve been made even better thanks to Prime Day deals. The entire Galaxy S22 lineup has never been cheaper — right now, you can get the Galaxy S22 Ultra for $840, or 30 percent off its normal price. Also, the Galaxy S22+ and the standard S22 are down to $700 and $600, respectively. Those are all the starting prices for the models with the base amount of storage, but you’ll find discounts on all versions, including those with higher amounts of storage.
Buy Galaxy S22 Ultra at Amazon – $840Buy Galaxy S22+ at Amazon – $700Buy Galaxy S22 at Amazon – $600
The Galaxy S22 Ultra has dropped below $1,000 before, but this is the best price we’ve seen on the flagship. If you want all of the latest features a Samsung phone has to offer, this is the handset to get. The S22 Ultra runs on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 12GB of RAM and at least 128GB of storage. Its rear camera setup includes a 108-megapixel main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide shooter and two 10MP telephoto lenses, which work together to take excellent shots. The phone’s overall performance is top-notch, and we appreciated Samsung’s new photography features like Adaptive Pixel, better auto-framing and improved video stabilization.
Samsung married its S- and Note-families to create the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It has a 6.8-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, plus a built-in S Pen. The display is big and bold and we like the fact that Note lovers have not been forgotten. You can use the S Pen to take notes and doodle on the screen with more precision and less latency than ever before.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is arguably the best phone Samsung makes at the moment, and there isn’t much we found to complain about. It has a slightly lackluster battery life, but it’s not so short as to take away from all of the other great things about the handset. But if you’re looking to spend a bit less without sacrificing too much when it comes to quality, the S22+ or the S22 are both great choices. Each of them earned a score of 87 from us for their slick designs, lovely displays and solid performance. With the S22+, you’ll get a few extra perks not found on the standard S22, namely a longer battery life, UWB and WiFi 6E support, plus fast WiFi speeds overall.
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Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones are on sale for $228 right now
Sony’s WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones have been some of our favorites since they first came out in 2020. While the company has since moved on to the XM5, which build upon the solid foundation of the XM4, the 2020 version remains a great options for those who prefer over-ear headphones and want strong ANC in a comfortable package. Thanks to Amazon Prime Day deals, you can pick up the WH-1000XM4 for only $228, which is a new record-low price and $120 off their usual rate. Those who like wireless earbuds more can also snag the WF-1000XM4 buds for only $198 right now, too.
Buy WH-1000XM4 at Amazon – $228Buy WF-1000XM4 at Amazon – $198
We gave the WH-1000XM4 a score of 94 when they first came out. We liked their comfortable design with padded earcups and headband, and the new matte finish they have. You’ll be able to wear them for hours on end, and their battery life will support that, too. The XM4 should last up to 30 hours on a single charge, so you could wear them a few hours a day for more than a week before they’ll need more juice.
These headphones also excel when it comes to sound quality and ANC. Audio is immersive with excellent clarity and detail, plus these cans support Sony’s 360 Reality Audio as well. ANC is strong and adjustable via the companion app, and you can even turn on a feature that will automatically change the ANC levels depending on your location.
Sony added a few new features when it debuted the XM4, namely multi-device connectivity and Speak to Chat. The former lets you connect to two devices at once, switching between them as needed. This feature works quite well as you can seamlessly go from listening to music on your laptop to taking a call on your smartphone. Speak to Chat, when enabled in the mobile app, will automatically pause audio when the headphones’ mics sense that you’re speaking.
We should note that Sony’s new XM5 did dethrone the XM4 as our current favorite pair of wireless headphones. The $398 cans have all of the same features as the XM4, but they have a more refined design, additional mics and even better sound quality and ANC. But those upgrades do come at a hefty price, so if you’re willing to skip them, you can get an excellent pair of cans for much less right now.
As for the WF-1000XM4, they are the true wireless earbud equivalents to Sony’s over-ear headphones. You’ll get a lot of the same features on these buds too, including 360 Reality Audio support, solid ANC, great sound quality and a formidable battery life.
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