Anker charging accessories are up to 50 percent off for Prime Day

If you’re looking for a charging accessory, whether it’s just a charging cable or a portable power generator, you’ll probably find what you need among all the items Anker has on sale for Prime Day. The collection is pretty extensive and includes a bunch of wired and wireless chargers, power banks, charging stations, small generators, USB-C hubs and power strips. One of the most notable items in the list is the Anker MagGo 637 Magnetic Desktop Charging Station, which currently costs $70, or $30 less than its retail price. That’s an all-time low for the device on the e-commerce website.

Buy Anker charging accessories at Amazon

It’s a power strip with an unusual form factor that has seven ports and one magnetic charging pad for the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13. Three of the seven are AC outlets, two are USB-A ports and two are USB-C ports capable of high-speed charging. Anker also designed the device to offer over-current, over-voltage and surge protection, as well as to be fire resistant. We liked the orb-shaped charging station so much, we included it in our list of best accessories for the iPhone.

The Anker MagGo 622 Magnetic Battery is also on sale for $45, $25 less than its retail price. It’s a wireless portable charger for the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13, which can be folded to lay flat on its back or be turned into a kickstand if you want to prop up your phone. Plus, it comes with a USB-C port for other devices. If you’re looking for a more traditional charger, though, the Anker 511 Charger is also on sale for $24, or $6 off retail. It has a 20-watt output and can charge phones much faster than their original chargers can. And since it’s specifically meant for use with iPhones and iPads, it comes with a USB-C to Lightning cable. 

Like all other Prime Day deals, you can take advantage of these discounts if you have a Prime subscription. If you haven’t been a Prime member in the past 12 months, though, you can sign up for a free trial that will last for 30 days.

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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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The best Amazon Prime Day TV and home entertainment deals

It’s not often that you upgrade your TV, but Amazon Prime Day is a good time to consider doing so. Prime members can get steep discounts right now on Fire TVs and sets from other companies like Sony, Samsung and others. And not every sale on Prime Day …

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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Nikon is reportedly halting DSLR camera development

Nikon will stop developing new single lens reflex (SLR) cameras and focus exclusively on mirrorless models, according to a report from Nikkei. The news marks the end of an era and essentially confirms what most observers already expected, as the Japanese company hasn’t released a new digital SLR (DSLR) camera since the D6 came out in June of 2020. While it reportedly won’t design any more new models, Nikon will continue to produce and distribute existing DSLRs like the D6 and D3500 (above). 

Nikon released its first single-lens reflex film camera, the Nikon F, back in 1959. It was one of the most advanced cameras of its time, thanks to features like a large bayonet mount, depth-of-field preview button, titanium focal-plane shutter, modular design and more. The company’s first true professional digital SLR was the 2.7-megapixel D1, launched in 1999. 

SLR cameras use a mirror and prism to give the user a direct optical view through the camera lens, with the mirror moving out of the way when the photo is taken. Mirrorless cameras, by contrast, take light directly from the lens to the sensor and give the user a view via an electronic viewfinder or rear display. Mirrorless cameras, as we discussed in our explainer and video below, allow for more compact bodies, advanced AI subject recognition, improved video features and more. 

Apart from the not-so-popular Nikon 1 series, it arrived late to the mirrorless camera business compared to Sony and others with the launch of its Z mount system and the Z6 and Z7 models in 2018, with the APS-C Z50 model following the next year. Until recently, its high-end professional lineup consisted solely of DSLR models like the D6. However, that changed when Nikon launched the $5,500 Z9 with no mechanical shutter late last year with a combination of speed, power and video chops, to largely positive reviews. 

Nikon stopped making compact cameras some time ago as that business was essentially devoured by smartphones. It also recently discontinued a large number of full-frame and APS-C DSLR lenses and camera bodies over the last year.

Overall camera sales have dropped dramatically in just five years, with interchangeable lens cameras (mirrorless and DSLR) falling from 11.67 million units sold in 2017 to 5.34 million by 2021. This has forced companies like Nikon to concentrate their efforts on the most profitable models. Nikon’s imaging division now makes half its money from mirrorless models, with SLRs accounting for 30 percent. 

Update 7/12/2022 9:57 AM ET: Update gave the following statement on its website: “There was a media article regarding Nikon’s withdrawal of SLR development. This media article is only speculation and Nikon has made no announcement in this regards. Nikon is continuing the production, sales and service of digital SLR. Nikon appreciate your continuous support.”

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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