We have focused above school supplies and transaction over the past few weeks, but sometimes you want to treat yourself to something that has nothing to do with reading — like a new smartphone, hair dryer, or smart speaker. We’ve rounded up some great deals that can help you get rid of that new device itch.
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Our favorite phones are on sale
Its one year anniversary is coming, but that shouldn’t stop you from buying Google’s Pixel 6 (9/10, WIRED Recommend), especially at this price point. This is the lowest we’ve ever tracked for this Android phoneand it matches what we saw on Amazon Prime Day a month ago. For less than $500 you get fast performance, 90-Hz AMOLED screen, all-day battery life, one of the best camera phones and some really smart software. This price cut may have something to do with the fact that the Pixel 7 is out in about two months, but it’s still a great way to save if you don’t care about having the absolute latest.
If you want a slightly larger 120 Hz display, plus a great 4x optical telephoto camera, you should shoot Pixel 6 ProIt’s a also on sale for $649 ($250 off) (Also available at Amazon). These two phones are the first to run Android 13, released by Google early this week.
Kindle and Tablet Deals
Our test Best Tablets, Best Kindlesand ours The Best E-Reader’s Guide for more.
The Galaxy Tab S8 is a luxury Android tablet. This price is close to one of the lowest we’ve tracked. It doesn’t have an AMOLED panel but an LCD, which is still sharp, bright and colorful. The 11-inch screen is also a great size, neither too small nor too large. It’s blazing fast, thanks to the 1st Gen Snapdragon 8 processor powering it, and you’ll have a magnetic stylus that sticks to the board. Samsung’s DeX mode makes it possible to do some light work if you connect a Bluetooth keyboard, but it’s also a great means of catching up on the latest installment of the series. Strange things.
This has dropped to $75 on Official Day and you can expect it to drop again on Black Friday, so if you’re not desperate for a gift, it’s best to wait. . Amazon Fire tablets aren’t for everyone — no Google Play Store (there is a solution), so not all apps are available, and Amazon pushes its own offerings. But these cheap monitors are great for gaming, playing video games, or watching lengthy readings. The Fire HD 10 (7/10, WIRED Recommend) is ours Favorite Fire Tablet because of the large size, but smaller Fire HD 8 To be also on sale for $50 ($40 off).
There are better tablets for adults, but kids don’t need a $300 iPad. This one is durable and cheap, especially at $70, which is the selling price we usually see. It’s like the regular Fire HD 8 we mentioned above, but with a bulky carrying case to protect it. It comes with a worry-free two-year warranty so you can replace it if it breaks and you’ll get one year Amazon Kids Service +provided access to kid-friendly booksmovies, games, and apps, all with parental controls.
Kindles are Our favorite e-readersand Paperwhite is Best selection in Amazon’s product line. This standard version has 8 gigabytes of storage and warm light. Plus, it’s waterproof for reading in the bath. For $130 ($30 off) you can get Paperwhite has no ads on the lock screen.
Signature version (8/10, recommended wired) get 32 gigabytes of storage and no ads on the lock screen. It’s a massive upgrade, but it’s not necessary unless you listen to a lot of audiobooks. (For reference, 8 gigs is about 5,000 books.) This version also has auto-dimming and wireless charging.
The Oasis from 2019 is growing out in the teeth. It used to be the prettiest of all the Kindles out there, but the Paperwhite options above are cheaper, with many of the same advantages. However, I like that it has physical page flip buttons. Its 7-inch display is also slightly larger, with a slimmer, sleeker aluminum overall design.
Transactions at home
See more options in Best security camera and Guide to the Best Smart Speakers.
Nooie makes some of my favorite smart home products. They do the job and are not made by a large corporation that likes to hoard data, plus I really love the translucent design. The camera features 1080p video, with precise motion detection and two-way audio. It’s called a dog camera on the Amazon site, but it doesn’t have anything specific to do that way—it’s good for anything you need to watch. You can store clips by subscribing to Nooie’s cloud service or inserting your own MicroSD card.
Eufy makes a lot of affordable smart home products that we like, including this security camera, but it has its flaws. For example, it has several different apps for each type of smart home product, so if you’re already using a smart plug or a robot vacuum, you’ll need to download a separate security app to monitor this camera. However, it does allow you to pan and tilt so you can see the entire room from a distance.
Like the other Amazon devices on this list, the price for the Echo isn’t uncommon, but it’s ours favorite Echo speaker (8/10, recommended wired). Echo is powered by Alexa, easy to use and takes up little space. It has surprisingly good speakers for its size. If you don’t want to spend a lot, the Echo Dot With Digital Clock is $50 off ($10 off). Its speakers don’t sound great, but it does many of the same tricks.
Monoprice manufactures a wide range of our favorite home office equipment, from display stand and table lamp with HDMI cable and 4K . screen. It’s currently running a 15% off sitewide promotion if you use the code LESS at checkout (some products are excluded). This sale event ends on August 21.
Deals on Beauty and Hair Tools
None of these appeal to you? We have a wide range of hair dryer recommendations in our guide.
We love Alleyoop, especially its multi-use products like this one. Designed to resemble the colorful pens of your youth, this product includes eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, lip liner and highlighter in a cute package. Feces of Products on the website are discounted also reduced by 25 to 40 percent.
There’s no shortage of blow brushes like these (we tried a few), but the Hot tool provides attachment brush for different styles (or to appease everyone in your family). WIRED editor Adrienne So said it got the job done pretty well in 10 minutes, but not as well as the Revlon or Drybar, and it required a bit more time and ingenuity.
This is a good, affordable hair dryer for curly hair that needs a lot of surface area. It’s light and thin too, so it’s not a bad travel option. I also just love how it looks, but I wish it had a medium speed setting.
Conair makes great hair tools at an affordable price, and this dryer is no different. It’s simple, but it works well and is super cheap, even if it’s not discounted. It comes with a diffuser and air concentrator.
