It's the last day of Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale. You'll see hundreds of thousands of deals if you scroll through Amazon's site, but not everyone wants to spend on a big-ticket purchase. There are usually some great finds on deals under $50. We've rounded up our favorites, whether you're looking for a new Roku or Echo Dot, or want to own your favorite TV series on DVD.
The WIRED Gear team tests products year-round. We sorted through hundreds of thousands of deals by hand to make these picks. Crossed-out products are out of stock or no longer discounted. Our Amazon Prime Day coverage page and our Prime Day Shopping Tips will help you avoid bad deals. Check out our live blog to find the best Lightning Deals. You can also get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 here.
Updated October 12: We added new deals on a battery-powered Colgate toothbrush, Logitech's G840 mouse pad, and JBL's Clip 4 Bluetooth speaker, and crossed out a couple that are no longer available.
- Smart Home and Streaming Deals
- Home Office and Phone Accessory Deals
- Entertainment Deals
- Kitchen and Home Deals
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Smart Home and Streaming Deals under $50
If you're a Prime Member who hasn't bought a gift card in the past 12 months, you can get $10 in Amazon bucks with this deal. Enter code NEWGC2022 at checkout to apply this offer.
This is also the best price we've seen yet for the Echo Glow. Senior associate editor Adrienne So uses one as a night light for her children. You can control the lamp by pairing it with another Echo device or by using the Alexa app, and set timers or alarms. With speakers built in, it can be used as a sound machine too.
Smart plugs are an easy way to control the non-smart products you already own, and Kasa allows you to do that affordably. This pack gets you four plugs that take up one outlet each, and they are compatible with Alexa, Google, and Siri voice assistants, so you can turn them on and off hands-free.
We haven't tested Amazon's Smart Thermostat, but it's received positive reviews online. Using the Alexa app on your phone, you can check on the current temperature and humidity levels in your home, adjust the temperature, create a thermostat schedule for when you're away, and more. You can also pair it with one of Amazon's smart devices (like an Echo speaker) to control it via voice commands.
If you prefer Alexa, Amazon's own smart plug might be worth considering. You use the Alexa app for setup and control, so you don't need to install a separate app (the others that we tried need to be set up with the manufacturer's app first). Alexa Guard works like vacation or travel mode on the other plugs, so it'll turn off and on automatically to make it look like you're home.
Roku continues to be our favorite streaming device because its interface is dead simple to figure out and it gets you to your content quickly. The streaming sticks take up very little space, and this one supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. If you can spend a bit more, the 4K Plus is our top pick, and it has a nice hands-free voice remote. The cheaper Express 4K Plus is discounted too, at $25 ($15 off). Can't decide? We have a guide for picking the best Roku for you.
Wyze makes cheap smart-home products for someone just dipping their toes into home automation, and we like its bulbs. This one has 16 million color options, apparently. Wyze's smart plug is also discounted for $7 ($5 off) if you need just one and not the four-pack linked above.
If you've been wanting light strips to brighten up your room this is a good option to try. In this pack, you'll get two 50-foot rolls, but there are smaller options available on the buy page too.
Amazon makes pretty solid streaming sticks, if you don't mind the push toward Amazon Prime. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and includes a picture-in-picture feature for pulling up your security camera feed while you watch TV. And, of course, it's Alexa-enabled. This 4K Max gets 2 gigabytes of memory (the older 4K had 1.5), and it has 8 gigs of storage.
A new version of the HD 8 is available for preorder ($100), but you can save a bunch of cash if you're OK with this older model. Its 8-inch display is travel-friendly, and we think it excels at Netflix binging or for playing games in the car or bed. It also has a USB-C port. For work, you may want to go with something else, like a more capable iPad.
We love Amazon's Echo Dots, and this kid's version is especially cute. It has easy parental controls and comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, which includes thousands of Audible books and games and a two-year warranty.
Home Office and Phone Accessory Deals under $50
The ObVus Solutions Tower is our favorite laptop stand, and it has held that spot against many more expensive stands. The price sometimes reaches $80, but it's typically around $70. This is the cheapest we've seen it since we first tried it. The stand can be raised to various heights and positions, so you can angle your screen exactly as you need.
If you prefer working from bed and the couch (guilty!), this one is perfect for that. It's one height, but you can angle the base, and the legs fold up for storing. The smaller surface on the right stays flat, so you can put your drink there if you don't move around too much. There's even a small drawer.
Logitech’s G840 mousepad is big enough to hold your keyboard and mouse, with plenty of room to spare. This size makes it great for any gaming setup. It's smooth and silky, and makes just about any mouse feel like it’s gliding on glass.
JBL's Clip 4 is one of our favorite Bluetooth speakers and it's especially good for traveling. It's waterproof, with a carabiner clip at the top so you can clip it to your bag. The controls are big and easy to use, and it sounds surprisingly bold given the size.
This is the webcam we think is best for most people. It nixed the ring light of the original Kiyo, but its automatic white balance and color saturation are stellar enough that you won't miss that feature. It looks great out of the box too, but you can play with video settings in the Razer Synapse app. The Kiyo X shoots 1080p-resolution video at 30 frames per second or 720p resolution at 60 frames per second. This deal is also available at Best Buy.
Have a MacBook with a frustrating lack of ports? This hub offers up a 4K HDMI port, a MicroSD card reader, and more. However, it does take up both USB-C ports on the left side of compatible laptops. Anker notes supported laptops on the same webpage.
Make your work-from-home life a bit comfier with this footrest. It's height-adjustable, and the plush cover is machine washable.
Pop these wheels onto your office chair and you'll immediately see the benefits. Rollerblade wheels move around a lot easier, and they don't scuff up your hardwood floors. They should work just fine on most office chairs.
The Arctis Prime is our favorite gaming headset under $100, and now it’s under $50. You'll get rich and expansive sound and a retractable mic in a body that is comfortable enough to wear all day. Plus the build quality is better than the Arctis 1 below. There’s no active noise cancelation, but noise-isolating ear cups do a good job of keeping out unwanted sound.
This screen protector for the iPhone 14 range uniquely prevents a Nosey Parker from looking at your screen when you're traveling or working out of a coffee shop. It dims the iPhone screen a tiny bit, but not anywhere near enough to be a problem.
Choose your iPhone model on this page and then peruse Sonix’s dozens and dozens of case designs to find one that suits your tastes. We like Sonix cases—they support MagSafe and are made of biodegradable materials, and the packaging is 100 percent recyclable.
These cases aren't very protective, but they're some of the thinnest around. That means you won't get much drop protection, but the case won't add much bulk to your iPhone, and it'll still keep your phone safe from everyday scuffs. You can find models for a variety of iPhones.
WIRED writer Eric Ravenscraft raved about this little cube. He puts it under his couch for easy charging without any wires in sight. It has three outlets and three USB ports.
Entertainment Deals under $50
If there's one thing I'm good at, it's trivia. My brain is full of useless information, usually of the pop culture sort. For this reason, I love Trivial Pursuit, especially the packs organized by decade. This one includes four packs with questions from the 80, 90s, 2000s, and 2010s.
I'm not sure I've ever laughed as hard as I did when playing this game. Everyone gets a hand of caption cards, and in each round, you have to match the best caption to the meme drawn. It's meant for those 17 and over, as it can get quite raunchy. Want to go even raunchier? The NSFW Expansion Pack is discounted to $7 ($3 off).
If you haven't seen Twin Peaks, you're missing out on a serious chunk of ’90s pop culture that follows agent Dale Cooper trying to find out who killed Laura Palmer. It's the type of weird that just can't be re-created. It's always fun to watch just as the weather gets a little chilly.
When it comes to classic movies to watch during the spooky season, Alfred Hitchcock makes some of the best. This set comes with four movies: Rear Window, The Birds, Vertigo, and two versions of Pyscho—the uncut extended version and the original.
Kitchen and Home Deals under $50
The Go S is the best posture corrector you can get. This little rectangle hangs from a necklace or sticks directly to your back (I recommend getting the necklace). After calibrating it through the app, it vibrates when you slouch, so you'll remember to straighten up without wearing any uncomfortable shoulder brace. The Go S is the newer and cheaper version of the Go 2 that we also like (8/10, WIRED Recommends).
I can't live without a weighted blanket, and thanks to Nodpod, I now need this weighted eye mask too. It's just 9 ounces, so it doesn't feel heavy on my face, but it feels relaxing, especially when I have a headache at night. You can put it in the freezer too, which is great, but I wish it was microwavable. The brand's mini weighted lap pad is also on sale for $70 ($18 off).
We're not in the clear yet of the Covid-19 virus, and it's a good idea to keep some rapid tests at home. This matches the lowest price we've seen on one of the easier tests to use. Inside the box is two nasal swabs, two vials of solutions, and two test cassettes. After swabbing both nostrils, you should know your results in about 15 minutes.
LifeStraws filter out 99.9 percent of waterborne bacteria for up to 1,000 gallons of water. So if you're considering anything for potential emergencies, let it be this. There's a newer design also on sale for $15 ($5 off).
Atlas Coffee Club is one of our favorite coffee subscription services. Right now, you can get a sampler pack from Amazon for $20, or sign up for Subscribe and Save to get four packs (or eight) however often you'd like. You can choose between ground or whole bean.
This 3-cup vegetable chopper is one of my favorite purchases. It's cheap, takes up little room but works surprisingly well. It's lasted me around three years so far with heavy use. I chop onions, tomatoes, and carrots almost weekly with it.
The price of the Colgate Hum has fluctuated recently, but you'll typically see it for $60 at full price. The Hum takes our top smart toothbrush spot. The head is small enough to get right to the back of your mouth without gagging you, and it was the most accurate at tracking brushing habits in our tests. If you prefer a battery-powered toothbrush, that version of the Hum is discounted to $18 ($12 off).
The Tymo Ring is like a hot comb and straightening brush in one. It works well, removing curls without you having to clamp your hair between two scalding-hot plates.
We prefer electric toothbrushes, but if you like manual brushes, consider the Keep. It's designed with less plastic than traditional toothbrushes, thanks to its aluminum handle, and there's less waste, because only the brush head needs to be replaced. The starter kit is typically $9, and this deal gets you a four-pack of replacement heads.
This is one of our favorite sound machines, and it's for people who love the sound of a box fan but don't want the air and dust bunnies blowing around all night. Marpac and Yogasleep are the same company, so it's common to see either on buy pages and packaging. The Dohm was invented in 1962 and is still one of the most reliable around, and it's affordable too.
I bought this for my cats last Christmas, and they are obsessed. The arch is a wiry brush so they can groom their backs or faces on it. There's a mouse toy attached to the cork surface, but it comes out easily when a cat is batting at it, so that's it's only downfall so far.
Speaking of cheap but incredible purchases, this steamer is a favorite among WIRED Gear writers. It's small, so you can stick it in a backpack or suitcase while traveling, but it's capable of heavy use at home too (you may just have to refill it if you're steaming a lot). I haven't owned an iron since I moved out of my parents' house, and I haven't missed one.
Stasher bags are a great way to replace single-use plastic baggies. They're dishwasher-, freezer-, microwave-, and boiling-water–safe. This bundle comes with six bags in sandwich and snack sizes. A four-pack is also discounted to $38 ($14) and comes with two sandwich bags, a snack size, and a half-gallon. If you need one or two specific sizes, single options are on sale too: Stand-Up Mega for $24 ($6 off), and Mid for $15 ($7 off); Pocket for $10 ($4 off) and Snack for $7 ($3 off).
Other stores have started offering competing deals that don't require an Amazon Prime membership (and others likely will). Here's a list of merchants that may be getting in on the action.
