(PCMag/Amazon)
June has arrived and along with the hot temps, it's bringing the hot deals, too. That’s right, Amazon Prime Day in all of its money-saving glory is barreling towards us with some of the best tech deals you’ll see all summer (and frankly, all year). Amazon announced that the four-day shopping extravaganza officially begins on June 23, but early deals are already live. So, brace your wallet for impact, and get ready to fill your digital cart with big-ticket savings.
Thousands of items are going to see record-low pricing, but how will you discern the diamond deals from the rough? Well, here at PCMag, finding deals actually worth your dollar is our area of expertise and Amazon Prime Day is kind of like the World Cup of shopping to us. It's our job to make sure you don't miss out on any markdown that could save you some serious cash.
For the next few weeks we'll be digging through thousands of early deals to pick the cream-of-the-savings-crop. Basically, we're going to be the first to arrive to the Prime party and the last to leave. So make sure to check back here as we update the best deals early and often!
Headphone Deals
Can you hear that? It’s the sound of record-breaking savings coming through the Sony WH-CH720N. These over-ear, lightweight headphones offer above-average noise-cancellation for the price, so you can successfully tune out the kind of low-range background noise you’d encounter in an airplane cabin, on the train, or at the coffee shop.
The WH-CH720N are powered by Sony's Integrated V1 Processor and a Dual Noise Sensor system that makes your audio feel more atmospheric. On the battery front, you're looking at up to 35 hours with ANC on or 45 hours with it off, and a quick three-minute charge gives you an hour of playback if you’re in a hurry.
In our review, audio expert Tim Gideon doubled down on their affordability, saying that they were a “strong alternative to the pricier Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and Sony WH-1000XM3.” Overall, they’re a ticket to solid yet affordable ANC, and they’re only $98 right now, which is the cheapest they’ve ever been.
We awarded the Sony WH-1000XM5 our Editor’s Choice award for audiophiles. And at 38% off, these outstanding headphones, they're real close to the lowest price we’ve ever seen for them.
That sound is powered by 30mm drivers that deliver a frequency range of 4Hz to 40kHz, and depending on how loud you jam out or how you use ANC, Sony estimates you can squeeze out a solid 30 hours of battery life. Speaking of, their ANC is top-notch and doesn’t use a noticeable—and annoying—high-frequency hiss to mask signals, unlike most noise-cancellation technology.
Gideon compared the Sony WH-1000XM5 to the Bose QuietComfort 45 and Apple AirPods Max in our in-depth review, and evne with that stiff competition concluded that, “the 1000XM5 over-ear headphones offer comparable noise cancellation and [have] arguably the best sound quality of the bunch.”
According to resident audio expert Tim Gideon, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra stand out for their class-leading active noise cancellation. In our review, he confirms they deliver “the best noise cancellation of any over-ear headphones we’ve tested,” so if that’s a top priority, you might’ve just found your new headphones.
Immersive spatial audio also lets you toggle between Off, Still, and Motion modes depending on your environment, which can impact battery life. Bose estimates you can squeeze 24 hours from a single charge (or 18, depending on your immersive audio usage and volume levels). And if you’re an Android user, rejoice—the Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite provides AptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec support, which lets you stream higher-quality audio if you have a compatible device.
High-ticket headphones come with high-ticket prices, which is a turn-off for these Editor’s Choice headphones. However, this 23% discount slashes the price by $100 and makes it easier for true audiophiles to take the leap into ANC heaven.
Speaker Deals
It’s always a pleasure to see a new generation of speakers crank up the volume, and the Sonos Move 2 sure stepped up from its predecessor. Audio expert Tim Gideon awarded it an “Excellent” rating and called it “the best Sonos speaker for listening to music outside,” in our review.
This speaker lives up to its portable name thanks to a built-in handle and wireless charging base. But really, the Sonos Move 2 is all about being an outdoor speaker thanks to an IP56 rating, making it dust- and splash-resistant. While full waterproofness would give us a little more peace of mind, this unit is built for summertime fun at the beach, poolside, or at the BBQ.
With new dual-angled tweeters and a midwoofer, the Sonos Move 2 delivers crisp stereo audio, with Trueplay support that adapts the sound to your immediate surroundings—which is particularly helpful on a windy day or at a chatty patio party. One of the only downsides is the price, so a $100 discount makes the deal even sweeter if you don’t want to compromise on your outdoor jam sessions.
Recommended by Our Editors
Soundbar Deals
No, you don’t have to sacrifice a subtle soundbar setup for spectacular sound. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is tiny but mighty, about as wide as a standard computer keyboard, so it’ll fit nicely in front of a mid-sized TV. This five-channel soundbar is a solid upgrade over its predecessor, adding two extra audio processing channels and Dolby Atmos support, which is a non-negotiable for many audio buffs.
The resulting sound field is large and front-facing, and precise enough to make up for the lack of rear-facing speakers. While it doesn’t have a remote, you can control it via the infamous Sonos app or your TV remote. You can also integrate voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and obviously fold it into your multi-room Sonos setup, too.
In our review, home theater expert Will Greenwald gave the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) an “Excellent” rating and called it a “powerful and feature-filled soundbar for anyone who wants to minimize the footprint of their home theater speaker setup.” While the price is normally hard to swallow, this 26% discount puts it only $20 above its record low—so it’s a great time to jump in.
Home Security Camera Deals
Hunting for home security that won’t torch your wallet (or your patience)? The Ring Outdoor Cam is completely wire-free and battery-powered, so you don’t have to worry about finding outlets or snaking power cords around your home. Right now, it’s currently 50% off at its record-low price of $40, so home security is even more enticing than usual.
Between motion detection and sharp 1080p video, its built-in siren also ensures that nothing unwelcome lurks past your door without notice. Plus, it works swimmingly with Alexa voice commands and IFTTT if you’re adding it to your smart home.
John Delaney gave it an “Excellent” rating in our review, emphasizing how easy it was to use and that such a feature-rich camera “delivers in spades,” earning it our Editor’s Choice award. While the camera’s Basic plan lacks in storage, the affordable $4.99 monthly plan makes up for it with 180-day storage.
TV Deals
Mid-sized screens can add substantial value to any-sized room, especially when they’re 27% off! The Hisense 55-Inch U65QF took home our Editor’s Choice award for budget-friendly TVs based on picture quality alone, and it’s among the brightest TVs we’ve tested. A native 144Hz refresh rate with VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro gives gamers the green light, and performance within Amazon’s Fire TV software is well-equipped to run your favorite streaming services for any regular movie night.
Greenwald awarded it an “Outstanding” in our review, and said the U65QF was “by far the most affordable TV [he’s] tested to cross 1,000 nits of brightness.” For under $400 right now, it punches way above its pay grade.
Note: While our review tested the 65-inch Hisense U65QF, it is identical in specs and features to the 55-inch model, which is currently 27% off on Amazon. The 65-inch model is also marked down for 19%.
Unlocked Smartphone Deals
Cell phones often see big Prime Day discounts, and Amazon sells unlocked models that you can bring to just about any carrier. If you love a big screen and big power to match, this 21% price drop on the Pixel 10 Pro XL demands your attention.
We gave this impressive mobile an "Excellent" rating in our review, with PCMag expert Iyaz Akhtar saying it was "capable of science-fiction-level AI tricks" like real-time phone audio translation and wild photography tools. Stellar industrial design, great build quality, and high-octane silicon make this a top choice, especially for this price with $250 knocked off!
SSD Deals
Component prices have been steadily increasing for at least a year, with no relief in sight. If you're putting together a new PC and feeling sticker shock, Prime Day is a great way to save a bit on must-have silicon. The best SSD deal we're seeing right now is a 39% price cut on the excellent Samsung 990 Pro, an internal drive that we gave an "Excellent" rating to in our review, where out expert Tony Hoffman called it, "a big step forward from the SSD 980 Pro, with considerably faster sequential read and write speeds and a much higher PCMark 10 Overall score.
With fast speeds, 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption, and improved power efficiency, it's great for gamers, content creators, and anyone who has significant storage needs. The included Samsung Magician data management software is also extremely useful. But honestly, that $250 off (in this economy) is hard to beat.
We'll be working nonstop to find the best Prime Day deals leading up to June 23, plus spotlight early access deals here that are too good to miss. And if you're itching for other markdowns, check out our Deals page, where we round up all of the top savings we spy across the web.