Tech
The 22 best October Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by a tech editor
Don't spend hours scrolling through Amazon, because I already found the best Prime Day tech deals for you. As Mashable's tech editor, my inbox is full of brands trying to get me to cover their newest gadgets, AI models, and futuristic wearables. I get to test the latest flagship headphones, OLED gaming monitors, and foldable phones for Mashable readers. And I gotta say — I love my job.
For Prime Big Deal Days, aka October Prime Day 2025, Amazon (as well as Best Buy, Walmart, and other retailers and brands) have discounted some of my favorite gadgets of the year. I'm also spotting Prime Day deals on boring but essential products like memory cards, wireless chargers, and USB-C cables. So, I've gathered all of the top discounts into one place for Mashable readers. Remember: Prime Big Deal Days only lasts from Oct. 7 to 8, so you only have two days to save.
Whether you've been waiting to invest in a new laptop or 65-inch TV, or just need to replace some tech that's past its expiration date, the next 48 hours are going to be a prime time to shop. So, without any further preamble, let's get into my favorite Prime Day tech deals from brands like Apple, Samsung, DJI, Dyson, Shark, and Bose. I will also be providing live updates in our October Prime Day live blog.
Apple AirPods starting at $89
There's just something about the phrase "$89 AirPods" that sounds right, doesn't it? In the tariffs era, the fact that you can buy new AirPods for $89 feels like a small miracle. While all eyes will be on the new AirPods Pro 3, if you don't need ANC — or have a tendency to lose your earbuds — this purchase is a no-brainer.
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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
When I say I'm a book nerd, I mean that I literally collect rare and first-edition books. And my Kindle Paperwhite goes with me everywhere. Amazon doesn't always offer Prime Day Kindle deals, and this year's discounts are surprisingly good. While I recommend getting the Kindle Paperwhite (without lockscreen ads), the base Kindle is also on sale.
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Apple AirTag (4-Pack)
AirTags are just 50 cents shy of their all-time low price at Amazon. (Best Buy is also matching this price.) These popular trackers use Apple's massive Find My network to help you track down lost items, and they've never been more affordable. Buy the four-pack and pay just $16.24 per tracker.
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Anker power stations
Mashable has been testing the new Anker Solix power stations, and once you buy one, you'll never go camping without them again. They're also handy for music festivals or emergency blackouts. For Prime Day, you can grab these popular power stations at record prices. For Prime Big Deal Days, these appliances have massive discounts, with savings up to $1,200.
Read our full review of the Anker Solix C1000.
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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Looking for the best Prime Day deal on noise-cancelling headphones? While you can grab the Apple AirPods Max at their lowest-ever price, I actually recommend the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. With a cool $100 discount, these are my top pick in the headphones category. They're the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn, and the ANC is phenomenal.
Update: As of 11:45 a.m. ET, Amazon is also selling these headphones in the limited-edition plum color for just $284. I'm honestly shocked by this one, and I expect this lightning deal to move very quickly.
Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
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My favorite Anker charging gadgets
I've said it before, but Anker makes my favorite charging accessories, and I use their stuff every single day. Prime Day is always a great time to stock up on their power banks, cables, and wall adapters. My top recommendation this year is this clever MagSafe gadget that's part card reader, part charger. If you're a creator who's constantly offloading photos or drone footage, it's a lifesaver. It lets you transfer files from an SD or microSD card while still charging your iPhone, which is a ridiculously smart design. I'm also a huge fan of their super-slim Nano power bank, which snaps right onto the back of your iPhone and is perfect for travel.
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A new MacBook Air
The M4 MacBook Air was released earlier this year, and it's been shockingly affordable. But now it's back at its lowest-ever price of $799. That's a $200 discount on a new Apple laptop with a blazing-fast M4 chip, a gorgeous Liquid Retina display, and a hefty 16GB of RAM.
Read our full review of the M4 MacBook Air (2025).
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The best Windows laptop (and a true MacBook rival)
I already recommended the M4 MacBook Air, but if you're a Windows person, this is the laptop to get. The new Surface Laptop 7 is one of the first Copilot+ PCs, billed as the "fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever." It's incredibly light at just 2.7 pounds, has a battery that actually lasts all day, and the new Snapdragon X Plus chip is impressively fast. At $250 off, you're getting a brand new, future-proof machine that gives the MacBook a serious run for its money.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
at Amazon
$899.99
Save $250
Samsung The Frame art TVs
I think Samsung's cult-favorite art TV is the best TV in the world, full stop. While it doesn't have the most advanced display for gaming or watching movies, there's just nothing else like it. The ultra-thin TV has a magic-like matte display, and it transforms into a work of art when not in use. The often-imitated TV usually gets a discount during big sales, and this year, both the 2024 and 2025 models are on sale.
If you opt for the more expensive 2025 edition, you'll get an improved AI-powered processor and better backlighting for deeper blacks and improved contrast.
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Amazon Echo Show 8
Amazon just previewed its new generation of more advanced (and more expensive) Echo Show devices, so take advantage of this sale on the smart displays. Amazon is likely clearing the way for its new devices, but this model gives you all the necessary functionality and cross-device support you really need.
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Shark vacuums
I have a small army of robot vacuums in my apartment at any given time, and since I live in New York City, space is at a premium. That means I have high standards for my robovacs, and Shark's underrated vacuums have always impressed me. If you're a pet owner, the Shark Pet cordless stick vacuum is not only one of the best Prime Day tech deals this year, but also comes personally recommended by Mashable reporters.
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JBL party speakers
I've been testing party speakers for Mashable for years, and JBL consistently outperforms so-called premium brands. The JBL Flip 6 is actually my most-recommended speaker, and we've also tested and loved the brand's new boombox-style Party Box. Both are on sale for Prime Day.
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DJI Smartphone Gimbal
I've tested a few smartphone gimbals, and DJI makes the best one by far. It's deceptively simple to use and provides pro-level stabilization and face tracking. If you're a creator (or aspiring creator), then this gimbal is a must-have IMO. I'm keeping a close eye on the top Prime Day deals on DJI products, so keep checking back for more savings.
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Affordable smart TVs under $300
Prime Day is one of the best times to buy a new TV, and Prime Big Deal Days is already delivering major doorbuster deals on budget TVs. You can find 50-, 55-, and 65-inch flatscreens for under $300 this year, including smart models from Roku, Hisense, and Fire TV.
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Less-affordable (but much more awesome) QLED TVs
My favorite TV brand for the past few years has been Samsung, which makes impressive QLED, OLED, and art TVs. And I wouldn't even consider buying one unless it was Prime Day or Black Friday. This premium QLED smart TV is on sale for $350 off its retail price for a limited time. Equipped with Samsung's latest AI processor, this 2025 model TV offers incredible value at this price point.
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An easy upgrade for your 'dumb' TV
If the built-in apps on your TV have gotten frustratingly slow, the Fire TV Stick 4K is the easiest fix in tech. For less than $25, you can make any TV smarter and faster. This latest model supports all the key formats (4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+) and has WiFi 6 for smoother streaming. The Alexa voice remote is also surprisingly good at finding what you want to watch. It's one of those classic Prime Day doorbuster deals I recommend to everyone.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (newest model) with AI-powered Fire TV Search
at Amazon
$49.99
Save $25.00
Samsung monitors
Whether you need a compact second monitor for your home office or a premium gaming monitor, Samsung always offers fantastic monitor deals during big sales. For home offices, I'd recommend the bevel-less 22-inch business monitor, which is a steal at its current price. And for gamers, the Odyssey line of monitors offers stunning visuals and cutting-edge display specs.
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Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300
I love Jackery's products. The brand's popular portable power stations are a staple at campgrounds and music festivals, but they can also give you a much-needed power-up during blackouts. While this is the older version of the Jackery Explorer series, I've never seen it priced this low before.
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A hip foldable flip phone
Earlier this year, I said 2025 was the year the foldable phone became a smart option for everyday users, not just early adopters. Personally, I prefer the convenient size and form factor of the smaller flip-style foldables.
As much as I love the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 released over the summer, I actually think people have been sleeping on the Motorola Razr Ultra. If you want flagship-quality in a flip phone, this stylish smartphone has a lot to offer. It has an insane battery life and is packed with AI features, if that's your thing. Plus, it comes with 512GB of memory, compared to the Z Flip 7's starting memory of 128GB. For a limited time, save $300 on this unlocked smartphone.
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Beats headphones and earbuds
Amazon promised big savings on both Beats and Bose headphones this year, and the retailer delivered. This year, you can grab big discounts of 25% or more on some of my favorite wireless headphones, including Beats. I'm a big fan of the Beats Fit Pro in particular, as they're the best workout earbuds you can buy for under $200.
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Some boring-but-essential smart plugs
This isn't the sexiest gadget on my list, but it might be the most useful. These Kasa Smart Plugs can turn just about any floor lamp or fan into a smart device that I can control with my voice or schedule (no hub needed). They're incredibly reliable and easy to set up. A single plug is a good deal, but the real value is in this four-pack, which brings the cost down to just over $6 per plug. You can never have too many.
A super-fast memory card for your Switch or drone
Your new Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or DJI drone is going to need more storage, and Prime Day is the absolute best time to buy a memory card. My go-to is always the Samsung EVO Select line — they're fast, reliable, and this deal on the 512GB model is a fantastic value. Don't skimp and get a smaller card; you'll thank me later when you don't have to constantly delete games or 4K drone footage.
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're rowdy.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Hullabaloo
The words are related to sound.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe ruckus.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today's spangram is Lets Get Loud.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
NYT Strands word list for April 24
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Shout
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Holler
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Clamor
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Lets Get Loud
-
Bellow
-
Whoop
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Caterwaul
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:
Intoxicated.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is…
DRUNK
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
The Federal Communications Commission is using the presence of "controversial gender identity issues" in children's television programming as a pretense for questioning how TV ratings are developed and enforced, according to a notice published Wednesday by the federal agency.
The notice generally assesses TV ratings, but specifically points out that these industry guidelines have rated shows featuring "transgender and gender non-binary programming" as appropriate for children. It argues that parents aren't provided this information, "thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families."
In the document, the FCC poses a series of open-ended questions about TV ratings development, including whether the board responsible for the guidelines is "sufficiently balanced" with viewpoints outside of the entertainment industry and if faith-based organizations should be represented in the body.
"What more could the board do to include family-oriented perspectives — which are not well represented in the media industry — in its ratings process?" the notice asks.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the public notice on X, explaining that "parents have raised concerns with the industry's approach." He added that these parents believe "New York & Hollywood programmers" promote objectionable content in kids programming without disclosing that to parents. Carr didn't mention gender identity in his X post.
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TV parents guidelines can include both a rating as well as descriptors for content that includes crude language, sexual situations, and violence.
LGBTQ+ advocates criticized the public notice, arguing that it amounted to discrimination and censorship.
"Trump's FCC is trying to turn transgender people into a warning label," Tyler Hack, executive director of the transgender rights advocacy group Christopher Street Project, said in a statement. "It is dehumanizing, and it is part of a broader political strategy to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people in every corner of public life."
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, described the notice as government overreach.
"Media companies must be allowed to create and broadcast stories that reflect one-quarter of their audience without interference from a government agency with its own anti-transgender political agenda," Ellis said in a statement.
This isn't the first time Carr has been accused of censorship. Carr has claimed broadcasters air "hoaxes" and "news distortions" that also happen to be unfavorable to President Trump. Carr has suggested the licenses of such broadcasters won't be renewed.
In March, dozens of free speech experts argued in an open letter to Carr that his threats against broadcasters are "unlawful jawboning" and his vague characterization of "fake news" violates the First Amendment. The authors called on Carr to "withdraw" his threats.
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