Prime Day 2026: The best deals, what I use, and what I’d buy
Think of this as my Prime Day cheat sheet. I'll keep updating it with the best deals and products I actually use and recommend.
Prime Day 2026 is upon us once again. This time, Amazon moved the shopping event earlier. It’s usually in July, but this year it runs June 23-26, 2026.
One of the biggest questions I get asked is: are there really good deals?
The answer is yes, but only if it’s on something you actually need or want. Basically, every seller knows shoppers are coming to Amazon looking for a deal. That means it’s in their best interest to offer discounts during this time so they can get that coveted banner letting you know something is on sale.
Just how good these deals really are is often debated, but my advice is simple: price check. If something is cheaper than it typically is, it’s probably a good time to buy.
Now, the ground rules. First, you need a Prime membership to shop these sale prices. If you don’t already have one, you can sign up for a free 30 day trial membership.
Second, always come in with a list. Start adding the items you want to your cart or “Saved for Later” list now. That way you can easily tell if the price drops.
Also, check your Buy Again page for the stuff you regularly purchase and see if any of those items are on sale. Look for the red banners that say things like Prime Deal or Limited Time Deal.
Before you buy, price check. In the past, I would recommend CamelCamelCamel for this, but Amazon has expanded its own price history tool, which now shows up to a year of pricing data instead of just 30 or 90 days.
To find it, look for the Price History link near the price of an item. If you can’t find it, look for the Alexa for Shopping section on the product page, tap Ask Something Else and type “price history.”
You can use the price chart or just cut to the chase and ask: “What have been the two lowest prices over the past six months, and how does that compare to the current price?”
This will instantly tell you if it’s a good time to buy.
If it isn’t, use the follow-up prompt: “Let’s set a price alert.” Alexa will give you a few options, or you can set the exact price you’d like to be notified at.
You can also “set it and forget it” by saying: “Autobuy if this drops under $100.” Alexa will monitor the price 24/7 and complete the purchase if your criteria is met.
New this year, Alexa can generate a personalized Prime Day deals guide based on your shopping history. Just tap the + icon in the Alexa shopping chat and select Prime Day Deals.
Since this is a multiple day event, it’s best to check pricing daily. Not everything goes on sale at once. Amazon says they’ll release new limited-time deals three times daily during the event:
Midnight PT
8 a.m. PT
1 p.m. PT
Plus new deals every five minutes during certain periods.
One more way to save: check out ShopBack, which gives you cash back on your Amazon purchases. Right now, you can earn at least 0.5% back on eligible Amazon orders, up to five per month.
Use my referral link and you’ll get an extra $15 bonus after you spend at least $10 and cash out using PayPal.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you.
Amazon products, free trials and more…
Amazon traditionally puts its own brands on sale during Prime Day, so if you’re in the market for a Ring product, Kindle, Blink camera, Fire TV Stick or Echo speaker, it’s a great time to check those out.
Also, don’t forget about Amazon Essentials and Amazon Basics. These are often solid products at a good price, and the discounts can get even better during Prime Day.
You can also score free trials of Amazon services. Prime members can get three months free of Audible (be sure to check your eligibility, even if you’ve taken advantage of a free trial before). Prime members can also get three months free of Kindle Unlimited. Same idea here, I was able to sign up even though I’ve had it before.
Prime Video subscriptions are also usually discounted. We’re talking Paramount+, Starz, Peacock, MGM+ and many others.
Here’s my tip: you can cancel these subscriptions right after you sign up and still keep streaming until the promotional period ends. If you love the service, you can always resubscribe.
You’ll access everything through the Amazon Prime Video app or website, which is actually pretty convenient since it serves as a central hub for all of your subscriptions. Fewer apps to open on a Friday night when you’re just trying to find something to watch.
Best early Amazon deals
Amazon Echo Dot Max - On sale for $64.99 (down from $99.99). I have these speakers in my living room. You can pair two for better stereo sound, or use them with compatible Fire TV devices for a home theater setup.
Amazon Echo Show 11 - On sale for $149.99 (down from $219.99). This 11-inch smart display makes a great centerpiece for your smart home, with a big touchscreen for controlling devices, checking cameras, recipes, calendars and more.
Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) - If it’s time for a new Kindle, this remains the gold standard for e-readers. It’s waterproof, the battery lasts for weeks and the screen looks like paper. I fully expect this one to be discounted for Prime Day.
Eero mesh Wi-Fi - If you want a better internet signal in every corner of your home, consider a mesh network. Eero is my favorite. Go with Eero 6 if your internet speed is under 1 gig, or Eero 7 if you have faster speeds and want to future-proof your setup.
Ring Battery Doorbell - Keep an eye on your front door without wiring. The latest version offers sharp video, better views of visitors and package detection.
Ring Wired Doorbell Pro - A more advanced option if you already have doorbell wiring. You get higher-end features like enhanced video quality and better zoom capabilities.
Blink Outdoor XR+ - A wireless outdoor camera designed for longer range coverage and extended battery life.
Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+ - Easy to install, battery-powered and now with sharper 2K video plus a wider view so you can see visitors and packages.
Fire TV Stick 4K Plus / Fire TV Stick 4K Max - These are some of the easiest and most affordable ways to upgrade an older TV. They’re faster, support the latest streaming features and often see big Prime Day discounts.
Amazon Ember TVs - Amazon’s latest smart TVs bring Fire TV built in, so you can stream without an extra device. Look for deep discounts during Prime Day.
The products I use, like and recommend
Bookmark this page! I’ll keep updating this list with more of my favorite products and deals as I think of them throughout Prime Day.
Anker MagGo Power Bank for Apple Watch - Travel must-have. It charges your Apple Watch on the go and doubles as a bedside nightstand charger with support for Nightstand Mode. The built-in USB-C cable can also charge your phone and other gadgets, which means one less cable to pack.
Anker Nano Portable Charger - A must-have for your bag. Charge up your phone and other gadgets on the go with a built-in retractable cable and extra USB ports.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 - My favorite all-around noise-cancelling earbuds for iPhone users. At $180, that’s the lowest price I’ve seen yet.
Apple iPad (2020, Refurbished) - Just need a simple tablet for streaming, web browsing and reading? This refurbished iPad is showing its age, but at around $130 it's tough to beat. The iPad is still the best tablet for most people, and this is one of the cheapest ways to get one.
Aura digital photo frame - Hands down one of the best things you can buy on Prime Day. Wirelessly send your favorite photos straight from your phone and even share pictures to friends’ and family members’ frames. It’s a perfect gift and a total crowd-pleaser. Plus, you can now sync a Google Photos album automatically.
Beats USB-C to USB-C Woven Cable - I love these colorful cables. They don’t tangle, look great and feel more premium than your average charging cable.
Belkin Portable Charger Power Bank (10,000mAh) - Just want a good, inexpensive power bank? This one is tough to beat. It’ll charge most phones about twice, supports USB-C charging and is often available for under $20.
Belkin Portable Charger Wireless Power Bank - A portable power bank that magnetically attaches to the back of your phone and charges it wirelessly.
Brother HL-L2405W - My pick for a simple, reliable laser printer. Look for a target price around $120-$130.
CMF Buds Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds - My favorite inexpensive Bluetooth earbuds. Under $40, four fun colors to choose from and an easy recommendation if you don’t want AirPods or use Android.
Cord Brick - One of my favorite desk accessories. It’s a weighted, rubbery cord organizer that keeps cables from sliding behind your desk when they’re unplugged. One of those small things that makes daily life easier.
Echo Spot - Great for a desk or nightstand with a bright little display that shows the time, weather and more at a glance.
ELECOM NESTOUT Rugged Power Bank (15000mAh) - A highly rated, rugged outdoor charger that’s built tough and water-resistant.
Epson FastFoto FF-680W - The absolute best and fastest way to digitize old photos. It scans stacks of pictures in minutes, captures both sides at once and makes it easy to share family memories. It's pricey, but you can split the cost with family members or sell it when you're done.
Google Fitbit Air - A screenless fitness tracker I’ve really enjoyed. Tracks sleep, workouts, heart rate, and more, with up to a week of battery life for under $100. Prime Day discount? Probably not. It’s been selling out since launch, so deals seem unlikely.
Google Pixel 10a - My pick for a budget Android phone. Excellent software, a great camera and 7 years of updates. Look for a target price under $450, ideally closer to $400.
Hisense U6 / U8 Series TVs - Some of the best values in television. You get a big screen, impressive brightness and strong picture quality without spending a fortune.
HP OmniBook 5 - Prices have gone up on laptops since last year’s Prime Day, but this is still an excellent Windows laptop under $1,000.
HP Smart Tank 5000 - I like this ink tank printer a lot. Good quality prints, and the ink seems to last much longer than traditional cartridges. Look for a target price around $150.
JBL GO 3 - Big sound in a tiny package. It’s waterproof, easy to toss in a bag and an excellent value when it drops around $25.
KODAK Slide N SCAN Film & Slide Scanner Digitizer - Turn old film strips and slides digital in seconds. Look for a target price under $170.
LandAirSea 54 GPS Tracker - Think of it as an AirTag with its own built-in GPS. You can see its location in real time virtually anywhere, making it great for vehicles, trailers and other valuable gear. Just keep in mind it requires a monthly subscription.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3X - A great laptop for basic needs with plenty of memory and storage, plus a Snapdragon processor for lightweight performance and long battery life.
Meta Ray-Ban (Gen 2) - The gold standard for smart glasses. Take photos and videos, ask AI questions, listen to music and make calls. They also include standout accessibility features like Conversation Focus and Be My Eyes integration.
Microfiber cleaning cloths - Essential for cleaning electronics. They come in an 8-pack for about $10, and I keep one everywhere: backpack, car and home.
Phone ring holder - This magnetic accessory is perfect for propping up your smartphone on a plane to watch videos hands-free. I never travel without mine.
Portable luggage scale - Avoid surprises at the airport. It’s about $8, and I use it every time I fly.
Power Strip - SUPERDANNY Surge Protector with 22 AC Outlets, 2 USB-C and 4 USB Ports. The ultimate way to plug in as many gadgets as possible.
SanDisk Phone Drive USB-C - Running out of storage? This drive plugs directly into USB-C iPhones, iPads and Macs, making it easy to offload photos and videos, back up memories and free up space. Available with up to 1TB of storage.
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB-C (1TB) - Similar idea, but with a USB-C connector on one side and a USB-A connector on the other. It’s an easy way to move photos, videos and files between your phone, tablet, Mac and PC without dealing with the cloud.
Sony Bravia 8 Mark II OLED TV - Splurge pick for TV buyers. If you want one of the best pictures money can buy, this OLED delivers incredible contrast, color and overall image quality.
Sony WH-1000XM6 - Widely considered some of the best over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones you can buy. They’re not cheap at around $400, but the performance is excellent.
Soundcore Anker Life Q20 - Great inexpensive noise-cancelling headphones for under $50.
Spigen AluminaCore Tempered Glass Screen Protector - Excellent protection at a great price. Plus, you get two in the pack.
Spigen Ultra Hybrid case - My favorite basic phone case for just about every phone. Affordable, simple and gets the job done.
TCL QM7K / QM8K Series TVs - TCL continues to impress with premium features at reasonable prices. These Mini-LED TVs offer outstanding brightness, contrast and performance that rivals TVs costing much more.
Twelve South AirFly SE - Great for airplane seatback entertainment systems that don’t have Bluetooth. Use your own wireless headphones thanks to this tiny audio transmitter.
Twelve South PowerCord All-in-One 30W USB-C Fast Charger - No more hunting for a power adapter. This combines the cable and charging brick into one simple setup. Get the extra long 10 foot version, trust me.
USB-A and USB-C to USB-C Cable - An essential travel accessory. You never know what kind of USB port you’ll encounter in a hotel room, airport, rental car or airplane seat. This cable supports both USB-A and USB-C connections, so you’re covered no matter what’s available.
UGREEN 45W USB-C Charger - A compact charger that delivers fast wired charging speeds for your iPhone and other gadgets at a great price.
Ulanzi Tripod - My favorite compact tripod and selfie stick. It connects magnetically to your phone and makes it easy to capture photos, videos and more.
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker - Excellent sound for the size and price, with a rugged design you can take anywhere.
WHOOSH! Screen Shine Duo - My favorite cleaning spray for gadgets. It keeps screens shiny and helps repel fingerprints. Rumor has it Apple Stores have used this stuff for years.
Wyze Cam OG Indoor/Outdoor - About the simplest and cheapest way to add a security camera to your home. It works indoors or outdoors, delivers good video quality and is often available for under $20.
Non-tech stuff I like and use
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm - This has been in my pocket for 15 years, ever since I ditched ChapStick. Simple, inexpensive and it just works.
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream - Inexpensive and gets the job done. A simple under-eye cream that does the trick.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion With SPF 30 - A great everyday lotion with SPF built in. Lightweight and doesn’t leave your face looking shiny.
CleanKicks Shoe Cleaner Wipes - Scrubby wipes that keep my sneakers (and my kids’ sneakers) looking fresh and almost like new.
Colorful Luggage Straps - A simple travel upgrade. Everyone’s suitcase looks the same on the baggage carousel, and these make yours stand out instantly. They help prevent someone from accidentally grabbing your bag and make it much easier to spot when it arrives.
Kiehl’s Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream - THE BEST shaving cream. I’ve been using this ever since Regis Philbin recommended it in a magazine article years ago. It’s so good it makes even an old razor glide like new.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer - My favorite everyday moisturizer when I don’t need SPF. Lightweight and doesn’t leave my face shiny.
Listerine Mouthwash On-the-Go Packets - Mouthwash in individual packets. Great for your work bag, dopp kit or travel. Who would have thought?
MagiCare 75% Large Alcohol Wipes - I keep these around the house to disinfect gadgets. Just squeeze out the extra liquid before using them on electronics. Also great for travel and cleaning your hands on the go.
MagTech Magnesium Drink Mix - This stuff is like a sleep potion. No joke. I’m not a doctor and this isn’t medical advice, but it’s become part of my nighttime routine.
Nice ‘n Clean SmudgeGuard Lens Cleaning Wipes - I keep these all over the house for cleaning glasses, lenses, screens and gadgets.
Rechargeable Battery Night Light - A travel must-have. Hotel rooms are notoriously dark at night, and these small rechargeable motion-sensing lights automatically illuminate your path. I keep one in my dopp kit.
Sleep Masks - Essential for my daily naps and sleeping on planes. Take your sleep to the next level. Trust me.
S'well Stainless Steel Water Bottle - Still my all-time favorite water bottle. Easy to carry, comfortable to drink from and it keeps your drinks cold for hours. I've tried plenty of others, but I always come back to this one.
Trtl Pillow - My favorite travel pillow, hands down. Helps me sleep like a baby, even in the worst airplane seat.
Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Powder - Tastes great and makes drinking water way more enjoyable.
VINIA Resveratrol Electrolyte Hydration Powder Mix - Picked this up at a tech conference and while it’s pricey, it says it boosts blood flow and I like it a lot. Again, I’m not a doctor and this isn’t a medical recommendation.
Other discounts Amazon says will be big this year
Up to 40% off smart home gear from Ring, Google Nest and Pura
Up to 40% off travel gear and luggage
Bottom line: What began as a way for Amazon to boost sales and Prime memberships during a traditionally slow time of year has grown into one of the biggest shopping events on the calendar.
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