Why You Can Trust CNET Top weekend deals: $12 smart plug 4-pack, $56 gaming desk, $110 robot vac and more
Also on tap: The ultimate Belgian waffle-maker for $50 (save $20).
Before we dive into today's deals, how about a little small talk?
- What I'm reading right now: 10% Happier by Dan Harris. Utterly riveting book about this news anchor's experiences with meditation. If your public library is anything like mine, you should have no trouble finding a copy.
- What I'm watching: Mythic Quest on Apple TV Plus. I'm rewatching it, actually, ahead of season two, which just dropped. I'm not sure I fully appreciated how smart and funny this show is, though I do recall that last year's mid-pandemic season-ender was a masterwork.
- What I'm eating: Spicy chili crisp on everything. I'll be forever indebted to Scott Stein for introducing me to this condiment, which elevates an everything-bagel-with-cream-cheese to transcendent levels. (Pro tip: Don't spend $10 or more for a jar at Amazon; many local stores carry it for $4 to $6.)
Your turn! Hit the comments and tell me what you're reading, watching and eating.
As for the deals, the usual caveats: They're available for a limited time and while supplies last. All codes and coupons were working at the time of this writing.
Amazon seller: TanTan Direct
Price: $12.15 with promo code ZCZDD7G8
This is one of the best deals I've seen for a four-pack of smart plugs, which can be used for something as simple as turning lamps on and off at designated times or as fancy as telling Alexa to turn on a bedroom fan.
I like these because they're wide, not round, meaning they shouldn't block any normal plug you might want to use in the other socket (unlike some of Gosund's other smart plugs).
Amazon seller: Potensic
Price: $110 with coupon
This vacuum was $80 with a promo code just the other day, but that has expired. Even so, you can still get it for $100 with the coupon that has appeared on the product page.
This is about as basic as robo-vacs get, but it's also one of the lowest prices I've ever seen. The 22T isn't laser-guided, so it'll just bounce around your floors until it needs to return to its charger (which it'll do automatically). If you want to keep it out of certain rooms, you'll need to put down a strip of magnetic tape, which is included with the vacuum. You can't even control it by app; it relies on a handheld remote.
But if you just have, say, an apartment or small home to clean, this sucker will do the job without complaint. And that's the goal, right?
Waffles! (That's it, that's the story.)
OK, more to the story: Bella's Belgian goodness maker can make two waffles at once, so right from the jump it's better than most models.
Alas, it was just $40 the other day, but with the march of time it has crept up $10. Still a reasonable deal for a double-decker waffle-maker.
Amazon seller: Ouya Nila
Price: $56 with promo code 4EUWL43A
A year ago you could scarcely buy a desk, let alone get a deal on one. This thing is awfully impressive given the price, which has never been this low.
Designed with gamers in mind (obviously -- just look at it!), the desk features a cup holder, headphone hook, game accessory rack, cable manager, oversize mouse pad and slick-looking carbon-fiber (simulated) surface. At 44 inches it's not huge, but it might be the perfect fit for your gamer's bedroom.
Hope you find something you like today!
This article was published earlier this week and has been updated with the latest deals.
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