Why You Can Trust CNET Get a 6-pack of 60-watt LED light bulbs for $20.39
From the Cheapskate: That works out to just $3.40 per bulb, meaning LED lighting is now officially affordable.
CNET's Cheapskate scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. And find more great buys on the CNET Deals page.
Yay, science!
Incandescent light bulbs were all well and good (thanks, Thomas Edison!), but they collectively consumed a considerable amount of electricity and didn't last very long.
Energy-efficient and affordable. Finally!
Then came energy-saving CFL bulbs, with the promise of less-expensive, longer-lasting lighting. Unfortunately, it was also god-awful lighting, complete with hazardous innards that required special disposal.
LEDs to the rescue! Prettier bulbs, softer lighting, incredible longevity and a fraction of the power consumption. It took a few years for prices to come down and brightness to come up, but as today's deal proves, LEDs are ready for global domination. Yay, science!
For a limited time, Amazon has the TCP LA1027KND6 LED A19 60-watt equivalent soft-white (2700K) light bulb six-pack for $20.39, shipped free to Amazon Prime subscribers. That works out to just $3.40 per bulb -- still higher than what we used to pay for incandescents, but only a little. And because these have an estimated lifespan of 18 years (!) and an operating cost of around $1 per year, you'll save big over the long haul.
One important thing I should note immediately: These aren't dimmable. TCP does offer dimmable bulbs, but they run quite a bit higher at $13.45 for a two-pack.
Because lighting quality can be highly subjective, a purchase like this really requires some perusal of user reviews. Thankfully, over 1,700 buyers weighed in, collectively rating the TCPs 4.5 stars out of 5. That's a pretty solid endorsement.
It wasn't long ago that a single 60-watt LED bulb would run you $50-60, sometimes even more. I'm excited to see the technology progress -- and prices drop -- so rapidly. To my thinking, LED light bulbs are all upside. Your thoughts?
Magnets FTW!
Bonus deal: Road trip! If you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, there are two essential smartphone accessories: a car mount and a car charger. For a limited time, you can get the Inateck three-port USB car charger for $7.99 shipped (if you're an Amazon Prime subscriber) when you apply the coupon code BVMJVWOW at checkout. This top-rated cigarette-lighter plug includes one Quick Charge 2.0 port and two 2.4A ports.
While you're at it, grab the Aukey magnetic air-vent phone mount for $4.99 with coupon code VMIUCW5Z. (Then make sure to close that vent so heat's not blasting your already-warm phone.) The magnetic plate can slip inside your phone case for hassle-free use.