Why You Can Trust CNET The Cheapskate's favorite Prime Day 2021 deals: Top picks starting at $6
These are the cream of the crop, the items I consider the big Prime Day winners.
I tend to get jaded when it comes to Prime Day (and Black Friday as well), because I track smokin' deals all year. It's my thing. That said, there are some standouts this year, great products slashed to some of the lowest prices on record.
All of them should remain available through today, June 22. I'll be updating this list periodically, watching for worthwhile newcomers or sold-out items -- which is always a possibility.
One quick tip: Be sure to pay for any Amazon purchases with your Amazon's Prime Rewards Visa card, which nets you 5% cash back even on sale items.
If you're in the market for comfy ANC headphones, you may have spotted the Sony WH-XM10004 at Prime Day pricing of $248. That's a hefty discount, no question, but you don't have to spend anywhere near that to get a great listening experience.
The Wyze Headphones are nearly as good, at least to my ears, and this is the lowest price on record. (The 'phones were $50 when they debuted late last year, but with shipping ended up closer to $60. Now Wyze proper sells them for $68.)
Read my Wyze Headphones hands-on to learn more.
This is a kitchen essential, a quick and easy way to make great popcorn that's way cheaper and way healthier than that boxed microwave stuff.
It normally sells for $14; promo code 23CNETPRIME knocks the price down to $10.77, just about the lowest on record. I own of these; they're awesome. And at this price, a no-brainer buy.
The Wyze Cam Outdoor is the battery-powered, weatherproof version of the immensely popular Wyze Cam. I've got one parked on my front porch; it's been a champ.
Given that a single one of them normally runs $60, a two-pack for $95 is a true bargain -- let alone the free Echo Show 5 that comes with it. This won't last long; grab it while you can.
Read our Wyze Cam Outdoor review.
If you haven't yet experienced the joy of saying, "Alexa, turn off the lamp," or even just setting simple on/off timers via app, you need a smart plug. Pop into an AC outlet, connect your appliance and presto: magic awaits.
The Wyze Plug is a top pick in this category, and $6 is a steal for this or any other smart plug. Note, however, that the link below will take you to the Amazon product listing, but to get the discounted price, you'll have to ask for it: "Alexa, order a Wyze Plug."
Only a handful of times has this kit been priced this low -- and the last time was last year. This is an insanely popular item, as it's great not only for checking your ancestry, but also for identifying potentially serious health issues.
Prime Day 2021
- The best Amazon Prime Day deals still available
- Walmart Prime Day deals still live: Price drops on Beats headphones, Nintendo Switch games and more
- Best Prime Day soundbar and speaker deals still available: $140 Vizio V21, $99 off Elac Debut
- Best 2021 streaming device deals: $25 TiVo Stream 4K, $99 Roku soundbar and more
The all-around great MyQ (I've used one for years) hasn't been priced this low since last year, and it's even more amazing when you consider it originally cost over $100.
But here's the best part: If you decide to use it for Amazon In-Garage Delivery, you can get a $40 credit after your first order by applying promo code KEY40 when placing that order. That more than covers the cost of the MyQ itself.
Amazon seller: EarFun Direct
Price: $55.67 with promo code EAIRPRO5
CNET's David Carnoy and I have found a lot to like in EarFun's earbuds. The Air Pros mimic the AirPods' pipe design and include ANC and in-ear detection. The latter means when you take an earbud out, your music auto-pauses. Great feature.
Carnoy's take: "The EarFun Air Pro distinguishes itself with a comfortable fit, decent (though not great) noise canceling and nicely balanced sound, with good clarity and well-defined bass. They're smooth-sounding earbuds." He also found call quality to be above average.
My take? Pretty amazing value for the money.
This is actually kind of disappointing, because the original Echo Show 8 was priced at $65 during the holidays last year. Still, $70 for an 8-inch smart display? It's hard to quibble with that.
On the other hand, the new second-gen model is on sale as well: $95, down from $130. My advice: Hold tight on that one; Amazon will almost certainly offer better deals in the months to come.
If you don't mind a smaller screen, the adorable Echo Show 5 for $45 is a tremendous deal. Decisions, decisions.
Last year's Prime Day brought the Fire HD 10 down to $80 for the first time; now Amazon is matching that on the just-released 2021 model, which includes modest but welcome improvements to the screen, RAM and front camera. Its predecessor was already a steal at this price; this feels even steal-ier.
Indeed, this ranks as one of the best tablet deals ever. Big high-def screen, fast processor, expandable storage, stereo speakers, USB-C charging... shall I go on? Kind of makes you scratch your head at the thought of paying $329 for a 10-inch iPad.
Yes, you need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to really make the most of it. But even if you're not, this is a very capable tablet at a ridiculously low price.
Also available: the Fire HD 10 Plus for $110 (save $70). Why spend the extra $30? To get a bit more RAM and -- drum roll -- wireless charging.
Also available No. 2: the Fire HD 8 for $45, an all-time low.
CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow him on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up for deal texts delivered right to your phone. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest Walmart discount codes, eBay coupons, Samsung promo codes and even more from hundreds of other online stores. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Answers live on our FAQ page.