Amazon is serving up serious value this October Prime Day with deals spanning everything from tablets to kitchen gadgets - all under Benjamin Franklin's watchful eye. These aren't the usual price-inflated "deals" either; WIRED's team has done the heavy lifting, filtering through thousands of offers to surface the genuine steals that won't break your budget during the two-day shopping bonanza.
Amazon's October Prime Day just kicked off, and the retail giant isn't holding back on budget-friendly tech. While the main event typically focuses on big-ticket items, this round delivers serious value for shoppers keeping spending under $100.
The standout deals start with Amazon's own ecosystem. The Echo Dot 5th Generation has dropped to $35, down from its usual $50. That's the sweet spot for anyone wanting to dip their toes into smart home territory without the premium price tag. The Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is even more aggressive at $75 - that's 50% off and includes Amazon's two-year worry-free guarantee that replaces broken devices for free.
"For budget-conscious shoppers hunting for serious value, these are the real steals from the event," according to WIRED's deals coverage. The editorial team brings "hundreds of years of collective experience" to filter legitimate discounts from the usual Prime Day noise.
Wireless charging is having a moment with several standout deals. Samsung's Wireless Charger Trio for Galaxy devices is down to $55 from $90 - nearly 30% off for users already locked into that ecosystem. But the Belkin MagSafe 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand at $55 (down from $100) represents better cross-platform value.
The security camera category is particularly loaded this round. Arlo's Essential Indoor 2nd Gen has hit $27, though it works best with a subscription service. For local storage fans, TP-Link's Tapo C110 at $18 supports microSD recording without monthly fees. At the premium end, Eufy's Security Indoor Cam S350 dropped to $80 from $140 - that's a 4K dual-lens system with pan/tilt and onboard AI processing.
In the kitchen, Amazon is pushing hard on Instant Pot's air fryer lineup. The Vortex Slim 6-Quart dropped to $80 from $150, while the ClearCook variant sits at the same price point with slightly different features. These aren't minor appliances either - both models handle family-sized portions and include viewing windows for monitoring food.
But here's what's interesting: several deals represent genuine low prices rather than manufactured discounts. The Philips Sonicare ExpertClean 7500 toothbrush hit $100 after being discontinued, down from its previous $200 retail price. That's a legitimate 50% savings on what WIRED called a "hygienist-level" brush with pressure sensors and multiple cleaning modes.
