Technology

Best early Prime Day deals under $50, at a glance: Best Amazon Device Deal Amazon Echo Glow (2-Pack) $47.98 (Save $12) Get Deal Best Earbud Deal JBL Vibe Beam 2 Noise-Canceling Earbuds $39.94 (Save $25.01) Get Deal Best Kitchen Deal Chefman Everything Maker & Pizza Oven $49.99 (Save $15) Get Deal Best Home Security Deal Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+ $43.99 (Save $75.99) Get Deal Best Outdoor Deal Gootop Outdoor Bug Zapper $33.29 (Save $4.70) Get Deal Best Beauty Deal Tymo Hair Straightener Brush $42.10 (Save $17.89) Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days is on its way once more, and Amazon's fall sale is open to Prime members Oct. 6 and 7. Discounts cover everything from kitchen gadgets to smart home devices, which makes this the perfect time to cross a few names off your holiday list early. And if you don't want to wait until early October to get cracking on your must-buy list, you don't have to — some of the upcoming deals are actually live right now.

Some prices have already started falling in the weeks before the event, especially on Amazon's own devices and Kindles. Fresh deals are showing up with each new day, and plenty of them come in under $50. That's good news if you're shopping for stocking stuffers, a small gift for a coworker, or something for yourself that won't eat into your holiday budget.

We'll keep this list updated leading up to and throughout the sale. In the meantime, here are some of the best early Prime Big Deal Days deals you can grab for less than $50.

Best Amazon device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Glow (2-Pack) $47.98 at Amazon
$59.98 Save $12   Get Deal Why we like it

Need a smart speaker appropriate for younger family members? Amazon's Echo Glow is a great choice. It pairs with an Echo Dot Kids or Echo Pop Kids, so your kid can ask Alexa to change its color or dim it for bedtime after a long day of listening and learning. You can also set it up as a sunrise alarm that slowly brightens the room in the morning. At this price, you can put one in two kids' rooms and still stay under $50.

Best earbud deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon JBL Vibe Beam 2 Noise-Canceling Earbuds $39.94 at Amazon
$64.95 Save $25.01   Get Deal Why we like it

These earbuds have active noise cancellation to cut down on the chatter around you, plus a Smart Ambient mode that lets outside sound back in when you need to hear what's going on in the real world. They boast 10 hours of playtime with an additional 30 hours from the charging case, and they're IP54-rated, so rain and sweat won't hurt them. For under $50, they're a great option to toss in your bag and go.

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Chefman Everything Maker & Pizza Oven $44.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $15   Get Deal Why we like it

This versatile "everything" oven heats from the top and bottom plates simultaneously to give pizza a crispy crust, and it's ready to cook in as little as three minutes. The 12-inch nonstick plates also work for plenty of other goodies: quesadillas, omelets, pancakes, grilled sandwiches, you name it. When it's time to clean up, just wipe it with a damp cloth. Then close it and stand it upright so it doesn't take up much counter space when dinner is over.

Best home security deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+ $43.99 at Amazon
$119.98 Save $75.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Keep an eye on who darkens your doorstep with this video doorbell. It records 2K footage with a head-to-toe view, so you can see a visitor's face and packages, pets, or other guests in the same frame. It's battery-powered, so you can mount it right outside your door without touching any wiring, though you can also connect it to your existing doorbell wiring if you'd like it to ring inside your home. When someone stops by, you can talk to them from your phone through two-way audio with noise cancellation.

Best outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Gootop Outdoor Bug Zapper $33.29 at Amazon
$37.99 Save $4.70   Get Deal Why we like it

This effective bug zapper draws in mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and other pests with its blue-violet light, then zaps them on contact with a 4,200-volt grid. That means no bug spray required for your outdoor hangouts. It starts working as soon as you plug it in and has a coverage area of up to half an acre. This model comes with a hanging ring so you can put it on a porch hook or a tree branch to keep it out of sight and out of mind. Dead bugs fall into a removable tray that you can clean out with the included brush.

Best beauty deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Tymo Hair Straightener Brush $42.10 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $17.89   Get Deal Why we like it

This tool is awesome for achieving pin-straight, sleek hair. It heats up and straightens your hair while you brush, so you can smooth out frizz and waves while detangling. Its teeth have an anti-scald design that lets you get close to your roots without burning your scalp, which makes it easy to use on the back of your head, too.

More of the best Prime Day deals under $50

• Medicube Wrapping Collagen Overnight Peel Off Facial Mask — $15.20 $19 (save $3.80)

• Apple AirTag — $24 $29 (save $5)

• Anker Nano Smart Display Charger — $29.99 $39.99 (save $10)

• Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Speaker — $33.99 $45.99 (save $12)

• Dreo Space Heater — $35.14 $39.99 (save $30.02)

• Bedsure Heated Blanket Throw — $36.97 $68.99 (save $32.02)

• Anker Soundcore Q20i Hybrid Active Noise Canceling Headphones — $39.97 $69.99 (save $30.02)

• Apple MagSafe Charger — $39.99 $49 (save $9.01)

• Baseus MagSafe Portable Charger — $44.96 $69.99 (save $25.03)

How many times do you hit "send" when you're telling someone a story over text? Do you type the whole thing out in one message, complete with sentences and maybe even punctuation? Or does the story arrive like this?

wait

so I have to tell you something

because this is insane

lol

Your answer, according to the latest generational debate on TikTok, might reveal your age.

In a since-deleted TikTok video, a Gen Z user explained that she recently discovered her millennial coworkers were annoyed by the way she texts.

"I was sat with my millennial coworkers, and they were annoyed by the fact that when I text, I go, like, dah dah dah dah dah," she explained, mimicking the rhythm of sending several messages in quick succession. Instead of putting an entire thought into one message, she sends each sentence — sometimes each thought — separately. Her millennial coworkers, meanwhile, send "one big chunk."

SEE ALSO: The latest Gen Z vs. millennial debate is the space above your head

"And I hate it when it's a big chunk because it takes me so long to read it," she said. "That's not how my thought process works."

Naturally, millennials took this extremely well. In screen-recorded stitches on the app, they pointed out that these "big chunks" have another name: paragraphs. Others complained about watching their phone light up again and again as someone sends six messages that could have been one. And some latched onto the creator's theory for the generational divide: Millennials learned to text when cell phone carriers charged by the message, so they learned to cram as much information as possible into a single text.

There is some truth to the ancient millennial lore. Before unlimited texting became commonplace, wireless customers could pay for individual messages, and SMS messages have historically been counted in 160-character units. Even today, AT&T's terms note that on plans without unlimited messaging, messages exceeding 160 characters can be counted as multiple texts.

But as a millennial who also routinely sends texts like:

omg

did you see this

I'm crying

lol

I think my fellow millennials are being a little too harsh. Because the more interesting difference here isn't whether Gen Z knows what a paragraph is. It's what different generations think a text message is supposed to represent.

For a lot of millennials, a text bubble is still a container. You formulate a thought, type it out, and hit send. Maybe it's one sentence. Maybe it's three. But the message itself is a complete unit.

The Gen Z style described in the TikTok treats texting more like a live transcript of a conversation. The send button isn't the end of the message so much as a form of punctuation.

wait

send.

I just realized something

send.

actually nvm lol

send.

Read together, those aren't necessarily three separate messages. They're one conversational turn, broken into beats.

And this isn't entirely anecdotal. Gen Z's preference for breaking thoughts into separate messages has been observed before. In 2022, The Washington Post reported on generational differences in workplace communication and noted that younger workers were more likely to split thoughts and questions across multiple messages rather than putting several ideas into a single block of text.

There's even some evidence that people don't necessarily like the rapid-fire approach. One experiment involving 805 participants compared reactions to a hypothetical coworker who sent one paragraph with reactions to the same coworker sending several back-to-back messages. Participants rated the rapid-fire texter less favorably, and, interestingly, that effect was strongest among younger participants, complicating the idea that this is a clean Gen Z-versus-millennial divide.

Context matters, too. A Slack message from your coworker is not the same thing as a chaotic group chat at 11 p.m. And even the most paragraph-loving millennial probably isn't carefully composing a thesis statement, supporting evidence, and conclusion when their best friend sends them a screenshot of their ex's Instagram Story.

The closer the relationship and the more active the conversation, the more texting can resemble speech.

Even the smallest choices can change how a message is read. A 2025 study of 200 undergraduates found that short text messages ending in a period were perceived more negatively than the same messages without one. That effect disappeared with longer messages, suggesting that punctuation over text can convey emotional information beyond its grammatical function.

Over the past two decades, texting and social media haven't simply shortened the things we say. They've developed ways of communicating rhythm, tone, hesitation, emphasis, and reaction without hearing someone's voice.

Take "lol."

"LOL" ostensibly means "laughing out loud," but nobody has actually needed to laugh out loud to type "lol" for a very long time. Linguists have studied how "lol" functions as a discourse marker: It can soften a statement, signal engagement, mitigate awkwardness, or simply tell the other person how to interpret the sentence around it. One analysis of text conversations found people using "lol" to signal laughter, defuse uncomfortable situations, and essentially communicate "I hear you."

Sometimes "lol" doesn't even need a sentence around it.

lol

That's a complete response. You know exactly what it means.

The same thing has happened with "wait," "HELP," "oh," "well," "???" and any number of other fragments that would make your high school English teacher reach for a red pen. They're not necessarily failed sentences. In a text conversation, they're beats.

Social media has only accelerated that style of communication. Twitter trained users to package thoughts within a character limit. TikTok comments reward quick reactions. Group chats move fast enough that by the time you've finished composing your carefully structured paragraph, the conversation may have moved on to an entirely different topic.

There is a larger conversation happening about literacy among young people. The average reading score for U.S. 12th-graders fell three points between 2019 and 2024 and was 10 points below the first assessment in 1992, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

But blaming the Gen Z text barrage on declining literacy would be a leap the evidence doesn't support. Researchers have been pushing back against the idea that internet language represents linguistic decay since millennials themselves were the teenagers supposedly destroying English with AIM. A 2008 study examining more than a million words of teenagers' instant messages found that IM language remained firmly rooted in existing language rather than representing its collapse. More recent work has similarly examined things like "lol," "lmao," and emoji as tools people use to reproduce some of the tone, expression, and social cues that disappear when conversation moves onto a screen.

In other words, Gen Z didn't invent supposedly terrible texting. They inherited it from us and developed their own dialect. Which is what makes the millennial outrage over the TikTok so funny. Millennials were once the generation being accused of butchering the English language with "lol," "brb," unnecessary ellipses, lowercase letters, and away messages containing Fall Out Boy lyrics.

In 2003, a 13-year-old girl in Scotland reportedly submitted a school essay written entirely in text-message shorthand. The story made international headlines and became part of a much broader panic over whether texting was destroying young people's ability to write. As researchers David Crystal and others would go on to point out, however, many of the linguistic horrors blamed on texting weren't particularly new, and evidence that texting was causing a collapse in literacy was lacking.

Sound familiar?

Two decades ago, millennials were the teenagers supposedly mangling English by communicating in fragments and abbreviations. Now, some of us are in the TikTok comments defending the sanctity of the paragraph.

But the technology changed, and our language changed with it. Texting has become less like sending someone a tiny letter and more like having an ongoing conversation, one in which a period can convey a mood, "lol" can be a complete response, and hitting send can create a beat in the conversation just as effectively as punctuation can.

The real generational divide isn't whether you can read a paragraph. It's whether you think the person on the other side of the screen is reading something you wrote or listening to you talk. For millennials, texting grew out of writing. For Gen Z, texting increasingly looks like conversation.

And sometimes a conversation takes six bubbles. Sorry about the notifications.

For months, dialogue on my soundbar sounded muddy and inconsistent, and I assumed the hardware was to blame. It wasn't. A small shift in placement solved almost the entire problem.

Best early Prime Day deals under $25: Best earbuds deal Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds $20.99 (save $19) Get Deal Best smart home deal Govee LED Smart Light Bulbs (2 Pack) $19.99 (save $6) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple AirTag (2nd Gen) $24 (save $5) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote Pro (newest model) $24.99 (save $10) Get Deal

In case you haven't noticed, it's gotten expensive to simply exist. Between astronomical gas prices (it was literally $4.20 a gallon the other day, and I'm in the South!), groceries, and, of course, rent, finding any deal is a win in my book — which is exactly why we're already tracking down the best early Prime Day deals for under $25.

SEE ALSO: I found 3 AirPods deals live ahead of October Prime Day (and 3 to wait for)

October Prime Day, officially known as Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, doesn't officially start until Tuesday, Oct. 6, but a lot of the best under-$25 steals we saw during June's Prime Day are live again right now. (We're still two weeks away from the sale!)

So if you're sticking to a budget, you might want to get these to your cart ASAP before they sell out. And be sure to check back, as we'll be updating and adding new $25-and-under finds as more discounts drop.

Best deal under $25 Anker Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds $20.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $19.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you're looking for a pair of earbuds (and you're not too picky about needing active noise cancellation), the Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds are only $20.99, down from $39.99, at Amazon right now. This is almost the lowest we've ever seen these buds go for — during June's 2025 Prime Day event, they were $19.97.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best wireless earbuds we've ever tested

For less than $25, you'll get 10 hours of battery life on a single charge without the case and 30 hours with it. A quick 10-minute charge will get you an extra two hours of playtime if you're in a pinch. Plus, the AI-enhanced mics make taking calls even easier.

More deals under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Waterdrop Waterdrop PT-05B-L Water Filter Pitcher (7-Cup) $13.88 at Amazon
$15.99 Save $2.11   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: LifeStraw LifeStraw Personal Water Filter $14.99 at Amazon
$17.95 Save $2.96   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Life360 Life 360 Tile Bluetooth Tracker $19.99 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $5   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: INIU INIU 10000mAh 45W Power Bank $21.59 at Amazon
$23.99 Save $2.40   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: INIU INIU Compact 10000mAh 45W Power Bank $22.49 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $2.50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid $23.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $6   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab Go Air Pop+ Earbuds $24.99 at Amazon
$26.99 Save $2   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Skullcandy Skullcandy Dime 3 Earbuds $24.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $10.00   Get Deal

Bambu Lab might be best known for its 3D printers, but today, it's taking the next step in conquering the maker space with the R1. The Bambu Lab R1 is the brand's first dedicated laser with a 55W CO2 glass tube, and after spending a few weeks with it, I am thoroughly impressed.

You no longer have to get an iPhone to use Adobe's flagship video editor on your smartphone. Almost a year later, Adobe has released Premiere for Android as a free editor for anyone serious about mobile video production, albeit with limits.

TL;DR: As of Sept. 22, the Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED 4K TV is available for $847.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of $652 on the list price of $1,499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED 4K TV $847.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $652   Get Deal

Any major sale event hinges on big deals on big TVs. For whatever reason — other than the fact that top-of-the-range TVs cost a fortune — the TV remains the go-to item for Black Friday and Prime Day. You want a bargain? Then jump on a major shopping event to upgrade your TV. It's that simple.

Fortunately, Amazon's signature event is about to return with October Prime Day, a two-day bonanza of bargains that runs Oct. 6-7. And while that's two weeks away, we're already seeing some price reductions trickle through. Including, that's right, TVs. And in the case of this Hisense deal, it's not just any TV but a 65-inch 4K monster with gaming and cinema mode specs.

As of Sept. 22, the Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED 4K TV is down to $847.99 at Amazon. That’s a $652 discount from the regular list price of $1,499.99.

This Hisense U7 series is perfect for gamers and cinema lovers alike. Running on the Google TV operating system, it offers a suite of gaming features, including a 165Hz refresh rate, AI-powered motion smoothing, and a dedicated games bar to optimize your gameplay. As for movie watching, it's IMAX Enhanced and comes equipped with Dolby Atmos for the full home cinema experience — not to mention the sheer size of its 65-inch display. As a high-spec bonus, it also uses AI to keep upscaling and refining the picture quality as you watch.

Don't miss the chance to save over $650 on the Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED 4K TV — now priced at just $847.99.

TL;DR: As of Sept. 22, the DJI Avata 360 8K drone (including backpack and landing pad) is available for $719 at Amazon. That's a $98.95 saving on the list price of $817.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Avata 360 8K Drone $719 at Amazon
$817.95 Save $98.95   Get Deal

Top-flight drones don't come cheap, which is why we're always watching the skies. You never know when a significant price drop is going to, well, drop.

Thankfully, October Prime Day is just a few weeks away, with the two-day event running Oct. 6-7 on Amazon, and we're already seeing early deals across a wide range of categories.

Among those early deals is $98.95 off the DJI Avata 360 8K drone, one of the most popular models from the leading name in consumer drone tech. And you get much more than just the drone with this deal — it's a bundle that includes a backpack for transporting the drone and a landing pad.

SEE ALSO: The best early October Prime Day deals on DJI creator tools: I found deals on mics, drones, and cameras

As of Sept. 22, the DJI Avata 360 8K drone (including backpack and landing pad) is priced at $719 at Amazon. That’s a $98.95 discount from the regular list price of $817.95.

As the name suggests, the DJI Avata 8K drone captures stunning 8K footage (at 60 fps) and 120 MP photos. It's built on a single-axis gimbal, with a 360° virtual gimbal for all-around imagery, and uses two 1/1.1-Inch square CMOS sensors. It also boasts a wide range of creative features that combine fun flying and professional-quality video. In addition to the backpack and landing pad, the bundle includes a DJI RC 2 remote controller and a 128GB microSD card for added storage.

There's another reason to grab this drone. Recent changes to the law have effectively banned Chinese-made DJI products from entering the U.S., but retailers are still allowed to sell their existing stock. It's a case of getting them while you can — not to mention the fact that DJI prices will likely skyrocket once stocks become scarce.

Don't miss the chance to save $98.95 on the DJI Avata 360 8K drone.

SAVE $400: As of Sept. 22, the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 Portable Power Station is down to $499 at Amazon, marked down from its original $899 list price. That's a 44% discount and a match for its lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 100 V2 $499 at Amazon
$899 Save $400   Get Deal

Having solid backup power is one of those things you don't think about — until the neighborhood power grid dies during a summer thunderstorm or your phone hits 2% in the middle of a camping trip. The catch? High-capacity battery banks are usually bulky, heavy, and painfully expensive.

If you've been thinking about buying one, Amazon just shaved $400 off the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 portable power station, bringing it down to $499. What makes this updated V2 model worth grabbing over older power banks is how much muscle Bluetti squeezed into a smaller body. It’s roughly 35% smaller and lighter than standard 1kWh generators, weighing 25 pounds with a hidden handle so you can carry it one-handed.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day deals on power stations are already live: Shop the best deals on Jackery, Anker, Bluetti, and more

Inside, it uses durable LiFePO4 battery cells rated for over 4,000 charge cycles, which translates to roughly a decade of regular use before the battery's health even starts to degrade. As for real-world capability, it has enough juice and wall-plug power to run 90% of your everyday appliances, including mini-fridges, microwaves, coffee makers, and power tools.

With 11 different ports, you can keep your laptop, phone, camera batteries, and camping lights plugged in all at once. When it runs flat, topping it back up doesn't take all day. Plugged into a regular wall outlet, it recharges from zero to full in about 70 minutes (or the same time via solar panels if you're off the grid).

Ready to upgrade your emergency setup? Grab the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 portable power station and lock this price in before stock runs out.

The Full Moon is now just a few days away, so the surface of the Moon is mostly illuminated. This means, if it's a clear night, you'll have ample opportunity to spot some features on its surface. What can you see? Keep reading to find out.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Sept. 22, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase, with 81% of its surface visible.

Without the assistance of visual aids, you should be able to spot the Mare Vaporum, Mare Fecunditatis, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars, they'll also help you see the Mare Nectaris, Alphonsus Crater, and the Mare Frigoris. Plus, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 12 and 15 landing spots, as well as the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon doesn't look the same from night to night. As it travels around Earth, which takes about 29.5 days, we see different portions of its illuminated side. This is what creates the lunar phases, with the Moon gradually progressing from a thin crescent to a half Moon and then a Full Moon before the cycle starts over. According to NASA, the phase we see is determined by the Moon's position relative to both Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

My computer speakers aren't very good. Sometimes I wonder if sticking my phone in a coffee can would sound better. I used to own a nice set of M-Audio monitors that I used for my record player. But they broke. So I replaced them with a $15 set of Logitech computer speakers. I can usually get them to sound fine by messing around with different settings in the audio apps I use, but they still didn't sound great. But I found a solution to make them sound better (that didn't require buying new speakers): Easy Effects for Linux.

The Raspberry Pi has found its way into hundreds, if not thousands, of projects, some of which you may own without realizing it. This includes kits built around retail single-board computers, compute modules that are embedded in the hardware, and microcontrollers that perform secondary functions.

The brand's latest headphones feature an IPX4 water-resistant design and swappable earcup and headband cushions, along with impressive sound, strong noise canceling and top-notch voice-calling performance. Are they worth $350? CNET's audio expert, David Carnoy, gives you the full skinny on what may be Beats' best headphones to date, though they are missing a couple of features found on other premium ANC headphones.

Read more about the best headphones and earbuds: The 13 best headphones of 2026: We tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats
The 5 most comfortable headphones we've ever tested
The 10 best noise-cancelling headphones we use, love, and recommend

Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:19 Sports focus and IPX4 rating
1:13 Swappable cushions and customization
2:03 Fit, comfort and build quality
3:16 Tech specs and ecosystem features
4:49 Sound quality and performance
5:56 Active noise cancellation and transparency
7:00 Mic quality and call performance
7:40 Final verdict and pricing

Video credits
Host: David Carnoy
Scripted by: David Carnoy
Producer: Numi Prasarn
Camera: Numi Prasarn
Video editor: JD Christison
Thumbnail designer: Cole Kan

If you don't have $100 (or more) for a standalone Windows license, then you can download any distro of Linux for free right now and have a working computer in just a few minutes. However, the cost of something can be measured in more than just dollar bills, and there are more than a few ways Linux ends up costing you more than a commercial operating system like Windows or macOS.

The best early Prime Day Pokémon deals at a glance: Best TCG deal Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $89.99 (save vs. market price) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Pokémon Eevee (72151) $47.95 (save $12.05) Get Deal Best video game deal Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo Switch 2) $44.99 (save $25) Get Deal Best book deal Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide (Pokemon Pikachu Press) $41.98 (save $18.01) Get Deal

Amazon’s October Prime Day may still be on the horizon, but there are already plenty of Pokémon discounts to score on trading cards, Nintendo Switch games, books, and much more. Collectors everywhere have been focused on buying the 30th Celebration expansion, but this kind of sale is the perfect way to catch up on past collections.

Prime Day will run from Oct. 6-7, so be sure to keep this page bookmarked for plenty of other deals in the build-up to the sale going live. In the meantime, these are my favorite early Pokémon Prime Day deals you can buy right now.

Best Pokémon TCG deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $89.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Why we like it

After temporarily jumping back up to $200+ due to low supply, the Pokémon TCG’s 30th Celebration ETB is back at $89.99 — still a massive $168.94 under TCGplayer’s estimated market price of $177.93. 

The catch is availability, as Amazon is selling the box through its invitation system. You need to hit "request invite" rather than buy it immediately. If Amazon selects your request, you'll receive a limited window to complete the purchase. 

If you’re successful, you’ll get this glorious box including nine 30th Celebration booster packs, a full-art foil Nidorina promo, 16 foil Basic Energy trading cards, 65 sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a collector's box, a player's guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code. 

More Pokémon dealsPokémon TCG deals

• Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister (Binacle) — $22.89 $29.99 (save $7.10)

• Pokémon TCG Mega Evolutions Perfect Order 3-Pack Blister (Chikorita) — $23.63 $29.99 (save $6.36)

• Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection — Series 2 — $26.87 $59.99 (save $33.12)

• Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle — $52.95 $59.99 (save $7.04) 

• Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Surging Sparks Booster Bundle — $74.65 $81.00 (save $6.35)

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box — $89.49 $99.99 (save $10.50)

Pokémon Lego deals

• LEGO Pokémon Eevee (72151) — $47.95 $59.99 (save $12.04)

Pokémon Nintendo Switch game deals

• Detective Pikachu Returns — $46.92 $49.99 (save $3.07)

• Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 1) — $49.44 $59.99 (save $10.55)

• Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! — $53.87 $59.99 (save $6.12)

• Pokémon Legends: Arceus — $54.49 $59.99 (save $5.50)

• Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2) — $59 $69.99 (save $10.55)

Pokémon book deals

• Pokémon Timelines: A Journey Through the Animated Series — $9.87 $29.99 (save $20.12)

• Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology — $13.97 $14.99 (save $1.02)

• Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide — $41.98 $59.99 (save $18.01)

Given how many iPhones, Macs and other gadgets it sells, it's sometimes easy to forget that Apple is also a content company. To promote its many digital content platforms like Apple Music and Apple TV, the company produces TV shows, movies, and hosts exclusive live concerts which you can find on Apple Music.

Now, the company has a very fancy place to hosts those concerts. Apple Music Hall is a new live music venue at London's Battersea Power Station, and it looks amazing.

That looks cozy. Credit: Apple

With capacity for 600 attendees, the Apple Music Hall is designed to host "bespoke, intimate performances." The space has a very industrial chic design, with bricks, fluted arches, and bronze balconies, but it's also a high-tech affair, with a 48-speaker spatial sound system positioned all around the audience.

Once a coal-fired power station, the Batersea Power Station is now a shopping and entertainment complex. Credit: Apple

Of course, besides being a beautiful concert venue, it's a production facility, with two dedicated, pro-grade recording and mix studios. Apple says that every performance can be captured as a multitrack recording and mixed in Spatial Audio. The space is equipped with 16 cameras, so an artist performing there can "walk out with a finished Spatial Audio recording, a broadcast-ready mix, and multicamera video — all from a single show."

For info on tickets and upcoming shows, go to the venue's website (though no lineups have been revealed yet).

Apple's London-based radio hosts will now broadcast live out of Battersea. Credit: Apple

Apple also announced it will broadcast all of Apple Music Radio's London-based shows live out of its new radio studios in Battersea.

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The sex lives of young adults — or lack thereof — have been subject to scrutiny over the past few years. Much hand-wringing has occurred over whether Gen Z is sexually repressed, or whether there's a "sex recession" happening.

Now, we have some new data about it.

In a study by the Kinsey Institute, Playboy, and emergency contraceptive brand Julie, "The State of Sex Among Gen Z," the sex recession question is answered, but it's not clean-cut. The report includes findings from 2,373 U.S. adults between 18 and 29. That breaks down into 48 percent men and 48 percent women, 63 percent heterosexual, 53 percent single, and 42 percent in relationships.

SEE ALSO: A 'masturbation consultant' for an AI companion company tells all

A major finding of the study is that the sex recession appears to be real, but it's complicated. There's no one explanation for why this is happening; economic, technological, psychological, and social factors all play a part. And while most young adults report low levels of sexual activity, they have moderate to high sexual desire.

Less sex, partnered or solo

Previous reports found that today's young adults are having less sex than those of years past.

The State of Sex Among Gen Z found that 29 percent of participants had no sexual partners in the last three months, and 19 percent have never had a partner. Thirty-one percent aren't sexually active.

Around a third (36 percent) haven't even masturbated in the last three months.

Of those who have had sex in the last quarter, 45 percent had one partner. These findings are pretty consistent among different sexual orientations, except for gay participants; the number of them who've had one partner was 34 percent, and they reported having 10+ partners more than any other group at 13 percent.

While many may not be having sex or self-loving, they are kissing. Nearly half (49 percent) of all participants reported kissing nearly every day (this is more the case for those in a relationship, 72 percent, versus 29 percent of singles). Around a quarter (27 percent), however, reported zero kissing in that same time frame. Sad.

Most singles (74 percent), though, reported moderate, high, and very high sexual desire. So why aren't they acting on it?

Why young adults aren't having sex

The researchers didn't just ask about sexual frequency — they dug into why. Two-thirds (67 percent) reported limited opportunities to meet potential partners. Sixty percent agreed that "dating is exhausting" and "not worth the effort." Around the same number cited fear of rejection as a barrier.

Forty-two percent agreed with the statement "Sex is NOT a high priority for me right now."

Other statements that many participants agreed on were that they haven't met someone who met their standards, and that using dating apps feels exhausting (a common refrain in 2026).

Is it...the phones?

One reason attributed to the lack of sex, even from some experts, is: "It's the damn phones." The study didn't have hard-and-fast findings about this, but it suggested that the internet might be meeting some of Gen Z's sexual needs.

Overall, 38 percent of participants stated that digital sexual content, including pornography and erotic media, fulfills some of their sexual needs. (That number jumps up to 46 percent of men and 45 percent of single participants.) Around a third (31 percent) of overall participants stated that pornography reduces their interest in partnered sex.

Some are choosing online connections over physical ones. Thirty-two percent said they sometimes choose digital or solo sexual experiences instead of partnered sex, and 28 percent said spending time on screens (or digital activities) reduces their motivation to pursue in-person sexual connections.

Sex recession, economic recession?

It's not all about the phones, though. Financial stress has negatively impacted the sex lives of 37 percent of all participants, and even more (43 percent) stated that financial concerns make it harder for them to date or maintain romantic relationships. The payment service Zelle found similar in its new Economics of Dating Report.

Slightly fewer participants (39 percent) said money concerns make them less likely to pursue or engage in romantic or sexual activities, and the same number of people said the cost of dating limits their opportunities to meet and maintain relationships.

The cost of living also affects whether young adults can live on their own, sending reverberations throughout other parts of their lives. Around a third (34 percent) live with parents, and nearly two-thirds of those (64 percent) reported zero sexual partners in the past three months.

(Some) satisfaction, guaranteed

Despite all of this, most participants (55 percent) were satisfied with their sex life, including 73 percent of those in relationships. Regarding young adults' relationship with sex, the most common answer was that it feels fulfilling and consistent (32 percent). Nearly half of partnered participants said they're having the amount of sex they want, compared to a third of singles.

Twenty-one percent, though, would like more sexual activity in their lives.

Fewer people are voluntarily celibate (13 percent), and five percent said their relationship with sex feels negative or frustrating. Most participants, however, viewed their sex lives as average (37 percent) or better than average (25 percent), with a quarter thinking it is below average.

Do young adults themselves believe there's a sex recession? Half don't, but a quarter said yes. The rest were unsure. Some actually believe they're having more sex.

"I think people may be having slightly more sex than in the past because of innovations like dating/hook-up apps," an anonymous participant wrote. "However, I don't think people are having as much sex as is shown on TV or social media."

The same participant also thinks the "sex recession" is multifaceted: "I think right now, many are struggling economically and socially and likely having less sex as a result."

Another participant stated, "I think they might be having anywhere from the same amount to more, because of how open people have become and because technology has changed the whole sex scene in modern times."

So, perception might be different from reality.

Check out other insights from "The State of Sex Among Gen Z" on Playboy's website.

The best early Prime Day deals on fitness trackers: Best Garmin deal Garmin vívoactive 6 $229.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best Fitbit deal Fitbit Sense 2 $199.95 (save $50) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple Watch SE 3 $249 (save $30) Get Deal Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 $259.99 (save $40) Get Deal

Amazon's next major shopping event is just around the corner: Prime Big Deal Days takes place on Oct. 6-7. The two-day sale will bring exclusive discounts for Prime members across thousands of products, but if you're hoping to grab some early bargains, you don't need to wait until October to start saving. Amazon has already started dropping early deals ahead of the event.

Fitness trackers are among the products already getting the early Prime Day treatment, with Garmin, Fitbit, Apple, and other popular brands seeing strong discounts. We've rounded up the best deals you can shop right now, so you can grab a new tracker before the main event officially begins.

Best Garmin deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 6 $229.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

The Garmin vívoactive 6 has a bright AMOLED display and up to 11 days of battery life, with health insights including Body Battery, sleep coaching, stress tracking, and wrist-based heart rate. It also packs more than 80 sports apps, personalized workouts, and advanced training and recovery features. And right now, it's at its best-ever price at Amazon.

More Garmin deals

• Garmin vívoactive 5 — $181.97 $299.99 (save $118.02)

• Garmin Forerunner 165 — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Garmin Instinct 3 — $299 $449.99 (save $150.99)

• Garmin fēnix 8 — $999.99 $1,062.43 (save $62.44)

Best Fitbit deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Sense 2 $199.95 at Amazon
$249.95 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

The Fitbit Sense 2 tracks stress, sleep, and activity, with features including all-day stress tracking, sleep stages, a Sleep Score, and 24/7 heart-rate monitoring. It also has built-in GPS, more than 40 exercise modes, and a battery life of six-plus days.

More Fitbit deals

• Fitbit Charge 6 — $133.90 $159.95 (save $26.05)

• Fitbit Versa 4 — $159.95 $199.95 (save $40)

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 $249 at Amazon
$279 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

Currently, the only Apple Watch deal at Amazon is on the Apple Watch SE 3, which tracks workouts, sleep, and a range of other health metrics, including heart rate and overnight data through the Vitals app. It also gives you sleep apnea notifications, period tracking, and wrist temperature sensing, alongside features such as fall and crash detection.

Best Samsung deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 $259.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $40   Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has a slimmer design than previous models, with built-in features such as run coaching for different distances, Energy Score, which combines data from your sleep, activity, and heart rate, and blood pressure monitoring. And right now at Amazon, it's on sale for $40 off.

More Samsung deals

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 — $185 $249.99 (save $64.99)

Phone makers used to spend years chasing the thinnest flagship possible, and buyers mostly shrugged. The sales numbers have been in for a long time; the compromises are obvious, and I still don't get why there are attempts at bringing thin phones back. Still, here's why an extra millimeter or two is worth it.