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20 years of How-To Geek. It is hard to believe, but our publication first launched in 2006, covering technology that looks almost prehistoric compared to the current landscape. Today, it's a new world of AI agents and vibe coding. When HTG started out, iPhones weren't even announced. Heck, Windows Vista wasn't even out yet.

Some people just have a natural talent for finding gifts on a budget, whether it's Christmas, an anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or birthdays. Some people nail it every time, getting the "best gift-giver" award among those who are lucky to know them — wife, husband, boyfriend, teens, in-laws, and everyone else.

If you're not one of those people, don't fret. We're here to help no matter the occasion. We've put together a list of the best gift ideas for under $50, from expected-but-useful trinkets to cool items they definitely don't have yet. These unique, budget-friendly gift ideas come from a variety of categories, so you're sure to find something they'll love.

TL;DR: Watch Denmark vs. Portugal in the Nations League for free on RTP. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League continues this week with Denmark vs. Portugal, a potentially tricky fixture for the visitors. Portugal are top of the group standings after two games, but Denmark in front of a packed Parken is arguably going to be their toughest test.

Cristiano Ronaldo will not feature, but Portugal are not short of talent.

If you're interested in watching Denmark vs. Portugal in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Denmark vs. Portugal?

Denmark vs. Portugal in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Oct. 1. This fixture takes place at Parken.

How to watch Denmark vs. Portugal for free

Denmark vs. Portugal in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RTP.

RTP is geo-restricted to Portugal, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Portugal, meaning you can live stream Denmark vs. Portugal for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Denmark vs. Portugal for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Portugal

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Denmark vs. Portugal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Denmark vs. Portugal without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTP?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTP, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Portugal

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Denmark vs. Portugal for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you're a Reddit user who prefers the old Reddit platform, colloquially referred to as "Old Reddit," over the newly designed one, then you're going to want to pay attention to this.

According to Reddit, the company will start blocking Old Reddit for Redditors that haven't used Old Reddit in the previous six months.

Reddit previously limited Old Reddit only to users who are logged into their account.

"In the next few months, we'll further limit access for logged-in users to only those who have used Old Reddit in the last six months (which covers the vast majority of all Old Reddit users)," Reddit posted in r/modnews. 

The Reddit employee who posted this news added that this change will not apply to logged-in platform mods. They can continue to use Old Reddit without any usage requirements.

This latest move appears to point to the company eventually moving away from the old version of the platform, although Reddit has not yet committed to that publicly, at least.

"We’re still working on the future of Old Reddit," the employee posted alongside the usage announcement.

These changes over at Reddit, including the recently announced shutdown of RSS feeds and its public API, have been attributed to the rise of AI bots, according to the company.

SEE ALSO: Reddit is ending RSS feeds — with no replacement. You can blame AI bots.

"Earlier this year, we required people to log in to use Old Reddit, addressing its largest source of abusive scraping and automated traffic: unauthenticated access," Reddit said in its latest update. "That change helped reduce scraping and automated abuse, but still allowed any logged-in account to access Old Reddit, including accounts with no prior Old Reddit use."

This six-month usage requirement will be introduced to "close the gap," according to the company.

Reddit is not shutting the door on AI. The company has become a favorite source for many AI chatbots. As a result, Reddit has discovered that licensing deals with AI companies can be quite lucrative for the social platform. These latest moves are intended to shut out the AI bots that are scraping the platform's content for free.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection (Lucario) is on sale for $49.98 at Amazon, saving you $20.01 from the regular list price of $69.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection (Lucario) $49.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $20.01   Get Deal

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration continues with more packs from this new expansion — and we're seeing price cuts already, which is a good incentive for trading card collectors to get started on this particular line.

As of Oct. 1, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection (Lucario) is $49.98 at Amazon, a reduction of $20.01 from the regular list price of $69.99. 

SEE ALSO: Shop the best early Prime Day deals on Pokémon, including 30th Celebration trading cards for under market price

This Tech Sticker Collection includes three Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration booster packs, a Lucario foil promo card, and a matching tech sticker sheet. And there's an Alolan Exeggutor variant of this collection, also marked down to $49.98 right now — not to mention plenty more Pokémon deals as Amazon gets ready to launch October Prime Day.

Alternatively, you can grab single 30th Celebration cards on TCGplayer if you're looking for something specific.

It's a new fact of life in 2026: If a gadget has memory, it's going to get a price increase eventually.

And on the first day of October, PhoneArena noticed that Samsung had raised prices by $100 or more on its latest-generation flagship smartphones in the U.S., the Galaxy S26 line. Samsung opened the new phone release season when it released the Galaxy S26 in March, and since then, we've documented price increases from Apple, Acer, Google, HP, Motorola, Lenovo, Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox.

Because of a multi-trillion-dollar AI infrastructure spending spree, the memory components that are necessary for laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, and other tech products are in short supply.

The Galaxy S26 price hikes hurt even more because the S26 and S26 Plus were already more expensive at launch than their S25 counterparts.

The new prices are:

• Galaxy S26, 256GB — $999.99

• Galaxy S26 Plus, 256GB — $1,199.99

• Galaxy S26 Ultra, 256GB — $1,399.99

Prices vary depending on the storage option you choose, but in general, all the S26 phones are now $100 more expensive. As PhoneArena noted, the 1TB version of the S26 Ultra received a $200 increase.

We do have some good news, however.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, announced on Sept. 3, is unaffected by the price increases; you can still preorder that phone for a starting price of $699, and it's set to be released on Oct. 5.

In addition, you can still find some deals on the Galaxy S26. Amazon is selling the Galaxy S26 Ultra in the white colorway for over $100 off, letting you cancel out the price increase; you can also buy the base model S26 for its original price in select colors, also at Amazon. Finally, mobile carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile will often offer up to $1,000 off new phones if you switch, trade in an old device, or sign up for a specific plan.

SEE ALSO: Is Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE still a good value at $700? Top deals of the day:

• Save up to 50% on Amazon devices

• Shop Amazon deals on cell phones and accessories

• Best early October Prime Day deals

• Shop the latest TV deals at Amazon

The Galaxy S26 line might be half a year old, but its official price is going up. Samsung has raised prices across the core series by at least $100, with steeper increases at the high end.

Sometimes I wonder: Am I just a big fan of Ethernet, or do I dislike Wi-Fi? The answer is probably "yes." My home is full of various devices, and I try to wire them up as often as possible, as I find that ditching Wi-Fi for Ethernet brings great results 99% of the time.

Wondering what the Moon will look like tonight? Its shape and brightness change throughout the month, so there's always something slightly different to see on its surface. Here's the lunar phase for tonight, plus what you might be able to see.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, Oct. 1, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Gibbous phase, with 75% of its surface visible.

Without any visual aids, tonight you can see the Copernicus Crater, Oceanus Procellarum, and the Kepler Crater. If you have binoculars, you can also spot the Clavius, Alphonsus, Gassendi Craters. Finally, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 11 and 15 landing spots, plus the Descartes Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes around 29.5 days to orbit Earth, and as it moves through this cycle, we see different amounts of its sunlit side from here. That's what creates the Moon's different phases, from a thin crescent through to a half Moon and, eventually, the Full Moon. Once it reaches the Full Moon, the cycle starts over again. NASA explains that the phase we see depends on the Moon's position in relation to 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.

TL;DR: Watch Greece vs. Netherlands in the Nations League for free on NPO. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League continues to entertain this week with a number of interesting fixtures, including Greece vs. Netherlands. The Dutch have looked pretty slick so far. They were unlucky to draw against Germany and then followed that up with a convincing win over Finland.

Now Xavi Hernández's team visits Greece for another tough matchup.

If you're interested in watching Greece vs. Netherlands in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Greece vs. Netherlands?

Greece vs. Netherlands in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Oct. 1. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Toumbas.

How to watch Greece vs. Netherlands for free

Greece vs. Netherlands in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on NPO.

NPO is geo-restricted to the Netherlands, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the Netherlands, meaning you can live stream Greece vs. Netherlands for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Greece vs. Netherlands for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the Netherlands

4. Visit NPO

5. Watch Greece vs. Netherlands for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Greece vs. Netherlands without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for NPO?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on NPO, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including the Netherlands

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Greece vs. Netherlands for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's October, which means we have officially entered the fourth quarter of 2026. This month is made for horror fans, as Halloween rapidly approaches. You can always find some horror movies to watch on Netflix. However, Netflix's new releases this month are more geared toward fans of thrillers and comedy.

TL;DR: Watch Germany vs. Serbia in the Nations League for free on GE TV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League has not started well for Germany. They were lucky to draw against the Netherlands, but then lost to Greece. Jürgen Klopp has got his work cut out. He'll be desperately hoping for a positive result at home to Serbia.

If you're interested in watching Germany vs. Serbia in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Germany vs. Serbia?

Germany vs. Serbia in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Oct. 1. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.

How to watch Germany vs. Serbia for free

Germany vs. Serbia in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on GE TV.

GE TV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Germany vs. Serbia for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Germany vs. Serbia for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit GE TV

5. Watch Germany vs. Serbia for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Germany vs. Serbia without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for GE TV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on GE TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Germany vs. Serbia for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

With storage drives going up considerably in price over the last year, it's getting harder to justify wasting space on stuff you don't actually need.

While the highly anticipated Prime Big Deal Days are nearly upon us, you don't have to wait around until Oct. 6–7 to start saving huge, as Amazon has already started posting some of its early-access deals, and there are numerous, noteworthy opportunities. Among the countless products, one that truly stands out as a worthy purchase with your hard-earned cash is this Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet—and it's over $80 off.

Amazon has revamped its entire Kindle lineup, and there are reasons to take notice even if you're happy with your old model. All of them are easier to carry and more colorful, but the highlight is the company's first color Kindle Scribe.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection is on sale for $49.98 at Amazon, saving you $20.01 from the regular list price of $69.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection $49.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $20.01   Get Deal

If you're in the market for Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration merch, we're keeping an eye on one expansion’s smaller collections. This deal, however, isn't a small one — it's a significant markdown that should tempt trading card collectors to get involved with this latest expansion. 

As of Oct. 1, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection (Alolan Exeggutor) is $49.98 at Amazon, down $20.01 from the $69.99 list price. That's a 29% discount overall. 

SEE ALSO: Shop the best early Prime Day deals on Pokémon, including 30th Celebration trading cards for under market price

The Tech Sticker Collection is more expensive at Walmart, where it's currently listed for $51. With Walmart, you receive either the Alolan Exeggutor or the Lucario variant at random, whereas at Amazon, you can choose which one you receive (the Lucario version is priced at $49.98). At Amazon’s price, it works out to around $16.66 per booster pack.

This Tech Sticker Collection includes three Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration booster packs, an Alolan Exeggutor foil promo card, and a matching tech sticker sheet.

Alternatively, you can pick up single 30th Celebration cards on TCGplayer right now if there's something you really need.

Best early Prime Day iPhone deals: Best iPhone deal overall iPhone 18 Pro (256 GB) $0 (save $1,199.99) Get Deal Best iPhone 17 Pro deal iPhone 17 Pro (256 GB) $0 (save $1,299.99) Get Deal Best unlocked iPhone deal iPhone 16e (128GB) $539.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best refurbished iPhone deal Refurbished iPhone 14 (128 GB) $399.99 (save $20) Get Deal

Amazon hasn't released its latest early Prime Day iPhone deals page yet. (Right now, it's just filled with iPhone 16s that aren't on sale.) We don't usually see iPhone deals worth buying on Amazon unless they're "renewed," so if you're hoping to find a discount on a brand-new, unlocked iPhone from Bezos, you probably won't.

But that doesn't mean you can't find a good deal during the sale — it just won't be on Amazon. Right now, T-Mobile is offering new and existing customers a chance to get the iPhone 18 Pro for free (if you don't mind signing a contract). If you'd rather not be tied to a carrier, Best Buy and Amazon offer discounts on unlocked "refurbished" and "renewed" models.

SEE ALSO: The best iPhones to buy in 2026: Our top pick might surprise you

Now that you've heard my spiel, here are the best early Prime Day iPhone deals you can shop right now, and you can check out our Apple guide for discounts on AirPods and MacBooks.

Score Apple's brand-new $1,200 flagship for $0

Getting a $1,200 phone for nothing is a hard deal to pass up. Right now, T-Mobile is covering the full cost of the iPhone 18 Pro through 36 monthly bill credits. To get this deal, you'll need to either switch to an Experience Beyond 2.0 plan or trade in a relatively recent device, like an iPhone 16 or 15 Pro, on an eligible plan.

While T-Mobile says it accepts trade-ins in any condition, older phones like the iPhone 14 or 13 will bump you down to the $930 or $500 credit tiers. You'll also still have to pay the local sales tax on the full pre-credit retail price upfront, along with a $35 device connection fee. But if you're already planning to stick with T-Mobile for the next three years, it's an easy way to upgrade without paying full price.

Read our review of the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 18 Pro (256 GB) $0 at T-Mobile
$1,199.99 Save $1,199.99   Get Deal Trade in an older phone to grab the 17 Pro completely free

If you're not worried about having the latest and greatest, T-Mobile is giving away the iPhone 17 Pro using that exact same 36-month bill credit promo. You just need to switch to an Experience Beyond 2.0 plan or trade in an older phone.

The best part? Since last year's Pro model costs less upfront, trading in an older device like an iPhone 14 or 15 nearly covers the entire cost.

Read our review of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17 Pro (256 GB) $0 at T-Mobile
$1,299.99 Save $1,299.99   Get Deal Save $60 on an unlocked iPhone 16e — no contract required

Best Buy has the unlocked iPhone 16e marked down to $539.99 — a $60 discount. It comes with 128GB of storage and Apple Intelligence built right in. It's not a flagship Pro model, but it is one of the only brand-new, unlocked iPhones seeing an outright cash discount ahead of October's sale events.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 16e (128GB) $539.99 at Best Buy
$599.99 Save $60   Get Deal Snag a like-new unlocked iPhone 14 for under $400

If you want a reliable, no-nonsense iPhone without spending top-dollar, going refurbished is the smartest route. Best Buy has the unlocked 128GB iPhone 14 in "Refurbished Excellent" condition marked down to $399.99. It gives you a clean OLED display, solid camera setup, and long battery life for under $400 — no carrier sign-ups or monthly commitments attached.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished iPhone 14 (128 GB) $399 at Best Buy
$419.99 Save $20.99   Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale is just around the corner — and so are some excellent Apple deals, no doubt. This 48-hour "October Prime Day" serves as Amazon's kickoff to the Black Friday/holiday shopping season, which is the best time to find discounts on popular Apple devices, among many other tech products. This year, it will double as some year-end relief from RAMageddon price increases.

While the sale isn't scheduled to begin until Oct. 6, Amazon is already rolling out some early October Prime Day deals on select gadgets, including most AirPods, Apple Watches, iPads, and MacBooks. That raises the question: If you're thinking about upgrading from an older Apple device to a newer model, should you start adding items to your cart now or hold off for a bit?

SEE ALSO: Amazon announces dates for Prime Big Deal Days, its 48-hour 'October Prime Day' sale

The answer depends on the exact product you're eyeing. Having covered Amazon's sales for years now, I think most of its current Apple deals will get much better on Oct. 6 and 7, when Prime Big Deal Days is officially live. However, a couple of the deals are worth grabbing immediately. In fact, you might miss out if you wait too long.

Read on to find out which six Apple deals I'd add to my cart ASAP, and which others I'm hoping to see once Prime Big Deal Days starts. I've come up with some October Prime Day discount predictions for every current Apple product based on their pricing histories and Amazon's deal patterns. I'm also keeping an eye on rivaling retailers like Walmart and Best Buy to see if they can one-up their offers. (Check back for updates as we get closer to the sale.)

The only Apple deals I'd shop before October Prime Day Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Walmart
$129 Save $30   Get Deal

Apple's last-gen earbuds are getting harder to find in stock following this month's launch of the AirPods 5. Amazon's $99 deal on new pairs is gone, leaving only used options starting at $84.55.

If you're after the base model, your best move right now is Walmart, where new pairs are still available for $99 (normally $129) — matching their lowest price of the year. However, if active noise cancellation is a priority, you can get the ANC version for $129.99 at Best Buy.

While the standard version lacks ANC, misses out on Live Translation, and doesn't sound quite as refined as its successor, it's still a great option for budget shoppers who want a reliable set of wireless earbuds without paying full price.

Read Mashable's review of the Apple AirPods 4.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $389.99 at Amazon
$399 Save $9.01   Get Deal

Apple's latest flagship smartwatch hit shelves in mid-September alongside the AirPods 5, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and iPhone 18 Pros. It has an upgraded chipset and sensors that support better heart rate monitoring, a new Readiness feature, and new Audio Intelligence tools. Amazon is currently selling it for $389.99, which is almost $10 off its usual sticker price of $399. That discount isn't huge, but it's probably not going to get any bigger once Prime Big Deal Days starts. Its predecessor, the Series 11, was also only $10 off during its first Prime Big Deal Days.

Check out our breakdown of all the differences between the Apple Watch Series 12 and Series 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) $779.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $19.01   Get Deal

Similarly, the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4 isn't heavily discounted but probably won't get any cheaper than it currently is, if history repeats itself. Last year, during Prime Big Deal Days, the last-generation Apple Watch Ultra 3 was marked down to $779.99 (normally $799). Ahead of this year's sale, the Ultra 4 is already matching that. Its upgrades include a faster processor, a longer battery life, and a new heart rate monitoring system; it has the same new health and fitness features as the Series 12.

Read Mashable's review of the Apple Watch Ultra 4.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 11-Inch (M4, WiFi, 2TB, nano-texture glass) $1,899 at Amazon
$2,099 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) $1,299 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $200   Get Deal

Amazon still has a couple of older M4 iPad Pros in stock and on sale at deep discounts. One is an 11-inch model with a nano-texture (matte) display and 2TB storage; the other is a 13-inch model with Apple's standard display and 512GB of storage. They're marked down to $1,899 and $1,299, respectively, which is a $200 savings either way. (For reference, they were $250 off and $100 off during Prime Big Deal Days 2025.) They're significantly cheaper than their newer M5 counterparts right now, so I can see them selling out well before this year's October Prime Day.

Read Mashable's review of the 13-inch Apple iPad Air (M4).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,499 at Amazon
$4,099 Save $600   Get Deal

This beefy MacBook Pro, powered by Apple's most powerful laptop chip, is ideal for advanced users like professional video editors and developers. MacBooks don't normally get discounts of more than $300 to $400 during Amazon's Prime events, so at $600 off, this one's a no-brainer buy. I should also mention that this exact configuration cost $3,599 before Apple raised its MacBook prices in June — this discount negates that and then some.

October Prime Day AirPods deals to watch

• Apple AirPods 5: The latest flagship AirPods debuted in mid-September, and they're currently stuck at full price. (The standard models retail for $129, while the ones with a wireless charging case cost $149.) They should get cheaper next month, but not by much. The AirPods 4 only saw a small $10 discount during their first Prime Big Deal Days in 2024, so I think they'll probably go for $119 and $139, respectively.

• Apple AirPods Pro 3: The AirPods Pro 3 have better ANC than the regular AirPods 5, plus a longer battery life, an added heart rate sensor, and an exclusive Hearing Aid mode. They're down to $234 right now — a 6% savings — but there's a strong chance they'll dip even lower for October's festivities. Amazon could revive its record-low price of $169, which last appeared right before June's Prime Day sale.

• Apple AirPods Pro Max 2: Apple's over-ear headphones are currently on sale for $479 (or $70 off their $549 MSRP), but I'd wait. We saw them fall to $399 a couple of months ago on Prime Day — an impressive 27% savings.

Read our reviews of the AirPods 5, the AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods Max 2. Plus, find out where they ranked on our guides to the best wireless earbuds and the best noise-canceling headphones.

The best early October Prime Day AirPods deals for now: Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30 at Walmart) Get Deal Apple AirPods 5 $129 Shop Now Apple AirPods 5 with wireless charging case $149 Shop Now Apple AirPods Pro Max 2 $509.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal October Prime Day Apple Watch deals to watch

• Apple Watch SE 3: Normally $249, Apple's budget smartwatch has been as cheap as $189.99 before — a savings of just under $60. It's definitely not worth buying now at $239, or only $10 off.

The best early October Prime Day Apple Watch deals for now: Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $239 (save $10) Shop Now Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 (save $50) Get Deal Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $389.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) $779.99 (save $19.01) Get Deal October Prime Day MacBook deals to watch

• Apple MacBook Neo: The cheapest MacBook hasn't gotten any major discounts at major retailers since its March release. (Its current sale price of $689 on Amazon, or $10 off, is its all-time low there.) There's no world where Amazon matches the Apple Store's $100 student discount for Prime Big Deal Days, IMO, but maybe we'll see it hit $649 for the first time next month. It's due for better deals now that it's more than six months old.

• Apple MacBook Air: The sky blue 13-inch M5 MacBook Air was ~$150 off at the time of writing, but don't add it to your cart yet. Both sizes of last year's M4 MacBook Air were $200 off during Prime Big Deal Days 2025. If Amazon matched that offer in the coming weeks, it would erase the M5 Air's recent price hike. For reference, the 13-inch one usually starts at $1,299, while the 15-inch size typically starts at $1,499; snag them as soon as you catch them at $1,099 and $1,299, respectively.

• Apple MacBook Pro: The 14-inch, M5-powered base model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage is $160 off right now, but I think Amazon might sell it for $1,799, or $200 off, come Prime Big Deal Days. That's the discount its equally configured predecessor got last fall. (It wouldn't fully cancel the MacBook Pro's recent $300 price increase, but it would be a welcome deal regardless. We haven't spotted it on sale for less than $1,849 since June.)

Read our reviews of the Apple MacBook Neo, the M5 MacBook Air, and the M5 MacBook Pro. Plus, find out which MacBook is best for you.

The best early October Prime Day MacBook deals for now: Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $689 (save $10) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,449 (save $150) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399 (save $100) Shop Now Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,839 (save $160) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,499 (save $600) Get Deal October Prime Day iPad deals to watch

• Apple iPad: Apple's flagship tablet is on sale for $427 in the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days (usually $449), which is a skip. Wait to see if Amazon matches or beats its $70 discount from last year's sale, which would bring it down to just $379.

• Apple iPad mini: The smallest, most portable iPad was also $70 off during Prime Big Deal Days 2025, so it's worth adding to your cart if you see it drop to $529 or lower next month. It's now on sale for $569 (only $30 off).

• Apple iPad Air: Amazon randomly shifted the list prices for both sizes of the latest M4 iPad Air, so technically, both models are $20 off right now. You can grab the 11-inch version for $729 and the 13-inch version for $929 (down from their original retail prices of $749 and $949). It's a tiny markdown compared to the $100 price cuts we saw recently, but last October, Amazon dropped the previous-gen models by $150 during Prime Big Deal Days. If Amazon replicates that $150 discount off the original list price next month, the 11-inch model would fall to $599, and the 13-inch would drop to $799.

• Apple iPad Pro: The 11-inch base configuration of the M4 iPad Pro was $100 off during last year's Prime Big Deal Days, while the 13-inch base model was $200 off. Amazon isn't matching those offers just yet: The smaller size is now $1,139, only $60 off, while the 13-inch one is now $1,399, or $100 off (not bad, but it could be even better). Ideally, they'll soon hit $1,099 and $1,299 or less.

Read our reviews of the iPad mini, the M4 iPad Air, and the M5 iPad Pro. Not sure which iPad to buy? Allow us to offer some guidance.

The best early October Prime Day iPad deals for now: Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $427 (save $22) Get Deal Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $569 (save $30) Get Deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB $729 (save $20) Get Deal Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $929 (save $20) Get Deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-Inch (M4, WiFi, 2TB, nano-texture glass) $1,899 (save $200) Get Deal Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) $1,299 (save $200) Get Deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) $1,139 (save $60) Get Deal Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) $1,399 (save $100) Get Deal October Prime Day Apple accessory deals to watch

• Apple AirTags (4-Pack): Currently on sale for $89 (normally $99). We frequently see this 4-pack drop to $69 or $79 during major Amazon events, so it's worth holding off a few more weeks to save an extra $5 or $10.

• Apple Pencil Pro: Down to $99 (normally $129). This $30 discount is a pretty good deal. The lowest we've ever seen Amazon let it go for was $89.99 in Oct. of 2024.

• Apple MagSafe Charger: On sale for $39.99 (normally $49). It doesn't usually drop below $29 (though we did see it at $28 in June), so the current price is reasonable if you need a wireless charger right away, though a slightly better deal is likely during the sale.

Watch for Apple Gift Card bundles: Keep an eye out for gift card promos as we get closer to Oct. 6. Target and Best Buy frequently run deals where buying a $100 Apple Gift Card gets you a $15 credit back. It's essentially free money if you already plan on paying for iCloud, Apple Music, or future hardware upgrades.

The best early Prime Day Pokémon deals: Best TCG ETB deal Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $89.99 (save vs. market price) Get Deal Best Booster Bundle deal Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $44.99 (save $15) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Pokémon Eevee (72151) $47.95 (save $12.04) Get Deal Best video game deal Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo Switch 2) $50.99 (save $19) Get Deal Best book deal Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide (Pokemon Pikachu Press) $39.84 (save $20.15) Get Deal Best TCG display box deal Pokémon Card Game MEGA Expansion Pack 30th Celebration Display Box (Japanese) $288 ($31.90) Get Deal

Amazon’s October Prime Day is getting closer, and the early Pokémon deals are getting even better. There are fresh price cuts across the Pokémon trading card game, Nintendo Switch games, Lego sets, and books, including several offers that have either returned to previous lows or dropped even further since we last checked.

SEE ALSO: Lego's Pokémon Eevee is close to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $12 before October Prime Day

Prime Big Deal Days runs from Oct. 6-7, but there’s no need to wait for the main event to start saving. We're seeing the Perfect Order booster bundles below $45 plus more than $19 off Pokémon Legends: Z-A on Switch 2, and even discounts on Pokémon Lego.

These are the best early Pokémon Prime Day deals available right now.

A 30th Celebration Display Box at over $30 off Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon Card Game MEGA Expansion Pack 30th Celebration Display Box (Japanese) $288 at Amazon
$319.95 Save $31.95   Get Deal

If you're the type of Pokémon collector who just wants to appreciate the artwork instead of playing with the cards, this deal on the Japanese version of the expansion's display box is for you.

There's $31.90 knocked off the original $319.90 price, and with 20 packs per box, you'll save an extra $68.80 compared to buying 20 English packs on TCGplayer.

Perfect Order Booster Bundles now under $45 Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $49.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $10   Get Deal

Perfect Order is one of the Pokémon TCG expansions that's been fluctuating in price in recent months, but this early Prime Day deal has it under the $45 mark across various sellers. You can now buy the six-booster pack box for as low as $44.63 from third-party sellers, or spend an extra 26 cents on the Amazon listing to get yours delivered a day earlier.

At the lowest price, this means you'll be paying just $7.49 for every Perfect Order booster pack. Single boosters cost $9.99, but buying the Booster Bundle saves an extra $2.50 per pack.

More Pokémon TCG deals

• Pokémon TCG Mega Evolutions Perfect Order 3-Pack Blister (Chikorita) — $26.44 $29.99 (save $3.55)

• Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black 3 Booster Pack Blister (Binacle) — $26.99 $29.99 (save $3)

• Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection — Series 2 — $38.99 $59.99 (save $21)

• Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle — $53.95 $59.99 (save $6.04) 

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box — $94.75 $99.99 (save $5.24)

The only Pokémon Lego set on sale Opens in a new window Credit: LEGO Lego Pokémon Eevee (72151) $47.95 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12.04   Get Deal

The 587-piece Lego Pokémon Eevee set is a posable display piece designed for adult builders. Unlike static figures, the ears, head, limbs, and angled tail are fully adjustable, so you can change up how it sits on your shelf. This is now back to its all-time low price for listings directly from Amazon (confirmed by the price tracker camelcamelcamel), making it a good time to grab it now rather than waiting to see if it drops further during the main sale.

(Note: Eevee is currently the only set in the Lego Pokémon lineup receiving a discount ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, but we've listed the most popular sets below so you can keep an eye on them if Amazon drops prices during the event.)

More Pokémon Lego deals

• Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Charmander and Geodude's Cavern Clash — $19.99

• Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu — $69.96

• Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Mewtwo's Lab Break — $69.96

• Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Umbreon vs. Garchomp Championship Battle — $79.96

• Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Cubone and Gengar's Spooky Showdown — $89.95

• Lego Pokémon Arcanine — $109.95

• Lego Pokémon SMART Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle — $119.99

• Lego Pokémon Rayquaza — $129.95

• Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball — $199.95

• Lego Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise — $649.99

$19 off Legends: Z-A on Switch 2 Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Pokémon Legends: Z-A $50.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $19.00   Get Deal

Set within Lumiose City, Pokémon Legends: Z-A lets you issue commands on the fly, compete in the nightly Z-A Royale tournament, and use the returning Mega Evolution mechanic to take down rampaging rogue Pokémon. A $19 discount on a major Nintendo Switch 2 title makes this an easy choice to pick up now rather than paying full retail.

More 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! — $53.99 $59.99 (save $6)

• Pokémon Legends: Arceus — $54.26 $59.99 (save $5.73)

Best Pokémon book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Alex Irvine/Pokemon Pikachu Press Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide (Pokemon Pikachu Press) $39.84 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.15   Get Deal

For a hardbound, 336-page reference book celebrating 30 years of the franchise, the 34% markdown puts the Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide at its lowest Amazon price ever (confirmed with camelcamelcamel) — making this a must-buy for diehard Pokémon collectors.

This book not only features a foreword from The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara but also covers characters from every region in numerical order, with artwork from the games, anime, and trading card game. It works well as a coffee table display piece with its color-it-yourself cover, or just as a quick reference guide so you don't have to keep an online wiki open on your phone.

More 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)

Early October Prime Day iPad deals at a glance: Best budget iPad deal Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $427 (save $22) Get Deal Best iPad mini deal Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $569 (save $30) Get Deal Best iPad Air deal iPad Air 11-inch (M4, WiFi) $807 (save $42) Get Deal Best iPad Pro deal Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) $1,299 (save $200) Get Deal

Fall has just begun, but the holiday shopping season is already heating up. No longer do things kick off on Black Friday: Amazon's annual Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 6 and 7 will be your first chance to start scoring year-end deals.

Ahead of October Prime Day, Mashable's team of shopping experts is tracking all the best early price drops across top brands, especially Apple. When it comes to iPads, early deals are a bit hit-or-miss. While many baseline models are seeing modest $20 to $30 markdowns, a select few, including the powerful M4 iPad Air configurations and the M5 iPad Pro setups, have dropped low enough to justify hitting "add to cart" before the official event even begins.

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day Apple deals guide: Buy now or wait?

Below, we've rounded up the best early October Prime Day iPad deals we could find. We've also made some predictions for the iPad deals we're likely to see next week based on our experience covering Prime Big Deal Days in the past. Decide for yourself if you're willing to wait for them; even the meager savings now are still something to celebrate, considering all iPads got price hikes this summer.

Save up to $30 on the regular iPad

The standard iPad with the A16 chip is our favorite Apple tablet for budget shoppers. "Even though its tech is basic compared to the advanced iPad Air and Pro," writes Mashable's Samantha Mangino, "it's great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading." It's rated for up to six hours of battery life.

Ahead of Amazon's sale, the base iPad with 128GB of storage is $30 off with or without cellular connectivity. It was $70 off last Prime Big Deal Days, so it could dip further to $379 next week (normally $449).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $427 at Amazon
$449 Save $22   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) $569 at Amazon
$599 Save $30   Get Deal Take up to $30 off the iPad mini

If you wish e-readers were more powerful, more versatile, and equipped with way more storage, get Apple's smallest iPad instead. The iPad mini's compact size and anti-reflective display make it our favorite tablet for reading.

The iPad mini also saw a $70 discount during Prime Big Deal Days 2025, so we think it will drop to $529 when this year's sale begins on Oct. 6 (typically $599). Right now, the base model is up to $30 off, depending on whether you'd like cellular connectivity.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple ipad mini $569 at Apple
$599 Save $30   Get Deal Skip the pro pricing on Apple's newest M4 power tablet with $42 off

In his 4.5-star review, Mashable’s Timothy Beck Werth called the M4 iPad Air "a tablet that thinks it's an AI laptop," making it a great pick for students, artists, and creators. It has the same super-light aluminum body and bright Liquid Retina screen as last year's model.

Where it wins is speed: the new M4 processor and upgraded smart chip make AI tools like fast voice-note transcription and photo editing happen almost instantly. While Timothy pointed out that it only offers "iterative upgrades over last year's model" and can feel "overpowered for casual users", that is exactly why this price drop makes sense.

Paying full retail for an incremental spec bump can be a hard sell, but catching it on sale makes the extra speed, 256GB of storage, and creator-grade power completely worth the tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4, WiFi) $807 at Amazon
$849 Save $42   Get Deal Save $200 on select M4 iPad Pros

If you're a professional creative in the market for an iPad Pro, consider buying last year's M4 model instead of the freshest M5 version, which just has a newer chip and newer wireless connectivity tech (WiFi and Bluetooth). The best early October Prime Day iPad deals we've seen feature $200 discounts on two upgraded M4 iPad Pros: One is a 13-inch model with 512GB of storage; the other is an 11-incher with 2TB of storage and a nano-texture display. Both of them are sitting at some of their lowest prices of the year so far. If anything, they might get $50 cheaper during Prime Big Day Deals... if they don't sell out first.

Prefer an M5 iPad Pro for future-proofing's sake? Amazon's deals on both sizes max out at $100 off right now. Come Prime Big Deal Days, they could be up to $200 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) $1,299 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 2TB, nano-texture glass) $1,899 at Amazon
$2,099 Save $200   Get Deal More iPad Pro deals

• Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,139 $1,199 (save $60)

• Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,427 $1,499 (save $72)

• Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,614 $1,699 (save $85)

• Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 512GB Cellular) — $1,804 $1,899 (save $95)