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If you're looking to speed up your Excel workflow, keyboard shortcuts are crucial. And I'm not just talking about the ones you learned the first time you sat in front of a Windows machine, like Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. Some shortcuts are more powerful than those but easier to overlook, and F4 is one of them.

The best early Prime Day deals on fitness trackers: Best Fitbit deal Fitbit Sense 2 $199.95 (save $50) Get Deal Best Garmin deal Garmin vívoactive 5 $181.97 (Save $118.02) Get Deal Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $159 (Save $90.99) Get Deal Best budget deal Fitbit Charge 6 $131.56 (Save $28.39) Get Deal

If a new fitness tracker is on your wishlist, Prime Big Deal Days is the perfect time to shop. Amazon has already started discounting popular models from Garmin, Fitbit, and other big-name brands ahead of its sale, so you can pick up a deal early.

SEE ALSO: 21 early October Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by our gadget-obsessed experts

The official event runs Oct. 6-7, with thousands of discounts reserved for Prime members, but there's no reason to wait if you spot a deal you like. We've rounded up the best fitness tracker offers available now, so you can save on a new wearable before the main event even gets underway.

Get a Garmin for under $200 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $198.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $101   Get Deal

The Garmin vívoactive 5 packs a bright AMOLED display and up to 11 days of battery life into a fitness-focused smartwatch that covers the essentials for both fitness and lifestyle tracking. You'll get advanced health and sleep tracking, built-in GPS, more than 30 sports apps, and useful training and recovery features that were missing from the previous vivoactive watch. I was a big fan of the vivoactive 4, and the 5 only made this all-rounder smartwatch even better.

Like the Apple Watch look? Save $50 on this alternative. Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Sense 2 $199.95 at Amazon
$249.95 Save $50   Get Deal

The Fitbit Sense 2 comes with that stylish, squircle design, plus it's currently on sale for under $200. It tracks stress, sleep, and activity, with features 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, built-in GPS, and more than 40 exercise modes. If you want the Apple Watch look for less, this deal will save you some money.

Get the Samsung Galaxy 7 for more than $90 off Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $159 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $90.99   Get Deal

With the release of newer models, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 has significantly dropped in price. It's packed with lots of clever features to assist you in training, including Galaxy AI which makes your fitness and health tracking feel more personal, from comparing your latest run or ride with previous performance to giving you an Energy Score for your day.

Save on a budget fitness tracker Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $131.56 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $28.39   Get Deal

For a compact, budget-friendly option, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a great choice. In fact, it even made it onto our guide of the best fitness trackers, excelling for those who want to "stay middle-of-the-road on budget without sacrificing a lot of features." With this watch, you'll get built-in GPS, 40+ exercise modes, and all-day activity and heart-rate tracking. It also keeps tabs on sleep, stress, and daily readiness.

Endurance athletes can save $300 on the fēnix 7X Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin fēnix 7X Pro $674 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $325.99   Get Deal

This one is built for serious training and outdoor treks. This Garmin has a rugged 51mm design with solar charging for weeks of battery life. You'll get seriously advanced training and recovery insights, multi-band GPS, detailed navigation, and handy extras like a built-in LED flashlight. And the day before Prime Day gets underway, it's over $300 off at Amazon.

The only Apple Watch early Prime Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 3 $699.97 at Amazon
$899 Save $199.03   Get Deal

Apple Watch deals are few and far between in the lead-up to Prime Day, but just one day out, and we've spotted a discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 3. This is a rugged design, with a tough titanium case and a strong sapphire crystal display, meaning it's built for serious adventures. It also packs advanced health and fitness tracking, including ECG, sleep, and heart-rate monitoring, dual-frequency GPS, custom workouts and training load, plus up to 42 hours of battery life.

The best early Prime Day deals on speakers: Best speaker deal Beats Pill $99.95 (save $50) Get Deal Best smart speaker deal Amazon Echo Dot $39.99 (save $40) Get Deal Best budget speaker deal Soundcore Select 4 Go $22.99 (save $12) Get Deal

It's officially fall, which means a lot of things: Gilmore Girls rewatches begin, spiced coffees, and of course, the beginning of sale season.

From Prime Big Deal Days to Black Friday to Cyber Monday, the end of summer truly marks the season of discounts. And with Amazon's October Prime Day just around the corner, running Oct. 6 and 7, you can expect to see discounts on everything from portable power stations to Fire TV Sticks.

We've already spotted markdowns on speakers, including premium and budget-friendly options from brands like Beats, Bose, and JBL. Here are the best early Prime Day deals on portable and smart speakers.

Best speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Pill $99.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $50.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The Beats Pill isn't just beloved for its classic, powerful sound; it's also a powerhouse in design. It's robust, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so it's ideal for taking to the beach, the pool, or wherever you might not feel comfortable taking a less durable device. For sound, there's a bespoke racetrack woofer that displaces 90% more air volume. You can also easily pair two Beats Pill speakers for a richer audio experience in Amplify or Stereo mode.

Best smart speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Dot $39.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $40.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's Echo devices are officially on sale ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. Right now, grab the Amazon Echo Dot for just $39.99. While that's not the lowest sale price we've ever spotted on the Echo Dot, it's the best price since Amazon increased prices on its devices.

The Echo Dot is a perfectly compact smart speaker. Plus, it's compatible with Alexa+, a smarter home assistant that helps you do everything from meal planning to booking dinner reservations.

Best budget speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Select 4 Go $22.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $12.00   Get Deal Why we like it

When a speaker is priced as low as the Soundcore Select 4 Go, there's little it needs to do to impress beyond just playing your music. But thankfully, this speaker does a little more than that. It has a compact, waterproof design (rated IP67) and up to 20 hours of battery life. It can even be immersed in water up to 3.3 ft deep for up to 30 minutes, so it's ideal for a variety of activities. And despite its compact size, this portable speaker delivers 5W of output for clear, punchy sound.

More early Prime Day speaker deals

Portable speakers

• Anker Soundcore 2 — $29.99 $22.99 (save $15)

• JBL Go 5 — $39.95 $54.95 (save $15)

• Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 — $59.99 $99.99 (save $50)

• Bose SoundLink Micro — $99.99 $129 (save $29.01)

• Soundcore Boom 2 — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)

• Ultimate Ears Boom 4 — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40)

• Marshall Emberton III — $99.99 $179.99 (save $70)

• JBL Charge 6 — $149.95 $199.95 (save $50)

• Bose SoundLink Plus — $179 $269 (save $90)

• Soundcore Rave 3S Party Speaker — $299.99 $349.99 (save $50)

• JBL PartyBox Stage 320 — $499.95 $549.95 (save $50)

Smart speakers

• Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $21.99 $49.99 (save $28)

• Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $39.99 $89.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Echo Dot Max — $79.99 $119.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Echo Studio — $179.99 $219.99 (save $40)

Thrift stores and garage sales can be great places to find old tech devices that still have plenty of life left. Not every gadget you find in a thrift store is worth buying, but there are some devices that could be worth snagging at the right price.

The best early October Prime Day headphones and earbuds deals: Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort headphones (2nd gen) $319 (save $40) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 (save $70) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds $234.99 (save $65) Get Deal Best budget headphones deal Sony WH-CH720N $88 (save $91.99) Get Deal

Just like that, fall is here and so is the holiday shopping season — well, almost.

We're kicking things off with Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, otherwise known as October Prime Day. The sitewide sale runs from Oct. 6 to 7, but deals on headphones are already popping up that are more than worth picking up ahead of time, especially if you want to avoid the chaos of the sale.

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

Standouts include the first-ever price cut on the new Bose QuietComfort headphones (some of the best I've tested this year) and a $65 price cut on the Technics EAH-AZ100, our favorite premium earbuds for sound quality. Other deals have had some fluctuation in the lead-up — the AirPods Pro dropped to $199 only to go up to $234, and now they're down to $179 — but we'll be keeping this list updated as we head into the sale tomorrow.

Below, check out the best headphones and earbuds deals live ahead of October Prime Day, according to someone who tests them.

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) $319 at Amazon
$359 Save $40   Get Deal Why we like it

The Bose QuietComfort headphones stand out the most (so far) in a year of many releases. With immersive audio, comfort for all-day wear, excellent active noise cancellation, and clear, robust sound quality, these headphones are very comparable to the significantly more expensive Bose QC Ultra headphones.

This $40 price drop is their first-ever sale following their recent release, but I'd be surprised if it drops much further for Prime Day proper. In other words, if you're looking to get a good deal on these headphones, now is the time to buy.

Read Mashable's review of the Bose QuietComfort headphones (2nd gen).

More headphones and earbuds deals

• Soundcore Q20i — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

• Marshall Major V — $89.99 $129.99 (save $40)

• Sony WH-CH720N — $88 $179.99 (save $91.99)

• Beats Solo 4 — $99.95 $199.95 (save $100)

• Sony ULT headphones — $132.95 $249.99 (save $117.04)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless — $244.90 $449 (save $55.09)

• Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds — $234.99 $299.99 (save $65)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $429.99 $549 (save $120)

The best early AirPods deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days: Best overall deal Apple AirPods 4 $79 (save $50.99) Get Deal Best AirPods Pro deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 (save $70) Get Deal Best airpods max deal Apple AirPods Max 2 $429 (save $120) Get Deal

Wallets at the ready, folks: We're now just one day away from October Prime Day.

The sale, officially dubbed Prime Big Deal Days, is the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season — a chance to stock up on marked-down tech with deals on items such as AirPods.

The sale officially kicks off Oct. 6, but in the lead-up to the main event, our team will be tracking all the best AirPods deals. So far, we haven't seen any price drops on the newly announced AirPods 5 (more on that below), but we have seen some other competitive price drops — though no all-time lows yet. As someone who tests and writes about headphones and earbuds year-round, I get why Apple users are willing to invest in AirPods. As a deals expert, I also much prefer to see folks grab AirPods on sale.

SEE ALSO: Early October Prime Day deals already live: Save on Apple, Beats, Fire TV, and Garmin

The key to shopping these sales smartly is grabbing deals at just the right time. That's why I've rounded up the three best AirPods deals live so far, plus the three that you can wait on before the big day finally kicks off. Check them out below, and be sure to follow more of Mashable's October Prime Day coverage.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $50.99   Get Deal Why we picked this

The humble AirPods 4. What they lack in active noise cancellation, they make up for in a more appealing price point of $79, a total discount of over $50. With the release of the AirPods 5, these are the last AirPods available without ANC. Maybe that's ideal for you, or maybe you simply appreciate the lower price point. In either case, this is likely the last holiday shopping season you can grab these buds on sale. Just note that they are still $10 away from their record low price of $69, but their availability may be limited as we get further into the shopping season — they've already sold out on Amazon.

Best AirPods Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179
$249 Save $70   Get Deal Why we picked this

For listeners who need ANC in their ears, the AirPods Pro 3 currently boast one of the best Amazon discounts on AirPods. Having just dropped to $179, they're now just $10 off their lowest-ever reduction of $169. Sure, they're not the latest and most advanced model anymore, but you get a bunch of great features, including adaptive noise cancellation, Live Translation, heart rate sensing, and three-dimensional spatial audio.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation — $119 $179 (save $60)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $429 $549 (save $120)

AirPods deals to wait for

• The AirPods 5 have only received one small deal — a $4 price drop — so far since their release on Sept. 18. Granted, they're still very new to the market, so even that price dip is notable. We're hoping that as we get further into holiday deal season, a slightly more substantial deal comes along.

• The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case haven't dropped in price just yet, so we're not holding our breath that they will, especially since they're still brand new. That said, October Prime Day would be a very appropriate time for a surprise deal, so the chance that we see even a small dip isn't zero. At the very least, grabbing them at full price is still likely a better deal than grabbing the AirPods 4 with ANC on sale (more on that below).

• Amazon likes to drop the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation to $149 (down from $179), which might look like a good deal at first glance. But there's a catch. Their newer analog, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, has a standard list price of $149 and comes with an improved feature set, including better active noise cancellation and sound quality, with the same battery life. In other words, paying $149 for the older model doesn't make sense — the AirPods 4 with ANC would have to be priced well below that (like the Best Buy deal we mentioned above) for it to be a deal worth picking up.

Like clockwork, any time Amazon announces a Prime Day event, Walmart conveniently launches a counter sale. This October is no different. Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, casually known as October Prime Day, is coming Oct. 6 and 7. So it's no coincidence that Walmart is throwing its own week-long sale starting Oct. 5.

Walmart's sale is simply named Fall Deals and unlike Prime Big Deal Days, you don't need to be a Walmart+ member to shop. Members do get extra perks, though, including free next-day shipping, free same-day delivery, and more. It costs $98 per year for a Walmart+ membership, but you can try it out for 30 days for just a buck.

Here's what you need to know about Walmart's Prime Day sale, which is now officially live.

When is Walmart's Prime Day event?

The Walmart Fall Deals event kicked off at midnight ET on Oct. 5. While Amazon's event only lasts 48 hours, Walmart will keep the fun going for a full week, wrapping up on Oct. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Shop Walmart Fall Deals 2026 Take a peek at early savings up to 50% off Shop Now What's on sale for Walmart's Fall Deals event?

When Walmart first announced its Fall Deals Prime Day event, it teased deals across several categories:

• Up to 30% off toys

• Up to 50% off home

• Up to 40% off "home upgrades"

• Up to 25% off tools

• Up to 30% off Halloween deals, from candy to decor

• Up to 40% off tech

• Up to 25% off wellness deals

Now that the sale is officially live, we're seeing plenty of great deals in all of the categories above, and then some. We've rounded up just a few for you below, but be sure to check out our full list of Walmart deals, as well as Amazon's October Prime Day deals, in our Prime Day hub.

The best live Walmart deals at a glance: Apple AirPods 4 $79 (save $50) Get Deal Toniebox 2 Starter Set $99 (save $70.99) Get Deal Alienware 15 DA15265 gaming laptop (AMD Ryzen 5 220, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GDDR6, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $799 (save $700.99) Get Deal JBL Grip $69.95 (save $30) Get Deal Dyson V8 Cyclone $299.99 (save $150) Get Deal

The best early October Prime Day earbuds deals: Best Apple deal Apple AirPods 4 $79 (save $50.99) Get Deal Best Apple deal with ANC Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 (save $70) Get Deal Best Bose deal Bose QuietComfort Earbuds $149 (save $30) Get Deal Best open earbuds deal Shokz OpenDots One $139.95 (save $60) Get Deal Best sleep earbuds deal Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $168.99 (save $61) Get Deal

It's leaf-peeping season, and that means it's time for another massive sale event at Amazon. This year, October Prime Big Deal Days is a two-day sale, spanning Oct. 6 and 7. We're just one day away from the sale kicking off, but Amazon is already packed with great offers. That's especially true if you're in need of fresh earbuds.

Many of us depend on earbuds like we depend on water. On the checklist before walking out the front door, we need a wallet, phone, keys, and earbuds. They're with us from a morning walk with the dog to pre-bedtime YouTube streaming. If your current pair is not up for these tasks, early October Prime Day deals are coming to the rescue.

SEE ALSO: 12 expert-sourced deals on headphones and earbuds ahead of October Prime Day: Shop Beats, AirPods, and Sony

From incredibly comfortable Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) to the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special, we're seeing plenty of great early deals on earbuds, and I've rounded up the best options below. Keep an eye on Mashable's Prime Day coverage as more deals roll in ahead of the sale.

Best Apple earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $30.99   Get Deal Why we like it

At the affordable price of $79, the Apple AirPods 4 are on sale at Walmart. Redesigned for comfort, the AirPods 4 come with a massive 30-hour battery life with the included charging case. And good news on that front: Apple made the case smaller and compatible with USB-C charging.

Keep in mind that the base model of the Apple AirPods 4 does not come with active noise cancellation. If that's a priority, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 with ANC are on sale for $179.

SEE ALSO: The 5 headphones deals we want to see on sale during October Prime Day Best Bose earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Earbuds $149 at Amazon
$179 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for the most comfortable earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds are a top pick. Mashable's analysis of the best Bose headphones and earbuds notes that these Bose buds are the best budget earbuds. "They’re focused on a great fit, as they come with multiple ear tips and multiple bands you can change out on the earbuds for a better fit on the crest of your ear," wrote Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard.

Best open earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenDots One $139.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

If you'll be wearing earbuds while running or working out at the gym, open earbuds might be the best option. The design focuses on solid sound quality while also keeping you aware of your surroundings. The Shokz OpenDots One are among Mashable's favorite open earbuds, and they're already on sale for under $140 ahead of Prime Day. Need more convincing? They're also Mashable's top choice for running earbuds.

The sale price of $139.95 is the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon. Given that pricing history, you probably don't need to wait for Oct. 6 to buy this pair.

Best sleep earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30 get a free Anker Soundcore Eye Mask Get Deal Why we like it

If you struggle to sleep on account of environmental noise, sleep earbuds might be a great solution. Instead of using earbuds that hurt when sleeping on your side, sleep earbuds are specially designed for comfort, no matter which sleeping position you prefer. Mashable's favorite sleep earbuds are the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Specials, and they're already on sale for $168.99 ahead of October Prime Day. That's a new record-low price.

In Mashable's review of the Sleep A30 Specials, Allard wrote, "Soundcore's quick upgrade to the recently released Sleep A30 earbuds is a welcome one, delivering a longer battery life and lower price point, making a great pair of sleep earbuds even better."

If you're searching for solutions to get better sleep, consider these sleep earbuds while they're on sale for the best price.

More earbuds deals

• Soundcore P30i — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)

• JBL Tunes Buds — $49.95 $99.95 (save $50)

• Nothing Ear (a) Earbuds — $55 $79 (save $24)

• Baseus Inspire XC1 — $98.99 $129.99 (save $31)

• Bose QuietComfort — $149.99 $179 (save $29.01)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 — $189.99 $229 (save $39.01)

• Bose Ultra Open Earbuds — $199 $299 (save $100)

• Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 — $247.99 $299.99 (save $52)

• Sony WF-1000XM6 Earbuds — $258 $329.99 (save $71.99)

SAVE $1,190: As of Oct. 5, the Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 Robot Lawn Mower is on sale for $2,109 at Amazon. That’s a 36% discount and matches its lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mammotion Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000H Robot Lawn Mower $2,109 at Amazon
$3,299 Save $1,190   Get Deal

If you want to take lawn care completely off your weekend to-do list, this massive price drop is worth acting on.

Amazon slashed $1,190 off the Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 robot lawn mower, bringing it down to $2,109 — matching its best price ever. The Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 replaces the old-school perimeter wires with a 360-degree LiDAR sensor, dual AI cameras, and network RTK GPS to map your yard down to the centimeter.

Its all-wheel-drive system and omni-wheels let it climb massive 80% inclines (about 39 degrees) and roll over 2-inch roots or curbs without getting stuck. You get twin cutting discs with 12 total blades, powered by two 165W motors that adjust speed on the fly based on grass thickness, and it pushes through a 0.75-acre yard for up to 175 minutes per charge.

SEE ALSO: Amazon is dropping huge deals on robot lawn mowers ahead of Prime Day: Shop Dreame, Mammotion, and more

It identifies over 300 types of obstacles, supports 30 custom zones in the app, and ships with the mower, charging dock, extra blades, and a separate cleaning stand to hose off the bottom. The lawn mower's setup avoids the hassle of burying boundary wires, while the camera-and-LiDAR combo lets it dodge toys, hoses, and trees in real-time.

Its four-wheel-drive grip won't tear up your grass when taking tight turns on steep hills, and you can program it to lay down custom patterns like checkerboard or diagonal stripes. Wire-free mowers that handle this kind of rough terrain usually creep way past $3,000, so knocking over $1,100 off a high-end unit makes automating your yard work a no-brainer.

Grab the Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 robot lawn mower and lock in the $1,190 discount before the clock runs out.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

SAVE OVER $149: As of Oct. 5, the 2026 Apple Mac mini M5 Pro is available for $1,549.99 on Amazon. That's a $149.01 savings off the regular list price of $1,699.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac mini M5 Pro $1,549.99 at Amazon
$1,699 Save $149.01   Get Deal

Everybody loves a good Apple deal. Let's face it: they don't come around all that often. That's why sale events such as October Prime Day — which officially launches tomorrow — are always such a treat.

As ever, Amazon has built anticipation with a bunch of early deals, including markdowns on MacBooks, iPads, AirPods, and Apple Watches. But an Apple deal that might have passed you by is a discount on the Apple Mac mini M5 Pro, an Apple device that often flies under the radar

As of Oct. 5, the Apple Mac mini M5 Pro is down from $1,699 to $1,549.99, which saves you $149.01 — a decent saving on any Apple product.

If you've never heard of this device, it's essentially all the power and brilliance of a Mac packed into a little silver box. All you need to do is hook it up to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It runs on the M5 Pro chip, which means it's among the smartest, fastest, most powerful Apple devices out there. It has Apple Intelligence, 512GB of storage, and WiFi 7 support.

Get the Apple Mini Mac Desktop as part of the early October Prime Day deals — now just $1,549.99 at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

Free phone numbers sound like a better deal than they usually are. Google Voice has been handing out U.S. numbers at no cost for years, and for a while it was one of the more useful things Google made that plenty of people used. The catch is that the rest of Android's phone experience has moved on without it, and the gap between what Google Voice offers and what Google Messages now does has grown so wide that I wouldn't recommend it as anyone's main number.

SAVE $81.99: As of Oct. 5, the Sony XM6 noise-canceling headphones are on sale for $378 at Amazon. That's down from their list price of $459.99 and the lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony XM6 $378 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $81.99   Get Deal

If you've been holding out for a price drop on Sony's premier active noise-canceling cans, now is your chance. The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones just dropped back down to $378 at Amazon, shaving $81.99 off their $459.99 list price and matching their all-time low.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones pack an upgraded QN3 noise-canceling processor and a 12-microphone array that automatically adjusts to block out your surroundings. They bring back a foldable design for easy packing, tune sound with input from studio engineers, and support high-resolution audio via LDAC.

You get up to 30 hours of playback with active noise cancellation on (and up to 40 hours with it turned off). They also handle wired playback and charging simultaneously, pair with two devices at once over Bluetooth 5.3, and pack physical touch controls right on the earcups.

Earning a 4.5-star rating and a Mashable Choice Award, the XM6 headphones deliver top-tier performance where it counts most. In his review for Mashable, Timothy Beck Werth called the active noise cancellation "phenomenal," noting that slipping them on feels like stepping into an instant "bubble of silence." Sony also fixed the biggest design complaint from the previous generation by bringing back a foldable hinge, pairing it with a sturdier, travel-friendly magnetic carrying case.

Vocals sound noticeably clearer thanks to updated audio tuning, and the plush headband ensures zero ear fatigue during all-day wear. While heavy multi-layered tracks can occasionally blur a bit at lower volumes, getting this level of noise cancellation, comfort, and build quality for $378 makes them an easy pick over full-priced competitors.

Snag the Sony WH-1000XM6 while they're down to their best-ever price at Amazon.

Thought SpaceXAI was hard to pronounce? Wait till you see what Elon Musk is cooking up next.

Following Donald Trump's recent remarks that "artificial intelligence" should in fact be called "supreme intelligence" or "super intelligence," the tech billionaire decided to rename his recently renamed SpaceXAI (officially an AI-focused subsidiary of SpaceX) as SpaceXSI.

Seemingly in wholehearted agreement with the president's idea, Musk shared his own decision on X on Sunday.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"No more AI. SI. It's better," tweeted Musk. A follower then asked whether there was any possibility of renaming SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI, to which Musk replied: "Yes, we will make that change."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Supreme intelligence (also known as an alien artificial intelligence in the Marvel comic universe) is just one of the rebrands Trump has suggested for AI. He also suggested "extreme intelligence" and "superior intelligence," before finally settling on "super intelligence" and signing an executive order on Sept. 29 ushering in the new term.

"The name Super Intelligence conveys the true capabilities of the technologies being developed today, unlocking new forms of human creativity and empowering Americans to achieve what was previously impossible—not simply imitating or automating human intelligence as is implied by the term 'Artificial Intelligence,'" reads a post on the official White House website.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X launches 'X Numbers'

Artificial intelligence is a term that's been around for decades. Coined by American computer scientist John McCarthy in 1955, it has since been used by countless scientific papers, books, articles, movies, and video games. As one commenter tweeted, Musk is having a hard enough time getting people to call Twitter to his rebranded name "X;" we'll see whether the "SI" rebrand fares any better.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $159.99 at Amazon. That's close to market price, but does require shoppers to request an invite to buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $159.99 at Amazon
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Amazon’s $89.99 deal on the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box sold out fast, but the retailer still offers one of the most reasonable routes to securing this high-demand set — if you're willing to join the waitlist.

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is currently listed at $159.99 on Amazon, with shipping and sale handled directly by the retailer. Because inventory remains extremely tight ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon is routing orders through its "request invite" lottery system. Submitting an invite request reserves your spot in line to purchase the box at list price, without paying inflated secondary-market rates.

At $159.99, Amazon’s price sits close to TCGplayer’s market price. It's also considerably cheaper than Walmart, so even though it hurts to miss out on the $89.99 deal that Amazon was offering a couple of weeks ago, this is still a strong option for collectors.

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is the premier display piece for this milestone expansion. Each ETB comes packed with nine 30th Celebration booster packs, an exclusive full-art foil Nidorina promo card, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 custom card sleeves, damage-counter dice, a condition marker, card dividers, a collector’s player guide, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

Amazon built Fire TV into the streaming stick that tinkerers happily recommended. Its shift from Android-based Fire OS to the in-house Vega OS ends that deal, swapping app choice and freedom for Amazon's control. And unless stuff changes significantly, future Fire TV sticks are going to be a pass for me.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Booster Bundle is in stock and available for $99 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Booster Bundle $99 at Amazon
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The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration expansion has triggered a wild price war among third-party sellers. Amazon's price on the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Booster Bundle isn't amazing, but we'll take what we can get right now.

As of Oct. 5, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Booster Bundle is down to $99 at Amazon via marketplace seller BFG Productions. You might find better prices after Prime Day, but Amazon actually has stock and is selling for somewhere close to market price. That's a deal in our eyes.

At $99, you are looking at $16.50 per pack for six sealed 30th Celebration booster packs. That’s a far more palatable rate to chase the set’s heavy hitters like Mewtwo ex, Mew ex, Umbreon ex, Salamence ex, and Greninja ex. Plus, every single pack guarantees one of 30 distinct rare Pikachu variant cards, making this one of the most collectible anniversary drops in recent memory.

Stock tends to disappear quickly, so we recommend jumping on this offer to avoid disappointment. Paying $99 is still a markup over retail, but landing a sealed bundle for under $100 on Amazon is currently your safest bet to dodge $130+ reseller gouging.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

In iOS 27.2, Apple’s Health gets a redesign that includes a series of tests to measure your health against your actual age. Bridget Carey walks (and squats) through her Health Age test and offers tips on what to expect.

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Timecode chapters
0:24 New Apple Health app for iOS 27
1:07 Apple Health longevity movement assessment demos
1:58 Core and strength tests
2:46 Flexibility tests
2:59 VO2 Max tests
3:53 Adding your lab results to Apple Health
5:06 Adding nutrition and mental health data to Apple Health
5:53 Apple Health personal summaries powered by Apple Intelligence
6:14 Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Health Readiness Score
6:36 Look out for Apple Health Age in iOS 27.2

Video credits
Host: Bridget Carey
Scripted by: Bridget Carey
Producer: Carly Marsh
Camera: Carly Marsh, John Schwartz, Bridget Carey
Video editor: Carly Marsh
Thumbnail designer: Tharon Green

It used to be that picking a Linux distro mostly came down to which desktop you liked and which package manager you preferred. That is less true today. The distros getting attention now are built to do a specific job, whether that's ensuring ta thousand PCs are identical, surviving a bad update, or playing Windows games on your TV.

PCMag's Joe Osborne and CNET’s Josh Goldman break down Apple's latest Mac desktop lineup in this Lab Report. From the base Mac mini M6 with its huge performance gains and upgraded Apple Intelligence to the workstation-class M5 Pro mini and Mac Studio options with M5 Max and M5 Ultra, we analyze whether the recent price hikes are justified for creators, power users, and everyday Mac fans, and how to navigate them.

Explore more coverage of Apple's new Mac desktops: Surprise! New Macs Before iPhone Event — What’s Going On?
Apple announces new $899 M6 Mac mini and $5,499 M5 Ultra Mac Studio

Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:13 Mac mini M6 overview and pricing
1:42 M6 performance vs. PC mini PCs
4:19 Mac mini design and connectivity
6:17 AI workloads and RAM requirements
9:32 Mac mini with M5 Pro
10:48 Memory bandwidth and future-proofing
14:13 Who should buy the M5 Pro?
17:42 Mac Studio M5 Max and M5 Ultra
20:48 Gaming on Apple Silicon
21:30 Verdict and recommendations

Video credits
Host: Joe Osborne, Josh Goldman
Scripted by:
Producer: Numidas Prasarn
Camera: Numidas Prasarn
Video editor: Dillon Lopez
Thumbnail designer: Zooey Liao

The best early Prime Day MicroSD, portable SSD, and internal SSD deals: Best SSD deal Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 $389.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best Rugged SSD deal SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $245.99 (save $54) Get Deal Best Internal SSD deal Samsung Internal SSD 990 2TB NVMe $369.99 (save $160) Get Deal Best MicroSD deal SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 $159.99 (save $40) Get Deal Best Travel-Friendly SSD deal Samsung T7 2TB Portable SSD $379.99 (save $170) Get Deal

Thanks to the global memory crisis known as "RAMageddon," prices on memory products like internal drives, external SSDs, and high-capacity flash storage have continued to climb. It’s been a relentless up, up, and up trajectory as enterprise demand squeezes consumer supply.

That makes finding genuine discounts during Prime Big Deal Days — Amazon's 48-hour fall savings event kicking off on Oct. 6 and 7 — all the more crucial.

High-speed NVMe drives, rugged external SSDs, microSD cards, and hard drives are Prime Day staples that matter more than ever amid RAMageddon. We did some digging and found the best early Prime Day deals in the solid-state category right now. If you've been waiting to expand your PC build, give your PS5 some breathing room, or secure your off-site backups, now is the time to take advantage of these SSD offers from top-tier brands like Samsung, SanDisk, and more.

SEE ALSO: Our top 5 hacks for evaluating Amazon deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days Best SSD deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 $389.99 at Amazon
$639.99 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung 990 PRO delivers top-tier sequential speeds up to 7,450 MB/s, effectively maxing out what a PCIe 4.0 slot can process. That translates directly to faster boot times, near-instant game loading on PC or PS5, and smooth handling of large 4K video renders. It also runs more power-efficiently than its predecessor, so it stays stable under heavy continuous workloads. With a solid five-year warranty and a huge price drop, it’s one of the best value-for-money storage upgrades you can buy right now.

Best rugged SSD deal Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $245.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $54   Get Deal Why we like it

Pocket-sized, ridiculously fast, and virtually indestructible, the SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD is engineered for harsh travel conditions that would destroy standard desktop drives. It nearly doubles the speed of previous generations, so you can back up thousands of photos in less than a minute, while offering full weather resistance to rain and spills, and hardware encryption to keep your private documents locked down tighter than a vault.

Best travel-friendly SSD deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung T7 2TB Portable SSD $379.99
$549.99 Save $170   Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung T7 is built for life on the move. Weighing under two ounces and barely larger than a credit card, it slips into a pocket or backpack pouch without taking up space in your carry-on. Its solid aluminum unibody design handles the bumps of travel with ease, featuring shock resistance that withstands drops from up to 6 feet. With transfer speeds up to 1,050 MB/s, you can offload massive 4K travel footage, photo backups, or offline media libraries in seconds. You can even plug it directly into an iPhone 15 Pro (or newer) to record high-res video straight to the drive while on location.

More SSD and hard drive deals

MicroSDs

• SanDisk 32GB Ultra microSDHC — $20.47 $22.65 (save $2.18)

• SanDisk 128GB High Endurance Video microSDXC — $36.99 $60.99 (save $24)

• PNY 64GB Elite-X microSDXC Flash Memory Card 3-Pack — $39.99 $42.99 (save $3)

• Amazon Basics 512GB microSDXC Memory Card — $93.17 $109.62 (save $16.45)

• SanDisk 512GB Extreme microSDXC Card — $133.21 $139.99 (save $6.78)

Portable SSDs

• SanDisk 500GB Portable SSD — $109.99 $128.99 (save $19)

• SanDisk 500GB Extreme Portable SSD — $144.99 $185.99 (save $41)

• Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB — $229.88 $274.99 (save $45.11)

• Samsung T9 Portable SSD 2TB — $981.92 $1,144.99 (save $163.07)

Portable HDDs

• UnionSine 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive — $35.49 $39.43 (save $3.94)

• Seagate 2TB Portable Hard Drive — $119.99 $149.99 (save $30)

• WD 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive — $215 $284.99 (save $69.99)

• Western Digital 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive — $235.49 $274.99 (save $39.5)

• WD 6TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive — $259.95 $319.99 (save $60.04)

Internal hard drives

• Western Digital 1TB WD Blue Mobile Hard Drive — $129.99 $144.99 (save $15)

• Samsung 2TB SSD 990 Pro — $389.99 $639.99 (save $250)