Blogroll

30+ of the best Anker deals still live on October Prime Day: Save on power banks, speakers, earbuds, and more

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 19:46
The best early Prime Day deals on Anker: Best earbuds deal Soundcore P40i by Anker $135.99 (save $34) Get Deal Best Smart Home Deal Anker Eufy S220 $139.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best Power Station Deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $699.99 (save $230) Get Deal Best Power Bank Deal Anker Prime Power Bank (26,250 mAh) $169.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best Home Entertainment Deal Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser $599.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best speaker deal Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go 19.99 (save $15) Get Deal Best Robot Vacuum Deal Anker Eufy Omni C20 $319.989 (save $230) Get Deal

Keeping a dozen screens and gadgets charged every day is exhausting, and nobody has time for it. Luckily, Anker makes some of the best gear to keep your tech powered, organized, and running smoothly.

While most people know Anker as the go-to brand for phone chargers and power banks, they actually make gear for almost every part of your home. Their lineup includes Soundcore for headphones and speakers, Eufy for smart security cams and robot vacuums, and Nebula for portable projectors.

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days is officially in its last day, and Anker is dropping some of the best sitewide savings we’ve seen all year. From ultra-fast portable power banks to noise-canceling earbuds, prices across its entire family of brands have taken a massive hit.

We combed through the chaos to curate the best live Anker deals worth pulling the trigger on before stock runs out.

Best speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker $19.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $15.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Finding a truly rugged outdoor speaker for under $20 is tough, but the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go checks almost every box. Despite its compact palm-sized frame, it packs punchy sound and an impressive 20-hour battery life that easily outlasts a full weekend trip. Thanks to its IP67 rating, it’s completely waterproof, dustproof, and even floats — so dropping it in the pool or shower won't stop the music. You can also link two of them together for wireless stereo sound.

More Soundcore speaker dealsBest earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore by Anker Soundcore by Anker Liberty 5 Pro $135.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $34   Get Deal Why we like it

For all of my life, I've lugged around bulky over-the-ear headphones when I travel. I'm the type of person who likes to tune out on long flights and headphones were the only way to make this possible - until I tried to the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro. Now, I can't hear anyone or anything, and it's bliss when flying. Amazon's sale price of $135.99 on these miracle earbuds is the lowest we've ever seen, so hop on this deal soon if you're also looking for excellent noise cancellation in earbuds.

Anker used the brand's Thus AI audio chip in the Liberty 5 Pro which has set a Guinness World Record for call quality in noisy environments. That's a great feature if you use your earbuds to take work calls or tune into lectures.

More Soundcore earbuds and headphones dealsBest smart home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Eufy S220 2-Cam Pack $139.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

The Eufy SoloCam S220 fixes the worst part of home security: charging dead batteries. Its built-in solar panel needs just 3 hours of daily sunlight for continuous power, while 2K resolution keeps night footage crisp. Smart AI filtering ignores blowing leaves, so you only get alerts for people, pets, or cars — and local storage means zero monthly fees.

More smart home dealsBest power bank deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Prime Power Bank (26,250 mAh) $169.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

If you need to work away from an outlet, the Anker Prime Power Bank keeps your setup running without missing a beat. Its massive 26,250mAh capacity holds enough juice to charge a laptop fully alongside your phone, while a huge 300W total output powers demanding notebooks at full speed. Smart digital displays show your exact remaining battery and real-time charging wattage, making it a must-have for travel, remote work, or long flights.

More power bank dealsBest robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop $319.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $230   Get Deal Why we like it

The Eufy Omni C20 takes the hassle out of floor care by handling both vacuuming and scrubbing without needing constant supervision. It's an all-in-one station that automatically empties dust into a bag that lasts up to 60 days, while washing and air-drying its own mop pads. Pushing 7,000 Pa of suction alongside a pro-detangle comb to keep long hair off the roller brush, it easily lifts embedded dirt from rugs and hard floors.

More robot vacuum dealsBest home entertainment deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser $599.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

Roughly the size of a 16-ounce soda can, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser packs 1080p resolution and vibrant laser lighting into a frame that easily slips into a backpack. You can throw up to a 120-inch screen onto any wall or bedsheet, while auto-focus and auto-keystone correction handle image setup in seconds. With Google TV built in and a battery that lasts up to 2.5 hours on a single charge, it's an instant movie night setup for backyard hangouts or camping trips.

More home entertainment dealsBest power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 + 200W Solar Panel $699.99 at Amazon
$929.99 Save $230   Get Deal Why we like it

The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is one of my favorite portable power stations. Whether you're prepping for emergency outages or heading off-grid, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 delivers reliable home-grade power in a portable frame. Its 2,000W output handles high-draw appliances across 10 outlets, while the included 200W foldable solar panel keeps you charged using free sunlight. Plus, it recharges from zero to 80% in under an hour from a wall outlet, so you're never left hanging when bad weather hits.

If you'd rather use standard wall power to recharge the portable power station and don't need the solar panel, the Solix C1000 Gen 2 is on sale for $469.99.

More power station deals

Time is running out for Prime members to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best headphones and earbuds deals on October Prime Day, including my favorite Bose headphones

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 19:46
The best October Prime Day headphones and earbuds deals: Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort headphones (1st Gen) ✅ $169 (save $190) 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 JLab JBuds Lux headphones $41.99 (save $58) Get Deal

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

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, and deals on headphones are popping off.

SEE ALSO: The 125+ best October Prime Day deals: We found record prices on Apple, Bose, Lego, and Sony favorites

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.

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

Deals marked with a ✅ are Mashable editor favorites and award winners. Deals marked with a strikethrough are no longer available.

Best headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort (1st Gen) ✅ $169 at Amazon
$359 Save $190   Get Deal Why we like it

This year, Bose released the second rendition of QuietComfort headphones. While they're a standout — and also on sale — the first generation of QC headphones are down to their lowest price ever.

Now $169, you can save $190 on the Bose QuietComfort headphones during Prime Big Deal Days. That saves you 53% on the stellar headphones that deliver all-day comfort and excellent noise cancellation. If you don't want to miss out on spatial audio and can stretch your budget, the second-generation Bose QuietComfort headphones are a standout release of 2026.

Read Mashable's review of the Bose QuietComfort headphones (1st Gen).

Best earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Panasonic Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds $234.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $65   Get Deal Why we like it

Want excellent sound in a compact package? The Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds produce clear, dynamic sound with stellar noise cancellation. And even better, they're on sale for $234.99 during Prime Big Deal Days. That saves you $65 on the earbuds that come in a charging case that delivers 28 hours of playback.

Read Mashable's review of the Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

The basic AirPods just got an upgrade with the new AirPods 5, and last year's Apple AirPods Pro 3 are back on sale. They were $234 in the lead-up to October Prime Day, but have since dropped to $179 — $70 off their $249 list price. The earbuds have ANC, a more comfortable, redesigned fit, and support for live translation with a compatible iPhone. They're a good pick for commuters and even measure your heart rate during workouts, which is great for athletes who love a good workout playlist.

More headphones and earbuds dealsHeadphonesEarbudsOpen earbudsSleep earbuds
Categories: IT General, Technology

VS Code is the overlooked Excel companion I didn't know I needed

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 19:30

For years, I've thought of a CSV as something I open in Excel. Rows, columns, filters, formulas—that's the point, right? Except a CSV isn't really a spreadsheet at all. It's a text file that Excel happens to be very good at turning into one.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best power tool deals for October Prime Day: Get money off DeWalt batteries, Craftsman toolkits, and more

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 19:18
The best October Prime Day deals on power tools: Best DeWalt deal DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver, Power Tool Combo Kit $138.99 (save $100.01) Get Deal Best DeWalt battery deal DeWalt 20V Max Premium Lithium-Ion 6.0Ah Battery Pack $179 (save $100) Get Deal Best Craftsman deal Craftsman V20 Max Cordless Drill Driver and Impact Driver Set $99 (save $70) Get Deal Best Greenworks deal Greenworks 24V 4-Tool Power Tool Combo Kit $219.99 (save $20) Get Deal Best Bosch deal Bosch 12V Max Drill/Driver 5-In-1 Flexiclick System $164.99 (save $110.01) Get Deal Best Electric Screwdriver Deal Hoto 12-in-1 Electric Screwdriver Set $37.99 (save $12) Get Deal

If you're tackling a DIY job at home or finally getting around to that project you've been putting off for months, a decent power tool can make things a lot easier. And if you're going to need one anyway, you might as well see if you can get it for less during Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon's "October Prime Day" sale. The event is live now through midnight PT on Oct. 7, so it's time to get serious about shopping.

So far, some of the best October Prime Day deals we've spotted involve steep discounts on power tools from popular brands like Bosch, Craftsman, DeWalt, and GreenWorks. (Don't miss Amazon's deal on a DeWalt cordless drill set, which is now a whopping $100 off.) Now's the time to shop if you're ready to round out your home DIY toolkit.

Best DeWalt deal Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit $138.99 at Amazon
$239 Save $100.01   Get Deal Why we like it

This DeWalt set includes a compact impact driver and drill/driver, both designed for working in tighter spaces. The tools have built-in LED lights for better visibility. The impact driver has a one-handed hex chuck, and the drill features a 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck for quick bit changes.

Best DeWalt battery deal Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt DeWalt 20V Max Premium Lithium-Ion 6.0Ah Battery Pack $179 at Amazon
$279 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

Need more juice for your DeWalt cordless tool collection? Instead of waiting for batteries to recharge, grab a few extras thanks to this deal on a two-pack. Each of these extra batteries takes about an hour to recharge and comes with a three-year warranty.

Best Craftsman deal Opens in a new window Credit: Craftsman Craftsman V20 Max Cordless Drill Driver and Impact Driver Set $99 at Amazon
$169 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

This Craftsman set includes a drill/driver and impact driver, with two V20 batteries, a charger, and a storage bag. Both tools have LED lights and compact, contoured handles for working in tighter spaces. The drill has two speed settings, and the impact driver can give up to 1,460 inch-pounds of torque.

Best Greenworks deal Opens in a new window Credit: Greenworks Greenworks 24V 4-Tool Power Tool Combo Kit $219.99 at Amazon
$239.99 Save $20   Get Deal Why we like it

Now on sale for a new record-low price, this kit includes a drill, impact driver, reciprocating saw, and flashlight, along with two 2Ah batteries and a 30W charger. The brushless tools have variable-speed controls, and the reciprocating saw has a tool-free blade change and pivoting shoe. The batteries can also charge devices via USB-C.

Even more power tool deals

Time is running out for Prime members to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology

DeWalt's 4Ah 20V Max XR Powerpack Battery is 60% off for Amazon's big sale

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 19:11

While you can easily find a decent sale on DeWalt gear on Amazon, what you won't see too often is a good discount on its high-performance batteries, like its 20V Max XR Powerpack options—let alone a meaningful markdown on the powerful 4Ah models. Luckily, right now is one of those times, as this amped-up battery is 60% off during Prime Big Deal Days (but it's selling out fast).

Categories: IT General, Technology

I exported a year of Pixel Watch sleep data to my NAS to fix Google's limited history window

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 19:00

Google's apps show recent sleep information pretty well, but long-term history is harder to reach. Exporting a year of Pixel Watch data and storing it on a NAS fixes that. Here's what it achieves, how to do it, and whether you need the hardware.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 great movies impossible to stop watching after the first scene

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:45

One of the biggest battles in Hollywood is the fight for attention. Audiences are more impatient than ever, meaning it is imperative to grab the viewer's attention within the first 10 or so minutes. Viewers face so many distractions at home that if the opening scene doesn't play well, the movie might be turned off.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 free tools I use to fix my family's Windows PCs without leaving home

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:30

As I've previously written, when something goes wrong with the computers in my family or group of friends, I'm usually the one who gets the call. Most of the time it's a simple fix. Other times, the person on the other end has no idea where to start. Trying to troubleshoot problems like this over the phone can turn a five-minute job into an hour-long conversation that I would much rather not have. My mother is the best example. Talking her through menus, settings, and buttons over the phone is a nonstarter for me. I simply don't have the patience for that.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get 57% off Razer's DeathAdder V3 Pro during Big Day Deals

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:27

Now's the time to grab the electronics you've been eyeing because they're at their lowest prices during Amazon's Big Deals Day sale. You can save big on Razer's ergonomic DeathAdder V3 Pro gaming mouse, now 59% off for a limited time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How can Ted Lasso fix itself?

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:25

When it came to Ted Lasso's fourth season, I wanted nothing more than to take a page out of Ted's (Jason Sudeikis) book and "believe."

I wanted to believe that after three years off the air, Ted Lasso had taken an opportunity to reset itself. I wanted to believe that it would fix the issues that plagued its frustrating third season, like bloated episodes and the unfortunate habit of pushing key scenes off camera. Most of all, I wanted to believe that the season's concentration on women's sports would give it a renewed sense of purpose.

SEE ALSO: 'Ted Lasso' Season 4 review: Women's soccer is just what this show needs

In the end, Season 4 rewarded my belief — and the belief of all other Ted Lasso fans — with a mixed bag. The episodes are still too long, and several story choices are downright bizarre, but at least the Lady Greyhounds and assistant manager Alice (Tanya Reynolds) jolted some new life into the season. If only the show had spent as much time on them as they did on dragging out Roy (Brett Goldstein) and Keeley's (Juno Temple) inevitable romance.

That brings us to Season 4's sweet finale, "Being Alive," which is a massive step up from last week's season-low, "Mae Rides The Bus." In many ways, "Being Alive" is a showcase of Season 4's wasted potential. Several Lady Greyhounds get moments that flesh them out further. Siobhan (Rex Hayes) and Niamh's (Aisling Sharkey) rendition of "The Parting Glass" is a touching tribute to Mae (Annette Badland), while Lizzie's (Faye Marsay) continued struggles with finding childcare emphasize the unfair expectations placed on her as a working mother.

Elsewhere, "Being Alive" remembers that Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) is a boss, actually, and lets her be as confident and cool as she's ever been. (While still giving her the opportunity to crash out in hilarious fashion at Roy's news that he's heading to Chelsea.) The episode also sees Ted give his son, Henry (Grant Feely), a key heart-to-heart about grief and his own father's death by suicide. It's the kind of of open, reassuring chat that's mostly been missing this season, topped only by Alice and Ted's silent crying session in episode 8.

The finale is not without its low points — Zelda (Tracey Ullman), we'll get to you in a moment! — but overall, it does conjure up some hope at Ted Lasso's future. However, as Ted Lasso fans know all too well, it's the hope that kills you. So, what lessons can Ted Lasso learn from Season 4 to stop killing us and get back to being its best self?

Show, don't tell. Tracey Ullman in "Ted Lasso." Credit: Apple TV

"Show, don't tell" is perhaps the most cited piece of storytelling advice, but it's one Ted Lasso seems to have forgotten about along the way. One of the most egregious examples came in Season 3, which had been building up to Nate's (Nick Mohammed) breaking free of Rupert (Anthony Head) and West Ham. When his big exit finally came, Ted Lasso didn't show an ounce of it. Instead, in one of the show's most baffling moves, we learned about Nate's departure from a news report.

Ted Lasso keeps up that worrying trend of failing to dramatize key moments in Season 4, especially when it comes to Zelda's (Tracey Ullman) nefarious plan to gain a controlling stake in Richmond. In the finale, she appears to do just that, and she gloats about it to Rebecca and Higgins' (Jeremy Swift) faces. After several minutes of over-the-top villainy, Rebecca and Higgins pull a reverse Uno: Zelda thought the Milk sisters had sold her shares to them, but in reality, they'd sold them back to Rebecca. Zelda's friend Hugo (Alex Blake) had informed Higgins and Rebecca of Zelda's dastardly plan.

SEE ALSO: 'Ted Lasso' just sank to a new low

While Ted Lasso does show Higgins taking a call from Hugo, it otherwise does nothing else to hint at Rebecca's growing suspicions or changed opinion of Zelda. When the big reveal finally comes, it lands with a resigned thud. Making matters worse? The fact that Rebecca forgives Zelda. Yes, it's the kind, Ted Lasso thing to do, but it also craters the stakes going into next season. Now, Zelda isn't a big mastermind villain. She's just a too-broad wild card who we know will try to undermine the club for her own gain. There will be no surprises, and apparently, no growth.

Side note: Mae's will plays a big part in the Zelda showdown, as she returns her 2 percent stake in Richmond to Rebecca, therefore giving her full control. But Mae would not have sold in the first place! She did not need to die for Zelda to be thwarted! The disrespect to Mae doesn't end there. She bequeaths the Crown & Anchor pub to fans Baz (Adam Colborne), Jeremy (Bronson Webb), and Paul (Kevin Garry). Sure, in the women's sports-focused season, let's kill off a woman and give her job to three men! What could go wrong?

Make us care about every relationship. Hannah Waddingham in "Ted Lasso." Credit: Apple TV

In its first few seasons, Ted Lasso built several enduring, beautiful friendships, many of which seemed to vanish this season. Ted and Rebecca are the cornerstone friendship of the show, yet aside from the premiere and the finale, they rarely shared a thoughtful conversation. Watching the two finally get a moment to themselves in the finale felt like seeing an old friend after years apart. Where had they been the whole time?

Several other relationships suffered this season. As soon as Roy and Keeley got back together, the show rushed them straight into pregnancy, without letting viewers settle into their first few weeks back together as a couple. Ted's connection with Henry also faded to the background this season, only to come roaring back — and wonderfully so! — in the finale.

SEE ALSO: 'Ted Lasso' finally starts to do right by the Lady Greyhounds

But the worst offender here is the romance between Rebecca and Dutch pilot Matthijs (Matteo van der Grijn). In its first episodes, Season 4 offered the pair nothing but conflict. Between their differing schedules and a fight about Matthijs possibly moving to London, the pair did not seem destined to be together much longer. Yet Ted Lasso hand-waved their New Year's reconciliation and seemingly forgot about them until the finale, when Rebecca proposes marriage, and Matthijs agrees. First off, Rebecca's sudden desire for marriage jumps out of nowhere, like a flying soccer ball to the face. Second off, Ted Lasso has simply not put in the work to make us care about this engagement. I have nothing against Matthijs: I like his bluntness and his willingness to call out Coach Beard's (Brendan Hunt) strange midlife crisis in the finale. But I don't know if I like him and Rebecca together, because Ted Lasso doesn't showcase them enough. All the best wishes to the engaged couple. I just wish I knew them better.

The lack of care put into these relationships is a symptom of Season 4's biggest problem, which is the show spreading itself too thin. In combining much of its original cast with a full new team, Ted Lasso created a massive web of connections that it simply couldn't sustain. (Not without feature-length episodes, and let's not give them any ideas there.)

Keep the focus on the Lady Greyhounds. Abbie Hern, Brendan Hunt, Jason Sudeikis, Tanya Reynolds, and Jude Mack in "Ted Lasso." Credit: Apple TV

This is a lesson that Ted Lasso has steadily been learning towards the end of the season, but as the show heads into a potential Season 5, it bears repeating — especially since the Season 4 finale features cameos from the men's team, as well as former Richmond team members like Sam (Toheeb Jimoh), Dani (Cristo Fernández), and Coach Nate.

Like Jamie Tartt's (Phil Dunster) cameo earlier in the season, the return of these characters feels like the warmest of bear hugs. It's a joy to watch Isaac (Kola Bokinni) gear up to give Beard one of his patented haircuts, just as it's a joy to watch the Diamond Dogs mount back up — now with Alice joining as "the Cat People."

But these cameos stirred up two main concerns. One, that this was Ted Lasso's way of bringing the men's team back into the fold. If the show was overcrowded before, meshing the teams would be downright catastrophic. Plus, it would undermine the focus on the women's team, which has been starving for more screen time as is.

More pressingly, though, I realized that the Lady Greyhounds have no traditions or culture that match what Ted Lasso built for the Greyhounds in its early episodes. Alice's addition to the Diamond Dogs is delightful, but it's also an amendment to a pre-established dynamic. The same goes for the encouraging Post-it notes appended to the "Believe" sign. They're lovely, but they're just adding to a staple of the men's team. It's going to take more than that to create a distinct team culture.

Thankfully, Ted Lasso's Season 4 finale ends with a clear focus on the women's team heading into the future. Alice takes the reins as manager, and of course, she's got a massive binder full of plans to help the team dominate. Meanwhile, Ted becomes assistant manager — a mirror to his job at the grocery store at the very start of the season — and appears excited to let Alice take things from there. With Alice at the head, the future looks bright for the Lady Greyhounds. The same goes for Ted Lasso, as long as it can learn from its mistakes.

Ted Lasso Season 4 is now streaming on Apple TV. The season finale airs Oct. 7.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Shark vacuum October Prime Day sale: Save $350 on our favorite stick and robot vacuums

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:24
Highlights from the Shark vacuum Prime Day sale: best budget pick Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum $149.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best stick vacuum deal Shark PowerDetect Pet Plus $379.99 (save $220) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Shark AI Ultra $249.99 (save $349.01) Get Deal Also consider Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum (2026 model) $179.99 (save $120) Get Deal

If a new vacuum is on your shopping list, we've spotted several standout Shark vacuums in the October Prime Day sale. Officially called Prime Big Deal Days, the 48-hour Amazon sale is now in its second and final day. That means you only have until the end of the day to score a sweet discount.

We've covered a lot of deals so far, but the Shark vacuum deals are particularly good. Some of them are also selling out, as the popular Shark Pet stick vac is currently sold out at Amazon (don't worry, we found it in stock somewhere else).

Known for its performance and value, Shark offers high-end features similar to Dyson at a much more affordable price point. And during major shopping events like Amazon's October Prime Day sale, you can often find Shark vacuums at incredible deals. We hand-picked a few we think are worth shouting about this time around, including the best-selling Shark Pet stick vacuum and the popular AI Ultra robot vacuum.

Best Shark vacuum October Prime Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum $149.99 at Shark Ninja
$299.99 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

The Shark Pet is a steady Prime Day standout year after year, and October Prime Day 2026 is no different. One of Mashable's former reporters said this stick vacuum is the best he's ever owned, labeling it "life-changing." It's designed to swallow up pet hair, as the name suggests, and it succeeds at its job. It's also lightweight, converts to a hand vacuum when necessary, and is half off. That's a hard deal to beat, so it's no surprise it's already sold out at Amazon. Fortunately, you can still scoop the deal up at the Shark Ninja website.

And if you don't want to stray from Amazon, you can still grab the 2026 Shark Pet vacuum on sale at Amazon for $179.99, which isn't bad either.

Best Shark stick vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark PowerDetect Pet Plus $379.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $220   Get Deal

The Shark PowerDetect Pet Plus is another option with the Mashable stamp of approval. Shopping reporter Lauren Allain says she owns the older model of this stick vacuum and adores it. Her only complaint is that it might be too powerful. As the name suggests, it automatically boosts power when dirt and debris are detected. So if major suction power is what you're after, look no further. The PowerDetect Pet Plus will cost you a bit more than the basic Shark Pet, but it's still a helluva deal at $379.99 (its lowest price on record).

Best Shark robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum $249.99
$599 Save $349.01   Get Deal Why we like it

According to Amazon price-tracker CamelCamelCamel, the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum has only dropped to $249.99 once before. So this 58% discount is pretty dang good. If you'd rather your vacuuming be hands-off, the AI Ultra offers powerful suction and Matrix Clean Navigation to get the job done. The bagless base can hold up to 60 days of dirt and debris, so you'll only have to do the dirty work every couple of months. This vacuum comes personally recommended by one of our contributors, and it has Shark's excellent Matrix spot cleaning feature.

More Shark vacuum October Prime Day deals worth checking out

Time is running out for Prime members to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple reportedly teaming with LG for smart home devices, including a doorbell

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:19

It appears Apple is looking to make a push to be on your front door.

The tech giant is reportedly working with LG on a lineup of smart home devices, including a smart lock, a thermostat, and a video doorbell, according to Bloomberg. The companies are also reportedly developing security cameras and a floodlight. Both companies are reportedly developing the devices, but they will carry LG's name rather than Apple's.

Bloomberg reports that they're designed to work with Apple's upcoming smart home hub and could be announced next week, though they may not go on sale right away.

SEE ALSO: I tried the best smart rings of 2026 — the Oura Ring 5 is the best you can buy

If the report holds up, the lineup would put Apple and LG in direct competition with Amazon, whose smart home business includes Ring doorbells and security cameras.

The LG devices would connect to a smart display Apple is expected to unveil on Oct. 13. As Mashable previously reported, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the display will act as a smart home hub and showcase Apple's new AI-powered Siri. Gurman reported that it will be able to recognize individual household members and tailor answers to each person. According to TechCrunch, the hub is expected to have a 6-inch square screen that can sit on a counter or be mounted on a wall.

Apple hasn't announced an official name. The Apple Post has called the device the "HomePad," while Gurman has used Apple's internal code name, J490.

The display is expected to be one of several products in what could be Apple's first big launch since John Ternus became CEO. Gurman reported that Apple is also preparing a new HomePod Mini and a new Apple TV streaming device.

Apple hasn't updated the HomePod line since the second-generation HomePod in January 2023, and the last Apple TV hardware came out in 2022.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

9 Google Maps gestures every driver should know

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:15

Most drivers probably don't realize they're missing out on some of the best features of Google Maps. Below that simple surface, though, is a lot of intuitive gestures and features designed to make driving safer, less stressful, and a lot smoother. These are simple, easily accessible interactions built right into the app's core to make your time behind the wheel secure and seamless.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon has dropped mega deals on robot lawn mowers for Prime Day: Shop Dreame, Mammotion, and more

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:15
The best October Prime Day deals on robot lawn mowers: Best Roborock Deal Roborock RockNeo Q110H Robot Lawn Mower $679.99 (Save $120) Get Deal Best Mammotion Deal Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000 $2,109.00 (save $690) Get Deal Best Segway Deal Segway Navimow i206 AWD $849.00 (save $150) Get Deal Best Dreame Deal Dreame LiDAR A3 AWD Pro $1,709.99 ($990) Get Deal Best Ecovacs deal Ecovacs Goat O1000 RTK $630.80 (save $369.19) Get Deal

Amazon's next Prime Day event, Prime Big Deal Days, is in its final day. As expected, Amazon is stacked with deals, but we're running out of time to shop. If you're in the mood for a major home improvement upgrade, you might want to check out the deals on robot lawn mowers.

Robot lawn mower deals are some of the standout savings right now, which is very helpful if you're looking for a little extra assistance around the yard before chilly winter weather arrives.

Top manufacturer brands Roborock and Mammotion are both included, with a few popular models getting huge discounts. Check out some of our favorite October Prime Day robot lawn mower deals below. Even if you don't need it for the rest of autumn, this is a great opportunity to get ahead of the game on next year's yard work.

Best Dreame deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame DREAME LiDAR A3 AWD Pro $1,709.99 at Amazon
$2,699.99 Save $990.00 get a free Dreame LiDAR Robot Lawn Mower 4-Piece Ultimate Care Kit Get Deal Why we like it

This Dreame robot lawn mower has received a decent discount for October Prime Day, though you'll need to clip a coupon to snag it. Once you do that, its price drops from $2,699.99 to $1,709.99. That's $9900 in savings.

As for what this mower can accomplish, it can handle yards up to 0.87 acres, slopes up to 38.7 degrees, and features dual cutting discs for trimming down your yard. It also comes with EdgeMaster 2.0 technology that can reach the borders of your yard and even map them. Thanks to 360-degree 3D LiDAR and AI binocular vision, this robot mower can navigate around obstacles in its path to ensure the entire lawn gets a full trim.

Plus, Dreame is offering a free accessories bundle with purchase. Add the Dreame LiDAR Robot Lawn Mower 4-Piece Ultimate Care Kit to your order and you'll get a free garage, replacement blade kit, cleaning set, and decal sticker. The bundle usually sells for about $275.

More Dreame dealsBest Roborock deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Roborock RockNeo Q110H Robot Lawn Mower $679.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $120   Get Deal Why we like it

The RockNeo Q110H can mow up to a quarter acre a day, and you don't have to bury a boundary wire for it. You can set its cutting height anywhere from 1.6 to 3.1 inches. Plus, it has a floating deck that follows the dips and bumps in the ground so the cut level stays even. Its dual cameras spot patio furniture and toys so it can steer around them, and it turns away from people and pets while rolling right over low objects it can safely cross without disturbing people or items.

More Roborock dealsBest Mammotion deal Opens in a new window Credit: Mammotion Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000 $2,109 at Amazon
$2,799 Save $690   Get Deal Why we like it

The Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000 is normally listed for $2,799, but shoppers can scoop it up for $2,109 right now on Amazon, saving you a whopping $690.

This model comes with two 165W motors and six-blade discs to power through your lawn. Paired with AI vision, it can automatically adjust speed and power based on grass density, ensuring an even trim all around your yard. Plus, it can handle slopes up to 38.6 degrees. Like the mowers above, it can also map your yard using a combination of 360° LiDAR for navigation, NetRTK for corrections, and Dual-Camera AI Vision to help it avoid objects in its path.

More Mammotion dealsBest Segway deal Opens in a new window Credit: Segway Segway Navimow i206 AWD $849 at Amazon
$999 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

Able to handle up to 0.15 acres and slopes up to 45 degrees, the Segway Navimow i206 features a cutting width of 7.1 inches and a cutting height between 2 and 3.6 inches. It also comes with mapping technology and VisionFence, which help it avoid objects left in the yard while it's cutting. It takes about an hour to recharge and can run for about an hour. Once fully charged, it can cover about 1,350 square feet of lawn.

Best Ecovacs deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Goat O1000 LiDAR Pro Robot Lawn Mower $949.05 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $550.94   Get Deal Why we like it

A robot lawn mower is excellent for taking a chore off your to-do list, but some models come with a slight issue: they don't do a terrific job at getting the edges perfect. The Ecovacs Goat 01000 Pro takes on this challenge by incorporating smart edge mowing. The built-in edge trimmer is capable of true edge-to-edge trimming, like you'd get with your normal push mower.

More Ecovacs dealsMore robot lawn mower deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

5 essential and affordable Ryobi power tools for renters

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:00

Are you looking for some affordable DIY power tools to tackle simple projects in your rental? These Ryobi tools are perfect for just that. From drilling and driving to refinishing furniture, here are five essential, affordable Ryobi power tools you should consider picking up.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Agent Lightning v1.0: A 3,500-Line Lightweight Agentic RL Framework for Training Agents with Real Harnesses

Microsoft Research - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 18:00
At a glance
  • Harnessed Agentic RL: Microsoft Research Asia introduces a training paradigm in which the same agent harness used in deployment participates directly in reinforcement learning, removing the need to reimplement the agent inside the training framework.
  • Lightweight by design: Agent Lightning v1.0 delivers a complete agent RL control plane in roughly 3,500 lines of code.
  • Native Kubernetes support: agents run as standard Kubernetes jobs on self-managed clusters, cloud Kubernetes, or local infrastructure, with no dependency on paid commercial sandbox services.
  • Data-efficient training recipe: an end-to-end coding agent pipeline raised Qwen3.5-9B from 41.8% to 56.4% Pass@1 on SWE-bench Verified, a 14.6 percentage point gain, using only about 6,000 training samples based on open sourced dataset.

AI agents have evolved from single models to complex full-stack systems built from models, tools, and execution environments. Their capabilities increasingly depend on the agent harness that coordinates them from outside the model. Reinforcement learning (RL) is an approach where AI systems learn through trial and error, guided by rewards and penalties for their actions. RL can make those agents better, but most agent RL systems require developers to reimplement the agent inside the training framework. That is costly, and it means the agent being trained is not quite the agent that gets deployed.

To address this, researchers at Microsoft Research Asia have introduced the Harnessed Agentic RL training paradigm and open-sourced a fully rebuilt Agent Lightning v1.0 (opens in new tab). Compared with the original, Agent Lightning, v1.0 puts more emphasis on staying lightweight, on integrating with real harnesses, and on a complete, reproducible agent RL training pipeline.

Agent Lightning v1.0 was rebuilt around Harnessed Agentic RL, with key improvements:

  • Lightweight: the entire framework is about 3,500 lines of code. Agent Lightning v1.0 implements a complete Harnessed Agentic RL system in a codebase that is small and clear enough to understand, modify, and extend.
  • Training on a real agent harness: agents reach the model through the large language model (LLM) proxy in Agent Lightning v1.0, leaving existing harness code unchanged.
  • Native Kubernetes support: agents run directly as Kubernetes jobs, without external commercial sandbox services. Self-managed clusters and local infrastructure alike can support rollouts at scale.
  • A complete coding agent training example: an end-to-end pipeline built on Qwen3.5-9B raised Pass@1 on SWE-bench Verified from 41.8% to 56.4%, an absolute gain of 14.6 percentage points, using only about 6,000 training samples.
The limits of traditional agentic RL

Traditional agentic RL assumes the training framework owns the interaction loop with the environment. In a ReAct-style loop, the model generates an action, the environment returns an observation, the observation is appended to the context, and the model generates the next action, so the whole rollout maps onto one continuous token trajectory. Early RL systems such as verl, AReaL, and slime were built this way, which meant training an agent required rebuilding its loop inside the RL framework.

Real harnesses have outgrown that assumption. Coding agents such as mini-SWE-agent, OpenHands, OpenCode, Claude Code, and Codex each bring their own context management, tool protocols, execution logic, and dependencies, as do general-purpose agent systems. Rebuilding one for training is expensive, and the rebuilt agent may no longer behave in the same way as the deployed agent.

Agent Lightning takes a different route. It places an LLM proxy between the agent and the model. The agent continues to run as before: simply point the endpoint that previously called the model API at Agent Lightning, and the training framework can observe and record its model calls. In v1.0, the researchers go further and formally define this paradigm as Harnessed Agentic RL: whichever agent harness is used in deployment is the harness that takes part directly in reinforcement learning during training (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Traditional agentic RL compared with Harnessed Agentic RL. In traditional agentic RL, the training framework manages the environment and the agent loop. In Harnessed Agentic RL, the harness manages both. Four challenges in training with real harnesses

A core difference between Harnessed Agentic RL and traditional agentic RL is that the environment interaction loop is handled by the agent harness rather than the training framework. The training system can only observe a series of LLM request and response pairs, so a single rollout may be split into a variable number of training samples. This brings four key challenges:

  • Retokenization and sample merging: Harnesses keep context as text, but RL training needs the token IDs sampled during the rollout. Passing text through the chat template and tokenizer again can shift token boundaries, so adjacent calls cannot always be merged into one sample.
  • Advantage calculation: Retokenization, subagents and context summarization can split one rollout into several samples. Computing baselines and advantages directly at the sample level causes rollouts that produce more samples to be counted repeatedly, which alters the original statistical relationships at the rollout level.
  • Loss normalization: Averaging loss by sample count gives more weight to rollouts that produce more samples. Since sample count is often just a product of harness behavior, loss normalization must also avoid being distorted by it.
  • Training backend scheduling: Sample count and length are known only after the harness finishes, while GPU counts and data/tensor parallel configurations are usually fixed. The backend has to map a variable workload into fixed resources.

PODCAST SERIES

Ideas

Listen as members of the research community at Microsoft discuss the beliefs that animate their research, the experiences and thinkers that inform it, and the positive human impact it targets.

Listen now Opens in a new tab Building a complete agent RL control plane in 3,500 lines of code

In system design, Agent Lightning v1.0 treats simplicity as its first principle. The entire framework is about 3,500 lines of code, with three core components: the API Gateway, the Rollout Controller, and the Customized Trainer (Figure 2).

The API gateway stores rollouts, models, and events, and serves as an OpenAI-compatible LLM proxy. It links every model call from the harness to its rollout and records the prompts, responses, and log probabilities that training needs. The rollout controller starts and manages agent execution, either as local processes or as standard Kubernetes jobs, keeping agent execution separate from the trainer. The customized trainer, built on verl, creates rollouts, waits for them to finish, collects samples, and assembles the final training samples through a sample adapter. As a result, for an existing agent harness, simply pointing the model endpoint at the Agent Lightning proxy is usually enough to connect quickly to RL training.

Figure 2. The Agent Lightning v1.0 system architecture showing the API gateway, rollout controller, and customized trainer. Collocated async RL

Rollout times vary widely across agents. Synchronous RL waits for the slowest agent in a batch and leaves GPUs idle, while fully asynchronous RL raises utilization but needs separate GPU pools for rollout and training. In response, Agent Lightning v1.0 introduces Collocated Async RL, which lets rollout and model updates share the same set of GPUs.

Once the system has collected enough rollouts, the update begins: the API Gateway pauses accepting new requests and waits for requests already in progress to finish, and rollout resumes after the update completes. The entire state transition is transparent to the external agent harness. In experiments, this approach achieved about a 2x end-to-end speedup over synchronous RL while using fewer GPUs than conventional asynchronous RL (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Synchronous RL, asynchronous RL, and Collocated Async RL compared. Collocated Async RL raises utilization while occupying fewer GPUs. Running agents on Kubernetes

Collecting enough rollouts means running many agents at once, which consumes substantial CPU, memory, and compute resources. Other Harnessed Agentic RL frameworks often host those agents on commercial sandbox services such as Modal Sandbox or E2B, where cost climbs quickly with scale. Instead, Agent Lightning v1.0 runs them as standard Kubernetes jobs, reusing existing self-managed clusters, cloud Kubernetes, or local infrastructure (Figure 4). Existing compute resources are used more efficiently, large rollouts cost less, and the whole pipeline stays open source and reproducible.

Figure 4. The Rollout Controller in Agent Lightning v1.0 provides native Kubernetes support, running agents directly as standard Kubernetes jobs. 6,000 training samples, a 14.6-point performance gain

To test the approach, researchers built a full pipeline on SWE-smith, mini-SWE-agent, and Qwen3.5-9B, covering data cleaning, environment construction, reward-hacking safeguards, and RL training. The training set holds about 6,000 samples and needs no large-scale compute. RL training alone raised Qwen3.5-9B from 41.8% to 56.4% on SWE-bench Verified, a gain of 14.6 percentage points.

The coding agent experiments further confirm the earlier analysis of two challenges: advantage calculation and loss normalization. Compared with sample-level handling, rollout-level advantage combined with rollout-level normalization achieves a higher validation reward and keeps policy entropy more stable during training (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Pass rate and policy entropy for Qwen3.5-9B on the SWE-smith validation set. Technical report GitHub project Opens in a new tab

The post Agent Lightning v1.0: A 3,500-Line Lightweight Agentic RL Framework for Training Agents with Real Harnesses appeared first on Microsoft Research.

Categories: Microsoft

Ring made a smart lock you can recharge with a hand crank

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 17:49

Smart locks can be wonderful — until you're locked out of your home when the battery dies. Amazon's Ring believes it has a solution with a new Ring Smart Lock that you can recharge with a crank.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 signs your cheap Ethernet switch has become your network's biggest bottleneck

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 17:30

Unmanaged switches are as easy as a Sunday morning. Plug in power, connect Ethernet, forget about it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dont miss these Prime Day fitness tracker deals: Save up to $170 on Fitbit, Garmin, Apple, and more

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 17:18
The best Prime Day deals on fitness trackers: Best Android smartwatch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm) $219.99 (Save $80) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best budget Fitbit deal Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 (save $30) Get Deal Best mid-range fitness tracker deal Fitbit Charge 6 $89.95 (save $70) Get Deal Best budget fitness tracker deal CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro $59 (save $20) Get Deal best Garmin deal Garmin Venu 3 $279.99 (save $170) Get Deal

If a new fitness tracker or smartwatch is on your wishlist, October Prime Day is a good time to shop. Amazon has discounted popular models from Fitbit, Garmin, Apple, and other big-name brands for its 48-hour event running Oct. 6 and 7. We're well into Day 2 of the official Prime Big Deal Days sale, so if you see a deal you like, be sure to grab it before time runs out.

SEE ALSO: Sony headphones are hitting record lows on October Prime Day: Shop XM6, XM5, and budget headphones

We've cross-referenced Amazon's live deals with Mashable's official guide to the best fitness trackers. Below, you'll find the best Prime Day deals on the wearables our team has personally tested and reviewed, plus a few other notable price drops worth your attention.

Best Fitbit deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $89.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $70.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The Fitbit Charge 6 is Mashable's favorite mid-range fitness tracker. It hits the sweet spot for budget buyers who don't want to sacrifice essential features. You get a built-in GPS that frees you from your smartphone, an intuitive AMOLED display, and 40 different exercise modes. If you're an intermediate user looking for a reliable wearable that covers all your bases at a great price, this is your answer.

Best budget Fitbit deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

Read our full review of the Fitbit Inspire 3.

If you don't want a small smartphone strapped to your wrist at all times, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is Mashable's top budget pick. It's a simple, low-profile tracker that offers comprehensive health and fitness metrics (including sleep data) without the bulky interface. At well under $100, it provides everything you need and nothing you don't.

Best Android smartwatch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm) $208.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $91   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

For Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is down to $219.99 (originally $299.99), coming within $1.50 of its all-time record low of $218.49. Earning a 4.6-star rating and a Mashable Choice Award, it features a thinner "squircle" design that lies flatter on the wrist, tight Google Gemini AI integration, and deep biometrics through Samsung Health (including personalized sleep coaching and daily Energy Scores).

Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 at Amazon
$399 Save $49.01   See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy See It at Walmart Why we like it

Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 11.

While the last-gen Series 11 isn't seeing discounts on Amazon right now, Apple's flagship Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) is down to $349.99 from $399.00. That $49.01 markdown brings Apple's latest hardware down to a more accessible price point for Prime Big Deal Days. It delivers even faster processing, a display that's twice as scratch-resistant, deeper Apple Intelligence integration via Workout Buddy, and advanced health monitoring like Daily Readiness scores and more frequent heart rate variability (HRV) readings.

Best Garmin deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 3 $279.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $170   Get Deal Why we like it

Garmin watches are some of the best in the biz, but they rarely see steep discounts. So I was surprised to see the Venu 3 and 3S (the smaller option) down to a new record-low of $279.99 for October Prime Day. Garmin's Venu smartwatch is a great all-rounder, with health metrics and fitness tools (over 30 preloaded sports apps) out the wazoo. It gives you in-depth recovery advice for training, detailed sleep data, a built-in speaker and microphone for hands-free calls and virtual assistant access, and battery life that puts most watches to shame (up to two weeks in smartwatch mode). It's also incredibly sleek and comes in a couple colorways, each of which are on sale.

Best budget fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro $59
$79 Save $20   Get Deal Why we like it

Read our full review of the CMF Watch 3 Pro.

If you'd like a capable fitness tracker, but you're not in the mood to spend much, I have good news: October Prime Day has the CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro on sale for only $59. In testing this model last year, it quickly became one of my favorites, and left me shocked at how CMF priced this so low, given its features. It does have a larger face that measures about 1.5 inches, so keep that in mind if you prefer a more petite fitness tracker.

More smartwatch deals


Time is running out for Prime members to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best October Prime Day deals on iPads, according to Mashables team of tech experts

Mashable - Wed, 10/07/2026 - 17:05
The best October Prime Day iPad deals at a glance: Best budget iPad deal Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $399 (save $50) Get Deal Best iPad mini deal Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $499 (save $100) Get Deal Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649 (save $100) 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 sale is the start of year-end deals.

This "October Prime Day" event is live through midnight PT tonight, and we're tracking all the best iPad deals right here. Apple's tablets were hit by price hikes this summer amid the ongoing memory crisis, so Amazon's discounts on them are a welcome sight — even if they're not some of the biggest we've ever seen.

Save $50 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.

The base iPad with 128GB of storage is now $50 off with or without cellular connectivity. That brings it down to $399, its lowest price since Amazon bumped its MSRP to $449 earlier in June. Its lowest price ever was about $271, according to data on the Amazon price-tracking site camelcamelcamel.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) $549 at Amazon
$599 Save $50   Get Deal Take $100 off the mega-portable 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. Right now, you can grab it for $100 off (starting at just $499). Just know that we saw it hit $349 last Black Friday.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple iPad mini.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $499 at Amazon
$599 Save $100   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) $649 at Amazon
$749 Save $100   Get Deal Apple's latest M4 iPad Air is now $100 off

Mashable’s Timothy Beck Werth called the M4 iPad Air "a tablet that thinks it's an AI laptop" — it's 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, but it's much faster. That M4 chip makes AI tools like fast voice-note transcription and photo editing happen almost instantly. It's our favorite iPad for most people.

Both sizes of the M4 iPad Air are now $100 off, with the smaller 11-inch model starting at $649. (For comparison's sake, its all-time low price is about $519.) You'll pay an extra $150 for cellular connectivity.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple iPad Air (M4).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649 at Amazon
$749 Save $100   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $849 at Amazon
$949 Save $100   Get Deal Save up to $200 on the powerful iPad Pro

Select configurations of the latest M5 iPad Pro are up to $150 off during Prime Big Deal Days, but you can save even more on two configurations of last year's M4 model. (One has Apple's premium nano-texture display finish.) It has the exact same design, cameras, and smooth, bright OLED touchscreen as its M5 successor. It's not quite as powerful, but it's still one of the fastest tablets you can buy. It actually outperforms a lot of laptops on the market. Our former tech editor recommended it for any professional artist who "needs a sleek, on-the-go device that can handle taxing workloads ... while they're traveling from A to B."

These M4 iPad Pros have both been up to $100 cheaper before, but we think they'll sell out before Amazon gives them any further price cuts. They're up to $376 less expensive than their M5 counterparts.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple iPad Pro (M4).

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

Time is running out for Prime members to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology
Syndicate content

eXTReMe Tracker