The 36 Best Deals From October’s Amazon Prime Early Access Sale

The Prime Early Access Sale is here to kick off the holiday shopping season. We’ve gathered some of our top picks from the sale below, with deals from brands like Apple, Samsung, and more. Not all deals will require a Prime membership but new users can get access to a free 30-day Prime membership trial.

Alternatively, Walmart is also offering a competing sale that will run through Oct. 13. Some items cannot be on Amazon since they’re exclusively sold at Walmart, like Gateway computers. This sale does not require a membership, but Walmart+ members get nice perks like a no-shipping threshold on many products, up to $0.10 off gas at participating gas stations, and more.

Best Apple Product Deals for Prime Day

Apple iPad Air
(Credit: Molly Flores)

Apple iPad Air 10.1″ M1 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet

The 2022 iPad Air offers many of the benefits of the iPad Pro for hundreds of dollars less, making it the ideal tablet for creators. The company’s M1 chip is impressively powerful, and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil makes the new Air a better creative tool than its predecessor. While battery life could be better, it’s not bad, so that’s a relatively minor complaint. The 2022 iPad Air is the best choice in Apple’s tablet lineup—and a better bet than any Android tablet—earning it our Editors’ Choice award.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet

The 2021 edition of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a gorgeously built, hardware tour de force with the power to match the latest Apple laptops, the finest screen we’ve ever seen on a slate, and connectivity options that the latest MacBooks can’t touch. It’s not quite a laptop replacement, though, but if you want a super-sized iPad, this one’s 18% off for Prime Day.

Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds

The second-generation Apple AirPods feature better battery life, hands-free Siri access, and an optional wireless charging case. From an audio standpoint, they deliver a similar performance to the previous iteration, which is to say good, but not stellar. But if you’re enmeshed in the Apple ecosystem, AirPods are a logical choice, and this version if 43% off for Prime Day, giving you a sub-$100 option for Apple earbuds.

2021 Apple TV 4K (64GB)

In the world of media streamers, the Apple TV is one of the more expensive versions. But if you have a lot of media purchased from Apple, a subscription to Apple Music and Apple TV+, plus an Apple device like the iPhone (not to mention a 4K TV), Apple’s set-top box may be a no-brainer for the Apple faithful. And on Prime Day, you can save 42% on the 32GB version and get it for $109.

Apple MacBook Air Laptop: Apple M1 Chip, 13” Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage

The M1-equipped MacBook Air packs far better performance than its predecessors, rivaling at times the M1-based MacBook Pro. It’s the best value among macOS laptops.This configuration is $200 off for Prime Day, putting it just under $1,000.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds

The second-generation AirPods Pro deliver exceptional active noise cancellation (ANC) and audio performance, and come with a more advanced charging case, making them the best noise-canceling true wireless earphones for Apple device users. Apple’s flagship earphones come close to besting the $299 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II in the ANC department for $50 less. And on Prime Day, you can save 10% more.

Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

The AirPods Max are the first over-ear headphones for Apple’s AirPods lineup and they don’t come cheap. They do deliver excellent audio performance, top-notch noise cancellation, and a bevy of useful features in a gorgeous design for a bit too much money, and on Prime Day they get slightly more affordable. 

Best Smart Device Deals

Amazon Echo Show 10
(Credit: Amazon)

Echo Dot 4th Gen Smart Speaker + GE Cync Smart Bulbs

The fourth-generation Echo Dot speaker doesn’t offer particularly impressive sound quality, but for $50, it’s the best basic gateway to Alexa. And with this bundle, you can ask Amazon’s voice assistant to control your smart lights.

Amazon Echo Show 10 Smart Display

The third-generation Amazon Echo Show 10 smart display gets an audio upgrade and a base that will follow you around during video chats to make sure you’re in frame. On Prime Day, it can chart your whereabouts for 32% off.

Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB 1080p Tablet

Amazon’s tablets aren’t as sleek and full-featured as the iPad lineup, but they get the job done for casual media streaming and web browsing. The Fire HD 10 is our pick from Amazon’s lineup. Even without the Google Play store, it’s the best tablet you can get for less than $200.

Eufy Security SoloCam S40 2K Wireless Solar Security Camera

Worried your security cameras will run out of juice at an inopportune time? This Eufy device recharges in the sun to deliver a 600-lumen spotlight when motion is detected.

Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus with Echo Show 5

The Ring Floodlight Cam offers crisp 1080p video, and two-way audio, and works with other smart devices that support IFTTT. With a subscription, you can view recorded video on devices like the Echo Show 5 smart display, included here.

Best Audio and Earphones Deals

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
(Credit: Beats)

Beats Fit Pro

The true wireless Beats Fit Pro earphones deliver deep bass and crisp highs with above-average noise cancellation in a modestly water-resistant design with a super-secure fit.

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

The wireless Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 offer terrific audio performance, hands-free voice assistant access, and the best tunable active noise cancellation you can buy.

 JBL Bar 5.1

There’s plenty to like about the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround soundbar, which comes with a single soundbar and a large subwoofer. The two pieces link up automatically when powered up. The bar can sit flat on a tabletop, or be mounted on a wall. The front face is all metallic speaker grille, with a white LED readout that tells you what sound source you’re connected to.

Best Robot Vacuums and Mops Deals

Roborock Q7 

Roborock Q7 

This vacuum-mop comb with 4200Pa of suction will suck up all the dirt and debris you, your kids, and your pets track through the house via 30 water-flow levels. It can map out your house and last up to 180 minutes on a charge.

Roborock E5

Robot’s Roomba e5 is a powerful robot vacuum with strong suction, long battery life, and support for app control and voice commands. It doesn’t quite match our other top-rated robot vacuums, but it’s under $200 for Prime Day, or 38% off. 

iRobot Roomba i4+ EVO

The Roomba i4+ offers automatic dirt disposal, connected mapping, and Alexa support. For Prime Day, it’s 38% off.

Eufy WetVac W31

The rolling brushes on the W31 can handle a variety of hard floors, and the device will automatically recharge itself when it has finished cleaning up. There’s 12,500 Pa of suction power and enough battery power for 35+ minutes of clean time. Get it for $250.

Best TV Deals

Samsung 43-Inch Class QN90B Neo QLED TV
(Credit: Will Greenwald)

LG A1 Series 48-Inch OLED TV (2021 Model)

This 48-inch LG OLED A1 Series features a 4K display with a 60Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, plus support for HDR Gaming and Auto Low-Latency Mode. Google Assistant and Alexa are built in for voice commands.

Samsung 55-Inch TU-8300 Series Curved TV 

Get immersed in your next binge-watch courtesy of the curved display on this 55-inch Samsung TV. It’s available for $497, of 17% off.

Samsung 43-Inch Neo QN90B Series QLED 4K Smart TV

The Samsung QN90B’s mini LED backlight results in a bright picture with effectively perfect black levels, and it’s less than $1,000 for Prime Day.

Best Software Deals

Microsoft 365 Personal 12-Month With $30 Amazon Gift Card

Microsoft 365 is the world’s standard for office suites and the only one that’s equally powerful online and on the desktop.

Best Camera Deals

Canon EOS M6 Mark II

Canon EOS M6 Mark II

If you were worried that Canon would ignore its APS-C mirrorless camera series after the introduction of the full-frame EOS R, your anxiety should be somewhat lessened by the EOS M6 Mark II. It sports a new sensor with class-leading 32.5MP resolution, better 4K support, and improved autofocus compared with the last generation, the most recent model being the EOS M50. It’s the best mirrorless camera Canon has made to date, and it’s available for $999, down from $1,099. Find out more on the PCMag’s review.

Sony ZV-1

The Sony ZV-1 is the company’s first compact camera built just for vloggers. It shares a lot of its tech with the RX100 family, including the lens from the RX100 VA and the imaging engine from the RX100 VII. Those models are stills-first, though, while with the ZV-1 you get a more video-friendly design, with a flip-forward LCD and a best-in-class internal microphone. It’s a good camera for vloggers, and it’s available for $698, down from $748.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Link Printer Bundle

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link prints any shot on your phone’s camera roll using real instant film instead of paper and ink. Unlike competitors that typically use low-quality heat-sensitive thermal materials to print, the Mini Link opts for instant film. The chemical process nets crisper detail and a much truer color than Zink alternatives, though it does cost a little bit more per print. It’s available for $85, down from $100.

Polaroid IS048 Digital Camera

Take quality 16MP photos in an easy-to-use point-and-shoot camera with a 2.4-inch preview screen. This camera is superb for underwater photography and is fully submersible up to 10 feet. It uses two CR-V DVD-A compatible Batteries (included) to benefit your device.

Best Android Smartphones and Tablets Deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
(Credit: Molly Flores)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a fun phone that encourages you to slip it into a pocket and just live your life. You pay a premium for the innovative folding design, as well as give up some gaming power and image quality compared with the more typical Galaxy S22+, but no other smartphone offers quite the same moderating experience or portability.

OnePlus 9

An efficient, no-nonsense Android phone, the OnePlus 9 takes many things we liked about the OnePlus 8T and puts them on the more modern Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 platform. The resulting package delivers a fast and smooth Android experience, broad network compatibility, and a very capable camera.

Moto G Stylus

Motorola’s midrange Moto G Stylus 5G offers speedy connectivity, a big screen, and impressive battery life, but its main appeal is the built-in stylus. It’s available for $250, at a discount of 33% off the list price.

Nokia T20

The Nokia T20 is an affordable tablet for basic tasks that’s also optimized for commercial use. We like its long-lasting battery, good build quality, and Nokia’s commitment to several years of software updates. From its thick bezels to its matte blue aluminum back panel, everything about this tablet looks and feels like a supersized Nokia smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Creativity comes easy with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, the best way to get an active stylus tablet at a relatively low cost. The S6 Lite’s included S Pen stylus gives you a pen experience for less money than the base model iPad plus an Apple Pencil, making this tablet a good choice for people doing note-taking or art on a budget.

Best Fitness Tracker Deals

Garmin Vivoactive 4
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)

Garmin Forerunner 735XT

The Garmin Forerunner 735XT is a 24/7 activity and sleep tracker with continuous heart rate monitoring, GPS, push notifications, and special features for triathletes. It manages to be both lightweight and achieve absolutely terrific battery life. If you’re a triathlete in search of a new fitness tracker, the Garmin Forerunner 735XT is absolutely worth checking out, and it’s available for $130, a 63% discount from the list price. 

Garmin Vivoactive 4S

If you’re looking for a fitness tracker that really balances form and function, the Garmin Vivoactive 4S should be at the top of your list. This feature-rich GPS fitness tracker/smartwatch hybrid boasts a stylish design, more than 20 preloaded sports apps, onboard music storage, and support for Bluetooth headphones. It builds on its excellent predecessors with the addition of on-screen workout animations, Pilates support and enhanced yoga metrics, pulse oximeter readings, respiration tracking, and underwater heart rate monitoring.