The best Labor Day sales happening now

Amazon’s highest-end streaming stick, which can display both artwork and widgets when idle, is down to $39.99 at multiple retailers. | Image: AmazonIt’s always sad when summer comes to a close. However, on the bright side, Labor Day represents...

Sep 1, 2024 - 21:01

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It’s always sad when summer comes to a close. However, on the bright side, Labor Day represents yet another long weekend — not to mention an opportunity to save on a slew of goods before the holiday shopping season kicks off in earnest. Although Labor Day isn’t until tomorrow, September 2nd, many retailers are already offering steep discounts on a range of tech, some of which rival the Prime Day deals we saw in July.

Right now, for instance, Apple’s last-gen iPad is on sale for less than $200. Other Verge-approved items have also fallen to an all-time low (or close to it), including Sonos’ Era 100 speaker, Amazon’s latest Echo Spot, and the entry-level Kindle. Granted, we’ve seen many of these products go for slightly less in the past — and it’s possible we’ll see even better deals during Amazon’s next Prime Day event in October — but now is a great time to pick up any last-minute school supplies you might need or begin chipping away at your holiday wishlist ahead of Black Friday. After all, it rarely hurts to get ahead, even if you’re wallet might say otherwise.

The best speaker deals

Sonos’ Era 100 smart speaker is a replacement for the older Sonos One, utilizing two tweeters (left and right) and one larger woofer. In addition to Wi-Fi, the Era 100 supports Bluetooth audio and line-in playback via an optional adapter. Read our review.

With double the battery life of its predecessor and better-sounding stereo audio, the Sonos Move 2’s improvements don’t stop there. It supports line-in audio, can stream Bluetooth audio to other Sonos speakers, and more. Read our review.

Some of Ultimate Ears’ newest portable speakers are also on sale through September 2nd. Right now, for instance, Amazon, Best Buy, and UE are selling the UE Megaboom 4 for $169.99 ($30 off). The UE Wonderboom 4 is also down to $79.99 ($20 off) — an all-time low — at Amazon, Best Buy, and direct from UE. Both Bluetooth speakers offer USB-C support, a rugged IP67 rating, and a new megaphone feature that amplifies your voice when you speak into it. However, the larger Megaboom 4 delivers more robust sound and longer battery life, allowing for up to 20 hours of playback.You can also buy last year’s UE Epicboom for $269.99 ($30 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Logitech. The speaker sits above the Megaboom 4 in the lineup, delivering more powerful, 360-degree sound. It doesn’t really offer a lot of additional perks beyond that, though it does feature USB-C charging and an IP67 rating like all of the aforementioned UE models. Read our review.

Amazon’s new Echo Spot smart speaker / alarm clock has a 2.83-inch squared-off display for showing the time, weather, music playback, and other bits of info you may want at your bedside. Unlike the original Spot, there’s no camera to worry about having in your bedroom — though it does have a mutable microphone for Alexa voice controls. Read our review.

Amazon’s colorful Echo Pop offers a unique semisphere form factor and can function as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender. Read our review.

You can also buy the fifth-gen Echo Dot in blue, black, or white with a Sengled smart bulb for $29.99 ($40 off), which is one of its better prices to date. The latest Dot delivers more powerful sound than the Echo Pop while retaining Alexa support. It can also function as a Wi-Fi extender for Eero mesh networks and features a built-in temperature sensor. Read our review.If you’re looking for a truly portable smart speaker, the Sonos Roam 2 is currently matching its all-time low of $143 ($36 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos’ online storefront. The second-gen model is a lot like the original from 2021 — meaning it still offers great sound and support for both AirPlay 2 and Amazon Alexa — except it now features a dedicated button on the back for Bluetooth pairing and, hopefully, better battery life in the long term.

Samsung’s Music Frame is a 12.9 x 12.9-inch picture frame with a physical print at the front that you can customize with art or a photo. Along with support for Dolby Atmos, it’s compatible with the Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby.

The best earbud and headphone deals

The Sonos Ace are the company’s first set of wireless headphones. They feature a premium, comfortable build and active noise cancellation, along with compatibility with Sonos Arc and other Sonos soundbars. Read our review.

The second-gen AirPods Pro improve upon Apple’s original pair with much better noise cancellation, sound quality, and onboard volume controls. The latest refresh also ships with a USB-C charging case, as opposed to Lightning. Read our review.

Apple’s AirPods Max are on sale for $399 ($150 off) at Amazon, which is nearly their best price to date. It’s possible that Apple could replace them with a new USB-C model at its “Glowtime” event on September 9th, but at the moment, few headphones offer as good value if you’re an iPhone owner. They pair well with other Apple devices, after all, and feature exemplary sound and noise cancellation. Read our review.The second-gen AirPods are also on sale for $89 ($40 off) at Amazon and Walmart, which is $20 shy of their all-time low. They lack advanced capabilities like noise cancellation and multipoint connectivity, but they remain a reliable pair of wireless earbuds that deliver good sound and long battery life. Again, we may see several new AirPods models in just a few weeks, so you may want to wait if you’re after the latest and greatest earbuds. Read our review.

Bose’s latest flagship headphones are a replacement for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 that offer a more travel-friendly design, spatial audio, better call quality, excellent comfort, and some of the best noise cancellation around.

The best smart home deals

Amazon’s new Echo Show 8 features spatial audio and room adaptation software for improved audio quality. It also displays a different homescreen on its eight-inch display based on whether you’re standing near it or farther away. Read our review.

Tovala’s smart oven / air fryer combo is designed to be used with its scannable meal kits for easy meals that are ready in about 20 minutes. Otherwise, it’s a standard countertop oven. Right now, you can get it for $49 when you buy it from Tovala and order meals six times over six months. Each meal costs around $12.99. Read our review.

If you’re looking for a video doorbell, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is our favorite battery-powered model on the market — one that’s currently available for $119.99 ($30 off) from both Amazon and Ring. The responsive doorbell offers an impressive feature set for the price, including 1536p HD video and a head-to-toe view, allowing you to see your entire porch. Ring and Amazon are also selling the battery-powered Ring Battery Doorbell Pro for $149.99 ($80 off), which matches its all-time low. Like the aforementioned Doorbell Plus, the Pro sports 1536p HD video and a head-to-toe view; however, the newer doorbell features radar-powered motion detection, which allows it to deliver far more accurate alerts.

The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro delivers high-quality video with adjustable, accurate radar-powered motion detection, 2,000 lumens of light, and a good digital zoom. It offers smart alerts for people or motion and works with Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Ring’s excellent app. Read our guide to the best floodlight cameras.

Blink’s Video Doorbell is the best if you’re looking a budget-friendly buzzer that offers motion-activated recording and alerts, night vision, two-way audio, and up to two years of battery life. Read our guide to the best video doorbell cameras.

The latest Ring Indoor Cam is available for $39.99 ($20 off) from Amazon and Ring, which is $10 shy of its best price to date. Along with 1080p video, the indoor camera features a built-in siren, motion-activated recording, and color night vision. It also sports a physical privacy cover that lets you disable audio and video recording.Ring’s standard Stick Up Cam is available from Amazon and direct from Ring for $69.99 ($30 off), which remains one of its better prices to date. The indoor, battery-powered 1080p camera has multiple mounting options, along with support for both color night vision and two-way audio.If all you want is an inexpensive security cam that works indoors and outside, the Blink Mini 2 is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $29.99 ($10 off) — its lowest price to date — or at Amazon bundled with a weather-resistant adapter for $39.98 (also $10 off). The basic 1080p camera offers better image quality than the original, along with USB-C power, on-device person detection, and a wider field of view. You still get two-way audio and motion alerts, too, which are table stakes but welcome nonetheless. Read our review.

With 24/7 recording, facial recognition, reliable smart alerts, and some free video recording, Google’s newest wired doorbell is the best option for most people. Read our review.

Developed in partnership with Resideo, the Amazon Smart Thermostat allows you to control the temperature of your home through Alexa voice controls and remotely via an app. Read our review.

TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) is on sale at Amazon in a four-pack for $34.99 ($15 off) when you use the on-page coupon, which is a new low. The smart plug offers a lot in common with the Kasa KP125M, our top pick for most people, including reliable performance and energy monitoring. However, it lacks support for Matter, even if it is compatible with Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. Eufy’s RoboVac 11S Max is on sale at Amazon for $139.99 ($110 off), its best price yet. Eufy’s basic bot offers good suction and a decent-sized dustbin for the price, rendering it a good option if you don’t need advanced cleaning features like AI obstacle avoidance or mops.

With a unique ability to remove and reattach its mop pads, the Dreame X40 solves the problem of vacuuming carpets while also mopping hard floors. Its mops can also swing out and under low furniture, getting where most bots can’t reach. An extendable side brush helps get dirt out of corners. A whopping 12,000Pa of suction mean it’s a great vac, if not quite as good as the S8 MaxV Ultra. Read our guide to the best robot vacuums.

The L20 Ultra is a great all-around bot that can remove its mop pads to vacuum carpet and do the splits with its mops to better clean your baseboards. It has 7,000Pa suction, a bigger base station, and fewer advanced cleaning features than the newer X30 and X40 Ultra models, but it’s still an excellent robot vacuum. Read our guide to the best robot vacuums.

It’s not fancy, but the Q5 Pro has a huge bin and big wheels to get up on higher-pile carpets easily. It has a small removable mopping reservoir for when there are dirty paws on the floors, but its main job is to suck up dirt and pet hair, and it does very well at both.

The best TV and streaming device deals

Amazon’s highest-end streaming stick is faster than its predecessor with Wi-Fi 6E and double the storage. It also now displays widgets and artwork when idle while continuing to offer a terrific selection of streaming apps and Alexa integration.

The LG G3 is a high-end TV with an exceptionally bright OLED display. Combine that with perfect blacks, superb viewing angles, and top-notch gaming specs, and the G3 makes for a compelling package. Read our LG G3 first impressions.

You can buy the latest Amazon Fire TV Cube for $109.99 ($30 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The fabric-covered streaming device / Echo speaker hybrid offers better performance than its predecessor, primarily due to a faster processor and updated support for Wi-Fi 6E. Like previous models, it also integrates well with Alexa, allowing for extensive hands-free voice control capabilities. Read our review.Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K, which we’ve long considered to be one of the best streaming devices, has returned to around $34 ($16 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. It’s simple and straightforward to use, like all Roku devices, and it supports Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. The streaming stick also supports Dolby Vision HDR and comes with Roku’s handy voice remote, allowing you to quickly scour various streaming services for your next binge.

TCL’s midrange Q6 leverages quantum dot technology for rich color and contrast. It also offers support for every major HDR format, built-in Chromecast functionality, and the ability to upscale 1080p content to 120Hz while gaming.

The LG C4 is similar to its predecessor, with support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync variable refresh rate tech. However, it now sports a max 144Hz refresh rate, a brighter panel, and overall better picture quality.

The best tablet and e-reader deals

Apple’s entry-level iPad from 2021 has a 10.2-inch screen, an A13 Bionic chip, and a 12MP front camera that supports Apple’s Center Stage feature. It’s also compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil and the company’s smart keyboard. Although it’s discontinued, it’s the only iPad you can still buy with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Amazon’s latest entry-level Kindle comes with a host of much-needed upgrades, including a better display, longer battery life, and USB-C charging. Read our review.

Amazon’s kid-friendly Paperwhite is the same as the standard Paperwhite, but it’s ad-free and comes with the added benefits of a two-year hardware protection plan, one year of Amazon Kids Plus, and a choice of three kid-friendly covers.

Amazon and Best Buy are also selling the Kindle Kids for $94.99 ($25 off), which is better than its Prime Day price and $15 shy of its all-time low. The ad-free Kids model is identical to the standard Kindle, but like the kid-friendly Kindle Paperwhite, it comes with one year of Amazon Kids Plus, a colorful cover, and a two-year hardware protection plan.If you’re looking for a budget-friendly entertainment device, we’d recommend the last-gen iPad. If you’re on a really tight budget, though, Amazon is also discounting its Fire tablets. Its highest-end model — the Amazon Fire Max 11 — is on sale with ads and 64GB of storage starting at $169.99 at Amazon and Best Buy. It can’t quite rival an iPad in terms of performance or capabilities, but it does stand out from the rest of the Fire lineup with an 11-inch, high-res LCD screen. It’s also one of Amazon’s speedier models, one that can be used with a stylus and an add-on keyboard. Read our review.

Apple’s 10th-gen iPad is the spiritual successor to the older ninth-gen model. In exchange for its revised design, landscape-oriented webcam, USB-C port, larger 10.9-inch screen, and faster processor, it ditched the headphone jack and got more expensive. Read our review.

The 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 sports a 10.1-inch, 1080p display and 3GB of RAM, which is plenty if you’re streaming or browsing. It’s lighter than the last-gen model, too, and comes with support for both the Made for Amazon Stylus Pen and Amazon’s handwriting recognition technology.

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Miscellaneous Labor Day deals

Hoto’s electric screwdriver is perfect for making small to medium-sized repairs around the house. In addition to a USB-C port, the screwdriver comes with a case and 12 steel bits.

Apple’s AirTag is unobtrusive, waterproof, and taps into the massive Find My network for out-of-range locating. Read our review.

Epicka’s Universal Travel Adapter is on sale for $19.99 at Amazon. The adapter works in over 150 countries and comes with one USB-C port and four USB-A ports, so you can charge a wide range of electronics while traveling.Now through September 2nd, MasterClass is offering a 50 percent discount on the first year of its annual membership plans. The online learning platform offers more than 200 expert-taught classes, helping you learn more about cooking, photography, gaming, and other topics. Yearlong plans typically start at $120, so you’d be paying $60 for unlimited access to all classes, as well as downloadable workbooks. Keurig’s K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker, a frequent highlight in our gift guides, is on sale in a variety of colors at Amazon, Target, and Fred Meyer for $59.99 ($40 off), matching its second-best price to date. The easy-to-use K-Cup brewer can only make one 12-ounce cup of coffee at a time, but it also measures a mere five inches wide, making it an ideal choice for a dorm or cramped countertop.

Fellow’s handsome electric kettle allows you to easily choose your desired water temperature and time tea or coffee extraction thanks to a built-in stopwatch.

Garmin’s midrange Forerunner watch adds a new OLED display, a week’s worth of battery life, and dual-frequency GPS for better accuracy.

The Theragun Mini is a small, ultra-portable massage device that’s quiet and effective at providing relief for muscle pain and melting away tension.

Wildfire season might be winding down (fingers crossed), but you can still pick up the Coway Airmega 200M at Amazon for $149.59 (about $84 off), which remains its second-best price to date. The compact HEPA air purifier features a four-stage filtration system, and though we don’t do a ton of dedicated air purifier testing here at The Verge, we can personally attest to the effectiveness of this entry-level model for smaller rooms.The Insta360 Link is once again available from Amazon, B&H Photo, and Insta360 for $199.99 (100 off), matching its best price to date. We had some minor qualms with the 4K-ready webcam when we reviewed it in 2020, but it remains an incredibly fun option for creators and live streamers, namely because it sits on a motorized gimbal that allows it to keep you physically centered in the frame. It’s also chock-full of other great features, including a deskview mode that angles the camera downward at your desk.REI’s Labor Day sale isn’t exactly chock-full of tech, though Coleman’s Cascade Classic Camp Stove is nearly matching its lowest price to date at $74.99 ($25 off). The relatively compact two-burner stove is pretty basic, as the name implies, but it remains a great pick for picnics and car camping, as it offers adjustable windscreens, a matchless piezo igniter, and enough cooking power for most meals (if you’re willing to wait).

Garmin’s palm-size inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator provides off-the-grid contact with subscription plans starting at $14.95 a month.

The ChomChom is a reusable cat and dog hair remover that works great for furniture.

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Update, September 1st: Updated to reflect current pricing and the addition of several new deals, including those for Coleman’s Cascade Classic Camp Stove and LG’s C4 OLED TV.