A streaming stick should definitely be on your back-to-school list when you head back to college. After all, a good one can offer you hours of budget-friendly entertainment if you need to relax after studying. Buying one seems especially appealing these days now that Amazon’s latest Fire TV Stick 4K Max is at the lowest price we’ve seen since Prime Day.
Normally $54.99, Amazon and Best Buy sell the streaming stick for $39.99, which is just $5 less than its all-time low. We think the Fire TV Stick Max is the best streaming stick for those embedded in Amazon’s ecosystem, namely because it integrates quite well with Alexa and can reliably give you voice commands with the included remote. We also found that it offers a great selection of streaming apps and faster performance than its predecessor, not to mention support for Wi-Fi 6. Read our review.
Excited for the premiere of House of the Dragon but not so keen on the expensive HBO Max subscription you need to watch it? Now until October 29, new and returning subscribers can get a 30 percent discount on a one-year subscription to HBO Max, assuming you want to prepay for the entire year. This means you can buy the ad-supported plan for $69.99 instead of $99.99 (or $5.83 per month) or the ad-free plan for $104.99 instead of $149.99 (or $8.75 per month).
Whichever subscription you choose, you can always watch House of the Dragon in addition to other popular shows and movies, including: the batter, successionand more. Keep in mind the ongoing Warner Bros. mega-merger, which has already resulted in the removal and cancellation of a number of shows and movies, including batgirl.
Now through October 29, you can save 30 percent on an annual subscription to HBO Max, which typically starts at $149.99 and gives you access to everything from west world until The white lotus.
Speaking of college, a pair of noise-canceling earplugs come in handy because they can help you focus better by tuning in with your roommates. While the best ones tend to be on the pricey side, Amazon is currently taking $40 off its second-generation Echo Buds. You can buy them with a wireless charging case for only $99.99 or a wired charging case for $79.99which are some of the lowest prices we’ve seen on true wireless earbuds so far.
Sure, the latest Echo Buds may not have brilliant noise-cancelling technology like Apple’s AirPods Pro, but their ANC is effective for the price. Plus, they offer some other great benefits, including great sound quality, interchangeable tips, IPX4 water and sweat resistance, and a great pass-through mode that lets you hear your surroundings. Read our review.
Amazon’s second-generation Echo Buds improve upon the originals with a more comfortable design, improved ANC, and a more natural ambient sound mode. They also support hands-free Alexa commands.
If you’re looking to add some extra security to your home, you might want to check out today’s discount on the Ring Alarm Pro. The eight-piece set is a good investment for people who want to get started with a home security system, especially because it is easy to use and gives you everything you need. While it’s not compatible with Google Home, Apple’s HomeKit, or IFTTT, it integrates quite well with Amazon Alexa.
Usually $299.99, you can buy it now for $239.99 at Best Buy and Amazon (with delayed shipping), which is the best price ever. The discounted kit includes a base station, which doubles as an Eero 6 dual-band mesh Wi-Fi router, four contact sensors for doors and windows, a motion detector, and a Z-Wave range extender to reach sensors further away. Please note that the system does not come with 24/7 video recording and you will have to pay extra for local storage. Read our review.
The Ring Alarm Pro is a great security system that offers everything you need to easily set up your smart home, as well as a built-in Eero Wi-Fi router and local storage for videos from Ring cameras. However, it doesn’t offer 24/7 video recording, nor is it compatible with Google Home, Apple’s HomeKit, or IFTTT.
A few more ways to save…
- Apple’s fifth-generation, Wi-Fi-enabled iPad Air is on sale at Amazon in a variety of colors with 64GB of storage for $559, which is a $40 discount and $10 below the tablet’s all-time low. The latest Air is faster than its predecessor thanks to Apple’s M1 processor and has an excellent 10.9-inch screen and speakers, along with an all-day battery. Read our review.
- Google’s Nest Doorbell is the first to run entirely on battery and is currently available for $129.99 ($50 off) at B&H Photo with a coupon, which is automatically applied at checkout. Walmart is too sell the white model for the same price. We found that the video doorbell offers a long battery life and liked that it can detect packets as well as people, but wished it offered 24/7 recording. Read our review.
- If you’re looking for a budget-friendly phone, you can buy an unlocked Motorola Moto G Stylus – one of our favorite models – with 128GB of storage at Amazon and Motorola for $199.99 ($100 off). While it doesn’t have 5G connectivity, the smartphone is a good buy overall, one that comes with a stylus and a large 6.8-inch 1080p LCD display. Read our review.
- Govee’s Colorful Immersion TV LED Kit is $104.99 ($45 off) at Best Buy for today only. This model is suitable for TVs from 55 to 65 inches. In addition to the rear-mounted LED strip and top-mounted camera to match the colors to what’s on the screen, it comes with two external light bars to flood the walls with more color-matched light. Read our review.