Amazon’s stunner of a smart thermostat is being offered at its best price yet

Amazon Prime Day is back baby! OK, maybe not technically, but so many Amazon devices are currently discounted at Best Buy and other retailers that it’s giving us a lot of déjà vu. Right now, for example, you can buy Amazon’s excellent smart thermostat at Best Buy and Target for just $41.99 ($18 off) — a record low hit during Prime Day.

The budget-friendly thermostat fits most furnishings and can even learn and adapt to your habits like pricier options. Note, however, that you can’t integrate the device with voice assistants beyond Alexa, and there are no native temperature sensors. If those reservations don’t bother you, however, Amazon’s Smart Thermostat is a great option to consider, one that could potentially help you save money on utility bills. Read our review.

Some of Amazon’s smart displays and speakers are also back on sale today despite the recent Prime Day. If you’re looking for a smaller smart speaker, you can currently pick up the fourth-gen spherical Echo Dot for $19.99 instead of $49.99 at Best Buy and Target. The latest model may have been launched in 2020, but it still sounds great for its size and allows you to set alarms, control various smart home devices, and perform a variety of tasks using just your voice. Read our fourth-gen Echo Dot review.

Amazon Echo Dot (fourth generation)

The 2020 Echo Dot has a more spherical design than a real dot, but it can still do all the things Alexa does with other Echo models.

If you prefer a smart display to watch movies and look up recipes, Best Buy also sells the second-gen Echo Show 5 for $34.99 instead of $84.99, as does Target. The small 5.5-inch display makes a great bedside alarm clock, as you can use it to quickly check the weather and snooze with just a tap.

However, if you prefer something bigger, you can pick up the 2019 8-inch Echo Show 8 at Best Buy for $54.99 ($55 off). The older display still sounds better than the second-gen Echo Show 5 and has a built-in shutter to block the camera. Sure, the 2019 model still comes with a meager 1-megapixel camera and a slower processor than the latest Echo Show 8, but it’s still a capable Alexa-powered smart display that’s great for the kitchen or living room suitable. Read ours Second Generation Echo Show 5 and First generation Echo Show 8 Reviews.

Amazon Echo Show 5 (second generation)

Amazon’s Echo Show 5 is an ideal smart display for a bedside table. You can use Alexa to set an alarm, play music, control smart displays, get a weather report, and more with Alexa. When the alarm goes off, all you have to do is tap the top of the Echo Show 5 to snooze it.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (first generation)

The latest generation Echo Show 8 is Amazon’s mid-range smart display. It has a sharp 8-inch screen and most of the features of the second-gen model, but lacks the latter’s 13-megapixel camera and fast performance.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Somehow we are already approaching the start of a new school year. And if you’re a student who needs a powerful Apple laptop that’s ideal for content creation, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is available to My Best Buy members today for the lowest price ever.

For a regular $1,999, you can pick up the MacBook Pro in Space Gray with 16GB of RAM, an octa-core M1 Pro processor, and 512GB of storage for $1,699. The 14-inch device boasts an impressive array of ports and top-notch performance, battery life that surpasses most other laptops we’ve seen, and a gorgeous mini-LED display – something even the new M2 MacBook Air boasts does not have. Just remember that My Best Buy is the retailer’s free rewards program, one that differs from Best Buy’s premium TotalTech service. Read our review.

A few more offers to start the weekend

• If you’re in the market for a great-sounding portable speaker, you can currently buy the Sonos Roam refurbished from Sonos for $139 instead of the $179 the price the speaker typically sells new. The robust Bluetooth speaker offers a number of great features, including IP67 dust and water resistance, support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and compatibility with Apple’s AirPlay 2. Read our review.
• As part of its new outlet sale, Nomad is discounting up to 85 percent on a range of wearable and Apple-centric accessories. The ongoing promotion includes discounts on Apple Watch leather straps, iPhone and AirPod cases, and more.
• If you’re someone prone to seasonal allergies or wildfire smoke, Coway’s Airmega 200M is currently on sale at Walmart for $129.99 ($100 off), which is easily the best price we’ve seen for the handheld HEPA air purifier to have.
• The latest Apple TV 4K is discounted again to $129.99 in the 32GB configuration at Best Buy and Amazon (with delayed shipping). The future-proof streaming box supports 4K HDR content along with more modern specs like HDMI 2.1 and Wi-Fi 6. Read our review.
• Want to get out of the house this weekend but are still hesitating given today’s high gas prices? The Segway Ninebot Max G30LP electric scooter is currently available at Best Buy for $749.99 compared to the usual price of $899.99. This is a great commuter scooter with a removable seat, good range and a top speed of 18.6mph.