Early Prime Day deals are here — I found 33+ that are actually worth shopping

Prime Big Deal Days doesn’t start until next week, but you don’t have to wait until then to start shopping. Amazon is currently offering deals across product categories, giving Prime members a chance to save on tech, kitchen gadgets, household essentials and more, as well as get a head start on shopping for holiday gifts.

I’ve been covering shopping events like Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday for five years as a writer for NBC Select, so I know how to find deals that are actually worth buying. Each one I recommend below is highly rated, at least 20% off and at its lowest price in at least three months. I’ll frequently update this list leading up to October’s Prime Day sale on Oct. 8 and 9.

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Amazon Smart Plug

4.7-star average rating from 564,467 reviews on Amazon

I plug devices like lamps and fans into this smart plug to control them from my phone or via Alexa voice commands. The plug pairs with a companion app that also lets you set on/off schedules, and it’s compact, which keeps your second outlet free.

TubShroom Tub Drain Hair Catcher

4.5-star average rating from 9,078 reviews on Amazon

Once you put this gadget in your shower drain, it collects hair to prevent clogged pipes without disrupting the water flow. The TubShroom fits drains 1.5 to 1.75 inches wide.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

4.7-star average rating from 40,648 reviews on Amazon

Lowest price ever

This streaming device plugs directly into any TV and lets you watch your favorite shows and movies. It displays content in 4K resolution, comes with an Alexa Voice remote and lets you control compatible smart home devices.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

4.8-star average rating from 77,138 reviews on Amazon

Aquaphor is one of our favorite skin care products to keep at home dry hands, chapped lips, tattoo aftercare, sunburns and razor burn. It’s made with petrolatum to heal the skin barrier and comes in a 14-ounce rub.

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)

4.6-star average rating from 126,515 reviews on Amazon

The Echo Dot is a Bluetooth speaker that you can use to play music, podcasts and audiobooks. It’s also equipped with Alexa voice assistant, which you can ask to give you news, weather and traffic updates or set timers and alarms. Since the Echo Dot is very small, it easily blends into my home.

Waterpik Cordless Pulse

4.4-star average rating from 4,024 reviews on Amazon

This water-resistant, ADA-accepted water flosser has two tips and two pressure settings. One charge gives you up to four weeks of use, and its reservoir holds enough water for a 45-second cleaning.

Blink Mini 2

4.4-star average rating from 2,650 reviews on Amazon

Lowest price ever

Keep an eye on your home with this tiny outdoor and indoor security camera. It connects to an app that lets you livestream footage from your phone. The camera can hear and speak to visitors and clearly see images in color at night. It also has a built-in spotlight.

Kindle Paperwhite Kids

4.7-star average rating from 3,355 reviews on Amazon

This e-reader comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, a subscription that offers ad-free books for various reading levels. It’s water-resistant, has an adjustable warm light and offers up to 10 weeks of battery life on a single charge. You can also adjust parental controls via Amazon’s Parent Dashboard.

Amazon Fire TV 40” 2-Series

4.4-star average rating from 8,739 reviews on Amazon

Lowest price ever

Amazon’s HD TV lets you download and watch content from your favorite streaming services. It comes with an Alexa Voice remote, allowing you to control it manually or via voice commands. The TV has HDMI and USB ports so you can plug in other devices, like gaming consoles and soundbars.

Ecolution Micro-Pop Microwave Popcorn Popper

4.3-star average rating from 68,314 reviews on Amazon

This microwave popcorn maker is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. Its lid helps you measure kernels and melt butter, plus you can eat out of the bowl thanks to its wide-mouth design. The popper is dishwasher-safe and makes three quarts of popcorn at a time.

ThermoPro TempSpike Wireless Meat Thermometer

4.2-star average rating from 8,308 reviews on Amazon

Lowest price ever

Monitor the temperature of the meat or fish you’re cooking with this wireless, Bluetooth-enabled thermometer. So long as it remains less than 500 feet away from your phone, the thermometer connects to a companion app that tells you the estimated cooking time and alerts you when food is ready. You can use the thermometer in the oven, grill, air fryer, smoker, rotisserie or sous vide.

Ninja Mega Kitchen System

4.7-star average rating from 42,492 reviews on Amazon

Make smoothies, soups, dips and more with Ninja’s kitchen system, which acts as a blender, mixer and food processor. It has a motor base, three different types of blades and three interchangeable vessels, all of which are dishwasher-safe: a 72-ounce pitcher, a 64-ounce bowl and a 16-ounce single-serve cup. 

iRobot Roomba Combo Essential

4.2-star average rating from 30,046 reviews on Amazon

Lowest price ever

This Roomba simultaneously vacuums and mops your floors, or you can set it to exclusively vacuum. The appliance’s sensors help it navigate around obstacles and it comes with a charging station that it automatically returns to. The Roomba pairs with a companion app that lets you set cleaning schedules. It also responds to Alexa voice commands.

Shark Wandvac Cordless Hand Vac

4.2-star average rating from 17,815 reviews on Amazon

Lowest price ever

The Shark Wandvac is one of our favorite handheld vacuums for cleaning up messes at home and in the car. It weighs less than two pounds and comes with a charging stand, as well as a duster crevice tool and a multi-surface pet tool. The vacuum’s cup and filter are removable for easy cleaning.

California Design Den 500 Thread Count Sheet Set

4.5-star average rating from 12,620 reviews on Amazon

California Design Den makes some of our favorite sheets, and this set comes with a fitted sheet, top sheet and two pillowcases. The fitted sheet has head and foot side indicators, as well as deep pockets that fit mattresses eight to 16 inches thick. The set comes in sizes from twin to California king.

Shark SpeedStyle Hair Dryer

4.4-star average rating from 650 reviews on Amazon

Lowest price ever

Lindsay Schneider, NBC Select commerce editor, uses the Shark SpeedStyle to quickly dry her hair and create a bouncy blowout. The tool — which weighs less than two pounds — comes with three attachments. It has four heat settings, three airflow settings and a cool shot feature.

Oral-B iO Series 3 Limited Electric Toothbrush

4.6-star average rating from 2,883 reviews on Amazon

Oral-B’s electric toothbrushes are some of our favorites, and this one comes with two brush heads and a travel case. It has three cleaning settings, a pressure sensor and a two-minute timer. There’s also a built-in brush head change alert.

Honest Beauty Gentle Gel Cleanser

4.6-star average rating from 4,483 reviews on Amazon

This face wash gets rid of dirt and impurities without drying your skin, according to the brand. It’s formulated for all skin types and is made with calming ingredients like chamomile and calendula extracts.

Here are the best early Prime Day sales to know about. Keep in mind, not every item from a brand is discounted as described below.

1. Get a $150 Amazon gift card upon approval for a Prime Visa from Oct. 2 to 31
2. Get a $80 Amazon gift card upon approval for a Prime Store Card from Oct. 3 to 9
3. Get $10 off one Grubhub order over $15 with the code “PRIME10” through Oct. 7 
4. Up to 40% off select travel experiences from Viator, Carnival Cruises, Avis rentals and more
5. Up to 50% off Crest Whitening Strips and dental care
6. Up to 50% off Amazon Echo smart speakers and displays
7. Up to 44% off iRobot vacuums and accessories
8. Up to 44% off DeWalt tools and power tools
9. Up to 28% off Bissell floor care products
10. Up to 41% off Ninja kitchen appliances and cookware
11. Up to 47% off Oral-B dental care
12. Up to 46% off Blueair air purifiers
13. Up to 35% off Toshiba appliances

1. Target: Save on products across categories during Target Circle Week from Oct. 6 to 12
2. Walmart: Save on products across categories during Walmart’s Holiday Deals event from Oct. 8 to 13
3. Best Buy: Save on tech, kitchen appliances and more during Best Buy’s 48-Hour Flash Sale from Oct. 8 to 9. Also, save on Apple tech during Best Buy’s Apple Trade-Up Event now through Oct. 13
4. Wayfair: Save on products across categories during Way Day from Oct. 5 to 7
5. The Home Depot: Up to 35% off select appliances

All of my recommendations above are based on NBC Select’s previous coverage and reporting. I also included products the NBC Select staff tested, including Wellness Award, Travel Award, Pet Award, Bed & Bath Award and Giftable Tech Award winners. I ran each deal through price trackers like CamelCamelCamel to ensure products are at their lowest price in at least three months. All the products I recommend are highly rated with at least a 4.0-star average rating from hundreds of reviews.

I’m an associate updates editor for NBC Select who has covered deals and sales for five years. To round up the discounts before Prime Big Deal Days, I found highly rated products at their lowest price in at least three months.