I'm a tech editor and cover shopping events. Here are 9 October Prime Day deals I'd snag now

Amazon’s October Prime Day returns in less than a week, but you can already grab serious savings on top tech, home, and beyond. 

Also: October Prime Day is coming. Here are the best early deals

And while everyone loves a sale, it can be hard to know what is actually worth your money, and what is a too-good-to-be-true offer up-charged to make you think you’re scoring big. Lucky for ZDNET readers, our team of experts knows what to do. I’ve covered every major sale event over the past year live, including July Prime Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and more, and I regularly write about discounts on top tech products like robot vacuums, smartphones, mobile accessories, and more. 

Also: The best early anti-Prime Day deals: Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, and more

Here are the 9 deals I’d swipe up before October Prime Day even kicks off — and why. 

My top early October Prime Day deals 

• AirTag 4-Pack for $80 (save $19): You can’t really go wrong with swiping up everyday essentials during Prime Day, and this AirTag 4-Pack is exactly that. I use AirTags to track my keys, wallet, suitcases, totes, and more, so their usefulness is certainly not understated. They’re also easy options for tracking pets and children, as well as other incidentals like TV remotes and more. Plus, this 4-Pack isn’t likely to drop any lower than $79 throughout the holiday period based on last year’s sale trends and my daily deal experience, so you don’t have to worry about shopping too early and missing out on extra savings. 

• Amazon Echo Spot Alarm Clock for $45 (save $35): Not only is this the best deal we’ve seen on the new Echo Spot alarm clock since it was released in July, but Amazon’s Echo products make great purchases during Prime Day, when they’re typically at their lowest price and are sometimes available in bundle offers. They’re also great for housewarming or holiday gifts, or for amping up your own smart home system. The Echo Spot doubles as a smart speaker and alarm clock, and it even easily displays the weather. 

• Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Machine for $110 (save $69): I’m more of a Dunkin girl myself, but I’ve recently been considering upgrading to an at-home machine that’s more sophisticated than a standard Keurig or Mr. Coffee machine. Several ZDNET staff members own and enjoy the VertuoPlus model of this Nespresso machine (which is also 25% off right now), but as an infrequent at-home coffee drinker, I think this model would best suit my lifestyle. It’s certainly never going to make me ditch my Dunkin, but the $110 price tag is quite enticing. 

• iRobot Roomba Q011 Robot Vacuum for $140 (save $110): Robot vacuums and mops are not cheap. Despite this, their promise of always-sparkling floors without having to vacuum every nook and cranny in your house is quite tempting. But there’s no way I would splash out hundreds of dollars on a robot vacuum without knowing if it really fit my lifestyle, needs, or wants, so a budget pick is a great entryway if you’re unsure or looking to get your feet wet in the robot vacuum field. iRobot is one of the most popular brands, and right now Prime members can score early access to this Q011 model for $110 off. That’s 44% off one of iRobot’s base models, and take it from someone who vets these deals quite often — snagging a reputable robot vacuum for under $150 is a good buy. 

• Anker Nano Portable Charger for $18 (save $8): As an editor who frequently tests MagSafe battery packs, wireless chargers, and other battery-boosting options, I firmly believe in always carrying some type of backup battery booster. There’s nothing worse than being without a functional phone than when you need it most, and as a chronically online Gen Zer, my iPhone 14 Pro is under 50% battery as early as midday. This Anker Nano Power Bank is as small as a lipstick tube, is a ZDNET favorite, and is just enough to juice your phone up in case of an emergency or unexpected situation. I keep one in my purse at all times (yes, it even fits in the tiniest of micro bags), and $18 is very close to the lowest I’ve seen this sold for, which was only for $1-2 less during July Prime Day. If you have a USB-C charger on your phone, you can nab that USB-C model for $26 right now (save $4). 

Even more of my top early October Prime Day deals

FAQs

When is Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days? 

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days (a.k.a. October Prime Day) is a two-day sales event for Prime members. This year, sales are live from Tuesday, Oct. 8, through the end of Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Are other retailers offering deals?

Amazon isn’t the only retailer you can find savings at this time of year. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and others will all hold competing sales during the same week as October Prime Day (and even before). Shop around the different sites to compare deals and prices.

How did we choose these October Prime Day deals?

As a ZDNET editor, I only write about deals myself or a team member would want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. I looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.

I also examined customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals I recommend. These recommendations may also be based on my own testing (or testing by another ZDNET expert) — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.