My Top Amazon Prime Day Picks

There are thousands of things on sale during Amazon Prime Day, including a lot of my favorite gadgets, so I thought I’d highlight the deals I’ve found for the gear I’ve used, tested, and love. Here are my top picks.

Apple Hardware and Accessory Deals

Apple Studio Display with Adjustable Stand (15% off)

Source: Apple.

I’ve had an Apple Studio Display for two years now and love it. Colors are bright, text is crisp, and having a set of additional Thunderbolt ports available on its rear panel comes in surprisingly handy.

Apple iPad mini (6th Gen), 256GB Storage, Wi-Fi (15% off)

Source: Apple.

It may be getting a little long in the tooth, but I still love my mighty iPad mini. My new 11” iPad Pro has absorbed some of the reading and video-watching I used to do almost exclusively on the mini, but the mini’s size is perfect for reading, which is what I still use it for almost every day.

Beats Fit Pro (25% off)

Source: Beats.

I haven’t gotten around to writing about the Beats Fit Pro yet, but I picked up a pair a couple of months ago, and I love them. They’re smaller than the Powerbeats Pro that wrap around your ears, which I like, and because they use Apple’s H1 chip, they include features like fast pairing with the Apple Watch and transparency mode. They don’t have every feature of the latest AirPods Pro, but they have the most important ones that I want when I go out for a run on a hot day.

Belkin Apple AirTag Secure Holder with Key Ring (30% off)

There are fancier ways to attach AirTags to your bag or luggage, but I’ve had several of Belkin’s sturdy key ring holders since the AirTags were first released. They’ve held up so well that I’ve continued to buy more as my collection of AirTags has grown. Belkin’s AirTag key ring isn’t expensive to begin with, and at 30% off, it’s worth buying one for all your AirTags.

tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Sleeve for 14-inch MacBook Pro (26% off)

I’ve been using this tomtoc sleeve since late last year for the MacBook Pro I have on loan from Apple for testing. The design is simple but provides an excellent layer of protection in my bag and includes a small pocket on the outside for a charging cable or other small accessory. After seven months of use, the sleeve looks just as nice as it did the day I received it in the mail.

Logitech MX Master Mouse 3S for Mac (16% off)

The MX Master Mouse 3S for Mac is the mouse I use at my desk every day. It’s comfortable, glides smoothly across my desk, and matches well with the Mac’s aesthetic. The mouse also has a bunch of customizable buttons that can be programmed to perform different actions, but I generally stick to the basics, using the mouse with my right hand to give my left hand a break from using a trackpad all day long.

Videogames

PS5 Games: The Last of Us Part I (42% off), plus Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (57% off)

Source: Sony.

These are all great PS5 titles at deep discounts. If you’ve had a PS5 since the beginning, you may already have some of them. However, the systems were so hard to find for so long that now is a great time to fill out the back catalog of games you might have missed. Every one of these is a winner that I’ve played myself.

8BitDo Ultimate 2.4G Wireless Controller (Black) (16% off)

Source: 8BitDo.

8BitDo’s Ultimate controller has a fantastic premium feel. The controller includes Hall Effect thumbsticks and a charging base that stores its 2.4G wireless dongle. Plus, it’s compatible with Windows 10 and above, SteamOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and macOS, making it an incredibly versatile option that works across multiple gaming platforms.

8BitDo SN30 Pro Bluetooth Controller (20% off)

The 8BitDo SN30 Pro is one of my most recent controller purchases. The SNES-style controller works with any Bluetooth device, but I particularly love pairing it with my iPad Pro. The two are a perfect match for on-the-go gaming.

Networking Deals

Source: ASUS.

TRENDnet 8-Port Unmanaged 2.5G Gaming Switch (23% off)

Fast Internet connectivity is a big priority for me. I work with large files and record podcasts every week with Federico, who is almost 5,000 miles away. Speed and low latency help with both, so when I can, I run my computers and other gear on a wired Ethernet connection. I have a 2 Gig fiber connection to my house, which runs to each room via this TRENDnet switch that I’ve had for almost two years now. It’s been reliably serving a steady, fast signal throughout the house ever since.

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro AXE11000 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh System (ET12 2-Pack) (23% off)

ASUS’ Wi-Fi 6E routers are expensive but 100% worth it from my perspective. Not only are they far faster than the previous Orbi setup I had, but the coverage is better, and thanks to ASUS’ detailed admin panel, I can customize my network setup to my heart’s content. As you might imagine, I’ve optimized it for streaming videogames wirelessly to my various handheld consoles and the Vision Pro.

Audio and Video Deals

Source: Elgato.

Elgato Wave Mic Arm (30% off)

I’m a much bigger fan of Elgato’s audio and video gear than I am of the Stream Deck, which has always struck me as an unattractive hunk of plastic. Elgato’s Wave Mic Arm is a good example of the company’s higher-quality gear. I’ve had this arm for several years and found it to be well-built and thoroughly adjustable with a great range of motion.

Elgato Key Light Air (23% off)

If you take calls or do any video work at your desk, it helps a lot to have a key light. Elgato’s Key Light Air can be dialed in to a wide range of light temperatures and is minutely dimmable, which I like a lot. Plus, the light can connect to Wi-Fi, allowing you to control it from your Mac’s menu bar, a handy option as you set up for a call.

More Deals: A Travel Mouse, Power Bank, and SSD

Source: Anker.

Anker Prime Power Bank, 27,650mAh 3-Port 250W Portable Charger (33% off)

I’ve had this big Anker battery since late last year, and it’s fantastic because it both charges devices and re-charges quickly. Plus, it has a handy display to let you know exactly how much juice you have left and how fast each connected device is charging.

Samsung T9 4TB SSD (45% off)

I have several T9 SSDs in a variety of sizes. The 4TB model is expensive, but because it connects using USB-C 3.2 2x2, read/write times are fast. Plus, it’s silent, making it the perfect backup drive that you can tuck away out of sight, backing up your Mac all day long.

Alright, that’s it for my Amazon Prime Day recommendations. There are a lot of other excellent deals to be had out there, so be sure to browse around, but I wanted to focus on just the gear and games I’ve personally tried and can recommend. If I come across other deals for products I’d recommend, I’ll add them here, so stop by again tomorrow for any updates. We’ve also set up a Prime Day channel in the Club MacStories Discord community where members are sharing their favorite deals, so be sure to visit there, too.

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