Best anti-Prime Day deals to shop in October 2024

3 weeks ago 6

October Prime Day is nearly here (it kicks off tomorrow), and it's a great time to start gift buying for the holidays. It's also just as good of a time to snag extra savings on everyday products and affordable tech. Plus, with other major retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and more looking to compete with Amazon, it's truly a shopper's market.

Also: The best October Prime Day deals right now

And you don't have to wait to start saving, thanks to plenty of deals at major retailers arriving before Prime Big Deal Days officially kicks off tomorrow, Oct. 8. Here are some of the best anti-Prime Day deals we've found so far.

Our favorite anti-October Prime Day deals: Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and more

LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV for $800 (save $750 at Best Buy): Save up to $750 on LG's 2024 OLED webOS TV at Best Buy. Get crystal clear viewing and a cinematic experience at home. Larger versions are on sale, too.
Apple Watch Series 9 45mm GPS + Cellular for $379 (save $150 at Walmart): Apple released a new Watch Series 10 a few weeks ago, but last year's Series 9 is still packed with features (and our pick for the best Apple Watch for most people). Plus, it's $150 off at Walmart in the Midnight Sport Band configuration.
Ring Spotlight Cam Battery Plus + 6 Month Subscription for $100 (save $70 at Costco): Get two-way talk, HD video, and night vision with this spotlight cam from Ring for $70 off. Plus, you'll get a 6 month Ring subscription.
Apple AirPods Max for $399 (save $150 at Best Buy): Apple just updated their AirPods Max, but you can get the older model for $150 off ahead of Prime Day.
MacBook Air M2 13.6-inch for $749 (save $250): If you'd prefer the M2 MacBook Air model to save a few dollars over the M3 model, you can nab it now for $250 off (the best price we've seen yet) and get a brand new MacBook Air for under $1,000.

October Prime Day Best Buy deals

MacBook Air M3 13-inch for $1,299 (save $200): The Air model of Apple's popular laptop is also on sale at Best Buy. Get 16GB of memory as well as the newest M3 chip, too.
MacBook Air M2 13.6-inch for $749 (save $250): If you'd prefer the M2 MacBook Air model to save a few dollars, you can nab it now for $250 off and get a brand new MacBook Air for under $1,000.
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) for $23 (save $27): This popular Echo speaker is on sale at most major retailers, and right now you can snag it for 54% off at Best Buy.
Apple iPad 9th Gen for $199 (save $130): If you're looking for a basic tablet without any of Apple's latest bells and whistles, the 9th Gen iPad is over $100 off. Get a 10.2-inch display and 64GB of storage.

October Prime Day Walmart deals

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) for $189 (save $60): Apple didn't release a new Watch SE model in Sept., but you can grab the latest model for $60 off at Walmart now.
MacBook Air M1 for $649 (save $50): While the M1 MacBook Air isn't our top pick, it's a good option if you're looking for an extra laptop, device for a younger student, or just want to save a few hundred dollars. If you're looking for a MacBook for everyday use, we'd recommend checking out the newer M2 or M3 models.
Bissell Little Green Portable Pet Carpet Cleaner for $98 (save $25): If you need a carpet cleaner that's tough on spot stains, the Bissell Litttle Green is already $36 off ahead of the holidays.
Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker for $149 (save $50): Save $50 on Ninja's popular Creami kitchen appliance and whip up delicious frozen treats this holiday season.
Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones for $159 (save $191): Need a pair of headphones? Snag a Beats pair for over $150 off now at Walmart.

October Prime Day Target deals

iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop for $399 (save $150 with Target Circle): Forget scrubbing this holiday season. Save $150 on this Roomba vacuum and mop
Meta Quest 3S Preorder (Get Batman: Arkham Shadow and 3-Month Trial of Meta Quest+) for $300: Right now you can preorder the brand new Meta Quest 3S and get Batman: Arkham Shadow and a trial of Meta Quest+ for free.
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) for $23 (save $27 with Target Circle): Get Amazon's latest Echo Dot speaker for 54% off ahead of October Prime Day.
Beats Powerbeats Pro True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds for $160 (save $90 with Target Circle): Save 36% off on this pair of Beats Bluetooth earbuds and make your workouts, music sessions, and more full of clear, crisp, sound.
Up to 25% off Headphones and Speakers
Up to 40% off Refurbished Tech

October Prime Day Costco deals

Blink Whole Home Security Bundle (save $130): Equip your whole home with Blink's latest security cameras ahead of the holidays.
Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro for $140 (save $40): This auto-tracking iPhone stand is designed to follow you as you move so you can take videos, photos, and more hands-free.
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus + 6 Month Subscription Plan for $100 (save $50): Snag one of Ring's popular video doorbells and a 6-month subscription on sale now.
Ring 14-Piece Security Kit (save $140): Grab savings and everything you need to set up your whole home with security features from Ring while this offer lasts at Costco.
Ring Stick Up Cam Wired 3-Pack (save $70): Save $70 with this Ring Stick Up Cam bundle pack (one we haven't seen anywhere else).

More anti-October Prime Day deals

Apple AirPods Max for $399 (save $150 at Best Buy): Apple just updated their AirPods Max, but you can get the older model for $150 off ahead of Prime Day.
Samsung Q850D Wireless Dolby Soundbar + Speakers for $800 (save $300 at Best Buy): If you want to upgrade your home sound system, this Samsung speaker bundle is a great pick that's on sale now.
Dirt Devil Smart Robot for $99 (save $70 at Walmart): If you want to try a robot vacuum but don't want to break the bank, this Dirt Devil option is under $100 right now.
Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones for $99 (save $80 at Walmart): These classic Beats headphones got an upgrade in the Solo4, but the Solo3 model is still a great pair of budget headphones, especially at $60 off.
Nintendo Switch Lite Console for $172 (save $27 at Walmart): The Nintendo Switch doesn't see a sale often, so even these $20 or so savings are better than nothing if you're looking to pick up the console.

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.

What retailers have deals during Prime Day?

Most major retailers, including (but certainly not limited to) Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Costco, BJs, B&H Photo, and more have deals during the week of Prime Day. This is for one major reason: to compete. If they didn't offer the same (or sometimes better) discounts as Amazon, they'd lose many customers. To compete with the e-commerce giant, most other major retailers run similar sales of their own before, after, or during Prime Day. That's why it's key to scour not just one site before making a purchase.

Plus, deals are typically lower at Prime Day across major retailers, especially on big-ticket items like TVs, Amazon products, laptops, and more. It's also a great time to score savings on everyday essentials and products.

Will any retailers price match Amazon Prime Day?

For the most part, the majority of retailers already price match or beat Amazon's Prime Day offer price by default to compete with the e-commerce giant. Thanks to competing sales, retailer-specific sale events, and the summer season, it's truly a buyer's market. If a retailer doesn't have the same price as Amazon, many retailers have price-matching policies to explore. It's important to read the fine print on each retailer's policy, but it never hurts to check for a price match.

Popular stores like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy do offer various forms of price-matching; however, some policies are particularly strict, like Best Buy's. The retailer won't price-match products on sale at competitors during member-exclusive events such as Prime Day.

How do I get these anti-Prime Day deals?

The best way to take advantage of anti-Prime Day deals is to consult multiple retailers before checking out, research, and of course, stay in the know with ZDNET's Prime Day coverage. Most importantly, though, remember to keep your eyes out for discounts and listing prices. Sometimes, during big savings events, it's hard to tell what's really a "discount."

If you're checking in with all of ZDNET's Prime Day content, don't worry -- we'll be expert-vetting deals to ensure they're worth your money. If you're shopping on your own across retailers, make sure to do some research on historical pricing using tools like Google Shopping.

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.