The Best Early Amazon Prime Day Deals So Far: What to Buy Now and What to Skip
Team GimmieThe Best Early Amazon Prime Day Deals So Far: What to Buy Now and What to Skip
Amazon Prime Day officially kicks off on June 23, but the traditional wait-and-see approach is becoming a bit of a relic. We are currently in the pre-game window, and for the first time in a few years, the early discounts aren’t just leftover stock or minor price dips. They are heavy-hitting "hero" products that likely won’t get any cheaper on the big day.
I have spent the last week tracking price histories and stock levels to figure out which of these deals are worth your money right now. From the brand-new Apple Watch Series 11 to the first-ever color Kindle, here is the curated list of what actually matters before the rush begins.
THE HERO TECH DEALS YOU SHOULDN'T WAIT ON
The most surprising early arrival is the Apple Watch Series 11. Usually, Amazon holds these back for the main event, but we are already seeing a significant cut.
Apple Watch Series 11 (41mm, GPS) Current Price: $299 (Originally $399)
- New health sensors for advanced sleep tracking and blood oxygen monitoring.
- The refined, thinner bezel design makes the display feel significantly larger than the Series 10.
- Fast-charging capabilities that get you from 0 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.
- Recommendation: Buy now. This $100 discount is likely the floor for this model through the end of summer.
Kindle Colorsoft Essentials Bundle Current Price: $249 (Originally $279)
- This is Amazon’s first-ever color e-reader, and the bundle includes a fabric cover and an 11th Gen wireless charging dock.
- High-contrast Colorsoft display that doesn’t wash out in direct sunlight.
- Weeks of battery life, even with consistent color usage.
- Recommendation: This is a pre-order/early access hybrid. Stock is expected to move fast as we hit the 23rd, so securing the bundle price now is a smart move for avid readers.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Current Price: $179 (Originally $249)
- Features the new H3 chip for significantly better transparency mode.
- Improved active noise cancellation that specifically targets high-pitched environmental sounds.
- Status: Out of Stock at Walmart. Currently Available at Amazon and Best Buy.
- Recommendation: Grab these from Best Buy or Amazon immediately. Since Walmart has already sold through its early stock at this price, the remaining retailers will likely follow suit before June 23.
PREMIUM AUDIO AND HIGH-VALUE GAMING
For those who prioritize sound quality or a high-end desk setup, the current window offers some of the best margins we have seen all year.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Current Price: $379 (Originally $449)
- Best-in-class noise cancellation with new Spatial Audio modes.
- Support for lossless audio via Snapdragon Sound.
- Why buy now? These headphones rarely dip below $379, even during major holiday sales. Waiting until the 23rd might save you an extra $5 or $10 at most, but you risk shipping delays that often plague the official Prime Day window.
Logitech MX Master 3S Mouse Current Price: $89.99 (Originally $119.99)
- 8,000 DPI sensor that tracks on glass.
- Quiet-click buttons that maintain a tactile feel without the noise.
- MagSpeed electromagnetic scrolling for navigating thousands of lines of code or spreadsheets in seconds.
Western Digital Black SN850X 2TB SSD (PS5 Compatible) Current Price: $139.99 (Originally $189.99)
- Top-tier read speeds up to 7,300 MB/s.
- Integrated heatsink, making it a "plug-and-play" upgrade for PlayStation 5 consoles.
- Recommendation: If you are running out of room for your game library, this is the lowest price we have seen since last November.
SMART HOME SECURITY AND ATMOSPHERE
The smart home category is where Amazon traditionally flexes its muscles. While the Echo devices are cheap, the real value lies in the bundles that include third-party hardware.
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen) with Indoor Cam Plus Current Price: $119.99 (Bundle value $179.99)
- Head-to-toe 1536p HD Video and Color Night Vision.
- This deal includes a free $60 Indoor Cam Plus, essentially giving you a two-point security system for the price of a single doorbell.
- Recommendation: Excellent for renters or homeowners who don't want to mess with hardwiring.
Govee Smart Outdoor Lamp Post Current Price: $199.99 (Originally $259.99)
- Stands 8 feet tall with RGBIC lighting that can display multiple colors simultaneously.
- Full Matter support, meaning it works seamlessly with Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa.
- Built-in motion and light sensors for automated security lighting.
Echo Studio Current Price: $174.99 (Originally $219.99)
- This is the "audiophile" version of the Echo, featuring five speakers and Dolby Atmos processing.
- Automatically senses the acoustics of your room and fine-tunes playback.
- Recommendation: This is the best-ever price for the Studio. If you want a smart speaker that can actually fill a large living room with high-fidelity sound, this is the one.
THE META-DEALS: STRATEGIC SAVINGS BEYOND PRODUCTS
Sometimes the best deal isn't a gadget, but a way to save money on future gadgets. These "meta-deals" provide a strategic advantage for the shopping week ahead.
Walmart+ Annual Membership Current Price: $49 (Originally $98)
- To compete with Prime Day, Walmart has slashed its membership price by 50 percent.
- Benefit: You get free shipping with no minimums and early access to Walmart's own "Deals Center" event, which often undercuts Amazon on TVs and kitchen appliances.
Newegg $100 Gift Card Current Price: $90
- Newegg is offering a $100 digital gift card for $90.
- Strategy: If you are planning on building a PC or buying a high-end monitor during the sale week, buy this now. You are essentially getting a free $10 to spend on top of whatever discounts Newegg launches to rival Amazon.
PRACTICALITY AND FAMILY FAVORITES
Not everything has to be a flagship tech launch. Some of the best value comes from the items that make daily life a little easier or keep the kids entertained during summer break.
Fitbit Charge 6 Current Price: $79.99 (Originally $159.99)
- Features Google Maps and YouTube Music controls directly on the wrist.
- The most accurate heart rate tracking ever found on a Fitbit.
- Recommendation: At 50 percent off, this is arguably the best fitness tracker value on the market right now for anyone who doesn't want a full-blown smartwatch.
Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet Current Price: $64.99 (Originally $109.99)
- Includes a sturdy, kid-proof case and a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+.
- The Two-Year Worry-Free Guarantee: If they break it, return it, and Amazon will replace it for free. No questions asked.
- Recommendation: For parents, the warranty alone makes this worth the $65. It's a low-stress way to provide travel entertainment.
Lego Ideas Van Gogh "The Starry Night" Current Price: $136 (Originally $169)
- A 2,316-piece set that translates the iconic painting into a 3D LEGO masterpiece.
- Includes a bracket to hang the finished set on your wall.
FINAL VERDICT: TO BUY OR TO WAIT?
The "June 18 Rule" is simple: If it is a flagship Apple product, a high-end Bose/Sony audio device, or an Amazon-branded smart home bundle, the price you see today is likely the price you will see on June 23. The difference is that today, the items are in stock and will ship immediately.
If you are looking for clothing, generic kitchen gadgets, or mid-range 4K TVs, you might benefit from waiting for the official "Lightning Deals" that start next week. But for the big-ticket items listed above, the bird in the hand is definitely worth more than the gamble of a 1:00 AM sell-out on Tuesday. Happy hunting!