Amazon runs Prime Day sales a couple of times a year (usually one in summer and a second, smaller one in October), with discounts across almost everything, including a lot of the gadgets we recommend on this site. Here’s how to make the most of it without getting caught out.
You need a Prime membership
Most of the best Prime Day discounts are only available to Amazon Prime members. If it’s a one-off purchase, Amazon usually offers a free trial that’s long enough to cover the sale, so it’s not necessary to pay for a full year just to catch one event.
What’s usually worth watching for
Amazon’s own devices – Echo speakers and displays, Fire tablets, Kindles – tend to see some of the deepest discounts of the whole year during Prime Day, often 30-50% off. It’s a good time to pick up a device from one of our buying guides, like the best computer for seniors, at a lower price than usual.
Check the discount is genuine
Not every “deal” badge during Prime Day reflects a real saving. A quick search for the product name plus “price history,” or a free price-tracking browser extension, shows what a product has actually sold for recently, which makes it easy to spot a discount that isn’t really much of one.
Watch out for copycat sales
Prime Day is also a popular time for scam websites and ads pretending to be Amazon sales. If a deal arrives by email or text claiming to be from Amazon, it’s safer to open Amazon directly in a browser or app and search for the product there, rather than clicking the link. Our guide to avoiding online shopping scams covers more of the warning signs.
We’ll update this guide with specific picks and prices close to each Prime Day.