Skip to main content
/ It’s not just the big stuff that’s on sale for day two of Prime Day. Here are the little purchases that go a long way toward savings.
By Antonio G. Di Benedetto, a writer covering tech deals and The Verge’s Deals newsletter, buying guides, and gift guides. Previously, he spent 15 years in the photography industry.
Updated Jul 12, 2023, 7:13 PM UTC|
If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.
Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
Everybody wants to save big during major deals events like Amazon Prime Day, but the little purchases are often the ones we end up using all the time. Whether it’s a quality HDMI 2.1 or USB-C cable, a convenient charger for your phone, or a quirky little accessory you never knew you needed — nothing beats a great deal on something affordable that you get tons of use from.
However, there’s a plethora of crap on sale at these prices, too. That’s why we’re here to sift through all the dreck that Amazon drums up every Prime Day, so we can hand-select a list of good deals at affordable prices that you should be able to buy with confidence. So let’s go ahead and be extra-frugal together, as here are some great deals at very low prices.
Smart home deals
The Echo Pop is Amazon’s newest Alexa-enabled smart speaker. It offers a unique semisphere form factor and can function as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender. Read our review.
Amazon’s latest streaming stick offers improved performance and support for Wi-Fi 6. It continues to offer a terrific selection of streaming apps and an easy-to-use interface with the benefit of Alexa voice commands. Read our review.
The Blink Mini includes a ball-and-socket mount, a USB-C cable for powering it, and a power adapter. However, note that you’ll need to opt for the optional Blink subscription plan to take advantage of cloud storage and some of the camera’s more premium features. Read our review.
The Kasa Smart Plug Mini is available in a two-pack for $12.99 ($7 off), a three-pack for $17.49 ($7.50 off), or a four-pack for $20.99 ($9 off) — each exclusive to Prime members. Any of them can bring smart functionality, including scheduled timers, to a basic outlet.TP-Link’s Matter-compatible Tapo Smart Plug Mini is on sale for $11.99 (after clicking a $2 on-page coupon), down from $19.99.Nanoleaf’s Matter Essentials A19 bulbs are just $15.99 ($4 off) a pop for Amazon Prime subscribers. That’s a very affordable price for a futureproof smart bulb.
The Amazon Echo Glow is a multicolored smart lamp for children, one that can cycle through colors and function as an Alexa-enabled sleep timer if needed.
With Chamberlain’s smart garage door controller, you can open and close your garage door from any location using your smartphone.
Amazon’s apt-titled Smart Plug doesn’t require a hub and lets you add Alexa functionality to any outlet, allowing you to control a range of devices with just your voice.
Gaming deals
The Jsaux Transparent Back Plate lets you see some of your Steam Deck’s insides — and keeps your fan from working as hard thanks to a built-in passive cooling plate. It now comes in a variety of frosted colors, including atomic purple.
A protective modular case system for Valve’s Steam Deck. It consists of a base case with grippy texture, a built-in kickstand, a removable lid, and a rear mounting system that can attach a power bank using an adjustable strap or Jsaux’s add-on cooling fan.
Jsaux’s 5-in-1 Steam Deck Dock HB0602 is on sale at Amazon for just $23.99 ($16 off) for Prime subscribers. It offers one HDMI 2.0 port, ethernet, two USB-A 2.0 ports, and a USB-C port capable of 100W charging.Woot also has, let’s call it an “eclectic” mix of gaming deals running, some of which are under $25. This includes the Xbox version of Cuphead for $14.99 ($25 off) and the Xbox Series X version of Deathloop for $14.99 ($45 off).
PowerA’s MOGA Play & Charge is a smartphone clip that attaches your phone to an Xbox controller for mobile games and streaming via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It also packs a small, built-in 1,500mAh power bank for charging via USB-C.
The 8BitDo Ultimate Wired Controller features two rear buttons, is customizable, and is compatible with both Xbox and PC.
If you own a Nintendo Switch Lite, one of the coolest cases is Nintendo’s Flip Cover and Screen Protector, which is on sale for an all-time low of $21.99 ($18 off) at Amazon.Dying Light 2 Stay Human is on sale for the PlayStation 4, PS5, and Xbox Series X for around $24 ($35 off) at Amazon.
The Nacon Pro Compact controller may be a wired Xbox controller that’s best fit for slightly smaller hands, but it offers a number of customizable options with lots of software tweaks.
The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller is a budget-minded wired controller for Xbox and PC that connects via Micro USB and features two customizable buttons on its rear. It’s offered in many different colors and licensed designs.
Charging and phone accessories
JLab’s Go Air are an affordable pair of wireless earbuds with five hours of battery life (or 21 hours with the included charging case). The case houses a built-in USB-A charging plug so you’re never without a charging cable.
Case-Mate’s line of GaN chargers deliver 30 watts of power via USB-C, and their translucent bodies are slightly reminiscent of the classic iMac G3.
A lengthy USB-C cable that delivers 100 watts of power, enough to power a full-size laptop like the 16-inch MacBook Pro when plugged into an adequate power adapter.
This Anker magnetic charging puck has a five-foot USB-C cable and wirelessly charges an iPhone at up to 7.5W.
The latest Tile Mate is a water-resistant tracker that can keep tabs on items up to 250 feet away and features a replaceable battery.
Casetify’s storefront on Amazon is offering up to 35 percent off many of its phone cases. For example, you can get the Casetify Essential iPhone 14 case in all manner of colorful patterns for $29.25 (about $16 off) if you’re a Prime subscriber.Nomad is running a 30 percent off sale on its site. Now, many Nomad accessories are premium and typically retail for well above $25, but this discount drops some nice ones below our threshold. A couple of examples are the Nomad Modern Leather Case shell for the second-gen AirPods Pro, which is going for $21 ($9 off), and the Sport Keychain for an Apple AirTag, which is down to $14 ($6 off).This 203-piece Earbuds Cleaning Kit for $7.92 ($2 off) at Amazon may be a little overkill for such a simple task, but it’s got everything you need like putty, picks, brushes, and more — plus a case to keep it organized in.
Anker’s 313 Wireless Charger is a bare-bones option built for Qi-enabled devices. It comes packaged with a Micro USB cable and maxes out at 10W charging speeds, though newer iPhones will be capped at 7.5 watts.
Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro with MagSafe supports 15W fast wireless charging with MagSafe-compatible iPhones and has a lengthy 6.6-foot built-in cable. Its 15W charging speeds and little kickstand make the BoostCharge Pro with MagSafe the best all-purpose magnetic charging puck.
Toys, tools, and miscellaneous tech deals
Ugreen’s 6-in-1 USB-C hub supports three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI-out, and a combo SD / microSD reader.
The ChomChom is a reusable cat and dog hair remover. It works great for furniture — not so much for clothes.
The Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker is just a simple, curved piece of metal with holes in it, but it’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to mince /crush garlic.
An under-desk dual headphone hanger that uses 3M adhesive for mounting and an included Velcro strap to anchor a headphone cable.
Many board games and party games are currently on sale for Prime Day. Some highlights include Happy Salmon for $8.63 (about $4 off), Poetry for Neanderthals for $13.29 (about $6 off), and tons more. Also, Love Letter costs just $8.49 — buy it.
Our own Verge merch is 20 percent off right now, and the discount code of PRIMEDAY23 automatically handles itself at checkout (though feel free to yell “PROMO CODE” out loud). For under $25, you can get a shirt ($23.20), a Verge pillow ($20), a mug ($16), stickers based on inside jokes and staff lingo ($8), and a bunch other items.
Add a touch of The Verge to your home or office with our 18” x 18” pillow. The case is even machine-washable, so you can keep it looking fresh all the time.
An adjustable stand that elevates a laptop to eye level. It’s rated to support up to 13 pounds, and is available in multiple colors.
LifeStraw’s Peak Series Straw offers a more rugged design and improved flow rate than the original model. It still filters out bacteria and other hazardous materials from water, though, which makes it a great camping companion.
Verge Deals / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we’ve tested sent to your inbox daily.
Update July 12th, 3:13PM ET: Removed expired deals and added several new ones.
More from this stream Amazon Prime Day 2023: the best tech deals, tips, and latest newsThe best gaming deals of Amazon Prime Day Jul 12, 2023, 7:00 PM UTC
The best Prime Day deals on Amazon devices Jul 12, 2023, 6:41 PM UTC
If you own a Steam Deck, it should be (at least partially) see-through. Jul 12, 2023, 6:19 PM UTC
Best headphone and earbud deals for Amazon Prime Day 2023 Jul 12, 2023, 6:19 PM UTC
See all 46 stories
