The 17 Best Weekend Deals on Laptops and Smart Home Gadgets
We hope you’re enjoying what’s left of summer. But as heat waves continue to rage across the country, you may be stuck inside with the AC cranked. (Read our guide on how to stay cool if you don’t have AC.) If you need gear to kit out your indoor space and keep you occupied, we’ve found some great deals on laptops, smart home gadgets, and hair tools. Just keep in mind that Labor Day is a few weeks away; if you’re shopping for something in particular, it may be prudent to wait.
Preparing for the new school semester? See our list of back-to-school deals we compiled earlier this week. We’ve included some of them here as well.
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Laptop Deals
Moft Z 5-in-1 laptop stand
Photograph: MoftAll of Moft’s products are currently 20 percent off with code STUDYWITHMOFT through mid-September, and this is our favorite of its laptop stands. It’s light and easy to tote around, plus it can convert to several different heights to make working at your computer all day more comfortable. It’s usually around $60.
This MacBook had the same discount last weekend, but it’s a rare enough deal to include it again. (It’s also available at B&H.) Its battery should last through a full day of work or school, and it’s powerful enough for most people. If you’re a college student you can get an additional discount and a pair of AirPods with your .edu email address if you buy it directly from Apple.
If you prefer Windows over iOS, the Surface Pro 7 is a good choice, especially for those who want the best of both tablet and laptop worlds. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, plus it has great battery life. This deal is on the 10th-generation Intel Core i5 model with 8 gigabytes of RAM and a 128-gigabyte SSD. Several other models are also on sale if you need more storage space.
The screen resolution on the Surface Go leaves something to be desired, but it’s still a solid laptop that WIRED senior writer Scott Gilbertson likes. It’s an especially great back-to-school device. Like the Pro 7 above, this deal is for the configuration with 8 gigabytes of RAM and a 128-gigabyte SSD. Avoid the 4-gig model.
For Google fans, the Pixelbook Go is one of our favorite Chromebooks, and it’s right from the company that powers Chrome OS. The battery lasts all day, and it has a nice, tactile keyboard. Remember, you can only run Google Chrome and Android apps on Chromebooks, so if the software you use isn’t browser-based or on the Google Play Store, this isn’t for you.
Smart Home Deals
Lenovo Smart Clock
Photograph: LenovoIf you’re looking for a smart display for your bedside table, this is a decent price. It can do all the things any other Google Assistant-enabled smart speaker or display can do, but its 4-inch screen is an especially good size for the nightstand.
If you prefer Alexa and can stand to spend a little more cash, the Echo Show 8 is the best of the Echo Show family. An 8-inch screen is a good size for most rooms. The camera has auto-pan and zoom features to keep you centered in the frame during video calls, and there’s a physical shutter for when you’re done. Like other smart displays, you can control other smart home devices with your voice or on the screen.
WIRED reviewer Parker Hall loves his Ecobee smart ecosystem, including this camera. It has 1080p video and two-way microphones so you can talk to your pets (or unsuspecting guests) while you’re away. You can also set the camera to shut off when you’re home, so it isn’t recording you while you’re sitting around.
Home Deals
Bee’s Wrap
Photograph: Bee’s WrapWe love this plastic wrap alternative from a company that uses sustainably sourced beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin. It’s less waste and hassle than the other stuff, and it isn’t hard to clean.
Catit makes great cat products, and we like a few of its fountains. This one is usually pretty affordable, and you can often find it for a few dollars off. It’s available from Chewy too, if you prefer shopping for your pet supplies there.
Heat domes and record temperatures have made this summer an absolute nightmare for people without air-conditioning. Even with it, it’s tough to stay cool, especially at bedtime. Layla’s cooling sheets are super lightweight, and they are the only sheets WIRED reviewer Jess Grey uses when the mercury hits triple digits.
Good digital frames are expensive, so it’s nice to see any kind of discount. Of the Nixplay frames we tried, we prefer the 10.1-inch over the 9.7-inch frame. Though the resolution is lower, you wouldn’t know unless you were studying them side by side. Nixplay recently released a touchscreen model we haven’t tested yet, but the non-touch frame is still a good bet.
Invisawear is one of several companies that hide SOS buttons inside jewelry or keychains, so you can get in touch with help without having to lift more than a finger. We’ve tried and like a few of its products, all of which are 25 percent off right now. WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano prefers the keychain, which is kept next to her pepper spray.
Personal Care Deals
Revlon One-Step
Photograph: RevlonConair’s flat iron is always cheap at about $30, but it’s one of the best we’ve tried (even compared against super expensive models). Its plates are long and thin and can get hair straight or curled without much effort.
It has dipped a little lower before, but this is still a good deal. The Revlon brush is a cult favorite among hair influencers and WIRED staffers alike. It won’t work on all hair textures, but if you regularly juggle a hair dryer and round brush, it might work for you.
Diffusers dry hair without disrupting natural curl patterns, which in turn keeps frizz down. If you already have a blow-dryer you like, this is a great diffuser to try from a well-loved curl brand. It can fit larger dryers as well as thin ones, thanks to its collapsable design (and it doesn’t take up much room when you aren’t using it, either).
This percussive device is frequently discounted, but it’s able to compete with the big guns that sometimes cost several hundred dollars. It combines high pressure and heat to really target sore muscles.
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