Amazon Prime Day is finally here and as one of the internet’s biggest shopping events, it’s known for offering customers an array of discounts on everything from TVs and tablets to coffee machines.
While the sale usually takes place in July each year, due to coronavirus, the online retailer postponed its Prime Day 2020 event to later now.
Lasting 48 hours, there will be more than one million deals available from big-name brands including Philips, Toshiba, Lego, Nintendo, Samsung, Under Armour, Sony, Le Creuset, to name just a few.
Last year, the retailer said it sold more than 175 million products, dubbing the sale the “largest shopping event in Amazon history,” as it surpassed results from the previous Black Friday and Cyber Monday events combined, and this year is set to be bigger than ever.
Our IndyBest team hand-picks every deal we feature. We may earn some commission from the links in this article, but our selections have been made independently and without bias. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Amazon echo studio: Was £189.99, now £139.99
This took the crown in our review of the best smart speakers, with our tester praising its excellent versatility. Owing to the multiple speakers, our reviewer said: “The resulting experience is immersive and deeply impressive. Though larger than some of the speakers here, it’s still a surprise that so much sound comes from one small cylinder”. You can also connect this device to an Amazon TV streaming device to create a home cinema sound system.
Amazon echo dot: Was £49.99, now £18.99
If you’re looking for an affordable and compact smart speaker, this is the one for you. When reviewing the echo dot in our round-up of the best smart speakers, our tester said: “It can do all the Alexa-related stuff that the most advanced speakers can do, such as answering questions and turning smart home gadgets on or off”.
Plus, it can play the radio, podcasts and audio books with clear vocals, and if you have multiple echo devices in your house, they can make audio calls to one another. With a whopping 62 per cent off, this is one of the most impressive deals we’ve found so far.
Amazon echo buds: Was £119.99, now £79.99
Rivalling the likes of Samsung and Apple, Amazon has launched its own wireless earbuds and they are currently on sale. With immersive sound and Bo
se technology that reduces background noise, these earphones allow you to use Amazon’s smart assistant, Alexa, hands-free, as well as other smart assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri. These earbuds will play up to five hours worth of music with a full charge, up to two hours with a quick 15-minute charge and up to 20 hours with the charging case. They also have a customisable fit for optimum comfort and sound quality.
‘The Roald Dahl Centenary Boxed Set’, published by Puffin: Was £100, now £40
With a huge 60 per cent off, this would make the perfect gift for a keen young reader, as it contains 10 of Roald Dahl’s literary classics including; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Danny, the Champion of the World, Fantastic Mr Fox, George’s Marvellous Medicine, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The BFG, The Twits and The Witches. All come in hardback with dust-jackets in a pretty box that will stand pride of place on any bookshelf.
VTech action cam HD action camera for kids: Was £52.99, now £32.99
For children aged five years and older, this is the ideal first camera, especially if they’ve had grand ideas of a GoPro, which cost considerably more. It’s shockproof and can be used in water, so no matter how boisterous they are, it will still film in HD definition and encourage their creativity. It also comes with a mount which can be attached to toys, bikes, scooters and skateboards and a built-in rechargeable battery.
Lego city police station building set: Was £89.99, now £53.99
Known for its high prices, there’s lots of Lego sets available in this year’s sale, but this is our favourite. It comes with a two-storey police station, a jailbreak explosion, two trucks, a motorcycle and a drone, with lights, sirens, the lot. Not only that, there’s seven figures that little ones can play with to explore their imagination, including a cute bulldog. Made up of 743 pieces, building and playing with it will provide hours of fun.
Fitbit inspire HR tracker: Was £89.99, now £63
Calling fitness fanatics, this is the deal for you. This is a fantastic price for a great piece of kit. In our review of the best fitness trackers, our tested noted the guided breathing sessions as working well for when you need a little bit of calm. Plus, it automatically recognises when you make any movement.
Philips Hue white and colour ambience starter kit: Was £149.99, now £89.99
Taking the crown in our guide to the best smart lights, this is a fantastic choice, particularly if you are new to smart tech. Philips is known to be the brand when it comes to lighting, and this offers a cost-efficient way to illuminate a room in a myriad of colours – change from WFH bright lights to a calming ambience when relaxing at the weekend. Ingenious.
Ring video doorbell pro: Was £229, now £149
Making your home more secure has never been easier, and Ring should be your go-to brand if you’re looking for peace of mind. This particular model featured in our review of the best doorbell cameras and our tester noted the “high-quality video” and “slim design”, and that the app is both easy to use and effective. Featuring two-way audio, you’ll also be able to tell the delivery person where to leave your parcel if you’re out. If you’ve been considering this nifty piece of kit, now’s the time to buy – with 35 per cent off, we don’t think you’ll find a better deal elsewhere.
KitchenAid stand mixer: Was £520, now £243.36
KitchenAid is synonymous with baking, and thankfully it’s stand mixers are the nicest we’ve seen. Better still, it performs across three function – kneading, mixing and whisking, meaning it’ll make your next bake a showstopper. At 54 per cent off, this is a real steal.
Kenwood multipro food processor: Was £299.99, now £209.99
According to our tester in our review of the best food processors, this is a “star performer when it comes to mixing, whisking, kneading and whipping, making it a great option for those who enjoy baking,” and it “stands out when it comes to blending, slicing, dicing and chopping too”. Often an expensive kitchen utensil, it’s a prime time to buy now it’s 30 per cent off.
Nespresso vertuo plus: Was £179.99, now £69.99
With more than 60 per cent off, this deal is a no-brainer, particularly if you’re looking to barista-style coffee at home. This Nespresso machine is a relatively new release from the brand, and it offers five different coffee styles, with pods coming in sizes ranging from a standard single shot espresso (40ml) to a large mugful (414ml). You can also claim two months’ coffee subscription for free – snap this up now.
How can I take part in Amazon Prime Day?
The discounts aren’t on offer for everyone who visits the site but is exclusively for those who have an Amazon Prime membership.
Membership costs £7.99 a month or £79 for a year, and subscribers are eligible for perks including same-day delivery, over 800,000 free e-books and access to Prime Video and Amazon Music services.
If you’re already a Prime member, you will automatically get access to the deals, but if you’re not yet a member and want to take advantage of the huge savings on offer, you can sign up for a 30-day trial anytime before the sale begins.
Can students take part in Amazon Prime Day?
Students can also take advantage of Amazon Prime Day by signing up to Amazon Student.
Perks of the student subscription, which costs £3.99 a month, include unlimited premium delivery, unlimited reading on any device i.e. an iPad or Kindle, access to Prime Video and unlimited photo storage.
There are other benefits too, including 10 per cent off selected fashion products and £30 off select Samsung galaxy tablets and earbuds.
If you have a valid email address from a recognised institution to qualify, you can sign up here for a lengthy six-month trial.
How to get a free Prime account for 30 days to use for Prime Day 2020
If you have yet to become an Amazon Prime member but want to get in on the action ahead of the big event, you can sign up for a 30-day trial to gain access to the sale.
While you won’t be charged for the trial period, you will need to input your card details when signing up, as Amazon automatically converts you to a paid membership after the 30 days. But, if you decide to cancel ahead of the trial ending, you won’t be charged, which means you can get free access to the Prime Day event.
How to get the best Amazon Prime Day deals
The IndyBest team will be rounding up the best deals to help you navigate the array of discounts that will be on offer, so make sure to keep checking back here.
Another way to ensure you get the best deals is to download the Amazon app. This will give you a head start, as you will be able to track Lightning Deals – discounts that are only available for a few hours at a time – and set up alerts that will notify you when certain deals go live.
For more deals on Amazon Prime Day, read our guides to the best tech deals, the best kids deals and the best Amazon devices deals
Read more
Amazon Prime Day 2020: Best tech deals
Amazon Prime Day 2020: Best deals on kids’ toys
Amazon Prime Day 2020: Best deals on home and kitchen appliances
Amazon Prime Day 2020: Best deals on TVs and laptops