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T-Mobile offering free smartphones with new lines

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Getting a phone on a discount is nice, but you know what’s even nicer? Free ones. Knowing this, T-Mobile is currently offering a number of devices for free to customers who sign up for its Magenta rate plan or higher.

SEE ALSO: Samsung refreshes Galaxy A series of phones for US

There are five models of smartphones on the list right now, each of which might be a good options for the back-to-school crowd. Four of them are already available and one of them comes to T-Mobile in just a few days time.

All that’s required to get one of these phone for free is to sign up for a $40 Magenta or higher rate plan. The cost of the phones come in the form of a bill credit that’s applied each month over the span of two years.

With a savings of up to $200 each phone, a family of four can get up to $800 in free devices. Customers will still have to pay the $40 per month for each device, but free phones never hurt, right?

New phones at T-Mobile

You might be interested in the Samsung Galaxy A10e even if you’re not adding a line of service. It’s a pretty solid mid-range affair that won’t break the bank. Moreover, the Samsung Galaxy A20 is also headed to T-Mobile on July 26, too.

The Samsung Galaxy A10e is priced at $0 down and $7.30/month for 24 months, or a full retail price of $175. The Samsung Galaxy A20 is available at $10/down and $10/month over 24 months with its full retail price at $250. Note this is for well-qualified customers on T-Mobile’s no-interest Equipment Installment Plan (EIP).

Join the elite ranks of cyber security and IT pros for just $39

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For all the differences found in countries like America, Russia, and China, there’s one thing that is becoming increasingly important for all of them – cyber security. They, like any and all other countries around the world, are in dire need of professionals in the space.

Take, for instance, this report from China Daily who advises:

Data from the Cyberspace Administration of China last year suggested the country currently lacks more than 700,000 cybersecurity professionals. That number is expected to double by 2020.

You can imagine it’s just as important here in the US with all of the looming threats of cyber warfare, election interference, and other privacy concerns.

Everybody needs help, so training such as The A to Z Cyber Security & IT Certification Training Bundle is vital. Right now, AndroidGuys Deals has slashed the price on this collection down to just $39, over 97 percent off the regular price.

This package brings together 12 courses including more than 114 hours of training that covers all approaches to cyber security and IT, including ethical hacking, SQL injection, penetration testing, cloud security, and much more.

Not only does the bundle offer nearly 900 lessons, but it’s also designed to help you pass critical tests the first time you sit. The 12 courses featured include:

  • Ethical Hacking From Scratch to Advanced Techniques
  • GSEC Certification: Security Essentials
  • The Art of Exploitation Course
  • SQL Injection
  • The Complete Ethical Hacking Certification Course
  • CISSP Exam Preparation Training Course
  • Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking Project from A to Z
  • Certified Cloud Security Professional: CCSP
  • CISM: Certified Information Security Manager
  • CISA: Certified Information Systems Auditor
  • CompTIA Security+ Certification
  • CompTIA CSA+ & Certified Cyber Security Analyst

Availability

Normally valued at more than $1,400 for the full collection, AndroidGuys readers can snag the deal for just $39 right now. That’s a dozen courses for just over $3 a piece.

Best Sellers

Save even more!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

How set a priority device on Google WiFi

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We all love our streaming. Video, audio, real-time, and on-demand, we constantly want to consume content. While the convenience of streaming is amazing, it takes a lot of resources, mainly bandwidth. This can be extremely hard on your home network.

Make it a priority

Fortunately, most router systems have a setting to name a certain device on your network to get the lion’s share of the internet. This prioritization can make it so that your Netflix streams don’t buffer or console gaming doesn’t lag. Google WiFi is not different and the app makes it super simple to create priority devices.

Despite its simplicity, it is a few menus deep in the UI. Let us show you how to make it happen.

How to turn it on

This will give you incremental settings to set a priority device on Google WiFi. During this time the selected device will receive more of the internet resources from your mesh network than any other connected unit.

  • Find your Google WiFi app and open it
  • Hit the devices button on the main screen
  • Click the green button at the bottom right (Shows a computer with a star)
  • Tap the internet-connected device you want to be the priority
  • Select the drop-down to create a time frame between 1,2, and 4 hours
  • Make sure to hit Save at the top right

Priority Set!

There you go! You should now have your favorite home device set for priority over your network. This will allow you to avoid the dreaded buffer bug the next time you and the family sit down to enjoy the movie of the week.

During that time the priority unit will be at the top of the internet chain inside your local network, hopefully alleviating those bandwidth issues. You can also go back to the Devices list in Google WiFi at any time inside your set window to cancel the device priority.

Harmony Express Remote review

As an avid user of smart assistants and a home theater geek, I’m a big fan of anything that can combine the two. In the past, I’ve reviewed the Logitech Harmony Companion and Logitech Harmony Elite.

I enjoyed both of them for different reasons and loved the option to use voice commands with either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. That’s why I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Logitech’s new Harmony Express which actually has Alexa built directly into the remote.

Hardware

The Logitech Harmony Express bundle comes with the remote, a hub, and an IR blaster. One of the best things about the Harmony remotes is the combination of a wireless remote and hub.

Instead of using an infrared emitter on the remote to communicate with your various devices, the Logitech remote connects wirelessly to the hub which sends out the IR signals.

This allows you to use the remote at greater distances and without requiring line-of-sight to the devices themselves. You can place the hub almost anywhere, even behind cabinets and use the IR blaster to extend its range or to get around obstacles such as shelves.

Remote design

I really enjoy the feel and shape of the Harmony Express remote. It’s a minimal, lightweight remote with backlit buttons that feels good in hand and is easy to hold and operate. While Harmony Express doesn’t offer a lot of buttons, those provided are the most important.

Almost every button pulls double duty, allowing a second action performed by long pressing. Several of the buttons can even be customized in the Harmony Express app, giving more advanced users a way to make the remote work the way they want it to.

The microphone worked great during the past few weeks as I put it through its paces and the tiny speaker puts out a lot of volume. Actually, it put out a little too much volume. Even though the app allows you to adjust it, I found that on the lowest level it was still too loud for my tastes.

Setup

Upon getting a universal remote the first thing you have to do is set it up. Some are easier than others, but no matter what, it’s going to take some work. Logitech uses a dedicated app for the Harmony Express which is different from the one for the Companion or Elite remotes.

In my opinion, the new app is more streamlined and less complex and has a better overall design. It does a good job auto detecting some smart devices such as my Roku TV or a Roku box in another room. For the most part, however, you’re going to have to spend some time looking up model numbers for your various home and audio equipment.

App

If you’ve used the Logitech Companion or Elite in the past, then you may or may not enjoy the new app. It’s really hard to say, because it’s so different. It offers far less advanced options, but provides a more simple layout and design.

The Harmony Express drops many of the advanced features such as creating your own activities, such as assigning a button or voice command to turn on your TV, receiver, Roku, and open up Netflix all at once.

Instead, it opts for a more simplistic approach and tries to group together devices, making the remote less flexible and less complicated to set up.

How well does it work?

Let’s start off with what the Harmony Express does well. The Alexa integration on the remote works very well. It always hears me properly and I don’t have any issues where I needed to repeat myself.

Long pressing the button to activate Alexa without using the hot word was very convenient, and it makes me wish I had a dedicated button for this with other smart speakers. It was so nice to not have to repeat “Alexa” over and over, and took one less step out of controlling the TV with a digital assistant.

Another benefit of having Alexa built into your remote is that it can do much more than just control your TV. Want to know the weather, the weight of the moon, add pickles to your shopping list, check on your recent Amazon order, or control your lights? The remote can do it all,

It can also play music through its tiny speaker. However, similar to most third-party Alexa devices, the Harmony Express doesn’t support calling, announcements, or drop in.

Now, despite having a great design and a capable digital assistant built in, most of the time I found myself frustrated by the Harmony Express. You might be wondering, if Alexa works so great on the remote, what’s the problem?

Well, the simple fact is, the commands available are very limited. With the Harmony Express, you can power the TV on/off, adjust the volume in 5-step increments, mute the TV, change channels by name or number, open a selection of apps, and play/pause or fast forward and rewind media.

The Harmony Express also won’t support doing a chain of commands, such as turn on the TV and open Netflix, or open Hulu and turn the volume up.

If you were hoping you’d be able to search for movies and TV shows by the title, actor, or director like Android TV boxes or the X1 cable box, then you’re going to be disappointed.

Even more problems arise when you jump back and forth between your cable box and smart TV apps. While Harmony Express had no issues opening Netflix, Hulu, or Vudu, it simply refused to open Plex or Google Play Movies. Not only that, but due to the simplicity of the remote, there was no way to open the home screen on the TV to access the app.

I even tried programming the home screen button for the TV into the remote, only to be disappointed. It seemed that the arrow buttons were still assigned to the cable box; I could not navigate the TV. That left me forced to reach for another remote, use the Harmony Express app, or use voice commands to open one of the supported apps. Or, maybe just exit it and open Plex instead.

Battery

I am not a fan of remotes that require regular charging. Even with the Harmony Elite only needing a charge every few days, I still found it frustrating when I’d forget.

The Harmony Express was a huge surprise because, even after using it for the past four weeks, it has still not required charging. That’s pretty impressive for a remote that is mainly used for voice controls and one that includes buttons with back-lighting.

Final Thoughts

In the end, the Harmony Express is a product that is more defined by what it cannot do than what it can do. It would be best suited for people who have a very simple home theater setup and can more easily deal with the limited voice commands and buttons on the remote.

In my opinion, asking $250 for what little the remote can do is not worth it though. If you’re looking for a much better and cheaper smart home remote solution, I would recommend picking up the Harmony Companion with an Echo Dot or Google Home Mini instead.

Not only is this setup cheaper, but it’s far more flexible. You’ll get all the same great voice commands with a much more capable remote. Plus, it’s cheaper to buy both of these than it is to buy the Harmony Express. You’ll save even more money if you already have a smart speaker.

Availability

You can learn more about the Harmony Express at the Logitech website where it’s also available to purchase for $250. It’s also offered at Amazon and Best Buy.

The best cheap Android phone ever was quietly announced this week

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“Good phones are getting cheap and cheap phones are getting good.”

It’s a popular saying that quite a few in the tech YouTube crowd have been spouting for years now. Many give credit to Marques “MKBHD” Brownlee for popularizing the phrase, but plenty have repeated it since.

The ultra-premium device market is going strong with $900+ phones from LG, Sony, Apple, and Samsung. At the same time, there are a ton of compelling options from OnePlus, Huawei, and others which offer a premium flagship experience that doesn’t break the bank.

The most interesting part of the Android ecosystem, for me at least, has always been in the shallow end of the pool. The current entry-level and mid-tier devices offered from the likes of Motorola, Nokia, Huawei, and others give customers compelling options without spending an entire paycheck (or more).

Cheap cell phone plans that use the Verizon network

This week brought news of the most recent refresh of Nokia’s low-end device, the Nokia 2. While not the cheapest device the company offers, it offers a great balance of specs, performance, design, and cost-efficiency that few others do. With the new Nokia 2.2, I think we are looking at the best inexpensive Android device ever to hit the market.

We covered the device in depth here, but here are the cliff notes: 5.71-inch LCD display with a notch, 13 MP main + 5 MP front-facing cameras, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, and Android 9 Pie via the Android One program.

What excites me the most are the inclusion of hardware features that have been around forever, but may have been long-since forgotten. The Nokia 2.2 features a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a removable battery. Yes, a phone with a removable battery is coming to market in 2019. I can barely contain my excitement.

The Nokia 2.2 is only $140 so you give up some creature comforts here. There’s no fingerprint scanner, and instead of a USB C port, we get the older micro USB standard. Honestly, I’m fine with that.

A fingerprint scanner is nice, and something that I’m now used to, but I can live without it. Since this device is pointed at the low-end of the market, I think it’ll be in the hands of a lot of first time owners who won’t really miss it.

Yeah, not having USB C does suck, but I still have a ton of micro USB cables laying around the house. Many of the speakers and other accessories I own charge via micro USB so it’s not that big of a deal.

Cheap phones are getting better and better with each release and I think the Nokia 2.2 is a new high point.

Other phone makers like Motorola who have made their name in inexpensive devices might want to take note of where Nokia cuts corners – and where it still delivers.

We don’t expect the cameras to be anything to write home about, but just fine for social media. There’s no glass back here, but a harder-to-damage body that will stand up to damage over time resides.

Stock Android should run just fine on the entry-level MediaTek A22 processor, and with two years of software updates and three years of security updates, it’ll see upgrades well into 2022. That’s pretty great for $140.

The worst thing about the Nokia 2.2? The wait. Announced in the middle of July, the device won’t hit store shelves at Best Buy or Nokia’s website until August. We’ll be waiting with bated breath.

How to enable dark mode in YouTube

When it comes to watching videos, a bright white background can be distracting and isn’t often ideal. That goes for TV, monitors, and mobile devices. When YouTube finally rolled out its dark theme, it gave us all a reason to rejoice.

Unfortunately, the dark theme isn’t enabled by default, but it’s not that hard to turn on. Just follow these steps below, and you can enjoy all your favorite YouTube videos with a pleasing dark background.

How to enable dark theme on a computer.

  1. Open the YouTube homepage.
  2. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner to access the flyout menu.
  3. Select Dark theme.
  4. Toggle the dark theme on or off.

How to enable dark theme on a mobile device.

  1. Open the YouTube app.
  2. Tap on your profile photo in the top right corner.
  3. Choose Settings.
  4. Tap on General.
  5. Toggle Dark theme on.

Now, that you’ve enabled the dark theme you can say goodbye to that blinding white flash every time you open up YouTube and get back to enjoying your videos.

Read More: Paint it black: Android Auto gains dark mode and new UI

Lockly Secure Pro review

For all of the convenience and automation that comes with a connected home, it’s hard to rival the experience of having a smart door lock. Not only are they as secure as any traditional deadbolt but they have way more flexibility.

The next generation of locks doesn’t rely solely on traditional keys. Moreover, it’s not just personal PIN codes, Bluetooth, or fingerprint sensors. No, the best stuff available uses all of that tech, and even works via voice.

Lockly Secure Pro

The Lockly Secure Pro is one such smart lock. Available in Satin Nickel and Venetian Bronze finishes, it’s the sort of deadbolt you’ll come to use daily and in a mindless manner. And that’s just awesome.

We don’t like to fumble for a key to unlock, or start our cars. That old school stuff has been replaced by fobs. Now we just walk up to the car, grab the door handle and get in. Starting is just a press of a button. We do it daily and we don’t think about it. Lockly’s door solution is the same thing.

To be completely fair up front, Lockly is hardly the first company to offer a smart lock and many of its features are not exclusive. We don’t want to suggest there aren’t other models on the market which do a similar job. Then again, there are things, such as Offline Access Codes, which are unique to the Lockly experience.

Installation and Setup

Installation, for the most part, requires just a Phillips screwdriver and maybe 20 minutes of your time. The box comes with quite a few documents, including manuals for installation and usage.

There’s also a paper tool with measurements printed which can be used if you have a little more involved process ahead of you. Say, for example, that you need to drill holes and aligning things on a new door.

Once physically in place, the process of creating codes, adding fingerprints, or integrating with your Google Home takes but a few minutes each. We took our time with things, playing around with different options as we went, and still spent less than one hour on the entire setup.

PIN Codes and Access

The Lockly Secure Pro lets homeowners set up to eight personal codes of 6-8 digits each. These trusted users can unlock the door anytime they want, as often as they want.

Unlike most door locks with keypads, this one’s screen has four circles with three different numbers in them. Randomly generated each time, you’ll never tap the screen in the same order.

Worried about someone peeking over your shoulder or spying on your keypad? This approach makes it nearly impossible to figure things out. A “Random” mode can be enabled, making it even more difficult. Under this method, the four buttons refresh with new numbers each time. All you need to do is remember the 6-8 digit code and enter it.

A second type of user, a guest, can be created which works within a predetermined time frame. In other words, the code expires. This is a great for vacations or temporary situations where you might have a house-sitter or friend to take care of your pets.

The third type of user is a one-time access code. There are all sorts of reasons as to why you might let someone into your house on an individual basis, such as a friend dropping off a gift.

The offline access code feature lets users generate and grant access code access which can be used even when there is no internet access.

Previously, we had a Schlage door lock which utilized PIN codes but we had been using 4-digit numbers. The concept of moving to 6-8 digits seemed a little intimidating but we understood the security behind the extra numbers.

Our anxiety and quibbles were assuaged by the Lockly Secure Pro’s ability to use fingerprints. Simply place your finger on the right side of the lock and you’ll gain entry. It’s as quick as anything you’ll find on a phone, too. This has already become our preferred way of unlocking the door.

Of course, you can also use the Lockly app on your phone to lock and unlock the deadbolt. Oh, and it does come with two traditional keys, too.

Other Details

By default, the deadbolt is designed to automatically lock after a predetermined time. In other words, you can unlock the door, open, and then shut it without having to turn around and lock it. While this is awesome, we tend to like our main door open for breeze or for our dogs to look out.

Having it automatically spit the deadbolt back out sometimes causes more trouble than it’s worth. Disabling this feature is as easy as tapping your phone screen. Likewise, you can also extend the time frame it allows before locking again.

The app keeps a log of all activities, showing each time the deadbolt was locked and unlocked. What’s more, it parses out which codes or fingerprints were used. This is an excellent way of tracking when your child gets home from school.

Connected Home Integration

Another really cool way to use the lock is by voice. Indeed, it’s compatible with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and it’s as easy as saying, “Okay Google, lock the front door.”

In a related note, one thing we hadn’t thought of was the security that comes with unlocking the door via voice. Thankfully, Lockly did. Instead of just making it easy to say “unlock the front door” into your phone or to a connected speaker, you have to enter a PIN code on your phone.

Imagine how poor of a design it would be if someone could walk up to your home and use their voice to gain entry to your front door. By requiring the PIN on a phone it keeps people from talking their way past the security.

You can use your voice to lock and unlock the door, and that’s really cool, but you there’s a way to dial things up even more. There is a sensor you can adhere to the door and jamb to detect whether it’s open. Doing this lets you ask your phone or connected speaker to check on the status. Really neat stuff that doubles as peace of mind.

Conclusion

We appreciate that there’s nothing else to buy if you want to get the full experience. Some locks might require an add-on accessory or component to plug into your router if you want to use voice. The Lockly Secure Pro has everything in the box.

We’ve yet to add the lock to a routine, but we can imagine how nice it will be to say “Goodnight” or automate a bedtime ritual. So, not only will our lights turn off at night, but we can sleep easy knowing the entryway is locked up, too.

For $300 we simply love all of the features that come with the Lockly Secure Pro. There’s no nickle and dime approach to add on extra features; you know exactly what you need to spend. We’ve seen hubs and Wi-Fi accessories that add $50 or more to the bottom line and we’re glad to not have to worry about the cost or compatibility.

We also like that Lockly doesn’t make us choose between Amazon and Google. While we lean pretty heavily in one direction in our home, we do use both.

Installation and configuration is a breeze and we appreciate not having to break out a tool box or fuss with a messy app. To say that any homeowner can put one of these in their home is not an exaggeration.

Availability

Pick up your Lockly Secure Pro for $300 at Lockly’s website or Best Buy in Satin Nickel or Venetian Bronze.

Save 21% on this robotic arm for your Arduino

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You love to tinker, build, hack, and tweak. We get it. There’s nothing quite as cool as building your own computer or coding and playing with a Raspberry Pi. Electronics hobbyists have never had it better.

We’ve got a great bargain in the AndroidGuys Deals Store aimed right at people like you. It’s the SunFounder Robotic Arm Edge Kit for Arduino, and it’s on sale for just $54.99, or 21-percent off.

About

The Rollarm Kit for Arduino is designed for DIY electronics hobbyists to learn robot arm control. With the open-source MCU Arduino UNO and a servo expansion board, the robot arm is easy to use and full of fun.

You can control its four axes by the 4 potentiometer buttons, as well as make them move on your computer. In addition, it can memorize the movements it has made and repeat again and again, making it a great tool for repeated tasks.

The bundle comes with a whole array of pieces and parts, including clips, servo motors, cables, and buttons. Of course, it also has a SunFounder board, expansion board, and necessary tools, too.

Availability

Ready to grab your SunFounder Robotic Arm Edge Kit? Head to the AndroidGuys Deals Store and you’ll find it at $54.99 for a limited time. Hurry, the 21-percent discount won’t last forever.

Best Sellers

Save even more!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

Nokia 2.2 arrives as $140 unlocked Android One phone for US buyers

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Nokia on Tuesday introduced its Nokia 2.2 smartphone, an entry-level Android affair with a premium outward design. It’s the first of the brand’s first 2 series handset to be included in the Android One program.

Powered by Android One 9.0 Pie, the Nokia phone is Android Q ready. And, because it’s included in the Android One initiative, it will see two years of OS upgrades plus three years of monthly security updates.

The Nokia 2.2 has a 5.71-inch display with a small cutout notch display and comes in Tungsten Black and Steel color options. The 13-megapixel rear camera has advanced low-light capabilities that stitch multiple pictures together with AI to create great detail and less noise.

A quad-core MediaTek A22 processor runs the show and is paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. Rounding things out, the Nokia 2.2 has a dedicated Google Assistant button which can trigger the feature with a quick press. A long-press lets users go deeper with requests or multiple tasks.

In an interesting twist, the Nokia 2.2 allows for owners to express themselves with exchangeable Nokia Xpress-on covers. Using the same nano-texture coating technology, these covers can be changed in seconds and come in Pink Sand, Ice Blue and Forest Green.

Nokia 2.2 from HMD Global

Amazon and Best Buy sell the Nokia 2.2 unlocked for $139 on their websites; Best Buy stores will also offer the phone starting in early August.

Our favorite deals left for Amazon Prime Day 2019

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Prime Day from Amazon has become somewhat of an unofficial holiday in the United States recently. The company creates huge traffic to the retail site by offering a 48 hour period for some large discounts on many of its most popular items.

We wanted to put together a shortlist of some of our favorite tech deals left on the final day of Prime Day.

Amazon Fire TVs

Amazon has both the standard and 4k models of the Fire TV Stick marked down for Prime Day. The company’s other Fire TV devices and TVs are also marked down to some the lowest prices we’ve seen.

Most of the deals also come with $45 credit towards Sling TV’s streaming service for a limited time.

Mesh WiFi

Mesh networks are the latest advancement in consumer WiFi and most of the major players are getting involved in the market. Google, Eero (Amazon-owned), Nokia, and Netgear all now support mesh WiFi in product lines.

  • Google WiFi — the normal price for 3-pack: $259 — Prime Day price: $229
  • Eero Mesh WiFi — the normal price for Eero and beacon pack: $400 — Prime Day price: $200
  • Nokia Beacon — the normal price for 2-pack: $350 — Prime Day price: $280
  • Netgear Orbi — the normal price for 1-pack: $289 — Prime Day price: $200

Roku Streaming

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Roku has become the king of streaming. The company leads the market in set-top boxes and has even moved into TVs with the software built into the unit. While it is a direct competitor of Fire TV, Roku is also seeing some great discounts for Prime Day.

  • Roku Stick — the normal price: $50 — Prime Day price: $35
  • Roku Express — the normal price: $30 — Prime Day price: $25
  • Roku Ultra — the normal price: $100 — Prime Day price: $70
  • TCL 50-inch Roku TV — the normal price: $300 — Prime Day price: $280

Tech Accessories

Your normal tech accessories for your travel bag are big sellers on Prime Day. This year is no different with many popular options seeing prices slashed.

Smartphones

Maybe you are looking for a bigger, grander purchase on Prime Day. Many of the top smartphones are on the list of marked down options via Amazon today.