If you’re surfing the internet today, you might notice that Amazon is having a sale. A big sale. It’s a Big Deal, as it were. And we’ve got tons of deal roundups for you to check out. This stuff keeps the lights on for tech websites. But allow me to take a moment to give you some more personal recommendations: the stuff I use every day.
Each one of the following items is something I’ve purchased for myself, not a review unit. I can (and have) recommended them for people at full price. Now you can get ’em at a discount. It’s a win-win. Hey, why don’t I prove it to you — I’ll snap a photo of this stuff sitting around my desk! Um, pardon the dust.
A perfect speaker upgrade: Edifier R1280T bookshelf speakers, $83.99 ($36 off)
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
These babies have been sitting on my desk for years. There’s a reason this affordable, powerful set of speakers is so popular: they sound great and they’ll rattle your bones in a small office. There are fancier speakers out there, but you won’t find anything with this combination of quality and value. If you’re still using the teeny-tiny speakers in your monitor, for the love of Pete just get these already.
Big deskpad energy: A big, wide mouse pad for just $10.39 ($9 off)
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
To be honest, I bought this thing just to take photos of it in my keyboard reviews — I needed something dark and interesting to sit under all-white boards. But it’s since become a regular in my setup. I dig the topographical pattern, the stitched edges (on such a cheap mat!) and the big size, just over 700mm wide. If this style doesn’t strike your fancy, look around, there are tons of these desk mats on deeply discounted today.
A wireless headset that lasts months on a charge: HyperX Cloud Alpha, $134.43 ($65 off)
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
This isn’t the fanciest headset in the world, but it does everything I need it to, with a removable boom mic for gaming and a wireless USB dongle to let me wander around and do chores while I listen to YouTube videos. And here’s what makes it worth the price: it lasts for literally hundreds of hours on a charge. I think I’ve charged this headset up maybe three times since I bought it more than two years ago.
An easy tablet kickstand that disappears in your bag: MOFT Snap Tablet Stand, $31.99 ($8 off)
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
I’ve used a lot of different tablets in the last few years: iPads, Windows tablets, Android, ChromeOS. But I’ve used this little folding, magnetic, hide-away kickstand on all of them, because I love it. It’s super skinny, and unlike those stick-style stands its wide base makes it incredibly stable. And when I’m not using it, it folds away and disappears. Previous versions stuck on with adhesive, but the new version allows you to adjust to tons of different angles and heights thanks to the magnetic mount.
Listen in, don’t tune out: Shokz OpenMove bone conduction headphones, $54.95 ($25 off)
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
I’m constantly listening to audiobooks, but I don’t like to use earbuds if I’m in public. I’m a big guy and I’m worried that I’ll bump into people. So I love bone conduction headphones, which keep your ears open and your spatial awareness intact. I’ve been using this Shokz design for years, because they’re affordable, simple, and last a long time on a charge. When they need a boost, just grab a USB-C cable — this is one of the few sets that doesn’t need a proprietary charger.
Smile, you’re logged in: Logitech Brio Windows Hello-compatible webcam, $134 ($66 off)
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
You don’t need an amazing webcam for basic meetings, especially if you use a dedicated mic. But I need one for recording video shorts (hey, check out PCWorld on YouTube and TikTok, why don’t ya?) and the 4K sensor on this Logitech works great. But that’s not my favorite feature. Nope, that honor goes to the IR sensor that makes it compatible with Windows Hello face scanning for instant log-ins to my desktop setup. Attention, laptop users: anything you can do, I can do better.
More Prime Day deals you’ll love
That’s it for my recommendations, but there are plenty of other long-tenured tech geeks on the PCWorld team. We’re all ready for Prime Day and our experts have rounded up some of the best tech that’s now available for compelling prices: