Prime Day is finally here, and this is technically the Black Friday week of summer 2025, starting with Apple AirPods 4 + ANC. You can snag a pair for just $119 shipped today, originally $179. Based on millions of ear scans, the buds feature a shorter stem and a narrower profile, ensuring they stay secure without the ear-aching pressure of in-ear tips. For travelers who find silicone-tipped earbuds uncomfortable after hours of wear, this is a godsend. They’re IP68-rated for dust, sweat, and water resistance, so a spilled drink or rainy layover won’t spell disaster. Adaptive Audio mode blends ANC with Transparency, adjusting to your environment, so you can hear boarding calls without yanking out an earbud. Product page.
5. DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station – $999 $417
At just 28.7 pounds, the DJI Power 1000 is light enough to toss in a car trunk or carry to a campsite, with dual handles that make lugging it a breeze. The sturdy, flame-retardant casing can support up to 220 pounds, so it’s tough enough for rugged travel.
The power station’s output is a highlight, with two 120V AC outlets, two 24W USB-A ports, and two 140W USB-C ports that can charge a laptop or even a DJI drone in about 30 minutes. The 2,200W capacity handles over 99% of household appliances, from running a mini fridge for 19 hours to juicing up a smartphone 57 times. Its Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) mode kicks in within 0.02 seconds during outages, keeping critical devices like a CPAP machine or router online. Budget travelers don’t have to sacrifice power for price here. Product page.
4. Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam – $80 $39.99
The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is a total game-changer for keeping an eye on your home while you’re out and about, packing crisp 1080p video, Alexa smarts, and a handy privacy cover. Setting it up is a snap—just a few minutes with the Ring app. Plug it in, scan a QR code, hook it up to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and you’re good to go. Its sleek, 5.7-inch-tall design fits perfectly on a shelf or mounts easily to a wall or ceiling with the included kit. For travelers bunking in hostels or Airbnbs, its portability and quick setup make it a reliable buddy for securing temporary digs.
The 1080p HD video is crystal clear, catching every detail—whether it’s your pet causing chaos or an uninvited guest’s face, even in dim light. Color Night Vision pops when there’s a bit of light around, switching to black-and-white infrared in pitch-dark settings. With a 143-degree view and smooth pan-and-tilt controls, this cam covers whole rooms without missing a corner. Two-way talk lets you tell your dog to get off the couch or scare off a intruder, with audio so clear it holds its own against fancier rivals like the Eufy S350. Motion alerts are spot-on, and the Pre-Roll feature grabs six seconds of footage before the action starts, so you never miss a beat. Product page.
3. Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones – $549 $399
Built with sleek aluminum ear cups and a sturdy stainless steel frame, the Apple AirPods Max USB-C feel like a high-end device. Tipping the scales at 385 grams, they’re a bit chunkier than rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM6 (254 grams), but the soft memory foam ear cushions and balanced design keep them comfy for hours. With IPX4 water resistance, they can handle a sweaty workout or a drizzle. The included Smart Case cleverly flips the headphones into low-power mode to stretch battery life.
Where the AirPods Max really steal the show is their active noise cancellation (ANC). With eight microphones and the Apple’s H1 chip, they hush low-frequency rumbles—like jet engines or train clatter—better than heavyweights like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sony WH-1000XM6. Transparency mode let you catch nearby sounds like a quick chat or airport announcements without popping the headphones off. Adaptive EQ adjuts the sound to match your ear’s fit, keeping the audio crisp. Product page.
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 40mm Bluetooth AI Smartwatch – $300 $159.99
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7’s 40mm aluminum case is featherlight at just 1 ounce, perfect for all-day comfort on a 6.5-inch wrist or smaller. The 1.3-inch, 432×432 Super AMOLED display shines bright at 2,000 nits, staying crystal clear even under blazing sun. Quick-swap 20mm bands let you switch from gym-ready to dinner-chic in a snap. With an IP68 rating and 5ATM water resistance, it laughs off rain or a quick pool plunge.
When it comes to health and fitness, the Galaxy Watch 7 is a beast for Android fans. Its upgraded BioActive sensor, with 13 LEDs, nails heart rate, SpO2, and body composition, going toe-to-toe with the Apple Watch Series 10 for accuracy. Cool features like Energy Score and FDA-approved sleep apnea detection give you real-deal wellness tips, though some, like ECG, need a Samsung phone to shine. Even non-Samsung Android users get killer tracking for tons of workouts—yoga, triathlons, you name it—with auto-detection that’s quicker than the Apple Watch Series 9.
Powered by a 3nm Exynos W1000 chip and Wear OS 5, the Watch 7 flies through apps like Spotify or Messages without a hiccup. Its 32GB storage stashes playlists or podcasts for phone-free adventures, and Bluetooth 5.3 hooks up seamlessly with Android gear for notifications, calls, and tap-to-pay with NFC. Product page.
1. 11″ Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Tablet – $220 $132.99
Tipping the scales at just 1.06 pounds and super slim at 0.27 inches, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ boasts a sturdy aluminum frame that feel tougher than most budget tablets. The 11-inch, 1920×1200 LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate delivers buttery-smooth scrolling. Four Dolby Atmos-tuned speakers blast out clear sound that can fill a small room. Rocking a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 and up to 8GB of RAM, the Tab A9+ breezes through everyday stuff like streaming, social media, and video chats. Samsung’s One UI 6 on Android 14 feels slick, with DeX mode turning it into a mini desktop and split-screen letting you juggle up to three apps at once.
The battery’s a champ, with a 7,040mAh cell keeping you going for about 12 hours of streaming, browsing, and light gaming. It charges via USB-C at 15W, but not including a charger in the box is a bit of a bummer. The 8MP rear and 5MP front cameras are nothing fancy—good enough for video calls but meh for photos, though travelers with solid smartphones won’t mind. The 64GB base storage is a bit snug, but a microSD slot makes adding more space a cheap and easy fix. Product page.
