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Prime Day 2024 is coming on July 16-17. Here’s everything you need to know
Amazon
Amazon just announced that Prime Day 2024 will be held from Tuesday, July 16 through Wednesday, July 17, 2024. This news comes about three months after the retail giant announced in April that Prime Day would be held sometime in July.
Prime Day is not only Amazon’s biggest sales event of the year, but it’s also one of the biggest sales events in retail. During this time, Amazon is known for offering steep discounts across a variety of shopping categories, including tech, home, kitchen and much more. Set your calendars for Prime Day 2024, and if you’re interested in securing Prime Day deals before then, sign up for invite-only Prime Day deals.
What we know so far about Amazon Prime Day 2024
Thinking about becoming a Prime member? We’ve got all your Prime Day 2024 answers covered — plus early Amazon deals you can snag right now on home, fitness gear, tech and more.
When will we know what will be on sale for Prime Day 2024?
At this time, Amazon hinted in an announcement published on April 26 that back-to-school supplies will be on sale. The article reads: “Members will also be able to take advantage of deep discounts and get their shopping done early for Back-to-School supplies, avoiding the lines and enjoying the convenience of fast, free shipping through Prime.”
In our experience covering Prime Day, we think there could be discounts on a variety of products, including robot vacuums, coffee makers, air fryers and loads of tech products, such as TVs, headphones, tablets, Kindles and more. And since Prime Day is happening in the middle of summer, we wouldn’t be surprised if there would be deals on patio furniture, outdoor decor and gardening supplies.
What are invite-only Prime Day deals?
Amazon Prime invite-only deals are exactly as they sound: Deals that you have to request an invite for in order to access. According to Amazon, Prime members will be able to request invites to gain access to these exclusive deals sometime leading up to Prime Day.
You won’t know if your invitation is accepted until Prime Day. Because there are only so many invite-only deals available per product, Amazon cannot guarantee that your invite will be accepted. If your invite is, you will get an email or push notification if you have the Amazon app. If not, Amazon will email you accordingly.
You can only request one deal invite per product, though there’s no limit to how many products you can request a deal invite for. If your request is granted, you can only purchase one of that item during Prime Day, and you have until the end of Prime Day to take advantage of the deal.
Here’s how to get invite-only Prime deals: Scroll the brand’s “deals” page, click on a product you’re interested in, and if the product is offering an invite-only deal, you’ll be able to request an invite on the product details page. You have to be a Prime member to access these deals, so make sure you’re logged into your account while shopping!
Is everything on sale for Amazon Prime Day?
Not every product on Amazon is on sale for Prime Day, however, you should find deals across all of Amazon’s shopping categories. It’s very important to know that deals do change frequently during Prime Day, so the price you see one day may be gone the next. Sometimes, deals even change by the hour. These are called Lightning Deals.
Lightning deals are limited-time discounts that are only available for so many people. So if there’s a lightning deal on Amazon’s best-selling portable air conditioner, for example, that discount may only be available for the first 50 shoppers. So once 50 shoppers buy the product at that discount, the lightning deal ends. From our experience, if you see a lightning deal, jump on it, as it could be gone in as little as a half hour.
Products we love at Amazon right now
Amazon currently has plenty of summer deals and terrific prices available to shop now. Check some of our top picks below.
iRobot Roomba Vac Essential robot vacuum: $224 (10% off)
Amazon
Featuring a three-stage cleaning system, the iRobot Roomba Vac Essential robot vacuum can handle carpets and hard surface floors like a pro. The robot vacuum also has three levels of suction power, so you can choose between a more thorough clean and quiet operation.
We like that the iRobot Roomba Vac Essential can be scheduled to clean automatically in neat rows, or can start cleaning via Alexa voice commands. There’s also a spot-cleaning setting where the robot will spin in place for up to two minutes.
It cleans for up to 120 minutes on a single charge and automatically returns to its base when its battery is low. The vacuum will alert you when its filter or brushes need replacing.
Regularly $250, you can get this budget robot vacuum for just $224 at Amazon now ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2024.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: $250 (save 24%)
Amazon
Looking for a budget-friendly Android tablet that doesn’t compromise on quality? The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a compelling choice. It offers a great balance of features and value, and it’s on sale for an attractive price right now.
It features a vibrant 10.4-inch touchscreen display and runs on the Android 12 operating system. With an impressive battery life of up to 15 hours on a single charge, you can use it for long periods without worrying about constantly recharging.
It works with the Google Play Store, so you can use any app your heart desires (if it’s available there) and comes with the included Samsung S Pen stylus that lets you take notes, sketch or navigate the device instead of using your fingertips.
Apple AirPods (2nd generation): $99 (23% off)
Apple
The second-generation Apple AirPods may not be the latest model, but they’re still one of the most sought-after earbuds on the market. These are some of the most versatile earbuds you can buy if you’re a regular iOS user. But beyond that, these are great earbuds that are perfect for tossing in your bag and heading out into the world. They just connect when you need them. There’s no frustrating need to pair them.
These 4.7-star-rated earbuds boast more than 24 hours of total listening time with the wireless charging case, fool-proof one-tap setup for Apple device owners and a low-latency wireless connection for full immersion when consuming movies and music. If you need an everyday set of earbuds that look and feel premium, these are a great and affordable option.
Why we like the Apple AirPods (2nd Generation):
- Their clear and high-quality sound makes for immersive listening.
- They feature a one-tap setup and intuitive controls for better convenience.
- They have an impressive battery life of over 24 hours with the charging case, and quick charging for on-the-go.
Keurig K-Mini coffee maker: $60 (40% off)
Amazon
If you’re running out of counter space in your kitchen, adding a new appliance can be difficult. But you probably won’t have that problem with the Keurig K-Mini — this single-serve pod coffee maker measures just 4.5 inches wide, 12.1 inches tall and 11.3 inches deep. It brews up to 12 ounces of coffee in just minutes.
This 4.5-star-rated Amazon bestseller is available in six colors.
Dewalt 20V Max cordless compact drill kit: $99 (45% off)
Amazon
This compact cordless drill and driver kit is one of the best deals that you can score right now. It’s currently a whopping 45% off. The kit includes a high-performance 20V drill with two batteries, a charging station and a carrying bag.
“We recently gifted our son the DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill as he’s a new homeowner, and we (and he) couldn’t be happier with the choice,” an Amazon reviewer shares. “It’s incredibly powerful, making even tough drilling tasks a breeze for him as he settles into his new place. The battery life is impressive, allowing him to tackle multiple projects without constantly recharging. One of the standout features is the ergonomic design, which makes it comfortable for him to use for extended periods.”
Get it now for $99 (regularly $179).
What we like about the Dewalt 20V cordless compact drill kit:
- It has earned an impressive 4.8-star rating on Amazon with over 40,000 reviews,
- It’s an excellent entry-level drill set.
- It comes with two batteries so you can use the drill for all-day projects.
Rockland Melbourne 20-inch expandable carry-on: $66 (53% off)
Amazon
The Rockland Melbourne 20-inch expandable carry-on spinner is made out of ABS, a lightweight and durable plastic. It features multidirectional double spinner wheels with telescoping handles, along with interior zip and mesh pockets. Choose from multiple colors. Price varies by color. Right now, you’ll get the best deal on the carry-on in the shade purple, it’s currently 58% off.
“I was able to fit a lot more than I thought in this little suitcase,” an Amazon reviewer shares. “It’s easy to maneuver and even with the extension added to it it’s small enough to fit airplanes’ carry-on requirements.”
It usually sells for $140, but right now you can buy this carry-on for just $66.
Why we like the Rockland Melbourne 20-inch carry-on:
- The carry-on meets size restrictions for most major airlines, including United, American, Delta, Southwest and Allegiant.
- It earned a 4.5-star rating on Amazon with more than 8,500 reviews.
- The ergonomic handle and seamless spinner wheels make it easy to maneuver.
A new cyberattack is targeting iPhone users, with criminals attempting to obtain individuals’ Apple IDs in a “phishing” campaign, security software company Symantec said in an alert Monday.
Cyber criminals are sending text messages to iPhone users in the U.S. that appear to be from Apple, but are in fact an attempt at stealing victims’ personal credentials.
“Phishing actors continue to target Apple IDs due to their widespread use, which offers access to a vast pool of potential victims,” Symantec said. “These credentials are highly valued, providing control over devices, access to personal and financial information, and potential revenue through unauthorized purchases.”
Consumers are also more likely to trust communications that appear to come from a trusted brand like Apple, warned Symantec, which is owned by Broadcom, a maker of semiconductors and infrastructure software.
The malicious SMS messages appear to come from Apple and encourage recipients to click a link and sign in to their iCloud accounts. For example, a phishing text could say: “Apple important request iCloud: Visit signin[.]authen-connexion[.]info/icloud to continue using your services.” Recipients are also asked to complete a CAPTCHA challenge in order to appear legitimate, before they’re directed to a fake iCloud login page.
Such cyberattacks are commonly referred to as “smishing” schemes in which criminals use fake text messages from purportedly reputable organizations, rather than email, to lure people into sharing personal information, such as account passwords and credit card data.
How to protect yourself
Be cautious about opening any text messages that appear to be sent from Apple. Always check the source of the message — if it’s from a random phone number, the iPhone maker is almost certainly not likely not to be the sender. iPhone users should also avoid clicking on links inviting people to access their iCloud account; instead, go to login pages directly.
Apple urges users to always enable two-factor authentication for Apple ID for extra security and to make it harder to access to your account from another device. It is “designed to make sure that you’re the only person who can access your account,” Apple said.
The Federal Trade Commission also recommends setting up your computer and mobile phone so that security software is updated automatically.
While it’s hard for young people to resist the appeal of large cities and their hefty paychecks, smaller cities can sometimes offer more job prospects and overall affordability, making them better picks for new graduates.
For those reasons, the top city for new degree holders isn’t New York or San Francisco, or any other similarly popular metro area whose main drawback is its high cost of living, according to a new study from the ADP Research Institute (ADPRI). Taking into account a number of factors, including average wages, overall affordability and hiring rates, Raleigh, North Carolina, takes the No. 1 spot on the management services company’s list of best places for young graduates to start their careers. For its ranking, researchers looked at ADP data on more than 4 million 20- to 29-year olds at more than 27,000 U.S. employers, from January 2019 through April 2024.
“The basic idea is these are the questions new grads ask when planning their job search. They ask, ‘Where am I likely to find a job? What kind of salary will I earn?’ and ‘How far will it go?'” said Ben Hanowell, ADPRI’s director of people analytics research. “We put the three things together to find out where they can find the best combination of wages, affordability and robust hiring.”
Researchers at ADPRI found that Raleigh is relatively affordable, offers wages above the 80th percentile, and has the best hiring rate for likely new graduates of all the metro areas studied. Nicknamed the research triangle, Raleigh sits between three universities and is home to roughly 300 science and technology companies.
Great average salary, but can I even get a job?
The study takes into account that in some cities, though young workers could command higher wages, job opportunities are fewer than in other places and the cost of living is high, meaning that their salaries wouldn’t take them very far. As a result, these types of cities were deemed less desirable than those with decent salaries, but plentiful job opportunities for workers with less experience and relatively low costs of living.
“There are metro areas where you could command high wages as a recent grad, but they’re not affordable and hiring isn’t robust, so that’s the trade-off you’re making,” Hanowell said.
As an example, he pointed to Seattle, Washington, where wages are higher than 87% of the 55 biggest U.S. metro areas, but has a low hiring rate compared to other cities and is relatively unaffordable.
“The median wage is an estimated $56,000, but once that’s adjusted for the cost of living, it feels like $49,000. That’s one way to look at these trade-offs,” Hanowell said.
By contrast, Tucson, Arizona, has a hiring rate that’s greater than more than three-quarters of other metro areas, and is also more affordable than 84% of cities. “That’s the opposite end of the trade-off,” Hanowell said.
What’s the sweet spot?
To be sure, the most suitable city for a new graduate depends on their individual preferences. For example, one individual might be willing to take a chance trying to land a job in a metro area that’s expensive and has a low hiring rate, but where they can eventually command a high wage.
“They could think of the job they land as a stepping stone to greater things,” Hanowell said. “Whereas another grad might care about affordability to start building their savings early, or they are risk-averse and want to know that the place they’re going is a place where they can find a job.”
Surprises among rankings
When wages, affordability and hiring rates are considered, four metro areas stand out as the most promising places for young grads to begin their careers, according to ADPRI data.
“What’s surprising is these areas are not the traditional tech hubs or financial hubs you might think about for college grads,” Hanowell said.
Lower-ranked cities were mostly dinged in the wage and job prospects category. While they may be relatively affordable places to live, wages and hiring rates are low. Take Rochester, New York, for example, which has the lowest hiring rate of all 55 metros for likely college graduates. Although its wages are in the 13% percentile among metro areas, and it’s more affordable than nearly 70% of locales studied, its lackluster job prospects make it undesirable.
Here are the top 10 best and worst cities for new graduates, according to ADPRI.
Top 10 best cities for new graduates
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Austin, Texas
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- New York, New York
- San Francisco, California
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Indianapolis, Indiana
Top 10 worst cities for new graduates
- Rochester, New York
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Fresno, California
- Portland, Oregon
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Seattle, Washington
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Click here for the full rankings.
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