All of the best tech deals to shop now - Los Angeles Weekly Times

Amidst enjoying the last long weekend of the summer, it’s worth turning to the Internet occasionally to check out the Labor Day sales available. Truth be told, Labor Day isn’t usually a boon for tech deals, but every year, a handful of quality discount pop up across Amazon, Walmart and other retailers. Labor Day also lands at the tail-end of the back-to-school shopping period, which means there are often overlapping back-to-school deals to take advantage of — whether you’re returning to campus or not.

We’ve collected the best Labor Day sales on tech here, including discounted gear from Apple, Amazon, Anker and others. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, just be mindful that the company’s “big deal days” will return in October — if something on your list isn’t on sale now, there’s a chance it will be in a few weeks’ time.

Labor Day sales: Engadget top picks

Labor Day sales on Apple gear

Apple iPad (2021) review photos — Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

We’re expecting to see all-new iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods in a couple of weeks, but plenty of Apple’s current devices are cheaper than usual for Labor Day weekend. The M2 MacBook Air is still a strong value at $799, for instance, while the company’s official MagSafe wireless charger is a few bucks below the street price we’ve seen for most of the past few months.

iPad (9th gen) for $199 ($130 off): This model has technically been discontinued, but at this record-low price, it’s a great option for kids or anyone who wants to snag an iPad for dirt-cheap.
Apple AirTags (4-pack) for $75 ($25 off): Only $2 more than the record-low, this sale price brings the cost per AirTag down to just $18.75. iPhone users can attach these Bluetooth trackers to their keys, bag, wallet and other belongings to keep track of them via the Find My app.
iPad Air (M2) for $729 ($60 off): The iPad Air remains our top pick for the best iPad for most people, and this 13-inch version gives you a little extra screen real estate.
AirPods Max for $399 ($150 off): One of our biggest issues with the AirPods Max since their debut has been their sky-high price tag. They’re a much better buy at this sale price.
Apple MagSafe Charger for $29 ($10 off): This is a rare discount on Apple’s own MagSafe charging pad, which provides up to 15W of wireless power to your iPhone and a strong, magnetic attachment.
MacBook Air (13-inch, M3) for $899 ($200 off): Just $50 shy of a record low, this deal on the latest 13-inch MacBook Air gives you our top pick for the best MacBook at a great price — a solid opportunity for students going back to school to snag an excellent, lightweight laptop for less.
MacBook Air (13-inch, M2) for $799 ($200 off): Don’t sleep on the M2 MacBook Air. It’s plenty powerful despite not having Apple’s latest chipset, and the 13-inch model is down to a near record low.
Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) for $299 ($100 off): If you just can’t wait for (presumably) the Series 10 to drop in September, $100 off the Apple Watch Series 9 is one of the best deals we’ve seen on our top pick for the best smartwatch.
Mac Mini (M2 Pro) for $1,150 ($150 off): If you’re looking to upgrade your desktop computer, this discount-plus-coupon deal is a solid one on the Mac Mini with an M2 Pro chipset.
Apple Music 3-month free trial for $0: New subscribers can get an extra-long free trial of Apple Music, three months instead of the usual one.

Labor Day sales on outdoor tech

If you’ve been looking to pick up a new pizza oven or fire pit for the backyard, some of our favorites from Ooni and Solo Stove are also on sale.

Labor Day subscription sales

There are too many subscription services in the world these days; if you must add another, you might as well do it while it’s cheaper. Right now we’re seeing decent Labor Day sales on Paramount+ — just in time for the start of football season, natch — as well as 1Password and Masterclass.

Labor Day sales on kitchen and smart home gear

Ninja Creami — Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

From the “inessential but potentially convenient home appliances” department, a few recommended robot vacuums from iRobot and Roborock are discounted, as is the buzzy Ninja Creami ice cream maker.

Labor Day sales on Amazon devices

Amazon, as it often does, is using the holiday to discount a few of its own gadgets, including its latest Echo Spot alarm clock/smart speaker and top-end Fire TV Stick streamer.

Labor Day sales on tech

A power bank attached to a phone. — Anker

A range of other gadgets we like are also on sale for Labor Day weekend, from Sonos speakers and Theraguns to wireless earbuds and our favorite mechanical keyboard for those on a tight budget.

Anker 10K magnetic power bank for $30 ($10 off): This slim, MagSafe charging brick can power up an iPhone easily without adding too much bulk, and this is the best sale price we’ve seen.
Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds for $150 ($50 off): One of our top picks for the best headphones for running, the Elite 8 Active have an IPX4 design, great sound quality and ANC and a solid battery life. Jabra may be exiting the consumer headphone business, but the company will continue to support products like this for a while.
Theragun Elite massage gun for $299 ($100 off): This massage gun comes with five attachments, includes a built-in OLED screen and allows you to save three preset treatments to your device using its accompanying mobile app. Also available at Theragun.
Theragun Mini 2.0 massage gun for $149 ($50 off): The most compact of Theragun’s massage machines, the Mini 2.0 is 20 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter than its predecessor, and remains a great gift for the runner in your life. Also available at Theragun.
Samsung Music Frame for $300 ($100 off): This frame-like speaker can hold album art and includes two woofers, two tweeters and two mid-range drivers.
Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 projector for $600 ($200 off): The latest version of this projector rotates 180 degrees so you can get the exact right placement for your screen (even if that happens to be on your ceiling), and it comes with a built-in speaker for 360-degree sound.
Keychron C3 Pro keyboard for $25 ($12 off): This is a record-low price on our budget pick in our guide to the best mechanical keyboards; just note that this particular model does not have RGB lighting or hot-swappable keys.
Astro A40 TR gaming headset for $100 ($30 off): This is a great deal on a top pick in our guide to the best gaming headsets, and we liked it for its comfortable design, spacious sound profile and solid value.
Sonos Labor Day sale — up to 20 percent off speakers: Sonos’ discounts for the holiday weekend include $50 off the Era 100 speaker and $180 off the Arc soundbar.
JBL Labor Day sale — up to 40 percent off: Bluetooth speakers, wireless earbuds and more gear are included in JBL’s holiday sale, with highlights being the PartyBox 310 speaker for $420 and the Tune Flex earbuds for $50.
Barnes & Noble Lego sale — up to 25 percent off: A handful of Star Wars, Mario, Disney and other sets are discounted at the book retailer, including this Death Star Trench Run Diorama for just under $53.