Amazon Prime Day 2018: An Early Preview of Best Deals

Amazon Prime Day doesn’t officially kick off until July 16 at 3 p.m. Eastern, but it’s never too soon to bookmark the best deals, crack those knuckles, and prepare for what will be the busiest shopping day of the season. The discounts are slated to rival even the best of Black Friday, and some of those bargains are already up for grabs.

The fourth annual Prime Day will feature 50 percent more Spotlight Deals and more than one million deals globally. Prime members will not only have access to deals of Alexa-enabled products, but they can also shop Prime Day Launches, which will include highly anticipated new-to-market items and special-editions products.

What to Know Before Amazon Prime Day 2018

Prime users can get their fill of free games and other huge giveaways, but this year’s shopping holiday goes beyond the usual bargains on tech and gadgets. Whole Foods Market will also take part in Prime Day, so expect large deals on food across all US stores.

Prime Day, as the name would imply, is only available to Prime members, but outsiders can snag a 30-day free trial to take advantage of the deals. Once Prime Day officially begins on July 16, Prime members will have to scramble for specific Lightning Deals that will only available for a limited time and Spotlight Deals that have potential to sell out quickly, but these deals are already available today.

Echo Show on Amazon Prime Day

Amazon kicked off Prime Day deals by taking $100 off the Echo Show, the Alexa-enabled device that lets users make video calls, employ smart home cameras, and function as a savvy voice assistant. At the new cost of $129.99, it’s at its lowest recorded price and now more affordable than its smaller-screened Echo Spot.

Stone & Beam, Rivet, and Other Amazon Prime Day Home Essentials

Amazon is offering deals from their exclusive collections, meaning décor from Stone & Beam and furniture from Rivet will be 25 percent off.

Outdoor Gear on Amazon Prime Day

Another way in which Prime Day beats Black Friday is that the weather is much more conducive to stocking up on outdoor gear. Amazon is already offering a markdown on outdoor equipment, creating yet another reason to go outside this summer.

Amazon Tap on Prime Day

The Alexa-enabled Bluetooth speaker is now $84.99, marked down from $130. The battery-powered Amazon Tap is one of the more affordable options for Prime members looking for a portable Alexa device.

Amazon Music on Prime Day

What good is a Bluetooth speaker without any music? In an effort to introduce more people to its music subscription service, Amazon is offering Prime members four months of Amazon Music for 99 cents.

Kindle Unlimited and Audible on Amazon Prime Day

Beaches are better with beach reads. Prime members who haven’t tried Kindle Unlimited can snag three months of unlimited reading for 99 cents. Members who buy their first Kindle book will also get $10 Prime Day credit that can be used for eBooks, print books (gasp!) and Audible. Not only that, but Audible is also offering a 65 percent discount on three-month subscriptions, which will be available at $4.95 a month for new members.

Twitch Prime on Amazon Prime Day

Between now and July 17, Twitch Prime will be giving away PC games and exclusive in-game gear every day. Once claimed during Prime Day (which, in this case, is closer to a Prime Month) these games are good to keep forever. There is a schedule of when these games will be made available but Twitch says it’s subject to change with new surprises and offers to appear daily.

There are a few hacks to avoid missing any sneak peeks of discounts, including tracking deals and setting up alerts for when new Prime Day deals are announced. Prime members will be given an extra six hours of deal offers this year, meaning there are plenty of chances to save between now and July 17.