I'm a tech editor who covers shopping events. Here are the Prime Day deals for October 9th that I would snag right now

Amazon's Prime Day in October returns in less than a week, but you can score significant savings right now on top tech, home and beyond.

Also: Prime Day in October is just around the corner. Here are the best early bird discounts

And while everyone loves a sale, it can be difficult to know what's really worth your money and what's an offer that's too good to be true with a markup that makes you think you're getting a great one make a profit. Luckily for ZDNET readers, our team of experts knows what to do. I've covered every major sales event live over the last year, including Prime Day in July, Labor Day, Black Friday, Cyber ​​Monday and more, and I regularly write about discounts on top tech products like robot vacuums, Smartphones, mobile accessories, etc. and more.

Also: The best early anti-Prime Day deals: Walmart, Best Buy, Costco and more

Here are the 9 deals I would upload before Prime Day begins in October – and why.

My best Prime Day deals in early October

• AirTag 4 pack for $80 (Save $19): You can't go wrong carrying everyday essentials during Prime Day, and this AirTag 4 pack is just that. I use AirTags to carry my keys, wallet, tracking my suitcases, tote bags and more, so its usefulness is certainly not underestimated. They're also an easy way to locate pets and children, as well as other small items like TV remote controls and more. Plus, based on last year's sales trends and my daily deal experience, this 4-pack probably won't go below $79 during the holidays, so you don't have to worry about shopping too early and missing out on additional savings.

• Amazon Echo Spot alarm clock for $45 (save $35): Not only is this the best deal we've seen on the new Echo Spot alarm clock since its release in July, but Amazon's Echo products are also on Prime Day great when they are usually cheap at lowest price and are sometimes available in bundle deals. They also make great housewarming or Christmas gifts or for upgrading your own smart home system. The Echo Spot doubles as a smart speaker and alarm clock and even easily shows the weather.

• Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee and espresso machine for $110 (Save $69): I'm more of a Dunkin' girl myself, but I've recently been thinking about upgrading to a home machine that's more sophisticated than a standard Keurig or Mr. Coffee machine. Several ZDNET employees own and enjoy the VertuoPlus model of this Nespresso machine (which is also currently 25% off), but since I rarely drink coffee at home, I think this model would best suit my lifestyle. It'll certainly never make me throw away my Dunkin, but the $110 price tag is pretty tempting.

• iRobot Roomba Q011 robot vacuum cleaner for $140 (Save $110): Robot vacuums and mops aren't cheap. Still, their promise of always having shiny floors without having to vacuum every corner of the house is quite tempting. But there's no way I would spend hundreds of dollars on a robot vacuum without knowing if it really fits my lifestyle, needs, or wants. Therefore, a budget choice is a good place to start if you are unsure or want to get your feet wet in the robot vacuum field. iRobot is one of the most popular brands, and Prime members can currently get early access to this Q011 model for $110 off. That's 44% off one of iRobot's base models, and you can hear it from someone who checks these deals often – snagging a reputable robot vacuum for under $150 is a good buy.

• Anker Nano portable charger for $18 (Save $8): As an editor who frequently reviews MagSafe batteries, wireless chargers, and other battery charging options, I'm a firm believer in always carrying some sort of backup battery booster. There's nothing worse than not having a functioning phone when you need it most, and as a chronically online Gen Zer, my iPhone 14 Pro already has less than 50% battery by midday. As small as a tube of lipstick, this Anker Nano Power Bank is a ZDNET favorite and is just enough to power your phone in an emergency or unexpected situation. I always have one in my purse (yes, it fits in even the smallest micro bag), and $18 is very close to the lowest price I've ever seen, which was just $1-2 during the Prime shipment in July -dollars less cost per day. If your phone has a USB-C charger, you can get that USB-C model now for $26 (save $4).

More of my top Prime Day deals in early October

FAQs

When are Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days (also known as October Prime Day) is a two-day sales event for Prime members. This year the sale runs from Tuesday, October 8th to the end of Wednesday, October 9th.

Are other retailers offering deals?

Amazon isn't the only retailer where you can find savings this time of year. Walmart, Goal, Best buyand others will all run competing sales the same week as Prime Day in October (and even before). Browse the different websites to compare offers and prices.

How did we choose these October Prime Day deals?

As a ZDNET editor, I only write about deals that I or a team member would like to purchase – devices and products that we want, need or would recommend. I looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or barely on sale) and used established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal was actually on sale and how often it was offered.

I also examined customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the offerings I recommend. These recommendations may also be based on my own testing (or testing by another ZDNET expert) – in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The aim is to provide the most accurate advice so you can shop smarter.