October 2021 Deals and Sales Predictions: Discounts on Smart Home Gadgets, Cell Phones, and More
By Elissa Sanci
Elissa Sanci is a writer on the discovery team. She has found that clear ice makes carbonated drinks taste better, and citronella candles don’t work.
Last year, Amazon’s postponed Prime Day kicked off an avalanche of mid-October sales that stretched through Cyber Monday. But this year, things are moving a bit slower. Instead of the blitz of deals we saw this time last year, the Wirecutter Deals team expects a steady trickle of pre–Black Friday promotions and deals throughout the month that will pick up as November draws closer. In the meantime, we think October will be a good time to pick up discounted cell phones, e-readers, and tablets ahead of the holidays while you’re waiting for those blowout deals. Here’s everything else you can expect to see on sale this month.
Beauty essentials
Amazon is hosting an October sale specific to beauty products. The Holiday Beauty Haul, which runs through October 25, should provide a good opportunity to pick up discounted makeup, lip balm, and moisturizer for less—and the Deals team thinks there’s a chance that a few Wirecutter picks will make their way into the mix.
Smart-home devices
As temperatures continue to drop across the country, the Deals team predicts that the prices of Wirecutter-approved smart thermostats and other smart-home gear will, too. We’ve already spotted a few deals for the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, the top pick in our guide to the best smart thermostats, and we suspect we’ll see more discounts as the month of October unfolds. The tail end of September brought deals on other smart-home gadgets, including video doorbells and smart locks, and we think those deals will continue into the new month.
Cell phones
With new Apple phone announcements come ample discounts—but the Deals team always approaches phone deals with caution because the majority of discounts we see come with caveats. You rarely see a specific dollar amount knocked off a new phone’s price tag—rather, you’re required to jump through a few hoops before collecting your savings. Typically, you have to trade in your current phone to qualify for the discounted newer model. Some of the better deals from cell phone service providers might also ask that you switch over to their service (if you’re not already a customer). And almost all deals hinge on your willingness to upgrade to an unlimited plan for a predetermined amount of time.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t real savings to be mined here. You just have to be diligent as you research these deals. For instance, make sure that you’re not locked into a plan that leaves you overpaying in the long run. Wirecutter Deals senior editor Nathan Burrow is working on an article that outlines everything else you need to know before snagging one of these phone deals, but for now, we urge you to read the fine print.
Charging gear
The Deals team is expecting to see many discounts on Wirecutter-recommended charging gear, like Lightning cables, portable battery packs, and wall chargers, this October. Whether you’re in need of a new Anker PowerLine II charging cable or a small brick that’ll charge your phone at super-fast speeds, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to nab them for less. We’ll likely see a glut of MagSafe accessories on sale, as well, especially now that wireless charging seems to be the standard for new phones.
Ebook readers and tablets
Among other new gadgets, Amazon announced three new versions of its Kindle Paperwhite e-reader in September. It’s usually difficult to find good deals on new tech, but the Deals team predicts small price drops on the Kindle models in the coming month. The reasoning? The shoppers inclined to buy the new Paperwhite the moment it dropped have either already done so or already own a somewhat recent e-reader. Any upcoming small price drops would be meant to incentivize the folks teetering on the edge. If you need a new ebook reader, we say go for it when the price is right.
The same applies to any of the new iPads that Apple announced last month. The 2021 iPad and 2021 iPad mini are considerable upgrades over their predecessors—and the Deals team already spotted small preorder price drops for the 9th-gen iPad in September. We think prices will continue to decline as time passes, especially for the 9th-gen iPad, the more-standard option of the two new tablets. So once again, it’s up to you to snag your upgrade when you’re happy with the price on offer. Just keep in mind that once you’ve placed your order, shipping delays are likely.
Meet your guide
Elissa Sanci is a senior staff writer for Wirecutter’s discovery team based in Denver. Her byline has appeared in The New York Times, Woman’s Day, Marie Claire, and Good Housekeeping. When she’s not testing TikTok-famous products or writing about car garbage cans, you can find her hiking somewhere in the Rockies or lying on the couch with a bowl of chips balanced on her chest. There is no in-between.
Further reading
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