Amazon's October Prime Day early deals cut prices on Apple, Garmin, and TCL

Key points

• Apple AirPods 4 are available for $99, a $30 discount, though they were also priced at $99 at Walmart prior to the sale.
• The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max chip is discounted by $600 to $3,499, beating its previous June price increase.
• Amazon Fire HD 8 and HD 10 tablets are up to 53% off, while the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is priced at $37.99.
• The Garmin vívoactive 6 smartwatch is at an all-time low of $229.99, saving $70.
• The 85-inch TCL QM8L QLED TV is currently $2,797.99, but experts expect it to drop to $2,497.99 or lower on October 6.
• Preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' are $10 off, launching November 5.

Background

This is the second annual Prime Big Deal Days event, previously known as the Prime Early Access Sale. Our archive indicates that early discounts began appearing in late September, with outlets like WIRED and PCMag highlighting price drops on electronics and home goods. The current wave of deals follows a trend of rising costs due to a memory chip shortage, which has increased the prices of laptops, phones, and SSDs.

How outlets are covering it

Mashable emphasizes the value of early deals, noting that some items like the MacBook Pro are cheaper than their pre-sale prices, while others like the TCL TV may see deeper discounts later. They advise shoppers to wait for the main event on October 6 for certain items. Yahoo Lifestyle Canada, though its content was largely obscured by technical code, suggests a broader range of deals including vacuums and home goods, indicating a wider scope than just tech. Both sources agree that Prime membership is required and that prices are time-sensitive.

Why it matters

These early deals signal the start of the holiday shopping season and provide relief from recent price hikes caused by a global memory crisis. For consumers, they offer an opportunity to purchase high-demand tech at record-low prices before the main sale, potentially avoiding stock shortages. The discounts also reflect Amazon's strategy to drive Prime membership and early holiday sales.

What to watch

The main Prime Big Deal Days sale begins on October 6, 2026. Shoppers should monitor prices for items like the TCL TV and Bose headphones, which are expected to drop further. Walmart and Target are also preparing their own October sales, so cross-retailer price comparisons will be crucial. Inventory for popular items like AirPods may be limited, so early buyers should act quickly.