For bargain hunters, the official kickoff is not all that’s required to score value.
Heading into Prime Big Deal Days, we’re already seeing a wave of small-ticket tech and home upgrades on sale for under $25, and several of these prices are better than or closely match past event lows. If you want to make your budget go the furthest, now is the time to score deals on accessories, entry-level smart home gear, and tech basics before inventory becomes slim pickings.
Early deals are more strategic now: retailers use sub-$25 items to seed carts and inspire return visits.
Baskets skew toward everyday essentials and lower-priced accessories, according to research from Numerator’s Prime event tracking, while Adobe’s own retail analysis has time and again pointed out that peripherals and small devices witness outsized unit volumes during tentpole sales. Translation: the best cheap picks are snapped up quickly.
Why under-$25 picks matter for smart shopping now
Price ceilings force clarity. When you limit your spend to $25, you buy things that dedicate themselves to an obvious function: a streaming stick for the spare television, a smart plug that switches on a lamp automatically, an app-enabled bathroom scale. These are near-riskless bets with daily rewards.
They’re also historically predictable. CamelCamelCamel and Keepa price histories demonstrate that popular accessories end up revisiting the same event-level floors — streaming dongles under $24.99, basic smart plugs in the single digits of an entry-level price, name-brand 128GB microSD cards skimming low double digits. Knowing those “tells” helps you spot legitimate discounts with ease and ignore fake list-price theatrics.
Early under-$25 deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days
It’s boomerang time — streaming on a budget is back. Event lead-ins often send smaller streamers down to their floor: we’re already seeing Android TV and Fire TV options in the $17–$25 range, with Amazon’s own Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) reliably hitting around $24.99 while the TiVo Stream 4K has been edging just below that $25 line. These are good get-a-streamer sets if you’re in the market, or a travel streamer set if you need one, with strong app support and Dolby formats on entry trims.
Home security has its sweet spots, too. On indoor 1080p cams from giant ecosystems, early promos frequently dip to $19.99–$24.99, sometimes with new-gen touches like high-end color night vision and privacy shutters. That’s compelling if you are in the market for an inexpensive monitor to keep an eye on your pet, a nursery, or even an entryway. Just keep in mind that many cloud features are going to be subscription-based — company pricing pages usually show plans ranging from $3 to $10 per month or so, so don’t forget about those ongoing costs when making a “cheap” camera decision.
Trackers are the idiot-proof travel fix of under $25. There are cross-platform Bluetooth tags like the Tile Mate that often circle around $14.99–$19.99, and ones that have higher IP ratings may occasionally drizzle to near the Hamilton mark. A tracker stuck to a checked bag or keys is one of those low-dollar purchases that can spare hours of headaches at the airport. If you split ecosystems at home, opt for tags that are compatible with both iOS and Android.
Health gadgets are undervalued performers. You can also tend to find smart scales from reputable manufacturers (ones that sync with Apple Health, Google Fit, and MyFitnessPal) in early waves near $20–$23. Find 0.05-lb resolution, multi-user profiles, and Bluetooth auto-sync; you can’t be expected to pay a premium for those basics. Effectiveness is more likely driven by a sensor than by an app paywall.
Don’t sleep on “boring” essentials. During event ramps they consistently have Amazon Basics–style batteries (AA/AAA) in the low teens, two-packs of USB-C cables for $10–$12, and 20W fast chargers around $12–$15. For known brands, you can find 128GB microSD cards for much less than $15, and 256GB in the range near $20–$25. These are set-and-forget purchases that keep your camera, Switch, or doorbell humming for months.
How to quickly vet a deal and avoid bad discounts
Check history, not hype. Benchmark MSRP strikethroughs are nothing without context. Cross-reference the prices on CamelCamelCamel or Keepa; if today’s tag is the same as it was during a previous event low, there’s a strong chance this is a genuine deal. If it’s just “below list,” you can usually hold off.
Verify the model year and features. Accessory makers update SKUs quietly — a single letter on the product code can be the difference between shipping with Wi-Fi 6 support, Matter compatibility, or a privacy shutter. If you’re investing further in smart home gear, go with platforms that already have Matter and/or Thread integration, or Amazon/Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit compatibility built in, so you don’t hit a dead end down the road.
Map the true cost. For security cams, baby monitors, and video doorbells, break down what’s free versus paid. A few make you pay for cloud recording, person detection, and rich notifications. Consumer advocates recommend, as a matter of course, that you count an accumulated 12 months in any comparison — even on a $25 machine.
What to expect as Prime Big Deal Days gets underway
Anticipate rolling drops and short-lived lightning deals. In the past, house-brand products receive their deepest discounts early — and then pop into and out of stock. Third-party accessories come a bit later, typically via coupon stacks or clipped promotions. Adobe’s retail roundups mention that accessories and small electronics are among the best order-count drivers during these windows — excellent news if your shopping list comes in under $25.
Smart money is to lock in the known floors now (streaming sticks at $24.99, tracker singles under $20, smart plugs less than $10) and leave some powder dry for a surprise bundle on the day. If there is a price protection window, set alerts and have the payment form handy when it’s time to re-check out. Properly groomed, there are sub-$25 purchases that can pack a punch well after the sale banners come down.