Live updates: The absolute best October Prime Day deals, hand-picked by a shopping reporter

October Prime Day (technically called Prime Big Deal Days) is happening now through October 7, offering discounts across categories, exclusive to Prime members. Some of the top newly added deals are Blink’s video doorbell and Tide Pods — they also happen to be at their lowest price ever. I frequently cover shopping events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday as a reporter for NBC Selected, so I know how to find deals that are actually worth buying. I spent weeks combing through thousands of discounts to find the best October Prime Day deals — each one I recommend below is highly rated and 20 percent off or more, as well as at its lowest price in at least three months. I’ll frequently update this list throughout Prime Big Deal Days with my editor-approved picks.Selected.Our top picksBest household basics dealLearn moreBest wellness dealLearn moreWant more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.Best October Prime Day dealsApple’s AirPods Pro 3 made our list of the best earbuds, and I use mine every day while listening to music on runs, taking calls and blocking out noisy city streets. They’re comfortable and secure in my ears even when I get sweaty —- they come with five interchangeable ear tips so you can find the right fit. The AirPods have three listening modes, including active noise cancellation, hours of battery life with the included charging case and advanced features like heart rate sensing during workouts, hearing aid mode and live language translation. The most boring essentials on your shopping list are often the best deals to take advantage of during Prime Big Deal Days — you’ll need to restock eventually, so you might as well do it when items are discounted. Cascade’s dishwasher pods are a perfect example. They come in a pack of 62, and with the discount applied, you’re only paying about 0.28 per pod. Each one has soap inside that gets rid of grease and food residue, and it cleans your dishwasher’s filter, too.Exfoliating with Medicube’s Zero Pore Pads every other night has transformed my skin in the past year. The pads are soaked in a serum made with AHAs and BHAs, ingredients that have made my skin noticeably softer, smoother and clearer. There’s two sides to the pads: you use the textured one first to remove dead skin cells, then the soft one to soothe. The pads come with a tweezer, preventing you from touching those inside the container with dirty hands.I’ve beat up my Samsonite luggage while traveling over the years, but it still works perfectly, looks great and, perhaps most importantly, fits all my stuff. You get a matching expandable carry-on and checked bag with this set, both of which are lightweight and made with hard, protective exteriors. The suitcases have spacious interiors with elastic straps, a divider and a pouch for organization, plus they’re designed with smoothly gliding wheels, a built-in ID tag, a height-adjustable handle and a TSA-approved lock.Once you connect devices like lamps, fans and small kitchen appliances to the Amazon Smart Plug, you can control them through an app or via voice commands. The app also lets you set timers, schedules and routines — for example, I connect my Christmas lights to this smart plug and create a schedule for them so they turn on at 10 a.m. and turn off at 10 p.m. The plug is compact to keep your second outlet free.I rely on this corded vacuum to get rid of dirt, dust and hair on hard floors and carpets in my three-pet home. It has powerful suction, a multi-stage washable HEPA filter to trap allergens and a swivel steering system that makes it easy to navigate. My favorite part of the vacuum is the detachable pod, which I carry around my home and use the extended reach tool to clean above door frames, under furniture and on stairs. Interchangeable wide upholstery and crevice attachments for the extended reach tool are included.I’m very picky about dish soap because I don’t have a dishwasher, and out of all the options I’ve tested, Dawn Powerwash Spray is hands-down the best one. It easily removes dirt and grime from my dishes without pre-soaking, and it leaves them literally sparkling. Also, since the soap works without water, I don’t turn my faucet on until I’m ready to rinse. Beyond washing dishes, you can use Dawn’s spray on laundry stains, kitchen surfaces, appliances and grills, according to the brand. This starter kit comes with four bottles of liquid and one reusable sprayer head.Out of all the teeth whitening strips I’ve tested, Crest’s are the most effective and easiest to apply, plus they’re comfortable and stay in place — they’re so thin that I can have full conversations while wearing them. Each strip is coated in hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching ingredient that removes stains and brightens your smile, according to the brand. You get enough strips for 22 45-minute treatments with this pack.These trash bags are multi-layered and slightly stretchy to prevent leaks and rips while you fill them to the brim, and they have a drawstring closure to keep everything inside once full. They’re also made with baking soda and added fragrance to neutralize odors. You get 80 13-gallon bags in this pack.This robot vacuum suctions up dirt and debris, and it has a built-in mop that scrubs floors to leave them shiny. It’s designed with sensors that map your home to detect and avoid obstacles, and it connects to the Roomba Home app so you can select cleaning modes, create cleaning schedules, adjust suction level and more. You can also set keep-out and no-mop zones where needed, like on area rugs. The appliance comes with a charging dock, reusable microfiber mopping pad and edge sweeping brush. Premier Protein’s shakes are ideal for snacking on the go. Each one has 30 grams of protein, no added sugar and 160 calories, according to the brand, plus they’re gluten-free. They come in over a dozen creamy flavors, like chocolate, vanilla, cookies and cream, cafe latte and pumpkin spice, almost all of which are currently on sale.Never worry about a dead phone or earbuds again with Anker’s Nano Power Bank, which has a built-in folding USB-C connector, eliminating the need for a cable. It fits in the palm of your hand and weighs 3.5 ounces, so you can put it in any bag or even your pocket. The Nano comes with a charging cable when you need to refill its battery, or you can connect it directly to a block.Colgate’s toothpaste is made with 5 percent hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching ingredient that helps remove stains from teeth and make your smile less yellow. There’s also cavity-fighting fluoride in its formula. The minty whitening toothpaste is safe for daily use and doesn’t cause tooth sensitivity, according to the brand.Turn any TV into a smart TV with Amazon’s Fire Stick, which you simply plug into an HDMI port to use. It lets you stream entertainment from your favorite platforms and watch live TV in HD. The Fire Stick comes with a remote that lets you control the TV via buttons or voice commands. It’s also compact so it won’t block other ports.If you’re not a fan of thread floss or floss pickers, using a water flosser is another way to get rid of plaque. This one is a NBC Selected Wellness Award winner with three pressure settings and a rechargeable battery that lasts up to four weeks, according to the brand. It comes with four interchangeable tips that rotate 360 degrees, letting you reach all parts of your mouth, and the built-in reservoir on its handle holds enough water for a 45-second clean.You can monitor visitors and deliveries at all times with Blink’s video doorbell. It connects to the brand’s app, letting you livestream head-to-toe video (including in night vision) and audio, as well as speak to people. The doorbell runs on two AA batteries, comes with a mounting kit and you can install it wire-free. There’s also a Blink subscription available for an additional fee, which gives you access to features like in-app person detection and motion-activated notifications.These Tide Pods don’t just clean clothes. The detergent inside each one also fights odors, pre-treats and removes stains, protects colors and boosts scents, according to the brand. I use them for all my laundry, including sweaty workout clothes and my pets’ beds, and I’ve never had an issue with them not dissolving, even in cold water. You get 63 Tide Pods in this pack, which come in a resealable container.I firmly believe that every home should have a Bissell Little Green machine due to how many times mine has saved carpets and upholstered furniture that would have otherwise been unsalvageable. You fill one of the tanks with a cleaning solution and use the nozzle to spray the mess, scrub it and suction it up. The dirty solution goes into a separate tank, which you remove when you’re done to pour the liquid down the drain. The appliance comes with a self-cleaning attachment, a stain tool, a crevice tool and cleaning solution concentrate.Best October Prime Day salesHere are the best Prime Big Deal Days sales to know about. Keep in mind, not every item from a brand is discounted as described below.Up to 80% off Beats headphones, earbuds, speakers, tech accessories and more63% off the HP Essential 14-Inch LaptopUp to 60% off Cheman kitchen appliances54% off the Soliom BF08 2K Smart Bird Feeder with CameraUp to 52% off Bedsure bedding, pet beds and moreUp to 50% off De’Longhi espresso and coffeeUp to 50% off The Shop by Shopbop clothes, shoes and accessoriesUp to 50% off Samsung techUp to 50% off Sojos sunglassesUp to 48% off Contigo water bottles, travel mugs and moreUp to 43% off Nespresso coffee machinesUp to 43% off Wavytalk hot hair tools40% off the iHealth Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Home Test 5 packUp to 40% off SharkNinja kitchen, home and beauty appliancesUp to 40% off HBTower ladders and stoolsUp to 38% off Levoit vacuums, air purifiers, humidifiers and moreUp to 38% off Rubbermaid foot storage, home organization and kitchen toolsUp to 30% off Magna-Tiles sets30% off the All-Clad HA1 Nonstick 2-Piece Fry Pan SetUp to 30% off Braun electric shavers, IPL and moreUp to 28% off Good Molecules skin careUp to 27% off Aēsop hand, face and face care24% off the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand MixerUp to 20% off Gillette Venus razors, starter kits and refills20% off the Everlasting Comfort Seat CushionBest sales at other retailersBest Buy: My Best Buy members can save on on electronics during Best Buy’s Techtober eventHome Depot: Up to 40% off select online bath products during the Bath Savings EventTarget: Target Circle and Target Circle 360 members get exclusive deals during Target Circle Week from Oct. 6 to 7Walmart: Save on deals across categories during Walmart Deal Days from Oct. 5 to 11Wayfair: Up to 50% off furniture during The Big Furniture SaleWhy are these October Prime Day deals worth it?Prime Big Deal Days historically offers Prime members some of the lowest prices of the year across categories, and these limited-time deals only last through October 7. All of my recommendations above are based on NBC Selected’s previous reporting. I prioritized including award-winning products and those our team has tested.I evaluated the quality of these deals by running them through price trackers like CamelCamelCamel, and I only included those that:Are at their lowest price in at least three monthsAre 20% off or moreAre highly rated with at least a 4.0-star average rating from hundreds of customers on AmazonFrequently asked questionsOctober Prime Day ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on October 7 — that’s October 8 at 2:59 a.m. ET, 1:59 a.m. CT and 12:59 a.m. MT.Amazon doesn’t have a Prime Day-specific return policy. You can return most Amazon purchases within 30 days of delivery and get your money back as long as they’re in original or unused condition. There are exceptions, however, so read the fine print before buying anything.The best deals on October Prime Day usually center around Amazon-owned technology like Echo, Fire, Blink and Ring devices, small home and kitchen appliances, beauty products, household basics and groceries. Additionally, because this sale is in the fall, it unofficially kicks off the holiday shopping season, so brands discount popular gifts like gift cards and toys, as well as Advent calendars and themed decor. You’ll also be able to shop Amazon’s Lightning Deals during the event: They’re lucrative flash sales that give shoppers a short window to purchase limited quantities of specific products.Products across all categories are generally cheaper on October Prime Day, with many brands discounting products by over 20 percent. Prices on tech, household essentials and groceries, small home and kitchen appliances, beauty products, giftable items and holiday decor tend to drop the most overall.Yes, October Prime Day is actually worth it, so long as you shop strategically. The sale offers some of the lowest prices of the year on products across categories, giving you a chance to start shopping for holiday gifts, upgrade outdated or broken items and restock your favorite basics, like skin care, cleaning supplies and groceries. But ultimately, deals are only worth it if you actually need something, so plan your spending to prevent making impulse purchases.Why trust NBC Selected?I’m a reporter for NBC Selected who has covered Amazon Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days for over six years. I frequently write about the history of Amazon Prime Day, what’s included in a Prime membership, what to buy and skip during Amazon’s major sales and more. I also appear in related broadcast segments on NBC News NOW and TODAY. For this story, I previewed a list of deals from Amazon and sorted through them to find worthwhile sales you should know about.Catch up on NBC Selected’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok to stay up to date.