October Prime Day is a great time to save money on expensive tech items like laptops, tablets, TVs, and more, and Amazon's sales event is just days away. But if you're on a stricter budget, we've got you covered.

Also: The best October Prime Day deals live now

You can find some very useful tech products, devices, and other gadgets for under $25, even before October Prime Day deals officially go live next week on Oct. 8. We've rounded up the best deals under $25 that are light on your wallet but super useful in your life.

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Our favorite early Amazon October Prime Day deals under $25

Maria Diaz/ZDNET
  • Current price: $20
  • Original price: $40

Get 50% off this Blink security camera ahead of October Prime Day. It has features like color night vision, real-time motion alerts, and is weather-resistant for indoor/outdoor use. 

Review: The waterproof Blink Mini 2 security camera is the best Wyze Cam alternative available

  • Current price: $23
  • Original price: $75

For 69% off, you can get this bundle that includes an Echo Dot and a smart light bulb that work together in your smart home setup. Control the smart bulb with Alexa voice commands and create custom scenes or activate Away Mode to simulate your presence while on vacation.

  • Current price: $25
  • Original price: $40

Along with more than 20 EQ customizations, these earbuds have two built-in mics and an AI algorithm that work together to pick up your voice so you never have to shout during a call.

Note that this deal only applies to the blue, white, black earbuds. Don't forget to apply the 20% discount for the full deal.

Rocketbook Core Smart Notebook

Save $13

Allison Murray/ZDNET
  • Current price: $24
  • Original price: $37

The notebook's synthetic paper allows you to write with the included Pilot FriXion pen, scan the page to the cloud, and then wipe the page clean with a damp cloth to reuse it repeatedly, all while keeping your digital notes organized. 

Also: The best digital notebooks you can buy

It even has handwriting recognition that allows you to transcribe and search for handwritten text.

More October Prime Day 2024 deals under $25

Image: Maria Diaz / ZDNet

FAQs

When is October Prime Day 2024?

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days will take place Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Wednesday, Oct. 9. However, you can expect to shop deals for your budget both before and after the event. 

Is October Prime Day a good time to buy tech?

Prime Day sales prices tend to be some of the lowest of the year, aside from the Black Friday shopping weekend. This is especially true for Amazon devices like Kindles, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Amazon Echo devices, etc. According to one study, the average Amazon Prime Day discount is 16.2%, which is a fairly good discount for most products. 

Are other retailers offering high-quality deals under $25?

Yes! For example, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and other retailers will all hold competing sales during the same week as October Prime Day. We recommend shopping around the different sites to compare the best deals and prices.

How did we choose these October Prime Day deals? 

ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. 

We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. 

What are the best October Prime Day 2024 deals?

ZDNET's experts are searching through Prime Day sales to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:

You can also find the best October Prime Day deals by price:

And the best deals from other retailers this week: