If you’re feeling the pressure of last-minute holiday shopping — especially after missing out on deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday — we’ve got you covered. We’ve discovered a selection of great gadgets on sale that would make perfect gifts, with many shipping in time for the holidays. A standout option is the current offer on Sony’s noise-canceling WH-1000XM5 headphones, which come with a free pair of wireless earbuds.
You might also want to check out some impressive discounts on Amazon’s latest entry-level Kindle and the new Echo Dot Max. The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones have consistently impressed us with their sound quality, active noise cancellation, and comfort. Right now, Amazon has them marked down with a free pair of Sony’s WF-C700N earbuds for just $248, which is $152 off the regular price. The updated design boasts a thinner headband, extra memory foam in the ear pads, and repositioned microphones that effectively reduce wind noise during calls. These enhancements didn’t add any weight, and you can still enjoy up to 30 hours of playtime with active noise cancellation turned on.
In our tests, the XM5 headphones sounded “more refined, detailed, and spacious,” though we found less bass impact when listening to EDM or hip-hop tracks. They feature eight microphones, four of which are dedicated to voice, and their noise reduction capabilities during calls were notably effective, even in noisy environments. The WF-C700N earbuds, priced at $89.99, are a solid midrange option with noise-canceling capabilities, an IPX4 rating, and up to seven and a half hours of battery life with ANC on.
Amazon’s 11th-gen Kindle is our top pick for a budget-friendly e-reader, and you can snag the ad-supported version for $89.99, which is $20 off, at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. This entry-level e-reader features a six-inch 300ppi E Ink display that remains glare-free, making it easier to read in bright sunlight. It has ample storage for thousands of books or dozens of audiobooks from Audible, which can be enjoyed via Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
The Kindle’s built-in battery can last up to six weeks, depending on your reading habits and backlight usage, and it recharges via USB-C. While it has the same screen resolution and storage as the step-up Kindle Paperwhite, it isn’t waterproof, which might be a consideration if you enjoy reading at the beach or in the bath.
Amazon’s last-minute “Super Saturday” sale is ongoing, but some of the best deals might actually be on Amazon’s own devices, many of which have been discounted for several weeks. For instance, the new Echo Dot Max is available for $79.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, marking a $20 discount and the best price we’ve seen since its launch.
Despite its name, the Dot Max is more of a refined version of the fourth-gen Echo from 2020 rather than a direct follow-up to the Echo Dot. It features a compact knit fabric design, simpler controls, a better processor, and enhanced smart home capabilities, including support for Matter, Thread, and Zigbee protocols. It still delivers impressive sound for its size and can function as a Wi-Fi extender if you’re considering an Eero mesh network. Additionally, it’s among the first devices to offer Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa Plus out of the box, which, while a work in progress, shows promise for future enhancements.
