summer is quickly approaching. And while it’s a season meant for rest, relaxation, and soaking up the rays, it can also become extremely hectic. Most of us are attempting to squeeze in as many backyard barbecues, trips, and other activities before fall rolls around.
Below, we’ve gathered a variety of deals on gadgets to prepare you for what might be a busy few months ahead—including air fryers for whipping up quick and delicious meals, sound machines for a restful night’s sleep after a supercharged day, AC units to get you through the heat waves, and more. Looking for more discounts on summer-friendly gear? Check out our roundup of Best Memorial Day Outdoor Deals.
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Air Fryer Deals
This air fryer earned the title of Best All-Arounder in our buying guide. It cooks with up to 75 percent less fat than the standard air fryer and has a 12-in-1 functionality (with preset cooking modes for steaming, baking, searing, sautéing, and more) and a 6-quart capacity cooking dish. The best part is that it can cook one-pot meals in only 15 minutes. It’s easy to operate and clean too.
With a 6-quart capacity and the ability to cook up to six portions at once, the Instant Vortex Air Fryer is a great option for large households. We also love the convenient viewing window that allows you to check on your food without opening the air fryer and interrupting the cooking cycle. And with “odor-erase” filters built-in, it reduces smells that can linger well after you’re done cooking.
For those without a lot of counter space to spare, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is a great compact option. It comes equipped with a 5.5-quart, ceramic-coated, non-stick basket and a simple-to-use control panel (sans smartphone app). You’ll have the choice between multiple settings, including max crisp, air roast, air broil, dehydrate, bake, reheat, and more.
Sound Machine and Sunrise Alarm Deals
Yogasleep’s Dohm sound machine is simple but reliable. It has just two settings, the lower one being under 55 decibels, and a rotating fan within the acoustic housing. It’s a great choice for people who love falling asleep to the sound of a box fan running. Check out our guide to the Best Sound Machines for more.
Even though this alarm is heavy, big, and expensive, it’s one of the nicest alarms we’ve tested. It packs the standard features, like an audible alarm, FM radio, and five natural wake-up sounds. But it also casts light in more directions than other similarly headlight-shaped sunrise clocks we’ve tested. It diffuses light beautifully, which also keeps the rays from being blinding. It’s great if you have a large room and want extra light for reading before bed.
Instead of a loud alarm clock blaring in your ear, a sunset alarm is a great way to wake up more naturally. We love the Casper Glow Light for its intuitive controls. Flip it over to start the sunset program, tap the button on top to pause and unpause it, and turn it to adjust the brightness. It also sits on a charging pad, so you don’t have to keep track of the battery life. There’s a companion app for things like wake-up schedules along with adjusting the sunsets and sunrises.
Action Camera and Camera Bag Deals
If you’re looking for an action camera to capture your summer memories, the Hero 11 Black (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is our top pick. It packs a new sensor that’s almost square, allowing you to shoot and then edit in vertical and horizontal configurations. You can also pull higher-resolution still images from video, shoot RAW images in burst mode, and enable “easy” mode so you’re not tinkering with as many settings.
The Insta360 One RS (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is an action camera that doubles as a 360-degree camera, which means you don’t have to decide between both. It comes with three interchangeable lenses, including a dual-lens 360-degree camera, a wide-angle Leica lens (paired with a 1-inch sensor) that can capture 5K video, and a 4K lens. That way, you have a feature-packed camera to capture content in multiple ways. It dipped much lower, to $75, back in March, but this is still a solid deal.
This is a great compact sling that received an honorable mention in our buying guide to the Best Camera Bags. The 10-L size is not only roomy enough to pack everyday necessities for photo and video shoots, but it also has a 13-inch laptop in the rear zippered compartment. With two roomy pockets in the front, you can also pack chargers, batteries, and SD cards. The straps at the bottom are convenient for storing a small tripod.
Whether a fanny pack or cross-body, this bag is comfortable whichever way you decide to wear it. With its 2-liter capacity, you can use it to carry a compact mirrorless camera, a slim point-and-shoot, or your phone. The main compartment has a thin sleeve to store an item alongside your camera, along with two front pockets for keys or spare batteries. We also love awesome design.
We recommend the Claremont Crossbody for those who want a camera bag that doesn’t force them to sacrifice fashion for functionality. It’s big enough for a mirrorless camera, some lenses, and other accessories like memory cards and batteries. It also has a sleek design that goes well with stylish outfits.
Window Air Conditioner Deals
Photograph: Windmill Air
Most air conditioners are an eyesore. But the Windmill AC (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has a modern design that will add to your interior decor. WIRED reviews editor Adrienne So says it’s also easy to install, blows cool air upward instead of forward (which is great for smaller spaces), and is recyclable. You can control it manually, via the companion app on your phone, or with voice controls via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It dipped lower to $289 last month, but we still think this is a solid deal.
Midea’s U-Shaped AC (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite window AC unit. It has a bracket that balances the AC’s weight by leaning it against the exterior wall of your home, along with a large notch between the front and back that allows you to pull your window down deep into the unit. That way, there are fewer gaps around the sides—which keeps the cold air from escaping and offers better soundproofing.
