Cyber ​​Monday is here – here are the best non-smartphone deals

Black Friday is a general shopping holiday with discounts on all sorts of things, the following Monday has a special name – Cyber ​​Monday – because it focuses on tech deals. So, if you missed our best Black Friday deals, here are the best Cyber ​​Monday deals.

Apple wearable devices

We’ll start with some Apple stuff since Black Friday was light on deals from Cupertino (and Cyber ​​Monday is proving more fruitful). The second generation Apple AirPods Pro are on a rare $50 discount.

The Apple Watch Series 8 is also $50 off, bringing it closer to the price of the new Watch SE. The 8 Series has a larger display (1.9″ vs 1.78″) and a more advanced sensor suite.

bluetooth speakers

The JBL Flip 6 is a good all-round Bluetooth speaker. It has two drivers, one for the midrange and one tweeter, and delivers 20W of sound. It’s fine for listening at home, but with an IP67 rating, you can take it outside by the pool or even on the beach. You can pair a second JBL PartyBoost-compatible speaker for stereo sound (there’s an app to help with that).

The JBL Charge 5 is more outdoors. It has the same IP67 rating (dust and water proof) and doubles as a power bank so you can charge your phone. This is rated at 20 hours (compared to 12 hours for the Flip 6). This also supports PartyBoost, but at 40 Watt RMS it’s loud enough on its own.

The Bose SoundLink Flex also boasts an IP67 rating (it floats even if you drop it in water); it also has a 12-hour battery life and can be paired with a second speaker. The paint is UV resistant, so it won’t peel or flake if left in the sun for extended periods of time.

The Marshall Emberton looks like it belongs on the stage and with an IPX7 rating it’s not afraid to perform in the rain. This one scores with battery life, over 20 hours (according to Marshall), and has dual 10W drivers with dual passive radiators.

Here’s something more compact designed to clip to your backpack. The JBL Clip 4 is also IP67 rated, so it can brave the outdoors, and despite being small and light, it promises 10 hours of playtime and 5W of power output.

Back inside, the Bose SoundLink Revolve II design lets you explode with 360° audio. This means it can fill the room with sound wherever you put it. It has an IP55 rating, so you can take it outside, as long as you’re careful. However, charging via a microUSB port is a bummer.

LG XBOOM Go PL5 features an integrated light show with RGB ring lights on both sides. This 20W speaker can be paired with a second unit for added flair. It can last 18 hours between charges. It’s IPX5 rated, so it can withstand splashes of water.

By the way, we have a list of smart speakers below.

Warehousing

Some of you have phones with microSD slots (lucky you!), but these tiny memory cards are also useful for action cameras, Nintendo Switches, and so on. A 1TB SanDisk Ultra card offers read speeds of up to 150MB/s and is rated A1 if you want to move apps to it.

A 512GB version is also available if you want to save money and don’t need a full terabyte.

The Samsung EVO Select card is rated A2, so it can handle 4,000 IOPS for reads and 2,000 IOPS for writes, compared to 1,500/500 IOPS for an A1 card. Sequential read speeds are a bit slower though, at 130 MB/s.

If you need more storage for your laptop, the SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD comes in 1, 2, and 4TB varieties. It has a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, so it transfers data at up to 2,000MB/s. And it will keep your data safe: it can survive drops from 2m (6.5ft) and is IP55 rated (it also has 256-bit AES hardware encryption).

The WD Black P40 drive looks tough, but it’s not meant for the outdoors. However, I can pair just fine with a PC or console. There are 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB versions. USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port delivers data at 2,000MB/s. It has built-in RGB lighting, so it’ll feel right at home next to your gaming rig.

However, if you want a proper upgrade for your PlayStation 5, the WD Black SN850 has been officially licensed for use with the console. PCIe Gen 4 interface speeds up to 7,000MB/s. There is also a 2TB version (AAA games have gotten pretty huge).

The Samsung 980 Pro SSD can also fit inside a PS5 (the console uses a standard m.2 2280 slot, it’s all about space). It also works on a PC or laptop, of course, delivering data at 7,000MB/s. We’ve linked the 2TB version here, but there’s also a 1TB stick (the 512GB model is only a few dollars cheaper, not worth it).

There are a few other options for PC and laptop use, such as the WD Black SN850X. This goes a touch faster at 7,300MB/s. It has built-in DRAM and uses TLC storage.

Not quite as fast but cheaper is the Crucial P5 Plus, rated at 6,600MB/s. As cheap as it is, it still has DRAM and uses TLC memory chips (cheap drives often run out of DRAM or use QLC).

The Samsung 980 is a DRAM-free drive and relies on SLC cache. Once out, it drops to the speed of TLC memory chips. In the US, it’s cheaper than the Crucial unit, so that might make sense to some; in Europe the price is not so good.

Net

The Asus ROG Strix GS-AX5400 gaming router gets up to 5,400Mbps (as the name suggests) over Wi-Fi 6. It also has a gaming Ethernet port, which is prioritized over other ports for minimal latency. It features Aura-compatible RGB lighting for added flair. On a more practical note, it supports Asus’ AiMesh for extended coverage, and there’s a 1×1 USB 3.2 port.

The TP-Link Archer AX73 also offers 5,400Mbps over Wi-Fi 6. No RGB here, but this also supports mesh networking (TP-Link’s OneMesh). There is a single USB 3.0 port on the back.

Moving up the segment, we have the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX6000. This router has two 2.5GB ports with traffic priority for high bandwidth and low latency operation. It’s also fast over the air with 6,000Mbps Wi-Fi. Like the Strix, there’s Aura RGB lighting, AiMesh support, and a pair of USB ports (one 3.2 1×1 and one USB 2.0).

TP-Link’s alternative is cheaper: The Archer AX6000 has a single 2.5Gbps port on the back, but two USB 3.0 ports (one Type-A and one Type-C). OneMesh is supported.

Going all out is the TP-Link Archer AXE160 – with two 10G ports and Wi-Fi 6E at up to 15.6Gbps, this is one of the fastest routers money can buy. Wi-Fi 6E uses the 6GHz band, which is also less congested (important for those living in large apartment buildings). There is a single USB 3.0 port and OneMesh support.

Speaking of mesh networks, if you have a large home with gaps in coverage, you might as well get a dedicated mesh system. The Netgear Nighthawk MK83 features tri-band Wi-Fi 6 connectivity: the third band is dedicated to connecting with your router, so you don’t need to run extra Ethernet cables. The 3-pack combination can cover homes up to 630m²/6,750ft² (a 2-pack option is also available).

The Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 is another tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system. A 2-pack like the one listed above should be fine up to 510m²/5,500ft². These support AiMesh so you can extend an existing network as well (you might want to get the single package then).

You can cover several rooms with these, but what if there’s a dead end in your backyard? The TP-Link EAP110-Outdoor access point is slow – N300, that is Wi-Fi 4 at 300 Mps – but it is built into a casing that will protect it from the elements. Also, range is the name of the game here, not so much speed. With two omnidirectional antennas, it has a range of up to 200m/650ft. Another cool thing is PoE support, which means you only need to run an Ethernet cable, a PoE injector will supply power over the same cable (one is included for free from Amazon US).

Can your computer handle even the high Wi-Fi speeds? If not, a cheap and easy way to improve things is something like the TP-Link Archer TX20U Plus. It plugs into a free USB 3.0 port and gives your computer Wi-FI 600 connectivity at up to 1,800Mbps.

A more permanent installation for a tower PC looks like this: Archer TXE75E. It fits into a PCIe slot and includes Wi-Fi 6E support (up to 2,400Mbps on the 5GHz and 6GHz bands each), plus Bluetooth 5.2.

Projectors

Gaming monitors are great, but they’re often geared towards competitive gaming. For sims like Microsoft Flight Simulator or a racing simulator, something like this might be a better choice: BenQ TK700STi game projector can create a display size up to 100 inches (at 2m/6.5ft, brightness of 3,000 lm). In 1080p mode, it can run at 240Hz (4.16ms), and there is a 4K mode at 60Hz (with a low input lag mode of 16ms).

If you just want an affordable projector that you can move around easily, the Anker Nebula Capsule Max can create a 100″ screen (at 2.8m/9.5ft, 2,000lm brightness), and the built-in battery lets it run for up to 4 hours.There’s also an 8W built-in speaker, plus this runs Android 8.1, so it can work without a phone (there’s also an HDMI input and wireless screen mirroring).The picture is only 720p, but i projectors look better than an LCD at the same resolution.This unit weighs 725g/1.6lbs.

Another portable solution is BenQ GV30. It also builds a 100-inch screen with 720p resolution, but features 2.1 audio: two 4W drivers and an 8W woofer. It has Android TV mode and Chromecast and AirPlay support wireless connectivity, connectivity wired HDMI and USB-C. The battery only lasts 2.5 hours, so not long enough for Lord of the Rings.

A premium home theater experience can cost a lot. Something like the LG CineBeam HU85LA Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector can create a 120″ screen from just 18cm/7″ away. And it’s also a quality 4K HDR10 image with a brightness of 2,700lm. Similar to LG’s smart TVs, this one runs webOS Lite. Even with a $1,500 discount, this still costs a whopping $3,500.

The LG CineBeam HY715QW is a similar ultra short throw projector (120″ to 19cm/7.5″). It creates 4K images with a brightness of 2,500 lm, but lacks HDR. That makes it a little cheaper, though not cheap by any means. Note that these have built-in speakers, but if you’re spending that much money, you really should have a proper sound system to match them as well.

Another 120-inch ultra-short-throw option is The Premiere from Samsung. This 4K projector supports HDR10+ – it was the first in the world to do so when it came out in 2020. Yes, it’s not new, but this has brought it down in price. This too uses a smart TV platform, in this case Tizen (useful for installing the main streaming services and local streaming apps).

Smart speakers

The 5th generation Amazon Echo Dot is down to $25 / €25. It’s an affordable digital assistant / general Bluetooth speaker for the home. You can also get the slightly more expensive version with a built-in digital clock, which is good for your nightstand. Alternatively, the older third-generation Echo Dot is more compact (and cheaper).

If you need a Bluetooth speaker for your home, the Amazon Echo Studio would be a better choice than the Dots. With a total of 5 speakers (30mm tweeter, three 2″ midrange drivers and a 5.3″ woofer), not to mention Dolby Atmos support, this can fill the entire room with 360° audio.

Smart displays

Here are some smart displays. The Amazon Echo Show 15 is designed to look like a picture frame and can be wall mounted. It has a high-quality 15.6-inch 1080p display, and as well as showing information at a glance, it can also play Netflix and Spotify (it has dual 1.6-inch drivers), plus Amazon streaming services, of course .

The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) has a smaller 10″ 720p display and costs the same as the Show 15. This, however, is designed for video calling. The motorized swivel base allows the 13MP camera to follow you during a Zoom or Skype call Audio is also slightly better with two 1″ drivers and a 3″ woofer.

A simpler and cheaper alternative is the Echo Show 8. In addition to the smaller 8-inch 720p display, this also lacks the motorized mount, however, the wide-angle camera can still follow you (it does by cropping).

There’s also the Meta Portal, a 10-inch smart display designed for video calling. Handles Zoom, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Security cameras

In addition to video calling, you may want a smart display to pair with your security cameras. Like the Blink Outdoor camera, for example. It’s battery powered and promises a 2-year battery life with motion detection turned on. Of course, it is also weather resistant. We’ve linked a 3 pack below, but you can get just one or up to 8 in one pack. Be careful, though, as they require a cloud subscription to use.

The camera above has infrared night vision, however, if you prefer a color image, this model is equipped with a projector. It still promises a 2-year battery life, but here are two battery compartments: 2x AA as above, plus 4x D cells for the light. You can also power the camera via a cable, if you don’t want the hassle of changing batteries.

There are also some video doorbell cameras, such as Blink Video Doorbell. When someone rings your doorbell, this will show a live view on your smart display (or if you don’t have one, on your smartphone). It also allows for two-way voice chat so you can ask what’s up.

Here’s an alternative from Google: Nest Doorbell. This is wireless, but Google also offers a wired version.