This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader
Street price: $32; MSRP: $33; Deal price: $20
This recently expired deal is back and once again matches the low price we saw set in October. It tends to be stubborn about staying right near the MSRP with brief drops to the $20 range every few months.
The Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader is our pick for the best card reader. The Wirecutter staff wrote, “The folks at Camera Memory Speed got read/write speeds above 250 MBps, a feat no other card reader could match in their tests. By comparison, the cheapest USB 3.0 model they tested, the SD-only Transcend RDF5, managed an average of just 93 MBps. The Lexar can copy from both card slots simultaneously and supports UHS-II and UDMA 7 card protocols. It comes with a 42-inch USB 3.0 cable and a five-year warranty—most of its rivals have coverage for only one or two years.”
Patagonia Lightweight Tote
Street price: $80; MSRP: $80; Deal price: $63 with code MAY20
Make sure to use the code MAY20. There’s a small “Promo code” option inside your shopping cart page. It drops this tote down to $63 and you get 2-day shipping for free as well. The code only works on a single item, so you won’t be able to get discounts on the rest of your order.
The Patagonia Lightweight Tote is our packable daypack pick in our travel gear guide. We said, “This Patagonia Tote works great as a tote but makes no compromises in backpack performance. It has all the padding and straps you’d expect on a normal daypack.”
Samsung SmartThings Hub
Street price: $100; MSRP: $100; Deal price: $79
We just published our smart hub guide and already we’re seeing a solid deal. This Samsung hub has dropped to $79 once in the past, prior to us tracking it, but has consistently been in the $100 range otherwise.
The Samsung SmartThings Hub is our pick for the best smart hub. Jon Chase said it’s “a polished, powerful option for tech-savvy DIYers who have a desire for an integrated smart home but lack the budget for or interest in a professionally installed system. It’s easy to set up on your home network, and pairing it with other smart devices is largely seamless.”
SONOS PLAY:5
Street price: $500; MSRP: $500; Deal price: $500 with $50 gift card
This is the first time we’ve seen a good deal on this pick, though you’ll still be paying $500 initially. You’ll receive a $50 gift card with one-day or free Prime shipping afterwards. This is part of a sale on multiple Sonos items, and while we’ve seen a better price on the Sonos Play:1 before, this is also the first time we’re seeing a sale on the Sonos Playbar, which also includes a $50 giftcard.
The SONOS PLAY:5 is our “bigger sound for larger rooms” pick in our best multiroom wireless speaker system guide. Chris Heinonen said, “The Sonos PLAY:5 uses six drivers and amps to easily fill large spaces with full-range, detailed sound. They also sound great paired.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.