Amazon Spring Sale live blog 2026: The top deals you can’t miss


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Spring is here, and Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is officially live right now. We’re seeing discounts of over 60% off across dozens of categories, including outdoor, home, beauty, tech, and more, and competing discounts from other retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and Costco. ZDNET reviews the best gear year-round, and we’re here to help you cut through the noise and quickly find the best deals during the spring sale period. 

Also: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale: Dates, details, and deals to know

As ZDNET’s deals and shopping editor, I am always scouring the web for the best offers on our team’s favorite products. Our team of experts is tracking the best offers as they arise in real time. Here are the best Amazon Spring Sale deals we’ve found live now.

The best Amazon Spring Sale deals 2026

  • Current price: $0.99 for 3 months
  • Original price: $11.99/month

Amazon is running an excellent deal on Kindle Unlimited right now: New and certain returning subscribers can access a library of over 5 million titles and thousands of audiobooks for just $0.99 for three months. If you don’t cancel before the three months are up, you’ll be auto-renewed at full price, but if you’ve been wanting to try out Kindle Unlimited, this is the best time to do so.

Also: Get Kindle Unlimited for $0.99 a month with this Amazon Spring Sale deal – here’s how


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  • Current price: $16
  • Original price: $25

This handy car charger is our readers second most clicked on deal during Amazon’s Spring Sale so far, and for good reason. It plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter socket and includes a built-in USB-C cable, a Lightning cable, a USB-C port, and a USB-A port. The two cables extend up to 31.5 inches, making it easy for back-seat passengers to charge their devices. 

Also: The most popular Amazon Spring Sale deals, according to thousands of readers


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  • Current price: $36 
  • Original price: $80

The HiRise 2 Deluxe wireless charger lets you charge your iPhone, AirPods, and/or Apple Watch or other compatible devices in one compact space without a ton of cords. “This 2-in-1 Qi2 wireless charger is the simplest, best-designed desk chargers I’ve found,” wrote ZDNET reviewer Kyle Kucharski. It comes in three colors, and all are discounted now.

Also: This 2-in-1 wireless charger simplified my workspace (and freed me from the cables)


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  • Current price: $59
  • Original price: $70

We’re big fans of the AirFly Pro 2, which transforms any headphone jack into a Bluetooth transmitter, so you can use your own Bluetooth headphones to watch shows on planes. Connect up to two pairs of headphones at once. The Deluxe version, on sale now, comes with an International Airline Adapter and a premium travel bag.

Also: Frequent flyers will love this tiny Bluetooth gadget, and it’s on sale now


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  • Current price: $2.99/month for 2 months
  • Original price: Up to $13.99/month

Now until March 31, new and former Paramount+ subscribers can get any monthly plan for $2.99/month for your first two months. After two months, your plan will auto-renew at then-current full price of your plan. This is one of the best streaming offers we’ve seen since Black Friday, and they don’t come around often. 


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  • Current price: $21
  • Original price: $40

While not a tech product, this is my most frequently used item of all time. Sure, it’s not practical for outings in my opinion, but Stanley cups are dishwasher safe and easy to clean, and they keep drinks cold. Plus, at a 30-ounce capacity, it’s an excellent way to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day and to encourage drinking more water. 

I also enjoy buying these on sale to use for gifts, they’re perfect for stashing a few goodies inside and adding a bow or tag on! 


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  • Current price: $599
  • Original price: $850

The popular Dyson cordless stick vacuum is on sale for 29% off. 


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  • Current price: $56 
  • Original price: $80

Tax season is upon us, and you can save 30% on TurboTax’s desktop edition for federal and state tax returns.


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  • Current price: $25 
  • Original price: $50

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Plus can turn any TV smart. You’ll get access to the entire Prime library of shows, movies, and music as well as support for hundreds of other popular apps so you can stream your favorite media right out of the box.

Also: Roku vs. Fire Stick


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  • Current price: $20
  • Original price: $40

Spending money on an expensive pair of earbuds can feel like throwing $100 in the toilet, if you regularly misplace your belongings and lose your mobile accessories. Stop losing high-end earbuds. Lose these $20 earbuds instead.


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  • Current price: $599 (plus $100 gift card)
  • Regular price: $599

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro is an affordable alternative to the iPhone 17e, offering premium-grade features like an AMOLED display made with Gorilla Glass, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 CPU, 256GB of internal storage, and a 13-hour battery life.


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  • Current price: $180 
  • Original price: $350

The Insignia F50 is a great budget-friendly smart TV that offers 4K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and support for DTS Virtual: X audio for an elevated experience while streaming movies, shows, or music. And with robust parental controls, you can block little ones from accessing inappropriate apps and media.


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  • Current price: $999
  • Original price: $1,398

Samsung’s flagship QLED TV offers premium-grade features like object-tracking sound for spatial surround sound, Dolby Atmos support, a glare-free display, and a dedicated gaming hub. It also has a maximum refresh rate of 165Hz for buttery-smooth motion while watching live sports, action movies and shows, and fast-paced games. 

Review: Samsung QN90F


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  • Current price: $2,200 
  • Original price: $3,000

Samsung’s flagship OLED TV got a refresh with an updated panel, support for both Dolby Atmos and object-tracking sound, and an adaptive sound processor to tailor audio to your space for a more personalized experience. You’ll also get cleaner upscaling of non-4K content so even classic TV shows and older movies look their best.

Review: Samsung S95F OLED


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  • Current price: $1,300
  • Original price: $1,700

This big-screen TV from Hisense offers a great balance between performance and price. With a peak brightness of 5,000 nits, you’ll get great visibility in harsh overhead lighting and sunlight while Dolby Vision IQ boosts contrast and detailing. The 165Hz refresh rate provides smooth motion for sports, movies, and video games while the dedicated IMAX Enhanced picture mode boosts color accuracy for movie buffs. 

Review: Hisense U8QG


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  • Current price: $1,698
  • Original price: $2,498

This cinema-sized TV from Samsung offer object tracking sound for spatial 3D audio as well as a Supersize Picture Enhancer mode to help provide the cleanest picture possible on such a large display. The 120Hz refresh rate smooths motion for live sports as well as console gaming and streaming movies while built-in voice controls give you hands-free use of your new TV.


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  • Current price: $75 
  • Original price: $130

If you’re looking to pick up a second screen, the Insignia F20 is a great choice. With 720p resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate, it’s perfect for catching up on your favorite shows without any extra bells or whistles. 


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Best Amazon Spring Sale tablet deals

  • Current price: $650
  • Original price: $699

The new iPad Air hasn’t even been out for a week, and it’s already discounted on Amazon. The upgraded iPad Air features the M4 chip, support for Wi-Fi 7, upgraded processing power, larger memory bandwidth, and an improved Center Stage camera. 

Review: iPad Air M4


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  • Current price: $399 (save 20%)
  • Original price: $499 

What’s bigger than an iPhone but smaller than a base-model iPad? The iPad Mini, of course. It’s $100 off right now, though the delivery dates on Amazon indicate that it could be a while before you get it in your hands. The earliest delivery dates show it is slated to arrive in June. 


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  • Current price: $499
  • Original price: $569

If you’re in the market for a note-taking tablet that’s neither an iPad or a Kindle Scribe, the ReMarkable is another great option with a paper-like feel. 


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  • Current price: $850
  • Original price: $900

With the Surface Pro, you get a tablet that runs Windows 11 out of the box instead of a mobile operating system like Android or iPadOS. That means you won’t have to worry about finding apps or workarounds for your workflows. 

Review: Microsoft Surface Pro


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  • Current price: $100 
  • Original price: $110 

Besides the Kindle Kids, this is the cheapest Kindle you can buy. 


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  • Current price: $240
  • Original price: $280

This new Samsung tablet is best suited for gaming, streaming, or multitasking, and comes with a super-fast charging battery. Samsung said the Galaxy Tab A11+ is “built for every member of the family, whether that’s helping a parent check off their to-do list, unlocking a student’s creativity, or enjoying some fun on the go.”

Also: The best Samsung tablets


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  • Current price: $299
  • Original price: $349

Apple’s base-model iPad is our pick for the best tablet for most people, thanks to its versatility. When it comes to features, you essentially get the same suite as the more expensive iPad Pro and iPad Air models, but in a lighter form factor and an 11-inch Liquid Retina True Tone display.   

Review: iPad 2025 (11th-Gen)


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  • Current price: $230
  • Original price: $370

This is the perfect nexus between a reading tablet and a regular tablet. Its technology lets you switch from regular mode to color paper to ink paper, and its display helps reduce eye strain while reducing blue light. 


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Best Amazon Spring Sale phone deals

  • Current price: $1,189
  • Original price: $1,489

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung’s latest flagship phone, and it exemplifies what a premium smartphone is. Operating on a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, this is Samsung’s best-performing mobile device by a mile. Its revamped design is comfortable to hold and features a vibrant 6.9-inch AMOLED touchscreen.


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  • Current price: $899 
  • Original price: $1,199

ZDNET’s editor-in-chief, Kerry Wan, says the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL offers a versatile camera system with impeccable zoom capabilities. The phone is powered by Google’s Tensor G5 chip, enabling deep Gemini AI integration across the device’s features. Plus, it ensures speedy performance, thanks in no small part to the 16GB of RAM. It boasts a large 6.8-inch Super Actua display that peaks at 3,300 nits of brightness, allowing the phone to look vibrant even under direct sunlight.


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  • Current price: $1,499
  • Original price: $1,799

Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a unique foldable. Our reviewer Cesar Cadenas says he “likes to think of it as a cross between an iPhone and the Galaxy Z Fold7, since it shares certain characteristics with both.” The Pro Fold supports Google’s Pixelsnap accessories, which provide fast wireless charging via the Qi2 standard, similar to MagSafe accessories for iPhone.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a premium foldable with great performance thanks to the Tensor G5 chip. Both the Moonstone (silver) and Jade green options are on sale.


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Best Amazon Spring Sale laptop deals

  • Current price: $864
  • Original price: $999

The Zenbook A14 is one of the lightest laptops our reviewer Kyle Kucharski has ever tested. “Despite its featherweight status, however, it has a solid build and some respectable hardware. You get 16GB of RAM, a brilliant OLED display, and a Snapdragon X Plus processor for responsive performance (and fantastic battery life),” he says.

Review: Asus Zenbook A14

The Zenbook A14 earned our Editors’ Choice award last year for combining all of these things into an enjoyable package. The 2025 model is absolutely still competitive for everyday tasks, office workflows, and all-day usage.


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  • Current price: $1,799 
  • Original price: $1,899

The MacBook Pro with the base M5 chip is a fantastic option if you’d rather spend a little less. The difference in processing speed compared to the Pro chips is most noticeable during the most demanding workflows, so unless you really need top-tier performance, we recommend considering the base model Pro — especially while it’s $100 off. 

Also: I compared the M5 MacBook Pro to older Mac models – here’s my buying advice


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  • Current price: $720
  • Original price: $799

Acer’s Aspire 16 is a reliable everyday workhorse with a very efficient battery and slim form factor. If you’re looking for an easy-to-carry laptop that will last you all day, laptop expert Kyle Kucharski says the Aspire 16 fits the ticket (especially at this price). 

Review: Acer Aspire 16 AI


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  • Current price: $1,393 
  • Original price: $1,599

Samsung’s Galaxy Book 5 Pro from last year features a brilliant 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen at 120Hz refresh. With 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, you can get an extremely thin and light, big-screen laptop that delivers a premium user experience.

Review: Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro


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  • Current price: $949
  • Original price: $1,199

ZDNET editors are big fans of the 15-inch MacBook Air. With Apple’s latest upgrades to the Air series (more starting RAM for the same price, support for two external monitors with the lid open), the MacBook Air M4 feels a lot like a MacBook Pro. 

With the thin and light build, gorgeous Liquid Retina display, and all-day battery with the power-efficient M4 processor, the MacBook Air is still the best Mac for most folks.

Review: Apple MacBook Air M4


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  • Current price: $1,799 
  • Original price: $1,999

The MacBook Pro M4 has only been out for a year, but it’s already discounted to make room for the new M5 series Macs. The M4 is one of the best laptops on the consumer market right now, featuring a brilliant Liquid Retina XDR display, 24GB of unified memory, and all-day battery life. With the Pro, you’re equipped to handle basically any kind of task, from high-end creative workflows to 3D animation, coding, and gaming.

Also: Apple’s boringly awesome reason to buy the M4 MacBook Pro


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  • Current price: $799
  • Original price: $899

Looking for a gaming laptop that won’t break the bank? Acer’s Nitro series features some laptops with heavy-hitting hardware but still in accessible price points. The Nitro 5 features an Intel Core i5-12500H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It’s also got a backlit keyboard with customizable lighting, support for Killer Wi-Fi 6 and a wide range of I/O.


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  • Current price: $830 
  • Original price: $1,200 

This laptop is chock full of ports, with 16GB RAM, and a 16-inch anti-glare display. 


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  • Current price: $1,259
  • Original price: $1,399

The ROG Strix G16 is a quintessential portable gaming laptop, with a sleek and smooth build, superior cooling tech, and solid hardware loadout. This model comes with an Intel Core i7 and Nvidia GeForce 5060 with 16GB of DDR5 memory.


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Best Amazon Spring Sale headphones deals

  • Current price: $398
  • Original price: $460

These may be the most comfortable and best-sounding headphones on the market. They have that superior Sony sound, a long battery life, a balanced sound, and a comfortable fit. Sony markets the XM6 headphones as the best noise-canceling headphones it’s made — and when I’m listening to my music on a crowded, loud subway with these on, I just so happen to agree. 

Also: Sony WH-1000XM6 review: Still the king of ANC headphones? My verdict after months of testing


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  • Current price: $99
  • Original price: $129

If you don’t like the suction of the ear tips on the AirPods Pro series, you might want to opt for the AirPods 4 instead. They have the same chip but less immersive, noise-canceling sound. That might be a good thing if strong noise cancellation overstimulates you. They’re also way cheaper than the Pros. 


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Best Amazon Spring Sale kitchen and household deals

  • Current price: $460
  • Original price: $750

This Dyson fan is also a heater and an air purifier, perhaps justifying it’s large price tag — which is discounted for one of the best prices we’ve ever seen. 


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  • Current price: $35
  • Original price: $50 

Right now, you can save up to 45% off Amazon devices, including several Ring camera models, like the popular indoor cam for under $50. 


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  • Current price: $199
  • Original price: $350

I recommend this air purifier to all pet parents since it removes 99.97% of airborne particles, including viruses and bacteria, dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold. The real-time LED indicator also provides constant reassurance about the air quality.


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  • Current price: $170
  • Original price: $220 

If you’re eyeing a smart home hub that’s smaller and cheaper than the Echo Show 21, the Echo Show 11 may fit the bill. Expert Maria Diaz says it features some nicer upgrades that make it well-received this year. 

Also: I’m a fan of the Echo Show 11, even if it’s not perfect


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  • Current price: $14
  • Original price: $17

Automate your home routines with this smart plug. If you haven’t used a smart plug before, you may be surprised by just how handy they can be for turning the regular tasks of your home into automated chores you no longer have to handle. For you, that could mean connecting the holiday lights to the plug and creating a schedule for turning them on and off. The smart plug could also connect to your coffee pot and brew you a pot right as you wake up. 

Also: Why this $7 smart plug beats any other that I’ve tested in my home


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  • Current price: $75
  • Original price: $100

This Bissell mini-vacuum is popular for a reason: You can use it to tackle spills and pet stains, allowing you to spray, scrub, and suction to get embedded dirt and stains out of your furniture, car interiors, pet beds, and more.


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Best Amazon Spring Sale health and wellness deals 

  • Current price: $500
  • Original price: $650

The lowest we’ve seen the latest Airwrap i.d. styler sell for is around $480 during the holiday season, so this $500 offer is about $20 more. It’s still a decent chunk of savings, and the most we’ve seen in a few weeks. This Airwrap i.d. bundle comes with multiple attachments and is design for straight or wavy hair. 


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  • Current price: $99
  • Original price: $129

Monitor yours or a loved one’s heart health at home with this personal EKG monitor that’s FDA certified. It’s also HSA/FSA eligible, and I think it’s a great addition to a home first-aid kit. 


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Amazon is offering a sweet discount on Samsung’s Ultra smartwatch from last year. When you purchase the Galaxy Watch Ultra from Amazon, you’ll also get a $100 gift card to the shopping site. Since the smartwatch already costs $650 and this deal, which includes the titanium silver and titanium white finishes, costs $650 altogether, you’re basically getting a $100 gift card at no additional cost. Pretty sweet. 

Samsung phone users will get the most out of this smartwatch, which offers days of battery life, a large, bright display, and a substantial watch size for bigger wrists. 

Also: I bought the 2025 version of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra – here’s the model I’d recommend instead


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  • Current price: $70
  • Original price: $100

This tiny, unobtrusive tracker supports an expansive Fitbit ecosystem for capturing and monitoring key health and wellness data, such as wellness tracking, daily Stress Management Score, mindfulness sessions, relax breathing sessions, and irregular heart rhythm notifications. 


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  • Current price: $300
  • Original price: $400

If you want all-day battery life, Apple’s latest health features (including a Hypertension Detection feature), sleep tracking, workout monitoring, and phone-free communication, the Apple Watch Series 11 is health and wearable expert Nina Raemont’s best recommendation. In the three-product watch lineup, the Series 11 is in between the affordable SE 3 and the Ultra 4 in both features and price.

Review: Apple Watch Series 11


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  • Current price: $219
  • Original price: $250 

Looking for an affordable Apple Watch for phone-free communication and workout tracking? The Apple Watch SE 3 is your best bet. While you won’t get some of the more advanced features available on the Apple Watch Series 11 or Ultra 4, you’re getting a capable, budget-friendly watch that will do most of what you need. 

Also: I compared every Apple Watch – here’s why I recommend this model the most


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Best Amazon Spring Sale outdoor deals

  • Current price: $150 
  • Original price: $200 

The warmer weather is here and this outdoor cam doubles as a spotlight. Expert Maria Diaz was impressed with this one from Ring. It has a wide field of view, HDR video support, and an extra impressive feature.

Also: This is my favorite backyard spotlight camera


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  • Current price: $599
  • Original price: $899

If you want a fast-charging, easy-to-move, yet power-packed and port-packed power station, this is the unit for you. When charged from a standard wall outlet, you’ll get it from 0% to 80% in just 40 minutes and to a full charge in 56 minutes.

Also: The best portable power stations you can buy


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  • Current price: $600 
  • Original price: $900

Warmer times are on the way, and a smart cooler may be just the upgrade you need. Expert Maria Diaz likes Anker’s EverFrost cooler for keeping snacks and drinks crisp, and this model is great for camping, fishing, road trips, and more. 

Also: The smart cooler that stopped me from toting ice again


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  • Current price: $66
  • Original price: $79

This smart sprinkler allows you to tailor your watering routine with five frequency options—every day, odd days, even days, interval (every 2-30 days), and custom (every Monday, etc) —to perfectly suit your gardening needs. The watering schedule can also be set based on local weather data, including weather, soil moisture, and temperature, via the app. 


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  • Current price: $428
  • Regular price: $799

A mid-range battery backup generator with a peak output of 3,000W and a running output of 2,000W for keeping devices charged and medical equipment running during a power outage. It can be charged via wall outlet or with available solar panels for true off-grid energy.


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When is Amazon’s Spring Sale? 

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale 2026 will run from March 25-31, 2026.

When does the Amazon Spring Sale end?

The last day of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is Tuesday, March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. The sale started on March 25 at 12:01 a.m. PDT. 

How did we choose these Amazon Spring Sale deals?

Here at ZDNET, we focus only on smartphone deals we think are truly worth paying for. These are products we would actually want for ourselves, our friends, and family. Our experts typically look for deals of 20% or more, or for products that rarely go on sale. However, if there are exceptions to the rule, we believe the phone in question is a top-tier device. 

We take customer feedback into account, analyzing user reviews to see what people really liked about their purchase. The goal here is to provide reliable guidance so you can shop smarter and avoid wasting money on smartphones that are lackluster and just not worth buying.

What are the top deals during Amazon’s Spring Sale? 

This year, Amazon has a slated category of focus for each day of the Big Spring Sale. This is when you can expect to see the most offers on these particular categories, but many deals will likely run the entirety of the event. They are: 

  • March 25: Big Spring Deals
  • March 26: Easter Essentials
  • March 27: Home Refresh
  • March 28: Spring Beauty
  • March 29: Spring Cleaning
  • March 30: Spring Fashion
  • March 31: Travel Must-Haves

What are the best Amazon Spring Sale deals?

ZDNET’s staff of reviewers has been digging through the deals at Amazon and also competitors like Walmart and Costco to help you find the best prices across categories:

More questions? Read our Big Spring Sale shopping guide to discover everything you need to know about Amazon’s seasonal spring sale.





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Recent Reviews


Smartphones have amazing cameras, but I’m not happy with any of them out of the box. I have to tweak a few things. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, these settings won’t magically transform your main camera into an entirely new piece of hardware, but it can put you in a position to capture the best photos your phone can muster.

Turn on the composition guide

Alignment is easier when you can see lines

Grid lines visible using the composition guide feature in the Galaxy Z Fold 6 camera app. Credit: Bertel King / How-To Geek

Much of what makes a good photo has little to do with how many megapixels your phone puts out. It’s all about the fundamentals, like how you compose a shot. One of the most important aspects is the placement of your subject.

Whether you’re taking a picture of a person, a pet, a product, or a plant, placement is everything. Is the photo actually centered? Or, if you’re trying to cultivate more visual interest, are you adhering to the rule of thirds (which is not to suggest that the rule of thirds is an end-all, be-all)? In either case, having an on-screen grid makes all the difference.

To turn on the grid, tap on the menu icon and select the settings cog. Then scroll down until you see Composition guide and tap the toggle to turn it on.

Going forward, whenever you open your camera, you will see a Tic Tac Toe-shaped grid on your screen. Now, instead of merely raising your phone and snapping the shot, take the time to make sure everything is aligned.

Take advantage of your camera’s max resolution

Having more pixels means you can capture more detail

I have a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. The camera hardware on my book-style foldable phone is identical to that of the Galaxy S24 released in the same year, which hasn’t changed much for the Galaxy S25 or the Galaxy S26 released since. On each of these phones, however, the camera app isn’t taking advantage of the full 50MP that the main lens can produce. Instead, photos are binned down to 12MP. The same thing happens even if you have the 200MP camera found on the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

To take photos at the maximum resolution, open the camera app and look for the words “12M” written at either the top or side of your phone, depending on how you’re holding it. The numbers will appear right next to the indicator that toggles whether your flash is on or off. For me, tapping here changes the text from 12M to 50M.

Photo resolution toggle in the camera app of a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. Credit: Bertel King / How-To Geek

But wait, we aren’t done yet. To save storage, your phone may revert back to 12MP once you’re done using the app. After all, 12MP is generally enough for most quick snaps and looks just fine on social media, along with other benefits that come from binning photos. But if you want to know that your photos will remain at a higher resolution when you open the camera app, return to camera settings like we did to enable the composition guide, then scroll down until you see Settings to keep. From there, select High picture resolutions.

Use volume keys to zoom in and out

Less reason to move your thumb away from the shutter button

Using volume keys to zoom in the camera app on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. Credit: Bertel King / How-To Geek

Our phones come with the camera icon saved as one of the favorites we see at the bottom of the homescreen. I immediately get rid of this icon. When I want to take a photo, I double-tap the power button instead.

Physical buttons come in handy once the app is open as well. By default, pressing the volume keys will snap a photo. Personally, I just tap the shutter button on the screen, since my thumb hovers there anyway. In that case, what’s something else the volume keys can do? I like for them to control zoom. I don’t zoom often enough to remember whether my gesture or swipe will zoom in or out, and I tend to overshoot the level of zoom I want. By assigning this to the volume keys, I get a more predictable and precise degree of control.

To zoom in and out with the volume keys, open the camera settings and select Shooting methods > Press Volume buttons to. From here, you can change “Take picture or record video” to “Zoom in or out.”

Adjust exposure

Brighten up a photo before you take it

Exposure setting in the camera app on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. Credit: Bertel King / How-To Geek

The most important aspect of a photo is how much light your lens is able to take in. If there’s too much light, your photo is washed out. If there isn’t enough light, then you don’t have a photo at all.

Exposure allows you to adjust how much light you expose to your phone’s image sensor. If you can see that a window in the background is so bright that none of the details are coming through, you can turn down the exposure. If a photo is so dark you can’t make out the subject, try turning the exposure up. Exposure isn’t a miracle worker—there’s no making up for the benefits of having proper lighting, but knowing how to adjust exposure can help you eke out a usable shot when you wouldn’t have otherwise.

To access exposure, tap the menu button, then tap the icon that looks like a plus and a minus symbol inside of a circle.

From this point, you can scroll up and down (or side to side, if holding the phone vertically) to increase or decrease exposure. If you really want to get creative, you can turn your photography up a notch by learning how to take long exposure shots on your Galaxy phone.


Help your camera succeed

Will changing these settings suddenly turn all of your photos into the perfect shot? No. No camera can do that, even if you spend thousands of dollars to buy it. But frankly, I take most of my photos for How-To Geek using my phone, and these settings help me get the job done.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 on a white background.

Brand

Samsung

RAM

12GB

Storage

256GB

Battery

4,400mAh

Operating System

One UI 8

Connectivity

5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Samsung’s thinnest and lightest Fold yet feels like a regular phone when closed and a powerful multitasking machine when open. With a brighter 8-inch display and on-device Galaxy AI, it’s ready for work, play, and everything in between.




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