'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
We found 7 Labor Day deals on Amazon that are actually decent bargains
Even though Labor Day means summer is coming to an end and it's time to put away your favorite white pants, the holiday on September 5 this year also means an influx of deals and low prices. While Amazon may not have a designated "Labor Day Sale," it does have lower prices and deals leading up to and on the holiday. From air fryers to AirPods, Amazon has some quality discounted items you should look out for starting early September.
We've rounded up the best early Amazon Labor Day deals so you don't have to sit at your computer or phone, anxiously scrolling to see what you can snag. Suited for your health, cooking, studying, or even treasure-finding needs, these techy products come in various price points to suit your lifestyle and your budget. This roundup includes how much you save, the original price, and some basic information so you can make an informed decision before you add them to your cart. With Prime, you also can get free shipping and returns.
Must read:
- The best Labor Day deals you can shop right now
- The best Labor Day deals under $100
- The best Labor Day appliance deals
- The best Labor Day security camera deals
- Current price: $174
- Original price: $249
Apple's latest edition of the popular wireless earphones can make it easy to drown out the pressures of back-to-school prep and post-summer office busyness. With an easy connection process, in under a minute you can seamlessly connect your earpods to a computer or phone via Bluetooth settings. With noise cancellation abilities and spatial audio, these earphones make it feel like the sound is all around you. If you do want to stay somewhat in tune with your surroundings – and make sure you can hear the traffic as you cross the street – you can easily switch to transparency mode and let in the sounds of the world around you. Perfect for intense exercise sessions or if you accidentally throw them in the wash, AirPod Pros are sweat- and water-resistant.
So that they're comfortable and custom for your ears, the earpods come with three sizes of soft silicone tips. The 2.4-inch case easily slips into your pants, purse, or backpack pocket.
- Current price: $99
- Original price: $129
Air fryers seem to be all the rage right now. Using convection heat and requiring little oil, air fryers make it so you can enjoy (somewhat) guilt-free fried food with up to 75% less fat than traditional frying. This black/grey Ninja Air Fryer fits up to four quarts of food – about two pounds of French fries – on its crisper plate. Made out of nanoceramic, plastic, and metal, the air fryer accessories are dishwasher safe and easy to clean. The one-touch control panel allows you to either choose between four programmable cooking options (Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, or Dehydrate) or manually control the cooking time and temperature. With a range of 105 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, the air fryer can quickly cook and crisp anything from chickpeas to chicken.
- Current price: $155
- Original price: $229
The Fitbit Versa 3 in black features a GPS and a heart tracker that logs your steps and your heart rate. With a 1.58-inch screen and modern style, the Versa 3 can be worn an everyday smartwatch or a fitness tracker for more intense exercise. You can run, walk, bike, and even swim with the water-resistant watch and then check the performance using the FitBit app. While wearing the watch, you can set reminders and alarms and check the news on your watch by using the built-in voice activation powered by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
- Current price: $99
- Original price: $119
If you're wanting a tiny, but mighty portable speaker for your end-of-summer bash or college dorm room, you can save $20 on this Bluetooth Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker. Waterproof (IP67) and equipped with a tear-resistant strap, so you can attach it to your backpack or beach bag and bring it straight to the pool worry-free. You can also listen to up to 6 hours of music and pair more Bose speakers for even more volume-- so tell your friends about this deal to amplify both savings and sound.
- Current $229
- Original price: $329
Labor Day signals that it's time to head back to school and work, and it may be time for you to get a watch. Whether you're a student, a professional, or a parent on the go, the Apple Watch is a great way to keep track of your time and healthy habits. The Apple Watch SE is not only two times faster than the Series 3 Apple Watch but has a 30% larger display to show your texts, missed calls, and fitness tracking apps. With cellular connectivity, you can use phone capabilities like call, text, and Siri as well as stream audio without your iPhone directly next to the watch itself. You can even record your swim with the SE as it is swim and sweatproof.
- Current price: $84
- Original price: $159
While you're here hunting for deals, might as well hunt for treasure -- or the car keys you can't seem to find. The Bounty Hunter battery-powered metal detector is the ideal tool for detecting trinkets and treasure even under the most difficult terrain. By using different motion modes and a notch control, this metal detector can neutralize the response to mineral content in the ground and distinguish between unwanted metals and treasure. Even though it is made of metal, the device is lightweight and easily transportable if you want to travel for your treasure hunt.
- Current price: $39
Original price: $49
Streaming services offer a great deal of watchable content. To enjoy it all, get a remote control that makes streaming easier. Compatible with any HDTV and 4K UHDTV, the 4K Firestick allows for quick access to your favorite streaming apps, live and free TV, and voice control with Alexa voice remote. The Fire Stick features buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Voice Control, just what you need right at your fingertips. The remote may be mighty, but it's tiny enough to stay hidden or plug behind your TV if you want a clutter-free space.
What is Labor Day?
Occurring annually on the first Monday of September, Labor Day is a Federal US holiday that was first celebrated in 1882. Meant to celebrate American workers and their achievements, the holiday is now usually marked by sales and symbolizes the unofficial end of summer. This year, Labor Day falls on Monday, September 5th.
How do you determine what is a great Labor Day deal?
We comb the internet across multiple retailers and take into account a multitude of factors. First, If the product is less than 15% off, it is usually not a good deal. There are exceptions to that, such as Apple products, which are very popular but not usually on sale. Our general rule of thumb is that it has to be at least 15% off.
Additionally, we check over the past six months on any item we think it's a great deal to make sure that you truly are getting a great deal. Anything that has been price-gouged to appear like a deal, where they raise the price a few days before and drop it back down to the "deal" the day of, has not been included on this list. We want to make sure that you get the best deal for these items.
When are Labor Day sales?
While sales do take place on the actual Labor Day date, as with Independence Day and Memorial Day sales, you can expect deals and sales to start early leading up to the holiday and end a bit after the holiday.