Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is nearly matching its Prime Day pricing

A streaming stick should definitely be on your back-to-school list if you’re heading back to college. After all, a good one can provide you with hours of budget-friendly entertainment when you need to unwind after studying. Buying one seems especially attractive today now that Amazon’s latest Fire TV Stick 4K Max is at the lowest price we’ve seen since Prime Day.

Regularly $54.99, Amazon and Best Buy are selling the streaming stick for $39.99, which is only $5 shy of the device’s all-time low. We think the Fire TV Stick Max is the best streaming stick for those embedded in Amazon’s ecosystem, namely because it integrates quite nicely with Alexa and allows you to reliably make voice commands with the included remote. We also found that it offers a great selection of streaming apps and faster performance than its predecessor, not to mention support for Wi-Fi 6. Read our review.

Excited for the premiere of House of the Dragon but not as thrilled about the pricey HBO Max subscription you’ll need to watch it? Now through October 29th, new and returning subscribers can get 30 percent off a one-year subscription to HBO Max, assuming you’re comfortable paying the full year in advance. This means you can buy the ad-supported plan for $69.99 instead of $99.99 (or $5.83 per month) or purchase the ad-free plan for $104.99 instead of $149.99 (or $8.75 per month).

No matter which plan you choose, however, you’ll be able to watch House of the Dragon in addition to other popular shows and movies, including The Batman, Succession, and more. Just be aware of the ongoing Warner Bros. megamerger, which has already resulted in the removal and cancellation of a number of shows and movies — including Batgirl.

Speaking of college, a pair of noise-canceling earbuds will come in handy as they can help you better focus by tuning out your roommates. While the best tend to be on the pricey side, Amazon is currently taking $40 off of its second-gen Echo Buds. You can buy them with a wireless charging case for just $99.99 or a wired charging case for $79.99, which are some of the lowest prices we’ve seen on the true wireless earbuds to date.

Sure, the latest Echo Buds may not boast brilliant noise cancellation tech like Apple’s AirPods Pro, but their ANC is effective for the price. Plus, they offer a number of other great perks, including good sound quality, swappable tips, IPX4 water and sweat resistance, and a great passthrough mode that allows you to hear your surroundings. Read our review.

If you’re looking to add some extra security to your home, you may want to check out today’s discount on the Ring Alarm Pro. The eight-piece kit is a good investment for those looking to get started with a home security system, especially because it’s easy to use and supplies you with everything you need. While it’s not compatible with Google Home, Apple’s HomeKit, or IFTTT, it does integrate quite nicely with Amazon Alexa.

Typically $299.99, you can buy it right now for $239.99 at Best Buy and Amazon (with delayed shipping), which is its best price ever. The discounted kit includes a base station, which also doubles as an Eero 6 dual-band mesh Wi-Fi router, four contact sensors for doors and windows, a motion detector, and a Z-Wave range extender to reach sensors that are further out. Just be aware the system doesn’t come with 24/7 video recording, and you’ll have to pay extra for local storage. Read our review.