Amazon deal of the day: The Fire HD 8 Plus tablet is 46% off as a back-to-school deal

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Aug. 22:

Whether you’re prepping for back-to-school chaos or just feel like treating yourself to a good deal, there are plenty of discounts hanging around on Aug. 22. We’ve searched up and down the deals pages at Amazon to hand-pick a few that we think are worth adding to your cart — including some top brands like Apple, Google, Bose, and Amazon’s own devices.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day for Aug. 22. If none of these deals jump out at you, be sure to take a peek at our picks from Aug. 20 and Aug. 21. Many of those savings are still live — including a sub-$100 Kindle Kids and the very first discount on the Sonos Ace headphones.

Our top pick

In the market for a basic tablet that won’t break the bank? It’s hard to beat the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus, especially now that it’s down to a record-low $64.99 (46% off its usual cost). As our buddies at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable’s publisher, Ziff Davis) wrote in their review of the tablet, “It won’t wow you, but it doesn’t need to.” It’ll last you up to 13 hours on one charge, offers USB-C charging support, and features a strengthened aluminosilicate glass display and hexa-core processor that’s 30% faster than the previous model. The Plus model also packs an extra gigabyte of RAM, revs up its rear camera from 2 to 5MP, and supports wireless charging. Its limited app store selection and overall speed keep it from being great, but as far as basic tablets go, you can’t go wrong.

Read our full review of the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Google Pixel Tablet with the charging speaker dock will run you upwards of $599 at regular price. However, as of Aug. 22, it’s on sale for a new record-low of just $349, making us much more likely to recommend it. The tablet itself is just OK on its own, but the charging speaker dock can turn it into a smart display or a desktop TV when plugged in.

“It just…works, especially if you’re like me and don’t want two or three big-ass monitors on your desk,” Mashable tech reporter Alex Perry wrote in his review. The specs aren’t going to blow you away; it packs a Google Tensor G2 chip with 8GB of RAM under its hood and 8MP cameras on the front and back. But its usefulness as more than just a tablet makes it worth it — especially at 42% off.

Read our full review of the Google Pixel tablet.

The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air hit a record-low of $1,049 on Prime Day. And thanks to a competing sale at Best Buy, Amazon has dropped the price to just 99 cents shy of that record-low on Aug. 22. You’ll just have to click the on-page coupon for the price drop. The M3 MacBook Air packs a major punch, including a zippy M3 chip that’s 60 percent faster than the M1 and about 15 percent faster than the M2, plus WiFi 6E and support for up to two 5K, 60Hz external displays. Mashable’s reviewer was highly impressed with its performance, writing, “The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air continues to blur the line of the Air and Pro models, providing ample “oomph” for creatives, professionals, and students who need robust performance that can handle their multifaceted workflows.”

Read our full review of the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air.

Totally different than the second-generation Echo Buds we featured yesterday, the 2023 release offer a more budget-friendly AirPods alternative. While they could use a few tweaks in the fit department, the new Echo Buds are overall a solid pair of wireless earbuds. They sound great, last up to 20 hours with the charging case, are simple to use, and seamlessly pair with other Alexa gadgets. Not to mention, they’re super affordable at just $34.99 on sale.

Read our full review of the Amazon Echo Buds.

Built-in TV speakers aren’t usually anything to write home about, which can make watching your favorite shows and movies kind of a bummer. Give it a boost into something more substantial with the Bose speaker and soundbar. While it adds some serious sound, it doesn’t add any serious bulk to your entertainment space. It only measures about two inches in height and two feet in width. Plus, it’s super simple to set up. As of Aug. 22, snag it on sale for only $199 — that’s 29% in savings.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon’s daily deals for even more savings.