We're just a few short days away from Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (which runs from 8th to 9th October). It's Prime Day in October, with deals promised on products made by Sony, LG and Bose, among others. Expect TVs, wireless headphones, Bluetooth speakers and home cinema systems to feature.
Last summer's Prime Day saw deals like the Google Chromecast with Google TV streaming device for just £30 (that's half price), and the B&W Px7 S2 wireless headphones for £238 – that's 20 per cent off the usual retail price.
When Amazon sneezes, other retailers catch a cold. In the US, Walmart will start its Holiday Deals event on the same day as Prime Big Deal Days (8th October). And you can bet other retailers – both here and in the US – will get in on the sales action too (John Lewis will have no choice, since resurrecting its "Never knowingly undersold" policy).
Amazon's sale might not have started yet, but there are already deals worth checking out. All of the below recommendations are approved by us – the products featured have either been reviewed by us, or are closely related to a product we have tested (a 55-inch TV, when we've only reviewed the 65-inch version, say). Every entry on this list and across all our deals pages has also been thoroughly price-checked, with the product's recent price history factored in, to ensure you're actually getting a good deal.
Let's see what's around.
Quick links
- 6 months' free Prime, then 50% off: students & 18-22 year-olds
- Amazon Music Unlimited: 4 months free
- Best deals under £100: affordable devices
- Better than half price: Amazon Echo speakers
- Bose QC Earbuds II: save £144
- Fire TV: deals on TVs and smart sticks
- John Lewis: free next-day delivery on selected Apple devices
- Sony WF-1000XM5: £70 off Award-winning wireless earbuds
- Sony WH-CH520: lowest ever price
- Why not: deals on wine, beer and spirits
Editor's picks: the best early Prime Day deals overall
Best early headphones deals
Best early TV deals
Best early hi-fi deals
Best early home cinema deals
Best early wireless speaker deals
Best early tablet deals
Amazon Prime Day FAQ
What is Amazon Prime?
In order to be eligible for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days discounts, you need Amazon Prime. This is effectively a membership fee that gives you 'free' unlimited one-day delivery (in select areas) on millions of items bought from Amazon, plus Prime Video and Amazon Music streaming services (but not Amazon Music Unlimited – that costs extra), free ebooks, and the ability to share some of these benefits with others in your household.
Amazon Prime costs £8.99 a month, or £95 if you pay yearly (saving you £12.88 compared to paying monthly). Students pay £4.49 a month or £47.49 a year. Changed your mind? You can cancel your Prime membership on the Manage Prime Membership page. And if you haven't placed a Prime-eligible order or used any of your Prime benefits, you'll be refunded in full.
There's an Amazon Prime free trial, too. Sign up, select 'Start my free trial', and you'll have access to Prime for 30 days with nothing to pay. That means you can sign up, take advantage of the deals, and then cancel your trial before the 30-day period ends and not be charged your second month's fee for Prime. Not that we would condone such behaviour, of course.
In order to be eligible for the trial, you can't have subscribed to Prime in the last 12 months.
What is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?
It's Amazon's autumn sale, essentially another Prime Day but in October rather than July.
Prime Day began in 2015 as a celebration of Amazon's 20th anniversary. While other online retailers get involved in the Black Friday bargain bun fight, Prime Day is generally all about Amazon, though you will see other retailers lowering prices at the same time in order to stay competitive.
Prime Day is a big sale that encompasses most areas of the Amazon site – as well as audio-visual gear, you'll find discounts on toasters, books, clothes, and pretty much anything that Amazon sells. And that's a lot!
Prime Big Deal Days officially takes place over two days, but the deals can go on for weeks.
You'll need to be a Prime member to take advantage of the offers. Not yet a member? Amazon Prime's free trial gives you the option to sign up, bag a few bargains on Prime Big Deal Days, and cancel your membership without paying a penny. You scallywag, you.
When does Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2024 start?
Prime Big Deal Days 2024 takes place 8-9th October 2024. Just like last year, it's a two-day affair.
When does Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2024 end?
Prime Big Deal Days 2024 will finish at 23.59 on 9th October.
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2024 secret hacks and tips
1. Sign up for the free Prime trial
If you're new to Amazon Prime, make sure you take advantage of the 30-day free Prime trial. And remember to cancel if you don't want a monthly bill for £8.99 when the trial ends.
2. Google a product before buying
Not every deal is going to be a winner, so make sure you compare prices online before you buy, and, of course, check our reviews to make sure the product is worth buying at all!
3. Big brands can equal big savings
Amazon often slashes the cost of a few big brand items – think PlayStation and Xbox accessories, Samsung TVs and tablets, etc – to get the attention of shoppers. Keep an eye out for these 'marquee' deals.
4. Check the Amazon Warehouse
Returned goods end up on sale at the Amazon Warehouse at a decent discount, so there's a chance you could spot an open-box bargain that beats the box-fresh sales price.
5. Stay tuned to What Hi-Fi.com
Amazon unleashes thousands of deals around Prime Big Deal Days, which can make it tricky to find genuine bargains on five-star tech and AV. That's why we'll be publishing an up-to-the minute list of the very best Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals.
Is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days only once a year?
Technically, yes, but Amazon's other sales are near-identical, but just go by different names. Prime Spring Deal Days takes place in the spring, followed by Prime Day in the summer. Prime Big Deal Days happens in the autumn, then Black Friday is at the end of November.
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days vs Prime Day
Wondering what the difference is between Prime Big Deal Days and Prime Day? It's really just the name. Both are two-day sales, and both see similar discounts on mostly the same products. It's just that Prime Big Deal Days takes place in October in the run-up to Black Friday, while Prime Day is a summer event.
What discounts are offered on Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?
There are plenty of deals on all kinds of devices, including headphones, TVs, Bluetooth speakers, cables, hi-fi and smartphones from big brands like Sony, Samsung, Bose, JBL, Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Sonos.
But beware: not all that glitters is gold. Some discounts might seem hefty, but they might have been bettered previously, or be on sub-par products. We'll only feature deals that offer a worthwhile amount of money off on products that we recommend.
What benefits do Prime members get on Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?
Without Prime, you can't take advantage of the discounts. There are all sorts of other benefits to Prime year round, like early access to 'Lightning deals', Prime Video and Amazon Music streaming, and try before you buy on certain items. Here's a list of more Prime benefits.
What are Prime Experiences?
Amazon introduced Prime Experiences at Prime Day 2023. These offered UK Prime members the chance to buy "limited-edition, once-in-a-lifetime" experiences during the sales event, including a trip to the set of Neighbours in Australia.
Amazon hasn't mentioned them since, so looks like it's quietly shelved the idea...
Is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days for everyone?
It is, as long as you have signed up for Amazon Prime. No Prime, no deals. You can pay for Prime monthly (£8.99) or yearly (£95).