Nearly two dozen hours into Starfield, the latest action role-playing game from Bethesda Game Studios, I stumbled upon a side story that was far more thrilling and formally inventive than anything else in the main plot up to that point.
In it, the player is forced to work undercover within a vicious gang, becoming something like a government mole who has to gain the trust of their new colleagues while avoiding becoming the kind of bloodthirsty criminal they’re trying to take down. There are heists, gunfights, daring escapes, and spots of moral intrigue along the way. It’s one of the most compelling bits of the sprawling sci-fi RPG and, because of the game’s design, it seems like it would be very easy to miss.
To get it started, the player must happen to speak to a character they’ve likely sprinted past many times before. They have to have ignored the demands of a main plotline that begs for attention and the innumerable side stories that pop up when walking the streets of Starfield’s sci-fi cities. It’s a diamond hidden deep in the rough that illustrates a major problem with the game’s design: There’s simply so much packed into it that it’s nearly impossible to tell what’s worthwhile.
All artists, from filmmakers and novelists to musicians and gamemakers, have to make countless small editing decisions in their work. Which parts of a character’s life need to be depicted to tell their story? How should multiple instrumental and vocal tracks be mixed to create the best version of a song? Which features and storylines should be included or cut in order to maintain a video game’s pace and overall coherence?
Courtesy of Bethesda
Starfield presents itself as if very few of these kinds of tough choices have been made. In some sense, this isn’t exactly a fault—many players will be more than happy to lose themselves aimlessly in the game for years to come—but it does make it difficult to recommend it to those less likely to be so committed. For many years, in games from its Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series, Starfield creator Bethesda Game Studios has warranted attention for the sheer size of the worlds it makes and the breadth of activities contained within. The promise of the studio’s work comes from the allure of enormous environments where the player, guiding a character whose morals and physical abilities they develop over time, can interact with the unexpected events that emerge from exploring massive buildings and rural landscapes dotted with roving enemies.
Merino wool is a super fiber. Merino T-shirts somehow manage to be comfortable in 95-degree-Fahrenheit heat, and merino hoodies keep you warm well below freezing. Unlike synthetic fibers derived from petroleum, merino wool is natural and renewable.
One sheep can produce 4 to 5 pounds of wool per year. That’s because the sheep that make merino wool drink only the purest alpine waters and study the art of comfort under the tutelage of those stuck-up Pashmina goats, who, let’s face it, might know a thing or two about wonderfully, pillowy softness. Just kidding. Merino sheep do have thinner, softer wool, which has evolved to keep them comfortable across a wide range of temperatures and is comfortable to wear next to your skin. It’s unclear whether the the sheep learned to do this from Pashmina goats, but I do know that merino wool is a remarkable fabric that’s become the cornerstone of my wardrobe.
Yes, even in summer. I’ve worn merino T-shirts on 100-degree days and felt fine, though this is less true if you throw high humidity into the mix—merino sheep do not vacation in the tropics, apparently. Whatever the case, the wool’s versatility means there’s a bewildering array of blends and options to choose from. Here are our favorite merino wool products that we’ve tested.
Updated August 2023: We’ve added a few new T-shirt options, as well as a merino tank top for summer. We’ve also added several jackets we love, a sweatshirt, and updated links and prices throughout.
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Start With a Hoodie
Merino wool is versatile, but I’d still argue that the best use case for it is as a lightweight mid layer, like a hoodie. It’s warm enough for cool days on its own, surprisingly wind-resistant, and can pair with an outer shell to form a great lightweight day-hiking layering system. It’s also a good go-to for the gym or around town.
An Icebreaker hoodie was my introduction to merino wool, and it remains my favorite jacket I’ve ever owned. Alas, after about 10 years, mine had a run-in with moths (see our care guide below) and had to be retired. Mine was not the exact style pictured, but very close to it. This jacket is 100 percent merino and incredibly warm, despite not being all that thick. That makes it a great option for days when the weather may vary considerably–it’s warm enough for a cold morning but won’t be a burden in your pack the rest of the day. This is on the tight-fitting side, so if that’s not your thing (and it’s not mine), get the next size up.
If you don’t want to go 100 percent merino on your first purchase, that’s OK. There is now a ton of blended apparel on the market that gets much of the benefit of merino, with enough cotton or polyester to retain the softness many of us are used to. This hoodie from Ten Thousand is a good example. It’s 76 percent polyester, 18 percent merino, and 6 percent elastane, which gives it a soft, stretchy feel that makes it ideal for working out, rock climbing, or any other outdoor activity where you need your jacket to flex and stretch with you.
Replace Fleece With a Mid Layer
I have nothing against synthetic fleece. It has its place, but I rarely wear it these days. I prefer a hoodie like the one above or the mid layers below. Merino is better at helping your body regulate its temperature, rather than just keeping you warm like fleece and other synthetics do.
Kora’s Yardang Jersey is designed as a midweight mid layer. It is probably the most versatile thing I have in my wardrobe. It’s plenty by itself on a cool spring day but then thin enough to put another layer on top of it when you need more. It’s pleasantly breathable and very soft. The Yardang is a blend of 70 percent merino, complemented by 30 percent Himalayan yak wool. It’s the softest bit of merino in my collection. If you like this blend, there’s also a hat and neck gaiter in the Yardang line.
If you have concerns about using goose down as an insulation layer, merino wool is also a decent substitute for synthetic insulation. Vests are like the cheat code of layering if you like to keep your core warm but your arms mobile or you want to get an extra soupçon of warmth without adding too much bulk. I (Adrienne) like to layer Ibex’s Wool Aire vest under my regular wool coat if I’m going out for the night or on a long run.
Base Layers
I am old enough to remember when a “base layer” was whatever cotton T-shirt you put on. If you got cold in that, you put on a jacket. If you got hot in it, you sweated. Do you need a special shirt to go hiking? No. Just go hiking. That said, outdoor gear marketing or not, base layers are a thing. I have come to love some merino T-shirts, especially in spring and fall. They really don’t feel hugely different from cotton, but they don’t smell after you’ve been sweating in them all day, which is a huge bonus on multiday hiking trips, or just trips to the gym.
We love these long-sleeve Smartwool shirts for how soft they are. An 87 percent merino wool blend with nylon means they’re incredibly comfortable. In our base layer guide, we say this shirt is an “ideal weight,” with heavy seams (read: sturdier, longer lasting) but not so heavy that they cause any discomfort—the shirts lie flat and sit off the shoulder, as any half-decent base layer should.
Don’t forget your legs! It never fails to surprise me (Adrienne) how many people put multiple layers of insulation on their top half and leave their legs completely bare. Depending on the weather, I have several different weights of leggings that I can swap in. My favorites are the classic Icebreaker leggings, which have lasted me almost a decade. However, the rest of my family (my spouse and two children) use REI’s in-house merino wool base layers and leggings, which are a reasonably priced option and don’t irritate my son’s sensitive skin.
A Few Women-Specific Options
And now, a word on fit. Women are not the only people whose bodies can differ from standard sizing. But I (Adrienne) am 5′ 2″ and struggle to find clothing options that will fit—especially ones that are meant to fit next to the skin. As high-quality as the base layer is, it won’t keep you warm if it rucks up around your waist or sags below your hips.
Most major brands offer a women’s version of their base layers. However, if you’re having a lot of difficulty finding a pair that works, Kari Traa’s leggings have a very high waist that helps keep them up. The patterns are also pretty, for those of you who object to parading around the lodge in what looks like pajamas.
Wool might not seem like a good choice for summer T-shirt, but merino is surprisingly comfortable even when its warm. To a point anyway. On humid days over about 90 degrees, I usually go with cotton or linen, but anything under 90 and I am wearing merino. There are far more merino T-shirt options out there than we can cover, but here are some of our favorites.
These are my absolute favorite T-shirts. They are the softest, best made, best fitting T-shirts I’ve ever worn, merino or otherwise. Yes, they are that good. They’re incredibly versatile. I’ve worn them doing everything from backpacking in the summer heat, to rolling jiujitsu, to sitting around the fire on cool autumn evenings. They’re never anything but comfy. I also like that it has no logo. Unbound’s Active Merino T-shirt (men’s $95, women’s $85), aimed specifically at working out, is also quite nice, but it’s a tighter cut than the regular T-shirt.
Artilect’s blend of merino wool and Tencel (a lightweight fiber made from eucalyptus) is shockingly lightweight and versatile. This summer, the Utili-Tee became my (Adrienne’s) favorite shirt for climbing and backpacking. It was soft and comfortable when I was in the shaded trees, and then magically stayed light and breathable when I broke through the treeline and the temperature suddenly rose by 15 degrees in direct sunlight. The flat seams didn’t cause chafing on my shoulders or waist through backpack straps or a harness, and even though it’s a flattering slim fit, it didn’t constrict the movement of my shoulders or arms in any way.
These Icebreaker T-shirts were one of my gateways to merino wool. They’re warm, yet somehow cool, and surprisingly good at stopping the wind. These shirts aren’t great in humidity; for that, I’d probably go with a blend. Note that some of Icebreaker’s T-shirts are blends, so check the details on your favorite design before you invest.
Minus33 knows a thing or two about keeping you warm. The company is in New Hampshire, after all. This 170-gsm T-shirt is comfortable, with a loose cut that works well over a base layer on cool mornings or as a T-shirt during warmer parts of the day. It’s a great all-around choice for all but warmest of summer days.
Socks and Underwear
While merino wool is very soft, most products in this category are blends, usually with some form of nylon. Darn Tough socks are a WIRED favorite. They’re great for skiing, hiking, climbing, and just about anything else you want to do. These blends vary by weight, but most of them are around 50 percent nylon and 50 percent merino, which makes them dry a bit faster than pure merino while remaining plenty warm and comfortable.
The weird thing about socks is that, as a warm-weather lover, well, I hate socks. Every day with socks is a kind of failure. That said, these Carhartts (gifted to me by a friend who was worried that I wandered about in sockless sandals in the snow) are really nice. They’re incredibly warm and soft, and they never smell. They’re possibly my favorite socks—if I were to have favorite socks.
When you think merino, you probably think about warmth. That’s exactly what these midlayer and heavier items are.
Minus33 calls this an expedition-weight base layer, but for those of us not climbing Mt. Washington at dawn in a windstorm, it’s really more of a pullover sweatshirt—an insanely warm, comfy pullover sweatshirt. My testing time was limited. After a month, my wife stole it and now refers to it as a security blanket and has said it’s the one item of clothing she cannot live without. I did manage to try it everywhere from the beach on cool mornings to around the campfire on winter nights, and even as base layer under a merino jacket when the temps dropped below freezing last winter. In all those situations I stayed plenty warm. The looser fit means it can go over a base layer, but isn’t so bulky you can’t but a jacket over it.
A growing number of studies have shown that there are PFAS—hormone-disrupting chemicals that are commonly used in a number of plastics—in ordinary sportswear, like leggings and sports bras. If you, like me (Adrienne), are on a quest to replace your polyester clothing with natural fibers, then Ibex’s 100 percent merino wool Shak jacket is the natural candidate to replace your (my) worn-out Patagonia Better Sweater ($149). I took this jacket on a trip this spring to Ireland. It’s surprisingly dense and soft to the touch. It kept me warm on blustery 30-degree days, layered easily under my rain jacket and over my tank top, and looked sleek enough to go out to dinner. In western Ireland, at least (“I like your jumper!” said many an Irishman). It doesn’t pack down quite as compactly as a synthetic layer might, nor is it as light, but it looks much nicer and it won’t feel like slime on your skin when it gets wet.
Merino for Kids
Merino isn’t cheap, which can mean it gets expensive to clothe your fast-growing kids. However, if you have more than one kid, merino lasts, which means you can hand it down. Unfortunately there is not an abundance of merino for kids. We’re in the process of testing some XS adult options, but in the meantime we have tested these base layers.
These 100 percent merino base layers are warm, tight, but not too tight, and fit true to size. My eight-year-old loves them, and they’ve held up well to the kinds of abuse that only an eight-year-old boy can dish out. Despite frequent washing, there’s next to no pilling. There’s also no tag to rub on the neck, which my kids hate.
What Do the Numbers Mean
Merino wool comes in different weights, which you will frequently see listed as “200 gsm” or something similar. (The gsm refers to grams per square meter.) What’s important is the scale and where your garment falls on it. At the low end, you have T-shirts and underwear, which are typically 150 gsm, though we have seen some as low as 120 gsm. Generally, anything below 200 gsm will be a good base layer. From 200 to 300 gsm are your mid layers, and anything above 300 is a heavier garment.
How to Care for Merino Wool
Most merino products will have care instructions. Most likely it will be to wash cold and lay flat to dry. The latter is important, as hanging wool to dry will stretch it out (because of the water weight). While most merino labels will say the garment can be machine-washed, my experience has been that hand-washing merino will extend its life. This is particularly true of very lightweight (150 gsm) merino base layers and T-shirts.
I’ve never had a problem storing merino in my closet between wears, but for long-term storage, I recommend you take precautions against moths, which are notorious for eating holes in wool. I have lost merino garments to moths.
Summer is Fading away, and school is almost back in session (for some, it’s already started!). We scoured the internet for the best discounts on gadgets and gear for teachers, students, parents, and anyone else in the market for back-to-school fare.
Be sure to check out our Best Dorm Gear guide for additional recommendations and gift ideas, plus the Best Student Discounts and Best Teacher Discounts. For more deals, read our guides to the Best Early Labor Day Sales, Best Labor Day Mattress Deals, and Best REI Labor Day Deals.
Updated August 25, 2023: We’ve crossed out deals and added new discounts on tech accessories, headphones, and other gear.
Table of Contents
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Laptop and Tablet Deals
Apple MacBook Air
Photograph: Apple
While it was $50 cheaper earlier in the month, this is still an okay price on the best MacBook for most people (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It has a bright and sharp LCD screen, slim borders for a sleek look, and enough power for everyday tasks. The webcam is 1080p, so you’ll look sharp in all your video calls, and there’s a MagSafe magnetic charging port, so if your roommate trips over the cable, the laptop won’t go flying (the cable will just detach). Read our Best MacBooks guide for more.
This older MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) was the first to use Apple’s custom silicon, but it’s still plenty powerful for sending emails, writing documents, and browsing the web. It uses Apple’s older design, but that might not matter, considering the stellar price. Remember, you can also use Apple’s Education Store to score steeper discounts.
LG Gram SuperSlim
Photograph: LG
The LG Gram SuperSlim (7/10, WIRED Review) is stunning. The 15.6-inch screen belies just how lightweight and portable this super-slim laptop feels. While unfortunately, the performance doesn’t match up to the price tag, the $400 discount makes the value much better. If you need something powerful, pick another recommendation, but this should work just fine for tasks like homework, browsing, and streaming.
We saw a better discount earlier this month, but this is still a solid price. This gadget is for anyone who wants to enjoy the comfort of a tablet with the productivity of a laptop. The Surface 9’s 12th-gen Intel chip is adept, and you have the option to add 5G connectivity if you want internet access wherever you go. You can read our in-depth thoughts about it here.
The Surface Go 3 is just powerful enough for simple tasks, like web browsing and writing, and it’s lightweight, which makes it great to tote around everywhere. Just remember that you need to buy the Type Cover, which is also on sale for $70 ($30 off), if you want the full experience with the keyboard (though you can also use any Bluetooth keyboard). This has dropped lower in price before, but you can still save some cash if you’re in the market.
Dell G15
Photograph: Dell
This isn’t the prettiest laptop, nor is it the most portable, but it’s powerful enough for some gaming between coursework. The G15 has a 1080p screen with a 120-Hz screen refresh rate, does a good job with heat management, and doesn’t get too loud. The power brick is bulky though. Read more in our Best Gaming Laptops guide.
Want a Linux machine? This is a powerful laptop (8/10, WIRED Recommends) with a great selection of ports, and the default Pop!_OS is simple enough for newbies and experts. Read our Best Linux Laptops guide for more recommendations. You’ll automatically get $100 off the laptop after you customize it to your liking.
This discount may not be available near your location (or only might be available as “Open-Box.” Chromebooks run Chrome OS, so most of your work will be done within the Chrome browser. (You can still install Android apps.) This Acer Spin 714 has a 12th-gen Intel Core i5, which should make it powerful enough for most school and office tasks. It’s compact, despite the 14-inch screen, and you get all the ports, including two USB-C ports, an HDMI, a USB-A, and a headphone jack. Read our Best Chromebooks guide for more picks.
OnePlus Pad
Photograph: OnePlus
This promotion nets you the magnetic keyboard cover for free ($150 retail value) when you purchase the tablet. We really liked the OnePlus Pad when we tested it (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s an Android tablet, but there are a great many improvements in the software to make multitasking more efficient. The LCD screen is bright and sharp, and it has a 144-Hz screen refresh rate. It’ll get three Android OS updates and four years of security updates.
If you want a Windows laptop straight from the company that manages Windows, we think the Surface Laptop 4 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best choice for most. The Ryzen 5 chipset can easily handle more than a dozen tabs in your browser of choice, and its 13.5-inch high-res screen looks nice. You get a USB-C port with a USB-A, plus a magnetic charging port. Read our Best Surface Laptops guide for more details.
This deal is back and even better than we saw last week. The HP Spectre x360 14 is our favorite 2-in-1 laptop. The 3:2 aspect ratio means the screen is square, which makes the laptop especially great for productivity. It’s sleek and slim, with good specs, a nice stylus, and even a USB-A port.
The Kindle Scribe (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is expensive, but it hasn’t fallen this low in price before—even on Prime Day. It’s the best (and only) Kindle for taking notes. It can come in handy while note-taking during lectures or annotating text for a class. This model includes the basic pen and 16 GB of storage; larger capacity versions are also on sale, but their price drops aren’t quite as enticing.
This is the first and best price drop we’ve seen for the recently released Google Pixel Tablet (7/10, WIRED Recommends). The tablet itself performs well and looks great, and it doubles as a smart display thanks to the included charging dock. It also has solid speakers—a rare boon for a tablet. Pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and you can do some work on it, though it’s intended more as a device for home use and play.
The iPad Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has Apple’s M1 processor, giving it laptop-grade power to crush almost any task you throw at it. It has a 10.9-inch LCD screen, Touch ID built into the power button, and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil (which is down to $89 right now). We strongly recommend you pair the iPad with a keyboard like the Smart Keyboard Folio or Apple’s Magic Keyboard.
Backpack and Tote Deals
Photograph: Moment
This is a camera bag, but you need to buy the camera insert separately. Without it, it’s still a perfectly great backpack. The rear pocket can fit a 16-inch laptop (barely), and there’s a stretchy side pouch to fit a water bottle. On the front, the vertical zippered pocket is great for storing smaller items, like chargers and battery packs. The Kodra fabric it’s made of is durable and has a double-layer waterproof coating. We’ve used it for more than two years, and it has held up well.
It’s not the prettiest bag, but it’s lightweight, and the exterior is made of 100 percent recycled polyester ripstop with a water-resistant laminate. Even when it’s packed full, it feels slim. You can fit up to a 15-inch laptop in the suspended sleeve.
Lo & Sons Hanover 2
Photograph: Lo & Sons
You’ll find this backpack in our Best Backpacks guide—and in our Best Recycled Bags guide, because it saves 22 used plastic bottles from landfills. It has a padded, detachable insert with four pockets inside, plus two water bottle pockets.
Prefer a tote bag? This is the top pick in our Best Tote Bags guide. It distributes weight well, and there are tons of pockets for organization, plus a spot for a 16-inch laptop. There’s ample padding to protect all your gear, and the material is weatherproof recycled nylon. It zips closed to keep everything safe.
Router Deals
Google Nest Wifi Pro
Photograph: Google
The Nest Wifi Pro (7/10, WIRED recommends) is one of those set-it-and-forget-it products. It’s super simple to set up and use with the Google Home app, where you can customize settings, set parental controls, and monitor network performance (if you even want to bother). This supports the Wi-Fi 6E standard, so it’s a little more future-proof, and the three-pack means you can set these around a large space (up to 2,200 square feet) to get balanced coverage (you can also just buy a single or two-pack). Read more in our Best Mesh Routers guide.
The Deco X20 is our best budget mesh Wi-Fi system pick. It has great parental control options, and while coverage and speeds are just OK, it was easy to set up the whole thing. It’s a dependable system and hard to beat at this price, especially on sale.
This one from TP-Link is more powerful than the X20 and supports the newer Wi-Fi 6E standard. It’s easy to set up and delivers good performance, though the range can be limited. You can choose to go with the one-pack or three-pack as well, all of which are on sale. We have more details here.
Asus ROG Rapture GT6
Photograph: Asus
This router (yes, it’s a router) has LEDs on the side, because how else would anyone know you’re a gamer? This tri-band router is one of the best-performing mesh routers we’ve tested and has features that let you prioritize traffic to gaming devices so you can get the smoothest experience in fast-paced online games. The price was $20 lower a couple of weeks ago, but we still think this is a worthy deal.
This Asus is not a mesh router, but it’s the best overall Wi-Fi 6E pick in our Best Routers guide (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It has reliable performance and tons of customization options in the mobile app and browser interface, and it comes with parental controls and network security with no need for a subscription.
Phone and Accessory Deals
Belkin 3-in-1 MagSafe Wireless Charger
Photograph: Belkin
This is our favorite MagSafe charger and one of the best wireless chargers on the market. I use mine every night and take it with me on every vacation. It can simultaneously charge compatible iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches. You can also purchase the stand version for the same price. The discount code (LDAY2023) should show automatically during checkout.
The Pixel 7A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite phone for most people. It has an exceptional camera system, flagship-grade performance, a nice 90-Hz OLED screen, IP67 water resistance, and super smart software that’s helpful. Plus wireless charging too! It’s hard to beat at its MSRP and this sale makes it even more of a steal. If you want to save even more, last year’s Pixel 6A is on sale for $299 ($50 off).
This deal was slightly better last week, but it’s still a great discount. The Pixel 7 Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has more upgrades than the Pixel 7A, such as a larger, 120-Hz screen, a 5X optical zoom camera in addition to the primary camera and ultrawide, plus it has better battery life. The standard Pixel 7 is also on sale for $449 ($150 off) at Amazon and Target, and it shares many of the same features as the Pixel 7A with a slightly larger screen. Just know that a Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are expected to arrive this October.
Samsung Galaxy Fold5 and Flip5
Photograph: Samsung
The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a fun little flip phone. If you buy from Samsung directly, you can toggle on the Education Offers at the top for an extra 10 percent off, plus you’ll get upgraded to the 512-GB model.
Samsung’s new Z Fold5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) folds like a book and is great for multitasking. Buy it from Samsung directly to nab it for $1,530 when you toggle on the Education Offer, and you’ll get the 512-GB model.
This is one of the best deals we’ve seen on the A54 (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It lacks features like wireless charging, but you do get a microSD card slot to expand storage, decent performance, and close to two days of battery life.
Sony LinkBuds.
Photograph: Sony
The Sony LinkBuds (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are some of our favorite wireless earbuds. The open design has a physical hole in the middle, which allows the wearer to hear what’s going on around them. That makes these especially good for activities like walking or riding your bike to class.
We’ve seen this price a few times throughout the years, but the awfully named Sony WH-1000XM4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) don’t tend to fall below $278. Adorama is throwing a free power bank from a no-name brand in with your purchase, though you can use other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy if you just want the discounted price. There’s a new generation of these headphones out, but the older model still make our list of the Best Noise-Canceling cans.
These headphones regularly bounce between $279 and $329. The QC45 headphones are comfortable and have excellent noise cancellation. Find more recommendations in our Best Noise-Canceling Headphones guide.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series.
Photograph: Google
This is a great price for our favorite wireless earbuds. The Google Pixel Buds A-Series (8/10, WIRED Recommends) have great sound, a comfortable fit, and Google Assistant built right in. We wish the battery lasted longer, but it’s hard to beat the value offered here.
The Beats Studio Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) are new headphones and they’re already on sale. They have excellent noise canceling and good sound overall, but the controls and battery life aren’t the best, and we wish there was an adjustable EQ. This price makes their quirks easier to stomach.
We recommend several OtterBox products in various buying guides. Right now if you buy any case or screen protector for an iPhone, you’ll save 15 percent. Read our Best iPhone 14 Cases guide for more recommendations.
You can get 10 percent off one product or 20 percent off two or more when you enter code BTS23TG at checkout. We recommend a few different products from Casetify. There are phone cases, tablet cases, laptop cases, and other fun accessories available in a huge variety of styles and prints. One standout is the Snappy Cardholder Stand—we haven’t tested it, but it’s a kickstand that doubles as single card storage, perfect for student IDs or dormitory keycards.
These are some of our favorite wireless earbuds (9/10, WIRED Recommends), thanks to the excellent noise-canceling tech and the dual dynamic drivers that deliver clean sound. The fit is comfy, and you get up to five hours of listening time with active noise-canceling turned on. The IPX7 rating means it’s fine to use these in the rain or during sweaty workouts.
This is one of the lowest prices we’ve tracked on the Galaxy S23+ (9/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s one of the best flagship phones you can buy today, with a sharp and bright 120-Hz AMOLED screen, good battery life, tons of power, and a triple-camera system that can consistently capture great photos. The smaller S23 is also on sale for $700 ($100 off).
More Tech Deals
Satechi Tablet Holder
Photograph: Satechi
Use code BTS30 to get 30 percent off Satechi’s accessories. Choose from chargers, cables, cases, and other tech peripherals. We recommend the tablet stand, wireless charging stand, and 3-in-1 charging stand to name a few gadgets.
Even though it was $10 cheaper earlier in the week, this is a solid discount on the Garmin Venu Sq fitness tracker (8/10, WIRED Recommends). A newer version of this watch is available, but this original model is still capable, especially for the price. Learn more about it in our Best Garmin Watches guide.
This bad boy can fit so many plugs in it. There are twelve AC outlets, plus two USB-A ports and a USB-C port. The extension cord measures five feet long. If you and your two roommates simultaneously need to charge your phones, laptops, and tablets, you’ll still have three outlets left over. Imagine the possibilities. This is the cheapest price we’ve seen for this surge protector.
Apple Watch Ultra.
Photograph: Apple
The price will show at checkout. This is a match of the best deal we’ve seen for the Apple Watch Ultra (8/10, WIRED Recommends). A smartwatch makes a great school gift, but the Ultra is overkill. However, if you’re planning on playing sports or participating in intense physical activity, the extra-robust features might be worth the higher price, and it’ll last a full weekend on a single charge. Check out Best Apple Watch Accessories guide for straps, cases, and other goodies.
This model is similar to our top pick in our USB-C hub buying guide. It turns a single USB-C port into a multi-port hub with HDMI, an SD card reader, and even a headphone jack. It also supports pass-through charging.
We recommend this in our guide to the Best Work-from-Home Gear, but it’ll come in handy in a dorm room or first apartment too. It takes up a whole wall outlet, but it turns those two outlets into six. There’s also a USB-C port, a USB-A port, and an optional nightlight.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
Photograph: Best Buy
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one of our favorite streaming sticks for folks who don’t mind Amazon brazenly shoving its content into their face. Just plug it into the back of your TV and use the remote to scroll through a variety of streaming apps. You may also be able to get the non-4K version for $20, but that promotion is limited to specific Amazon accounts—and it’s worth the extra $7 to get 4K compatibility.
“It’s like 10,000 cables when all you need is a wall charger,” or whatever Alanis Morissette said. It seems like you can never have enough wall adapters. Not only is this USB-C charger tiny, but it comes in a bunch of translucent colors like the tech of the ‘90s. It’s capable of delivering 30 watts—so it’ll probably charge up your phone, tablet, and other devices faster than whatever you’re currently using.
This is the best-looking robot vacuum, and it performs well to boot. It has an automatic emptying feature and built-in storage for the various included accompaniments. It also has reliable navigational skills and strong suction. Let this robot do the cleaning while you do homework.
Logitech MX Mechanical Mini
Photograph: Logitech
The price has dropped even more on this understated mechanical keyboard with low-profile keys. It’s wireless, and the battery lasts for a really long time if you don’t use the backlighting to light up the keys. It’s also super comfortable to type on. You can pair it with three devices and switch between them with the push of a button.
This is featured as the best keyboard for most people in our Best MacBook Accessories guide. It was on sale for $150 earlier in the month, but this price is still okay. The built-in Touch ID button lets you log in and authenticate purchases. It also has the same function row keys as M-series MacBooks, plus a dedicated Do Not Disturb button and a number pad.
If you plan on spending $100 at Apple anytime soon, this is an easy way to get an extra $10 for your trouble. Apple gift cards can be used in-store or online, but they can also be redeemed in the App Store and elsewhere. If you subscribe to Netflix through your phone, for example, you can apply this gift card to your membership.
The newest Echo Dot With Clock is our favorite Alexa speaker for the bedroom. The built-in digital clock combined with the power of Alexa makes this speaker a particularly great nightstand companion. Alexa might even be able to help with your homework.
This is another deal that matches the prices we saw during Prime Day. The stylish Amazon Echo Pop speaker (7/10, WIRED Review) isn’t the best-sounding in the Amazon Echo lineup—but it’s probably the cutest. The front-facing design is fine for a desk or a nightstand. Just don’t expect this gadget to set the mood for your next house party.
Outlet space can be an issue. This gadget can help. It’ll turn a single wall outlet into three AC outlets, plus two USB-A ports and a USB-C port. We generally like Anker’s gear, and while it frequently goes on sale, this extender doesn’t usually fall below today’s deal price.
Deals on Everything Else
Happy Planners
Photograph: The Happy Planner
Happy Planners make our favorite paper planners. Several different options are on sale right now. You can choose between various layouts, cover styles, and lengths. Prices start at $7.
I’ve never used these journals, but they have solid reviews and seem a bit like Moleskine knockoffs. Either way, $4 per notebook is a decent deal. There’s a little pocket on the inside cover, an integrated bookmark, and an elastic band closure.
Prices start at 40 cents. Index cards, Crayola crayons, composition notebooks, and pencils are just a few of the things you can pick up for under a dollar. If you don’t have school-age kids, sales like this are an easy way to pick up supplies to donate to local classrooms or school supply drives.
Cosori Electric Kettle
Photograph: Cosori
This kettle is featured in our guides to the Best Electric Kettles and the Best Dorm Gear. It boils water quickly, and the blue LED light shows you at-a-glance if your water is ready. Roommates will appreciate the lack of a shrill whistle.
Different colors are available at different retailers, so check another store if you don’t see the one you want. This itty-bitty Keurig takes up very little counter space, making it perfect for dorms or shared living spaces. I have one on my desk. It works exactly how you’d expect it to, though I prefer using an ecofriendly K-Cup and supplying my own coffee grounds. This price matches the deal we saw on Prime Day.
Target is offering discounts on throw pillows, with prices starting as low as $10. This includes floor pillows, which are great for adding seating to small spaces. I’ve purchased a few of them and they’re both comfortable and relatively durable.
Luna Weighted Blanket
Photograph: Luna
Use code LABORDAY20 at checkout to save. Luna is featured in our Best Weighted Blankets guide partially because of the sheer number of sizes, weights, and colors you can choose from. A weighted blanket can provide comfort when you’re feeling anxious or homesick—or your roommate is chewing with their mouth open again. Check out our list of early Labor Day Sales for more deals.
Laundry detergent, toilet paper, disinfecting wipes, and other essentials are included in the massive selection of items. Choose at least $60 worth and you can get a $15 Amazon credit back with code BTSSTOCKUP. This deal is a great opportunity to save if you need to restock your frequently used items.
This deal gets you a Costco Gold Star membership, plus a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card (which is basically a gift card you can redeem online or in-store). You’ll also get a coupon for $40 off an online order of $250 or more, but note that it expires in October. This deal is only valid for folks who haven’t had a Costco membership since at least March of this year. If you use the digital shopping card, this is essentially like getting a one-year Costco membership for $15.
Similar to the Amazon deal above, this is an easy way to restock essentials like cleaning supplies and health products. Your gift card will be sent via email once you place a qualifying order. Note that you need to claim the deal through Target Circle, which is free to join.
WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar swears by a similar water-filtering pitcher. It’ll filter impurities out of your tap water so you can cut back on single-use water bottles while staying hydrated. Replacement filters are pretty affordable as well. The pitcher might not fit in a mini fridge, but it should do the trick if you have a bit more space to work with.
College students and teachers can get 20 percent off a qualifying purchase at Target through August 26. These deals are redeemed through Target Circle, which is free to join. Some items are excluded, but this is still an easy way to save on all sorts of essentials—especially if you’re placing a big order.
You always need more power strips. This one has eight outlets, and each can rotate so that one bulky charging adapter won’t block the other outlet. Smart!
Buying a new planner gives me an endorphin rush like no other, whether it’s for a new school semester, work year, or a much-needed fresh start. A good one should help you stay on track without overwhelming you. Some folks on WIRED’s Gear team prefer paper planners over digital tools. Plus, writing things down has the added benefit of improving retention.
Everyone has their own preferences, types of tasks, and degrees of willingness to scribble and organize, so we don’t have one best overall planner. I grilled WIRED staff for their favorites and have tested a ton on my own. Once you’ve found something that works for you, check out our Work From Home Gear, Best Smart Pens and Tablets, and Best Laptop Backpacks guides for more.
Updated August 2023: We’ve added planners from Ban.do, The Skinny Confidential, and Laurel Denise, plus updated prices throughout.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
Not every webcam is an upgrade over the built-in one on your laptop. These are the models I tested that ranged from merely unimpressive to ones that made me look like the subject of a second-grade art project.
Microsoft LifeCam Studio for $120: It says it’s a 1080p webcam, but there’s a catch—that’s only for recording video. Using it for video calls restricts you to 720p. My coworkers commented on how out-of-focus I constantly was. The white balance was so off that I looked more orange than an Oompa Loompa. And the exposure was so blown out that I never stopped looking like I was living through the last scenes of The Lighthouse. There was also a lot of lag in my movements and bad motion blur.
Logitech Brio 500 for $100: I’m struggling to think of a reason why Logitech decided to make the Brio 500 mount via an adhesive patch on its bracket, which is not meant to be removed once placed onto a laptop or monitor. What if you want to use it on multiple computers, as many of us do, or if you swap the case on your laptop? The adjustment is wacky, too. The webcam is held onto the base via a magnet. Panning the cam downward often pulled it off the base instead of adjusting the angle, and swiveling it left or right caused it to loosen so much it wouldn’t stay put. That meant I kept having to pull it off the magnetic stand, screw the mount back down, and reposition it—and then not adjust it during the rest of the Zoom. That said, the image quality of its 1080p resolution, white balance, and color contrast was quite good, if not excellent, and it came with a USB-C connection and a physical privacy shutter. The autofocus could stand to be a touch quicker. Other positives are that you can get it in black, white, or pink, which is two more colors than most webcams offer you.
Logitech Brio 300 for $60: The image quality is lacking on this one. Even in a fairly well-lit room, my picture was grainy. It also did weird things with the white balance as it autofocused. The field of view is quite narrow at 70 degrees and non-adjustable, so the image onscreen is up in your face. You’ll want to scoot back quite a bit so everybody else isn’t looking up your nose. Like the Brio 500, it comes in black, white, and pink, connects via USB-C, and has a physical privacy shutter. There are better options for this price without these image quality oddities.
Razer Kiyo Pro for $100: Although it looks similar to its cheaper, non-pro sibling, the Pro ditches the light ring and instead relies on software to compensate for low-light conditions. I resented having to download the Razer Synapse app to get a decent image out of the Kiyo Pro. Yes, fine-tuning settings is a very WIRED thing to do, but most people just want to plug their webcam in. Once you fiddle with the app settings, the picture image is sharp and beautiful. However, it has the same overly obvious autofocusing as the regular Kiyo, and it’s also a little overpriced. It’s not a bad pick, but again, the Logitech Brio can do 4K/30 fps, as opposed to this camera, which tops out at 1080p/60 fps.
Creative Labs Live! Sync 4K for $60: I was skeptical about a 4K resolution webcam for this price, and my skepticism was validated in the wildly-strange white balance that turned me and everything faintly orange. It may be the only webcam that made my room look darker than it actually was. The Creative Labs app is available only for Windows, leaving Mac users out in the cold. The privacy shutter is a rubber cap you put on and take off. The bit that holds it to the webcam when it’s off is flimsy enough that if you’re rough or careless, you could rip it off, but it’s nice that it isn’t plastic, which would weaken over time. A minor issue is that the black cap blends in with the black webcam and lens, so that at quick glance it could be hard to tell whether the cap is on or off. The USB-A plug is also a downside. These days, a new webcam really ought to have a USB-C connection so as not to mandate using a hub.
Cisco Desk Camera 1080p for $125: Not to be confused with Cisco’s almost identically named Desk Camera 4K. I tried the 1080p, 8-megapixel version in a variety of natural and artificial lighting, but my fellow Gear Team members and I couldn’t help but notice that no matter how I used it, the video looked overly pixelated. Unless a webcam can make me look as good pixelated as Axel from Streets of Rage, then I want smooth video that actually looks like it’s 1080p. During Zooms, the Desk Camera 1080p had trouble with focusing and zooming, frequently and jarringly refocusing but never getting it quite right.
Logitech StreamCam for $101: The StreamCam did weird things with its white balance, constantly auto-adjusting from one extreme to the other. It was a very nouveau art house vibe having everything on the screen to go from blinding, brilliant blue to toasty, volcanic orange and back. And back, and back again. It swivels left and right, but the swivel is unstable, so the StreamCam wobbles around a lot, especially if it’s mounted on a laptop. On one of our many Zoom meetings, a coworker asked if I was on the deck of a boat. The only great thing about it is that it uses a USB-C cable, while most other webcams use USB-A.
Anker PowerConf C300 for $100: It’s not a bad webcam, but when I checked the price my eyes bugged out a little, Daffy Duck-style. The picture image on the Anker just didn’t look as sharp. While its white balance and autofocusing were … fine, it just isn’t worth the triple-digit price, not when the sharper Logitech C920 and Razer Kiyo exist.
