The Best New Deals We've Found on Day 2 of Prime Day
A-Sha Meteor Noodles With Danzai Sauce (12-Pack) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $22 (pack of twelve); street price: $27
What we like: One of our saucy instant noodle top picks. We loved this ramen's balance of sweet shallots and a meaty sauce coating thick, bouncy noodles. It was a near-unanimous favorite of our testers. The 'meteor noodles' are ovoid-shaped, with laser cuts intended to absorb extra sauce.
Other things to know: We can't say for certain whether those laser cuts work as intended. Vegan-friendly. 1,250 mg per serving. Contains wheat and soy. Deal for a pack of twelve.
Read more: The Best Instant Noodles
Photo: Marki Williams
ThruNite Archer 2A C Flashlight — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $30 ; street price: $40
What we like: Our top pick for the best flashlight. Waterproof and compact (picture a thick Crayola marker). Stands upright on its end. Wide range of brightness settings. Included rechargeable battery makes the brighter settings more powerful. Can also be powered by two AA batteries.
Other things to know: Very similar to our previous top pick (the 2A V3 model, now our runner-up pick), but is also compatible with its included rechargeable battery. Battery needs to be removed from the flashlight in order to charge. Flimsy belt clip.
Read more: The Best Flashlight
Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter
Keychron V5 Max Mechanical Keyboard (Banana Switch) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $65 (deal on Banana Switch); street price: $115
What we like: The best 1800-layout mechanical keyboard. Provides all the keys of a full-size keyboard in a significantly more-compact layout. Sturdy case, durable PBT keycaps, and smooth lubricated stabilizers. Wired, wireless USB dongle, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Other things to know: Comes with Windows and Mac keycaps, and swapping between the two layouts is easy. Very limited one-year warranty. Less aesthetically flexible than others. Nonstandard right Shift, bottom-row, and number-pad keys—something to look out for if you replace your keycaps. Banana switches, which are slightly stiffer and snappier. Brown switches available for $10 more, which is still a great deal. New low.
Read more: The Best Keyboards
REI
REI Co-op 650 Down Vest - Women's — Budget Pick
REI deal price: $50 (with store pickup or REI membership, deal on olive or cream); street price: $100
What we like: Our budget insulated vest pick. As warm as or warmer than all but our top pick. Half the price of our picks. Stylish and well-constructed. Spacious outer pockets. Comes in a variety of sizes. Ideal for commuting, urban walks, and the occasional outdoor adventure. Repels water well. Packable, durable and made of ethically-sourced down.
Other things to know: Zippers aren't as sturdy as our top pick, and may get caught on the fabric. Select store pickup or add to an order of $60 or more to avoid shipping fees. REI members get free shipping. Deal on olive and cream.
Read more: The Best Insulated Vest
Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
Jarkyfine Large Window Bird Feeder — Gift Pick
Amazon deal price: $19 ; street price: $22
What we like: A bird feeder recommended in multiple Wirecutter gift guides. Mounts to the outside of a window with strong suction cups. A roomy acrylic structure readily accommodate multiple avian visitors. Gives a close of view of feeding birds. Squirrel-proof.
Other things to know: Surprisingly enjoyable for the whole family, including pets. It can get messy, but it's easy to clean. Add a bag of birdseed, and you have an inexpensive gift that nearly anyone will enjoy.
Read more: The 29 Best Gifts for Families
NYT Wirecutter
Hanes Men's Full-Zip EcoSmart Hoodie — Gift Pick
Amazon deal price: $9 (deal on steel gray); street price: $18
What we like: An everyday hoodie recommended in our guide to great last-minute Christmas gifts. Inexpensive, especially on sale. An ideal extra layer: not too cold, warm, or fancy. Soft and cut generously.
Other things to know: The 50-50 cotton and polyester blend holds color and texture better than 100% cotton but still feels breathable. Comes in six sizes up to 3XL. Most colors and sizes on sale. Down to the lowest price we've seen. Other colors are $12 or $13, which is a decent deal price matching our previous low.
Read more: 33 Great Last-Minute Christmas Gifts
Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter
Boy Smells Hinoki Fantôme Candle — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $35; street price: $45
What we like: One of our top warm, woodsy scented candle picks that we also like as a gift. Earthy and elegant fragrance isn't overpowering. Top note of Japanese cypress (hinoki) smoke with hints of warm amber, sweet vanilla, florals, and fresh moss.
Other things to know: We're currently retesting this candle, as after a rebrand the company is using a new, supposedly stronger-scented wax formulation. 8.5 ounces. 20-hour burn time. Not the best deal we've seen, but still solid since the street price shot up by $10 last year.
Read more: Our Favorite Scented Candles
Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
Google Nest Audio Smart Speaker — Top Pick
Best Buy deal price: $50; street price: $80
What we like: The best Google Nest smart speaker for streaming music, and also our top pick for a Google smart-home assistant. Noticeably richer audio experience in comparison with the smaller Google Nest speaker. Can pair for a stereo set or work with other Google speakers for multiroom audio.
Other things to know: On a par with the Amazon Echo. Sound is good but nothing special. Stands just under 7 inches tall and has a slim, 3-inch base. Has a physical switch on the back to turn the microphone off, plus tap controls on either side to control volume. Available in charcoal or white.
Read more: The Best Google Nest Smart Speakers
Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
Beautyblender Original Makeup Sponge — Best For...
Amazon deal price: $14; street price: $20
What we like: The best makeup sponge. Creates an almost airbrushed finish. Its curves fit all facial contours. Foam expands when wet without feeling mushy and waterlogged. Moistening this sponge creates a barrier that keeps makeup from sinking in and wasting product.
Other things to know: Damp sponges can harbor mold. Cleaning the sponge — lathering, rinsing, blotting repeatedly — is a process, but essential.
Read more: The Best Makeup Brushes
Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
Travelpro Crew Classic Rolling UnderSeat Carry-On — Best For...
Amazon deal price: $166 (deal on black); street price: $195
What we like: The best underseat personal-item bag for wheeled-luggage fans. This diminutive version of our favorite carry-on luggage rolls along on wheels, has a long extending handle, and fits under an airline seat. Large enough to carry everything you need for an overnight trip. Durable, dependable, and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Other things to know: Has a pass-through sleeve for the handle of a carry-on luggage. It's not compressible, the wheels take up some space, and the exterior accessory pocket can't fit much. Deal on black.
Read more: The Best Underseat Luggage and Personal-Item Bags
Joshua Lyon/NYT Wirecutter
Lego Roses 40460 — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $9; street price: $13
What we like: One of our top picks for the best entry-level Lego kit. Pack of two individual flowers is a fraction of the cost of bigger botanical kits. Easy to assemble, with little time commitment. The roses contain satisfying structural details such as thorns and curvy petals.
Other things to know: Also recommended in multiple gift guides. Unobtrusive enough to tuck into a spot of your home without overpowering an overall aesthetic. You can add it to other botanical bouquets or DIY your own.
Read more: The Best Lego Flower and Plant Sets
Photo: Marki Williams
Toto Washlet C2 Bidet Toilet Seat — Runner-Up
Amazon deal price: $300; street price: $350
Walmart deal price: $300; street price: $350
What we like: Our runner-up pick for the best bidet toilet seat. Less expensive than our top pick but retains many of the same features. Offers heated seat, warm water, and pressure controls that go up and down on a +/- scale. Side panel is easy enough to learn by feel.
Other things to know: Compared with our top pick, the C2 lacks a remote, has two fewer options for water temperature, and no programmable user settings. Deal on white. Not the lowest price we've seen, but still a good deal.
Read more: The Best Bidet Toilet Seat or Washlet
NYT Wirecutter
Anker 622 Magnetic Battery Power Bank (A1614) — Another Good Option
Amazon deal price: $30; street price: $43
What we like: A wireless power bank worth considering if you want something lighter than our top pick that comes in more colors, and you don't mind that it has half the capacity. Weighs only 5 ounces. Has a single USB-C in/out port and a handy foldable stand. Comes with a USB-C charging cable.
Other things to know: Has a rated capacity of 5,000 mAh, so it can't fully recharge a phone as many times as our top pick. Backed by Anker's two-year warranty. All colors on sale.
Read more: The Best Wireless Portable Chargers and Power Banks
Here are all of the best Amazon Prime Day deals, as curated by Wirecutter's meticulous team of journalists.
With these Wirecutter-approved picks under $100, you don't have to spend a lot to get a good deal this Amazon Prime Day.
We, too, get giddy about actually-good deals.
Plenty of beauty products are on sale right now, but these Wirecutter-tested picks are actually worth the money. No more post-purchase regret.
The Wirecutter Deals Team
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