JBL’s rugged Flip 7 speaker is also discounted, as is the latest Kindle Paperwhite.
JBL’s rugged Flip 7 speaker is also discounted, as is the latest Kindle Paperwhite.
If past timing is any indication, Samsung is likely to hold its next Unpacked event in late February. However, we’re not expecting the company to shake up its earbuds lineup until the summer — the winter keynote is typically reserved for smartphone announcements — which makes today’s discount on the Galaxy Buds FE far more attractive. Right now, you can pick up the budget earbuds at Amazon and Walmart for $69.99 ($30 off), which is the best price we’ve seen since August.
The entry-level Galaxy Buds 3 remain a solid pair of wireless earbuds, even if they are getting somewhat long in the tooth (they launched in the back half of 2023). They don’t include wireless charging or proper multipoint support, though, for the money, they deliver good sound, solid noise cancellation, and up to six hours of playback with ANC on or 8 hours with it off. They also support both a game mode for reduced latency and a transparency mode, the latter of which is helpful for piping in the sound of traffic and other ambient noise.
Fit is probably where the Buds FE excel most, though. Unlike the pricier Galaxy Buds 3 and newer Buds 3 FE, Samsung’s last-gen earbuds sport a wing tip design reminiscent of the Galaxy Buds Plus, allowing for a more comfortable, secure fit once you settle on the appropriate set of ear / wing tips. What’s more, they’re also a little more foolproof to control than other modern earbuds, given that their flattened touchpad area makes it easier to pause, play, and skip tracks on the fly.
More deals and discounts of note
- Now through January 30th, the JBL Flip 7 is on sale at Woot in select colors for an all-time low of $84.95 ($65 off). I’ve always found the Flip series to be a great value proposition, and with the Flip 7, JBL has leveled things up with a more rugged IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating, an interchangeable strap, and multi-speaker connectivity via Auracast. The portable Bluetooth speaker also leverages JBL’s AI Sound Boost tech, which optimizes the acoustic output level in real time using an AI-based algorithm. All that is to say, it sounds less distorted at higher volumes.
- The 256GB OnePlus 15R, which recently received a shout-out in our guide to the best Android phones, is available with a $100 gift card at Amazon for $699.99. It’s a bit lacking compared to other budget phones — there’s no wireless charging to speak of, and the camera system is nothing to write home about — but it still offers excellent performance thanks to a last-gen Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. It can also last days, as in plural, on a single charge, if marathon battery life is what you’re after. Read our review.
- If you mostly buy ebooks from Amazon, the latest Kindle Paperwhite is on sale at Amazon in “like-new” condition (read: refurbished) with a one-year warranty for $114.99, which is about $46 off the price of a new model. The 12th-gen Paperwhite remains the best option for most people, as it features a spacious 7-inch 300pi display, rich contrast levels, and an adjustable frontlight. It also carries an IPX8 water resistance rating, which is what really gives it an edge over the standard Kindle. Read our review.
