Apple spent two years promising a smarter Siri. We’ve been patiently waiting. At WWDC 2026 on Monday, the company finally showed the rebuild instead of a roadmap slide: Siri AI, an assistant that Apple says can hold a back-and-forth conversation, read what’s on your screen, and dig through your own messages, emails, and photos to answer a question. That headline arrived wrapped in a software preview that also reaches AirPods, Safari, your kids’ screen time, and, awkwardly, what European iPhone o
Apple spent two years promising a smarter Siri. We’ve been patiently waiting. At WWDC 2026 on Monday, the company finally showed the rebuild instead of a roadmap slide: Siri AI, an assistant that Apple says can hold a back-and-forth conversation, read what’s on your screen, and dig through your own messages, emails, and photos to answer a question. That headline arrived wrapped in a software preview that also reaches AirPods, Safari, your kids’ screen time, and, awkwardly, what European iPhone owners won’t get at all.
If you’ve followed Apple’s AI fits and starts, you know the company often announce features a year before they’re ready for wide distribution. Most of this lands this fall in iOS 27 and its sibling updates, though Siri AI itself slips to a beta “later this year.” We haven’t tested any of it yet, but I’m looking forward to trying the developer beta soon. Here are the 10 changes from the keynote most likely to matter once they actually ship.
1. Siri AI is a ground-up rebuild, not another patch
Siri can now answer questions by viewing the content on the screen. Apple
Siri AI is the biggest thing Apple announced today. Apple says it rebuilt the assistant from the ground up on a new architecture, rather than bolting more features onto the old one. It leans on what Apple calls personal context, so you can ask it to surface a hotel confirmation number buried in an old email or pull up the photos from a recent trip, and it remembers the thread of a conversation so you can keep asking follow-ups. This will be a real relief if it works.
It also reads your screen and takes action across apps. Get a text about a potluck and you can brainstorm what to bring with Siri, then drop a recipe into Notes without leaving the conversation. On iPhone you start it by saying “Hey Siri,” pressing the side button, or swiping down from the Dynamic Island, and there’s now a standalone Siri app that syncs your conversation history across devices through iCloud. That makes it look a lot more like ChatGPT or Gemini than the Siri you’ve been yelling directions at since 2011.
2. Apple’s new AI leans on Google’s Gemini
The next generation of Apple Intelligence runs on Apple Foundation Models that the company says were “custom-built in collaboration with Google and its Gemini models.” For a company that sells its in-house silicon and on-device processing as a core advantage, leaning on a rival’s models is a real philosophical shift. Bloomberg reported before WWDC that the arrangement was expected to cost Apple roughly $1 billion a year. Apple has not confirmed a figure.
The outside-models thread runs through the developer side too. In its developer-tools announcement, Apple said Xcode 27 brings coding agents from Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI into the workflow, and that developers can build on models like Claude and Gemini alongside Apple’s own. Even the hidden watermark Apple applies to AI images in iOS 27 is Google’s SynthID. Apple’s AI is now stitched together with outside models in a way the company would not have admitted to a few years ago.
3. Check whether your iPhone actually makes the cut
Apple Intelligence and Siri AI require an iPhone 16 model or later, or an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max. That leaves out the standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, the entire iPhone 14 line, and anything older. iOS 27 itself installs on phones going back to the iPhone 11, so plenty of people will get the update this fall without the AI features that headlined the keynote.
The split goes deeper than that. Siri’s most-promoted extras, the expressive customizable voices and a big jump in dictation accuracy, require Apple’s most advanced on-device model, which Apple lists as iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, plus iPads with an M4 chip or later and Macs with M3 or later that have at least 12GB of unified memory, and the M5 Apple Vision Pro. If you bought a midrange iPhone in the last couple of years, read the fine print before you get attached to the demos.
4. EU iPhone and iPad owners are locked out
Siri AI will not ship on iPhone or iPad in the European Union with the release of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, and Apple says it does not currently have a timeline to change that. The company blames the Digital Markets Act directly, arguing that under the EU’s reading of the law it would have to give any third-party assistant the same deep access to your data and apps that Siri gets, which Apple says it can’t do without putting users at risk.
Apple proposed a workaround it calls Trusted System Agent, plus an 18-month phased rollout, and says the European Commission rejected all of it. EU users will still get Siri AI on Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro, just not on the two devices most people use most. It was the most openly combative Apple got all day, and it’s worth tracking if you live in or travel through the EU’s 27 member states. Siri AI and the other new Apple Intelligence features also won’t launch in China while Apple works through regulatory requirements there.
5. AirPods finally get a real custom EQ
Finally, we can tweak beyond Apple’s automatic EQ. Appl
After about a decade of people asking, AirPods owners are getting a true custom equalizer in iOS 27, not the hands-off Adaptive EQ Apple has shipped for years. Apple’s release keeps the details thin, but keynote coverage described a graph-style interface with separate low, mid, and high bands and a live waveform that moves as you adjust it, so you can see and hear the change you’re dialing in.
Cheaper earbuds have offered this for years while AirPods made you live with Apple’s house tuning, so it’s overdue. If you’ve wanted more bass for the gym or a brighter top end for podcasts, you’ll finally be able to set it yourself. Separately, the AirPods Pro 3 can now sync your heart rate to iPhone through GymKit during a workout.
I typically like the EQ decisions Apple hardware makes natively, but I know some enthusiasts who can’t wait for this to materialize.
6. Image Playground goes photorealistic and tags everything it makes
Image Playground, Apple’s image generator, can now make photorealistic pictures instead of just cartoon-style art, using a new model that runs on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers. You can edit by describing a change in plain language, or by tapping, circling, or brushing an object to move or resize it.
The part that matters beyond the novelty: Apple says images generated in Image Playground and photos edited with Apple Intelligence both carry a hidden SynthID watermark, Google’s provenance tag, so a file can be identified as AI-touched down the line. As convincing fakes get easier to produce, baking provenance into the file at the moment of creation is a bigger deal than the picture quality.
7. The Passwords app can fix weak logins for you
Apple’s Passwords app already flags weak and breached passwords. In iOS 27 it can fix them, navigating to the site, signing in, and swapping in a strong password with a single tap. Apple is using Siri AI and Safari to carry out that action on your behalf, which is one of the clearest examples of the assistant doing a task for you rather than just answering a question.
If you have ever ignored a “this password appeared in a data breach” warning, then this is for you (and me). It only works on supported sites at launch, so it won’t sweep your entire login list in one pass, but it turns a recurring to-do into a button.
8. Safari learns to wrangle tabs and watch pages for you
Safari picks up three Apple Intelligence tricks in iOS 27 worth knowing about. The most useful is Notify Me: tell Safari to keep an eye on a page and it pings you when something changes, like a restock or a price drop, so you can stop manually refreshing a sold-out product page.
It also auto-groups your open tabs into topics, so a pile of weekend-trip research collapses into one cluster, and a feature called Describe an Extension lets you spin up a simple custom Safari extension by typing what you want it to do. None of these are flashy, but the tab organizer and the restock alerts are the kind of thing you’ll reach for most weeks. You might finally get that NeeDoh without paying inflated after market prices.
9. Old hardware gets a speed increase
Not all of this is AI. Apple says apps launch up to 30 percent faster, photos load up to 70 percent faster right after you take them, and AirDrop transfers move up to 80 percent faster in this year’s releases. On iPad, copying files to and from an external drive runs up to 5x faster, which Apple says finally matches Finder on a Mac.
Apple ran its app-launch test on an iPhone 11 Pro Max, a phone from 2019, which suggests the speed gains reach aging hardware and not only the newest models. These are Apple’s own numbers and the usual marketing caveats apply, but a free performance bump on an old phone is the rare WWDC item that everyone with a supported device gets, no Pro model required.
10. Parents get real new screen-time controls
Now you’ll know before your kids go to weird websites. Apple
Apple overhauled its parental controls in iOS 27, and the standout addition is Ask to Browse, which makes a kid request permission before opening a new website in Safari, the same way Ask to Buy already gates app downloads. There’s also a redesigned Screen Time dashboard and Time Allowances that cap usage by category, including Games, Entertainment, and Social Media.
Communication Safety, already on by default for users under 18, now blurs and blocks gore and violent content, not only nudity. And a new Declared Age Range API lets apps tailor themselves to a kid’s age bracket without the parent handing over an exact birthday. Apple says the time recommendations are based on expert research, and that it’s working with the American Academy of Pediatrics to adapt the group’s Family Media Plan into a guide for parents.
The Gozney Dome is our pro-grade pick in PopSci’s best pizza ovens guide, and the brand almost never runs a real discount outside of seasonal sales. Its Summer Sale is one of those rare windows, with sitewide cuts on every oven, every bundle, and most of the accessory lineup. If a Dome, Arc XL, or Tread has been parked on your shortlist for a year, this is the week to actually buy one.
Gozney Arc XL 16" Gas Pizza Oven $899.99 (was $999.99)
The Gozney Dome is our pro-grade pick in PopSci’s best pizza ovens guide, and the brand almost never runs a real discount outside of seasonal sales. Its Summer Sale is one of those rare windows, with sitewide cuts on every oven, every bundle, and most of the accessory lineup. If a Dome, Arc XL, or Tread has been parked on your shortlist for a year, this is the week to actually buy one.
Gozney Arc XL 16" Gas Pizza Oven $899.99 (was $999.99)
The Arc XL is Gozney’s mid-tier gas oven, and the one most people should buy if they aren’t going Dome. It hits 950 degrees in about half an hour, fits a 16-inch pie, and runs a rolling flame across the back that gives crusts the leopard-spotted char a Neapolitan is supposed to have. Gozney almost never cuts the Arc XL outside seasonal sales, so the $100 off is the right window if it’s been on your list.
Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2) Sale Bundle – Hybrid Fuel Propane $2,799.99 (was $3,124.96)
The Dome XL is Gozney’s biggest residential oven, with a 24-inch deck wide enough for two pies side by side or a whole chicken next to a tray of vegetables. The Hybrid Fuel version runs propane or wood, so weeknight pizza happens on gas and weekends can lean into real wood-fired flavor. This bundle stacks the 24-inch placement peel and pizza server on top of the oven for free over the bare-oven price, which makes it the cheapest way into the platform.
The Tread is Gozney’s portable propane oven, built to break down into a carry bag and ride along to a campsite, tailgate, or friend’s backyard. The Trail Bundle adds the stand and the Venture carry bag, which is what turns the Tread from technically smaller into actually portable. At $699 it costs less than the Tread Basecamp Bundle while including the gear that matters if you’re really taking it anywhere.
Gozney Pizza Oven Deals
Every full-size Gozney oven is $100 off. The new Dome Gen 2 and Dome XL Gen 2 swap the direct cut for a gift with purchase, but the Sale Bundles below land the bigger savings on the same ovens.
Bundles are where the biggest dollar savings hide because they stack the sitewide cut on top of an already-discounted accessory pack. The Dome XL Sale Bundle is $324 off and the Tread Peak Bundle is $247 off, both bigger than any standalone oven cut.
Every peel, rocker, cutter, and server is 20 percent off, with Gozney’s infrared thermometer down to $39.99 if you actually want to read deck temps before you launch a pie. This is the right pass if you already own a Gozney and your peels have started looking like they survived a small fire.
Dough trays, scrapers, cutters, and Gozney’s three regional dough mixes are all 20 percent off. The Dough Mix Set is the cheapest way to taste-test Neapolitan, New York, and Detroit in one weekend, then settle which style reheats best for Monday lunch.
Stands, covers, mantels, and the Tread carry kit are all 20 percent off. The Arc and Arc XL Stand at $239.99 is the cheapest way to get an oven off the patio table and onto a permanent spot in the yard.
The deepest cuts hit the legacy Roccbox and original Dome accessories at 40 to 50 percent off. The Roccbox Wood Burner 2.0 is half off at $49.99, which is still the only way to convert a gas Roccbox to wood-fired without a third-party kit.
HexClad has marked down nearly its entire catalog for the season, with free shipping and cuts that run up to roughly 50% across hybrid cookware, Damascus steel knives, and grilling gear. The summer sale has a few standouts worth flagging up top: the 7-piece Damascus Steel Knife Set drops to $399 (was $783), the Master Series steak knife set falls to $131 (was $259), and the Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan is down to $111 (was $159). The prices hold while the sale runs, and a handful of the bundles throw in
HexClad has marked down nearly its entire catalog for the season, with free shipping and cuts that run up to roughly 50% across hybrid cookware, Damascus steel knives, and grilling gear. The summer sale has a few standouts worth flagging up top: the 7-piece Damascus Steel Knife Set drops to $399 (was $783), the Master Series steak knife set falls to $131 (was $259), and the Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan is down to $111 (was $159). The prices hold while the sale runs, and a handful of the bundles throw in a free gift on top.
I just started testing a HexClad frying pan to update some of our cookware buying guides and I’m impressed off the bat. My fried eggs have been dancing around the cooking surface like Ryan and Emma in La La Land (I just got around to watching La La Land).
HexClad Hybrid Fry Pan with Lid, 12-inch $169 (was $199)
The pan that built the brand, and the easiest way into the lineup
The 12-inch Hybrid is currently on my stove and it will have a pound of ground beef in it later. With a laser-etched stainless steel grid raised over the nonstick valleys, you can sear hard and use metal utensils without chewing up the surface. It works with induction cooktops, stays oven-safe to 500 degrees, and the tempered glass lid covers everything from a fast fry to a slow simmer.
HexClad Hybrid Fry Pan Set with Lids, 6-Piece $399 (was $691)
Three pans, three lids, and a free gift for $292 off
This set covers the three pan sizes most kitchens actually reach for, the 8-, 10-, and 12-inch Hybrids, each with its own tempered glass lid. Bought together they run $292 less than the pans cost individually, and HexClad is adding a free gift with purchase during the sale. It is the practical pick if you want most of your stovetop sorted in one box without jumping to a full set.
HexClad Hybrid Pots and Pans Set, 12-Piece $699 (was $1,198)
A full cookware kit for $499 off, the headline deal of the sale
This is the complete HexClad kitchen in one box, with fry pans, saucepans, a stockpot, and lids that handle nearly everything you cook in a given week. It is the most-reviewed item in the whole sale and carries the biggest dollar discount most people will reasonably go for, $499 off the regular $1,198. If you are replacing a tired set all at once, this is the cheapest moment to buy into the version you keep for years.
HexClad Cookware Sets and Bundles
The bundles are where the deepest percentage cuts live. The Too Hot to Handle Bundle is half off at $1,399 (was $2,766), and the Summer Sizzler Set lands at $999 (was $1,933) if you want to outfit a kitchen and a grill in one go.
If you would rather buy one pan at a time, every size is discounted. The smaller pans carry the steepest cuts, with the 7-inch Hybrid down to $76 (was $109), a low-risk way to test whether the hybrid surface earns a spot in your kitchen.
Need to fill gaps rather than buy a full set? The pots and saucepans are each 15% off, including the 5-quart Hybrid Dutch Oven at $169 (was $199) and the 12-quart Stock Pot at $186 (was $219).
This is the summer-relevant corner of the sale. The Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan drops 30% to $111 (was $159), and the 10-inch Hybrid Wok is $95 (was $119) if stir-fry is more your speed.
The knives carry some of the largest percentage discounts in the sale. The 7-piece Damascus Steel Knife Set is half off at $399 (was $783), and the Master Series 4-piece steak knife set is $131 (was $259).
The HexMill grinders rarely move on price, so the sale is worth a look. The Salt and Pepper Grinder Set is $199 (was $318), and the full HexMill Collection Bundle is $299 (was $487).
The smaller add-ons round out the cart. The 8-piece BBQ Tool Set is $74 (was $99), and the 6-piece Stainless Mixing Bowl Set with vacuum-seal lids drops to $84 (was $99).
Amazon’s pre-Prime Day Anker sale is live right now, three weeks before the actual event kicks off on June 23rd. The sale runs across wall chargers, power banks, wireless chargers, and docking stations, with cuts of up to 35% on most of the lineup. The Anker Prime 20,100mAh Power Bank drops to $125.99 (was $179.99) and the 13-in-1 USB-C Triple-Display Docking Station is $139.99 (was $199.99). Whether these hold through Prime Day or bump back up before then is anyone’s guess, but the prices are r
Amazon’s pre-Prime Day Anker sale is live right now, three weeks before the actual event kicks off on June 23rd. The sale runs across wall chargers, power banks, wireless chargers, and docking stations, with cuts of up to 35% on most of the lineup. The Anker Prime 20,100mAh Power Bank drops to $125.99 (was $179.99) and the 13-in-1 USB-C Triple-Display Docking Station is $139.99 (was $199.99). Whether these hold through Prime Day or bump back up before then is anyone’s guess, but the prices are real right now.
The Anker Nano 45W USB-C Charger has a built-in Smart Display that shows real-time wattage output on the face of the brick, and a Care Mode that automatically throttles back when a phone hits 80% to protect the battery long-term. It’s a single USB-C port, compact and foldable, and at $27.99 it’s the least expensive way to get into Anker’s Smart Display lineup. Most people who track charge speeds will find it useful. Everyone else just has a very good 45W GaN charger at a price that makes it easy to keep one at a desk and another in a bag.
Anker 100W 3-Port GaN USB-C Charger with Smart Display $49.98 (was $69.99)
One wall outlet, enough wattage for a laptop, tablet, and phone
The Anker 100W 3-Port GaN USB-C Charger puts 100W total across three USB-C ports, with a smart display and touch control to see and adjust per-port output. With a single device plugged into the top port, you get the full 100W, enough for a 16-inch MacBook Pro at full charge speed. With all three ports active, it splits automatically. At $49.98 it’s 29% off and covers the most common use case: one charging brick, everything on your desk, no hunting for the right outlet.
Anker Prime 3-in-1 Qi2.2 25W MagSafe Charging Station $149.99 (was $229.99)
Anker’s best MagSafe dock, $80 off list and Qi2.2 certified at 25W
The Anker Prime 3-in-1 Qi2.2 25W Charging Station is certified to the Qi2.2 standard, which pushed the MagSafe peak from 15W to 25W on iPhone 16 and later. It charges iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously, with a built-in AirCool aerospace-grade thermoelectric cooling system that keeps the phone pad running at full 25W without throttling under sustained load. The on-unit display shows per-device wattage in real time. At $149.99 it’s the biggest dollar-amount discount in the current sale, $80 off a model that doesn’t typically go this low.
Anker Wall Charger and Cable Deals at Amazon
The Anker 140W 4-Port MacBook Charger with Smart Display is $64.99 (was $89.99), which is enough single-port output to run a 16-inch MacBook Pro at full speed while simultaneously charging an iPad and two phones off the other three ports. The Prime 100W 3-Port Foldable GaN Charger at $39.98 (was $69.99) is the deepest percentage cut on any single item in the current sale at 43% off.
Anker Wireless Charger and Car Charger Deals at Amazon
The Anker Zolo Qi2 MagSafe Charging Pad 2-Pack at $23.99 (was $39.99) is the biggest percentage cut in the wireless section at 40% off, which works out to under $12 per pad. The 3-in-1 Cube MagSafe Charging Stand drops to $89.99 (was $129.99) for a compact foldable unit that handles iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods together.
The Anker Prime 14-Port Docking Station is $169.99 (was $269.99), a 37% cut on the 160W dual-4K model, and the top-end Prime TB5 Thunderbolt 5 dock is $339.98 (was $399.99), which supports 120 Gbps transfer and dual 8K display output. On the budget end, the USB-C to HDMI adapter is $12.99 and the 5-in-1 hub is $15.99.
Samsonite’s summer sale is live right now with discounts up to 43% off luggage, carry-ons, and sets. The deals range from single rolling bags to complete luggage kits, so there’s something to accommodate every type of traveler. The real savings happen on the clearance models, which are discounted by more than 40 percent. Save that money now and splurge on souvenirs when you get to your destination.
Outline Pro Carry-On Spinner $125.99 (was $219.99)
Samsonite’s summer sale is live right now with discounts up to 43% off luggage, carry-ons, and sets. The deals range from single rolling bags to complete luggage kits, so there’s something to accommodate every type of traveler. The real savings happen on the clearance models, which are discounted by more than 40 percent. Save that money now and splurge on souvenirs when you get to your destination.
Outline Pro Carry-On Spinner $125.99 (was $219.99)
The Outline Pro is one of Samsonite’s most reviewed hardside carry-ons, with nearly 10,000 ratings and a 4.7-star average. At $125.99 (from $219.99), this clearance colorway is more than 43% off and comes with TSA combination locks, four-wheel spinner wheels, and a 1.5-inch expansion zipper. The “Clearance” tag means the color is being phased out, so you can get a top-notch bag for a huge discount.
Voltage DLX 2-Piece Set (CO/M) $233.99 (was $389.99)
The Voltage DLX is Samsonite’s softside workhorse, and at $233.99 (from $389.99), this carry-on and medium checked bag set is 40% off. Softside bags flex to absorb overpacking better than hardside, and both pieces come with spinner wheels. Together, the two bags handle about a week of travel without needing to juggle multiple separate purchases.
Dropping from $519.99 to $299.99, the Pivot 3 3-Piece Set is the biggest absolute savings in the Samsonite summer sale: $220 off a full carry-on, medium, and large spinner collection. All three bags are hardside polycarbonate with TSA combination locks, expandable packing, 360-degree spinner wheels, and the brand’s EazyHOOK system for hanging a tote or duty-free bag on the handle. You rarely see a complete three-piece Samsonite hardside set under $300, and this sale is when it becomes possible.
Samsonite carry-on deals
Carry-ons take up the largest slice of the Samsonite summer sale, with the Voltage DLX Global at $125.99 and the Freeform Carry-On at $153.99 offering the best value for infrequent travelers. The Outline Pro Carry-On is $175.99 in standard colorways if you prefer more color options than the clearance variant above.
The Voltage DLX Large Spinner and the clearance Outline Pro Large both hit $179.99, and the Freeform Medium Spinner lands at $181.99. For checked bags specifically, this section of the sale has some of the strongest absolute-dollar cuts on the site right now.
Sets are where the sale gets interesting for travelers who want everything to match. The 2-Piece Set (CO/M) at $159.99 is the entry point for a coordinated carry-on and medium checked bag, while the Freeform 2-Piece (CO/L) at $335.99 covers a larger footprint for longer trips.
The Mother Lode Travel Backpack is the only bag in the sale, but it’s a standout: 40% off at $131.99 from $219.99. With 4.7 stars and nearly 9,500 reviews, it’s one of the most proven travel backpacks in the Samsonite lineup.
Amazon’s early Prime Day deals are already live, and a good number of them sit at or below the lowest prices we’ve tracked all year. The early deals span tech, kitchen gear, power tools, camera lenses, and lawn equipment, and the real savings show up as all-time lows rather than the inflated percentages Amazon likes to print next to its list prices. Almost everything here is Prime-exclusive, so you’ll need a membership to see the member price. If you’re not signed up, a free 30-day Prime trial c
Amazon’s early Prime Day deals are already live, and a good number of them sit at or below the lowest prices we’ve tracked all year. The early deals span tech, kitchen gear, power tools, camera lenses, and lawn equipment, and the real savings show up as all-time lows rather than the inflated percentages Amazon likes to print next to its list prices. Almost everything here is Prime-exclusive, so you’ll need a membership to see the member price. If you’re not signed up, a free 30-day Prime trial covers you through the main event, which runs June 23 to 26. Prices and lightning deals rotate fast, so some of these will be gone before the event even opens.
Ring Outdoor Cam (Stick Up Cam) $39.99 (was $79.99)
Battery-powered 1080p security camera at its lowest price ever, 50% off
The Ring Outdoor Cam (Stick Up Cam) at $39.99 is the easiest deal to recommend in the whole sale, and at 50% off it matches the lowest price Amazon has ever listed. It’s a battery-powered 1080p camera you can mount almost anywhere, including a fence, a porch rail, or a flat shelf by the back door, without running wires. You get Live View, color night vision, two-way talk, and motion alerts through the Ring app, and it works with Alexa if you have an Echo. A Ring Protect subscription (sold separately) unlocks saved video history, though real-time alerts and live view are free. For $40, it’s the cheapest way to put a real camera on the part of your house you keep meaning to watch.
Wüsthof Gourmet 4-Piece Chef's Knife Set $99.00 (was $185.00)
German-forged-quality starter set back to its lowest price, 46% off
The Wüsthof Gourmet 4-Piece Chef’s Knife Set at $99 is the pick for anyone still cooking on a hand-me-down knife block, and at 46% off it’s back to the lowest price it has hit. The set covers the three knives you actually reach for, an 8-inch chef’s, a 4.5-inch utility, and a 2.75-inch paring, plus a honing steel to keep them sharp. These are stamped rather than forged, which is why the set lands at $99 instead of $300, but they use the same high-carbon German steel and carry the same lifetime warranty as the pricier Wüsthof lines. It’s a real upgrade that doesn’t require committing to a $600 block. This is the Prime-exclusive price, so a membership is required.
Amazon eero Pro 6E Mesh Wi-Fi System (2-Pack) $239.99 (was $329.99)
Wi-Fi 6E mesh for up to 4,000 sq. ft., 27% off and an all-time low
The Amazon eero Pro 6E two-pack at $239.99 is the networking deal worth jumping on, covering up to 4,000 square feet with Wi-Fi 6E at the lowest price Amazon has listed. It supports internet plans up to 2.5 Gbps and handles 100-plus devices, so it keeps up whether you’re on multi-gig fiber or just tired of the dead spot in the back bedroom. The 6 GHz band gives newer phones and laptops a clear lane, and setup runs through the eero app in a few minutes with automatic updates after that. At 27% off, it’s $90 under list. If your house is bigger, the three-pack covers 6,000 square feet, and for an apartment the single Pro 6E router is enough.
Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire, 47mm $614.60 (was $999.99)
The premium training watch in the sale, 39% off its $999.99 list
The Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition at $614.60 is the splurge of the bunch, down 39% from its $999.99 list price. The 47mm version pairs a bright AMOLED display and a scratch-resistant sapphire lens with the deepest training data Garmin makes, including hill score, endurance score, training readiness, and HRV status, plus a built-in LED flashlight that earns its keep on early-morning runs. Battery life runs one to two weeks depending on how hard you lean on GPS, which is the real argument for it over an Apple Watch. It’s overkill for casual step-counting and priced like it. But if you’re training for something and want full maps on your wrist, this is the Garmin to get, and it rarely drops below $700.
Tech and accessory deals
Beyond the camera and watch up top, the tech deals skew toward small upgrades sitting at their lowest tracked prices. The Logitech MX Master 3S, the mouse a lot of people consider the best for desk work, is 25% off, and both Lenovo silent mice are down to roughly ten bucks. If the Pro 6E two-pack is more coverage than you need, the single eero Pro 6E router is here too.
The camera deals are lens-heavy and aimed at Micro Four Thirds and Sony shooters. Both OM System M.Zuiko primes and both Zeiss Batis lenses for Sony E-mount are at or near their lowest tracked prices, with the OM System 60mm macro the standout for close-up work at $200 off.
Wüsthof and Shun are running the deepest knife discounts of the early sale, most at all-time lows. If the Gourmet set up top is more or less than you need, the rest of the lineup runs from a $49 paring trio to a pro-grade Shun steak set, all at 43 to 47% off.
The tool deals run heavy on Bosch blades and bits, most at 55 to 60% off and all at their lowest tracked prices. The CRAFTSMAN 9-piece impact socket set at $29.98 and the brand’s 20V MAX impact driver kit at $59 are the picks if you’re building out a kit rather than restocking blades.
Makita and Greenworks cordless yard tools anchor the outdoor deals, all four at the lowest prices we’ve tracked. The Makita 18V LXT string trimmer and blower kits both ship with a 4.0Ah battery and charger, which is most of why they land at roughly half off.
The automotive picks are small but useful, both from Nilight and both at all-time lows. The recovery traction boards are the standout if you ever get stuck in mud, sand, or snow, at $34 for a pair.
The toy deals are the steepest in the sale, all four at 70% off or more and all at their lowest tracked prices. The 20-inch Squishmallows and the Green Toys sets make easy gifts at under $13 each.
Prices move daily during Prime Day and lightning deals rotate out without much warning, so check the current price before you commit. If you only grab one thing from the early wave, make it the $39.99 Ring Outdoor Cam or the $99 Wüsthof Gourmet knife set. Both are back to their lowest prices ever and both stay useful long after the sale ends.
A summer heat wave and a stressed grid have a way of moving backup power up everyone’s shopping list. Jackery’s early Prime Day sale runs through June 22, with the full lineup live on its Amazon store and a few larger bundles exclusive to Jackery.com. Portable power stations start at $129 for the Explorer 240D, the standalone stations climb into whole-home territory, and the deepest cut in the sale takes a loaded Explorer 2000 Plus kit past 60% off. If you have been thinking about getting a sola
A summer heat wave and a stressed grid have a way of moving backup power up everyone’s shopping list. Jackery’s early Prime Day sale runs through June 22, with the full lineup live on its Amazon store and a few larger bundles exclusive to Jackery.com. Portable power stations start at $129 for the Explorer 240D, the standalone stations climb into whole-home territory, and the deepest cut in the sale takes a loaded Explorer 2000 Plus kit past 60% off. If you have been thinking about getting a solar generator, now is a great time to jump in.
The Explorer 1000 v2 is the size most people should start with, and at $499 it’s down 38% from $799. You get 1,070Wh of capacity and a 1,500W output (3,000W surge) in a 23.8-pound box, enough to run a refrigerator for a few hours or keep phones, a router, and a couple of laptops going through an outage. Jackery rates it for a full wall recharge in about 1.7 hours, or roughly an hour in the app’s emergency mode. It’s the model we’d point most people to first, and it sits in the same class as the units in our guide to the best portable power stations.
Jackery Explorer 300D + 40W Air Solar Panel Bundle $199.00 (was $359.00)
Solar-ready backup for phones and laptops, under $200
The Explorer 300D bundle pairs a 288Wh LFP power station with a 40W solar panel for $199, the lowest price it’s hit in the past 30 days and 45% off the $359 list. This is a DC unit, with 300W spread across three USB-C ports and one USB-A and no wall outlet, so it’s built for phones, laptops, cameras, drones, and a Starlink Mini rather than a fridge. It weighs 5.5 pounds, its strap doubles as a 140W charging cable, and it refills from zero to 80% in about an hour. I have been using this for an upcoming review and I really like the form factor and performance so far.
The Explorer 2000 v2 is the one to get if you want real home backup, and 47% off brings it to $799 from $1,499. Its 2,042Wh capacity and 2,200W output can run a full-size refrigerator for most of a day, and the 20-millisecond UPS switching is quick enough to keep a desktop or router from dropping out when the power cuts. A folding handle means you can move it from the office to the kitchen when you need to, and Jackery quotes a 1.7-hour wall recharge, so you’re not waiting on it all afternoon.
More Jackery Deals at Amazon
The rest of the Amazon discounts cover the middle of the lineup. The Explorer 1000 v2 with a 200W solar panel is $699 (46% off) if you want panels in the box, and the HomePower 3600 Plus, a modular system that expands to 21kWh, drops to $1,799 from $2,799.
Jackery’s steepest discounts live on its own site, where the price covers a power station plus stacked battery packs and panels. The Explorer 2000 Plus 6kWh kit with two 200W panels is the standout at $2,599, down from $6,599, and the rest of these solar generator kits are worth a look if whole-home runtime is the goal. For how the big units stack up, see our guide to the best solar generators.
The best deal at RYOBI Days at The Home Depot right now isn’t a price cut, it is a free tool. Right now, you can buy one of the qualifying RYOBI ONE+ 18V kits and pick a second ONE+ tool at no extra cost. The priciest free options on the higher-tier kit are worth up to $229. I haver a number of Ryobi tools in my kit and they almost always perform way above their price tag. And that’s even before the discounts. The free-tool menu changes as stock moves, so the good picks tend to disappear before
The best deal at RYOBI Days at The Home Depot right now isn’t a price cut, it is a free tool. Right now, you can buy one of the qualifying RYOBI ONE+ 18V kits and pick a second ONE+ tool at no extra cost. The priciest free options on the higher-tier kit are worth up to $229. I haver a number of Ryobi tools in my kit and they almost always perform way above their price tag. And that’s even before the discounts. The free-tool menu changes as stock moves, so the good picks tend to disappear before the kits do.
RYOBI ONE+ 18V Starter Kit with 2.0Ah and 4.0Ah Batteries and Charger $99.00 (was $228.00)
57% off the most useful entry point, and it unlocks a free ONE+ tool
The RYOBI ONE+ 18V Starter Kit (PSK1212SB) is the one to grab first at $99, down from $228, because it covers the two battery sizes you actually use. You get a 4.0Ah HIGH PERFORMANCE pack for high-draw tools like saws, a lighter 2.0Ah pack for drills and lights, and a charger, and the kit qualifies for a free ONE+ tool worth up to $89. Any RYOBI 18V ONE+ battery runs the entire 300-plus tool ONE+ catalog, so this is the cheapest honest way into the system.
RYOBI ONE+ 18V 13-Inch Cordless String Trimmer with 2.0Ah Battery and Charger $99.00
A finished yard tool at $99 that still comes with a free ONE+ tool
The RYOBI ONE+ 18V 13-inch String Trimmer (P20150) is the better $99 buy if you also need to cut grass, since it ships ready to run with a 2.0Ah battery and charger and still qualifies for a free ONE+ tool. It handles edging and trimming on a typical lot, and the included battery drops straight into any other ONE+ tool you own. Pairing it with a free blower or hedge trimmer from the offer list basically builds a starter yard kit for the price of one tool.
RYOBI ONE+ 18V HIGH PERFORMANCE Starter Kit with 2.0Ah and Two 4.0Ah Batteries and Charger $199.00 (was $361.97)
Three batteries, 45% off, and the longest free-tool menu in the event
The RYOBI ONE+ 18V HIGH PERFORMANCE Starter Kit (PSK108SB) is the pick if you want the strongest free tool, because at $199 it opens a 20-item menu that includes options worth more than the kit itself. You get three HIGH PERFORMANCE batteries (one 2.0Ah and two 4.0Ah) plus a charger for $199, down from $361.97, and the free-tool list runs up to a $229 battery two-pack. If you are starting from zero and want to skip the upgrade later, this is the kit that pays for itself fastest.
How the RYOBI Days free-tool deal works
The RYOBI Days free-tool offer is structured around three qualifying purchases: the $99 ONE+ Starter Kit, the $99 ONE+ String Trimmer, and the $199 HIGH PERFORMANCE Starter Kit. Add a qualifying kit to your cart, then choose one tool from that kit’s eligible list and it lands in the order at $0. The $99 kits draw from a 13-tool menu topped by an $89 reciprocating saw, while the $199 kit expands the menu to 20 tools and adds the high-dollar options. Stock is the only real catch, since the offer is limited to what The Home Depot has on hand and the best free tools sell through first.
Free RYOBI ONE+ tools you can claim with a $99 kit
With either $99 kit, the RYOBI ONE+ 18V Reciprocating Saw is the highest-value free pick on the 13-tool menu at a regular $89.00, followed by the 18-inch Hedge Trimmer at $79.97. Every option below is a real ONE+ tool that runs on the battery your kit already includes, and the price shown is what you would otherwise pay.
The $199 HIGH PERFORMANCE kit unlocks bigger free tools
Step up to the $199 HIGH PERFORMANCE Starter Kit and the free RYOBI ONE+ 18V 4.0Ah Battery Two-Pack becomes the standout claim at a regular $229.00, more than the kit costs. The same menu adds the brushless Pet Stick Vacuum at $199.00, the 4-Mode Impact Wrench at $179.00, and the 7-1/4-inch brushless Circular Saw at $139.00, none of which appear on the $99 list.
Father’s Day lands on June 21 this year, which also happens to be the longest day of the year. That gives you maximum daylight and minimum calendar left before it arrives. If our initial 2026 Father’s Day gift guide came and went while you procrastinated, this list is the safety net. You can still get the vast majority of these items before Sunday, whether that means instant digital delivery (the $80 America the Beautiful parks pass), an in-store pickup (an $8.78 King of the Hill WD-40 can at Th
Father’s Day lands on June 21 this year, which also happens to be the longest day of the year. That gives you maximum daylight and minimum calendar left before it arrives. If our initial 2026 Father’s Day gift guide came and went while you procrastinated, this list is the safety net. You can still get the vast majority of these items before Sunday, whether that means instant digital delivery (the $80 America the Beautiful parks pass), an in-store pickup (an $8.78 King of the Hill WD-40 can at The Home Depot), or fast shipping on gear like the Wolfbox G900 Pro dash cam. If you can’t get it sorted with help from this list, it’ll be Slim Jims and oatmeal cream pies from the gas station.
Best instant gift: America the Beautiful annual pass
The America the Beautiful annual pass is an $80 ticket into every national park and federal recreation site in the country, and as of this year, it’s a fully digital purchase through Recreation.gov. Buy it Sunday morning, save it to Dad’s phone, and it works at the gate that afternoon. As of 2026, one pass also covers two motorcycles, which matters for dads who ride. No shipping, no wrapping, no apology note about the gift being “on the way.”
Best for backyard astronomers: Dwarflab Dwarf 3 smart telescope
A 3.3-pound robotic observatory sounds like science fiction, but the Dwarflab Dwarf 3 is a $549 smart telescope that fits in a daypack. It finds and tracks galaxies, nebulae, and the moon automatically, stacking exposures into shareable images while Dad watches the progress on his phone. Telescopes used to mean an hour of squinting at setting circles before seeing anything. This one means setting it on the patio table and pressing go. Amazon stocks it with fast shipping.
Best for overlanding dads: Wolfbox G900 Pro mirror dash cam
Rear visibility disappears the moment a truck camper, gear rack, or storage system goes on a vehicle. The Wolfbox G900 Pro is a $360 mirror-style dash cam that fixes that with a waterproof wide-angle rear camera feeding a 12-inch touchscreen mirror, recording 4K up front and 2.5K behind. Wolfbox recently added a 3-meter detachable waterproof extension cable, so truck-camper owners can unscrew one connector and drop the camper without rewiring anything. Amazon discounts it regularly, so the real price often lands closer to $250.
NOBULL released the Outwork Flex on June 11, so this $150 strength trainer is about as new as a gift can get. The original Outwork built its reputation on a flat, stable platform for lifting. The Flex keeps that stability and durability while loosening up the forefoot for lunges, sled pushes, and anything else that bends a foot. NOBULL is also running a Father’s Day sale with up to 40 percent off other gear, which makes the cart easy to pad.
Best for readers (it’s a pre-order): Boox Go 6 (Gen II)
Full disclosure up front: the Boox Go 6 (Gen II) is a pre-order, with shipments starting around June 17, so it may arrive a few days after Father’s Day. We included it anyway because it’s the most interesting pocket reader of the year. The $199.99 Go 6 (Gen II) packs a 6-inch, 300-pixel-per-inch ePaper screen, 3GB of RAM, and new stylus support into a 160-gram body that runs full Android. Print the product page, tuck it in a card, and let Dad track the delivery himself.
If your dad still hides a key under the mat, the eufy FamiLock E40 is a $299.99 intervention. The deadbolt recognizes faces on-device, stores up to 50 of them plus 50 fingerprints, and folds a 2K video doorbell into the same housing, all without a subscription. It launched this month as a Home Depot exclusive, online and in 30 stores, which makes it one of the few new smart locks you can physically grab on Saturday.
An $8.78 can of WD-40 wearing King of the Hill artwork is the most dad-coded object released this year. The limited-edition 12-ounce can shows the Hill family’s fence and the show’s animation style on the back, and it’s a fully functional Smart Straw can, so it’ll actually get used. The Home Depot carries it exclusively through August 31, in-store and online, and collectors are already flipping them. Strickland Propane is, regrettably, sold separately.
Best for DIY weekends: CRAFTSMAN V20 Advanced battery deal
Father’s Day doubles as the summer solstice this year, and CRAFTSMAN built a whole campaign around the extra daylight. The brand’s new Longest Day Build Hub collects family-friendly outdoor project plans with build guides and materials lists, and it links to $100 in savings on the V20 6Ah ADVANCED battery through Lowe’s, Amazon, and Ace Hardware. A battery sounds boring until you remember it’s the thing that dies mid-project. Pair it with a printed project plan from the hub and you’ve gifted an actual afternoon together.
Plenty of dads drive cars with infotainment systems frozen somewhere around 2018. The Ottocast OttoAibox P3 Pro is a $249 box that plugs into the existing wired CarPlay port and converts it into wireless CarPlay and Android Auto running on Android 13, with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and an AI voice assistant on board. It even adds split-screen and HDMI output for backseat screens, and installation amounts to plugging it into the port his charging cable already uses.
Arccos screws a featherweight sensor into the grip of every club and turns each round into data: real shot distances, strokes-gained analysis, and AI caddie advice based on how Dad actually plays rather than how he remembers playing. The $249.99 Gen 4 kit includes 16 sensors and a year of the app membership. We covered the clubs in our main gift guide. This is the layer that tells him which ones to actually pull.
Goodr designed the BFG for big heads, wide faces, and dads who sit firmly in both categories. The $40 frames are built noticeably wider than the brand’s standard OGs, with polarized lenses and a grippy no-slip coating that stays put through a run or a round of mowing. Our main guide has a $330 pair of Vuarnets for the style investor. The BFG is for the guy who will eventually sit on his sunglasses, and we both know which one your dad is.
Best summer shirt: Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III
Merino wool regulates temperature and shrugs off odor in a way cotton can’t, which is why hikers wear it for a week straight without apologizing to anyone. The Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III is the $90 standard-bearer of the category: a 150-gram-per-square-meter jersey tee that works on a trail, at a barbecue, and on the flight between them. REI stocks it for pickup or fast shipping, and Dad will retire three drawer-filler shirts within a week of wearing it.
The EMS Multi-Tool Shovel crams a serrated cutting edge, a flathead screwdriver, a tent peg remover, a hex wrench, a bottle opener, and somehow a peeler into one folding spade with a rope-wrapped handle. It’s the kind of object a certain type of dad will narrate to guests at the campsite. Mountain Warehouse has it for $38.49 right now, down 30 percent from $54.99, which puts it squarely in impulse-add territory.
Trimming a brisket with a kitchen santoku is a compromise nobody talks about. The Benchmade Meatcrafter is a $179.99 fixed-blade trimming knife with a thin 4-inch trailing-point blade made in Benchmade’s Oregon facility, built to follow the seam between meat and fat instead of plowing through it. The grippy Santoprene handle survives wet hands and barbecue grease. It ships fast through Amazon, and it earns a permanent spot in the grill caddy.
Best concert companion: EarPeace Music Pro earplugs
Concerts regularly run loud enough to do permanent damage over a long show, and foam plugs solve that by making the band sound like it’s playing inside a mattress. The EarPeace Music Pro takes a different approach: $39.95 buys swappable high-fidelity filters in 16, 20, and 24-decibel strengths that lower the volume while keeping vocals and instruments intact. The low-profile silicone tips disappear into the ear, so nobody at the show will even notice he’s wearing them.
Tiny Vinyl presses real, playable records onto 4-inch discs that spin on any standard 33rpm turntable, with one song per side in a miniature gatefold jacket. At $14.99 each at Target, they’re the rare music gift that works as a stocking-stuffer-sized object with actual function. Vinyl dads already have the album. They don’t have the album in a format the size of a drink coaster, and that’s exactly the point.
AncestryDNA’s Father’s Day sale cuts the kit to $39 through June 22, a 65 percent drop from the list price. The kit itself is a saliva sample and a few weeks of waiting, which sounds like a terrible last-minute gift until you realize the reveal works on a printed card. Dads who claim they want nothing will still spend a full evening explaining the results to everyone within earshot.
Best for the family fixer: iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit
You know the dad who repairs everyone’s phones, laptops, and game controllers whether they ask or not. The iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit is his $74.99 service award: a 64-bit driver kit with precision bits for every fastener the electronics industry has invented to keep people out, plus opening picks, spudgers, tweezers, and a suction handle, all in a roll-up case. iFixit built its reputation on free repair guides, so the toolkit comes with a library attached.
Best garden shortcut: Lettuce Grow Original Farmstand
Hydroponics skips the part of gardening where things die. The Lettuce Grow Original Farmstand is a self-watering, self-fertilizing tower that grows 18 to 36 plants in four square feet of patio, starting from live seedlings instead of seeds, with first harvests in about three weeks. The 18-plant version runs $574, and code DAD20 takes 20 percent off growing systems through Father’s Day. It ships free, and the seedlings arrive after the stand does, which conveniently makes the timing problem disappear.
Best home bar flex: Euhomy Rock Pro Sphere Ice Maker
The Euhomy Rock Pro turns out 2.5-inch crystal-clear ice spheres, three at a time, and keeps up to nine of them frozen in a sub-zero bin so they’re ready whenever someone reaches for the bourbon. A sphere melts more slowly than any other shape, which means less watered-down whiskey, per the math behind our ice maker guide picks. The $499.99 machine shipped in late May, and Euhomy flags stock as limited, so this is the entry to grab first. Stainless steel, aluminum, and leather casework mean it lives on the bar, not in a cabinet.
Best bag for going from the office to off-the-grid: Peak Design Travel Weekender 25L
If your dad is the type to travel, but his favorite duffel is giving sports bag more than jet-set, give him an upgrade from the faint smell of gym socks and security-line sweat. After a successful Kickstarter, Peak Design has brought its Travel Weekender 25L to retail, a perfect clamshell carry-on for a quick trip. A structured, stand-up shape, with origami-inspired organization, it offers plenty of space for clothes and chargers, toiletries and a tablet, emergency snacks and an extra layer. And the smooth UltraZips plus internal stretch structure helps keep everything findable. With its luggage passthrough, it can ride shotgun on a roller, and its weatherproof Versa Shell fabric protects it on its perch. Whether it’s a work trip or a relaxing getaway, Dad will appreciate a bag you can throw anything in and anything at.
Best bag accessory with personality: Par Bleu Golf Towel
Dad’s golf bag deserves better than a rag that looks like it belongs in the garage, not on the green. Par Bleu Golf’s premium microfiber towels let him keep his clubs clean and his personality clear. These 16″ x 24″ towels come in designs ranging from argyle and plaid to vintage club art, patriotic patterns, fish, motivational mantras, the gold balls shown above, and more. They have three grommets and a silver carabiner for easy hanging, and the towels are machine-washable, so all that bunker dust doesn’t stick around.
Best big screen for the big games: Sony BRAVIA 9 II
If Dad talks about glare till your eyes glaze over, or is the type to talk BT.2020 color coverage until your brain fades to black, you owe it to him and yourself to upgrade his display with the best contrast and color. And Sony’s BRAVIA 9 II (currently available in 65″, 75″, 85″) does just that by bringing True RGB to the table (or is that to the credenza or wall mount). With its independently controlled red, green, and blue LEDs, Triluminos Max + Luminance Booster Pro for smoother gradation and measured hues, and Sony’s best anti-glare tech to date, the BRAVIA 9 II delivers OLED-like color volume and inky blacks with bloom control and Mini LED-level brightness. Combining that RGB Backlight Master Drive Pro with the XR Processor/AI scene recognition and X-Wide Angle Pro means real-time cleanup (without the soap opera effect) and more consistency across more seats, which is great for when Dad wants to invite friends over for the big game or to watch golf, etc. … even with the blinds open. Plus, trickle-down technology from Sony’s professional color-grading monitors lets Dad boast that his movie nights preserve creators’ intent with maximum accuracy.
True wireless earbuds from audacious Parisian audio designers known for high-output, huge-impression wireless speakers, the Gemini II packs audiophile sound and polished hi-fi appeal into Dad’s pocket. The 10mm titanium-coated drivers bring low-distortion detail and precise speed to musical passages, no matter how busy. Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX/AAC/SBC codec support and the Adaptive Noise Cancellation ensures fewer artifacts and environmental intrusions come between Dad and jams. If Dad values soundstage and dynamics whether he’s commuting or decompressing, the Gemini II transforms streaming into a proper listening session.
Best sophisticated sipper: Chopin Family Reserve Vodka
The best quality of most vodka is that it’s neutral to a fault. But “you can barely taste it” is not your dad’s personality, so Chopin Vodka Family Reserve is more his speed. This super-premium spirit has the kind of backstory and flavor profile that will keep it on the bar cart, not in the freezer door (it doesn’t hurt that it comes in a stately gift-boxed bottle). It’s made from a rare young potato that imparts a sweeter, earthier character, and then it’s rested for two years in 50-year-old Polish oak barrels. That gives it a texture and talking points, letting Dad pontificate over a neat pour or martini when he needs a break from the Manhattans.
Best kung-fu crunch: WA-CHAA! Spicy Sichuan Peanuts
WA-CHAA! The Kung-Fu Cult Classic $49.99 (24 Pouches)
Dad loves the Shaw Brothers and Shaolin Soccer. Dad loves the Wu-Tang Clan’s kung-fu samples. Dad has excellent taste, and he wants a snack that tastes excellent. Dad is gonna love these peanuts seasoned with Szechuan peppercorns. Not a pepper in the traditional sense, they impart a citrusy sensation more than Capsaicin’s Scoville intensity. Think less Hole-Puckering Hellscape Hot Sauce and more licking a 9V battery, but in a good way. You can pick from four varieties, including ones with chili flakes if Dad likes to break a sweat. No matter what you pick, he gets crunchy, protein-rich peanuts roasted in avocado oil … the perfect snack for a Bruce Lee marathon.
Best way to lock in without getting tweaked out: magic mind Mental Performance Shots
magic mind Mental Performance Shots Starting at $45
Dad’s been running on long lists and lukewarm coffee for years. Maybe give his brain something with a little more intention. Magic Mind is a 2-ounce mental performance shot designed for sharper focus, steadier energy, and long-term cognitive support, built around clinically backed ingredients, third-party testing, vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, and cognitive support compounds. The useful part is the caffeine choice: FREE has 0mg, Original has 55mg, and MAXX has 165mg, so you can match the gift to his actual tolerance instead of handing a caffeine-sensitive dad a tiny bottle of regret. It’s easy to stash in a bag, desk drawer, gym tote, or morning routine, which helps if his day tends to start fast and get weirder. Or, if he has the opposite problem after a long day, there is magic mind Sleep with no sugar and quickly delivered microdose melatonin to improve falling, and staying, asleep. For the dad with 47 tabs open in his head, this herbal supplement is a small-but-mighty reset. Brain fog, meet “already handled it” calm.
Best coffee beans for a man on a mission: Black Rifle Coffee Company
Black Rifle Coffee Company Whole Bean Starting at $16.99
Some dads make coffee. Yours initiates morning operations. And this military-themed roaster (founded by veteran and musician Mat Best) is the right fuel for a man who would see weak coffee as a failure of leadership and give you a lecture on readiness. Inside the patriotic packaging, you’ll find beans that are bright and crisp with wheels-up acidity or dark and briefing-room bold. Whether Dad’s mission is a workday, setting up the kettle for low-and-slow smoking, or an early tee time, Black Rifle has beans to give him some proper reveille energy—whole bean or ground, single bag or subscription.
Best towable tailgate: RovR RollR Wheeled Hard Cooler
Whether Dad is in the parking lot, at the beach, or on the sidelines, he can turn anywhere into party central with the right provisions. And a RovR RollR lets him establish base camp with less hassle. The 9-inch inflatable all-terrain tires ensure drinks, grill ingredients, and anything safe from meltwater in the DryBin Mini gets across asphalt or sand and over grass or gravel, with assistance from the telescoping Dual MotoGrip handle. And the durable hard-sided build holds up, whether it’s 30 qt or 45 qt of hospitality that Dad’s hauling.
Every dad has a chair that he claims. Not officially, not out loud, but everyone knows not to sit in it. This is that chair, just portable. The Trailhead Field Chair takes YETI’s usual formula, overbuilt, deeply comfortable, but indulgently practical. It’s the newest model and now the lightest they make at under 9.5 pounds, so it can move from backyard to campsite to fishing spot without feeling like you’re hauling patio furniture into the wild.
It opens the way a chair should: no instructions, no levers, no minor engineering project. Just unfold it and sit down. The seat has enough structure to feel supportive, but enough give to stay comfortable long after the burgers are gone and someone’s telling a story that should’ve ended 10 minutes ago. The materials are doing some quiet work here. Instead of the usual tight mesh, YETI uses its Twilite fabric, which feels softer and more forgiving, less “gear,” more “actual place you want to sit.” It still has that solid, planted feel YETI is known for, the kind that doesn’t shift or sink every time you lean. It’s not a casual purchase. But it’s the kind of gift that slowly becomes part of the routine, dragged outside for “just a minute,” then still there hours later, occupied, of course, by dad.
If Dad has strong opinions about gear (or just sweats through most of summer), these hit a nice middle ground between sporty and actually wearable off the trail. The Truss is lightweight to the point where you forget you’re wearing it, with soft, grippy nose pads and arms that keep them in place whether he’s biking, hiking, or just standing in direct sun pretending he’s fine.
Smith’s ChromaPop lenses are the main draw here—they boost contrast and color so everything looks a little sharper, with polarized options to cut glare. The retro aviator shape is very right now, and there are multiple colorways to choose from, depending on how bold you want to go. (Worth noting: the non-polarized versions have small vent cutouts for airflow, while polarized lenses skip that detail. They also come with a surprisingly useful roll-top case that can clip onto a bag, plus a built-in microfiber cloth, which is one of those small things that ends up mattering more than expected.
If you’ve tried to buy a Canon G7X or a Fujifilm X100V-series camera lately, you may already know that advanced compact cameras have made a real comeback. It’s not a full-on boom like the early 2000s, when every manufacturer cranked them out by the dozen, but there’s real demand for small cameras that produce high-quality images outside what a typical smartphone can pull off. Panasonic has introduced the new LUMIX L10 to court that growing audience, and the result is a very promising (if a littl
If you’ve tried to buy a Canon G7X or a Fujifilm X100V-series camera lately, you may already know that advanced compact cameras have made a real comeback. It’s not a full-on boom like the early 2000s, when every manufacturer cranked them out by the dozen, but there’s real demand for small cameras that produce high-quality images outside what a typical smartphone can pull off. Panasonic has introduced the new LUMIX L10 to court that growing audience, and the result is a very promising (if a little familiar) looking camera designed to handle just about every typical photography scenario.
The L10 ships in June for $1,499 in black or silver, with a limited $1,599 Titanium Gold special edition for LUMIX’s 25th anniversary. At its core is a Leica DC Vario-Summilux 24-75mm F1.7-2.8 zoom mounted to a 20.4-megapixel Four Thirds sensor, a pairing anyone who shot with the popular LX100 II compact will recognize on sight. The body lands between Fujifilm’s APS-C X100VI and Canon’s 1-inch G7X Mark III on both sensor size and price, slotting into territory Panasonic hasn’t covered since the LX100 II went off the menu.
The Leica zoom and Four Thirds sensor
An F1.7 maximum aperture at the wide end and F2.8 at the long end is unusual for a compact zoom at this price tier, and most compact zooms taper to a slower aperture as they extend. This one holds wide across the 24-75mm range. The same lens formula appeared on the LX100 II and powers Leica’s current D-Lux 8, though neither pairs it with a 779-point Phase Hybrid AF system. The manual aperture ring on the precision-machined metal barrel lets you change apertures without diving into a menu, and AF macro from 3 cm at the wide end opens up close-up work.
The 4/3-type BSI CMOS sensor sits in a useful spot in the size hierarchy. It’s almost twice the area of the 1-inch chip in the Canon G7X line and noticeably smaller than the APS-C sensor in the Fujifilm X100VI. The 20.4-megapixel effective resolution comes from a 26.5-megapixel total count, because the L10 uses a multi-aspect sensor design that maintains a consistent angle of view across 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9. Switching aspect ratios doesn’t recompose your shot, which is a quietly useful feature for anyone working between print and social. Dynamic Range Boost adds shadow detail in still images, though Panasonic hasn’t specified the stop count.
Fast AF, 30 fps burst
Phase Hybrid AF spreads 779 focus points across the frame, with AI-based subject recognition that covers eyes, faces, bodies, animals, vehicles, and what Panasonic calls Urban Sports. That last category is the catch-all for skateboarding, BMX, parkour, and the kind of action you’ll find in Mountain Dew commercials. Burst tops out at 30 fps with the electronic shutter and 11 fps with the mechanical, fast enough to catch peak action without abandoning a tactile shutter feel. POWER O.I.S. handles stabilization, though Panasonic hasn’t quoted a CIPA-rated stop count yet.
Composition runs through a 2.36-million-dot OLED viewfinder and a 1.84-million-dot free-angle monitor that flips out for waist-level or vertical shooting. Both displays support a vertical UI, a nod to anyone shooting primarily for phone-format video and social.
Color science from camera to phone
REAL TIME LUT (look up table) is Panasonic’s in-camera color system, and the L10 makes it easier to use than past models did. A dedicated LUT button on the body gives one-press access, and up to two LUTs can be layered for more complex grades. Two new film-inspired Photo Styles ship as defaults: L.Classic for soft, muted tones, and L.ClassicGold for warmer amber highlights with a nostalgic contrast curve. It’s similar to Fujifilm’s film “recipes” which apply specific looks to images as you shoot.
Magic LUT in the LUMIX Lab app uses AI color analysis to generate a custom LUT from a reference photo. Find an image whose color treatment you like, the app builds a profile, and you can load it back into the camera as a REAL TIME LUT. RAW editing, MP4 (Lite) clips for social sharing, and high-speed wired transfer all live in the same app. The Lab workflow pushes a step that traditionally lived in Lightroom or DaVinci onto the phone where most readers actually edit now.
Pricing across three colorways
Black and silver L10s ship in June for $1,499, both wearing a saffiano leather-textured finish over a magnesium alloy front case. At 508g with battery, card, and hot shoe cover, the body sits between a small mirrorless rig and a true pocket camera in carry weight. Panasonic is pricing the L10 about $100 below Leica’s D-Lux 8, which uses the same Leica zoom formula in a different chassis.
The Titanium Gold special edition arrives at $1,599 in limited quantities, primarily through the Panasonic Store. The kit adds a special edition lens hood, a leather strap, a threaded shutter button, and a gold-themed menu system that carries the finish from the body into the UI. The rear branding sits in a position visible only to whoever is holding the camera. The $100 premium covers the accessories and cosmetic upgrades.
The standard black L10 carries the saffiano leather-textured finish in a flat, professional matte. It ships with the standard kit and is the configuration most likely to show up on retailer shelves at launch. The Lab app, REAL TIME LUT, dedicated LUT button, and Leica DC Vario-Summilux zoom are all standard. We’re working to get one in for a full review.
The silver L10 is mechanically identical to the black model at $1,499 and leans into the LX100 II nostalgia for buyers who remember the original. It’s the same color treatment Panasonic favored across the LX100 series, and the rangefinder-adjacent look Leica has long favored for its M-line cameras. The silver model ships in June alongside the black.
Panasonic LUMIX L10 Titanium Gold Special Edition $1,599
The 25th anniversary Titanium Gold edition runs $1,599 and includes a special edition lens hood, a leather strap, a threaded shutter button, and a gold-themed menu system that carries the finish from the body into the interface. The rear branding is positioned to be visible only to the person holding the camera. Limited quantities ship through the Panasonic Store in June.
Outdoor gear is awesome, but it’s also typically expensive. The REI Anniversary Sale cuts 25% or more off brands like KEEN, Oboz, Smartwool, NEMO, Big Agnes, Mountain Hardwear, Outdoor Research, and Black Diamond, and The North Face. The window runs May 15 through May 25, which is shorter than most retailer sales and a lot easier to plan around than something like Memorial Day weekend.
The deepest discounts in the whole event are a members-only 40% off the REI Co-op Magma 30 sleeping bag and
Outdoor gear is awesome, but it’s also typically expensive. The REI Anniversary Sale cuts 25% or more off brands like KEEN, Oboz, Smartwool, NEMO, Big Agnes, Mountain Hardwear, Outdoor Research, and Black Diamond, and The North Face. The window runs May 15 through May 25, which is shorter than most retailer sales and a lot easier to plan around than something like Memorial Day weekend.
The deepest discounts in the whole event are a members-only 40% off the REI Co-op Magma 30 sleeping bag and the Half Dome 2 tent, both of which close after Sunday May 17, so move fast if either is on your list. REI Co-op members can also stack the code ANNIV26 for an extra 20% off one full-price item and 20% off one outlet item through the end of the sale. If you’ve been putting off a new tent, boot, or down jacket since last summer, this is the window. Our picks across the whole sale are below, with the strongest deals featured up top and the rest organized by what you’re shopping for.
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Down Hoody (Men's) $363.69 (was $485.00)
The Ghost Whisperer UL is the lightest down hoody Mountain Hardwear makes, and it’s the most direct competitor to the Patagonia Down Sweater in this entire sale. 1000-fill responsibly sourced down, a shell that weighs next to nothing, and the kind of warmth-to-weight ratio that makes it the obvious answer for ultralight backpacking and alpine fast-packing. $121 off lands it at $363.69, which is the lowest this jacket gets all year.
The Moab is the best-selling hiking boot in the United States, and the Speed 2 is the lighter, more athletic version that runs closer to a trail-running shoe than the classic Moab. GORE-TEX waterproof, Vibram outsole, and a midsole that lets you actually move at hike pace. Every Moab 2 and Speed 2 is at 25% off in this sale, so women’s and low-cut versions hit the same percentage if either fits your foot better.
REI Co-op Magma 30 Sleeping Bag $215.39 (was $359.00)
The Magma 30 is the lightest down sleeping bag REI makes under its own label, and it tends to land near the top of best-of lists for three-season backpacking because it splits the difference between weight and warmth without pushing into the premium price tier. The 40% members-only cut is the deepest discount in this entire sale, but it expires after Sunday May 17. If you’re not a member yet, the $30 membership pays for itself on this single item.
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Tent $449.89 (was $600.00)
This is the standard in its class. It pitches with two trekking poles or its own pole set, weighs just over three pounds for the two-person version, and has the kind of headroom that makes a small backpacking tent actually feel livable on a wet afternoon.
The North Face Stormbreak 2 Tent $164.99 (was $220.00)
Cheap tents typically don’t last. The Stormbreak is one of the few car-camping tents at this price that doesn’t feel like a single-season disposable. Two doors, two vestibules, an aluminum pole structure that pitches in under five minutes, and weatherproofing that actually holds up in a real downpour. At $164.99 it’s the easiest entry into name-brand backpacking gear in the entire sale.
The fēnix 8 sits at the top of Garmin’s multisport watch lineup, and outside of Black Friday window pricing this is the steepest cut we’ve seen on the AMOLED Sapphire variant. You get the brighter display, the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, built-in flashlight, and the full set of training metrics that make a $1,100 watch feel justifiable for serious trail running and bikepacking.
The Targhee line is KEEN’s most-recommended day-hiking boot, and the new Apex update makes it stiffer in the midsole, lighter overall, and faster to break in than the long-running Targhee III it replaces. Waterproof membrane, all-leather upper, and the wide toebox KEEN is known for. The full KEEN catalog is 25% off in this sale, but this is the standout in my opinion.
Yakima OnRamp LX E-Bike Hitch Rack $799.19 (was $999.00) Electric bikes are heavy, which makes lugging them tricky. The OnRamp LX is built specifically for hauling heavy e-bikes, with a 70-pound-per-bike weight capacity and an integrated ramp so you don’t have to deadlift a 60-pound battery-and-motor bike up to chest height. The 20% off all Yakima racks is the deepest cut they see all year. Same percentage applies across Yakima’s OutPost HD truck-bed rack, SkyBox cargo boxes, and roof boxes.
Tents and shelter deals at the REI Anniversary Sale
NEMO, Big Agnes, and REI Co-op all get the full 25% off across their tent lineups, which makes this the deepest tent sale on the calendar. Two extras worth flagging: REI Co-op members get the Half Dome 2 Tent with footprint for 40% off through May 17, and Mountain Hardwear tents are also included at 25%.
The REI Co-op Magma 30 bag in the featured section above is the standout, but there’s real value across NEMO and Mountain Hardwear as well. Note that the Magma 30 Down Trail Quilt and Magma 15 are different products from the member-only Magma 30 bag, and they’re available at 25% off to everyone.
The footwear side of this sale is the most aggressive, with 25% off every pair of KEEN, every pair of Oboz, every Merrell Moab 2 or Speed 2, and selected Altra trail runners and gaiters. Danner, La Sportiva, and selected The North Face boots are also at 25%.
All Outdoor Research clothing and outerwear, all Mountain Hardwear clothing (except Kor Airshell), all Smartwool, all REI Co-op apparel, and selected The North Face are 25% off. The down jacket category is where the real upgrades sit, but the prAna Stretch Zion line and selected KUHL pants are also worth a look if you’re replacing daily-driver hiking pants.
Osprey’s entire pack lineup is at 25%, including the Atmos AG and Aura AG suspension packs that show up on more best-backpacking-pack lists than any other model. Gregory, Black Diamond, and Mountain Hardwear packs are also included.
Yakima and Thule racks are both 20% off across the board. That includes hitch-mount bike racks, rooftop cargo boxes, and roof racks. If you’re thinking about a summer road trip setup, this is the moment.
Garmin discounts run across the entire smartwatch and GPS lineup. The fēnix 8 in the featured section is the highest-dollar cut, but the Instinct 3 AMOLED and Forerunner 165 are the easier-to-justify picks if you don’t need every triathlon metric. The inReach Mini 3 satellite communicator is also discounted, which is unusual.
From May 19 through May 21, REI Outlet stacks an additional discount on select online-only items, with markdowns reaching 50% off. Members can also apply the ANNIV26 coupon for an extra 20% on one Outlet item. Outlet stock is limited and isn’t restocked, so sizes go fast.
The Home Depot is running a sprawling spring sale on RIDGID tools with cuts on cordless kits, combo bundles, jobsite gear, and corded shop equipment. The 18V Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit with two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger drops to $109 (down from $316), a battery starter kit comes with a free SubCompact Brushless one-handed reciprocating saw for $169 (down from $446.97), and the 18V Drywall Cut-Out Tool Kit hits $79 (down from $207). If you have been waiting to buy into the RIDGID 18V
The Home Depot is running a sprawling spring sale on RIDGID tools with cuts on cordless kits, combo bundles, jobsite gear, and corded shop equipment. The 18V Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit with two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger drops to $109 (down from $316), a battery starter kit comes with a free SubCompact Brushless one-handed reciprocating saw for $169 (down from $446.97), and the 18V Drywall Cut-Out Tool Kit hits $79 (down from $207). If you have been waiting to buy into the RIDGID 18V platform, this is the kind of pricing that makes the case for you.
RIDGID 18V Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit with 2 2.0Ah Batteries and Charger $109.00 (was $316.00)
Oscillating multi-tools are the do-everything cleanup tool in any toolbox. It can take on flush cuts, plunge cuts in drywall, scraping, sanding tight corners, and chopping through stubborn hardware. This kit pairs the cordless multi-tool with two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger, which means you get the platform and the runtime to actually use it without buying batteries separately. At 66 percent off, it is the cheapest meaningful entry point to the RIDGID 18V system we have seen in a while.
RIDGID 18V MAX Output 2 x 4.0Ah Battery Kit and Charger with FREE SubCompact Brushless One-Handed Reciprocating Saw $169.00 (was $446.97)
Battery deals are usually boring, but this one is not. You get two 4.0Ah MAX Output batteries and a charger, plus a SubCompact Brushless one-handed reciprocating saw thrown in for free, for $169. The recip saw alone is a useful little tool for trimming hardware, cutting plastic conduit, and notching framing. Together this bundle adds up to about $277 in savings, which makes it a better deal than just buying the batteries by themselves.
RIDGID 18V Drywall Cut-Out Tool Kit with 2.0Ah Battery and Charger $79.00 (was $207.00)
A dedicated drywall cut-out tool sounds niche until you have one, at which point it earns its keep on every project that touches an outlet box, a recessed light, or a register cutout. This kit includes a 2.0Ah battery and charger and runs on the same 18V platform as the rest of RIDGID’s lineup. At 62 percent off, it is hard to think of a better way to spend $79 if you spend any time working on walls and ceilings.
RIDGID 18V Brushless 4-Mode 1/2 in. High-Torque Impact Wrench Kit with 4.0Ah Battery and Charger $209.00 (was $329.00)
The 4-mode high-torque impact wrench is a workhorse that handles lug nuts, suspension bolts, deck screws, and rusted-on fasteners that defeat lesser tools. RIDGID’s brushless version has four selectable modes for dialing in torque without snapping smaller hardware, and this kit ships with a 4.0Ah battery and a charger so you can start working immediately.