These waterproof wonders can crank out serious sound — and there's a bonus light show when it's dark. (Amazon)(Amazon)
As a tech writer who's used more gadgets than I can count, I can tell you: summer gear isn't complete without a solid waterproof speaker. With pool days on the horizon, the $20 BolaButty Bluetooth Speaker is a no-brainer. It's compact, water-resistant and has surprisingly long battery life — plus it throws in built-in lights for extra vibe. All those features make this a compact speaker that punches way above its weight.
Thanks to AirTags, I can track my bags from drop-off to the plane to the luggage carousel. And even when the worst happens, and my bags end up in Orlando when I'm in Michigan (true story), I know where they are and how to find them.
"First, we bought one Apple AirTag for my husband's wallet. Then we bought a second one for his car keys," said this repeat buyer. "Now, we have a four-pack, which is cheaper, for our golf bags and checked roller bags."
Prefer a sleek tablet over a heavy laptop? Look no further. Apple products are so sought after that they don't really need to go on sale, and when they do, it's often because they're older models. That said, this is the most recent version of this iPad, which makes this markdown extra noteworthy.
Senior Deals Writer Chris McGraw, who specializes in all things tech, says, "It's an ultra-light, thin tablet that's powerful enough to replace your laptop for most tasks but slips into your bag without a second thought. With a large 11-inch Liquid Retina display, you're swiping and scrolling in vibrant color and sharpness that makes any screen that came before feel like an old tube TV.
"If you've got a habit of toggling between a dozen apps, streaming videos and replying to messages at once, you're in for a treat. This iPad is ready to keep up with whatever you throw its way. And if you're into gaming, the graphics capabilities mean you can play even demanding games without dropping a frame."
You, your kids and your grandkids will have a blast playing with this highly rated drone, which easily connects to your phone for taking photos and videos from above. Use it in the yard or even bring it on your next trip for a bird's-eye view of your vacation. And yeah: It can do 360-degree flips!
At nearly 50% off, it's down to just about as low as I've ever seen it.
Want to feel like a magician at home? These gizmos allow you to control practically any electronic you plug into them via your voice or phone — pretty cool, huh? Just plug 'em into an outlet and pair to your phone via the Kasa app. From there, you can connect them to Alexa or Google Assistant if you like. Another fun feature? You can set schedules to ensure your lights and appliances are shut off by a certain time. They've barely dipped lower than this all year...
Bring the party just about anywhere, thanks to this portable speaker, which was purchased over 10,000 times in the past month alone. This compact gadget can play for up to 20 hours, and since it's waterproof, you can set it up near the pool without a second thought. Pair it to your phone and other devices via Bluetooth — it'll connect within 33 feet. This is its lowest price yet.
"These Sony headphones aren't just any old pair of cans," says McGraw. "With top-tier noise-cancelling tech, they let you block out the world and dive into your music, podcasts or calls with clarity.
"They boast a solid 30 hours of battery life as well as quick charging (a 10-minute charge will get you five hours of playback), so you won’t be hunting for an outlet mid-listen. And with touch-sensor controls, adjusting volume or skipping tracks is as easy as a tap."
FYI, this is as low as they've been marked down to since last year...
With this deal, this speaker drops to just $20 — on par with the lowest price we've ever seen. Compared with similar models from brands including Anker or JBL, this is a steal. Demand for Bluetooth speakers goes up the closer we get to beach and pool season, which means now's the time to buy.
The BolaButty is a great pick for multiple reasons, starting with sound quality. Two drivers produce sound with next to no distortion, even at higher volumes, and you can connect two of these speakers for a stereo effect. It's also weather-resistant, which means you don't have to worry about taking it out and about. If someone splashes it with pool water or it's rained on because you left it out in a sudden downpour, no worries.
It delivers around 24 hours of playback per charge, plus it can connect up to 100 feet away from your device. There's also the fun bonus: lighting effects. You can't see them as well during the daytime, but at night, you can make your own light show by pressing a button on the speaker. There's also a built-in microphone for hands-free calling.
This little speaker has more than 18,000 five-star reviews. That's a lot of people singing its praises, including folks who rave about the value for the money.
"Great bang for the buck!" wrote a fan. "I was looking for a smallish Bluetooth speaker with satisfying bass. ... I researched and bought five different brands and types of speakers to audition, with the intent of returning the four that weren't up to snuff. Bottom line, coming from someone who has a discerning ear for overall sound quality, this speaker is great!"
"It's compact but puts out some power. I love to listen to music on my phone when I shower, but the water pretty much drowns out the sound. This speaker amplifies it loud and clear. The best part is how long it holds a charge," said one shower singer.
One user traded bad TV speakers for this. "My TV has awful built-in speakers, and my previous Bluetooth soundbar stopped playing the sound on Hulu for some reason. This speaker is much smaller and cheaper, but it sounds just as good!"
"I bought this last May and took it to the pool every day until the end of September," shared another fan. "I live in Texas and this little speaker was unphased in 110°F temps and definitely got wet many times! Since summer ended, I have adopted it as my bathroom speaker and use it every single day. No issues at all."
"It's a great little speaker for a small(ish) area. I brought it to the beach and had a group of 12 people all able to hear it well. Easy to connect to your phone as well. [The] only downside is that you can't really see the power light when you're in the sun," wrote one beachgoer.
This reviewer had another light-related gripe: "Extremely long battery life. That being said, I deducted one star because it doesn't have a battery condition indicator. You know when to charge it when it quits working. It does have a red LED that goes out when recharge is complete."
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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