Top Deals of the Week: Sony XM5 Headphones and Kindle E-reader

If holiday shopping is causing you anxiety due to missed opportunities on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, don't worry. We've scouted a wide array of gadgets on sale that will make excellent gifts, and the best part is many are still available for timely holiday shipping. Leading the pack is an exciting deal on Sony’s WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones, currently being sold with bonus wireless earbuds. You’ll also find considerable price cuts on Amazon’s newest basic Kindle and the innovative Echo Dot Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Where to Get Them:

– Amazon: $248 (Originally $399.99, with WF-C700N included)

– Best Buy: $248 (Originally $399.99)

– Target: $249.99 (Originally $399.99)

Sony's previous generation WH-1000XM5 headphones continue to amaze with their great sound quality, effective noise cancelation, and comfortable fit. Presently, Amazon offers a package including these headphones and Sony’s WF-C700N earbuds for only $248, saving you $152. The redesign features like a sleeker headband, extra memory foam in the ear pads, and repositioned microphones enhancing call quality under windy conditions come without adding much bulk. The 30-hour battery with active noise cancellation (ANC) on makes them as enduring as ever.

During tests, the XM5s demonstrated a refined and expansive sound, although lacking a bit in bass power when playing electronic dance music or hip-hop. Featuring eight microphones, four dedicated to handling voice, their superior noise-canceling ability stands out during phone conversations in noisy surroundings. Sony WF-C700N earbuds, valued at $89.99, present mid-tier noise cancellation with an IPX4 water resistance rating, offering up to 7.5 hours of battery life with ANC activated.

Kindle (11th Generation)

Buying Options:

– Amazon (with ads): $89.99 (Discounted from $109.99)

– Best Buy (with ads): $89.99 (Discounted from $109.99)

– Amazon (without ads): $109.99 (Discounted from $129.99)

Amazon’s 11th-generation Kindle, a top choice among budget e-readers, is available for just $89.99 at major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The ad-supported variant, reduced by $20, boasts a six-inch 300ppi E Ink screen that resists glare, unlike tablets and phones. Its substantial storage can hold a multitude of books or several audiobooks from Audible, which you can enjoy through Bluetooth audio devices.

The e-reader’s battery can last up to six weeks based on daily reading amount and backlight usage, rechargeable via USB-C. Although it offers equivalent screen resolution and memory as the Kindle Paperwhite model, it lacks waterproofing, making it less suitable for reading by the pool or in the soak.

Echo Dot Max

Where to Purchase:

– Amazon: $79.99 (Reduced from $99.99)

– Best Buy: $79.99 (Reduced from $99.99)

– Target: $79.99 (Reduced from $99.99)

Amazon’s ‘Super Saturday’ sale is in full swing, but the standout offers encompass ongoing discounts on Amazon devices seen for weeks. Among them, the Echo Dot Max retails at $79.99 across major stores, marking the lowest price since its debut.

The Dot Max, technically a successor to the 2020 fourth-generation Echo, showcases a durable knit fabric design, streamlined controls, and a more capable processor. It supports an array of smart home protocols, including Matter, Thread, and Zigbee, and offers commendable audio output for its size. Functioning as a Wi-Fi extender in mesh setups and featuring Amazon’s nascent Alexa Plus AI, it signifies progress, albeit early in development.