Psst. Our Readers Are Looking at These Gadgets Before Amazon’s Big Spring Sale Even Starts


Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is days away. From March 25 to 31, the online retailer will offer discounts on loads of items, making it a good time to upgrade or replace home and personal tech. 

It’s the first big sale of the year, making it tempting to get good deals on older generations of tech you’ve had your eye on, especially ahead of new releases expected this spring and fall. CNET readers are already taking a peek at what’ll be on sale, and what they’re shopping for may surprise you. 

If you’re curious about what other people are adding to their carts, this roundup gives you a look at the crowd favorites. We rely only on anonymous click and purchase trends from our Data and Commerce teams to highlight the most popular picks of the moment — no personal data involved.

Here’s what they’re eyeing ahead of Wednesday’s launch to help you start your shopping list. 

TECH DEALS OF THE WEEK

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Sony WH-1000XM6

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David Carnoy/CNET

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is considered the “new noise-canceling king,” according to David Carnoy, CNET’s audio expert. These headphones improve on Sony’s other models with a more comfortable fit, better noise cancellation than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and solid voice call performance. The XM6 headphones also have spatial audio with head tracking. 

Watch this: Sony WH-1000XM6 Review: Cream of the Noise-Canceling Crop

If you already have a pair of headphones you love, or the XM5, Carnoy doesn’t think it’s worth rushing to upgrade. However, if you have the XM4, Amazon’s sale on these headphones may be worthwhile. 

Sony’s XM6 headphones are currently $398 on Amazon. This week, the headphones will be marked down to $368, a $30 discount. 

Shark Stratos cordless vacuum 

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The Shark Stratos is our pick for the best overall cordless vacuum due to its strong performance on both hardwood and carpet.

Shark/CNET

The Shark Stratos vacuum ties with the Eureka ReactiSense 440 as CNET’s best overall cordless vacuum. Even though it’s more expensive than the Eureka vacuum, it’s still half the price of other top cordless vacuum cleaners. 

CNET loves it for the powerful suction and cleaning performance on both hardwood and carpet. During CNET’s lab test, the Stratos picked up an average of 95% of sand across three floor types. The Stratos’ five-year warranty and replaceable batteries also make it a top overall pick. 

It originally lists for $500 but is $300 on Amazon right now.

Samsung 65-inch OLED S90F 4K smart TV

Samsung 77-inch S90F against CNET's commerce background.

Samsung/CNET

The Samsung OLED S90F 4K Smart TV is a top contender for the best OLED TV value for 2026, despite it being last year’s model. 

If you’re eyeing Samsung’s S95F, the S90F has the same picture quality for a lower price. It also has fast motion for gamers and the best shadow detail, and the same contrast quality as other OLED TVs. However, you’ll see any direct light sources if it’s facing a window or in a bright room. 

Watch this: Samsung Micro RBG TV vs. Samsung S90F: Battle of the Enormous TVs

Another top pick is the LG C5, which CNET likes for its good image quality and high contrast levels. However, it’s slightly more expensive. The S90F is currently $1,398, but will drop to $1,348 during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. 

Google Nest Doorbell (second generation)

Google Nest

Amazon/CNET

The Google Nest Doorbell is a runner-up to CNET’s top pick, the Arlo 2K video doorbell, but don’t get us wrong: The battery-powered Nest Doorbell is still one of CNET’s favorites for a few reasons. 

The second generation of the Nest video doorbell includes AI-powered smart notifications to detect packages, pets and people as well as three hours of video storage — all for free. It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home voice assistants, and is easy to install. However, if you’re looking for the latest and greatest, Google has a third-generation wired doorbell camera with Google’s Gemini AI. 

That said, if you’re looking for a battery-powered option, the second generation will be $140 during the sale — originally at $180.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 

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Google/CNET

If you’re familiar with the first generation of the Google Pixel Buds, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a few differences that may make them worth snagging during Amazon’s sale. 

They’re smaller, lighter and have a “twist to adjust stabilizer” to help the buds fit snugly in your ears. Compared with the original buds, the Buds Pro 2 deliver improved sound quality and solid voice-calling performance, though they don’t quite match the best earbuds.

Watch this: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Hands-On: A Big Upgrade

How much you like these earphones will largely depend on how well they fit. With a good seal, you can expect excellent sound quality, solid noise cancellation and full functionality on Android or Google devices. If the fit is poor — or if you’re using Apple devices — the experience won’t be as strong.

If you’re looking for other options, the Google Pixel Buds 2A are a budget-friendly choice. 

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 will be down to $170 from $229 during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. 

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer CoreXY

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ELEGOO/Amazon

The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer CoreXY didn’t make CNET’s cut as one of the best 3D printers in town. However, it offers four-color printing and automatic refills with tangle detection, with speeds up to 500 millimeters per second. You can use Elegoo’s other design tools, too, and the printer promises smooth results.

CNET recommends other 3D printers, including the Bambu Lab P2S for its four-color system and detail, too. And Elegoo has a new printer, the Carbon 2, which has upgraded hardware and features, including a new design, a temperature controller, sensors and zone-leveling modes with more accurate calibration. 

In this case, it may be best to shop around and compare prices. The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer CoreXY costs $380 and will be discounted to $300 during Amazon’s sale. 

Fitbit Charge 6 

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FitBit/Amazon

The Fitbit Charge 6 is Fitbit’s newest fitness tracker, and CNET sees it as a solid upgrade from the Charge 5. It brings notable features, including electrodermal activity tracking for stress, along with strong battery life and built-in GPS.

The Fitbit also includes blood oxygen monitoring and workout-based song recommendations when paired with a YouTube Music Premium account. You can treat the Charge 6 as a companion to your phone, as you’ll need it nearby to change songs or adjust headphone volume.

However, it’s worth noting that some features require a $10-a-month Fitbit Premium subscription, like the Daily-Readiness Score and workout plans. But the subscription is not required to use the Fitbit Charge 6. 

The Fitbit Charge 6 will be down to $120 from $160 during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale this week. 

Shopping Amazon’s Big Spring Sale? Start here

CNET is tracking all of the best tech deals to help you save money during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, but don’t stop there. 

Other retailers have sales this week, including Target’s Circle Deal Days from March 25 to 27. Usually, Walmart and Best Buy tag along to offer competitive sales, too, but Best Buy’s Tech Fest is over, and Walmart hasn’t announced a sale yet. 

It may seem like Amazon’s sale is the only place to spot a good deal on tech, but even though some retailers aren’t announcing sales, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check them for deals or consider refurbished tech. It may also be worth considering other brands and generations that still have your must-have features for a fraction of the price. 





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Recent Reviews


A new class-action lawsuit, filed on Monday by three teenage girls and their guardians, alleges that Elon Musk’s xAI created and distributed child sexual abuse material featuring their faces and likenesses with its Grok AI tech.

“Their lives have been shattered by the devastating loss of privacy, dignity, and personal safety that the production and dissemination of this CSAM have caused,” the filing says. “xAI’s financial gain through the increased use of its image- and video-making product came at their expense and well-being.”

From December to early January, Grok allowed many AI and X social media users to create AI-generated nonconsensual intimate images, sometimes known as deepfake porn. Reports estimate that Grok users made 4.4 million “undressed” or “nudified” images, 41% of the total number of images created, over a period of nine days. 

X, xAI and its safety and child safety divisions did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The wave of “undressed” images stirred outrage around the world. The European Commission quickly launched an investigation, while Malaysia and Indonesia banned X within their borders. Some US government representatives called on Apple and Google to remove the app from their app stores for violating their policies, but no federal investigation into X or xAI has been opened. A similar, separate class-action lawsuit was filed (PDF) by a South Carolina woman in late January.

The dehumanizing trend highlighted just how capable modern AI image tools are at creating content that seems realistic. The new complaint compares Grok’s self-proclaimed “spicy AI” generation to the “dark arts” with its ease of subjecting children to “any pose, however sick, however fetishized, however unlawful.”

“To the viewer, the resulting video appears entirely real. For the child, her identifying features will now forever be attached to a video depicting her own child sexual abuse,” the complaint reads.

AI Atlas

The complaint says xAI is at fault because it did not employ industry-standard guardrails that would prevent abusers from making this content. It says xAI licensed use of its tech to third-party companies abroad, which sold subscriptions that led abusers to make child sexual abuse images featuring the faces and likenesses of the victims. The requests ran through xAI’s servers, which makes the company liable, the complaint argues.

The lawsuit was filed by three Jane Does, pseudonyms given to the teens to protect their identities. Jane Doe 1 was first alerted to the fact that abusive, AI-generated sexual material of her was circulating on the web by an anonymous Instagram message in early December. The filing says she was told about a Discord server by the anonymous Instagram user, where the material was shared. That led Jane Doe 1 and her family, and eventually law enforcement, to find and arrest one perpetrator.

Ongoing investigations led the families of Jane Does 2 and 3 to learn their children’s images had been transformed with xAI tech into abusive material.





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