The Buying Game (Issue 20)
This week's picks include a bike pump, travel charger, Wi-Fi lights, and more.
How I’d spend $500: Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2
Come Christmastime, I'm very glad I put these Permanent Outdoor Lights up earlier in the year. Most of the time, they're just white and come on automatically at sunset to have more light around the house. But since these are smart lights capable of all kinds of colorful designs, they become our Christmas lights in December. They come in 50-, 100-, and 150-foot lengths, along with mounts pieces. It's a pain to get on a ladder and install them, as any lights would be, but they've performed great for me this year.
Price: $200 [Black Friday deal] (link)
Value Score: Good
Not only are these Wi-Fi-enabled, but they have Matter. They'll work with Apple, Google, and Amazon natively. Among other things, this allows them to be hooked into automations. But if you don't care about that, there's also a Govee app that has all kinds of colorful, moving designs.
How I’d spend $150: KUXIU K1 Ultra (3-in-1 powerbank)
The KUXIU K1 Ultra power bank looks like a typical magnetic one, but it slides open to reveal a hidden Apple Watch charger. It features an additional USB-C port to charge three devices at once. Of course, newer AirPods can wirelessly charge on Apple Watch chargers if your watch doesn't need power.
Price: $80 [Black Friday deal] (link)
Value Score: Good
The 10,000mAh battery capacity is great for fully recharging your iPhone and the Qi2.2 25W power is great for speed. But if it's too bulky, the company also has a 15W, 5,000mAh version. A phone battery that can also be your nightstand charger on a trip makes the price a good value.
How I’d spend $50: HOTO Mini Bike Tire Pump
This bike and tire pump really is as small as it looks. It's ideal for bikers looking for a portable pump to carry with them, but I use mine for all kinds of things around the garage. I love that it doesn't take up much space to store when I'm done with it and that I can recharge it with a USB-C cable.
Price: $41 [Black Friday deal] (link)
Value Score: Good
This pump has a capacity of 150 PSI. It's not meant for car tires, but nearly any kind of bike or piece of sports equipment should be fair game. Its petite size makes it well worth its under $50 price for me.
The winning pick: KUXIU K1 Ultra
I've had my eye on this product for a while because of its clever design. This can be used as a way to keep your phone charged during a flight, and then used for overnight charging when you get to the hotel. The Black Friday price makes it even more compelling.
Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering.
An expensive pick: Matic robot vacuum and mop
At $1,095, the Matic robot vacuum and mop is a premium cleaner. But it's actually getting more expensive starting on December 2. I use one multiple times a week and am constantly impressed by its crumb-gathering skills. Even better is that it stores map data locally, so the company doesn't have any access to your home information.
Price: $1,095 -> $1,245 (link)
Media pick: 'Down Cemetery Road'
There are a lot of good shows on Apple TV right now, but one that I think is flying under the radar is Down Cemetery Road. It has a gripping spy-thriller story, has the flawed, but likeable characters that Mick Herron is good at creating. The show isn't a spin-off of Slow Horses, but if you like that one, this one will feel familiar.
This week's other interesting deals and product news
There are too many deals to name them all, but here are just a couple.
- The Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker is down to $20. It's a perfect travel speaker.
- If you have any interest in VR gaming or seeing what a VR headset is all about, the Quest 3s is $250 right now.
- Apple TV is $5.99/month for six months right now. A crazy deal for a service with no ads and great shows.
- Nothing Headphone (1) are comfortable, have wireless and wired connections, and have great media control buttons. They're down to $240 right now.
