Memorial Day 2026 tech deals: laptops, TVs, phones under cut

With Memorial Day landing on Monday, May 25, 2026, retailers are pushing savings across laptops, TVs, phones, smart home gear, and everyday gadgets—ranging from a heavily discounted 55-inch Hisense/TV deal under $1,000 to price cuts on devices like Apple’s App

Memorial Day is almost here, and the tech deals are already acting like it. On Monday, May 25, 2026, the holiday will be observed as a US federal holiday and—traditionally—the unofficial start of summer.

That “start” matters if you’ve been waiting to upgrade something practical: a laptop for work. a TV for weekends. a phone that’ll last through the next year of photos and video. This year. retailers including Amazon. Best Buy. Target. Walmart. and more are running promotions across home. outdoor. tech. apparel. and beyond.

If you’ve got decision fatigue, you’re not alone. Deals can blur together fast—especially when the discounts are spread across different stores and product lines. So here’s what’s live right now across the categories that tend to take the most planning to get right.

The biggest TV moment is coming in fast: the newest 2026 S7 TV is on sale at its lowest price to date. The 55-inch model is 40% off, dropping it to under $1,000.

Smart home gear is also getting a clear push. The three-device charger taking up the same space on your nightstand as your phone is finally a “buy now” option for some shoppers. It charges an iPhone. an Apple Watch. and AirPods altogether. and ZDNET’s Nina Raemont says she’s been using the 3-in-1 charger for over two years—calling it a product that “fixes a problem you didn’t know you had.”.

Blink mini cams are another deal category that keeps pulling people in. The latest 2K+ model is on sale for 35% off, positioned for home security and for tracking pets or kids inside the house.

And if your summer plans are more “stay cool at home” than “go out,” there’s a small but tempting pivot: the Ninja Slushi is on sale for 26% off, promising an at-home way to make chilly drinks.

There’s also a streaming-and-audio angle for anyone who wants something that isn’t a screen upgrade. Audible’s free trial offers 30 days of access to a catalog of over 1 million titles, including brand new releases. The trial includes the same benefits as full members, and it allows cancellation before the 30 days end to avoid charges. ZDNET Managing Editor Alison DeNisco-Rayome recently tried it herself. and the free period helped her decide whether the service was a good fit.

Apple shoppers aren’t being asked to compromise much, either. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is being described as rugged and built for adventurers, with premium features including GPS, advanced metrics, Offline Maps, and more. It also includes a 49mm watch face designed to stay bright for outdoor use.

For iPad owners, Apple Pencil Pro is part of the lineup of deals being highlighted. It includes advanced features like squeeze. barrel roll. and haptic feedback to make marking up. taking notes. and creating more intuitive. It charges wirelessly and works with the newest iPad Pro and iPad Air models.

And for people who’ve stayed locked into Apple audio, AirPods Max 2 are in focus as a “keep it in the ecosystem” option. The upgraded sound quality is described as a key draw, and Apple’s Transparency Mode is called out as a standout feature. They’re also available in a range of colors.

TV deals don’t slow down after the first big headline. The Hisense U8QG is framed as an excellent mid-range Mini LED TV with crisp 4K resolution. bold colors. and sharp contrast. It includes a native 165Hz refresh rate for smooth motion. and it can be boosted to 288Hz with support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR.

TCL’s QM8K is another Mini LED favorite in the set of highlighted offers. It includes built-in voice controls, a maximum brightness of 5,000 nits, 3,800 dimming zones for ultra-sharp contrast, and a 144Hz refresh rate built for live sports, action movies and shows, and console gaming.

LG’s last year’s flagship OLED is also part of the mix, described as still delivering “plenty of punch” with signature OLED picture quality. It supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, has a 144Hz refresh rate, and offers support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR.

Samsung’s lineup includes both QLED and OLED options. Its flagship QLED TV is highlighted for virtual surround sound via both Dolby Atmos and object-tracking sound that follows the on-screen action. It also supports cloud gaming via Xbox GamePass. letting people play titles without a console. and it includes a 165Hz refresh rate.

Even a generation behind, the Samsung S95F is also mentioned with its own strengths: excellent OLED picture quality, object-tracking sound, a 120Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR support for console gaming.

Laptops are the other category where shoppers tend to be picky about specs—and the deals reflect that. The M5 MacBook Air is described as improving on its predecessor with more base memory. more base storage (noted as faster). and better battery life. It also “just came out this spring,” and shoppers are being told they’re already seeing $100 off it.

The Vivobook is positioned as an affordable thin-and-light option, built around 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core 5 CPU. It weighs 3.09 pounds.

For work-focused buyers, an EliteBook 6 lineup from HP is also highlighted. One model with an AMD Ryzen 5 220 processor is described as bringing fast, efficient performance for multitasking and working with large datasets, while staying mobile, with up to 14 hours of battery on one charge.

Lenovo’s 13th-generation X1 Carbon is called a work machine with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a full 2TB of storage. It’s currently $500 off the regular price as Lenovo makes room for newer models, but it’s described as still competitive in 2026.

And for gamers chasing maximum settings, Acer’s 16-inch Predator Helios is presented as a high-end option with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 (with 24GB of VRam), and 32GB of memory.

Phones are included too, with some deals focused on refurbished availability. New units of the iPhone 17 Pro Max are described as widely sold out, but refurbished devices are said to be readily available, with Best Buy cutting the price by more than $400.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is described for elite performance, a smooth 120Hz ProMotion OLED display, and durable titanium construction. The Pro Max is also noted for a larger 6.9-inch screen and better battery life rated for up to 39 hours of video playback on a single charge.

The iPhone 16e is positioned as a midrange alternative that delivers much of the core iPhone 16 experience. It includes a vibrant 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display in a lightweight design. runs on the A18 chipset. and supports Apple Intelligence features including Writing Tools and a “smarter” version of Siri.

There’s also room for Samsung’s premium foldables in the list. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is described as premium, powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset like the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Mobile expert Cesar Cadenas says the outer screen measures 6.5 inches and works well for everyday usage.

In the kitchen and home category, smart screens and ice makers are both getting airtime. A smart home reviewer says the Skylight Calendar smart display has had a significant impact on keeping track of her family’s events, meetings, and household tasks.

Ice lovers are also catered to: the GE Profile nugget ice maker is described as a favorite of ZDNET contributor Artie Beaty, with the deal framed as worth the investment if someone is particular about at-home ice.

Security upgrades remain in the conversation as well. ZDNET smart home expert Maria Diaz has tested several Ring doorbells for ease and function, and the latest Doorbell Plus is described as on sale for 33% off.

For dessert fans. the Ninja Creami deal is positioned around price history: the best price seen for the Ninja Creami is $279 around Black Friday. but this $292 offer is called “not too shabby” ahead of the summer season. Managing Editor Alison DeNisco Rayome says she loves hers to make frosty treats for her kids.

Underneath all the product talk is a shopping approach that’s meant to cut through the usual deal clutter. ZDNET says it only writes about deals that capture its own interest—devices and products experts would recommend to readers. friends. and family. Its experts look for deals at least 20% off. or “hardly ever on sale. ” using established price-comparison tools and trackers to determine whether a deal is worth it. They also examine customer reviews and rely on hands-on experience to focus on what matters to people who already own and use the products.

The holiday weekend has arrived on the calendar. Now the only question is whether your next tech purchase is one you’ve been delaying—or one you’re finally ready to make before the prices move again.

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