Prime Day Knocked Hundreds Off Our Top Pool-Cleaning Robots (2026)

Agility Robotics is opening a 60,000-square-foot facility to train its humanoid robots in Fremont, California, just up the highway from the factory where Tesla is expected to start manufacturing its Optimus robots this year.

Tesla has increasingly bet on Optimus. Elon Musk recently said he expects it to be “the biggest product ever” once it’s “useful outside of Tesla sometime next year.”

While Agility doesn’t have Tesla’s capital, it does have a robot, Digit, that is already useful in the real world. The robot is already generating revenue, carrying totes and bins in manufacturing and warehouse settings for customers like Amazon, GXO, Schaeffler, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada. The company says it has secured $300 million in contract orders for its robots.

“It’s great to have [Tesla] in the same area as us, because really, for a long time Agility was out there alone, and it’s good to have others in the humanoid space,” CEO Peggy Johnson told TechCrunch. “We have commercialized. We now know what it takes to walk into these facilities and meet their safety bars, their regulatory bars, compliance, plug into their IT infrastructure, plug into their warehouse management system.”

Agility hasn’t disclosed how many Digits that it has built or deployed, but outside observers estimate that dozens have worked in pilot or revenue-generating deployments. The company has said, for example, that Digits have moved 100,000 totes at a GXO logistics facility.

Johnson is currently leading Agility through a reverse-merger that is expected to make it the first pure-play humanoid robot company on the public markets later this year. Founded in 2015 by a group of researchers who developed new techniques that allow robots to safely walk on two legs, Agility is trying to capitalize on its lead over a newer generation of AI-inspired robotic startups like Figure, 1X, the Bot Company, or Sunday Robotics.

While the arrival of transformer-based neural networks that helped give rise to LLMs also promises major advancements in robotic behavior, Agility is taking a practical approach to autonomy.

“When you think about self-driving cars, you know, as a non-humanoid example, you really don’t want the anti-lock brake controller under AI control,” Agility co-founder and chairman Damion Shelton told TechCrunch. “The analog with humanoids is all the safety stuff needs to go through a path that’s not generative AI, right? You don’t want to get creative with your safety stack.”

What AI does do, however, is deliver on the promise of scale.

“One of the first times [Bruce Leak, the Quicktime inventor who serves on Agility’s board] asked us how we were going to go about coding applications for the robot, we didn’t really have a good answer,” Shelton said. “The number of things you can imagine a robot doing is far larger than the number of engineers who can program robots. And generative AI answers that question definitively.”

The new facility is designed to accelerate the company’s robotic deployments. Johnson says more than 30 customers are in talks with the company about deploying Digit, and the new facility will be where the six-foot-tall robot learns new skills in environments similar to those it will experience in the field.

Unlike many of the newer entrants to the humanoid space, Agility isn’t planning to offer in-home humanoid robots anytime soon. It’s a view that jibes with that of most independent robotics experts, who believe today’s most powerful robots aren’t safe enough for consumer use. Digit operates in a human-free space right now, but the version 5, expected to be unveiled this fall, will have the ability to sense humans and won’t need to be kept in a robot-only zone.

Co-founder and chief robot officer Jonathan Hurst said there is plenty of work to keep Agility busy in manufacturing and logistics alone.

“Let’s start with the bins and the totes, and then let’s do the picking and the kitting,” Hurst told TechCrunch. “And then let’s like s

Beauty deals are among the few Amazon Prime Day sales that are great nearly across the board. Whereas some tech products are only on sale because they're old, or the deals are the same you can find year-round, the beauty deals we've spotted are almost always on new and trendy products or classics we wouldn't want to go without. We do test a lot of tech professionally, but we apply that same testing protocol to the beauty products we use in our everyday lives. Here are some deals on our tried-and-tested favorites.Make sure to check our list of the Absolute Best Prime Day deals for more verified discounts on the gear we recommend.Best Beauty Device DealsRemington Shine Therapy Hair Straightener for $28 ($6 off)Photograph: Kat MerckRemingtonShine Therapy Flat IronThis is the best budget hair straightener I have ever tested, performing as well on my 3a curly hair as flat irons five times the price. This Prime Day deal is not the most dramatic discount, but you won’t find a better straightener for under 30 bucks. The 1-inch plates heat up to 410 degrees Fahrenheit in just 34 seconds, smoothing even the most recalcitrant frizz and leaving hair shiny and healthy-looking. —Kat MerckItalia Diffon Supreme Ionic XL for $135 ($34 off)Photograph: Louryn StrampeBellissimaItalia Diffon Supreme Ionic XLI love this lightweight, user-friendly diffuser and reach for it multiple times per week. It's especially good for curly hair. It isn't the fastest diffuser I've ever used, but it's gentle on my tresses and lets me dry them without feeling guilty. Goodness knows I put my hair through the wringer already, but I don't feel like I'm adding to the damage when I use this on wash days. —Louryn StrampePhilips Norelco Multigroom for $65 ($25 off)Photograph: Matthew KorfhagePhilipsNorelco Multigroom 7000, MG7790Reviewer Matthew Korfhage says the Philips Norelco Multigroom is the best deal in beard trimmers. It’s a versatile tool that is not only quiet but also operates at high RPM, delivering a close cut without any nicks when used guardless. The attachments, including the convenient nose hair trimmer, are simple to swap, and the impressive five-hour battery life means you won’t have to worry about recharging during short travels. The only minor inconvenience is that it doesn’t come with a storage case for all the guards—but that’s nothing a ziplock bag can’t fix. —Boutayna ChokranePhilips Sonicare 4100 Electric Toothbrush for $40 ($10 off)Courtesy of PhilipsPhilipsSonicare 4100 Electric ToothbrushThe Philips Sonicare 4100 is my top choice for a midrange electric toothbrush, delivering a gentler sonic cleaning experience that beats standard oscillating models. Its compact brush head is ideal for those with narrower mouths, ensuring every molar is reached. Key features include a pressure sensor that reduces vibrations when you brush too hard, a two-minute auto-shut-off timer, and two intensity settings (low and high). With its BrushSync technology, it tracks your brushing time and reminds you when it’s time to replace the brush head. Plus, a single charge lasts about two weeks. —Boutayna ChokraneCanopy Filter Showerhead for $100 ($50 off)Photograph: Matthew KorfhageCanopyFiltered ShowerheadReviewer Matthew Korfhage is our resident showerhead tester. According to him, Canopy is one of the few shower filters he has tested that effectively removes nearly all chlorine and chlorine compounds from water. The filter needs to be replaced approximately every three months. With this discount, it’s almost like you’re getting an extra filter for free. —Boutayna ChokraneIRestore Elite for $1,709 ($890 off)Photograph: Julia ForbesPhotograph: Julia ForbesPhotograph: Julia ForbesiRestoreElite Laser Growth Hair SystemThe iRestore Elite is one of our top red light therapy devices for promoting hair growth. This FDA-cleared helmet combines 300 lasers with 200 LED lights, providing full scalp coverage and enabling hands-free treatments. Its three wavelengths—625, 655, and 6

Jun 23, 2026 8:26 AMThe Best Prime Day Tech Deals on the Gadgets You Actually WantDon't pay full price—snag one of these tasty Prime Day tech deals on some of our favorite WIRED-tested gadgets.Courtesy of NetGearAs Amazon’s Prime Day tech deals kick off again, in the middle of a persistent cost-of-living crisis, you may well be rolling your eyes. But there are some genuine deals on tech you’ll use every day. Why pay more? The trick is filtering out the noise and tuning into discounts on gadgets that are actually worth buying. Every one of the Prime Day tech deals you see here is on a device that has been tested by the WIRED Reviews team in our own homes, and we only recommend the best.If you haven't found the deal you want yet, browse our roundup of the Absolute Best Prime Day Deals, or dip into our Amazon Prime Day live blog for real-time updates.WIRED Featured Tech DealsApple's Best Earbuds: Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $180 ($70 off)Google's Great Smartphone: Google Pixel 10 for $549 ($250 off)LG's Stunning OLED TV: LG C5 65-inch OLED TV for $1,300 ($100 off)Netgear's Speedy Mesh: Netgear Orbi 770 Series Mesh (3-Pack) for $595 ($105 off)TerraMow's Lovely Lawnmower: TerraMow V1000 for $1,119 ($280 off) [Clip the Coupon]Photograph: Parker HallReview: Apple AirPods Pro 3Review: Apple AirPods Pro 3AppleAirPods Pro 3The flagship Apple AirPods Pro 3 are its best wireless earbuds. Music sounds fantastic on these buds; they offer the best noise cancellation around and deliver excellent call quality. Apple added more ear tips for a better fit for small ears, new tools like heart rate sensing and live translation, and enhanced support for folks with hearing loss. If you use an iPhone, these are the wireless earbuds for you, and I've never seen them cheaper than this.Photograph: Adrienne SoPhotograph: Adrienne SoPhotograph: Adrienne SoPhotograph: Adrienne SoAppleAirPods Max 2With the same gorgeous, comfortable, iconic design as its predecessor, Apple’s AirPods Max 2 bring improved noise canceling and Bluetooth connectivity. Apple also upgraded software features, like gesture controls and Adaptive Audio. They’re a bit pricey at the RRP, but this discount is decent for Apple fans.Photograph: Ryan WaniataSonyWH-1000XM6One of the best Prime Day headphone deals we've seen, Sony's WH-1000XM6 are simply the best noise-canceling headphones ever. If you want to block out even the most disruptive background noise, while also enjoying frankly superb audio performance no matter which genre of music you’re listening to, these are the cans you need.Photograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuGooglePixel 10Packed with Google’s latest artificial intelligence features and one of the best camera systems available, the Pixel 10 might be the best Android phone for most folks right now. You can expect solid performance, a quirky design, and Google’s elegant take on Android software. Its bigger siblings offer slight improvements, but won’t justify the extra expense for most people, especially when the Pixel 10 is discounted like this.Photograph: Simon HillNimbleChamp (Series 2)Nimble is a cool company that strives to be environmentally friendly and it makes some of the best power banks you can buy. The Champ series is reliable, has a fun design, and will keep your smartphone topped up when you need it most. The larger Champ Pro is also on sale if you need more power.Photograph: Simon HillAnkerPrime USB-C to USB-C CableIf you want something hard-wearing and fast charging from the best USB-C cables, this is our pick. It tops out at 240 watts, and has a tough, braided nylon exterior made from 100 percent recycled plastic. Anker promises this cable will last a century and it can operate in temperatures from -40 degrees to 176 degrees Fahrenheit. The ribbed cuffs make it easy to grip, it’s USB-IF certified, and there’s a lifetime warranty.LG ElectronicsLGC5Home cinephiles willing to drop some cash f

Prime Day is here, and so is our live blog. We'll bring you deals, trends, and commentary throughout Amazon's annual summer sale.Prime Day is here, finally. Amazon's annual summer sale will get blanket coverage across the internet as publishers step over each other to push discounted air fryers and phone chargers.Prime Day has moved up a few weeks from its usual timeline to get ahead of July 4, and all the incoming Sesquibicentennial Sales. ("America's 250" seems to be more widely adopted terminology—we prefer sesquibicentennial). Having spent the last few weeks digging through deals under embargo, we can attest that this year's bargains aren't quite as good as we've seen in the Peak Prime era, but there are still lots of very serious discounts to be had if you're patient and a little picky.We'll be updating our overview of the absolute best Amazon Prime Day deals several times a day, and we'd encourage you to check that out if you're shopping for something specific. Our coverage is a little different than what you find on the rest of the web—we only include products someone on our team has personally tested, and we limit ourselves to products actually discounted from the prices we've been tracking. Over here on the live blog, we'll be having some fun spotting trends and odd products, plus going a little deeper on some gadgets we love.Featured dealsiPad 11-inch for $300 (14% off)Nothing Ear (a) Wireless Earbuds for $53 (33% off)Ugreen Power Bank 25,000mAh for $60 (45% off)Plugable USB-C Hub Multiport Adapter for $37 (25% off)Samsung Frame Pro TV (65-inch) for $1,498 (29% off)The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P Lets Your Teammates Hear You Swear In Crystal ClarityPhotograph: Brad BourqueSteelSeriesArctis Nova 3P WirelessI would like to consider myself a calm person, but online gaming brings something truly terrifying from the depths of my soul. I bought this gaming headset while it was on sale during Black Friday last year and have yet to regret it. It’s lightweight and comfortable, the battery lasts for hundreds of hours, and it looks cute. But most importantly, the audio quality and microphone quality are both fantastic. So fantastic that I know my teammates are letting me down solely due to user error on their behalf because my comms have been excellent ever since upgrading. Best of all, this headset plays well with everything from consoles to desktops to cell phones. The removable mic adds another layer of privacy, should you want it in addition to the mute button.Quick, to your cart!Ti ArtisanTitanium Alcohol Stove with Cross StandMy favorite part of Amazon Prime Day is not all the deals we spot on products we've tested, but, in fact, going to my own shopping cart to see what's on sale.I have like six camp stoves, but no titanium alcohol stoves (so light and easy to use—also unwelcome in much of the West for most of the summer). I have had this wee boy in my cart for months now, waiting to pull the trigger. It just finally dropped below $20 for the first time.Head over to your cart, I'm sure you'll find the same little joys.Hot Coffee HerePhotograph: HuckberryFellowAiden Precision Coffee MakerDrip coffee is back in style with a new generation of high-end coffee makers that optimize for flavor while maintaining the same ease of use you get from that crusty old Mr. Coffee in the basement.The Fellow Aiden got an 8/10 review from our writer, who said it “has plenty of esoteric bells and whistles to tickle the fancy of design-minded coffee geeks, but it also makes really good coffee with minimal hassle.”The biggest issue with the device is that it's normally $400. Well, for Prime Day it's $320. If you've had your eye on it, this is as good a time as any.I Will Never Not Need Aquaphor’s Lip BalmCourtesy of AmazonAquaphorLip Repair SticksI have sensitive skin, which means I can’t afford to experiment with lip balms. Most irritate my lips or dry them out. Aquaphor’s Lip Repair is one of the few that has never betrayed me. There are no

Prime Day deals are officially live: Shop the best tech sales from Apple, Sony, Bose, Anker and others for up to 54% off right now Yahoo Tech 17+ actually good Apple deals happening right now NBC News I’ve tested hundreds of headphones. These Prime Day deals are actually worth it CNN I Found 40+ Prime Day Discounts on Earbuds and Headphones From Bose, Samsung, Apple and More CNET Treat Yourself With Irresistible Deals on the Best Tech Gadgets WIRED

As the owner of an above-ground pool, I can attest that cleaning leaves, bugs, and other detritus is an everyday chore if the cover is off. I put up with it since my pool is only in use seasonally, but WIRED reviewer Chris Null has an in-ground pool he uses year-round, so he does not have time for foolery like nets, brushes, and manual vacuums. He has been testing pool robots for years, and his favorite robot he's ever tried has been from Beatbot. It's not the cheapest of the pool robots, but it offers near-flawless performance. Luckily, this Prime Day has some of the biggest discounts we've ever seen that model and some of our other tried-and-tested favorites.Browse our roundup of the Absolute Best Prime Day Deals.Top DealsBeatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra for $1,999Beatbot Sora 30 for $649Beatbot iSkim Ultra for $549Beatbot Sora 70 for $999Our Favorite Pool RobotPhotograph: Chris NullPhotograph: Chris NullBeatbotAquaSense 2 UltraWIRED reviewer Chris Null tested this top-of-the-line model with a six-hour battery life and found it does an excellent job at spiffing up pool floors and walls and capturing detritus at the waterline with AI-powered debris detection. It also floats when it's done, so it's easy to just grab instead of having to fish it off the bottom. The only downside is the fact it's a bit heavy and unwieldy, but that's not surprising given all the features on board.“Punches Above Its Price Tag”Photograph: Chris NullPhotograph: Chris NullVideo: Chris NullBeatbotSora 30This one's got less battery life than the AquaSense 2 Ultra and can't skim the surface, but it does have the same floating capability to avoid underwater retrieval. WIRED Reviewer Chris Null put it through its paces and found it to be quite capable on steps and platforms, and liked that it can operate in water as shallow as 8 inches. In our guide to the Best Pool Robots, he flagged it as punching above its price tag.The Best Skimmer We've TestedPhotograph: Chris NullPhotograph: Chris NullBeatbotiSkim Ultra Robotic Pool SkimmerOur top pick, the AquaSense 2 Ultra, can also skim your pool. However, if you already have a pool robot or system you like and are just looking for a skimmer only, this is the one WIRED reviewer Chris Null recommends. The solar-powered iSkim Ultra has got front-mounted sensors that keep it from slamming into your tile, though because the debris basket release button is located on the front, it will sometimes eject if it bumps into something. That was our only complaint, however, on this otherwise well-engineered device.A Robot With a Built-in SkimmerCourtesy of AmazonBeatbotSora 70The most luxe member of the new Beatbot Sora lineup, the Sora 70 is the only member of the trio that includes a surface-skimming feature, letting it do double duty on both the floor of the pool and topside. All the other features of the Sora line are also in place, including an easy charging system, smart app-based control, and waterline parking when the robot’s job is done, making for easy retrieval. It’s also available in a snazzy electric purple color scheme, if you’re angling to drop a little extra style in your pool. —Christopher NullPower up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

Prime Day Is the Best Time We've Ever Seen to Buy a Beatbot Pool Robot WIRED

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