There was a time—and it wasn’t even that long ago—when Presidents’ Day meant one thing and one thing only: mattresses. Seriously, if you weren’t actively in the market for a memory foam slab or perhaps a slightly discounted dishwasher, the February holiday was just a quiet Monday to catch up on sleep. But man, have things shifted. Walking through the digital aisles this morning, it’s glaringly obvious that the holiday has been rebranded as the “Spring Cleaning of Big Tech.” According to the latest news, we’re seeing some of the deepest price cuts on wearable AI and home cinema gear that we’ve encountered since the absolute madness of Black Friday ended.
I’ve been tracking these sales cycles for years now, and there’s a specific, almost predictable rhythm to February. Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are currently staring down warehouses full of “last year’s” models—even if those models are only six months old. They desperately need the shelf space for the big spring product launches, and that puts us, the shoppers, in a pretty powerful position. It’s the perfect storm of inventory management meeting consumer desire. This is especially true with the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics currently dominating our screens; there’s nothing like watching world-class downhill skiing to make you realize your current TV is just a bit too small for 4K sports.
Why your next pair of glasses might actually be a computer (and why that’s finally a good thing)
The most interesting takeaway from this year’s sales isn’t actually the TVs, though. It’s what’s happening on our faces. We’ve seen a massive, almost relentless push into smart eyewear over the last twelve months. Meta’s Oakley smart glasses, which only just launched last summer, are already seeing 15% discounts. Now, I know 15% might not sound like a “doorbuster” in the traditional sense, but for hardware that effectively replaced the need for a handheld camera for a lot of creators? That’s a significant entry point. These aren’t those clunky, awkward prototypes we saw back in 2022; they’re actually stylish, they record in 3K, and—miraculously—they actually last through a full workday.
According to a 2025 Statista report, the wearable AI market grew by nearly 25% year-over-year as consumers finally started moving away from strictly screen-only interactions. We’re seeing that shift reflected in the pricing of the Amazon Echo Glasses, too, which are currently sitting at over 50% off. Think about that for a second. When you can snag a pair of polarized sunglasses that double as a hands-free assistant for half price, the “novelty” phase of the market is officially over. We’re entering the utility phase. Honestly, I suspect by this time next year, seeing someone chatting with their frames won’t even warrant a second look from passersby.
“The Meta Quest 3S may be one of the easiest gaming consoles—let alone VR headsets—for me to recommend, especially at $50 off.”
Kerry Wan, Editor-in-Chief
And then there’s the VR side of things. The Meta Quest 3S is currently seeing a $50 price drop, which feels like a very strategic move to capture the audience that sat out the initial high-priced VR wave. It’s a smart play, really. By lowering the barrier to entry right as the content library has finally started to mature, Meta is turning what used to be a niche hobby into a household staple. It’s no longer about some vague, futuristic idea of “the metaverse”—it’s just about having a massive, high-resolution screen for your games that happens to fit in a backpack.
The ‘old’ TV secret: Why last year’s flagship is the real winner this February
If you’re looking at your living room setup and feeling a bit of envy while watching the Olympics, you aren’t alone. But here’s the secret the big brands don’t really want you to focus on: the “old” models are often 95% as good as the bleeding-edge ones, but for about 50% of the price. Take the Samsung S90C, for example. It’s a couple of generations behind the newest flagship now, but it remains an absolute OLED powerhouse. Seeing it at 50% off right now is, frankly, a bit ridiculous. A 2024 Reuters analysis noted that panel production efficiencies have allowed mid-range OLED prices to drop by an average of 15% annually, but these holiday clearances push that discount way further into “must-buy” territory.
We’re also seeing TCL’s QM6K smart TV getting slashed by nearly $1,000 depending on which size you’re eyeing. If you’re looking at an 85-inch screen for half price, you’re not just buying a TV; you’re buying a home cinema. The irony here is that as streaming services keep hiking their monthly prices, the hardware to actually watch them on is becoming more accessible than ever. It’s a weird trade-off, but one I’ll gladly take if it means I can see every individual texture of the snow on a giant screen while I’m eating my cereal in the morning.
But look, it’s not all high-end luxury in the sales bins. There’s a lot of “health and wellness” tech cluttering the digital aisles right now, and you have to be careful. The Renpho Lynx smart ring is a great example. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the Oura, and while it’s on sale, I’d argue you should tread lightly. Sometimes a deal is just a way to offload hardware that doesn’t quite have the software support to back it up. If a device only offers “bare bones” tracking, is it really worth the space on your finger, even at a steep discount? That’s where the editorial “we” says: maybe skip the ring and put that money toward the better glasses instead.
Don’t get fooled by the ‘70% Off’ sticker—here’s where the real deals are hiding
We really have to talk about the “MSRP trap” for a minute. Retailers absolutely love to show you a massive “70% OFF” sticker, but more often than not, that’s based on a price the product hasn’t actually sold at in months. This is exactly why we track these things year-round. The real savings? They’re usually found in the mid-range—the stuff that was premium six months ago and is now being pushed aside for the “AI-integrated” version of the exact same thing. Often, the internal hardware is almost identical, but the marketing has changed.
And hey, don’t forget the boring stuff. Believe it or not, tax software is 30% off right now. No, it’s not sexy, it doesn’t have a 4K display, and it definitely won’t record your bike rides in 3K. But it’s the practical side of Presidents’ Day. It’s the “mattress” of the software world. You need it, it’s cheaper now than it will be in April, and you might as well grab it while you’re already picking up a discounted doorbell camera to track your inevitable Amazon packages.
Is it better to buy now or wait for Amazon’s Spring Sale?
If you’re looking for TVs or older model tech, buy now. Presidents’ Day is historically better for clearing out bulkier inventory like TVs and appliances compared to the more gadget-focused Spring events that happen later in the year.
Are the Meta Oakley glasses worth it at a 15% discount?
Yes, mostly because these specific wearables rarely see deep discounts. Unlike generic electronics, brand-name collaborations tend to hold their value very well, making any double-digit percentage off a legitimate win for your wallet.
Ultimately, this holiday is all about the transition. We’re finally moving out of the winter slump and into a season of new releases. Whether you’re upgrading your home security with a discounted smart doorbell or finally taking the plunge into wearable AI, the goal remains the same: don’t pay the “newness tax.” Let the early adopters pay full price in June so you can enjoy the exact same tech at a fraction of the cost in February. It’s a strategy that has served me well for years, and with the way tech is moving in 2026, it’s more relevant than it’s ever been.
This article is sourced from various news outlets. Analysis and presentation represent our editorial perspective.
