Weekly Tech Clearance: Best End-of-January Deals on Routers, Mac Minis, and Chargers

Weekly Tech Clearance: Save Right Now on Routers, Mac Minis, and Chargers

Short on time and tired of hunting scattered coupons? You’re not alone. Every week we comb retailer markdowns, flash sales, and verified coupon drops to bring deals you can trust. This week’s clearance spotlight: the Apple Mac mini M4, the Google Nest Wi‑Fi Pro 3‑pack, and the UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 3‑in‑1 charger. Each is a practical buy for different needs — and all three are showing meaningful January price cuts you can still catch in early 2026.

Snapshot: Top picks this week

• Mac mini M4 — Now around $500 (was $599). Great entry point for creators and power users who want a compact desktop.
• Google Nest Wi‑Fi Pro (3‑pack) — Around $249.99 (save ~$150). Best for larger homes needing mesh coverage and Wi‑Fi 6E performance.
• UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 3‑in‑1 (25W) — About $95 (roughly 30% off). Versatile charger for multi‑device households and travel.

Why January sales still matter in 2026

Retailers extended deep discounts into late January 2026 as post‑holiday inventory from late 2025 met new CES product announcements in early January. That created a twofold effect: older but still excellent models were pushed lower to clear warehouse space, while manufacturers and retailers used timed flash sales to capture early‑year buyers. For deal hunters, that means more predictable clearance windows and frequent limited‑time markdowns — if you know where to look.

“Late‑Dec to late‑Jan is now our second biggest clearance window after Black Friday — and 2026 shows even more targeted flash pricing.” — bestprices.pro weekly analysis

Deal deep dives — what’s worth buying now

Apple Mac mini M4 — Best compact desktop value

The Mac mini M4 remains one of the most efficient small‑form desktops for 2026 workflows. Apple’s M4 silicon continued to show strong single‑thread and multi‑core performance through late 2025, and the M4 Mac mini combines that with a tiny footprint and quiet operation.

• Current sale: ~ $500 for the 16GB / 256GB config (regularly $599).
• Who should buy: You — if you need a compact, powerful machine for photo/video editing, coding, or home studio tasks, but don’t need the M4 Pro immediately.
• Why this deal is good: The 16GB base RAM is a practical sweet spot in 2026 when background app counts and browser tab usage have increased. $500 is ~17% off and close to historical lows.

Buying tips

• Pick the right storage: 256GB is fine if you use cloud storage or external SSDs. Upgrade to 512GB if you keep large video/photo libraries locally.
• RAM headroom: 16GB suits most power users. Jump to 24GB if you routinely run virtual machines, large DAW sessions, or professional video timelines.
• Ports and connectivity: Check if you need the M4 Pro for Thunderbolt 5 (useful for future‑proof multi‑display and high‑speed peripherals). Many buyers can wait — and save — with the standard M4.
• Where to buy: Use authorized Apple resellers for full warranty; consider Apple Refurbish for extra savings with Apple warranty backing.

Google Nest Wi‑Fi Pro (3‑pack) — Best mesh deal for bigger homes

Mesh routers are one of the fastest ways to improve real‑world Wi‑Fi coverage. The Nest Wi‑Fi Pro supports tri‑band Wi‑Fi 6E (including 6GHz) and its 3‑pack gets you consistent coverage for multi‑floor homes.

• Current sale: ~ $249.99 for the 3‑pack (about $150 off in limited‑time deals).
• Who should buy: Households with dead zones, frequent streaming or cloud gaming, and users on multi‑gig ISP plans who want simpler management than enterprise gear.
• Why this deal is good: Mesh systems rarely drop this low. For large houses, the per‑node cost is competitive vs single high‑end routers plus extenders.

Buying tips

• Confirm 6GHz client support: Wi‑Fi 6E adds the 6GHz band, but only devices with 6E radios will use it. If you have a 6E phone/laptop, the speed/latency gains are tangible in congested environments.
• Mesh placement: Place nodes in a triangle pattern, avoid basements with heavy shielding, and consider Ethernet backhaul for maximum stability.
• Future‑proofing: Wi‑Fi 7 started shipping in late 2025; however, in 2026 most homes will still gain more from a stable 6E mesh than early Wi‑Fi 7 hardware with limited client support.
• Watch firmware updates: Install the latest firmware after setup — security and performance updates are frequent in the first months after a new hardware release. For large fleets and careful update windows, see our patch orchestration guidance.

UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 3‑in‑1 Charger — Best multi‑device charger

Multi‑device wireless chargers are practical post‑holiday staples. The UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 25W combines MagSafe‑style alignment for iPhones with a pad for earbuds and a watch charging puck. Its foldable design makes it useful both at home and when traveling.

• Current sale: ~ $95 (about 32% off; historically low near $90).
• Who should buy: Multi‑device households with iPhones, AirPods (or Qi earbuds), and Apple Watch owners who want a single tidy charger.
• Why this deal is good: The price is close to the lowest we've tracked, and built quality and Qi2/MagSafe alignment reduce charging frustration.

Buying tips

• Check compatibility: Qi2/MagSafe is backward compatible with Qi, but magnetic alignment and full 15–25W output require Qi2/MagSafe‑capable phones.
• Power adapter: Use the included or a high‑quality PD adapter that supports the rated wattage for the charger; lower adapters will reduce charging speed.
• Travel use: If you travel with a MagSafe case or a heavier phone case, test magnetic alignment — some thin cases work fine, others block alignment and reduce speeds. Frequent travelers should consider packing light and testing chargers before a trip (frequent-traveler tech tips).

How we verify these weekly clearance picks

We track price history, retailer stock changes, and verified merchant listings across multiple channels (official stores, Amazon, major retailers, and authorized resellers). In early 2026 we've seen more frequent limited‑time price drops tied to CES announcements and post‑holiday inventory. When a product hits our shortlist we verify:

1. Historical price range (is this near a genuine low?)
2. Warranty and return terms from the seller
3. Authenticity checks (authorized reseller or manufacturer retail).

Practical strategies to lock in the best price

Deals move fast. Here are proven, actionable tactics we use and recommend.

1) Set price alerts and use price history tools

• Use Keepa, CamelCamelCamel, or built‑in retailer alerts to get notified when a product drops below your target price.
• Set conservative target prices: 10–20% below current retail for one‑year‑old products, 25–40% for deep clearance on older inventory.

2) Leverage cashback and coupon stacking

• Combine retailer coupons with cashback portals (Rakuten, TopCashback) where allowed. That can add 2–8% effective savings.
• Check credit card purchase protections — some cards add price protection or extended warranty on electronics purchases.

3) Time your purchase within short windows

Flash deals can be hourly or for a single day. If a deal is labeled “limited time,” treat it seriously — it may not return at the same level. However, if you miss one, many items reappear in a later clearance wave; set alerts rather than panic‑buying.

4) Validate seller authenticity

• Buy Apple from Apple or authorized resellers when possible to protect warranty.
• For accessories, prefer well‑reviewed listings with transparent return policies.

Quick checklist before you buy

• Price verification: Is this within the historical low range? (Use price history tools.)
• Returns & warranty: Confirm seller and warranty terms.
• Compatibility: For chargers, check Qi2/MagSafe support; for routers, confirm device radios (6E/6/7) and ISP speed needs.
• Setup requirements: Do you have spare Ethernet for backhaul? Do you need additional storage for the Mac mini?
• Future needs: Will a small upgrade (e.g., 512GB SSD) defer next‑year spending?

2026 trends shaping these buys — and what to expect next

Understanding macro trends helps you know whether to buy now or wait.

• Wi‑Fi 7 rollouts: Early consumer Wi‑Fi 7 routers appeared in late 2025, but adoption of Wi‑Fi 7 clients will accelerate through 2026. For most homes, strong Wi‑Fi 6E mesh systems like the Nest Pro still offer the best coverage/price balance in early 2026.
• Compact desktops as a category: Apple’s mini lineup pushed the industry toward more powerful, smaller desktops. Expect more M4/M4 Pro price adjustments as Apple rounds out its product tiers in 2026.
• Magnetic charging standardization: Qi2/MagSafe compatibility has increased across accessory makers after updated standards in late 2024–2025. That makes quality wireless chargers a safer long‑term buy.
• Retail tactics: Retailers are using AI‑driven dynamic pricing and time‑limited inventory pushes more aggressively in 2026. That means more frequent short windows for deals — but also more chances to snag one if you have alerts set up.

Who should buy which deal — quick recommendations

• Buy the Mac mini M4 if: You want a powerful, compact desktop now and the current 16GB/256GB sale hits your price target.
• Buy the Nest Wi‑Fi Pro 3‑pack if: You have a multi‑floor home or lots of connected devices and want simpler admin than enterprise gear.
• Buy the UGREEN charger if: You want a neat, single charging solution for iPhone + AirPods + Apple Watch or you travel often.

Final verdict — which clearance is the best overall value?

If you can only pick one deal this week, the Nest Wi‑Fi Pro 3‑pack at around $250 delivers the most immediate, broad value for families and multi‑device homes. It directly improves everyday experience (streaming, video calls, gaming) and is otherwise an expensive upgrade if bought as single nodes. The Mac mini M4 is a strong second if you need a compact machine now — the current pricing makes it an excellent entry to Apple silicon desktop performance.

Actionable next steps (do this right now)

1. Decide which product solves the biggest pain point in your home (coverage, compute, or charging).
2. Set a price alert at 5–10% below today’s listed deal price (so you catch further dips).
3. Check warranty/return terms and add purchase protection if needed.
4. If the price matches your target now, buy — limited‑time deals evaporate fast in January clearance windows.

Stay ahead of weekly clearance

We update this weekly with the deepest verified tech markdowns. Want the fastest heads‑up? Subscribe to our Weekly Tech Clearance newsletter and enable price alerts on the items you care about. Between evolving Wi‑Fi standards, Apple silicon updates, and more accepted wireless charging formats in 2026, the next smart deal is always one alert away.

Call to action: Sign up for our Weekly Tech Clearance newsletter to get verified, time‑sensitive deals on routers, Mac minis, chargers, and more — and never miss a flash sale again.

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