These days, all you really need to create content is a phone.
That said, investing in your setup can upgrade the quality of your content. While that doesn't necessarily require spending hundreds of dollars — you can grab an Octobuddy phone case for under $20 — costs can add up quickly.
That's what makes sales like October Prime Day an opportune time to pick up new gear, whether it be an upgraded mic, new light, or camera. Admittedly, sorting through the mountain of deals that are live can get overwhelming, which is why we used our combined expertise of deals and what gadgets creators use to track down five of the best creator-approved deals live during Prime Big Deal Days. Check them out below:
Octobuddy phone case
Chances are, you've probably already seen the phone accessory that the The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Whitney Leavitt and TikTok creator Tess Gigone both cited as an essential tool in their content creation kit. The Octobuddy's popularity makes sense — the suction cups basically give you the option to turn anything into a phone stand. While the classic model isn't on sale (yet), the slightly larger MAX Octobuddy is a few bucks off.
DJI Mic Mini
If you've been on TikTok lately, you've almost certainly seen DJI's tiny mic, aptly named the DJI Mic Mini. We tested it out for ourselves, and were impressed by the jump in audio quality, range of customization, and ease of use (our social media team even used it to interview VidCon's Hall of Fame inductees). Great audio can elevate content, and though that can be pricey, this deal drops this mic (which comes with two transmitters and one receiver) to just $79 — it's lowest price ever.
A comfortable pair of headphones
YouTuber Nicole Rafiee told Mashable the Bose QuietComfort headphones are her "true ride or die." While she uses the older model (the QuietComfort 45), the QuietComfort headphones retain the excellent padding, great sound quality, and impressive ANC found on the older headphones. And on sale, they're just $230.
The Alix Earle light
TikTok creator Sa Nguyen and creator Brooke Ashely Hall both told Mashable they use the clip-on found light made famous by Alix Earle in 2022. Hall said to Mashable, "We've had it forever, but it's the one that clips on the front of your phone. It's great that [Alix Earle] made it so popular." Though the light is already relatively affordable at full price, its Prime Big Deal Day price brings it down to just $20.39.
A camera with a great built-in mic
A good camera can easily cost over $1,000, but one of the two cameras creator Nicole Laneo uses (outside of her phone) sits just under that price point at full price. Thankfully, it's also on sale during October Prime Day, putting it at a slightly more accessible $899. It's not an upgrade for the casual creator, but if you're serious about having some high quality footage — and are interested in the a built-in three-microphone array Laneo cites as one of her favorite specs, this deal could be worth checking out.
