Best Buy Cuts Ember Smart Mug 2 by Up to $50

Q: Is Best Buy’s $90 Ember Smart Mug 2 deal a real everyday upgrade, or just an expensive fix for cold coffee?

It is a real everyday upgrade for a specific kind of user, but still a luxury fix for everyone else. At about $90 for the 10-ounce model and more off the 14-ounce version, the Ember Smart Mug 2 is more defensible than at full price. Its main advantage is not just keeping coffee “warm,” but holding it at a chosen drinking temperature between 120°F and 145°F for up to 90 minutes off the charger, or far longer on its coaster. That makes it genuinely useful for office workers, students, and anyone who sips slowly or gets interrupted often. The evidence from reviews is consistent: people who routinely let drinks go cold tend to use the mug daily and see it as a meaningful convenience. Several hands-on accounts also favor the 14-ounce model over the 10-ounce one, and praise the app for setup and presets, even if it is not essential day to day. The trade-offs are what keep this from being a universal recommendation. It must be hand-washed, cannot go in the dishwasher or microwave, and needs regular charging. It also maintains temperature better than it reheats a cold drink, so it works best when you pour in a hot beverage and keep it on the coaster nearby. Battery life is shorter on the larger mug, roughly 80 to 90 minutes depending on use. So the deal is worth it if cold coffee is a daily frustration and desk use is your routine. If you usually finish your drink quickly or want portability, a cheaper insulated mug is the smarter buy.

3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Aug 3

$40 to $50 discounts have dropped the Ember Smart Mug 2 to about $90 for the 10-ounce version, while the 14-ounce model is also on sale.
90 minutes of battery-powered heat and app-controlled temperature settings from 120 to 145F are the main draw, letting users keep coffee, tea or hot chocolate at a precise drinking temperature.
IPX7 water resistance, stainless steel construction and an LED status light round out the feature set, though Best Buy's sale applies only to the black color option.
ZDNET rated the offer 3 out of 5, framing it as a practical desk accessory or gift for students, recent graduates and new hires.