Joystiq
Joystiq News
We're in the thick of the holiday season, so we're still seeing good deals on a number of gadgets and tech gear we recommend. , for instance, is down to its second-lowest price to date at $500, while is down to an all-time low of $55. The is still $60 off, and a range of and are on sale as well. There are plenty more discounts of note beyond that, so here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.
Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
is on sale for $500, which is the lowest price we've seen outside of a very brief drop to $479 in August. Typically, the 10.9-inch tablet has retailed closer to $550 in recent months. We gave the iPad Air a earlier this year, and we named it the in a recent buying guide. It's not cheap, but it still represents a noticeable upgrade over the entry-level iPad while providing most of the iPad Pro's best features at a lower price.
If you want a more affordable model, though, the is down to $280 and still a than most tablets around that price. The newer is also on sale for $399; that's with a more conveniently placed webcam, though compared to the Air it lacks second-gen Apple Pencil support, a laminated display and a faster M1 chip.
Aaron Souppouris / Engadget
If you need a spare gamepad for your Xbox or PC, is still discounted to $40, extending the on Black Friday. While this isn't the lowest price we've ever tracked, it's still roughly $10 lower than its usual street price. Just note that, while comfortable, this controller uses a pair of AA batteries by default, not a rechargeable unit.
Ubisoft
is one of the higher-profile Nintendo Switch exclusives of the year, a charming and turn-based starring Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Ubisoft's cutesy mascots. The game only released in late October, but Amazon is holding a one-day sale on Friday that brings it all the way down to $32, which is a $28 discount. If stock runs dry there, note that it's also at Walmart.
Over on Steam, meanwhile, the seminal puzzle game is down to just $1. And if you're looking for a new tabletop game instead, the classic strategy game is on sale for $25, while the accessible train-themed game is available for $24. Neither board game deal is an all-time low, but they both represent the best prices we've seen this year.
Samsung
Numerous Samsung storage devices are on sale at Amazon, bringing a handful of recommended SSDs and microSD cards down to their lowest prices to date. We earlier this week, but the highlights include for $100 and the for $14.
Apple
If you spend $100 on an at Amazon, you can get a $10 store credit to spend on future purchases at no extra cost. This offer applies to both digital and physical gift cards. If you buy the former, use the code APPLEGC at checkout to redeem the offer. If you use the latter, use the code APPLEPGC instead. Best Buy is running a , too, if you'd rather shop there. As a reminder, an Apple gift card for App Store credit, subscription services like Apple Music or iCloud, and/or purchases made at a physical Apple store.
Engadget
Amazon is running a couple of notable bundle deals for its Echo Show smart displays. First, a bundle that includes the indoor security camera for $50, which is about $15 less than what those devices would cost individually. (The is still available for $35.) Second, the is still discounted to an all-time low of $70, and a Kids version of the Echo Show 5 alongside it for no extra cost. It's with a Blink Mini for $85.
We gave the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 , respectively, last year. The former is a better option for most, as it's generally faster and has a superior camera for video calls, though the latter can be useful if you're looking to use the display as a sort of smart alarm clock. Either way, you'll an Echo Show if you already own other Amazon gear and use Alexa often.
Amazon
Amazon's is back on sale from $55, which matches the all-time low over Black Friday. This is far from a premium device, and you'll have to put up with Amazon promoting its own services all over the OS. Still, it's competent enough at the basics if you merely want a tablet for casual web browsing, e-book reading and video streaming every now and then.
For a step up, consider the for $90. That's not an all-time low, but it's still a decent price for a device with a bigger display and smoother performance.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
is a wireless gaming mouse to those on a budget, offering a compact yet comfortable shape, consistent sensor performance and up to 250 hours of battery life through a single AA battery. It's currently on sale for $28.49 at Amazon when you clip an on-page coupon, matching the lowest price we've tracked. Note that the offer only applies to the black model of the mouse, though, not the lilac version pictured above.
If you're willing to pay a bit extra for a lighter and faster gaming mouse, is worth a shout, and it's currently on sale for $60 with an RGB charging dock. This is an ambidextrous mouse with shortcut buttons on either side, though its shape is a bit larger and flatter than the G305. On its own, it normally retails around $70; with the dock, it usually costs closer to $85.
Rozette Rago/Wirecutter
gaming headset is on sale for $55, which isn't an all-time low but still comes in about $15 lower than its usual street price. Though you can find better sounding headphones for the price, the Cloud Alpha's profile is still decently well-balanced, its included boom mic should yield few complaints and its design is both sturdy and comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
Tile
Amazon is on various . The offers include the for an all-time low of $18 and the diminutive down within a dollar of its best-ever price at $19.60. The is back at its all-time low of $25, while a that includes a Mate and a wallet-friendly Tile Slim is $10 off its usual street price at $40.
To be clear, if you own an iPhone, Apple's AirTags remain a more powerful and precise option for keeping tabs on your wallet, keys or other frequently misplaced items. If you use Android, though, Tile's trackers are generally the best alternative, with the next largest crowd-finding network and a wider range of designs. Just be aware that only the Tile Pro includes a replaceable battery.
Samsung
is down to a of $400, beating its average street price over the last few months by roughly $200. The 4K, 60 Hz, VA panel here isn't the most accurate thing you can buy out of the box, but it's solid for this deal price.
The M8's main selling point, though, is that it doubles as a small smart TV (albeit without a tuner). It uses Samsung's Tizen interface, allowing it to stream Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video and similar apps even when it's not hooked up to a computer. It comes with a webcam, remote, microphone and built-in speakers, and it can double as a SmartThings hub for compatible smart home gear. You have to actually use this smart TV functionality for the M8 to be worth it, but if so, it's one of the more versatile monitors on the market.
Chris Velazco/Engadget
If you want to use an iPad Air or 11-inch iPad Pro more like a laptop, case provides a relatively comfortable typing experience, a smooth trackpad, good weight distribution and an extra USB-C port for charging your tablet. We gave it a back in 2020. The main downside is that it's wildly expensive, but right now it's a bit more affordable at $210. That's not an all-time low, but it's still about $75 less than its typical street price over the last few months.
If you use a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, meanwhile, the is on sale for $249 at Walmart, which is within $10 of its all-time low.
Billy Steele/Engadget
We've seen this deal for past few weeks, but are down to $348, which is a $50 discount and tied for the lowest price we've seen. We gave the XM5 a in May for its comfortable fit, powerful ANC, 30-hour battery life and pleasing (yet customizable) sound. Right now, it's the top pick in our .
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
The entry-level version of is back down to $1,049. We've seen this deal a few times in recent months, but it still matches the lowest price we've seen and beats Apple's MSRP by $150. The latest Air is the top pick in our , and we gave it a in July. Note that this configuration has performance than pricier SKUs, but that shouldn't be a major issue on a day-to-day basis unless you're doing more involved work like editing high-res video and photos. If you need more storage, though, is down to a low of $1,300 at Best Buy.
If you want a more affordable entry into macOS, note that the that runs on Apple's M1 chip is still on sale for $800, matching its all-time low. This model has a more dated design than the M2-based Air, but it remains a fantastic value when it's discounted to this extent.
Chris Velazco/Engadget
is on sale for $30, which is within $3 of the best price we've tracked and roughly $7 off its usual street price. There are certainly cheaper wireless chargers, but this one aligns easily with any recent iPhone and can supply up to a 15 W charge, which is a smidge more than non-MagSafe alternatives. You can still use it to charge AirPods and other Qi-compatible devices, too.
LG
The 65-inch version of is available for $1,442 at eBay from reseller BuyDig. That's a new low, but you have to use the code JOLLY15 at checkout to see the discount. Typically, this TV has gone between $1,700 and $1,800 in recent months. The C2 can't get as bright as a competitor like , so it's best suited in darker or moderately-lit rooms, but it still provides the deep black levels, high contrast and wide viewing angles you'd expect from a high-end OLED display.
Aaron Souppouris / Engadget
If you're buying for a non-4K TV, the is worth highlighting at its current sale price of $240. We saw a few gift card deals on Black Friday that effectively dropped the compact console lower, but this is still $60 off Microsoft's MSRP. We gave the Series S a at launch: It's a clear step behind the Xbox Series X (and PS5) in terms of power, it lacks a disc drive, and its 512GB of built-in storage isn't much, but it's still capable of playing all the same games as its pricier sibling.
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
The chief Black Friday deal we saw for VR headset, which pairs a 128GB model with the popular rhythm game Beat Saber and the classic horror game Resident Evil 4 for $349, is still available at multiple retailers. Normally, the Quest 2 alone retails for $399.
It's worth remembering that of the Quest 2 by $100 earlier this year, but this is the best offer we've seen in the time since, and the headset itself remains the interested in VR even after the price hike. We gave the device formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2 a back in 2020.
Google
is on sale for $90, which is about $25 off its typical street price and within a few dollars of the lowest price we've seen. This is Google's entry-level smart thermostat — it doesn't have the nicer dial control or remote sensor support of the Nest Learning Thermostat, but for smaller homes, it offers similar energy-saving and features at a lower cost. It'll also support the new , something Google to with the Learning Thermostat.
Valentina Palladino / Engadget
This is another deal we've seen for much of the holiday season, but you can still get for $100, which is within a dollar of the wearable's all-time low and about $20 less than its usual street price. The Charge 5 is the top recommendation in our , and we gave it a last year due to its reliable activity tracking, built-in GPS and full-color OLED display.
Lenovo
A configuration of with an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is on sale for $300. That's $30 more than the all-time low we saw on Black Friday, but still about $70 off this config's typical street price in recent months. This is the top pick in : The specs here are enough to run Chrome OS smoothly, and in general the notebook's backlit keyboard, port variety, bright 1080p touchscreen and eight-hour battery life impress for the price.
Follow on Twitter and for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Console Bang News!
Apple iPad Air
Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
is on sale for $500, which is the lowest price we've seen outside of a very brief drop to $479 in August. Typically, the 10.9-inch tablet has retailed closer to $550 in recent months. We gave the iPad Air a earlier this year, and we named it the in a recent buying guide. It's not cheap, but it still represents a noticeable upgrade over the entry-level iPad while providing most of the iPad Pro's best features at a lower price.
If you want a more affordable model, though, the is down to $280 and still a than most tablets around that price. The newer is also on sale for $399; that's with a more conveniently placed webcam, though compared to the Air it lacks second-gen Apple Pencil support, a laminated display and a faster M1 chip.
Xbox Wireless Controller
Aaron Souppouris / Engadget
If you need a spare gamepad for your Xbox or PC, is still discounted to $40, extending the on Black Friday. While this isn't the lowest price we've ever tracked, it's still roughly $10 lower than its usual street price. Just note that, while comfortable, this controller uses a pair of AA batteries by default, not a rechargeable unit.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Ubisoft
is one of the higher-profile Nintendo Switch exclusives of the year, a charming and turn-based starring Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Ubisoft's cutesy mascots. The game only released in late October, but Amazon is holding a one-day sale on Friday that brings it all the way down to $32, which is a $28 discount. If stock runs dry there, note that it's also at Walmart.
Over on Steam, meanwhile, the seminal puzzle game is down to just $1. And if you're looking for a new tabletop game instead, the classic strategy game is on sale for $25, while the accessible train-themed game is available for $24. Neither board game deal is an all-time low, but they both represent the best prices we've seen this year.
Samsung storage device sale
Samsung
Numerous Samsung storage devices are on sale at Amazon, bringing a handful of recommended SSDs and microSD cards down to their lowest prices to date. We earlier this week, but the highlights include for $100 and the for $14.
$100 Apple Gift Card + $10 Amazon credit
Apple
If you spend $100 on an at Amazon, you can get a $10 store credit to spend on future purchases at no extra cost. This offer applies to both digital and physical gift cards. If you buy the former, use the code APPLEGC at checkout to redeem the offer. If you use the latter, use the code APPLEPGC instead. Best Buy is running a , too, if you'd rather shop there. As a reminder, an Apple gift card for App Store credit, subscription services like Apple Music or iCloud, and/or purchases made at a physical Apple store.
Amazon Echo Show bundles
Engadget
Amazon is running a couple of notable bundle deals for its Echo Show smart displays. First, a bundle that includes the indoor security camera for $50, which is about $15 less than what those devices would cost individually. (The is still available for $35.) Second, the is still discounted to an all-time low of $70, and a Kids version of the Echo Show 5 alongside it for no extra cost. It's with a Blink Mini for $85.
We gave the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 , respectively, last year. The former is a better option for most, as it's generally faster and has a superior camera for video calls, though the latter can be useful if you're looking to use the display as a sort of smart alarm clock. Either way, you'll an Echo Show if you already own other Amazon gear and use Alexa often.
Amazon Fire HD 8
Amazon
Amazon's is back on sale from $55, which matches the all-time low over Black Friday. This is far from a premium device, and you'll have to put up with Amazon promoting its own services all over the OS. Still, it's competent enough at the basics if you merely want a tablet for casual web browsing, e-book reading and video streaming every now and then.
For a step up, consider the for $90. That's not an all-time low, but it's still a decent price for a device with a bigger display and smoother performance.
Logitech and Razer gaming mice
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
is a wireless gaming mouse to those on a budget, offering a compact yet comfortable shape, consistent sensor performance and up to 250 hours of battery life through a single AA battery. It's currently on sale for $28.49 at Amazon when you clip an on-page coupon, matching the lowest price we've tracked. Note that the offer only applies to the black model of the mouse, though, not the lilac version pictured above.
If you're willing to pay a bit extra for a lighter and faster gaming mouse, is worth a shout, and it's currently on sale for $60 with an RGB charging dock. This is an ambidextrous mouse with shortcut buttons on either side, though its shape is a bit larger and flatter than the G305. On its own, it normally retails around $70; with the dock, it usually costs closer to $85.
HyperX Cloud Alpha
Rozette Rago/Wirecutter
gaming headset is on sale for $55, which isn't an all-time low but still comes in about $15 lower than its usual street price. Though you can find better sounding headphones for the price, the Cloud Alpha's profile is still decently well-balanced, its included boom mic should yield few complaints and its design is both sturdy and comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
Tile tracker sale
Tile
Amazon is on various . The offers include the for an all-time low of $18 and the diminutive down within a dollar of its best-ever price at $19.60. The is back at its all-time low of $25, while a that includes a Mate and a wallet-friendly Tile Slim is $10 off its usual street price at $40.
To be clear, if you own an iPhone, Apple's AirTags remain a more powerful and precise option for keeping tabs on your wallet, keys or other frequently misplaced items. If you use Android, though, Tile's trackers are generally the best alternative, with the next largest crowd-finding network and a wider range of designs. Just be aware that only the Tile Pro includes a replaceable battery.
Samsung Smart Monitor M8
Samsung
is down to a of $400, beating its average street price over the last few months by roughly $200. The 4K, 60 Hz, VA panel here isn't the most accurate thing you can buy out of the box, but it's solid for this deal price.
The M8's main selling point, though, is that it doubles as a small smart TV (albeit without a tuner). It uses Samsung's Tizen interface, allowing it to stream Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video and similar apps even when it's not hooked up to a computer. It comes with a webcam, remote, microphone and built-in speakers, and it can double as a SmartThings hub for compatible smart home gear. You have to actually use this smart TV functionality for the M8 to be worth it, but if so, it's one of the more versatile monitors on the market.
Apple Magic Keyboard
Chris Velazco/Engadget
If you want to use an iPad Air or 11-inch iPad Pro more like a laptop, case provides a relatively comfortable typing experience, a smooth trackpad, good weight distribution and an extra USB-C port for charging your tablet. We gave it a back in 2020. The main downside is that it's wildly expensive, but right now it's a bit more affordable at $210. That's not an all-time low, but it's still about $75 less than its typical street price over the last few months.
If you use a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, meanwhile, the is on sale for $249 at Walmart, which is within $10 of its all-time low.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Billy Steele/Engadget
We've seen this deal for past few weeks, but are down to $348, which is a $50 discount and tied for the lowest price we've seen. We gave the XM5 a in May for its comfortable fit, powerful ANC, 30-hour battery life and pleasing (yet customizable) sound. Right now, it's the top pick in our .
Apple MacBook Air M2
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
The entry-level version of is back down to $1,049. We've seen this deal a few times in recent months, but it still matches the lowest price we've seen and beats Apple's MSRP by $150. The latest Air is the top pick in our , and we gave it a in July. Note that this configuration has performance than pricier SKUs, but that shouldn't be a major issue on a day-to-day basis unless you're doing more involved work like editing high-res video and photos. If you need more storage, though, is down to a low of $1,300 at Best Buy.
If you want a more affordable entry into macOS, note that the that runs on Apple's M1 chip is still on sale for $800, matching its all-time low. This model has a more dated design than the M2-based Air, but it remains a fantastic value when it's discounted to this extent.
Apple MagSafe Charger
Chris Velazco/Engadget
is on sale for $30, which is within $3 of the best price we've tracked and roughly $7 off its usual street price. There are certainly cheaper wireless chargers, but this one aligns easily with any recent iPhone and can supply up to a 15 W charge, which is a smidge more than non-MagSafe alternatives. You can still use it to charge AirPods and other Qi-compatible devices, too.
LG C2 OLED TV 65-inch
LG
The 65-inch version of is available for $1,442 at eBay from reseller BuyDig. That's a new low, but you have to use the code JOLLY15 at checkout to see the discount. Typically, this TV has gone between $1,700 and $1,800 in recent months. The C2 can't get as bright as a competitor like , so it's best suited in darker or moderately-lit rooms, but it still provides the deep black levels, high contrast and wide viewing angles you'd expect from a high-end OLED display.
Xbox Series S
Aaron Souppouris / Engadget
If you're buying for a non-4K TV, the is worth highlighting at its current sale price of $240. We saw a few gift card deals on Black Friday that effectively dropped the compact console lower, but this is still $60 off Microsoft's MSRP. We gave the Series S a at launch: It's a clear step behind the Xbox Series X (and PS5) in terms of power, it lacks a disc drive, and its 512GB of built-in storage isn't much, but it's still capable of playing all the same games as its pricier sibling.
Meta Quest 2 bundle
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
The chief Black Friday deal we saw for VR headset, which pairs a 128GB model with the popular rhythm game Beat Saber and the classic horror game Resident Evil 4 for $349, is still available at multiple retailers. Normally, the Quest 2 alone retails for $399.
It's worth remembering that of the Quest 2 by $100 earlier this year, but this is the best offer we've seen in the time since, and the headset itself remains the interested in VR even after the price hike. We gave the device formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2 a back in 2020.
Google Nest Thermostat
is on sale for $90, which is about $25 off its typical street price and within a few dollars of the lowest price we've seen. This is Google's entry-level smart thermostat — it doesn't have the nicer dial control or remote sensor support of the Nest Learning Thermostat, but for smaller homes, it offers similar energy-saving and features at a lower cost. It'll also support the new , something Google to with the Learning Thermostat.
Fitbit Charge 5
Valentina Palladino / Engadget
This is another deal we've seen for much of the holiday season, but you can still get for $100, which is within a dollar of the wearable's all-time low and about $20 less than its usual street price. The Charge 5 is the top recommendation in our , and we gave it a last year due to its reliable activity tracking, built-in GPS and full-color OLED display.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook
Lenovo
A configuration of with an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is on sale for $300. That's $30 more than the all-time low we saw on Black Friday, but still about $70 off this config's typical street price in recent months. This is the top pick in : The specs here are enough to run Chrome OS smoothly, and in general the notebook's backlit keyboard, port variety, bright 1080p touchscreen and eight-hour battery life impress for the price.
Follow on Twitter and for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Console Bang News!