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The weekend’s best deals: Google Chromecast, Apple AirPods and more

    The weekend's best deals: Google Chromecast, Apple AirPods and more

    Ars Technica

    It’s the weekend and that means it’s time for a new Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the web’s best tech deals includes a nice discount on Google’s Chromecast with Google TV, as the 4K streamer costs $40 at several retailers. We’ve seen this deal come up a few times in the past, but it’s still a good $10 below Google’s suggested retail price. While we’ve seen the streaming dongle available for $5 less once before, that deal required signing up for a month of Sling TV service; the current discount corresponds to the best price we’ve seen otherwise.

    In any case, we continue to recommend the Chromecast to people who need an affordable streaming stick. It’s fast enough for most needs, the remote is sensibly laid out and supports all major apps and HDR standards (plus Dolby Atmos). Most notably, we find that Google’s UI is significantly better at organizing and displaying content you might like than competitors from Amazon and Roku. Some users have complained that the Chromecast’s 8GB of internal storage isn’t enough, but that probably won’t be a big deal unless you need to download a particularly large number of apps. And while reports suggest that Google will launch some sort of Chromecast device later this year, it’s unclear whether there will be an actual successor to this streamer or a new lower-end device geared towards 1080p playback. For casual 4K streaming, the Chromecast should still make finding something to watch quick and easy.

    If you don’t need a new streamer, we also have lower-than-usual prices for Apple’s third-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro, CPUs from Intel and AMD, including a deal that makes Intel’s high-end i7-12700K chip cheaper than the non-overclockable ones. i7-12700 that we reviewed positively last month – Tile Bluetooth trackers, gaming keyboards, tons of video games and much more. You can view our full curated list below.

    Ars Technica may earn compensation through affiliate programs for sales of links on this post.

    Recommended offers of the day

    The Google Chromecast with Google TV is our current top pick among 4K streaming sticks.
    enlarge † The Google Chromecast with Google TV is our current top pick among 4K streaming sticks.

    Jeff Dunn

    Electronics Deals

    • Apple AirPods (3rd generation) true wireless earbuds for $150 †$165) at Amazon, Walmart
    • Apple AirPods Pro true wireless ANC earphones for $175 †$188) at Amazon, Target, Walmart
    • Apple iPad (256GB) 10.2-inch tablet for $429 †$455) at Amazon, Walmart
    • Apple iPad Air (256 GB) 10.9-inch tablet for $679 †$715) at Amazon, Walmart
    • Apple Watch SE (40mm) smartwatch for $229 †$250) at Amazon, Walmart
    • Apple Watch SE (44mm) smartwatch for $249 †$290) at Amazon, Walmart
    • Apple Watch Series 7 (41 mm, Green) smartwatch for $309 †$355) at Amazon
    • Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm) smartwatch for $359 †$390) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
    The Apple Watch Series 7.
    enlarge † The Apple Watch Series 7.

    Corey Gaskin

    Apple's third-generation AirPods may be worth it if you want a set of true wireless earbuds that don't fit completely into your ear canal and let you hear ambient noise more easily.
    enlarge † Apple’s third-generation AirPods may be worth it if you want a set of true wireless earbuds that don’t fit completely into your ear canal and let you hear ambient noise more easily.

    Jeff Dunn

    Laptop and Desktop PC Deals

    • HP Pavilion Aero 13 13.3-inch Laptop (Ryzen 7 5800U, 1920×1200, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $730 †$840) at HP
    • HP Envy 14 14-inch Laptop (Core i7-11390H, 2240×1400, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GPU) for $1,000 †$1,350) at HP
    • Apple Mac Mini (Apple M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $570 †$650) at Amazon (discount in cart)
    • Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition 15.6-inch gaming laptop (Ryzen 9 5980HX, 1080p 300Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Radeon RX 6800M GPU) for $1,300 †$1,600) at Best Buy
    • Intel Core i7-12700K 12-core/20-thread desktop processor for $328 †$380) at Best Buy
    • AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-core/24-thread desktop processor for $385 †$470) at Amazon
    Compared to the Core i7-12700 pictured here, the i7-12700K chip on sale today supports overclocking.
    enlarge † Compared to the Core i7-12700 pictured here, the i7-12700K chip on sale today supports overclocking.

    Andrew Cunningham

    Nintendo's <em>Legend of Zelda</em> Game and Watch handheld includes three classic games <em>(The Legend of</em> <em>Zelda</em>† <em>Zelda II: The Adventure of Link< /em>and <em>Link’s Awakening</em>) and doubles as a miniature clock when not playing.” src=”https://cdn.CBNewz.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Nintendo-Game-and-Watch-Zelda- 640×427.jpg” width=”640″ height=”427″ /><figcaption class=
    enlarge † Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda Game and Watch handheld includes three classic games (The legend of Zelda† Zelda II: Link’s Adventureand Link’s Awakening) and can double as a miniature clock when not playing.

    Jeff Dunn

    gaming offers

    Razer's Huntsman Mini is an ultra-compact mechanical keyboard that works well for gaming.
    enlarge † Razer’s Huntsman Mini is an ultra-compact mechanical keyboard that works well for gaming.

    Razer

    Accessories and various offers

    Anker's PowerPort III Nano (above) can top up new iPhones at maximum speeds.
    enlarge † Anker’s PowerPort III Nano (above) can top up new iPhones at maximum speeds.

    Corey Gaskin

    Video Game Deals

    • unpacking (PC) for $16 †$20) at GOG (also on Game Pass)
    • Disco Elysium – The Final Cut (PC) for $14 †$25) at GOG (PS4, Xbox versions for $20†
    • death gate (PC) for $12 †$17) at GOG (also on Game Pass)
    • encryption (PC) for $14 †$19) at GOG
    • judgment (XBS, PS5) for $20 †$30) at Xbox, PSN (PS4 version for $15†
    • Halo Infinite (Xbox) for $20 †$55) at Walmart (also on Game Pass)
    • Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Xbox, PC) for $16 †$25) on Xbox (also on Game Pass)
    • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition (Xbox, PC) for $10 †$15) at Xbox, GOG
    • Hot Wheels Unleashed (XBS, XB1, PS4, PS5, Switch) for $25 †$38) at Xbox, PSN, Nintendo eShop
    • Psychonauts 2 (Xbox, PC) for $36 †$50) on Xbox (also on Game Pass)
    • The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – GOTY Edition (PC) for free †$10) at Amazon (Prime required†
    A selection from our list of the best video games of 2021, <em>unpacking</em> is a simple game about unpacking boxes that is surprisingly rewarding and pathos.” src=”https://cdn.CBNewz.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/unpack-640×360.jpg” width=” 640″ height=”360″ /><figcaption class=
    enlarge † A selection from our list of the best video games of 2021, unpacking is a simple box unpacking game that brings surprising satisfaction and pathos.
    • quake (Switch) for $4 †$10) on Nintendo eShop (also on Game Pass)
    • Metroid Dread (Switch, used) for $30 †$60) at GameFly
    • Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Switch) for $15 †$20) at Target, Walmart
    • Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch) for $40 †$50) at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
    • OlliOlli World (Switch, Xbox, PC, PS5, PS4) for $24 †$29) at Amazon, Nintendo eShop, Xbox, PSN
    • FAR: Tides change (Switch) for $16 †$20) on Nintendo eShop (also on Game Pass)
    • Shin Megami Tensei V (Switch) for $40 †$50) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
    • Sonic Mania (Switch) for $10 †$15) on Nintendo eShop
    • Sega Genesis Classics (Switch) for $12 †$20) on Nintendo eShop
    The classic FPS <em>Quake</em> was recently remastered for modern consoles and PC.” src=”https://cdn.CBNewz.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-16-at-11.07.43-AM -640×362.png” width=”640″ height=”362″ /><figcaption class=
    enlarge † The classic FPS quake was recently remastered for modern consoles and PC.
    • It takes two (PS4, Xbox) for $16 †$25) at Walmart, GameStop (also on Game Pass)
    • Kena: Bridge of Ghosts (PS5, PS4) for $24 †$35) at PSN (PS Plus required†
    • Catherine: Full body (PS4) for $10 †$25) at PSN
    • Persona 5 Royal (PS4) for $24 †$30) at PSN
    • The Last of Us Part II (PS4) for $20 †$25) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, PSN
    • Death Stranding (PS4) for $20 †$30) at Amazon, Best Buy (PS5 upgrade for $10†
    • Hitman 3 (PS5, PS4, Xbox) for $20 †$30) at Amazon, Best Buy (also on Game Pass)
    • death loop (PS5, PC) for $25 †$35) at Amazon, Best Buy
    • The Nioh Collection (PS5) for $40 †$50) at Best Buy, GameStop, PSN
    • Sackboy: a great adventure (PS5, PS4) for $30 †$40) at Target, Best Buy, GameStop
    • Yakuza: like a dragon (PS5, PS4, Xbox) for $20 †$35) at Amazon, Best Buy (also on Game Pass)