Ars Technica
It’s the weekend and that means it’s time for a new Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web is awarded with more of a PSA than an outright discount: If you were interested in buying one of Microsoft’s latest gaming consoles, the Xbox Series X or Series S, it seems that you can finally do this without having to rush to beat scalpers or keep a constant eye on stock trackers.
The more powerful Series X, for example, has been in stock at Walmart for most of the past few weeks. There’s no discount on Microsoft’s $499 MSRP and you’ll need to log into a free Walmart account to check out, but the process of actually getting the Series X seems to be much more stable now than it has been for the past year and a half. , during which time the console usually sold out within minutes or was not available at all.
If Walmart’s stock runs out, Microsoft itself will have the Series X in stock, too, albeit in bundle form. This pack includes the console, a second controller (one comes in the box), and one of a handful of games. The cheapest game option is the one recommended by Ars Assassin’s Creed Valhalla for $24, although the selection also includes the newly acclaimed RPG Elden Ring at full price. If you were planning on picking up an extra gamepad and one of the available games anyway, this isn’t the most blatant bundle we’ve seen in recent months.
The Series S has been a little easier to find lately, but now we’re starting to see real deals on the device at select retailers. For example, at the time of writing, Newegg will let you take $30 off the normally $300 console if you use the code “APRBRA338” at checkout.
We’ve broken down the differences between the Series X and Series S before, but in short, the Series X is the more future-proof of the two, with a more powerful GPU, more memory, and more storage (1TB, versus the 512GB in the Series S) . If you have or are planning to buy a 4K TV and want to get the highest graphics settings in your games, it should be worth the extra $200. The Series X also has a disc drive so you can pick up used games, while the Series S can only play digital downloads.
That said, the Series S can play the same games as the Series X, and while it’s not built for high-end 4K gaming like the Series X (aiming for 1440p resolution instead), it still brings a clear step up in performance compared to the older Xbox One. It’s also a decidedly more compact piece of hardware, and the lack of a disc drive doesn’t stop it from pairing well with an Xbox Game Pass subscription, if you’re paying for that at all. If you’re looking for a secondary console or just a way to play Halo† forzaand other Xbox games on a smaller screen, it’s good value.
There’s still a distinct possibility that these consoles will sell out by the time you read this, and unfortunately, supply for Sony’s PlayStation 5 still seems crippled by component shortages and the intense pandemic-fueled demand that many gamers face. devices in the past two years. year. But if you’re sold on Xbox’s game library and prefer using a console over a gaming PC, it seems easier to access the latest generation of hardware.
However, if you don’t need a new console, our roundup also includes a new low price for the 512GB version of Samsung’s Evo Select microSD card, plus discounts on Anker’s recommended USB-C chargers, board games, 8BitDo gamepads, LG OLED TVs, gaming monitors and more. You can check out 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
- In stock: Microsoft Xbox Series X for $499 at Walmart (requires Walmart account)
- In stock: Microsoft Xbox Series X + additional Xbox wireless controller + Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Xbox) for $574 †
$580) at Microsoft - Microsoft Xbox Series S for $270 †
$300) at Newegg (use code: APRBRRA338† - Samsung Evo Select (512GB, U3, A2, V30) microSD card for $55 †
$72) at Amazon - Anker PowerCore Fusion 30W wall charger + portable battery (1x USB-C PD, 1x USB-A, 5,000 mAh) for $23 †
$50) at Amazon (use code: ANCHOR1622† - Anker PowerPort III Nano 20W USB-C Charger for $14 †
$17) at Amazon (clip 15% off coupon† - 8BitDo Pro 2 Wireless Game Controller for Switch/PC for $43 †
$50) at Amazon, Best Buy - 7 miracles board game for $29 †
$41) at Amazon, Target - Photosynthesis board game for $21 †
$32) at Amazon - Anker Soundcore Motion+ Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $84 †
$106) at Newegg (use code: MKTCV8T24† - LG C1 (2021) 55-inch 4K OLED TV for $1,197 †
$1,355) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
Samuel Axon
Electronics Deals
Sam Machkovech
gaming offers
Jeff Dunn
Laptop and Desktop PC Deals
- HP Pavilion Aero 13 13.3-inch Laptop (1920 x 1200, Ryzen 7 5800U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $750 †
$850) at HP - Gigabyte M32U 31.5″ gaming monitor (3840 x 2160, 144 Hz, IPS, FreeSync) for $600 †
$740) at Amazon, Best Buy, B&H - Gigabyte G34WQC 34-inch curved gaming monitor (3440×1440, 144 Hz, VA, FreeSync) for $300 †
$415) at Amazon, Best Buy - LG 34GN850-B 34-inch curved gaming monitor (3440×1440, IPS, 160 Hz, FreeSync, G-Sync compatible) for $750 †
$990) at Adorama (discount in shopping cart)
Video Game Deals
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch) for $55 †
$60) at Amazon, Walmart (discount in cart) - Sonic Mania (Switch) for $10 †
$15) on Nintendo eShop - are you baba? (Switch) for $11 †
$15) on Nintendo eShop - Sega Genesis Classics (Switch) for $12 †
$20) on Nintendo eShop - Within (Switch) for $3 †
$15) on the Nintendo eShop ($5 at GOG, Epic) - Axiom Verge (switch, PC) for $6 †
$15) on Nintendo eShop, Epic - Psychonauts 2 (Xbox, PC) for $36 †
$50) on Xbox, Humble (also on Game Pass) - Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Xbox, PC) for $10 †
$20) on Xbox, Epic (also on Game Pass) - Legendary Mass Effect Edition (PS4, Xbox, PC) for $25 †
$35) at Target, Xbox, Best Buy (also on Game Pass)
Corey Gaskin
