Greetings, Arsians! Its Independence Day in the United States, so the Dealmaster is back with a special Fourth of July edition of their usual tech deals roundup. While todays holiday isnt well-known for providing big discounts on tech—the biggest price drops will still come on Black Friday and Cyber Monday—we've found a handful of genuine deals worth considering on video games, tablets, speakers, and more. Below are the best Fourth of July tech deals we could find this year.
Sega Genesis Mini for $40 at Amazon (normally $60)
This is tied for the largest discount weve seen on Segas bite-sized retro console, which we reviewed positively when it launched late last year. Much like the NES Classic and Super NES Classic before it, the Genesis Mini packs a few dozen hits in an adorably tiny replica of the console on which its based.
Here, you get 42 pre-loaded and well-emulated games—including favorites like Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage 2, Gunstar Heroes, and Ecco the Dolphin—along with two controllers. Those gamepads arent the six-button models Sega launched later in the original consoles life, unfortunately, and theres no way to “rewind” your progress if you screw up in-game. But at half off the original MSRP, this is a good value for nostalgists or anyone who missed out on the Genesis experience back in the day.
GameStop pre-owned games sale: buy 2, get 1 free
If you dont mind buying used, GameStops Independence Day sale lets you buy three pre-owned games for the price of two. The discount will appear at checkout and apply to the cheapest title in your cart.
We wish some of these pre-owned prices were lower—a few games have gone for less as new copies, so cross-check other retailers before you buy. The deal doesnt cover Nintendo Switch games, either. Still, the sale applies to several high-profile PlayStation 4 and Xbox One titles, including Final Fantasy VII Remake, God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, Death Stranding, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, among others.
Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm) for $169 at Amazon (normally $185)
This is the joint-lowest price on the Apple Watch Series 3, Apples entry-level smartwatch. It has a smaller display than the newer Apple Watch Series 5, it cant stay “always-on,” its a pinch slower, and it doesnt come with more advanced features like fall detection and ECG measurements. But it provides the same core experience for a couple hundred dollars less, which makes it ideal for iPhone users interested in upgrading to a smartwatch for the first time.
The Series 3 is also slated to get Apples watchOS 7 update later this fall. Just note that its likely the next watch on Apples chopping block; we dont know when exactly itll be phased out, but Apple plans to cut off the Series 2 from major OS updates starting this year. For now, though, this is the least expensive way into the most comprehensive smartwatch platform on the market.
UE Wonderboom 2 for $70 at Best Buy (normally $85)
Best Buy has the lowest price weve seen on this recommended portable Bluetooth speaker, which we highlight in our guide to the best travel-friendly tech.
The UE Wonderboom 2 is only somewhat bigger than a can of soda, but it plays loud and clean for its ultra-portable size. Its giant control buttons make it easy to operate, it gets about nine hours of battery life per charge, and its design is tough and waterproof. Dont expect any deep bass from a speaker this small, but for tight spaces or music on the go, the Wonderboom is well worth a look. Just note that this deal only applies to the “Concrete” model.
Apple HomePod for $200 at Best Buy (normally $300)
While Apples HomePod falls well short of the Amazon Echo or Google Home as a smart speaker, it demolishes much of its competition in terms of audio quality. Viewed purely as a wireless home speaker, its a much easier sell at this discounted price of $200—which is tied for the lowest weve seen—especially for those who already use Apple Music and an iOS device.
To be clear, though, you have to be locked into Apples world to get the most out of the HomePod: you cant even set it up with an Android phone, and while you can AirPlay anything from an iOS device, Apple Music is always set as the default music service (for now). If you can live with its restrictions, though, the HomePod's rich and full-bodied sound is impressive.
The Steam Summer Sale continues
While not explicitly a Fourth of July sale, Steams Summer Sale is the most prominent PC games sale of the year, and its rolling on until July 9. While those who arent tied to the PC can find many of the advertised deals for less at other retailers, there are still plenty of good prices for those who only use Valves storefront.
Some recommendations here include the Read More – Source
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