Ars Technica
It’s time for another Dealmaster! Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web includes a new low price on 8BitDo’s Pro 2 gamepad, which is down to $42.50 at Amazon. If you prefer to shop elsewhere, it’s also available for 50 cents more at Best Buy. The wireless gamepad normally retails for $50, so this isn’t a massive discount, but it’s the best price we’ve tracked.
We gave the Pro 2 a positive review when it launched last year, calling it a “more useful, more comfortable, and more customizable” take on Nintendo’s Switch Pro Controller despite costing $20 less. The controller works across Switch, PC, macOS, Android, iOS, and Raspberry Pi devices. Compared to Nintendo’s “Pro” pad, its biggest addition is two programmable back buttons. These can make pulling off certain inputs in quicker-paced, competitive-minded games more convenient since you won’t have to physically move your hands around as much as you normally would.
The controller is well-built and comfortable, with sizable face buttons, joysticks with a satisfying level of tension, and an even weight balance. Unlike the Pro Controller, the Pro 2 also has analog triggers; this means they’ll respond to varying levels of pressure, which can be useful in, say, gradually accelerating in a racing game, instead of always going full-throttle. The D-pad is a bit firmer than what you’d find on a PS5 or Xbox controller, as it takes after the old Super Nintendo pad, but presses feel crisp and distinct, so it works well for old-school 2D platformers or puzzlers like Tetris. 8BitDo also has a fairly extensive companion app that lets you remap inputs, create and assign macros, and fine-tune the sensitivity of the joysticks and triggers. These tweaks, among others, can be saved across three separate profiles.
The Pro 2 doesn’t work with PlayStation or Xbox consoles. On the Switch, it lacks conveniences like an NFC reader for Amiibo support and the ability to wake the console from sleep mode. The Switch Pro Controller also gets better battery life, lasting about 40 hours compared to Pro 2’s 20, though the latter isn’t poor by any means. Still, if you’d like a feature-rich controller you’ll use across platforms, the Pro 2 is a strong choice, and this deal price only amplifies its value.
If you prefer using a mouse and keyboard instead of a gamepad, our roundup includes the best price we’ve tracked for Razer’s Viper Ultimate, which is down to $52. We previously named this the best wireless gaming mouse you can buy, and while it’s now a couple of years old, it’s an exceptionally lightweight (74 g) and responsive option for both competitive FPS gaming and everyday work. It isn’t the most premium-feeling thing — Razer’s Synapse app can sometimes be a pain — and it charges over microUSB instead of USB-C, but it’s as friendly to lefties as it is righties. It also lets you save settings tweaks to the mouse, and its included cable is highly flexible. It normally retailed around $90 in recent months, but this deal is more approachable for anyone looking for a performance gaming mouse. If you don’t like the Viper Ultimate’s relatively low profile, Razer’s Basilisk Ultimate is a fine alternative that’s also on sale, albeit for $19 more as of this writing.
Beyond that, we also have good deals on Apple’s newest iPad Air, recommended Bluetooth speakers and charging gear from Anker, the popular card-drafting board game 7 Wonders, our 2021 video game of the year, and much more. You can have a look at our full curated rundown below.
Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.
Featured deals of the day
- 8BitDo Pro 2 wireless game controller for Switch/PC for $43 (
$50) at Amazon, Best Buy - Razer Viper Ultimate wireless gaming mouse for $52 (
$90) at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop - 7 Wonders board game for $29 (
$41) at Amazon, Target - Psychonauts 2 (Xbox, PC) for $36 (
$50) at Xbox, Humble (also on Game Pass) - Apple iPad Air (2022) 10.9-inch tablet for $560 (
$599) at Amazon - Apple Smart Keyboard Folio for 11-inch iPad Pro + iPad Air for $100 (
$160) at Amazon, Walmart - Nintendo Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda for $43 (
$50) at Amazon, GameStop - Anker Soundcore Motion+ portable Bluetooth speaker for $84 (
$106) at Newegg (use code: MKTCV8T24) - Anker PowerPort Strip 3 USB power strip (5ft, 3x AC, 3x USB-A, 18W total USB output) for $13 (
$24) at Amazon (use code: ANK9131M2) - In stock: Microsoft Xbox Series X + extra Xbox Wireless Controller + Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Xbox) for $574 (
$580) at Microsoft
Sam Machkovech
Electronics deals
- 8BitDo Pro 2 wireless game controller for Switch/PC for $43 (
$50) at Amazon, Best Buy - Apple iPad Air (2022) 10.9-inch tablet for $560 (
$599) at Amazon - Anker Soundcore Motion+ portable Bluetooth speaker for $84 (
$106) at Newegg (use code: MKTCV8T24) - Nintendo Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda for $43 (
$50) at Amazon, GameStop - LG C1 (2021) 55-inch 4K OLED TV for $1,197 (
$1,355) at Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy - Hisense U7G (2021) 55-inch 4K LED TV for $553 (
$645) at eBay (use code: SHOPTECH15) - Samsung QN90A (2021) 85-inch 4K LED TV for $3,000 (
$3,350) at Samsung, Amazon, Best Buy
Jeff Dunn
Samuel Axon
Laptop and desktop PC deals
- Samsung 970 Evo Plus (500GB NVMe) PCIe 3.0 internal SSD for $60 (
$69) at Amazon - WD Elements (14TB) desktop hard drive for $260 (
$310) at Newegg (use code: 93XSR77) - AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core/12-thread desktop processor for $229 (
$285) at Amazon, Walmart - LG 34GN850-B 34-inch curved gaming monitor (3440×1440, IPS, 160 Hz, FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible) for $750 (
$990) at Adorama (discount in cart) - Gigabyte G34WQC 34-inch curved gaming monitor (3440×1440, 144 Hz, VA, FreeSync) for $390 (
$420) at Amazon, Best Buy - Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga 13.5-inch 2-in-1 laptop (Core i7-1160G7, 2256×1504, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $1,189 (
$1,500) at Lenovo (use code: TITANOFFER)
Jeff Dunn
Video game deals
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch) for $55 (
$60) at Amazon, Walmart (discount in cart) - Inside (Switch) for $3 (
$15) at Nintendo eShop ($5 at GOG, Epic) - Axiom Verge (Switch, PC) for $6 (
$15) at Nintendo eShop, Epic - Psychonauts 2 (Xbox, PC) for $36 (
$50) at Xbox, Humble (also on Game Pass) - It Takes Two (Xbox, PS4, PC) for $16 (
$25) at Amazon, Xbox, PSN (also on Game Pass) - Mass Effect Legendary Edition (Xbox, PS4, PC) for $25 (
$35) at Target, Xbox, PSN (also on Game Pass) - The Yakuza Remastered Collection (PS4) for $16 (
$25) at PSN - Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience (PS4) for $4 (
$15) at PSN - Lost Judgment (PS5) for $27 (
$35) at Amazon - Final Fantasy VIII Remastered (PC, PS4) for $10 (
$15) at Humble, PSN - Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PC, Xbox, PS4) for $10 (
$20) at Amazon, Xbox, PSN, Epic (also on Game Pass)
- Disco Elysium – The Final Cut (PC) for $14 (
$30) at GOG, Steam - Inscryption (PC) for $14 (
$19) at GOG, Humble, Epic - Death’s Door (PC, PS5, PS4) for $14 (
$19) at GOG, Humble, Epic, PSN (also on Game Pass) - The Messenger (PC) for $8 (
$15) at GOG, Humble, Epic - Control: Ultimate Edition (PC) for $12 (
$20) at GOG, Epic - Ape Out (PC) for $5 (
$10) at GOG, Humble, Epic - Loop Hero (PC) for $7 (
$12) at GOG, Humble, Epic - Hades (PC) for $16 (
$20) at Epic (also on Game Pass) - Olija (PC) for $7 (
$12) at GOG, Humble, Epic (also on Game Pass) - Sable (PC) for $17 (
$22) at GOG, Epic (also on Game Pass) - Untitled Goose Game (PC) for $10 (
$15) at Epic
