Ars Technica
It’s the weekend, which means it’s time for another Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web includes Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5, the company’s speedy T7 portable SSD, solid options for TVs in a range of sizes from TCL, LG, and Samsung, and $150 off the latest-generation MacBook Airs in different configurations.
The MacBook Air deal brings the new M2-powered laptop down to its lowest price only a few months after its June release. Both the 256GB and 512GB are available for $150 off at $1049 and $1349, respectively. While storage is the main difference to consider here, you can also grab a 2021 MacBook Pro with 512GB storage for $1,049 and gain a bit better performance for sustained workloads and a nicer display.
We break down all the differences to consider in our MacBook buying guide, but the 2021 13-inch MacBook Pro falls right in between the 2022 MacBook Air (our pick for most users’ basic needs) and the 2022 14-inch MacBook Pro (our pick for developers, engineers, and researchers) in terms of performance. While we feel the Air and 14-inch Pro are best for their target demos, the value of this deal may just tip the scales a bit further for the 13-inch Pro which we feel strikes balance between the two.
Samsung’s earned a couple of spots in our featured deals list with a $50 discount on the Galaxy Watch 5 ($250), and a modest discount on the T7 rugged portable SSD ($100). The Galaxy Watch 5 currently represents the best smartwatch available for Android users, particularly those with Samsung devices. With sensors for blood oxygen, heart rate, and ECG monitoring, it’s a very capable fitness companion, although ECG monitoring does require a paired Samsung phone. After teaming up with Google to create one unified wearable OS on the Galaxy Watch 4, third-party app compatibility was greatly improved (although still nowhere near the compatibility and Apple Watch enjoys) and the OS is as smooth as ever.
Samsung’s well-rounded QN85B 85-inch 4K QLED TV (2022) is also on sale at the lowest price we’ve ever tracked ($400 off). The $2,598 TV represents a strong value at its size. It performs well for gaming with HDMI 2.1 on all ports and refresh rates to match. Competent HDR performance and glare reduction make it a great choice for movie watching, as well. If you’re looking for something smaller with comparable performance, LG’s C2 48-inch OLED TV (2022) is a respectable contender in the mid-size range. Right now, the C2 is on sale for $1,197 ($220 off) with an additional $100 gift card to sweeten the deal. TCL’s budget-conscious 5 Series 65-inch TV is also on sale for $550 (typically $700).
Heading off video game deals, we have a $20 discount that brings Super Smash Bros. Ultimate down to $40 with code SBSPMR10. There are also a handful of price cuts on some of our favorite games, like Cuphead, and a mix of computer components, smart home devices, gift cards, and deals on much more. You can check out our full curated list of deals below.
Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.
Featured deals of the day
- Sony A80K (2022) 55-inch 4K OLED TV for $1,300 (
$1,500) at Amazon (Prime members only) - LG C2 (2022) 48-inch 4K OLED TV + $100 gift card for $1,197 (
$1,420) at Newegg (GC expires after six months) - Samsung QN85B (2022) 85-inch 4K QLED TV for $2,598 (
$3,000) at Amazon - Apple MacBook Air (2022) 13.6-inch laptop (Apple M2, 2560×1664, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $1,049 (
$1,199) at Amazon, (512GB for $1349) - Apple MacBook Pro (2021) 13.3-inch laptop (Apple M1, 2560×1600, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $1,049 (
$1,500) at Best Buy - SK Hynix Platinum P41 (1TB) PCIe 4.0 SSD for $120 (
$150) at Amazon (2TB for $208) - WD Black SN850 (1TB) PCIe 4.0 SSD w/ heatsink for $104 (
$140) at Best Buy - WD Black P10 (5TB) portable SSD + 1-Month Xbox Game Pass for $115 (
$130) at Amazon - Google Nest Hub 7-inch smart display for $55 (
$85) at Target, Best Buy, Walmart - $100 DoorDash gift card + $20 Best Buy gift card (digital) for $100 (
$120) - Samsung Galaxy Watch5 for $250 (
$280) at Woot - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch) $40 (
$60) (use code SBSPMR10 at checkout) at SuperShop
Electronics deals
Corey Gaskin
Corey Gaskin / Ars Technica
Laptop and desktop PC deals
- Apple MacBook Air (2020) 13.3-inch laptop (Apple M1, 2560×1600, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $900 (
$940) at Amazon (discount in cart) - Apple MacBook Air (2022) 13.6-inch laptop (Apple M2, 2560×1664, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $1,049 (
$1,199) at Amazon, Best Buy (512GB for $1349) - SK Hynix Platinum P41 (1TB) PCIe 4.0 SSD for $127.49 (
$150) at Amazon (clip $22.50 coupon) (2TB for $208) - SK Hynix Gold P31 (1TB) PCIe 3.0 SSD for $91.80 (
$106) (clip $16.20 coupon) at Amazon (2TB for $169) - Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB (2×16GB) 5600 MHz RAM for $158 (
$200) at Newegg (use code: UPGBW2Z232, $158 at Amazon) - ViewSonic Elite XG270Q 27-inch gaming monitor (2560×1440, IPS, 165 Hz, G-Sync) for $260 (
$375) at B&H, Amazon - Gigabyte M28U 28-inch gaming monitor (3840×2160, IPS, 144 Hz, VRR) for $480 (
$540) at Amazon, Best Buy - Gigabyte M32UC 32-inch gaming monitor (3840×2160, VA, 160 Hz, VRR) for $530 (
$600) at Amazon, B&H - Gigabyte M32QC 32-inch gaming monitor (2560×1440, VA, 165 Hz, VRR) for $230 (
$300) at Amazon, Newegg
Samuel Axon
Video game deals
Gaming deals
Corey Gaskin
