Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 is cheaper than ever right now

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 is on sale for $680 via Amazon, which is a discount of $120. This is a record low price for the well-regarded tablet. The S9 is the most recent iteration and there likely won't be a refresh on the horizon until at least September.

Now onto some specs. The standard S9 boasts an 11-inch AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 12GB of RAM. It also comes with the company’s S Pen stylus, which is something I wish Apple did for its tablets. The $680 price tag gets you a device with 128GB of internal storage, but 256GB and 512GB models are also on sale. 

The Galaxy Tab S9 easily made our list of the best tablets, and for good reason. We loved the gorgeous AMOLED screen, the powerful speakers and the tablet’s surprisingly useful Dex multitasking mode. For the uninitiated, this mode basically turns the tablet into a PC, complete with standard windows, folders and a taskbar, with the ability to drag and drop files.

The 11-inch screen is a joy to behold and probably the best fit for most people. The S9+, which is also on sale, boasts a particularly large 12.4-inch AMOLED display. Those with small hands should probably demo that unit before making the splurge. 

This is part of a larger Amazon sale on a bunch of Samsung tablets. There’s the aforementioned S9 tablets with more hard drive space, but also discounts on the entire A9+ line and the S9 FE+. There are no deals, however, for the top-of-the-line S9 Ultra.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-galaxy-tab-s9-is-cheaper-than-ever-right-now-155536182.html?src=rss

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 is cheaper than ever right now

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 is on sale for $680 via Amazon, which is a discount of $120. This is a record low price for the well-regarded tablet. The S9 is the most recent iteration and there likely won't be a refresh on the horizon until at least September.

Now onto some specs. The standard S9 boasts an 11-inch AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 12GB of RAM. It also comes with the company’s S Pen stylus, which is something I wish Apple did for its tablets. The $680 price tag gets you a device with 128GB of internal storage, but 256GB and 512GB models are also on sale. 

The Galaxy Tab S9 easily made our list of the best tablets, and for good reason. We loved the gorgeous AMOLED screen, the powerful speakers and the tablet’s surprisingly useful Dex multitasking mode. For the uninitiated, this mode basically turns the tablet into a PC, complete with standard windows, folders and a taskbar, with the ability to drag and drop files.

The 11-inch screen is a joy to behold and probably the best fit for most people. The S9+, which is also on sale, boasts a particularly large 12.4-inch AMOLED display. Those with small hands should probably demo that unit before making the splurge. 

This is part of a larger Amazon sale on a bunch of Samsung tablets. There’s the aforementioned S9 tablets with more hard drive space, but also discounts on the entire A9+ line and the S9 FE+. There are no deals, however, for the top-of-the-line S9 Ultra.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-galaxy-tab-s9-is-cheaper-than-ever-right-now-155536182.html?src=rss

Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are back on sale for $328

Sony's 1000XM-series headphones have topped our list of the best wireless headphones you can buy for a couple years running. The current top pick is held by the WH-1000XM5 ANC headphones and right now they're $72 off at Amazon, making them $328 instead of their $400 list price. That's not an all time low — we saw them dip to $250 just before the holidays last year and this year they've gone for $300 and $280 at different retailers. But if you don't want to wait and see if those discounts come back, $72 represents a decent savings on a pair of highly recommended over-ear speakers. The sale comes as part of a larger sale on Sony audio at Amazon. 

Even at full price, the WH-1000XM5 are a wise buy if you're looking for superior audio, excellent noise cancellation and an enduringly comfortable fit. Our audio expert, Billy Steele, said these are in a league of their own in his review. The audio is an improvement over the previous generation — which was already great — but now the bass is punchier and the clarity is even more finely tuned. They pack a long, 30-hour battery life and the noise cancellation is adept at blocking human voices, TV sounds and various other environmental noises. There are plenty of easy-to-suss out onboard controls, letting you do things like skip tracks and answer calls. There's even a feature that pauses what you're listening to when you start talking.  

While these are an improvement over the prior model, Sony's WH-100XM4 headphones, those are still a compelling option with great sound and a comfortable fit. They're on sale for a much lower $248. That's $100 off the list price and about $20 more than the all-time low they hit for Black Friday last year.  

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonys-wh-1000xm5-headphones-are-back-on-sale-for-328-164134517.html?src=rss

Mar10 Day deals include a $25 gift card when you buy a Nintendo Switch

Mario Day, otherwise called MAR10 Day or just March 10, is upon us. This is the date to celebrate Nintendo’s iconic plumber. It’s not his birthday or anything, but rather a random day on the calendar that sort of looks like his name when spelled in a certain way. You know, like how Star Wars Day falls on May 4.

Still, Nintendo has been putting its corporate might behind the celebration since 2015, offering up Mario-themed experiences at the company’s official store, discounts on games and various contests. Retailers have also been following suit in recent years, marking down Nintendo products to coincide with March 10. With that in mind, here are the best deals for MAR10 that could very well elicit a “wahoo” or two.

One of the marquee deals is for the Switch itself. There’s no actual discount on the console, but each purchase includes a $25 gift card from the retailer you bought it from. Participating retailers include Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and Target and the promotion goes from March 10 through March 16. This deal applies to the OLED Switch, Nintendo’s latest and greatest console iteration, the original Switch and the Switch Lite. It’s the perfect way to catch up on Metroid Dread, Super Mario Wonder and, of course, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

There’s a major caveat here. The Switch is on its way out, with a replacement likely headed our way in the beginning part of next year, and we don't know how long Nintendo intends to support the original hybrid console for after that. Still, the Switch has a massive back catalog worth exploring.

Speaking of that back catalog, many retailers are offering $20 discounts on a number of first-party Nintendo games. These include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Party Superstars, Luigi's Mansion 3, and more. This brings the price down to $40 per game. There’s also a cool bundle available that includes a tropical-themed Switch Lite and a digital copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for $200, available at both Target and Walmart. It’s not part of the MAR10 festivities, but it’s a good deal nonetheless.

The company has also doubled the free trial period for Nintendo Switch Online, from seven days to 14 days. This lets people play online, as the name suggests, but also opens up its catalog of retro NES and SNES games. Switch owners have until March 17 to activate the trial and it's even available to people who have already tried the service in the past.

Finally, there are some real-world events for Nintendo die-hards. There’s a meet-and-greet with Mario and Luigi at the Nintendo Store in New York City, complete with plenty of giveaways and a screening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. GameStop is also doing in-person giveaways on March 16.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mar10-day-deals-include-a-25-gift-card-when-you-buy-a-nintendo-switch-070026315.html?src=rss

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is back down to $40, plus the rest of this week’s best tech deals

As another week winds to an end, we've put together another roundup of the best tech deals we could find on devices and gadgets Engadget has tried and recommends. Right now a Marshall Bluetooth speaker with good sound and an impressive waterproof rating is $64 cheaper. Our favorite budget robo vac, the Roomba 694 is 35 percent off. And early Mar10 sales have trimmed the prices of a few games staring Mario and his friends. Other deals include sale prices on Bluetooth trackers, a portable projector, a two-pack of Sonos speakers and an Backbone iPhone 14 gamepad. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-max-is-back-down-to-40-plus-the-rest-of-this-weeks-best-tech-deals-173046390.html?src=rss

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is back down to $40, plus the rest of this week’s best tech deals

As another week winds to an end, we've put together another roundup of the best tech deals we could find on devices and gadgets Engadget has tried and recommends. Right now a Marshall Bluetooth speaker with good sound and an impressive waterproof rating is $64 cheaper. Our favorite budget robo vac, the Roomba 694 is 35 percent off. And early Mar10 sales have trimmed the prices of a few games staring Mario and his friends. Other deals include sale prices on Bluetooth trackers, a portable projector, a two-pack of Sonos speakers and an Backbone iPhone 14 gamepad. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-max-is-back-down-to-40-plus-the-rest-of-this-weeks-best-tech-deals-173046390.html?src=rss

Playdate is having a sitewide games sale, like a real grown-up console

The little console that could, Playdate, is having its first sitewide games sale, just like its more-established rivals. Manufacturer Panic is holding the sale to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the online store, which is officially called the Playdate Catalog.

The discounts are noteworthy. If you happen to own a Playdate, you’ll find plenty to like here. The cute little synthesizer app Playmaker is on sale for $8, instead of $15, and the action RPG Under the Castle is on sale for $7, which is a discount of 30 percent. Many titles go much lower than this. The bizarre unicycle/coffee-acquisition sim A Balanced Brew is on sale for just $2 and the Adventure-esque dungeon crawler The Keyper is only a buck.

One of the key selling points of the Playdate is its abundance of indie games that you can’t play anywhere else, which this sale shows off in spades. However, there’s one big game missing from the sale. Lucas Pope’s Mars After Midnight doesn’t come out until March 12, though the sale lasts until March 14, so maybe we’ll get a day-one discount.

For the uninitiated, the Playdate is a retro-styled portable console that resembles the original Nintendo Game Boy. It’s bright yellow and features a unique control mechanism in the form of a hand-powered crank. This crank is used in novel ways, like keeping the unicycler balanced in the aforementioned A Balanced Brew. It’s a gimmick, but a fun one.

Beyond the sale, new Playdate owners get 24 free games when purchasing the $200 console. These unlock on a week-by-week basis over 12 weeks. The console has technically been available for nearly two years, but there was an obscene waiting period as Panic worked to meet initial preorders. That’s gone now, so orders ship within a few days.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/playdate-is-having-a-sitewide-games-sale-like-a-real-grown-up-console-203552312.html?src=rss

Playdate is having a sitewide games sale, like a real grown-up console

The little console that could, Playdate, is having its first sitewide games sale, just like its more-established rivals. Manufacturer Panic is holding the sale to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the online store, which is officially called the Playdate Catalog.

The discounts are noteworthy. If you happen to own a Playdate, you’ll find plenty to like here. The cute little synthesizer app Playmaker is on sale for $8, instead of $15, and the action RPG Under the Castle is on sale for $7, which is a discount of 30 percent. Many titles go much lower than this. The bizarre unicycle/coffee-acquisition sim A Balanced Brew is on sale for just $2 and the Adventure-esque dungeon crawler The Keyper is only a buck.

One of the key selling points of the Playdate is its abundance of indie games that you can’t play anywhere else, which this sale shows off in spades. However, there’s one big game missing from the sale. Lucas Pope’s Mars After Midnight doesn’t come out until March 12, though the sale lasts until March 14, so maybe we’ll get a day-one discount.

For the uninitiated, the Playdate is a retro-styled portable console that resembles the original Nintendo Game Boy. It’s bright yellow and features a unique control mechanism in the form of a hand-powered crank. This crank is used in novel ways, like keeping the unicycler balanced in the aforementioned A Balanced Brew. It’s a gimmick, but a fun one.

Beyond the sale, new Playdate owners get 24 free games when purchasing the $200 console. These unlock on a week-by-week basis over 12 weeks. The console has technically been available for nearly two years, but there was an obscene waiting period as Panic worked to meet initial preorders. That’s gone now, so orders ship within a few days.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/playdate-is-having-a-sitewide-games-sale-like-a-real-grown-up-console-203552312.html?src=rss

The Backbone One mobile game controller is 30 percent off right now

Most smartphone games are designed to be played with touch controls first and foremost. But if you want to stream games from an Xbox or PlayStation, or if you gravitate toward games with more complex control schemes like Call of Duty: Mobile or Diablo Immortal, a mobile gamepad like the Backbone One can make things more comfortable. 

If this sounds appealing to you, Backbone is running a sale that brings the Lightning-based version of the One down to $70 at Amazon, Best Buy, Target and its own online store. While that's not an all-time low, it's still $30 off the controller's usual going rate.

In general, discounts on the device have been uncommon. The offer applies to both the standard black model and the PlayStation-branded white model, which are functionally the same but use different icons. The discount technically started earlier this week, but Backbone says it'll run through March 10. Unfortunately, the sale does not extend to the USB-C version of the device, so Android users or those who plan on upgrading to an iPhone 15 anytime soon should pass.

If you plan to play on an iPhone 14 or older for the next couple of years, though, this deal should be worthwhile. As my colleague Mat Smith noted in his review, the One fits snugly and works immediately with remote streaming apps and virtually every iOS game with controller support. It has all the requisite buttons to play modern games, including pressure-sensitive triggers and analog joysticks, along with a built-in headphone jack and a pass-through charging port. Its clicky face buttons are on the noisy side, and its d-pad is somewhat spongy. Still, its rounded grips keep it comfortable to hold over time, and it balances its weight better than an Xbox or PS5 pad hooked up to a mobile gaming clip. It also comes with a handy companion app, which you can use to quickly launch games and start party chats. If nothing else, it should be a more cost-effective alternative to cloud gaming handhelds like the PlayStation Portal.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-backbone-one-mobile-game-controller-is-30-percent-off-right-now-163014567.html?src=rss

The Backbone One mobile game controller is 30 percent off right now

Most smartphone games are designed to be played with touch controls first and foremost. But if you want to stream games from an Xbox or PlayStation, or if you gravitate toward games with more complex control schemes like Call of Duty: Mobile or Diablo Immortal, a mobile gamepad like the Backbone One can make things more comfortable. 

If this sounds appealing to you, Backbone is running a sale that brings the Lightning-based version of the One down to $70 at Amazon, Best Buy, Target and its own online store. While that's not an all-time low, it's still $30 off the controller's usual going rate.

In general, discounts on the device have been uncommon. The offer applies to both the standard black model and the PlayStation-branded white model, which are functionally the same but use different icons. The discount technically started earlier this week, but Backbone says it'll run through March 10. Unfortunately, the sale does not extend to the USB-C version of the device, so Android users or those who plan on upgrading to an iPhone 15 anytime soon should pass.

If you plan to play on an iPhone 14 or older for the next couple of years, though, this deal should be worthwhile. As my colleague Mat Smith noted in his review, the One fits snugly and works immediately with remote streaming apps and virtually every iOS game with controller support. It has all the requisite buttons to play modern games, including pressure-sensitive triggers and analog joysticks, along with a built-in headphone jack and a pass-through charging port. Its clicky face buttons are on the noisy side, and its d-pad is somewhat spongy. Still, its rounded grips keep it comfortable to hold over time, and it balances its weight better than an Xbox or PS5 pad hooked up to a mobile gaming clip. It also comes with a handy companion app, which you can use to quickly launch games and start party chats. If nothing else, it should be a more cost-effective alternative to cloud gaming handhelds like the PlayStation Portal.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-backbone-one-mobile-game-controller-is-30-percent-off-right-now-163014567.html?src=rss