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Prime Day deals: Up to 40% off on gaming accessories from Logitech

As we dive into the second (and last) day of Amazon's Prime Day (or "Prime Big Deal Days"), Logitech continues to offer strong discounts on gaming gear, including sales on keyboards, mice and other gaming accessories. Most deals are just for Prime members, but a few are open to all. If you've been thinking about updating your setup or have gamers on your holiday shopping list, now's a good time to stock up on peripherals from a solid brand. We've recommended Logitech gear in many of our reviews and guides over the years and a few of our picks are on sale. And if you're looking for gaming deals that aren't from Logitech, we've got an entire roundup devoted to just that. Here's the best gear from Logitech's Prime Day sale. 

Logitech G915 Lightspeed RGB

The G915 RGB mechanical gaming keyboard is down to $180, or 28 percent off. That's a Prime member-only deal, and looks to be about $20 more than its all-time low, but still a decent savings on a mechanical gaming keyboard. The low-profile mechanical switches aim to make typing more comfortable and ultimately faster. 

The G Pro X Superlight

While this isn't the newest version of this mouse, we were still fans of the original Logitech G Pro X gaminng mouse, and called it "a no-nonsense gaming mouse" that's also good for productivity. It's down to $110 instead of $160, but again, just for Prime members. If you're up to date with your Amazon club dues, however, it's a great deal as this looks to be the lowest price Amazon has ever sold it for. 

The G703 Lightspeed Mouse

While it's admittedly an older mouse, Logitech's G703 Lightspeed mouse has dipped to $60 (40 percent off) for prime members. It's got 6 programmable buttons, weighs just 95 grams and has a claimed battery life for up to 35 hours of use. 

Zone Vibe 100

The Zone Vibe 100 lightweight wireless headset is down to $80, which is a 20 percent savings. We called these a "breath of fresh air" in our guide to the best gaming gear on a budget. It draws on Logitech’s expertise to deliver solid gaming audio but the stylish wireless package can pull double duty as respectable wireless headphones. 

G915 Lightspeed Keyboard

The G915 Lightspeed keyboard is down to $180 for Prime members, which is $70 off. It uses low-profile GL switches that are half the height of typical mechanical key switches, making it about 25 percent faster to press a key. The version on sale uses the "tactile" key switch that lets you feel the actuation without being as noisy as the "clicky" version. It has a quintet of programmable keys and support for 16.8 million colors through the RGB lighting system. And of course, it's wireless, using Logitech's Lightspeed tech for minimal lag. 

Other notable deals

Another key product on offer is Logitech's G Pro X superlight wireless gaming mouse ($110, 31 percent off) that weighs just 63 grams, while offering excellent speed and accuracy. If it's a headset you need, the Logitech G535 offers neutral sound and agreeable listening experience. Its Logitech G Fits wireless gaming earbuds are also on sale for $160 (30 percent off), delivering features like long battery life, premium sound and noise cancellation. And on the productivity side, the Brio 501 full HD webcam offers auto light correction, dual noise reduction mics and more. 

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-deals-up-to-40-off-on-gaming-accessories-from-logitech-165545189.html?src=rss

The best Nintendo Switch Prime Day deals you can shop right now

Amazon's October Prime Day sale is rolling on, and there are a bunch of solid deals for Nintendo Switch users. Not only can you scoop up several games (including Nintendo first-party titles) for a lower price than usual, you can snap up a microSD card for a song to boost the console's storage.

On the games front, many Switch exclusives are at least $10 off. The turn-based strategy game Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is $30 (its predecessor, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, isn't on sale but it will run you $24). This spin-off series could be a solid entry point for those looking to explore a different genre popularized by the likes of XCOM.

Another Mario spin-off is on sale, with Mario Golf: Super Rush dropping to $40. Those looking for a more traditional flavor of everyone's favorite plumber may be tempted by the wonderful Super Mario Maker 2, which offers millions of user-created 2D Mario levels along with a bunch that Nintendo developers crafted. That game will run you $40.

There are several other Switch exclusives on sale that may catch your eye. Metroid Dread, Samus' ultra-tense return to a Nintendo console, is $40. Fire Emblem Engage, a tactics RPG that debuted at the start of this year, has dropped to $30.

And then there's the small matter of Nintendo's most important game of 2023. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is not on sale on Amazon at the minute, unfortunately. But you can find a good deal on the game of the year contender at Walmart, where it has dropped to $48.

You might not stop with these games, though. You may end up buying some from Nintendo's eShop as well (of note, some of these game deals are available for digital versions). In which case, you'll probably need a microSD card to store them on, given the Switch's paltry onboard storage of 32GB.

Samsung’s Evo Select is our pick for the best value microSD card. It doesn't perform as well as the Samsung Pro Plus, but it's plenty adequate for the Switch and the prices are hard to beat. The 512GB version of the Evo Select, which should give you enough space to store dozens of games, is on sale for $28. That's $7 off the usual price and it marks an all-time low. The 128GB model is also chapear than ever. It'll run you $10.

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-nintendo-switch-prime-day-deals-you-can-shop-right-now-165501176.html?src=rss

The best Walmart Deals you can get right now on Prime Day

Amazon's Prime Day sale for October 2023 is in full swing, but Walmart got the jump on its fellow retailer with a sale of its own that it launched yesterday. The Holiday Kickoff sale is like a Walmart Prime Day sale, which we've seen other storefronts host in the past. It's a way for the company to take advantage of the shopping buzz generated by Amazon — and a way for you to save at more than one outlet. We combed through what Walmart had to offer and found the tech savings that are worth your time. One thing to note is that Walmart carries some devices that Amazon doesn’t, like the Google Nest Hub, which is down to $60. Other worthwhile deals include the 9th generation iPad for $1 less than it sold for during Amazon's July Prime Day and an Xbox Elite Series 2 core controller for just $88. 

Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi, 64GB, 9th gen)

Apple's 9th-generation iPad dropped down to $250 in July for Amazon's first Prime Day of 2023, and it was one of the top sellers. Now Walmart's sale has dropped that price by a dollar, which makes it the new lowest prices o far. This is the budget pick in our guide to the best iPads and while it doesn’t have the thin bezels and as much accessory support as our favorite, the iPad Air, it's excellent for light gaming, streaming and browsing the web — and it's the most affordable way to snag an iPad. 

iRobot Roomba j7+ 

iRobot's Roomba j7+ is down to $300, which is a huge, $400 discount over the regular price. We named this the runner up model in our robot vacuum tests, though the version we recommended didn't have a clean base, this one does. It has strong suction power and utilizes advanced obstacle avoidance, which helps it steer clear of furniture and other objects while it's cleaning. 

Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)

The second-generation Google Nest Hub is down to $60, which is about $5 more than Walmart sold it for last time it did a Prime-adjacent sale. This is the top pick for a Google smart display in Engadget’s Engadget's guide The seven-inch screen lives in an unobtrusive exterior and through it you can watch YouTube, access the Google Assistant, control your smart home devices, and even check in on your cameras around the house. But it doesn't have a built-in camera itself, so you won't be able to make video calls from it. 

Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 Core

The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core wireless controller is down to $88. That beats the low price we saw a few months ago by a healthy $12 and is a $42 discount overall. The Core version of this gamepad is just like the regular Elite Series 2, except without the additional accessories (like extra joysticks and triggers). Both are designed for competitive gamers with a wrap-around grip, 40 hours of rechargeable battery life, adjustable tension sticks and hair-trigger locks. 

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

If you haven't bought Nintendo's acclaimed 2023 Zelda game, TOTK for your Switch yet, here's a good opportunity. It's a game we thought unlocked "a ton of creative potential" and is now 31 percent off, bringing it down to $48 which is just $2 more than the lowest price we've tracked. This is the standard, physical copy of the game. 

Apple iPad (Wi-Fi, 64GB, 10th gen)

The 10th generation standard iPad is down to $399. While that's a $40 savings, it's still about $20 more than the all time low price we've tracked for this model. This one didn't make the cut in our list of the best iPads. Though it has a bigger screen and a newer chip than the 9th generation, it's still not Apple’s own M-series silicon and it does away with the home button and headphone jack, which the earlier version retains. 

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/walmart-prime-day-holiday-kickoff-deals-185926040.html?src=rss

The best October Prime Day gaming deals for 2023

If you’ve been looking to pick up some new gaming gear, Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale has brought a number of discounts on games and accessories we like. We’ve curated the best gaming deals of this “October Prime Day” sale below, with lower-than-usual prices on Nintendo Switch and PS5 exclusives, mice, keyboards, headsets and more. As a reminder, Amazon’s latest storewide sale will run through Wednesday, and many of its offers are only accessible if you subscribe to Amazon Prime.

Nintendo Switch games

A number of worthwhile Nintendo Switch exclusives are discounted for Prime Big Deal Days. The offers include the charming turn-based strategy game Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope for $20, the tactics RPG Fire Emblem Engage for $30, the wild hack-and-slasher Bayonetta 3 for $37, the tense side-scroller Metroid Dread for $40 and the workout RPG Ring Fit Adventure for $50. Mario Golf: Super Rush and Super Mario Maker 2 are available for $40 each as well. Most of these games are a few years old, and not every deal is an all-time low, but each is at least $10 cheaper than usual.

PlayStation 5 games

Along those lines, various PlayStation games are also on sale, including several entries on our list of the best PS5 games. The giant action game God of War Ragnarök is down to $50, the gorgeous PS5 remake of The Last of Us is down to $46, while the popular open-world games Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition and Horizon Forbidden West are both down to $40. The haunting roguelike Returnal, punishing action-RPG Demon’s Souls, accessible shooter Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and samurai adventure Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut are all available for $10 less than that. The PS4 copies of some of these games are discounted as well; in Horizon’s case, you can save a little cash by using that to get a free PS5 upgrade. Again, we’ve seen all of these deals before and most aren’t quite all-time lows, but this is still a decent chance to save.

Other video game deals

A few noteworthy non-exclusives are priced a little lower than normal too. The widely acclaimed Elden Ring is down to $40, for example, while the more old-school RPG Octopath Traveler II is down to $28 and the remake of PSP classic Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is available for $25. (The latter is a PS4 copy, but you can get a free upgrade to the PS5 edition.) The dungeon crawler Diablo IV is $20 off at $50, while Prime members can grab a free copy of Ghostwire: Tokyo for the PC. The same caveats as above still apply here.

Backbone One

The Backbone One is a well-built gamepad that snaps around the sides of your phone and works immediately with just about any game that supports controller input. It’s also convenient for cloud streaming games from a console or PC. Right now both its USB-C and Lightning models are down to $70, which is $30 off. That’s not an all-time low, but discounts on the device are relatively uncommon. We gave the One a positive review last year, and we currently highlight it in our guide to the best handheld gaming systems. Backbone says the USB-C models will work with Apple’s new iPhone 15 lineup as well.

Razer Basilisk V3

The Razer Basilisk V3 is down to $44, which is a few bucks more than its all-time low but still $6 less than its usual street price. This is the “best for most” pick in our guide to the best gaming mouse, as its sturdy shape should be comfortable for each grip type and all but the smallest hands. (Provided you’re a righty.) It has 11 customizable buttons, including a “sensitivity clutch” for more precise aiming, and its thumb wheel supports both left-right tilt and a faster free-spin mode. That wheel is somewhat noisy, and the whole thing is too heavy for competitive-minded players, but it still tracks accurately and glides smoothly.

WD and Seagate Storage Expansion Cards for Xbox Series X/S

It’s unfortunate, but the only way to fully expand the storage of an Xbox Series X/S console is to buy a proprietary expansion card. If your Xbox is hurting for space, the 1TB version of WD’s Black C50 card is at least a little cheaper than usual at $125. That’s a $25 discount and a new low. If you need more room, the 2TB model of Seagate’s Storage Expansion Card is also on sale for an all-time low at $230. That’s $50 off. (The 1TB Seagate card is available for $130, but there’s little reason to buy that when the WD model is cheaper.) Both of these are still pricier than a comparable SSD, but any bit of savings should be welcome.

HyperX Cloud Stinger 2

The top budget pick in our guide to the best gaming headsets, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2, is on sale for $35. That’s just a modest $5 discount but matches the lowest price we’ve seen. The Cloud Stinger 2 doesn’t have the most balanced or detailed sound, but its V-shaped signature gives action scenes a nice level of impact, and its mic quality belies the dirt-cheap price. The design is comfortable too, though it’s made from cheap-feeling plastic.

HyperX Cloud Alpha

If you’re willing to pay a little more, the HyperX Cloud Alpha is another decent value at $60, which is $15 or so lower than its typical street price. We note this as an honorable mention in our guide: It’s been around for a few years now, but it’s comfortable, and its detachable mic is solid. It’s better built than the Cloud Stinger 2 as well. At this price, they don’t sound bad either, though an underemphasized treble means they aren’t especially detailed.

Logitech G535

If you’re looking for a wireless headset, the Logitech G535 is back down to $80, which is about $25 below its average street price. This is another honorable mention in our gaming headsets guide, as we like its lightweight design, Bluetooth support and agreeable, relatively well-balanced sound. It forces you to crank the volume to reach a listenable level though, and its mic makes voices sound a little too thin. It doesn’t work with Xbox consoles either. But if you really want a wireless gaming headset for less than $100, it’s a decent choice.

Sennheiser HD 560S

If you don’t need a mic, a good set of wired headphones will often provide more detailed sound than a dedicated gaming headset. The Sennheiser HD 560S is a good example of this, and right now it’s on sale for $150. While not an all-time low, that’s about $35 below the pair’s typical street price. We recommend the HD 560S in our guide to the best gaming headphones: Its open-back design lets in and leaks a ton of noise, but its wide soundstage and balanced signature lend games a pleasing sense of immersion. It’s comfortable to wear for extended periods as well. Just don’t expect much in the way of deep sub-bass.

Razer Huntsman V2 TKL

The Razer Huntsman V2 TKL is available for $90, which is $30 or so off its average street price. This is a pick in our guide to the best gaming keyboards, as we like its crisp PBT keycaps, sturdy frame, clean RGB lighting, included wrist rest and steady performance. The catch is that this deal applies to the model with Razer’s Clicky Optical switches, which we found to be noisier and harsher-sounding than its linear counterpart. Neither model is hot-swappable either. But if you can live with a louder typing sound, there’s plenty to like. Razer recently released a higher-end Huntsman V3 Pro line, but those aren’t discounted.

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless

The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless is down to $175, which is within a dollar of its all-time low and $75 off its list price. This is the top wireless pick in our gaming keyboard buying guide, mainly due to its magnetic OmniPoint switches, which enable a range of helpful gaming features. For instance, you can raise or lower the actuation point of individual keys — setting a high point to make typing more comfortable or a low one to make presses more responsive — and use a rapid trigger mode to repeat inputs faster.

The rest of the keyboard is satisfactory as well, with multiple connection options and a useful OLED display for adjusting settings, though you’d buy this for its gaming features more than its typing experience. In general, we think the Wooting 60HE is a better option for gaming enthusiasts, but that one isn’t on sale; the Apex Pro is a close-enough substitute if you need to go wireless. The smaller Apex Pro Mini Wireless is also discounted for $15 less.

ASUS ROG Azoth

Another high-end wireless gaming keyboard, the ASUS ROG Azoth, is on sale for $210 in various switch configurations. While that isn’t an all-time low, it’s about $20 less than the device’s usual going rate since it arrived earlier this year. We highlight the ROG Azoth as an honorable mention in our gaming keyboard guide. It’s expensive, but it’s supremely well-built, with enthusiast-level touches like a gasket-mounted design — which gives keystrokes a softer feel — and a toolkit for lubing switches right in the box. It doesn’t have the flexible gaming features as the Apex Pro above, but it’s decidedly premium all the same.

Samsung Evo Select

The 512GB version of Samsung’s Evo Select microSD card is on sale for $28, which is an all-time low and $7 below its usual rate. The 128GB model, meanwhile, is down to $10, which is another low. The Evo Select is the “best value” pick in our microSD card buying guide: It’s not the most performant option we tested — that’d be the Samsung Pro Plus — but it’s perfectly serviceable for running games on a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck.

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-october-prime-day-gaming-deals-122232851.html?src=rss

The best October Amazon Prime Day SSD deals for 2023

If you needed a new microSD card for your camera or Nintendo Switch, or you wanted to pick up an external drive for someone as a gift, Amazon Prime Day is a great time to do so. Yes, Black Friday is right around the corner, but Amazon has been using its October sale event to kick off the holiday shopping season since last year. The prices that Prime members can get now on microSD cards, external and internal SSD and more may come back around for everyone in a month's time — but if you want to make sure you're getting a good deal and getting exactly what you want, now's the time to shop. We've combed through the plethora of storage deals available for October Prime Day and highlighted out the best discounts we found below.

Samsung Evo Select microSD

The Samsung Evo Select microSD card is on sale for $10 for October Prime Day. It's not quite as good as our top pick in our microSD card guide, mostly due to its slower sequential write speeds, but it's argubly the best value microSD card you can get right now.

Lexar Professional 1066x microSD

The Lexar Professional 1066x microSD card has dropped to $14 for Prime Day. It's a good alternative to our top pick in our microSD card guide, even if its overall speeds are a bit slower.

Samsung T7 Shield

The Samsung T7 Shield has stayed at a low price of $80 October Prime Day. Samsung makes some of our favorite SSDs available right now, and the T7 Shield is the most durable of the company's offerings. This portable drive has an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance, and it can withstand drops from up to 10 feet high. On top of that, its 1,050/1,000 MB/s read/write speeds should be enough for most people's needs.

Crucial X8

Crucial X8 portable drive is on sale for $48 right now. It supports read speeds up to 1,050 MB/s and drop protection from up to 7.5 feet. It also comes with a USB-A adapter for its included USB-C cable, so you can use it with a variety of devices.

Corsair MP600 Pro LPX

The top pick in our best PS5 SSDs guide, the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX drive has stayed at a low price of $70 for October Prime Day. It checks all the boxes you'd want in a good drive for your console: it's fast, with read speeds of up to 7,100MB/s, it comes with a pre-installed heatsink and it's protected by a five-year warranty. Plus, it's not the most expensive drive to begin with, which makes it a great value — especially when on sale like this.

Crucial MX500

The Crucial MX500 internal drive is on sale for $46 right now. It's been a longtime favorite of ours for its sequential read speeds of 560MB/s and standard 2.5-inch design that should make it easy to swamp in for your desktop's or laptop's used-up drive.

Crucial P5 Plus

The Crucial P5 Plus SSD has stayed low at $54 for October Prime Day. It's already our favorite affordable SSD for the PS5, so it's an even better buy when you can get it at a discount. It has read speeds of up to 6,600MB/s and the main downside to it is that you'll need to provide and install your own heatsink to get it to work with Sony's console.

Samsung 980 Pro

The Samsung 980 Pro SSD has been discounted to $50 for Prime Day. It's a good option for the PS5, but keep in mind that it doesn't come with a heatsink by default — but you can buy a version of it with an included one, or spring for your own. The 980 Pro has read speeds up to 7,000 MB/s and reliable thermal controls.

WD Black SN850X

WD Black's SN850X is on sale for $100 right now. It has the right read/write speeds to be a good option for the PS5, plus you can get it (or it's slightly slower counterpart, the SN850) with a heatsink included.

Your Fall Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-october-amazon-prime-day-ssd-deals-120907343.html?src=rss

The best October Amazon Prime Day 2023 TV deals we could find

While Black Friday is generally the best time to grab a good TV for the lowest price possible, Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale — which kicked off today and runs through Wednesday — has brought a few worthwhile discounts for those who want a new set today. We’ve sorted out the best TV deals of the “October Prime Day” event below, which include solid prices on LG OLED TVs, Samsung’s The Frame TV and well-reviewed budget models from Hisense and TCL. If you want to spruce up your TV with a new media streamer, we’ve included a handful of deals on those devices as well.

LG C2

The 55-inch LG C2 is down to $1,097, which is $100 more than the lowest price we’ve seen for the OLED TV but still $100 less than its usual sale price these days. The C2 is a 2022 model, but various reviews suggest that LG’s new C3 TV is only a marginal upgrade. The older set still provides the kind of high contrast, wide viewing angles, rich colors and smooth motion you’d expect from a good OLED panel, plus it has four HDMI 2.1 ports capable of playing 4K video at 120Hz. A QD-OLED set like the Samsung S90C will deliver better brightness and color saturation, but the C2 should satisfy if you keep it out of a brightly-lit room. LG’s OLED TVs also support Dolby Vision HDR, while Samsung TVs do not.

LG B2

The LG B2, meanwhile, is down to $847 for a 55-inch model. That’s a new low and roughly $150 off its average street price in recent months. The B2 is the step-down model from the C2, as it’s not as bright or color-rich with HDR content, it runs on a slower processor and it has two fewer HDMI 2.1 ports. That said, its contrast, colors and motion performance will still be a significant upgrade if you’re upgrading from a more basic LED TV. LG’s new B3 TV promises a cleaner webOS interface, but it’s priced a good way higher as of this writing. If you want an OLED TV for less than $1,000, the B2 should be a better value.

Hisense U8K

The 65-inch Hisense U8K is available for $998, which ties the lowest price we’ve seen and comes in about $100 below its usual going rate. The 55-inch model is available for $200 less. This is one of Hisense’s new TVs for 2023, and various reviews say it’s one of the better values in the mid-priced bracket, with impressive brightness and good contrast for an LED panel. It runs the easy-to-use Google TV interface and comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K at 144Hz. It has other gaming-friendly features like VRR and ALLM too, plus it supports all the major HDR formats. It still won’t look as rich or fluid in motion as a good OLED set, and its viewing angles are worse, but the relatively low price should help make up for that.

Hisense U6K

The Hisense U6K is also on sale, with the 55- and 65-inch models down to $400 and $548, respectively. We’ve seen these deals before, but each matches an all-time low. The U6K is another new Hisense TV that’s received generally positive reviews. It’s one of the few budget-level sets with quantum dots, full-array local dimming and a mini-LED backlight, so it should deliver better contrast and color volume than most TVs in its price range. It’s not ideal for gaming though, as it’s limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and lacks HDMI 2.1 ports. In general, it can’t match the brightness or viewing angles of a more expensive set, but it looks to be a good buy if you’re on a tighter budget.

Hisense’s U7K TV is also on sale, with prices ranging at $550 for a 55-inch model to $1,500 for an 85-inch model. As the name suggests, this set’s performance sits between the U6K and U8K, so it should suffice if it aligns more closely with your budget.

Samsung The Frame TV (LS03B)

Samsung’s The Frame TV is down to $998 for a 55-inch set with an included bezel cover. That’s around $350 less than this bundle’s average street price. Several other sizes are discounted, from the 32-inch model for $548 to the 85-inch set for $3,498. The Frame TVs lack local dimming and mini-LED backlighting, so their picture quality, while decent, isn’t as high-end as the price tag might suggest. Instead, as we’ve noted before, you’d buy this QLED TV for the aesthetics. It’s designed to look like a piece of art you can mount against a wall, and when you aren’t watching something, you can use it to display artwork and photos. A few pieces come included, while others are sold with an optional subscription.

TCL Q6

The 55-inch TCL Q6 is available for $370, which is about $130 off its usual street price and matches the lowest price we’ve seen. The 65- and 75-inch models are also on sale for $480 and $680, respectively, though neither of those are all-time lows. This budget-level set lacks the local dimming and mini-LED backlight of the Hisense U6K, and recent reviews suggest that it performs worse as a result. The main reason we list it here is because it supports a 120Hz refresh rate — albeit only in 1080p or 1440p, not 4K. But if you can live with the lower resolution, this is a relatively affordable way to get a more fluid image with game consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. This model uses Amazon’s Fire TV OS, so you’ll get the most out of it if you use Amazon services like Prime Video with some regularity.

TCL S4

The TCL S4, meanwhile, is down to $250 for a 55-inch set and $380 for a 65-inch set. Those discounts represent an all-time lows. The S4 is an entry-level 4K TV, so it doesn’t offer much in the way of contrast, brightness, gaming features or HDR performance. Most people are better off paying a little bit more for the Hisense U6K. That said, maybe you just want a secondary TV for dirt cheap. In that case, the S4 should at least be serviceable. As with the TCL deal above, this version of the S4 runs on Amazon’s Fire TV interface.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is available for $38, which isn’t an amazing deal — we’ve seen it drop as low as $25 in the past — but still takes about $7 off the device’s usual street price. This is the top pick in our guide to the best media streamers, as it’s quick to load apps, it supports all the major streaming platforms and HDR standards, and it works with Apple AirPlay. Roku’s UI is blander than competing options from Google, Apple and Amazon, but it remains dead simple to navigate, and its search function does well to find shows across different apps. We also like the Roku app’s private-listening feature, which lets you listen to shows through a mobile device. Just note that we may see a better deal on Black Friday.

Roku also sells the $70 Streaming Stick 4K+, which adds an improved voice remote with a rechargeable battery, a lost remote finder, two custom shortcut buttons, and a headphone jack for private listening without the app. That model isn’t on sale as of this writing, however.

Roku Express 4K+

The Roku Express 4K+ provides the same general experience as the Streaming Stick 4K, but it can’t plug directly into your TV’s HDMI port. It also has slightly slower Wi-Fi and lacks support for Dolby Vision HDR. But it’s cheaper, and right now it’s on sale for $29. That’s a few dollars more than its all-time low but roughly $8 below its average street price. If you have a solid internet connection at home and just want to save a few bucks, it could work. For older or secondary TVs, the 1080p Roku Express is also on sale for $22.

Roku Streambar

The Roku Streambar is down to $100, which is a deal we’ve seen several times before but still falls about $15 below the device’s average street price. This is a 14-inch soundbar that doubles as a 4K media streamer. It’s a compact, 2.0-channel model, so it doesn’t sound especially clear or powerful, but it’s still an obvious upgrade over the speakers built into most TVs. If you’re on a tight budget and want to upgrade a smaller TV outside the living room, it’s worth a look. Just note that it doesn’t support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, though it does work with AirPlay 2. We gave the Streambar a review score of 86 back in 2020.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

Another hybrid-style device, the Amazon Fire TV Cube blends a 4K media streamer with a hands-free Alexa speaker. It’s back down to $110, which is $30 off and ties an all-time low. The Cube is Amazon’s most powerful Fire TV streamer, and its HDMI pass-through lets you connect a cable box or game console and integrate it with an Alexa overlay. The device also supports Wi-Fi 6E. Fire OS’ frequent ads and nudging toward Amazon services may be hard to accept on a pricier device, though. The HDMI input is also limited to 60Hz video.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite are on sale for $20 and $18, respectively. Neither deal is an all-time low, but both are a few bucks less than their common sale prices. You’d buy one of these dongles if you wanted to add streaming content to an older 1080p TV and frequently use Amazon services like Prime Video. They aren’t especially quick, and neither supports Dolby Vision, but they get the job done. Between the two, the standard Fire TV Stick’s remote includes app shortcuts and TV controls for volume and power, while the Lite’s remote does not. Both provide easy access to Alexa though.

The Fire TV Stick 4K is on sale too — but only the previous-generation model, not one of the refreshed 4K or 4K Max sticks Amazon unveiled in September, so we’d hold off.

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-amazon-prime-day-tv-deals-october-113237547.html?src=rss

Loog's baby digital piano could be the perfect starter instrument for newbies

Loog is a company known for manufacturing fantastic starter instruments for kids, with the company’s diminutive electric guitar making our list of the best audio-related gifts back in 2019. Now it’s back with a digital piano that blurs the line between kid-friendly and appropriate for adults.

The Loog Piano is a gorgeous instrument that, while still tiny, brings some nifty features for both brand-new players and veteran key smashers. The obvious selling point here is the looks. The 3-octave keyboard is sandwiched between solid wood sides and the top’s covered in red “sonically transparent fabric” that really pops. 

The company touts the piano’s “musician-grade sound and design.” The design’s certainly on-point, but what about the sound? The built-in stereo speakers let you play without headphones and Loog says the keys allow for dynamics (piano to forte.) The company says this is likely the first keyboard at this size and price point that incorporates velocity-sensitive keys. Check out this demo video of the piano in action without any post effects.

Loog boasts that the instrument uses both sampled and modeled sounds, so attack, decay and the air between notes should all recall an actual piano. The combination of the built-in speakers and velocity engine also works to mimic the analog instrument, but this is still a digital piano, so moving to the real thing later will require a bit of an adjustment period.

The Loog Piano is battery-powered and fully portable, and gets around three hours of play time per charge via the built-in USB-C port. It weighs nearly five pounds, however, so keep that in mind if you plan on stuffing this thing in your kid’s backpack. Though the speakers are a main draw, you can of course plug in some headphones for private playing.

You may notice what this instrument doesn’t have. There aren’t hundreds of other sounds. There aren’t built-in effects. There’s a volume knob and that’s about it. This is by design, with Loog stating that the instrument’s “full muscle is devoted to the piano sound.”

Despite lacking 400 horrible brass sounds you’ll never use, this piano does have one significant tech-forward feature. Loog’s instrument integrates with a proprietary app that’s primarily for learning piano. This app is filled with “lessons and game-like exercises that make learning fun and easy,” though the piano integrates with other learning software. Additionally, it ships with a set of decidedly low-tech flash cards to help teach chords and scales.

Instead of going with a traditional retail launch, Loog took to Kickstarter to drum up support for its latest instrument. As of this writing, it’s already smashed through the initial goal by a factor of 30, so expect units to start shipping in April. Early adopters can currently snag the instrument for $250, which is 20 percent off its eventual retail price.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/loogs-baby-digital-piano-could-be-the-perfect-starter-instrument-for-newbies-183208611.html?src=rss

Ring announces a wearable for your lost pets that's just a QR code

Amazon’s Ring is mostly known for doorbell cams and consumer-grade surveillance tech, but the company’s moving past humans and onto our beloved furry friends. It just announced the Ring Pet Tag to help find lost pets, as the tag attaches to a collar and allows access to a bevy of digital information about the animal, should it wander away from the yard.

Here’s how it works. If you happen upon a lost pet wearing the Ring Pet Tag, flip the tag backwards and scan the QR code to find out who owns the animal, where they live, their phone number and relevant health information, such as required medications and the like. You can even contact the owner through the app and engage in a two-way conversation. Of course, all of this involves coaxing a scared dog or cat into allowing you access to that QR code, which could be problematic.

Though the tech on display is interesting, it’s worth noting what the device doesn’t feature. There’s no GPS, so no way to geolocate a lost pet. The tag also lacks a camera, which is a common feature for some pet accessories. It’s basically a QR code on a tag that provides the same kind of information that could simply be written onto a collar, though most collars don’t boast enough room to detail medication requirements and other unique data points. So it’s useful from a “all of your information in one place” standpoint.

The price, however, is right. The Ring Pet Tag costs just $10, which isn’t that much more than a standard analog tag with no scannable QR code to speak of. Preorders start today via Amazon and Ring, with shipments starting on October 4th.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ring-announces-a-wearable-for-your-lost-pets-thats-just-a-qr-code-133036863.html?src=rss

The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 improves an already great gaming mouse

Logitech’s G Pro X Superlight has been one of the most popular gaming mice among enthusiasts and esports professionals since it arrived in 2020, and today Logitech is refreshing it with a few key updates. The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, as the new wireless model is called, shares the same agreeable shape as its predecessor, but cleans up many of that device’s minor annoyances. It’s available starting today for $159.

For one, the G Pro X Superlight 2 charges and connects over USB-C, whereas the prior model was stuck with an ancient microUSB port. Instead of using fully mechanical switches, which can potentially introduce issues with unintended double-clicks over time, the new mouse also utilizes the “Lightforce” switches seen in Logitech’s G502 X series. This is a hybrid solution with both mechanical and optical parts, the idea being to balance the feel of the former with the faster speed and (typically) greater durability of the latter.

Beyond that, the battery life is now rated at 95 hours per charge, up from 70. A new “Hero 2” sensor is said to offer steadier tracking when quickly lifting or tilting the mouse. (It also raises the maximum DPI and tracking speed to 32,000 and 500 IPS, respectively, though both figures are overkill for most.) And the maximum polling rate has jumped from 1,000Hz to 2,000Hz – some gaming mice can reach as high as 8,000Hz, but that has little practical benefit unless you use a monitor with a particularly high refresh rate.

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

I’ve had the G Pro X Superlight 2 on hand for a few days. Just like the first Superlight, the main appeal here is the ambidextrous, “potato”-style shape, which should fit well with just about any hand size or grip type. It’s still a “jack of all trades, master of none” situation: The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, for example, is contoured in a way that’s more accommodating to larger hands and palm grips. But this design is safe for a wider range of people.

At 60 grams, the G Pro X Superlight 2 is only about three grams lighter than its predecessor. Many options these days are technically lower-weight, but no serious person could call this heavy. The outer shell is still solid and devoid of “honeycomb”-style holes, and compared to the first Superlight, the texture on the plastic feels a bit higher-quality.

Unsurprisingly, I’ve also had zero issues with performance. Across multiplayer shooters like Halo Infinite, slower-paced RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 and everyday work, tracking has been accurate and consistent, while clicks have registered with no noticeable delay. The PTFE (aka Teflon) feet are marginally longer and wider than before, but they glide smoothly either way. (An optional PTFE cover for the USB receiver compartment on the back adds a little extra speed.) The scroll wheel can't tilt left or right, but it’s relatively quiet, grippy and precise.

The G Pro X Superlight 2 (left) looks almost identical to the original Superlight (right) on the outside.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

The new optical-mechanical switches, meanwhile, give each press a distinct, tactile sensation. They sound bassier than the first Superlight, but they feel tighter. The fully optical switches on the DeathAdder V3 Pro – currently the top premium pick in my gaming mouse buying guide – come off as mushier by comparison. Logitech would not provide a specific estimate for how many clicks the main buttons can sustain, but in theory, this hybrid design should be more durable than traditional mechanical switches. If that’s a concern, Logitech lets you access an “optical only” mode through its G Hub software.

Some compromises have carried over. There’s no RGB lighting, no Bluetooth and no dedicated DPI switch button. There are two customizable shortcut buttons on the left side, but none on the right, so the mouse isn’t truly ambidextrous. Logitech’s G Hub software makes it fairly easy to assign macros and DPI profiles – including the ability to customize the sensitivity of horizontal and vertical movements separately – but plenty of people have found it buggy in the past. And none of this comes cheap. If you own the original Superlight, there probably isn’t enough new here to justify another $159.

That said, some of those omissions are to be expected given that the mouse is aimed squarely at competitive-minded players. I’ll have to verify Logitech’s battery life claims, but if you’re willing to spend for a high-performing mouse without an explicitly ergonomic shape, the G Pro X Superlight 2 looks to be a top option.

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Besides the new mouse, Logitech has introduced a new wireless gaming keyboard, the G Pro X TKL. That tenkeyless model is also available today for $199. Here you’re looking at dual-shot PBT keycaps, per-key RGB backlighting, dedicated media keys, a sturdy metal base and the usual suite of software customizations through G Hub. It can connect over Bluetooth and a detachable USB-C cable in addition to a wireless dongle, and it’s available with Logitech’s tactile (GX Brown), linear (GX Red) or clicky (GX Blue) switches. Logitech says you can swap in third-party keycaps, and it rates the battery life at 50 hours.

In many ways, the G Pro X TKL is reminiscent of Logitech’s G915 TKL, only it uses traditional mechanical switches instead of low-profile ones. After using it for a few days, it seems fine: The keys are crisp, well-spaced and not noticeably rattly, the customizable RGB looks sharp, and Logitech’s wireless tech is dependable. It all comes with a useful carrying case, too. But the GX Brown switches on my unit are fairly loud, and it lacks some of the advanced features of other high-end gaming boards like the Wooting 60HE or SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL. There's no adjustable actuation, rapid trigger or hot-swappable switches. For $199, some may find the feature set lacking. But if you need a wireless mechanical keyboard in a TKL form factor, what’s here at least feels comfortable and well-built.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-logitech-g-pro-x-superlight-2-improves-an-already-great-gaming-mouse-070133238.html?src=rss

Some OnePlus smartphones are nearly 20 percent off, hitting record low prices

A pair of popular OnePlus smartphones just went on sale, hitting record low prices for both. The company’s flagship OnePlus 11 5G went down from $700 to $600, a savings of nearly 20 percent. The budget-friendly OnePlus Nord N30 5G got even, well, friendlier with a $50 discount, dropping the cost to $250 from $300. If you’re shopping for a smartphone, this is a good time to take the plunge.

We praised the OnePlus 11 as a “back-to-basics flagship smartphone,” noting its gorgeous 120Hz 6.6-inch OLED display, the fantastic battery life, 100W quick-charging and improved camera system when compared to its predecessor. In other words, the 11 was already a bargain at $800, as modern iPhones and Samsung phones cost upwards of $1,000. Today’s sale makes the bargain even harder to resist.

The OnePlus Nord N30 takes a more modest approach, as this is absolutely a low-priced smartphone rather than a flagship. However, it’s one of the best budget-friendly phones around and a great choice for anyone looking for a no-frills device that gets the job done. The specs are fantastic for the price, with a Snapdragon 695 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a crisp 120Hz IPS display. Not many cheap phones can match this set of features.

These phones aren’t perfect, as the N30 lacks waterproofing and the 11 isn’t the most exciting flagship model in the world, but the list of pros far outweigh any list of cons. OnePlus isn’t widely available at retail outlets, so this sale is reserved for Amazon and Best Buy.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/some-oneplus-smartphones-are-nearly-20-percent-off-hitting-record-low-prices-184540056.html?src=rss