gdgt's best deals for July 15: Samsung 24-inch 1080p HDTV, ASUS Nexus 7
Ready to save some cash on your tech buys? Then you've come to the right place. Our sister site gdgt tracks price drops on thousands of products every day, and twice a week they feature some of the best deals they've found right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long.
Today's hottest deals include a dirt-cheap, dorm-ready 24-inch Samsung HDTV and a low price on an ASUS Nexus 7. It's also worth noting that the Kindle Fire HD, which we've featured before, has hit a new low at $159.99 at Best Buy, where it's available for in-store purchase only. Want the latest deals delivered to your inbox? Join gdgt and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
Samsung 24-inch LED 1080p HDTV
Price: $169.99 (next best is $225) Free shipping. 5 percent surcharge for non-Costco members.
Buy: Costco
If you're on the hunt for a small 1080p HDTV for a dorm, bedroom or small apartment, it's tough to find one made by a reputable manufacturer for a comparable price. The features are slim, with 2 HDMI ports, a VGA input and a USB slot, but it will get the job done for late-night gaming sessions and movie marathons. Bear in mind that you need a Costco membership to get the full savings.
ASUS Nexus 7 16GB
Price: $179.90 (MSRP $199). Free shipping.
Buy: Staples
The Google-backed Android powerhouse, a cut-rate alternative to Apple's new iPad, pops eyes with a 1280 x 800 display, a quad-core processor and 9 hours of HD video playback. As with any Android tablet, the selection of apps is hit-or-miss. But the tablet is as solid a contender as you'll find on the Android side of slates, comparing favorably to the likes of the Kindle Fire HD, which is scuttled by Amazon's even slimmer app economy.
Apple MacBook Air 11.6-inch
Price: $949 (MSRP $999). Free shipping/Prime.
Buy: Amazon
Apple's latest lightweight laptop was refreshed in June with Intel's lauded Haswell processor, boosts battery life up to 9 hours and supports blazing fast 802.1ac WiFi. The 13-inch model impressed our reviewer, who was disappointed in the lack of Retina display but lauded its speed, endurance and value. An early $50 Amazon price cut only enhances the latter quality.
Monoprice Enhanced Bass Hi-Fi Noise-Isolating Earphones
Price: $7.57 (next best is $10.66).
Buy: Monoprice
While these headphones won't necessarily wow audiophiles, they get the job done, rating a four-star (out of five) rating among the Monoprice crowd, and at a close-to-bargain-basement price. The more you order, the lower the price gets, dropping to $7.33 if you order two or more. Apple purists may want to opt for the white-bread Apple earbuds, which are $7.49 at Amazon.
PlayStation 3 500GB Bundle with Grand Theft Auto V (Preorder)
Price: $269.99 (non-GTA V 500GB PS3 bundles are usually $299.99) Free shipping/Prime.
Buy: Amazon
Although the PlayStation 3 is in its waning months of relevance, thanks to the November arrival of the PlayStation 4, current-gen consoles will go out with a bang with the Sept. 17 release of the surefire mega-blockbuster Grand Theft Auto V. Since neither the Xbox One nor PS4 are backwards compatible, you'll need either a PS3 or Xbox 360 to play Rockstar's latest magnum opus. This deal, which pretty much throws in the game along with the system at a $30 discount to boot, makes the most sense for those who don't yet have a PS3. Note that this bundle doesn't contain a headset that the GameStop-exclusive PS3 GTA V bundle bears. That set costs $269.99 but carries shipping charges that range from $7-$15.
Disney Infinity Starter Pack with Free Character (Preorder)
Price: $74.99 (Free character has $13.99 value). Free shipping.
Buy: Best Buy
Brace yourselves, parents, because here comes Disney's stab at nabbing a piece of the action figures-as-DLC sales bonanza that Activision has enjoyed the past couple years with the Skylanders franchise. Due out Aug. 18, the game's starter pack sets you up with three characters, which your whining children will soon declare are not enough. Save yourself the first painful $13.99 add-on purchase with a free character with this Best Buy preorder. The set is available for the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, Wii and 3DS.
