The best Prime Day deals for gamers live: PS5, Switch, Xbox, and PC savings as they happen
Amazon Prime Day is back
We're now in the second half of this year's October Prime Day deals, and those on the hunt for a console, PC, or accessories are being well served by this particular sale. I've noticed a distinct lack of physical games on those discount shelves over the last 24 hours, but there are some gems up there if you know where to look. PS5 players can enjoy record-low prices on the likes of Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, for example, while the Nintendo Switch is seeing some particularly strong discounts on Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
This isn't my first rodeo - I started covering Prime Day deals five years ago - so I'm not surprised things are getting competitive. Last year it was this very sale that kickstarted the entire holiday period of discounts and things didn't let up until Black Friday itself. That means the offers on the shelves today are particularly lucrative, as Amazon (and its competitors) looks to stretch that holiday period out a little further.
Things can move fast during the second day of Prime Day. After all, we're entering the biggest shopping season of the year and this is the start of it all. Expect lower prices than July's event but also stock to run out quicker. The best Prime Day deals are going to move fast over the course of the next 24 hours, so I'm already out on the digital aisles.
I'm scouring the web for all the biggest discounts available, and will be seeing you through the entire sale as a whole as well. Alongside my top picks of the best savings, I'm also sharing the tips and tricks I've picked up along the last five years to make sure you get the most out of these price cuts.
The best Prime Day deals for gamers at a glance
- Games: $20 off Spider-Man, FF7, and more
- PS5: $50 off PS5 Slim + NBA2K25 at Best Buy
- Switch: bundles live at Walmart
- Xbox: games from $9.99
- PC: RTX 4060 builds from $799
- Meta Quest: Quest 3 from $379.99
- Controllers: starting from $14.99
- Components: up to $350 off AMD
- Handhelds: ROG Ally now $437
- Headsets: Razer from $39.99
- Keyboards: SteelSeries from $39.99
- Laptops: Asus from $599
- Mice: Razer from $19.99
- Monitors: Acer from $109.99
- Racing wheels: $50 off Logitech
- Storage: Kingston from $24.99
UK
- PS5: games from £14.95
- Switch: Switch Lite bundles now live
- Xbox: £20 off Series X
- PC: desktops from £499.99
- Meta Quest: Quest 3 now £409.99
- Controllers: Turtle Beach from £24.99
- Components: AMD from £109
- Games: Switch from £11.99
- Headsets: starting from £16.99
- Keyboards: Corsair from £29.99
- Laptops: RTX 4060 rigs from £899
- Mice: Razer from £21.49
- Monitors: AOC from £99.97
- Racing wheels: £120 off Logitech
- Storage: Crucial from £27.96
- Lego: £185 off Lego Millennium Falcon
My top 10 Prime Day deals for gamers
Amazon Prime Day will officially kick off at midnight tonight, so there's only a matter of hours left to get prepped. Thankfully there are already plenty of savings well worth your time on the shelves, as retailer launch their own competing sales and Amazon itself drops a few Prime-shaped discounts into its lineup. I'll be with you from now until that final midnight chime on October 9, bringing you all the biggest offers as they come and sharing all my top tips for the sale ahead.
Another Prime Day?
Yes, we've been here before. Amazon started running two Prime Day events three years ago, launching its 'Big Deal Days' October sale in 2021. While it goes under a different banner, this is essentially another Prime Day, so we can expect many of the same things to occur. The biggest deals will be reserved for Prime members only ($14.99 per month) but other retailers will be diving in to compete as well. We'll also likely see the same kinds of devices with surefire discounts - Amazon's own Fire tablets, Kindles, and Echo smart home gadgets, for example.
Are there any Prime free trials?
Speaking of having a Prime membership, it's worth noting that if you took out a free trial to cover you for the July event you'll need to pay this time around. Amazon only offers its Prime free trials to users who have not used one in the last 12 months (if that's you you won't see the option for a free trial when you head to the Amazon Prime page). Otherwise, you're free to grab 30 days of the service with no charge, though remember this will roll into a full $14.99 / £8.99 per month subscription once that trial period ends.
When is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon's October Prime Day will start at midnight tonight, running from October 8-9 and finally ending when the clock strikes 12 on Wednesday. That said, we do sometimes see some discount sticking around until the end of the week - and likely even further. After all, this is essentially the start of the whole holiday sales period. Last year we didn't really see those discounts slow down until late December, so you're certainly shopping at the right time.
What's everyone else doing?
Unless this is your first Prime Day, you'll probably know this event isn't just an Amazon show. Other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart are gearing up to offer their own competing sales. Like with Amazon, we're seeing plenty of discounts already live - Walmart, for example, is the place to be for a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch OLED bundle at $349.99.
Like Amazon, both retailers are keeping some discounts behind their membership paywalls. You'll need to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member for the full spread of this week's deals at the yellow label store, and Walmart's sale is available to Walmart Plus members ahead of time.
- My Best Buy Plus: $49.99 / year
- My Best Buy Total: $179.99 / year
- Walmart Plus: $98 / year
At $14.99 a month, Amazon Prime works out to $179.88 a year, around the same price as My Best Buy Total. It's the most expensive option for those simply after exclusive deals and free delivery, but does offer Prime Video and other subscription perks as well.
That's not to say the others don't have their benefits - Walmart Plus grants you free grocery delivery, discounts on Burger King, fuel savings, and Paramount+ while Best Buy focuses its offering around its tech, with extended returns, protection plans, extra tech support, and discounts on repairs.
I've just noticed three of my favorite gaming headsets are at record low prices
I love it when a piece of gaming tech that lives within my permanent roster drops to a new record-low price. So imagine my surprise when not one, but three of my absolute favorite gaming headsets from the past year do just that. These are all mid-range models, coming in at between $100 and $160 at Amazon right now - and they all offer incredible value for money.
Top Tip #1: Price Check
I track deals every day, and the first thing I do when I spot a tasty looking discount is check other retailers. You never know who's going to be price matching or even beating Amazon's discounts over the next couple of days, and it's not always the usual suspects wheeling out the lowest prices.
Of course, Best Buy and Walmart are going to be the first places you look. But there are plenty of other retailers that could be flying under the radar. I'd recommend checking in with stores like Newegg and B&H Photo for laptops and PCs, whereas it's always worth checking brands' own retail sites (think Razer, Dell, Corsair, Logitech, and SteelSeries) for their own discounts as well.
It's not just the price by itself you're considering here either. Some retailers (I quite often find Best Buy does this regularly) will throw in additional subscription freebies or even extra gadgets to sweeten the deal. Combined with any savings that might be listed at the competitor's site it could be a better deal overall.
Lightning Deal Alert!
We're already talking about Lightning Deals and Prime Day hasn't even officially kicked off. I've just spotted this Armocity gaming desk, complete with PC stand, moveable monitor ledge, and plenty of cable management extras, down to $99.99. It's just popped onto Amazon's Deals page, and is currently 0% claimed, but it's well worth diving in if you're refitting your setup - this is a record low price.
Should you buy a Meta Quest 3 this Prime Day? Here's Duncan's advice
The Meta Quest 3 is making waves on the shelves right now, in the wake of the announcement of a 128GB Meta Quest 3S model. The cheaper device will take over from the base Quest 3 device when it hits the shelves on October 15, but retailers are keen to shift stock of the old model. That means we're seeing a whole wad of discounts on the shelves right now, so I grabbed our VR specialist Duncan Robertson to see whether it really is worth jumping on the hypetrain. Here's what he had to say:
"Seeing the Quest 3 discounted right now makes it especially tempting - I'm right there with you. I'd argue that the Quest 3S isn't going to feel that different from the Quest 2 so, if you've played around with any VR headset and know that you'll like it, I'm not sure I'd recommend it. Instead, I'd try and get your hands on the Quest 3 while its going cheap.
On the other hand, if you're yet to own VR tech, the Quest 3S is the headset designed exactly for you. It doesn't have the same wide-focus lenses the Quest 3 does, but it'll give you some mixed-reality fun, and will be more than capable of immersing you in loads of great games."
Top Tip #2: Check for coupons
Amazon likes to be sneaky - it sometimes adds an extra coupon onto its listing page to save you even more cash while displaying a slightly higher cost. It's easy to miss these - they exist as small checkboxes that must be ticked before proceeding to checkout. However, in my experience, products with these coupons attached often do so to reach brand new record price lows.
Why Amazon does isn't exactly clear. I do have a theory, though. Retailers like to price match each other down to the penny, so it follows that some must use Amazon's own pricing data to set their own costs and even undercut by a certain amount. I rarely see other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart matching Amazon's prices where these coupons are in play - they could be a measure to ward off other stores' own bots to ensure the online retail giant stays competitive. That's pure conjecture, my own musings - but definitely worth keeping an eye out for.
When does Prime Day start?
It's obvious there's a lot going on right now, but it's worth remembering that Prime Day hasn't even properly started yet. Amazon will drop its full wave of deals tonight at midnight, giving us a full 48 hours in the official sale. That's not to say there aren't some steals already on the shelves, but if you're waiting for the full selection we haven't got long to go.
Deal Alert! This PS5 Slim bundle is offering excellent value
Don't want to spend $700 on a PS5 Pro pre-order? I'm in the same boat - which is why I'd much rather save $50 on the PS5 Slim and still pick up a free game with it. The last time I saw a PS5 bundle offering this kind of value was with Spider-Man 2, and that offer only lasted a few days over the course of last year's holiday sales. This kind of discount doesn't appear too often.
Need something to play on that new console? Here's what I've found
I'm already seeing a massive roster of PS5 games on sale ahead of Prime Day - from Sackboy to Spider-Man, Final Fantasy to Madden 25. After a quick sweep of everything still on sale, here's my latest treasures:
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure |
$59.99$19.99 at Best Buy - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth |
$69.99$49.99 at Amazon - Marvel's Spider-Man 2 |
$69.99$49.99 at Amazon - The Last of Us Part II Remastered |
$49.99$39.99 at Amazon - Madden NFL 25 |
$69.99$47.99 at Amazon
And we're off!
I'm back and on the digital hunt for all the biggest offers that have landed on our shelves overnight. I'll be bringing my first wad of savings over to you shortly, but I'll just quickly share that this Lego Super Mario Question Mark Block is going to move fast. It's the first thing I saw on Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days landing page when I got there, and it's already difficult to find - let alone at a record-low price.
I've been doing a supermarket sweep of Amazon's aisles in the last 15 minutes and have a whole collection of deals to shout about. I'll keep things organized, though, and start of with PC components. There's a whole load of AMD and Intel CPUs up for grabs and a couple of GPUs in there for good measure as well. Here's my latest treasure trove:
- MSI Ventus 3x Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti |
$849.99$749.99 at Amazon - AMD Ryzen 9 5900X |
$569.99$220 at Amazon - Intel Core i7-13700KF |
$394$260 at Amazon - Corsair Vengeance 32GB DDR5 |
$129.99$99.74 at Amazon - Crucial T705 2TB SSD |
$399.99$239.99 at Amazon - Asus ROG Thor PSU |
$359.99$279.99 at Amazon
Top Tip #3: Check other retailers
I'm always talking about how other retailers are going to be competing with Amazon, but if you're just joining us now it's easy to get caught up in Bezos's party. If you're a Plus member, Walmart has its own exclusive deals for your (and if you're a Switch fan I'd recommend heading there instead of Amazon this morning) while Best Buy is also dropping a number of its prices today (this is where you want to be for a gaming laptop or PC).
Deal Alert!
Just as I was preaching the benefits of looking at other retailers' deals I found a gem myself. The Xbox Series X doesn't really even seem to be on Amazon's shelves right now (the best I've found is a renewed model at this same price), but Best Buy isn't just shaving $50 off the cost. You'll also find a $25 gift card included. That's not quite as hefty as the $50 gift card we received with the Series X over the course of last Prime Day, but it's certainly the best offer on the shelves right now.
Ok, back to my deals sweeps. If you're after a monitor, Amazon's looking pretty solid - but Best Buy is also getting involved. Prices are spanning just $99 to well into the thousands at the moment, with curved, high-refresh rate, and even ultrawide panels getting involved. I've thrown a few of my favorites into a cart below, but my absolute go-to is the Samsung Odyssey G9. This is a massive ultrawide panel at its lowest price yet - a rate we've only seen a couple of times this year.
- Acer Nitro 23.8-inch FHD 165Hz |
$172.99$99.99 at Amazon - MSI G32C4X 32-inch FHD 250Hz |
$189.99$142.49 at Amazon - Acer Nitro 34-inch QHD 180Hz |
$329.99$249.99 at Best Buy - Samsung Odyssey G5 34-inch WQHD 165Hz |
$539.99$309.99 at Amazon - Samsung Odyssey G9 49-inch DQHD 240Hz |
$1,299.99$799.99 at Amazon
Things are looking a bit PC-shaped
I've been surfing these digital aisles for a couple of hours now, and I can't help but notice an absence of deals for PS5 and Nintendo Switch games. There are plenty of bundles and price cuts out there, but I would have expected to see more of a game contingency among the ranks. By contrast, we're getting a lot of components, gaming PCs and laptops, and monitors on the shelves - moreso than I've seen in previous years. Maybe retailers are saving their game savings for later in the year? I'll be grabbing what I can over the next half hour so that the games that are on sale are on your radar.
One to watch: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
I always find myself hunting down this headset during major sales events like Prime Day. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has sat atop my ranking of the best gaming headsets for a couple of years now, and its quality still endures - the problem is the numbers certainly know that. This is a $349.99 headset should you opt for the multiplatform Xbox model - and before this year that MSRP didn't waver all too often.
Then something started happening. I first noticed the Nova Pro Wireless shedding its launch price with more regularity around February. The headset was regularly on sale for just under $300 during this time. Then we took a couple of steep price drops down to $279.99 in quick succession. Things have been a little quiet over the last couple of months, though.
That's why I'm watching this page like a hawk over the next two days - at $300 this is a solid discount, but really you should be aiming for $279.99 on this bad boy.
Personal Pick!
I've just spotted one of my favorite gadgets on sale for a record-low price this Prime Day. The Genki Covert Dock is a staple in my Nintendo Switch accessories roster (I've got one hooked up to my monitor and another for travel), so I'm constantly on the hunt for this kind of discount. I only ever see this dock / charger hybrid on sale during major events like Prime Day, though, so this is definitely one to jump in on fast.
For the uninitiated, the Covert Dock is a plug-in dock that can offer big-screen play wherever you are. It's about the size of a large adapter by itself, which means it's far more portable than Ninty's own shell, but can run at 45W charging speed and cast up to 4K60.
Buying a gaming laptop this Prime Day? Don't fall for these tricks
The PC space is looking particularly strong this Prime Day, but there aren't too many of the best gaming laptops on the shelves. Best Buy is staying quiet in the $1,000 - $1,500 range and Amazon is posting some wacky configurations with some equally crazy price tags. There's still some gold out there if you are in the market for a new portable PC, though - just make sure you don't fall for some commonly sighted tricks.
Check your RAM
This is the first thing I look for when I spot a suspiciously cheap gaming laptop deal. While 8GB was enough to get by a few years ago, it's nowhere near enough to see you through current releases and into the future. Very few games specifically require 16GB RAM to run right now, but most titles benefit enormously from moving beyond a basic single stick. If you're looking at a sub-$600 gaming laptop with only 8GB RAM to its name, I'd seriously recommend you reconsider.
Check your refresh rate
While few and far between, there are some budget gaming laptops out there trying to sell you on a display running at only 60Hz. They may be cheap, but it's worth noting that this is far below industry standard. At the least you'll need a 120Hz refresh rate to make the most of current generation graphics cards, but ideally you'll be looking between 144Hz and 240Hz.
Think carefully about the RTX 30-Series
There are still a few budget gaming laptops floating around with RTX 30-Series graphics cards under the hood. While an RTX 3080 Ti or RTX 3070 could still represent solid value if the price is low enough, the RTX 3060 and RTX 3050 are all but obsolete these days. Gaming laptops offering these cards are often just a little cheaper than their RTX 40-Series counterparts and the jump between generations at this budget end is considerable.
Deal Alert!
Super Mario Bros. Wonder has been steadily dropping its price for a good few months now, but Walmart just took things a step further. Its Walmart Plus members can grab this record-low rate on the classic platformer, scooping up all of Mario's Wonder Flowers for just $41.99. This is one of the few Plus-only deals worth grabbing right now.
Top Tip #4: Check your price history
How do you really know if you're getting a good deal? By checking your price history. Amazon fluctuates its prices pretty quickly compared to other retailers and it can be spicy about which 'previous' price it shows on its site. There are countless deals out there showing hundreds of dollars off MSRP when the product in question has already been discounted for years. That's why I check the history of a price as soon as I find a deal that looks strong - using a Chrome extension called CamelCamelCamel. This little gadget sits in your browser and shows you a full graph of Amazon's pricing history from when a product was first listed. That's how you can tell if you're really getting a record-low price, or if it was actually cheaper just a short while ago.
PSA: This Lego lightning deal is running out fast
I've just checked in on the Lego Super Mario 64 Question Block set and it's currently 94% claimed at Amazon. Strangely, this isn't listed as a lightning deal on the product page itself, but clicking from the Prime Big Deal Days collection shows a 'claimed' bar on the listing. This isn't going to last long.
Duncan's spotted some Amazon fakery
Duncan's been doing the rounds on the hunt for VR-shaped deals and come across something a little dodgy. This PSVR 2 PC adapter is listed in Amazon's official Prime Day sale for $49.99, but it's not being sold by Sony, only has one review (an unverified purchase by Bob who gave it five stars), and is listed under the PS4 cases category. That all adds up to a deal you want to avoid. It just goes to show, even when a product has Amazon's Prime Big Deal banner next to it, it's not always a guaranteed deal.
That Lego Super Mario 64 Question Block has sold out
We all knew it was coming, but just a few hours into Prime Day, the Lego Super Mario 64 Question Block has sold out. That thing flew off the shelves, but if you missed out there are still plenty of offers to keep those bricks moving:
- Super Mario Piranha Plant |
$59.99$47.95 at Amazon - Super Mario Nabbit at Toad's Shop |
$19.99$13.99 at Amazon - Super Mario Penguin Gamily Snow Adventure |
$19.99$13.99 at Amazon - Super Mario Donkey Kong's Tree House |
$59.99$45 at Amazon - Super Mario Peach's Castle |
$129.99$103.99 at Amazon
Should you wait for day two?
There are two days to Amazon's Prime Day deals, which means we've got a whole 48 hours to enjoy these savings. However, I wouldn't recommend waiting to see what tomorrow holds. While we can see some new discounts hitting the shelves during the later stages of the sale, the majority of Amazon's headline offers will be landing today. This is when the retailer knows it's going to have most eyes on its site and it wants to make the most of that. If you see a price you like in today's offers, it's well worth jumping in.
Personal Pick!
I'll take any chance I get to talk about the Asus ROG Azoth. It's my favorite gaming keyboard on the market right now, and has been since it launched last year. It's fast, comfortable, offers an incredible typing experience, and is packed with extras like that OLED display and hot-swappability. That $249.99 held strong at the start of its life, but eventually started giving way to numbers of around $210. Since then, this has been a $190 keyboard even when on sale, so today's Prime Day deals are doing some heavy lifting.
Actually, there are quite a few hot-swappable keyboards on the shelves right now
Hot-swappability has been on the rise among gaming keyboards for a couple of years now, and we finally have a good roster of decks out in the market. Many of them are seeing Prime Day deals of their own this week, including some of my favorites:
Deal Alert!
I've just spotted the Razer Viper V2 Pro down at a fantastic $79.99 sale price. That's all the way from a $149.99 MSRP, and even more impressive when you consider the amount of time it's spent at $99.99 this year. Yes, this is an older device now - the Razer Viper V3 Pro has taken that flagship status away. However, it's still a gaming mouse I would wholeheartedly recommend - especially if you like the slimmer feel of an FPS-first pointer. The newer V3 Pro has a chunkier form factor with a taller dome and smoother angles. That's more comfortable for some, but I still find myself reverting back to the V2 Pro regularly. Its smaller shape feels more flickable under the hand and more nimble on the battlefield.
Phil's just brought something to my attention
Hardware Editor Phil is on the hunt for all things retro this Prime Day, and they've just slid this onto my desk. It's an adorable little Bomb-omb neon sign going for its lowest price yet. I know, I didn't wake up this morning thinking I was going to be adding a whole light show to my setup either but look at his little feets.
Walmart's anti-Prime Day sale isn't looking so hot if you've already got a console
Walmart Plus members have their own anti Prime Day deals to check out this week, but things aren't looking so great if you're after gaming accessories. There are a few winners from this roster, but unless you've been holding out on a steelbook collection of Resident Evil movies or a kids portable piano, this is by no means a wide selection.
Instead, Walmart is going all in on consoles this year. We've got bundles for the Nintendo Switch OLED and PS5 Slim up for grabs - as well as a single Nintendo Switch game breaking past its previous record-low price. You'll find my highlights below:
- Nintendo Switch OLED Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle | $349 at Walmart
- PS5 Slim NBA 2K 25 bundle |
$499$449 at Walmart - Super Mario Bros. Wonder |
$59.99$41.99 at Walmart
Monitors are looking particularly strong right now, but should you opt for lesser known brands?
There are loads of gaming monitor deals on the shelves for Prime Day this year, and Amazon is championing some lesser known brands amongst them. These can be risky, but Phil's had their eyeballs on a few of these models and is here to show you which ones are worth your time. Here's what they have to say:
"During events like Prime Day, you’ll see huge display discounts on gaming monitors wearing unfamiliar names. In fact, chances are you’ll see these screens reach far lower prices than their branded counterparts, but you’ll want to make sure you don’t get bit by rogue Amazon brands.
That’s not to say all Amazon brands are worth avoiding, far from it. Earlier this year, the KTC G27P6 blew me away with its OLED abilities, and it actually uses the same LG panel as more expensive options. I’m also currently testing the KOORUI GN02, and while it certainly feels like a budget gaming monitor, it's holding up as an excellent cheap 1080p 240Hz option so far.
As with all gaming monitors, I’d heavily advise reading reviews before clicking buy, and that applies to the big names too. The biggest piece of advice I can give before diving into Big Deal Days is don’t let super low prices woo you. Do your research, find out more about more obscure brands, then decide if it’s the right screen for you. I’ll be on hand dishing out advice and sharing Prime Day monitor deals worth jumping on throughout the whole event. Unknown brands won’t always bite you in the budget bum, but it’s always worth being a little sus during the sales.
Deal Alert!
I've just spotted a new PS5 game deal at Amazon, one that seemingly popped up this morning. You'll find Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown available for a record-low price right now. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been a staple on the deals shelf for some time, but it's never dropped below $20 before - only ever reaching $24.99 in the last few months.
I just bought my first Prime Day deal of the sale
I recently gave in and bought a PlayStation Portal, having ignored my PS5 for too long in favor of the Asus ROG Ally or Nintendo Switch. Now that I have more handhelds than hands it's time to accessorize. I've just grabbed my first Prime Day deal of the event, a hard-shell Skull & Co carry case for the Portal. It's $5 off its $24.99 MSRP right now - the first time I've seen it drop its price. There are plenty of other cheaper cases out there, but I know and trust this brand so I'm more than happy to spend a little extra.
What is Rufus?
You may have spotted a white badge in the top right corner of your Amazon homepage recently. Rufus is Amazon's implementation of AI, supposedly answering customer questions about individual products. I've been running it on this Asus ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop deal (now $1,099.99, was $1,399.99) for the last five minutes, trying to work out just how helpful the service really is.
The answer? Only at a surface level.
The AI is pretty good at collating information from the product listing without your having to search through it all for an answer, but its information is pretty limited outside of that. I asked Rufus how much RAM the ROG Strix G16 has, and it had this to say:
"The ASUS ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM installed, according to the product information. This provides fast memory for smooth performance. The maximum RAM capacity is also 16GB, so the laptop cannot be upgraded beyond this amount." So far, so good - the AI is reading the right part of the page and knows my next question might be around upgradability. I could have just read that on the page, though.
I noticed that the listing page for the Strix G16 doesn't make mention of the RGB around the base of the device, so I decided to put Rufus to the test, asking "does it have RGB anywhere other than the keyboard?" This threw the program, causing it to fall back on review information and ultimately talking a lot about display refresh rates, battery life, and Asus laptops as a whole.
So Rufus can be helpful if you don't want to scroll through all the product information, but it should be taken with a pinch of salt. Just as often as the system got my answer right, it also got things wrong - incorrectly stating the screen size, SSD size, and the age of its processor during testing.
We haven't seen SSD deals like this for a long time
SSD prices have been notoriously high recently - rarely dropping back down to the kinds of record lows we were enjoying around 2022. However, the Samsung 990 Pro has bucked that trend today, offering 4TB of extra storage space for just $279.99. The fact that there's a heatsink pre-installed also makes this an excellent PS5 SSD option as well.
PSA: Walmart's anti-Prime Day sale officially opens in 10 minutes
Walmart Plus members have had all morning to shop the big box retailer's competing Prime Day sale, but everyone will be allowed through these doors at 12pm ET. That's 15 minutes away (but you can get a good look at what's on offer already). While there's nothing massively exciting in here, the retailer could be holding out on us with some extra price drops this afternoon.
Top Tip #5: Be wary of third party sellers, particularly at Walmart
Now that Walmart's own Prime Day sale is out in the wild, it's worth remembering that if a deal looks too good to be true, it may well be. Walmart is littered with third party sellers at the moment, and they're often posting ludicrously low prices on some of the most popular tech. If you spot a deal that looks like a steal, check the seller's information. Some red flags to watch out for:
- Low seller ratings
- Customer reviews don't match the product listed
- Incredibly low prices
- Newly listed sellers
Of course, not all third parties are out to get you. Plenty of wider retailers like Newegg and Antonline regularly use Walmart's marketplace to sell off extra stock at a lower rate. It's always worth checking, though.
Deal Alert!
Well this is a hell of a lot cheaper than an Xbox, and yes - Amazon Fire Sticks can stream Xbox games now. I first saw this bundle offer during July's Prime Day deals and it's back on the shelves for October. You're getting the 4K streaming stick, a one month Game Pass Ultimate subscription, and an Xbox Core Wireless controller to play with here - for just over $50 off the price of everything separately. All you need now is strong enough internet (a minimum of 10Mbps download).
PSA: Magic: The Gathering boxes are selling fast
My fellow MTG players / collectors / booster addicts will be pleased to learn that set booster boxes are playing a surprisingly large role in this year's Prime Day deals - but like a Modern Mono-Red deck, things are moving faster than we can keep up with.
Discounts on Wilds of Eldraine and Ravnica Remastered draft booster boxes have all been scooped off the playmat already, but you'll still find some packs steering clear of the graveyard. These might not stick around on the battlefield for long, though, so if you're in the mood to crack some cardboard I'd move fast.
- Duskmourn: House of Horror Play Booster Box |
$203.40$135.09 at Amazon - Lord of the Rings Set Booster Box |
$175$154.99 at Amazon - Murders at Karlov Manor Play Booster Box |
$114.95$89.99 at Amazon - Doctor Who Commander Deck bundle |
$187.07$128.99 at Amazon - Phyrexia: All Will Be One Draft Booster Box |
$122.89$91.39 at Amazon
Should you wait for Black Friday?
Today's Prime Day deals are certainly offering some excellent prices, but there's another sale looming on the horizon. Black Friday is traditionally the cheapest time to upgrade your tech or grab some of the year's biggest games, so should you dive in today or wait for the full sale?
The answer isn't exactly clear cut - and that's because 'Black Friday deals' have actually been landing much earlier in the last few years. Realistically, the prices we see over the next few weeks form the majority of on-the-day discounts when the end of November rolls around. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a deal run out of stock on Black Friday, having been the same price just a few weeks before.
Not only that, but last year it was these very Prime Day deals that started that wider discounted trend for the year. While Black Friday will have some tricks up its sleeve, it's impossible to know which products will see surprise extra discounts later this year. If you spot a price you like now, it's well worth diving in - extra sales may only offer a few extra bucks off in the coming weeks and we never know what's around the corner from a stock perspective.
Ben talks us through how to find the best Lego discounts this Prime Day
Lego is having a moment right now, with loads of savings on the shelves and some already having run out of stock. Ben tracks these prices year-round and is on hand to provide his expertise on finding the biggest offers on the shelves right now.
"You've picked a good time to track down Lego deals. Prime Day in October (or 'Prime Big Deal Days' as Amazon insists on calling it, which gives me a kneejerk "stop trying to make fetch happen" response) can be hit or miss… but the bricks from Billund are coming off well during this year's sale. In fact, Prime Day Lego deals have provided some of the best discounts we've seen all year.
Generally, Amazon is the strongest option both in terms of variety and depth of discount; it's rare for rivals to match it. However, it can be a headache to navigate around sales season because the digital shelves are filled with third-party knockoffs that seem to get pushed to the top by the algorithm.
That's why it's worth keeping an eye on Walmart and Best Buy for more recent kits - you can often find price cuts on some of the best Lego sets, and they normally match Amazon at the very least.
Similarly, I tend to find that Zavvi is equally reliable for good deals. Avoid it at your wallet's peril!
Personal Pick!
The BenQ X300G is easily one of my favorite gadgets to come out of 2024. It's a 4K projector built for gaming from the ground up, but its compact form factor, easy setup, smart adjustment systems, and unique handheld features make it a must-see for anyone looking to play on the even-bigger screen this holiday season. It's not quite got the 4K chops of something like the BenQ X3100i but it throws a fantastic picture overall and can both charge and play a Nintendo Switch or handheld PC from a single USB-C port. It's my go-to for anyone looking to pick up their first gaming projector for its versatility alone.
Will there be more Prime Day deals tomorrow?
Amazon isn't done yet, we've got a whole second day of this year's October sale to come. However, I wouldn't go into tomorrow expecting a new roster of discounts. In fact, many of today's biggest offers might not stick around for tomorrow if their stock starts running low. Instead, we typically see a continuation of day one's deals on day two - with a few new savings popping up on cheaper tech.
Deal Alert!
I Stan the Asus ROG Ally. It's a fantastic system which manages to navigate Windows' tricky handheld features neatly while still offering impressive performance across everyday games. It's also much cheaper for My Best Buy Plus members right now, with a full $150 off the final price. But that's not all.
If you're looking to up your battery life (and RAM), I'd recommend checking out the Asus ROG Ally X instead. It's not for everyone, I made that clear in my review, but it does have its place if you want to rely more on handheld use on-the-go. This is a far more expensive system at $799, but members can grab themselves a neat $100 discount right now. I've never seen that MSRP falter since release earlier this year.
Can you still get a cheap Meta Quest 3 this Prime Day?
The 128GB Meta Quest 3 is set to be replaced by the new Meta Quest 3S when the cheaper system launches on October 15, which means the shelves have been awash with cheap VR headsets over the last few weeks. That stock shifted fast - Walmart's run out of inventory and is now charging a massive $559.99 (please don't pay this) and Best Buy has removed all memory of the 128GB Quest 3 from its shelves. There is still a route open for a cheap Meta Quest 3, though, and that's via Amazon's renewed service.
And we're back
Day 2 is off to a roaring start with plenty of discounts still holding onto the shelves and a strong selection of offers on consoles and accessories. I'm not seeing too many new game deals in those digital aisles, but you can rest assured I'll be scouting them out all day.
Will Prime Day deals actually end at midnight?
Yes, official Prime Day deals will close out at midnight, but that's not to say you won't find a saving tomorrow. Even during the summer event I regularly see some offers holding out until the end of the week, and this is a far more competitive venture. Last year, it was this sale that essentially began a whole season of discounts across US and UK stores - as retailers looked to double down on the increase in activity they see during November by stretching their sales across a longer timeframe. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a similar move in 2024, so it's likely many of these savings will be back on the shelves at some point in the near future.
Board games are particularly popular this Prime Day
And it's easy to see why. There are loads of the best board games on the market currently on sale at Amazon, from classics like Ticket to Ride and Catan to newer must-haves like Azul and Mysterium. Some have already been run off the shelves, though, so I wouldn't hang around too long.
- Spirit Island |
$89.99$44.99 at Amazon - Azul |
$39.99$17.99 at Amazon - Mysterium |
$54.99$28.36 at Amazon - Ticket to Ride |
$54.99$29.99 at Amazon - King of Tokyo |
$44.99$24.98 at Amazon - Catan |
$59.99$29.99 at Amazon
Deal Alert!
This is a fantastic find for any Zelda fans - the Tears of the Kingdom PDP Travel Case Plus is down to its lowest price yet. I'm pretty sure this is a new discount for today, I didn't see this one doing the rounds at all yesterday. With a glow in the dark design, space for games and accessories, and a durable hard shell form factor this is the whole package.
I'm not one to play into stereotypes...
...but I just thought I'd let you know you can grab 24 cans of Red Bull for just under $30 right now. That's just over a buck a can - less than half the price you'd pay at a supermarket. I'll leave that there, you can do as you will with it.
Walmart's running into some difficulties
We're experiencing some strange behaviour from Walmart's site on the team at the moment. It looks like the store is getting ready to implement a bot-checker tool ahead of tomorrow's PlayStation 30th Anniversary pre-orders. We're currently being bounced between refreshes before ultimately being booted off the site altogether. I've been able to get through on mobile, after pressing and holding the site's robot-checker, but desktop use remains spotty.
PSA: 18-24 year-olds can save 50% on Prime
Amazon is running a promotional membership discount for young adults right now - after a one week trial at 99 cents you can use the full Amazon Prime service for just $7.49 per month (usually $14.99). That makes it far cheaper than competitor services like My Best Buy Plus or Walmart Plus.
Amazon Prime | $14.99/mo $7.49/mo for 18-24 year-olds
Deal Alert!
Razer's Quick Charging Stand is a luxury - it's certainly cheap today, but considering it only charges one controller at a time and usually comes in at $40 it's not a recommendation I can make every day. At under $20, this is well worth the plunge though. While those rocking two controllers might feel the sting a little, these stands just look great on the shelf.
Walmart seems to have resolved itself
I'm now happily back to browsing Walmart's shelves for discounts, after the trouble earlier. I'm really hoping that 'Press and Hold' button doesn't make an appearance any time soon, though, that was a real nightmare when trying to track PS5 stock all those years ago.
Top Tip #6: Don't forget about Woot
Woot isn't exactly a household name yet, but the Amazon company is an excellent place to find rare discounts. It's a you-get-what-you're-given affair, with the site listing a handful of new deals on anything from fragrances to t-shirts, bikes to Macs. This is where I see some of the biggest deals of the year, but you do have to be in the right place at the right time so I would recommend checking back regularly.
Speaking of Woot...
I've just found a fantastic offer on a three month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription while checking out Woot myself. Not only are you getting the actual price discounted from $44.99 to $36.49 (a rare offer in itself) but promo code SAVE20 can actually score you an additional 20% discount. That brings the final price to under $30.
Considering the monthly price of Game Pass Ultimate increased from $16.99 to $19.99 earlier this year, you're saving $40 compared to the full rolling price. What's more, these codes are stackable - though Woot is placing a limit of 3 per customer. This offer will expire in 18 hours or when stock runs out, but I wouldn't wait that long. If it's still live by the time you're reading this I'd head to checkout as soon as possible, this one won't stick around.
PSA: The PS5 Disc Drive is now in stock at Best Buy
If you've picked up a PS5 Digital Edition console, or you're after a PS5 Pro pre-order you might be wondering where to buy the PS5 disc drive. This accessory turns a digital-only Slim or Pro console into one that can run all your old physical games, but it's been tricky to get hold of over the last few months. Well, after a few days without stock, Best Buy has just listed a new supply but this is going to shift fast.
Top Tip #7: Check your search box
This is one that still trips me up all these years into covering Prime Day. When you click on Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days tab from the homepage, the site will automatically set your search bar to only look for official Prime deals. Well, that's helpful if all the best deals are actually listed as official sales - but some of the biggest discounts I tend to see over Prime Day aren't included in the event itself. If you're searching for anything specific, make sure you set your search box to 'All Departments' for the full spread.
These are the best Prime Day deals I've found under $20
Working with a tighter budget ahead of the holiday season? I got you - I've been scouring the web for those bottom of the barrel discounts that really are worth your time. You can spend $20 on some real crap over at Amazon, but there are a few deals that can actually offer up some fantastic value for money. Here's what I've found so far:
- ColorCoral cleaning gel |
$6.98$5.92 at Amazon - iVoler 4-pack Switch screen protectors |
$9.95$8.46 at Amazon - KontrolFreek thumbstick grips |
$16.99$13.59 at Amazon - Orzly Nintendo Switch case |
$28.99$15.19 at Amazon - Zelda PDP Nintendo Switch Travel Case |
$24.99$18.99 at Amazon - Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS5) |
$59.99$19.99 at Best Buy
Deal Alert!
Looking to upgrade your display for PS5 Pro? The LG OLED C4 is a premium display, but it's down to a record-low price at Amazon right now. You're getting the speed and clarity needed to make the most of that $700 console, but heck this thing will make even a PS5 Slim feel like a mid-cycle refresh.
I'm not seeing too many gift card deals this Prime Day
It seems Amazon is abandoning its usual play of offering discounted gift cards during its members sale. It's a shame, that was previously a fantastic way to save even more with these offers. July saw savings on everything from Roblox to Old Navy but the aisles are barren right now. We could see some extra savings heading our way in the final hours of the sale, but I would be surprised.
Best Buy just dropped a load of cheap gaming laptop deals
Now these certainly weren't on the shelves yesterday - you can grab a gamin glaptop from as little as $699.99 at Best Buy right now (there is an RTX 3050 HP Victus up for $514.99, but its specs don't offer good value at all). These machines aren't going to top the framerate charts in the most demanding games at high settings, but if you play lighter indie titles or you're just grabbing your first gaming laptop they're still pretty solid offers.
- Asus TUF A16 (Radeon RX7700S) |
$1,099.99$699.99 at Best Buy - HP Victus (RTX 4050) |
$1,099.99$799.99 at Best Buy
We're getting pretty close to Fallout day, so it's time for a Vault-Tech takeover
October 23 marks Fallout Day, so those who celebrate will want to get their hands on some extra special merch this Prime Day. Thankfully there's no shortage of branded figures and extras, but there are some unique plays on this iconic world out there. I've wandered through the aisles, filling my pack with all the goodies I can find.
Halloween is coming up...
I've crept through the creaking aisles of Amazon's Halloween selection to find that ever-satisfying intersection between gaming gear and spookiness. There are some solid discounts to get your fall season off to a creepy start, from special edition board games to Minecraft Lego sets.
Deal Alert!
The Corsair Virtuoso Pro is a fantastic open back headset, but it's not for everyone. I reviewed this wired device this time last year and was marvelling at the sound quality, expansive soundstage and excellent design. However, its wired connections can be a bit fiddly for everyday use (you've got two cables to contend with and a separate microphone system to run as well). That means this is one I'd recommend to streamers first and foremost. That open back design means you've got a natural feel for your own voice and there's plenty of scope to upgrade your audio with Corsair / Elgato's ingrained systems as well.
Is Prime Big Deal Days different to Prime Day?
Amazon doesn't like to run its Prime Day branding over its October event, so it's understandable that some might be wondering whether this is the same kind of sale. In essence, yes. Prime Big Deal Days is spread across two days with exclusive member-only discounts. The only difference I'm seeing between official Prime Day and this Fall sale is the lack of extra rewards in services like Prime Gaming and Audible, which are usually part of the summer package.
Deal Alert!
The Nacon Revolution 5 Pro is a fantastic pro controller and it's far cheaper than its Edge equivalent right now. You're getting hall effect tech, an excellent battery life, and a super luxurious feel, all with the trigger stopping, deadzone customizing, and button programming features you would expect from a high-end gamepad. The fact that it's now $40 cheaper than ever before is a massive bonus as well.
Personal Pick!
Ever wanted to play Nintendo Switch on your iPad? That's pretty much what I use the Genki Shadowcast 2 for. Yes, it's actually a super cheap capture card but with Genki's software installed you've got a full casting system for your handheld that can run on pretty much any screen. As long as you've got a USB-C port and a dock with an HDMI (the Genki Covert Dock pairs beautifully and is currently on sale for $47.99) you can play.
Top Tip #8: Don't get caught up in Lightning Deals
Amazon's Lightning Deal system is generally more of a curse than a blessing. It's usually filled with a whole wad of generic brands that aren't really offering the discounts they say they are. I can't tell you how many times I've seen higher prices during a 'lightning deal' than I would normally see on a product day to day. While that rising Claimed meter can make things feel itchy, I would steer clear of the majority of offers this Prime Day.
Of course, that's not a blanket statement. One of my favorite offers of this Prime Day so far was a lightning deal - a $139.99 sales price on the Lego Super Mario 64 Question Block that really was a fantastic discount. I'm still keeping an eye on these faster sales to bring you more gold, but in reality most of these offers are just filler for Amazon's shelves.
PSA: This cheap electric standing desk is being snapped up right now
I know, I know - I'm hearing it too. Not 15 minutes after I advised not to get caught up in lightning deals, I'm here recommending one. Well, I did promise to bring you any gold that has caught my attention and this electric standing desk is actually at its lowest ever price right now. The deal is currently 65% claimed at Amazon, and that number is rising fast.
Ben's favorite Lego deals of the sale are looking pretty sweet right now
It's a good time to be a Lego fan, with Amazon and Walmart dropping loads of fantastic sets to their lowest prices yet. Ben has his hands on a brick or two every day, reviewing all the latest sets to make sure they offer good value for money and a fun build experience. Some of his top picks are taking part in this October's sale and you'll find them all below:
- Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant |
$59.99$47.95 at Amazon - Lego Stitch |
$64.99$51.95 at Walmart - Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle & Grounds |
$169.99$135.95 at Amazon - Lego Animal Crossing Nook's Cranny & Rosie's House |
$74.99$59.95 at Amazon - Lego Star Wars Boarding the Tantive IV |
$54.99$43.95 at Amazon
The PS5 disc drive is still in stock at Best Buy - and I would seriously consider grabbing one before tomorrow
Tomorrow marks another round of PlayStation 30th Anniversary pre-orders, and all these consoles are going to be digital editions. Combine that with the fact that the PS5 disc drive is already difficult to get hold of and things are going to move fast. I'm not expecting Best Buy's latest supply to last through to the end of tomorrow - if you're in need of a means to play physical games this Prime Day I would jump on it well ahead of time.
- PS5 disc drive | $79.99 at Best Buy
Deal Alert!
After a cheap wired Xbox controller? The GameSir G7 SE is the best value on the shelves right now. This gamepad already offered excellent value for money at its full MSRP, but with a record-low price things are looking even better. You're getting hall sensor sticks, rumble and back button support at a price than would normally net you a basic set of clickers here.
Who is winning Prime Day this October?
This is a little game I like to play as each sale winds down. With so many retailers competing during Amazon's sale, it's not necessarily going to be Amazon offering the best deals. This year things have been a little slower than we saw in July. Neither Walmart nor Best Buy were willing to commit quite so many discounts to the shelves. But then again neither was Amazon. All retailers struggled when it came to actual game deals, though Walmart did have the upper hand from a Nintendo Switch perspective. Gaming PCs and gaming laptops went to Best Buy with its superior range, but even then those savings were a little lacklustre compared to previous offerings.
Overall, I would say Amazon might have clinched this one, well done Bezos. The range has been much larger at Amazon than other retailers this year, though that's not necessarily true for every category.
Do Prime Day deals end immediately?
When that clock strikes midnight the majority of this season's Prime Day deals will likely be removed, but that's not to say you can't still save. In fact, I regularly see a good wad of offers clinging onto the shelves towards the end of Prime week. Not only that, but it's important to remember that we're about to go headfirst into one of the busiest sales periods of the year. That means there are always more discounts around the corner and some of these deals could well return to the shelves in the future.
