A very special Dealmaster: Last-minute deals you can still grab

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A very special Dealmaster: Last-minute deals you can still grab
Ars Technica

We’re entering the last week of the year and, as you might’ve guessed, there’s still a fair amount of last-minute gifts to grab at some of the best prices you’ll find all year. In this week’s Dealmaster we have some of our favorite big-ticket items matching their all-time low prices, including the latest iPad, Google Pixel’s (6, 6a, and 7), Sony headphones and earphones, and the latest Apple AirPods Pro, to name a few.

iPads are the best tablet devices for most people. At their full retail prices, the regular iPad is usually in an awkward position that makes the iPad Air a slightly better buy. With the current discount, the base iPad moves further away from that odd territory and more squarely into frame as a solid all-around buy for tablet seekers. The iPad Air is also on sale for just $100 more at $499 if having the M1 processor is important to you.

Google’s Pixel phone lineup has previously had a similar situation, but the main “issue” here is that the lowest-end Pixel, the Pixel 6a is just too darn good a bargain. That’s still the case at its currently discounted $299 price, but we couldn’t fault you for buy a $499 ($100 off) Pixel 7 to gain that more buttery 90 Hz refresh rate and, to some, slightly nicer styling.

There are also a few solid deals on 4K TVs to grab that span from mid- to higher-end. For the gamers out there, the gift of VR via the $350 Meta Quest 2 Resident Evil and Beat Saber bundle will save a decent chunk of change, as well as some time trying to figure out what games to get. Otherwise, you can always go the “old-school” route and pick up an Xbox Series S for $250 from Target.

Elsewhere around the web, we have discounts on Google’s entire smart home lineup, the Apple Watch SE, Samsung SD and microSD cards, headphones by Beats, Sony, and Bose, and much more. Check the full curated list below. Just be advised, some items may arrive after Christmas, but New Year’s eve is a great time to exchange gifts too!

Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.

Featured deals of the day

The Pixel Watch. It's a perfect, round little pebble.
Enlarge / The Pixel Watch. It’s a perfect, round little pebble.
Ron Amadeo

Electronics deals

The 2022 iPad Air with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, all current on sale.
Enlarge / The 2022 iPad Air with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, all current on sale.
Samuel Axon
Withing's ScanWatch is easily the best-looking wearable with an ECG sensor.
Enlarge / Withing’s ScanWatch is easily the best-looking wearable with an ECG sensor.
Corey Gaskin
Open it up, and it looks quite a bit like the 14-inch MacBook Pro from this angle.
Enlarge / Open it up, and it looks quite a bit like the 14-inch MacBook Pro from this angle.
Samuel Axon

Laptop and desktop PC deals

Microsoft's Surface Pro 8.
Enlarge / Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8.
Andrew Cunningham

Headphone deals

Sony's WH-1000XM5 wireless noise-canceling headphones.
Enlarge / Sony’s WH-1000XM5 wireless noise-canceling headphones.

Smart home and home audio deals

The Apple TV 4K with Apple's improved Siri Remote.
Enlarge / The Apple TV 4K with Apple’s improved Siri Remote.
Google's second-generation Nest Hub looks identical to the previous generation.
Enlarge / Google’s second-generation Nest Hub looks identical to the previous generation.
Corey Gaskin
The 8Bitdo Pro 2.
Enlarge / The 8Bitdo Pro 2.
Sam Machkovech

Video game deals

Mario + Rabbids.
Enlarge / Mario + Rabbids.
There are some light RGB elements, though they'll be covered up by your hand.
Enlarge / There are some light RGB elements, though they’ll be covered up by your hand.

Gaming deals

With its simple design and static lighting, the G305 Wireless is a good mouse for those who don't like the look of traditional gaming accessories.
Enlarge / With its simple design and static lighting, the G305 Wireless is a good mouse for those who don’t like the look of traditional gaming accessories.
Valentina Palladino
Corey Gaskin

Accessories and miscellaneous deals

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