There’s nothing quite like the feeling of terror that ensues when a kid says that they’re bored. We rustled up some discounts on various services, subscriptions, games, and tech that can help pass the time. Be sure to check out our many buying guides for additional advice and product recommendations. Some summer-friendly options include guides to the Best Grills and the Best Co-Op Games.
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Gaming Deals
We shared this deal around Memorial Day, but it’s still around—and it’s a good one. It’s the first price drop we’ve seen for this WIRED-recommended controller. It has immersive, encompassing haptic feedback and healthy battery life, making it the best controller for the PlayStation 5. The wide array of eye-catching colors helps too. This historic low price is matched at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and GameStop. Check out our Best PS5 Accessories guide for more.
This sale at GameStop is a cheap way to beef up a game library, especially for kids that are playing on previous-generation consoles. The discount applies to games with the “Buy More, Save More” banner, and the final price will be reflected at checkout. GameStop guarantees that every title will work, though some may not include the original box or manual. There’s a weeklong money-back guarantee as well.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives members access to online gaming as well as a rotating library of free games. This offer is only valid for new members. Usually, trial memberships of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are limited to one month, so this is like getting two bonus months for free. The subscription is set to automatically renew at the monthly rate of $15. Be sure to set a reminder for yourself to cancel if you aren’t interested in subsequent charges. Our guide to the Best Gaming Subscriptions has more details about the service.
This bundle includes a one-year Family Membership to Nintendo Switch Online, which regularly costs $35, as well as a MicroSD card that typically sells for around $20. If you’re already in the market for the membership, or you want to save some cash on next year’s renewal, this deal is like getting the MicroSD card for free. The Family Membership lets up to eight players access benefits (like online play and free classic games). Read more about it here.
Anyone gaming on a PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or PC should try it on a 4K OLED screen. The inky blacks and vibrant colors will make your games (and movies) look spectacular. Paired with the 120-Hz screen refresh rate, you’ll enjoy smooth gameplay and incredibly low input lag. The LG C1 OLED (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite TV for gamers for a reason.
Tech Deals
The Pixel 6 Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) rarely goes on sale. This $100 discount brings it down to the lowest price we’ve tracked. The Pixel 6 series is featured in our list of the Best Pixel Phones, where editor Julian Chokkattu said these are the “best Android phones for the money.” The Pro version on sale today features a bigger and smoother display than the non-pro version, as well as an excellent 4x optical zoom camera. This deal is also available at Amazon and Best Buy.
This deal beats previous discounts by nearly $40. The One 5G Ace improves on the faults of Motorola’s Moto G series. Crucially, it has NFC support, so you can make contactless payments. It also supports sub-6 5G, so you can make use of the expanding network, no matter what carrier you’re on. It has two days of battery life and solid performance too. Just know that this phone is stuck on Android 11 and won’t receive any more Android version upgrades. Check out our list of the Best Cheap Phones for additional picks.
We haven’t yet reviewed this gimbal, but we liked the previous few versions. At this discount, the Osmo Mobile 5 is even cheaper than its predecessor, the Osmo Mobile 4 (8/10, WIRED Recommends). A gimbal like this is great for filming videos on a smartphone. It’s the perfect companion for a YouTube or TikTok content creator, it can also come in handy when capturing a family vacation or a kiddo’s first steps. It’ll lend mobile videos a cinematic flair, with smooth motion and zero jitters or shakes. It can also be used as a monopod for taking better selfies. The OM 5 is compatible with iPhone and Android smartphones.
Chromecast With Google TV (8/10, WIRED Recommends) may have a confusing product name, but it’s one of our favorite 4K streaming sticks, especially if you prefer casting content from your phone or laptop to the TV. Unlike older Chromecasts, it does have a built-in interface and a nice remote, so you can control it completely without having to pick up your phone, too. We don’t love the minimal storage, which requires that you manually clear the cache from time to time, but this is still a great replacement for most built-in TV interfaces. Just plug it into the HDMI input of your TV (and to a power outlet).
The Nest Thermostat bounces between $100 and $130 a few times per year. It doesn’t usually drop lower than this in price outside of special occasions like Black Friday. A smart thermostat like this one can help save you money over time. It can intelligently cool or heat your home in a more economic way—like turning up the temperature in the summer if the house is empty, or lowering it a bit when everyone’s asleep in the winter. Your energy provider may even reimburse a part of your purchase with a rebate. Check out our guide on How to Set Up Your Nest Thermostat for tips on installation.
Somewhere between a small Bluetooth speaker and a big touchscreen display lies the Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Review). It’s a hybrid of sorts—perfectly sized for a nightstand and a decent size for the kitchen counter. There’s a built-in smart assistant for convenience, but the interface is sometimes sluggish enough to make it feel a little less than smart. There’s the seemingly requisite, slightly creepy aura of giving a company more access to your data, but no hackable physical on-board camera. This deal is one of the best we’ve seen. Read more about it and other smart displays in our dedicated buying guide. If you’re entering the smart speaker world for the first time, the Google Nest Mini is also on sale for $30 ($20 off).
The Sonos Roam (9/10, WIRED Recommends) was the company’s first Bluetooth speaker, and in true Sonos fashion, the sleek housing packs punchy sound. It’s one of our favorite Bluetooth speakers. The companion app makes it easy to control playback using popular music streaming services, and there’s compatibility for voice assistants as well. The battery lasts about 10 hours on a single charge. Read more about it in our Best Sonos Speakers guide.
This is the best price we’ve seen all year for the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds, and it comes close to Amazon’s historic low price of $218. Our in-depth review notes the buds have good sound quality, great battery life, and excellent noise-canceling tech. The biggest issue is with ’em is fit; they’re not suitable for smaller ears. Our Best Wireless Earbuds guide has alternative options.
Other Great Deals
We featured this deal last week, but it’s still running and still excellent. This is one of our new favorite pizza ovens. It’s compact, great for cooking with cast-iron pans, and the flat top works as an additional cooking surface. You can read more about it in our review (8/10, WIRED Recommends).
Camping is much better when you can sleep comfortably. I have used this cot and air mattress combo before, and it made a huge difference in my general attitude towards the Great Outdoors. After inflating the mattress with the included pump, simply unfold the cot frame and pop the mattress on top. It’s not too big or bulky, though it can make some noise if you’re a fidgety sleeper. Even little side tables are attached to the frame, making camping feel more like home. Don’t get me wrong—it’s still an air mattress that likely won’t be as comfortable as what you’re used to, but it did elevate my camping experience.
If you’re anything like me, you spend way too much at Doordash. This deal is an easy way to save 10 bucks if you’re going to be spending $100 anyway. It might also make a good gift for college-age children sustaining themselves on ramen noodles and caffeine. The deal requires a Paypal account (free to join). There’s a limit of two gift cards per customer.
