Amazon is offering a $200 gift card when you preorder the new Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Welcome to the weekend, friends! While the rest of our team was checking out Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy S26 lineup and prepping for Apple’s “special experience” next week, we’ve been exploring Woot’s “Video Games for All” sale and an array of unique deals. (Some of us have also been delving into what Huel is, but that’s neither here nor there.)
Here’s the scoop. If you’re planning to get the Galaxy S26 Ultra at launch, preordering now is a smart move. It’s also the right time to grab the midrange QuietComfort Headphones and what many at The Verge consider to be the game of 2024: Astro Bot. And, who wouldn’t want to save on a stylish handheld vacuum cleaner?
Now, let’s get started.
Bose’s QuietComfort Headphones are on sale at Amazon in various colors for $199 ($150 off), the lowest price we’ve seen this year.
The standard QC Headphones are a refresh of the last-gen QC45s, offering new software features like adjustable noise cancellation and custom listening modes. They provide up to 24 hours of battery life, excellent comfort, and multipoint support for easy switching between Bluetooth devices. However, they are missing the immersive audio mode and high-quality Bluetooth found in the newer QC Ultras, as well as USB-C lossless audio support, but they are also $250 cheaper.
Samsung announced its Galaxy S26 lineup this week. There are many preorder deals to consider, but one of the best is at Amazon, where you get a $200 gift card and a free storage upgrade when you preorder the 512GB Galaxy S26 Ultra starting at $1,299.99. Other retailers have their own promotions ahead of the March 11th release, but they aren’t as enticing; Best Buy offers only a free storage upgrade, and Samsung provides a $150 credit.
While the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus feel like minor updates, the 6.9-inch Galaxy S26 Ultra impressed our phone reviewer, Allison Johnson, due to its new Privacy Display and a more powerful camera array for better low-light performance. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the Ultra supports more advanced AI tools and a version of Gemini that automates some tasks in third-party apps. Nobody enjoys calling an Uber themselves, after all.
You can still snag a physical copy of Astro Bot at Walmart for $32.99 ($27 off), an all-time low. This fantastic PlayStation 5 exclusive won Game of the Year at the 2024 Game Awards. Players control Astro, a lovable robot embarking on a space adventure after an unexpected attack. Despite the initial game being a pack-in title for the PS5, the full-sized sequel from Team Asobi is filled with inventive platforming, whimsical power-ups, and a kind of fun reminiscent of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon. It never feels dated, even with its ‘90s appeal.
If you need a compact handheld vacuum for cleaning car crevices and desk crumbs, Fanttik’s foldable Fold V10 Apex is on sale at Amazon for $85.49 (about $65 off), matching its lowest price.
Fanttik’s 17,000Pa vacuum features an extendable nozzle that pivots 210 degrees and boasts a built-in LED light for illuminating dark areas. The onboard display shows battery life, suction mode, and filter status. It comes with an upholstery tool, two brush heads, and an extendable hose with a crevice tool. It charges via USB-C, making recharging easy after the battery depletes in approximately 30 minutes.
More ways to save this weekend:
– Buy five second-gen AirTags for $99.99 ($24 off) at Costco, although non-members pay a $5 surcharge. This is the first discount we’ve seen on Apple’s latest location tracker, which has a longer range and louder speaker. Read our review.
– AOC’s 27-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor (Q27G41ZDF) is $379.99 ($170 off) at Best Buy, its lowest price ever. The 1440p display is an entry-level OLED, offering deep blacks, vibrant colors, G-Sync compatibility, and a three-year warranty.
– The Sharge Pixel 100 is available from Amazon (with Prime) and Sharge for $69.90 ($30 off), its lowest price yet. The compact GaN charger provides up to 140W of power, features three USB-C ports, and has a customizable display showing wattage for each port.