gdgt's best deals for July 29: Samsung Galaxy S 4, Canon PowerShot A2500
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 one of the best smartphones on the market, the Samsung Galaxy S 4, at half price with a Sprint contract, as well as a cheap deal on an entry-level Canon PowerShot. 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 Galaxy S 4
Price: $99.99 with 2-year Sprint contract. (Regularly $199.99). Free shipping/Prime.
Buy: Amazon
Samsung's flagship handset not only wowed us, but did the same for reviewers everywhere, garnering a 92 gdgt Score and "Must-have" distinction. While not a massive upgrade from the beloved S3, the S4 trumps its predecessor with a thinner, lighter form factor, higher-resolution screen, longer battery life and better camera. Those looking to renew their Sprint contract or jump ship from another carrier can snag the phone for half price on Amazon.
Canon PowerShot A2500
Price: $85.95 (MSRP $129). Free shipping/Prime.
Buy: Amazon
Canon's entry-level 16MP point-and-shoot is designed to generate pretty pictures easily. Its 5x optical zoom and 28mm wide-angle lens help photographers nail an array of images, and its autofocus is designed to recognize 32 different types of shots and optimize settings accordingly. We haven't seen any professional reviews, but the camera has pleased the Amazon crowd, earning an average 4-star (out of 5) rating with more than 40 buyers. This is the lowest price we've seen this camera.
Dynex 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV
Price: $179.99 (Regularly $219.99). Free shipping.
Buy: Best Buy
With the school year about to start, retailers know they can unload cheap, low-tech TVs by the truckload. Those in the market looking to snag an underwhelming set can benefit from the price drops. Although the 720p LCD display and 60Hz refresh rate aren't impressive, at least this Dynex rocks 3 HDMI ports, making it a solid fit for a gaming-oriented mancave.
Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook
Price: $1,049.99 (MSRP $1,099.99). Free shipping.
Buy: Best Buy
Dell's hybrid Windows 8 laptop boasts a fold-away keyboard that lets you turn it into a tablet on the fly. It impressed reviewers, earning an 82 gdgt Score, drawing praise for its versatility as well as grumblings about its bulk and questionable effectiveness when in tablet mode. The competing Microsoft Surface, which many say makes a better tablet than laptop, is more than $100 cheaper, but requires the purchase of its keyboard cover accessory to function as a laptop.
Mad Men Season 5 (DVD)
Price: $14.99 (Next best price is $22). Eligible for free shipping with $50 total purchase.
Buy: Target
The 2012-aired season of the adventures of Don Draper, set in 1966 and 1967, boasts the sexually adventurous ad wizard's relationship with his new wife. Target's price cut makes the set more attractive to collectors looking to round out their sets, but probably won't do much for Netflix members, who can stream the season with their subscription.
Zalman ZM-M300 Wired Gaming Mouse
Price: $9.99 (Regularly $16.99).
Buy: MWave
PC gamers looking for a competitive edge will swoon for the ZM-M300's seven programmable buttons with auto-fire capabilities. The price is comparable to many low-spec, non-gaming mice, but note that shipping charges from MWave on the item can be more than $7. Frequent shoppers on the site can get free shipping with a $60 annual membership.