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For the past few years, Nintendo has celebrated March 10 as Mario Day, a celebration of the company’s beloved hero, plumber, go-kart racer, boxing referee, doctor, and main mascot. (Mar10 = Mario, you see). This is mostly a clever marketing campaign, but for those looking to boost their Switch libraries, Nintendo is using the “event” to discount several games starring the little mustachioed man, with hits like super mario odyssey and mario kart 8 deluxe on sale for $40. We’ve got a full breakdown of the sale below. And beyond the Mario stuff, our latest deal roundup includes Amazon’s Fire TV 4K Max on sale for an all-time low of $35, the Apple Pencil as low as $89, a $50 discount on QuietComfort Earbuds II from Bose and more. Here are the best tech deals this week that you can still grab today.
Mario Day Nintendo Switch Game Deal
As part of its annual Mario Day celebration, Nintendo has reduced a number of Switch games starring (or at least tangentially related to) its most famous mascot to $40. Deals are available at a number of retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, GameStop, Best Buy and Nintendo’s own online store. With most games on sale, these deals don’t represent an all-time low, but steeper discounts on first-party Switch games are still relatively rare.
Here’s a list of the games included in the sale:
Beyond that, the tactical strategy game Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is down to $30, while the AR-based broker Mario Kart Live: Local Circuit is discounted from $30 to $60.
Nintendo says these deals will be available at retailers until March 11. If you can only get a couple of games, Odyssey, mario kart 8 deluxe, 3D world and tropical frost they’re probably the best of the bunch, though each game on sale can offer a good time depending on what you’re looking for.
Mario Day Nintendo Switch Console Bundle
Nintendo has also unveiled a new Switch bundle for Mario Day. Starting Friday, you can get the $300 base version of the console with a download code for anyone. mario kart 8 deluxe, super mario odyssey either New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Each of those games usually retails for around $50 off of sales like this week’s, so that’s what you’re saving here. As of this writing, the bundle is available at Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Nintendo’s online store.
It’s hard to call this a excellent deal: The Switch is almost certainly in its later years, and the newer Switch OLED is a pretty firm upgrade for just $50 more. Still, there’s no power difference between the two models, and if you just want to save a few bucks, here’s a chance to get a good starter set at no extra cost.
xbox series x
The Xbox Series X is down to $450 on Verizon. That’s just a $50 discount, but deals of any kind for Microsoft’s most powerful Xbox have been extremely rare since the console arrived in late 2020. The Series X itself is still lacking in must-have exclusives, but its hardware handle 4K gaming with ease. , and Xbox Game Pass is still an excellent value for those who like to try a lot of new releases. We gave the console a review score of 87 at launch.
For a cheaper route into the Xbox ecosystem, Microsoft has the Xbox Series S available for $240. That’s technically $60 off the device’s list price, though this is a deal we’ve seen a few times over the last few years. months. The Series S lacks a disc drive and isn’t designed for 4K resolutions like the Series X, but it can still play the same games as its bigger sibling, its SSD still loads quickly, and its diminutive design is easier to squeeze. on a desk or TV stand. Our review gave that one a score of 85.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is back down to $35, which matches its all-time low and is roughly $10 below the device’s average retail price in recent months. While we think Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K and Google’s Chromecast are better for most who need an affordable 4K media streamer, the Fire TV Stick 4K still runs fast, supports all major apps and HDR formats. , and has integrated voice controls through the Alexa assistant. . The caveat, as with most Amazon devices, is that it tends to advertise the company’s own content and services above all else, so you’ll get the most out of it if you already subscribe to Amazon Prime and use Prime Video with frequency.
amazon fire hd 8
Amazon’s Fire HD 8 is on sale for $60, which is about $25 off the tablet’s regular retail price and just $5 more than its all-time low. This 8-inch slate can’t quite compare to a good iPad in terms of speed or build quality, and you’ll saddle it with lock-screen ads unless you pay more, but it’s durable, its screen decently bright and it lasts a good while. 10 or more hours per charge. If you just need a larger screen for light reading, streaming, and web browsing, it should suffice. Don’t wait too long, and remember that all Amazon tablets don’t have access to the Google Play Store or official Google apps by default.
Anker 622 Wireless Magnetic Battery
Anker’s 622 Magnetic Battery is back on sale for $45, which is about $12 less than its usual rate on Amazon. Although we’ve seen this discount multiple times before, it’s still only $5 more than the lowest price we’ve tracked. We previously recommended the 622 as a worthwhile purchase for those who want a wireless power bank that supports MagSafe charging with iPhones. Like all wireless chargers, it won’t recharge your phone as fast as a good wired option, and its 5000mAh capacity is only enough to charge an iPhone 14 to about 80 percent. Still, it’s compact and being able to recharge it without extra cables is convenient on the go. The 622 also has a built-in kickstand, which you can use to prop up your phone while it’s at your desk. If you need more juice, Anker’s 633 Magnetic Battery is a more powerful alternative, though it’s not as cheap or as pocket-friendly.
Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
The second-generation Apple Pencil is on sale for $89, which is a discount we’ve seen before, but still matches the all-time low for the iPad stylus. Typically, the device has averaged closer to $110 in recent months. A recommendation from our guide to the best iPad accessories, the second-generation stylus is a consistently responsive and precise tool for digital artists and intense note takers. Unlike third-party alternatives, it offers pressure sensitivity on iPadOS, and unlike the first-gen Pen, it can be attached and charged magnetically against the edge of a tablet. Just make sure your iPad is compatible if you decide to buy it.
Crucial MX500 Solid State Drive
Crucial’s 2TB model of the MX500 SSD is down to a new low of $103, which is about $35 below its typical retail price. If you need more space, the 4TB variant is available for a starting price of $228. You shouldn’t buy a SATA SSD like this to improve storage performance in a modern PC (get an NVMe drive instead), but for older desktops or laptops with slow HDDs, it can still provide a noticeable speed boost. At low price. The MX500 itself is the top SATA pick in our guide to the best SSDs.
Bose Quiet Comfort II Headphones
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are back down to $249, which is $20 more than their all-time low but still $50 below Bose’s list price. This is the “best noise canceling” pick in our guide to the best wireless headphones, and in fact, no other pair we’ve tested is more adept at muting the outside world. The slightly bass-boosted sound should also work for most people, and the design, while somewhat bulky, should provide a comfortable fit. The five to six hour battery life is fine, though, and there’s no multipoint connectivity or wireless charging support. Still, if ANC is your top priority, it’s the true wireless pair to get. We gave the headphones a review score of 87 last September.
Microsoft surface laptop go 2
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 2 is down to $600 for a configuration with a Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. This is another deal we’ve seen before, but it still matches the lowest price we’ve tracked and is about $70 off this model’s regular retail price. We gave this 12.4-inch laptop a review score of 86 last June, and featured it in our guide to the best cheap Windows laptops. You can get better performance, more ports, and a sharper screen for the money, but the Surface Laptop Go 2’s lightweight design has a more premium feel than most options in this price range, and its performance and battery life battery should be sufficient for casual use. However, the lack of a keyboard backlight is a pain.
