The best deals for your last minute holiday gift shopping – The Verge The Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts. 2019-12-16T21:08:02+00:00 https://www.theverge.com/rss/stream/17903959 https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1 Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[You can still buy gifts with fast, free shipping at most retailers]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/19/18148459/amazon-target-best-buy-bh-photo-two-day-shipping-holiday-shopping 2019-12-16T16:08:02-05:00 2019-12-16T16:08:02-05:00

We’ve reached the final few days before the holidays, and before you know it, going to a local retailer — and dealing with mobs of people — will be your last resort for buying gifts on time. To avoid having that happen, we’d suggest buying items online as soon as you can.

Thankfully, several retailers are making those shopping duties cheap and easy by offering free and fast shipping. It wouldn’t be the holidays without a little stress, but you can avoid at least some of it by finishing up your shopping before the window for on-time delivery comes to a close.

Here’s where you can get free shipping online:

Walmart

Store pickup is always the best way to ensure that you get your gifts in time, but it’s not your only option.

  • Until December 17th, you can select the “3-5 Day” shipping option.
  • The free TwoDay shipping option that applies to orders over $35 ends December 22nd at 2PM ET.
  • Walmart’s cutoff for free NextDay shipping on orders over $35 is December 23rd at 12PM ET.
  • For same-day pickup, the cutoff is 4PM local time on December 23rd.

Amazon

As is always the case, you’ll get your gifts nice and fast if you have an Amazon Prime subscription, but even then, there are restrictions as we get closer to the holidays.

  • The window for free shipping (for orders over $25) ends on December 16th.
  • Your last day to pay for standard shipping and receive items before Christmas is December 18th.
  • If you have Amazon Prime, December 22nd is the cutoff day to place orders.
  • You’ll be pushing it, but December 23rd is the absolute final day to have items shipped via Prime with One-Day Delivery.

Target

Order by 1PM ET on December 20th to have your gifts arrive by December 24th.

Best Buy

  • December 20th at 11:30AM ET is the last opportunity to place an order and have it arrive by December 24th.
  • If you live in LA, Chicago, or NYC, you can order as late as 8PM local time on December 23rd to have your items arrive by Christmas.
  • In select areas, 12PM local time on December 24th is the cutoff for same-day delivery.
  • Lastly, 5PM local time on December 24th is the cutoff for store pickup.

Shipping gifts yourself?

If you’re picking up gifts and shipping them yourself, there are a few important dates to keep in mind:

  • Shipping via FedEx: December 16th is the cutoff date for Ground and Home Delivery parcels, December 19th for Express Saver, December 20th for 2Day services, and December 23rd for overnight services
  • Shipping via UPS: December 19th is the cutoff date for 3 Day Select shipping, December 20th for 2nd Day Air services, and December 23rd for Next Day Air services
  • Shipping via USPS: December 20th is the cutoff date for First-Class deliveries, December 21st for Priority Mail, and December 23rd for Priority Mail Express
]]> Chris Welch <![CDATA[Target is selling the Home Hub and two Home Mini speakers for just $100]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/14/18141502/google-home-hub-home-mini-bundle-sale-discount 2018-12-23T15:21:43-05:00 2018-12-23T15:21:43-05:00

Target is picking up where Walmart, Verizon, B&H Photo and Google left off, continuing the aggressive deal that might be all many people need to outfit their house or apartment with Google Assistant this holiday season. When you buy a Home Hub smart display, two Home Mini smart speakers will be included for free, at a total price of $100. The Hub ordinarily retails for $149, with the speakers going for $49 each. This deal will end once Sunday, December 23rd expires.

Obviously both products have been discounted at times during the holiday season — including right now at various retailers. But this bundle from the Google Store B&H Photo Verizon Walmart Target seems pretty tough to beat.

You’ll gain three Google Assistant devices, all of which can respond to your voice commands or questions, play music, and control your smart home accessories. The Home Hub adds a screen to the mix, so you’ll want that in a central spot like the living room or kitchen. But the Home Minis can go anywhere else you’d like.

Just head to this Target link, choose the color you prefer for the Home Hub and each speaker, and then you’ll see the discount upon checkout.

Updated 3:20PM ET, December 23rd: Another day, another retailer has picked up on this good deal on Google Assistant tech, this time Target.

]]> Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[Still need to buy a gift? Here are some last minute digital essentials]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/21/18151497/gift-card-subscription-digital-gifts-last-minute-holiday 2018-12-21T11:40:50-05:00 2018-12-21T11:40:50-05:00

The holidays are just days away, and if you haven’t mapped out your plan of attack for gift-getting, it might be too late to ship everything on your family or friend’s wishlist — at least without paying dearly for shipping costs. However, don’t forget about digital gifts. While some might miss having a box to open on the holidays, the big upsides to opting for digital gifts is that they’re easy to buy, sometimes more affordable to acquire than physical versions, and best of all, they arrive instantly.

Here are a few ideas (okay, there’s actually a lot of ideas) for digital gifts to round out your bounty this holiday season.

The Verge Holiday Gift Guide 2018

We’ve tapped into the collective knowledge of The Verge to put together a list of 78 great gifts for all manner of ages, sizes, and budgets. Shop now.

Practical ideas

These cash-equivalent gifts aren’t the most inspired, but there’s no denying that having extra credit to use for purchases at the likes of Amazon or Best Buy is a nice feeling. One of my favorite post-holiday traditions is buying something that I absolutely do not need, and having a bit of a buffer with store credit keeps me from feeling so bad about it.

Gift cards by phone/tablet/computer platform

Google and Apple each sell gift cards to their digital stores, the Google Play Store and iTunes / App Store. You’ll probably get the most out of a gift card for the platform that your phone or tablet is built on, though you can still get some use out of them if you get them mixed up. For example, in addition to games and apps, Google Play Store gift cards let you rent movies on Google Play Movies & TV, an app that works on Android, iOS, PC, and macOS. The same can be said for iTunes and App Store gift cards. You can purchase a movie on iTunes and play it back on a Windows PC or an Android device.

Microsoft also makes gift cards that can be redeemed on the Microsoft Store for apps, movies, music, or games. Some of this content is available outside of the PC realm, just make sure to check before you redeem your gift card.

Best for Android phones / tablets, Android TV gear, or Chromebooks

Best for iPhones, iPod Touch, iPads, Macs, or Apple TV

Best for Windows PCs

Microsoft Store and Xbox gift card (don’t sweat on which to buy, they can be used for Xbox or PC purchases interchangeably)

Gaming

Whether it’s done on a phone or game console, gaming is increasingly leaning on subscriptions or microtransactions (i.e. Fortnite V-Bucks) to let gamers squeeze out the most enjoyment. A gift card for your loved one’s platform of choice will allow them to enjoy games more and worry less about the payment roadblocks.

Xbox One

PS4 / PS4 Pro

A photo of the standard Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch

PC

  • Steam gift card (sending digitally requires your own Steam account, or else physical gift cards are the only option)
  • Blizzard Battle.net gift card (the PC client used for Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Destiny 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, and more)

Music streaming

If your loved one has been suffering through ads on the free-tier of a music streaming service, a gift card can bump them up to a premium subscription. And once you go premium, it’s really tough to go back.

TV and movie streaming

Buying the right gift card for the cord cutter in your life can be a tricky task, since there are so many avenues for watching television without the need for a cable box. Thankfully, there’s a lot of overlap in terms of what’s offered by each service, so shooting in the dark isn’t as bad as you’d think. Though, some sporting events and series found on Hulu, Netflix, HBO Now and others, are exclusive to those platforms, so ask someone close to who you’re buying for to ensure that you’re making the best purchase.

If you’re really not sure where to turn, check out The Verge’s comprehensive guide to cord-cutting in 2018.

]]> Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[Steam’s winter sale kicks off with deals on Just Cause 4, Yakuza 0, and more]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/20/18150481/steam-winter-sale-pc-games-deals-just-cause-4-yakuza-0 2018-12-20T14:41:51-05:00 2018-12-20T14:41:51-05:00

The annual winter sale has begun today on Steam, and as usual, you’ll be able to find most of this year’s most popular PC games for less than their usual cost. This sale will be going until January 3rd, 2019.

Valve has the tendency to change deals as its sales go on, and we hope that holds true this year because the offering so far isn’t that great, nor is it varied. Here are the best PC game deals as of the time of writing:

Instead of stopping at simply cutting prices on games, each of Steam’s seasonal sales arrives with some other motivation to participate, usually in the form of free digital unlocks that add to your fun, albeit pointless, collection of Steam badges. This year’s winter sale asks users to click on an image of a door each day to unlock three digital items, which consist of in-game items, Steam profile backgrounds, emoticons, and “consumable knick-knacks” to boost the level of your participation badge.

Given the changing landscape of the PC game client market since the launch of the Epic Games Store and Discord’s own store, it’s a bit disappointing that, at least so far, Steam’s latest sale doesn’t have a whole lot going for it.

]]> Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[Nintendo Switch includes free gift card, and Xbox One consoles are $100 off before the holidays]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/20/18150014/nintendo-switch-gift-card-xbox-one-holiday-deal 2018-12-20T10:54:36-05:00 2018-12-20T10:54:36-05:00

If you’re looking to add a game console to your entertainment center over the holidays (or in the case of the Switch, carry it around everywhere you go), Nintendo and Microsoft are making that a bit cheaper — or at least adding more value to your purchase. As usual, Sony isn’t partaking in any pre-holiday deals, though you can pre-order a new PS4 Pro bundle set to release on January 29th, 2019 that has a special Kingdom Hearts III-inspired design, and includes Kingdom Hearts III for free. A free game is a deal, even if it won’t come until 2019.

Nintendo Switch

Starting with Nintendo, finding a Switch is far easier in 2018 than it was last year. Several retailers, including Target, Best Buy, Amazon, and GameStop, are offering a $25 gift cards with purchase. $25 isn’t enough to pay for any of the Switch’s best titles, though it can knock nearly half the cost off, say, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In the absence of a price drop for the Switch (it’s still a very strong seller,) getting a freebie like this tossed in is about as good as it gets for now.

Microsoft Xbox One S / X

Microsoft’s Xbox One has seen several discounts this year, the best of which ($150 off any model) coincided with the release of Red Dead Redemption 2. Though until 12/25, you can get any Xbox One S or Xbox One X console for $100 off at a range of retailers. If you’re after the Xbox One S, this is a much better deal in that it’s valid for any bundle — not just the Minecraft edition.

There’s almost a staggering amount of Xbox One bundles to choose from, but we’ve listed a few that offer the best value and come with a free game, a trial to Xbox Live, or Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s all-you-can-play, flat fee subscription service.

]]> Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[Fitbit Versa is $90 at Macy’s and Amazon, $60 cheaper than the best Black Friday deal]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/20/18149950/fitbit-versa-macys-sale-deal 2018-12-20T09:03:49-05:00 2018-12-20T09:03:49-05:00

If $149 for the Fitbit Versa wasn’t a good enough discount for you during Black Friday, Macy’s is offering the best deal that we’ve seen yet. Normally $199, you’ll be able to snag one for $89.99 either until December 24th or until it sells out. Amazon is also getting in on the deal, though as it stands, you definitely won’t get it before Christmas.

Compared to the more expensive, older Fitbit Ionic, the Versa lacks built-in GPS, though it makes up for it in some ways with a design that’s easier on the eyes. This deal is for the models with a peach, gray, or black-colored wrist strap, though it’s pretty affordable to buy a different set and swap them out yourself.

We don’t expect this deal to last long, and Macy’s says that purchases made by 5PM ET today, December 20th, will arrive in time for Christmas.

]]> Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[The latest iPad is $100 off at Walmart and Amazon, beating the Black Friday price]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/4/18125557/ipad-amazon-deal-discount-40-off-apple 2018-12-19T09:51:42-05:00 2018-12-19T09:51:42-05:00

Retailers have been vying to offer the lowest prices on iPads, but Walmart and Amazon are each hosting arguably the best iPad deal yet. The 32GB model is now going for $229 — a clean $100 off of its original price. If you’re looking for the 128GB model, Amazon and Target have you covered for $349, which is $80 off the usual price.

For the past week, the iPad’s price point has matched, or has come close to matching, Black Friday prices. Now, it’s cheaper than ever. With the winter holidays just days away, today is probably your last chance to get it on time, and to buy it at this price. Walmart is offering two-day shipping for the iPad, so that puts delivery before Christmas, though Amazon’s page says that it will ship after Christmas.

]]> Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[At $599, HP’s gaming laptop is an even better deal for casual gamers]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/18/18146854/hp-gaming-laptop-ebay-casual-price-graphics 2018-12-18T15:45:15-05:00 2018-12-18T15:45:15-05:00

More often than not, gaming laptops aren’t a great value. But sometimes there are exceptions near the holidays, and HP’s 15-inch Pavilion gaming laptop is one of them. It’s on sale for $599.99 on eBay, which is hundreds off of its original price. Inside of this machine is just about enough to power through the latest PC games on low to medium graphical settings at playable frame rates. Though if you enjoy playing, say, Fortnite, this will run it smoothly on higher settings.

Looking at the specs, what stands out here is its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti which, while not necessarily a workhorse for gaming, is the de facto GPU in gaming laptops that usually costs hundreds more. In addition to the decent graphics card, this laptop features a 15.6-inch matte IPS display that pushes a 1080p resolution, an 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage via a 7,200RPM spinning drive. While all of that is pretty much par for the course, HP’s Pavilion budget gaming laptop has a few unexpected niceties, like a USB-C port, backlit keyboard, and a complimentary game bundle that lets you pick five free games, including Cuphead and Total War: Warhammer II, among others.

The next best price for a similar machine comes from HP itself for $789, though its own baseline model starts you out with the lesser Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 with 2GB of video RAM compared to the above model’s 1050 Ti that features 4GB.

]]> Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[TCL’s excellent 6-Series 4K TV is only $499.99 at Best Buy]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/17/18144689/tcl-6-series-4k-best-buy-discount-sale-deal 2018-12-17T12:33:44-05:00 2018-12-17T12:33:44-05:00

TCL’s 6-Series 4K HDR televisions with Roku software built in are an incredible value even at their usual asking price. You can spend thousands on a big 4K TV, but if your eyes are set on something cheaper, The Verge calls TCL’s latest “the best 4K TV under $1,000.” And today, you’ll be able to find it for far less than that at Best Buy.

Normally $599.99, you’ll be able to check out with a $100 discount on the 55-inch model, which brings the final price down to $499.99. Black Friday and Cyber Monday offered better deals on 4K HDR TVs in this size range, but TCL’s offering is most likely a step above in terms of build quality and performance.

However, compared to buying directly through TCL or another retailer, the Best Buy model’s included remote doesn’t support voice commands. Though, if you have a Google Home, you can control this television via Google Assistant. Alternatively, if you’re looking to bolster the 6-Series’ limited remote, the $200 Roku TV Speakers include a voice remote.

]]> Cameron Faulkner <![CDATA[This black Microsoft Surface Pro 6 deal includes a Type Cover for $999]]> https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/12/17/18144558/microsoft-surface-pro-6-black-deal-sale-discount-type-cover 2018-12-17T11:32:42-05:00 2018-12-17T11:32:42-05:00

The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is a versatile and capable Windows 10 computer, and the upgraded version donned in a matte black finish is on sale at B&H Photo following its expiration at Best Buy. Normally $1,199 for the 256GB version in black (sans Type Cover keyboard), this deal loops the computer in along with a matching Type Cover for $999. That’s about $300 off of the usual price if you were to purchase these two items together.

Comparing this midtier machine to the low-end model that usually sells for $899 (though you can find it for $799 right now), the differences are rather slight. At its base configuration, the Surface Pro 6 includes a modest 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a quad-core Intel Core i5. Though, as Apple did with its polycarbonate MacBook back in the day, Microsoft charges a premium if you want the Surface Pro 6 in black, and it comes with 256GB of storage by default.

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