It’s the weekend again, but not just any weekend. In the US, it’s almost Independence Day on the 4th of July, so we’re taking the opportunity to pack a little more into this post than we usually do. Not only will we update you on this week’s best gaming and entertainment deals (plus what products other Polygon readers are buying), we’re also going to weave in some great 4th of July deals that won’t be around for long.
But don’t worry too much if you miss something, or choose not to spend on something. After all, Amazon Prime Day 2023 is just around the corner, from July 11 to July 12. We’ll be looking for the best deals, so stay tuned. If you are going away for a long weekend, enjoy a relaxed and safe time away from the grind.
The best 4th of July entertainment deals
Best Buy’s deal event on July 4 has pulled up several nice price cuts, including a budget-friendly 4K OLED television, in case you have one on your wish list. The 48-inch LG A2 is ordinary $599.99matching the low price we last saw during Black Friday 2022. For context, this TV is usually priced closer to $800 (the 55-inch version at Amazon is $896.99).
It’s a good deal considering you’re getting a TV that’s hard to beat when it comes to delivery the best contrast and overall image quality for movies, TV shows and games. Come to think of it, only more expensive OLEDs can beat it with more brightness and gaming-friendly features like a faster refresh rate (it’s locked at 60Hz) and HDMI 2.1 ports. But this one is great for the price.
If you don’t have a budget for an OLED TV, I’d like to refer you to our page of the best early Prime Day 2023 deals. There you can find a few TV deals suitable for smaller budgets, without compromising too much on quality. If you’re in a hurry, I’ll just show you the one I’m talking about. Prime members can request an invite to buy this 43-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni 4K TV for only $99.99 on Prime Day. It’s normally $399.99, and you have nothing to lose by requesting an invite. Make sure you are signed in with your Prime account.
Image: Polygon | Image source: Barnes & Noble
Finally, for the entertainment part, you can save 50% on many Criterion Collection DVDs, 4K UHD Blu-rays and box sets at Barnes & Nobel through July 28. This is a fantastic opportunity to expand your movie library. Amazon seems to match the price, in case you prefer to shop there.
Image: Lucasfilm
This week’s big movie release is Indiana Jones and the Dial of Fate. If you’re a huge fan of the series and Mickey Mouse, there’s now a $34.99 piece of merchandise that lets you show off your fandom for both. The Shop Disney store sells the Indiana Jones Ear headband for adults, a small Indy fedora flanked by giant Mickey Mouse ears. The copy says it’s “a treasure Indiana Jones would certainly like to find.” I am not So Are you sure.
This week’s hottest products on Polygon
- Super Mario RPG (pre-order) – $59.99
- The new Furby (purple) – $69.99
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3 Month Membership – $41.66
- Pokémon GO Plus + (pre-order) – $54.99
- Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB SSD with heatsink – $69.99
The best 4th of July game deals
Best Buy recently launched a new multi-tiered subscription program. With the free My Best Buy tier, you get free shipping with no minimum purchase, which is nice. When you pay $49.99 a year for My Best Buy Plus, you get exclusive pricing and access to select items, plus free two-day shipping.
Apologies for that preamble, which was necessary before sharing how the My Best Buy Plus subscription can pay for itself with this sweet buy two get one free deal on Switch games (including some attractive pre-orders). On this page you can put together a bundle of three games, and as with other similar offers, get one of equal or lesser value for free. The bundle may include games such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Bros. Miracle, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and many others. Take a look for yourself.
Image: Valve
Valve kicked off the Steam Summer Sale this week, which will last until July 13. If you’ve been waiting to buy a Steam Deck handheld PC until it’s discounted, you’re in luck. Each configuration is 20% off, bringing the cost of the entry-level model with 64 GB of storage to $359.10. The Steam Deck Dock is for connecting to your TV or monitor 20% discountat.
Check out our post here to see some of the Steam PC game discounts we’re especially fond of.
Image: Polygon | Source images: Grid Studio
Grid Studio is making some great exploded art from classic gadgets that no longer work, such as the Game Boy Color, PS Vita, Wii Remote and many more, and its collection is heavily discounted as part of a summer sale. Prices vary, but you can grab the framed art starting at $99, making these a lot more accessible price-wise if you want to get them for yourself or as a gift.