If you've been on the market for a brand new graphics card recently, there's a pretty good chance that you've either not been able to get one at all, or if you have, you've paid an absurdly high price for it.
Ever since Nvidia and AMD launched their recent GPU generations, graphics cards have been both absurdly expensive and incredibly hard to find, thanks to a global silicon shortage.
But now that Intel is getting ready to enter the discrete graphics card market with its Arc Alchemist GPUs, it's easy to get optimistic about the shape of the GPU market later this year. I have sour news for you, though, it's not going to be that easy.
While these new GPUs will surely alleviate some of the pressure we've been feeling, and may even see prices drop a bit, Intel is going to be victim to the same limiting forces as AMD and Nvidia.
(Image credit: TSMC)
All about the manufacturing
One of the main reasons the silicon shortage hit so hard in the computing world is that AMD, Nvidia and Intel all rely on one company to at least some degree: TSMC, or the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
And because these companies all rely on TSMC, all the promises we've heard about the GPU shortage coming to an end soon, kind of fall short when you realize TSMC came out in April 2021 and warned that the chip shortage could continue through 2022 in this report from The Verge.
While that definitely is a shame for AMD, we've also heard that Intel is going to be using the TSMC 6nm manufacturing process to produce the chips for its first generation of Arc Alchemist graphics cards, according to PCGamer.
So while Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger may have gone on Twitter to reassure gamers that Intel is going to try to push out millions of graphics cards every year to meet the unprecedented demand, it's hard not to ask how Team Blue is going to do that.
(Image credit: TSMC)
New foundries will take time
The lack of foundries to build new chips is only one part of the problem stopping more gamers from getting their hands on new graphics cards, but it is probably the most pressing one. The obvious solution would be to build new foundries, but that's easier said than done.
TSMC did work with the US government to start building a new chip foundry in Arizona back in 2020, via TechCrunch, but even though that was a couple years ago now, the plant isn't scheduled to start producing chips until 2024 - another two years from now.
Intel is also working to open new foundries, but it's likely that Team Blue's facilities will face a similar amount of set-up time. All of these new facilities are very much long-term solutions, leaving us scrambling for immediate relief. Immediate relief that's probably not coming.
The leadership of AMD, Nvidia and Intel have all assured us that these companies are working day and night to provide more graphics cards, but the problem is so much bigger than any one of them.
The awful part of that is that anyone that wants a graphics card that won't cost an arm and a leg is likely going to have to wait at least another year. That's even more painful to hear at the beginning of a new console generation, when games traditionally get a bit harder to run on older hardware.
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The 2022 Presidents' Day sales event is now less than a month away (Monday, February 21, to be exact), which means there's no better time than the present to start preparing for this year's bargain bonanza. We've created this guide to tell you everything about the Presidents' Day sales event, plus today's best early deals on TVs, mattresses, appliances, and more.
Presidents' Day sales mean massive discounts on home items, focusing on furniture and major appliances from retailers like Home Depot, Walmart, and Lowe's. You'll also find deals on kitchen appliances and vacuums as well as best-ever offers on mattresses with sitewide sales and free accessories from online brands like Nectar, Purple, Casper, and more.
If you're looking for tech bargains, you'll also find President's Day deals on best-selling TVs, laptops, tablets, and headphones from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Dell, and Amazon.
Below you'll find everything you need to know about this year's Presidents' Day sales event, such as when deals start, where you can find the best bargains, last year's top offers, and today's best sales if you're looking to score a discount right now. Make sure to bookmark this page, as we'll be updating it with all the best deals as soon as they drop.
Today's best sales ahead of Presidents' Day
While we haven't spotted any official Presidents' Day sales yet, we've listed today's top offers below from retailers we expect to see offers during the upcoming holiday event.
If you're looking for today's best deals ahead of Presidents' Day, we've listed the top bargains we've spotted, which include bargains on TVs, tablets, mattresses, AirPods, appliances, and more.
Today's top deals
Home Depot appliance sale |Save up to $900 on top-brand appliances If you're looking for appliance deals right now, Home Depot is currently offering up to $900 on washers and dryers, dishwashers, laundry packages, and more from top brands including GE, Whirlpool, Samsung, and Maytag.
TCL 70-inch Class 4 Series LED 4K TV:$829.99$499.99 at Best Buy
Save $330 – One of our favorite TV deals this week is this massive 70-inch 4K TV from TCL that's on sale for just $499.99. A fantastic price for a big-screen 4K TV, the TCL 4 Series display features 4K HD resolution, Chromecast, and the Google Assistant built-in and works with Amazon Alexa for hands-free control.
Fire TV Stick Lite with Alexa Voice Remote:$29.99$18.99 at Amazon
Save $11 - Amazon has the best-selling Fire TV Stick Lite on sale for just $18.99 - only $1 more than the record-low price. The budget streaming player allows you to enjoy tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills and features an Alexa voice remote.
PowerXL Vortex Air Fryer Pro Plus 10 Quart:$152$129 at Walmart
Save $21 - If you're looking for an air fryer deal ahead of this year's Presidents' Day sales, Walmart has the PowerXL Vortex on sale for just $129. Perfect for large families, the 10-quart air fryer features ten smart programs, so you can easily whip up your favorite fried foods with less oil.
All-new Apple AirPods Pro:$249$197 at Amazon
Save $52 - You can get Apple's best-selling AirPods Pro on sale for $197. While we've seen the earbuds drop to $159 during Black Friday, this is the best deal you can find right now. The all-new AirPods Pro includes a MagSafe Charging Case alongside the new 2021 edition of the classic AirPods.
Nectar Memory Foam mattress: from $798 $499 + $399 free gifts at Nectar Sleep
Editor's choice - Nectar's memory foam sits at number two in our mattress rankings and is exceptional value for money. It's extremely competitively priced, with a queen down from $1,298 to $799, and you'll get two free cooling pillows, sheets, and a mattress protector worth $399 added to your order. There's also a year-long risk-free trial to decide whether you like it, and a forever warranty.
Fitbit Luxe:$149.95$99.95 at Amazon Save $50 - Named Techradar's best fitness tracker of 2021, the Fitbit Luxe features a stylish design, excellent activity tracking and provides up to five days of battery life. Amazon has the fitness tracker on sale for just $99.95, which is the lowest price we've ever seen for the ultra-thin activity tracker.
Hisense 65-inch R6 Series 4K Smart TV:$498$448 at Walmart
Save $50 - Walmart has this 65-inch set from Hisense on sale for just $448. The 4K display packs Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10, DTS Studio Sound, and includes the Roku operating system so you can easily stream your favorite apps from the home screen of your TV.
Samsung Chromebook 4: $229.99 $133.99 at Walmart
Save $97 – The Samsung Chromebook 4 is usually more expensive than similar devices so we tend to pass on it, but it's still got a strong discount this week at Walmart. It's almost identical to the Lenovo above with the same 4GB of RAM and 32GB storage, but you do get an Intel processor instead. The longer battery life of up to 12.5 hours may also suit those who are more on the go.
Nutri Ninja personal blender QB3001:$59.99$39.99 at Walmart
Save $20 - Ninja's entry-level personal blender comes with two 16 fl oz canisters and two to-go cups so you can blend your drink and take it with you without having to decant it. While it's not the lowest price we've seen, it's still a decent discount if you're in the market for a personal blender right now.
Samsung 55-inch 4K Smart TV:$497.99$427.99 at Walmart
Save $70 – If you're looking for a mid-size TV deal, Walmart has the Samsung 55-inch 4K TV on sale for just $427.99. You're getting a stunning 4K Crystal display and smart capabilities, so you can easily stream all your favorite movies and TV shows from apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away XL Upright Vacuum:$199$99 at Walmart
Save $100 - You can score a $100 discount on the top-rated Shark navigator vacuum at Walmart right now. The upright vacuum features a convenient detachable pod so you can easily clean stairs and furniture and includes an extendable hose for hard-to-reach areas.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2021 (128GB):$1,099$999 at Amazon
Save $100 - You can get the 2021 iPad Pro on sale for $999 at Amazon. That's a $100 discount and the lowest price we've seen for the 12.9-inch tablet. The iPad Pro packs 128GB of storage and delivers laptop-like power and speed thanks to Apple's M1 chip. The Silver model is in stock and ready to ship, and the Space Grey version has a ship date of February 17 to 24.
The DreamCloud mattress:from $899$701 + $399 free gifts at DreamCloud
Great-value hybrid - If you're looking for a great mattress deal ahead of Presidents' Day, the DreamCloud is the best-value hybrid mattress you can buy, with a 22% discount and $399-worth of free gifts added to your order. Graded as 'luxury firm' (6.5/10), it's a generous 14 inches deep, with five layers, including contouring gel memory foam to relieve pressure, and a layer of individually cased innerspring to provide extra support and increased airflow.
LG C1 OLED (65-inch):$2,499.99$1,796.99 at Amazon Save $703 - You can get LG's stunning C1 OLED TV on sale for $1,796.99. That's a massive $703 discount and the lowest price we've seen for the 65-inch display. Perfect for watching the Super Bowl - the LG C1 is one of the best TVs you can buy, thanks to the stunning OLED display, Alpha a9 Gen. 4 processor, and virtual surround sound audio.
Fitbit Versa 3:$229.95$179.95 at Amazon Save $50 - Amazon has the feature-packed Fitbit Versa 3 on sale for a record-low price of $179.95. The top-rated smartwatch features built-in GPS for tracking runs, walks, and bike rides, plus contactless payments, sleep tracking, all-day heart rate monitoring, voice controls, and more.
When is Presidents' Day 2022?
Presidents' Day is a US federal holiday that takes place on the third Monday of February to celebrate all US presidents. George Washington's birthday was celebrated on February 22, which is where the holiday originated from, starting in 1879. This year, Presidents' Day falls on Monday, February 21, with the holiday weekend kicking off on Friday, February 18.
When do Presidents' Day sales start?
We typically start to see Presidents' Day sales popping up in early February, with mattress and appliance deals from Home Depot and Lowe's leading the pack. You'll find tech sites like Dell and HP launching their sales the week before Presidents' Day, and big retailers like Best Buy and Walmart will typically hold off and kick off their promotions during the holiday weekend.
We'll be updating this guide with all the best early offers, so make sure to bookmark this page for all the latest updates.
Where can I find the best Presidents' Day deals?
Presidents' Day sales typically focus on home items with discounts on major appliances, kitchen devices, furniture, and vacuums from retailers like Home Depot, Wayfair, Lowe's, Target, and more. You'll also find best-ever deals on mattresses with sitewide sales and free accessories from online brands, including Nectar, Tuft & Needle, and Purple.
If you're interested in tech deals, you'll find clearance prices on last year's best-selling tech with offers on laptops from HP and Dell and TV bargains from Best Buy and Walmart. Amazon also usually offers discounts on its own devices, so you can save on Fire TV sticks, Echo smart speakers, tablets, and more.
Presidents' Day sales: last year's top deals
You'll find last year's best Presidents' Day deals which can give us an idea of what will be on sale during this year's event. Last year the top offers included AirPods, mattresses, TVs, and appliance sales from Home Depot and Lowe's.
Apple AirPods Pro:$249$199.99 at Amazon
Save $50 - Amazon has the AirPods Pro on sale for $199.99. The truly wireless earbuds feature active noise cancellation, and the wireless charging case delivers more than 24 hours of battery life.
Sceptre 50-inch 4K UHD Smart TV:$499.99$260 at Walmart
Save $240 – You can get a fantastic nearly half-price deal on this 4K TV, which features smart tech to complement its stunning picture quality. It uses the Android TV platform and has Google Assistant built in, so you can use your voice to control both your TV and compatible smart home devices.
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress:from $798$499 + $399 of free gifts
Save up to $800 - Nectar's premium, medium-firm memory foam mattress is extremely comfortable and supportive and was named best mattress for pure value from our sister site Tom's Guide. Nectar's Presidents' Day sale includes a $400 discount on the mattress and you'll get $399-worth of free gifts added to your order, including luxury sheets, pillows, and a mattress protector.
Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, GPS):$399$379 at Amazon
Save $20 - The all-new Apple Watch Series 6 gets a $20 price cut at Amazon. The all-new 40mm smartwatch features a new S6 processor, blood oxygen monitoring (although most won't use that), an ECG app, and elevation tracking. This deal applies to the Black sport band.
Home Depot Presidents' Day sale |Save up to $400 on top-brand appliances Home Depot's Presidents' Day sale includes big savings on top brand appliances like washers and dryers, refrigerators, ranges, vacuums, and more. You can save up to $400 on brands like Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, and more.
Westinghouse 58-inch 4K UHD Roku TV:$449.99$329.99 at Best Buy
Save $120 - An incredible price for a 58-inch 4K TV, you can get this Westinghouse set on sale for just $329.99 at Best Buy. This smart TV comes with the Roku experience for easy access to all the top streaming channels.
Instant Pot IP-DUO80 pressure cooker - stainless steel:$139.95$99 at Amazon
Save $40 - This Instant Pot is now under $100 at Amazon, a decent saving on the 8-Qt model. The multi-cooker comes complete with all the fast cooking you'd expect from the nation's favorite multi-cooker, but also offers an easy to clean, fingerprint resistant stainless steel design to boot... plus it holds eight liters of liquid.
Vizio 70-inch 4K UHD Smart TV:$758$588 at Walmart
Save $170 - Enjoy the big game on this 70-inch 4K TV that's on sale for just $588 at Walmart. The Vizio TV features smart capabilities and delivers bright, bold colors with sharp contrasts thanks to the Dolby Vision HDR and 4K HD resolution.
Lowe's Presidents' Day sale |Save up to 20% on top-brand appliances Lowe's is offering up to 20% off on top brand appliances from brands like GE, Samsung, LG, and Whirlpool at its 2021 Presidents' Day sale. Lowe's discounts include large kitchen appliances, washers and dryers, and vacuum cleaners, and floor care.
Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress:from$999$649 + free pillows and sheet set
Save up to $350 - Cocoon by Sealy's Presidents' Day sale includes 35% off its Chill Hybrid mattress, plus you'll also get free premium pillows and sheet set - a total savings of up to $799. The 12-inch Chill Hybrid is a medium-firm memory foam mattress with advanced cooling properties thanks to the cooling cover that absorbs and dissipates heat. A Twin starts at $649.99, and you'll enjoy free shipping that conveniently ships in a box to your doorstep.
Dell XPS 13 laptop:$1,149.99$783.99 at Dell
Save $366 - The cheapest Dell XPS 13 deal currently available on the official Dell store, you would be mistaken into thinking this sale is for a baseline version. With a 10th gen Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, that's definitely not the case, however - you're definitely getting a lot of machine for your money here.
Vizio 65-inch OLED TV:$1,999.99$1,799.99 at Best Buy Save $200 - This OLED TV has a massive $200 discount for anyone visiting Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale. The premium 65-inch Vizio TV features 4K HDR, an OLED panel, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, HDMI 2.1, and a 120Hz panel.
Casper Original Mattress: from $595$506 at Casper
Save up to $194 - Casper's Presidents' Day mattress deals are now live, cutting 15% off all its mattresses. The Casper Original Mattress is our favorite of the bunch. It has three layers, and an eco-friendly, removable cover that's machine washable. Plus, it's built to suit all types of sleepers with specific support for your hips and shoulders. After discount, you can get the Casper Original Mattress (twin) for $506 (was $595) or the Casper Original Mattress (queen) for $931 (was $1,095).
If you're looking for TV bargains, you can see the best Super Bowl TV deals that are happening right now.
PlayStation maker Sony announced on Monday plans to acquire Bungie for $3.6 billion – an enormous acquisition likely to shake up the gaming universe.
The announcement followed hot on the heels of the startling news last week that Xbox manufacturer Microsoft planned to take over Activision Blizzard – so the Japanese company countered with its own major gaming acquisition.
The game development studio is best known for helping the Xbox platform launch back in November 2001 as the initial developer of the Halo series and more recently has been helming the hugely popular Destiny franchise - which is soon to release its next major expansion with The Witch Queen.
This is a developing story so expect to see this page updated as more information is made available and as our contacts reply to our requests for comment.
Bungie has officially acknowledged the announcement in a blog post. In it Pete Parsons, CEO and Chairman of Bungie explains that he sees Sony Interactive Entertainment as “a partner who unconditionally supports us in all we are and who wants to accelerate our vision to create generation-spanning entertainment.”
In the same post, Parsons adds that "creative independence" remains at Bungie's heart. This will hopefully alleviate the fears of some fans that the studio will return to how it was run under Activision Blizzard - an arrangement that was ended due to a lack of control over its IP (as explained in a 2019 conference call).
(Image credit: Bungie)
In the same Bungie blog post acknowledging the acquisition by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Pete Parsons said, “today, Bungie begins our journey to become a global multi-media entertainment company.”
He added that SIE and Bungie share a dream that Bungie’s IP (most likely Destiny) can be enjoyed by fans across “multiple platforms and entertainment mediums.”
This all but confirms that Sony is hoping to expand its efforts into video game films and TV series - following on from the likes of the upcoming Uncharted flick and The Last of Us show - and likely plans to add Bungie’s franchises into the mix.
It also answers some of the questions fans had after Bungie posted a job listing for a that referenced the “Destiny Expanded Universe” back in November.
We'll have to wait and see exactly what Bungie and SIE deliver, but we wouldn't be surprised if a Destiny TV show to rival the upcoming Halo series is in the works.
Why does this matter?
Sony’s plans to spend just $3.6 billion on Bungie make this deal seem much less significant than the $68.7 billion Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard, but looks can be deceiving.
Sony and Activision had been long-time partners - with classic Activision IP like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro feeling more like PlayStation mascots like Nathan Drake and Ratchet and Clank than third-party figures.
Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard likely felt like a big ‘screw you’ to Sony, so the Japanese company has in turn fired back by snapping up longtime Microsoft partner Bungie.
While 343 Industries now helms the Halo series Bungie was in charge of the series from Halo: Combat Evolved until the release of Halo Reach. Halo launched alongside the original Xbox and Master Chief is still the platform's most iconic character.
On top of that, we wouldn't be surprised if this Bungie acquisition is just the first of many for SIE - in a collective purchase to rival what Microsoft has spent so far on Activision Blizzard and Bethesda.
It wouldn't take too many more purchases of this level for Microsft and SIE to create a larger divide than ever between the games on their respective console platform.
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The 49ers and the Rams were the architects of the two biggest upsets of last weekend, and the form book suggests another could be on the cards for the NFC Championship Game. The hosts have lost six straight to the Niners, including a thriller that went to overtime three weeks ago. It's all or nothing for the NFC West rivals, so read on as we explain how to get a 49ers vs Rams live stream and watch the NFL playoffs online from anywhere.
Matt Stafford bested Tom Brady a week ago. Can he do the same against the GOAT's old penmate, Jimmy Garoppolo? Or should that be Deebo Samuel?
The Niners' victory over the Packers wasn't pretty, with awful special teams errors from Green Bay essentially handing San Fran a win, but Samuel was immense, stepping up to become the undisputed main man.
Stafford threw four interceptions and was sacked seven times across two miserable games against the 49ers this season, and the Rams will be hoping that alll of the speculation about Jimmy G's future could be enough to tempt him into trying to prove his worth in what may be his final dance for the franchise. If that happens, Von Miller and Aaron Donald could have a field day.
There are intriguing subplots aplenty, not least the crowd situation (silent count, anyone?) and Los Angeles' dream of playing a home Super Bowl, so follow our guide on how to watch the 49ers vs Rams online and get an NFL live stream wherever you are in the world right now.
49ers vs Rams live stream: how to watch NFL playoffs in the US
Today's 49ers vs Rams game kicks off at 6.40pm ET / 3.40pm PT, and is being televised by Fox.
If you have the channel as part of your cable package, you can also live stream 49ers vs Rams directly through the Fox website.
How to watch 49ers vs Rams FREE without cable
If you haven't already got Fox as part of your cable package, you'll need an over-the-top streaming service that includes the channel, and great-value Sling TV is the obvious starting point for NFL fans.
Its Blue package offers local Fox and NBC/NBCSN channels in most major markets, as well as NFL Network, for just $35 a month after a three-day free trial.
An extra $15 a month for the combined Sling Blue + Orange bundle adds access to ESPN 1, 2 and 3 to your NFL viewing arsenal - as well as getting you a handful of other top premium channels like TNT, AMC, TBS, BBC America and more.
The costlier but even more thorough alternative is to get a FuboTV plan. Its standard plan costs $64.99 per month and includes Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN and the NFL Network - all the channels you need to tune into the playoffs, as well as the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl.
If you've mismatched a holiday or you're away on business and you want to watch your country's coverage from abroad, then you'll need to use a VPN. This will help you dial in to a location back in your home country to avoid geo-blocks and regain access to the content and services you already pay for back home.
A VPN is generally perfect for this as it allows you to change your IP address so you appear to be in a completely different location when the big game is on.
Use a VPN to live stream 49ers vs Rams from anywhere
ExpressVPN - get the world's best VPN We've put all the major VPNs through their paces and we rate ExpressVPN as our top pick, thanks to its speed, ease of use and strong security features. It's also compatible with just about any streaming device out there, including Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox and PlayStation, as well as Android and iOS.
Sign up for an annual plan now and get an extra 3 months absolutely FREE. And if you change your mind within the first 30 days, let them know and they'll give you your money back without a quibble.
Once you've chosen and installed your VPN of choice, simply open the service's corresponding app, hit 'choose location', select the appropriate country, and you'll be able to watch the broadcast as if you were back at home.
How to watch 49ers vs Rams: live stream NFL in Canada
Today's 49ers vs Rams game kicks off at 6.40pm ET / 3.40pm PT, and it's being televised by TSN and CTV, both of which also offer streaming access either on a standalone basis or at no extra cost for subscribers.
However, Canadian NFL fans are some of the the luckiest in the world, as streaming service DAZN is showing the 49ers vs Rams along with the rest of the playoffs, the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl.
Not only do you get every single NFL game, including NFL Game Pass and RedZone access, but DAZN's also the exclusive Canadian streaming home of Premier League and Champions League soccer!
It also comes with support for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, PS4, and laptop/PC streaming (including Mac devices).
49ers vs Rams live stream: how to watch NFL online in the UK
The 49ers vs Rams game is being aired in the UK on Sky Sports, with kick-off set for 11.40pm GMT on Sunday night.
The network is showing every playoff game on its dedicated Sky Sports NFL channel, along with the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl.
If you don't have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, Now TV will let you stream everything it has to offer without locking you into a lengthy contract.
If you're only interested in the NFL, another great option is the NFL Game Pass, which is also showing every remaining game of the season live. A subscription currently costs just £14.99!
Not in the UK but still want to catch the action? Use a VPN to live stream NFL as if you were at home.
How to watch 49ers vs Rams FREE: live stream NFL in Australia
The 49ers vs Rams game kicks off at 10.40am AEDT on Monday morning.
ESPN, available through Foxtel, is showing it along with the rest of the playoffs, the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, and you can also stream the action on your laptop or mobile using the Foxtel Go app.
Streaming service Kayo Sports is showing all of the above too, and is the ideal option for those who don't want the commitment of a lengthy (and pricey) contract.
Kayo lets you stream on two devices with it $25 per month Basic plan, and on three devices with its $35 Premium plan, and both come with a FREE 14-day trial.
If you're only interested in watching the NFL, the NFL Game Pass is showing every remaining game of the season live, with a subscription priced at just $27.99!
Not in Australia right now? Use a VPN if you're away from home, in order to tap into your domestic coverage.
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We're scouring the web for today's best Super Bowl TV deals, and we've just spotted a massive discount on LG's stunning C1 OLED display. Amazon has the 65-inch OLED TV from LG on sale for $1,796.99 (was $2,499.99). That's a whopping $700 discount and the lowest price we've seen for the OLED display.
Ranked as one of TechRadar's best TVs of 2022, the LG C1 OLED features a stunning OLED display within an Alpha a9 Gen. 4 processor, providing a cinema-like viewing experience with crisp images that come to life - perfect for watching the big game. The LG OLED TV also features virtual surround sound audio, four separate HDMI 2.1 ports, and works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, enabling you to control your TV and compatible smart home devices completely hands-free.
As we've mentioned above, this is the best deal we've seen for the LG's OLED TV and a fantastic price for a gorgeous big-screen display. If you're looking for a premium set, this is one of the best Super Bowl TV deals we've spotted so far, and we don't know how long Amazon will have the LG TV at this record-low price.
LG C1 OLED (65-inch):$2,499.99$1,796.99 at Amazon Save $703 - Amazon has LG's stunning C1 OLED TV on sale for $1,796.99. That's a massive $703 discount and the lowest price we've seen for the 65-inch display. Perfect for watching the Super Bowl - the LG C1 is one of the best TVs you can buy, thanks to the stunning OLED display, Alpha a9 Gen. 4 processor, and virtual surround sound audio.
At the risk of sticking my neck out, I'm going to say this - I'm cautiously optimistic for graphics card prices in 2022. Yes, things are bleak. Yes, things can only get better. But, there are glimmers of hope on the horizon this year.
Like many of our readers, I'm a long-suffering PC gamer trying to make last-gen's cards stretch just that little bit further. I've been running an AMD RX 480 since 2016 and I've watched the release of the Nvidia RTX 3050 with bated breath wondering will this finally be the one?
Long story short, I held out and the card sold out - quickly, I might add. Still, a lucky few managed to get a decent card for just $249 this week. For gamers everywhere that's fantastic news. For too long now we've had to settle for buying second cards from way-back-when or settle for horrendously price-gouged budget GPUs.
Better yet still, several sites have reported that the GPU market is finally stabilizing, if not outright improving just yet. This, alongside developments in the Crypto market, has me cautiously optimistic. I want to believe, and there's finally evidence to suggest this year it might be possible to build a gaming PC without selling a kidney or remortgaging your house.
Supply, and the increasing cost of silicone
(Image credit: Manuel Medir/Getty Images)
Now, before we get into it, for the sake of balance it's important to quickly cover a few counterpoints to what I've suggested above.
First up, the fact is that both Nvidia and AMD (and Intel, for that matter) are facing increasing manufacturing costs this year. TMSC, which is the Taiwanese semi-conductor firm that most of the big silicone giants use for their latest chips, has quoted increases anywhere between 10 to 20%, depending on the process.
Off the bat, that right there does not look good for graphics card prices in 2022. It's giving retailers and vendors another excuse to hike up those prices even before they hit the shelves to face the scalpers. Before I sound conspiratorial - many have speculated that the numbers over the past year simply don't add up.
YouTube channel TechLens for example in a post from October 2021, found that even with increased manufacturing costs, import tariffs, and shipping costs, prices were still inflated. It straight-up sucks that retailers would join in on the GPU price gouging but it seems there's evidence to suggest that that's partly the case.
Manufacturing costs aside, It's also worth noting that GPU prices have fallen in the past year, only to sharply rise again in conjunction with developments in crypto. Prices peaked over May last year, fell dramatically in July, but then steadily rose again throughout the year to November - after which they've shown signs of slowing down again. In short, it's a rollercoaster ride that no one's been able to predict with any certainty.
Analysis: the RTX 3050 launch
(Image credit: Future)
Back to the RTX 3050 launch specifically. Yesterday, cards were generally priced around the $250 mark to the $440 mark, with the cheapest being $249.99 for single-fan low profile cards with reference clock speeds. The priciest card was the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3050, which went for $489.99 according to Tom's Hardware.
No surprises - all of these cards sold out in both the US and UK (our main areas of operation) within hours, if not minutes. In particular, the beefier cards with aftermarket coolers tended to go the quickest, although that's just based on our own anecdotal observations - for all intents and purposes, most cards were gone in a flash.
While that's not exactly good news for anyone hoping to snap up a card, the fact remains that some lucky people did in fact manage to snag themselves a pretty capable card for $249. That alone bodes well for graphics card prices in 2022, although we think there are stronger indicators for a positive change this year.
Glimmers of hope
We've finally got a new graphics card that's so bad that even the scalpers aren't bothering to horde them.
You see, even though the RTX 3050 expectedly flew off the shelves this week there's actually another card that's a better indicator of where the market is going - the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT.
Now, before you say 'TechRadar, that card is absolutely dreadful' let us say - 'yes, it absolutely is'. Its performance is on par with mid-range cards from 2016 / 2017 and it's literally the same $220ish price at launch. That, however, has meant that as of writing this card is still in stock at Amazon for $299 - even a full week after its release.
Yep, we've finally got a new graphics card that's so bad that even the scalpers aren't bothering to horde them. Hyperbole aside, however, this is the first launch we've seen in over a year that's resembled anything normal - and gamers should see that as a positive change for 2022. It's a bad card, sure, but we've seen equally bad (and older) cards go for more over the past year, even on the second-hand market.
There's also the fact that we could be seeing major changes in the Crypto market for 2022. As of writing, both Bitcoin and Ethereum are currently facing a slump in value (I'm wary of calling it a crash) and the latter is also set to move to proof of stake this year. While it's almost a certainty that cryptocurrencies aren't going anywhere fast, the most heavily mined coin moving to an infrastructure where GPU mining is no longer profitable is eye-wateringly good news for gamers.
And, even better still the heavily rumored Intel Arc GPUs are on their way this year. Will they be the silver bullet? Let's face it - it's not likely, although more competition and demand from the silicone giants has generally always been a win for consumers.
Verdict: better, yet still dystopian
(Image credit: Future)
An optimistic but realistic prediction for 2022 is we'll no longer be paying two to three times MSRP for a card but closer to 30% more by the end of the year.
So, what am I getting at here? Well, right here is the bitter truth of graphics card prices in 2022; demand is going to stabilize, overall prices are going to fall, but we'll likely still be faced with poorer choices circa pre-2020. I base that on the launch of RX 6500 XT, the RTX 3050, and the observed stabilization in GPU prices from well-known tracking sites like Tom's Hardware, TechSpot, and 3D Center.
In particular, the Tom's Hardware article highlights something very interesting - not only are cards starting to get ever-so-slightly cheaper on eBay, but the overall number of transactions is now trending down. If demand is falling, surely we'll see prices following soon enough.
An optimistic but realistic prediction for 2022 is we'll no longer be paying two to three times MSRP for a card but closer to 30% more by the end of the year. We're already seeing markups as low as 59% for some higher-end AMD cards new, so I don't think it's wildly unrealistic to expect this if demand stabilizes.
I can't believe that's an optimistic prediction, but here we are - we're arriving in a sort of post-crypto dystopian landscape, at least for gamers. I'd mirror my colleague Jackie's thoughts that budget PC gaming is dead for six months at least but there are at least glimmers of hope for those who want to spend less than $500 on a GPU. That said, it seems very unlikely we'll see a return to the good old days when you could get a GTX 1060 or RX 580 for $250 at launch. A man can dream, though...
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If you're looking to snag a cheap Super Bowl TV deal this weekend, then you're in luck. Amazon is discounting a range of smart Fire TVs with prices starting at just $119.99, and we've rounded up the best deals for you below.
Amazon's cheap Super Bowl TV deals include the Fire TV experience, which allows you to stream movies and TV shows from apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and more. The Fire TVs also feature a handy voice remote with Amazon Alexa so you can use your voice to launch apps, search for titles, play music, and control compatible smart home devices.
See today's best Super Bowl TV deals from Amazon below with a range of prices and sizes from brands like Toshiba and Insignia. Amazon's offers include record-low prices, so if you see a deal you like, we recommend taking advantage now before it's too late.
Insignia 24-inch Smart HD Fire TV:$169.99$119.99 at Amazon
Save $50 - If you're looking for a smaller budget set, Amazon has this Insignia 24-inch HD TV on sale for just $119.99. While this isn't the lowest price we've seen (just $20 more than the record-low), it's the best deal you can find right now and not a bad price for an HD TV with the Fire OS and a handy Alexa voice remote.
Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV:$469.99$329.99 at Amazon Save $140 - This mid-size Super Bowl TV deal from Amazon is slashing $140 off the price of the 2021 50-inch 4K TV. That brings the price down to a record-low price of $329.99. A fantastic value, the 50-inch set includes 4K HD resolution, the Fire TV OS, and an Alexa voice remote.
Amazon Fire TV 55-inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV:$519.99$379.99 at Amazon Save $140 - You can grab Amazon's all-new 55-inch 4K Fire TV on sale for just $379.99. That's a massive $140 discount and the lowest price we've seen. The 55-inch 4K TV is packed with premium features such as 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, and Dolby Digital Plus and has the Fire operating system built right in for easy streaming.
Insignia 50-inch F50 Series Smart 4K QLED Fire TV (2021):$599.99$429.99 at Amazon
Save $170 - Amazon's Super Bowl TV deals include the all-new Insignia 50-inch QLED TV that's on sale for just $429.99. Not only will you get a 4K image with Quantum Dot technology, but the Insignia set also includes smart capabilities with Amazon Alexa built-in for hands-free control. This is the best deal you can find right now and an incredible price for a QLED TV.
All-New Toshiba 55-inch 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (2021):$799.99$529.99 at Amazon
Save $270 - Amazon is offering a massive $270 discount on the all-new Toshiba 55-inch 4K Fire TV. Packed with premium features, the 2021 set includes Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10, DTS Virtual: X, and the Fire operating system for seamless streaming.
Insignia 65-inch 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (2020):$569.99$539.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - This Insignia 65-inch 4K smart TV is on sale for $539.99 at Amazon's Super Bowl TV sale. The 65-inch display features an Alexa voice remote and the Fire TV OS so you can seamlessly stream from apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and more.
