Latest from Tom's Guide AU in Walmart

I used ChatGPT to find the best Prime Day deals — and some of them are even better than Amazon’s discounts

Elton Jones — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:30:00 +0000

Forgive me for being extra late to the movement, but I was today years old when I learned about the “Anti-Prime Day” trend.

Simply put, it’s a period where non-Amazon retailers launch competing sales events with attractive discounts for all manner of items. Now that we’re smack dab in the middle of this year’s installment of Prime Day sales, I’m keen on checking out the abundance of sweet deals I can find.

As a fan of wearable devices, video games, action flicks, trading card games and books, I had a feeling that some of the retailers I frequent inside and outside my home could hook me up with the appropriate items.

So I made a beeline to ChatGPT and asked it what methods I should adopt to cash in on the most appealing Anti-Prime Day sales. Not only did it show me the best price history tools to use, but it also sent me to one of my favorite retailers to discover discounts that are better than some Prime Day sales.

Adopting the best Anti-Prime Day discount searching methods

(Image credit: Getty Images)

After asking ChatGPT how to come out at the end of Anti-Prime Day sales with the best deals imaginable, it responded with this statement to put me on the right path:

If you're trying to find the best Anti-Prime Day sales, the goal isn't just to avoid shopping on Prime Day—it's to take advantage of the fact that almost every major retailer launches competing discounts during the same period.

Then it went on to list a bunch of competing online retailers that currently have a long list of amazing products being sold at good to great prices:

Best Buy (Tech Fest Sale; Ends on Sunday, June 28)
Kohl’s (Deal Days; Ends on Sunday, June 28)
Cozy Earth (Cozy Day Deals: Ends on Saturday, June 27)
Bugaboo (Summer Sale; Ends on Tuesday, July 7)
Athleta (Semi-Annual Sale; Ends on Sunday, June 28)
Walmart (Walmart Deals; Ends on Sunday, June 28)

The chatbot also made mention of what items tend to get discounted to their lowest possible prices during Anti-Prime Day sales. The ones that stood out to me from that list included physical video games, gaming accessories, headphones, anime box sets, graphic novel omnibuses, manga box sets, LEGO sets and 4K Blu-rays.

ChatGPT also recommended the perfect Anti-Prime Day setup to rely on, which primarily focused on using a bunch of efficient price history tools:

Keepa for deep Amazon price history.
CamelCamelCamel for quick verification.
Slickdeals alerts for deal discovery.
Honey for cross-retailer coupon and price tracking.
Compare prices at Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Barnes & Noble before buying.
One useful rule: if a Prime Day deal isn't at or near the lowest price shown in Keepa or CamelCamelCamel, it's usually worth waiting for a better sale later in the year. Multiple deal experts and experienced shoppers use that exact approach to avoid fake discounts and inflated "was" prices.

The six Best Buy goodies I came across

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Since my main focus during all those Anti-Prime Day sales was getting the best prices for a new smartwatch, a couple of video games, a collection of films starring an iconic spy and a set of trading cards I had been eyeing for a long time, I ended up on Best Buy’s digital storefront and found exactly what I wanted.

And what’s even better about these finds is how their discounts ended up being better than the ones seen on Amazon:

Garmin - Forerunner 165 GPS Smartwatch: was $249.99 now $199.99 ($249.98 on Amazon)
BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster - Nintendo Switch 2: was $39.99 now $19.99 ($49.99 on Amazon)
STREET FIGHTER 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition - Nintendo Switch 2: was $59.99 now $29.99 ($49.95 on Amazon)
Gothic 1 Remake - PlayStation 5: was $59.99 now $23.99 ($59.88 on Amazon)
The James Bond Collection (24 Films) - Blu-ray: was $68.06 now $61.26 ($98.99 on Amazon)
Wizards of The Coast - Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Starter Kit: was $19.99 now $14.99 ($19.99 on Amazon)

The takeaway

I owe it to my living under a cave at some point and not even knowing about Anti-Prime Day before this little ChatGPT experiment I conducted. Better late than never, I say!

My go-to chatbot helped me set up a winning game plan for this week’s digital sales from a variety of online retailers, use price history tools to compare all the items I had sitting on my Amazon wish list and find much better prices for those same items through Best Buy.

What started this year as a money-saving experiment has now morphed into an annual tradition for me and my wallet.

Shopper spots Walmart's new Google TV streaming device in store — and it's ridiculously cheap

scott.younker@futurenet.com (Scott Younker) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:50:59 +0000

Walmart is taking on Google at its own game with the company's take on Google TV streaming devices. After leaks, the devices might be coming out now.

Two weeks ago, a Redditor revealed patent-style drawings of an alleged Walmart Google TV Streamer lookalike. This week, a different Reddit user may have found a new version of Walmart's Onn Google TV streaming stick in the wild.

Reddit user u/JustLook361 spotted the streaming device at their local Walmart. In a comment, they said it was mixed in with other streaming sticks, indicating it may have been shelved accidentally.

Based on the packaging, the new streaming stick appears to support 4K streaming and features a built-in HDMI plug. The box advertises "Google TV with Gemini" and 2GB of RAM, 8GB of storage and a new quad-core chipset.

Redditor u/JustLook361

I was not able to find the new stick on the Walmart website. However, the side Android TV Guide has a specs sheet which appears to match the box.

The box has an HDMI extender, a voice remote with included AAA batteries and a wall adapter.

The hardware wasn't taken out of the box (but the Reddit user promised a video was coming). They said Walmart sold them the device for $30.

All in all, it appears to be a quality Chromecast replacement, especially as Google has abandoned that form factor.

The Redditor promised an unboxing video today, if they actually provide one we'll update this article with the video.

What's the deal?

According to 9to5Google, Walmart can be erratic with its releases. As an example, the 4K dongle appeared in stores in mid-April 2023 and online two weeks later. However, it wasn't officially announced until mid-May.

The new device fits in with other Onn streaming devices that sell from $25 to $40. All of those devices are out of stock on the Walmart website, suggesting that new products could drop soon.

Who knows, in a couple of weeks, we could start seeing more of these devices and an official announcement.

Walmart's 12 hidden gems to add instant style to your yard this spring — all under $40

Cynthia Lawrence — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:15:00 +0000

Now that we can look forward to seeing brighter days, it's the ideal time to give your yard or patio a spring makeover. And if you want luxe appeal for less, you don't even have to break the bank.

I've just spotted some eye-catching decor gems on Walmart that will instantly spruce up your yard. From stylish planters and rattan solar lights to soft cushions and patterned rugs to add those cozy vibes. In fact, these are ideal for hosting those backyard gatherings and creating a more inviting space.

I've rounded up my favorite Walmart outdoor picks that I'll be putting into my shopping cart right now.

Best Choice Products

Best Choice Products Outdoor Raised Metal Oval Garden Bed, Planter Box

Nicole Miller

Nicole Miller Danica Geometric Indoor/outdoor Area Rug

Mainstays

Mainstays Jordan Large Round Vanilla Dream Resin Planter

REKOPI

Rekopi Patio Side Table, Plant Stand

BN-LINK

Solar Lantern Flickering Flame Outdoor Waterproof Hanging Lanterns Decorative, 2 Pack

My Texas House

My Texas House 8 Inch Goblet Woven Planter Urn Shape, Brown

Mainstays

Mainstays Plug-In Beige Rattan Outdoor String Lights

VOTRUDI

Votrudi Seat Cushion, Soft Cushion Pad

Mainstays

Mainstays Multi Stripe 1 Piece Rectangle Outdoor Chair Cushion

FMLIFOU

Modern Tall Square Tapered Plastic Planter Box With Removable Liners Indoor Outdoor Porch Patio Flower Pot

Mainstays

Mainstays 3-Wick Floral Scene Scented Jar Candle, Starlit Skies

Unbranded

2 Pcs Vases Inelastic Flower Pot

Walmart CEO steps down and he's not the only one — here's how AI is reshaping corporate leadership

Elton Jones — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:16:22 +0000

The recent uptick in AI becoming a central part of company workflows has caused professionals to panic as they now fear a future where this tech will replace them.

And while it’s disheartening to hear about mass layoffs from major companies due to AI automation/implementation, it’s shocking to find out AI is the reason behind several company heads stepping down recently.

Longstanding CEOs who have been with their companies through times of great change are now being met with an uptick in AI that has convinced them to relinquish their roles to someone better suited to handle the implementation of this constantly evolving technology.

AI isn't just replacing tasks; it's replacing CEOs. From Walmart to Coca-Cola, tech’s biggest leaders are stepping down as the "AI Succession" begins.

Three companies in particular stand out among this recent trend: Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Adobe. Here is what led Walmart CEO Douglas McMillon, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to step away from their roles and how their decisions to do so were influenced by AI.

Riding AI’s next wave

During an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box, former Walmart CEO Douglas McMillon explained the reason behind his recent departure. After holding the role since 2014, he decided to hand over the reins to John Furner, who left his position as head of Walmart U.S. to step up to the CEO role. Furner has been the CEO of Walmart since February 1.

McMillon spoke about the major transformations brought about by AI and how it was time for someone new to confront them for his company. “With what’s happening with AI, I could start this next big set of transformations with AI, but I couldn’t finish,” McMillon said to CNBC. “About a year ago, I really started feeling like this next run, you could see what agentic commerce was going to look like, the vision for AI shopping, and I started thinking about everything that needs to happen over the next few years, and it really caused me to think that now was the right time [to step down].”

Outgoing Coca-Cola CEO James Quincy also made a recent appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box and delved into his reasoning for stepping down at the end of this month and passing the torch to COO Henrique Braun.

“In a pre-AI, a pre-gen-AI mode, we made a lot of progress,” he stated. “But now there’s a huge new shift coming along.” Quincy supports his company’s foray into major technological advancements and supports putting someone in place who is well-equipped to handle those massive changes. “My job is also to think who’s the best team to put on the field to get the next wave done,” Quincey stated. “And I concluded that, actually, it was time to put someone else on the field for the next wave of growth.” Quincy has held the role of CEO of Coca-Cola since 2017.

Shaping the next era of creativity

(Image credit: g0d4ather/Shutterstock)

Other companies, like Adobe, are looking ahead to a future where the company can compete with generative AI software through its own AI products, such as Firefly. In a memo to the rest of the company, former Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen recognized the rising presence of AI and how Adobe will rise to the occasion to stay in tune with its evolution.

“The next era of creativity is being written right now — shaped by AI, by new workflows and by entirely new forms of expression, “ he said. “Adobe has never waited for the future to arrive. We’ve anticipated it. We’ve built it. And we’ve led it. What gives me the greatest confidence isn’t just our technology — it’s our people. Your ingenuity, resilience and commitment to customers are what will define this moment.”

Narayen has been CEO of Adobe since 2007, but recently announced his plans to leave the position in a move that some say is due to investor uncertainty over the company’s ability to compete in a creative software sector filled with AI.

The takeaway

Walmart has already implemented AI tools to assist with real-time translation and task management, while Coca-Cola has — mostly unsuccessfully — used them to generate ads. Meanwhile, Adobe has created Firefly, a suite of generative AI models used for creating images and videos. With these three companies and surely more to come, it’s interesting to consider how AI will have a major impact on the companies we interact with on a daily basis.

AI may be a constant from here on out, but at least we’re here to guide you along the way and better prepare you for the best ways to leverage it for your own professional & personal benefit. Improving yourself in whatever field you’ve chosen and adapting to the ever-evolving AI tools that may be seeping their way into your profession may seem daunting, but thankfully, we’ll be here to call out and hopefully help you adapt to those changes as they come.

Walmart tipped to take on Google with lookalike Google TV Streamer boxes and TVs

scott.younker@futurenet.com (Scott Younker) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:41:52 +0000

Walmart may be developing a series of new Google TV-based devices, including a lookalike set top box and TVs powered by Google's streaming platform.

Prototype drawings were revealed by a semi-anonymous account on Reddit (spotted by 9to5Google). The device they showed appears to be a second-generation version of Walmart's Onn 4K Pro set top box, which looks a lot like the Google TV Streamer box.

Based on the drawings, the box appears to feature a USB-C, USB-A, HDMI and Ethernet ports as well as a reset button and a microphone mute button. Instead of the squarer Apple TV-esque design of the onn 4K streaming box, it appears to be a wider, lower-profile design.

It's not clear where the account sourced the images, but from browsing their posting history, they do have a history of sharing Google TV details and seem to be fairly accurate.

Redditor 513

Google TVs

(Image credit: Henry T. Casey / Tom's Guide)

In a comment on the streaming box post, and in a separate post, they also claimed that Walmart's Onn brand will be getting several different Google TV sets based on Bluetooth qualification listings. Simply, these will be Onn-branded televisions that run the Google TV platform.

Based on the listings it appears there will be 55-, 65- and 75-inch versions. There are also two different sets of product codes suggesting a standard version and possibly a higher-end version.

The TVs will be made by a company called KTC which makes its own gaming monitors and acts as an ODM for brands, meaning it designs and builds devices that other companies can put their branding on. It's a surprise since Walmart acquired Vizio in 2024, which offers its own TVs and operating system.

As we reported in January, Onn and Vizio were responsible for 5% of global TV sales in 2025 with Counterpoint Research calling Walmart "Samsung's strongest competitor in North America.”

Mostly that's because Onn devices are marketed squarely at "impulse buyers" with low prices. It's largest 85-inch models sell for $600 compared to Samsung versions that are in the $1,000 and up range.

The rumored streaming box and new Google TVs are another play at affordable devices that should work just fine.

How to watch 'The 'Burbs' online — stream the new sitcom from anywhere

Bill Borrows — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 09:56:35 +0000

"The 'Burbs" is a darkly comic look at the secrets that exist and the danger that lurks just below the surface in picture book suburban America. Keke Palmer (as Samira) and British comic Jack Whitehall (Rob) star as the young couple in this "wild ride"...

Don’t worry if you're abroad – here’s how to watch "The 'Burbs" online from anywhere with a VPN – and potentially for free.

'The 'Burbs' - Streaming details, release date

"The 'Burbs" premieres on Sunday, February 8 in the U.S. on Peacock.
• U.S. — Peacock / Walmart Plus 30-day free trial
• Canada — StackTV (Feb 12)
• Australia — Binge
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free

Their quiet and happy life ("from loft to lawn") takes a turn for the worse when an unusual new neighbor moves into a dilapidated Victorian house that is subject to much local speculation and a degree of fear. Did a murder take place there? If so, who knows about it? Why is there so much suspicious behavior in the cul-de-sac?

These are the questions that haunt Samira and so she sets about to find out with the assistance of a gang of irregular neighbors. Inevitably, Hinkley Hills' reputation as "The Safest Town in America" does not look likely to survive close examination. Will there be repercussions? What do you think?

Read on to see how to watch and stream "The 'Burbs" online and from anywhere.

How to watch 'The 'Burbs' in the U.S.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

In the U.S., "The 'Burbs" premieres on Sunday, February 8 on Peacock for $10.99 a month.

Streaming hack: You can get Peacock Premium FREE with Walmart Plus 30-day free trial. That lets you watch "Burbs" TV show at no cost! Remember to cancel the free trial before it ends. It's also good for the Winter Olympics.

Working or on vacation abroad? You can catch the show via your usual domestic streaming platform by using a VPN such as NordVPN.

How to watch 'The 'Burbs' from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "The 'Burbs" on your usual subscription?

You can still tune in thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best VPN on the market:

🟩 NordVPN deal: 3 Months Extra FREE

Boasting super fast speeds, great features, streaming power and industry-leading security, NordVPN is our #1 VPN.

✅ Get 3 months extra FREE
✅ 75% off the usual price

Use NordVPN to unblock your usual streaming service and watch "The 'Burbs" for free with this exclusive deal.View Deal

How to watch 'The 'Burbs' in Canada

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

In Canada, "The 'Burbs" drops on StackTV on Thursday, February 12.

Not in Canada at the moment? Signing up to NordVPN will help you access your preferred streaming service when you're overseas.

How to watch 'The 'Burbs' in the U.K.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

There's still no streaming release date for "The 'Burbs" in the U.K. (despite a starring role for Jack Whitehall) but when that changes you'll read about it here first.

However, if you're in the U.K. for work or on holiday, you can still catch the show on your usual domestic streamer by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN (try risk-free).

How to watch 'The 'Burbs' in Australia

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

"The 'Burbs" premieres on Binge in Australia on Sunday, February 8, the same date as the U.S..

Use NordVPN if you're having any issues with geo-blocking whilst traveling abroad.

'The 'Burbs' — Need to Know

Official 'The 'Burbs' trailer

'The 'Burbs' - Cast

Keke Palmer as Samira
Jack Whitehall as Rob
Julia Duffy as Lynn
Paula Pell as Dana
Mark Proksch as Tod
Kapil Talwalkar as Naveen
Justin Kirk as Gary
Kyrie McAlpin as Jade
Haley Joel Osment as Mitch
RJ Cyler as Rodney
Justin Kirk as Randy Oglesby
Max Carver as Mel
Erica Dasher as Trish
Georgia Leva as Cassandra
Kathleen Kenny as Mrs Peterson

'The 'Burbs' - Episode guide

Season 01 Episode 01: "The Goddam Brownies" - Home alone on maternity leave, Samira finds friendship with a ragtag group of quirky neighbours; when the abandoned Victorian across the street goes up for sale, their quiet suburban life is upended by the mysterious new neighbour who moves in.

S01 E02: "Mind Your Own Business" - After witnessing suspicious behavior from her mysterious new neighbor Gary, Samira becomes convinced that he's hiding something; as she digs deeper in Hinkley Hills' past, she starts to suspect that he may be connected to an unsolved crime.

S01 E03: "Sardine?" - Samira uses the disappearance of a neighbour's dog as a ruse to convince her new friends to break into the Victorian so she can confirm her suspicions about Gary; once inside, the group is shocked to find far more than they were looking for.

S01 E04: "A Nine on the Tension Scale" - The annual block party brings big fun and bigger reveals; amidst the festivities, rumours swirl through town and Samira suspects that Rob is hiding something sinister; as she races to uncover the truth, her reality is called into question.

S01 E05: "The Old Face-to-Face" - As glimpses of Rob and Naveen's past surface, Samira pieces together key clues and makes a startling realisation about their strange neighbour across the street - one that unexpectedly turns everyone's world upside down.

S01 E06: "Neighbor take Warning" - The cul-de-sac crew goes on a mission to uncover the truth and save a neighbor whose life may be in danger… but the threat isn't what they expected, and what they discover could upend everything they thought they knew about their quiet suburban town.

S01 E07: "Do Not Mess With Suburbanites" - Just when the cul-de-sac crew believes they've hit a dead end in their investigation, a dangerous threat suddenly lands directly on their doorstep, putting everyone on a terrifying and thrilling collision course with the truth.

S01 E08: "Only One Way Out" - Samira follows her instincts and uncovers a sinister, long-buried townwide secret -- one that threatens to destroy Hinkley Hills' image as "The Safest Town in America" and shake the community to its very core.

How similar is "The 'Burbs" 2026 TV show to the 1989 Tom Hanks movie "The 'Burbs"?

Both shows have same name and suburban setting (obvs) but also have scary neighbors and a spooky old house. The characters have different names but are broadly similar in personality while both aim to satirize suburban paranoia whilst trying to solve a mystery.

More from Tom's Guide

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I swapped my Ray-Ban Metas for these $20 smart glasses just to mock them — then they actually impressed me

Jason England — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

In a time where we’re all feeling the pinch, dirt cheap tech is becoming the main way to treat ourselves, and the $20 wearIQ bluetooth glasses really give an experience that feels more than its price tag.

I didn’t expect to be writing those words. Instead, I was ready to dunk on them hard. But with a better microphone than I expected, decent speakers and a shockingly good battery life, these feel like just the right amount of smarts for most folks reading this.

So to put them through the wringer, I ditched my Ray-Ban Metas and daily drove the wearIQs for a month. On paper, this should be a mismatch. And full transparency: it absolutely is (very much like comparing apples and oranges).

But switching to them showed me you can actually get a pretty impressive pair of specs for $20, and made me question whether there’s such a thing as smart glasses getting too smart.

For just less than $20, you can pick up the pair of Bluetooth smart glasses I tested — coming armed with polarized lenses for UV protection, decent speakers, a surprisingly good microphone and great battery life.View Deal

Can you actually call them “smart?”

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, it’s worth me noting what these actually are. They’re called “smart glasses,” but…well…they’re not. Think of them like a pair of bluetooth headphones with the tech packed into a pair of specs.

There’s no smart stuff in the glasses like some of the local AI capabilities you’ve got on your Ray-Ban Metas — all the smarts are completely dependent on that phone in your pocket.

That’s not to say that’s a bad thing (and I’ll go into that later), but your mileage will vary based on the smart assistant. On an Android phone? Great, you’ve got Gemini at your fingertips.

For iPhones, you’re stuck with Siri, which will be getting better soon through the sheer force of $1 billion per year to use Google’s Gemini, but your functionality is definitely going to be simpler for now.

The corner cut

(Image credit: Future)

And then that’s when I get into the one place where you can really feel that $20 price — the speaker quality. To wearIQ’s credit, I wasn’t expecting “great” or “good.” With managed expectations, I can safely say that the sound is “fine.”

Kudos to the team, the speakers here do have decent sound definition and clarity, and the volume is enough to hear phone calls on busy streets without distortion.

But with literally zero bass, don’t expect an auditory journey through your favorite albums. Keep your earbuds with you for that, and use these specifically for calls and a back and forth with your AI.

Feels like more than $20

(Image credit: Future)

With those early takes out the way, I got into actually using them and you know what? They’re better than I expected. With a huge variety of styles to pick from, there’s an aesthetic to match anyone, and without the obvious camera up front, people don’t do a double take thinking you’re spying on them.

Then comes the on-board microphone. When my mom called me, I was fearing the worst — a basic mic experience that is quickly washed out by surrounding noise (and yes, I did the dreaded running the kitchen tap test on it too).

But the wearIQs really held their own throughout most of my tests, and only really broke down when walking facefirst into gusty/windy conditions (the same point that I became impossible to hear on my Ray-Bans).

And finally, battery life has become a bit of a running joke for smart glasses. If you look at a pair funny, they do have a tendency of dropping to zero real quick. But what may be these “smart” glasses’ weakness (not actually being smart) may be one of its greatest strengths too, because these last long.

Taking a pair to CES 2026 and casually using them as I would any glasses (couple phone calls, some asks to set reminders and take quick notes), I got through two whole days before being warned about the low battery.

Just the right (cheap) middle ground?

(Image credit: Future)

My time with these glasses got me thinking about the whole idea of smart glasses. As the guy who regularly looks a little silly wearing AR and AI specs on this website, I’m very much on the lookout for that moment that I can say “the future is here.”

That moment where smart glasses are fully capable standalone devices while also being small and sleek enough to look like a normal pair of spectacles. Spoiler alert: we’re getting there, but the more technologically advanced pairs look a little silly on your face.

But…do you care? In the here and now, is the vision of glasses replacing your phone actually something the people want? Or are we all happy staying at the stage of not giving up our phones and just having something dirt cheap that is linked to it?

I’m thinking the answer is probably a resounding “yes,” but I’d love to know your thoughts in the poll below.

Outlook

(Image credit: Future)

My own existential crisis about smart glasses aside, let’s wrap this up. There are things about the wearIQ glasses that I can pick apart in comparison to the Ray-Ban Metas I swapped them for. But all of that melts away when you remember they’re $20.

All the styles you can pick from, the decent sound quality for calls, the strong microphones and that impressive battery life — all for the same price as a fajita at Chili’s. In a time when we both want to treat ourselves, but are really feeling the pinch, the wearIQs are a winner.

Vizio TVs will now be sold exclusively at Walmart — but it won't be until later this year

ryan.epps@futurenet.com (Ryan Epps) — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:20:11 +0000

Updated 7/23/2025: Clarified Vizio will retain its name alongside onn TVs with exclusivity from Walmart.

Vizio TVs are in line to become a private-label brand on Walmart store shelves by year's end, which means they'll exclusively be sold out of the retailer's two mega storefronts, including Walmart and Sam's Club.

Bloomberg broke the news late last week after reviewing an internal company memo. Walmart will fold Vizio into its assortment of 90 other store brands, alongside onn, Walmart's already existing TV brand.

Vizio's move into the private-label sector is in accordance with Walmart's $2.3B acquisition of the TV maker, officially sealed in December of last year.

Cheap(er) Walmart TVs on the horizon

(Image credit: Vizio)

It's no secret that some of the best Vizio TVs are also some of the best budget TVs on the market, and they're bound to get even cheaper as a Walmart private-label brand. Bloomberg's reporting provides no indication of pricing or the expected rollout date, except for a late 2025 timeframe.

Various models, like the Vizio Quantum Pro and Vizio V-Series sets, are available to purchase at alternative retailers outside of Walmart, including Target and Amazon. But it's not just the physical TVs themselves that Walmart is after.

Where other TV makers, like Hisense, TCL, and Sony, rely on Google TV or Roku OS, Vizio is a unicorn. It makes and runs its own TV interface, called Smartcast, which Walmart bet $2.3B on in its push into the TV shopping experience.

So, while Walmart moves Vizio into a private-label brand, Vizio's Smartcast, which is already being integrated onto existing Walmart onn displays, will be the beating heart of the buyout's success. Increased advertising and shoppable TV experiences, wherein consumers purchase goods straight from their displays, will be the real breadwinners for Walmart.

More ads and in-your-face shopping experiences might not be the most exciting turn of events, but at least this will inevitably lead to the advent of cheaper TVs from Walmart. Onn TVs, while some of the worst displays on the market, can cost as much as $90 to $300. With Vizio's performance gains, they'll be worth considering.

Walmart accidentally reveals its new Onn 4K Plus streaming device— and it's cheaper than Roku

ryan.epps@futurenet.com (Ryan Epps) — Thu, 08 May 2025 17:52:37 +0000

Update 05/08/2025: Walmart has now updated the product page listing the Onn 4K Plus serving up an error message.

Walmart's got another trick up its sleeve in devising one of the best streaming devices with the discovery of a product page for a new Onn 4K Plus.

9To5Google caught the updated listing, showing Walmart's new streaming box with a price of just $29. That's a huge discount over the Onn 4K Pro that launched last year at $49, and even flies in the face of the newly-debuted Roku Streaming Stick Plus, which comes in at $39.

Walmart has yet to officially announce the product, so details are sparse at the moment. But with its leveraging of Google TV, the device could serve as a new value pick in the face of Chromecast's departure from the market.

Picking up where the Chromecast left off

(Image credit: Walmart)

The product listing for Walmart's new Onn 4K Plus does give us deeper insight into the device's makeup, highlighting its Google TV operating system and 2GB of RAM. It's also set to have Google Assistant support, owing to its OS, which should give it a leg up in all things search and smart home functionality.

If accurate, the pricing is also a major win for Walmart. As stated already, it's cheaper than Roku's newest Streaming Stick Plus and even beats out the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (though, that is on sale for the same price of $29 at the time of writing).

Unlike the new Roku Streaming Stick Plus, the Onn 4K Plus will also have Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, according to the product listing, making it an even better deal at a $10 discount. The device's W-Fi capabilities are still TBD at the moment, but it will probably support Wi-Fi 6 for some extra performance with other Google smart home devices.

The Onn 4K Plus could prove a major win for fans of streaming devices who aren't out buying one of the best TVs each year, as it slots in perfectly into the budget space left in the wake of Google Chromecast's departure.

An official release for the Onn 4K Plus is still pending Walmart's official announcement, but the product details do indicate a 2025 launch window. We'll need to get the Onn 4K Plus in for testing before we can make any final judgments on Walmart's new device, but its competitive pricing and purported specs make it one serious new entry in the market.

Walmart outage — latest updates and current status on this online disruption

dave.leclair@futurenet.com (Dave LeClair) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:29:57 +0000

Users have taken to the popular outage monitoring website Down Detector to report an issue with Walmart, one of the most popular places to shop online and in person in the U.S.

The trouble seems to be resolved as of 6:45 p.m. tonight (April 17), with Down Detector reports dwindling after spiking three hours earlier. At its peak, the Walmart website loaded for many users, but affected customers either couldn't add items to their carts while others were hit with errors when trying to load certain pages.

The outage began shortly after 3:00 p.m. and shows no signs of letting up yet. However, it is worth noting that most of the reports came from cities in the southern portion of the United States, but the reasons for this are unclear.

During the outage, the problem became more widespread, but it seems to be winding down now. That said, customers are still seeing delays in receiving confirmations when they've placed orders.

Walmart outlive latest updates

The outage begins

(Image credit: Down Detector)

Walmart users quickly sent the Down Detector reports up to around 3,500, which is a lot relative to the baseline of of two. Additionally, for a website that doesn't draw as many users as something like Zoom (which was down for a good part of the day yesterday), this is larger number of reports.

Southern focused outage

(Image credit: Down Detector)

While we usually see a lot outage reports centered around Boston and New York City, this one is focused in Tampa, Los Angelas Phoenix and other southern cities in the U.S. (with a small blip in Chicago).

For my end, Walmart is working fine. I can add items to my cart and browse the site in the same way as normal (I'm based on Connecticut).

User comments

(Image credit: Down Detector)

Users are taking to the Down Detector comments section to sound off on what's happening with Walmart. It's nothing too surprising, but it does appear to be primarily focused around not being able to add items to their cart. So even if you can access the Walmart website right now, you might find that you can't actually buy anything.

Getting better?

(Image credit: Down Detector)

There's a slight drop in the Down Detector reports, with it currently sitting at just over 3,000. That could be a good sign that Walmart is getting things back to normal, but we'll have to wait and see.

Users reaching out on X

@Walmart your app is really screwed up! I can’t load anything and your home page is advertising back to school sales and promotions for October last year!!! What the heck is going onApril 17, 2025

Some users have started posting on X to Walmart stating that the app is having issues and they can't get anything to load. For its part, Walmart didn't have any information in its responses, instead asking the users to send them a direct message.

Uh-oh!

(Image credit: Walmart)

I was playing with the Walmart website to see if I could find anything to break, and I managed to get an error while clicking the Toys section under New. The error read "Uh-oh. This page could not be found."

If you're experiencing a similar error, know you're not alone, as I got it, too.

On the rise again

(Image credit: Down Detector)

Just when it seemed the Down Detector reports were starting to decline, a new batch of users flooded the website to report outages. Now, it has jumped to around 3,600 reports, which is higher than when this outage first started.

Walmart help isn't overly helpful

Let's look into this. DM us with more details, so we can figure this out! https://t.co/TdN38DcbRuApril 17, 2025

The Walmart Help X account isn't being overly helpful.

Like the main account, it's simply telling users to DM them with their problems so they can offer a solution. I've tried to DM them myself and will add a new post to the live blog if they respond with any information.

Reached out to Walmart for comment

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

I've sent an email to Walmart's media relations team asking for any information regarding the status of the company's website.

Hopefully, someone will respond in short order so we can gain some clarity on the situation (ideally, we'll receive an estimated end time or some indication of when the company will have things fixed).

Reports under 3,000

(Image credit: Down Detector)

After looking at Down Detector again, I'm finally seeing the reports drop to under 3,000 for the first time in a while.

With that said, 2,500 reports hardly mean we're out of the woods yet, so we'll need to keep a close eye on this outage for new information as it happens.

Beginning of the end?

(Image credit: Down Detector)

The reports have dropped substantially — and quickly — over the last few minutes. While they reached as high as 3,600, they're down to about 1,100 now.

This could mean the outage is coming to close, but with no official work from Walmart regarding what's happening and why the website is having issues, it's hard to say for sure.

Some users seeing success

(Image credit: Down Detector)

Some users can get their orders to go through, but they report that it takes a few attempts. Your experience may vary, but based on the anecdotal evidence from these users and the overall decline in reports, we may be approaching the end of the Walmart outage.

All systems go?

(Image credit: DownDetector)

When we check Down Detector half-an-hour ago, outage reports were totaling around 1,100. At just past 5:20 ET, it's dropped to 400.

The latest comments on the Down Detector forum seem to suggest customers are able to place their orders now with increasing frequency, so it looks like we're just about up and running once more.

Out of order?

(Image credit: Down Detector)

Among the lingering issues some people are still reporting on Down Detector's forums appear to be with placing orders at Walmart. Specifically, some users try to put orders through, only to see that order vanish. Adding to the frustration is the lack of any order confirmation from Walmart.

We're still seeing total reports of an outage declining from the high of earlier today, though it seems not everyone's service is fully restored.

That's all for now

The Down Detector incident report counter continues to fall — it's around 200 reports now. There appear to be some lingering issues, with the most common being delayed confirmation emails for orders. But barring any sudden spike in incident reports, Walmart seems to have addressed whatever was causing the outage.

Walmart has officially acquired Vizio — here's what it could mean for your living room TV

ryan.epps@futurenet.com (Ryan Epps) — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 10:02:00 +0000

It’s finally official. After nearly a whole year of delays and federal inquiries, Walmart’s $2.3B buyout of Vizio is inked and completed. It’s a surprising turn of events, showing Walmart’s perception of the TV market and how it will leverage that market to ignite its ever-growing ads business.

And while ads are definitely an important facet to Walmart’s purchase of Vizio, it’s not the whole story. There’s a lot of different ways Vizio can help Walmart, main among them being the design of some of the best cheap TVs yet. Of course, we'll have to wait a bit before we see the full weight of its purchase of Vizio come to fruition.

But for those who might own a Vizio TV or one of Walmart's Onn TVs, what can you expect to see in the coming months? Or, maybe you're considering on buying a Vizio TV right now, how might Walmart’s new acquisition change your decision? Let's dive into what Walmart's new purchase of Vizio means for you.

A whole lotta ads

(Image credit: Ad Age)

It’s no coincidence that Walmart’s US-based chief growth officer is Seth Dellaire, who previously ran Amazon’s global ad sales. It’s clear that advertising is a major part of Walmart’s business and its purchasing of Vizio will only strengthen its potential here, allowing Walmart to bridge its ads into far, far more households.

It's also not too unsurprising just how much ads make up Walmart's general business. Walmart Connect is this very arm, which saw a 30% increase in revenue year over year as of Q2 2024. Walmart Connect takes up a massive part of Walmart's business, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Vizio amplify this growth tremendously over the course of the next few years.

Walmart isn't alone. Other top-name TV brands are driving growth through ads sales, main among them being Roku. According to TVTech, Roku's platform revenue, corralling ad sales, rose by 11% in Q2 2024. Ads are so important to specific TV makers and OS leads that some are willing to take a loss on TV sales as ads are proving far more lucrative.

In addition, anyone who owns a Fire TV Stick or Fire TV will certainly have noticed that the Prime Video home screens for these devices have turned into billboards. You'll see ads for products you can buy on Amazon as well as for shows or movies you may want to watch.

And Walmart is eyeing that potential growth in excited glee, because Walmart and Roku weren't the only ones cashing in on the ads front. Vizio, too, is no stranger to making big on ads sales. Despite seeing double the gross loss on devices year over year in Q3 2024, Vizio still made bank primarily via its Platform+ business, which Walmart has its sights set on.

How best will Walmart push its ads business going into the future? Vizio's SmartCast platform, of course.

SmartCast adoption

(Image credit: Vizio)

The TV interface battle is heating up and there’s no question that Google TV is winning that race. Over the course of the last two years, Google TV has grown into one of the largest TV interfaces, with top manufacturers from TCL, Hisense, and Sony turning to Android 11 for their TV operating systems.

Not far behind Google TV is Roku, Amazon's Fire TV, and even Vizio's SmartCast. According to Statista, SmartCast had as many as 18 million users in 2023. You can assume that's grown significantly since, with Walmart Connect potentially seeing an instant major growth jump primarily through those users.

It wouldn't be too far fetched to see Walmart adopt SmartCast for its own Onn TVs, as well. Onn currently uses Google TV for its main interface, but with SmartCast Walmart could bolster its ads revenue tremendously through an additional user base, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more variety in terms of how those ads are served to users.

For reference, just look to what Roku's got cooking to see where Walmart's gaze is set. Earlier this year, we reported how Roku patented a way to show ads when content is paused. There's no doubt Walmart has similar plans for both Onn and Vizio sets, and potentially even more ways to sell you things — like shoppable ads.

SmartCast will not only make these integrations far easier (and cheaper) to deliver to customers, bypassing Google TV entirely, but also give them instant access to over 18 million households. That's a huge, huge win for Walmart's ads business, and lends credence to its $2.3B spend.

For that very reason, I might staying away from buying any of the best Vizio TVs right now — unless, of course, if you're a huge fan of ads. At least until we know how this deal is going to shake out.

Should you buy an older TV to save money? Here’s what you need to know first

michael.desjardin@futurenet.com (Michael Desjardin) — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 08:00:00 +0000

If someone asks me for tips on scoring a good deal on one of the best TVs, I usually tell them to start with last year's models. They're new enough to still be in stock but old enough to have been replaced by a newer version. Given the nature of the business, it's easy to find a TV that's 90% as impressive as its successor for 60% of the price.

Some websites — Amazon, Walmart, and more — take this even further, making available models from two or three years ago, often by way of third-party sellers. Given the prevalence of these listings, you'll almost certainly come across them.

If you're particularly parsimonious, you might be tempted. But before you punch in your credit card number, there are a few things you ought to know about reaching this far back in time for a good deal.

You're costing yourself a couple years of updates

If you buy a TV that debuted last year, it's very possible that the first software update you install will fix some performance-related issues that the TV was saddled with when it initially shipped. From there, you can reasonably expect additional years of support, depending on the brand's output.

LG, for instance, has promised five years of additional webOS support for its TVs, so LG owners will receive software updates (on a one-year delay) well into the TV's lifespan. According to Samsung, outside of basic bug fixes, most of its TVs will receive major updates for "about two years."

When buying a TV from two or three years ago, you're costing yourself a couple years of software support. This might not be an issue if you foresee yourself replacing this model sooner than most people do, but if you're hoping to squeeze as much time out of your next TV as possible, you're better off going for the one that ostensibly has a longer life ahead of it. This is because modern TVs often slow down over time.

Smart TVs tend to get slower with age

(Image credit: LG)

Much like smartphones and desktop computers, smart TVs (which is to say, all TVs) tend to slow down the older they get. This can happen for a number of reasons.

For one thing, the processors powering the software are just as susceptible to long-term degradation as they are in other devices. Additionally, like those other devices, smart TVs also rely on RAM. Over time, apps, software updates, and more fill up the TV's internal storage. Newer versions of software might be optimized for newer platforms, running sub-optimally on your older TV.

Basic TV functions are often tangled up in the overall software experience, too. Suddenly, switching from HDMI 1 to HDMI 2 suffers from the same slowdown that makes Netflix sluggish.

Ultimately, what might persuade you to opt for a year-old TV instead of a two-year-old TV is the most glaringly obvious difference of them all: price.

TVs don't drop in price forever

Now's a great time to buy the Samsung QN90C at a deep discount. (Image credit: Future)

Right now, a 65-inch version of the Samsung QN90C (a 2023 model) is on sale at Amazon for about $1,300. This is about $700 less than the newer, 2024 version, the QN90D — a pretty great deal, all things considered.

If you want to jump back a year further, you'll find that Amazon still carries the QN90B, the version of this TV that debuted in 2022. At the time of publishing, this model is listed for around $1,350. That's fifty bucks more than the next newest version of this Samsung QLED. It's not a great deal.

There's a limit to how far TV prices drop before stock depletes entirely. Complicating this further, third-party sellers are often overseeing the listing, and indeed, the entire transaction. They're free to price that two-year-old model at an odd-seeming premium and their customer service may vary. Amazon is able to step in and arbitrate issues that arise during or after the sale, but it's an added layer of hassle that you might not want to deal with.

Stay within an 18-month window

For all of these reasons, I recommend most people stick with TVs that are within a window of around a year-and-a-half. And, if you find yourself considering a TV whose age is close to the 18-month cutoff point, keep in mind that there's a good chance its immediate successor is right around the same price, what with the imminent release of yet another updated version.

Between the QN90D, the QN90C, and the QN90B, the QN90C is right in the Goldilocks zone of price and longevity.

Should you still be enticed by a good deal on a two- or three-year-old TV? Do some research on the model and brand to get a sense of how often software updates populate and how successful they've been at improving the overall experience. More often than not, these deals won't be that much better than what you'll find on a model from last year. In other words, between the QN90D, the QN90C, and the QN90B, the QN90C is right in the Goldilocks zone of price and longevity.

15 Walmart Holiday Kickoff deals that meet or beat Prime Day

anthony.spadafora@futurenet.com (Anthony Spadafora) — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:19:27 +0000

Not to be outdone by Amazon’s Prime Big Day Deals, Walmart has launched its own October sales event. Right now you can save quite a bit on TVs, tablets, laptops, headphones, vacuums, coffee makers and more as part Walmart’s Holiday Kickoff deals.

Some of the best deals we’ve seen at Walmart so far include the Apple Watch SE at an unbeatable price, Keurig coffee machines at half off and big discounts on 4K TVs from Sony and Samsung. There will likely be even better finds as Walmart’s Holiday Kickoff event continues, so check back often as we’ll keep this page updated with the latest deals as we come across them.

Here are our picks for the best Walmart Holiday Kickoff deals you can shop right now. Alternatively, for more ways to save, make sure to check out our list of the best Walmart promo codes and if you shop at Walmart a lot, you might also want to consider signing up for Walmart Plus.

Walmart Holiday Kickoff deals — quick links

iPad 9th Gen (2021): was $329 now $249 @ Walmart
Lenovo Ideapad 5 14-inch laptop: was $829 now $449 @ Walmart
MSI Sword 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $1,099 now $899 @ Amazon
Apple Watch SE (1st Gen): was $309 now $149 @ Walmart
Sony WH-1000XM4: was $348 now $248 @ Walmart
SteelSeries Arctis 7+: was $139 now $99 @ Walmart
Samsung 55” The Frame QLED 4K TV: was $1,499 now $998 @ Walmart
Sony 75” Bravia XR X90K 4K TV: was $1,498 now $998 @ Walmart
Hisense 58” R6 Series 4K TV: was $298 now $268 @ Walmart
TCL 40” Class 3-Series Full HD 1080p TV: was $349 now $138 @ Walmart
Roku Express 4K+: was $40 now $29 @ Walmart
Xbox Elite Series 2 Core: was $129 now $88 @ Walmart
Dyson V8 Origin+ Cordless Vacuum: was $419 now $249 @ Walmart
Keurig K-Mini Plus: was $109 now $50 @ Walmart
NordicTrack Studio Bike 1000: was $999 now $399 @ Walmart

Tablets

iPad 9th Gen (2021): was $329 now $249 @ Walmart
Apple’s 9th generation iPad features a 10.2-inch screen, an A13 Bionic chip, Touch ID and it even works with Apple Pencil. You can get the version with 64GB of storage for $80 off right now in either Space Gray or Silver. Need more storage? The 256GB model is also discounted from $479 to $399 at Walmart.View Deal

Laptops

Lenovo Ideapad 5 14-inch laptop: was $829 now $449 @ Walmart
With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and Windows 11, this Lenovo laptop is perfect for getting some work done. Its 14-inch Full HD display also features a touch screen and this laptop is rated for 14 hours of battery life on a charge.View Deal

MSI Sword 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $1,099 now $899 @ Amazon
If gaming is what you’re after, Walmart also has the MSI Sword 15.6-inch gaming laptop discounted by $200. For the price, you get an Intel Core i7 processor, a Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU with 8GB of RAM, 16GB of memory and a 1TB NVMe SSD. The MSI Sword 15 even comes with a 144Hz display and a backlit keyboard.View Deal

Smartwatches

Apple Watch SE (1st Gen): was $309 now $149 @ Walmart
If you don’t have a smartwatch yet, the Apple Watch SE (1st Gen) is currently $160 off at Amazon in Space Gray. In our Apple Watch SE review, we praised its large screen and responsiveness along with its classic design. There’s also plenty of apps available to help you make the most of your new Apple Watch. View Deal

Headphones and headsets

Sony WH-1000XM4: was $348 now $248 @ Walmart
Noise-canceling headphones let you listen to your favorite tunes without distractions and the Sony WH-1000XM4 is $100 off at Walmart right now. These closed-ear headphones have a 30 hour battery life and can be topped off for 5 hours of playback with just a 10 minute charge. They also have 5 built-in microphones so you can easily take calls on them. View Deal

SteelSeries Arctis 7+: was $139 now $99 @ Walmart
Regardless of which console or computer you play games on, the SteelSeries Arctis 7+ comes with a compact 2.5GHz wireless dongle so that you can easily swap between systems. This headset comes with 30+ hours of battery life and in a pinch, a 15 minute charge can get you up to 3 hours of play time. The SteelSeries Arctis 7+ also comes with virtual 7.1 surround sound, so you’ll be able to hear your favorite games all around you. View Deal

TVs

Samsung 55” The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV: was $1,499 now $998 @ Walmart
For those after a TV that doubles as an art piece, there’s no better option than Samsung’s Frame Tvs. Walmart is currently offering a $500 discount on the 55-inch version of The Frame TV with a QLED panel and a 120Hz refresh rate. You can also watch all of the best streaming services right on this TV as it’s powered by Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform.View Deal

Sony 75” Bravia XR X90K 4K TV: was $1,498 now $998 @ Walmart
If you’re after something a bit bigger, this 75-inch 4K TV from Sony is also on sale for $500 off its regular price. In our Sony Bravia XR X90K review, we liked this TV's well-designed remote control, flexible stand and the fact that it comes with Google TV. The built-in speakers were our main gripe, so you might be better off pairing this TV with one of the best soundbars instead. View Deal

Hisense 58” R6 Series 4K TV: was $298 now $268 @ Walmart
For those who just want an affordable 4K TV, Walmart is offering a slight discount on the Hisense R6 Series right now. It earned a spot on our list of the best cheap TVs thanks to its HDR support, 4K resolution and Roku’s excellent operating system. It also has DolbyVision/HDR 10 support, a log-lag gaming mode and DTS Studio Sound. View Deal

TCL 40” Class 3-Series Full HD 1080p TV: was $349 now $138 @ Walmart
While a 1080p TV may not be the first choice for your living room, this TCL 3-Series TV is $211 off at Walmart right now and could make the perfect garage TV or even work in a kid’s room. It has Roku built-in so you’ll be able to access all of your favorite streaming services and at 40-inches, it won’t be that hard to move or wall mount.View Deal

Streaming devices

Roku Express 4K+: was $40 now $29 @ Walmart
If you like the simplicity of Roku but don’t want to upgrade to one of the best Roku TVs, the Roku Express 4K+ is a great addition to your existing TV. Instead of being a streaming stick, this small box sits in your entertainment center without taking much room at all. In our Roku Express 4K+ review, we praised its speed performance and improved remote while hailing it as a solid upgrade over the Roku Premiere. View Deal

Gaming

Xbox Elite Series 2 Core: was $129 now $88 @ Walmart
The standard Xbox Wireless Controller is great in its own right but if you’re after a pro-style controller without breaking the bank, the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core is the one to get. It’s currently $42 off at Walmart and while it’s available in other color combinations, only the original white version is on sale right now. The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core features adjustable joysticks, textured rubber grips, an upgraded D-pad and you can add four rear paddles separately for the ultimate experience.

Vacuums

Dyson V8 Origin+ Cordless Vacuum: was $419 now $249 @ Walmart
This cordless vacuum from Dyson makes it an absolute cinch to give your house a quick clean and with its long handle, you can even vacuum your ceiling and other hard to reach places. The Dyson V8 Origin+ is just 5.8 pounds and even comes with no-touch bin emptying. It also charges while you store it with the included wall mount.View Deal

Coffee makers

Keurig K-Mini Plus: was $109 now $50 @ Walmart
Nothing beats a Keurig for a great cup of coffee in a rush and with this deal you can save $59 on the Keurig K-Mini in dusty rose. At less than 5 inches wide, this compact coffee maker is great for small spaces and it can brew either a 6 or 12 oz. cup in minutes.View Deal

Exercise equipment

NordicTrack Studio Bike 1000: was $999 now $399 @ Walmart
If you want to work out at home comfortably, one of the best exercise bikes is a great idea to start building out your home gym. Right now, the NordicTrack Studio Bike 1000 is $600 off at Walmart and it comes with a 10-inch touchscreen along with a 30-day iFIT Family Membership. It also comes with two 3 pound dumbbells to use in your workouts and with Bluethooth on board, you can connect your headphones directly to this exercise bike. View Deal

I picked this budget Android tablet over the Fire Max 11 — and it really surprised me

anthony.spadafora@futurenet.com (Anthony Spadafora) — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 05:30:08 +0000

Just when I thought I was done with Android tablets for good, I ended up stumbling upon what could be one of the best cheap tablets in an unlikely place.

While I’ve used and loved Android tablets in the past, last year, I decided to pick up a Lenovo Chromebook Duet instead as I figured years of ChromeOS updates directly from Google would be a whole lot better than Android updates that are often few and far between. However, even with the right stylus, I still find myself using the Chromebook Duet as a 2-in-1 laptop instead of the way I originally intended — as a tablet.

Every few years I get the itch to use Android on a device with a larger screen. However, these days, it often feels the best Android tablets like the Pixel Tablet often cost as much as a mini PC or even a decent laptop. I find it hard to justify spending several hundred dollars on a device that I may actually not end up using as much as I’d like.

When it comes to budget Android tablets, Amazon’s Fire tablets are the best bang for your buck for most people. However, as an Android purist, I could never come to terms with the company’s FireOS. Sure, you can sideload the Google Play Store and use a launcher to get closer to a stock Android experience but even then, I’d still be reminded that my Amazon tablet was running FireOS every time I opened the settings app.

While the Fire Max 11 has gotten a lot of hype online, so too has another similarly specced tablet from a company I never thought I’d buy a tablet from — Walmart. Onn is Walmart’s house brand for electronics and while I’ve never tried one of their tablets before, I’ve heard a lot of great things about the onn 4K Google TV streaming box.

When reviews of the onn 11 Tablet Pro started showing up in my YouTube feed, I thought I’d give this $159 budget tablet a try. I’ve spent the past week using it and while there’s a lot to like for the price, my experience hasn’t been without its issues.

A budget tablet with a premium feel

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Right off the bat, it’s clear why onn decided to give its new 11-inch tablet the ‘Pro’ moniker. Unlike other budget Android tablets made primarily from plastic, the onn 11 Tablet Pro features a metal chassis that has a smooth finish on the sides and a matte finish on the back. Not only does this give it a more premium look but it also makes the device easier to hold without a case.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Besides its metal chassis, the onn 11 Tablet Pro is quite thin at just .30 inches and the power button and volume rocker also have a nice feel to them. There are holes for the tablet’s stereo speakers on either side along with a USB-C port and even a headphone jack at the bottom.

There’s only one configuration of the onn 11 Tablet Pro and it sports an 11-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1200 x 2000, a 2.2 GHz Octa-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, 126 GB of storage space, a 5 MP front camera and a 8 MP rear camera. According to onn, the device can get up to 16 hours of battery life and while we haven’t tested this tablet properly yet, I’ve used it on and off for several days at a time before having to recharge it.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

If 128 GB of internal storage wasn’t enough, there’s also a microSD card slot right above the front camera. In addition to a USB-C cable and a wall charger, onn includes an ejector pin in the box and I had no trouble at all adding a 128 GB microSD card and formatting it on the device.

For less than $200 after taxes, I honestly didn’t expect to be so impressed with the design and build quality of the onn 11 Tablet Pro and the microSD card slot and headphone jack just sweetened the deal. However, it was onn’s stock Android experience that initially drew me to this tablet and I’m happy to report that it didn’t disappoint either.

A pure Android experience

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

What I really like about the onn 11 Tablet Pro is the included software or should I say the lack thereof. While you have most of Google’s first-party apps preloaded on the device, there’s only one app pre-installed from onn and as you might have guessed, it’s the Walmart app. Fortunately though, it can easily be uninstalled, leaving you with essentially stock Android.

As this tablet is designed with media consumption in mind there are a few apps and features centered around this. The first is Google’s Kids Space app which is great if you want to let your child use the onn 11 Tablet Pro, though I don’t personally plan on doing this. Likewise, YouTube Kids lets your child watch videos on the device with parental controls. Besides these two apps, you also have Google’s Entertainment Space that showcases videos, games, books and music you might like available when swiping left on the home screen. I personally prefer having Google Discover there instead which is why I ended up installing an Android launcher instead.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The lack of bloatware is one of the best things about the onn 11 Tablet Pro and with 128 GB of internal storage, you have plenty of room for apps, games and downloaded videos. If this isn’t enough though, you also have the option to add a microSD card like I did.

Android 13 runs quite well on the device even with a less powerful MT8781 MediaTek processor and when it comes to general web browsing and light work tasks, the onn 11 Tablet Pro felt quite snappy despite its budget price.

Not without its issues

I have to admit that the onn 11 Tablet Pro I’m currently using is actually my third device as there were some serious issues with the other two. However, returning my first two tablets and replacing them was a straightforward process and onn’s customer support did get back to me when I first reached out to them about the issues I experienced.

After taking my initial unboxing photos, I booted up my first onn 11 Tablet Pro and worked my way through the setup process. During this time, there was an additional 45 MB update that needed to be downloaded and installed and I think this is what led to the issues I encountered the first time around. I wasn’t the only one who went through this either as in this Reddit post, other onn 11 Tablet Pro users reported experiencing similar issues.

You see, after installing this software update, I kept getting dm-verity issues that said the device was corrupt and couldn’t be started each time I rebooted the tablet. While I thought a factory reboot would fix the issue, it persisted after completely wiping and going through the setup process multiple times.

As it turns out, this initial software update was to blame and while setting up my second onn 11 Tablet Pro, I did so offline so that the update wouldn’t be installed. While this fixed that issue, I noticed that my second tablet had a stuck pixel and decided to return it as well.

My third onn 11 Tablet Pro arrived at the beginning of this week and so far, I haven’t had any corruption or display issues though I set it up offline just to be sure. I have noticed that the stock launcher occasionally crashes after waking up the device after long periods of being idle (this could be because I’ve been using Nova Launcher instead though) but as I was writing this, another software update arrived that’s designed to address the corruption issues I initially experienced.

A new standard for onn tablets

Although I haven’t had a chance to go hands-on with onn’s new, smaller 10.4-inch Pro tablet, overall I’ve been quite pleased with the onn 11 Tablet Pro. I wanted an Android tablet to read the news, browse the web and do light work tasks on a bigger screen and when it comes to all of this, the onn 11 Tablet Pro delivers.

It appears the initial software issues I experienced have now been fixed but there are a few other caveats worth mentioning. The onn 11 Tablet Pro ships with Wi-Fi 5 instead of Wi-Fi 6 or even Wi-Fi 6E. This means you can still use the faster 5 GHz band when connecting to one of the best Wi-Fi routers, but you won’t see blazing fast speeds. At the same time, the onn 11 Tablet Pro has Widevine Level 3 instead of Level 1 which means that you won’t be able to watch 4k content on the best streaming services. This isn’t a deal breaker for me personally but it is worth pointing out for those who plan on using the onn 11 Tablet Pro primarily as a device for binge watching TV shows in bed.

If you’ve had your eye on the Fire Max 11 and don’t want to wait for the next Amazon Prime Day for it to fall back to a more affordable $150 or perhaps, like me, you can’t stand FireOS, the onn 11 Tablet Pro is a budget tablet worth considering. The bigger 11-inch screen and the more premium build quality help set it apart from onn’s previous Android tablets while the fact that you can easily return it to Walmart if you have any issues is another huge plus. I think I’ll be hanging on to my own onn 11 Tablet Pro instead of returning it as there’s quite a lot of bang for your buck at this price.

Walmart challenges 4K Fire Stick and Chromecast with $20 Google TV box

Alyse Stanley — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 21:02:08 +0000

There are already some great options for 4K streaming devices out there, like the Chromecast with Google TV 4K and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Now it seems Walmart is gearing up to launch its latest Google TV streaming box at the cheapest price point by far at just $19.88.

The Onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box was recently certified on the Google Play Console, as spotted by Android TV Guide. There's already a listing for the 4K streaming device on Walmart's website, though it's not available for purchase. (Instead it lists the option to check stores nearby and shows up as "out of stock" regardless.) But that does mean we get an early look at its specs.

All signs point to the Onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box being a successor to Walmart's line of Onn Android TV streaming dongles from 2021 (which was not one of the best streaming devices). According to the listing, the Onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box will feature 4K UHD resolution TV streaming and use the Google TV interface running on Android 12. It comes with 8 GB of storage and 2GB of RAM.

The revamped Walmart streamer would also feature an upgraded Amlogic chipset — the S905Y4 instead of the S905Y2 used in the previous model. That could mean a a slight boost in performance, but likely won't lead to any major upgrades.

The remote control looks pretty much the same this time around, with the exception of a Paramount Plus shortcut replacing the Amazon Prime Video button. Which makes sense given that Walmart has teamed up with Paramount Plus to bundle a free subscription with its Walmart Plus membership.

Analsyis: Dirt cheap 4K streaming

Again: most eye-catching of all is the Onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box's list price: $19.88. That's significantly cheaper than both the Chromecast with Google TV 4K and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which cost around $50. Even the super affordable Roku Express 4K Plus, which we crowned the best cheap streaming device, doesn't come close to that price point.

So for dirt cheap 4K streaming, looks like Walmart could soon be leading the pack. There's no word yet on when Walmart plans to release the Onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box or what other upgrades it could include. We've reached out to Walmart, and will update this story once we learn more.

With the previous Onn line, Walmart released two variants — a 1080p streamer and a slightly more expensive 4K streaming option for $30. It's not clear whether there will be a 1080p version for Walmart's revamped Onn streaming device too, or if the retailer is only launching a 4K model this time around.

Walmart just got a big upgrade that Amazon can’t match

rory.mellon@futurenet.com (Rory Mellon) — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 09:33:58 +0000

Walmart and Amazon are the two fiercest rivals in the U.S. retail space. While Amazon often comes out on top, Walmart just got a major boost in its quest to become the shopping destination of choice thanks to a new website redesign that's surprisingly well thought-out.

This revamp only applies to the Walmart homepage with product listing pages remaining unchanged, but it’s nevertheless a useful upgrade that makes shopping at Walmart.com instantly more appealing.

Previously, the Walmart homepage was pretty cluttered, placing recommended products at the forefront of the shopping experience, but this website redesign instead focuses on larger tiles that promote seasonal and limited-time sales events. It’s a subtle tweak but it does make the Walmart website a lot more visually appealing, and it’s equally well-optimized for mobile.

Scroll down beyond the large sales event tiles and things get a little more familiar with highlighted products and categories appearing in horizontal rows. But these are no longer placed at the very top of the homepage as with the previous website interface, and that’s a smart upgrade in our books.

Conversely, Amazon’s homepage serves up a rotating banner-style advertisement at the top of the page, and underneath this, you’ll find a rather cluttered mix of recommended products based on your previous purchases. Plus, a few ads for whatever new TV show or movie has just dropped on Prime Video. When it comes to the retailer’s two home page interfaces, this is a battle that Walmart is winning right now.

In a press release, Walmart’s Executive Vice President, Tom Ward, describes the change as “a more engaging way to browse and discover” the retailer’s vast selection of products. Ward also claims that the new homepage “offers a product-focused experience that better mirrors the way our customers love to shop, highlighting the items that matter most to them at any given moment.”

When it comes to the retailer’s two home page interfaces, this is a battle that Walmart is winning right now.

We still have some quibbles over the online shopping experience at Walmart. For starters, the search function often highlights goods listed by questionable third-party sellers rather than items directly sold by Walmart. Nevertheless, to give the retailer credit where it's due, this homepage refresh is certainly an upgrade, and it's made a good first impression.

There is a possibility that Amazon will respond with a redesign of its own in the coming months. As we’ve seen in the past, when one of these retailing giants acts, the other usually responds. Just look at the ongoing battle between Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus as a great example of these two e-commerce titans constantly trying to one-up each other.

Shop today's best sales at Walmart

Adidas: men's/women's apparel from $15
Adult/children's bikes: deals from $94
Board games: Clue, Candy Land, more from $4
Fitness & exercise: up to 40% off yoga mats, weights, treadmills
Gaming laptops: MSI, Asus, Gateway from $499
HDTVs: deals from $98
Kitchen appliances: save on Ninja, Keurig, Instant Pot, more from $15
LEGO toys: sets from $9
Smartphones: iPhone and Galaxy sales from $8/month
Toys: up to 55% off Barbie, Nerf, more

Yes! This 65-inch Roku TV just crashed to $228 before Black Friday

sanjana.prakash@futurnet.com (Sanjana Prakash) — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 18:03:22 +0000

Update: This deal is sold out but stores will have stock starting at 6 am ET. Check out our Black Friday deals live blog for more sales now.

The best Black Friday deals are already pouring in, making this the ideal time of year to pick up a new TV at a big discount. We're handpicking the biggest savings opportunities for you, including this sale on a 4K TV that is down to a shockingly low price.

Right now the TCL 65-inch 4-series 4K UHD Smart Roku TV is on sale for $228 at Walmart. That’s a really low price for a 65-inch 4K UHD TV and while Walmart doesn’t list its original price, TCL’s website lists its MSRP as $799. That makes this a savings of over $550 on this 4K TV. The deal is part of Walmart’s Deals for Days event.

TCL 65-inch 4-series 4K UHD Smart Roku TV (65S41): was $799 now $228 @ Walmart
This 65-inch Smart Roku TV is just $228 right now, which is over $500 off. The TCL Smart Roku TV offers good 4K picture quality with Ultra HD resolution. It comes with Roku's smart platform installed with many free Live TV channels as well. There are four HDMI ports on this TV and it supports dual band WiFi 5.

The TCL 65-inch 4-series 4K Roku TV may not be the latest TV on the block, but it still manages to pack in quite a few smart features. Notably, it delivers clear picture quality thanks to its 4K Ultra HD resolution and it also has 4K upscaling technology. It has a pretty sleek design as well and edge-to-edge wide viewing for an immersive experience.

This TV offers HDR support, four HDMI ports, and it has the Roku streaming platform baked right in. The TCL 65-inch Roku TV (65S41) is a Walmart Deals for Days exclusive that is accessible to Walmart Plus members right away and non-members will be able to access this deal starting 7pm E.T. This is a killer deal for a 4K smart TV and you will be hard pressed to find a price this low for a 65-inch TV. While this TV has its own Roku apps, if you live the Apple life, check out the Apple TV 4K Black Friday deal that delivers the price it always should have had.

You can also check out our Walmart Black Friday deals live blog for all the best deals on Walmart today. If you are looking for more savings on TVs, make sure to check our best Black Friday TV deals page as well.

For a limited time you can also get the LG A2 48-inch OLED 4K TV for $569 at Best Buy and if you are looking for a massive TV — then check out this large 85-inch LG 4K TV that just hit its lowest price ever.

Move over Amazon Prime Video — Walmart reportedly set to build its own streaming service

rory.mellon@futurenet.com (Rory Mellon) — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:05:24 +0000

Walmart is in discussion with various industry players as the mega-retailer looks to build its own streaming service, according to a new report from The New York Times.

The trade claims Walmart has held discussions with the likes of Paramount, Disney and Comcast as it looks for a route into the streaming space. There is no word yet on what these conversations were specifically focused on, or whether they ultimately amounted to anything substantial, but it would appear Walmart wants a slice of the lucrative streaming pie.

Any sort of Walmart streaming service would presumably be offered as an incentive for Walmart Plus members. The service has drawn many comparisons to Amazon Prime over the year. Both premium subscription services offer a host of similar perks including free shipping, exclusive deals and early access to next-gen console restocks.

While Walmart looks for a way into the streaming space, Prime Video service has already become a key part of Amazon's offerings to Prime members with hit shows such as The Boys and The Terminal List drawing plenty of interest. It would seem that Walmart now wants its own Prime Video in order to continue its fierce rivalry with Amazon.

This wouldn’t be the first time Walmart has explored the streaming world either. In 2010 the retailer acquired Vudu, a digital video store and streaming service, but mostly neglected the service before selling it to Fandango in 2020. There have also been previous rumors that Walmart was plotting its own streaming service dating back to 2018, but as of yet, these reports haven't resulted in anything tangible.

Analysis: is there room for Walmart in streaming?

The world of streaming is becoming increasingly overcrowded with more and more services popping up every few months. At this point, it takes something really special to cut through the noise and compete with the major players like Netflix, Disney Plus and HBO Max.

Walmart of course has the resources to build a streaming service that could compete for a seat at the table. But from a customer perspective, it’s hard to see the appeal in yet another streaming service vying for a monthly subscription fee.

After all, as the cost of living continues to spiral, signing up to multiple streaming services at once is becoming less and less practical for millions of people. There is a real possibility many households will look to consolidate and stick with just one or two services going forward, Walmart may be arriving on the scene a little late.

Breaking into the market as a rival for the big boys of streaming will be incredibly tough, but Walmart may not be looking to launch a traditional service. It could instead be planning to create something similar to Prime Video's Channels feature, which allows users to subscribe to alternative services from within the Prime Video interface.

There is also the distinct possibility that these rumors of a Walmart streaming service come to nothing. The retailer appears to be holding preliminary discussions with companies in the streaming space, but nothing concrete is likely to come of these conversations for a while yet, if ever.

Nevertheless, Walmart clearly has a fascination with streaming and may feel that breaking into the space is worth the significant time and cost it’ll no doubt require. Perhaps in a few years' time we'll be rounding up the best movies and TV shows on Walmart Plus Video.

LIVE: The best competing Prime Day deals on Walmart, Best Buy and more

rory.mellon@futurenet.com (Rory Mellon) — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 13:45:09 +0000

Amazon is offering a tidal wave of Prime Day deals, but that doesn’t mean its retail rivals are just sitting on the sidelines letting the online retail giant hog the spotlight. The likes of Best Buy, Walmart, Target and more are all offering competing sales designed to steal Prime Day's thunder.

These range from Best Buy’s Black Friday in July promotion to Walmart’s ongoing summer sale, but there’s one common theme among these deals, they’re all giving Prime Day a serious run for its money. While there are many epic offers to be found on Amazon right now, equally big savings can be found at alternative retailers as well.

The best anti-Prime Day deals range from $200 off the MacBook Pro M1 at Best Buy to Smart TVs starting at just $99 at Walmart, plus there are savings on household essentials at Target. It’s easy to get swept up in the Prime Day hype and assume all the biggest savings right now are on Amazon, but make sure to shop around to ensure you’re getting the best price.

To help you find the best deals across retailers, we’ll be covering all the best anti-Prime Day deals in this live blog. So follow along for some epic savings that don’t require an Amazon Prime membership.

Top 10 anti-Prime Day deals

MacBook Pro 13" (M1/256GB): was $1,299 now $1,099 @ Best Buy
LG 55" A1 OLED 4K TV: was $1,699 now $946 @ Walmart
KitchenAid Professinal 5qt Stand Mixer: was $449 now $270 @ Target
iPhone 13 Pro: save up to $700 @ Best Buy
Lenovo Ideapad 3i laptop: was $699 now $399 @ Walmart
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild: was $59 now $39 @ Walmart
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones: was $349 now $228 @ Best Buy
Dyson TP01 Tower Air Purifier and Fan: was $399 now $299 @ Target
Eufy RoboVac 25C: was $249 now $149 @ Walmart
ASUS 14" Chromebook: was $299 now $149 @ Best Buy

(Image credit: Apple)

Welcome to Tom's Guide Anti-Prime Day live blog! Here we'll be rounding up all the best deals from retailers other than Amazon. The second day of Prime Day deals is just beginning, but that doesn't mean there aren't epic offers at competing retailers worth flagging as well.

For example, take the fantastic MacBook Pro M1, at Amazon it's being sold for its full retail price of $1,299, but at Best Buy you can score the MacBook Pro M1 for $1,099. That's $200 off.

This 2020 release is no longer the latest model, but it still holds its own against some current flagship laptops. The MacBook Pro M1 continues to impress thanks to its speedy M1 chip, strong battery life and vibrant display.

MacBook Pro (M1/256GB): was $1,299 now $1,099 @ Best Buy

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

One of our favorite Prime Day headphone deals is a massive discount on the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, which we rank as some of the best headphones you can buy.

However, this deal is exclusively for Amazon Prime members. But fear not if you're not subscribed to the retailer's premium membership program, because Best Buy is offering the same deal and it's open to everyone. For a limited time, the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones are $228 at Best Buy, that's a saving of $121.

In our Sony WH-1000XM4 review, we praised these headphones for their excellent audio quality, outstanding noise cancellation, the intuitive smart controls and the lengthy battery life of around 30 hours (with active noise cancellation enabled). All this easily beats even the significantly more expensive Apple AirPods Max wireless headphones. Sounds like a great deal to us.

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones: was $349 now $228 @ Best Buy

(Image credit: Nintendo)

One of the Prime Day video game deals we definitely expected to see this year was some form of a reduction on The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, but curiously Amazon has kept the popular Nintendo Switch game at full price. Thankfully Walmart is picking up the slack instead.

Right now, Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Switch is on sale for $39 at Walmart that's a $20 saving compared to its full price. You might expect a game that turned five years old earlier this year to be available for pennies, but Breath of the Wild has held its price remarkably well.

Perhaps that is because even all these years later it's still the best game on the Nintendo Switch offering an expansive open world to explore and some delightfully fun puzzles. It's also a surprisingly tough game, with an emphasis on gathering the necessary resources to survive in the wilderness. A sequel is slated for next year making now the perfect time to circle back if you missed it the first time around.

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild: was $59 now $39 @ Walmart

(Image credit: Future)

Hi, I'm Jane, Fitness Editor here at Tom's Guide and taking the reins from Rory briefly (don't despair gaming fans, he'll be back). I'm a big fan of the Apple Watch 7, and quite a few retailers currently have big savings on the smartwatch. For instance, Target currently has it on sale for just $279, which matches the price on Amazon and is a new low for the device.

Prime Day Apple deals are always popular, but if you've been holding out to invest in a new watch, this is a deal worth shopping for. The Apple Watch 7 is available in two different sizes — 41mm and 45mm — and is on sale in blue, green, black, and starlight. The watch has a larger, brighter screen than the Apple Watch 6, and when testing, we found it to be the most usable standalone smartwatch yet. You can read our Apple Watch 7 review to find out more here.

From a fitness perspective, this is a great watch to have on your wrist, and if closing your rings doesn't keep you accountable, I don't know what will. Grab it while you can.

Apple Watch 7: was $399, now $279 @ Target

(Image credit: Beats)

Here's a deal that's cheaper somewhere other than Amazon right now — Target has the Beats Studio3 headphones for $174 right now, down from the usual $349. Amazon, meanwhile, has them at $199.

Wherever you buy them, you'll be getting a good pair of over-ear headphones that we praised in our Beats Studio3 review for their comfy fit, up to 22 hours of battery life, and near-seamless pairing with iOS devices. Their active noise-canceling also does a decent job of blocking ambient sounds.

Beats Studio3: was $349 now $174 @ Target

(Image credit: Google)

As the proud and happy owner of a Google Nest Hub, I can personally recommend it as the center of a smart home. It plays particularly nicely with my Nest Doorbell, as you'd expect, but also has a lot more skills besides.

For instance, the second-gen Google Nest Hub features a 7-inch smart display and built-in speakers. This device also offers support for some of the best streaming services out there, including Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu and more. It's a bargain right now at Best Buy.

Google Nest Hub (2nd gen): was $99 now $54 @ Best Buy

(Image credit: LG)

Hello, it's Rory here again, I'm back to guide you through some of my favorite anti-Prime Day deals. Let's move over to the world of television, we've got a separate Prime Day TV deals live blog running alongside this one, but there are also some epic discounts at alternative retailers worth considering.

Case in point, Walmart is offering the LG A1 55" 4K OLED TV on sale $949. That's a sizeable $753 off its full retail price of $1,699. If you're in the market for one of the b est OLED TVs available, then the LG A1 OLED is a set worth considering (even if we ultimately prefer the more expensive LG C1 model).

This TV packs LG's powerful Alpha 7 gen 4 processor and support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Plus, it sports a full 4K resolution, HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision support. This particular model packs a rich 55-inch 4K Ultra HD display with an OLED panel and has a refresh rate of 60Hz.

LG A1 55" 4K OLED TV: was $949 now $1,699 @ Walmart

(Image credit: Western Digital)

Around this time last year, I bought a WB_Black SN850 SSD for my PS5 as I was already running out of storage space. It's been permanently slotted into my console ever since.

While Amazon is offering the 2TB model for $240, Best Buy has the WB_Black SN850 2TB SSD w/ heatsink on sale for $207. That's a huge $222 discount compared to its regular retail price of $429, and an even better deal than Amazon. To be honest, these SSDs rarely sell for north of $400, but anything less than $230 is a pretty great deal.

12 months ago I paid more than $200 for a 1TB model, so the fact you can now score 2TBs for the same price is making me wish I'd held out a little longer. Plus, because this model comes with a pre-installed heatsink it can be added to your PS5 straight out of the box. If you're struggling to free up PS5 hard drive space to install new games, this SSD is the ideal solution.

WB_Black SN850 2TB SSD w/ heatsink: was $429 now $207 @ Best Buy

(Image credit: Roku)

If you're looking to upgrade your entertainment setup without buying an entirely new TV, consider snagging the Roku Streaming Stick 4K for $29 Walmart. This is the best streaming device at its normal $50 price point, so this deal makes streaming your favorite shows and movies even sweeter.

As we explain in our Roku Streaming Stick 4K review, this TV plug-in provides you with the top interface and app store in the market; meaning, you're likely to find whatever it is you want to watch on Roku. This version also comes with a voice remote, so you can speak-to-search for the utmost convenience.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K: was $49 now $29 @ Walmart

(Image credit: Future)

Is that a freshly brewed deal I smell? Oh, it's just the Keurig K-Mini for $59 at Target. In one our favorite competing Prime Day deals, Target has discounted one of the best budget Keurig machines for by $40 — this model normally costs $99.

The tiny Keurig K-Mini coffee maker lets you get single-serving coffee in any of Keurig's 100+ pod varieties, making 6-12 ounce quickly and efficiently. It even works with My K-Cup universal reusable pods, letting you enjoy your favorite blend without adding to the landfill.

Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker: was $99 now $59 @ Target

Walmart follows up the worst PS5 restock ever with another disastrous drop

rory.mellon@futurenet.com (Rory Mellon) — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 11:20:21 +0000

Earlier this week, Walmart held a PS5 restock that many deemed the worst stock drop ever for the console. You might assume that after a restock plagued by numerous technical issues, the retailer would take some time to fix its internal ordering system before trying again — but instead, it seemingly did the opposite.

Yesterday (Nov. 2), the mega-retailer held its second PS5 restock of the week and this drop was just as disastrous as the first. Thankfully, the persistent screen-flickering issue that caused chaos during the week’s first Walmart drop didn’t return, but just about every other aspect of it went horribly wrong.

PS5 restock update: Track on Twitter, Best Buy, GameStop and more
Black Friday PS5 deals — the best early deals
More: Nintendo Switch production slashed by 20%

A Reddit thread dedicated to the PS5 restock has amassed more than 115 comments, practically all of them frustrated by the retailer’s inability to hold a drop that runs smoothly. One of the biggest complaints appears to be that many customers got stuck at the CAPTCHA verification stage. It would seem proving to Walmart that you’re a human not a bot is tougher than it looks.

Even some customers who managed to navigate through verification were reportedly greeted with a PS5 listing page that was suffering from multiple technical problems. For some, the add to cart button didn’t load at all. There are also reports of people adding the console to their cart, only to be kicked back to the Walmart homepage and asked to rejoin the virtual waiting room.

Other shoppers reported that the website would frequently crash, forcing them to reload and start the whole process over again. It’s fair to say that this drop almost certainly led to more frustrated customers than new PS5 owners — which is now becoming a recurring issue with PS5 restocks.

It should be noted that selling any product where demand outstrips supply will always lead to a degree of disappointment for those customers who don’t manage to secure an order. However, there really isn’t any excuse for PS5 restocks to be this badly managed at this point. Walmart has been selling the console for more than a year, and the retailer has had time to implement a system that allocates stock with minimal fuss. We're reaching out to Walmart for comment on the issue.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that the demand for the PS5 will die down anytime soon, especially as Black Friday deals approach. Not to mention, the holiday season will surely see the number of people looking to secure a next-console increase even more. If you’re still on the hunt, then make sure to bookmark our PS5 restock hub for the latest restock updates.

More: Ultimate PS5 restock guide — how to secure a PS5 before Christmas

How to get early access to PS5 restocks — get priority access at Amazon, Walmart, GameStop and more

rory.mellon@futurenet.com (Rory Mellon) — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 11:22:41 +0000

If you’re still trying to secure a PS5, then you’ll want every advantage you can find over the competition. Reading through expert buying advice is a no-brainer, but getting early access to PS5 restocks is one of the biggest ways you can tip the odds in your favor.

When a retailer holds a PS5 restock, every second really does count as thousands of eager customers all attempt to check out at the same time. Having priority access to a drop may not guarantee you a console, but it offers you a smaller pool of competitors, which is extremely advantageous when it comes to scoring that much-coveted order confirmation email.

PS5 restock update: Track on Twitter, Best Buy, GameStop and more
Black Friday PS5 deals — the best early deals
More: Ultimate PS5 restock guide — how to secure a PS5 before Christmas

Of course, you can only get early access to a PS5 restock if the retailer in question offers the opportunity. During the console’s launch window, most major retailers didn’t offer a way to get early access, but over the last few months, the landscape has changed. The majority of major retailers now offer early access to buying a PS5 — for those willing to pay for the privilege.

So, if you want early access to PS5 restocks at retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and GameStop, then we’ve got everything you need to know down below. Don’t forget to also bookmark our PS5 restock hub for the latest stock updates as we get them.

How to get early access to PS5 restocks: Amazon

Amazon has been experimenting with offering early access to PS5 restocks for members of its popular Amazon Prime service. This perk was originally seen on international Amazon sites, but the online retailer brought it Stateside in September with a drop that was exclusively open to Prime members.

It has since held a couple of smaller PS5 restocks open to everyone via its Treasure Truck service, but we expect larger drops will be exclusively reserved for Prime members going forward. A membership to Prime costs $119 annually or you can opt to pay $12.99 a month. You’ll also get access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and unlimited free shipping, so it’s a worthwhile investment.

Amazon Prime: $119/year @ Amazon
Amazon Prime gives shoppers access to free shipping on over 100 million products. It also includes access to services like Prime Video and Prime Music. View Deal

How to get early access to PS5 restocks: Best Buy

Last month, Best Buy held a PS5 restock that was exclusively open to Totaltech members. This would have been permissible if a Totaltech membership didn’t cost an eyewatering $200 a year. It’s fair to say the electronics retailer received a swift and fierce backlash for pulling this stunt.

Since that poorly received PS5 restock, the retailer has held additional stock drops that have been open to all. It would seem at this point that Best Buy has decided that gating PS5 restocks behind a $200 paywall isn’t the most customer-friendly decision.

If you’re a frequent Best Buy customer who already has, or was considering, a Totaltech membership then it’s worth keeping note of this perk, in case the retailer holds another gated drop in the future. However, if you’re just after a PS5, we’d suggest holding off, as the premium service is not worth the significant investment in that case.

Best Buy Totaltech: $200/year @ Best Buy
Designed to give you total peace of mind, Totaltech is Best Buy's premium membership service offering up to 24 months of warranty on most purchases, free delivery and standard installation and, previously, priority access to PS5 restocks.View Deal

How to get early access to PS5 restocks: GameStop

GameStop was one of the first retailers to start offering early access to PS5 restocks as part of its premium membership service. Since the summer, PowerUp Reward Pro members have been offered priority access to both PS5 and Xbox Series X restocks.

The system has worked fairly well to date. This, coupled with GameStop’s habit of bundling PS5 stock with additional items, has resulted in scalpers generally avoiding GameStop drops. PowerUp Reward Pro membership costs a relatively cheap $15 annually, which makes it well worth purchasing if you’re serious about scoring a PS5 this side of the holiday season.

PowerUp Reward Pro membership: from $15/year @ GameStop
GameStop's PowerUp Reward membership already came with a host of benefits, but the retailer has announced that Pro-tier members will get early access to next-gen console restocks. If you're still after a PS5 or Xbox Series X, this could be $15 very well spent.View Deal

How to get early access to PS5 restocks: Sony Direct

Sony Direct is currently the only retailer that offers early access to PS5 restocks without requiring some form of premium membership. If you want early access without having to spend an extra dime, then Sony Direct is the retailer to keep tabs on.

You can currently register for access to invite-only PS5 restocks that will be held this month. In the past, after this invite-only phase, Sony Direct has held open restocks but often drops are only for shoppers who have managed to secure an invitation, so get signed up as soon as possible.

Of course, because of this lower barrier to entry, the number of people signed up for early access to PS5 restocks at Sony Direct is likely fairly high. You’ll probably have more luck with one of the other retailers on this list, as not everyone will be willing to pay extra for priority access.

How to get early access to PS5 restocks: Walmart

After a year of selling PS5s to anybody who wanted one, Walmart is the latest retailer to jump on the early access trend. Its most recent drop was gated exclusively for members of its Walmart Plus service.

The service costs $98 a year (or $12.95 a month) and aims to compete with Amazon Prime by offering fairly similar perks including unlimited free shipping, as well as discounts on fuel and commonly prescribed medication.

Walmart has also been quite crafty and disabled the ability to purchase a PS5 during its latest drop for Walmart Plus members on a free trial. As a result, you will actually need to pay for membership to get early access to PS5 restocks at Walmart.

Walmart Plus: $98/year @ Walmart
Walmart Plus is a subscription service from Walmart. Priced at $98 per year, it includes perks such as unlimited free delivery on more than 160,000 items as well as fuel discounts at more than 2,000 Walmart and Murphy USA fuel stations. Shoppers can also opt for a $12.95/month option. Walmart Plus comes with a free 15-day trial.View Deal

Walmart’s latest PS5 restock might take the crown as the worst ever

rory.mellon@futurenet.com (Rory Mellon) — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 11:11:01 +0000

Disastrous PS5 restocks are nothing new. We’ve seen plenty of retailers utterly fail at what should be the simple act of selling a PS5 to eager customers, but Walmart may have taken the worst drop ever crown with a restock that was utterly catastrophic from beginning to end.

Yesterday afternoon the mega-retailer announced it would be holding a PS5 restock in just a few hours. This initial announcement was met with excitement, and the confirmation that you wouldn’t need a Walmart Plus membership to buy a console was even more warmly received. That’s where the enthusiasm for this restock ended because the whole thing quickly descended into chaos.

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Walmart employed a new ordering process that was apparently designed to make it harder for bots to snap up the retailer’s limited console allocation. This effort to fight resellers is appreciated, but the system was clearly not ready for prime time. Customers quickly took to Twitter to complain that Walmart’s PS5 listing page was causing serve screen flickering. (warning: video below contains flashing images).

So this just happened pic.twitter.com/1uILlpMcSFNovember 1, 2021

If that issue wasn’t enough the drop also involved a virtual queue which failed pretty spectacularly. Several customers experienced issues with inaccurate or frequently-changing wait times. There were also reports of people getting to the front of the queue and then being kicked back to the Walmart homepage rather than being given the opportunity to buy a PS5 console. A Reddit thread about the drop has amassed more than 220 comments, almost all of them negative.

YouTuber and full-time stock tracker, Jake Randall, summed up the situation by labeling it “one of the worst drops we’ve seen," and it’s hard to disagree with his assessment. While it does appear at least a few customers were able to checkout successfully, the vast majority of shoppers seem to have been left empty-handed and more than a little disgruntled.

We appreciate that selling any product where demand outstrips supply to this degree will inevitability lead to lots of disappointed customers but Walmart really needs to do better. The PS5 has been on sale for a year at this point; retailers have had time to work out a system of selling the console that doesn’t cause this many issues.

To make matter worse, the overwhelming demand for the PS5 isn’t expected to lessen anytime soon. In fact, as the holiday season and Black Friday deals arrive, we expect even more people to be desperately looking to buy a console. Don’t be surprised if this Walmart drop is only the first disastrous restock of the season.

If you’re hoping to secure PS5 in the next few weeks, make sure you keep it locked to Tom’s Guide. We’ve got the ultimate guide to buying a console this holiday season, and a comprehensive PS5 restock hub with all the latest updates. We can’t guarantee that you'll get a console, but we can definitely give you a helping hand.

More: Ultimate PS5 restock guide — how to secure a PS5 before Christmas

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