Technologies

Samsung Galaxy S23 Deals: Big Trade-In Credits, Gift Card Offers and More

Samsung’s new flagship devices are here and you can already save on one.

This story is part of Samsung Event, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Samsung’s most popular products.

The new Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra hit shelves just last month, and are the latest models in Samsung’s flagship phone series. And if you’re looking to get your hands on one of these cutting-edge devices, there’s no reason to pay more than you have to. There are tons of deals and offers out there at both carriers and retailers that can save you hundreds on one of these sleek new phones, especially if you have an old phone to trade in or need a new service plan. We’ve rounded up some of the best offers available at the moment below so you can get a new S23 in your hands for less. And with the release of the new S23 models, you can also find some great deals on the previous-gen Galaxy S22 right now as well.

Unveiled at the company’s Unpacked event last month, Samsung’s refreshed Galaxy S lineup includes the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra. All three models retain the same screen sizes as the 2022 models at 6.1, 6.6 and 6.8 inches, respectively, with a refined external design and some modest upgrades to the camera hardware, battery sizes and internal storage of the larger two models. A special version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, optimized for the new Galaxy S23 lineup, powers the new phones, which the company claims should result in faster performance.

Samsung Galaxy S23 — Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

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Whether you want to be the first to get your hands on one of Samsung’s latest phones or maybe it’s just time to upgrade from an older phone, we’ll help you save some cash on your S23 purchase. Note that the below deals and bonuses are all limited in time and could change at a moment’s notice.

How much does the Galaxy S23 cost?

The three models of the Galaxy S23 are available in various storage configurations. US pricing for each model starts at:

Samsung Galaxy S23: $800
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: $1,000
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: $1,200

Note that Samsung has improved the base storage for the Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Ultra, doubling it to 256GB instead of the 128GB found in the S22 models. The base-spec Galaxy S23 model remains at 128GB, however. Both the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus offer 8GB of RAM, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM.

What colors does the Galaxy S23 come in?

Samsung Galaxy S23 series in gray, pink and cream — Samsung

As always, Samsung has clothed its latest phones in an attractive array of colors. This time, there’s a selection of nature-inspired colors including phantom black, cream, green and lavender. All three S23 phones are available in those four colors regardless of where you buy them from, though Samsung is also offering four colors exclusive to its own online store. Those colors are lime, graphite, sky blue and red.

Best Galaxy S23 deals

Samsung

Free Samsung credit + trade-in offers

Go straight to the source for your Galaxy S23 order and nab as much as $100 in free Samsung credit to spend on accessories. You’ll also gain access to Samsung’s online-exclusive colors. Better yet, if you’ve got an old phone to trade in, you can get as much as $750 toward your new unlocked device.

Samsung has some attractive carrier offers, too, with as much as $800 off with an eligible trade-in. Finally, many of these offers can be further enhanced with discounts for students, educators, first responders, government workers and/or military members, veterans and their families (see Samsung’s site for discount details).

See at Samsung

Best Buy

Up to $800 off with trade-in

Best Buy is offering savings on both unlocked and carrier models of the S23 lineup if you’ve got an older device to trade in. Those who don’t want to be tied to a carrier or service plan can save up to $600 through Best Buy’s trade-in program. Or you can save up to $800 with an eligible trade-in and qualified activation on service plan from Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile.

See at Best Buy

Verizon

Up to $800 off with trade-in + bundle deals

Verizon’s Galaxy S23 deal offers as much as $800 off with an eligible trade-in on an Unlimited plan, and the carrier is even accepting old or damaged phones. Switchers to Verizon will get a further $200 Verizon gift card, too. Other offers include a free Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G with purchase, though it’s worth noting these cellular-enabled devices each require a new line to be added, and 50% off Galaxy Buds 2 when bundled with your phone purchase.

See at Verizon

AT&T

Up to $800 off with trade-in + 50% off accessories

Buy your Galaxy S23 device on a qualifying installment agreement with AT&T and trade in your old device for up to $800 off. Better yet, to be eligible for that discount, the device you hand over can be a Galaxy S, Note, or Z series smartphone from any year, in any condition, or a phone from another brand so long as it’s worth $35. The discount will be applied via monthly bill credits over 36 months. Plus, you can get 50% off any Samsung accessory alongside your phone purchase.

See at AT&T

T-Mobile

Up to $800 off with trade-in or new line

New and existing customers can save up to $800 on any Galaxy S23 model when either trading in or adding a new line on a Magenta Max plan. Those not on a Magenta Max plan can still save up to $800 with a qualifying trade-in or new line on an eligible plan.

See at T-Mobile

Xfinity

$500 off or $800 off with trade-in

Xfinity is offering new customers $500 off their Galaxy S23 when porting in a number on a new line on a 24-month plan. And both new and existing customers can save up to $800 with a qualifying trade-in.

See at Xfinity

Walmart

Up to $1,250 off with trade-in

Walmart is offering the Galaxy S23 series with various carrier deals. Phones activated on an eligible installment plant with AT&T or Verizon will benefit from a $250 discount, plus up to $1,000 off via bill credits (AT&T only) with an eligible trade-in. Walmart also has prepaid deals with Straight Talk and Total by Verizon offering six months of free service for new customers on an unlimited plan.

See at Walmart

Google Fi

Up to $899 off with trade-in

Google Fi is offering its own trade-in program where you can save up to $799 on the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus, or up to $899 on the S23 Ultra. Though unlike some other carriers, Google Fi is only accepting newer devices in good condition. The discount is applied via month bill credits over 24 months, and if you cancel service before then, you’ll have to pay the remaining balance yourself.

See at Google Fi

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Technologies

The Duskbloods Is New FromSoftware Gaming Action Coming to Switch 2 in 2026

Talk about a surprise for the new Switch.

FromSoftware had a big day with the Switch 2 Direct. The company revealed a new game called The Duskbloods and confirmed that its smash-hit action RPG Elden Ring is coming to the new console, which launches on June 5 for $450.

The Duskbloods is exclusive to the Switch 2, which was a surprise announcement during the Switch 2 Direct. According to FromSoftware, the game is a player vs. player vs. enemy, or PvPvE, online multiplayer game similar to the developer’s upcoming Elden Ring: Nightreign.

Players will be part of the Bloodsworn, which is a group that has «transcended human strength thanks to their special blood.» Each individual will be playing against each other as well as taking on other foes.

The game features some mainstays for FromSoftware games, with a gothic tone and a focus on gore, like its popular Bloodborne game for the PS4. It does appear that characters have a few more abilities than seen in previous games from the cult developer.

The Duskbloods will release sometime in It will be released in 2026.

The Switch 2 will launch on June 5 and preorders will start on April 9 at retailers. The new console will feature plenty of third-party support, with major games like Borderlands 4, Madden and Civilization 7 coming from other publishers.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, April 3

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 3.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword has two similar clues, 5-Across and 6-Across. They both play off the same idea — using the first part of two words to make one, all food-related. I didn’t get that at first, so I struggled with those two clues. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Hit the ___ (go to bed)
Answer: SACK

5A clue: Misleading name for a sub/shish kebab restaurant?
Answer: SUSHI

6A clue: Misleading name for a taco/pasta restaurant?
Answer: TAPAS

7A clue: Certain sports bets
Answer: OVERS

8A clue: Cooped (up)
Answer: PENT

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Almost *too* sophisticated and charming
Answer: SUAVE

2D clue: Upscale Colorado skiing destination
Answer: ASPEN

3D clue: Word after bar or pie
Answer: CHART

4D clue: Smooch
Answer: KISS

5D clue: Word on an eight-sided traffic sign
Answer: STOP

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

Technologies

Nintendo Switch 2: Everything We Know About the Console, New Games, Release Date

The $450 console will get Mario Kart World at launch, 4K gaming when docked, Switch 2 Edition game enhancements and new mouse controls.

The Nintendo Switch 2 console’s biggest reveal yet arrived Wednesday morning as part of the company’s Nintendo Direct event. This teed up a day of Switch 2 reveals that include its June 5 release date, a $450 price, its specs, and its initial game lineup that extends from launch into 2026.

The console will be further buoyed by having Mario Kart World as a launch title, which will go on sale in either a $500 bundle with the Switch 2 or on its own for $80 — making the open-world racing game one of Nintendo’s most expensive yet. Other games announced, such as Donkey Kong Bananza, are being priced around $70, which matches the cost of 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. That Zelda game and Breath of the Wild are among the original Switch titles that will get enhanced Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades, a premium upgrade allowing players to get new features, modes and graphical enhancements that take advantage of the newer system’s capabilities.

Here are the top highlights from Nintendo’s console event, all of the games we’ve heard about so far (including new titles, Nintendo Switch 2 Edition titles and GameCube games coming to Nintendo Switch Online) and all of our coverage so far. You can also check out our Nintendo Switch 2 live blog for even more updates about the Switch 2 as we learn them.

Nintendo Switch 2 console

The Nintendo Switch 2’s specs saw a noticeable technical bump over the Switch. The Nintendo Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch, 1080p resolution LCD that supports a 120Hz refresh rate — matching what we now see on most Android phones. When the Switch 2 is docked, compatible games can run in 4K resolution. The new dock also includes a cooling fan.

The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal storage, and the new Switch 2 Game Cards will load games faster. For digital libraries, however, the Switch 2 will only work with microSD Express cards, which are different from the microSD cards that are compatible with the prior Nintendo Switch. Nintendo will have a Software Transfer feature available to help move games and data from the original Switch to the Switch 2.

The new Joy-Con for the controllers will support mouse controls, and a new C button will be part of a new GameChat communication feature that allows both voice and video chat. There’s also a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, allowing players to see each other.

The Switch 2 also adds a second USB-C port to the top of the system, which Nintendo says can help connect its new camera accessory or charge the console when playing in tabletop mode. Nintendo also revealed a new Switch 2 Pro Controller with the C button and customizable GL and GR buttons on the back.

Following the presentation, Nintendo unveiled the system’s price of $450 in the US. It will also sell the Switch 2 bundled with a digital version of Mario Kart World for $500.

Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World removes its traditional boundaries and lets drivers roam freely across an entire world of race courses. The game will get its own Nintendo Direct later this month, where we’ll see additional details, but we already know it’ll include traditional races and a Free Roam mode, much like in the Forza Horizon series.

Getting the game bundled for an extra $50 on the cost of the Switch 2 might be the move if you are interested in the game, because Nintendo announced on its website that standalone copies of Mario Kart World will cost $80.

Joy-Con 2 C button and GameChat

Nintendo’s rolling out its new C button across several new Switch 2 controllers. The button will be used for the new GameChat communication features without a headset. The button will be used alongside a microphone on the console itself, which Nintendo says can be used whether it’s docked to a TV or in handheld mode.

In its teaser video, Nintendo promises the microphone will be able to cancel out loud background noises. GameChat will also work with a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, allowing video chat and various camera-based game modes in supported titles. GameChat will be free at launch through March 31, 2026.

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games upgrade titles

The Nintendo Switch 2 will play three types of games: original Switch games, Switch 2 games and Switch 2 Edition games that will receive substantial enhancements. For many of these Switch 2 Edition games, you’ll need to buy an upgrade pack if you own the original for Switch. Many of them will get more than just enhanced graphics in the upgrade; for example, Super Mario Party Jamboree will get new games that support the new Joy-Cons’ mouse controls, audio recognition and video camera gameplay options through the Switch 2 Camera.

Other Nintendo Switch games that are getting Switch 2 Edition options include The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Enhancements vary: The Zelda games will start working with a companion phone app for maps and sending schematics to friends, while Kirby will get a new story that’s exclusive to the Switch 2 Edition. On the third-party side, Civilization 7 will get mouse controls.

Nintendo did not announce what upgrade packs will cost. However, some Switch games will get free updates that will improve performance or enhance features when playing them on the Switch 2. The Switch games getting these updates include:

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a new game set in the world of Zelda that tells the story that leads into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This appears to be similar to how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity told the story of a war that led to the events of Breath of the Wild. The teaser shows Zelda discovering that she’s arrived in the past of Hyrule, and the game will expand on how she gets involved in the corresponding Imprisonment War.

Nintendo Switch 2 games

Several other first- and third-party games were spotlighted during the Switch 2 Direct. These include Donkey Bananza, one of the first 3D platforming games featuring DK since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64. Kirby will also return to the racing genre in Kirby Air Riders, which comes more than 20 years after the GameCube racer Kirby’s Air Ride. DragXDrive will use mouse controls to control a futuristic wheelchair basketball game in which players will simulate push and pull motions to control their character.

An onslaught of Switch 2 third-party games were quickly shuffled through during the Direct, which I list below. An unnamed James Bond game is in development at Hitman studio IO Interactive, as is a darker title from Elden Ring creator FromSoftware called The Duskbloods, which will be exclusive to the Switch 2.

The full list of announced Nintendo Switch 2 games includes:

Borderlands 4
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Deltarune
Donkey Kong Bananza
Drag x Drive
EA Sports FC
EA Sports Madden NFL
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
Enter the Gungeon 2
Fast Fusion
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
Fortnite
Hades 2
Hitman World of Assassination — Signature Edition
Hogwarts Legacy
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Kirby Air Riders
Kirby and the Forgotten Land — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Star-Crossed World
Kunitsu-Gai: Path of the Goddess
Mario Kart World
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
NBA 2K
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
Pokemon Legends: Z-A — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Project 007
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Split Fiction
Star Wars Outlaws
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
Street Fighter 6
Super Mario Party Jamboree — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Jamboree TV
Survival Kids
The Duskbloods
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4
WWE 2K
Yakuza 0 Definitive Edition

Among these titles, you can see the full list of June 5 Switch 2 launch day games here.

Nintendo GameCube library coming to Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch Online game library will add GameCube games to the Switch 2. On launch day, these games will initially include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur 2 and F-Zero GX, with each game getting enhanced graphics. Online multiplayer will also be added to certain titles. Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Strikers and Luigi’s Mansion are among the games set to arrive later. At launch, Nintendo will also sell a GameCube controller, which will be wireless and include a C button for GameChat.