Technologies

Best PlayStation Deals: Save on Games, Headsets, Refurb Consoles and More

Expanding your gaming setup has never been easier with these deals on PlayStation accessories.

Over two years after its release, it’s finally becoming easier to find Sony’s popular PlayStation 5 in stock. If you’ve picked up one of these sleek, next-gen consoles, there are also tons of accessories out there that can help take your gaming experience to the next level. And you don’t need to break the bank to get your hands on them. From headsets for online gaming to aftermarket SSDs to increase the storage, we’ve rounded up some of the best bargains available on a variety of PlayStation accessories below.

You can even pick up a refurbished PlayStation 4 at a decent price if you don’t want to spring for Sony’s latest and greatest console. And if you’re looking to add some new games to your library, we’ve also rounded a few titles that you can snag at a discount.

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PlayStation game deals

Whether you’ve just picked up your new PlayStation console and are ready to jump into the action, or you’re just looking to add a few more games to your collection, there are plenty of great games you can pick up on sale right now. We’ve gathered up some of the best recent titles that you can snag at a discount below.

PlayStation console and accessory deals

Sony

PlayStation 4 (refurbished): $260

Save $100 vs. new

Plenty of PS5 games are still available for the PlayStation 4, too, and if you’re looking for a good price on a console, your best bet is to shop refurbished. GameStop currently has a selection of used 1TB slim models available for less than $300. That’s around $100 less than the limited quantity of new consoles that are still floating around out there. This refurb model also includes a DualShock Wireless controller.

$260 at GameStop

Turtle Beach

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2: $110

Save $40

Turtle Beach is one of the top brands out there when it comes to gaming headsets, and the second-gen Stealth 700 is one of our favorite PlayStation headsets on the market. These headphones are compatible with both the PS4 and PS5, and are equipped with 50mm speakers for clear, immersive sound so you can hear every step and shot. They’re totally wireless thanks to the use of a Mini-USB transmitter, and the mic arm folds up into the headset so it’s out of your way when you’re not using it for voice chats.

$110 at Amazon

HyperX

HyperX Cloud: $61

Save $19

If you don’t want to spend over $100 on a headset, there are plenty of more affordable options out there. The HyperX Cloud is a slight step down from the Cloud Alpha that made our list of the best PS5 headsets for 2023, and has plenty to offer for around $60. It’s Hi-Fi capable with 53mm drivers, is equipped with in-line audio controls for easy adjustments on the fly and has memory foam ear pads so it’s comfortable to wear during long gaming sessions.

$61 at Amazon

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WD Black D30 1TB Game Drive: $110

Save $40

When it comes to game consoles, 500GB or even a full 1TB of storage can fill up pretty quickly. While you can certainly delete games and download them again later, an external storage drive is a much more efficient solution. This 1TB WD drive is compatible with the PS4 and PS5, but it can only store PS4 games. And with optimized speeds of up to 900Mbps, you can skip those loading screens and get right to the action.

$110 at Amazon

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Samsung

Samsung 980 Pro 1TB Internal SSD: $120

Save $110

If you have managed to score yourself a PlayStation 5, you may be looking to beef up the storage a bit to get the most out of your next-gen console. Fortunately, the PS5 has an extra internal storage drive slot, so you can easily expand it with an M.2 SSD. The Samsung 980 Pro is our overall favorite model on the market, and right now you can even pick it up on sale — impressive, considering that it is sometimes difficult to even find in stock. This model also features a built-in heatsink, which was missing on previous generations.

$120 at Amazon

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Sony

DualSense Edge: $200

Out now

While this isn’t a deal, it’s worth noting that the new high-performance DualSense Edge PS5 controller is now available for purchase. This customizable controller allows you to fine-tune your playing style with mappable buttons and swappable stick caps. You can even create multiple control profiles so you can easily switch between different players or games.

Read our DualSense Edge review.

$200 at PlayStation

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Technologies

iOS 17 Cheat Sheet: Your Questions on the iPhone Update Answered

Here’s what you need to know about new features and upcoming updates for your iPhone.

Apple’s iOS 17 was released in September, shortly after the company held its Wonderlust event, where the tech giant announced the new iPhone 15 lineup, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. We put together this cheat sheet to help you learn about and use the new features in iOS 17. It’ll also help you keep track of the subsequent iOS 17 updates.

iOS 17 updates

Using iOS 17

Getting started with iOS 17

Make sure to check back periodically for more iOS 17 tips and how to use new features as Apple releases more updates.

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

+15 More

See all photos

Technologies

Get Ready for a Striking Aurora That Could Also Disrupt Radio Communications

Don’t expect the storm to cause a lingering problem, though.

A geomagnetic storm is threatening radio communications Monday night, but that doesn’t mean you should be concerned. In fact, it may be an opportunity to see a colorful aurora in the night sky.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a geomagnetic storm watch after witnessing a coronal mass ejection from the sun on Saturday. The watch, which was issued over the weekend and will expire after Monday, said the onset of the storm passing over Earth on Sunday night represented a «moderate» threat to communications. As the storm continues to pass through, it could deliver a «strong» threat on Monday night that could cause radio communications to be temporarily disrupted during the worst of it.

Even so, NOAA said, «the general public should not be concerned.»

A coronal mass ejection occurs when magnetic field and plasma mass are violently expelled from the sun’s corona, or the outermost portion of the sun’s atmosphere. In the vast majority of cases, the ejection occurs with no real threat to Earth. However, in the event the ejection happens in the planet’s direction, a geomagnetic storm occurs, and the Earth’s magnetic field is temporarily affected.

In most cases, geomagnetic storms cause little to no disruption on Earth, with radio communications and satellites affected most often. In extreme cases, a geomagnetic storm can cause significant and potentially life-threatening power outages — a prospect that, luckily, the planet hasn’t faced.

Switching poles

Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic poles switch, with the north pole and south pole swapping positions. During those cycles, the sun’s activity ramps up as it gets closer to pole-switching time. The height of its activity is called solar maximum, and scientists believe we either may be entering the solar maximum or may be already in it.

During periods of heightened solar activity, sunspots increase on the sun and there’s an increase in coronal mass ejections, among other phenomena. According to NOAA, solar maximum could extend into October of this year before the sun’s activity calms and it works towards its less-active phase, solar minimum.

Even when geomagnetic storms hit Earth and disrupt communications, the effects are usually short-lived. Those most affected, including power grid operators and pilots and air traffic controllers communicating over long distances, have fail-safe technologies and backup communications to ensure operational continuity.

But geomagnetic storms aren’t only about radios. In most cases, they also present unique opportunities to see auroras in the night sky. When the storms hit, the plasma they carry creates a jaw-dropping aurora, illuminating the night sky with brilliant colors. Those auroras can be especially pronounced during the most intense phases of the storm, making for nice stargazing.

If you’re interested in seeing the aurora, you’ll need to be ready. The NOAA said the «brunt of the storm has passed» and even if it lingers into Tuesday, there won’t be much to see after Monday night.

Technologies

Last Total Solar Eclipse for 20 Years Is Coming: How to See and Photograph It

It’s your last chance until 2044.

Get your eclipse glasses ready, Skygazers: the Great American Eclipse is on its way. On April 8, there’ll be a total eclipse over North America, the last one until 2044.

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun and turning an otherwise sunny day to darkness for a short period of time. Depending on the angle at which you’re viewing the eclipse, you may see the sun completely shrouded by the moon (called totality) or some variation of it. The more off-angle you are and the further you are from the path of the eclipse, the less likely you’ll be to see the totality.

The 2024 total solar eclipse will happen on Monday, April 8. The Great American Eclipse will reach the Mexican Pacific coast at 11:07 a.m. PT (2:07 p.m. ET), and then traverse the US in a northeasterly direction from Texas to Maine, and on into easternmost Canada. If you want a good look at it, but don’t live in the path of totality, you shouldn’t wait much longer to book accommodation and travel to a spot on the path.

Or how about booking a seat in the sky? Delta Airlines made headlines for offering a flight that allows you to see the entire path of totality. Its first eclipse flight, from Austin, Texas, to Detroit sold out quickly. But as of Monday, Delta has added a second flight from Dallas to Detroit, which also covers the path of totality. The airline also has five flights that will offer prime eclipse viewing.

Not everyone can get on one of those elusive eclipse-viewing flights. Here’s a look at other options to nab a chance to see this rare sight and what to know about it.

Total solar eclipse path

The eclipse will cross over the Pacific coast of Mexico and head northeast over mainland Mexico. The eclipse will then make its way over San Antonio at approximately 2:30 p.m. ET on April 8 and move through Texas, over the southeastern part of Oklahoma and northern Arkansas by 2:50 p.m. ET.

By 3 p.m. ET, the eclipse will be over southern Illinois, and just 5 minutes later, will be traveling over Indianapolis. Folks in northwestern Ohio will be treated to the eclipse by 3:15 p.m. ET, and it will then travel over Lake Erie and Buffalo, New York, by 3:20 p.m. ET. Over the next 10 minutes, the eclipse will be seen over northern New York state, then over Vermont. By 3:35 p.m. ET, the eclipse will work its way into Canada and off the Eastern coast of North America.

Best places to watch the Great American Eclipse

When evaluating the best places to watch this year’s total eclipse, you’ll first want to determine where you’ll have the best angle to see the totality. The farther off-angle you are — in other words, the farther north or south of the eclipse’s path — the less of an impact you can expect.

Therefore, if you want to have the best chance of experiencing the eclipse, you’ll want to be in its path. As of this writing, most of the cities in the eclipse’s path have some hotel availability, but recent reports have suggested that rooms are booking up. And as more rooms are booked, prices are going up.

So if you want to be in the eclipse’s path, and need a hotel to do it, move fast. And Delta’s eclipse-viewing flight from Dallas to Detroit has just four seats left at the time of publication.

Eclipse eye safety and photography

As with any solar eclipse, it’s critical you keep eye safety in mind.

During the eclipse, and especially during the periods before and after totality, don’t look directly at the sun without special eye protection. Also, be sure not to look at the sun through a camera (including the camera on your phone), binoculars, a telescope or any other viewing device. This could cause serious eye injury. Sunglasses aren’t enough to protect your eyes from damage.

If you want to view the eclipse, you’ll instead need solar viewing glasses that comply with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard. Anything that doesn’t meet that standard or greater won’t be dark enough to protect your eyes. Want to get them for free? If you’ve got a Warby Parker eyeglasses store nearby, the company is giving away free, ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses at all of its stores from April 1 until the eclipse, while supplies last.

If you don’t have eclipse viewing glasses handy, you can instead use indirect methods for viewing the eclipse, like a pinhole projector.

Read more: A Photographer’s Adventure With the Eclipse

In the event you want to take pictures of the eclipse, attach a certified solar filter to your camera. Doing so will protect your eyes and allow you to take photos while you view the eclipse through your lens.

There’s also a new app to help you both protect your eyes and take better photos of the eclipse on your phone. Solar Snap, designed by a former Hubble Space Telescope astronomer, comes with a Solar Snap camera filter that attaches to the back of an iPhone or Android phone, along with solar eclipse glasses for protecting your eyesight during the event. After you attach the filter to your phone, you can use the free Solar Snap Eclipse app to zoom in on the eclipse, adjust exposure and other camera settings, and ultimately take better shots of the eclipse.

2024 eclipse compared to 2017

The last total solar eclipse occurred in 2017, and many Americans had a great view. Although there are plenty of similarities between the 2017 total solar eclipse and the one coming April 8, there are a handful of differences. Mainly, the 2024 eclipse is going to cover more land and last longer.

The 2017 eclipse started over the northwest US and moved southeast. Additionally, that eclipse’s path was up to 71 miles wide, compared with a maximum width of 122 miles for this year’s eclipse. Perhaps most importantly, the moon completely covered the sun for just 2 minutes, 40 seconds in 2017. This year, maximum totality will last for nearly four-and-a-half minutes.