Hasta La Gadget!

Samsung announced pricing and availability details for its 2024 TV lineup on Thursday, and it’s rolled out a fairly unique deal to entice pre-orders: If you order one of its latest sets between now and April 11, it’ll throw in a bonus 65-inch 4K TV for no extra cost. The offer applies to the company’s new OLED TVs (the S90D and S95D), 4K LED TVs (the QN85D and QN90D), 8K LED TVs (the QN800D and QN900D) and Frame TVs. It’s available at several retailers, including Samsung.com, though you can get an extra $100 off each set at Amazon if you’re a Prime member or Best Buy if you subscribe to that shop’s My Best Buy Plus service. At the former, the deal comes as part of the retailer’s wider Big Spring Sale event.

As for what’s new with these sets, Samsung says the high-end S95D OLED TV uses anti-glare technology to hold up better in brightly-lit rooms, while the step-down S90D can reach higher brightness levels than last year’s model. The aesthetics-focused Frame TV can now drop to a lower 60Hz refresh rate to conserve energy while displaying artwork, and the QN90D has an updated processor. And while most people don’t need to splurge for an 8K TV, both the QN800D and top-end QN900D promise a few upscaling and motion-enhancing features based on AI.

It’s an appealing promo, but there are some caveats to keep in mind before you buy. The bonus TV in question is the Samsung TU690T, an entry-level model from 2022. Though we haven’t tested it ourselves, other reviews say that it can’t get very bright and provides a mostly basic image. It lacks a local dimming feature to improve contrast, it’s limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and it only has two HDMI ports, neither of which are HDMI 2.1. As of this writing, the 65-inch model is available for $480 at Best Buy.

It’s also worth remembering how the pricing cycle of the TV market usually works. We’ll have to wait for reviews to see just how improved Samsung’s newest TVs are, but for the most part, they don’t look to be massive upgrades over their predecessors from last year. The S95D’s anti-glare tech may be the most meaningful change in practice.

Most of those 2023 TVs, meanwhile, are still available for significantly lower prices. Last year’s excellent S90C OLED, for example, is now going for $1,298, which is $700 less than its 2024 equivalent. The new Frame TVs are an exception right now, though we’ve seen multiple discounts on last year’s model in recent months. In general, the best times to buy a TV are still the holiday sales period and right about now, when new models are introduced and still-great older TVs fall in price until they’re discontinued.

We highlight last year’s S90C and QN90C TVs in our gaming TV buying guide, and we’ve previously recommended the Frame TV for those who are willing to trade some picture quality for a classier design. 

With all of that said, a free TV is a free TV. If you’re dead-set on getting one of Samsung’s latest and just want a large screen for, say, a guest room or office, this deal should sweeten the pot.

Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon’s Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog’s car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-is-throwing-in-a-free-65-inch-4k-tv-when-you-pre-order-one-of-its-new-2024-tvs-164301225.html?src=rss

Samsung announced pricing and availability details for its 2024 TV lineup on Thursday, and it’s rolled out a fairly unique deal to entice pre-orders: If you order one of its latest sets between now and April 11, it’ll throw in a bonus 65-inch 4K TV for no extra cost. The offer applies to the company’s new OLED TVs (the S90D and S95D), 4K LED TVs (the QN85D and QN90D), 8K LED TVs (the QN800D and QN900D) and Frame TVs. It’s available at several retailers, including Samsung.com, though you can get an extra $100 off each set at Amazon if you’re a Prime member or Best Buy if you subscribe to that shop’s My Best Buy Plus service. At the former, the deal comes as part of the retailer’s wider Big Spring Sale event.

As for what’s new with these sets, Samsung says the high-end S95D OLED TV uses anti-glare technology to hold up better in brightly-lit rooms, while the step-down S90D can reach higher brightness levels than last year’s model. The aesthetics-focused Frame TV can now drop to a lower 60Hz refresh rate to conserve energy while displaying artwork, and the QN90D has an updated processor. And while most people don’t need to splurge for an 8K TV, both the QN800D and top-end QN900D promise a few upscaling and motion-enhancing features based on AI.

It’s an appealing promo, but there are some caveats to keep in mind before you buy. The bonus TV in question is the Samsung TU690T, an entry-level model from 2022. Though we haven’t tested it ourselves, other reviews say that it can’t get very bright and provides a mostly basic image. It lacks a local dimming feature to improve contrast, it’s limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and it only has two HDMI ports, neither of which are HDMI 2.1. As of this writing, the 65-inch model is available for $480 at Best Buy.

It’s also worth remembering how the pricing cycle of the TV market usually works. We’ll have to wait for reviews to see just how improved Samsung’s newest TVs are, but for the most part, they don’t look to be massive upgrades over their predecessors from last year. The S95D’s anti-glare tech may be the most meaningful change in practice.

Most of those 2023 TVs, meanwhile, are still available for significantly lower prices. Last year’s excellent S90C OLED, for example, is now going for $1,298, which is $700 less than its 2024 equivalent. The new Frame TVs are an exception right now, though we’ve seen multiple discounts on last year’s model in recent months. In general, the best times to buy a TV are still the holiday sales period and right about now, when new models are introduced and still-great older TVs fall in price until they’re discontinued.

We highlight last year’s S90C and QN90C TVs in our gaming TV buying guide, and we’ve previously recommended the Frame TV for those who are willing to trade some picture quality for a classier design. 

With all of that said, a free TV is a free TV. If you’re dead-set on getting one of Samsung’s latest and just want a large screen for, say, a guest room or office, this deal should sweeten the pot.

Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon’s Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog’s car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-is-throwing-in-a-free-65-inch-4k-tv-when-you-pre-order-one-of-its-new-2024-tvs-164301225.html?src=rss

The newly independent game studio Toys for Bob, which announced last month that it was splitting from Microsoft-owned Activision, has entered an agreement with Xbox for a new game, according to a report from Windows Central. Toys for Bob developed 2018’s Spyro Reignited Trilogy and was behind Crash Bandicoot 4, along with the Nintendo Switch port for the N. Sane Trilogy.

There are no real details yet as to what the new title might be, aside from a comment by Xbox’s Matt Booty that it will be in line with the kind of games Toys for Bob has become known for, according to Windows Central. Toys for Bob also led the development of the early Skylanders toys-to-life games. Though it only recently departed from the Activision Blizzard/Microsoft family, the studio indicated leading up to the news of its deal with Xbox that it would remain open to working with its former employer on future projects.

In February, Toys for Bob said it was “exploring a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft,” and that it was “confident that we will continue to work closely together” with Activision and Microsoft. “So, keep your horns on and your eyes out for more news,” the studio wrote.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/studio-behind-spyro-remakes-and-crash-bandicoot-4-is-reportedly-working-with-xbox-on-a-new-game-173738945.html?src=rss

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth dropped only a few weeks ago, but fans of the series won’t have to wait long at all to play a new addition to another recent entry. The Rising Tide, the second paid expansion for Final Fantasy XVI, will arrive on April 18.

The release date was revealed at a PAX East panel, where it was announced that The Rising Tide will cost $20. However, if you haven’t already picked up the previous paid DLC, Echoes of the Fallen, you can snap up both for $25 through a discounted expansion pass.

The Rising Tide will see Clive and his cohorts travel to the hidden land of Mysidia. They’ll “uncover the tragic history of a forgotten people” as they look for the dominant of Leviathan, a long-lost Eikon of water. As with Echoes of the Fallen, the action takes place before the ending of the main game.

As the title and description suggest, you’ll get to wield an array of water-based attacks, including a “sea-spitting serpent.” The PlayStation Blog also teases that Clive will find another power on his journey. Meanwhile, the trailer shows off the battle with Leviathan, which takes place on the surface of a lake.

Those who beat The Rising Tide and the main game will gain access to a new endgame mode called Kairos Gate. You’ll battle through 20 levels of increasing difficulty, taking down one wave of enemies after another. You can earn new materials and weapons for Clive through this mode. 

On top of all that, Square Enix will release a free update for Final Fantasy XVI on April 18 that includes a string of quality-of-life upgrades. For one thing, you’ll be able to instantly return to the NPC who gave you a quest with the Quick Complete option. A Skill Set feature will let you save up to five Feat and Ability loadouts. In a positive update for accessibility, you’ll be able to remap the controls as you see fit.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-second-final-fantasy-xvi-dlc-the-rising-tide-will-arrive-on-april-18-174232733.html?src=rss

Sonos is readying the release of its followup to 2021’s Roam speaker, and it should be here in time for all your outdoor summer excursions. In the Power On newsletter this week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Sonos is planning a June release for the Roam 2 speaker. The first-generation Roam was Sonos’ second attempt at a portable speaker, with a slim, triangular build that weighs less than a pound but produces impressive sound.

According to Gurman, this version of the Roam will feature the same touch-sensitive control panel seen in some of the company’s other speakers, like the Era 100. Sonos is also reportedly working on a new app to pair with its devices, starting with the Roam 2 and an upcoming set of premium headphones that are positioned as an AirPods Max rival. Those headphones will cost $450, Gurman reports, and are also expected to be released in June a bit behind their original schedule.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonos-roam-2-portable-speaker-may-arrive-just-in-time-for-summer-152535125.html?src=rss