Features

Best Black Friday game deals

Published

November 24, 2016

Monch Lopez

It’s been said before — many times before — but it’s hard to overstate: Shop for games in bulk, when prices are at their cheapest. Do your shopping during the festive seasons, and avoid full-priced games like a plague if you want to stretch your dollar furthest.

Today, it’s as good a day as any to open your wallet wide. Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Steam, and a few others are getting into the Black Friday spirit, offering some of 2016’s top releases, alongside a slew of smash hits on the cheap.

There’s a lot to comb through — thousands of games are currently on sale. To save you the trouble of Googling and wading through a thick, muddy bog of search results, we thought it’d be best to give you a preview of some of the hottest discounts on digital games available online.

And there’s still plenty more to come over the next few days and weeks. So check back with your favorite gaming platform for updates.

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Xbox Store deals (for Xbox One; note: prices are for Xbox Live Gold members only)

Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition for $16 (save 60 percent)
Battlefield 1 Deluxe Edition + Titanfall 2 Deluxe Bundle for $75 (save 50 percent)
Dragon Age: Inquisition GOTY Edition for $16 (save 60 percent)
Forza Horizon 3 for $39 (save 35 percent)
Gears of War 4 for $36 (save 40 percent)
Grand Theft Auto V for $30 (save 50 percent)
Hitman The Complete First Season for $30 (save 50 percent)
Mafia 3 for $42 (save 30 percent)
Overwatch: Origins Edition for $36 (save 40 percent)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition for $30 (save 45 percent)
XCOM 2 for $39 (save 35 percent)

While the Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2 bundle certainly stands out, the Xbox Store offers legitimately great deals on some of the best-reviewed Xbox One titles of 2016, including The Witcher 3, Gears of War 4, and Forza Horizon 3.

Sale ends November 28.

Nintendo eShop deals

3DS

Fire Emblem Awakening for $20 (from $40)
Hyrule Warriors Legends for $28 (from $40)
Monster Hunter Generations for $24 (from $40)
The Legend of Zelda for $3 (from $5)

Wii U

Kirby Mass Attack for $5 (from $10)
Star Fox: Zero for $35 (from $50)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 for $10 (from $20)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD for $35 (from $50)

Nintendo has several console-defining originals that can be had on the cheap. If you haven’t bought them yet, for whatever excuse, now is the best time to do so, if you’re still interested in trying them out. Waiting for the next-gen Switch console to drop in March next year seems like a better use of one’s time and resources.

Sale ends December 5.

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PlayStation Store deals (for PS4; most discounted prices are for PlayStation Plus members)

Batman: Arkham Knight for $10 (from $20)
Far Cry Primal for $15 (from $60)
Hitman The Complete First Season for $30 (from $60)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition for $8 (from $20)
MLB The Show 16 for $15 (from $20)
Overwatch: Origins Edition for $35 (from $60)
Star Wars Battlefront for $7.50 (from $30)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition for $25 (from $50)

Far Cry Primal for $15 is practically a steal. We also wouldn’t mind paying $10 for Arkham Knight, or $8 for Shadow of Mordor, if we hadn’t already gotten them under our collective belt.

Sale ends on November 29.

Steam Autumn Sale (for PC)

Batman franchise (up to 75 percent off)
Civilization franchise (up to 92 percent off)
Far Cry franchise (up to 75 percent off)
Grand Theft Auto franchise (up to 70 percent off)
Just Cause franchise (up to 82 percent off)
The Elder Scrolls franchise (up to 73 percent off)
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare for $40 (33 percent off)
Dark Souls 3 for $39 (35 percent off)
I Am Setsuna for $27 (33 percent off)
Quantum Break for $30 (25 percent off)
Tom Clancy’s The Division for $13.50 (50 percent off)

Steam is the most popular gaming client for PCs, and it offers a huge selection of discounted video games — far too many to list here. If you don’t see anything you like, don’t worry; Steam will hold another sale next month. Maybe by then you’ll find something special, worthy of hours of your time.

Sale ends November 30.

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GOG Black Friday Sale (for PC)

Banished for $5 (75 percent off)
Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition for $20 (50 percent off)
Grim Dawn for $15 (45 percent off)
Inside for $15 (25 percent off)
Kerbal Space Program for $24 (40 percent off)
Limbo for $2 (80 percent off)
No Man’s Sky for $36 (40 percent off)
Shadow Warrior 2 for $30 (25 percent off)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise (up to 75 percent off)

In addition to the sweet deals above, GOG is giving away free digital downloads of Limbo to those who connect their Steam account to their GOG account.

Sale ends November 27.

Origin Super Sale (for PC)

Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2 Deluxe Bundle for $75 (save 50 percent)
FIFA 17 for $36 (save 40 percent)
Mass Effect Trilogy for $15 (save 50 percent)
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst for $16 (save 60 percent)
Need for Speed for $15 (save 63 percent)
Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Standard Edition for $10 (save 75 percent)
Star Wars Battlefront for $15 (save 50 percent)
SimCity for $5 (save 75 percent)
The Sims 4 for $10 (save 75 percent)

If you’ve missed out on some great EA titles for PC, Origin serves you plenty of opportunity to get caught up.

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Green Man Gaming Black Friday Sale (for PC)

Civilization 6 for $54 (save 10 percent)
Dragon Age: Inquisition for $11 (save 45 percent)
Dishonored 2 for $48 (save 20 percent)
Eve Online Core Starter Pack for $5 (save 75 percent)
Fallout 4 for $19 (save 67 percent)
Grand Theft Auto V for $30 (save 50 percent)
Kerbal Space Program for $24 (save 40 percent)
Mafia 3 for $42 (save 30 percent)
Street Fighter V for $29 (save 50 percent)

As a bonus for shopping during Black Friday week, Green Man Gaming will take an extra 10 percent off of every purchase of participating games. Use promo code BLACKFRIDAY10 at checkout. Every sale also gets you a free random game from the Green Man Gaming catalog, so it’s a win-win.

Humble Store 2K Games Sale (for PC)

Battleborn for $20 (67 percent off)
NBA 2K17 for $42 (30 percent off)
XCOM 2 for $30 (50 percent off)

XCOM 2 is one of the best tactics games ever made, and it’s now up for grabs on the Humble Store for half of its original price. For those who fancy a fix of basketball, NBA 2K17 is at its lowest ever price, coming right in time as the NBA season starts to get interesting.

Smartphones

Unboxing: HONOR Magic8 Pro Photography Kit

A modular accessory setup

Published

February 28, 2026

GadgetMatch

The new HONOR Magic8 Pro isn’t just getting a camera upgrade — it’s getting an entire system built around long-range photography.

At the center of this unboxing is the HONOR Magic8 Pro Professional Imaging Kit. It’s a modular accessory setup designed to push mobile telephoto shooting further. With the attachable 2.35x Telephoto Extender, protective case, and Shot Imaging Grip, the Magic8 Pro reaches an equivalent 200mm focal length. It can also digitally extend far beyond that. It’s a bold attempt to solve one of smartphone imaging’s hardest problems: clear, stable zoom at night.

The hardware story is just as ambitious. The Magic8 Pro features a 200MP Ultra Night Telephoto camera with a large 1/1.4-inch sensor, wide f/2.6 aperture. It also has an CIPA 6.5-rated stabilization — an industry-leading benchmark for optical image stabilization. HONOR says this new system shifts from passive shake correction to proactive prediction, improving micro-shake detection and keeping distant details sharp even in low light.

Color science also gets an upgrade. The new AiMAGE Color Engine focuses on true-to-life tones, balancing complex lighting scenes like blue hour skylines or neon-lit streets. Expect cleaner highlights, preserved shadow detail, and more consistent skin tones across environments.

But the real story of this kit is experience. The Shot Imaging Grip adds DSLR-style ergonomics, complete with a shutter button, zoom lever, and quick-launch controls. There’s even support for 67mm filters, opening the door to more creative shooting setups.

SEE ALSO:

Hands-On

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Hands-on

Play It Safe or Push Forward?

Published

February 26, 2026

GadgetMatch

Did Samsung push forward or play it safe with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series? Well, it’s a little bit of both.

Here’s our Hands-on with the new Samsung Galaxy S26 series to find out.

PRE-ORDER and SAVE up to $900 with enhanced trade-in credit:

Hands-On

Samsung Galaxy S26 series: Chasing usability, not specs

Thoughtful software additions

Published

February 26, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

“Our philosophy has never been about chasing specs.”

That line from Samsung’s presentation captures the Galaxy S26 Series better than any spec table.

This isn’t a year of radical hardware shifts. Battery capacities remain unchanged. Megapixel counts are familiar. The design language evolves rather than transforms.

But incremental doesn’t automatically mean irrelevant.

The S26 Ultra feels like Samsung refining its priorities — usability, privacy, and AI integration — instead of pursuing headline-grabbing numbers.

Hardware refinement, not reinvention

The Galaxy S26 series looks more unified. All three models now share the same corner radius, creating a consistent visual identity. The Ultra no longer stands apart with sharper edges. It’s a small change, but it makes the lineup feel cohesive.

The camera module sits on a more defined island rather than blending into the rear panel. It’s subtle, but noticeable in person.

Samsung also trimmed weight and thickness on the Ultra. At 7.9mm and 214 grams, it handles slightly better than last year’s model. The company switched to Light Armor Aluminum, which it claims improves heat dissipation and weight. The difference in hand isn’t dramatic, but it’s appreciated during extended use.

Charging finally moves forward. The Ultra supports 60W wired charging, up from 45W. Samsung says you can reach 75 percent in around 30 minutes. That’s a meaningful improvement for quick top-ups.

However, 60W isn’t industry-leading in 2026. Competing brands have offered similar or faster speeds for years. This feels less like Samsung setting a new benchmark and more like closing a gap.

Battery capacity remains 5,000mAh. That’s consistent with previous models. While fast charging helps daily convenience, endurance gains will depend on software optimization and real-world usage.

AI and software remain the headline

Like recent Galaxy generations, the S26 Series leans heavily on software features.

Privacy Display is one of the more practical additions. It restricts viewing angles at the pixel level, functioning like a built-in privacy filter. If you’re using your phone in public spaces, people nearby will struggle to see what’s on screen.

You can toggle the feature or enable it only for specific apps. That flexibility matters. It allows privacy protection for sensitive apps while keeping general use unaffected.

This addresses a real-world problem. Public screens are inherently visible. Privacy Display doesn’t eliminate that risk, but it reduces casual glances and unwanted observation.

Audio Eraser also gets an upgrade. It now works across third-party apps. We tested it on a noisy K-pop fancam from YouTube, and the background noise reduction was noticeable without destroying audio quality.

It’s not perfect. Overprocessing can occur in extreme cases. But for cleaning up shared videos or reducing ambient noise, it proves useful.

AI Photo Assist introduces text-prompt editing directly inside the Gallery app. Users can describe edits in natural language — remove objects, expand backgrounds, or modify elements — without exporting images to external tools.

This isn’t groundbreaking technology. Similar generative edits exist in other AI platforms. The difference is integration.

By embedding generative tools inside the Gallery, Samsung turns them into part of the default workflow. Photo editing becomes more accessible rather than requiring specialized knowledge or separate apps.

That shift is meaningful. It signals that generative AI editing is becoming a standard smartphone feature rather than an experimental add-on.

Cameras: computational evolution

The camera hardware remains familiar. The Ultra continues with a 200MP main sensor and telephoto configurations similar to last year.

Improvements focus on computational photography.

Samsung widened apertures to allow more light. Stabilization has been refined. AI sharpening and Nightography processing aim to produce cleaner images with reduced noise.

From samples shown during the presentation, low-light shots appear brighter and cleaner. However, the processing can feel aggressive. Details sometimes look overly smoothed, and textures can appear artificial.

This reflects Samsung’s long-standing approach — prioritize computational enhancements over megapixel increases. The S26 continues that philosophy.

For video creators, APV (Advanced Professional Video) enables 8K recording with minimal quality degradation during edits. Super Steady Video also improves handheld stabilization.

These features cater to content creation workflows rather than casual snapshots.

Incremental but intentional

The Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn’t try to shock. It doesn’t reinvent Samsung’s design language or introduce dramatic hardware leaps.

Instead, it refines existing ideas.

Privacy Display addresses public visibility concerns. Audio Eraser improves real-world video cleanup. AI Photo Assist integrates generative editing into everyday photo workflows. Charging speeds improve without industry-leading ambitions.

Even the design changes — unified corner radii, a defined camera island, lighter materials — emphasize cohesion.

This strategy resembles the broader shift in the smartphone industry. Hardware innovation has slowed. Software and usability improvements drive differentiation.

Samsung appears comfortable with that reality.

Of course, first impressions only tell part of the story. We still need extended testing for battery life, thermal performance, camera consistency, and AI reliability.

The S26 Ultra may not represent a revolution. But refinement can matter — especially when it targets usability and practical features.

Samsung will have to make significant hardware upgrades eventually. But for now, it feels like the company is doubling down on incremental progress. Not flashy. Not radical. But purposeful.

Whether that strategy resonates will depend on real-world performance.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series – Specs

Feature	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Galaxy S26+	Galaxy S26
Display	6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ (3120 x 1440) 500 ppi, 1-120Hz S Pen support	6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ (3120 x 1440) 516 ppi, 1-120Hz	6.3″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X FHD+ (2340 x 1080) 411 ppi, 1-120Hz
Rear Camera: Ultra Wide	50MP, F1.9, 0.7 µm	12MP, F2.2, 1.4 µm	12MP, F2.2, 1.4 µm
Rear Camera: Wide	200MP, F1.4, 0.6 µm	50MP, F1.8, 1.0 µm	50MP, F1.8, 1.0 µm
Rear Camera: Wide	Optical Quality 2x
Rear Camera: Telephoto 1	10MP, F2.4, 1.12 µm	10MP, F2.4, 1.0 µm	10MP, F2.4, 1.0 µm
Rear Camera: Telephoto 1	3x optical zoom
Rear Camera: Telephoto 2	50MP, F2.9, 0.7 µm 5x optical zoom Optical Quality 10x	—	—
Front Camera	12MP, F2.2, 1.12 µm	12MP, F2.2, 1.12 µm	12MP, F2.2, 1.12 µm
Processor	Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy (3 nm)	Exynos 2600 (2 nm)*	Exynos 2600 (2 nm)*
Memory (RAM)	12GB / 16GB	12GB	12GB
Storage	256GB / 512GB / 1TB	256GB / 512GB	128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Storage	(Micro SD: N/A)
Battery	5,000 mAh	4,900 mAh	4,300 mAh
Battery	Super Fast Charging 3.0 Super Fast Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions	78.1 x 163.6 x 7.9 mm 214 g (Sub6/mmWave)	75.8 x 158.4 x 7.3 mm 190 g (Sub6/mmWave)	71.7 x 149.6 x 7.2 mm 167 g (Sub6)
Colors	Standard: Cobalt Violet (Hero), Sky Blue, Black, White Online: Silver Shadow, Pink Gold	Standard: Cobalt Violet (Hero), Sky Blue, Black, White Online: Silver Shadow, Pink Gold	Standard: Cobalt Violet (Hero), Sky Blue, Black, White Online: Silver Shadow, Pink Gold