Be on Alert for These June Tech Deals

Historically, June shopping deals have been focused on non-tech items. The month regularly brings the lowest prices and deals on champagne, tools, and dishware, which comes as no surprise seeing as it includes Father’s Day and the kickoff to wedding season.

But tech fans need love, too, and we are now seeing more and more gadget discounts amidst deals for crockpots and grilling accessories.

Monday was the start of Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), for example, which included the release of details about iOS 8 and Mac OS X Yosemite, and set the tone for hardware debuts this fall. The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) also begins next week, which will make waves in the world of consumer gaming.

Even if you don’t catch time-limited deals on soon-to-be replaced tech, overall you can usually get average discounts of 4.3 percent(Opens in a new window) in June. It may not sound like much, but when it comes to large electronic purchases like a desktop or HDTV, every percentage can make a big difference. To save the most on your tech shopping this June, here’s what you should keep in mind:

June Computer Shopping
June starts off in the peak of Dads and Grads promotional sale season, which means some of the cheapest computer deals of the year are emerging. Sales on newer models are spotty, but in general consumers can expect more continuing clearance sales on 2013 Haswell laptops and desktops throughout June.

Core i7 models are leading the way in price cuts right now. HP significantly dropped prices on an entire range of computers in May; therefore most deals you see now on HP models are secondary discounts on top of already substantial price cuts. On the desktop end, look for even deeper price cuts on Core i7 Haswell desktops from Dell and HP, such as the HP Envy TouchSmart 15t-j100 Quad Edition.

Look to Dell for monitor discounts this month on models across the board, such as the Dell UltraSharp 32 Ultra HD UP3214Q.

Moving forward, as soon late June or early July expect to see new computer model releases. Back-to-school season, like most retail holidays, will kick off even earlier this year, bringing new laptops, tablets, and desktops to the floor, as well as new discounts on current models.

June Tablet Shopping
Tablets shoppers aren’t in for much luck in the price wars. Tablets prices are holding steady, leaving most retailers no large incentive for lowering prices. Although MacBooks and iPhones are dipping in price, iPad price cuts are nowhere in sight.

For those determined to get a tablet deal, Dell Venue (both Android and Windows 8) and Amazon Kindle tablets are worth a look. Recently, both Dell and Amazon have offered frequent, time-limited discounts on the popular models, which should continue throughout June.

June Gaming Shopping
With E3 on the horizon, gaming retail is picking up traction. After staying stable at $499 since its debut, the Xbox One will finally get cheaper this month. The latest Microsoft gaming counsel was originally priced $100 more than the PS4, but since carring the higher price tag the units aren’t exactly flying off the shelves. In response, Microsoft finally announced that it would sell the Xbox One console without the Kinect sensor for $399 starting June 9. The lower price tag levels the Xbox at the same MSRP as the PS4.

June TV Shopping
Although it’s not the best time to buy a new HDTV, you can still find some savings. Recently 55-inch and 65-inch TV models in particular are seeing most aggressive pricing offers. If you want to go smaller, off-brand, 42-inch models are retailing for around $342, while name brands remain at an average of $389. And because most of the hot TV buying events, such as the Super Bowl and March Madness, have passed, older-generation Samsung HDTVs are steadily taking price dives.

We’re still waiting for 4K TVs to become more mainstream and level off in price, but buying options are becoming more reasonable. Some Sony models are already dropping out of excessive price ranges, namely the 65-inch Sony XBR-65X850A(Opens in a new window) and 55-inch Sony XBR-55X850A(Opens in a new window), both of which have fallen to about half their original prices(Opens in a new window). If you’re looking for a semi-affordable 4K model, the 55-inch Seiki SE55UY04(Opens in a new window) is worth considering. The 4K TV recently debuted in November with a $1,500 price tag, but is now retailing at the lowest price to date for just under $1,000.

June Shopping: Things To Consider
Traditionally, exercise equipment and gym memberships see some of the lowest prices of the year in June, but the scope of mainstream exercise equipment is expanding. As promotions for summer health regimes and so-called “beach bodies” peak in June, we may see discounts on health-inspired wearable tech, like activity trackers.

Also, steer clear of Apple: Buying any Apple product this time of year will usually put you behind the curve. Although WWDC debuted new software just days ago, newer hardware generally won’t come out until at least September. And because current models won’t be discounted until the newer models are on the shelves, it’s best to wait until fall to buy Apple hardware.