Tech Deals of the Week: Republic Day Discounts on iPhone 5s, Nexus 6

 

Almost all major online retailers are running Republic Day sales this weekend. The sales start from today, and will run up to 26 January, 2015. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this weekend's massive flash sales:

1. Always do a basic price check on other sites before hitting the buy now button on a deal. Most online retailers will match each other's prices during a sale. A basic rule of thumb is to do a price check on Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal to ensure you get the best offer.
2. Keep mobile apps ready. Online retailers will push their mobile apps to increase usage, and will offer better discounts when you buy using their mobile apps. If you spot a great on the web, add it to the cart, but try and checkout from the mobile app itself.
3. Bundle deals with cashback offers on specific cards. Flipkart has a cashback offer for HDFC Bank cards, while Amazon has a promotion on its mobile app purchases for HDFC Bank and American Express card useRs.You can get similar cashback offers on Snapdeal's website and mobile apps.
   
   1. Google Nexus 6 32GB
   You can grab a brand new Google Nexus 6 32GB for as low as Rs.40,990 on eBay this week. The Nexus flagship is normally available for Rs. 43,999. The Nexus 6 features a 6-inch QHD AMOLED display running at a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 coating that should keep the display safe from minor scratches. The smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor, supported by 8GB of RAM. Nexus 6 features a 16-megapixel primary camera, and includes a dual LED flash to lighten up those dark interiors. The smartphone is a decent choice if you can handle a phone with a large display.
   Coupon code: EBAY09DEAL
   Price: Rs. 40,990 (regular Rs. 43,999)
   
   2. iPhone 5s Deals
   iPhone 5s prices picked up after the Diwali sale last year. Even with the iPhone 6 launch in India, Apple India pretty much saw to it that the iPhone 5s prices don't fall to ridiculous levels. But with most online retailers now running Republic Day sales, there's a slight discount on iPhone 5s prices too. Both Amazon and Flipkart are selling the 16GB variant of the iPhone 5s for around Rs. 37,500. You can bundle this with a cashback offer applicable on both the sites to get another Rs. 2,000 off that price, making it a sweeter deal at Rs. 35,500. That would have to be the lowest price we've seen lately. You can use an HDFC Bank card to get an instant discount on Flipkart while checking out, or use an American Express or HDFC Bank card to get a cashback on Amazon's mobile app. Please note that you'll need to buy the iPhone 5s using Amazon's mobile app to avail the cashback offer, and cashback for American Express card users will be in the form of an Amazon gift card only.
   Price: Rs. 35,500 (effective)
   Links: Flipkart, Amazon
   
   3. Xbox One and video games
   You can expect a decent deal on an Xbox One every single time Amazon runs a massive flash sale. This time around Amazon is offering multiple Lightning Deals on the Xbox One console as well as the older Xbox 360 console. You can grab the Xbox One console bundled with Kinect, three games, and an additional controller for Rs. 40,990 (regular Rs. 45,990) during the sale. Amazon will also sell the standalone version of Xbox One (without Kinect) for around Rs. 35,000 (regular Rs. 39,990) during its Lightning Deals this weekend. Amazon is also selling Xbox One games at a discount this weekend. There are several games being sold for under Rs. 3,000 during the sale. You can get an additional 10% (maximum Rs. 2,000) cashback when you buy them on Amazon's mobile app, and pay using HDFC Bank cards.
   Price: Rs. 40,990 (regular Rs. 45,990)
   
   4. Discounts on Amazon Kindle ebook readers
   Amazon has slashed prices on its Kindle ebook readers by Rs. 1,000 on its Republic Day sale again. The discounts are valid on all Kindle variants, and are applicable till 26 January, 2015. You can buy the Kindle Paperwhite for Rs. 9,999 (regular Rs. 10,999), Kindle Paperwhite 3G for Rs. 12,999 (regular Rs.13,999), or the all-new Kindle with touchscreen support for Rs. 4,999 (regular Rs. 5,999). The all-new Kindle is the cheapest Kindle e-reader you can buy today, that comes with touchscreen support now. It's a great device for reading books. If you need an ebook reader with a backlight, go for the Kindle Paperwhite, and if you need 3G connectivity to buy and sync books on the go, get the Paperwhite 3G variant.
   Price: Starting from Rs. 4,999
   
   5. ADATA PT100 10000mAH power bank
   If you're eyeing a decent 10000mAH power bank, possibly an alternative to the Mi 10000mAh power bank, the ADATA PT100 will definitely suit your needs. Amazon is selling this power bank at a lower price of Rs. 999 (MRP Rs. 2500) this weekend. That makes it equal to the Mi power bank in terms of pricing. The ADATA PT100 includes dual USB outlets, that means you can charge up to two devices at a time. It comes with a battery indicator that enables you to see how much juice you've got left in the power bank. There's an LED flashlight too, just in case you were looking for more features. The power bank comes with 1-year standard manufacturer warranty. This is as good as it gets at that price point of under Rs. 1,000.
   Price: Rs. 999