UPDATE: Mar. 29, 2024, 12:20 p.m. EDT This post has been updated with details on upcoming Drops between April 2 and April 5, including a Pac-Man LEGO set, TP-Link security cameras, and a really nice electric toothbrush.
When it comes to shopping, a scarcity mindset is just as convincing as that one friend who always enables you to buy something you don’t need. It’s why there’s often a timer breathing down your neck from the corner of the screen during a sitewide sale. It’s exactly why Amazon’s invite-only Prime Day deals and Black Friday deals popped off, and why Walmart lets Walmart+ members get their hands on new groups of big shopping event deals hours before the general public can.
And it’s probably why Best Buy conveniently announced Best Buy Drops just ahead of the holiday shopping season. We’re pleasantly surprised that Drops turned out to not just be a holiday treat, though — it has solidified its spot as the middle tab of the Best Buy app, and we’ll certainly be taking advantage of this unique shopping hack as long as Best Buy will let us.
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Best Buy Drops is a shopping hack dedicated to giving shoppers a heads-up about upcoming high-profile items and deals in categories like gaming, cheap TVs, fan-favorite toys and merch, high-profile hair tools, kitchen gadgets, and more dropping at Best Buy in the next week. As long as you have the Best Buy mobile app, you can preview what’s coming on what day so that you’re ready to click “add to cart” when the item or deal goes live.
If a Drop is currently live while you’re on the app, a status bar showing the percentage of inventory that has been claimed can give an idea of how fast you need to act. Once inventory for a certain Drop is gone, it’s gone.
Drops can include a huge price slash on a popular item or availability of product that wasn’t up for grabs before.
Credit: Screenshot / Mashable
The Drops tab also keeps a list of past Drops, which have included a limited-edition PlayStation 5 Marvel’s Spider-Man bundle, Pokémon Squishmallows, a super cheap 50-inch TV, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Even if you missed these, you at least have an idea of what similar items could pop up in the coming weeks. To look ahead, check the upcoming tab.
For extra cushion, you can opt-in to Drop Alerts for an extra reminder right before the drop of a product you care about goes live. Joining My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total will unlock even better discounts on Drops than what the general public is getting.
What’s dropping at Best Buy April 2 through April 5
Best Buy is only revealing the names of the upcoming products — not their actual Drop prices — in the Drop preview tab, so any prices listed below are the current price of the said product as it is on Best Buy’s site pre-Drop. Drops go live around 11 a.m. ET on the specified day (usually a string of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in any given week), and inventory is typically fully claimed by 5 p.m. that day.
Dropping: April 2
Drops has been pretty gaming-centric for a few weeks now, often featuring gear for Xbox, PlayStation, or PC gaming. The first Drop in April appeals to a different kind of gamer: the nostalgic one. Rather than playing the arcade game, though, LEGO fans can build one with this retro Pac-Man arcade game replica. The set for adults contains 2,651 pieces and has fun features like a four-way joystick and illuminating coin slot.
Going for $269.99 regularly, it would be sweet to see this pricey LEGO set drop below $200.
Dropping: April 3
As the name suggests, AnkerMake’s M5 Speedy 3D printer is said to print up to five times faster than other at-home 3D printers, turning your ideas into a tangible 3D item at speeds up to 500 mm per second. The straightforward setup process shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes. From there, you can start printing right away from the catalog of pre-loaded objects or tweak your own designs on a mobile device or through the printer’s touchscreen.
The regular $699.99 price tag on the M5 Speedy is a steep ask for casual beginners, so we’re hoping that this Drop shaves at least $200 off.
Dropping: April 4
If you’ve been meaning to start keeping a closer eye on your home, TP Link’s wire-free security cameras can be up and running within minutes via double-sided magnetic mounts. They work indoors and outdoors, using AI to decipher between people, pets, and vehicles and providing decent 2K QHD video that can stream live to your phone or be recorded to watch later. Each camera should last 300 days before needing to be charged.
This three pack of TP-Link Tapo cameras is already down $100 from its original price of $299.99, but we could see an extra $50 off on its Drop day.
Dropping: April 5
Finally making the switch to an electric toothbrush counts as spring cleaning, right? Your dentist would say so. The first self-care related Drop we’ve seen in a while is on the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700, which uses sonic technology to drive fluid between teeth for a better polish (and likely, enhanced whiteness) compared to a manual toothbrush. This rechargeable model also uses a smart sensor to send personalized tips on optimal pressure, mouth coverage, and scrubbing method to your smartphone.
One of the pricier smart electric toothbrushes out there, the $339.99 model is already on sale at Best Buy for $299.99. Its Drop price could take it as low as $239.99 (a full $100 off). Remember that it does come with several replacement heads, so you should be set for a while.