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Get a Sphero BB-8 app-controlled droid for $75

Normally priced around $130, this adorable rolling droid was rescued and refurbished. Great gift for a dad or grad? Plus: Let's just say it rhymes with "slewtruth bleaker."

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read

CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. And find more great buys on the CNET Deals page.


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Sphero

I think we can all agree that the best thing about "The Force Awakens" was BB-8.

Actually, I thought he was nowhere near as lovable as R2-D2. But that's just me; I prefer the "Star Wars" of my childhood.

Even so, we can definitely all agree that a remote-controlled BB-8 toy is seriously cool. Even a crotchety old movie snob like me would want one of those.

Ah, but the $129.99 price tag... not so cool.

If you don't mind a droid that came from the salvage yard, you can save big: Daily Steals has the refurbished Sphero BB-8 app-controlled droid for $75 shipped. That's after applying promo code BB-CHEAP at checkout.

Oh, and you'll be glad to know I'm not going to say, "This is the droid you're looking for." I don't partake of that kind of low-hanging fruit, people.

Most of what you need to know about this little guy can be found right here:

Watch this: First hands-on with the BB-8 toy from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Adorable, right? (No, not Brian Tong; he's more adorkable.) I'm not sure BB-8 has any long-term play value, but he definitely seems like a fun toy to have around. This also seems like a fun gift for a dad or grad, and we're rapidly approaching dad/grad season.

Because this is a refurb, it has a 90-day warranty instead of a full year -- but that warranty comes from Sphero proper.

Your thoughts?

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This pretty little speaker is just $10.

iClever

Bonus deal: As promised, I'm sharing Bluetooth-speaker deals only when there's a unique design and/or impossible-to-ignore price.

This one falls in the latter category, though the design is at least notable: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Thousandshores (via Amazon) has the iClever BoostSound portable Bluetooth speaker for $10.20, shipped free with Prime. That's after applying promo code MDRJPT77 at checkout.

Ten bucks! And you're not limited to just one at that price: I upped the quantity to seven and got the discount on all of them.

This isn't some ugly black brick: The speaker is quite pretty, with a curved front bezel and striking red grille.

Granted, it's pretty basic beyond that, with play/pause and volume controls up top and a line-in jack at the back (for connecting non-Bluetooth devices).

According to the manufacturer, it's good for up to 10 hours of play time. Oh, and there's an 18-month warranty. You may be sick of Bluetooth speakers, but I think this was too good to pass up!