Why You Can Trust CNET Want a mini NES? Set your alarm for 2 p.m. today
This might be your best chance to get this year's must-have holiday gift, the Nintendo NES Classic Edition.
The moment we laid eyes on Nintendo's mini NES, we were smitten. $60 for a tiny Nintendo Entertainment System with most of the best games? Hell yes.
The NES Classic Edition (as it's officially known) is available as of today -- but it's already hard to get, popping up on eBay at prices well north of $200.
Your best bet for online availability may be Amazon. Set your alarm for 1:45 p.m. PT/4:45 p.m. ET today -- because 15 minutes later, Amazon will begin selling the NES Classic Edition. (Bundles with an extra controller are already priced at $270 or more.)
Amazon says it has "very limited quantities" of the NES Classic Edition, to the point that it's limiting orders to one per customer and disabling the one-click ordering system.
"Demand is expected to be very high, and there's no guarantee that it will remain in stock for long," reads the email that Amazon sent to those who watchlisted the NES. "We will make similar announcements when additional inventory becomes available."
As far as other major retailers are concerned:
- It is said to be available in-store at GameStop, but it's not online.
- Target is selling it in-store only, but its website indicates local availability.
- Toys R' Us completely removed the item from its website after a brief preorder period in July.
- Best Buy's site says the unit is "sold out," but mentions that it "may be available in stores."
Wanna see what all the fuss is about?
This story was originally published at updated on November 9, and updated on November 11 at 10:20 a.m. PT.