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Hey, it’s Friday — which means it’s time to save some money before the weekend. September is stacked with Microsoft promos this year: the XBOX and Surface trade-in cash-back events both run through September 30, Certified Refurbished pricing is at its lowest of the season, and Game Pass Ultimate is sitting at its new lower $22.99 rate. Here are the best XBOX and Surface deals I’ve found this week, hand-picked so you’re not wading through junk.
Deal of the week
XBOX Series X 1TB Certified Refurbished — Save $100
Microsoft’s Certified Refurbished XBOX Series X is the best console deal this week, hands down. Every unit is inspected, repaired to Microsoft standards, and includes a 90-day warranty. If you missed out during the August price hikes (Series X jumped from $649.99 to $799.99), this is the cheapest legit path to a Series X right now.
XBOX Series X 1TB (Certified Refurbished): $649.99 $549.99 at Microsoft Store
XBOX Series X 1TB Digital Edition (Certified Refurbished): $599.99 $499.99 at Microsoft Store
Why this matters: Certified Refurbished from Microsoft directly is way safer than random eBay listings. You get warranty coverage, real returns, and the console has been fully tested. If you want a Series X but the new $799.99 price makes you wince, this is the play.
Best XBOX deals this week
XBOX trade-in promo — up to $400 cash back
Running through September 30, Microsoft is offering cash back on eligible XBOX, PlayStation, and Nintendo consoles when you trade toward a new Series X or S. Trade-in credits start at $60 and go up to $400 depending on device condition. Combine with the Series X refurb pricing above for one of the best real-world costs I’ve seen this year.
Get the trade-in details: Microsoft XBOX trade-in offer
XBOX Wireless Controller — Save $16
The standard XBOX Wireless Controller in Carbon Black is at $43.91 on Amazon this week, down from its $59.99 MSRP. That’s about as low as this controller ever goes outside of Black Friday. If you need a second controller for couch co-op or you’re replacing an aging one, this is the price to grab.
XBOX Wireless Controller: $59.99 $43.91 at Amazon
XBOX Wireless Controller (Microsoft Store): $69.99 From $54.99 at Microsoft Store
XBOX Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 — Save $35
The Elite Series 2 rarely drops this much. It’s at $144.99 on Amazon right now, down from $179.99. If you play competitive shooters or you’re tired of thumbstick drift on the standard controller, the Elite is worth the upgrade — mappable back paddles, adjustable tension, and swappable components.
XBOX Elite Wireless Controller Series 2: $179.99 $144.99 at Amazon
XBOX Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core: $149.99 $139.99 at Microsoft Store
Deal alert: Historically the Elite Series 2 has hit $120 during Black Friday. If you can wait until late November, wait. If not, $144.99 is a solid floor.
Best Surface deals this week
Surface Pro 12-inch Certified Refurbished — Save up to $121
If you want the Copilot+ PC experience without paying full retail, the 12-inch Surface Pro Certified Refurbished is the value pick of the year. These are the 1st Edition Copilot+ models, extensively inspected, and come with a 12-month Microsoft warranty — twice the standard refurb warranty from most retailers.
Surface Pro, 12-inch (Certified Refurbished): From $720.00 From $612.00 at Microsoft Store
Surface Pro, 13-inch (11th Edition) Certified Refurbished: From $900.00 From $765.00 at Microsoft Store
Why this matters: The 12-month warranty is the real differentiator here. Amazon Renewed usually gives you 90 days. Best Buy Certified Open Box gives you 15 days. Microsoft’s refurb program is the safest way to buy a used Surface.
Surface trade-in promo — up to $400 cash back
Same as XBOX — Microsoft is running a Surface trade-in event through September 30. Trade any eligible Surface or Windows laptop toward a new Surface Pro or Surface Laptop and get cash back. Plus you can stack an extra 15% off with the current promo when you check out by 9/30.
Get the details: Surface trade-in offer
Surface Laptop 13-inch Certified Refurbished
If you’re more of a traditional laptop person than a tablet-plus-Type-Cover person, the Surface Laptop Certified Refurbished lineup is worth a look. Also comes with the 12-month Microsoft warranty.
Surface Laptop, 13-inch (1st Edition) Certified Refurbished: Starting from $900.00 at Microsoft Store
Microsoft 365 and Game Pass deals
XBOX Game Pass Ultimate at $22.99/month
Not a “deal” so much as a permanent price reset — XBOX Game Pass Ultimate dropped from $29.99 to $22.99 per month back in April 2026, and PC Game Pass moved to $13.99 per month. If you’re not subscribed and September’s lineup interests you, this is the lowest official rate.
September Game Pass day-one launches:
- Dune: Awakening (September 22) — XBOX Series X|S, PC, Cloud
- Minecraft Dungeons II (September 29) — XBOX Series X|S, PC, Cloud
XBOX Game Pass Ultimate: $22.99/month at XBOX.com
Microsoft 365 Family promotional pricing ends Sept 30
Heads up if you’ve been thinking about Microsoft 365 for the family: several M365 promotional prices expire at the end of the month. If you use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or need OneDrive cloud storage, now’s a decent time to lock in a subscription before the September 30 promo cutoff.
Microsoft 365 Family (1-year, 6 users, 1TB OneDrive each): Check Microsoft Store for current pricing before Sept 30
XBOX controller and accessory deals
Special Edition XBOX Wireless Controllers
Microsoft has several Special Edition Wireless Controllers on sale this week for around $54-$64. The camo editions in particular are a nice pickup if you want something more visually interesting than plain Carbon Black.
- XBOX Wireless Controller – Arctic Camo Special Edition:
$69.99$54.00 at Microsoft Store - XBOX Wireless Controller – Mineral Camo Special Edition:
$69.99$64.00 at Microsoft Store - XBOX Wireless Controller – Daystrike Camo Special Edition:
$69.99$64.00 at Microsoft Store - XBOX Wireless Controller – Breaker Special Edition:
$79.99From $59.22 at Microsoft Store
One to watch
Keep an eye on XBOX Series X Storage Expansion Cards in the next few weeks. The Seagate 1TB card typically starts moving down as we get closer to holiday shopping. Historically drops to $120-$130 during October. If you’re storage-strapped, wait — you’ll save $30-40.
Also worth watching: the XBOX Ultimate Game Sale usually returns in late September or early October with hundreds of games at 50-80% off. If there’s a title you’ve been wanting to buy, hold your cash for another two weeks.
The bottom line
September’s a strong month for Microsoft ecosystem deals thanks to the trade-in promos and Certified Refurbished pricing. If you were on the fence about upgrading your XBOX, Surface, or picking up controllers, this weekend is a good time to move — especially with the September 30 promo deadlines closing in.
Deals change fast. Prices and availability were accurate at time of writing but may shift by the time you click through. Always verify the price on the retailer’s page before checkout.
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Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links, meaning MSFTNewsNow may earn a commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Every product recommendation is based on my honest research; commissions never influence what makes the list. Thanks for supporting independent Microsoft coverage.
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