Australian shoppers are splashing big cash in the post-Christmas sales, but some small businesses say they are not feeling the love.
The week between Christmas and New Year is expected to generate $3.83 billion in spending nationally, up 4.4 per cent on last year, according to forecasts by the National Retailers Association.
Demand is being driven by Boxing Day discounts and the redemption of Christmas gift cards.
Diana Derek’s Canberra homewares store has been running at a loss since Christmas and she’s worried consumers have overlooked small businesses. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)
But at Diana Derek’s Canberra homewares store and boutique Hive, sales have plummeted, and she has been running at a loss since Christmas.
“There’s been a massive drop off … we didn’t plan for that,” Ms Derek said.
“I assumed that it was just because everyone goes to the coast [after Christmas], but I went into the Canberra Centre and did see a lot of Canberrans shopping.
“Unfortunately, it does look like they’ve chosen the malls over the little businesses.“
Canberra Outlet Centre was packed with shoppers searching for a bargain on Boxing Day. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
Her small store is unable to compete with the sweeping discounts offered by large retailers.
“People just get so overwhelmed with the word sale, [but] it doesn’t mean it’s quality — mainly what we see is quantity,” Ms Derek said.
The Canberran took over the shop six months ago with the hope of keeping the almost 30-year-old independent business running.
“You start wondering if you’ve done the right thing,” she said.
“It would be great if people kept supporting it because we won’t survive and we will get pushed out by the big guys.“
Ms Derek says if shoppers always overlook small businesses, they will soon disappear. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)
Sales a double-edged sword
Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Greg Harford said big sales periods like Black Friday and Boxing Day could be a double-edged sword.
“[They] can put real pressure on retailers,” Mr Harford said.
“[There’s] an opportunity there of course, because customers are out looking for bargains, but every discount a retailer offers is money off the bottom line and at the small end of retail in particular, margins are really, really narrow.
“The reality is for many small retailers, they’re never going to be able to compete with larger chains on sales — they’ll have to compete on service or range or offering.”
Greg Harford says small retailers can’t match the sales discounts of large outlet chains. (Supplied: Greg Harford)
While Mr Harford expected this year’s local Boxing Day figures to be stronger than 2024, he said Canberra was grappling with a “two-speed economy”.
“The best advice for retail customers is get out and support local businesses,” he said.
“We really do need to support them, otherwise there’s a risk that they will disappear.“
Making conscious choices
Tayanah O’Donnell doesn’t offer Boxing Day or Black Friday sales at her Canberra bookshop. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)
At Canberra’s oldest independent bookshop, owner Tayanah O’Donnell has resisted the temptation to provide discounts to compete with the major retailers.
“We don’t offer Black Friday sales or Boxing Day sales or anything like that,”
she said.
“Occasionally you have those quiet moments late at night where you think, ‘perhaps we should this year succumb to offering a discount’, but it has been a deliberate choice.
“We just operate on the basis that people coming into the store will get the best possible book at the best possible price and we really pride ourselves on the experience of people coming into the store taking as long as they need to browse.”
Paperchain “will never replicate what the bigger stores are doing”, owner Tayanah O’Donnell says. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)
While the store is quieter now than during the pre-Christmas rush, the business is still thriving.
In the face of rabid sales marketing, Ms O’Donnell encouraged shoppers to make conscious choices.
She said choosing to buy one perfect book was preferable over madly purchasing 10 that may never be read.
“There is something to be said for a slower, more thoughtful way in which we buy things, consume things, honour those things and pass them on to others,” she said.
“We’ll never try to replicate what the bigger stores are doing.
“We stick to our knitting, as my grandma would say.“
Black Friday was disappointing for retailers (pic: Terry Murden)
The UK’s economy shrank unexpectedly by 0.1% in October, according to the latest official figures.
Economists had been expecting it to grow by the same margin. Over the three months to the end of October the economy also shrank by 0.1%, as manufacturing output fell and services growth stalled, the Office for National Statistics said.
The data was released as the CBI upgraded its UK growth forecast for 2026 to 1.3% from 1%, largely on the back of the temporary boost to government spending announced in the budget.
However, it says businesses are “swimming against the powerful tides of weak demand, elevated labour and energy costs, and ongoing domestic and global uncertainty”.
The CBI expects inflation to ease to 2.6% next year and 2.3% in 2027 and the unemployment rate to hover around 5%. Two further cuts to interest rates are expected, the first next week and a second early next year, taking the base rate to 3.5%.
Meanwhile, retail data from the retail trade points to a disappointing November, despite the Black Friday sales, though some retailers enjoyed a solid month.
Total sales in Scotland increased by 0.1% compared with November 2024, but adjusted for inflation, there was a year-on-year decrease of 0.5%.
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “Scottish retail hopes of a strong end to 2025 are hanging by a thread after disappointing November retail sales.
“Retailers are now on tenterhooks for a last-minute surge in Christmas sales to round off what will otherwise be a humdrum year.
“However, if sales don’t materialise then retailers last hope will be the Scottish Government’s Budget in January.
“If the finance secretary doesn’t deliver a business rates model which is at least as competitive as the new lower rates in England, then it will be a long winter for retailers.”
Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail & leisure, KPMG, said: “Scotland’s retailers will be disappointed that Black Friday period promotions failed to deliver the boost that they were hoping for, with household costs and nervousness about the economy continuing to impact discretionary buying.”
Contradicting the weak Scotland-wide trade data, the country’s largest outlet shopping destination recorded its best ever November performance.
Livingston Designer Outlet defied the Black Friday gloom
Sales at Livingston Designer Outlet grew by 7.5% year on year, supported by a 4% increase in footfall.
It says performance was boosted during the Black Friday trading period, where sales were up 13.3% and like-for-like sales grew by 11.5%.
The centre added a number of brands since last year such as Belstaff, Columbia, Monsoon and Ravensburger which may have influenced the data.
LDC says these brands elevate the centre’s profile, driving footfall. Calvin Klein, which recently upsized, saw sales climb by 44% in November.
A new report from the National Retail Federation shows that Gen Z shoppers make the most returns out of any generation, despite the environmental harm it can cause. Taylor Hoit, head of product and technology at the online marketplace Rebel, joins CBS News to discuss.
Every year, it seems like Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales simply aren’t what they were. In 2025, that’s not necessarily the case anymore though. Through our hours of extensive research, we’ve found the best Cyber Monday deals and can confirm the discounts are discounting!. But you still have to shuffle through quite a bit of noise. This is the Super Bowl of online shopping after all, and we’re here to set you up for the ultimate success.
Expect major savings this year, going up to 80% off everything from mattresses to beauty devices, sex toys, designer items, and more. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sales happening, our organized list below is here to help. Think of it as a personalized roadmap to the best promos available now, helping you score a handful of shopping touchdowns this Cyber Monday.
Ahead, we rounded up the must-see markdowns from reader-favorite brands like Wayfair, Everlane, Nordstrom, Mejuri, Lelo, and more — most of which end tonight. So, grab your laptop, a snack, and a credit card. Get in reader, we’re going (online) shopping!
Chain stores have Black Friday. Online marketplaces have Cyber Monday. For local businesses, it’s Small Business Saturday.In the last 20 years, more segments of the retail industry have vied for their own piece of the holiday shopping season. The travel trade has firmly joined the trend with another post-Thanksgiving sales push: Travel Tuesday.On the same day as the nonprofit world’s Giving Tuesday, airlines, hotels, cruise ship companies, travel booking platforms and tour operators get in on the annual spirit to spend by promoting one-day deals. Consumer advocates say there are legitimate savings to be had but also chances to be misled by marketing that conveys a false sense of urgency.”People see ‘40% off’ and assume it’s a once-in-a-lifetime steal, without recognizing that the underlying price may have been inflated or that the same itinerary was cheaper last month.” Sally French, a travel expert at personal finance site NerdWallet, said.She and other seasoned travelers advised consumers who want to see if they can save money by booking trips on Travel Tuesday to do research in advance and to pay especially close attention to the fine print attached to offers.People hoping to score last-minute deals for Christmas or New Year’s should double-check for blackout dates or other restrictions, recommended Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer expert for the online travel site Hopper.It’s also wise to to keep an eye out for nonrefundable fares, resort fees, double occupancy requirements or upgrade conditions that may be hidden within advertised discounts, according to French.Shoppers should be wary of travel packages with extra transportation options or add-on offers, French said. Instead of lowering fares or room rates, some companies use statement credits, extra points, included amenities and bundled extras as a way to tempt potential customers, she said.“Many travel brands want to keep sticker prices high to maintain an aura of luxury, but they still need to fill planes, ships and hotel rooms,” French said. “Add-on perks are their workaround.”Consumers who are prepared rather than impulsive and on the lookout for the up-sell are in a much better position to identify authentic bargains, consumer experts stressed. Knowing what a specific trip would typically cost and comparison shopping can help expose offers based on inflated underlying costs and whether the same itinerary might have been cheaper at other times, they said.“Compare prices, check your calendar and make sure the trip you’re booking is something you genuinely want, not something you bought because a countdown timer pressured you,” French said. “What gets glossed over is that the best deal might be not booking anything at all if it doesn’t align with your plans.”Travel Tuesday came about based on existing industry trends. In 2017, Hopper analyzed historical pricing data and found that in each of the nine previous years, the biggest day for post-Thanksgiving travel discounts was the day after Cyber Monday.The site named the day Travel Tuesday. The number of offers within that time-targeted window and the number of travelers looking for them has since expanded.“Nearly three times as many trips were planned on Travel Tuesday last year compared to Black Friday,” Hopper’s Schwimer said. “We continue to see growth in the day, year over year, as more travel brands and categories offer deals.”The event’s origin story is in line with the National Retail Federation coining Cyber Monday in 2005 as a response to the emerging e-commerce era. American Express came up with Small Business Saturday in 2010 to direct buyers and their dollars to smaller retailers, credit card fees and all.A report by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company last year noted that November and December tend to be slow months for travel bookings, making Travel Tuesday a “marketing moment” that could help boost revenue.Hotel, cruise and and airline bookings by U.S. travelers increased significantly on Travel Tuesday 2023 compared with the two weeks before and after the day, the report’s authors wrote, citing data provided by the travel marketing platform Sojern.While Travel Tuesday so far has been mostly confined to the United States and Canada, “European travel companies can anticipate the possibility that Travel Tuesday will become a growing phenomenon in their region, given that other shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have spread beyond North America,” the report stated.Vivek Pandya, lead insights analyst for Adobe Analytics, which tracks online spending, said consumers have more tools than ever this holiday season to help them determine if deals hold up to scrutiny.“Social journeys, influencers providing promo codes and values, and generative AI platforms taking all that in – the prices, the social conversation, the reviews – and giving guidance to the consumer, that’s a very different, dynamic kind of journey consumers are taking than they have in previous seasons,” Pandya said.Both he and French emphasized that prices rise and fall based on multiple factors, and that the winter holidays are not the only major promotional period of the year.“We now have dozens of consumer spending ‘holidays,’” French said. “Amazon alone keeps adding new versions of Prime Day. So if you don’t buy on Travel Tuesday, you haven’t missed your moment.”
Chain stores have Black Friday. Online marketplaces have Cyber Monday. For local businesses, it’s Small Business Saturday.
In the last 20 years, more segments of the retail industry have vied for their own piece of the holiday shopping season. The travel trade has firmly joined the trend with another post-Thanksgiving sales push: Travel Tuesday.
On the same day as the nonprofit world’s Giving Tuesday, airlines, hotels, cruise ship companies, travel booking platforms and tour operators get in on the annual spirit to spend by promoting one-day deals. Consumer advocates say there are legitimate savings to be had but also chances to be misled by marketing that conveys a false sense of urgency.
“People see ‘40% off’ and assume it’s a once-in-a-lifetime steal, without recognizing that the underlying price may have been inflated or that the same itinerary was cheaper last month.” Sally French, a travel expert at personal finance site NerdWallet, said.
She and other seasoned travelers advised consumers who want to see if they can save money by booking trips on Travel Tuesday to do research in advance and to pay especially close attention to the fine print attached to offers.
People hoping to score last-minute deals for Christmas or New Year’s should double-check for blackout dates or other restrictions, recommended Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer expert for the online travel site Hopper.
It’s also wise to to keep an eye out for nonrefundable fares, resort fees, double occupancy requirements or upgrade conditions that may be hidden within advertised discounts, according to French.
Shoppers should be wary of travel packages with extra transportation options or add-on offers, French said. Instead of lowering fares or room rates, some companies use statement credits, extra points, included amenities and bundled extras as a way to tempt potential customers, she said.
“Many travel brands want to keep sticker prices high to maintain an aura of luxury, but they still need to fill planes, ships and hotel rooms,” French said. “Add-on perks are their workaround.”
Consumers who are prepared rather than impulsive and on the lookout for the up-sell are in a much better position to identify authentic bargains, consumer experts stressed. Knowing what a specific trip would typically cost and comparison shopping can help expose offers based on inflated underlying costs and whether the same itinerary might have been cheaper at other times, they said.
“Compare prices, check your calendar and make sure the trip you’re booking is something you genuinely want, not something you bought because a countdown timer pressured you,” French said. “What gets glossed over is that the best deal might be not booking anything at all if it doesn’t align with your plans.”
Travel Tuesday came about based on existing industry trends. In 2017, Hopper analyzed historical pricing data and found that in each of the nine previous years, the biggest day for post-Thanksgiving travel discounts was the day after Cyber Monday.
The site named the day Travel Tuesday. The number of offers within that time-targeted window and the number of travelers looking for them has since expanded.
“Nearly three times as many trips were planned on Travel Tuesday last year compared to Black Friday,” Hopper’s Schwimer said. “We continue to see growth in the day, year over year, as more travel brands and categories offer deals.”
The event’s origin story is in line with the National Retail Federation coining Cyber Monday in 2005 as a response to the emerging e-commerce era. American Express came up with Small Business Saturday in 2010 to direct buyers and their dollars to smaller retailers, credit card fees and all.
A report by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company last year noted that November and December tend to be slow months for travel bookings, making Travel Tuesday a “marketing moment” that could help boost revenue.
Hotel, cruise and and airline bookings by U.S. travelers increased significantly on Travel Tuesday 2023 compared with the two weeks before and after the day, the report’s authors wrote, citing data provided by the travel marketing platform Sojern.
While Travel Tuesday so far has been mostly confined to the United States and Canada, “European travel companies can anticipate the possibility that Travel Tuesday will become a growing phenomenon in their region, given that other shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have spread beyond North America,” the report stated.
Vivek Pandya, lead insights analyst for Adobe Analytics, which tracks online spending, said consumers have more tools than ever this holiday season to help them determine if deals hold up to scrutiny.
“Social journeys, influencers providing promo codes and values, and generative AI platforms taking all that in – the prices, the social conversation, the reviews – and giving guidance to the consumer, that’s a very different, dynamic kind of journey consumers are taking than they have in previous seasons,” Pandya said.
Both he and French emphasized that prices rise and fall based on multiple factors, and that the winter holidays are not the only major promotional period of the year.
“We now have dozens of consumer spending ‘holidays,’” French said. “Amazon alone keeps adding new versions of Prime Day. So if you don’t buy on Travel Tuesday, you haven’t missed your moment.”
Black Friday is technically over, but long gone are the days in which all of the deals dry up at midnight. Black Friday is very much a multi-day event now, with most of the best deals (as long as they don’t sell out) lasting through Cyber Monday. This year, we’ve found some of the best prices of the year on tech like headphones, game consoles, robot vacuums, speakers and more.
Below, we’ve collected the best Black Friday deals you can still get today. We expect many of these to run through Cyber Monday this year, but we’ll keep this post updated as we account for possible sell-outs and any new deals we can find that are worth your money.
Black Friday deals: Engadget’s top picks
Disney+ Hulu bundle — $60 for one year: The Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) bundle is on sale for $5 per month for one year (for a total of $60) through December 1. New and eligible returning subscribers can take advantage of this deal, and considering the bundle typically costs $13 per month, this deal represents more than a 50 percent discount on the standard monthly price.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $220 ($29 off): Apple’s latest flagship wireless earbuds are the ones to get if you have an iPhone and any other Apple gear. They have improved sound quality, impressive ANC improvements, extra features like Live Translation and even better battery life.
Apple iPad A16 for $274 (21 percent off): Apple’s cheapest iPad makes a great first tablet for kids, or anyone who just wants a basic slab for watching videos, online shopping, sending emails and more. It’s plenty fast thanks to the A16 chipset that powers it, plus it has a nice screen, 128GB of storage in the base model and good battery life.
Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.
HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.
PlayStation 5 digital edition for $399 ($100 off): The PlayStation 5 is getting a major Black Friday discount, with $100 off consoles. That brings the PS5 Digital Edition down to $399, the standard PS5 to $449 and the new PS5 Pro to $649. If you’ve been holding out for the right time to upgrade or buy your first console, these are the deals to beat. You’ll find them direct at Sony and from other retailers including Amazon and Walmart.
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle for $499: Black Friday Nintendo sales were announced recently and, unsurprisingly, there won’t be many true deals out there this year. There are no straight discounts on the Switch 2 console, so your best bet is to pick up a bundle that saves you some cash on a Switch 2 game. One of the best is the Mario Kart Wold bundle, but Pokémon fans should consider the Pokémon Legends: Z-A bundle, too.
Meta Quest 3S VR headset for $250 ($50 off): We consider this to be the best VR headset for newbies or those on a budget. It’s comfortable to wear for long sessions, has solid performance, comes with excellent controllers and you’ll have access to a large app library with it.
DJI Neo drone for $159 (20 percent off, Prime exclusive): Yes, the Neo 2 just came out, but it’s still unclear if that model will make its way to the US. For now, if you want an affordable drone to capture your next adventure, the original Neo remains an excellent option. It was our top pick for the best drone for those on a budget, and it’s an even better buy at this sale price.
Samsung S95F (65-inch) for $2,298 ($700 off): The S95F is a premium model that’s receivedalmostuniversallystellarreviews for being especially bright among OLED TVs while keeping the bold colors and contrast expected from a QD-OLED panel. That brightness, combined with the display’s matte finish, means it’s uniquely adept at fending off glare. It also has four HDMI 2.1 ports and a native 165Hz refresh rate for gaming. That said, there’s still no Dolby Vision HDR, and the matte coating means that black tones won’t look as deep in a bright room. It’s not cheap, but this is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 65-inch model. Also at Samsung and Best Buy.
Google Pixel 10 Pro for $749 (25 percent off): You can get much better than this when it comes to Android phones. Google’s latest flagship has a brighter display, longer battery life, a camera that supports 100x Pro Res Zoom and Pixelsnap (i.e. Qi2) charging support.
Black Friday streaming deals and subscription deals
Audible — three months for $3 + $20 Audible credit: For literally $1 per month, you can get access to Audible’s enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals (which can be anything from never-before-heard books to live performances). It’s only three months, after which you’ll have to cancel or renew at the regular price, but an audiobibliophile can cram a lot of listening into 90 days.
MasterClass — up to 50 percent off annual subscriptions: The MasterClass Black Friday deal discounts most subscription tiers by 50 percent when you pay for one year upfront. The Premium tier, the most expensive option, usually costs $20 per month but now only sets you back $10 per month for one year. That gives you access to the entire MasterClass content library, offline viewing and up to six simultaneous streams.
Starz — one year for $12: Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $50 off a Stars annual subscription. There’s a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don’t want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with offline viewing and no ads.
Paramount+ (2 months) for $6 ($20 off): Paramount+ is doing its Black Friday deal a little differently. Instead of a reasonably cheap long-term plan, you get an incredibly cheap short-term deal — two months for less than a Starbucks run costs these days. That’s more than enough time to binge Yellowjackets, Dexter: Resurrection or Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, along with weeks of NFL games through CBS Sports.
Plex (lifetime pass) for $150 (40 percent off): Plex offers personal media servers you can use to organize your digital collection — imagine your own curated Netflix homepage that nothing ever vanishes from. It’s also a streaming platform in its own right, with movies and TV from all genres and eras. Plex did just raise its prices, so now’s your chance to get a lifetime pass for close to what it used to cost.
Proton VPN (24 months) for $59.76 (75 percent off):Proton VPN is our pick for the best VPN — a secure, trustworthy app that doesn’t sacrifice features, speed or usability. Although its free plan does come with unlimited data, we recommend upgrading to get the full set of servers and features. With this deal, you’ll get servers in 117 countries; better yet, every one of those we’ve tested so far can unblock Netflix.
Monarch Money budgeting app (one year) for $50 (50 percent off with code MONARCHVIP): One of our favorite budgeting apps, Monarch Money gives you a lot of control over the organization of your funds. There’s a helpful goals feature for when you’re planning out big purchases or financial milestones you want to hit, and we found the month-in-review recap it provides to be more thorough than other budgeting apps we tried. There’s even Zillow integration for folks looking to buy a home.
Black Friday Apple deals
Apple AirPods 4 for $69 (47 percent off): These are the most affordable AirPods you can get, and the latest model has been substantially improved over the previous. They have a better fit and noticeably better sound quality than their predecessor, plus some advanced features previously only found on pricer models.
Apple AirTags (four pack) for $63 (36 percent off): iPhone users who frequently misplace things should invest in a few AirTags. Slip them into your wallet, bag, jacket and other belongings to keep track of their locations in the Find My app. Just make sure that, if you’re going to attach one to your keys, you also pick up an AirTag holder to go along with it.
Apple Watch SE 3 for $199 ($50 off): The SE has been our top pick for the best Apple Watch for those on a budget, and the latest model only solidifies that further. It has the same chipset found in the latest flagship Apple Watches, fast-charging capabilities, an always-on display and most of the same activity-tracking features you’ll find in more expensive model.
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) for $749 ($250 off): Our top pick for the best laptop you can get, the M4 MacBook Air will be plenty of power for most people in a convenient, premium package. It’s thin and light as ever, with an excellent keyboard and trackpad, plus enough battery life to get you through a whole day of work, video calls and more.
Apple Pencil Pro for $95 ($35 off) at Amazon: The Apple Pencil situation is a little messy, so you’ll want to double check which model is compatible with your particular iPad. The Pencil Pro is the most fully featured in the lineup with haptic feedback, barrel roll and squeeze capabilities, and a hover preview feature. It’ll work with the two most recent models of the Air and Pro iPads, as well as the latest iPad mini. Also at Walmart and Best Buy.
Philips fabric shaver for $13 (32 percent off): Consider this the Black Friday tech deal you didn’t know you needed. If you have shirts, sweaters, pants, even blankets that have pilled over time, this handy little fabric shaver can get them looking more like new again. I bought this on a whim after wishing I could refresh some of my most-loved wardrobe staples without spending hours pulling pills off myself. Philips’ fabric shaver has delivered and then some, and my clothes look much fresher than before.
Amazon Smart Plug for $13 (48 percent off): Those who use Alexa often will get the most out of this smart plug. We like that it’s super simple to set up and can turn almost anything with an on-off switch “smart,” allowing you to control it via your phone or with Alexa voice commands.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus for $19 (52 percent off): This is one of the best Roku devices to get if you’re on a budget and just want to make an aging TV set feel a little bit newer. This model supports 4K HDR content, has pretty accurate universal search and gives you access to a ton of free content to watch via Roku’s streaming OS.
Govee Smart LED Light Bars for $30 ($20 off, Prime exclusive): Another of our stocking stuffer picks are these smart LED light bars from Govee. They can stand up or lie flat so they can go just about anywhere and are infinitely adjustable via the app. You can even set them to light up in sync with your music. Alexa and the Google Assistant will let you control them with just your voice (and a smart speaker).
Samsung Evo Select (512GB) for $33 ($14 off): We recommend the Evo Select in our microSD card buying guide for those on a tight budget. It has mediocre write speeds, so it’s not ideal for a camera, but it should be serviceable for most people just looking to add space to an Android tablet or original Nintendo Switch on the cheap. (Note that this is a standard UHS-I card, not a newer microSD Express model.) This deal matches the lowest price to date for the 512GB variant. Also at Samsung and B&H.
Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool heater and fan for $300 ($200 off): I’ve had this heater and fan for over five years at this point and it remains one of my favorite pieces of tech. It’s lightweight enough to carry from room to room and it’s both a heater and a fan: it cuts the chill in my home office during the winter, and circulates the air to keep me cooler in the summer. You can control the whole thing using the included remote (and it includes a sleep timer), and it handily attaches magnetically to the top of the device so you don’t misplace it.
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for $248 ($158 off): While the new XM6 headphones have replaced these as Sony’s flagship cans, that doesn’t mean the XM5 aren’t worth buying. They were our top pick for the best wireless headphones for years before the XM6 came around, and they still have excellent ANC, great sound quality, long battery life, a comfortable fit and handy extra features like multipoint connectivity.
Hisense U65QF (55-inch) for $398 ($402 off MSRP): The U65QF is another entry-level LED TV with generallypositivereviews. Most feedback around the web suggests that it can’t match the QM6K in terms of contrast, gaming features and overall accuracy, so TCL’s model should be a better buy for most. This iteration also uses Amazon’s Fire TV platform instead of the cleaner Google TV. It can achieve a higher peak brightness, however, so it’s worth considering if you get particularly bad glare in your living room. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 55-inch model, but the 65-inch ($548), 75-inch ($748) and 85-inch ($900) models are also at all-time lows. Also at Best Buy.
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) for $170 ($80 off): The latest color ereader in Amazon’s lineup includes a seven-inch, high-contrast display, USB-C charging and a battery life that can last up to eight weeks on a single charge. Its design is waterproof too, so you don’t need to baby it if you take it by the pool or to the beach. If you prefer a black-and-white screen, the base Kindle is also on sale for $80.
Aura 10.1-inch digital frame for $139 (22 percent off): Aura makes some of our favorite digital frames, and this one has a 10-inch HD display, Wi-Fi connectivity and an elegant mat design. Arguably the best thing about Aura frames in general is that you don’t have to pay a subscription fee to add photos to it over time — all photos are stored in the cloud, and multiple people can add photos to one frame.
Ninja Creami ice cream maker for $180 (22 percent off): The Creami has been one of the most sought-after kitchen appliances of the past couple of years, and for good reason. It’s one of our favorite pieces of kitchen gear because it makes it a breeze to prepare custom ice cream and many other frozen treats. It’s definitely worthwhile investment if you’re an ice cream lover and want to experiment with making your own flavors.
Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum for $400 ($600 off): This is one of the best robot vacuums you can get, period. It doesn’t have a self-emptying base, but its superior suction power almost makes up for that. It’s one of the strongest robot vacuums I’ve ever tested, and it has excellent obstacle avoidance. The latter means you will rarely, if ever, have to attend to it getting caught on the edge of a carpet or getting stuck under a piece of furniture.
Black Friday FAQs
When is Black Friday 2025?
Black Friday 2025 lands on November 28.
When do Black Friday sales start?
Gone are the times when Black Friday sales were one-day-only affairs. Now, Black Friday deals are often available starting on Thanksgiving, or even earlier. Last year, we saw Black Friday deals online begin the week before Black Friday proper.
When do Black Friday sales end?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday have blended a lot over the past few years. Now, you can expect to see a good portion of Black Friday deals extend through the weekend and into Cyber Monday. It’s not uncommon for Black Friday deals to expire at the end of Cyber Monday.
Does Amazon have Black Friday sales?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales. The online retailer’s site will look similar to Prime Day on Black Friday, with discounts on all sorts of items from household essentials to fashion to tech.
Does Apple have Black Friday sales?
No, you will usually not find Black Friday sales at Apple stores or on Apple’s website. However, you can find Black Friday deals on Apple devices elsewhere; we recommend checking Amazon, Best Buy and other big retailers for discounts on iPads, Apple Watches and more on Black Friday.
Which retailers have the best Black Friday tech deals?
The best Black Friday tech deals are typically available online at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target. It’s also a good idea to check the store websites of the companies that make the products you want — for example, if you’re looking for a Sonos speaker, check the Sonos website on Black Friday. Most of the time, you’ll find the best Black Friday tech deals are matched at multiple retailers.
Which stores have Black Friday deals?
Many physical retail stores have Black Friday deals including Walmart, Target, Best Buy and others. Even more retailers have online Black Friday deals, including Amazon, GameStop, Costco and others.
Black Friday may have been yesterday, but almost all the best bargains are still going strong today. This weekend is peak shopping season, and these Black Friday deals offer a chance to secure some gifts for the holiday season or snag those gadgets you’ve been eyeing for yourself.
Featured Black Friday Deal
Updated: Nov 29 2025, 11:24 PM
Across the web, you’ll find people recommending devices they’ve never actually used at prices that aren’t really discounted. WIRED’s list of the absolute best Black Friday deals is not like that. Everything on this list was hands-on tested by a member of our Reviews team and is recommended as worth the money at full price. But you won’t pay full price, as all these items are also actually discounted.
Updated November 29 5pm ET: We’ve swapped deals on Amazon devices and charging banks; added an apparel section, camera bags, carry-on bags; added robot vacuum deals; and added beauty and fitness deals. We also removed older deals and updated links and pricing.
Best PC Laptop Deal: Dell 14 Plus for $500 ($100 off)
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Finally, a $500 Windows laptop that isn’t just decent or mediocre, but actually good. The resolution is 2560 by 1600, with decent color accuracy and brightness. The battery life isn’t just adequate—it’s downright impressive. And the touchpad, which is an area where many budget laptops compromise, actually feels smooth and responsive. This is something no other Windows laptop can pull off. The only catch is that it’s a Doorbuster-style sale, meaning once they sell out at this price, this discount will disappear. —Luke Larsen
More PC Laptop Deals
Microsoft
Surface Laptop (7th Edition, 2024)
The Surface Laptop is the MacBook of the Windows world, and the seventh edition has a brilliant display and great battery life. It’s normally priced at $1,000, but you can save 20 percent on Black Friday.
Asus
Zenbook A14
Weighing only 2.16 pounds, it’s one of the lightest laptops you can buy, without making any major sacrifices to achieve that weight.
Razer
Blade 14
This incredibly compact, powerful little laptop works just as well for studying, content creation, and work as it does for gaming.
Acer
Chromebook Plus 516
Chromebooks under $300 tend to compromise in the display and touchpad. Not the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, and this is a fantastic deal on it.
Best MacBook Deal: MacBook Air (M4) for $749 ($250 off)
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Apple
MacBook Air (M4, 2025)
The M4 MacBook Air came out in early 2024, and it’s remained the best laptop you can buy. The price has slowly dropped, too. It’s now down to $749, and when you compare this directly with the quality of similarly priced laptops, you’ll see why it’s still at the top of my list. The display quality and resolution is top-notch, while the performance and battery life remain best in class. Now, you might be wondering if you should wait for the M5 MacBook Air instead of pulling the trigger on this deal. If the rumors are true, we’re still at least a few months out from the M5 MacBook Air, making this M4 still worthy of a purchase at this price. —Luke Larsen
More MacBook Deals
Apple
MacBook Pro (M5)
The new MacBook Pro is only a month old, and it’s already on sale. It may not have been a significant revamp, but it’s currently the only Mac to get the latest M5 chip.
Apple
MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024)
While not a huge discount, the M4 Pro MacBook Pro remains a supremely powerful and premium laptop, still a meaningful step up in performance over the M5 MacBook Pro.
Best Computer Peripheral Deal: Audioengine A2+ Speakers for $223 ($56 off)
Photograph: Simon Hill
Photograph: Simon Hill
I know a lot of people use headphones or earbuds at work, but it’s your home office, there’s still nothing like a solid pair of desk speakers to amplify your work-from-home setup. These Audioengine computer speakers rarely go on sale, so now’s a great time to pick up a pair. They’re our favorite computer speakers, with robust sound, and they won’t take up much room on a desk. Music is where these speakers shine, even without a dedicated subwoofer.—Luke Larsen
More Computer Peripheral Deals
SteelSeries
Rival 3 Gen 2
You don’t need to be a gamer to enjoy a good gaming mouse, especially one that is this affordable. They don’t break the mold, but the Rival 3 Gen 2 comes in wired or wireless flavors, and it’s extremely reliable, like a Toyota Camry.
Emeet
SmartCam S800
This 4K webcam does particularly well in low-light conditions, and should be a decent step up from your laptop webcam. Just make sure to use the included software to tweak the colors, as they’re a bit green right out of the box.
Keychron
Q6 HE
When it comes to mechanical keyboards, no one does it quite like Keychron. This full-size model includes a numberpad, function row, navigation keys, an extra knob, and even four macros keys in the upper right corner. It’s not a huge sale, but Keychron discounts are rare.
Plugable
USB-C Dual HDMI Display Horizontal Docking Station
If you work entirely off a laptop, especially one with limited ports, a docking station like this is exactly what you need to reliably extend your workstation with multiple monitors and high-powered accessories.
Best Computer Monitor Deal: Dell 27 Plus 4K for $225 ($75 off)
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Dell
27 Plus 4K Monitor (S2725QS)
The $200 range used to buy you a crappy, 1080p monitor with terrible colors. But today, it can afford you a beautiful 4K monitor with a 120-Hz refresh rate and a fully-adjustable stand. It’s IPS, but it has decent color coverage and accuracy, with a max brightness of 355 nits. Just be warned: it doesn’t have built-in USB ports and the stand doesn’t have enough height adjustment to be used as a vertical monitor. But for basic, at-home use, you won’t find another monitor with the complete package that the Dell 27 Plus 4K has.—Luke Larsen
More Computer Monitor Deals
Dell
32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC)
Finally, a proper HDR-ready OLED monitor made for creators and media instead of just gaming that won’t kill your budget.
AOC
QD-OLED Monitor (Q27G4ZD)
At an all-time low price, this AOC monitor brings blazing-fast, QD-OLED gaming to its most affordable price ever.
Samsung
32-Inch Smart Monitor M9 M90SF
I love the concept of this display, which lives somewhere between OLED monitor and TV. It’s perfect for a mixed-use room that’s home office by day and entertainment room by night.
Samsung
Odyssey G6 OLED Gaming Monitor
This 27-inch OLED monitor is the perfect balance of sharpness (1440p) and speed (360-Hz), all put together in one of the beautiful gaming displays you can buy.
Best Wifi Router Deal: Asus RT-BE58U for $98 ($52 off)
Photograph: Simon Hill
This is the Wi-Fi 7 router I recommend for most people in our best Wi-Fi routers guide because it’s easy to set up and will cover homes and apartments up to around 2,000 square feet with fast and reliable connectivity. It’s only dual-band, so you do miss out on the 6-GHz band, but you get all the other advantages of Wi-Fi 7. It also has a generous array of ports and comes with free security software and parental controls. Support for VPN service, separate IoT or guest networks, and Ai Mesh rounds out an excellent device. —Simon Hill
More Wi-Fi Router Deals
Amazon
Eero Pro 6E
One of my favorite mesh systems, this Wi-Fi 6E mesh is ideal for smart homes, provides reliably speedy Wi-Fi, and is oh-so-easy to set up and use. You can nab the three-pack for 40 percent off.
TP-Link
Deco BE67
This high-performing, tri-band, Wi-Fi 7 mesh is the runner-up in my best mesh guide, and it’s a great value at this discounted price, which is $200 below standard.
Amazon
Eero 6
If you want whole-home Wi-Fi that’s easy and hands-off, and you don’t care about the cutting edge, this Eero 6 mesh will serve you well.
TP-Link
Deco X50 Outdoor
This was the outdoor pick of the best mesh systems for a while, and it’s well worth a look at this price if you want to bring better Wi-Fi to your backyard.
This is our favorite TV for most people, because it offers excellent color and great processing, and contains virtually every app you could want. Mini LED backlighting means that you’ll have excellent contrast and plenty of performance in bright rooms, and TCL’s anti-glare technology makes it nice even when sunlight hits it. Its price is the main appeal; you’ll pay hundreds of dollars more for a TV that looks any better. —Parker Hall
More TV Deals
LG
G5 OLED
The G5 is LG’s highest-end OLED, and it is perhaps the prettiest screen we saw all year. With the price dropping below $2,000, it’s a no-brainer for your home theater update.
Sony
Bravia 8 II QD-OLED
Sony TVs are high-priced for a reason: They have the best processing in the game, and they tend to look just a bit sharper than their competitors.
LG
C5
This is probably the best all-around OLED of the year. We’ve yet to get this specific model in for testing, but the C series models we have tested in the past offer a great mix of brightness and color, and good performance for gaming and sports.
TCL
QM8K QLED
This is a higher-end TCL that is great for bright rooms and sports, thanks to a super high peak brightness.
Best Streaming Device Deal: Roku Streaming Stick Plus for $19 ($21 off)
Photograph: Parker Hall
Roku
Streaming Stick Plus (2025)
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is what I’d recommend for anyone who just wants to enable an older TV to stream modern apps. It looks fine, but I’d get a nicer stick if you have a newer TV. That said, you really cannot beat this $20 price. This is a device that can breathe new life into an older screen in your basement or garage, or which you can use to stream your shows in a hotel room without being too annoyed if you someday leave it behind. —Parker Hall
The highest-end Roku is the one we’d recommend if you want the highest possible streaming quality, thanks to its support for Dolby Vision.
Google
TV Streamer (4K)
If you like casting to your TV from your phone, the Google TV streaming is a favorite for Android users, thanks to tight Google integration. You can save 25 percent during this event.
Roku
Streaming Stick 4K
This is the best streaming stick for most people, thanks to its support for 4K resolution and HDR.
Amazon
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation)
This is a solid 4K streaming stick with an easy-to-use operating system that favors Amazon content.
Best Soundbar Deal: Yamaha Audio SR-C30A for $220 ($60 off)
Courtesy of Yamaha
This is our favorite soundbar system for most people, thanks to its great wireless subwoofer, solid audio processing, and compact footprint below most screens. If you have been struggling to hear the voices on screen, or you’re just looking for a more cinematic experience, I recommend the SR-C30A. —Parker Hall
More Soundbar Deals
Sony
Bravia Theater System 6
If you don’t want to see speakers all around your room, the System 6 is a classy and good-looking wireless system from Sony that will fill your room with sound without physically standing out.
Yamaha
True X Bar 50A
This is essentially Yamaha’s Dolby Atmos-enabled version of the SR-C30A above, and it is worth the upgrade if you’re looking for even more immersion.
Yamaha
SR-C20A
This is the subwoofer-less version of our favorite soundbar for most people. If you have a smaller space and don’t need deep bass, it’s a great deal from this legendary Japanese brand.
JBL
Bar 500MK2
This slim and narrow soundbar comes with a large wireless subwoofer that adds a real rumble of bass.
Best Bluetooth Speaker Deal: JBL Flip 7 for $97 ($53 off)
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
JBL’s Bluetooth speakers are some of our favorites on the market, and the Flip 7 is no different. We like how durable it is, as well as how loud the tube-shaped speaker can get when placed on a table or in a corner. —Parker Hall
Sonos
Era 100
Sonos has fallen from grace in the past two years, thanks to a wonky app that still seems to have issues, but the Era 100 remains a great wireless speaker with solid sound.
Sony
SRS-XB100
These little Bluetooth speakers are a great addition to a hike or camping trip, and they easily tie to a pack.
JBL
Clip 5
We like the Clip series because they have a built-in carabiner that lets you clip them to anything around.
Tribit
Stormbox Blast 2
This boombox-style speaker will bring the party anywhere, complete with built-in lights.
Best Headphone Deal: Sony WH-1000XM6 for $398 ($62 off)
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
These are the best noise-canceling headphones from Sony, and among the best wireless headphones you can buy. They have insane processing power that can easily silence even the loudest sounds around you, and the included microphones are also awesome for Zoom calls. Sound quality is excellent, with custom-made drivers delivering Sony’s sleek and flat sound. —Parker Hall
More Headphone Deals
Apple
AirPods Pro 2 (With USB-C)
AirPods Pro—even last-gen models like these—are absolutely still worth buying for iPhone owners. They have great noise canceling, decent sound, and they pair instantly with any iOS device. You can save 30 percent during this sale.
Beats
Powerbeats Pro 2
These are some of our favorite workout headphones, thanks to their clip-based design and good integration with iOS, thanks to Apple’s Beats ownership.
Sony
WH-1000XM5
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones remain some of the finest you can buy, despite being older than the latest WH-1000XM6.
Nothing
Headphone (1)
I like these see-through over-ears, which have one of the best volume knobs I have used on a pair of headphones, and which feature audio designed by acclaimed hi-fi brand KEF.
Soundcore by Anker
Aeroclip
Open buds are a great way to listen to podcasts or music while also hearing the world. These are some of our favorites.
JLab Audio
Go Air Pop
If you just need a dirt cheap pair of earbuds for your gym bag, these are on sale.
Apple
AirPods 4
They’re not what our reviewers like, but they are popualar and close to half-off. At this price you can afford to risk losing them.
Best Smartphone Deal: Google Pixel 10 for $599 ($200 off)
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Google’s brand-new Pixel 10 is one of the best Android phones on the market right now—it’s rare to find a phone at this price, especially on sale, with a triple-camera system that includes a 5X optical zoom sensor. 5X! That means you won’t have trouble capturing sharp photos of birds up in the tree, your kid earning their diploma, or your favorite artist onstage. Not to mention this is one of the first flagship Android phones with Qi2 magnets, meaning, like Apple’s iPhones, you can magnetically attach the phone to wireless chargers and docks for speedy charging (and attach various fun magnetic accessories). Best of all is Google’s smart software; yes, there’s a lot of generative AI creep that isn’t super useful, but tools like Call Screen can filter out spam calls, and Now Playing automatically tells you what song is playing at the coffee shop without you having to lift a finger. Read our Best Pixel Phones guide for more details. —Julian Chokkattu
More Smartphone Deals
Motorola
Razr Ultra (2025)
This is the hottest flip-style folding phone of the year. The Razr Ultra comes in snazzy designs, has a surprisingly strong camera, and a very useful external display for when you don’t want to open the whole thing up.
Motorola
Moto G Stylus 2025
Want to spend as little as possible but still want a good smartphone? This Moto G Stylus (make sure it’s the 2025 model) is the best bang for your buck, with wireless charging, good performance, a headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and, naturally, a built-in stylus.
Best Mobile Accessory Deal: Nomad 65W Slim Power Adapter for $41 ($8 off)
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Nomad
65W Slim Power Adapter
This is my favorite charger, and I’ve been using it for all my gadgets for several years. Nomad’s 65-watt charger is incredibly slim, and it can fit in the tiniest pouches of a bag or purse. It comes with two USB-C ports. When both are in use, you get 45 watts out of the left port and 20 out of the right. If one device is plugged in, the 65 watts of power is more than enough for tablets and phones, and should be sufficient for a MacBook Air or Windows laptop (unless it’s a high-powered machine). —Julian Chokkattu
More Accessory Deals
Apple
AirTag
The best way for iPhone users to stop losing their stuff is to attach one of these AirTags to it. Black Friday pricing makes it easy to stock up.
Spigen
Ultra Hybrid MagFit Case
This Spigen clear case comes in several fun designs that portray the internal components of a smartphone. It’s my favorite cheap case for the iPhone 17 range, though it’s also available for devices dating back to the iPhone 14 Pro.
Ray-Ban
Meta Smart Glasses
Whatever you think of Meta’s AI policies (they’re garbage) the best smart glasses are the ones that you already want to wear. Last year’s version are now on sale.
UAG
Pathfinder Case
UAG makes bold and loud cases for iPhones, Pixel, and Samsung phones, and you’ll find the brand in many of our case guides. The Pathfinder is most often my favorite of its designs, especially in the bright colors. Right now, it’s offering 30 percent off your entire order with the code SAVEMORE.
OtterBox
Commuter, Defender Pro, and Defender XT
I’ve featured the cases for Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series here, but OtterBox makes cases for many popular smartphones, and it’s currently offering 40 percent off sitewide and up to 50 percent off on select products. Its Commuter and Defender series are the more protective cases, but the Symmetry series has lots of fun designs.
Best Tablet Deal: Apple iPad A16 (2025) for $274 ($75 off)
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
The current model of iPad (A16) has dropped below the $300 price we typically see on sales. This is a basic tablet that functions as a second screen for everything from watching movies on a flight to checking the news in bed without your reading glasses.
More Tablet Deals
OnePlus
Pad 3
OnePlus may have just announced a cheaper tablet—the OnePlus Pad Go 2—but the OnePlus Pad 3 is still a fantastic high-end tablet that has a large 13.2-inch screen without a crazy price. It has excellent multitasking features and great performance.
Samsung
Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra
I haven’t tested the Galaxy Tab S11 yet, but I did test its larger sibling, the Tab S11 Ultra. They share many of the same specs, though the Ultra has overkill features like Wi-Fi 7 support, an extra ultrawide camera, and more storage. The smaller Tab S11 is a much better buy, especially at this price.
Best Power Bank Deal: Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand for $80 ($30 off)
Photograph: Simon Hill
Belkin
3-in-1 Qi2 Charging Stand
After testing many, many Apple 3-in-1 wireless chargers, this is the one that claimed a permanent place on my bedside table. I love the classy mix of chrome and soft-touch black plastic, and the weighted base enables you to grab your iPhone without pulling the whole charger off your nightstand. The iPhone pad also tilts and holds your iPhone vertically or horizontally, with support for StandBy mode. It can fast-charge capable iPhone and Apple Watch models and charge any AirPods with a wireless charging case. The 5-foot braided cable is permanently attached and there’s a 36-watt wall charger in the box. —Simon Hill
More Power Bank Deals
Nimble
Champ (Series 2)
The Nimble Champ (Series 2) is our favorite power bank lineup, thanks to the recycled plastic construction, eye-catching design, and general reliability.
Anker
MagGo Power Bank (10K) (Qi2)
The best Qi2 power bank we’ve tested has never been more affordable than this. It has a handy built-in kickstand, a two-way USB-C port, and a wee LED display.
Anker
Nano Power Bank
Despite the tiny form factor, this power bank will fully recharge most phones. It’s also easy to slide into place, and you can continue to use your phone while it charges.
Anker
622 MagGo Portable Charger (A1614)
This slim MagSafe power bank has a clever folding stand. It will wirelessly add between 50 and 80 percent to your iPhone battery. This deal is 40 percent below the normal price.
Anker
Laptop Power Bank
This chunky power bank is packing serious heat, with a smart and practical design, plenty of speedy charging ports, and a handy display.
Anker
Nano Power Bank With Instacord
A retractable USB-C cable in a power bank is so handy, and just one more thing you don’t have to remember. This one packs 10,000 mAh, enough to fully charge any phone.
Best Amazon Device Deal: Amazon Echo Dot for $32 ($18 Off)
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Courtesy of Amazon
This is the current generation of Echo Dot, which is now a few years old but not showing its age. This wee device has powerful, robust sound and works great if you want Alexa access in a discreet space. It’s been in my hallway so I can ask quick questions as I move through the house, and in my bedroom as an alarm clock. It’s some of the best sound you can get for this price, especially when it’s on sale as it is for Black Friday. —Nena Farrell
More Amazon Device Deals
Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 12th Generation)
The latest generation Kindle Paperwhite came out last fall, and it’s got just about everything we want in an e-reader: an auto-adjusting warm light, a three-month battery life, snappy performance, integration with Overdrive so you can get your library books, and the ability to “speak” several languages.
Amazon
Echo Dot Max
The best overall Amazon speaker didn’t go on sale for the price we were hoping for this Black Friday, but it’s still slightly discounted. When I reviewed this device I was impressed with the sound quality and volume for such a small speaker, and doesn’t lack in bass like many of its competitors.
Amazon
Kindle Scribe (2024)
The Kindle Scribe is a great combo e-reader and digital notebook. There are a few new models coming soon, but we still think this one is worth buying, especially since it’s on sale for $120 off.
Amazon
Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
The Echo Show 8 has been our favorite smart display for Alexa for three generations in a row, and even though there’s a newer version the 2023 model remains my favorite which makes it great to see this one on sale for 33% off this Black Friday.
Amazon
Kindle Colorsoft and Colorsoft Signature Edition
The Kindle Colorsoft takes everything we love about Kindle’s e-readers and adds a color screen. You’ll get most of the benefits of a Kindle Paperwhite in living color.
Amazon
Kindle (2024, 11th Generation)
Amazon’s cheapest Kindle is still a powerful, snappy device, and comes in fun colors like matcha green. It’s a great gift for bookworks and kids you want to become bookworms.
Best Digital Notebook Deal: reMarkable 2 Bundle for $408 ($70 Off)
Photograph: Nena Farrell
One of the best digital notebooks you can get is the reMarkable 2. It’s my favorite budget option, which might seem weird since it’s not necessarily the cheapest option (it’s the same price as the Kindle Scribe) it’s the best for the features and the available accessories like a keyboard folio at the price point, and it is a lower price point than you’ll find for the rest of reMarkable’s lineup or competitors like Supernote. You can get bundles (you’ll need to choose both a marker and folio) of the reMarkable 2 for $70 right now, letting you add on your favorite folio or upgrade the marker without paying as much as you usually would. The digital notebooks from reMarkable are rarely on sale, so don’t miss this one. —Nena Farrell
More Digital Notebook Deals
Amazon
Kindle Scribe (2024)
The Kindle Scribe is a great combo e-reader and digital notebook. There are a few new models coming this winter, but we still think this one is worth buying, especially since it’s on sale.
Kobo
Libra Colour
This is our favorite digital notebook for readers, and it’s a great affordable color option. It’s only $30 off the typical price, but that’s still some savings on our favorite e-reader.
reMarkable
Paper Pro
If you want a color digital notebook, reMarkable’s Paper Pro bundles are on sale, letting you get a color screen and your favorite accessories at a better price.
Kobo Elipsa 2E
This e-reader and digital notebook from Kobo doesn’t have a color screen, but is much larger than Kobo’s other models for easy writing and comes with a stylus.
Best Home Office Deal: Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro for $424 ($75 off)
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Courtesy of Branch
Branch
Ergonomic Chair Pro
This is our top office chair recommendation for most people. Branch’s Ergonomic Chair Pro offers a ton of adjustments, from seat pan to lumbar support, all while looking pretty. It’s hard to find affordable, good office chairs, especially under $500, but Branch is one of the few companies delivering in this price bracket. We’ve rounded up more deals on Branch products here. —Julian Chokkattu
More Home Office Deals
Secretlab
Magnus Pro
Secretlab might be a gamer-focused brand, but anyone can appreciate its metal, magnetic Magnus Pro standing desk. The cable organization is off the charts, largely thanks to the trench at the back and built-in power in one of the legs. Pick up magnetic accessories for more tidying.
Herman Miller
Aeron
Herman Miller’s Aeron is an iconic office chair. Yes, it’s expensive, but this is a chair you won’t have to think about for more than a decade. It’s supportive, can be tailored to your body size, and has an excellent 12-year warranty. We’ve rounded up more Herman Miller deals here.
Logitech
Casa Pop-Up Desk
This pop-up stand includes all the basic accessories you need for a more ergonomic work setup while on the go.
Branch
Adjustable Laptop Stand
Constructed from anodized aluminum with a medium-density fiberboard surface, this adjustable stand is an affordable option compared to other premium wooden models. Plus, the added $10 price drop makes it even sweeter.
Best Vacuum Deal: Dyson V15s Detect Submarine for $699 ($351 Off)
Photograph: Adrienne So
Courtesy of Dyson
Dyson
V15s Detect Submarine
This is the lowest price we’ve seen all year for this fantastic Dyson vacuum. It’s our favorite vacuum cleaner for both wet and dry cleaning, since it takes the technology we love from the V15 and adds a wet mop head attachment. You sadly can’t buy the attachment and use it with an existing V15, but if you’re already in the market for a new stick vac and want one that can do both, WIRED reviewer Adrienne So says this vacuum is one of the best things that has ever happened to her. —Nena Farrell
Best Robot Vacuum Deal: Yeedi M12 Pro+ for $340 ($460 off)
Photograph: Wired
Normally, I would expect to spend around $1000 for a new, well-functioning, dual-function vacuum-mop robot vacuum. But you can get an even bigger break on price if you look at past-season models. Yeedi is the affordable sub-brand of the higher-end Ecovacs. The main feature that this extremely well-priced robot vacuum has is that at 4- and 3.5-liter capacities, the clean/dirty water tanks are just ginormous. You won’t have to switch them out too often. It also has an extendable arm for cleaning hard-to-reach places and a decent 11,000 Pa of suction.—Adrienne So
More Vacuum Deals
Dyson
Gen5 Detect
Save $300 on Dyson’s most powerful vacuum, our favorite for vacuuming up pet hair. It’s often on sale for around $850, but great to get for a little cheaper.
Bissell
PowerClean FurFinder
Our favorite stick vacuum comes with a great range of attachments, an affordable price point, and can stand up on its own.
Dyson
V12 Detect Slim
This vacuum is excellent for small spaces like a studio or one-bedroom apartment since it’s so compact and lightweight. The Walmart price is a hige savings this Black Friday.
Roborock
Qrevo Curv
This is Roborock’s past-season, and most beautiful robot vacuum. The company is currently holding off on selling this year’s model in North America until 2026.
Roborock
Saros 10R
This is Roborock’s flagship high-end robot vacuum, the one without the robot arm. Roborock’s proprietary navigation system is the best we’ve ever used.
Best Air Purifier Deal: Dyson HushJet Purifier Compact for $300 ($50 off)
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Dyson
HushJet Purifier Compact
The debut of Dyson’s first tabletop-sized air purifier was just announced in September; it’s finally here, and we’ve tried it. Its claim to fame is that it uses electrostatic filtration, which incorporates electrically charged plates to attract dust, pollen, dander, and other allergens. In our guide to the Best Air Purifiers, WIRED contributor Lisa Wood Shapiro notes this means the filter can last up to five years, as opposed to six to 12 months like a typical HEPA. She thought it was a little loud, measuring twice the advertised decibels on its highest setting, but is otherwise a great option for smaller areas like bedrooms. —Kat Merck
More Air Purifier Deals
Blueair
Mini Restful Air Purifier Sunrise Clock
It’s an air purifier! It’s a sunrise alarm clock! It’s an air purifier inside of a sunrise alarm clock! And it’s 25 percent off its normal price of $200 this Black Friday.
Coway
Airmega Mighty
WIRED’s air quality expert, contributor Lisa Wood Shapiro, considers this Coway to be the best bang for your buck when it comes to air purifiers. That bang is even better at almost 40 percent off the normal price of $230.
Shark
NeverChange Air Purifier
Supposedly, the HEPA filter for this purifier lasts five years—but that’s only if it’s used in a small room.
Windmill
Air Purifier
The cover for this purifier has a paneled bamboo look and comes in several colors.
Best Home Security Deal: Arlo Pro 5S Security Camera for $85 ($95 off)
Photograph: Simon Hill
The Arlo Pro 5S tops our best outdoor security cameras guide by offering crisp 2K video, color night vision, a wide 160-degree field of view, and clear two-way audio. It also boasts reliable AI recognition for people and pets, a direct Wi-Fi connection, and a siren to scare intruders away. The Arlo app is swift to load, boasts the best notifications, and supports two-factor authentication, so you can log in with your fingerprint or face, phone permitting. The catch is a pricey subscription (Arlo Secure costs $8 per month for one camera or $13 per month for unlimited cameras) that’s required for subject recognition, smart alerts, and cloud storage. —Simon Hill
More Home Security Deals
Eufy
Floodlight Cam E340
Our favorite floodlight security camera boasts a 3K wide-angle lens, a 2K telephoto lens that can pan 360 degrees and tilt 120 degrees to track subjects, and two adjustable light panels capable of putting out up to 2,000 lumens.
TP-Link
Tapo Wire-Free MagCam (Battery)
With 2K video, local microSD card recording, and a 150-degree field of view this security camera is a solid pick. The Tapo app can detect motion (person, pet, vehicle), and enables you to set activity zones and privacy zones.
Aqara
Smart Lock U50
This affordable, well-made smart lock looks much more expensive than it is and works well. You’ll have to add on a hub for remote Wi-Fi control, though.
Eufy
Video Doorbell E340
If you want a subscription-free doorbell, this is the one we recommend. It offers crisp 2K video, AI recognition for people and packages, and a second, downward-angled lens to show your doorstep.
Best Smart Bird Feeder Deal: Netvue by Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder (No Solar/AI) for $100 ($100 off)
Courtesy of Birdfy
Netvue
Birdfy Plastic Smart Bird Feeder
This is the best price you’ll find all year for our all-around favorite smart bird feeder. It may not be the fanciest model, but it’s user-friendly and reliable. You can enjoy it without a subscription (though for the AI identification and image/video storage, you’ll want to spring for the extra $5 a month), and the app makes it easy to save and share great captures of birds. Note that Birdfy only works with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and the base model comes without a solar panel. I don’t mind this, as Birdfy’s panel has to be mounted separately, and it’s hard to do this when the feeder is installed on a pole, which is what I recommend. —Kat Merck
More Smart Bird Feeder Deals
Bird Buddy
Pro Smart Solar Hummingbird Feeder
Our favorite smart hummingbird feeder is easy to clean and has a fun app.
Camojojo
Hibird DIY
Make your existing bird feeder smart with this mountable camera that works on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
Camojojo
Hibird Pro
A rare smart feeder that runs on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, now new and improved with a built-in solar roof that works great.
Birdfy
Rookie Smart Bird Feeder
Intimidated by smart feeders? Try this simple, snap-together model with Birdfy’s user-friendly app and 1080p camera.
Best Pet Deal: Purobot Ultra for $700 ($300 Off)
Photograph: Molly Higgins
This is one of the priciest automatic litter boxes on the market right now. It has a built-in camera on a swivel arm and uses AI technology to monitor litter box usage. Together, the camera follows your cat when it senses motion and records inside the litter box, and the AI monitors which pet is using and if anything is amiss. The app logs and monitors usage, including the number of times used and the average duration. It also has auto-bagging and -sealing features, so you never have to deal with the stool. At $300 off, this is the lowest price we’ve ever seen. —Molly Higgins
More Pet Deals
PetPivot
Autoscooper 11
If you’re a good pet parent, you’ll get this uber-cheap automatic litter box.
Petlibro
Granary Smart Camera Feeder
Watch and feed your pet while away with this fancy automatic feeder.
Best Indoor Garden Deal: Gardyn Studio 2 for $412 ($137 off)
Photograph: Kat Merck
Gardyn
Indoor Hydroponic Garden
I test indoor hydroponic garden systems all year round, and Gardyn has been my consistent favorite. I have two of them—the Home 4, with 30 plants, and the brand-new Studio 2, with 16 plants—and they both look like living works of art, overflowing with everything from peas and peppers to nasturtiums and even canna lilies. The systems do take a fair amount of maintenance, but as a busy, full-time working parent, it’s nothing I haven’t been able to handle. If you’ve been curious about these, all Gardyn systems are now 20 percent off for Black Friday, netting you $180 off a Home or $111 off a Studio. If you don’t mind the older, original studio, that’s on an even deeper discount for just $337. They also come with a free 30-day trial of Kelby, the AI growing assistant that plans your watering and maintenance schedules for you. —Kat Merck
More Indoor Garden Deals
Auk
Mini
A Scandinavian garden we love, which is simple to maintain and lets you plant your own seeds.
North Spore
Boomr Bin Automated Mushroom Monotub
Grow any mushrooms you want from scratch with this DIY system.
Best Water Filter Deal: Canopy Handheld Shower Wand for $75 ($75 Off)
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Canopy
Handheld Filtered Showerhead
Canopy is the best filtered shower wand I’ve tested, a tri-layer filter my tests showed to reduce the total chlorine levels in my water to undetectable levels out of the box, and maintain most of this effectiveness for a couple months before a refill. Filter replacement is easy, meaning you’re likely to actually do it, and Canopy’s filter replacements don’t cost as much as some competitors. The upfront price is usually more of a barrier, but half off is a very good discount. —Matthew Korfhage
More Water Filter Deals
Culligan
ZeroWater Filtered Pitcher
Zerowater filters do actually reduce the total dissolved solids in your water to zero—but also the total chlorine. This pitcher backs this up with an attached TDS meter, which is reassuring. Anyway, this is a solid deal.
Weddell
Duo Shower Filter
This isn’t the biggest deal, but it’s solid. And the inline Weddell Duo is the best-tested filter on the market—certified to remove chlorine and lead, and independently tested for PFAS reduction.
Best Kitchen Deal: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro for $300 ($100 Off)
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Breville
Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
This is Breville’s top-line piece of kitchen hardware, an air fryer and oven that has better precision than any other oven I’ve tested. It toasts evenly across the oven and can air fry chicken wings to admirable crispness, dehydrate fruit, and also roast a 14-pound turkey. The Breville Joule—the same oven, but with a handy autopilot feature— is on almost the same sale, and it’s $400. Both are the cheapest they’ve been this year. But this $300 price, for an oven I know to serve well for years, is hard to pass up. —Matthew Korfhage
More Kitchen Deals
Field Company
No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet
Field Company’s cast iron skillets are something between a functional necessity and an actual work of art. They’re rarely on sale. But here they are for 20 percent off.
Philips
2000 Series 4.4-quart Air Fryer
This 4.4-quart Philips is already my favorite budget air fryer: precise, reliable, as good as it gets for crispy fries at its price range. Now, it’s even $20 cheaper.
Best Coffee Deal: Moccamaster KBGV for $240 ($129 Off)
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Moccamaster
KBGV Select Coffee Maker
The Moccamaster KBGV drip coffee machine is a rare combination of qualities. It is an absolute tank, a forever resident of WIRED’s highly selective buy-it-for-life list with a five-year warranty, replaceable parts, and lifetime repairability. But it is also a creature of remarkable precision, hand assembled in the Netherlands to produce some of the cleanest cups of drip coffee I’ve tasted. As someone in the coffee industry what’s on their counter. There’s a good chance they say Moccamaster. It’s more than $100 off right now (different colors have different discounts). —Matthew Korfhage
More Coffee Deals
Baratza
Encore ESP
The Baratza Encore ESP is the coffee grinder I recommend to anyone who asks: It’s dead simple, lasts an eon, grinds finely and precisely enough for espresso but coarse enough for cold brew, and doesn’t cost a mint.
Ratio
Six Coffee Maker Series 2
Drip coffee makers from Portland’s Ratio offer the fullest-flavored cups I know—the roundest extraction. This Six Series 2 is the best thermal-cup coffee maker I know. It’s never this cheap.
Bruvi
BV-01 Brewer
The Bruvi BV-01 is our favorite pod coffee maker, partially due to its proprietary and biodegradable coffee pods. Click “coupon” to get the deal.
Ninja
DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System
This coffee maker can craft hot or iced individual drinks or brew a whole carafe of coffee—using pods or grounds.
Best Espresso Deal: Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro for $600 ($150 Off)
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro is the upgrade version of Ninja’s first-gen semi-automatic Luxe Cafe Premier espresso machine, which rocketed to become one of the most popular espresso machines on the planet last year. The Pro is a genuine upgrade: a better tamper, a hot water spout, a great milk automatic steamer, and the best cold frother in the business. This is the lowest price I’ve seen it, and while supplies last you can also get a free travel mug, knock box, or pitcher. Best for lovers of medium or dark roast beans. —Matthew Korfhage
More Espresso Deals
Breville
Barista Express
We’ve seen this price before, but Breville’s most popular semiautomatic espresso machine, the Barista Express, is $250 cheaper right now. It’s long been a WIRED favorite.
Best Smartwatch/Fitness Tracker Deal: Apple Watch Series 10 for $310 ($120 off)
Photograph: Adrienne So
If you already own an Apple Watch, I generally do not advocate upgrading to the latest model, given they’re all pretty iterative. I do think that this year’s Series 11 is worth getting because, for the first time ever, it really does have a full 24 hours of battery life. It’s on sale for $369 right now. But last year’s Series 10 (Apple’s 10th anniversary watch) has the same S10 chip as the latest watches. It also has the same slim case, large screen, and is compatible with watchOS 26 (with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone), so you can still enjoy the Liquid Glass design, Workout Buddy, and flick away Smart Stack with your wrist. —Adrienne So
More Smartwatch/Tracker deals
Samsung
Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic
The first Samsung smartwatches to use Google Wear OS 6, these also have the distinctive and attractive “squircle” cushion design.
Fitbit
Charge 6
This comes close to the lowest price we’ve ever seen for the best overall fitness tracker.
Garmin
Vivoactive 6
The company’s entry-level tracker works with iOS and Android, and draws upon the predictive powers of Garmin’s many proprietary algorithms like Morning Report and Body Battery.
Best Fitness Deal: Hyperice Hypervolt 2 for $179 ($50 Off)
Photograph: Hyperice
The Hypervolt 2 is our first choice for a percussive massage gun. While the Theragun Pro Plus is a top-tier option for serious athletes—and on sale for $550 (originally $650)—the Hypervolt 2 offers a more affordable alternative. At just 1.8 pounds, it packs a powerful brushless 60-watt motor, three speed settings, and five different massage heads designed for most muscle groups. Plus, it can connect to the Hyperice app via Bluetooth for guided routines, provides up to three hours of battery life, and is TSA-approved for carry-on travel. —Boutayna Chokrane
More Fitness Deals
Hyperice
Normatec Go
The portable version of Hyperice’s air compression system is ideal for frequent travelers, athletes, and individuals with poor circulation. I would pay full price for these calf sleeves, so this 20 percent discount is a bonus.
Bob and Brad
EyeOasis 2
We just completed testing this eye mask, complete with heat, compression, and music. It’s also only a fraction of the price of the elite Therabody SleepGoggles.
Bob and Brad
EZBack Massager Plus Remote
Bob and Brad’s EZBack Massager is a back massager, but also a neck massager, a shoulder massager, and even a lower-body massager. So, really, it’s a full-body massager for $53.
Therabody
Theragun Relief
The most affordable Theragun is now even more budget-friendly with this discount. With three attachments and three speed settings, it offers more features than the general person requires.
Best Walking Pad Deal: Urevo CyberPad For Home for $361 ($139 Off)
Photograph: Adrienne So
Urevo’s CyberPad for Home is our best walking pad. It can go up to a 14 percent incline, which is like walking up a steep hill. Our reviewer Kristin Canning was genuinely able to get a good sweat going while working, although the speed tops out at 4 mph. It’s easy to set up right out of the box, and you can control it either via the Bluetooth remote or the app. If you use the app, it offers workouts with pretty scenery and will also log your workout data from the machine so you don’t need a separate fitness tracker. It feels pretty stable underfoot and there are also fun extras, like little lights under the side rail so you can feel like walking is a party! —Adrienne So
Best Beauty Deal: Dyson Airstrait for $399 ($151 Off)
Photograph: Kat Merck
Here it is; the one, the only, the legend—the original air styler that spawned a hundred imitators. I tested it for the first time this year for my guide to the Best Hair Straighteners. I had heard that it wasn’t a one-stop shop for 3a curly hair and above, and as you can see from my picture above, it’s not. I still needed to use a traditional flat iron afterward, especially on the top of my head. But the Dyson engineering and quality are evident in every small detail, from the Hyperdymium motor—same as in Dyson’s vacuum cleaners—to the glass bead thermistors that regulate the tool’s temperature. I can see how it would be life-changing for those with wavy or just generally easier-to-straighten hair. The Airstrait doesn’t go on sale all that often, so if it was on your Christmas shopping list, now is the time. —Kat Merck
More Beauty Deals
GHD
Curve Soft Curl Iron
One of our favorite curling irons because it heats up fast—in just 25 seconds—and features an ergonomic design that’s intuitive for beginners.It’s 30 percent off, priced at $167, which could cover the cost of one to three salon visits.
CurrentBody
LED Series 2 Special Kit
This rare deal on the best LED face masks we’ve tested. The Series 2 is made of medical-grade silicone and packs 236 bulbs, so it contours to your face for close, even coverage.
Dyson
Corrale
Dyson quality in a flat iron with no cord—style anywhere in your house or on the go!
Shark
FlexFusion Air and Ceramic System
A powerful multitool we love that comes with five attachments, including an air straightener.
Oral-B
Pro 1000
Our favorite oscillating toothbrush because of its powerful motor, round brush head that effectively reaches molars, and built-in timer. Most Pro models are a solid choice (and on sale right now), but the Pro 1000 offers the best value.
LYMA
The Lyma Laser
Lyma has released a Pro version of this laser, but the older model is still a great option. If you want the original, now is the time to buy it on sale for 25 percent off.
Best Beard Trimmer Deal: Philips Norelco 7950 for $55 ($25 Off)
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Philips
Norelco Multigroom 7000, MG7790
Look, even on a bad day, this is the absolute best beard trimmer set you can get for south of $100—quiet, reliable, not subject to nicks or pulls. Frankly, it’s a contender for my favorite grooming set overall in part because of the ridiculously good performance on the foil shaver attachment (Philips kills it on foil shavers in general). The metal body offers admirable heft and durability, and the battery will run a ridiculous five hours without needing a charge—months’ worth of shaves. What a beast. It’s a third off an already good price. —Matthew Korfhage
BabylissPro
x Tomb45 Wireless-Charging Hair Trimmer
The sharp reverse blade on this BabylissPro x Tomb45 outliner makes it great not just for necklines but for freehand beard touch-ups, with terrific visibility. The only drawback was cost. But it’s nearly $70 off right now.
Braun
Series 9
This is a pretty good 20 percent off deal on our favorite beard trimmer: nearly infinitely adjustable, and yet beautifully compact.
Best Sleep Deal: Hatch Restore 3 for $134 ($36 off)
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Time to stop doomscrolling and start falling asleep, but it’s hard for your brain to switch gears. The Hatch Restore 3 is a sound machine that helps you establish both a nighttime and a morning routine, complete with a sunrise alarm clock feature to kickstart your day gently. You’ll need a Hatch+ membership to access the vast library of sounds, podcasts, and stories, but with the Restore 3 at the lowest price we’ve seen this year, you can reallocate your funds toward it. And based on our testing, both are worth it. —Julia Forbes
More Sleep Deals
Manta
Sound Sleep Mask
While this is the older generation Manta Sound sleep mask, it still gets the job done flawlessly. Listen to your favorite color of noise or ASMR artist and block out light to snooze anywhere.
Cozy Earth
Women’s Bamboo Stretch-Knit Long Sleeve Pajama Set
Be most cozily dressed (pajamas-wise) person opening presents under the Christmas tree with this pajama set.
Silk & Snow
Wooden Bed Frame
Think of Japanese joinery bed frames like Lincoln Logs—you click the wood together rather than bolt it. This one isn’t just sturdy, it’s got a stunning wood stain.
Coop Sleep Goods
Original Adjustable Crescent Pillow
This pillow’s curved edge lets your shoulder to nestle into it while side sleeping, and that fill is fluffy as heck.
Bearaby
Tree Napper
We’re looking to be cool as a cucumber, not anxious and overheated—which is why this is our favorite weighted blanket.
My Green Mattress
Organic Latex Topper
While many Black Friday mattress deals are underway, don’t overlook Turmerry’s organic mattress topper.
Travel Deals
Best Packing Cube Deal: Bagsmart Compression Packing Cubes for $25 ($18 off)
Courtesy of Bagsmart
Bagsmart
Compression Packing Cubes (6 Set)
As detailed in our guide to the Best Packing Cubes, these are the best cubes I’ve tested at this price point on Amazon. In addition to 20+ color and pattern options, they hit all the high points of what you want in a good set: decent compression, a convenient handle, mesh panels for ventilation, and a label window for keeping organized. In the six-piece set, you’ll receive five rectangular-shaped cubes and a handy shoe bag. I wouldn’t subject these basic polyester cubes to ballistics testing or throw them off a mountaintop, but for most travelers, they’ll do perfectly fine in either a carry-on or checked suitcase. —Kat Merck
Thule
Compression Packing Cube Set
These are our favorite packing cubes for carry-on luggage due to their slim profile and top-of-the-line compression.
Aer
Packing Cube
WIRED is testing these right now for our guide to the Best Packing Cubes, and they’re a must-have if you travel with Aer luggage.
Best Carry-On Bag Deal: Away Softside Carry-On for $168 ($57 Off)
Photograph: Adrienne So
For something both sleek and minimalist, there’s nothing out there quite like the Away Softside Carry-On. WIRED editor Adrienne So, who has tested and reviewed tons of carry-on bags over the years, calls it the “fuss-free option” that she’ll always pick, given the choice. And if you’re worried about it holding up in rain because it’s soft, don’t worry. She says the rain-resistant materials held up just fine on particularly rainy day in the Philippines while waiting for a ferry.—Luke Larsen
Travelpro
Maxlite Air V2 Compact Carry-On
There’s no luggage brand with more legacy than Travelpro, but this model is a lighter and more modern take on the carry-on bag.
Take Off
Take Off Personal Item 2.0
Unlike other carry-on bags, this tiny roller bag is meant to slide underneath the airplane seat for short trips.
Best Camera Bag Deal: Wandrd Prvke V4 for $292 ($52 off)
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
This is my favorite camera bag. The Prvke is now in its fourth generation, and Wandrd keeps perfecting it. I love the roll-top that offers up dramatically more space when you need it. There’s a side-access pocket to grab your camera without taking the backpack completely off, and the main rear compartment is where you grab all of your gear. It’s stylish, exceptionally built, and has plenty of room (there are several sizes to choose from). Read our Best Camera Bags guide for more. —Julian Chokkattu
More Good Deals on Camera Bags
Moment
Everything Sling 4L
Have a compact camera? You probably just need a small sling. Moment’s Everything Sling 4L looks nice, and the 4-liter size is deceptive—it sounds small, but it can fit quite a bit.
Wandrd
Rogue Sling V2
This is my favorite sling, another hit from Wandrd. The 9L version is roomy enough to fit my Nikon Z6 III, a spare lens, and a Godox speedlight, but make sure you buy the Laptop Case to stow your laptop vertically in the back pocket.
Best Apparel Deal: Champion Reverse Weave Sweatshirt for $55 ($16 off)
Courtesy of Amazon
Champion
Reverse Weave Sweatshirt
The best hoodie you can buy on Amazon gets a steep price cut for Prime Day. Champion’s iconic reverse-weave hoodie is the father of the format, and still holds its own in a world where every brand makes its own version. The fabric is sturdy but stretchy and ages gracefully over many wash cycles. —Martin Cizmar
Proof
72-Hour Merino T-Shirt
Huckberry’s Proof 72-Hour Merino is our favorite merino wool T-shirt. It’s more versatile than others, with a cut and style that are as good for everyday wear as for outdoor adventures and workouts at the gym.
We spend our entire working lives testing products and, in part, tracking how much they cost. That way, we can spot a good deal from one that’s just a markdown of an artificially inflated price (a practice far too common, sadly). We also use price-checking tools like Camelcamelcamel, but since we only cover items we’ve actually tested, it’s not that hard for us to keep track of prices and know what’s a good deal and what’s not.
What Is the Best Time to Shop?
In a word: now. The best Black Friday deals are happening right now, and we’ve rounded up our favorites in this guide. In the olden days, Black Friday was just one day long. Shoppers would camp outside of stores, paper circulars in hand, eagerly awaiting the chance to bust down some doors and save a ton of cash. Fast-forward to the internet, and now Black Friday lasts more or less the entire month of November.
Black Friday Retailers To Watch
Amazon: For better or worse, Amazon has changed the game when it comes to shopping—if you want it, Amazon probably sells it. In the tradition of Amazon Prime Day, Amazon is rolling out major discounts for Black Friday and Cyber Monday on everything from bedding to home office gear to TVs to air fryers. This is a good time to save on the brand’s own hardware, like Kindles and Blink security cameras, some of which are 50% off.
REI: Outdoor co-op REI is a favorite among hikers, campers, and general outdoor enthusiasts. REI’s cyber week sale starts November 29, with rotating deals on a myriad of WIRED-tested products, though you will find their deals live now, notably not called “Black Friday.”
Home Depot: Home improvement projects and general home upkeep can get costly quick. Home Depot has Black Friday discounts for virtually everything you need for the home, including Christmas trees and smart home appliances.
Branch: We love Branch’s home office furniture, including some WIRED-tested favorite office chairs. Everything is 20 percent off for Black Friday, so now’s a great time to upgrade.
Helix: We love Helix mattresses—if you’re going to be spending a third of your life on something, it better be good. Upgrade your sleep for less with Helix’s Black Friday sale, with 25 percent off sitewide.
Target: Target has everything from groceries to flat screens to celebrity-endorsed beauty products. In addition to regular Black Friday sales, Target has price match guarantee and doorbuster clearance items.
Best Buy: In addition to major discounts for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Best Buy rolls out new doorbusters every Friday, slashing prices on everything from refrigerators to MacBooks. We’ve rounded up the best Best Buy deals we’ve seen so far, including the latest Apple MacBook Pro (M5) for $1,349 ($250 off) and Google Pixel 10 for $599 ($200 off).
Dyson: Making everything from blow dryers to vacuums to air purifiers, we at WIRED are generally huge fans of this well-made, long-lasting (but often pricey) tech, made a lot more affordable with Black Friday sales.
Lowe’s: In addition to Black Friday sales, Lowe’s has rotating daily deals on home improvement essentials, upgraded appliances, and outdoor tools like grills and lawnmowers.
Atlas: At WIRED, we love caffeine, and subscription services. So we go bonkers for this coffee club subscription, and now you can get a free bag of beans for Black Friday.
As a home cook, I spent most of my life using dull, cheap knives. It wasn’t until I started testing chef’s knives earlier this year that I realized how important it is to invest a little bit in the tool you’ll most likely be using every day for years (or even decades if you keep up with maintenance).
I didn’t realize that using a cheap, very dull knife as my daily driver was slowing down my cooking process, making less effective cuts, and even putting me at risk of injury, as the blade was dull and caused me to apply more pressure (which in turn made things more dangerous). I’m a believer in the importance of investing in A Good-Ass Knife.
Plus, they make seriously wonderful presents. Every kitchen (and home chef) needs a solid chef’s knife to slice, dice, and chop ingredients with speed and precision. Most people get knife sets (which I think are baloney, BTW) for wedding presents and then slack on proper maintenance, causing the knives to dull and degrade quickly.
Chances are, the person you’re shopping for this holiday season (even if it’s yourself!) needs a better go-to knife for their kitchen. I’m absolutely obsessed with these gorgeous, USA-made chef’s knives from New West KnifeWorks. Each is a practical, elegant gift that’s sophisticated but out of the usual norm, like a cashmere sweater or gift card. And they’re 20 percent off for Black Friday (through December 2).
Generally, a chef’s knife has a super-sharp end point and a curved, sloping edge designed to work with a natural rocking motion to make for quick chopping that also allows for finer cuts. I have a small hand, so I love this more petite chopper knife option for quick tasks that require more fine chopping, like a mirepoix or herbs.
The blade on this USA-made, 5-inch chopper is constructed from particle metallurgy steel, a popular choice for chefs because it stays sharp, keeps an edge well, is stain-resistant, and is generally super tough. The blade is seamlessly integrated into the handle for more balance, and the handle is made of a nearly indestructible aerospace-grade, fiberglass-epoxy composite material available in several stylish colorways (so you can personalize it for the person you’re gifting it to). Plus, it comes with a beautiful leather sheath for safer storage.
Photograph: Molly Higgins
New West Knifeworks
Joy Bauer 6-Inch Chef Knife
Similar to my pick above, this luxe New West KnifeWorks knife is absolutely gorgeous, with a bold red-and-white handle and an accompanying embossed leather sheath. (Again, who wouldn’t love this as a gift?!) It’s perfect for the amateur or home chef. Created in collaboration with nutritionist and TV personality Joy Bauer, this 6-inch Santoku knife has a downward blade and a sturdy top slope, and is made from American-made 440C stainless steel. Unlike the other pick above, which is a traditional German chef’s knife style, this has a straighter edge used for precision. With this Japanese Santoku-style knife, you’ll cut straight down to using the whole blade at once, or just the pointed tip for precise, thin cuts.
Hyperice’s Black Friday deals are live, and they’re not ones to miss. Hyperice is one of the top wellness recovery brands in the industry, trusted by athletes, college sports programs, and professional facilities. From percussive massage guns to heated wraps, we’ve rounded up the best Hyperice Black Friday deals. All of these gadgets have been tested and vetted by WIRED staffers, but we’ve also included some gear that we have yet to test if the discount may be too good to pass up. Products are selling out fast, and the prices change frequently, so check back for the latest updates.
For more intel on sales, check out our Best Black Friday Deals roundup or our Black Friday liveblog.
WIRED Featured Deals
The Best Massage Gun For Under $200
Photograph: Hyperice
The Hypervolt 2 is the best percussive massage gun on the market (for most people). At 1.8 pounds, it’s light enough to pick up after an intense workout, and the 60-watt brushless motor delivers relatively quiet percussions. It has three speed settings and five interchangeable heads (fork, ball, cushion, flat, and bullet), and it’s built with a pressure sensor that lets you know when you’re pushing too hard, kind of like an electric toothbrush. You can usually get around three hours of continuous use per charge, and since it’s TSA-friendly, you can throw it in your carry-on for long travels.
The Best Recovery Shoes Are on Sale
Photograph: Kristin Canning
Photograph: Kristin Canning
Photograph: Kristin Canning
Photograph: Kristin Canning
Nike × Hyperice
Hyperboot
The Hyperboot is on sale for the first time. These recovery boots pair the brand’s heat tech with its Normatec-like compression for a warm, pressurized therapy that feels incredible both before and after a workout. You can toggle between three compression levels (50, 130, and 210 mmHg) and heat (111, 118, and 125 degrees Fahrenheit) using the built-in control panel. Slip on both, and they sync automatically. You typically get around 90 minutes of continuous use per charge, depending on how hot and tight you run them. They’re IP54 rated, meaning they’re dust- and splash-resistant. They’re also TSA-approved.
These Compression Sleeves Are a Travel Essential
Photograph: Hyperice
Whether I’m running, traveling, or sitting too long at my desk, my calves are the first place I feel pain. Hyperice’s portable air-compression sleeves have become my go-to remedy when I’m sore or stiff. They’re also a useful recovery to have if you struggle with bad circulation or chronic pain. There are seven intensity levels, 360-degree compression, and three overlapping zones that deliver a rhythmic relief I can’t get from a massage gun. I’d happily pay full price for the Normatec go, so seeing them on sale is just a cherry on top.
This Shoulder Wrap Is $130 Off
Courtesy of Hyperice
The Hyperice X Shoulder is a contrast therapy wrap that’s smarter than your typical ice pack or heating pad. With five levels of heat, cold, and compression, you can dial in exactly what you need. It’s helpful for warm-ups and recoveries, but especially for rehabbing a minor strain. The battery lasts around 90 minutes on the highest heat setting and about an hour on the highest cold setting.
A Vibrating Heated Wrap for Lower Back Pain
Courtesy of Hyperice
Hyperice’s Venom 2 Back is a neoprene wrap that delivers vibration therapy and even heat across your lower back. I use it after strenuous strength training and anytime my back aches from hunching over my laptop all day. It’s also a game-changer if you suffer from menstrual cramps that extend to your lower back. You can toggle between three heat levels (113, 122, and 131 degrees Fahrenheit) and three vibration frequencies. It boosts circulation, loosens tight muscles, and is overall a great tool to have for mobility warm-ups. I especially appreciate the 15-minute auto shut-off, so I don’t have to worry about overdoing it.
Other Hyperice Deals
We haven’t tested—or we’re currently testing—the products below, but here are some more worthwhile Black Friday discounts on Hyperice gear:
Despite wider economic uncertainty hovering above this year’s holiday season, shoppers turned out in big numbers for Black Friday — spending billions of dollars both in stores and online.
Adobe Analytics, which tracks e-commerce, said U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online Friday, marking a 9.1% jump from last year. It was a slight increase from the company’s spending estimate of $11.7 billion.
Traffic particularly piled up between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time nationwide, when $12.5 million passed through online shopping carts every minute. Mobile shopping was estimated to drive more than half of all sales, according to Adobe.
Consumers also spent a record $6.4 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, per Adobe. Top categories that saw an uptick in sales across both days included video game consoles, electronics and home appliances. Shopping services powered by artificial intelligence and social media advertising have also particularly influenced what consumers choose to buy, the firm said.
In-store traffic continues to dwindle
Meanwhile, software company Salesforce estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $18 billion in the U.S. and $79 billion globally. And e-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $6.2 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $5.1 million per minute – with top categories including cosmetics and clothing, according to the Canadian company.
Black Friday is far from the sales event that created midnight mall crowds or doorbuster mayhem just decades ago. More and more consumers have instead turned to online deals to make post-Thanksgiving purchases from the comfort of their own homes – or opt to stretch out spending across longer promotions now offered by retailers.
As a result, in-store traffic has continued to dwindle. Initial data from RetailNext, which measures real-time foot traffic in physical stores, found that U.S. Black Friday traffic fell 3.6% from 2024.
But “the story isn’t just that shoppers stayed home; it’s that they’re changing how and when they shop,” Joe Shasteen, global manager of advanced analytics at RetailNext said in emailed comments on Saturday. He explained that customers are now spreading out purchases over a longer time frame and “walking into stores with a far narrower mission than we’ve seen in past holiday seasons.”
Black Friday remains a major date on retailers’ calendar – and Shasteen added that Friday’s drop is “notably better” than a sharper 6.2% decline RetailNext saw in in-store traffic for the days leading up to Thanksgiving. This indicates that, while shoppers remain cautious and are pulling back on in-store spending overall, “they’re still willing to show up for the biggest promotional moments,” he said.
Experts expect heightened holiday spending to continue through the weekend. In terms of e-commerce, Adobe expects U.S. shoppers to spend another $5.5 billion Saturday and $5.9 billion on Sunday – before reaching an estimated $14.2 billion peak on Cyber Monday, which would mark yet another record.
Tariffs create strain on businesses and households
Still, rising prices could be contributing to some of those numbers. U.S. President Donald Trump’s barrage of tariffs on foreign imports have strained businesses and households alike over the last year. The federal government had raised $195 billion in customs duties for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Despite spending more overall, Salesforce found U.S. shoppers purchased fewer items at checkout on Black Friday (down 2% from last year). Order volumes also slipped 1%, the firm noted, as average selling prices climbed 7%.
This year’s holiday spending rush arrives amid heightened economic uncertainty for consumers. Beyond tariffs, workers across public and private sectors are also struggling with anxieties over job security – amid both corporate layoffs and the after-effects of the 43-day government shutdown.
For the November-December holiday season overall, the National Retail Federation estimates U.S. shoppers will spend more than $1 trillion for the first time this year. But the rate of growth is slowing – with an anticipated increase of 3.7% to 4.2% year over year, compared to 4.3% in 2024’s holiday season.
At the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies on other short-term loans have been rising. And more and more shoppers are turning to “buy now, pay later” plans, which allows them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items.
If you need to restock your backpacking, hiking, biking, camping, outdoor-loving gear quiver, now is a great time to do it. Below are the best deals on all our favorite tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, pads, cookware, outdoor apparel, and more.
While REI closes down for Black Friday, there are still some things on sale, plus there are sales at Backcountry and Public Lands, along with some great deals at our favorite cottage industry brands like Six Moon Designs, Zenbivy, Gossamer Gear, and more.
Updated November 29, 2025: We’ve added new deals on puffer jackets, rain jackets, merino wool and other cold weather essentials.
WIRED Featured Deals
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Tent Deals
Need a new shelter from the storm? There are more tent deals right now than we usually see this time of year, giving you some great options for not a lot of money. Check out our guides to the best backpacking tents and best car camping tents for more details.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Six Moon Design’s Lunar Solo (7/10, WIRED Review) is my favorite single-wall ultralight solo tent. It’s not without its quirks (read the pitching tips), but if you want something more than a tarp, that still weighs just 26 ounces (740 grams), this one is hard to beat. It’s well ventilated for a single-walled tent, with the ability to raise up the front door when weather is nice. I also like that it only needs one trekking pole (or one pole if you don’t hike with trekking poles). You’d be hard-pressed to find a tent even half this nice at this price.
The Copper Spur UL 2 is currently our top pick for lightweight freestanding backpacking tents, and it’s been a popular choice with readers for years. This is a high-quality, well-designed tent that’s lightweight, easy to set up, and roomy enough to be livable in the backcountry. The “awning” design (with trekking poles or sticks) is a nice extra, and the mix of 15D nylon and 20D ripstop, while it feels fragile, has held up well over time. The 3-person Copper Spur UL 3 is also on sale for $450 ($150 off).
Sea to Summit’s “3-plus season” tents are capable enough in almost any weather while staying crazy light—just 3 pounds, 12 ounces for this two-person model. I used the three-person version on a five-day trip to Loon Lake in northern California in early October, a true “shoulder season” trip with daytime highs in the 80s, nighttime lows in the 40s, and overnight winds of up to 60 mph. My favorite design detail is that the pole bag is kept rigid by an insert of opaque white plastic. Clip it to the tent’s ceiling, pop in your headlamp, and illuminate your abode. —Michael Calore
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Nemo’s Dagger Osmo line of tents are reasonably light with roomy interiors and have proved very storm-proof in my testing. The three-person version has long been my tent of choice for trips with my kids. Setup is simple thanks to the single main pole design (which forks at each end) with a cross pole in the middle. There are two spacious vestibules for storing gear, and if you leave the rain fly off, the mesh room is excellent for stargazing.
The Nemo Mayfly is a three-season backpacking tent with a trail weight of 3 pounds, 8 ounces for the two-person version I tested. Split between two people, each is carrying under 2 pounds. The Mayfly uses a semi-freestanding design to keep weight down, which does mean you have to stake out the foot end. It’s on the small side as well, at 27.9 square feet of living space, with two 7-square-foot vestibule areas. I find it plenty livable for two, and the cross pole gives you a wider roof area than most tents this size. I love the white mesh (instead of black) and the super simple clips that keep the rain fly secured.
Courtesy of Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Hyperlite’s Dyneema Composite Ultamid tents are my favorite lightweight backcountry shelter for groups. I use the 4-person version (also on sale for $721 ($128 off)) with my kids as it’s the only thing on the market that can sleep 4, but weighs less than 2 pounds (22.4 oz). It’s a single wall tent, so condensation does need to be managed, but it’s pretty easy to vent. It’s also dead simple to pitch and rock solid in the wind. The pyramid design does mean there’s less room to the sides, but on the plus side it’s tall enough that I can stand up in the middle if I crouch a little (I’m 5′ 10″). There are two downsides to this tent. THe first is the price, but this sale makes it a little cheaper. The other is that it is big and requires a pretty good size space to pitch it. Also note that if you’re going to be in very buggy areas, you might want the floorless mesh insert which is $84 ($16 off).
Sea to Summit’s ultralight Alto tent (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is designed to keep weight down on your solo adventures. At just 33 ounces for a semi-freestanding tent, it remains one of the lighter options on the market, and at this price it’s hard to pass up. The mesh netting helps keep weight down, though for something warmer, the Plus version, which has less mesh, is also on sale for $412 ($137 off), an equally outstanding deal.
Goassamer Gear’s The Two is an ultralight, two-person shelter that weighs just about 2 pounds (slightly more if you account for the trekking poles you need to pitch it). Probably my favorite part of this tent in terms of ultralight performance is how small it stuffs down—to about the size of Nalgene water bottle, which means I can shove it in the side pocket of my pack. The seams are factory-taped and the dual doors make it easy to get in and out.
Merino Wool, Rain Jacket, and Shoe Deals
I live in merino wool these days. Actually, I don’t even care of its merino anymore, wool is just that good. See our guide to the best merino wool clothing, and best merino wool t-shirts for more wool goodness.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Icebreaker’s 200 Oasis base layer is a 200-gsm base layer. This is about what most of us call a mid-weight base layer, making it a good choice for everything from cool weather hiking in the fall or spring, to skiing in the front country. The 100 percent merino fibers here are not quite as soft at the Smartwool above, but they’re equally good at regulating body temperature and wicking away moisture. This is also the fastest drying merino top in our base layers guide.
The Smartwool Classic merino tee is an honorable mention in our guide to the best merino wool t-shirts. It’s a nice shirt, especially at this price which brings it down below even the cheapest options in that guide. It’s a Nuyarn blend (88 percent merino, 12 percent nylon), with the merino spun around the nylon. Mine has held up incredibly well. I’ve had it for several years and it’s still going strong. It does run on the large side, and has a looser fit, so size accordingly, but this is a great, low price way to fill out your merino t-shirt collection.
Ibex is also having a 20 percent sitewide sale. The Ibex Woolies Pro Crew, one of our Best Base Layers, is included in the sale—reviews editor Adrienne So is about to replace one of her Ibex Woolies that has lasted twenty years, which is the longevity you can expect from Ibex.
Unbound Merino is having it’s only sale of the year. We’ve got a post with the best deals, but if you get only one thing, grab this t-shirts. It makes a great gift for an outdoorsy person too. This t-shirt is incredibly soft, and because it’s 100 percent merino wool it’ll stay odor free for ages. The cut of Unbound’s crew neck s not overly technical like many merino t-shirts. This is just a regular, stylish t-shirt that doesn’t make you look like an Alex Honnold wannabe. It’s also lightweight and packs down to a tiny roll, which is perfect if you’re looking to simplify down to one bag (really, is there any other way to travel?). While I like the merino crew neck, the v-neck is also on sale for $80 ($10 off).
Courtesy of Huckberry
Huckberry’s Proof 72-Hour Merino is our favorite merino wool T-shirt. The cut and style are not overly sporty, making it more versatile than some others, from everyday wear around town to a trip to the gym. Mine is still soft after six months of wear and washing. At 87 percent 150-gsm superfine merino wool (16.5 micron) and 13 percent nylon, this T-shirt makes a great starter for those new to merino wool—there’s enough nylon that it’s stretchy, and not the least bit itchy. Note that sizes are limited here, but there are still a few of these left at this price.
I’m just going to keep singing the praises of this shirt until every WIRED reader has one. Then we can move on. If you live in a cold climate, even if it’s not quite Canada, you need this shirt. It’s your classic, ultra-warm wool shirt. Sorry, shirt jacket. Whatever it is, it’s warm, cozy, and comfy. Don’t let the wool scare you. It’s not itchy.
A little blizzard recently blew through where I love and this was the base layer I turned to when I went out in it. The 400-gsm weave of 100 percent merino is more like a sweatshirt than a base layer. The Yukon is wonderfully soft on the inside, and the seams don’t rub, even with a heavy pack on. The cut is roomy without being too baggy, and it’s machine-wash and -dry, so no babying necessary. For most people, the Yukon (or the Tanana, as the women’s version is called) is probably overkill, but if you live in the north, or if you’re a perpetually cold person, this is the ultimate heavyweight base layer.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Smartwool’s 100 percent merino Classic Thermal base layer is a nice, heavy 250-gsm merino, base layer, making it a great base layer for cold weather. It’s our top pick heavyweight base layer. It fits looser, making it feel more like a comfortable shirt. The looser fit makes it possible to use this as a second base layer over something like Ibex Woolies when it’s extremely cold (this combo is something I wear all the time here in Northern Wisconsin). The bottoms are also on sale (Men’s/Women’s).
There are tons of neck gators out there, but this is my favorite (I actually have the slightly longer version, but this is close). Like most things merino it puzzles me how this keeps me warm in the winter, and keeps the sun off my neck in the summer without making me overheat. Somehow it manages this. These make great gifts for your outdoorsy friends too.
Photograph: Adrienne So
This is a classic rain jacket. The AR (for “all-round”) is the beefiest of Arc’teryx’s Beta jackets. The combination of 40-denier fabric (with 80D reinforced areas) and Gore-Tex Pro 3L membrane make this not just highly waterproof, but very durable as well. The downside is that it is heavy at 16.5 ounces, and it doesn’t pack down super small. Still, if staying dry is you main priority, this is a great jacket.
My quest for an ultralight backpacking rain jacket came to an end when I encountered the Gaurdian Air from 7Mesh. It weighs just 212 gram on my scale (size large), packs down small, and most importantly, has held up well, keeping my dry hiking in some very heavy rains. t uses Gore-Tex ePE as its breathable, waterproof membrane, which I would call slightly breathable. Do I wish it had pit zips? Yes, yes I do. But otherwise this is a fantastic featherweight jacket.
Speaking of ultralight rain jackets, Mont-Bell’s Versalite is a legend. I’ve never managed to get my hands on one, but WIRED tester Chris Haslam love his. It’s light (6.4 ounces, 192 grams), packs down tiny (2.8 x 2.8 x 5.5 inches), and the two-layer 10-denier ripstop fabric offers seriously good protection against wind and rain. Mont-Bell has used two layers of Windstopper Gore-Tex here, which is technically rated as “water-resistant” but with taped seams and a generous DWR—it has a 20,000 mm HH rating, which is better than many. Note that this sale is on the western sizing.
When the weather gets down well below freezing, and the wind makes your cheeks burn, this is the jacket I turn to. With a base layer at the bottom, a wool sweater over that, then this jacket, I was toasty warm walking in the early morning chill of winter (usually –10 Fahrenheit in January). The shell is lightweight (20D) Pertex ripstop nylon that’s nicely windproof and water-resistant. For some reason, only the women’s jacket is on sale.
Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer down jacket will be a pick in my next update for the Puffer Jacket Guide. It’s one of the best technical down puffers I’ve tested — thanks to the 800-fill down it’s warm, light, and packs down small. The medium weighs just about 8 ounces on my scale, though it does seem to run a bit small, I had to size up to large, the medium was a bit tight. Unfortunately the men’s version is pretty much sold out. The jacket version, without the hood, is also on sale.
Fjällräven’s hybrid fill jacket uses 700-fill-power down for most of the jacket but adds recycled polyester insulation over the shoulders to help resist moisture. That later works quite well when the snow is really coming down. The hood does a good job of keeping you warm while staying out of your way thanks to two drawcord tabs at the front, and an elastic drawcord at the back. It also, as the name suggests, packs down pretty small.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Merrell’s Vapor Glove shoes have been a perennial favorite at WIRED, topping our Barefoot Shoes guide for years. They’re quite thin (6mm stack height) and plenty flexible, allowing your feet to bend and shape to the terrain. That said, the Vapor Glove (and the Trail Glove as well) do not have the extra wide footbox you’ll find in some barefoot shoes. I find the ankle and arch fit to be spot on, but I do wish they had a wider toe box so my toes could spread out more.
I bought this during the REI Anniversary sale in May and have been wearing it every day now that cold temps have hit. It’s slightly oversized, but very soft, stretchy, and comfortable. I mean it’s a merino wool beanie; hard to go wrong with one of those. And it’s Fjällräven, so it’s well-made and should last a very long time.
These Fjällräven pants are among my favorite hiking pants. The G-1000 fabric is 65 percent recycled polyester and 35 percent organic cotton. They’ve got pockets everywhere and extras like ventilation zippers, reinforced knees (with openings for pads), and a loop on the leg to hold a axe. Do your pants have a axe loop? Didn’t think so. Note that Fjällräven recently changed the fit, so if you’re an old school wearer of these, size up.
Backpack Deals
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The best ultralight day hiking pack, the Cima 15 is made of 100D recycled ripstop with a wraparound UHMWPE stretch mesh that forms the two side pockets and back pocket. The straps are quite cushy and comfortable, better than most straps you’ll find on small capacity packs. You might think 15L won’t hold everything you need, but it does. I manage to cram the essentials plus my camera gear, binoculars, and more in it and it stays comfortable. There’s an internal sleeve for a water bladder that happens to fit a 13-inch laptop if you want to use it to commute to work.
This deal is on the brand new version of the Southwest, with Dyneema’s latest fully woven fabric. This is my all-time favorite pack and the pack I use when I am not testing something else. I have both the older version, which I’ve used for 6+ years now, and this new version, which I am in the process of testing. If you’re looking for an ultralight pack that will stand up to just about anything, this is my top pick. The 55L capacity is my favorite as it allows me about 5-7 days worth of food, but if you only anticipate weekend trips, the 40L is also on sale.
This travel backpack from Six Moon Designs makes it so you no longer have to pick between optimizing for air travel or carrying long distances at your destination. It’s the only bag I’ve used that maximizes your allotted carry-on space while remaining comfortable for a walk across a mid-sized European city or even a day on the trail. The bag’s square shape and suitcase handle make it easy to show the flight crew you’re compliant, but once you deplane, you have adjustable shoulder straps built by a brand that makes gear for serious backpackers. There’s also a padded harness with water bottle holders and a zipper pouches for Clif Bars or a flashlight. —Martin Cizmar
Mystery Ranch’s Coulee 30 pack is everything you need in a great hiking day pack. The 30L capacity and 2.7 pound weight (men’s L/XL) mean this is not a pack for those looking to travel light, but when I need to carry lunch, rain jackets, and other hiking gear for my family of five, no daypack I’ve tested handles the load better than the Coulee 30. The suspension is cushy and provides a comfortable carry even with heavy loads. Mystery Ranch’s Signature Y-shaped zippers offer easy access to all your gear, and there are five externally accessible pockets for things you want close at hand.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
If I were going to live out of a single bag—traveling the world for the rest of my life—this is the bag I would bring. The GR2 is a gear-hauling monster with a ton of built-in organization options. This deal is on the 40L version, which I think is the perfect size for #onebag travel. It still manages to qualify as a carry-on bag for US flights (you may have trouble with that overseas though). The 34L waxed canvas version is also on sale for $340 ($115 off). And yes, it can double as a rucker, though there are better options if that’s your main use case. See below.
This deal is only on a couple of colors, and only the X-Pac fabric, but this is the cheapest we’ve seen the GR1 go for in quite some time. The GoRuck GR1 (7/10, WIRED Review) is the pack that launched the company, and it’s still the best and most versatile of the GoRuck lineup. This deal is on the smaller 21L pack, which I think is the perfect size for rucking, everyday carry, and weekend trips. I have lived out of the 21L bag (with a shoulder bag for my camera gear) during a weeklong trip. It was a squeeze, but it worked. The 21L GR1 is deceptively large and always seems to swallow more gear than I think it can.
If rucking is your thing, this is the GoRuck to get. It’s very close to the GR1 in size, layout, and fabric options, but the Rucker adds more handles, one on each side. The handles are so that the Rucker can be used as a weight (or kettlebell) in workouts. The interior has a Ruck Plate pocket for holding weight (the 20L version can handle up to 3-pound plates while the 25L can do up to 45-pound plates). The interior pockets are the same as the GR1, but instead of zippers, you get Velcro closures.
Mystery Ranch’s take on a lightweight multiday backpack, the Radix 47 is not ultralight (it weighs 3.5 lbs), but it has a fantastic suspension system. It’s become my go-to for trips where I am hauling a lot of gear, AKA, backpacking with my kids (I would suggest the Radix 47 is comfortable with loads of 25 to 35lbs, though Mystery Ranch rates it higher). The Robic Ripstop fabric has proved very durable in my testing, and I like the hybrid approach here, taking some features of ultralight packs and marrying them with a traditional pack frame and suspension system.
Gossamer Gear makes some of our favorite packing cubes for travel and backpacking. They’re light and spacious and the dual-chamber dirty/clean cube linked to here has a “dirty” side that seals up tight and keeps everything tidy. The clear cube $15 ($5 off) is also great. It zips and has multiple mesh pockets. It works both as a clear bag for liquids when you’re going through airport security, or a tech pouch for chargers and other sundries when you’re camping.
Oddly enough, for someone who isn’t a big fan of lumbar packs, this is probably my most-used bag. It’s our top pick for all-day adventures thanks to its array of pockets. The Tour is loaded with stash spaces, allowing me to carry my camera, binoculars, snacks, rain jacket, and more. Thanks to the shoulder strap (sold separately, $14) and the ability to tuck away the belt, the Tour can also be used as a shoulder bag. I even modified mine with a couple extra loops to secure it to the handlebars of my bike.
Photograph: Adrienne SoPhotograph: Adrienne So
Nemo’s Resolve is a great pack that incorporates a low-waste footprint into the design. It uses solution-dyed fabrics, and eschews straps and buckles in favor of bungees and pull-tabs. This does make adjusting it fussier, but once you’re used to it and have the fit dialed in, it’s not an issue. The Resolve is a comfortable pack. While technically frameless, it feels like it has some structure. and it sits nice and high on your back. At 1 pound, 15 ounces, it’s also pretty light.
My kid started his hiking career in this pack, which carried him from the mountains of Colorado to the hot barren mesas of Chaco Canyon. It’s not cheap (though this deal takes some of the pain away), but it’s well-made, and, most important, stable and comfortable. It’s also the easiest kid-hiking-pack to get on and off, which you will inevitably do, a lot.
Once upon a time, in galaxy far, far away, I traveled around southeast Asia with an early version of this Osprey pack, living out of it for almost a year. It stood up well to the abuse of overland travel—more than once, I watched a bus driver tie it to the roof of a bus by cinching it down with a rope, pulling with all his weight right down the middle of my pack, like a cheese cutter. The Farpoint survived, and my gear inside did as well thanks in part to the thickly padded sides which provide considerable extra cushioning.
Camping and Backpacking Deals
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
A favorite of ultralight hikers, backpackers, bikers, and travelers, the Sawyer Squeeze filter is the gold standard in water filters for anyone concerned about weight and universal compatibility. The Squeeze weighs just 3 ounces, has a filtration level of 0.1 microns (which gets rid E. coli, salmonella, giardia, cryptosporidium, and other common problems), and claims to filter 100,000 gallons of water before it needs replacing. The Squeeze also connects to any 28-mm diameter soda bottle (your basic 20-ounce Coke bottle, for example), which means you never have to worry about damaging a bottle, since a replacement can be easily found anywhere in the world.
The Katadyn BeFree Water filter is one of the lightest filters on the market (2.3 ounces, or 65 grams, for the filter and bottle) and a great option for when you want to go as light as possible, such as trail running or day hikes. The design of the BeFree is part of its appeal. The filter is inside the collapsible container. Scoop up some water into the container, screw on the lid, and drink. The BeFree is the fastest flowing filter I’ve tested. It can crank out 2 liters of fresh, clean water per minute, which means in practice that drinking out of it is no different than drinking from a bottle of water.
The argument in favor of the Lifestraw is that it’s extremely small, cheap, light, and it works. The problem is that no one wants to put their face near dirty water sources that you definitely shouldn’t drink from straight. Actually that doesn’t bother me nearly so much as the fact that you can’t use it to filter water for cooking. Still, as a personal water filter for emergencies, it’s a decent backup option to have in your kit.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
I rarely bring a chair backpacking, but if I did, the Nemo Moonlite Elite would be in my pack. At 18 ounces, it’s one of the lightest chairs around, and it packs down nice and small. It’s comfortable and reasonably stable. Nemo also solved the main problem with all pole chairs; The included base pad keeps it from sinking into soft ground.
This chair is the coziest way to hang out around camp. It is somewhat huge, heavy, and awkward to fold up and carry, but it’s all worth it once you cram everyone you love on it in front of a fire. The even bigger and more awkward three-person version is also on sale for $135 ($45 off).
If you’re headed into bear country, you likely need a bear resistant way to store your food. In my experience, the BV500 from Bear Vault is the most widely approved option (though always check with the rangers in the area you’re heading to). At 700 cubic inches, the BV500 has room for about 3-5 days of food for 2 (depending on how well you pack). It does weigh almost 3 pounds, and it’s a bummer to carry, but when you need it, you need it—might as well grab one when it’s a little cheaper.
Courtesy of Sea to Summit
I’ve noticed that, when trying to lighten their load with a smaller, lighter backpack, people then struggle to fit all their gear. The answer for sleeping bags and clothing is this compression stuff sack, which smashes anything soft down to about half the size of the same item in a regular stuff sack. This works well with sleeping bags and clothing, especially puffer jackets, but also fleece and merino wool.
The price varies by volume, but all of Hyperlite’s Dyneema roll top stuff sacks are 15 percent off right now. If you want to organize your gear a bit inside your pack, but don’t want a weight penalty for doing so, these are the stuff sacks you want. The draw string variety are also on sale, and bit cheaper and lighter, but I find the roll tops so much easier to open and close that I think they’re worth a few extra bucks.
Photograph: REI
The Petzl Tikka is the best headlamp you can buy. I’ve had the same Petzl Tikka for 14 years, and it’s still going strong. The Tikka is not the brightest, topping out at 450 lumens, but it’s plenty of light to cook by in the backcountry. There are three light modes: bright, brighter, and brightest. There’s also a red light mode to retain some of your night vision. The Tikka runs on three AAA batteries (we recommend Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries), or the included Tikka Core rechargeable battery, and lasts over 5.5 hours.
I have never slept so well camping as I have on this mat. Technically I have the car-friendly model, but in terms of comfort, they’re the same. In our guide to car camping pads the Therm-a-rest MondoKing edges out the Megamat for top pick among the monster sleeping pads, but I prefer the Megamat for it’s extra warmth (it has an R-value of 8.1 to the MondoKing’s R 7.0) and the soft texture of the top. It’s comfortable enough to sleep directly on the Megamat. This was $15 cheaper during REI’s Holiday Sale, but this is still a good deal.
If you’re camping with a buddy and you want to snuggle up at night, this plush two-person sleeping pad is our top pick. The 5R rating means it’s made for cold weather, but even cinched into its included stuff sack, it’s fairly large and heavy, so it’s best for car camping, canoe camping, or any situation where you don’t have to haul it in a pack. (For summer backpacking, consider the lighter three-season 3R version, also on sale.) Each side has its own valve, so both sleepers can use the included inflation bag to pump up the pad to their desired firmness. —Michael Calore
Stove and Camp Cooking Deals
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
My favorite stove for actually cooking real food in the backcountry, the Firebox Nano is a titanium (or steel, but I highly recommend titanium) shell that you can fit with an alcohol burner like the Trangia Spirit burner, or an isobutane burner. You can also use wood to cook directly over flames the way your ancestors did, and you should. For backpacking, with its frequent and pesky burn bans, the Firebox Gas Burner with its diffusion plate is hands down the best backcountry cooking system. It won’t win you any prizes at the next /r/Ultralight get-together (the Firebox Nano on its own weighs 4.25 ounces for the titanium version), but you could be eating some delicious food in the backcountry.
The Stash is our favorite all-in-one backcountry cook system. The heat diffuser design is what speeds up boil times (Jetboil claims 2.5 minutes, which I was only able to match indoor in still air), but the real appeal here to me is the way this kit all packs down into itself. For weekend trips, this is the simplest system I’ve tested when it comes to cooking for two.
Courtesy of Coleman
REI sales are the time to grab this upgrade stove. Sure, the basic version below gets the job done, but the cast iron burners of the Cascade are so much nicer and more durable. The griddle plate is also handy, perfect for cranking out pancakes. My only gripe is that I wish there were an option to get two griddles, as I find the grill not nearly as useful.
Walk around any campground in America and you’ll likely see dozens of these, for good reason. They’re easy to use, last a long time, and aren’t all that expensive. The 10,000-BTU burners are plenty to cook on just about any pan you have (I use cast iron pans on mine), and the electronic ignition means you don’t have to keep track of a lighter.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Our favorite way to avoid those green propane bottles is this propane growler. The Ignik Deluxe is a 1.2-pound propane tank with a nice padded/insulated sleeve and a handy strap for carrying. It makes your camp setup look much nicer than a bare tank. It also saves your shins during those inevitable run-ins with cold hard steel that come from lugging around a big propane tank. This size is the equivalent of five green propane bottles.
I’m not sure this really qualifies for the “ultralight” moniker, and these pots are unfortunately marred by having a ton of fake influencer reviews out there, but they’re actually quite good. The hard-anodized aluminum is sturdy and provides good heat transfer. The ceramic nonstick coating makes for easy cleanup and the 1.3L size is perfect for cooking for two.
I used to make fun of my editor for being irrationally attached to this spoon, but then he said, why don’t you try one. So I did. And now I am also irrationally attached to this bamboo spoon. So is my daughter who keeps trying to steal it from me. Why do I like it some much? I don’t know, it’s just a really nice spoon. Perhaps it’s because I have an equally irrational dislike of long handled titanium spoons (along with the backpacking “food” in pouches which they are designed for). I have an idea, why don’t you just try this spoon for yourself. It’s $1. You spent more than that on coffee this morning.
Hiking Tech and Fitness Deals
Photograph: Kieran Alger
This is a good deal on Garmin’s most popular satellite messenger, but we always like to add the caveat that not everyone needs one. If you frequently hike alone, or do a lot of high alpine hiking and climbing, it’s probably worth carrying. As with any satellite messenger, you will have to subscribe to a safety plan, in addition to buying the device itself. If you only go on one or two big trips a year, you might want to consider a personal locator beacon (PLB) instead.
The Instinct 3 is our favorite Garmin watch and this deal makes the solar version the same price as the regular. The Instinct line has all the backcountry functionality of the Fenix watches but it’s much cheaper. This latest model includes a built-in flashlight and a metal-reinforced bezel with a scratch-resistant display and built to the durable MIL-STD 810 standard, meaning that’s undergone heavy thermal and shock resistance tests.
GoPro’s Hero 13 Black is our favorite GoPro for recording all your outdoor adventures. It has an interchangeable lens system to offer many more shooting options than other action cameras (in fairness Insta360 just added lenses to its Ace Pro 2, but we haven’t had a chance to try those yet). In addition to the standard wide angle action camera lens you can also invest in an Ultra Wide ($90), Macro ($120), and Anamorphic ($120) lens. All of these are automatically detected by the Hero 13 the minute you attach them. The camera will automatically adjust settings to match the lens and let you get back to what you were doing. It’s lots of fun and video quality is excellent.
Sleeping Bag and Quilt Deals
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Zenbivy is having a site-wide sale on some of our favorite backcountry sleeping bags. I’ve highlighted the Light Bed because it’s my favorite Zenbivy. If you haven’t tried sleeping on a Zenbivy, you’re in for a treat. This is not your typical sleeping bag, not even your typical quilt system. Zenbivy’s bed is combination of a quilt (I prefer the convertible quilt, which comes completely apart, but there’s also a version with a footbox if you prefer) and a sheet. The two parts clip together to prevent drafts and give you the feeling of sleeping at home in your bed, or at least as close to that as you’re likely to get in a tent. Note that to get the deal you’ll need to sign up for the mailing list to get a code.
Nemo’s Forte 35 is a 35-degree (comfort rated) synthetic-fill sleeping bag, making it a good choice for summer. It’s our favorite synthetic bag. What I like most about this bag, and nearly all of Nemo’s sleeping bags, is the wider cut through the torso area down to the knees. This bag is almost a hybrid of a mummy bag and your father’s good old 1970s square sleeping bag. Which is to say, this bag is roomy.
It’s no longer our top pick for side sleepers, but the Questar remains a good option for those who want more room. It uses what Therm-a-Rest calls W.A.R.M. fit, which stands for “with additional room for multiple” positions. Indeed, this bag is very roomy for a mummy design. I was able to draw my legs up when side-sleeping and spread out considerably more than with most of the other sleeping bags I’ve tested.
Photograph: Gossamer Gear
Gossamer Gear’s Thinlight Foam Pad is the best thing I’ve added to my backpacking gear kit in the last 10 years. It weighs close to nothing (3.3 ounces for the folded version I have), and I use it constantly. I don’t bring a chair backpacking. I am a sit-on-what’s-available sort of person, but these days I’ve gone a little bit soft, thanks to this pad. It’s perfect to sit on, to pile snacks on during breaks, to lie on for an afternoon siesta, and to go under my inflatable pad to keep it from slipping around at night on the floor of the tent.
Closed-cell-foam pads like the Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite Sol are a must-have. They weigh next to nothing (10 ounces for the small), fold up small enough to lash to the outside of any pack, and double as a chair, extra padding on cold nights, table, you name it. I am too old and too soft to be the sort of ultra-minimalist who gets by with just a Z-Lite, but I still have one around on almost every trip I take.
Think of a Rumpl blanket as if your sleeping bag had a baby with the coziest lap blanket that your grandma knitted for you. They’re made from DWR-treated ripstop polyester, so they’re sturdy, durable, and resist getting soaked or stained. But they’re also soft and warm enough to fall asleep under on the couch, and they come in a wide variety of colors and patterns (unfortunately only a couple patterns are on sale right now). —Adrienne So
Paddleboard and Kayak Deals
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Sure it’s odd to be buying a paddleboard in November, when there’s possibly snow on the ground (there is at my house), but a deal is a deal, and this is a good deal on one of our favorite Bote paddleboards. This large, stable SUP is great for beginners, it tracks well and despite the stability it’s surprisingly nimble and easy to steer. If you go all-in on the accessories you can end up with a two-in-one kayak/SUP hybrid, which makes it more versatile.
The Isle Switch 3 is by far my favorite inflatable that I have tested. Do you want to paddle out in glassy, still water and lie on your belly with your dog and watch fish? Then it’s a big, solid, stable paddleboard with a grippy, soft surface perfect for puppy paws. Is there a bit of a breeze and you want to put the full force of your paddling muscles in play? Slip the hooks into the eyes and tighten the straps to put on a big, comfy seat and foot brace. (I used mine as a seat for the kids behind me.) Even the paddle converts from an SUP paddle to a kayak paddle. I can’t believe I’ve never tried one of these before. This deal includes a free electric pump. —Adrienne So
The Breeze Aero inflatable paddleboard (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is well-built and durable, and it packs up reasonably small. It’s also one of the stablest paddleboards I’ve tried, making it a good choice for beginners. It’s easy to unpack and easy to use. Inflating is something of a chore with the hand pump, but once it’s deflated, it’s not hard to stow it away. This deal is on the 11’6″ model (which supports up to 355 pounds).
I have never actually tried one of Oru’s folding kayaks, but my editor and fellow gear tester Adrienne So loves them. The Inlet is one of Oru’s beginner models, but with room to grow as you you get more comfortable with it. It’s light and fast, and folds origami-style into a box that’s 42″ x 10″ x 18″, a bit like an oversized briefcase and still plenty small enough to fit a couple in your trunk. It weighs just 20 pounds and can hold one person up to 6’2″, 275 pounds.
So you have a strict budget to stick to this year when it comes to Black Friday shopping — you’re not alone. Money’s tight all around, but you still want to take advantage of all the Black Friday deals out there and cross some gifts off your list and pick up a few things for yourself. It’s not an impossible task, and yes, some of the best tech of the year can fit into your budget. Black Friday tech deals this year have brought a slew of discounts to some of our favorites, and a number of them fall under the $100 mark thanks to the sales. Here, we’ve curated the best Black Friday deals on tech you can get for $100 or less so you don’t have to go searching for them.
Best Black Friday deals for $100 or less
Apple
Apple AirPods 4 for $69 (47 percent off): These are the most affordable AirPods you can get, and the latest model has been substantially improved over the previous. They have a better fit and noticeably better sound quality than their predecessor, plus some advanced features previously only found on pricer models.
Apple AirTags (four pack) for $63 (36 percent off): iPhone users who frequently misplace things should invest in a few AirTags. Slip them into your wallet, bag, jacket and other belongings to keep track of their locations in the Find My app. Just make sure that, if you’re going to attach one to your keys, you also pick up an AirTag holder to go along with it.
Audible — three months for $3 + $20 Audible credit: For literally $1 per month, you can get access to Audible’s enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals (which can be anything from never-before-heard books to live performances). It’s only three months, after which you’ll have to cancel or renew at the regular price, but an audiobibliophile can cram a lot of listening into 90 days.
Amazon Smart Plug for $13 ($12 off): Getting into the smart home space can seem daunting, but opting for a small but powerful device like the Amazon Smart Plug can make it much easier. It’s one of our favorite smart plugs because it’s almost entirely plug-and-play. It’s super simple to set up and then you can control almost anything you plug into it with Alexa voice commands or mobile app. The only caveat is that it only supports Alexa voice control, making it the best option for those who already use Amazon’s voice assistant often.
Starz — one year for $12: Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $50 off a Stars annual subscription. There’s a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don’t want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with offline viewing and no ads.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus for $19 (52 percent off): This is one of the best Roku devices to get if you’re on a budget and just want to make an aging TV set feel a little bit newer. This model supports 4K HDR content, has pretty accurate universal search and gives you access to a ton of free content to watch via Roku’s streaming OS.
Disney+
Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.
HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.
Twelve South AirFly SE Bluetooth Audio Transmitter for $26 ($14 off): If you (or someone on your gift list) travels by plane a lot, they might appreciate this dongle. It adds a Bluetooth connection to any 3.5mm aux audio jack so they can use their AirPods or other wireless buds to watch in-flight entertainment. $26 isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen (it went as low as $16 earlier this year).
Govee Smart LED Light Bars for $30 ($20 off, Prime exclusive): Another of our stocking stuffer picks are these smart LED light bars from Govee. They can stand up or lie flat so they can go just about anywhere and are infinitely adjustable via the app. You can even set them to light up in sync with your music. Alexa and the Google Assistant will let you control them with just your voice (and a smart speaker).
SanDisk microSD Express card (256GB) for $60 (12 percent off): If you have a Switch 2, no regular microSD card will do if you want to expand the console’s storage. You need a newer microSD Express card, and currently there are only a handful on the market. We did some testing to find the best microSD Express card for the Switch 2 and found that performance was, in general, very similar amongst all the readily available cards. We recommend getting whichever fits within your budget at the capacity you want.
Google TV Streamer 4K for $75 ($25 off): Our top pick for the best streaming device right now, the latest version of Google’s streamer supports 4K video and an excellent, easy-to-use interface that will feel familiar to anyone who’s seen a set with the Google TV technology built in. It provides access to all of the major streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, YouTube and more, plus it has a handy on-screen pop up that lets you control all compatible smart home devices right from your TV.
Amazon Kindle for $80 ($25 off): Amazon’s entry-level Kindle is the best budget e-reader on the market right now, with a compact and durable design, plus a crisp display. If you already have a bunch of ebooks purchased through the Kindle Store, it’s one of the best options for you, and Amazon’s Whispersync feature lines up where you are in the e-printed version with the narration if you go back and forth between reading and listening to Audible audiobooks.
Anker Laptop Power Bank (25K, 100W) for $88 (35 percent off): A top pick in our guide to the best power banks, this Anker brick is kind of a one-and-done device. It has enough capacity to charge all sorts of devices from smartphones to laptops to handheld gaming consoles, and it has two built-in USB-C cables so you don’t even have to remember to bring your own to use it. Also available at Anker.
If you only looked at the numbers, you’d think Black Friday was business as usual—just bigger. And, to be clear, it was definitely bigger. Adobe, which tracks more than a trillion retail site visits across 18 categories, says consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online yesterday, up 9.1 percent from last year and even above the company’s own forecast. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Adobe says shoppers spent $12.5 million every minute.
By any metric, that’s a massive number of people shopping for deals. It’s a record for Black Friday sales online, but if you look a little closer, you realize it’s also a massive number of people shopping in very different ways than they used to.
Black Friday has already changed quite a bit in the past few years. What was once a single day defined by incredible deals and lines outside big-box stores has stretched into a weeks-long digital shopping season. And, let’s be honest, people aren’t camping outside a Target anymore; they’re sitting on their couch, scrolling their phones.
The AI holiday
The most interesting part of the story is how things have shifted even more this year. Adobe’s data shows that AI-generated traffic to retail sites jumped 805 percent year-over-year. Not only are people using AI tools to find deals and compare products, but shoppers who landed on a site from an AI assistant were 38 percent more likely to convert than everyone else.
An Inc.com Featured Presentation
That’s surprising, and yet, it makes perfect sense.
One of the things AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are good at is instantly surfacing the best price across half a dozen retailers. This year, there were plenty of headline features: electronics, toys, apparel, TVs, and appliances were discounted between 24 and 30 percent. AI tools just made it easier to find them.
And those deals didn’t just convince people to buy more. Adobe says that people spent more on higher-end items. The share of units sold from the most expensive tier of products spiked: 64 percent in electronics, 55 percent in sporting goods, 48 percent in appliances. With the right combination of discounts and AI-assisted shopping comparison, people weren’t just looking for deals—they were looking for the best value.
Mobile continued to dominate
Depending on the hour, around 55 percent of online Black Friday sales happened on a phone—$6.5 billion worth. That’s up 10 percent from last year and represents billions of dollars processed through screens smaller than a wallet.
Mobile phones reward frictionless experiences. And it turns out, AI is very good at removing friction. When the easiest way to shop is to ask ChatGPT for a recommendation and the best deal, it changes the way retailers have to think about Black Friday.
Not only that, but the timeline seems to have shifted. Adobe says one of the biggest spikes happened from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shopping habits shifted toward the times when people are already using their phones. You don’t need to wait for a sale to “start” when an AI assistant can surface the best price the moment it exists.
Adobe expects U.S. consumers to spend more than $250 billion online this holiday season, with Cyber Monday alone projected to hit $14.2 billion. But the part worth paying attention to isn’t the total—it’s how we got there.
Shoppers are trusting AI to do the busywork and find them the best value. For a shopping event that used to be all about physical stores, that’s a significant shift that retailers have to pay attention to.
The challenge is that they no longer control the narrative—the AI assistant does.
The lesson here may not seem obvious, but the reality is that retailers need to redefine what loyalty means when more shoppers start their journey with an AI prompt instead of walking into a store or pulling up your website.
When an assistant compares every retailer at once, being “top of mind” matters far less than being the lowest-friction, highest-confidence option in that moment. That means loyalty isn’t something you win with flashy ads or homepage banners—it’s something you earn through the operational details an AI actually cares about.
Black Friday broke spending records. But the more interesting record is the one you might overlook: how many of those purchases started with someone typing a question into an AI instead of typing a URL into a browser.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
Streaming deals come and go throughout the year, but they are most abundant around Black Friday. It’s been a testy year for streaming services to say the least, and one big manifestation of that has been continuously rising prices. Disney+ and HBO Max were just a couple of the streaming services that bumped up prices, which means it’s more important than ever to subscribe if and when you can get a discount. These are the best Black Friday streaming deals you can get this year, many of which will also become the best Cyber Monday streaming deals you can get. Just note, though, that most require you to be either a new subscriber to get the deal, or a returning subscriber who hasn’t been a paid customer in a hot minute.
Best Black Friday streaming deals
Disney+
Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.
HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.
Sling TV Orange — day pass for only $1: Sling TV launched Day Passes earlier this year, giving users one-day access to a variety of its packages. This deal cuts $4 off the normal price of a day pass for Sling Orange. With that, you get unlimited access for 24 hours to Orange’s more than 30 channels that includes ESPN, CNN, TBS and others.
Paramount+ — two months of Essential or Premium for $6: This Black Friday deal brings the monthly price of either Paramount+ tier down to just $6 for two months, or $3 per month. The obvious better deal is on the Premium plan, which typically costs $13 per month.
Audible — three months for $3 + $20 Audible credit: For literally $1 per month, you can get access to Audible’s enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals (which can be anything from never-before-heard books to live performances). It’s only three months, after which you’ll have to cancel or renew at the regular price, but an audiobibliophile can cram a lot of listening into 90 days.
Starz — one year for $12: Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $50 off a Stars annual subscription. There’s a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don’t want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with offline viewing and no ads.
MasterClass — up to 50 percent off annual subscriptions: The MasterClass Black Friday deal discounts most subscription tiers by 50 percent when you pay for one year upfront. The Premium tier, the most expensive option, usually costs $20 per month but now only sets you back $10 per month for one year. That gives you access to the entire MasterClass content library, offline viewing and up to six simultaneous streams.
Plex — lifetime pass for $150: Plex offers personal media servers you can use to organize your digital collection — imagine your own curated Netflix homepage that nothing ever vanishes from. It’s also a streaming platform in its own right, with movies and TV from all genres and eras. Plex did just raise its prices, so now’s your chance to get a lifetime pass for close to what it used to cost.
Fubo TV — up to $30 off your first month: Fubo is arguably the best live TV streaming service for sports, and now new subscribers can save up to $30 on their first month. You’ll get that discount if you subscribe to the Elite plan, which normally costs $95 per month and provides access to 325 channels including ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, and it includes ESPN Unlimited as well. If you’re looking for a more affordable plan, the News + Sports tier has a $10 discount for new subscribers.
DirecTV — starting at $50/month for one month: All of DirecTV’s signature packages are up to $45 off right now for your first month when you sign up. If you opt for the base “Entertainment” package, you’ll spend $50 for the first month and get access to over 90 channels, including many local stations as well as ESPN, ESPN 2 and Fox Sports 1. You’ll also be able to watch on the go with the DirecTV mobile app.
Let’s cut straight to the chase: Victoria Beckham Black Friday is proving to be the dark horse of the Black Friday 2025 sales. “A candidate who is little known”,” (granted – that part isn’t true – the Victoria Beckham Beauty brand has been so popular that has overtaken the fashion line from a profit standpoint), “but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.” True, within the context of the best Black Friday deals. Victoria Beckham rarely offers any sale, so to discount the entire site by 20% is both surprising and very, well, thrilling.
Glamour’s best Victoria Beckham Black Friday buys:
Victoria Beckham Beauty has had a strong year. The former spice girl-turned-fashion mogul expanded her premium beauty brand into makeup brushes for the first time to a great reception. Inspired by calligraphy and painting, each Victoria Beckham makeup brush (there are nine in total) was carefully designed for expert precision. The Conceal & Detail Brush was our favourite during testing, crafted to reach those hard-to-access areas (like under the eyes and around the nose). We also loved the Detailed Lip Brush to perfectly define edges for a stamped-on lip look, as well as the large Powder Brush that makes blending a breeze.
Victoria Beckham also joined forces with luxury skincare brand Augustinus Bader – the brains behind the The Rich Cream which is beloved by celebrities and backed by 30 years’ of research – to launch a Concealer Pen and Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator. (Yes, both are discounted in the Black Friday sale). A game-changer for any complexion routine, the latter is infused with AB’s proprietary TFC8 complex that was created to boost cell regeneration.
Outside of new launches, it’s worth noting the brand’s bestsellers, too. Think: the cult Satin Kajal Liner or the beautifully-pigmented Colour Wash blush (which the Glamour team reviewed earlier in the summer). If Victoria Beckham Beauty does anything well, it’s staying at the forefront of innovation and creating premium, wonderfully-packaged, long-lasting product.
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What is the Victoria Beckham Black Friday sale?
It’s simple: the entire Victoria Beckham Beauty site is 20% off, live now until December 1 (read: midnight on Cyber Monday). You don’t need a code: simply add your favourite VB buys to your cart, and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout. To help you navigate the sale, Glamour editors have been busy testing Victoria Beckham products all year to curate a Black Friday edit of the crème de la crème only.
Ahead, the best products to buy in Victoria Beckham Black Friday.
The Foundation Drops with TFC8®
Portofino ’97 Eau de Parfum
Lip Definer: Waterproof Lip Liner
The Concealer Pen with TFC8®
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year: a day which sees retailers across beauty, fashion, homeware and tech discount most lines by up to 70%. The event takes place globally, having been founded in the States – and it always falls on the last Friday of November. That is, the day following Thanksgiving.
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday 2025 was yesterday: Friday 28 November. But don’t panic – if you didn’t manage to place any orders, sales are still live until midnight on Cyber Monday.
What is Cyber Monday & is Victoria Beckham Beauty taking part?
On that note, Cyber Monday 2025 falls on Monday 1 December. Victoria Beckham is taking part – the sitewide 20% off sale ends at midnight. It’s a great time to get ahead of your Christmas shopping for beauty sleuths – with cult buys and bestselling gift sets discounted.
It’s easy to overlook the Black Friday subscription deals available each year when you’re focused on getting physical things for yourself and others. But it would be a mistake to do so since you can often save a ton on subscriptions and services you either already use, or have been thinking about trying. Take Plex, which is offering 40 percent off its lifetime pass. You can use the code ANYPASS40 to get it for $150 instead of the usual $250.
The monthly and annual Plex Pass options are also 40 percent off. You can get a year of Plex for $42, down from $70 or a monthly subscription for $4.19 each month, down from $7. The latter lets you cancel a lot more easily, but costs about $8 more for the year.
Plex
Plex acts as a personal media server that lets you curate a digital collection from a range of platforms. It also offers its own streaming options, so you can access a mix of titles. However, the Lifetime Pass was only $120 until earlier this year, when it more than doubled. The discount will get you close to that price, but you might also want to check out other streaming sales available for Black Friday.
Disney+ Hulu bundle — $60 for one year: The Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) bundle is on sale for $5 per month for one year (for a total of $60) through December 1. New and eligible returning subscribers can take advantage of this deal, and considering the bundle typically costs $13 per month, this deal represents more than a 50 percent discount on the standard monthly price.
Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.
HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.
Sling TV Orange — day pass for only $1: Sling TV launched Day Passes earlier this year, giving users one-day access to a variety of its packages. This deal cuts $4 off the normal price of a day pass for Sling Orange. With that, you get unlimited access for 24 hours to Orange’s more than 30 channels that includes ESPN, CNN, TBS and others.
Paramount+ — two months of Essential or Premium for $6: This Black Friday deal brings the monthly price of either Paramount+ tier down to just $6 for two months, or $3 per month. The obvious better deal is on the Premium plan, which typically costs $13 per month.
Starz — one year for $12: Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $50 off a Stars annual subscription. There’s a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don’t want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with offline viewing and no ads.
Black Friday is here in all of its discount glory. At this point, though, you might be feeling some deal fatigue. The entire month of November has been awash with holiday deals as “Black Friday” becomes more of a month-long event than a single-day affair.
Whether you’re just starting your holiday shopping now or you’re back to see if there are any good new deals, Engadget has you covered. We’ve been tracking the best Black Friday deals on tech since the month began, and we continue to do so today. As usual, there are a few surprises for Black Friday, and many of the best Black Friday deals we’ve seen over the past few weeks are still available today. To avoid unnecessary searching, we’ve collected the best Black Friday deals on tech you can get right here.
Black Friday deals: Engadget’s top picks
Disney+ Hulu bundle — $60 for one year: The Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) bundle is on sale for $5 per month for one year (for a total of $60) through December 1. New and eligible returning subscribers can take advantage of this deal, and considering the bundle typically costs $13 per month, this deal represents more than a 50 percent discount on the standard monthly price.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $220 ($29 off): Apple’s latest flagship wireless earbuds are the ones to get if you have an iPhone and any other Apple gear. They have improved sound quality, impressive ANC improvements, extra features like Live Translation and even better battery life.
Apple iPad A16 for $274 (21 percent off): Apple’s cheapest iPad makes a great first tablet for kids, or anyone who just wants a basic slab for watching videos, online shopping, sending emails and more. It’s plenty fast thanks to the A16 chipset that powers it, plus it has a nice screen, 128GB of storage in the base model and good battery life.
Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.
HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.
PlayStation 5 digital edition for $399 ($100 off): The PlayStation 5 is getting a major Black Friday discount, with $100 off consoles. That brings the PS5 Digital Edition down to $399, the standard PS5 to $449 and the new PS5 Pro to $649. If you’ve been holding out for the right time to upgrade or buy your first console, these are the deals to beat. You’ll find them direct at Sony and from other retailers including Amazon and Walmart.
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle for $499: Black Friday Nintendo sales were announced recently and, unsurprisingly, there won’t be many true deals out there this year. There are no straight discounts on the Switch 2 console, so your best bet is to pick up a bundle that saves you some cash on a Switch 2 game. One of the best is the Mario Kart Wold bundle, but Pokémon fans should consider the Pokémon Legends: Z-A bundle, too.
Meta Quest 3S VR headset for $250 ($50 off): We consider this to be the best VR headset for newbies or those on a budget. It’s comfortable to wear for long sessions, has solid performance, comes with excellent controllers and you’ll have access to a large app library with it.
DJI Neo drone for $159 (20 percent off, Prime exclusive): Yes, the Neo 2 just came out, but it’s still unclear if that model will make its way to the US. For now, if you want an affordable drone to capture your next adventure, the original Neo remains an excellent option. It was our top pick for the best drone for those on a budget, and it’s an even better buy at this sale price.
Samsung S95F (65-inch) for $2,298 ($700 off): The S95F is a premium model that’s receivedalmostuniversallystellarreviews for being especially bright among OLED TVs while keeping the bold colors and contrast expected from a QD-OLED panel. That brightness, combined with the display’s matte finish, means it’s uniquely adept at fending off glare. It also has four HDMI 2.1 ports and a native 165Hz refresh rate for gaming. That said, there’s still no Dolby Vision HDR, and the matte coating means that black tones won’t look as deep in a bright room. It’s not cheap, but this is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 65-inch model. Also at Samsung and Best Buy.
Google Pixel 10 Pro for $749 (25 percent off): You can get much better than this when it comes to Android phones. Google’s latest flagship has a brighter display, longer battery life, a camera that supports 100x Pro Res Zoom and Pixelsnap (i.e. Qi2) charging support.
Black Friday streaming deals and subscription deals
MasterClass — up to 50 percent off annual subscriptions: The MasterClass Black Friday deal discounts most subscription tiers by 50 percent when you pay for one year upfront. The Premium tier, the most expensive option, usually costs $20 per month but now only sets you back $10 per month for one year. That gives you access to the entire MasterClass content library, offline viewing and up to six simultaneous streams.
Starz — one year for $12: Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $50 off a Stars annual subscription. There’s a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don’t want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with offline viewing and no ads.
Paramount+ (2 months) for $6 ($20 off): Paramount+ is doing its Black Friday deal a little differently. Instead of a reasonably cheap long-term plan, you get an incredibly cheap short-term deal — two months for less than a Starbucks run costs these days. That’s more than enough time to binge Yellowjackets, Dexter: Resurrection or Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, along with weeks of NFL games through CBS Sports.
Plex (lifetime pass) for $150 (40 percent off): Plex offers personal media servers you can use to organize your digital collection — imagine your own curated Netflix homepage that nothing ever vanishes from. It’s also a streaming platform in its own right, with movies and TV from all genres and eras. Plex did just raise its prices, so now’s your chance to get a lifetime pass for close to what it used to cost.
Audible — three months for $3 + $20 Audible credit: For literally $1 per month, you can get access to Audible’s enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals (which can be anything from never-before-heard books to live performances). It’s only three months, after which you’ll have to cancel or renew at the regular price, but an audiobibliophile can cram a lot of listening into 90 days.
Proton VPN (24 months) for $59.76 (75 percent off):Proton VPN is our pick for the best VPN — a secure, trustworthy app that doesn’t sacrifice features, speed or usability. Although its free plan does come with unlimited data, we recommend upgrading to get the full set of servers and features. With this deal, you’ll get servers in 117 countries; better yet, every one of those we’ve tested so far can unblock Netflix.
Monarch Money budgeting app (one year) for $50 (50 percent off with code MONARCHVIP): One of our favorite budgeting apps, Monarch Money gives you a lot of control over the organization of your funds. There’s a helpful goals feature for when you’re planning out big purchases or financial milestones you want to hit, and we found the month-in-review recap it provides to be more thorough than other budgeting apps we tried. There’s even Zillow integration for folks looking to buy a home.
Black Friday Apple deals
Apple AirPods 4 for $69 (47 percent off): These are the most affordable AirPods you can get, and the latest model has been substantially improved over the previous. They have a better fit and noticeably better sound quality than their predecessor, plus some advanced features previously only found on pricer models.
Apple AirTags (four pack) for $63 (36 percent off): iPhone users who frequently misplace things should invest in a few AirTags. Slip them into your wallet, bag, jacket and other belongings to keep track of their locations in the Find My app. Just make sure that, if you’re going to attach one to your keys, you also pick up an AirTag holder to go along with it.
Apple Watch SE 3 for $199 ($50 off): The SE has been our top pick for the best Apple Watch for those on a budget, and the latest model only solidifies that further. It has the same chipset found in the latest flagship Apple Watches, fast-charging capabilities, an always-on display and most of the same activity-tracking features you’ll find in more expensive model.
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) for $749 ($250 off): Our top pick for the best laptop you can get, the M4 MacBook Air will be plenty of power for most people in a convenient, premium package. It’s thin and light as ever, with an excellent keyboard and trackpad, plus enough battery life to get you through a whole day of work, video calls and more.
Apple Pencil Pro for $95 ($35 off) at Amazon: The Apple Pencil situation is a little messy, so you’ll want to double check which model is compatible with your particular iPad. The Pencil Pro is the most fully featured in the lineup with haptic feedback, barrel roll and squeeze capabilities, and a hover preview feature. It’ll work with the two most recent models of the Air and Pro iPads, as well as the latest iPad mini. Also at Walmart and Best Buy.
Philips fabric shaver for $13 (32 percent off): Consider this the Black Friday tech deal you didn’t know you needed. If you have shirts, sweaters, pants, even blankets that have pilled over time, this handy little fabric shaver can get them looking more like new again. I bought this on a whim after wishing I could refresh some of my most-loved wardrobe staples without spending hours pulling pills off myself. Philips’ fabric shaver has delivered and then some, and my clothes look much fresher than before.
Amazon Smart Plug for $13 (48 percent off): Those who use Alexa often will get the most out of this smart plug. We like that it’s super simple to set up and can turn almost anything with an on-off switch “smart,” allowing you to control it via your phone or with Alexa voice commands.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus for $19 (52 percent off): This is one of the best Roku devices to get if you’re on a budget and just want to make an aging TV set feel a little bit newer. This model supports 4K HDR content, has pretty accurate universal search and gives you access to a ton of free content to watch via Roku’s streaming OS.
Govee Smart LED Light Bars for $30 ($20 off, Prime exclusive): Another of our stocking stuffer picks are these smart LED light bars from Govee. They can stand up or lie flat so they can go just about anywhere and are infinitely adjustable via the app. You can even set them to light up in sync with your music. Alexa and the Google Assistant will let you control them with just your voice (and a smart speaker).
Samsung Evo Select (512GB) for $33 ($14 off): We recommend the Evo Select in our microSD card buying guide for those on a tight budget. It has mediocre write speeds, so it’s not ideal for a camera, but it should be serviceable for most people just looking to add space to an Android tablet or original Nintendo Switch on the cheap. (Note that this is a standard UHS-I card, not a newer microSD Express model.) This deal matches the lowest price to date for the 512GB variant. Also at Samsung and B&H.
Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool heater and fan for $300 ($200 off): I’ve had this heater and fan for over five years at this point and it remains one of my favorite pieces of tech. It’s lightweight enough to carry from room to room and it’s both a heater and a fan: it cuts the chill in my home office during the winter, and circulates the air to keep me cooler in the summer. You can control the whole thing using the included remote (and it includes a sleep timer), and it handily attaches magnetically to the top of the device so you don’t misplace it.
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for $248 ($158 off): While the new XM6 headphones have replaced these as Sony’s flagship cans, that doesn’t mean the XM5 aren’t worth buying. They were our top pick for the best wireless headphones for years before the XM6 came around, and they still have excellent ANC, great sound quality, long battery life, a comfortable fit and handy extra features like multipoint connectivity.
Hisense U65QF (55-inch) for $398 ($402 off MSRP): The U65QF is another entry-level LED TV with generallypositivereviews. Most feedback around the web suggests that it can’t match the QM6K in terms of contrast, gaming features and overall accuracy, so TCL’s model should be a better buy for most. This iteration also uses Amazon’s Fire TV platform instead of the cleaner Google TV. It can achieve a higher peak brightness, however, so it’s worth considering if you get particularly bad glare in your living room. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 55-inch model, but the 65-inch ($548), 75-inch ($748) and 85-inch ($900) models are also at all-time lows. Also at Best Buy.
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) for $170 ($80 off): The latest color ereader in Amazon’s lineup includes a seven-inch, high-contrast display, USB-C charging and a battery life that can last up to eight weeks on a single charge. Its design is waterproof too, so you don’t need to baby it if you take it by the pool or to the beach. If you prefer a black-and-white screen, the base Kindle is also on sale for $80.
Aura 10.1-inch digital frame for $139 (22 percent off): Aura makes some of our favorite digital frames, and this one has a 10-inch HD display, Wi-Fi connectivity and an elegant mat design. Arguably the best thing about Aura frames in general is that you don’t have to pay a subscription fee to add photos to it over time — all photos are stored in the cloud, and multiple people can add photos to one frame.
Ninja Creami ice cream maker for $180 (22 percent off): The Creami has been one of the most sought-after kitchen appliances of the past couple of years, and for good reason. It’s one of our favorite pieces of kitchen gear because it makes it a breeze to prepare custom ice cream and many other frozen treats. It’s definitely worthwhile investment if you’re an ice cream lover and want to experiment with making your own flavors.
Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum for $400 ($600 off): This is one of the best robot vacuums you can get, period. It doesn’t have a self-emptying base, but its superior suction power almost makes up for that. It’s one of the strongest robot vacuums I’ve ever tested, and it has excellent obstacle avoidance. The latter means you will rarely, if ever, have to attend to it getting caught on the edge of a carpet or getting stuck under a piece of furniture.
Black Friday FAQs
When is Black Friday 2025?
Black Friday 2025 lands on November 28.
When do Black Friday sales start?
Gone are the times when Black Friday sales were one-day-only affairs. Now, Black Friday deals are often available starting on Thanksgiving, or even earlier. Last year, we saw Black Friday deals online begin the week before Black Friday proper.
When do Black Friday sales end?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday have blended a lot over the past few years. Now, you can expect to see a good portion of Black Friday deals extend through the weekend and into Cyber Monday. It’s not uncommon for Black Friday deals to expire at the end of Cyber Monday.
Does Amazon have Black Friday sales?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales. The online retailer’s site will look similar to Prime Day on Black Friday, with discounts on all sorts of items from household essentials to fashion to tech.
Does Apple have Black Friday sales?
No, you will usually not find Black Friday sales at Apple stores or on Apple’s website. However, you can find Black Friday deals on Apple devices elsewhere; we recommend checking Amazon, Best Buy and other big retailers for discounts on iPads, Apple Watches and more on Black Friday.
Which retailers have the best Black Friday tech deals?
The best Black Friday tech deals are typically available online at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target. It’s also a good idea to check the store websites of the companies that make the products you want — for example, if you’re looking for a Sonos speaker, check the Sonos website on Black Friday. Most of the time, you’ll find the best Black Friday tech deals are matched at multiple retailers.
Which stores have Black Friday deals?
Many physical retail stores have Black Friday deals including Walmart, Target, Best Buy and others. Even more retailers have online Black Friday deals, including Amazon, GameStop, Costco and others.
The Amazon Smart Plug is on sale for just $13 as part of a Black Friday promotion. This is a discount of $12 and represents a record low price. If you’ve been waiting to stock up on some smart plugs, now might be the time.
To that end, this product made our list of the best smart plugs. It’s the perfect accessory for those who rely on Alexa to control aspects of the smart home. These plugs are really easy to set up via the Alexa app. You don’t have to pop in a Wi-Fi password or anything. It’s basically plug-and-play.
Amazon
Once connected, you’ll be able to use any device with Alexa to control whatever it’s plugged into. For instance, you can group multiple plugs together as lights and then just say “Alexa, turn all the lights off” and it’ll do just that. They are compatible with just about any household device with a physical on/off switch, including lamps and coffee makers.
While these are the perfect smart plugs for Alexa households, they are only for Alexa households. The plugs don’t integrate with any other digital assistant. They are still the best choice for those tied into the ecosystem. Other smart plugs on sale for Black Friday include the Kasa Mini smart plugs; you can get a four-pack for $24.
It’s almost the end of the year, and with Black Friday upon us, it’s a great time to buy a laptop. I’ve sorted through the junk to find the best Black Friday laptop deals, and I’m happy to report that most of my favorite laptops I tested this year are on sale right now. Even better, some laptops I thought were overpriced at launch now have such steep discounts that they’ve risen in value in my estimation. So, if you’ve been waiting to buy a laptop at the right moment, this is it. One of these laptops should fit exactly what you’re looking for at a wide range of prices.
Updated on November 28: We’ve added the Asus Zenbook A14, Razer Blade 14, and Acer Chromebook Plus 516.
The Best Windows Laptop Deal
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
If you’re shopping for a laptop on Black Friday, you’re probably looking for something a bit more budget-friendly. And while the MacBook Air is the better laptop, there’s no question that the Dell 14 Plus is the best deal. It comes with great specs: 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V. I reviewed the model with the Core Ultra 7 258V, but either way, you’re getting really good battery life and integrated graphics performance.
Most importantly, it avoids the two main pitfalls of budget laptops: poor displays and touchpads. The Dell 14 Plus comes with a high-resolution display (2560 x 1600) and a very smooth-feeling touchpad. It’s literally a premium laptop for an affordable price, and at $500, it’s officially the best deal on a laptop this Black Friday. It’s a doorbuster-style deal, however, so once it’s sold out, the price may change.
The Best MacBook Deal
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Apple
MacBook Air (M4, 2025)
Since its launch this spring, the M4 MacBook Air has been the best laptop you can buy. It has also continued to drop in price slowly month after month, now down to just $749. That’s low enough that it’s not worth buying cheaper, older MacBook Airs, such as the M2 model. The difference in performance (and external display support) is worth far more. The M5 model is likely coming sometime in early 2026, but it’ll be a long time before it comes down to the price of the M4 right now. Come and get it while it’s hot.
There’s never been a Chromebook at this price as good as the Acer Chromebook Plus 516—at least, not at it’s current Black Friday. Despite being a new laptop from this year, it’s great to see the price drop by well under $300, making the higher specs of Chromebook Plus devices accessible to nearly everyone. The display and performance are far and above other Chromebooks at this price though. My biggest pet peeve on budget laptops is the typical low quality of the touchpad. And even there, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 has a touchpad that you make you hate your life.
Another Good Chromebook Deal
Courtesy of Lenovo
Lenovo
Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
There are Chromebooks I like more than the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus (8/10, WIRED Recommends), such as the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. But none are this cheap. And while the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 above is a better deal, you might want something a bit more compact with a smaller screen—or maybe with a touchscreen. At $350, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is one of the most affordable Chromebook Plus models you can find—it’s in a different league over standard Chromebooks at this price. It has a better screen, faster performance, more storage, and even a crisper webcam. The Flex 5i Chromebook Plus even has a 360-degree hinge and touchscreen, sweetening the deal even more.
The Latest MacBook, Already on Sale
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
The MacBook Air is a better value, yes. And the M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBooks are more powerful. But the base 14-inch MacBook Pro is the only Mac right now with the latest M5 chip, which launched just a month ago. I wish Apple had included other features in this update, as the M5 is the only change over the M4 model. The good news is that the M5 MacBook Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) offers a solid performance increase in all areas, including CPU, GPU, and even the Neural Engine. More important is the $200 discount just a month after it launched.
The Best Gaming Laptop Deal
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Want a gaming laptop that doesn’t really feel like a gaming laptop? That’s what the Razer Blade 14 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has always been good at. If it weren’t for the green snake logo on the lid, you might never know this thing has a powerful discrete GPU inside. You certainly wouldn’t be able to tell from the size of the laptop, which is supremely compact. It even gets decent battery life for a gaming laptop. And when it comes to gaming, the high-resolution, OLED 120-Hz display keeps your games sharp and smooth, while the RTX 5060 (or 5070) deliver some solid performance for the size.
The Best 2-in-1 Laptop Deal
Photograph: Christopher Null
Courtesy of Microsoft
Courtesy of Microsoft
Photograph: Christopher Null
Microsoft
Surface Pro 13-inch (11th Edition, 2024)
The OLED Surface Pro was excellent when it came out in mid-2024. It was the first time the Surface Pro got an OLED panel, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus/Elite chip finally gave this Windows tablet the performance and battery life needed to compete with the iPad Pro. The only problem? It was too expensive. But for Black Friday, the OLED Surface Pro is $500 off, bringing the price down to just $900. The one caveat to remember is that you’ll still need to buy a Surface Type Cover Keyboard to pair it with. Together, you have a 2-in-1 laptop that’s the ultimate travel companion and a full PC replacement.
An Extremely Lightweight Laptop
Photograph: Christopher Null
The Asus Zenbook A14 is one of the lightest laptops you can buy right now. At 2.16 pounds, it’s a fair bit lighter even than the MacBook Air. Throw this thing in your bag, and you’ll hardly even notice it’s there. That makes it a great option for students needing to trek across campus or frequent travelers bringing their work on the go. But what really makes this laptop special is the lack of compromises it makes to achieve that weight. It’s well-built, thin, and has a comfortable keyboard and touchpad. And thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus inside, it gets fantastic, all-day battery life. I also really like the glossy OLED display. So, while the Dell 14 Plus is a more well-rounded Windows laptop with a higher-resolution screen, the Zenbook A14’s portability is hard to beat—especially at this price.
A Solid Budget Laptop
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Asus
Vivobook 14 (X1407QA)
The Asus Vivobook 14 is one of the few Snapdragon X-powered laptops bringing efficient performance and excellent battery life to surprisingly low prices. It’s $200 off for Black Friday, which brings it down to the same price as on the last Amazon Prime Day. There’s really only one problem: the Dell 14 Plus. By every measure, that’s the laptop you should buy. Not only is it cheaper, but it also has a much better display, touchpad, and integrated GPU performance. However, if the limited Doorbuster prices on the Dell 14 Plus have run out, the Asus Vivobook 14 is your next best bet for a Windows laptop around this price.
What to Look for in a Black Friday Laptop Deal
Shopping around for a good Black Friday deal isn’t so different from buying a laptop at any other time of the year. We never recommend products we don’t test ourselves, so if you’re interested in a particular laptop on this list, check out the corresponding review. But as you shop around, you may want to factor in the following specs along with the current price of the laptop:
CPU
GPU
Memory (RAM)
Storage
Display resolution, panel type, and refresh rate
Battery life
Lastly, consider the price history. CamelCamelCamel is a useful tool to see some historical data on price drops for individual laptops. Some of the laptops included above (such as the Dell 14 Plus) are hitting new historic lows in terms of price, while others are returning to the same low price as they were on Prime Day. That doesn’t mean these aren’t a good deal necessarily, but it’s important to know that not every deal labeled “Black Friday Deal” is equal, even if the percentage drop looks similar. Many products these days have permanent discounted prices at retailers, which can obscure how big of a sale it really is.
For an in-depth breakdown that explains each element of a laptop, read our detailed How to Choose the Right Laptop guide.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Laptop?
Yes. Black Friday isn’t the only big shopping event throughout the year, and it’s not uncommon to find great sales on laptops at other times, whether that’s on a random day or on Amazon Prime Day(s). But Black Friday remains important as the beginning of the holiday shopping season. The entire annual cycle of laptop refreshes revolves around this timing. The beginning of the year starts with lots of products getting announced at CES, and then launching throughout the year. By the time Black Friday rolls around, companies and retailers are looking to clear out inventory to make room for incoming new stuff, which is why we still often see the biggest discounts for Black Friday.
This year, that timing even applies to MacBooks. Because Apple didn’t refresh any Macs this fall outside the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, laptops like the M4 MacBook Air or M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro are discounted with the anticipation of a refresh coming sometime in early 2026.
When’s the last time you poured a perfect glass of Pinot Noir in your own home? If you’re like me from three weeks ago, probably never. Red wines should be served somewhere between 58 and 68 degrees (opinions vary). That’s a bit cooler than room temperature, but unless you want to dedicate money and space to a special refrigerator, you don’t have many good options. Our colleagues at Bon Appétit have, in fact, advocated giving up on life and just keeping your red wine in the fridge and then pulling the bottle out about a half hour before you plan to drink.
Enter the Rocco, which will hold your Gamay at a perfect 58 degrees on a lower shelf while holding your Stella Artois at a perfect 38 degrees a few shelves below. (I used a wireless thermometer to check the temperatures on various shelves; they were dead-on.)
Did I mention it’s gorgeous? In a world of wine fridges that look like Holiday Inn minibars and mini gridges that look like they came out of a dorm, the design-forward Rocco has a distinctive look that’s also neutral enough to fit into rooms with midcentury and modern furniture.
The “smart fridge” branding is perhaps a bit of bluster. Other than the design, which is incredibly thoughtful and flexible (there’s room for both cans and 750 millilitre bottles), it has an app-based lock, and can allow you to prioritise chilling over volume for when it’s being opened constantly (Party mode) or be quiet in your home theater (Quiet mode). There are other things the app is supposed to do, but I’ve had no luck getting the fridge connected so far—a commonproblemitseems. There is no Android version of the app, and it also doesn’t work with older Macs, but my iPhone 15 Pro Max and M1 laptop also failed to connect after more than an hour of trying. I’ll report back if I get it working.
What you do get with the Rocco is a very good-looking spot to store drinks behind a triple-thick layer of reeded glass, a choice of several eye-catching colors, and the ability to hold several types of drinks at perfect serving temperature. Oh, and a little branded serving tray and a deck of round playing cards.
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