Black Friday deals 2024: when deals start and what you can expect

Black Friday deals 2024
(Image credit: Future)

We're halfway through October, which means Black Friday deals are near. While the official date is still weeks away, thanks to a history of early sales, we could see early Black Friday deals pop up later this month.

As TechRadar's deals editor who's covered Black Friday for over half a decade, I've created this comprehensive guide, which contains everything you need to know about Black Friday 2024. I'm breaking down when sales start, what retailers have the best Black Friday deals, and what offers you can expect.

While this year's official Black Friday date is Friday, November 29, the day after Thanksgiving, we should start to see early deals in the coming weeks. In the meantime, there are some impressive offers on OLED TVs, kitchen appliances, robot vacuums, and Apple devices. Below, I've listed my 15 top deal picks and the best sales from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Samsung.

I'm continuously updating my Black Friday guide with the latest news and early Black Friday deals as soon as they become available, so bookmark this page for your one-stop Black Friday shop.

Today's best sales ahead of Black Friday

Today's 15 best deals ahead of Black Friday

While we wait for official Black Friday deals, there are some excellent offers right now from brands like Apple, Keurig, Dyson, and LG. I'm using price history and comparison tools to ensure the deals below represent outstanding value you can expect to see during the official Black Friday shopping season.

Echo Pop with TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb: $64.98 $39.99 at Amazon

Echo Pop with TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb: was $64.98 now $39.99 at Amazon
My favorite pre-Black Friday deal is the Echo Pop smart speaker bundled with a TP-Link Tap smart color bulb for $39.99 - a 38% discount. For that money, you're getting a compact smart speaker with Alexa built-in, so you can play music, ask questions, and check the weather completely hands-free and you can control your lights with the included smart bulb.

Apple Watch Series 9: $399.99 $299 at Walmart

Apple Watch Series 9: was $399.99 now $299 at Walmart
Thanks to the Apple Watch 10 release, Walmart has the best-selling Apple Watch 9 on sale for $299. That's a record-low price and beats Amazon's current offer. The Series 9 smartwatch packs Apple's S9 SiP chip, which delivers a brighter display and 18 hours of battery life. You also get advanced health and safety features, GPS technology, and the double-tap capability that lets you use your watch without touching the display.

Cosori Mini Air Fryer:$59.99$39.99 at Amazon

Cosori Mini Air Fryer: was $59.99 now $39.99 at Amazon
Air fryers are always popular Black Friday deals and Amazonn has the Cosori Mini on sale for its lowest price. Weighing less than 5 lbs, Cosori’s mini air fryer is ideal for squeezing into compact spaces if you have limited room on your countertop. For an air fryer as small as it is, it doesn’t fall short in versatility with its four different settings. Air Fry, Roast, Bake, and Reheat allow you to easily customize your cooking to your needs.

Apple iPad 10.9 (2022): $349$299 at Amazon

Apple iPad 10.9 (2022): was $349 now $299 at Amazon
Apple recently slashed the recommended starting price of the iPad 10.9 to $349 earlier this month, but Amazon has now dropped it even further to a record low. It's great value for money at this price if you need an all-around tablet. We said Apple's latest base-level tablet is a big upgrade over the previous generation model in our iPad 10.9 review, with a larger Liquid Retina display, a new A14 Bionic chip, improved cameras, USB-C support, and a sleek design.

LG C3 65-inch OLED TV (2023): $2,499.99$1,296.99 at Amazon

LG C3 65-inch OLED TV (2023): was $2,499.99 now $1,296.99 at Amazon
This is an incredible deal if you want to splash out on a premium OLED display. LG's highly rated 65-inch C3 OLED TV is on sale for $1,296.99 - a whopping $1,200 discount and a record-low price. While it's a 2023 display, it still delivers a brilliant picture with bright colors and powerful contrast, thanks to LG's latest Alpha9 Gen6 chip, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and a sleek, thin design.

Onson Robot Vacuum Cleaner Mop Combo: $359.99$109.99 at Walmart

Onson Robot Vacuum Cleaner Mop Combo: was $359.99 now $109.99 at Walmart
This is an unbelievable pre-Black Friday deal if you want a robot vacuum and mop combo. The Onnson robot vacuum works on carpets and hardwood floors, and after you're done vacuuming, the 230ML water tank can help you mop the floor - a dream come true for $110.

Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K TV: $449.99$279.99 at Amazon

Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K TV: was $449.99 now $279.99 at Amazon
Amazon has its 50-inch 4-Series 4K TV on sale for its lowest price ahead of Black Friday. The picture quality on this 50-inch Fire TV is solid overall, with support for ultra-HD 4K resolution and HDR 10 for better lighting and colors. Plus, access to all major streaming apps is just a button press or voice command away.

Apple AirPods 4 (without active noise cancellation): $129 $119 at Amazon

Apple AirPods 4 (without active noise cancellation): was $129 now $119 at Amazon
I predict Apple's all-new AirPods 4 will be a hot item at this year's Black Friday sale, and you can already grab a first-time discount at Amazon. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and pack Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You're also getting a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and supports USB-C for wireless charging.

You can also get the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation on sale for $169 (originally $179).

Amazon Fire 7 tablet (16GB): $79.99  $49.99 at Amazon

Amazon Fire 7 tablet (16GB): was $79.99 now $49.99 at Amazon
Amazon's best-selling Fire tablets are another Black Friday favorite, and Amazon has the affordable Fire 7 on sale for just $49.99 - a record-low price. The Fire 7 tablet features a seven-inch touchscreen display, 32GB of RAM, up to 10 hours of battery life, and Amazon Alexa onboard for hands-free control.

Apple MacBook Air M1: $999 $649 at Walmart

Apple MacBook Air M1: was $999 now $649 at Walmart
While we've seen the Air M1 go for as little as $699 previously, Walmart has beaten that already excellent discount by $50. Not only is this an outstanding price for such a powerful laptop that still holds up great for 2024, but this could be the last chance to pick one up now that it's officially discontinued. I can't imagine the price dropping any further during Black Friday, so you should take advantage of this incredible deal now.

Oura Ring Generation 3 Horizon: $349 $299 at Amazon

Oura Ring Generation 3 Horizon: was $349 now $299 at Amazon
Sales like Black Friday are your best chance to score a rare discount on the best-selling Oura Ring. This is the best price we've ever seen on this unique piece of tech, and there are savings to be had across the board for all the different colors, too. So, if you want to get a different tint to match your style, you can save up to $100 on several options.

Keurig K-Express K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker: $89.99 $59.99 at Amazon

Keurig K-Express K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker: was $89.99 now $59.99 at Amazon
The best-selling Keurig K-Express coffee maker is a popular Christmas gift for the upcoming holidays, and it's on sale for $59.99 on Amazon. That's just $10 more than the record-low price and the best deal we've seen this year. The single-serve coffee maker features a compact design for easy storage and uses K-Cups to brew a fresh, hot cup of coffee in minutes.

LG 48-inch C4 OLED 4K TV: $1,999.99$996.99 at Amazon

LG 48-inch C4 OLED 4K TV: was $1,999.99 now $996.99 at Amazon
I can't imagine the price will drop further during Black Friday on LG's 48-inch C4 OLED TV.  Ranked in our best TV guide, the 2024 C4 features exceptional brightness, LG's latest Alpha 9 AI chip for improved performance, and impressive gaming features, including four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM support and 144Hz certification from Nvidia.

Ring Video Doorbell Wired Plus: $149.99 $99.99 at Amazon

Ring Video Doorbell Wired Plus: was $149.99 now $99.99 at Amazon
Amazon's pre-Black Friday deals include the Ring Video Doorbell Wired Plus on sale for a record-low price of $99.99. The Ring Wired allows you to monitor your front door from anywhere, features two-way talk and advanced motion detection, and is hard-wired using your existing doorbell for constant power.

Dyson V15 Detect Plus Cordless Vacuum: $749.99$599.99 at Amazon

Dyson V15 Detect Plus Cordless Vacuum: was $749.99 now $599.99 at Amazon
Amazon has the powerful Dyson V15 Detect on sale for $599.99—the lowest-ever price. The V15 is perfect for pet owners, as it features a detangling motor bar that works across hardwood floors and carpets. Dyson's dust illumination reveals invisible dust you usually can't see, and the LCD screen displays power mode, maintenance alerts, and remaining run time.

Black Friday deals 2024: key information

person using a digital generated phone with black friday on the screen

(Image credit: McLittle Stock)

When is Black Friday 2024?

Black Friday 2024 takes place on Friday, November 29. The actual date shifts, but the day of the week stays the same: it's always the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Like in years past, Black Friday deals start mid-October as retailers launch early sales, trying to stretch out the holiday shopping season. Amazon's October Prime Day sale, which just wrapped up, has put early Black Friday deals into motion as retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target launch competing sales. 

When do Black Friday deals start?

While Black Friday proper falls on November 29 this year, thanks to Amazon's second Prime Day sale, we should start to see deals pop up in mid-October.

Dubbed 'Prime Big Deal Days, ' the retailer's 48-hour sale is occurring on October 8 and 9. Like in years past, we expect competing retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target to launch competing sales, which will extend the Black Friday shopping season.

While the adage is that retailers reserve their best deals for Black Friday proper, that hasn't been the case in recent years. We expect to see record-low prices on some of this year's best-selling tech, home items, and appliances released throughout October and November, and you'll be able to shop all the best deals in this guide.

I'll be tracking early sales launching in the lead-up to Black Friday, listing all the best offers and comparing prices so you can make sure you're buying a genuine bargain.

What Black Friday deals can you expect?

Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year, thanks to hundreds of online retailers offering a wide variety of items on sale. Whether you're shopping for tech gadgets, this year's hottest kitchen appliance, or Christmas gifts for your family, you can guarantee you'll find a discount during Black Friday.

According to Adobe Analytics, some of the best Black Friday deals are on tech products, with electronics leading the way for the biggest consumer spending. This is due to pricey items like TVs, laptops, headphones, smartwatches, and gaming consoles getting discounted to record-low prices you won't find outside of Black Friday.

Apple devices are also extremely popular during Black Friday with fresh discounts on brand-new 2024 gadgets and best-ever offers on older model products. Other popular categories include clothing, furniture, home appliances, and toys.

As a deals editor, this will be my seventh year covering Black Friday, and the most popular deals I've seen always include budget big-screen TVs, OLED displays, robot vacuums, cheap smart home devices, AirPods, air fryers, and gaming consoles.

I expect we'll see the same mix of products on sale at this year's Black Friday deals event, and I'll be covering all the best offers in this guide.

Black Friday 2024: our buying advice

Woman entering credit card details on a laptop

(Image credit: Getty)

Where to find the best Black Friday deals?

Most online retailers offer Black Friday deals, but it's our job to sort through the thousands of offers to find the best bargains. You'll typically find the best Black Friday deals from big-name retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target, with Amazon leading the pack.

Amazon is a Black Friday favorite not only because it typically offers the most competitive prices but also because of the wide variety of products it covers. Whether you're looking for tech items like laptops, TVs, or AirPods or searching for discounts on clothing, kitchen appliances, or toys, Amazon is likely to offer Black Friday deals on the product you're after. Other retailers that offer impressive Black Friday deals include Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Dell, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Wayfair.

With so many retailers and promotions, Black Friday can be overwhelming, but that's where our deal expertise comes in. We go through every retailer to pick out the very best Black Friday deals so you can make sure you're getting the lowest price available.

Why is it called Black Friday

Let’s take a history lesson to find how why they call it Black Friday: the first known mention of Black Friday related to this shopping experience was in November 1951, when the journal Factory Management and Maintenance used it to describe people calling in sick the day after Thanksgiving so they could have an extra day off work. 

At the same time, US police were using the phrases “Black Friday” and “Black Saturday” to describe the horrendous traffic that occurred at the beginning of the pre-Christmas shopping season. 

In 1961, the local government moved to change the shopping season to “Big Friday” and “Big Saturday,” but it never caught on. The notion that it was the time when retailers moved 'back into the black' was seen far later and clearly an attempt to bring positivity to the term.

Why trust TechRadar?

TechRadar has been covering Black Friday since the site started in 2008. We not only have a team of deals experts with over twenty years of experience, but Techradar has also reviewed most products that will be on sale during Black Friday. TechRadar has reviewed over 16,000 products and counting, which means we are not only here to help you find the lowest possible price, but we want to find the right product for you.

So, how does the deals team at TechRadar find the best deals? We analyze each item, using price history and comparison tools to ensure it's a genuine bargain. We also will let you know how good the deal is. Is this a first-time discount? Does it match last year's record-low price? Have we seen a lower price before? We answer each question, so you have as much knowledge as possible to make the best buying decision this Black Friday.

Apple Watch Series 9: $399.99 $299 at Walmart

Apple Watch Series 9: was $399.99 now $299 at Walmart
Thanks to the Apple Watch 10 release, Walmart has the best-selling Apple Watch 9 on sale for a record-low price of $299 - beating Amazon's current offer. The Series 9 smartwatch packs Apple's S9 SiP chip, which delivers a brighter display and 18 hours of battery life. You also get advanced health and safety features, GPS technology, and the new double-tap capability that lets you use your watch without touching the display.

Mackenzie Frazier

Mackenzie Frazier is the deals editor in the US for TechRadar at Future plc. She's been sharing deal advice for Future for the past six years and loves finding products that consumers want at the best possible price. She's had 11 years of experience working in e-commerce and loves being a mom to her two little boys.

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