Black Friday 2023: date and deals to expect
Latest news and predictions for this year's deals event

We're getting closer to November so it won't be long until this year's Black Friday deals are underway. Previously, we'd wait a little longer before preparing ourselves for the big end-of-year sale but it's become clear in recent years that Black Friday takes place over weeks now instead of a single day. Sometimes it even starts in early October. So, join us for a look ahead to Black Friday 2023 with all the key information you need and our expectations for this year's sale.
As mentioned, the key thing to plan for is that Black Friday deals are available for longer than ever before. It looks like the second Amazon Prime Day in October will be the kickoff event for 2023. Named Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, it'll be a two-day event with members-only bargains that serve as a preview to the full Black Friday sale.
At least with these earlier sales you can at least spread out your shopping if needed and better assess all the deals along with us before hitting that buy button. And that's what we'll be doing right here as soon as the first offers are live. We'll search through all the biggest sales from across the web so that you see only the very best Black Friday deals right here.
We've got years of deals-hunting experience to share, as well as the combined 300+ years of tech knowledge from across the TechRadar team that ensures you'll only be recommended the top products we've tested that are worth your money and bargains we think are worth taking a punt on.
Until then, we've summarised some of the highlights and trends from last year's Black Friday. It's useful to keep that in mind when the deals start. We'll also be back over the coming weeks to share more of our predictions for the products and offers we expect to see later this year.
Black Friday 2023: key information
Here are all the key dates and need-to-know info related to Black Friday 2023.
When is Black Friday 2023?
Black Friday 2023 will fall on November 24. However, as we've seen over the last few years, it's guaranteed that the majority of deals will be available early from around the start of the month - and some from late October.
Retailers such as Amazon, Currys and Argos launched their Black Friday sales at various points throughout that period of time. And the vast majority of deals remained the same all the way up to the day itself – and beyond.
Where can I find the best Black Friday deals?
You’ll find the best options if you bookmark this page right now as we'll bring you all the best Black Friday deals as soon as they hit the shelves in 2023. We will continue to do so throughout the main event itself – and the weekend afterwards as well. Until any official sales start, here's a list of retailers we've found that usually have some of the best Black Friday deals:
Amazon: an all-rounder that regularly price-matches competitors
Argos: better for cheaper devices with same-day delivery
Currys: great for tech, appliances, and gaming
Ebuyer: low-cost gaming and PC equipment
John Lewis: best for homeware and excellent tech warranties
Laptops Direct: big discounts on PCs, laptops, and accessories
Smyths Toys: vast selection of toys, electronics and gadgets
Very: massive range and regular discounts across departments
The origin of Black Friday: a history lesson
Let's take a Black Friday history lesson: 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 there was a movement from the local government to change the shopping season to "Big Friday" and "Big Saturday", but it clearly never caught on and 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.
Black Friday 2023: Our predictions
Now that Amazon Prime Day is behind us and we've had a number of larger sales events in the UK we've got some early ideas of the products and deals we expect to see this Black Friday.
Despite high inflation and tough economic conditions, retailers haven't been afraid to cut products to some record low prices. Be that TVs, laptops, appliances or other tech favourites.
When it comes to TVs, we expect that many of last year's models will get their biggest discounts yet for Black Friday as retailers and manufacturers look to shift any remaining stock. Many of these sets are still up there with the best TVs you can buy, so it's a great opportunity to come away with a bargain or a great-value big-screen display at a fraction of the usual cost without compromising too much on modern features.
Laptops should be an interesting one as we've seen demand for these devices drop tremendously since the pandemic. It hasn't helped that the likes of Apple have bumped up prices in the UK making them less attractive options. With the right sale, though, it could be the ideal time to upgrade your device to a newer model as we've seen the likes of the MacBook Air fall to its cheapest price ever earlier this year.
And what about air fryers? It may seem like the big cooking craze has passed us by, but many are still looking for these affordable, energy-efficient and easy-to-use appliances. Many of the best deals sold out in rapid time last Black Friday so there's a strong expectation that retailers will go big in this area again.
Those are just some early thoughts based on what we've seen this year already, but with a few more months of new product launches ahead of us and the ever-changing global economic situation, we could see more surprises come November.
We'll be back soon with some further insights into what to expect from Black Friday 2023.
Black Friday 2023: Buying advice
As we've said: this isn't our first rodeo. As veterans of many Black Friday events, we've picked up a few tips and tricks in order to find the best deals and get the biggest savings on your most-wanted items. You can find all that combined knowledge right here for a crash course in becoming a Black Friday deals expert.
How to find the best Black Friday deals in 2023
Getting the best Black Friday deals for you often comes down to how much research you do ahead of the event. Use the time you have in the lead-up to the event to make sure you know exactly what you want to get out of the sale.
That means going beyond finding a TV brand or laptop model that suits you and looking at what features and specs you need to fit into your budget. Double-check previous sales to see if your shopping list matches prices that have been seen before so that you stay realistic during this step.
Once you've got your spec and features down, you'll want to consider which parts of your wishlist you can stand to drop if you do spot a particularly low price. That way you'll know exactly what to look for when the heat is on.
Once you've found the deal you're looking for, though, it's also crucial to widen your net and make sure you can't get a better price elsewhere before heading to checkout. Bigger retailers tend to price match each other, but during particularly competitive events like Black Friday, they also look to get an edge by offering additional incentives like bundles and free gifts.
Of course, we're bringing the best Black Friday deals from around the web, so you can stick with us for the biggest value savings. However, if you are going it alone, be sure to check offers at other retailers before committing.
Black Friday: the best sellers
As expected, the most popular products last Black Friday included games consoles, smart home tech, appliances and TVs. A couple of these are classics, but with the cost-of-living crisis a major factor, lots of us were turning to energy-efficient products that could help cut our bills and save money further down the line.
Because of that, it wasn't a big surprise to see air fryers sold out at most major stores as many looked to try this growing way of cooking. More modern ovens, washing machines and dishwashers were also in demand for the potential future savings they offered. Retailers recognised this and featured strong Black Friday deals in these areas, too.
Outside of this, offers were as expected in most other major categories. Yet again, Black Friday was a great time to buy a TV – whether you wanted a big-screen premium OLED or smaller 4K smart TV for your everyday viewing. Discounts were big and many sought-after brands stood out with some of the lowest prices of the year.
And there were record lows in many other areas, too. Despite a recent price hike on some lines, Apple offered up the cheapest price ever for the MacBook Air. Sony took a similar approach to some of its best-selling and highly-rated headphones, as models such as the WH-1000XM5 over-ears and WF-C500 earbuds were both slashed to their lowest-ever prices.
Can I get cashback on Black Friday deals?
Sometimes, yes. Your debit card or credit card may offer cashback on purchases. It’s definitely worth looking into – not just for Black Friday 2023 but for any online shopping – when you're be spending money online.
Am I protected when I buy on Black Friday?
In general, you should be just as protected as you are when shopping any other time of the year. You’ll want to check on return policies and warranty periods, and you should also make sure you’re shopping at known retailers you trust.
While many deals can seem too good to be true on Black Friday, landing on an unfamiliar website claiming to have a product for pennies on the dollar is a good sign you’re in the wrong place.
Remember that using your credit card also can offer a level of protection, so as long as you have the means to pay it back straight away, using this method can give you more peace of mind.
Many credit cards can help you contest payments if you never receive a product, and some even offer extended warranties on products beyond the one included from manufacturer or retailer.
Are Black Friday deals real?
In previous years, we'd usually say that you would want to wait until as close to Black Friday as possible before making a purchase in order to get the best price. The last few years have completely changed our advice, though.
We've seen that retailers start their sales in late October and early November– and the prices on offer are rarely beaten on Black Friday. There may be a small spike in deals during the week leading up to Black Friday itself, but many of the offers you see in the weeks prior are actually as good as they are going to get.
What about in-store Black Friday deals?
Even though much of the world is on a path to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, we still don't expect there to be much enthusiasm from retailers to host large in-story Black Friday events next year. It wouldn't be wise to be seen encouraging crowds to rush to your shops to pick up a cheap TV or some discounted tech.
That said, retailers may still advertise and offer their Black Friday deals in-store – just don't expect them to be exclusively available from bricks and mortar locations. Instead, it's likely to be another option for those who would prefer to see something in the flesh before making a purchase.
We can all agree that making the chaos of the doorbuster deal a thing of the past is only good for all involved. Many stores in the US have in fact announced they will be closed for Thanksgiving, while their Black Friday opening times are still up in the air.
Last year's best deals
Here's a quick snapshot of some of the best deals from last year's Black Friday across a range of categories. Use this to give you a general idea of what to expect from future sales and as a way to compare offers to what was available in previous years.
Lego Harry Potter 2022 Advent Calendar: was £30 now £14.99 at John Lewis
Pick up this advent calendar with a Black Friday deal and it should arrive just in time for December 1. Rather than daily chocolate, you get a new mini Lego set to build or a character to assemble from each film in the Harry Potter franchise including Harry Potter, Nymphadora Tonks and Neville Longbottom.
Tassimo Bosch Style Coffee Machine: was £106 now £29 at Currys
Currys is currently offering this vibrant Tassimo coffee machine for £77 less than its usual retail price. For just £29, the Tassimo Bosch Style will let you brew up to 50 different types of coffee, and will automatically shut itself off when not in use to help you save energy. We'd suggest acting on this deal swiftly as they're likely to prove very popular throughout November.
Echo Dot (5th Gen): was £54.99 now £26.99 at Amazon
The latest generation Echo Dot smart speaker offers a step up in audio quality to deliver clearer vocals, more powerful bass and a more vibrant sound overall. Apart from that, it's capable of exactly the same features as previous models, so it's up to you whether it's worth paying extra. It is the first time the brand-new Echo Dot has been on sale since launch, though, so it's a rare deal. Plus, the last-gen model is now sold out, so this is the next best option.
Sony WF-C500 True Wireless Earbuds: was £90 now £49 at Amazon
Under intense review, we called these Sony earbuds "great value for money" – but that was at the full asking price. With 45% off, we think they're an absolute steal and then some. Yes, 20 hours of battery life can be bettered – but 10 hours from the buds alone certainly can't at this price point. They're also light and comfortable, providing an exciting, musical sound. Oh, and they've only been this cheap once before.
Oral-B Pro 1 Electric Toothbrush: was £59.99 now £27.99 at Amazon
A good Christmas gift package now at less than half price, including a Pro 1 rechargeable electric toothbrush in a range of colours and a bottle of White Luxe Blast toothpaste to get you started. The handset is good and comes with Oral-B's 3D cleaning, but only one mode for daily cleansing.
Oculus Quest 2 (128GB) Black Friday bundle: was £399.99 now £349 at Amazon
If you've been after an Oculus Quest 2 this is the perfect time to pick one up. In our four-and-a-half-star review, we commended the Quest 2's solid specs and easy-to-use nature, plus there are some great games on the platform. This bundle includes two of them: Beat Saber and Resident Evil 4 VR.
Amazon Smart Plug: was £24.99 now £12.99 at Amazon
Even if you don't have a house full of smart devices, this handy little gadget from Amazon can add smart capabilities to attached tech such as timers, schedules and voice controls. It also works great with other Alexa devices such as the Echo Dot or Echo Show. Now half-price - it's a super useful and cheap addition to your shopping cart.
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1: was £79.99 now £57.99 at Amazon
Amazon has dropped this Instant Pot down to its lowest price ever. The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is one of the best all-in-one cookers you can buy, thanks to the strength of the Instant Pot brand, and the fact that the Duo is a versatile model that balances function and price.
Samsung 85-inch Q60B QLED 4K Smart TV: was £2,799 now £1,579 at Amazon
Shopping for a large QLED TV during Black Friday? The Q60B series is a great choice, and it's on sale with a massive £1,200 off the usual price at Amazon. This display has Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K for great upscaling and picture quality, while the superb brightness and colours will really make images pop.
Xbox Series S: was £249.99 now £189 at Microsoft
There's currently £60 off the Xbox Series S for Black Friday at the official Microsoft Store, which brings it down to its lowest price ever. Microsoft's cheaper current generation console is not as powerful as the Xbox Series X, but with this deal, it's £260 less and still capable of playing all the same games in 1440p at 120fps. It's a good option if you want to game on a budget.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones: was £380 now £299 at Amazon
Quite simply the newest and best in Sony's class-leading wireless over-ear lineup. The older XM4 were outstanding and the XM3 before it were excellent, so it'll come as little surprise to know that Sony's latest XM5 proposition are also incredibly hard to beat – especially with a whopping 24% off. They've never been this cheap before - and these cans only launched in May 2022. Our advice? This is a top deal on a winning pair of new noise-cancelling headphones.
Asus VivoBook 15: was £549.99 now £329.99 at Amazon
Consider getting this version of the Asus VivoBook 15 if you need a powerful mid-range laptop at a fantastic price. It has 8GB of RAM and an Intel i5 processor - both of which are excellent finds at this price point. Go for this if you want the extra performance to ensure programs load quickly and reasonable multitasking doesn't slow the laptop down.
Ring Video Doorbell (Wireless): was £89.99 now £59.99 at Amazon
If your home doesn't have existing wiring, or you'd prefer the convenience of a wireless setup, then you can pick up this version of the Ring Video Doorbell. It's now £30 off back down to the lowest price ever - and you can even choose to add an Echo Dot (3rd Gen) to your order for free. A bargain either way for some smart home tech that can monitor your door and respond to visitors.
Tefal 5-Piece Essential Pots and Pans Set: was £78 now £49.99 at Amazon
These are currently a number one best seller on Amazon and it's easy to see why at this price. Tefal is a solid name in cookware and this set includes everything you need for the kitchen - including three pots and two frying pans. They're non-stick and suitable for all hobs, including induction.
Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket: was £60 now from £35 at Amazon
This electric blanket from Silentnight comes in three sizes: single, double and king, each with varying discounts. You can also pay a little more for two additional versions - one gives you dual control for £57 (ideal if you have different preferences to your partner) and the other is made from 'extra fluffy' fleece for extra comfort (from £69). There's a chance the price of all three versions will drop in the coming days - we saw the basic version for around £23 in February/March. But inflation has kicked in since then and there are no guarantees.
Hisense 55-inch 4K UHD LED Smart TV: was £429 now £329 at Currys
If you need a 4K TV on a budget, check out this Hisense set on sale at Currys. A hefty price cut brings this 43-inch model well under £300, which isn't bad considering you get support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and a host of smart TV functions. With Amazon Alexa built-in, this one is a solid all-rounder for those who don't want to spend big.
Fire TV Stick 4K: was £49.99 now £27.99 at Amazon
To stream shows and movies in 4K you need to upgrade to the fittingly-named Fire TV Stick 4K. Today's deal is fine, but we have seen this version of the streaming stick for as low as £24.99 in the past. It's likely that this cheaper offer won't return given the current economic climate, so this is the best price we'll see for the rest of the year.
Kindle Paperwhite: was £129.99 now £94.99 at Amazon
The latest Kindle Paperwhite is down to its lowest-ever price in Amazon's Black Friday sale today - with a record-breaking deal that beats the previous lowest price by a whole £5. This incredibly handy premium e-reader is packed with features to suit all avid readers, including a 10-week battery life, a glare-free 6.8-inch screen, adjustable warm light, and enough storage space for thousands of books.
Echo Dot (3rd Gen): was £39.99 now £16.99 at Amazon
Amazon's Black Friday sale slashes the Echo Dot to £16.99 - that's back down to the lowest price we've ever seen. The best-selling smart speaker can play music, answer questions, check the weather and control connected smart devices around the home such as lighting and heating. It's an older model but functions almost identically to the more modern design.
JLab Go Air Pop: was £20 now £17.99 at John Lewis
These fantastic little true wireless earbuds were a stone-cold steal when we first reviewed them. Now, thanks to the early Black Friday deals at John Lewis, you can save an extra 10% on these excellent affordable and comfortable buds. They boast Bluetooth 5.1, wearer-detection, three effective EQ profiles, on-ear volume control and a whopping 32-hour battery life. Bargain.
PlayStation Plus Essential: was £50 now £34.20 at Amazon
Here's a 25% saving on the basic PlayStation Plus Essential membership - plus a little extra off from Amazon. This comes with exactly the same benefits as the old version, including access to online multiplayer, free games each month, cloud saves, and more.
TCL 65C635K 65-inch QLED Television: was £699 now £549 at Amazon
If you're looking for a widescreen Smart TV purchase that won't break the bank, this deal is the one for you. It only offers a 21% discount, which doesn't seem like much – and it might come down further in price as Black Friday approaches. Even so, with 4K HDR resolution, QLED Quantum dot colour, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HDMI support, built-in Free View, and Android TV containing all of your favourite streaming services, you'll do well to find a better TV deal right now.
Sony A80J 55-inch OLED TV: was £1,399 now £999 at John Lewis
This TV from 2021 features Sony's phenomenal image processing, plus the rich colours and infinite contrast that OLED is famed for. It's also a 'Perfect for PlayStation' TV, meaning that not only supports the 4K 120Hz and VRR features of the next-gen console (as any TVs do), but also the Auto HDR Tone Mapping features, which make HDR gaming look even better. This is the cheapest it's ever been, and though it's an older TV, getting these kinds of features at 55 inches for under £1000 makes it an excellent deal.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8: was £1,258 now £699 at Currys
The Surface Pro 9 might be here, but that means we've got a stonking great discount of over £550 on this Surface Pro 8 from Currys, which comes bundled with the Signature Type Cover - a mandatory inclusion for any Surface device. This model packs an 11th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 256GB of storage.
Shark IZ202UKTDB Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with Flexology: was £379.99 now £189 at Shark
Get this limited edition deluxe Shark cordless vacuum with a free car detailing kit and filter for £180 off the original price. There's a lot going for this stick vac, which has a runtime of up to 40 minutes, an anti-allergen complete seal and comes with 4 attachments: a crevice tool, an upholstery tool and an anti-hair wrap pet tool. It's a good choice of cordless vacuum for pet owners, and it'll be a good idea to buy this deal now while stock lasts.
Nintendo Switch (Neon) + Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + 3 Months Switch Online: £259.99 at Very
A very familiar Nintendo Switch bundle is back again for this year's Black Friday. It includes the Switch console, a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and a 3-month Switch Online membership. When all three are bought together, it represents a saving of around £50.
Nintendo Switch OLED + £20 Argos voucher + 1 extra game: was £352.98 now £329.99 at Argos
Simply one of the best value Nintendo Switch OLED bundles we've seen this Black Friday sales period. The voucher is a nice touch, but the fact you can add a game such as Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, Splatoon 3 or Animal Crossing New Horizons for just £20 extra is huge. That's a saving of at least 50% on some of the console's biggest titles.
Google Pixel 6: was £599 now £299 at Currys
You can now use the code 'PIXEL100' at Currys to get an extra £100 off the Pixel 6 and drop the Google smartphone down to its lowest-ever price. While this device is a little older now and features the same Google Tensor chip as the budget-friendly 6a, a better screen and premium design make it a worthy upgrade in our books. Even more so now it's the same price as the cheaper Pixel 6a with this added discount.
Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS): was £429 now £399 at John Lewis
John Lewis has a small but welcome discount on the latest Apple Watch Series 8. This is currently the best deal out there if you're looking for a GPS version of the smartwatch. New features with this iteration include an Always‑On display, crash detection, and temperature sensing for a wide range of applications.
Amazon Fire 7: was £49.99 now £31.99 at Amazon
The brand new version of Amazon's entry-level Fire 7 Tablet is now down to its lowest-ever price. As a basic device for light browsing and streaming with a 7-hour battery life, it's exceptional value for money after this saving of around £20. Definitely consider the upgrade to a Fire Tablet 7 with 32GB of storage for just £10 more, should you want more space for files and apps.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (Wi-Fi, 128GB): was £649 now £529 at Samsung
Samsung's latest Android tablet is down to its lowest-ever price in this fine deal after a £120 saving. A lightweight and responsive tablet, this version of the Galaxy Tab S8 has an 11-inch display and a decent 128GB of storage. You also get a year of Disney+ from Samsung if you buy it now.
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James Pickard is a Deals Editor at TechRadar. After many years of scouring the net for the cheapest games and tech for his own personal use, he decided to make it his job to share those bargains with you. James also has over five years of experience covering some of the biggest sales events of the year at Eurogamer and VG247, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day. When not deals hunting, James can be found on the PS5, watching a classic film noir or cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.