Black Friday 2023: date and deals to expect

Black Friday deals text surrounded by products

(Image credit: Future)

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Key information
Our predictions
Buying advice
Last year's deals

The biggest sales event of the year is over. However, if you want to relive that month-long flurry of bargaining then you can see our recap of what happened in last year's sales. Plus, we've got an early look ahead to Black Friday 2023 with all the key information you need and our expectation for the next sale.

The biggest takeaway from Black Friday is that it's clear the end-of-year mega sale is definitely no longer a one-day event. It's not even a one-week event, either. Sales got underway in early November – or even late October in some cases – and simply rolled on throughout the month. That means there's no longer a big rush to buy during a shorter period of time and you can better spread out your shopping if needed.

Black Friday: the best sellers

As expected, the most popular products included games consoles, smart home tech, appliances and TVs. A couple of these are Black Friday 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 sought-after brands came out strong 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.

That covers the highlights from last year's Black Friday. If you're looking to shop today, though, then check out our Boxing Day sales coverage here at TechRadar. We've got info on when the end-of-year offers will begin at all major releases and will share all their latest deals in the weeks ahead.

Black Friday 2023: key information

A selection of key tech items expected to be popular over Black Friday — (Image credit: Future)

Here are all the key dates and need to know information 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 (opens in new tab)
Argos: better for cheaper devices with same-day delivery (opens in new tab)
Currys: great for tech, appliances, and gaming (opens in new tab)
Ebuyer: low-cost gaming and PC equipment (opens in new tab)
John Lewis: best for homeware and excellent tech warranties (opens in new tab)
Laptops Direct: big discounts on PCs, laptops, and accessories (opens in new tab)
Smyths Toys: vast selection of toys, electronics and gadgets
Very: massive range and regular discounts across departments (opens in new tab)

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 (opens in new tab) 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 (opens in new tab) 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

Given the previous event has only just ended, it's a little early for us to give you our predictions for Black Friday 2023. We've got many months of new product launches ahead of us, other sales events throughout the year, as well as the ever-changing global economic situation, that could impact what we see in November.

Because of that we're cautious of dropping some definitive predictions at this time. However, we'll be back a little later in the year with some early 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.

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.

A woman in front of a shop window displaying a Black Friday deals sign — (Image credit: Getty Images)

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.