Year after year, the holidays arrive a little earlier, and 2019 is no exception. Walmart's "holiday savings" started on Oct. 25 and other retailers will no doubt follow suit, if you truly have a desire to drain your bank account.
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, was traditionally the day retailers met their costs, with each sale propelling them further into "the black," or profits. Today, Black Friday simply means great deals. "Doorbuster" offers are designed to entice shoppers into stores, where they can batter their fellow shoppers to seize the newest must-have gadget.
How do shoppers learn about these great deals? In years past, holiday advertising circulars were published in newspapers. Then enterprising young bloggers began putting them online. Now, retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy publish news of their own sales, weeks before Black Friday ever takes place. And our sister sites BlackFriday.com and BestBlackFriday.com keep track of them all.
But perhaps you don't buy into the hype. "How much can I really save?" you wonder. Truth is, you'll need to keep tabs on opening times and lightning rounds, but deals can be had. As a result, there are a number of gadgets you shouldn't buy before Black Friday. Check them out below.
Editor's Note: This story was updated on Nov. 18 with new deals.
Televisions
As footage from previous Black Friday sales might suggest, shoppers are eager for deals on massive TVs. Don't let the fact that you're only 5'2" stop you from throwing that discount 70-inch set over your shoulder.
This year, Costco and BJ's will both offer a 75-inch Samsung 4K UHD smart LED TV for $749.99, for example.
At Walmart, you can nab a 65-inch Vizio 4K set for $398, a $130 discount, as well as a 50-inch Walmart-brand Onn TV for $150.
A 50-inch and 55-inch Samsung 4K set will also be $278 and $328 at Walmart, respectively—both $50 discounts. Best Buy will also have the 50-inch Samsung 4K smart TV for $279.99 and the 55-inch for $329.
Best Buy and Amazon are also advertising deals on select Fire TV Edition TVs, plus a free third-gen Amazon Echo Dot.
If you're not sure where to start, check out PCMag's roundup of the Best TVs, and our explainers on 4K, HDR, and the buying guide video above.
Low-Priced Laptops
Everyone went tablet crazy for a little bit, but turns out consumers aren't quite ready to give up on laptops. The iPad Pro is lovely, but not necessarily conducive to typing out long reports or conducting business that requires a little screen real estate. But don't pay full price for a laptop just yet; Black Friday is just around the corner.
At at midnight ET on Nov. 28, for example, the Microsoft Store will offer $299 Windows 10 PCs with tenth-gen Intel chips, up to $330 off Surface Pro 7 and Type Cover bundles, and $400 off Windows 10 gaming PCs. HP, meanwhile, is teasing PC deals at a variety of price points.
Check out PCMag's roundup of The Best Laptops and Best Budget Laptops to see what type of machine you should look to nab. And don't forget about those Chromebooks.
Tablets
Smart Speakers
Smart speakers have gone from niche gadgets to must-have devices. And this Black Friday, you can probably grab one of these voice-activated gizmos on the cheap. Look for bundles on the Echo Dot or new Google Nest Mini, or discounts on older models like the original Google Home or Amazon Plus. Before you buy, check out the differences between all the Echo devices and how Echo compares to Google Home.
Headphones and Earphones
Fitness Trackers
Smartphones
Black Friday isn't typically the best time to get deals on the newest smartphones, though you can save on older models or less flashy budget devices. Instead, big box stores often offer gift cards with the full-price purchase of a new smartphone. At Walmart this year, for example, you can get:
- $450 gift card with the purchase of an iPhone XS
- $400 gift card with the iPhone XR or XS Max
- $300 gift card with the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max
- $450 gift card with the Galaxy S10, S10+, or Not 10+
- $300 gift card with the Galaxy S10e or Note 9
- $100 gift card when buying an iPhone 6s on Straight Talk or Total Wireless
DNA Testing Kits
Video Games and Consoles
Whether you're on Team Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch, there is a game for you on Black Friday. Forget about spending $60. Retailers like GameStop, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and more typically have two-for-one deals or rock-bottom sales. Will all the great games arriving in the coming weeks, make sure you don't blow your whole paycheck on new titles.
If you want to upgrade your console, meanwhile, Black Friday gaming discounts usually involve bundles that pair a console with a popular title or accessories like controllers or carrying cases.
Cameras
DVD/Blu-rays
Black Friday 2019 Previews
