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Nervous shoppers fighting in-store TVs during Black Friday sales permanently baked into your head? You’ll know that technology is hot property on Black Friday, and in November, thousands of deals on headphones, fitness trackers, smartphones and more will kick in.
Major tech retailers, including Great, Argos, Currys and John Lewis have started their Black Friday sales early, and Amazon has announced it will start slashing prices on November 21. The annual discount bonanza marks the best time to stock up on gadgets you’ve seen all year.
Read more: Black Friday 2024 shopping guide
Whether it’s technology from Apple, high-spec laptops or even games and VR headset deals from Sony, Xbox Meta or Nintendo, you should be able to find everything at a discount during the November shopping event. Below, I’ve rounded up all the best tech deals to look forward to this Black Friday, as well as the best deals you can buy right now.
When will tech Black Friday deals start in 2024?
Black Friday takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the US, which means that the sale will kick off on Friday, November 29 this year and end on Cyber Monday (December 2). While that’s the official date for Black Friday, tech deals often start dropping before then. Last year, I started seeing Black Friday sales early on the first day of November, and I’ve seen the same this year, with everyone from Currys to AO already kicking off the festivities.
What to expect from tech’s Black Friday deals in 2024
If you’re on the hunt for a new gadget to upgrade your life, you’ll have to wait until Black Friday for the lowest prices. I expect game consoles to get big discounts in this year’s sale – PS5 Slim, Nintendo Switch OLED and Xbox series X have all started to receive discounts, especially with the launch of PS5 Pro and rumors about Nintendo Switch 2, as well as the new Xbox console that is already available for pre- order. I reckon the discounts will continue into Black Friday, so you might want to wait if you’re hoping to buy a new machine.
Headphones and earbuds also see huge discounts on Black Friday, so it’s the perfect time to pick up some AirPods or Sony headphones and earbuds.
There should be plenty of options when it comes to smartphone deals this Black Friday as well. Every year, mobile phone operators and retailers battle it out to offer the best discounts, giving customers plenty of choice when it comes to choosing between contract mobile phone deals or SIM-free phones from the likes of Amazon and Currys. Expect iPhones and top Android handsets from Google, Samsung and OnePlus to sell out.
Fitness trackers are another big highlight on Black Friday – I expect to see big discounts on Fitbit trackers, top smart watches from Garmin and more, plus smart speakers and Bluetooth speakers from Amazon and Sonos should see price cuts quite large.
Read more: Black Friday 2024 update live
The best early tech Black Friday 2024 deals
The best gaming console deals
Save a 24 percent on the Meta Quest 3 VR headset in this deal that only drops after the release of the Meta Quest 3S. “The Meta Quest 3 is an amazing virtual reality headset, and possibly the best consumer VR device out there today,” he said in his review. “With full-color passthrough, a faster processor, a more comfortable and ergonomic fit, as well as better hand tracking and, of course, the sweet, sweet pancake lens that makes everything more stable, this is the VR headset to beat. . “
Best smartphone and tablet deals
You can save £20 on the all-new iPhone 16 by buying the phone from Giffgaff. Simply add a £10 mobile phone contract, then cancel or switch as soon as you get the phone – you’ll pay £20 less for the phone itself. Sneaky.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Was £1,469, now £723, Amazon.co.uk
An amazing deal on the most powerful phone Samsung has made, this discount brings the Galaxy S24 Ultra to just £723. A great phone with a large display that’s perfect for getting work done, the Ultra includes an S-Pen stylus that pops out of a compartment in the frame. You can stay productive by taking quick notes and sketches, while Galaxy AI features can transcribe meetings into neatly formatted minutes, or add fun additions to your photos.
Discounted by £500, Google’s flagship Pixel 8 Pro is one of the best smartphones we’ve tested. “This year’s Pixel phones strive for great generative AI features, but backing up all the smarts of Google’s software is a great device that has a significant hardware upgrade over last year’s model,” the writer said in a review. “With a telephoto lens and extra RAM, as well as a Tensor G3 processor, AI-loaded photo editing features and a glorious 120Hz display, it’s an Android device to beat.”
Apple iPad, 9th generation, 2021: Was £369, now £279, Very.co.uk
The cheapest iPad is the 10.2in model, which was launched in 2021 and is still sold by Apple. The ninth-generation iPad is still a fast and powerful tablet with a large screen and full-sounding stereo speakers. It works with the Apple pencil and smart keyboard, too, unlocking extra functionality for anyone who wants to stay productive while on the go. At £90 off, this is a great saving on an entry-level iPad.
The best smartwatch deals
Apple Watch Series 9, GPS, 45mm: Was £394, now £349, Amazon.co.uk
Released last September, the Apple Watch Series 9 may not be the latest smartwatch in Apple’s lineup, but it’s still a pretty cool smartwatch. Featuring an always-on display and the brightest screen on any Apple Watch, it’s the new S9 processor that makes the Apple Watch stand out. With a £50 saving, this is a great one to pick up if you’re in the market for a new smartwatch.
Garmin Forerunner 255 smartwatch: Was £329.99, now £225.55, Amazon.co.uk
Although simpler than the Garmin Forerunner 955 and with fewer features, the 255 still includes a variety of health and fitness tracking functions, including a race widget to help you prepare for your next event. There’s also a catalog of all your daily training suggestions, a widget to estimate recovery time after each training session, and detailed running metrics, including cadence, stride length, ground contact time and balance.
Best offer smart home
Two Echo Dots and Alexa Sengled smart plug bundle: Own £124.97, now £48.98, Amazon.co.uk
Save a whopping 60 percent on this Amazon bundle, which comes with two Echo Dots and an Alexa Sengled-compatible smart plug to help control any connected device with the power of your voice (and your phone). “Cheap and fun, the Amazon Echo Dot speaker Alexifies every room in your home on a budget, while still delivering great sound and great smarts,” he said in his review of the smart speaker. With this deal, you pay for one Echo Dot, and get a second one for free, as well as a free smart.
The best headphone and speaker deals
You can save more than 25 percent on this top-of-the-line soundbar from Sonos. When I tried the device, I said: “Ray improves the clarity of people’s speech in movies with poor sound mixing, so it’s easier to understand conversations.” I added that, while “the bass wasn’t what I wanted, Ray managed the music well.” Overall, this is a great Sonos soundbar if you’re looking to enter the growing Sonos ecosystem.
Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones: Was £379, now £266, Amazon.co.uk
Sony’s flagship over-ear wireless headphones comfortably hold the top spot in our review of the best wireless headphones. They are now over £100 off. With next-generation features and impressive noise cancellation, I can attest to its quality. “Whether it’s orchestral music, rap, podcasts or your favorite pop track, the WH-1000XM5 handles it all with poise and gumption,” I wrote in my review. “They never miss a beat”.
Sony XG300 X-series portable wireless speakers: Was £259, now £149, Amazon.co.uk
Right now you can save over 40 percent on these IndyBest-approved Sony Bluetooth speakers. “Our choice, the portable wireless speaker XG300 X-series Sony is very portable, due to its ergonomic design. However, many technologies, sound distribution and good functions make this speaker the top spot,” said the writer in the review.
Best camera deals
GoPro Hero 13 Black action camera: Was £399, now £329, Amazon.co.uk
Released in September, GoPro’s new flagship Hero 13 Black action camera has been slashed by £60 on Amazon. The latest camera is compatible with three new HB-Series lenses with automatic detection, increasing compatibility for mounting and charging. In addition, it has a redesigned battery that the company says has a 10 percent higher capacity than its predecessor.
Voucher code
For the latest deals on tech and more, check out the links below:
Prepare to save, with our cheat sheet to the Black Friday 2024 sale
