Rob Rodriguez/CNET
This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2021, our list of ideas, by topic, by recipient and by price, to help you discover the perfect gift.
If it feels like you’ve been blasted with Black Friday for weeks already then that’s because you have. Retailers have turned the once one-day shopping event into a month-long shopping experience for better or worse. There have been a few different waves of Black Friday deals already and while we’ve seen some great deals come and go, there are still some left for those who have waited for Black Friday officially. Sifting through all of those sales can get overwhelming, but that’s where CNET comes in! We’ve pored over the newspaper ad scans, scoured retailer websites (Amazon, Target, Walmart and Best Buy, just to name a few) and found the deals you won’t want to miss. You’ll even find good streaming deals, like Hulu offering yearlong subscriptions for 99 cents per month.
We’ve got a section-by-section breakdown below to help you find what you’re looking for, but first, here’s what you should know as you prepare to start shopping:
- Macy’s Black Friday sale started Tuesday.
- Many Amazon device sales (Echo, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Ring security systems) started last Friday.
- Best Buy’s sale started last Friday, including the lowest price ever on Apple Watch SE.
- Target’s Black Friday sale started Sunday.
- Staples’ Black Friday sale started Sunday.
- Walmart’s Black Friday sale started Monday and includes possible access to PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles for Walmart Plus members. Initial PS5 and Xbox console availability is already sold out.
- More Amazon Black Friday sales start today.
Best Black Friday deals so far
Among the deals that jump out at us the most are a variety of offers on AirPods — most notably the new AirPods Pro with MagSafe charging case for $159 at Walmart. That’s $90 less than you’ll pay at the Apple Store and the lowest price we’ve seen for them yet. Walmart is also slashing the price of the 2nd-gen Google Nest Hub down to just $50, which is another tempting offer.
Meanwhile, the TV deals are always Black Friday standouts, and this year is no different. Our favorite offer so far might come from Amazon, where you’ll find the 65-inch TCL 6-Series Roku TV on sale for $898 (save $602). That was already our top-recommended TV for the money, and now it’s down to its lowest price of the year.
Amazon is also knocking $50 off of the price of the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 (QC45) wireless noise cancelling headphones, bringing the cost down to $279. Those headphones come with a strong recommendation from CNET’s David Carnoy and would make a terrific gift (even if it’s a gift for yourself).
Another timeless gift candidate: a KitchenAid stand mixer. Target’s got some pretty tempting deals, including a 5-quart model marked down to $220, saving you $210. Look for additional color options at the same Black Friday price over at Best Buy. And hey, speaking of Best Buy…
Best Best Buy Black Friday deals
It’s a little late to the game, but Best Buy has finally revealed the details of its sales happening the week of Black Friday. It’s not quite as cut-and-dried as some other retailers’ sales, which have clear start and end dates, but essentially Best Buy’s sale has already started and will be adding more items in the coming days. There have already been a number of drops, including great deals like the first sale of the season on the Apple Watch SE.
Here’s what you can expect from each wave of deals:
Read more: Best Black Friday deals at Best Buy
Best Target Black Friday deals
Target’s Black Friday sale has already begun and runs through Saturday, Nov. 27. Target is offering big savings on everything from tech to toys to home goods. This sneak peek circular also advertises the Nintendo Switch OLED, which has been notoriously difficult to snag since it was released this October, so keep an eye on the deal page and your local Target’s stock if you’ve been hoping to get your hands on one.
Here are some of the best Target deals currently available:
Read More: Target’s Black Friday sales
Best Walmart Black Friday deals
Walmart’s Black Friday sales started Monday, Nov. 22 at 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET). Early access to some deals started four hours earlier for Walmart Plus members. Walmart is noting that it will be making the PS5 and Xbox Series X available online during Black Friday week, but details on times aren’t yet available. Here are some of the deals we’re most excited about.
Read more: Walmart’s Black Friday 2021
Best Amazon Black Friday deals
Amazon’s Black Friday deals are now in full swing, with some great new ones on Apple AirPods and Beats headphones. Amazon also has the Switch bundle in stock at the time of this writing. Some of the highlights include up to 40% off Instant brand kitchen appliances, up to 50% on select Fire HD tablets, and up to 30% on select TVs from Samsung, Sony and LG. Here are some of our favorites.
Read more: Best Black Friday TV deals
Best Black Friday headphone deals
You can always find headphones on sale during Black Friday events, but finding the right balance between a good deal and a good set of headphones can be a challenge. Here’s the best sales on headphones and earbuds.
Read more: Best early Black Friday 2021 headphones deals available right now
Best Black Friday TV deals
Televisions frequently fill out Black Friday sale pages, but it’s not always easy to tell which sales are actually worthwhile. Here are some of the best TV deals you’ll see for Black Friday.
Read more: Best TV deals for Black Friday 2021 so far
Best Black Friday laptop deals
And some of the best laptop deals this week:
Read more: Best Black Friday laptop deals
Best Black Friday tablet deals
It’s never hard to find a cheap tablet, but it can occasionally be challenging to find a good tablet at a reasonable price. Here are all of the worthwhile tablet deals now and around the corner.
Best Black Friday smart home deals
Smart home gadgets can help you automate things like lights and appliances around the house, and Black Friday week is a great time to catch them on sale. Here are some of the better offers we’ve spotted thus far:
Read more: Black Friday’s best smart home deals
Best Black Friday kitchen deals
Kitchen tech can totally change the way you cook, and a great sale on kitchen tech makes that exploration even more enjoyable. Here are the best Black Friday kitchen deals included in this week’s sales.
Read more: Best Black Friday 2021 kitchen deals
Best Black Friday fitness deals
With New Year’s Day inching ever closer, those fitness resolutions can start to feel daunting. But not if you’ve got the right equipment. Here are the best Black Friday fitness deals we’ve found.