Our colleagues at the Verge are technology experts. So when they tell us that there are good Black Friday deals at Best Buy — well, we look through those deals, leave behind a couple of the more advanced things like a nearly $2,000 gaming laptop, add a few finds of our own, and bring the more-useful-to-the-average-non-technophile stuff to you.
There are substantial discounts to take advantage of, like a 65-inch LG OLED TV (which is seriously one of the best TVs we think you can buy), the original Nintendo Switch, the Series 4 Apple Watch, and a Sonos soundbar. But act quickly, because things are selling out fast! Once an item’s stock is low enough online, it becomes an in-store purchase only.
We should note that Best Buy is constantly updating its deals, and we’re constantly watching. So check back here frequently for updates of Black Friday sales on big-ticket appliances, vacuum cleaners, home security systems, smart speakers, and phones. Incidentally, for more early tech deals, check out our Black Friday coverage of the Amazon and Walmart sales.
Video game systems and accessories
Comes with a huge 1 TB hard drive for $100 off the original price.
These joy-con controllers for Nintendo Switch also come in other colors including gray, green, and neon yellow.
Speakers
The U.E. Boom Bluetooth speaker has long been one of the top speakers you can buy. This four-inch-tall sibling is ultraportable — and water-resistant, for any dreams you may have of listening to music poolside.
Another great water-resistant speaker with a slightly different form factor and a 12-hour battery (as opposed to the ten-hour Ultimate Ears above).
As TV sets get thinner, their sound gets worse. This speaker from Sonos is an upgrade for any set. And it comes with a $20 Best Buy Gift Card!
Desktops, laptops, and tablets
HP’s all-in-one is nearly as beautiful as the iMac, has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, and a 256GB solid-state drive (SSDs are quieter than traditional hard drives). Plus it’s a touchscreen, which is nice for some programs.
Comes with a fast and capable Intel i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. And they throw in the cover (usually another $129) basically for free.
This lightweight MacBook Air, which should be good for most users who don’t plan on editing a full-length film on their computers, is $200 off.
2019 iPads are as much as $100 off, including this 32GB model that’s marked down $80.
Earbuds and headphones
You’re not going to get the best audio quality from these, but $30 is practically stocking-stuffer territory. And if you lose them, which we all do eventually, you won’t feel that bad.
If you don’t want to spend the money on AirPods or AirPods Pro, these earbuds are a good alternative. Especially if you have big earholes.
Also a great option for those with big earholes. They’re lighter than the Jabras and will stay in better during workouts.
David Pogue’s favorite noise-canceling headphones are $70 off.
Appliances
Strat writer Lori Keong loved the power of this vacuum. And now you can get it for $200 off.
This kitchen staple has never been cheaper. This model doesn’t have a the typical tilting head, which means it is more powerful. (For more great gifts for bakers, click here.)
If the person you’re shopping for already has a mixer, why not get him a great accessory, like this pasta cutter that’s 60 percent off?
You deserve a bigger fridge. This full-depth French-door option from Samsung can fit all of your Thanksgiving prep. (The adjustable shelves will even accommodate a turkey.) And it even has an ice-maker with a bin that’s actually big enough to handle company.
If you want an actual Instant Pot, you can expect to pay between $50 and $100 for it. Or you can get Best Buy’s house-brand equivalent, which has nearly 2,000 reviews and a 4.7-star rating.
There really is no more enjoyable way to vacuum than letting a robot do it for you.
Doing your own pour-over in the morning may make you feel like a home barista, but a K cup is fast and simple.
TVs and accessories
OLED TVs have the best picture available, with the highest contrast and darkest blacks. Since they don’t need backlights, they’re also the thinnest screens available. You’re going to pay a premium for that compared to other types of TVs, but it can be worth it. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 55-inch C9. There are also sales on the 65-inch version and an enormous 77-inch model.
The B9 is step below the C9, but the difference will be imperceptible for most people.
A beautiful 4K picture with 120 Hz refresh rate, so quick-moving objects won’t look blurry. The 55-inch model might be the sweet spot for most viewers: plenty of TV size for an incredibly reasonable price of $550.
Compared to the 8 Series above, the 7 has one fewer HDMI port and a refresh rate of 60 Hz instead of 120 Hz. Those numbers matter only if you you’re hooking up more than three components like cable boxes, streaming devices, and gaming consoles, or if you’re very concerned about getting a slight blur when things move quickly across the screen.
As opposed to other streaming devices, Chromecast doesn’t need a separate remote. You can control everything from your phone. If you don’t have a 4K TV (and thus don’t need the ability to stream in 4K), the Google Chromecast is marked down to $25.
If you buy a beautiful new TV this holiday season, you’ll probably want a good wall mount to display it on. This tiltable, adjustable mount is more than half off and can hold TVs up to 90 inches.
Tech toys
Everybody loves a drone — kids, adults, people who say they hate drones but then try one. Although many companies make cheaper drones, no one makes them better than DJI. Plus bigger drones like this are much easier to fly, since they can hold themselves steady in the air.
An inexpensive entry-level hoverboard (with a three-mile range and top speed of seven mph) for anyone brave enough to ride it.
Kyrie Irving used one in the NBA Finals in 2017. And one of the massage therapists we consulted for our “Best Gifts for Dads With Sore Necks and Backs” called it “great for myofascial work.” At this sale price, think of it as getting infinite at-home massages for the cost of three professional sessions.
Other toys
When we spoke with trend forecasters about the top toys this holiday season, they said unboxing toys like this one, where you don’t know what you’re going to get until you open it, would continue to be huge this year. They also warned that L.O.L. Surprise toys sell out quickly.
While you’re stocking up on L.O.L. Surprise! gear, maybe grab this glitter factory too. It lets kids give glittery makeovers to cute little dolls.
The gatling gun of Nerf toys, with a 50-dart drum. Let someone else clean up.
Home accessories
Maybe they’ve always wanted to synchronize their lights to the movie they’re watching or the game they’re playing. Now they can.
A fantastic (and fantastically designed) smart thermostat for your home will be $70 off. You can also save a little more money by buying the Nest E, which is marked down to $139, and which does exactly the same thing but the case is made of a slightly less attractive plastic.
If you have dead zones in your home, a mesh Wi-Fi system will fix them. This three-pack gives you a router and two Wi-Fi relay points that can cover up to 5,400 square feet.
Wearables
The launch of the new Series 5 this fall means great deals on the previous model.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
