Is Black Friday worth it? Best and worst deals you can still buy today

Refresh

2022-11-24T19:56:31.821Z

Black Friday deals text surrounded by products including a cordless vacuum, apple watch, laptop and more

Hello bargain hunters! We're kicking off our Black Friday deals 'Hot or Not' live blog before the big day hits so you don't a single highlight this year. Unsurprisingly, most retailers have already launched their Black Friday sales well in advance this year so there's plenty to check out - even if it is still Thanksgiving (or 'Grey Thursday' if you're in the UK).

Anyway, thanks for joining early and sit tight, we've got some absolutely awesome Black Friday deals to share shortly - all of which have been specially picked out by our team of experts here at TechRadar.

2022-11-24T22:13:22.103Z

Google Pixel 6 on orange background with fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! Google Pixel 6 for £299 at Currys

Here's an absolutely amazing unlocked phone deal if you're not fussed on getting your hands on the latest and greatest flagship this Black Friday. The Google Pixel 6 for half price in the UK:

Here's what our phones editor Alex Walker Todd said about this particular listing when he covered it recently:

"The Google Pixel 6 sits as the sweet spot within the previous Pixel family, offering a clean user experience and an impressive camera at a competitive price. This Curry's deal, however, has the makings of one of the best Black Friday phone deals of 2022, cutting the asking price of the phone in half, from £599 down to just £299

What makes this Curry's deal so potent is that the retailer drops the price of the flagship Pixel 6 down by £200 – to the standard retail price of the mid-range Pixel 6a (£399) but then ups the ante by serving up a voucher code that reduces the price yet further by an additional £100."

In the US? Check out this Google Pixel 6 deal in your region:

2022-11-24T22:31:45.508Z

Apple MacBook Air 13 M1 on orange background with fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! Apple MacBook Air M1 for $799 at Amazon

Here we go folks - one of the best value ultrabooks you'll find anywhere online right now, the excellent Apple MacBook Air M1. While it's not the latest model on the market anymore, this one's a great buy if you need a nice mix of power and portability on a budget.

We say budget - it's of course not the cheapest laptop on the market right now but this great ultrabook is at its lowest price yet in both the US and UK.

Why do we recommend this older model? Well firstly, while it may not have the most modern design or chip inside, the Apple MacBook Air M1 still really holds up well for 2022 for the vast majority of users. It's lightweight, decently powerful, has excellent battery life, and it's much, much easier on the pocket than the M2 version.

For context, the M2 version is currently sitting at $1,049 at Amazon US for Black Friday. That's also a record-breaking deal but it's a whopping $350 more than the above listing on the older model. Overall, we'd say the listing on the older model is the better Black Friday MacBook deal of the two for most users. In the UK? Here's the cheapest listing we've found today.

2022-11-24T22:51:12.828Z

LG C1 OLED on blue background with cold symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Not! LG's C1 OLED TV is always a Black Friday best-seller, but maybe not this year...

LG's C1 OLED TV was one of the best-selling TVs at last year's sale, and while we would expect to see the OLED display back down to a record-low price, Amazon currently has the 65-inch model on sale for $1,646.99 - $150 more than the record-low price. While we might see Amazon drop the price over the next few days, at its current offers, we wouldn't recommend it.

2022-11-24T23:18:23.479Z

Apple Watch 8 on orange background with fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! Apple Watch deals in the US and UK

So, Apple products aren't exactly known for their value - or Black Friday deals - for that matter, but we're actually seeing some surprisingly decent price cuts on Apple Watches today. First up, check out these two US listings:

Getting an Apple Watch as good as the first generation SE for $149 is an absolute steal, considering it's still got all the main fitness and sleep tracking features, a decent screen, and plenty of power to chug along well enough. The Apple Watch 8 listing at Amazon isn't quite as good value if you're talking about sheer bang for the buck, but it's the first big discount we've seen on this super recent release.

Over in the UK, we're also seeing some great Black Friday Apple Watch deals, check these out:

Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS): was £429 now £399 at John Lewis
John Lewis is kicking off its Black Friday sale with a small but welcome discount on the latest Apple Watch Series 8 this week. While it appears that this price is for the Starlight color specifically, this is currently the best deal out there for this model if you're simply looking for a GPS version. New features with this iteration include an Always‑On display, crash detection, and temperature sensing, for a wide range of applications. Note, you can also find this one listed at Amazon UK for the same price.

Apple Watch SE 2022 (GPS, 40mm): was £259 now £249 at Amazon
A £10 saving might not exactly be a ground-breaking discount, but this is actually the first discount on the latest Apple Watch SE 2022 and the lowest price yet. If you're looking for a fully-featured and up-to-date model without breaking the bank, this is definitely a decent option over Black Friday. A new chip, lighter build, and new crash detection features are the main upgrades on this particular model over the previous iteration. Note, you can also find this one listed at John Lewis for the same price.

The discounts in this region aren't quite as juicy as those over in the US, but they're definitely worth checking out - especially since discounts on recent models tends to be fairly rare on this side of the pond.

2022-11-24T23:35:02.312Z

Purple Plus mattress with snowflake graphic — (Image credit: Future / Purple)

Not! Purple Plus mattress from $1,299 at Purple

In general, $200 off a mattress is a pretty good deal. It's not even like Purple is one of those brands with perpetual sales, where MSRP is a mythical figure that exists only to be struck-through. In fact, it's fairly common to head to the Purple site and find no discounts at all. It's not that it's a bad mattress either – it has a spot in our official best mattress ranking, because it's so excellent at delivering pressure relief for achy joints.

The reason why this Purple Plus deal is officially NOT HOT is that at the start of the month there was $400 off every size. Unfortunately, with Purple sales being relatively rare and quite unpredictable, we can't confidently say when (or even if) this model will drop to that low price again. If you're in any kind of a hurry to upgrade your sleep setup, you might be best off hopping on the Black Friday deal anyway, and pretending we never told you about that other sale.

2022-11-24T23:55:15.190Z

Smiffys Mullet Wig with Blonde Highlights amazon page listing — (Image credit: Amazon)

Definitely not: An odd window into British humour this Black Friday...

We sometimes browse deals aggregator sites like HotUKdeals for inspiration over Black Friday and the stangest listing I've found so far on the site is this Smiffy's Mullet with Blonde Highlights Straight Wig for Men.

Before you ask - yes, this listing was actually more highly rated than legitimately good deals on HotUKdeals, which in our eyes, pretty much sums up what British people find amusing. In short, some deals hunters over in the UK would rather upvote a novelty mullet wig than a cheap TV.

Here are a few of the comments from this listing:

"The fact that this has made it to the first page of the HUKD hot deals on my app tells you everything you need to know about the quality of Black Friday deals this year." - GrimFandango

"Decent if you can pull it off." - _Slogan

What's even better is that this product is actually a bestseller on Amazon UK, which tells you everything you need to know about modern Britain. Anyway, we wouldn't recommend buying this unless you have questionable taste or incredibly specific needs this Black Friday.

2022-11-25T00:17:03.242Z

Nintendo Switch Mario bundle on orange background with Fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! Nintendo Switch bundles in both the US and UK

Looking to get your game on this Black Friday? Console deals in general tend to be pretty thin on the ground but there are some superb Nintendo Switch bundles worth checking out today.

Here's what our games hardware writer Rhys Wood had to say about these bundles:

"Whether you're in the US or the UK, this Black Friday Nintendo Switch deal is incredibly strong. If you've been looking to buy a Nintendo Switch, you likely want to make sure you can get at least a game with it on the cheap, especially considering the console doesn't come with a pack-in game.

And you're not just getting Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which to this day is still a fantastic game. The bundle includes a 3-month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. This'll let you access online play in various titles, but also NES and SNES retro libraries."

2022-11-25T00:42:08.633Z

Black Friday deals under $30 — (Image credit: Future)

Black Friday bargains for under $30

Mackenzie Frazer, US Deals Editor

Black Friday isn't all about giant TVs and discounts of hundreds of dollars or more. Even if your budget is significantly smaller you can find some sweet savings this year.

Just take a look at this selection of Black Friday deals at Amazon on products that are less than $30. There's a wide variety of items available, including air fryers, smart speakers, toys, headphones and more.

Read more: 30 Black Friday deals under $30

2022-11-25T01:17:01.271Z

Dyson Airwrap Complete on blue background with cold symbol — (Image credit: Future)

NOT! Dyson Airwrap Complete: free accessories with purchase

Yikes! Dyson isn't even trying here. While we know the Airwrap is one of the most in-demand hair styling products right now, offering potential buyers a free travel pouch, paddle brush, and detangling comb for every full-priced purchase of the Airwrap isn't so much a Black Friday deal as it is a feeble attempt at charity.

It is worth noting that Dyson is currently offering a 20% Dyson Airwrap discount to previous Dyson customers, but that doesn't really help those of you who haven't purchased a Dyson product from the website before. Plus, considering how much Dyson products are actually worth, are you really saving anything if you've had to have bought something expensive to get another expensive thing for just a little less?

This is why many are turning to Dyson Airwrap dupes, as there are some out there that do the job just as well without charging an arm and a leg. Skip this deal above and get the cheaper and also discounted Revlon One-Step Volumizer instead, now only $29.99 at Amazon. You'll thank yourself later.

2022-11-25T01:57:30.882Z

1More Sonoflow on orange background with fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! 1More SonoFlow headphones for £64.99 at Amazon

LDAC hi-res supporting wireless over-ears, just £64.99 for Black Friday?! Yes please.

No, these over-ears won't say Sony on the headband; but they will support Sony's hi-res LDAC codec – and of course, that 1More branding only helps to keep the prices low.

This incredible Black Friday headphones deal sees the excellent 1More SonoFlow (try to get past that name, we know it sounds like a water purifier) which were already affordable at £90 slashed to just £64.99 – which means that you could buy 4.6 pairs of them for the same price as one pair of Sony's WH1000XM5, even at their all-new lowest-seen Black Friday discount!

1More SonoFlow headphones: was £90 now £64.99 at Amazon
OK this (…this, people!) is a wireless over-ear ANC headphones deal and a half for Black Friday! Why? Firstly, we gave them 4.5 stars out of 5 in our recent review, secondly you get a whopping 70-hour battery and thirdly, LDAC hi-res audio support is on the menu! We loved them – and we think you will too – plus we've never seen them discounted like this until now. The name may not wow you, but the sound and feature set for this money will. A Black Friday bargain indeed.

2022-11-25T02:36:59.686Z

iPhone 13 mini cold — (Image credit: Future)

A cautionary tale from our US editor in chief

Are you buying an iPhone this Black Friday? Our US editor-in-chief Lance Ulanoff has some wise words for you, specifically - buy a recent model. Here's what he said in a previous post just a few days back:

"Do not buy the cheapest iPhone deal you can find. Let me tell you a story.

It was the iPhone 8. There was a fantastic Black Friday sale and, thinking I'd be the hero for getting my wife a new iPhone without breaking the bank, I bought it.

The look on my wife's face when she unwrapped it and then looked at my iPhone 12 Pro (then the latest model) was not what I would describe as pleasure. Though not a technophile like me, my wife's no Luddite and knew that – while new and still for sale at the Apple Store – the iPhone 8 did not represent the best Apple has to offer.

Eventually, I tired of the snide comments and upgraded her to an iPhone 13 (by then the newest model) and, since she didn't divorce me, I think we're okay. Still, I learned a valuable lesson: it doesn't pay to save money on a tech gift if the gadget you're giving will spark, not joy, but disappointment."

Thanks Lance. Wise counsel for both iPhone deals hunters and married shoppers. If you're interested, here's the best Black Friday promotion on the latest iPhone 14 series that we've found so far.

Apple iPhone 14 Plus: $10/mo with new unlimited line at Verizon
No trade-ins are needed to get the brand new Apple iPhone 14 Plus for just $10 per month this week, thanks to Verizon's early Black Friday deals. This is the first non-trade-in carrier discount we've seen on any device in the new iPhone 14 range and a superb deal overall. The saving here totals a whopping $540, over the duration of a 36-month plan and new customers will also get an additional $200 if they switch over from another carrier.

2022-11-25T02:37:05.831Z

AirPods Pro 2 hot — (Image credit: Future)

The pods are just hot

Sometimes, we try to imagine just how many AirPods Apple might sell this holiday season. Its excellent Bluetooth earbuds are a massive hit and Apple has done a great job of refining the design and sound engineering and quality.

The newest member of the family, Apple AirPods Pro 2 takes the whole experience to another level. Sure, Apple didn't change the design much between the AirPods Pro 1 and the Pro 2, but the sound quality and, in particular, the Active Noise Cancellation tech (ANC) is something to behold, or heard.

With such a new and lauded product, it's surprising to see it swept along in the Black Friday Deals excitement, but no matter where we look in the US, the original $249 is now just $199. The deals are not quite as strong in the UK, where the AirPod Pros 2 only dropped by $20 pounds.

Even so, this is generally a hot deal for what we called in our review, "a hugely impressive upgrade."

See the latest AirPods Pro 2 deals below.

2022-11-25T03:10:23.421Z

Wish Black Friday deals — (Image credit: Future)

Not! A throwback to a post we did last year...

...About the retailer Wish.com. Have you heard of it? If you thought Amazon marketplace was wild, you ain't seen nothing yet folks. If you're not familiar, Wish is essentially a massive worldwide online marketplace that tends to feature knock-offs, direct-from-factory listings, and well, pretty much anything you could think of.

As you'd imagine, we wouldn't recommend most of the listings on this site, even if they are listed as a 'Black Friday deal'. Last year, our managing editor of lifestyle Josie found a few of most bizzare 'deals' imaginable, check them out:

2022-11-25T03:30:02.598Z

JLab Go Air Sport against our hot/not background — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! JLab Go Air Sport for $19.99 at Amazon with coupon

Michelle here, TechRadar’s Buying Guides Editor. Listen, we’re all feeling the pressure of the holiday season, especially with the cost of living crisis still looming over us. But, who made it a decree that all we must spend a lot on gifts this year anyway?

There are so many excellent products out there in the budget range right now. One of my favorite ones are the Go Air Sport headphones from Jlab, which in my humble opinion beat out (no pun intended) the likes of the Beats Fit Pro in many aspects including comfort. For a fraction of the price, the JLab Go Air Sport headphones deliver great comfort, surprisingly fantastic audio, and better staying power. Seriously, I’ve recommended these to all my friends.

It gets better, as it’s even cheaper for Black Friday. Grab it for yourself or as cheap gifts for everyone in your life. This deal isn't hot. It's sizzling.

2022-11-25T03:59:44.919Z

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 on orange background with fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! awesome mid-range gaming laptops starting at $899 / £949

There's a real sweet spot when it comes to buying a decent gaming laptop. Spend too little and you'll potentially get a machine that either can't run modern games effectively or has a relatively short-lived live span. Spend too much, and you'll get diminishing returns when it comes to price to performance.

Here are two absolutely stellar Black Friday gaming laptop deals that really offer a ton of bang for the buck. If you've got a bit of dosh to spend, these are safe buys:

MSI Katana GF66 15.6-inch gaming laptop: £1,399 £949 at Very
We've seen this MSI Katana listed for £999 at both Currys and Amazon before but Very has snuck in with an awesome record-breaking price for Black Friday. While not cheap, this machine is incredible value thanks to its speedy RTX 3070 graphics card, Intel Core i7-11800H, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD, all of which are fantastic for the price. Overall, this is an incredibly impressive machine and one that won't let you down if you're on the hunt for performance.

Asus Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop: $1,399 $899.99 at Best Buy
Save $500 - Easily one of the best laptop deals in the entire Best Buy Black Friday sale, the Asus Zephyrus G14 has never been cheaper. This is one of our favorite gaming laptops thanks to its fantastic combination of portability and power. This particular model features a speedy RTX 3060 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a Ryzen 7-5800HS processor. All in all, this is a fantastic price for a machine with these specs, and the fact that the G14 features a lovely premium design and compact form factor makes it even better value.

2022-11-25T04:29:59.746Z

Ninja AF101 on blue background with cold symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Not! This Ninja air fryer will heat things up but it's not on this year's hot list...

Amazon's best-selling Ninja air fryer is always a Black Friday best-seller, but this year the four-quart appliance is only marked down to $99.95 - $30 more than the record-low price. There are several other fantastic Black Friday air fryer deals available, which why we would pass on this model.

2022-11-25T04:54:52.670Z

hai smart showerhead against the TechRadar Hot or Not background — (Image credit: hai)

Hot! hai Smart Showerhead for $149.00 at Amazon

All I want for Christmas is this highly-rated showerhead. While you’re all looking for the hottest devices that’s offer the best discounts, I’m looking forward to better, spa-level showers next year.

A different kind of smart home device, the hai Smart Showerhead doesn’t just keep you fresh and clean. It’s got some awesome features as well, including usage tracking to help you limit your water consumption, a spa-like mist mode (we all deserve it!), and a built-in notification to let you know that you’re water is the perfect temp (no more jumping around and squealing in the shower because the water's freezing.) For extra fun, it also has customizable LED lights and comes in different shades.

Plus, it’s 40% off for Black Friday!

2022-11-25T05:39:55.432Z

Clock holding a cup of coffee — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Good morning

Welcome to anyone just joining our Black Friday 2022 live blog - where TechRadar's team of experts rate this year's deals. As always there's plenty to get through this morning, so stick with us as we bring you the hottest deals of the day... and the worst ones to side-step.

2022-11-25T05:51:40.507Z

But first, a quick recap: here's a cautionary tale from our US editor in chief

"Do not buy the cheapest iPhone deal you can find. Let me tell you a story.

It was the iPhone 8. There was a fantastic Black Friday sale and, thinking I'd be the hero for getting my wife a new iPhone without breaking the bank, I bought it.

Thanks Lance. Wise counsel for both iPhone deals hunters and married shoppers. If you're interested, here's the best Black Friday promotion on the latest iPhone 14 series that we've found so far.

2022-11-25T05:53:36.969Z

AMD Radeon RX 6600 on orange background with fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! A legitimately good graphics card deal for $189.99

PC gamers have really been put through the wringer when it comes to graphics card prices over the past two years. First, the crypto explosion meant everyone and their grandma were trying to make a quick buck from coin mining. Secondly, several lockdowns triggered an absolute surge in gaming interest. The result? Crazy high prices on even the most modest of graphics cards.

The tide is turning now, though - here's a great sub $200 card that's on sale at Newegg this Black Friday:

2022-11-25T05:55:36.246Z

Should you buy the Kobo Libra 2 or Amazon Kindle Paperwhite?

Kobo Libra 2 ereader

Screen size: 7 inches
Storage: 4GB
Battery life: 6 weeks

The Kobo Libra 2 is the best all-round ereader there is. It has far more storage than the Kindle Paperweight, Bluetooth support for audiobooks, and is packed with useful features the Kindle doesn't have, such as OverDrive support to let you borrow library books. If you're looking for the most value for money, this is it.

For

Asymmetric design
32GB storage
Audiobook support

Against

Erratic battery charging

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021)

Screen size: 6.8 inches
Storage: 16GB
Battery life: 10 weeks

The Kindle Paperwhite offers a very comfortable reading experience, with a clear display that's easy to look at. It beats the Kobo Libra 2 on battery life (10 weeks versus six), but it's more complicated to upload books that haven't come from the Amazon store and falls short on features in comparison.

For

Large and clear display
Faster USB-C charging
Reading experience

Against

Limited to Amazon’s store

Both hot!

Choosing the best ereader isn't easy. Do you go for the market leader, Amazon’s Kindle, and if so, what’s the best Kindle? Or do you try a different brand, like Kobo (which has also been around a long time, since 2010)?

Both are at their lowest price ever today in the Amazon Black Friday sale. Both have front lights, both are waterproof and both have a ‘dark mode’.

However, the Libra 2 is good value with no confusing options, more storage by default and a better ergonomic design. It’s also got a very slightly larger display. we gave it a full five stars in our Kobo Libra 2 review.

The Paperwhite, meanwhile, costs more and lacks page-turn buttons, but it has a glass front and a faster processor. And if you go for the more expensive Paperwhite Signature Edition ($129 down from $189.99 at Amazon) you’ll also get wireless charging and an auto-adjusting display. We gave it 4.5/5 in our review.

For us, the winner is the Kobo Libra 2. Newer models from other brands have arrived since its launch, but it's a a fantastic all-around champion that still holds strong to its place as our #1 choice of ereader.

2022-11-25T06:44:49.124Z

A WD Elements 20TB hard drive on a blue background with an image of a snowflake next to it — (Image credit: Amazon)

NOT! Western Digital 20TB WD Elements external hard drive: was ~~$499.99~~ now $329.99 at Amazon

Matt Hanson, Managing Editor, Computing and Entertainment

There aren't that many deals I've seen that I would definitely tell people NOT TO BUY - but this is one of them. Not because it's a bad product, nor a terrible price - in fact, this is the best price it's ever been by some $60 and is a saving of 35%. It's just that for the vast majority of people you simply won't need a 20TB hard drive.

If you're in any doubt, 20 terabytes is a huge amount of storage. It's enough to hold around 6.2 million photos or 340,000 hours of music (which would take 39 years to listen to if you played them none stop).

So, for normal consumers, you just won't need that kind of space. Even professional photographers would struggle to fill 20TB. This is only really suitable for enterprise-grade stuff, and it's unlikely businesses are scouring Amazon during Prime Day.

Also, hard drives are slow these days - you're much better off getting a smaller, and much faster, SSD. If for some reason your do need 20TB of storage, I'd still not recommend you put all that data on a single drive - if the drive fails or gets damaged, that's a massive amount of data to lose. So, you'd ideally need at least one more 20TB drive as a backup to mirror all that data, pushing the price of this up to at least $710.

2022-11-25T06:53:51.192Z

Analysis: How good are today's Black Friday deals?

James Pickard, Deals Editor, TechRadar

We're long past the time when Black Friday was just a single-day event. We've seen the big end-of-year sale stretch out further over recent years, but 2022 has cemented it as a month-long event rather than a short spike of sales.

As the clocks ticked over to midnight - and since then - I've seen very little change in deal quality or quantity: everything has remained much the same as it was over the last week. Very few, if any, new deals have launched on Black Friday.

And where there are new arrivals, many of these are the same deals that have been available at various other retailers in the days before. We've said it before, but buying early is absolutely sensible: the deals are just as good today as when the sales first started.

2022-11-25T07:02:50.140Z

What's happening in the UK this morning?

The big Black Friday story in the UK continues to be the hunt for an air fryer deal. We've seen out of stock messages almost everywhere for the highly sought-after kitchen gadget - there are few cheap options still around, but most remaining stock is around the more expensive models.

The fact that Argos launched a new offer yesterday evening on a relative pricey model and it still sold out within a matter of hours shows demand is still high.

We're tracking the best Black Friday air fryer deals all day - as soon as more stock becomes available we'll tell you.

2022-11-25T07:24:23.283Z

HOT! Air fryers

We've already reported on how air fryers are tough to get hold of today. But there are some deals around... Here are 11 you can still get hold of, plus a few tips on where to shop.

Read more: The best air fryers we've tested

Amazon: often the cheapest air fryers
Argos: budget air fryers starting at £56
AO: a handful of air fryer deals today
Currys: there are some savings to be had
John Lewis: Instant Pot, Ninja, and Tefal deals
Very: air fryers coming back in stock

2022-11-25T08:14:37.285Z

Hot! Lego Harry Potter 2022 Advent Calendar: was ~~£30~~ now £14.99 at John Lewis

This one's been flying on our best Black Friday deals round up - not surprised, I probably wouldn't say no. It has seven minifigures: Harry, Sirius, Moaning Myrtle, Voldemort, Horace Slughorn, Nymphadora, and Neville; and a different Harry Potter toy each day.

Kids can use the toys to make scenes from the different films as they go - and there's a game included to play once all the doors have been opened. Cool.

It's aimed at kids aged seven and upwards, and it's selling fast on the John Lewis site. It is half price...

2022-11-25T10:31:34.494Z

Hot! 3 of the best TVs you can buy

There are looooads of Black Friday TV deals today. But sometimes you just need a bit of guidance, so we asked TV expert and good TechRadar friend Henry St Leger to chose three of his favorite TVs at three different price points: budget, mid-range and premium.

He's picked them on the basis on their performance and usual value for money - but the good news is all three are on sale today, so even better value for money than usual.

The all-new Sony A95K QD-OLED TV — (Image credit: Sony)

1. Sony XR-A95K

The best TV for image quality you can buy today

Screen size: 55-inch, 65-inch | Resolution: 4K | Display technology: QD-OLED | Smart TV: Google TV | Refresh rate: 120Hz

Stunning pictures and sound

Exceptional build quality

Expensive

Only in two sizes

This 2022 Sony TV could well be the best TV ever – which makes it a shoo-in for our top World Cup TV deal. This high-end screen boasts exceptional build quality, with some of the most stunning images to ever grace a television screen. Sony has good form for motion processing in particular, which is a crucial metric when you're watching fast-paced athletes sprint across the screen at a moment's notice.

This is a QD-OLED TV, meaning it makes the most of both OLED panels (great darks and brightness control) alongside Quantum Dot filtering (boosted color and contrast).

Sony's Acoustic Surface Audio feature quite literally vibrates the screen to emit sound, too – it won't compete with a dedicated Dolby Atmos soundbar, but it'll certainly do for the roar of the crowd in your living room. Voice recognition capability will make it easy to control playback from the comfort of the couch as well.

It's certainly pricey, though you'll also get premium gaming features like HDMI 2.1, 120Hz frame rate, and VRR –though only on two ports, which is pretty cheap for a premium TV.

Read our full Sony A95K TV review

LG C2 OLED TV in dim living room environment with fantasy image on screen — (Image credit: LG)

2. LG C2

Awesome OLED quality in a huge range of sizes

Screen size: 42-inch, 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch, 83-inch | Resolution: 4K | Display technology: OLED | Smart TV: webOS | Refresh rate: 120Hz

Stunning picture quality

Ultra-thin design

Only acceptable audio

Some sizes are brighter than others

The LG C2 is one of the best TVs out there today – its images aren't quite as strong as the Sony A95K's, but it's costs a huge amount less. It features a stunning OLED display with an Alpha a9 Gen. 5 processor, offering incredible images, motion processing, and vibrant colors in every pixel. At this price, you're getting a truly astonishing level of picture quality, including good motion processing and a 120Hz screen to keep everything clear even when the action gets fast.

The webOS platform is one of the best in the business, too, making it easy to navigate your favourite channels and apps. The sound quality is ample as well, with 40W of volume and a 2.2 channel speaker system – perfectly good for sports, though you may miss some nuance when switching over to watch an action movie on Netflix. It's got four future-proof HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen gaming too.

Read our full LG C2 review

Samsung Q60B in living room — (Image credit: Samsung)

3. Samsung Q60B

The best cheap World Cup TV

Screen size: 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 60-inch, 65-inch, 70-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch | Resolution: 4K | Display technology: QLED | Smart TV: Tizen | Refresh rate: 60Hz

Good 4K image quality

Bold QLED colors

Average contrast

Only 60Hz frame rate

After a capable World Cup TV deal that doesn't cost the earth? Check out this mid-range Samsung TV, the Q60B. The QLED screen will offer improved color and contrast over cheaper LCD models, though lacks the more impressive backlights in the screens higher up – this isn't a match for OLED or Neo QLED when it comes to brightness or cinematic depth.

However, Samsung is a reliable TV brand with a base level of picture quality even at this price range, and the wide mix of screen sizes will give you plenty of flexibility in choosing the right model for your home. Samsung motion processing is good, though getting a TV at this price means a 60Hz screen instead of 120Hz, so motion is a little less fluid and clear. But if you want a big punchy screen that can show the spectacle of a sporting stadium at full power, it's great value.

2022-11-25T11:58:39.052Z

iPhone 14 Pro on orange background with heat symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! Verizon's awesome Black Friday iPhone 14 Pro promo

This, right here, was the deal that Verizon users were probably waiting for this November. The excellent iPhone 14 Pro was already being offered with a whopping trade-in rebate of up to $1,000 but right now you can score yourself a free pair of Beats, an iPad, and an Apple Watch SE on top:

Apple iPhone 14 Pro: up to $1,000 off with trade, plus free Apple Watch SE, iPad, and Beats Fit Pro
This is the highlight of this year's Verizon Black Friday deals. The excellent iPhone 14 Pro is up for grabs with the usual trade-in rebate of up to $1,000, but with a free Apple Watch SE, iPad, and pair of Beats Fit Pro being thrown in. That's just over $1,000 in free gifts according to Verizon and an amazing little package to get on top of the usual saving. Also available today is the buy-one-get-one-free promo, but that doesn't stack with the trade-in rebate.

2022-11-25T12:27:38.105Z

NOT! Western Digital 20TB WD Elements external hard drive: was ~~$499.99~~ now $329.99 at Amazon

Matt Hanson, Managing Editor, Computing and Entertainment

2022-11-25T12:56:27.807Z

LG C2 OLED on orange background with hot symbol — (Image credit: LG)

HOT! The LG C2 OLED TV with a huge $500 saving

We've said it before and we'll say it again - the LG C2 is easily one of the Best TVs money can buy. Yes, it's pricey, but those with a bit of cash to spend will find the C2 close to the perfect TV. Right now, it's at its lowest ever price at Amazon.

Vivid, gorgeous picture? Check. Host of smart features and a powerful processor? Check. Array of HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen gaming? Check. Put all these together and you've got an incredibly feature-packed display that's going to be the centerpiece of any room you put it in.

2022-11-25T13:15:57.368Z

Amazon's pet section is utterly wild

Is this hot or not? I'll let you decide. Every now and again I find myself distracted by the Amazon Black Friday deals pet section - in particular, the amazing product imagery employed by the various brands attempting to peddle their wares.

Right now, my favorite so far is this Frankenpup Dog Costume, which yes, actually has a Black Friday deal today at Amazon. If you feel the need to dress your dog up as the monster this holiday season, then feel free to save yourself four dollars.

I'm not sure if the FrankenPup costume beats the ChomChom pet hair remover, however, which was my favorite over Amazon Prime Day.

I can't decide if the image they used cute or horrifying. The dog's eyes in particular are incredibly unnerving in a way that no dog's eyes should ever be. Obviously, photoshop exists but I can't help thinking they slipped something into the pet food dish. It's like the dog is looking into the future. Or perhaps it's seen too much already.

2022-11-25T13:36:33.594Z

Kindle Paperwhite on orange background with fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! The latest Kindle Paperwhite at its lowest price

There's not much better than getting all cosy by the fire with your favorite book over the holidays in our opinion. One of the best gifts you can buy for a reader (or yourself) is the latest Kindle Paperwhite, which is at its lowest price right now in both the US and UK.

While the Paperwhite isn't the cheapest Kindle in the range, it's arguably the best for most users. For the price, you get an excellent backlight, adjustable warm color filter (fantastic for low-light situations), and plenty of storage for your titles. Basically, it's all you need to open up a world of reading at your fingertips.

It's not just me who thinks this is a great deal, check out US editor-in-chief Lance Ulanoff's post on why the Kindle Paperwhite is a sleeper hit this Black Friday.

2022-11-25T13:50:14.876Z

Emma mattress on blue background with cold symbol — (Image credit: Future)

NOT! Emma Original mattress: from £249.50 at Emma

Ruth Hamilton, Sleep Editor, TechRadar

We like the Emma Original a lot, but we're not impressed with this deal. This mattress has been available at this price since July. You won't be paying over the odds if you buy today, but Emma is trying to trick us with exclamation marks and flame emojis, and we're having none of it.

If you find yourself on the Emma site, our recommendation would be to take a left swerve at the Original and check out the Emma Premium, which does have a good Black Friday discount. The Original is included in our best mattresses guide because it offers such good value for money, but the pricier Premium will be a better mattress for many people, and today's a great day to pick it up for a lower price than usual (55% off gets you a double for under £500). You get the same soothing, body-hugging memory foam of the Original, but it's coupled with a layer of tall springs, which amp up support and promote airflow through the mattress, so it sleeps cooler.

2022-11-25T13:56:14.830Z

Getting into the festive mood this Black Friday

Just a quick one from me - Amazon's not just a great place to buy cheap tech this Black Friday, you'll also find a ton of discounted booze. Featured here are listings on a wide selection of beer, wines, and spirits - the latter in particular being a great choice for a holiday gift.

Beer, wine, and spirits: from £4.49 at Amazon
With party season almost upon us, now is a good time to stock up the drinks cabinet. Amazon is here to help you do that for less, with savings of up to 28% on a selection of wines, champagnes, vodkas and whiskies. Single bottles or larger cases are available, including well-known brands such as Jameson and Gordon's. This link here is mostly focused on spirits but you can find a section with beer by clicking on the banner image at the top of the Amazon page too.

2022-11-25T14:06:17.301Z

Fitbit Inspire 2 on orange background with flame symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! Work off that Thanksgiving dinner with a cheap Fitbit

We've just spotted a half-price Black Friday deal over at Walmart on the Fitbit Inspire 2 that's perfect if you're looking to kickstart your fitness routines on a budget.

Yes, it's not the latest tracker on the market - or the most advanced - but it's an absolute steal at this price and still has all the useful fitness-focused features you'd expect. Whether you're a running, swimmer, or hiker, you'll find useful apps here as well as useful sleep-tracking apps to improve your overall health.

2022-11-25T14:22:12.904Z

Oculus Quest 2 on orange background with fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! Oculus Quest 2 bundle deals in both territories

Great deals on VR headsets can be fairly thin on the ground but there are some superb options right now if you're interested in the Oculus Quest 2. Amazon is offering a really nice little bundle in both the US and UK, check them out:

While the Oculus Quest 2 has been cheaper historically, it was the unfortunate victim of a price hike back in August, after which deals have been pretty much non-existent. While you're still paying a fair bit upfront here, you're getting some really decent free titles being thrown in with Resident Evil 4 VR and Beat Saber - both of which are absolute classics.

2022-11-25T14:42:04.987Z

A flat lay of Apple products on a black background — (Image credit: Apple)

Not! Apple's obsession with gift cards over Black Friday

We get it Apple - you like to do things a little differently, but how about posting some actually good Black Friday deals for once? In case you're wondering what we're referencing here, the official store in the US and UK always offers gift cards.

This is completely opposite of the usual Black Friday Apple deals you'd find at Amazon, Best Buy, Currys, or any number of big-name retailers - all of which actually offer decent upfront discounts. Over at Apple, you're going to get a gift card of anywhere between $50 and $200, depending on how much you spend.

Basically, Apple is looking to reward shoppers for their loyalty here. Buying Apple over Black Friday? Here's the chance to buy more Apple products. It's kinda OK if you're interested in accessories, but otherwise, it pales in comparison to simply getting a big saving at one of the other retailers.

Here's an example for you: the Apple MacBook Pro 14 is available for purchase right now at Apple with a free $250 / £250 gift card up for grabs at the official store. Sounds like a great deal considering that will cover a pair of AirPods or most of an Apple Watch. Well, take a look at this upfront saving over at Best Buy and you'll what we we're getting at here:

Personally, we'd much rather get $400 in the pocket rather than a $250 gift card. Your mileage may vary, but this Best Buy MacBook deal absolutely blow's Apples offering out the water right now in our books.

2022-11-25T15:02:12.642Z

Hot! Big screens on a budget in the US

Looking to up your viewing game this Black Friday but don't want to pay a ton of cash? Here are two of the best value big-screen displays we've seen so far in the US.

This first pick is for a decently sized 65-inch Insignia F30 Series display. Insignia is obviously a brand that doesn't carry the weight of something like an LG or Samsung, but you're getting some great specs for the money here. In particular, having Fire TV built into the display enables a ton of smart features and access to a world of streaming apps at your fingertips. No need to pair this one up with a Fire TV Stick, it'll pair up and run all your streaming apps right out the box.

This 75-inch Samsung is a great option if you want a quality display that's packed full of features but don't want to spend the big bucks you have to shell out for a premium QLED or OLED display. It's still got a fairly decent upscaling chip and one of the better smart TV platforms out there in the form of Tizen. It's a little pricier than some options you'll find over Black Friday, but you're getting enough for your money here that we're comfortable recommending it.

2022-11-25T15:28:16.093Z

More weird pet products at Amazon this Black Friday

Following on from my post earlier - here are some more 'interesting' listings from the Amazon pets section. First up is the Hawwwy Funny Dog Teeth Ball for Dogs.

Hawwwy Funny Dog Teeth Ball — (Image credit: Hawwwy)

So, I think we can all get on board with getting our pets a present this holiday season but this one is just too much for me.

Firstly, it looks... well, absolutely awful - and the reviews attest to this. A couple of reviewers have gone so far to even call it downright dangerous due to choking risk. Secondly, the idea of shifting the ball around in a dog's mouth to get the perfect picture opportunity just feels a bit... yeah.

Here's an actual Black Friday deal that may be useful, however - the Aumuca Cat Brush.

I'll admit, I'm just posting this one because I love how shocked the cat looks in the product image but this brush genuinely looks like a good product for pet owners. If you have a long-haired cat in particular, you'll know how those hairs literally get anywhere. Maybe you can treat your cat to a good brush this Black Friday. Hopefully it won't be as taken aback as this particular feline appears to be.

2022-11-25T16:03:02.613Z

The one item I buy every Black Friday - is Crest Whitestrips

The Crest best-selling whitening strips are rarely on sale, which is why I always stock up on Black Friday. Originally priced at $45.99, today's Black Friday deal brings the Whitestrips down to $29.99 - the lowest price we've ever seen, which puts this offer on the hot list.

2022-11-25T16:26:00.962Z

Revlon one step volumizer — (Image credit: Revlon)

A Black Friday favorite - Revlon's One-Step Hair Dryer on sale for just $25.24

Revlon's one-step volumizer hair dryer is another Black Friday best-seller, and Amazon just dropped the price from $39.87 to just $25.24 - the lowest price we've ever seen. The hair dryer makes a fantastic gift idea or a nice treat for yourself, which is why it's on our hot list this year.

2022-11-25T16:51:42.229Z

Dell XPS 13 on orange background with heat symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! A Black Friday classic - the Dell XPS 13

We're big fans of the Dell XPS 13 here at TechRadar. We've consistently ranked it top or neat to the top on our best laptops buyer's guide for a good few years now. As with most Black Fridays, there are some absolutely awesome options if you're looking for a bargain on this premium ultrabook. Here are our favorites so far.

Both these options are more 'entry-level' but that doesn't mean they're worth skipping. They're really decently priced for what you're getting - a speedy chip, excellent screen, and a design that blows most Windows laptops out the water when it comes to quality. The Dell XPS is a great buy and well worth a look if you want something that's a little more special than the usual cheap laptop deal fare.

2022-11-25T17:27:26.840Z

High Street — (Image credit: Image Credit: Free-Photos / Pixabay)

Just one in seven Black Friday deals are real - UK report

The leading UK consumer protection site Which? published a report (via SkyNews) a few days back that highlights what most consumers probably already suspect - that a lot of Black Friday 'deals' are of fairly dubious quality.

The site tracked 214 individual Black Friday deals across leading retailers such as Amazon, Currys, John Lewis, and Argos, and found that a whopping 86% were found at the same price or cheaper over the previous six months. A couple of example products included a 43-inch Toshiba TV and a Zanussi range hood.

Our thoughts on this report? It seems fairly thorough and generally lines up with our own observations from covering this year's deals. Amazon's Black Friday offerings in particular are very, very similar to those that were offered over Amazon Prime Day this year. There are, however, a few diamonds in the rough and we'd say Black Friday still offers a great opportunity to bag some tech. While the majority of prices may not be record-breakers, they do tend to be a match for the historically lowest prices.

2022-11-25T17:48:20.763Z

Echo dot on orange background with hot symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! The Echo Dot is the perfect Christmas stocking filler

Enough with the news of fake Black Friday deals! Here are some listings that are the real deal at Amazon today on the latest Echo Dot. This tiny little smart speaker is one of our favorites here at TechRadar and it's got a half-price deal in both the US and UK.

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.

These listings are genuinely the lowest prices yet on this smart speaker and well worth a look if you're looking for a fairly cheap tech gift for a loved one. While it's not exactly the most premium speaker on the market, it's still going to give you access to a whole host of useful features like music playback, smart device control, and alerts.

2022-11-25T18:19:02.176Z

Customers Wait In Line Outside A New York City Best Buy For A Chance To Buy An RTX 3080 Ti — (Image credit: Future)

Consumers predicted to spend 15% less this Black Friday

Feeling the pinch this Black Friday? You're not alone. The Financial Times has just posted a story that includes an interesting tidbit of info.

According to predictions by MasterCard, shoppers this November are due to spend 15% less versus last year's sale. The main reasons laid out here include inflationary pressures and that last year's sales were boosted by pandemic stimulus funds.

Another interesting tidbit of info suggests that shoppers are favoring in-store brick-and-mortar purchases over online orders this year (according to Adobe Analytics), with public health concerns easing post-pandemic.

Our thoughts? We're feeling the pinch as much as anyone here at TechRadar, which is why we're doubling down on giving as much well-informed buying advice as possible this Black Friday.

2022-11-25T19:08:34.390Z

Keurig K-Mini coffee maker on orange background with fire symbol — (Image credit: Future)

Hot! Quality coffee for less

If you're sick of the same old instant coffee, why not upgrade your kitchen setup with a cheap and space efficient pod coffee machine? Here's a really great choice at Amazon today:

2022-11-25T21:55:08.846Z

Google Nest Thermostat on an orange background with a flame symbol — (Image credit: Amazon)

Hot! Heat control for your home!

Smart thermostats are a must have for any smart home, giving you the ability to set the temperature remotely or via your voice or an app. In turn, this can help you save money on bills by giving you better control over your heating.

The Google Nest Thermostat is already one of the cheaper options on the market, but it's now even more of a bargain: it's down to $89.98 at Amazon for Black Friday, saving you $40 even before it starts saving you money on bills.