How to win at the Black Friday deals - top tips from our deals experts

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TechRadar's bargain-spotting pros will help you spot a deal from a dud

Black Friday deals 2023
(Image credit: Future)

With Black Friday deals already upon us, it’s a great time to go on the hunt for a bargain - whether you’re after a new laptop or tablet or fancy an air fryer or a slick new smartwatch. But how do you know if you’re truly getting a genuine deal versus a dud that’s been made up to look like a bargain?

As the Managing Editor of TechRadar’s Deals team, I’ve tapped one of the most talented groups of people in the bargain-spotting business to get some expert advice.

But first some quick advice:

  • Remember Black Friday itself is on November 29 this year
  • Check the historical price of an item using tools like Camel Camel Camel to ensure you’re actually getting a bargain
  • Sign up to retailer promotions or subscriptions that offer regular deals like Amazon Prime
  • Set up Google alerts for items you’re after
  • Follow TechRadar’s TikTok and WhatsApp channels for deals updates
  • Regularly check TechRadar and sign up to our newsletter for deal spotlighting, buying advice, and expert insights on Black Friday deals

Now read on for advice from TechRadar’s deals experts.

Deals picked by
James Pickard
Deals picked by
James Pickard

As TechRadar's senior deals editor, James has covered major sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day for almost a decade so he's learnt what to expect and how to make the most of each one. james is here to help you save money, bring you the best products for the lowest prices that we've tested and the ones he loves here at TechRadar, and uncover those hidden bargains you don't want to miss.

"The Black Friday sales may push a lot of shiny new tech but you shouldn't neglect older products when it comes to the big end-of-year sales. It's no secret that retailers dramatically cut prices during this event to shift a lot of remaining stock, but a lot of those items are still excellent buys

Let's take the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones, for example. These have remained our pick for the best headphones you can buy for over two years – and that's even after the newer XM5s released. The older cans still offer excellent audio quality and noise-cancellation, and best of all you can pick them up for nearly $100/£100 less than the newer pair over Black Friday.

You can see other examples in TVs, laptops, and phones, where older and cheaper products do the job just as well (and sometimes even better) for far less cash. That's a way to score many of the best and less obvious bargains during Black Friday and something we pay close attention to when deals hunting."

Mackenzie Frazier
Mackenzie Frazier

With years of Black Friday deals under her metaphorical belt, Mackenzie is the Senior Deals Editor in the US for TechRadar and one of the people you want to talk to when it comes to getting a great deal. She loves finding products that consumers want at the best possible price. And with 11 years of experience working in e-commerce, you can trust her when it comes to winning at Black Friday.

"My Black Friday advice is to do your research. That could mean making a list of what products you want to buy on Black Friday, checking out when retailers will launch their Black Friday sales, or using price tracking tools to ensure you're getting an actual bargain.

That last piece of advice is the most important. Some retailers will raise the price of an item before the sale starts, so you think you're getting a really good deal. A price tracking tool will tell you the price history of a product so you know what kind of discount you're getting. If it's a record-low price or the lowest price of the year – then you know it's a genuine bargain."

Deals picked by
Alex Whitelock portrait
Deals picked by
Alex Whitelock

As TechRadar's resident Deals Editor, Alex has covered Black Friday for over four years now. When it comes to scoring a bargain this November, he's got a range of knowledge and way to dig up a good bargain and avoid those deals that have been inflated to look good but aren't in reality.

"My number one tip for readers is to turn up early - especially if you anticipate shopping for in-demand products. Things like record-low prices on Apple products, cheap Amazon devices, and, in some cases, high-end TVs have all sold out in recent years, so it's worth taking advantage of the early sales that are becoming commonplace at leading retailers these days.

As always, however, I'd recommend taking a look at the retailer's fine print to see if the store will offer price match guarantees. These can insulate you from further price drops and provide peace of mind if you're buying early. For an example of this, see Best Buy's extended Holiday Price Match guarantee."

Deals picked by
A monochrome image of Roland Moore-Colyer
Deals picked by
Roland Moore-Colyer

With more than a decade's worth of technology journalism experience, as the manager of the Mobile Computing and Deals verticals at TechRadar, Roland is well placed to flag some of the best tech deals in general and into Black Friday itself. With this experience in mind, he plans to bring you deals around products TechRadar tried and recommend them to you, That way you can be sure you're getting a bargain and not a dud.

"My advice is a little more holistic than that of my colleagues. While I’m a sucker for a bargain that I can jump on as a knee-jerk purchase, I also support the idea of going into the Black Friday deals with a plan of what you’re after so that you’re savvy to what the best price will be, but also don’t wait too long and risk missing a cut-price item due to stock running out.

Also, think about what you need or how, say, a new item of tech will fit into your current setup. As tempting as it may be to grab something at a low price if you don’t end up using it or getting the most out of it, you could end up filling your home with redundant stuff. Smartphones are a good example here, as they have become so iterative in their yearly upgrades I feel there’s no pressing need to have the latest model, as one from two or more years ago is probably still perfectly fine; of course, retailers and brands offering good trade-in deals somewhat mitigate this.

In short, shop with a dose of common sense and a plan. And bookmark TechRadar to have a one-stop-place for what you need to know about the Black Friday deals."

TechRadar's main Black Friday deals articles you should check out right now

TOPICS
Roland Moore-Colyer
Managing Editor, Mobile Computing

Roland Moore-Colyer is Managing Editor at TechRadar with a focus on phones and tablets, but a general interest in all things tech, especially those with a good story behind them. He can also be found writing about games, computers, and cars when the occasion arrives, and supports with the day-to-day running of TechRadar. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face and a nose for food markets.