Having bought myself an iPad Pro M5 last month I've been on the hunt for a decent keyboard to go with it. Apple has made iPadOS 26 so much more friendly for everyday work, I decided it could become my general go-to laptop replacement.

I finally decided to go for the official Apple Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch Pro, having heard great things about it, but no sooner had I checked out and paid, I spotted this on Amazon – Logitech's Combo Touch iPad Pro Keyboard. And what's more, it's got a mammoth £100 off in the UK, $50 off in the US.

Best Cyber Monday iPad deals – iPad Pro M5, iPad Air M3, iPad mini, and more

I'm sure I'll be happy with my Apple keyboard, but considering it cost me £299 ($299 in the States), I could have saved even more. The Logitech alternative is just £129.99 on Amazon UK, $179.99 on Amazon US.

Remember though, these are part of Amazon's Black Friday / Cyber Monday sale that ends at midnight tonight (in your region).

There are plenty of other iPad keyboards available in Amazon UK's Black Friday sale, and Amazon US' Cyber Monday deals. But the two above seem to be the best value, in comparison with the features.

I also trust Logitech. So, if you are in the market to turn your iPad Pro into a laptop replacement, I suggest you take a look at these first – even if you do end up heading over to Apple.com for the official version, like myself.

As we roll into the final hours of Cyber Monday – the final day of the Black Friday sales period – there are still plenty of decent last-minute deals out there to be had.

While I've been scouring through various great options – picking out the best deals from Argos, Currys, John Lewis and Amazon – there have been some strong drone deals.

One, in particular, for DJI's sub-250g drone that can withstand wind being a highlight – which my T3 colleague wrote about. Thing is, not everyone can afford a DJI drone.

Check out the Q10 Mini Drone deal on Amazon

With retailers really promoting 'gifting' at the moment, this drone deal captured my attention thanks to its tiny price tag. At under £36, who could say no? It could be an ideal gift.

I can't attest to have ever flown this Hakasee drone, I must make clear, but the Amazon reviews are interesting – with 56% of the 1,142 reviews (at the time of writing) awarding it a full 5-stars.

That's 639 people, by my calculation, who gave this quadcopter the full-marks treatment – and that's before this deal even came to light. Now that it's even cheaper, that's only going to be more appealing.

You will need to be quick, however, if you want to take advantage of the deal. As you can see from its countdown timer, it's one of Amazon's "Doorbuster Deal" specials, designed with gifting in mind – but only until the end of Cyber Monday, when it's scheduled to return to full price.

I'm not saying the Q10 Mini will be better than a DJI purchase, by the way, just that if you're in gift shopping mode that it could suit the budget for an intended recipient who you may have in mind.

It does plenty of things, mind, as you can see from the demonstration video on Amazon's page. It's got a camera, can take shots of you when you trigger it with a gesture, can follow a flight path, and even do 3D flips at the touch of a button.

Not for you? Shop all Cyber Monday deals on Amazon here – its Top 100 is full of lots of tempting buys.

YETI closes out its Gear Garage event with a bang – or, more accurately, a blaze.

After three days of rapid-fire drops in the US, the brand has saved its boldest release for Cyber Monday: the new Solar Flare colourway, a punchy, high-visibility orange available across a tight selection of Rambler drinkware and bottles.

Shop YETI's Gear Garage Sale – ends December 1!

This fourth and final drop marks the end of YETI’s annual clearance-meets-limited-edition frenzy, and as always, stock is moving fast.

Today's drop follows a series of unique launches, including yesterday’s Soft Coolers and the Camp Green/Firefly Yellow drinkware launch, and Saturday’s Roadie 15 update with new colours like Alpine Yellow and Aquifer Blue.

YETI confirms that the colourway “captures the radiance of the sun with its perfect bright orange hue,” designed to get spotted across campsites, gyms and morning commutes.

Blaze of glory

Solar Flare spans a curated list of drinkware, including Rambler tumblers in multiple sizes, stackable cups, water bottles with Chug Caps, the 16 and 18 oz Yonder models, the 18 oz and 26 oz Rambler bottles, Colster can coolers, insulated food jars and even the Boomer dog bowl.

It’s the brightest palette YETI has launched all year – almost traffic-cone vivid – and sits firmly in the “love-it-or-you-really-love-it” category.

If you’re the kind of person who treats your drinkware like an accessory, Solar Flare is designed to draw attention without shouting.

Last call for limited editions

With today marking the final chapter of Gear Garage, nothing in the drop will restock once sold out, following the usual YETI pattern.

Last week's UK-exclusive Slick Horn Tundra accessory is already gone, and so are day 2's saw-on badges.

Today’s collection mirrors that energy. Once the clock strikes midnight, poof! Solar Flare gets extinguished.

Shop YETI's Gear Garage Sale – ends December 1!

As always, this year’s Gear Garage overlapped perfectly with Cyber Monday, which means shoppers get one last excuse to scoop up limited-edition drinkware before the holiday crunch.

Judging by the interest stirred up by last week’s debut of YETI’s new shaker bottle, which had nothing to do with Gear Garage but still sent readers into a frenzy, today’s vivid orange finale feels like the right crescendo.

If you’ve been waiting for the brightest, boldest drop of the year, this is it. Solar Flare is here for a moment, gone tomorrow, and shining as hard as Cyber Monday allows.

Okay, people, don't panic – but it's finally here. After about a month of build-up and at least a fortnight of widespread deals, we're in the middle of Cyber Monday. That means a swathe of new deals have gone live at plenty of retailers online, including a whole heap of discounts across tech, home, active and more sections.

Before you go haring off into the online wilds searching for bargains, though, let us give you just one single tip that should completely change how you shop online (for the better).

It's not a revolutionary one, unless you've never really done it, but I'd say it's the single most important thing for people to do during sales like Black Friday: use a price tracker.

These simple online tools come in a few different shapes, but each one does the same thing: it gives you an overview of how the price of an item has fluctuated over recent months or years, crucially letting you see if the so-called deal being offered is actually any better than the usual.

These trackers don't work on every online retailer, though – in fact, most of them focus on Amazon specifically since it's the biggest and most popular site. Below you'll find links to three different options, including my personal choice, Keepa.

• Keepa
• Camelcamelcamel
• Bobalob

In Keepa's case, what makes it so useful is that it has a Chrome or Safari extension you can install. This adds a simple graph showing the price over time to each and every Amazon page you visit (in your browser, not the Amazon app), making it possible to do this key research as you browse rather than in a new window.

Others like CamelCamelCamel and Bobalob have other advantages, though, from alerts you can set up to, at times, more robust timelines of pricing.

No matter which you pick, though, this one simple step will change how you see online sales. The truth is that a lot of deals on Black Friday (or Prime Day, or the Boxing Day sales) aren't actually deep reductions because the previous prices were already low.

That's why writers like me use price trackers non-stop, so that we can pick out deals that are actually worth your attention and filter out some of the noisy but fake offers. I'm not necessarily trying to cut myself out as a middleman, since we'll be handy to point you at the best deals, but making price tracking part of your default buying journey is a must.

Make sure you fold it into your routine this Cyber Monday: it could easily save you from a dud deal or two.

It's been quite the week. Not only did I get to watch Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man at the cinema ahead of its release on Netflix next month, the final series of Stranger Things has also returned – which I've saved, but will be watching imminently.

Beyond that, somehow – seriously, how did I not know about this? – a colleague pointed out that there's a Netflix shop with loads of great merch, including nostalgic Stranger Things picks that are just brilliant.

Check out the full Stranger Things Netflix Store here

So whether it's for a personal treat, or you're looking for gifts for a Stranger Things fan, Netflix has really knocked it out the park with its range of options. Some are sold out or will sell out, mind, so you might want to be speedy in your purchases as the show's popularity continues to rise.

Oh and big point of note: use code BFCM35 for 35% off at the checkout stage. That's a tasty discount – but, given this is to do with the best Black Friday sales, keep in mind that it will be over and out by end of Cyber Monday, 1 December...

YETI has opened the doors to a major new Gear Garage update today, and it’s a big one: the brand’s new limited-edition Blue Camo colourway has officially landed.

It’s the first time in 2025 that both the US and UK/EU Gear Garage sales are live simultaneously, giving fans on both sides of the pond something new to chase.

Shop the YETI Gear Garage Sale in the US

The US Gear Garage gets the biggest drop by far, with Blue Camo splashed across a full lineup of Ramblers, bottles and jugs.

The range spans everything from the Tundra 45 Hard Cooler to 20 oz, 30 oz and 42 oz tumblers, 12–36 oz bottles, the one-gallon and half-gallon jugs, a 12 oz Colster, shot glasses, and even a matching flask.

It’s one of the most extensive colourway pushes YETI has released through the Garage in years, and, crucially, it’s limited once the stock is gone.

Over in the UK, today’s drop is smaller but still noteworthy, bringing Blue Camo to a curated selection of drinkware plus a collectors’ patch.

That’s in addition to the items released earlier in the week:

• Day 1: The “Slick Horns” Gear Garage kickoff
• Day 2: The surprise addition of 12L and 18L Ranchero Packs, as well as ultra-limited store-exclusive patches from cities including LA, Denver, NYC, Washington D.C. and YETI’s home base in Austin.

Today’s launch ties the whole thing together: a high-demand colourway in the US, a tighter curated drop in the UK, and a rare moment where the Gear Garage aligns globally.

With Camo already one of YETI’s most popular styles, you can expect Blue Camo to disappear fast, especially the larger US SKUs, which rarely get this kind of limited-edition treatment.

EcoFlow wasn't supposed to launch its next major portable power station until next year, but in a very Black-Friday-appropriate twist, the company has pushed the button early.

The brand-new DELTA 3 Max Series officially lands today, complete with launch bundles and an extra 5% off using exclusive codes for Amazon (DELTA3MAXUK) and EcoFlow’s website (EFNEWD3MSERIES).

Shop all EcoFlow deals in Amazon's Black Friday sale

Shop the EcoFlow Black Friday sale

Originally slated for the new year, the DELTA 3 Max Series feels like the company’s biggest step forward since the DELTA Pro. The flagship DELTA 3 Max Plus (2048Wh) is the industry’s first 2kWh power station capable of delivering a massive 3,000W AC output with 6,000W surge power, according to EcoFlow.

This means you can run almost any home appliance, from fridges and kettles to microwaves and washing machines, without tripping the unit. The standard DELTA 3 Max model offers a still-hefty 2,400W output.

A power station built for both emergencies and everyday use

Beyond the headline wattage, EcoFlow has packed the DELTA 3 Max Plus with genuinely useful tech.

One of the most exciting new features is Output Priority, which lets you decide exactly which circuits stay powered during an outage (e.g., keeping the fridge on while shutting off lighting) either via the onboard controls or the app.

It can also automatically cut non-essential devices when the battery hits a user-defined threshold, preserving the remaining charge for critical appliances.

The DELTA 3 Max Plus is expandable, too, from its base 2kWh up to a massive 10kWh using EcoFlow’s Smart Extra Batteries. This is enough to keep major home circuits running for days, or to build a flexible off-grid setup.

If there’s one area where EcoFlow continues to dominate, it’s charging performance. AC charging can take the DELTA 3 Max Plus from 0–80% in just 47 minutes, thanks to X-Stream 3.0.

Solar charging supports up to 1,000W input, and the improved alternator charger can also push 1,000W, filling the unit to 80% in 95 minutes while on the road.

Even solar-plus-alternator dual charging is supported, hitting the same 0–80% level in around 51 minutes.

The station's LFP batteries are rated for a 10-year lifespan, automotive-grade CTC structural reinforcement, and over 40 layers of safety protections managed by an AI-enhanced BMS.

Shop all EcoFlow deals in Amazon's Black Friday sale

Shop the EcoFlow Black Friday sale

EcoFlow also claims whisper-quiet operation at 30 dB or lower, quieter than many fridges. For home offices or studios, the Plus model includes a 10 ms UPS mode, twice as fast as the typical 20 ms switchover, along with HID support to safely shut down NAS servers during long outages.

If you’ve considered adding a full-size portable power station to your home or off-grid setup, this early launch couldn’t have been timed better.

The Ultrahuman Ring Air has just received a juicy Black Friday discount at Amazon where it's had £100 knocked off, bringing it down to just £229. It’s the lightest smart watch on the market, weighing just 2.4 grams, so if you want a deeper insight into your health and wellbeing, without the bulk of a watch, it’s a fantastic option.

It also doesn’t come with any subscription fees, either, meaning you can track your sleep, HRV, heart rate, skin temperature, SpO₂, activity, and recovery without any additional costs. It has a pretty good battery life too, delivering up to six days of juice on a single charge, and is waterproof up to 100 metres.

In our review, we said, "Thanks to the unique metrics and suggestions, the Ultrahuman Ring Air is the best smart ring for sleep tracking. Not only does it monitor your circadian rhythm, but it also suggests a daily window in which you should consume all your stimulants (e.g. tea, coffee) so as not to disturb your sleep."

If a smart ring has been on your wish list for a while, or you know a loved one who's been after one, we wouldn't sit on this fantastic deal for too long.

YETI isn’t wasting any time. Fresh off yesterday’s Gear Garage launch, including the delightfully unhinged Slick Horns attachments for its Tundra coolers, the brand has rolled out two new UK-exclusive collections for Day 2, and they’re exactly the kind of items superfans will scramble for.

Shop the YETI Garage Sale in the UK

Shop the YETI Garage Sale in the US (starting 11.28)

The biggest news is the arrival of 12L and 18L Ranchero backpacks, sizes that have never been available in the UK until now.

Previously, UK buyers were limited to the 22L and 27L versions, but YETI has finally matched the US lineup with a limited run of the smaller, more flexible packs.

The company says the 12L is ideal for “packing light and those short adventures when you need to carry the essentials,” while the 18L steps up for day hikes, city commutes, and everyday carry.

Both launch in Black Forest Green and Black, with Cape Taupe dropping later.

One for YETI superfans

The second release is even more niche. YETI has secured a small batch of location-specific collector patches.

Typically, they are only available to people who physically visit the stores in Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and the brand’s home base in Austin.

UK fans rarely get the chance to pick these up, making this drop a genuine one-day-only collectable moment.

Shop the YETI Garage Sale in the UK

Shop the YETI Garage Sale in the US (starting 11.28)

They’re perfect for customising bags and soft coolers or completing a long-running patch collection.

Both collections are exclusive to the UK YETI site and part of the brand’s multi-day Gear Garage rollout.

The US version of the sale kicks off tomorrow, on 28 November, and if the UK sale is anything to go by, we're in for a treat!

My job here at T3 is one of those "it's a hard life, but someone has to do it" jobs, which is said with a knowing, gleaming wink at the camera. In short, I get to test out a wide array of watches, to help you determine what's hot and what's not.

This year alone, I've tested well over £1,000,000 worth of watches, buoyed by some incredible pieces like the Jacob & Co Bugatti Tourbillon Baguette and the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Rainbow, which sport six-figure price tags. I've also been hunting out deals on the best watches all month, to separate the good from the bad and advise other watch lovers where best to spend their hard-earned cash.

My top pick this time out is something altogether less showy, though. Detrash might not be a brand name you recognise, but it's definitely one you should. Earlier this year, I listed the brand's dive watches as one of five watches I'd pick over the Rolex Submariner, owing to the exceptional value for money it offers.

The brand uses materials like recycled steel and ocean-bound plastic to produce a range of stylish and affordable dive watches and dress watches. It's the former which has the deal on it this time out – the newer dress and field watches from the brand are too fresh for that, unfortunately.

So, what's the deal in question? Well, users in the UK will snag a £40 saving on the cost of the watch itself, which brings it down to just £335. Those shopping in the USA will save US$54, with the watch priced at US$451, while Australians save AU$83 and pay AU$695.

That's a pretty nifty saving – equating to roughly 10% of the overall value of the watch. But the really sweet bit is that you can also snag a free strap from the brand's new aftermarket strap range.

I've been lucky enough to use these for the last week or so, and they're genuinely brilliant. Following the eco-conscious theme of the brand's designs, these are made from either Recycled PET, or materials called BeerSkin and AppleSkin, which are leather substitutes made with by-products of the beer and apple juice production industries.

I have to say, all three are really excellent, and punch way beyond the usual price tag. Snagging one for free, though? That's a no brainer, and one which is definitely not worth missing. If it were my cash on the line, I'd snap up the Great White model, and pair it with the orange AppleSkin strap, to match those indices perfectly.

I've spent a lot of time curating TV reviews on T3 this year and, having reviewed many myself in addition to editing those from freelance experts, there's one area that people love to read about – the best TVs for under £1000!

Which makes a lot of sense, of course, as we want the best shiny new objects, but want to be sensible about our spending. But that doesn't mean you need to forego modern tech, such as this Mini-LED panel from Amazon, as it's just been vastly reduced in price.

Check out the 55-inch Amazon Mini-LED deal here

The 65-inch model is under £1000 too!

That's thanks to the best Black Friday deals kicking in, with Amazon no stranger to reducing its TV prices in particular. The Mini-LED is the top-end of what the brand offers in its range, hence my selection of it as best – and in accordance with our buying guide.

The real appeal of the Amazon Fire TV 4K Omni Mini-LED QLED TV is, of course, its lower-than-ever price tag. That's true of the 55-inch model anyway – which I've verified using third-party tracker CamelCamelCamel – as it's often cost £700 or more.

There's a potentially great interest-free purchase plan option available, too, so if you want to spread the cost over 5 months then you can – without needing to pay extra. That works out at exactly £122 per month.

You don't have to be an Amazon Prime member to buy this set, but it is listed as a "Black Friday deal" specifically, presumably meaning the discount may go by the end of Cyber Monday on 1 December.

The Fire TV Omni Mini-LED is also available in a massive 77-inch size, but that's not come down to under £1000 just yet. It has in the past, though, so if you want an huge set then it's probably worth tracking Amazon's best Black Friday sales – just in case on the day proper, 28 November, it comes crashing down.

If you thought Black Friday was going to be the biggest shopping moment of the year, think again!

YETI has not only quietly launched a few Black Friday deals in the US (which it calls 'Holiday Sale'), but it has also flipped the calendar with its Gear Garage Sale.

Shop the YETI Garage Sale in the UK

Shop the YETI Garage Sale in the US (starting 11.28)

The Garage Sale is already live in the UK, with a full six days of exclusive drops starting now.

Meanwhile, across the pond in the US, the sale begins on Black Friday (November 28) and runs just four days.

For YETI fans, this means early access, plenty of surprises, and deals you might not want to wait for.

What is the Gear Garage Sale?

YETI’s Gear Garage Sale is essentially a limited-time blowout of new and experimental gear from the brand.

Some of the stuff will only exist for the duration of the sale, while other pieces sometimes make it into the permanent collection, like the Hondo Beach Chair.

The items in the sale aren't technically cheaper. In fact, they often are full price, but you get the sense of exclusivity if you buy them.

In the UK, the Gear Garage Sale is staggered over a six-day window, giving shoppers a better chance of getting hot-ticket items before they sell out.

Grab your cooler by the horns

This year's highlight – this is the first day of the sale, mind – is easily the YETI Slick Horns, a bold, quirky accessory that transforms a regular cooler into a talking-point centrepiece.

Clip the horns onto a YETI Tundra cooler (or compatible model), tie it down via the AnchorPoint system, and suddenly your cooler isn’t just functional, it’s got personality.

At £125 (~$155 / €145 / AU$235), Slick Horns are among the most playful, offbeat pieces in the collection.

It’s easy to see why Slick Horns might become the de facto hero product of this Gear Garage drop: it’s unexpected, it’s fun, and it channels YETI’s rugged-outdoor aesthetic with a wink.

Other Gear Garage Sale picks

The Slick Horns are great, but the YETI Can Crusher is nothing to be frowned upon, either.

Built tough with YETI’s signature ruggedness, this crusher helps you flatten and store empty cans cleanly.

It squeezes cans down so they take up far less space, and its sturdy build means it’ll survive real-world abuse.

It costs the same as the Slick Horns, and it’s a smart, practical add-on for anyone who loves YETI’s gear ethic but also appreciates a little daily convenience.

Beyond the horns and the can crusher, so far the drop includes more conventional – but still solid – gear: lots of bowls.

Because stock tends to be limited, these items often sell out fast, but that’s part of the appeal: you get premium gear, sometimes with finishes or colours you won’t see in regular retail runs.

For fans of outdoor gear, tailgating, camping or just showing off a cooler with attitude, the Gear Garage Sale is a rare chance to grab premium YETI kit that's also unique.

Shop the YETI Garage Sale in the UK

Shop the YETI Garage Sale in the US (starting 11.18)

With staggered UK drops and a full Black Friday US run upcoming, there’s no guarantee everything will still be in stock if you wait.

If you want my take: grab the Slick Horns now, and maybe one of the can crushers or rugged bowls while you’re at it.

The best Black Friday deals are taking place this week, giving shoppers an opportunity to save hundreds of pounds and dollars on bestselling products. But if you’re not using this Black Friday price alert trick, you’re seriously missing out.

I’ve been covering Black Friday for five years now, and the one trick I always use is setting up price alerts. For those who are unsure, a price alert is a notification that gets sent to you when a specific product drops in price.

For almost every Black Friday, I make a list of what I want to buy my friends and family for Christmas, before I start setting up price alerts for specific products so I can get the best savings possible. This price alert trick has saved me so much money shopping the Black Friday sales – and here’s how you can do it too.

How to set up a price alert on Google

The best way to set up a price alert is on Google. Considering it's the most used search engine, setting up a price alert on Google is extremely easy and typically means you don’t need to download anything or install an extension.

To set up a price alert on Google, you’ll first need to sign into your Google account. From there, you can set up price alerts via the Google Shopping tab. All you have to do is select the product you want to track the price of before selecting ‘Track Price’.

Another way to set up a price alert is creating a custom Google Alert. To do this, go to google.com/alerts, enter the product name or search term you want to track and click ‘Create Alert’. For more options, you can click ‘Show options’ within this setting and you can customise how often you get an alert, which type of source you’ll get it from and region and language settings.

How to set up a price alert on Amazon

Setting up a price alert in Google is my preferred way to check prices but Amazon is one of the most common retailers everyone buys from – and there’s a quick and easy way to create a price alert in Amazon.

On your browser, sign into your Amazon account and select ‘Communication preferences’. From there, click ‘Deals and recommendations’, enable your preferred notification and allow notifications in your browser. This should alert you when your favourite product drops in price.

If you’re using the Amazon app, click ‘App Settings’, ‘Notifications’ and ‘Deals and recommendations’. Note that with both the browser and app, it’s best to set up an Amazon wishlist to make these notifications easier. If you have an Amazon Alexa-enabled device like an Echo, you can also set up Alexa alerts for price drops.

How to set up a price alert on other retailers

For other retailers, you’ll need to install a browser extension to check prices and set up price alerts. There are plenty of options available, but the most popular are CamelCamelCamel, Keepa and Honey.

Tis the week of Black Friday – the year's biggest sales period, focused on 28 November – and the best deals are already flooding retailers.

One question that always comes up, however, is whether Apple does Black Friday promotions? The answer is yes, but only on specific dates.

Apple's official 'Shopping Event' page is now live, detailing the company's provision for gift cards of up to £200 back – with a full list of products and amounts in the Ts&Cs here.

However, this promotional period runs from Black Friday itself, Friday 28 November, through to Cyber Monday, concluding Monday 1 December.

But it's the retailers outside of Apple that are offering various great promotions on Apple products, as highlighted below:

Apple best Black Friday deals

• Best Black Friday deals at Argos
• Best Black Friday deals at Currys
• Best Black Friday deals at Amazon
• Best Black Friday deals at John Lewis

Apple Black Friday deals: MacBook

Apple Black Friday deals: iPad

Apple Black Friday deals: AirPods

Apple Black Friday deals: Accessories

It’s T3’s favourite time of the year – Black Friday! The Black Friday deals are here for another, and 2025 is turning out to have some of the best offers yet, including huge discounts on TVs, smartwatches, air fryers, laptops, gym equipment, video doorbells, and much more.

It’s hard to count how many years each person on T3 has covered Black Friday – but it’s a lot! As expert deals hunters, the T3 team are here to help you save extra money on the latest and greatest products.

But while we hunt down the best deals for our readers, we also love to do some Black Friday shopping ourselves – so here’s what the T3 team are buying for Black Friday this year.

Mat Gallagher, Editor-in-Chief

This year, I'm looking to upgrade my kitchen during Black Friday with more grown-up products. That mostly involves replacing cheap crockery and tools I've had for years with fancy Le Creuset ones. From the oven mitts and mugs to the beautiful casserole dish, I'm all in on those colourful tones filling my kitchen. Plus, I'm looking to get ahead on my Christmas shopping, so I'm trying to find suitable gifts for others.

Nick Odantzis, T3 Magazine Editor

I’ll be buying a Yoto Mini with some extra cards for my eldest daughter – once you buy the player and start adding the cards it gets quite expensive, so the Black Friday savings really add up.

Marc Chacksfield, Content Director

I'll be buying an electric toothbrush... again. My Oral-B iO5 toothbrush recently gave up the ghost and I got an early Black Friday replacement. The problem is, I opted for a Philips Sonicare and didn't realise – through my own stupidity – that the charger would be different. Which means I now have an electric toothbrush that doesn't fit the wall-mounted charger dock in my bathroom. Even though the Sonicare is decent, I think I’m going to have to use it for when I am on my travels and pay out for another. I don't want to spend loads, so I have my eye on the Oral-B iO3.

Mike Lowe, Tech Editor

I've had my eye on the LEGO Ideas Home Alone set for years – and for 2025, if the Black Friday price is right, I'm going to bite. I want it as a replacement for a would-be Christmas advent calendar purchase; a slow build to make over an extended period that feels suitably festive. When discounts hit last time around, Zavvi had the best price – at around £200. It's not cheap for a Lego set, but with 3,955 pieces total, I know it'll take many hours of fun to build, and it looks worth it for the Marv and Harry mini figures alone.

Beth Girdler-Maslen, Home Editor

I’ll be using the Black Friday sales to look for cheap deals on smart home devices. I’m finally taking the plunge and going to buy myself an Echo Dot speaker. I’ve tried many Echo devices and the Dot has to be my favourite, so I’m going to treat myself to it this year – and it’s currently under £30 at Amazon. Once I’ve got that, I’m also going to upgrade my lighting with some Philips Hue lighting deals – I already have a couple bulbs from them, but I like the look of its Signe Gradient Floor Lamp for my living room.

Matt Kollat, Active Editor

This Black Friday, just like every Black Friday before it, I’m planning to buy nothing, but I’ll probably end up buying something. In the run-up to the shopping frenzy, I’ve been eyeing air-quality sensors. There are loads on Amazon, some as cheap as £6 so I might grab one, and even though I absolutely don’t need another fleece, Cotswold Outdoor’s Patagonia sale is dangerously tempting. But there’s one deal that genuinely has me on the brink of pulling out the card: DJI’s brilliant Osmo Pocket 3 has hit its lowest-ever price, so we’ll see.

Rik Henderson, News Editor

It's all home, home, home for me this Black Friday, having already invested in a new premium dishwasher from John Lewis. I actually bought a Samsung model a few Black Fridays ago, but wasn't 100% happy with it so have traded up to the Bosch Series 6 with PerfectDry technology. That's already installed and I love it, but I’m also on the hunt for a new cordless vacuum cleaner, so I have my eye on the Shark PowerDetect with Auto-Empty (as recommended by the T3 home team). I may well splash out on a 1000W Panasonic Microwave too as I’ve been using an old model for the last decade.

Of course, after so much grown up stuff, I’ll hopefully have enough left in the kitty for the Lego Icons Williams Racing set too. With its teeny weeny, moustachioed Nigel Mansell minifigure, it'd be rude not to.

Emily Pursel, Social Media Editor

I’m thinking of trying to snag a DJI Osmo 3. I absolutely do not need it, but have wanted one for ages, and considering the 4th generation is expected soon, I have my fingers crossed there might be some good deals on! Not holding my breath though – these things have been flying off the shelf for their entire product lives!

Sam Cross, Senior Staff Writer

This year, my Black Friday shopping list is very dull. After something of a mishap with mine a few weeks ago, I’ll be hunting for a new microwave this time out. I’ve also found myself perusing some exciting deals on watch straps, and I may take the chance to stock up on Polaroid film if any is available at a good price.

Max Freeman-Mills, Tech Staff Writer

This Black Friday, I’ll be splurging on the MacBook Air M2. I won't lie – this one's not for me, technically, but I'll be the one driving the purchase. My girlfriend's laptop has been on its last legs for years now, a trusty Dell XPS that can now barely do much of anything without sounding like a jet engine. I've been keeping an eye on older Apple Silicon MacBook Air models for a while now, and I suspect this Black Friday will be the time to make her take the plunge. Any of Apple's machines since the M1 chip will almost certainly last her years and years without breaking a sweat.

Lizzie Wilmot, Home Staff Writer

After finally admitting that stuffing half my holiday suitcase with books and leaving the other half for clothes is not a sustainable packing strategy, I’ve finally caved and realised it's time to get a Kindle. I’ve got my eye on the Kindle 16GB 2024, as not only is it going for a decent price, but it’s still super affordable overall. I also love the Matcha green shade!

Bryony Firth-Bernard, Active Staff Writer

For me, Black Friday is all about stocking up on the essentials, so I’ll be purchasing my favourite haircare products: the Color WOW Security shampoo and conditioner, and their Dream Coat Supernatural Spray. The shampoo and conditioner leave your hair feeling squeaky clean and soft, while Dream Coat Supernatural Spray acts as a protective barrier against humidity and heat, so your hair stays sleek all day (it's a game-changer). I’ll also be stocking up on my go-to vegan protein powder from Free Soul; it tastes great and has loads of added vitamins and minerals for women.

A while ago I wrote a piece on three PS5 Pro Enhanced games that "make it worth the money" – the content of which is hopefully fairly self-exploratory. But the more time I’ve spent with the upgraded PS5, the more impressed I’ve been by the improvements it makes to certain games.

And considering Sony has slashed the price of its flagship console as part of the Black Friday sales, with retailers around the world offering it with big money off, I thought I'd revisit the library to find another trio of great reasons to buy one.

So here are three more PS5 Pro-enhanced games that might just seal the deal – especially at the current, limited price.

Ghost of Yōtei

The sequel to one of the PS4’s biggest success stories is a looker on whatever PS5 model you’re fortunate enough to play it on, but there’s no doubt that it’s at its best on the Pro.

Set in early 1600s feudal Japan, 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei follows a brand new protagonist, Atsu, on her quest for vengeance against the “Yōtei Six”, who murdered her family.

You explore the sprawling Ezo region (nowadays known as Hokkaido) to find clues about your enigmatic adversaries, before hunting them down in whatever order you choose. Like its predecessor, Ghost of Yōtei elevates itself above a slew of similarly structured open-world games with its cinematic combat and incredible presentation.

And this is where the PS5 version really comes into its own. The game features a number of graphics modes, but on the Pro there’s an exclusive Ray Tracing Pro mode, which targets 60fps with ray tracing and pin-sharp image quality, which it's able to maintain thanks to PSSR upscaling.

This mode is the best way to appreciate the frequently stunning sights of Ezo without sacrificing performance.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Kojima Productions’ follow-up to one of the weirdest AAA blockbusters ever released moves the action to Australia, as post-apocalyptic postman Sam Porter Bridges continues his mission to reconnect mankind while ideally avoiding the angry ghosts that roam what’s left of the Earth.

Like its predecessor, Death Stranding 2 is a game about walking, interspersed with (much improved in the sequel) combat sections and lots of very long cutscenes featuring Hideo Kojima’s A-lister pals, who play characters with ridiculous names. And it’s great.

There’s a pared-back beauty to Death Stranding 2’s empty landscapes and mountain vistas, and the game looks amazing on both PS5 consoles. The advantage the PS5 Pro has over the standard model is that it doesn’t make you choose between fidelity and frame rate.

On the base PS5, there’s a noticeable reduction in the level of detail and overall image quality in the 60fps performance mode compared to the 30fps quality mode. On the PS5 Pro, you get the same two modes, but the presentation is virtually identical each time.

This means you can select performance mode on the Pro and enjoy the rock solid 60fps smoothness of the gameplay without wondering if the graphics could look a little sharper if you gave up some frames.

Horizon Forbidden West

There’s nothing particularly ground-breaking about Horizon Forbidden West’s gameplay, which builds on Horizon Zero Dawn’s compelling robot dinosaur-slaying and post-apocalyptic adventuring in a predictably sequel-y way. However, if you liked the first one, you’ll almost certainly enjoy spending another 40 hours in the company of the now accomplished warrior, Aloy.

And there's one area that marks out Horizon Forbidden West as a game like no other, and that’s its visuals. Especially if you have a PS5 Pro.

Like all of these games, Forbidden West was already an absolute stunner on the standard PS5, but on the Pro it might just be the most graphically impressive console game ever made. Just spend a few minutes marvelling at the water, let alone the views from the top of the Tallnecks, and tell me I’m wrong.

The Performance Pro mode basically looks as sharp and bursting with detail as the 30fps resolution-focused mode on the PS5, but without asking you to give up any frames.

It results in a game that looks astonishing at pretty much all times, while still feeling great to play. If you want the best possible image quality you can still play in 30fps, but when the performance setting offers so few tradeoffs on the more powerful console, it has never made less sense.

I've found some great deals during this Black Friday sales period already, but I must admit that few have blown me away quite as much as this one. I genuinely thought I was seeing things at one point, and had to do a double-take.

The all-new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select – as launched just a month ago – is now under £20 in the UK, $20 in the States. That's up to 60% off for a brand-new, recently released device. Wow.

The Amazon Fire TV 4K Select was launched at the end of September as the latest member of the brand's streaming device lineup. It is slightly different to its siblings though, in that it runs on Amazon's own Vega OS software, but still offers all the major apps through cloud streaming.

That includes rival services, like Netflix and Apple TV, although they are hosted on remote servers rather than the stick itself. One benefit to this is that the apps will always be up to date – you won't need to download new versions yourself. And you'll always get the best image quality depending on your home network.

Alexa support is on board still and there is an Alexa Voice Remote included in the box. You don't get Dolby Vision support – that's exclusive to the 4K (4K Plus in the US) and 4K Max models – but HDR10+ is on board, which is arguably as good a picture format anyway.

If you are looking to step up though (or want to sideload additional apps, as this doesn't have the option), there are also great deals on the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max throughout the Black Friday period.

Now that the Black Friday sales are fully here, it’s way too easy to get distracted by all the amazing discounts. By distracted, I mean scrolling through a website and suddenly checking out a cart full of gadgets you didn’t even know you needed.

However, here’s the thing – most people don’t realise there’s actually a way to tackle Black Friday shopping that can save you a ton of money in the long run. I personally wish I knew this years ago, but now that I do, you’ll catch me using it every single time.

Step one: make a wish list

Before hunting for deals, the absolute best thing you can do is make a wish list. Include things you’ve had your eye on for a while, some Christmas presents for family and friends, and even household essentials. Having everything in one place helps you keep track of what you actually need.

I like doing this on Amazon since most of the things I want are available there, even if they're from different brands.

Step two: track prices daily

Check your wish list every day from now until Black Friday. Amazon deals officially started yesterday, so there’s still a week before the big day.

To make things easier, use apps or browser extensions that track price history, with Honey, CamelCamelCamel and Slickdeals being great examples. You can even set up notifications to get an email as soon as an item drops to a target price, or hits its lowest price ever.

Google Alerts are also handy to see when brands or publications are covering deals.

Step three: be ready to act

Deals sell out fast during Black Friday, so knowing exactly what you want – and having alerts set up – lets you grab bargains without panic-buying. Ideally, you’ve already done the research on what you want, so you won’t waste time comparing models or features at the last minute.

Without these three steps, Black Friday shopping is basically like finding a needle in a haystack. I’ve been following this routine for the last three years, and it consistently helps me get the best deals – and yes, it also means no last-minute Christmas shopping stress!

Black Friday is officially next week, even though it feels like it kicked off ages ago. Most retailers have already launched their deals, but a few have stayed oddly quiet, with one in particular making us wonder whether it’ll join the Black Friday fun at all.

IKEA isn’t exactly known for big Black Friday blowouts, but it has joined in here and there. Last year, IKEA Family members in the US got up to 40% off selected home furnishings and accessories, and other regions offered around 15% off store-wide. However, the year before that was a lot more limited, so this year is still a bit of a mystery.

Here’s what we know so far:

Will IKEA host a Black Friday sale in 2025?

The answer is yes – it has officially been confirmed.

As of today, IKEA has confirmed that it will be hosting a Black Friday sale, starting from next week. A Black Friday page has already appeared on the site, showing a few early offers – including 15% off the HEMNES day-bed frame. The sale will begin on Monday 24th November and will run straight through to Cyber Monday, which is Monday 1st December.

It also looks like most – if not all – of the deals will be for IKEA family members only, as noted on the page. Membership is totally free, and you get exclusive discounts throughout the year anyway, so it’s worth signing up if you haven’t already.

IKEA family members will also earn double during this period through Buyback Friday, and between Friday 14^th November to Sunday 7^th December, there will be 30% off for IKEA Family members in UK and the Republic of Ireland

What will be included in IKEA's Black Friday sale?

Based on previous years, we’re expecting discounts on furniture like sofas, chairs, beds and maybe some festive décor. Smaller home accessories, including cushions, lamps and cookware, could also make an appearance.

One thing we’re pretty certain about (sadly) is that the deals won’t include IKEA’s smart home range, which was recently expanded with 21 new Matter-compatible products. Some of them haven’t even launched yet, so unless older versions get reduced, it’s unlikely we’ll see smart home bargains from IKEA this time.

If you are on the hunt for smart home deals, though, make sure to check out our live hub to stay on top of everything.

Even though many retailers have already kicked off their Black Friday sales, PlayStation has so far staid its hand. However, we only have a few days to go before its deals become available – and they could very well be worth waiting for.

That's because, from Friday 21 November, PlayStation's offers will go live and will include big discounts on PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles, along with the PS Portal handheld and the DualSense Edge controller.

The deals will be available from the official PlayStation Store online, as well as a whole load of bargains on games available on the consoles themselves. The likes of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, God of War Ragnarök, and Astro Bot will have money off, and you can expect discounts on PlayStation Plus memberships too.

The offers will be available across multiple regions, including the UK, US and Europe. We've also found out the sorts of bargains you can look forward to, including £90 / $100 off the PS5 Pro, and £135 / $100 off a PS5 Digital Edition.

The new PS5 Fortnite Flowering Chaos Bundle will be available for just £389.99 / $449.99, with the Digital Edition version down to £294.99 / $399.99.

Additional details can be found on the official PlayStation Black Friday deals website, and we'll bring you all the best offers right here on T3 as soon as they start.

There will be plenty of deals available through third-party retailers too, including Amazon, so we'll bring you those as well.

Come back and check often. Certainly, if you're in the market for a PS5 or PS5 Pro, or are just looking for a new controller, accessory or PS Plus subscription, these are exciting times.

As someone who’s constantly reviewing and testing the best vacuum cleaners, I like to think I’ve got a good handle on which models and brands really deserve the attention. I won’t lie – there are a few big names that always seem to dominate the top spots, but even then, if you’re in the market for a new vacuum and not sure where to start, it can be a bit overwhelming.

With Black Friday fast approaching, I know plenty of you will already be getting ready to hunt down the best deals. However, instead of scrolling through endless pages of vacuum cleaner discounts, leave that to me, and let me tell you about the one cordless model I’d actually recommend.

My favourite cordless vacuum cleaner of all time is the Shark PowerDetect, and nothing I’ve tested since has even come close. There are almost too many features to list here (you can check out my full review if you want the deep dive) but trust me when I say it really is worth it.

Now, here’s where it gets exciting – the Shark PowerDetect was reduced by a massive £200 during Shark’s summer sale, which was the biggest discount I’d ever seen since its launch.

It’s currently back down to that same price, which suggests it’s officially in the “okay to discount” category for Shark – meaning there’s a real chance we’ll see it drop even further this Black Friday.

With an RRP of £499.99, I wouldn’t be surprised if it dips to around £200-£250, which would be a complete bargain for what is. You can bet I’ll be keeping a close eye on it, and I’ll let you know the second it drops again.

I've been collecting classic games consoles and retro reissues for years now and one of my favourites has just hit its lowest price.

The NeoGeo Mini is a bit different to other mini consoles in that, while it comes with 40 fan favourite games and its own 3.5-inch display, you can also plug it into a TV via HDMI to play on the big screen.

You can even add two optional gamepads to play with friends.

Even better news is that, thanks to the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales, you can nab one for just £63.99 – 20% off its usual £79.99 price point.

The machine on sale is the International version of the NeoGeo Mini – there's an Asian edition too. That means you get a blue and white colourway and a whole load of exclusive games.

NeoGeo's best fighting games are included in the 40 preinstalled titles, such as several of the King of Fighters beat 'em ups, a few Samurai Shodowns, and World Heroes Perfect. You also get a whole host of arcade masters, including the Metal Slug series, Football Frenzy and, one of my own favourites, King of The Monsters.

And don't forget, you can also play on a TV using an optional NeoGeo gamepad – which you can find here, albeit not in the sale.

Basically, if you're into games from the 90s and the following decade, this is a must purchase. Especially at this price.

I guess I'm not the only one who wanted to wait until Black Friday to buy a DJI Neo. The brand's cutest selfie drone is cheap at full price, but I thought, 'Maybe I can get it for even less if I just waited a few more months'.

Sadly, based on my research, that's not the case. The Neo seems to be hovering steadily around its recommended retail price, which isn't hugely expensive, but still. Who doesn't like a bargain?!

I'm not too surprised the Neo isn't dropping in price. It's already incredibly affordable; I might even go as far as saying that the company is probably losing money on the model to push out other players from the selfie drone market.

Either way, you won't find any deals on the drone. However, even though the Neo isn't on offer, there are a ton of exciting DJI deals around. I collated the best DJI Black Friday deals we've found below. Check out T3's best Black Friday deals live hub for more offers on other stuff.

DJI Neo Black Friday deals

DJI drone Black Friday deals

Black Friday is the complete opposite of sustainability. Buying things has become too quick, not allowing us to consider whether we need the products. This results in people spending too much and replacing their belongings that work perfectly fine. In short, everything wrong with capitalism is on display during the annual shopping event.

I'm looking at deals for months every year and see a lot of redundant offers. Things get cheaper all the time, especially tech and fashion, which I appreciate makes it all the harder to resist buying new stuff. It's a vicious cycle perpetuated by for-profit companies who want to make (too much) money without caring about what it means for the planet and us.

However, it's not impossible to make the right buying choice, even during Black Friday. Quite a few manufacturers and retailers are out there these days that try to make a difference.

Patagonia is probably the most famous (remember the 'don't buy this jacket' campaign?), but other companies are doing their best to mitigate the strain of overconsumption on nature.

Of course, the best thing you can do is not buy anything, but if you're feeling the pressure, check out some of the more sustainable options below, from Finisterre and Vivobarefoot to Vaude and Cotopaxi.

Finisterre

Born out of its owner's love for the sea, British outdoor company Finisterre is one of those brands that knows all its suppliers on a first-name basis and puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to supporting people through the Finisterre Foundation. This Black Friday, like every Black Friday, the company doesn't have a sale, but you'll find some bargains in the brand's Last Chance sale.

Patagonia

Patagonia, of all companies, needs no introduction. When you purchase a product from the company, it donates 1% of the total sale to environmental nonprofits. Then, Patagonia reinvests a portion of the profits into business priorities and donates all the remaining profits to win urgent environmental fights.

A sustainability champion, the brand continuously offers its past-season gear for less in its Past Season Gear sale. Here, you can find fleeces, coats, trousers, and more for a discounted price. If you want to give something back to the community, check out Patagonia's volunteering page, where you'll find worthy causes to dedicate your time to.

Ciele Athletics

Certified B-Corp Ciele is one of my favourite running brands. It is most famous for its performance-oriented yet highly functional caps and hats, which you can often buy for less in the company's Archive Sale. The sale is on until the end of Cyber Monday, so if anything catches your eye, make sure you complete your checkout by then.

SunGod

Another Certified B-Corp, SunGod, offers performance and lifestyle sunnies for the discerning athlete. For Black Friday, Sungod gives away a free pair with every pair of sunnies purchased. I recommend picking ones with an Infinite frame, which uses 100% recycled plastic instead of the virgin variety.

Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is well-known for its colourful style, cool attitude, and quality products. Its Del Dia collection uses factory scraps to create unique products that, in my opinion, often look cooler than the original. Thanks to Cotopaxi's Guaranteed for Good scheme, if there’s a problem with your gear, they'll happily repair it, replace it, or credit your return. The brand is currently running a 25% off Fall & Winter Bestsellers promo, with savings on coats, gilets, and more.

Vaude

German mountaineering equipment brand Vaude is probably one of the most affordable brands. It has a high rating on the Good On You website, which ranks clothing manufacturers based on their sustainability. The brand doesn't have a dedicated Black Friday sale, but you can shop for discounted products in every category (women's, men's, kids').

Vivobarefoot

Probably the best-known name in barefoot shoes, Vivobarefoot puts a huge emphasis on making its manufacturing process as circular as possible and helping people relearn how to walk properly. Vivo doesn't do Black Friday, but you can trade in any old sneakers for recycling and get 20% off a pair of full-price Vivos. That's not just Vivo footwear—sneakers from any brand count! Find out more about the offer at Vivobarefoot.

The North Face

The North Face has a surprisingly good score on Good On You, with the only critical area being the living wages paid to the people working in the company's supply chain. Many probably associate TNF with street fashion; however, the brand also makes excellent mountaineering gear. For Black Friday, you can get 30% off all orders over £200 in the UK and save up to 40% off select styles in the US.

I like Black Friday deals, and every year I get a good Black Friday deal on my PlayStation Plus membership – 30% off for a year of online gaming and tons of games.

However, I also have to be careful, because if not then my existing discounted membership will automatically renew at full price – even though a new Black Friday deal on the same subscription is just about to drop.

Sony's pretty good, and lets me know in advance when the renewal is coming up so I can decide what to do. Apple's quite good too. But not all software and other subscription providers are so customer-friendly.

Two years ago, my discounted subscription for a very expensive bit of software automatically renewed without warning – a renewal I didn't want at a price I definitely couldn't afford. And, when I tried to cancel it, the company told me that "all sales are final".

I got a refund in the end, but it took weeks. And that taught me a valuable Black Friday lesson: put expiry dates in your calendar to make sure you never miss them.

Don't forget about renewal dates

There are two key reasons why you should keep an eye on renewal dates.

The first is that the companies have usually got your card details (and this applies to free trial periods too, most of which now ask for card details up-front so they can automatically charge when the free period ends).

The second reason is that when you're buying from overseas firms – and most software firms are overseas – you have virtually no comeback because you have virtually no consumer rights.

I managed to get my money back from the US software firm by being an enormous pain in the arse, but if the company had chosen to stick to its guns I'd have been stuffed, legally speaking.

If you're buying from a UK firm when you live in the UK you have various rights including a 14-day right to cancel for most purchases, including digital ones. But those rights don't apply when you're buying from Detroit Dave's Software 'n' Stuff or some far away megacorp.

That's not to say Black Friday deals are bad. The legit ones will save you tons of money. Just make sure you put the renewal date in your diary. You'll thank me this time next year.

One of my favourite retro games machines of the last couple of years, the Atari GameStation Pro from MyArcade followed the Atari 2600+ in reimagining the classic 70s/80s console. However, unlike its counterpart, it didn't need you to buy games separately – it comes with more than 200 preinstalled.

In addition, the GameStation Pro includes two wireless joysticks to play with, and the games are taken from the entire gamut of Atari's finest – including Atari 2600 (VCS), Atari 7800, and the arcade.

Its only downside was the price, but even that's no longer an issue as I've found a retailer selling it with a massive £45 off. It's not your normal source neither, as Robert Dyas is perhaps better known for homewares and garden accessories.

At less than £85, it's the cheapest I've ever seen it.

Why choose the Atari GameStation Pro?

I'm a big fan of retro gaming, having written about games since the 80s, and I'm a sucker for reissued consoles. The Atari GameStation Pro isn't so much a reissue though, more a reimagination with 100s of games available to play from the off.

That includes Atari 2600, 5200, 7800 and arcade games, with the likes of Asteroids, Missile Command, Pong and Centipede available to play through HDMI on your big screen TV.

What makes this concept even better is that it comes with wireless controllers, which include the original joystick controls plus paddles you can twiddle on supported titles.

It's a great purchase for all the family – not least to show the younger members the sorts of games of our own youth.

However, if you're looking for something a bit more portable, there are also great deals on the Anbernic RG35XX right now. That even comes with more than 5,000 games of yesteryear,

The best Black Friday deals are here for another year, and so far, the 2024 sales are offering huge price cuts on TVs, phones, air fryers, mattresses, smartwatches, gym clothes, and much more.

The T3 team has covered the Black Friday sales for years and to help you save extra money on top quality products, we’ll be hunting down the cheapest prices from multiple retailers and brands. But if you need some shopping inspiration or you’re just curious about what our team of deals hunters will be buying for themselves, here’s what the T3 team is buying for Black Friday this year.

Note: Now that the Black Friday deals are drawing to a close, we've updated this post to let you know what T3 actually bought in the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales.

Mat Gallagher, Editor-in-Chief:

This Christmas, I'm looking to upgrade my home tree, so for Black Friday I'm keeping an eye out for discounts on smart tree lights. I'd love to get the Philips Hue Festavia lights if they come down enough, but otherwise I'm also keeping an eye on the Govee Christmas String Lights, as they often have some money off and are already pretty good value. I'm also looking to buy a 3-pin EV charger. I can't get a full wallbox home charger installed just yet, but these models feature a standard three-pin plug, so you can charge your electric car from any socket.

Update: Mat did in fact buy the Govee Christmas String Lights for his Christmas tree this year, which he got for 35% off. He also bought some Christmas presents for his family and friends (but we won't be saying what exactly in case one of his family members reads this!).

Mike Lowe, Tech Editor:

Having gone all-in on LEGO last year, this Black Friday I’m eyeing-up a great little travel tech gadget that breathes new life into the best headphones (which I’m lucky enough to already own – but do keep your eyes peeled for Sony WH-1000XM5 deals nonetheless).

It’s called the Twelve South AirFly Duo and it plugs into the 3.5mm headphone ports that you find on planes – meaning you can use your favourite headphones wirelessly. Better still, the ‘Duo’ part means you can pair two sets – so for, say, a long train journey when watching the best streaming services on a tablet, you can watch with someone else. I can vouch for AirFly, as I’ve used it on many long-haul flights. The main problem is, as you’ve probably guessed, it’s small and easy to leave behind – which I’ve done recently and now need a replacement. So I’ll be tracking the Duo’s price in hope of the best deal.

Update: Mike actually surprised us all by not buying ANYTHING from the Black Friday sales. He chalks it up to being so busy reporting that he forgot to actually buy anything... that's happened to all of us before!

Beth Girdler-Maslen, Home Editor:

This year, I’ve been putting in a lot more effort with my skincare routine and so I’m hoping that the Silk’n LED Face Mask 100 will be on sale this Black Friday. It’s one of the best LED face masks you can buy – and one of the more affordable ones on the market – and it’s already been given a price cut at Boots, so I’m hoping it might drop a little further as we get closer to the day.

As always, I’ll be on the hunt for Le Creuset deals, as I’m hosting Christmas again this year and am in desperate need of more serving dishes. I’m running my first marathon next year, so I’ll probably be hitting up the Gymshark sale for some cheap running gear, and I’ll also be using Black Friday to get my Christmas shopping started – I won’t be divulging exactly what I’ll be buying here so prying eyes don’t find out what they’re getting ahead of time (I’m looking at you, mum!).

Update: After finding out that she might be getting the Silk'n LED Face Mask 100 for Christmas, Beth decided not to treat herself to it but get ahead of her Christmas shopping, which included a few T-shirts from the Gymshark sale and a Dualit coffee bean grinder.

Matt Kollat, Active Editor:

As always, I aim not to buy anything random for myself this Black Friday (although historically, it's very likely to happen). I'll be on a mission to get some Christmas gifts for the family; exactly what is something I'm yet to figure out. Come to think of it, I'm always on a hunt for action camera accessories. I always fancied a Volta mount for my GoPro Hero 13 Black, so I might get one if there is one on offer. I also wouldn't mind a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 if there is a good deal somewhere. Realistically, though, it's more likely I'll end up buying something similar to the bright yellow adidas track pants I bought on Amazon Prime Day…

Update: Alongside a selection of Christmas presents, Matt couldn't resist the Therabody Smart Goggles which he got for under £100 in the Black Friday sales.

Rik Henderson, News Editor:

While I’ve used Black Friday to buy major appliances in the past, as they can be hugely discounted, I’m not in the market for a kitchen upgrade or TV this year. Instead, I’ll be looking for the best booze bargains – having used sales periods to replenish my bulging drinks cabinet for a decade. But the one product I’m most hunting a deal for is the Tom Ford fragrance, Oud Minerale.

I’m somewhat a collector of posh scents and am always looking for a Tom Ford, Creed or Penhaligon’s bargain, and this time around, it’s the former’s Oud Minerale eau de parfum that has piqued my interest. Usually £108 for a 50ml bottle, I’ve already seen it on Boots.com for £86.40, which I’ve bookmarked. However, there could be further deals as we build up to Black Friday itself so I’ll continue my hunt for a few more days.

Update: Rik really went for it this Black Friday! In the sales, Rik treated himself to some cheap alcohol deals, a new printer and the Ninja DoubleStack XL air fryer.

Emily Pursel, Social Media Editor:

I’m a little overwhelmed just thinking about Black Friday! There probably won’t be any big ticket items on the list for me, but I might try and pick up some bits and bobs if I see a good enough deal. That includes some more Apple AirTags, and maybe a few bits of kit for my (pathetic) home office/studio if they drop low enough.

Update: Like Mike, Emily didn't buy anything in the Black Friday sales. With a focus on shopping more sustainably, she decided not to indulge in the discount period this year.

Sam Cross, Senior Staff Writer:

This Black Friday, I find myself in the unusual position of having an empty shopping list. My one must-buy item this year was a pair of SSDs which I gambled on at Amazon Prime Day, leaving me window shopping this time out. However, I am in the market for a new blender, and really like the look of this Nutribullet at its lowest price ever.

I do also have a basket full of gear for my mirrorless camera, and a hearty enough discount on any of that would be enough to sway me. I’m particularly keeping an eye on the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 lens, though it’d need a healthy price cut to tempt me.

Of course, with so much of my focus on the best watch deals, I’ll be keeping an eye out for any certified bargains on that front, too. Do I need another watch? Probably not. But there are enough deals to be had early on that it may not be wise to say no!

Update: Sam was very tempted by camera lens and watch deals but instead, he opted to get started on Christmas shopping, which involved lots of whisky and fun dog accessories.

Max Freeman-Mills, Tech Staff Writer:

I'm lucky in that reviewing controllers means I've been using a high-end SCUF Reflex to game on my PS5 for a few years now, and loving it – but the worst has finally happened. I've got a drifting analogue stick that's starting to become a bigger and bigger issue, so a new controller might be needed (to pair with my new PS5 Pro).

While I've got every reason to double down on SCUF again, I'd love to pick up Sony's own competitor, the Playstation DualSense Edge, if there's any sort of genuinely chunky discount this year. These haven't arrived at any point yet, but with the base PS5 starting to get some deals, I'm really hoping this Black Friday can oblige. With the best integration on the PS5's own software, and some really nice-looking design touches, it would be an ideal replacement.

Update: Due to the awful weather the UK experienced last week, Max got himself the Karcher Window Vac WV2, as the storm was fogging up his windows terribly!

Lizzie Wilmot, Home Staff Writer:

Now that temperatures have dropped, I'm on the hunt for a cosy electric blanket this Black Friday. There are loads of different types out there, but I'm hoping the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Luxury Heated Throw will get a good discount, especially as I've seen five star reviews across the board. It was reduced to just £50 during Amazon Big Day Deals, so fingers crossed!

Update: Like Rik, Lizzie also went big with her Black Friday shopping this year – but it was her birthday after all! She treated herself to a bottle of YSL Libre and some clothes at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Bryony Firth-Bernard, Active Staff Writer:

Despite being an avid tea drinker, recently I’ve become a little obsessed with mochas. I’ve been treating myself to one on my lunch break for the past three weeks now and, as you can imagine, my bank balance isn’t looking too pretty so, this Black Friday, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for the best coffee machine deals. I’m currently eyeing up the Nespresso Liberty Vertuo Next Coffee Machine at John Lewis, as it’s now less than £100, which is an absolute steal! Plus, it’s probably not far off the price of three weeks' worth of mochas.

Update: While Bryony was tempted by a new coffee machine, she's moving very soon so decided not to add an extra box onto her packing. Instead, she treated herself to some cheap moisturiser deals.

I've had a lot of people ask me: "when is Black Friday this year – this Friday or next?". Despite various adverts, retailer sales and round-ups of the best deals already, it seems consumers are confused and wondering whether to buy now – or wait.

While Black Friday always falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving – a US celebration foremost, not observed in the UK and therefore explaining some of those questions – for 2024 it feels like a 'late Black Friday'.

That's because Black Friday 2024, which falls on Friday 29 November, is on the weekend running into December. That's owed to it being a leap year, as in 2023 the event was five days earlier in the calendar, on 24 November.

• The best Black Friday games console deals – live
• The best Black Friday running shoe deals – live
• Best Amazon Black Friday deals hub

Are the Black Friday sales worth it?

The data doesn't lie though: 'Black Friday 2024' is on an upward trend, with over 4,400% increased interest via Google search compared to the same period last month. It's a sales period that people genuinely hold out for.

But the other question people ask – and which turns up in search engine queries – is whether the Black Friday sales are truly worth it. The answer is yes and no – we've seen that some retailers will artificially inflate pricing the month prior, then suddenly drop it to show-off 'price cuts'.

That's not always the case though: tools like CamelCamelCamel can be a really good way to see historical pricing data on Amazon, for example, so you can see if that new purchase truly is the lowest-ever or not. We use that tool a lot here at T3, as we don't peddle nonsense deals.

• Best Argos Black Friday tech deals
• Best Currys Black Friday tech deals
• Best John Lewis Black Friday tech deals

Which Black Friday sales are on now?

The other reason people are confused about when Black Friday is this year is that, well, the boundaries have been blurred – many retailers have gone early, announcing November as a month-long Black Friday sale, ultimately, to encourage your spend.

We've rounded up some of the best available current sales worth checking out – you can see the links to our live hubs, which are manned hours per day, for example, and other hub pages throughout this page.

In addition, of course, there are big-hitters such as Amazon going live with its Black Friday sale on Thursday 21 November – so not a Friday at all. We'll be keeping a close eye on the best offers from that, so keep a lookout on the site.

• Best Target Black Friday deals
• Best Walmart Black Friday deals
• Best Best Buy Black Friday deals

In conclusion

So while Black Friday is officially on 29 November 2024, the sales have started in earnest throughout November – it's as if no official date exists this year.

And with Amazon in on the action from 21 November, the big-hitter deals will be from now through until Cyber Monday on 2 December.

However, do be vigilant, only buy from reputable retailers. Don't get coaxed into a fake deal, and don't buy nonsense that you don't really want or need.

Here on T3 we'll be highlighting the best premium, high-end and luxury deals to make your life better – and with the sales now in full effect, don't worry about an official Black Friday sales start date anymore, just go with the flow and shop with your specific targets set.

With the sheer volume of bargains on offer over Black Friday, it can be tough to know what to shop. You'll find deals on everything from portable blenders to big TVs, with discounts which are very tempting.

I always try to use the season of deals to buy smaller things which aren't necessarily time-dependant. For me, that often includes the best men's fragrances on the market.

I'm lucky enough to have amassed quite the collection of neat bottles over the years, which can make it tough to add something new into the fray. Still, with a range of great deals on offer at The Fragrance Shop, I've managed to find a few bottles which could be worth getting hold of.

It's worth noting that all of those prices are listed with the Members price. That does incur a small cost which varies depending on your chosen membership level. Still, it does seem worthwhile, with 20% off of your orders among other benefits.

For me, these are three of the top picks. Dior Sauvage is a relatively common fragrance these days, but its popularity exists for a good reason. It's a really easy scent to wear – particularly in the EDT, which will tone down some of those deep, woody notes.

Prada's Luna Rossa collection is one of my absolute favourites right now. I had the pleasure of testing this scent recently and thoroughly enjoyed the freshness on offer. If I do treat myself to a bottle, it's certain to be one of my most used spring fragrances!

The Hermes H24 is something of an outlier in this collection. I've never tried it, simply holding faith in the blurb for the scent and the strength of the brand. That's not something I'd usually recommend – it's well worth testing a fragrance before you buy whenever possible – but it's hard to pass up a deal like this. At just £64.08 for the gift set, complete with a miniature travel bottle, too, this feels like the bargain of the month!

The Black Friday sales are well underway, well ahead of the actual day itself, and PlayStation has now joined in the fun.

Following Microsoft, which kicked off its Xbox games sale a week ago, the PlayStation Store is offering big money off discounts across 100s of digital games. PS5, PS5 Pro and PS4 owners can find them listed on their consoles now.

In addition, the official PlayStation Black Friday page has been updated with links to all the deals. And that includes the PS5 Slim console.

It's now £65 / $75 cheaper when bought directly from PlayStation. However, you can even find it cheaper elsewhere – Amazon in the UK has slashed £80 off, for example.

The PlayStation sale runs through until the end of play 2 December 2024 (Cyber Monday) and also includes other devices – such as the PSVR2 headset – which has as much as £220 / $250 off.

The DualSense Edge pro controller is also available with a discount for the first time. As with standard DualSense controllers, there's £20 off in the UK. Although, like the PS5 Slim, you can find it even cheaper elsewhere.

There are plenty of other deals across the whole of PlayStation's online store although none on the PS5 Pro – although that's to be expected considering how new it is.

Original PS5 owners can even make great use of discounts on covers for their machines, while PS Plus is 30% off for the period, too.

There are also deals on other sites for the best PS5 SSD cards to expand your console's storage.

And we're bringing you the best gaming deals daily throughout the Black Friday week and Cyber Monday, so there's bound to be something there to help save you a bundle. In short, if you want to save cash on PlayStation games or products, there's never been a better time.

It's that time of year folks – Black Friday deals are absolutely everywhere, with some serious bargains to be found. We've been hard at work trawling through the early deals, here at T3, to help ensure you get the bargains before they're bought up.

One of the best ways to save on Black Friday is by shopping older models. Sure, you won't have access to all of the latest features, but you are far more likely to snag a serious deal.

That's exactly what I've found here – you can snag an Apple Watch Series 4 for just £99 on Wowcher!

You might be thinking that the Series 4 is too old to still be useful, but that's not really true. In fact, with GPS, Accelerometer and heart sensors all built inside, you'll still get most of the features used by the majority of people.

Of course, given the relatively minimal styling differences between models, you're unlikely to be spotted for it, either. In fact, most people would be hard pressed to know the difference in normal use.

There are, of course, some caveats. Being an older model does mean you'll miss out on the latest WatchOS 11 software. If you're dead set on having something a little more modern, it would be worth checking out the below deal on the Apple Watch Series 9. That's now at its lowest ever price – just £299 at Amazon!

So which deal is the better buy? It's hard to say. Obviously, if you're keen to keen things updated with the latest software and features as they're released, paying more for the newer model is the only way to go.

However, if you're content with an older model and just want something to keep track of your health and fitness data without busting the bank, picking up a £99 Apple Watch is always a bargain. Be quick, though – the cheapest model has already sold out, and this likely won't stick around for long.

Amazon Black Friday deals are often among the cheapest, with the retailer's huge sales event often lasting more than a week and containing 1,000s of individual bargains. But when does it start?

Those eager to take advantage will be pleased to learn that Amazon's Black Friday sales will begin earlier than usual – this Thursday 21 November 2024.

That means it starts eight days before Black Friday itself. It'll then run through to the end of play on Monday 2 December, traditionally known as Cyber Monday.

In fact, you can even snag early Black Friday bargains right now, as many already appear on the retail site in the UK and around the world. Just head to Amazon's dedicated Black Friday page to check out the current offers.

You can also keep track of the best deals the T3 team recommends in our curated round-up. We'll be scouring the retail site regularly, on the build up and during Black Friday / Cyber Monday.

What products will be in the Amazon Black Friday 2024 sales?

Amazon has also confirmed to T3 some of the bargains to expect. You'll get 58% off Amazon devices, for example, such as the Echo Dot, Blink Camera, Ring Video Doorbell, Amazon Fire HD 8, Kindle, and Fire TVs.

There will also be up to 50% off movie and TV show purchases in Prime Video, with titles like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and House of the Dragon to be available at a discount.

And there will be plenty of deals on big brand tech, from Ninja, Bose, Tefal, LG and many more.

Most of these will be available to all customers, not just Prime members. However, UK shoppers looking to save money on groceries will need a Prime subscription to save big on Amazon Grocery orders.

Prime members get up to £20 off a £50 Co-op on Amazon shop, up to £20 off an £80 Iceland on Amazon shop, or up to £25 off a £100 Morrisons on Amazon shop.

For those outside the UK, you might find similar deals in your region, too.

It's worth noting that if you're not an Amazon Prime member already, you can sign up for a month's free trial and cancel at any time before payment is due. That way, you can get any exclusive discounts and free next-day delivery, plus all the other benefits, in time for Black Friday at no extra cost.

We could probably argue all day long about who makes the best watches on the market right now. See, once you get beyond the comparatively workaday Rolex and Omega offerings, you find a world of microscopic detail, where each hair of a brushstroke must be perfect.

Personally, I've got a real soft spot for A Lange & Söhne. The brand's attention to detail and craftsmanship is utterly astounding, producing watches that lean dressy without feeling stuffy and 'old money'.

Now, you can pick up a real peach from the brand with a cool £10,060 saving! That brings the total cost of this A Lange & Söhne Saxonia Outsize Date down to just £24,240 at Chisholm Hunter.

That's a killer deal. Look, I'm not pretending that suddenly turns it into a cheap watch. I'm fully aware that the £24,240 price tag is more than most people would spend on watches across their entire lifetime combined.

Frankly, if you were ever hoping to get a brand new Lange for anything remotely resembling sensible money, I'm afraid you're going to have a long wait. What this does offer, though, is a significant saving on a wonderful timepiece.

The black dial is accented perfectly with rose gold hands and indices. Those are perfectly colour matched to the case, which sits 38.5mm across and a mere 9.6mm thick. One of the best things about the Saxonia range as a whole is just how slim they sit, making it effortless to wear on a daily basis.

The namesake of this watch sits at the 12 o'clock position – the Outsize Date. Perhaps most notably associated with the A Lange & Söhne Lange 1, this design was inspired by the five minute clock in Dresden's Opera House. It allows for a significantly larger display than you'd be able to find on other watches of a similar size.

Powering things, you'll find an L086.8 movement. That's an automatic calibre, which operates at a 3Hz beat rate and features a 72 hour power reserve. It's also – as has become Lange's staple – absolutely stunning to look at. Trust me, you'll want to spend as much time gazing at the back of this watch as you will for the front.

With such a significant saving, there really is no better time to buy this watch. But that's even truer as the piece in question is no longer produced by Lange. That means when it's gone, it could well be gone for good.

Still out of budget? Here are three cheaper alternatives

Did someone say 'Christmas'? I've more than heard mutterings about 'the big day' in recent times, which means it's time to get prepped for the countdown by bagging one of the best Advent calendars. But not any ol' chocolate-filled Advent calendar, oh no, let me tempt you with a whole bunch of Lego Advent calendars – because everything is awesome. 

Even more awesome, it so happens, because all of these Lego Advent calendars are discounted as part of the best Black Friday deals – and the 'worst' thing is that I don't know which one to pick. I should probably hurry up and make up my mind, though, as these limited-time deals are among those likely to sell out this weekend if previous Black Friday events are anything to go by. 

I've been testing many of the best headphones for over a decade now, and having just seen the new Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e over-ears – which I can confidently say earn their 5-star badge – it's actually their 'non-e' predecessors, 2022's Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 that, by virtue of being the older pair, have just dropped to their lowest-ever price in a great Black Friday deal. 

There have actually been loads of Black Friday headphones deals this year – I pulled together a collection of the best 5-star headphones deals that we recommend – but it's actually in one of the best Amazon Black Friday Week sales that the original B&W PX7 fall to their cheapest-ever price point. 

I've verified that the price has never been less using third-party price-tracking site CamelCamelCamel and, indeed, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 have never strayed below a former £249 asking price. So the extra £30 off that price is a great little Black Friday gift. 

I've been really impressed with Bowers & Wilkins' headphones releases of late: from the T3-Awards-winning PX8 in 2023, to this on-sale PX7 S2 model, which we called "the best-sounding headphones of 2022" in our review. Sure, the PX7 S2e might tweak that for even better sound, but it's marginal really – and those'll cost you more anyway. 

Do take a look around at T3's other Black Friday deals if you're on the hunt for a new pair of headphones: other favourites have included the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal are down to a(n almost ridiculous) £145; Sony's best ANC headphones have dropped to just £197; while Bose's newest QC Ultra Headphones have £50 off; 

When I reviewed the MacBook Air 15 I called this 5-star laptop "a big deal". Now that's no longer only due to its bigger stature, but also the fact that the 15-inch Air is indeed available as a low-price deal that undercuts the official Apple store's price. A double big deal then!

The price drop of just over £150 happened in November which, as I'm sure you'll know, is when the best Black Friday deals come out to play. This one is available as part of Amazon Black Friday Week, but you can also buy it from Very if that's your preferred retailer (as both are price-matched).

I've used the independent price-tracking site, CamelCamelCamel, to verify that the price drop is the lowest that the laptop has ever retailed for on Amazon and that is indeed true – its price has crawled down from £1399 in July and fluctuated up and down a little in the months since, before settling to its lowest during this month. 

The key spec of this MacBook Air 15 is that it comes with Apple's M2 silicon (the 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU), a 256GB SSD, and is available in a variety of colour options. While there are higher-spec versions that are configurable, I'm confident this baseline spec model will deliver strong for most people. 

It's that price drop that really sells it though. If I was on the market for a new MacBook right now then this would be my go-to option. I almost was in a position of needing to buy one after leaving my 13-inch MacBook Air on a plane from LAX to JFK last week, but thankfully for me the British Airways team in New York saved my bacon and, I suppose, my bank balance is now £1,250 better off because of their proactiveness...

Now that we're into Black Friday week some genuinely great deals are surfacing: a colleague has already spotted the Nintendo Switch OLED with Mario Kart for under £300, its lowest-yet bundle price, for example. But when you buy Nintendo's console, great as it is, there's really not a lot of on-board storage.

Fortunately you can grab a microSD card to expand your Switch's storage – I've written about the best Black Friday Nintendo Switch storage expansion options already – so you can continue to store your save games and buy more titles without running into problems. And as part of the best Black Friday deals, I've also spotted the cheapest-ever price on this official Nintendo Switch and SanDisk 128GB card...

Yes, I know, it's just a microSD card and, yes, that's kind of boring! But sometimes the best deals to surface in the sales are those not-so-exciting-yet-essential products – and for me having a Switch with expanded storage is an absolute essential. Even if you've owned a Switch for a long time, it might only be now that you need to expand upon its base storage.

Thus far I think gaming deals are where Black Friday has hit its stride best. After years of PlayStation committal, I finally took the plunge and ordered the best Xbox Series X deal I've ever seen (mainly just so I can play Starfield). But there are yet more: my T3 Tech partner in crime has written up a best Black Friday games deals under £20 post, in which there are some crackers to consider across all platforms!

So regardless of its boring nature, I still reckon this SanDisk and Nintendo official microSD card partnership is one of the best essential deals you'll find over Black Friday (the prices are better than during Amazon Prime Day, as I've verified using third-party price-tracker CamelCamelCamel) – and, actually, it's a really great gift or stocking filler option (another T3 colleague has written up a wider best stocking filler deals for Christmas that's also worth a read!). 

Wanna rock? T3 towers is often full of the sound of shredding. Multiple members of the team love to play guitar (myself included). You might eventually catch us forming a band but until then I figured we could bring you some of the best deals on Fender guitars this Black Friday season. 

Of course, choosing an axe (I always wanted to say that) depends on budget and experience level. Luckily at the office, we have a range of abilities. From myself, who started guitar a year ago, Editor-in-chief Mat Gallagher who has been playing for many years and Staff Writer Sam Cross who used to work at a guitar store for three years and has had more guitars than hot dinners. So we're in a unique position to recommend a Fender for beginner, intermediate and expert guitarists. 

The best Fender deal for beginners 

Having never touched a guitar before I started learning just over a year ago from an app. I practice pretty much every day now but I'm the first to admit that I'm not exactly a rock God. I really enjoy playing acoustic over electric (and the neighbours thank me for it!). 

The best Fender deal for intermediate players

Mat has been playing since the late 90s both recreationally and in bands with friends  at university. He's still a keen guitarist but of course he's plenty busy being the superstar Editor-in-chief of T3! 

The best Fender deal for expert players

You just have to look at Sam's hair to know he loves guitars. He worked as a supervisor in the guitar department of a major music retailer and is one gnarly dude. Like a guitar Yoda, he's also always giving me tips (or lectures) about the merits of one guitar over the other.  

I'm starting to develop a bit of a Rode addiction, and I don't think I'm alone. Australia's finest sound equipment brand has cultivated a huge following among audio enthusiasts, content creators, musicians, and streamers, and for good reason. Rode's microphones and interfaces are second to none, which probably explains why everyone, including me, is obsessed with finding the best Rode Black Friday deals in 2023.

We should be so lucky, as for the first time ever, Rode has a Black Friday deal. When you buy a new Streamer X Audio Interface and Video Capture Card, you get an NTH-100M headset – for FREE. That's the headset version of the Rode NTH-100, which we awarded a maximum of five stars in our review. There are plenty more Rode offers knocking about now, with some of my favourites highlighted below.

Scroll to the bottom of this article to find our magical price widgets that find the best deals on top Rode products based on your location. But before that, find some amazing, hand-picked offers on some of Rode's top products, including the new Rode NT1, Wireless Go and more! Wanna' scratch the Rode content itch a bit more? Check out my Rode NT1 Signature Series review.

There's a certain frenzy that develops over the Black Friday deals. Even the smallest of discounts on the right products can lead to people throwing their credit cards at the cashiers (at least virtually) without thinking twice. But how do you know if you're really getting a bargain?

The discounted listed against the original price is often only a small part of the story. Prices often fluctuate throughout the year and may well have been lower in the past. The product may be coming towards the end of its lifecycle, due to a newer model being available, or it might be that this version wasn't all it was cracked up to be in the first place. 

A successful deal purchaser comes to the table with knowledge. Knowledge about the product, how much it has really sold for in the past, and what else is out there that compares to it. 

As not only a seasoned deal shopper, but also as a regular writer of deals, I'm going to share with you a few of my checks that I will always do before buying a discounted product – whether it's on Black Friday or any other time of year.  It might look like a long process, but with practise, it can all be done in a few minutes. 

1. Check the reviews

The first place I always go when deciding whether to buy a product is the reviews. That can be the buyer reviews (which you should always take with a pinch of salt) or the professional reviews. 

T3 reviews a massive range of products, so I'll check our own back catalogue first, but if it's something not in our wheel house, I'll find another reputable brand online that has given it a proper hands-on review. You can normally tell pretty quickly if they haven't used it. 

Not only will the review tell you how good the product is, but it will normally give you a guide to where it sits in the market, and the products it compares to. All this is useful later on. 

2. Check the competition

The chances are, your chosen product isn't the only one of its kind in the market. For any one device there's likely to be a competitor from another brand, or even a more budget or premium alternative from the same company. There could even be older or newer versions of your product available.

Doing this allows you to get a few options to chose from when it comes to the final decision. Make a note of these other models, as you'll want to include them in the next part of the process. And if you ultimately like one of them more, you will want to check its reviews too. 

3. Delve a little deeper into the price

The term list price or RRP is normally that which is suggest by the manufacturer or at least the price of the item when it first went on sale. If your product has been on sale for some time, it might not have sold at this price for months or even years, so that discount figure could be a little misleading. 

There are various ways to see the price history of an item. Firstly, the reviews will often give you a guide of how much it's really selling for. There are also a number of price tracking websites that allow you to get a detailed range of prices that anything has sold for. For Amazon, The CamelCamelCamel site is a handy option and even has a widget available for Chrome. 

A general search for the product name will also allow you to see how much it's selling for on other websites. I look not only at the current selling price, but also how much it says it has been marked down from as a guide – as some websites are more honest than others. 

4. Compile your info

By now you will have an idea of which is the best product, or maybe a couple of options that would work for you, and an idea of how much they have been selling for. With this info you can now work out whether you're actually getting a decent discount. 

Always look at discounts in terms of money rather than percentage. A 20% reduction on a cheap product could be just a few pounds/dollars, while a 5% saving on something pricier could mean hundreds lopped off the bill. 

5. Timing is everything

The final key part to bagging a bargain is knowing when to pull the trigger – or rather, hit the checkout. Buy too soon and you could see the price drop lower still, but wait too long and the price may go back up, or the product could go out of stock. 

The best plan is to set a level at which you are willing to buy. If it drops below a certain price, you'll definitely buy it, and until it does, you're willing to wait and maybe miss out. 

Most deals will generally get better the closer to big sales days you get, so a deal a week out from Black Friday might be worth waiting on. But if it's something you really want, how much are you willing to risk? 

• Fragrances: up to 70% off Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Vera Wang and more
• Cookware: Ninja cookware up to 50% off
• Smart lock: Get £90 off the Ultion Nuki Smart Lock kit
• Smart speaker: Echo Pop speaker with 60% off
• PlayStation 5 COD MWIII bundle now £100 off
• Xbox Series X: Massive 25% off the console on Amazon
• Mobile data: SMARTY 32GB a month for £8
• Adobe: 50% off the all apps plan
• Amazon: Black Friday Week sale is now on! 
• Argos: Argos has started its Black Friday sale early
• Currys: Discounts on TVs, air fryers, laptops and more
• John Lewis: Black Friday page now up and running
• Very: Black Friday deals across the board
• AO: Great deals on white goods and more

It's very easy to get swept up in the excitement of the Black Friday deals, with big discounts off just about any type of product you can imagine. You really can save some serious cash if you're smart about it, but that takes planning. 

I don't know the percentage, but I imagine a lot of the purchases over Black Friday aren't planned, and are things that people might not have bought had they not been on sale. So, rather than saving money, that's just extra spending. 

Having covered the Black Friday sales for T3 for some years now, friends and family often ask for my advice before Black Friday. What's good to buy this year? How do I get the best deals? Will there be good discounts on air fryers?

My advice is to have a plan and stick to it. I use the same thinking when hitting the tables in Las Vegas. You might not always stick to that plan, if you see a really tempting deal on offer, but having a line of attack in advance will make your browsing simpler and should save you cash. 

Here are my pointers for a successful and financially astute Black Friday shopping spree. 

1. Get your list together

One of the reasons I end up shopping from Amazon so much is that I love its list facility. Creating a wishlist, whether it's on a site like Amazon, or just on a piece of paper will help you to prioritise your purchases. 

2. Check the reviews

If you see a product you like, it's always worth doing a little more research as to what the experts think. The models likely to get the biggest discounts are unlikely to be the most popular, but take a looks at the pros and cons and also look for variations. TVs for instance are likely to have a few similar models, which gives you extra choice when it comes to sale prices. 

3. Compare prices

Once you have your products locked in, you can start researching the prices across various stores. Even though list prices may be the same, some stores may already have discounts running, so that saving for Black Friday might not be as big as it seems. 

4. Don't jump too early

The Black Friday sales span the whole month of November these days, and even into October. That means there will be tempting prices in the weeks ahead of Black Friday. The chances are though, these prices will get even lower as the weeks roll on. Something with a 10% discount could have 20% off next week. Of course, there's always a risk that it will sell out, but hold your nerve as long as you can. 

5. Treat yourself, don't cheat yourself

The Black Friday sale is a great way to get an early start on your Christmas shopping, and save some cash in the process. But don't forget about yourself. As long as you don't go crazy, it's a great chance to buy yourself something nice too. After all, you deserve it. 

• Amazon: Holiday deals now on
• Smart Home: Up to 56% off Echo Show devices
• TV: Up to 45% off Amazon Fire TVs
• Best Buy: Big discounts on laptops, monitors, TVs and more
• Walmart: Get 50% off membership with early access to the deals
• Target: Daily deals including gaming, toys, electronics and more
• Home Depot: Savings on kitchen appliances, tools, holiday decor and more
• Lowes: Appliances, home decor, tools and more on sale now

The best Black Friday deals are coming up on 24th November 2023, although many brands and retailers have set their offers live early. From now until the 27th November (a.k.a Cyber Monday), this time of year is the best time to save money on the latest products and gadgets.

With the Black Friday sales in full swing, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the bargains and discounts up for grabs. Getting caught up in all the excitement is easy to do but when that happens, it’s easy to fall into discount traps where you’re not actually saving as much money as you think you are. Not only that, but you could waste your cash on things you don’t really need by getting carried away with the deals on offer.

To help you find the best prices and avoid spending a fortune, here are seven shopping tips you need to stick to this Black Friday.

1. Make a list… and stick to it!

The first and most important thing to keep in mind when shopping the Black Friday sales is to make a list and stick to it. Throughout November, there are deals flying here, there and everywhere, so it’s surprisingly easy to get carried away and spend money on things you don’t want or need. To stop you doing this, create a list of products to keep your focus during the sales. I make a list of Christmas gifts I want to buy for people, as well as finding the links to the retailers, so on the day, I simply check my notes and get my Black Friday shopping done immediately. Not only does this limit the risk of buyers remorse, but it also helps you stick to a budget.

2. Sign up for an account

Depending on the retailers you’re shopping at, it’s a good idea to sign up for an account, subscription service or newsletter. By signing up for an account, you’ll be the first to be notified about deals. This helps ensure that you get what you want without it going out of stock or rising in price, plus you can checkout more quickly. If you don’t want an account, you can sign up to a newsletter to get emailed about the latest sales, or you can go all in and pay for a subscription service like Amazon Prime.

3. Use price checking tools

To make sure you’re getting the cheapest possible prices, use a price checking tool to check the price history of the product you want to buy. Some retailers try to entice shoppers with advertised savings or artificially up the price only to bring the product back down to its original price on Black Friday. This can fool you into thinking you’re getting something super cheap when it’s not too much of a difference. Instead, research the products’ price from different retailers or use price checking sites to see how much the price has been previously.

4. Set reminders

Found a product you like? Set a reminder for it so you know when it drops in price. During the lead-up to Black Friday, early deals go on sale but they often fluctuate up until the official Black Friday weekend. To make sure you’re getting the lowest price possible, set reminders via the retailer's website so you’re notified when the item is in stock and at its cheapest.

5. Shop a year behind

Black Friday is often used by retailers and stores to clear out last season’s stock in preparation for newer models. When this happens, you’ll see TVs, laptops, tablets and other devices that are only a year old get huge price cuts, purely because they’re not the newest on the market. By shopping a year behind, you can find some of the cheapest prices on top products that are only a year old and still incredibly high quality.

6. Look out for price matches and discount codes

You might not expect Black Friday to have price match guarantees but it does… and you can save tons of money when you use them. A Black Friday price guarantee means specific retailers will match the price of a product or refund you the difference if you find it cheaper elsewhere. Check if your retailer of choice offers a price match guarantee and get in touch with their customer service to claim yours.

If you’re planning some serious spending, you can take more money off with discount codes. While some retailers won’t let you use discount codes with reduced items, there are the occasional brands that will let you. For example, Currys often offer extra discount codes during Black Friday for shoppers to take more money off and get free delivery and installation on large items.

7. Don’t forget Cyber Monday!

Cyber Monday (27th November 2023) is directly after Black Friday and can help you save more money on products and gifts. Historically, Black Friday was focused on in-store deals whereas Cyber Monday was strictly online, and while this has changed in recent years, Cyber Monday often gets bigger discounts online because of this. Some retailers will offer bigger price cuts on Cyber Monday, specifically those who sell consumer tech like TVs, laptops and printers.

Happy shopping!

Many retailers have already kicked off their Black Friday sales early, but one question that may be on your lips is, "When does the Apple Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale start?"

Well, as is tradition, Apple won't rush into its major deals period. It will, in fact, start its big bargain bonanza on Black Friday itself – Friday, 24 November 2023. And it'll run through to the end of play on Cyber Monday, 27 November.

The company has also revealed that its deals will be largely what we've come to expect over the years – you'll get an Apple Gift Card worth up to $200 / £160 with eligible purchases on the Apple Store.

That means, should you be in the market for a new iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, Apple Watch or AirPods, you will have additional credit to spend on any other item on the Apple Store afterwards.

What to expect in the Apple Black Friday / Cyber Monday sale

Apple has also revealed, via its event preview site, some of the Gift Card values that will be available for different products.

iPhone

If you purchase an iPhone SE, iPhone 13 or iPhone 14, you can get up to a $75 / £60 Apple Gift Card.

Mac

Buy a MacBook Air or Mac mini and you can score up to $200 / £160.

iPad

An iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad (10th gen), or iPad mini purchase will net you up to $100 / £80.

Apple Watch

Up to $50 / £40 in Gift Card form will be yours when buying an Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch SE.

AirPods

Those opting for a pair of AirPods (2nd gen), AirPods (3rd gen), AirPods Pro (2nd gen), or AirPods Max can snag a Card worth up to $75 / £60.

TV & Home

Apple TV 4K and HomePod purchases will reward you up to $50 / £40.

Apple accessories

There will be Apple Gift Card values up to $50 / £40 when you buy a Magic Keyboard, Magic Keyboard Folio, Apple Pencil (2nd gen), or Keyboard Folio.

Beats

And finally, Beats audio products will also be eligible when bought from the Apple Store, including the Beats Studio Pro, Beats Solo 3 Wireless, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Buds +, Beats Studio Buds, and Beats Flex.

Of course, you might not want to wait until then and would rather purchase your next Apple product earlier. Well, some third-party retailers are already offering some excellent Apple deals.

The new Apple MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip is available with $200 off at B&H Photo, for example. The discount will be applied at checkout.

You can also check the Amazon deals in the UK here, and US here to see what they have to offer for Apple fans.

Either way, Black Friday will undoubtedly once again be a great time for new kit.

With the best Black Friday deals coming up next week, now is a good time to start researching what you want to buy and taking advantage of early discounts. For Black Friday, you’re guaranteed to find low prices from the top retailers, but if you’re planning to shop at Amazon, you can use this money-saving hack for extra savings on your orders.

Amazon’s Black Friday Week is starting on 17th November and running until the 27th, giving shoppers a full 10 days to shop for Black Friday deals. The type of discounts expected from the best Amazon Black Friday deals include Echo devices, air fryers, laptops, smart cameras and much more.

Amazon is known for giving its customers extra ways to save money, particularly its Prime members. But this hack is available to everyone… as long as you have a gift card, that is.

Amazon is offering an extra £5 to customers who top up a gift card. Amazon Top Up (or Amazon Reload if you’re in the US) lets you add funds to your gift card balance to help speed up the checkout process, save up for special purchases and keep track of your spending.

How this hack works is you have to top up your gift card balance with £60 or more in a single order. When you do this, Amazon will give you an additional £5 to your gift card which can be used on your next Amazon purchase. So, if you top up your gift card by £60, you’ll actually have £65 to spend on Black Friday.

To qualify for this offer, you need to have made a purchase on Amazon in the last 12 months and must not have topped up your gift card in the last 36 months. This offer is also limited to new Top Up customers and has a limit of one reward per person. Other terms and conditions apply, and you must top up your gift card by 28th November to take part.

For US shoppers, Amazon Reload is the same as Amazon Top Up but as of writing, there’s no money offer when you ‘reload’ your gift card. This could change in the lead-up to Black Friday but this offer seems to be only available in the UK.

Black Friday is the best time of year for deals, and it’s always helpful to have extra money off, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. This money-saving hack is definitely worth taking advantage of if you’re planning to shop for Black Friday deals at Amazon, and here’s why.

Firstly, who doesn’t love having extra money to spend?! Having an extra £5 on your gift card means you can take advantage of more purchases, and might even help you stretch to getting that special product you’ve had your eye on. While Black Friday is all about savings, it’s important to not go too overboard, so using a gift card is a great way to budget yourself during the Black Friday sales. Lastly, having a gift card on your account speeds up the checkout process, which is very much needed during the Black Friday madness!

Want extra money off this Black Friday? Then make sure to check out Amazon Top Up to get £5 added to your gift card balance when you top it up by £60 or more.

Black Friday is finally upon us, and whilst it's the perfect weekend for finding bargains, it's also a prime time for fraudsters to target unsuspecting shoppers. The fast-paced nature of Black Friday can make scams harder to spot, especially with time-limited offers or deals that seem too good to miss.

To help you stay safe, we've put together five simple tips to avoid scammers this Black Friday – ensuring your shopping experience stays secure, from hitting 'buy now' to when your parcel arrives on your doorstep.

1. Look out for dodgy emails 

When it comes to big shopping events like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, fraudsters love to draw in victims by sending an email seemingly offering an exclusive or secret deal at one of your favourite shops. It's a very easy kind of scam, especially as the fraudsters don't have to put in a lot of effort. A lot of these kind of emails can look very realistic, especially if logos or images are selected and used from the legitimate website.

One important way to look out for this is to see if the domain name of the sender's email address is slightly off, or just plain incorrect. It could also be a good idea to see if the email address matches the official one from the shop it's claiming to be. Lastly, if the email is in your 'junk' or 'spam' inbox, then it should probably stay there. 

2. Double check those reviews

Checking out product reviews is a useful way of determining how genuine something is and how much you should be spending on it. You never known, someone could have purchased the same product and realised they'd received a cheap knock off rather than the real deal, especially if it's through a second-hand retailer website. By leaving a review detailing this, they're essentially helping you out at the end of the day, so make sure you check! 

3. Don't use public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks are convenient, especially if you're on the go, but they're also less secure. If you're planning on making some purchases over the Black Friday weekend, avoid doing so when connected to public Wi-Fi as cybercriminals and scammers can easily intercept your data. It's safer to just avoid it altogether, but if your money is burning a whole in your pocket, then consider using a VPN to protect yourself. 

4. Look out for 'missed delivery' messages

Another classic Black Friday scam is known as the 'missed delivery' scam. It usually comes through as a text message suggesting you have a parcel waiting with Evri, Royal Mail or another delivery provider. If you're planning on buying lots or doing all your Christmas shopping, it can be difficult keeping track of what you've purchased and when it's arriving. Therefore, when you receive a text saying you need to claim a package, it can be quite believable. 

If the text message asks you to click on a link or pay a collection fee, then it most likely is a scam. Most delivery couriers will leave a paper slip if they miss you, providing instructions on how you can get it redelivered. It's always best to follow these rather than a text. 

At the end of the day, if you do miss a parcel and it has to go back to the retailer, you'll get your money back. This is always a safer option than risking someone scamming you. 

5. Try to use a credit card instead of a debit card

If there's an option to purchase your Black Friday deal with a credit card instead of a debit, try and do that. Credit cards offer fraud liability protection, something that debit cards do not, meaning online purchases bought with a credit card have less of a risk. 

What should you do if you've been scammed?

If you think you've been scammed, you must contact your bank immediately. In a lot of cases, your bank will be able to stop the payment and return it to your account. If the scam involved entering your username or password for any online accounts, you must change your password immediately, as well as on any other account the same password is used. 

You should then report the scam to Action Fraud either through their website or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Black Friday might technically be over, but the sales are continuing over the weekend and into Cyber Monday, and Lake District-based brand inov-8 - who produce some of the best trail running shoes and hiking boots available, and have also recently started offering excellent speed-orientated walking apparel for fastpackers - keep adding lines and discounts to their Black Friday landing page. 

There are some excellent bargains to be found on trail-running gear for men and women and hiking kit for men and women, which are staying live throughout the weekend and into next week. 

Best Black Friday deals: offers too good to miss

If you’re in the market for some new trail footwear, we recommend running your eyes over the following.  

The Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are upon us once again, but not everyone - and not every brand - is on board with the price-slashing shopping frenzy that annually assaults our email in-boxes, social media streams and TV screens. Many see the sales as an unseemly orgy of consumerism that promotes unhealthy habits and decisions that are bad for business, workers and the planet.

Haglöfs, who make top-quality outdoor kit from sleeping bags to hiking boots, has been taking a stand against the environmental and social perils of excessive consumption for several years, and is using this opportunity to promote second-hand products and remind customers that they offer a lifetime guarantee on all their gear, and will repair anything that fails for free. On previous Black Fridays the Swedish brand has actually increased its prices and donated profits to charities, and this year they are closing the business for the day and encouraging staff to use the time to go outside with their family and friends. (You may still see some retailers offering Black Friday discounts on Haglöfs products, but this is outside of the brands' control.)

“The environmental and social consequences of Black Friday are just too big for us to ever consider participating,” says Fredrik Ohlsson, Haglöfs’ CEO. “We hope that our contrary actions will at the very least help draw attention to the problems of excessive consumption and systematic and large-scale discounting which are taking us in the wrong direction.”  

The company argues that, while seasonal sales have long been a feature of the clothing industry, allowing companies to clear stock, recent years have seen a trend towards frequent frenzied discounting, with some brands producing cheap products specifically for events like Black Friday. The consequences of this are excessive consumption, with people buying potentially sub-standard kit that they won’t use or don’t need, which has a terrible environmental impact. And beyond that, systematic discounting also contributes to driving down production costs and worker’s salaries across the whole supply chain. 

And Haglöfs aren’t the only ones taking a stand. British brand Fera - who produce excellent outdoor wear and accessories, from fleeces and shirts to reusable mugs - are declining to discount anything over Black Friday, and instead are donating 15% of each sale made between 24th and 28th November to nature.   

This is a significant increase from the 5% of sales the brand always passes on to environmental causes. A statement from the company says: ‘We were founded by passionate outdoorsmen and we want to give back to nature wherever we can. Beyond our commitment to make clothes that are made to last, we donate 5% from every order (not just the profit) to conservation charities and projects that are helping to protect our wild.’

The kick back against Black Friday sales isn’t just a European thing either. In the United States, several big brands and retailers including Patagonia and REI are refusing to take part. Patagonia is a company well known for its long-standing environmental and ethical standards, and the brand’s founder recently announced he was handing over all future profits the company makes to an organisation dedicated to improving and defending the health of the planet.

The brand, which makes highly regarded adventure apparel from base layers through to wetsuits, has been taking out ads in prominent newspapers like the New York Times for over a decade (such as the one shown at the top of this story) urging people not to buy their products unless they really need them.

On the Patagonia website this weekend you will find the following statement: ‘Black Friday is a frenzy of deep discounts, limited-time offers and last-ditch efforts urging you to “save” by spending more. We’re not doing that. Instead, we’d like to slow down and think about the bond we all build with our clothes. That’s why we’re committed to learning how to repair what we already own, shopping for used gear to keep it out of the landfill, or—when you do need something new—buying clothing and gear that’s built for the long haul. We also have ways you can donate your time, money or skills to the issues that matter to you most.’

However, in a tough economic environment, some small businesses are hoping sales from Black Friday and in the run up to Christmas will see them through. Over a third of small businesses make over 20% of their annual income in this crucial festive period, and the message to socially conscious shoppers from Alan Thomas, UK CEO at Simply Business, is to deliberately shop local, and to support small, specialist companies.

In a happy alignment of the stars, the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales fest falls in the part of the year when the evenings get darker earlier and conditions are ideal to start star gazing and planet spotting. 

Whether you’re looking for a new beginner’s telescope for a novice night-sky explorer, or thinking of upgrading your current scope to one of the best telescopes on the market, don’t fumble in the dark, focus on these excellent Black Friday deals.

In these cost-of-living times, we must be frugal at all times. We spend most of our hard-earned money on energy – after rent/mortgage, of course – trying to keep our homes well-heated. No one likes putting on cold clothes and shoes in the morning! I wish there was a way to keep the radiators off without feeling the chill in my bones.

Well, there is! Aerative's Heated Clothes Hanger is not only cheaper on Black Friday, but it can keep your clothes warm this winter without blowing a hole in your budget (by keeping the heating on all the time). It's compact enough to be kept in a drawer or in a bag, so you can have it on you all the time. Perfect.

What's the Aerative Heated Clothes Hanger, and should you buy one on Black Friday?

The Aerative portable dryer is lightweight and portable, allowing you up to 8-hours of automatic drying. With fully extendable and rotatable arms, the Aerative can dry (and warm) jackets, t-shirts, jumpers, shoes, and more. It works by ejecting hot air through its air ducts running through an alloy wire heating mechanism – simple yet effective!

The Aerative Heated Clothes Hanger is also perfect for travelling. It enables you to deal with unexpected downpours or accidents, should you need to hand wash and dry your clothes on location. Better still, the Aerative features a UV lamp that eliminates 99.9% of potentially harmful bacteria and mites to eradicate unwanted germs on clothes while simultaneously drying them.

For more Black Friday offers, check out T3's main Black Friday deals hub, or check out our live blogs, including the best Black Friday deals live and best Black Friday TV deals live blogs.