Black Friday may now be more of a November-long sales event than specifically about that post-Thanksgiving weekend, but the official day has now arrived. And Amazon Black Friday deals are always eagerly anticipated, as they usually mean unheralded discounts on its own smart home tech, together with big price cuts on a wide range of other gadgets, toys, homeware, clothing ... the list goes on.
Although no retailers are actually discounting the Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset, Amazon is throwing in "$50 digital credit towards future Amazon.com purchases". That makes this the best Quest 2 deal since it was released, with that SRP sticking stubbornly at $299. GamesRadar rates this as a great option "if you've been waiting to get into VR, but have been put off by the requirements of a super-powerful gaming PC".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
One of the most sought after products of Black Friday 2021 so far, Amazon has a fantastic price on the new Apple AirPods Pro to undercut the competition — and it's selling in droves. This was $10 cheaper yesterday, so you may have missed its cheapest price. But $169 is still excellent value.
Topping lists of the best wireless earbuds at websites such as What H-Fi and TechRadar, the much-anticipated Sony earbuds haven't dissapointed. The former described them as "one of the most feature-packed, user-friendly and sonically gifted pair of wireless earbuds we've tested," with "some of the best noise-cancelling we've heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality".
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are always a good time to get discounts on Amazon's store brand smart hime tech, and this year is no exception. The latest and greatest Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker was released in the Spring, and this is its cheapest price yet. For that you get improved audio from previous iterations, and — of course — Alexa voice control. Alternatively, you can get its predecessor for just $19.99 with a Sengled smart bulb thrown in for free.
If you want the best laptop "ever made" — according to TechRadar, which describes it as a "a thin and light laptop that offers great performance, even with 4K video editing, while also offering incredible battery life" — then this Amazon deal is the one to opt for. The 256GB version of the 2020 AirBook running on the rapid M1 chip is down to a ridiculously low price and we'd be surprised if it got any cheaper now this year.
This is an example where Amazon can boast delivering the best price ever this Black Friday — the 40mm Apple Watch SE with GPS has never been this affordable before. Only the version with the blue sport band is available, but you can expect this smartwatch to sell quickly. It lets you take calls and reply to texts, track your daily activity, and has a vivid Retina display.
Automatic, smart vacuum cleaners aren't going to be for everybody, but the technology is getting better and better, and iRobot Roombas are leading the way. This one is the brand's best seller, combining affordability with voice activation and smart AI. Now down to its lowest ever price thanks to yet another discount from Amazon today.
8. Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 50" 4K smart TV: $329.99
(Image credit: Amazon)
Amazon has reserved one of its most eye-catching TV deals for its store brand tech. Released earlier this year, the 50-inch version of the Amazon Fire TV 4-Series includes an ultra HD display, Dolby Digital Plus surround sound, and the benefit of the company's Fire TV smarts and Alexa-enabled voice controls. With a discount that started earlier this month, you can now buy this TV for its cheapest price yet.
If you're a frequent gamer, it's worth having the TV hardware to match the power of your next-generation console. GamesRadar has rated LG's OLED C1 series as the best gaming TV on the market, and Amazon currently has a discount on the 65-inch model. In addition to the regular 4K display, there's a dedicated Game Optimizer that helps with smooth motion handling and frame merging. But this isn;t just for gamers, and will also suit movie fans and sport fanatics who are prepared to blow the budget this year.
Proving that Black Friday isn't all about big-ticket purchases, this is a sub-$20 bargain. The Blink Mini smart security camera syncs up with your smartphone or connected Amazon smart home device and uses its motion sensor (with night vision) to alert you if it detects any strange goings on in your home. It also features two-way audio and records to 1080p HD quality.
You may not have heard of it before, but OnePlus is a smartphone brand that brings flagship specs at mid-range prices. The OnePlus 9 has been highly rated across the web, with TechRadar calling it "a great-value option with no major drawbacks". It has a 6.55in screen, 50MP main camera, 8GB Ram and 128GB storage. TechRadar was particularly impressed with the camera tech and fast battery recharging. And if you want a bigger screen and even more power then you can upgrade to the OnePlus 9 Pro for an extra $200.
Stargazing binoculars have been a bit of a breakout hit this Black Friday, and these are probably the best value options Amazon has to offer. They're designed specifically for low light conditions, and are kitted out with beefy 70mm objective lens.
Adam Marshall has written about tech, lifestyle, and software for titles such as TechRadar, Tom's Guide, T3, and Creative Bloq. Among his professional and personal interests are cinema, sport, culture, and TV. A law graduate from the U.K., Adam also has a history as a practicing lawyer and a tech product researcher.
Labubu: the 'creepy' dolls sparking brawls in the shops
The top period dramas to stream now
Women need more pain management during gynecological procedures
Best Walmart Cyber Monday deals: 17 best discounts available today
Best Black Friday laptop deals 2021
Best Black Friday TV deals 2021: 7 top discounts for all budgets
Best Walmart Black Friday deals: 10 top discounts from Deals for Days sale
Black Friday is set to be a big disappointment for gaming
Black Friday 2021: Live sales and the top 10 deals available already
Black Friday 2021 deals have already (unofficially) arrived
