Does Best Buy Have Good Deals on Black Friday

1. Black Friday 2021

50+ Black Friday Deals from Best Buy Available Now

By

Wirecutter Staff

Updated November 26, 2021

Photo: Wirecutter Staff

Black Friday is finally here and Best Buy should be one of your first stops for great tech savings. Known for its exciting Cyber Week deals, the retailer is offering a fresh round of exciting markdowns this year. There are savings on laptops, Apple Watches, cameras and more. And we've pulled together just a few of the standout deals we've found so far.

Apple Watch and iPad deals

This year's deals don't disappoint. With huge markdowns on Apple Watch and iPads, you'll be able to improve your work, home, and fitness life effortlessly.

We are currently searching for the best deals on Wirecutter picks in this category and will add them here if we find them.

Audio, video, and camera deals

For Black Friday, BestBuy is offering great deals on the ever-popular Canon and Sonos devices. Here are some of the best deals we've found online:

We are currently searching for the best deals on Wirecutter picks in this category and will add them here if we find them.

Beauty deals

It's the small details in our hair dryer and hair straightener picks that make getting ready a breeze. We're surfacing the best deals on beauty appliances at Best Buy for you this Black Friday.

Praised for its comfort and ease-of-use, the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is great for folks who take their hair drying very seriously. Though it won't necessarily dry your hair faster than our other picks, we love how easy and pleasant the Supersonic is to use. The handle doesn't vibrate, the 9-foot cord is the perfect length, and the noise is less grating than that of other dryers—everything we'd want from a true luxury hair dryer. To score this rare discount, simply sign up for a free My Best Buy account. We've seen a couple similar deals that included a free attachment, but this drop is still a nice chance to snag our upgrade pick for a little less.

Laptop and computer deals

Our Wirecutter picks on laptops always deliver. Now, you can score major deals thanks to this year's Black Friday deals. Featuring top brands, you'll have no problem upgrading your tech collection.

We are currently searching for the best deals on Wirecutter picks in this category and will add them here if we find them.

Gaming deals

If you are a gamer, now is the perfect time to grab the game you've been wanting. While there are still waiting lists for big-name items, like The PlayStation 5, there are still great deals on older consoles and popular video games. Here are a few of the standout deals:

We are currently searching for the best deals on Wirecutter picks in this category and will add them here if we find them.

Headphone deals

There are massive discounts on headphones from top brands like LG, Sony and Samsung. With discounts of up to 60% off, they are definitely worth shopping this year.

Sleep headphones help you block out sound and listen to music while you're drifting off, and the Bose Sleepbuds are the only options we tested that legitimately masked the sound around you. They don't offer full noise cancellation, but they effectively reduce sound when worn, and will further mask it by playing white noise or other sounds. However, they lack wireless streaming capabilities, so you're limited to preloading music and sounds from the Bose Sleep app. Even on sale, these 'buds are pricey for how limited they are—but if you're desperate for a noise-reduction solution for sleep, we think these are your best bet.

A good pair of wireless Bluetooth earbuds should be comfortable, discrete, and sound great; our top pick fits that bill perfectly. Successors to the well-regarded 65t, the Elite 75t has improved in almost every way: they're smaller, lighter, and offer a longer battery life for extended listening. With easy-to-use controls and an IP55 rating against water, dust, and sweat damage, the 75t comes packed full of features, like hear-through mode and audio tuning.

Tired of fumbling with tangled wires? Consider picking up a pair of our budget pick Bluetooth wireless headphones. The Jabra Elite 45h headphones offer good clarity and a battery life of over 50 hours per charge. Their sound quality, fit, and function are comparable to that of much more expensive models. However, they lack features like noise cancellation and corded listening. This deal is only a few bucks shy of the lowest price we've seen in navy and gold beige.

Home and outdoor deals

Revamp your outdoor space with some Wirecutter-worthy deals. For Black Friday, you can save on everything you need to make your backyard shine, including furniture, appliances, and other must-have accessories.

We are currently searching for the best deals on Wirecutter picks in this category and will add them here if we find them.

Kitchen deals

There are some pretty good deals on kitchen appliances and accessories this year. Though a surprise to some, shoppers can find great kitchen deals from this tech-driven powerhouse.

When you buy a $100 Apple Gift Card you also get a $15 Best Buy e-gift card with purchase. We've seen similar promotions in the past from Amazon and Target, but it's always nice to get a little free money.

A pizza oven is not an essential item, but if you're really into making the best possible pizza at home, the Ooni Koda 16 Gas Powered Pizza Oven is a great portable pizza oven that can help you reach that goal. After baking 70 pizzas in four outdoor pizza ovens and one indoor countertop oven, we like the Ooni Koda 16 best because it has the biggest baking surface of all the models we tested, as well as superior heat distribution. Originally released at $500, the pandemic pushed the selling price of this oven up to $600, so we're calling out the street price around $540. However, even with that street price increase, this drop to $480 is a new low price.

If you or someone you know uses Uber Eats regularly, this is a nice opportunity to save a little extra on an Uber Eats gift card. Right now you can get $15 off a balance of $100. These promotions are usually fairly short lived.

Again, it's basically free money for those ordering take out with Uber Eats.

Phone, tablet, and smartwatch deals

If you're looking for great tech, Black Friday is the best time to buy. For a limited time, you can find major markdowns on smartphones, tablets and accessories. And to help, we've pulled together the best of the Cyber Week deals.

The Apple Watch SE matches the Series 7 where it counts: It offers the same key features you'd expect from your smartwatch at a more-affordable price. However, it has a slightly smaller screen and lacks a few upgrade features, like always-on mode, a blood-oxygen monitor, and an ECG. This deal (in space gray) is one of the best prices we've seen for our budget smartwatch pick.

Our upcoming top pick for the best fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 5 is a great device for monitoring your activity and sleep cycles. Overall, Fitbits have a long-lasting battery and a comfortable band, and they are easy to use. In addition, the Charge 5 will accurately track your exercise metrics and link to a fitness community, to share your sessions and meet your goals. This deal matches the best price we've seen for the newest model, and it's only the second deal we've posted.

The streamlined but still feature-rich, the Fitbit Inspire 2 is our runner-up pick for the best fitness tracker. This slim tracker has a sleek look and can either be worn on your wrist or clipped onto your waist. While it doesn't have an altimeter or built-in GPS, it does have a long battery life and features active zone minutes tracking as well as sleep monitoring. If you're looking for a simple and affordable fitness tracker, this discount is a solid deal that's just a few bucks more than the previous low.

Looking for a simple cellphone plan that prioritizes budget? Look no further than our budget pick, Mint Mobile. Mint offers unlimited nationwide talk and text through T-Mobile's existing network at an impressively low cost. However, that affordability still comes at a cost: At peak hours you may experience slower connection speeds compared to official T-Mobile members, and if you need technical support, there are no in-person locations. Still, if you have your own unlocked phone and want to spend the least, Mint is a great carrier on a rapidly growing network.

Smart home deals

Make your home smarter with Best Buy's wide selection of smart home deals. This year, you'll find plenty of our Wirecutter picks, including the best speakers, displays, and security systems.

Previously removed from our smart-doorbell-camera list due to privacy concerns, the Ring Video Doorbell has since enhanced its security and privacy practices enough to be reinstated as our budget pick. Although it doesn't offer all the bells and whistles of our other picks, the Ring is significantly cheaper, smaller, and easy to install—all while still delivering a solid performance. This bundle also includes a third-generation Echo Dot. Note: The Ring doorbell requires the Ring Protect basic plan ($30 a year) to record motion events.

A smart plug is an affordable and convenient way to add smart capabilities to non-smart devices in your home. Slightly more expensive than our top pick, the HS105 is a reliable model that seamlessly integrates with smart home assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, or IFTTT. In addition to controlling the plugs via WiFi, you can also use the HS105 to remotely monitor device usage or set automatic sunrise/sunset scheduling. Do note that this deal will require store pickup or will need to be combined with a larger order to avoid shipping fees.

If you love home cooking and are integrated within the Google ecosystem, the Nest Hub Max is the smart display we recommend. With a large 10-inch screen, the Nest can easily transform from a beautiful digital photo frame to your own personal cookbook—verbally walking you through recipes without having to touch anything with ingredient-dirtied hands. Matching the lowest we've seen, this versatile display is a great choice for anyone who prefers the Google Assistant over Alexa.

The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) offers most of the same features as the larger Google smart displays, but ditches the camera. Coming in at around 7 inches, it's the perfect size for a bedside table—especially given the Nest's standout sleep tracking abilities. This deal matches the lowest price we've seen.

An innovative blend of a smart speaker and tablet, smart displays offer more convenient functions than either device on its own. The 5½-inch Amazon Echo Show 5 is perfect if you want a small display for a nightstand or bathroom counter. Our smaller screen Amazon Alexa smart display pick, this pint-sized Echo does everything the larger Show 8 can do, but in a more compact package. This deal matches the best price we've seen for the versatile and budget-friendly first generation Echo Show 5, and it includes a free smart bulb added to cart.

A less expensive and less complicated smart thermostat, the Google Nest is a solid option that we speak well of in our guide. While it doesn't have remote temperature sensors and doesn't "learn" your heating and cooling habits and schedule, it's still a solid budget option that works perfectly with the Google Nest ecosystem. This isn't the lowest price we've seen, but this is still a solid discount.

A smart speaker option we like for Google users, the Nest Audio provides a louder and more bass-filled audio experience, which we think is on par with that of the Echo (though we do prefer Amazon's ecosystem overall). Plus, you can configure two of these speakers together as a stereo pair via the app or arrange them throughout your home to create a multi-room sound system. Matching the previous low of $60 for one unit with code 85085, you can also use the same code to get two speakers for $100.

Using Alexa, this 4th gen Echo can do just about everything a good smart speaker can do, including play music, answer questions, and control your smart-home devices. It's slightly larger (and a different shape) than previous gen Echo speakers, but the larger, spherical size allows for a better speaker with a big volume boost and improved soundstage. This deal matches the lowest price we've seen and includes an Alexa-compatible smart bulb for free.

TV deals

Give the gift of entertainment with Best Buy's Black Friday deals. Featuring markdowns on brands, like LG, Sony and Vizio, it's the perfect place to buy a new TV.

If you want the best-looking TV image on the market, an OLED TV is the way to go. Our top pick produces fantastic 4K HDR images for an extremely reasonable price. It has a thin, sleek build and supports the leading high dynamic range standards, which allows you to get the best picture possible from HDR sources. You can also customize and tweak the visuals (no matter the media) with both a filmmaker and game optimizer mode. Some more expensive OLED models offer better image brightness and video processing, but we think most people won't find the higher price worth the offerings.

Although the overall picture quality isn't as high as on a pricier LCD screen, we think that the TCL 5-Series still provides a bright, colorful picture with good contrast. It also offers a full-array local-dimming backlight and built-in Google TV streaming, and it supports HDMI 2.1 features.

The Sony X95J LED TV has the most accurate image of any TV we've tested in both SDR and HDR modes, but be prepared to pay a higher price for that accuracy. It reproduces HDR brightness perfectly and also has the best image processing available of the TVs we tested. The local-dimming backlight is superb, but it can't get as bright as some of our main picks. It uses the Google TV streaming interface and has a pair of HDMI 2.1 inputs that accept 4K 120 Hz signals from the newest gaming systems. You're definitely paying for the super accurate image but this is a nice discount for the 75-inch size. This deal is the best price we've seen thus far.

If you're looking for a feature-packed 55-inch TV that performs well, the TCL 5-Series 4K Smart Google TV is the new top pick in our guide to the best 4K TV on a budget. It's the 2021 version of the 5-Series that has integrated Google TV. Former Wirecutter writer Chris Heinonen says "The TCL 5-Series with Google TV is our favorite TV on a budget with good image quality, our favorite streaming platform, and advanced HDMI 2.1 features for recent consoles and sound bars." This deal offers the best price we've seen so far for the 55-inch model.

If you're looking for a good-sized TV on a budget, this 55-inch 4K LED TV from Vizio is an excellent option. As our new runner-up pick, it's a solid option that performs nearly as well as the our new top pick, the TCL 5-Series. While we think the Vizio has good picture quality for its price, and advanced gaming features (such as HDMI 2.1), we found that the integrated SmartCast streaming platform was only mediocre.

Whether you're looking for an inexpensive 2.0 soundbar or simply want an all-in-one solution that includes a media streamer, the Roku Streambar is another option we like from our soundbar guide. Though it's not a sonic powerhouse, the Roku boasts a fuller sound than most TV speakers, has Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay 2 support, and a more cost-effective price than even our budget pick. Plus, it comes with a built-in Roku Streaming Stick + 4K HDR streamer. This deal matches the lowest price for this notable alternative.

Tired of juggling multiple remotes for your TV setup? The Sideclick is an affordable universal remote that attaches to your Roku for additional control. Recommended in our piece on simple universal remote options for seniors, the Sideclick is both easy to program and use—helping limit the confusion and inconvenience around multiple controllers. Although it doesn't have any number buttons, it still provides a good amount of custom inputs to add to your existing Roku remote.

Tech deals

This is a rare deal on our top virtual reality headset pick. Its cord-free design allows it to be used without the aid of a computer—though you can purchase a separate cable to connect for better performance—making the Quest 2 the easiest way to access VR for a majority of people. While the specs won't compare to higher-end options like the Valve Index, the Quest offers solid enough visuals and tracking without needing to spend thousands of dollars on a fancy setup.

Whether you're rock climbing or skydiving, an action camera will ensure every moment is beautifully captured for posterity. The HERO9 is last year's model from GoPro's extensive camera line, but it still stands as our top action camera pick. Between its impressive camera stabilization and vibrant detailed 5.3K resolution video, and other added features such as slow-motion, time-lapse, and phone connectivity, the GoPro is a complete video package. While the newly released HERO10 does offer better resolution for high-speed videos, the HERO9 is still an extremely capable option when compared side by side.

Simple and wireless, the Pro is perfect if you're seeking something low-maintenance to help keep an eye on your property. It doesn't capture action as well as our other picks, but it has an excellent battery life, great image, HomeKit support, and three options for storing footage.

If you want a completely cordless outdoor Wi-Fi camera, we recommend the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera. A new pick from our guide to the best outdoor security camera, this battery-operated camera produced clear 2K images day and night and delivered the most specialized alerts of any cordless cam we tested. It can also distinguish between people, animals, vehicles, packages, and general motion—for an added monthly fee. We found the battery should last about two months before needing a new charge, but it will drain faster if you frequently record continuous motion. We'll likely see deeper discounts over Black Friday, but this deal is still the best price we've seen so far for this three-camera kit.

The larger screen variant of our top car GPS pick is back down to $180, matching the best price we've seen. The Garmin DriveSmart offers the best screen, directions, driver alerts, and map updates of any other GPS we tested—but our top pick, the DriveSmart 55, only has a 5.5-inch screen. If you want something a bit bigger, the 65 offers all the same features we like about our top pick but with a larger 6.95-inch screen. The image isn't quite as sharp as the 55, but it's still a great model that's easy to read and won't take up too much room on your dash or windshield.

Computer and computer accessory deals

Though it's only partially split and you can't customize its tenting angle, the Microsoft Sculpt is a great affordable and wireless ergonomic keyboard option. Though we prefer the mechanical keys of other picks, the Sculpt is a great model for budget-conscious folks testing out the waters of ergonomic keyboards. Plus, it connects to your computer via a 2.4 GHz wireless USB dongle, so you don't have to worry about cluttering your space with additional wires. We have mixed feelings about the mouse included in this bundle, but it's a good value if you're interested in an all-in-one set.

Get a little more laptop functionality out of your iPad with a great keyboard case. Although the Magic is expensive and heavier than the competition, we still think it's an excellent accessory overall. It has fantastic keys and a handy trackpad that most keyboard cases lack, so it is particularly useful for folks who intend to use their iPad in place of a laptop. This deal matches the best price we've seen for our upgrade pick.

The best Mac laptop for most people is the 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple's M1 processor. It's fast enough for everyday use and the M1 even handles professional work like 3D rendering or compiling code. It has a great keyboard and trackpad, a colorful high-resolution screen, and outstanding battery life. The only real downside is that some Mac apps aren't optimized for the new M1 chip yet, so you may notice some lag until they're updated. Although it's possible we'll see this model with 8 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD drop another $50 sometime during Cyber Week, this is still a solid deal if you don't want to take a chance on missing out. Costco members can grab this MacBook for $800 already.

Students looking for a fast and lightweight Chromebook for the new year are in luck. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is smaller, lighter, faster, and has a longer battery life than other Chromebooks we tested. Usually more expensive than our other picks, this price makes it more comparable to our other options, all while having twice as much RAM and more memory. Do note that this device is only equipped with USB-C ports so you'll need an adapter if you wish to use older peripherals.

Another good (albeit lower-specced) option we mention in our Chromebook guide, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 features 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and an Intel 11th Generation Core i5 processor. Though it's noticeably heavier and bulkier and its aluminum top cover and plastic chassis reduce its exterior build quality, the Spin makes up for its shortcomings with a taller 3:2 screen ratio, more ports, long battery life, and a 360-degree hinge. Down to $530, this a nice chance to save on a Chromebook that's comparable to our upgrade pick, if you don't mind the extra weight or specs.

Well-built and reasonably priced, our top gaming mouse offers a variety of comfortable grip styles and plenty of responsive buttons. The G502 also offers an excellent build quality, RGB lights, and adjustable weights, so it's easily customizable to your own preferences. Though most of our testers found the G502 enjoyable to use, those with smaller hands found that its many buttons made it more difficult to find a comfortable grip. We've seen very slightly better discounts for this mouse in the past, but this drop is still a nice opportunity to save on a top pick, so long as you like the special edition finish versus the standard black.

This affordable wireless gaming mouse is a great way for casual gamers or those on a budget to game untethered. The Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed is nearly identical in shape to its wired Basilisk V2 cousin, but it sacrifices some buttons and features that we like. As long as you don't mind the lack of thumb clutch, customizable scroll wheel, or lighting options, this discount is a good price for a comfortable and accurate gaming mouse. This deal isn't quite the lowest price we've seen for this model, but it's still a nice opportunity to save right now if you don't want to wait for potential $30 pricing around Black Friday.

The Razer Basilisk V2 is an excellent wired gaming mouse for those who are willing to pay a bit more for it. It was a favorite among our gaming mouse testers. Normally twice the price of our top pick, it now offers excellent value for the features. With customizable scroll wheel tension, tactile buttons, and adjustable weights, this wired mouse is a fine choice if you value comfort. Do note that if you're planning on using it on a macOS computer, Razer's Synapse 3 software (for customizing your mouse buttons and macros) is not compatible. If you are part of the free Best Buy Members program, you'll receive an extra 10 percent off with store pickup.

Currently, the Razer Basilisk Ultimate, which boasts excellent speed and responsiveness, is on sale both with and without the charging dock. For an extra $20, you'll get a handy station to charge this wireless mouse as much as you need to. The Ultimate excels in comfort and wireless functionality, securing its spot as a worthy upgrade pick. Normally quite a high-cost accessory, this deal is a nice opportunity to save on a wireless upgrade, as well as getting the fancy and convenient charging dock.

When keeping to a budget, the Logitech C615 is your best bet. The overall video quality doesn't match that of our top pick—it's not as sharp, autofocus is slower, and the auto white balance isn't as accurate—but it still has 1080p resolution and looked better than any other camera we tested under $50. In addition, this Logitech model has seen a pretty dramatic increase in street price since we last posted—so although this discount is far from the lowest price we've seen, it's the best price we've seen in nearly two years.

Gift card deals

When you buy a $100 Apple Gift Card you also get a $15 Best Buy e-gift card with purchase. We've seen similar promotions in the past from Amazon and Target, but it's always nice to get a little free money.

If you or someone you know uses Uber Eats regularly, this is a nice opportunity to save a little extra on an Uber Eats gift card. Right now you can get $15 off a balance of $100. These promotions are usually fairly short lived.

Again, it's basically free money for those ordering take out with Uber Eats.

Vacuum deals

Whether you're looking for robot vacs that will clean while you chill, or durable, high-performance upright or canister vacuums, we're keeping you posted on the best Black Friday vacuum deals on all our picks.

Featured in our guide of the Best Drones for Photos and Videos, the Autel Robotics EVO II is an easy-to-fly drone that has an 8K camera and 40 minutes of flight time—the longest of any of our picks—and has no known security concerns. We also prefer its controller over the other drones we tested. Right now, you can snag the EVO II for $1275, from $1450 which is a decent discount for folks looking to get the perfect, wide-angle view.

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Does Best Buy Have Good Deals on Black Friday

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/money/best-buy-black-friday-deals-2021/

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