Monday, December 23, 2024

Best Black Friday deals for 2024, selected by a shopping expert

Must read

Black Friday 2024 is now just days away but you don’t have to wait until the main event, as there are already deals dropping daily, on everything from techTVs, laptops and gaming gear to mattressesbeauty and air fryers.

Whether you’re after Apple Airpods, Ninja air fryers, Shark cordless vacuums, Simba mattresses, Lego sets or Charlotte Tilbury beauty (that’s just for starters), all the biggest brands and retailers take part – think Boots, Argos, John Lewis, AO, Amazon and Pandora.

Read more: Best Black Friday 2024 deals – follow live

This year, the sale lands on Friday 29 November, and will last a full four days before concluding on Cyber Monday (2 December).

Throughout the sale, along with my fellow IndyBest shopping experts, I will be busy hunting down the crème de la crème of deals, spanning tech, beauty, fashion and more. Whether you’re in the market for a new moisturiser or cordless vacuum, you can shop the best Black Friday offers below.

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday traditionally falls the day after Thanksgiving in the US, so, the mammoth sale will kick off on Friday 29 November this year. Lasting a full four days, the deals will end on Cyber Monday, falling on 2 December 2024.

Best Black Friday 2024 deals to shop now

  1. Apple AirPods 4: Was £179, now £169, Amazon.co.uk
  2. Playstation 5: Was £479.99, now £399.99, Amazon.co.uk
  3. The Oodie, black: Was £65, now £32.50, Theoodie.co.uk
  4. iPhone 16 Pro with 500GB: £39.99 per month, £149 up front, Carphonewarehouse.com
  5. Dyson supersonic hair dryer nickel/copper: Was £329.99, now £249.99, Dyson.co.uk
  6. Meta Quest 3, 512GB: Was £619.99, now £468.89, Amazon.co.uk
  7. Le Creuset cast iron round casserole dish: Was £209, now £178, Amazon.co.uk
  8. Oral-B Pro 3 electric toothbrush: Was £100, now £35, Boots.com
  9. Marc Jacobs daisy eau de toilette: Was £69.99, now £40.98, Amazon.co.uk

Best tech Black Friday deals

(Apple)

Apple’s brand new Airpods only launched last month, but Amazon has slashed its price on the earbuds in the run-up to Black Friday. In tech critic David Phelan’s review of the Airpods 4, he described them as “amazingly small and light.” He added that the audio quality, noise cancelling and microphone are all strong, while the fit is snug and comfortable. “The new AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are excellent and the price is great: just £10 more than AirPods third-generation, which didn’t have noise-cancelling on board,” he said.

(Amazon)

The PS5 has been reduced to its lowest-ever price in Amazon’s Black Friday sale – so if you’re shopping for a gamer this Christmas, now’s the time to buy. I predict this will sell out fast. When resident tech expert Steve reviewed it, he said that it “packs a serious punch, with performance and graphics rivalling a mid- to high-end gaming PC”. Run, don’t walk.

Oura gen3 horizon smart ring: Was £349, now £249, Amazon.co.uk

(Oura)

“If you’re looking for a sleep tracker, activity tracker or just want to know as much as you can about your body, then the gen 3 Oura ring will tick a lot of your boxes, in one tiny package,” Kat said in her review of the fitness device. With six different coloured rings available (from silver to gold), it’s a more stylish choice than a Fitbit or Garmin. When Kat tested the device out, she was impressed with its battery life and sleep insights, as well as fertility and period tracking. Right now, you can save nearly 30 per cent thanks to Amazon and John Lewis (Johnlewis.com), which have both reduced the ring down to its lowest ever price.

(Apple/The Independent)

Black Friday is arguably the best time of the year to upgrade your phone, particularly when there there are deals like this one from iD Mobile at Carphone Warehouse. The 500GB plan (upgraded from 100GB for Black Friday) on the Apple iPhone 16 has you paying £149 up front and then £39.99 per month. That’s a total of £1,108 over the course of the 24 month plan (mid-contract price bumps not included). With the phone costing £999, the deal means you’re paying just £4.57 per month for a 500GB plan. In The Independent’s tech editor’s review of the latest iPhone, Andrew said the “iPhone 16 Pro is a powerhouse of innovative technologies that is due to become even more powerful in the months to come.”

Samsung QN95D 55in 4K smart TV: Was £1,699, now £1,499 plus a free soundbar, Samsung.com

(Samsung)

Samsung is giving away a free soundbar worth up to £400 with select TVs from now until Black Friday. The 55in QN95D uses Samsung’s “neo QLED” pixel technology, which offers improved contrast, inky dark blacks and vibrant image quality versus LED panels – the similar QN90D appears in our round-up of the best 4K televisions of 2024.

MacBook Air (13.6in, M2, 2022): Was £899, now £949, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Looking for a laptop upgrade? Black Friday is your best chance to save on premium Apple models. Case in point: this £100 saving on the previous generation MacBook air, which launched in 2022 with the then-latest M2 processor. Still an impressively fast machine, the thin, lightweight, 13in laptop is now the cheapest device in the MacBook air range. In tech critic David Phelan’s review of the laptop, he said: “The new MacBook air shines because of its superb light weight and bright display, its great keyboard and fast performance, and its sheer drop-dead glorious design.”

(Virgin Media)

Looking for a new broadband provider? Virgin Media is offering a stellar deal for Black Friday, which will see you get three months of free broadband. Choose from broadband on its own to deals bundled with TV and a SIM. Even offers on Sky Sports and Sky Cinema are up for grabs in this year’s sale. Plus, you can get three months of Disney+ thrown in for free. Simply enter your postcode to see if you’re eligible.

Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones: Was £379, now £247, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Sony sits at the top of our round-up of the best wireless headphones with the WH-1000XM5. With impressive noise cancellation and impeccable sound quality, they’re the headphones to beat. “Whether it’s orchestral music, rap, podcasts or your favourite pop tracks, the WH-1000XM5 handle it all with poise and gumption,” our writer said in their review.

Best beauty Black Friday deals

Dyson airwrap complete volumise: Was £479.99, now £399.99, Boots.com

(Boots)

A cult buy, Dyson’s airwrap complete model is reduced by a whopping £80 at Boots. The tool comes with six attachments for optimum when styling, whether you’re creating super sleek looks or a bouncy blowout. “Despite looking complex, using it was super simple and straightforward,” Lucy said in her review. “It dried and smoothed hair quickly and easily, with minimal effort needed. And the round brush was also a welcome addition here too, as our tester loved using it to dry her hair for a blowdry-esque finish – this is something that she would usually have to use a hairdryer and straighteners to achieve,” she added.

Maybelline New York lash sensational sky high mascara: Was £12.99, now £8.76, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Maybelline’s New York sensational sky high mascara boasts a uniquely designed brush that’s long, thin and densely packed with tiny little plastic bristles. This makes it ideal for getting to hard-to-reach areas and easy to manoeuvre from all angles with minimal mess. In Sarah’s in-depth review of the mascara, she raved about the tiny bristles that line the wand, which she found “helped comb through each and every lash – yes, even those pesky ones right in the corner”. You can pick it up for nearly half price right now.

(Argos)

This nifty hair tool took the top spot in our guide to the best Dyson airwrap alternatives, with our reviewer describing it as a “game changer” for their hair routine. “The lightweight, versatile and multifunctional tool made drying and styling a breeze – so much so, we think it is on par with the airwrap, even though it’s £200 cheaper,” our tester said. Now, the Shark flexstyle is even cheaper, thanks to this early Black Friday deal.

Dyson supersonic hair dryer nickel/copper: Was £329.99, now £249.99, Dyson.co.uk

(Dyson)

Dyson’s supersonic hair dryer was hailed as “incredibly lightweight and cute” in our review, where its compact size “cemented it as a go-to for gold-standard styling”. Praised for being easy to use, our tester also found that it delivers “a real punch of power for fast drying times”. With this direct from Dyson, you can save £80 on the luxury hair tool.

(benefit/The Independent)

A haul of fame indeed, this trio of products is quite literally my go-to brow selection for every day, not to mention the gimme brow, specifically, being IndyBest’s best brow gel for adding volume. In the review, our tester commented that it “is light enough that you can wear it alone or over other brow products, and it gives good hold and lift”. As for the precisely, my brow detailer, it also comes IndyBest-approved as the best brow pencil for volume. Our reviewer praised how it “boasts an extra small tip (0.8mm to be precise) for fine strokes that mimic hairs”. The set is not to be missed with 50 per cent off.

CeraVe facial moisturising lotion: Was £16.99, now £9.02, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Our tester dubbed this CeraVe lotion as one of the best SPF moisturisers, praising how “it instantly absorbs into the skin, for long-lasting moisture that’s neither sticky nor shiny”. The cream includes hyaluronic acid and glycerin, for all-day hydration, with our reviewer adding: “It’s easy to apply and small enough to be popped in a bag.” Now less than £10, investing in this two-in-one formula is a no-brainer.

Oral-B Pro 3 electric toothbrush: Was £100, now £35, Boots.com

(Amazon)

We rated the Oral-B Pro 3 the best electric toothbrush in our round-up, thanks to its low price and effective cleaning power. The brush is noisier than the premium iO range but cleans just as well, according to our tester. “This budget-friendly electric toothbrush might lack the bells and whistles of its pricier iO siblings, but the oscillating head still delivers a reliably thorough clean.”

Gucci flora gorgeous magnolia eau de parfum,100ml: Was £135, now £108, Johnlewis.com

(John Lewis)

The newest addition to Gucci’s bestselling FloraFantasy collection, the flora gorgeous magnolia is perfect for brightening up winter days. A pleasing blend of patchouli essence, magnolia Essence and a dewberry Accord, the scent is feminine, fruity and floral. A signature of the range, the maximalist bottle adds the final flourish. Finished in a rich purple shade and adorned with the Flora pattern, it will take pride of place on any vanity table. You can save 20 per cent in John Lewis’s Black Friday sale.

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s award-winning complexion trio: Was £85, now £59, CharlotteTilbury.com

(Charlotte Tilbury)

Featuring three of Charlotte Tilbury’s most cult product, there’s 30 per cent off this bundle right now. As well as a travel-sized magic cream and setting spray, you’re treated to a full-size beautiful skin foundation. In our review of the foundation, our tested found it “buffs into the skin beautifully, leaving a subtle radiance to the skin that catches the light naturally”. Meanwhile the airbrush flawless setting spray is another IndyBest favourite, with our tester saying: “Whether we were in the rain or doing a workout, the setting mist kept everything in place, from morning to night.” When it came to reviewing the magic cream, our tester found their skin “looked plumper, dewier, firmer and, above all, far healthier”. Glowing reviews all round.

Marc Jacobs daisy eau de toilette: Was £69.99, now £40.98, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Our favourite floral perfume from masters in fragrance Marc Jacobs now has 41 per cent off. “Offering a sweet floral scent, it combines white violet and jasmine for a flowery fragrance, berries for sweetness and sandalwood to make it seem deeper and warmer,” noted our writer. Impressed with the versatility of the scent they said that “it has a little bit of everything while still staying nice and light”.

Best toy Black Friday deals

Tonies toniebox, red: Was £79.63, now £63.96, Tonies.com

(Tonies)

Discounts on children’s brand Toniebox are rare, so don’t miss the brand’s massive Black Friday event with 20 per cent off its boxes. The Toniebox has featured in several of our gift guides for children, including the best gifts for 2-year-olds and 4-year-olds. A great option for kids of all ages, it’s essentially an audio player that helps bring music and stories to life. “This versatile audio player has been designed firmly with kids in mind; it’s soft and padded (with no pointy corners), durable and completely intuitive to use,” Sarah said in her review. “Our four-year-old testers were able to skip through songs or chapters and operate the volume controls immediately.”

Lego Harry Potter Hagrid’s hut, 76428: Was £65, now £48.50, Argos.co.uk

(Argos)

You don’t have to be a wizard to uncover some great Lego Black Friday deals. Argos has sliced 25 per cent off the price of this Harry Potter Lego set, which comes with seven characters, including Harry, Hermione, Ron and Hagrid. The 896-piece set is suitable for Potterheads and Lego fans aged eight and above, and it will make a great addition under the Christmas tree.

Lego wildflower bouquet set: Was £54.99, now £42.99, Johnlewis.com

(Amazon)

Let your creativity blossom, with Lego’s colourful wildflower arrangement. Designed to stand tall in your home, the 939-piece build features 16 stems with a mix of flower and leaf varieties – such as lavender, Welsh poppies, gerbera daisies and lupins – that can be freely arranged and placed in a vase. It would make an ideal gift for any flower fan, regardless of their green finger potential. Plus, as the blooms are made using sustainably sourced sugarcane, they have less of an environmental impact, compared with other standard Lego sets.

Best mattress Black Friday deals

Simba hybrid luxe mattress, king: Was £1,799, now £1,295.28, Simbasleep.com

(Simba)

Simba’s hybrid luxe took the top spot in our review of the best mattresses of 2024 and, right now, you can get a dreamy £500 saving on the king size. “This substantial mattress has a whopping 11 layers and is therefore very robust,” IndyBest’s assistant eCommerce editor, Sarah, said when she put this mattress to the test. Sarah added: “It offers the ideal balance between a firm and medium sleeping base. Better still, it’s breathable and feels fresh. The layers work well together, and we’ve seen improved sleep, thanks to the coolness it offers during warmer months and increased cosiness seen in the autumn and winter.” What more could you ask for?

Best clothing and jewellery Black Friday deals

(Oodie)

The brand’s hoodies were rated highly in our review of the best blanket hoodies, where we found the oversized hoodie to be “very oversized, cocooning our 6ft tester down to the knees”. Complete with a hood, sleeves and practical front pouch, the hoodie is finished in a plush soft-to-touch flannel fleece with sherpa fleece lining the inside. “Large enough to curl beneath it on the sofa but still sufficiently fitted and lightweight to move around the house while working from home, the Oodie will be a saviour when temperatures plummet,” said our tester. Right now, you can save 50 per cent.

Lululemon align high-rise pant, sakura pink: Was £88, now £64, Lululemon.co.uk

(Lululemon)

Lululemon’s align leggings range is the fitness world’s worst kept secret. Comfortable, supportive and available in plenty of playful colourways, the leggings are the ultimate studio-to-socialising choice. This pair earned a spot in our round-up of the best yoga leggings, in which our tester said: “These leggings wick sweat perfectly, so you don’t need to shower straight after class – keep these on while you grab a coffee or do brunch.” Right now, you can save more than £20 on the sakura pink style.

Best gaming Black Friday deals

Meta Quest 3, 512GB: Was £619.99, now £468.89, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Save a huge 24 per cent on the Meta Quest 3 VR headset in this deal that has just dropped after the release of the Meta Quest 3S. “The Meta Quest 3 is an astounding virtual-reality headset, and is arguably the best consumer VR device currently out there,” our tech writer Alex said in his review. “With full-colour passthrough, a faster processor, a more comfortable and ergonomic fit, as well as better hand tracking and, of course, those sweet, sweet pancake lenses that make everything so much more stable, this is the VR headset to beat.”

Nintendo Switch neon red/neon blue with Nintendo Switch Sports and 12-month Switch Online membership: Was £324.99, now £249, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

If you don’t need the larger or more vibrant OLED display, then this bundle deal on the OG Nintendo Switch will serve you well. It comes with Nintendo Switch Sports, a leg-strap accessory and a 12-month Switch Online membership thrown in for free. If you buy the bundle from Amazon, the retailer knocks off a further £10 on the cost of console, saving you a total of £76.

Best appliance Black Friday deals

Shark anti-hair-wrap cordless upright pet vacuum, ICZ300UKT: Was £429.99, now £299.99, Sharkclean.co.uk

(Shark)

In the run up to Black Friday, you can clear up with a discount on this cordless vacuum from Shark. With an hour-long run-time, this cordless vacuum cleaner comes complete with a pet tool and anti-hair-wrap technology, which is ideal if you want to prevent hairs from getting tangled up in the brush-roll while you’re hoovering. Plus, while using it as a handheld, it’s said to be lightweight, so you should be able to clean hard-to-reach spots more easily.

Ninja foodi dual zone air fryer: Was £199.99, now £129, Currys.co.uk

(Currys)

This stylish black and silver air fryer from Ninja is reduced by £50 in the run-up to Black Friday, thanks to Currys. As functional as it is sleek-looking, the appliance features a nifty dual drawer design that enables you to cook separate dishes simultaneously, as well as a huge 7.6l capacity, making it a great choice for larger households. The different functions mean you can air fry, crisp, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate and prove, all with just one handy tool.

Barista express bean-to-cup coffee machine: Was £629.99, now £495, Johnlewis.com

(Sage)

Our tester named this the best bean-to-cup coffee machine in their review. Now, you can snap it up in John Lewis’s Black Friday sale with a discount just shy of £130. “You can tinker with the settings to your heart’s content, including the grind size of the bean and the volume of coffee, plus, of course, creating microfoam, using the steam wand”, our reviewer noted. “We found we made dreamy cups of coffee with little fuss right from the get-go”, they added. What more could you want when making your morning brew?

Nespresso vertuo pop coffee pod machine: Was £100, now £59, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

The vertuo pop is Nespresso’s most affordable coffee machine – and, naturally, it’s been tried and tested by the team at IndyBest. Spoiler alert: Lauren loved it. Now, Amazon has slashed the price of the machine by nearly 50 per cent. Receiving a glowing five-star review, she praised the “small but mighty” machine that will slot seamlessly into most people’s kitchen countertops. “Weighing in at just 3.5kg, if you have a large cupboard and won’t be using the machine every day, it’s also incredibly easy to store away until you need it,” she added.

Le Creuset enamelled cast iron round casserole dish: Was £209, now £178, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

French brand Le Creuset’s cast iron casserole dish has taken on family-heirloom status in many people’s homes, but cookware like this doesn’t come cheap, so this sizeable price cut is not to be sniffed at. Discounted by nearly 30 per cent in Amazon’s early Black Friday sale, the dish is suitable for one-pot meals and can be used on any cooking surface. In their review, Rachael said: “It was perfect for making slow-roasted dishes such as casseroles, but we also whipped up a loaf of bread, which cooked evenly and with a nice, crispy crust.” Available in a number of colourways, the cerise shade currently has the lowest price point.

Dyson V8 advanced: Was £329.99, now £229.99, Dyson.co.uk

(Dyson)

Dyson’s sleek V8 range is among our favourite budget vacuum cleaners. Better yet, you can now save £100 on the advanced model in the run-up to Black Friday. In our review of the similar V8 absolute vacuum, our tester said: “Just like the priciest models, you won’t have any problem with this machine’s power, thanks to a digital motor that spins at up to 110,000rmp, and Dyson’s standard cyclone technology.” The advanced model is touted as Dyson’s most powerful V8 model yet, complete with 40 minutes of run time and trapping 99.99 per cent of microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns. Characterised by the brand’s distinctive sophisticated style, this vacuum is one to snap up pronto.

Best furniture Black Friday deals

Dusk Hampshire chaise sofa: Was £1,399, now £847, Dusk.com

(Dusk)

Dusk has just kicked off its mega Black Friday event with up to 75 per cent off everything. So, there’s no better time for a sofa upgrade. The brand’s Hampshire style secured a spot in our round-up of tried and tested corner sofas, where our reviewer named it the best traditional-style chaise sofa. “Dusk’s Hampshire chaise sofa is a triumph of both form and function – and, as with all of the brand’s offerings, it is enticingly affordable, given its high quality,” they said. Now, you can get it for less than £900 thanks to the Black Friday event.

Best Amazon device Black Friday deals

(Amazon)

Bookworms, you can get the Kindle at its cheapest-ever price right now. Considered the best ereader in our review, The Independent’s tech critic David Phelan praised the device for being “really exceptional (gaining the top spot in this round-up)”. He added: “The front light has also been improved recently, to make it subtler and adjustable in terms of warmth as well as brightness. Like the oasis, the paperwhite is waterproof – it’s able to withstand submersion in 2m of water for up to an hour.”

Amazon Echo dot, 5th gen: Was £54.99, now £22.99, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Reduced by a huge 58 per cent, Amazon’s Echo dot is perfect for those on a budget. Tech critic Alex said that “the fifth generation smart speaker has even better sound than all the Echo Dots that have come before it (a mean feat given how hard it is to eek good sound out of a small device).” Praising its top functionality and neat new indoor temperature sensor, he said it can be placed anywhere in your home to deliver weather reports, set timers, play music, podcasts, the news and more.

Audible: Was £7.99 per month, now 99p per month, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Audiobook subscription service Audible is currently 99p per month for three months for Amazon Prime subscribers who’ve never had Audible before (or haven’t been a member in the past 12 months). You can listen to thousands of select Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks. Once your trial period comes to an end, an Audible subscription will cost £7.99 each month, which will pay for one audiobook (each month) as well as the above. The offer will end on 21 January 2025, so, you’ve still got plenty of time to subscribe, even after Black Friday ends.

What brands have started their Black Friday sales?

While there’s still a few days to go until the main event, myriad brands and retailers are ramping up the excitement by launching their Black Friday sales early. Boots was the first to kick off proceedings, with John Lewis and Argos closely behind. In the days since, AO, Currys, Shark, Ninja, Oodie, Superdrug, Habitat and Dyson have all followed suit. Amazon is among the latest to join in, with the retailer launching its early Black Friday sale on 21 November 2024. To be in-the-know as soon as more brands kick off their sales, make sure to follow along with our liveblog.

The best brands with Black Friday sales I recommend shopping

Some brands host just a couple of sales during the year, and Black Friday is often their biggest. So, if you’re looking to bag a rare bargain, I recommend making a beeline for brands and retailers such as Pandora, Zara, Shark, Dyson, Nintendo, Sonos and The North Face. Apple is also one to watch, with Black Friday being the best time to save on the tech giant at third-party retailers such as Amazon, John Lewis and Carphone Warehouse.

When it comes to variety and choice, Amazon and John Lewis are your best bets. The retailers sell everything from beauty and fashion to tech, so you can tick off your Christmas shopping list all in one go and save on multiple shipping fees. If you’re after beauty, Boots is hosting its biggest sale yet, while Currys should be your go-to for appliances, and head to Amazon for tech.

When is Cyber Monday 2024?

Cyber Monday will fall on Monday 2 December this year. The main difference between the two sales is that Cyber Monday – as the name suggests – historically only takes place online, while Black Friday sees deals both online and in-store. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, however, with plenty of brands continuing their in-store sales into the following week.

When does Black Friday end?

If you miss out on bagging a Black Friday deal, the sale continues over the weekend before concluding on Cyber Monday – which is your final chance to score a saving. Typically, the best deals on tech and home appliances can be found on Black Friday, while Cyber Monday sees bigger savings across beauty, fashion and toys – so, this is worth bearing in mind when ticking off your pre-Christmas shopping list.

Voucher codes

For the latest offers on tech, gadgets and more, try the links below:

Looking for more savings? We’ve rounded up the best early Black Friday mattress deals

Latest article