Best Black Friday Tech Deals 2022

Best Black Friday Tech Deals 2022

The race is officially on! Black Friday itself doesn't happen until after Thanksgiving, but most retailers offer deals throughout November. Some have even dipped into October. Whenever you choose to shop, the end of the year is prime time for buying new electronics. Many items drop down to the lowest prices of the year. Whether you're looking for a specific device or just want to jump on a good deal, you'll have plenty of options.

If you're not ready, those options can be overwhelming. We've gathered some of the best Black Friday deals in 2022 to make it easier.

You can expect great Black Friday deals for the entire weekend and the whole month of November — including online purchases.

When Is Black Friday 2022?

As always, the shopping event of the year falls on the day after Thanksgiving. In 2022, Black Friday lands on November 25. Some stores even open their doors on Thursday. If you don't want to brave the cold and face massive crowds, you're in luck. You can expect great Black Friday deals for the entire weekend and the whole month of November — including online purchases.

Stores have started spreading out the deals and offering them online to keep the crowds small, so many of today's customers can get great discounts with less stress. Black Friday has all but merged into a five-day event running from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, which falls on November 28. Stores also offer Black Friday deals all month long.

When to Shop for Black Friday Deals

• Electronics
• Televisions
• Computers
• Appliances

When to Shop for Black Friday Deals

You'll usually see the best Black Friday electronic deals between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. But if you see a great deal earlier in the month, you might want to snag it. Month-long sales have some retailers offering deep discounts right out of the gate. Depending on the item, these pre-Black Friday sales could be even better than the real thing. Some big-ticket items could even be out of stock by Black Friday. Look at the ads and see if the retailer officially lists them as Black Friday prices.

The 2022 Adobe Analytics shopping report tells us what days it predicts the steepest discounts for certain items:

  • Electronics: The best Black Friday deals on electronics should happen on Thanksgiving Day. Adobe predicts discounts of 27%.
  • Televisions: For TVs, go shopping on Black Friday for a 19% discount. Remember, you can often buy online and pick up in-store when the crowds thin out. Prices could dip even further in December.
  • Computers: Black Friday computer deals should be the best on Cyber Monday. They'll be very low all month long. Adobe expects discounts as deep as 32%.
  • Appliances: If you're after new appliances, you might actually get better deals in December. Adobe expects them to get discounts as high as 18% on December 1.

Is your Black Friday shopping mostly about finding Christmas presents? Pay special attention to shipping speeds. Shipping isn't quite as troubling as it was last year, but you still want to give yourself plenty of time.

Where to Find the Best Tech Deals

Most major retailers offer fantastic Black Friday tech deals. You'll find them at big electronics stores, as well as department stores and online-only stores. For bigger items like computers and TVs, you might get more selection at an electronics store. You can also find smaller items like headphones, tablets, games and smart home devices there. Other sellers like department stores and online retailers should have good deals on smaller items.

Most stores issue Black Friday ads ahead of time. Check these out so you can have your list before you shop.

What to Expect This Black Friday

Things are a little more predictable this year than they were in 2021. Supply chain issues are more controlled. While you still want to give yourself plenty of shipping time for presents, you have more wiggle room. However, many stores will have limited stock. For some hot-ticket items, it's a good idea to buy before Black Friday in case the stores run out. Some of last year's pre-Black Friday sales were better than the real thing.

The most pressing change for this year's Black Friday is inflation. With climbing prices and tighter wallets, retailers know they need to offer steeper discounts to make their products worthwhile. We might see sharper discounts on hot products to entice more people to buy amidst high inflation.

Laptops

Phones

TVs

Tablets

Apple Products

Popular Tech Deals to Look Out For

Popular Tech Deals to Look Out For

You'll find deals on virtually everything this year, but there are always some stand-out products. Here are some of this year's top items to keep an eye on for the best Black Friday tech deals.

1. Laptops

Adobe predicts that computer prices will stay low all November long and should tick up in December. Many of the best Black Friday deals for laptops are for mid- or high-range items. You'll find a few hot budget laptops on the list, too.

Watch for deep discounts on:

  • Lenovo IdeaPad 1i: This extra-affordable laptop is normally $249.99. Early deals already have it down to $99.99. The Lenovo IdeaPad runs on Windows. This system removes some of the limitations of a Chromebook. It also has a larger 14-inch display.
  • Dell Inspiron 3511: For a mid-range laptop, the Dell Inspiron is a great choice. It offers good all-around performance for average users. It will likely get some good sales this year.
  • Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3: Looking for a good gaming laptop? Try the Lenovo Ideapad. It has a great graphics card and a speedy processor. Early Black Friday laptop deals have already knocked a few hundred dollars off of these models.
  • Microsoft Surface Pro: This capable laptop transforms into a tablet. It blends portability with great performance. Expect several hundred dollars off the retail prices of the Surface Pro models. These include the Surface Pro 7, 7+, X and Studio.
  • HP Envy 17t: In the premium category, the HP Envy 17t is a powerhouse. It has a huge 17-inch screen and top-tier hardware components. Normally $1,299.99, Black Friday prices should bring that down by $300 or more!

Apple products are somewhat special, so we'll talk about MacBooks later on.

2. Phones

Black Friday phone deals can be exceptional. They might come with a catch, though. Many of these deals call for a contract, trade-in or a specific phone plan. If you know what you're getting into, you can get some fantastic savings.

Look for deals on the following Android phones:

  • Galaxy Z Fold4 or Flip4: Samsung's foldable and flippable phones will get some steep discounts. The Flip4 folds vertically into a small, pocket-sized square. The Fold4 opens up into a larger phablet-style screen.
  • Galaxy S22 Ultra: The S22 is Samsung's current flagship phone. It has everything you expect from a premier phone, including a great camera, solid battery life and a gorgeous screen. It even has an included stylus. It will likely get steep discounts, with some exceeding $1,000! Keep in mind that the S23 should be released in a few months. If you think you'll want it, you may want to hold off on the S22.
  • Google Pixel 6a: With Google's excellent hardware and intelligent software, the Pixel 6a is a solid choice. It offers premium features at a mid-range price point. Early sales already have it priced at $150 off.
  • Motorola Moto G: If you're after a budget phone, you can snag devices from the Moto G series for under $130 this year. They'll give you the basics in a great-looking phone for an affordable price.
  • OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro: OnePlus phones have a lot of flagship features at a lower price. With Black Friday sales, we expect some entry-level models to drop below $350.

Watch for sales on cases and accessories, too!

3. TVs

You'll find plenty of deep TV deals this season across all sizes. If last year's trends continue, we might see doorbusters from 50 inches for $200-$300.

Here's just a taste of some of the best Black Friday TV deals you can expect this year:

  • Toshiba C350 43-inch 4K TV: Toshiba is a popular pick for budget TVs. This one offers modern features, like 4K quality and a smart TV platform, for a low price. Normally, it's $469, but we're seeing sales as low as $249.
  • Insignia F30 75-inch TV: Want to maximize your screen real estate? Insignia offers a super cheap 75-inch. This smart TV offers 4K quality and good sound. Early sales have it for under $550.
  • LG A2 48-inch OLED TV: If you want an OLED screen, try the A2 from LG. It has a decent size and supports voice assistants. You get Dolby Vision, too. Pre-Black Friday sales have put it at $569.99. It's one of the cheapest OLED TVs you can buy.
  • LG C2 55-inch OLED TV: The hardware on the LG C2 is particularly impressive. It has top features, like a high refresh rate for gaming and stunning picture quality. We've already seen this model drop $300 off its $1,599 retail price.
  • Samsung Frame TVs: The Samsung Frame offers a more artistic approach to television. An attractive frame surrounds the matte screen to look like a piece of artwork. It has excellent picture quality. It can even display images from your own “art collection” when not in use. Most models are at least several hundred dollars off for Black Friday.

TVs are a big deal on Black Friday. But it's easy to get caught up in all the discounts and high-tech-sounding features. You might get sidetracked by something that sounds flashy but isn't really what you want. If you plan to buy a TV for Black Friday, be prepared.

Make sure you know the terminology — LED vs. QLED vs. OLED, for example — and have an idea of what you want. For example, an 8K TV might sound nice, but the human eye can't even tell the difference on most TVs. You should also be on the lookout for big sales on outdated or low-quality technology.

4. Tablets

Tablets make great gifts — either to yourself or someone else! Black Friday tablet deals are easy to find. Like phones, you can find some good discounts with trade-ins and from wireless carriers.

Watch out for price drops on the following non-Apple tablets:

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S8: The S8 tablet comes in a few different versions. You can get the S8 Ultra, S8+ or regular S8. Each one offers great performance and includes a stylus. The Ultra is a fan favorite for productivity. We already see discounts from $150-$200 on these tablets.
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 or A8: These tablets are both pared-down versions of the S8. They're a little simpler but will cover all the basics. Expect some good discounts here, too.
  • Amazon Fire tablets: Amazon always has great discounts on its tablets for Black Friday. Many of them should come down below $100. Fire tablets are great bare-bones options. They're ideal for kids or someone who only wants a tablet for simple tasks like reading.
  • Microsoft Surface Pro 7: Microsoft tablets run on the same Windows system as laptops. That lets them do a lot more than other tablets. Discounts should offer at least a few hundred dollars off.

5. Apple Products

Most discounts on Apple products will come from retailers. Apple itself doesn't usually do sales. Instead, it tends to offer free gift cards or headphones with some purchases. Retailers, however, can help you get hundreds off of Apple tech.

Check out these items for great Apple Black Friday deals:

  • MacBook Pro 14: Last year's MacBook is already getting steep discounts. It's a fantastic laptop for creative work and general performance.
  • MacBook Air M1: The 2020 version of the MacBook Air is also dropping in price. It's a lightweight, exceptionally fast laptop. It also has great battery life. The Air is your cheapest route to a MacBook. With Black Friday pricing, expect a discount of $150-$200.
  • iPhones: The iPhone 14 came out in the fall, but we should still see some decent discounts. For the best iPhone deals, look to earlier models like the iPhone 13 or iPhone SE. Some wireless providers are even making them free with certain plans or trade-ins.
  • Apple Watches: Just about every series of Apple Watch should be on sale this year. The best Black Friday Apple Watch deals will be on older models like the Series 3 or Series 5. Still, we’ll probably see modest discounts on the newest version, the Series 7.
  • iPad and iPad mini: These two tablets are the most affordable options. The 10.2-inch iPad starts with less internal storage, and the iPad mini has a smaller screen. Both options run well and offer Apple tablets at a great price.
  • iPad Air and iPad Pro: These models are a bit pricier, but they perform wonderfully. Some even use the M1 chip, the same powerful processor used in some MacBook models. Look for great iPad Black Friday deals on both options.
  • AirPods and AirPods Pro: AirPods are usually a hot item on Black Friday. They're great for gifts. The Pro models offer some more advanced features and comfortable silicone tips. Either option delivers a lovely listening experience.

If you need any accessories, like chargers or adapters, keep an eye out for them, too.

Trade-In Your Phone This Black Friday

Use our online tool to price your device today. Then, find a kiosk near you to get started!

Popular Tech Deals to Look Out For

Is a new phone on your Black Friday list? You might be able to reduce the price even more by trading in your used phone. Just bring it to an ecoATM kiosk. If we can offer you cash for it, we will. Otherwise, we'll take it off your hands in a green-friendly way.

Use our online tool to price your device today. Then, find a kiosk near you to get started!