Black Friday 2026 falls on November 27, followed by Cyber Monday on November 30. Although the exact 2026 deals will not be known until retailers announce their promotions, Black Friday has developed clear patterns over the years.
Certain products almost always receive aggressive discounts. Others are promoted through bundles, gift cards or trade in offers rather than simple price reductions.
The important point is that Black Friday is not one giant sale with identical discounts across every product. Each category has its own pattern.
TVs
TVs are one of the most predictable Black Friday categories.
Retailers know that large televisions attract shoppers, so they frequently use them as headline deals. Some of the lowest television prices of the year traditionally appear around Black Friday.
Budget 4K TVs
The cheapest deals are usually found on entry level 4K televisions.
Large retailers may heavily discount 50 inch, 55 inch and 65 inch models, particularly from value oriented brands.
A 50 inch television that normally costs several hundred dollars can sometimes fall below $200 during an aggressive promotion.
These are usually designed for shoppers who want a large screen at the lowest possible price.
Samsung, LG and Sony TVs
The deals are not limited to inexpensive brands.
Samsung, LG and Sony televisions can also receive substantial reductions, particularly on mid range and previous generation models.
For example, a television that normally sells for $1,000 may receive a $200 to $400 reduction during a major promotion.
Premium OLED televisions can see even larger dollar savings because their normal prices are much higher.
A $1,500 OLED television receiving a $500 discount is a much larger saving in actual dollars than a $300 television receiving a $50 reduction, even if the percentage discount is similar.
Where TV Deals Usually Appear
Different retailers tend to compete in different parts of the TV market.
Walmart and Target are particularly aggressive with inexpensive large screen televisions.
Best Buy and Costco frequently compete strongly on recognizable brands and larger premium televisions.
Amazon can also become highly competitive, particularly during the broader Black Friday period.
TV Deals Usually Arrive in Waves
Black Friday television promotions generally do not appear all at once.
The first wave can arrive in early November.
A second and often larger wave appears around Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Another group of promotions can arrive for Cyber Monday.
This means shoppers do not necessarily need to wait until November 27 to see a major TV discount.
Laptops
Laptops follow another highly recognizable Black Friday pattern.
The biggest reductions are usually found on budget and mainstream laptops rather than the newest premium models.
Budget Chromebooks
Chromebooks are common Black Friday deals because retailers can sell them at very low prices.
Entry level Chromebooks can sometimes fall below $150 or $200.
These deals are particularly common for basic computing such as:
- Web browsing
- Schoolwork
- Streaming
- Online documents
Windows Laptops
Mainstream Windows laptops from HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer and Asus are also frequently discounted.
A laptop in the $600 to $1,000 range may receive a reduction of several hundred dollars, depending on the model and promotion.
The biggest savings often occur on models that have been available for several months rather than machines that have just launched.
Dell XPS
Dell’s premium XPS line has historically appeared in holiday promotions.
Discounts can sometimes reach several hundred dollars, making Black Friday an important period for shoppers interested in premium Windows laptops.
Microsoft Surface
Surface devices also frequently appear in Black Friday promotions.
Discounts can apply to Surface laptops and 2 in 1 devices, with higher end configurations sometimes receiving larger dollar reductions.
MacBook Deals
MacBooks behave differently.
Apple itself generally does not compete through huge direct price cuts.
Instead, retailers may reduce MacBook prices or offer gift cards and other promotions.
A MacBook that normally costs $1,000 might receive a relatively modest direct reduction, but a retailer promotion can still make the overall purchase more attractive.
This is why MacBook shoppers should look beyond Apple’s own Black Friday promotion.
Smartphones
Smartphone Black Friday deals are different from TV and laptop deals.
A television can simply receive a $300 price reduction.
A smartphone is often connected to a carrier, trade in program or activation requirement.
Carrier Promotions
Carriers frequently use Black Friday to attract new customers.
A promotion may effectively provide hundreds of dollars toward a new phone when a customer:
- Trades in an old phone
- Opens a new line
- Switches carriers
- Selects a qualifying plan
- Purchases a specific model
The headline value can therefore be much larger than the actual upfront discount.
Gift Card Deals
Retailers can also offer gift cards instead of reducing the phone’s sticker price.
For example, a customer might purchase a phone at a reduced or regular price and receive a substantial retailer gift card.
This allows the retailer to advertise a valuable promotion without permanently lowering the listed price of the phone.
iPhone Deals
The newest iPhones generally do not receive the same straightforward discounts as older models.
Instead, promotions may revolve around:
- Trade in credits
- Carrier incentives
- Gift cards
- Activation offers
- Accessory bundles
Previous generation iPhones can be much easier to find at direct discounts.
Samsung Galaxy Deals
Samsung’s Galaxy phones can receive more aggressive promotional treatment.
Flagship Galaxy models may appear with trade in incentives, instant discounts or bundle promotions.
Previous generation Galaxy models can become especially attractive because their prices may fall while their performance remains strong.
Google Pixel Deals
Google Pixel phones have historically been more likely to receive direct price reductions.
This makes Black Friday particularly interesting for Pixel shoppers who prefer a simple sale price rather than a complicated carrier promotion.
Headphones and Earbuds
Audio products are among the most consistently discounted electronics.
The reason is simple: headphones and earbuds have high retail prices but relatively low physical size, making them easy for retailers to promote and bundle.
Premium Headphones
Brands such as Sony, Bose and Beats frequently appear in holiday promotions.
A premium headphone that normally costs $300 to $400 may fall substantially during Black Friday.
Discounts of 30% to 50% can occur on established models.
AirPods
AirPods are another major Black Friday product.
Retailers often compete aggressively on popular AirPods models because they are recognizable products that attract shoppers.
Previous generation models can receive especially strong discounts when newer versions are available.
Why Audio Deals Are Often Strong
Headphones and earbuds are frequently purchased as gifts.
Retailers therefore have a strong incentive to make them attractive during the holiday shopping season.
This helps explain why audio products repeatedly appear among the strongest percentage discounts.
Smartwatches
Smartwatches generally follow the same pattern as smartphones.
New models may receive smaller discounts, while older models receive larger reductions.
Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch products can be particularly attractive during Black Friday.
A previous generation premium smartwatch may provide most of the features shoppers want while costing substantially less than the newest model.
Discounts of around $50 to $100 are common targets to watch for, although actual savings depend heavily on the model.
Smart Home Devices
Smart home products are another category where Black Friday discounts can become extremely aggressive.
Products such as smart speakers, smart displays, smart plugs and smart lights can sometimes receive discounts of 40% or more.
Smart Speakers
Companies use smart speakers to expand their ecosystems.
That makes them useful promotional products.
A retailer may heavily discount a smart speaker because the company expects customers to purchase additional products or services later.
Smart Lights and Plugs
Smart plugs and lights can become extremely inexpensive during Black Friday.
Multi pack promotions are particularly common.
For example, a four pack of smart plugs may cost only slightly more than a single unit at normal pricing.
Smart Home Bundles
Bundles can also become attractive.
A package containing a smart speaker, smart bulbs and smart plugs may cost considerably less than buying each product individually.
Gaming
Gaming deals are highly visible during Black Friday, but the biggest discounts are not always on the consoles themselves.
Gaming Consoles
PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo hardware can receive promotional pricing or appear in bundles.
However, direct console discounts can be smaller than shoppers expect.
Retailers may instead include:
- Games
- Controllers
- Subscriptions
- Accessories
- Store credit
This increases the total value without necessarily cutting the console’s price dramatically.
Video Games
Games can receive much deeper discounts.
Older major releases may fall substantially in price.
Digital game stores can also run large promotions around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Gaming Accessories
Controllers, headsets, keyboards, mice and storage products are often among the strongest gaming deals.
This is because retailers have more flexibility to discount accessories than the newest console hardware.
The Rule of Thumb That Holds Every Year
A 30% or greater discount is often used as a rough benchmark for a strong Black Friday promotion.
But this should not be treated as an absolute rule.
A product advertised as 40% off is not automatically a better deal than one advertised as 20% off.
For example:
Product A
Normal price: $1,000
Sale price: $700
Discount: $300
Product B
Normal price: $500
Sale price: $400
Discount: $100
Product A has the larger percentage discount and larger dollar saving.
However, the actual value depends on the products themselves and whether the shopper needs them.
The advertised original price also matters. Retailers sometimes use a manufacturer’s suggested price as the comparison figure rather than the price at which the product normally sells.
Why Black Friday Deals Repeat Every Year
Black Friday is highly predictable because retailers know what shoppers want.
Large televisions attract attention.
Laptops are popular holiday gifts.
Headphones and earbuds are easy to gift.
Smart home devices encourage additional purchases.
Older smartphones need to be cleared as new models arrive.
This creates a recurring cycle.
Older Products Become Cheaper
When a new generation arrives, retailers need to sell existing inventory.
Black Friday provides a perfect opportunity.
This is why previous generation laptops, phones, TVs and smartwatches can become some of the best deals of the year.
Gift Friendly Products Receive Heavy Discounts
Small electronics are particularly attractive because they make easy gifts.
Headphones, earbuds, smartwatches, speakers and gaming accessories therefore receive aggressive promotions.
Retailers Compete With Each Other
Major retailers know shoppers can easily compare prices.
If one store offers a large discount on a popular TV, another retailer may respond with a similar promotion.
This competition can push prices down.
When Black Friday Deals Usually Start
Black Friday is no longer limited to one day.
Late October
Some retailers may begin early promotions.
These deals are usually smaller than the main Black Friday event, but major products can occasionally appear.
Early November
This is when Black Friday activity becomes much more noticeable.
Retailers begin announcing major promotions and early access offers.
Thanksgiving Week
The number of deals usually increases substantially.
More retailers begin advertising their biggest promotions.
Black Friday
November 27, 2026 is the main Black Friday date.
This is when many doorbusters and major promotions are expected.
Cyber Monday
November 30, 2026 is Cyber Monday.
Online promotions can continue or new deals can appear, particularly for computers, accessories, software and other online products.
Black Friday vs Cyber Monday
Neither event is automatically better for everything.
Black Friday traditionally has a strong reputation for:
- TVs
- Appliances
- Gaming hardware
- Doorbusters
- Major electronics
Cyber Monday can be particularly strong for:
- Laptops
- Computer accessories
- Software
- Online-only promotions
- Smaller electronics
However, the distinction has become less important because retailers increasingly run one extended Black Friday shopping period.
Which Retailers Usually Matter Most?
Different retailers tend to dominate different categories.
Best Buy
Best Buy is particularly important for electronics.
TVs, laptops, headphones, gaming products and other technology are major parts of its Black Friday promotions.
Costco
Costco is particularly strong for televisions, laptops, appliances and larger household purchases.
Membership pricing can make some promotions especially attractive.
Walmart
Walmart is highly competitive in budget electronics.
Large TVs, inexpensive laptops and affordable accessories are common Black Friday products.
Target
Target frequently competes strongly on electronics, household products and gift friendly items.
Phone promotions and gift card offers can also be important.
Amazon
Amazon typically runs a broad Black Friday event covering almost every major product category.
Its deals can be particularly extensive for smaller electronics, accessories, smart home products and household goods.
Microsoft
Microsoft’s store is particularly relevant for Surface products and other Microsoft hardware.
Should You Buy Early?
The answer depends on the type of deal.
Some early promotions are genuine Black Friday level prices.
Others are simply the first stage of a longer sale.
A product that reaches an unusually low price before Black Friday may not become cheaper later.
At the same time, waiting can occasionally reveal an even better promotion.
This is why Black Friday shoppers often watch prices throughout November rather than treating November 27 as the only important date.
Bottom Line
The biggest Black Friday pattern is that the same categories return every year, but the exact products and prices change.
TVs usually bring some of the most visible doorbusters.
Laptops regularly receive substantial discounts, particularly on mainstream and previous generation models.
Smartphones rely heavily on trade in, carrier and gift card promotions.
Headphones, earbuds and smart home products often deliver some of the strongest percentage discounts.
Gaming deals tend to be strongest on games and accessories, while console promotions frequently rely on bundles.
For 2026, the most important dates are November 27 for Black Friday and November 30 for Cyber Monday. The actual deals will only become clear as retailers release their holiday promotions, but these recurring patterns provide a useful picture of where the biggest opportunities are likely to appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27, 2026. Cyber Monday follows on Monday, November 30, 2026.
When do Black Friday deals usually start?
Many retailers begin releasing Black Friday deals in early November, with additional promotions appearing throughout the month. Some early offers can arrive in late October.
Are Black Friday TV deals usually good?
Yes. TVs are one of the most consistent Black Friday deal categories, with discounts appearing on budget 4K models, major brands, large screens and premium OLED televisions.
Do iPhones get discounted on Black Friday?
The newest iPhones usually receive fewer straightforward price cuts. Black Friday iPhone promotions more commonly involve trade in credits, gift cards, carrier offers and activation deals.
Which products usually have the biggest Black Friday discounts?
Headphones, earbuds, smart home devices, TVs, laptops and accessories frequently have some of the largest percentage discounts.
Is Black Friday better than Cyber Monday?
Neither is always better. Black Friday often has strong deals on TVs, appliances and major electronics, while Cyber Monday can bring additional discounts on laptops, accessories, software and online products.
Are Black Friday laptop deals worth waiting for?
Laptops are one of the categories that regularly receive significant Black Friday discounts. Budget Chromebooks, mainstream Windows laptops and previous generation premium models can be particularly attractive.
Do Black Friday deals get better on the actual Friday?
Not necessarily. Retailers increasingly release deals before Black Friday, and some early promotions can match or occasionally beat the prices available on November 27.
