As we enter fall, Black Friday becomes the focus for holiday shoppers. Though we're still a little way out from the traditional Black Friday weekend, and we only wrapped up Amazon Prime Day a couple of weeks ago, this year's unusual annual shopping calendar has prompted a whole host of great fall deals to kick off sooner than usual so there's a ton of stuff to shop already.
Black Friday is usually the last chance to score a great deal on tech, kitchen appliances, toys, and more, ahead of the holidays, though some unexpected circumstances this year are likely to affect exactly how the event plays out at various retailers.
Let's dive into everything we know about Black Friday 2020 including some official sale announcements!
When is Black Friday 2020?
With how crazy everything has been in 2020 you may be wondering when Black Friday is taking place this year, especially after Amazon already delayed Prime Day by several months. Black Friday itself is always the Friday after Thanksgiving, making it November 27 this year. Traditionally, retailers would kick off their big sales early on the Friday morning with the discounts, and the hype, running all the way through the weekend.
However, the Black Friday sales are going to look a little different this year with huge amounts of in-store traffic not exactly desirable. A bunch of the biggest retailers in the U.S. are also giving their staff Thanksgiving day off for the first time in recent years suggesting a more low-key take on Black Friday this year, at least in stores.
Due to the current health crisis, we expect to see way more attention shown to online-only deals and since we're breaking out of the usual 'doorbuster' mindset, we're probably going to see many retailers kicking off their Black Friday sales much earlier, too.
Now Prime Day is out of the way, we've now got some official Black Friday plans from retailers which we'll go through below.
Black Friday sales at Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and more
There's a running theme when it comes to Black Friday plans at all of the major retailers: the deals are starting early!
Amazon's Black Friday sale has already begun in the form of the 'Holiday Dash' promotion. Each day in the run-up to Black Friday itself Amazon will be offering "Black Friday-worthy" deals that last just one day. It also just kicked off a limited-time sale on Amazon devices to celebrate Alexa's birthday. We've already seen deals on tech, fashion, smart home, and much more with some Prime Day prices returning.
This year's Black Friday sale at Best Buy also kicked off early with some standout deals kicking off during Prime Day with the rest of the deals now being revealed in its Black Friday ad. Many deals are available there right now in pre-Black Friday sales with a detailed timeline of events leading up to the big day.
Walmart has also provided a thorough outline of its plans so far with its 'Deal for Days' promotion. Instead of one big Black Friday weekend sale, it is opting to spread out the deals throughout November with three separate events. The first kicks off on November 4 and online shoppers will get first dibs on many, if not all, deals. Walmart has also unveiled its Black Friday ad.
Not to be left behind, Target's Black Friday sale has also been detailed and it too will be launching some early Black Friday sales starting on November 1. Each week, it will be releasing a mini Black Friday ad with limited-time deals to snap up before the big event.
We expect other retailers will probably do something similar to Walmart and space out the deals (and the hype) throughout the next several weeks while prioritizing at-home shoppers.
Other Black Friday sales announced already include those from Dell, Home Depot, and Sam's Club.
Black Friday retailer sales
Best early Black Friday deals available now
We've seen a few full Black Friday ads now so we know some of the specifics with regards to what products will be discounted during Black Friday. That being said, there are tons of early deals already available so you can actually get started on your holiday shopping now at most of the big retailers.
There are already some nice early Black Friday deals taking place, and we've taken some time to round up all of the best deals you can take advantage of today.
Amazon Echo Show 5 | $44.99 at Amazon
This 5.5-inch smart display lets you check the weather, watch movie trailers, listen to music, and control smart home devices with Alexa. It's half price at $45 off right now which is a match for the new low it set during Prime Day. Just $5 more snags you a Blink Mini camera, too.
Amazon Echo Dot (3rd-Gen) | $18.99 at Amazon
Alexa is built into this 3rd-generation Echo Dot smart speaker, giving you the ability to ask for the news, voice control compatible smart home devices, and stream music from various services like Amazon Music and Apple Music. It's back down to its best-ever price right now.
Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm) | $374.98 at Amazon
Apple Watch Series 6 may only be a couple of weeks old at this point, but you can already drop the entry-level model down to $384 at Amazon. $25 off is some solid savings for such a recent Apple device. Other colorways are $15 off.
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite | $17.99 at Amazon
The Fire TV Stick Line is a fantastic entry-level streaming device, perfect for any TV and any room. This is the best discount we've yet seen on the 2020 streaming device.
Apple AirPods Pro | $194.99 at Woot
The AirPods Pro are noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds that come with a charging case to keep them powered for more than 24 hours. Today's sale at Woot saves you $55 and drops the earbuds to one of their best prices ever.
Bose QuietComfort 35 II | $199 at Best Buy
The Bose QC 35 II are no longer the newest headphones in Bose's lineup, but they continue to be an easy recommendation — especially when they're on sale. The QC 35 II still manage to deliver excellent noise-canceling, great audio quality, and reliable battery life.
New Amazon Echo Dot (2-pack) | $79.99 at Amazon
There's already a way you can save on the all-new Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker! Add two of these devices to your cart and enter promo code DOT2PACK during checkout to save $20 on the purchase. The deal is valid on the Echo Dot with Clock and Echo Dot Kids Edition models as well.
Ring Alarm Starter Kit with free Echo Dot
Pick up the Ring Alarm starter kit at its regular price of $200 via Target and you'll score a free Echo Dot smart speaker with the purchase. That allows you to use Alexa to voice control whether your alarm is armed or disarmed. Plus you can save $10 when you use a RedCard at checkout.
Sonos Playbase | $548 at Amazon
The Playbase is an all-in-one speaker and handy TV stand in one product, making for a great compact home theater solution. This is one of the best prices we've seen for it recently and just around $150 off its full price.
iPad (10.2-inch, 2020) | $299 at Amazon
Though it has only just started shipping, the all-new 2020 iPad can already be picked up at a solid discount. Over at Amazon, it's $30 off.
Beats Solo Pro | $179.99 at Amazon
The new Solo Pro feature active noise cancellation and up to 40 hours of battery life. They also have Apple's H1 chip for easy pairing, reliable connectivity, and hands-free access to Siri. This $120 discount applies to various colorways.
Bose SoundLink Color | $79.99 at Target
Various colorways of the well-reviewed Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker II are now $30 off at Amazon while supplies last. They let you take calls hands-free, play music wirelessly, and listen for up to 8 hours on a single charge.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE | Up to $300 off at Best Buy
Save up to $300 on the new Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G when you pre-order at Best Buy.
OnePlus 8 Pro | $899.99 at Amazon
Amazon is offering $99 off the cost of the OnePlus 8 Pro today in your choice of Ultramarine Blue or Onyx Black while supplies last. These models have Amazon Alexa built-in.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G | from $799.99 at Amazon
The all-new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G line has only been on the market for a few weeks, but it's already seeing a huge discount at Amazon. Every configuration and color is discounted there by $200 while supplies last.
Amazon Kindle Deals | Save up to $112 at Best Buy
Save as much as $112 when you buy two Kindle devices via Best Buy. Deals apply to the Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Kids Edition, and top-of-the-line Kindle Oasis.
Instant Pot Duo 6-quart 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker | $79.99 at Target
This essential kitchen appliance combines seven useful tools into one to make mealtime easier than ever. Right now it's discounted by $20 at Target, and using a RedCard during checkout will help you save even more.
Apple iPad Air (2020) | From $559 at Amazon
The 2020 iPad Air is down to its best price since its release at Amazon with a $40 discount on the green and silver entry-level models. This deal is also available at Walmart.
23andme Health + AncestryService DNA Test | $99 at Amazon
Discover more about yourself and your family with the 23andme Health + AncestryService DNA Test at $100 off its regular cost. This test can tell you about your health predispositions, carrier status, wellness, and also includes trait reports.
Amazon Echo Buds
With Bose-powered active noise reduction, passthrough mode, and hands-free Alexa access, these comfortable wireless earbuds are something you don't want to miss out on with this Alexa birthday deal.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active | $50 off at Amazon
Samsung released a newer Galaxy Watch Active 2 this year, so as long as the original is still in stock, we can expect to see some good deals on hand for Prime Day.
Xbox One S Game Pass Ultimate bundle | $399.99 at Kohl's
Kohl's has the Xbox One S available today, bundled with a 3-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as well as an extra Xbox Wireless Controller so you're ready for co-op right out of the box. You'll also score $80 Kohl's Cash with the purchase for a limited time!
What deals do we expect during Black Friday 2020?
Now that a few ads from the biggest retailers are out in the open, we know the kinds of products we will see on sale and can start to make some educated guesses as to which products will be the most popular over the coming weeks.
At Amazon and most other retailers, there's a strong emphasis on Amazon device deals with Fire TV sticks, the Echo line, Kindles, Ring gear, and more being discounted back down to Prime Day prices in most cases. We'll also see a huge focus on Black Friday 4K TV deals, home appliances, toys, and more ahead of the holidays. Black Friday tends to bring many of these devices to historic low prices and the best Black Friday deals are generally focused directly around these items.
Beyond the usual suspects, we're seeing popular electronics like the TCL Roku TVs, Sonos speakers, Beats products, and more on sale, along with kitchen gadgets from Instant Pot, Keurig, and more.
What are the Black Friday hours in stores?
For most retailers, the emphasis has shifted online this year. In years gone by, retailers closed their stores late on Thanksgiving for a quick turnaround ahead of the opening to huge queues on Black Friday in the early hours of the morning. With a reduced focus on in-store shopping, stores are actually giving their staff members the day off for Thanksgiving and re-opening early on Black Friday.
We know that both Best Buy and Walmart will be opening their doors on November 27 at 5am local time so we expect that will be the standard across other retailers too.
Of course, you can shop online at any time. Since pretty much all of the best Black Friday deals will be available online this year, it's probably going to be safer and more enjoyable to shop from the comfort of your own home this time around.
Are Black Friday deals available online?
Given the current global health crisis, it's very likely that all of the best Black Friday deals will be available online. There are always online-only deals plus many of the same in-store deals being available at the retailer's website, save for a few 'doorbuster' deals.
Retailers are preparing for a very different Black Friday sale this year and those enticing in-store deals are off the cards for 2020. Expect many more online exclusives and incentives to keep shoppers happy at home.
Why should I care about Black Friday?
Whether you are a keen deal hunter or not, you probably prefer not to pay full price for the things you buy. Black Friday is the one time a year where all of the major retailers run sales simultaneously, try to outdo each other, and offer you some of the best deals around making it the very best time to buy anything you've been holding out on.
Now that Black Friday is going to be moved online, for the most part, it also means that you can score some excellent deals from the comfort of your own home. No more fighting through crowds to snag the last item on the shelf. Whether you're looking to save on a big purchase for yourself, hunting down holiday gifts for your family, or just perusing the promotions to see if something catches the eye, Black Friday is your last chance to save big in 2020.
How do I stay on top of Black Friday deals?
Black Friday 2020 is going to be big with a huge online focus which means it's going to be hard to keep up and ensure you maximize your savings during these big events. The team over at Thrifter is full of professional deal hunters who will literally be providing around the clock coverage of everything on Black Friday. From the best savings, as they hit to roundups of what you should be buying, the team will aim to make it as easy as possible to find the best deals that are available from the first to the last minute.
Give them a follow on Twitter to keep up-to-date on all the best deals as they happen in real-time.
Source: androidcentral