47 Best Early Black Friday Deals (2022): Robot Vacuums, Phones, Instant Pots

Black Friday officially arrives next week on November 25, the day after Thanksgiving. But the deals aren’t limited to just that Friday. In many cases, the discounts we see in the weeks leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday are nearly as good. Some stores—notably Best Buy and Target—even offer pricing guarantees, so you can shop now without worrying about missing out on even lower prices later. We’ve highlighted the best early Black Friday deals below.

Be sure to check out our other Black Friday coverage, including Deals on Google Devices, Deals on Microsoft Hardware, REI’s Get Up Get Out Sale, Early Best Buy Deals, and our Black Friday Shopping Tips.  

Updated November 19, 2022: We’ve added a new style section for handmade Irish sweaters, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and more.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.

Laptop, Phone, and Tech Deals

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Photograph: Microsoft

This is a great price on a fully kitted-out Surface Pro 8, even if it’s last year’s model (7/10, WIRED Recommends). The Core i7 chipset and 32 gigs of RAM mean performance will be smooth with most tasks, and you’ll be able to juggle multiple apps at a time with no issues. The 1 terabyte of storage is great for anyone who constantly finds themselves running out of space. Read our Surface guide for more details. You can find more Microsoft deals here.

This dipped a little lower earlier this week but this is still a solid price on one of our favorite gaming laptops (8/10, WIRED Recommends). The keyboard and trackpad are both fantastic, and we also like the built-in webcam. The battery life could be better, but this Windows machine still offers good value and a great experience for both gaming and non-gaming tasks.

This 2-in-1 is our favorite cheap laptop. It’s powerful thanks to the Intel Core i3 chipset and 8 GB of RAM, and the bright display is nice in traditional laptop mode as well as tablet mode. Read more about it in our Best Touchscreen Laptops guide.

MacBook Air

Photograph: Apple

This is the 2020 MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) but it’s still excellent, especially at this price. The battery lasted us a full workday, and the M1 chip means this machine will instantly wake up from sleep too. It’s great for everyday tasks and a little more, and it’ll be supported for years to come.

We’ve seen this deal pop in every now and then for a few months. The iPad Mini (8/10, WIRED Recommends) probably won’t get much cheaper on Black Friday. Our favorite pick for the most portable iPad is perfect for students and folks that travel frequently. It’s small but powerful, and it has nice features like USB-C charging and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil. Read our Best iPad Accessories guide to kit it out. 

They might look like the original AirPods Pro, but the second-generation wireless earbuds (9/10, WIRED Recommends) deliver better sound quality, have a speaker embedded in the case so you can find it more easily, and have longer battery life. Most importantly, the noise-canceling tech remains some of the best in a pair of wireless earbuds.

Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

Photograph: Google

Google’s most recent flagship phone, the Pixel 7 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), has barely been out for a month, but it’s already on sale for $100 off. That’s impressive since we already liked its low price. You get speedy performance, a 90-Hz screen, wireless charging, daylong battery life, one of the best cameras on a smartphone, and plenty of helpful smart features you’ll use every day (which you can read more about here). The Pixel 7 Pro, which has a larger 120-Hz screen and a 5X optical zoom camera, is also on sale for $849 ($50 off).

Don’t want to spend nearly as much on a smartphone? Then get the Pixel 6A (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which is our favorite phone for most people. This more budget-conscious handset still produces some of the best photos for the price, and you get a bright AMOLED display, daylong battery life, speedy performance, and five years of security updates. (Plus, many of the smart software features Pixels are known for.) You sacrifice a few bells and whistles like wireless charging or a higher screen refresh rate, but for the price, it’s a steal.

The Pixel Buds Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are super comfortable wireless earbuds to wear, have great sound quality (especially with bass), and sit in a case that supports wireless charging. Battery life is plenty—seven hours—and the active noise canceling does a decent job of silencing the outside world. There’s also a solid transparent mode to let ambient sounds in so you’re more aware of your surroundings. If this is out of your budget, we also really like the Google Pixel Buds A-Series (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which are now merely $64 ($35 off).

Sony WH-1000XM5

Photograph: Sony

Sony’s flagship headphones remain our best overall choice for most people (9/10, WIRED Recommends). They look elegant but aren’t flashy, have good battery life, and have some of the best sound quality you’ll find for the money. Sony also offers great noise cancellation to silence the pesky ambient sounds around you. If you want to save even more, the previous generation WH-1000XM4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are just $228 right now (120 off).

The Colorbuds 2 are newer and slightly heavier than their predecessors, but we still think they’re great, and they’re a top choice in our Best Cheap Headphones guide. The second-generation pair has better microphones than the original and, thanks to this discount, they’re cheaper as well.

Enter code THANKFUL at checkout to see the discount. This pack is a good deal for the trackers alone. You can also choose to add a year of Tile’s premium service plan for free. It includes free battery replacements and a free reimbursement of up to $100 if Tile can’t find a lost item. The plan will automatically renew at the normal price of $30 a year when your trial ends, so set a reminder to cancel if you want to avoid subsequent charges.

SanDisk Extreme.

Photograph: Amazon

This deal matches the lowest price we’ve seen. In our Best External Storage Drives guide, this model earned the top spot in terms of speed. It’s blazing fast and super portable, but not so small that you’ll risk losing it. My partner and I regularly use this drive to back up and transfer videography projects both in the field and at home. 

This is the best overall pick in our portable external storage guide. They’re affordable, especially with this discount, speedy enough, and lightweight. Its plastic construction does mean it’s not the most durable, so we recommend snagging a case like this one for $14.

These are one of our favorite USB-C cables because they’re attractive, are made from certified recycled plastic and aluminum, and are BPA and PVC-free. The braided design makes them quite durable and they can carry up to 60 watts of power to your laptop. You can choose between three sizes, all of which are on sale. Need a USB-C to Lightning cable? Nimble has a sale on those too.

Smart Home Deals

Amazon Echo Dot

Photograph: Amazon

We prefer Google Assistant over Alexa, but if you’re entrenched in Amazon’s ecosystem, this is the first major discount on Amazon’s latest budget smart speaker. It delivers better sound than ever before (with double the bass), and a new sensor lets Alexa perform a task based on the room’s temperature. There are gesture controls now too, so you can tap the top to dismiss a timer or to play/pause music. The 5th-generation Echo Dot With Clock is also on sale for $40 ($20 off), as is the Echo Dot Kids Edition for $30 ($20 off).

There’s decent sound quality here, but you’re mostly paying for the Nest Mini’s compact size and the fact that you can mount it on a wall—you can put it in areas where you want access to Google Assistant to control smart home devices (or just ask it the weather). This deal is also available at Walmart.

The Nest Cam (Battery) is one of our top picks for outdoor security cameras, particularly if you want to stick to the Google Assistant ecosystem. It has a simple magnetic mounting plate and its battery will last a little more than a month before needing a recharge. The 1080p quality is pretty great, even when night vision kicks on in low light. A Nest Aware subscription isn’t required, but it adds a few helpful features. There’s a version with a floodlight for $190 ($90 off), and the corded version of this Nest Cam (for indoors) is also on sale for $70 ($30 off).

Roborock Q5+

Photograph: Roborock

This is our best overall robot vacuum recommendation if you don’t mind spending this much. There’s a self-emptying bin so you won’t have to dump out dirt as often. It maps a space quite well and has plenty of battery life to do a large home in one run. It’s pretty powerful too.

Got a pet? This powerful vacuum can suck up twice as much dirt in one pass as most other vacuums its price. The mopping function is just OK, but it does a fantastic job deep cleaning pet hair around the home. 

Gaming and Streaming Deals

Xbox Series S

Photograph: Microsoft 

This deal is also available at Best Buy. Whether you’re struggling to secure the Xbox Series X (since it’s constantly fluctuating in stock) or you have a limited budget, the Xbox Series S is a great alternative. It’s smaller and can only play digital games, but can power them up to 120 frames per second at 1440-pixel resolution (not 4K). This is also the lowest price we’ve tracked.

You need games to go with that new Xbox (or maybe you built a new PC). Microsoft is offering deals on more than 900 titles, from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice to Sea of Thieves. A lot of these are included in Microsoft’s Game Pass Ultimate subscription service, which you can get for $1 right now for the first month. Check out our favorite Xbox Series X/S games for some ideas on what to get if you’re at a loss.

Since the Xbox comes with only one controller in the box, you’re likely in the market for extras—especially if you plan on playing video games with friends or family over the holidays. You’ll find discounts on all four color options including Carbon Black, Robot White, Shock Blue, Pulse Red, and Electric Volt.

Google Chromecast With Google TV 4K

Photograph: Google

The Chromecast With Google TV (8/10, WIRED Recommends) brought the Chromecast in line with other streaming sticks that have a physical remote and a full TV interface. It’s one of the easiest streaming sticks (well, dongle really) to use, and I particularly like that you can add movies or TV shows to your watch list from Google search results and they’ll show up in the Chromecast’s interface. There’s Google Assistant support too. Don’t have a 4K TV? No worries. The new Chromecast With Google TV HD is also on sale for $18 ($12 off).

Prefer Roku’s interface instead? So do we. This model has the strongest dual-band Wi-Fi of Roku’s devices, plus an Ethernet port, meaning you’ll get the fastest load times for all your content (based on your internet speeds). This model adds support for HDR10+ for better colors in your movies and shows and higher brightness. The remote has a headphone jack so you can listen without waking the kids.  

We saw the same discount on Prime Day. This is a solid deal for the best Amazon 4K streaming stick. It supports Wi-Fi 6, includes picture-in-picture mode, and has built-in Alexa. It’s fast and easy to use, and it may be a good option for folks who prefer Amazon’s ecosystem over competitors.

Home and Style Deals

Photograph: Ulta

This is the very best hair straightener we’ve tested. The price fluctuates a lot, but it doesn’t drop below $100 very often. The plates are a good size for straightening and curling—this styling tool can do both.

Enter code GF2022VIP to see the discount at checkout. Canadian apparel brand Tentree is a favorite among a few WIRED staffers. The company uses recycled materials in many of its clothes, and it also has a nifty program that plants 10 trees for every item you purchase. If you don’t know what to get, the Atlas sweatpants are a safe bet. Its new Circularity program also lets you send back older items for store credit; your old clothes will either be recycled into new materials or resold on the website if it’s in good condition. 

Scarves are underrated for their warmth. They look good, but they serve a valuable purpose in keeping valuable heat from escaping through the collar of your jacket. Forget itchiness—these 100 percent wool Barbour scarves are luxuriously soft.

Branch Ergonomic Chair

Photograph: Branch

Enter code BFCM at checkout to see the discount. This is our top pick in our Best Office Chairs guide. There are plenty of adjustments you can make to tweak the chair to your preferences, it’s comfy, and it’s easy to put together. It’s held up decently well after more than a year of testing. 

Enter code CRAFT to see the discount at checkout. Handmade in Ireland, these sweaters and cardigans are available in tons of eye-catching styles, from latticework to honeycomb. Many styles are up to 50 percent off too, and the discount code will take an additional 20 percent off, though you have to spend at least $200 for that to take effect. Shipping to the US, regardless of how many items are in your order, is a flat rate of $35.

They say you can’t buy style, but that’s not entirely true. Grab yourself a pair of classic teardrop Aviators and you’ll pull off major “Tom Cruise in Top Gun” vibes. They’re available in a variety of frame and lens colors, and you’ll see $175 off when you choose a prescription option. The polarization helps with road and water glare if you spend a lot of time driving or at the beach. 

Instant Pots are popular for good reason. Their multiple functions mean they can be used for making rice, reheating food, crafting slow-cooker recipes, and even sterilizing items. This Duo Plus has a 6-quart capacity and is great for small to medium households. Be sure to pick up a cookbook as well to make the most of your multicooker.

Fitness and Outdoor Deals

Google Pixel Watch

Photograph: Google

Google’s first-ever Pixel Watch misses some key features at launch, like SpO2 sensing, auto workout detection, and fall detection (coming soon), but it’s a gorgeous smartwatch that is really comfortable and is accurate at tracking the health and fitness basics—heart rate tracking plus electrocardiograms. Its responsive interface lets you keep track of notifications and respond to messages, even phone calls. Unfortunately, battery life is lackluster, and it charges slowly, so it’ll constantly be top of mind. It only works with Android phones.

The 7S Sapphire Solar (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite outdoor watch, thanks to its quick and accurate GPS connection in rain and under dense tree cover. With a built-in altimeter, barometer, compass, and preset modes for tracking your biometric data, it’s a powerful tool for the outdoors and morning runs alike. Read our Best Garmin Watches guide for more.

This is the first discount we’ve seen on Apple’s luxury smartwatch (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s meant for folks that tend to take on more extreme outdoorsy activities. It has the best battery life you’ll find on an Apple Watch mostly because it’s much bigger than the standard Apple Watch and can accommodate a bigger battery. There’s a loud siren in case you’re lost in the woods, and a spare Action Button to trigger specific and configurable actions.

The Apple Watch Series 8 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the new standard smartwatch from Apple and it features Crash Detection, which will automatically call emergency responders if you end up in a car accident. There’s finally a Low Power Mode in WatchOS 9, which means you can finally stretch the battery life through a weekend on a single charge. Read our Best Apple Watch guide for more details.

Photograph: Propella

At only 37 pounds and rather stealthy looking, you’d be forgiven for forgetting the Propella 7S (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is even an ebike. That is until you feel the electric motor pushing you to a top speed of 18 miles per hour. The range is low-ish at 20 to 40 miles, but this is still our favorite budget ebike. With above-average build and component quality and a seven-speed mechanical gear set, it’s a winner. We tested version 3.2 back in 2020. Today’s version has seen a few updates, including a revised handlebar that lends a more upright seating position, wider tires, and a slightly more powerful motor.

Click the coupon button to see the discount at checkout. This is our favorite electric scooter for most people. The KQi3 Pro has perks like lights, bells, and a roomy handlebar so you can attach a phone mount for navigation. WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu says it offers the best range for the money, and at 20 miles per hour, you should get anywhere from 15 to 20 miles out of it per charge. It’s heavy at 45 pounds and the handlebars don’t fold down, but it’s relatively easy to carry.

If portability is your number one priority, then you should snag the Mosquito (7/10, WIRED Recommends), which is a mere 29 pounds. This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen on it. Despite the lightweight build, it’s powerful and can go more than 25 miles per hour. It’s also really easy to fold, has reliable brakes, and includes a loud horn plus front and rear lights. The suspension and range are lacking, but this is a nimble little scooter for buzzing around town. 

Apollo City

Photograph: Apollo

We like Apollo scooters and the City (7/10, WIRED Recommends) has enough power and range to satisfy. It’s heavy at 57 pounds, so it’s best if you have an elevator or garage. The company has kicked off its Black Friday Sale early, and it includes bundles where you can get up to $200 worth of accessories for free. 

Whether you’ve resolved to get outdoors and take a few afternoon hikes this winter or are just planning ahead for spring weather, the 22-liter Flash 22 is our favorite daypack for non-overnight trips. At a mere 14 ounces, it won’t strain your back, yet its well-padded shoulder straps and two exterior water bottle pockets outdo its more-expensive competition. There’s also a version with graphic prints available for the same price.

Our favorite camera sling is on sale for the first time. This 9-liter bag (which is frequently out of stock) can fit a bulky camera, additional lenses, plus other accessories. You can even affix a tripod to the included straps on the bottom of the bag. It’s made of 840-denier and 1680D ballistic nylon with water-resistant YKK zippers—all of which to say it’s durable and quite comfy. We also recommend pairing this with Wandrd’s Laptop Case (also on sale for $48), which lets you store your laptop vertically in the sling and offers some protection too. This deal is also available at B&H.

Wandrd Prvke 2.0

Photograph: Wandrd

This is WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu’s favorite camera bag, and the company just released a wave of fresh colors too. There’s a side access pocket, and to get to all your other camera gear you’ll need to unzip the back. There’s an expandable roll-top you can use to store more items and plenty of zippers and pouches for all the other little pieces of gear. You can stow a tripod in the side pocket too. It’s comfy and durable. We recommend the 31-liter model, but other sizes are also on sale. This includes the Photo Bundle, which has accessory straps, a waist strap, and the Essential Camera Cube to efficiently store your camera gear in the bag. This deal is also available at B&H.

This 18-liter camera bag doesn’t look like a camera bag at all. There’s side access to the camera, and you can unzip the front to access the rest of your gadgets. There’s good organization and a rear compartment with a waterproof zipper to protect your laptop. You can also push down the Velcro divider on the inside to convert it to a normal backpack for the days when you want to leave the camera at home. This deal is also available at Brevite, where you can snag it in a variety of colors.

This is our favorite duffel bag on the market. We gave it high marks in our Best Travel Bags guide for its built-in hideaway backpack straps, Bluesign-approved recycled nylon fabrics, and variety of interior and exterior pockets for the organization of small items. This 28-liter version is perfect for serving as a carry-on for flights. There are more sizes on sale, all the way up to an enormous 120-liter version.

From the brand’s backyard fire pits to its pizza ovens, we generally like Solo Stove gear. Some of the company’s camp stoves are slightly discounted right now, and you’ll get two for the price of one. If you’ve been eyeing the Lite, Titan, or Campfire models, this is a good way to get one for yourself and one to give as a gift. Solo Stove usually offers deals around Black Friday, so it’s likely that additional models will receive a discount of some sort in the coming weeks. 

Early Black Friday Sales Pages

Want to browse the sales yourself? Here are a few places offering early Black Friday deals. Be sure to check out our many buying guides and gift guides for additional ideas.

Source

Author: showrunner