The best Black Friday deals for 2021, all in one place

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UPDATE: Nov. 16, 2021, 1:40 p.m. EST This post has been updated to include new information about Target and Walmart's Black Friday sales, as well as the latest deals.

We've rounded up all of the best early Black Friday deals as of Nov. 16 — here are our top picks:

  • BEST TV DEAL: Amazon Fire TV 43-inch Omni Series 4K UHD smart TV, an all-new 4K display with hands-free voice control and two-way video calling; it's on sale for the first time ever — $299.99 $409.99 (save 27%)

  • BEST ROBOT VACUUM DEAL: eufy RoboVac 11S is a slim, self-charging robot vacuum that can easily fit under sofas and beds — $137.98 $229.99 (save 40%)

  • BEST APPLE DEAL: AirPods Max, last year's premium over-ear headphones with noise cancellation, a transparency mode, and spatial audio — $439.01 $549 (save 20%)

  • BEST SMART HOME DEAL: Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) is a compact smart speaker that's now half off its usual retail price — $24.99 $49 (save $25) + 3 months of YouTube Premium for free

  • BEST LAPTOP DEAL: Samsung Chromebook 4, a super durable laptop from late 2020 that packs an Intel Celeron N4020 processor and 32GB of storage — $129 $199.99 (save 35%)

  • BEST FITNESS DEAL: Peloton Bike+ is an upgraded version of the cult-favorite spin bike that features a larger, swivel-able HD touchscreen and automatic resistance detection — $2,145 $2,495 (save $350) + 2-month Peloton app subscription for free

  • BEST GAMING DEAL: GameStop is having a "buy two, get one free" sale on select pre-owned video games, including brand new titles like Call of Duty: Vanguard and Forza Horizon 5 — save up to $99.99

  • BEST AIR FRYER DEAL: Ninja Air Fryer (4 quarts), a reliable pick that's already sold out once at this price — $69 $119.99 (save 42%)

  • MOST ICONIC DEAL: The Twilight Saga: Complete 5-Movie Collection (DVD) — because the Twilight Renaissance is upon us, loca — $7.96 $13 (save 39%)


Did it hurt? When you realized we're in the thick of our second pandemic holiday shopping season?

A handful of stores began soft-launching their Black Friday sales in October to get a jump on the ongoing supply chain mess that's clearing inventories and putting products on backorder. Now, with less than two weeks to go until the big day (Friday, Nov. 26), all major retailers are bringing out some best-ever deals to help savvy shoppers avoid shipping delays.

Below, you'll find a complete list of all the Black Friday doorbusters that are live right now (with sales grouped by retailer, category, and brand). We continue to update this post as more deals pop up, but don't hold out too long if something on your shopping list is already enjoying a discount — it may not be in stock for much longer.

The best deals at each retailer

Amazon: The retail mega-giant kicked off this year's festivities on Oct. 4 and continues to drop holiday doorbusters every day in the lead-up to its 48-hour Black Friday event on Nov. 25 and 26, which will supposedly feature "more deals than ever before." (Its inventory tends to change the most, so check back often — you can find out what's up for grabs by visiting its Early Black Friday Deals page, installing its mobile app, or by asking your smart home device, “Alexa, what are my deals?") At the time of writing, its best deals included deep discounts on the new Fire TV Omni and Fire TV 4-Series smart displays, a $99 Honeywell Home smart thermostat, and a new all-time-low price for this year's fancy Fitbit Luxe. Like in previous years, it pays to be an Amazon Prime member: Subscribers get 30-minute early access to select Lightning Deals, which go quick once they're live. (Click here to sign up for a free 30-day trial.)

Bed Bath & Beyond: This year's slow-burner, BB&B is currently on its third early Black Friday sale of November but has yet to reveal its official holiday ad scan. No matter — getting in there ASAP will save you up to 50% on bedding, kitchen appliances, and cookware. (Highlights include $50 off the new Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer and this $250 Cuisinart stand mixer that comes with a $50 gift card.) Want to save even more? Join its Beyond+ membership program — subscribers get 20% off every purchase and free standard shipping through Jan. 31, 2022; click here to start a free trial (normally $29 annually).

Best Buy: The electronics store's official Black Friday sale begins a whole week early (on Friday, Nov. 19), but again, don't bother waiting: It's also treating the entire month of November like one big Black Friday celebration, running thousands of deals across multiple events that are all covered by its new "Black Friday Price Guarantee." (Early doorbusters include a $999 iMac, up to $60 off Alienware gaming accessories, and a 50% markdown on a limited-edition Keurig K-Mini.) My Best Buy and Best Buy Totaltech members can also shop some exclusive "Member Mondays" series of deals at the beginning of each week, so there are plenty of opportunities to save.

Dell: A few other stores beat Dell to the punch this year — it's usually among the first to release its holiday ad scan — but its official Black Friday event began earlier than everyone else's on Monday, Nov. 15. Deals are going fast; get in there ASAP to score up to 20% off select gaming PCs, up to 30% off XPS laptops, and up to 45% off monitors. (Psst: This 27-inch QHD gaming monitor comes with a free $50 gift card on top of a $260 discount.)

HP: The techies over at HP are rolling their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals into one big ol' sale from Nov. 25 to Cyber Monday (its "biggest savings event of the year," per the ad scan), which plunges prices on Microsoft Office software and tons of Windows 11 laptops and PCs. As far as early pickings go, you can score a free pair of headphones when you buy an HP Pavilion 15 Laptop for 37% off; save 31% on an HP Chromebook 11a-nb0047nr; and get $50 off the HP Reverb G2 virtual reality headset during a 72 Hour Flash Sale that's happening on its site right now.

JCPenney: The department store is keeping things pretty traditional this year with a three-day Black Friday sale from Nov. 26 to 28. But like most of its peers, it's also putting a sprinkling of weekly deals and doorbusters up on its website all month long — $8 kitchen appliances (with mail-in rebates), $50 hardside suitcases, and up to 60% off select mattresses, anyone?

Kohl's: After teasing some of its Black Friday offers in mid-October, Kohl's officially dropped its ad scan and kicked off a holiday preview event from Nov. 5 to 10. Nothing explicitly Black Friday-y is going on over there at the moment, but anyone who's hosting Thanksgiving this year should feel free to shop its Home Sale on select holiday decor, vacuums, and kitchen/dining products now through Nov. 20. (Pro tip: Enroll in the free Kohl's Rewards program to get an extra $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with the code HOME10.) Be sure to mark your calendar for Nov. 21, which is when its official Black Friday sale begins — we'll see the return of its excellent $15 for $50 Kohl’s Cash offer on select days.

Macy's: The mall stalwart is offering "unbeatable" and "specially-curated" deals each week of November ahead of its big holiday sale (which begins a few days early on Tuesday, Nov. 23 and goes through Saturday, Nov. 27). Its latest markdowns come as part of a Black Friday Early Access Sale on apparel, home goods, shoes, and handbags/accessories from Nov. 16 to 22, helmed by a $26 16-cup rice cooker and a $200 markdown on a queen-sized Purple mattress.

Target: Not to be outdone by its peers, the bullseye brand is getting a head start on Black Friday with a series of weeklong Holiday Best sales — the third of which is live through Saturday, Nov. 20. (Peep this $100 Instant Pot Duo Crisp, these $100 Beats headphones, and these Disney toys and clothes that are all buy two, get one free.) Its official Black Friday sale will also be a weeklong affair (from Nov. 21 to 27); stop by to save up to $60 on Apple Watches and AirPods, snag a $250 Dyson vacuum, and score a free $50 gift card with the purchase of an Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. It's worth noting that Target's holiday price match policy is now in effect through Dec. 24, and you can also take advantage of two new "buy now, pay later" payment options through Sezzle and Affirm.

Walmart: The big box store has revived its popular Black Friday Deals for Days event from 2020, this time spreading it out over three sales throughout the month of November. (Like Target, it's also nixed layaway in favor of a new "buy now, pay later" program as part of its partnership with Affirm.) Its second sale began online on Nov. 10 and continued in stores on Nov. 12; doorbusters like a $129 Samsung Chromebook 4, a $259 Cricut Maker Holiday Bundle, and 50% off a 1,500-piece LEGO set are all still available. Its third and final event will begin Monday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. ET following a three-hour preview for paying Walmart+ members (click here to sign up), then continue in stores on Black Friday at 5 a.m. local time — can't-miss deals will include a $109 Apple Watch Series 3, $159 AirPods Pro, and the return of last year's $299 Nintendo Switch/Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle.

Best tech deals

an illustration of several tech products (including headphone, a mouse, a escurity camera, and an instant camera) surrounded by a red bow
Tech the halls. Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

23andMe: Save up to 52% on select DNA tests (starting at just $79).

AeroGarden: Take 40% off its Sprout and Harvest indoor gardens (now $59.99 and $89.99, respectively), 44% off the Harvest 360 (now $83.99), 28% off the Harvest Elite (now $129.97), and 47% off the Harvest Elite Slim (now $99.99).

Amazon Echo: Save 53% on a refurbished first-gen Echo Show 5 (now $34.99).

Amazon Fire: Take 42% off a refurbished Fire HD 8 Plus with 64GB of storage (now $74.99).

Amazon Fire TV: Get half off the latest Fire TV Stick 4K (now $24.99), 40% off the Fire TV Stick Lite (now $17.99), 36% off the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (now $34.99), or 33% off the Fire TV Cube (now $79.99). Amazon's new Fire TV Omni and Fire TV 4-Series smart displays are also on sale for up to 30% off (starting at $299.99 and $269.99, respectively).

AncestryDNA: Save 40% on a DNA test kit (now $59).

Arlo: Save 41% on a three-pack of Arlo Essential wireless security cameras (now $199).

ASUS: Get $110 off a VivoBook Flip 14 Laptop with an Intel Core i3-10110U processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage (now $379).

Bose: Take $100 off the QuietComfort 35 II noise-canceling headphones (now $199), $50 off the new QuietComfort 45s (now $279 — their lowest price to date), and $30 off the Sport Earbuds (now $149.99).

Cricut: Save 32% on the Cricut Explore Air 2 (now $169), take 33% off the Cricut Maker (now $249), or get Walmart's Cricut Maker Holiday Bundle (a $493.96 value) for just $259 — that's a 48% savings.

Dell: Save $250 on a 512GB Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 Laptop (now $699.99) and $300 on a 256GB Dell XPS 13 Laptop (now $649.99). More of a desktop person? Get half off the 512GB Dell Vostro 3888 with code BFDTLQ8 (now $569) and 41% off the Dell 27 FHD Monitor (now $189.99).

Facebook: Save up to 33% on Facebook Portal smart video-calling devices (starting at $108.01).

Fitbit: Get 33% off the Fitbit Luxe (now $99.95) and 34% off the Fitbit Versa 2 (now $119).

Fujifilm: Get an Instax Mini 7+ bundle at Walmart for just $48, which is 20% less than the camera alone.

Garmin: Save up to 38% on select Garmin smartwatches, including the Garmin Instinct Solar (now $249.99), the Garmin Forerunner 245 (now $199.99), and the Garmin Venu Sq (now $129.99).

Google: Get half off the second-gen Nest Mini smart speaker (now $24.99) and score a free three-month trial of YouTube Premium.

GoPro: Get $50 off the HERO9 Black and the new HERO10 Black on Amazon (now $349.99 and $449, respectively), or visit Walmart to get a HERO8 Black bundle for just $249 — that's 29% cheaper than the camera itself.

Honeywell Home: Save 41% on the WiFi Smart Color Thermostat (now $99).

HP: Take 33% off the HP ENVY 17-inch Laptop (now $699.99), 31% off the HP Chromebook 11a-nb0047nr (now $149.99), and 30% off the HP Laptop 15-dy2091wm (now $279).

Insignia: Save 41% on the brand's bestselling 24-inch smart TV (now $99.99), or buy its 58-inch Class F30 Series 4K smart TV on sale for 40% off (now $349.99) to score three months of Apple TV+ and a 30-day trial of FuboTV for free.

Jabra: Save $80 on the Elite 85t true wireless earbuds (now $149.99).

JBL: Get 40% off its Tune series of headphones (starting at $29.95).

Lenovo: Take 57% off the ThinkSmart View for Microsoft Teams and the Smart Clock with Google Assistant (now $149.99 and $34.99, respectively). Plus, get an Alexa-enabled Lenovo Yoga 6 with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $200 off (now $749.99).

LG: Save 32% on the LG SLM3R 4.1 channel soundbar surround system (now $129), get up to 28% off a gaming-ready C1 OLED TV (starting at $1,096.99), or grab a 48-inch A1 Series 4K smart TV on sale for 25% off (now $896.99).

Logitech: Save 23% on the Webcam C615 (now $53.99).

Marshall: Save $50 on the Kilburn II portable Bluetooth speaker (now $249.99).

Microsoft: Get up to $200 off the Surface Laptop Go, save up to $400 on the Surface Pro 7, or grab a Surface Pro 8 Essentials Bundle to snag a free pair of Surface Earbuds (worth $199.99).

Revlon: Save 42% on the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer (now $34.88), a budget-friendly alternative to the Dyson Airwrap.

Roku: Get 42% off the new Roku Streaming Stick 4K (now $29).

Samsung: Get 34% off the 32GB Galaxy Tab A (now $99.99), 25% off the Galaxy Buds Pro (now $149.75), 47% off the Galaxy Buds+ (now $79), and 55% off a Galaxy Watch3 (now $179.99). You can also save up to 33% on select 4K smart TVs with Alexa, including the latest iteration of The Frame.

Sennheiser: Get up to 40% off select headphones and earbuds (starting at only $19.95).

Sony: Save up to 39% on its BRAVIA XR X90J 4K smart TVs (starting at $898).

TCL: Save 30% on its 43-inch 4-Series 4K Roku smart TV (now $299) or get $150 off its 55-inch 6-Series 4K QLED smart Google TV (now $799.99), which comes with three free months of Apple TV+.

MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON TVS AND LAPTOPS


Best robot vacuum deals

an illustration of a purple and blue robot vacuum surrounded by a red bow
Robot vacuums: Because no one's ever sat on their deathbed wishing they'd spent more time cleaning. Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

Bissell: Save 38% on the SpinWave Wet and Dry Robotic Vacuum (now $249.99).

eufy: Take 40% off the RoboVac 11S (now $137.98), 57% off the RoboVac G30 Verge (now $149), and 36% off the RoboVac 15C MAX (now $179.99) with an extra savings coupon.

iRobot: Take $100 off the WiFi-connected Roomba 692 (now $199.99), or get a self-emptying Roomba i6+ for 31% off (now $549.99).

Roborock: Get $170 off the S5 MAX (now $379.99) and $229.99 off the self-emptying S7+ (now $719.99), two hybrid robot vacuum/mops; don't forget to apply their extra savings coupons before adding them to your cart.

MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON ROBOT VACUUMS AND ROOMBAS


Best Apple deals

apple logo illustration filled with apple products
Credit: Bob Al-Greene

AirPods: Get 20% off the AirPods Pro (now $199.99), take 25% off the second-gen AirPods (now $119.99), save $4.01 on the new third-gen AirPods (now $174.99 — hey, it's something), or grab a pair of AirPods Max for $109.01 off (now $439.01).

Apple accessories: Save $5 on the MagSafe Charger (now $34) and take 22% off the second-gen Apple Pencil (now $99.99).

Apple TV: Get six months each of Apple Music and Apple News+, a three-month trial of Apple TV+, and 30 days of FuboTV when you grab a 32GB Apple TV 4K on sale for $30 off (now $129.99).

Apple Watch: Save $9.01 on the new 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 (now $389.99), $50 on a 40mm Apple Watch Series 6 (now $349), $59.01 on a 44mm Apple Watch Series 5 (now $389.99), or $30 on a 38mm Apple Watch Series 3 (now $169). Want one with cellular connectivity instead? Buy it directly from the Apple Store to get $100 back after activation.

Beats: Get half off the Solo3 wireless headphones (now $99.99), 40% off the Powerbeats Pro wireless earphones (now $149.99), and $20 off the Studio Buds (now $129.95). Plus, score some free trials of Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+ when you buy the Studio3 noise-canceling headphones on sale at Best Buy for 43% off (now $199.99).

iPad: Save $60 on an iPad Air with 64GB of storage (now $539), take $50 off the 256GB variant of the new 11-inch iPad Pro (now $849), or get up to $150 off select configurations of the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro (starting at $999). You can also buy any iPad with cellular connectivity directly from Apple to score up to $200 back after activation.

iPhone: Get a free 128GB iPhone 13 from AT&T or a free 128GB iPhone 13 mini from Verizon with an eligible trade-in and a new data plan.

iMac: Take $49.01 off the colorful new 24-inch iMac with Apple's M1 chip, a 7-core GPU, and 256GB of storage (now $1,249.99); get $500 off the 21.5-inch iMac with a Retina 4K display, an Intel Core i5 processor, and 256GB of storage (now $999); or save $100 on a 27-inch iMac with a Retina 5K display, an Intel Core i5 processor, and 256GB or 512GB of storage (starting at $1,699).

MacBook: Get $100 off an M1-equipped MacBook Air (starting at $899), save $150 on a 512GB M1 MacBook Pro (now $1,349), or take $49.01 off select configurations of the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with the all-new M1 Pro chip (now $2,449.99 apiece).

Mac mini: Save $99.01 on last year's 256GB Mac mini (now $599.99), which is powered by the original M1 chip.

MORE BLACK FRIDAY APPLE DEALS


Best fitness deals

illustration of woman running on treadmill
Credit: Bob Al-Green / Mashable

Bowflex: Save 25% on the SelectTech 840 Kettlebell (now $149), or buy a set of SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells on sale for 27% off (now $399) to score a free one-year JRNY membership.

Echelon: Take 20% off the EX-3 Smart Connect and the EX5-S Smart Connect (now $799 and $1,275.19, respectively), two Peloton-rivaling fitness bikes, or grab a 40-inch Echelon Reflect smart fitness mirror for 24% off (now $756.99).

The Mirror: Save $500 and get free delivery with the code HOLIDAY21 (now $995).

NordicTrack: Get $700 off the new S22i Commercial Studio Cycle and the Commercial 2950 Treadmill (now $1,499 and $2,499.99, respectively) or $600 off the RW200 Rower (now $699.99); all three come with a free 30-day iFIT membership.

Peloton: Save $350 on the Peloton Bike+ (now $2,145) and get a free two-month trial of the Peloton app.

ProForm: Take 50% off the 750R Rower (now $497) and $200 off the Carbon T10 and Pro 5000 treadmills (now $999.99 and $1,499.99, respectively); you'll get a free 30-day iFIT trial with all three.

Schwinn: Save $200 on the IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike (now $999) and get a free one-year JRNY membership.

Tonal: Save $250 on the Tonal home gym system (now $2,745).

MORE BLACK FRIDAY FITNESS DEALS


Best gaming deals

gaming controller illustration
Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable

Bose: Take 15% off the QuietComfort 35 Series 2 Gaming Headset (now $279).

Dell: Save $600 on the Alienware Aurora R12 Gaming Desktop (now $1,399.99), or buy Dell's 27-inch QHD gaming monitor on sale for 44% off (now $329.99) to score a free $50 gift card. Need a new keyboard or headset? Grab some Alienware gaming peripherals on sale at Best Buy for up to 40% off (starting at $59.99).

EA: Get 41% off Madden NFL 22 (now $35.20) and 37% off Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (now $37.64).

GameStop: Select pre-owned video games are buy two, get one free (including Call of Duty: Vanguard, Forza Horizon 5, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Deathloop, Returnal, and Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut).

HP: Take $50 off the HP Reverb G2 virtual reality headset (now $549).

JBL: Get up to 25% off its Quantum line of gaming headsets (starting at $29.95).

Lenovo: Get a free month of Xbox Pass Game Pass Ultimate when you snag a Lenovo Legion Slim 7 for $250 off (now $1,549.99).

LG: Save 21% on the new LG 27GP850-B 27-inch UltraGear Full HD Gaming Monitor (now $396.99).

Logitech: Save 35% on the G935 wireless gaming headset (now $109.99) and get half off the MX Master 2S mouse (now $49.99); the latter comes with a free $10 Dell gift card.

Microsoft: Get your first month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or your first three months of Xbox Game Pass for PC for just $1.

Razer: Take up to 50% off Razer peripherals (starting at $29.99) or grab last year's excellent Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop on sale for 31% off (now $1,789.49) — this particular configuration comes with an Intel Core i7-10875H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

Rockstar: Save 58% on a copy of Red Dead Redemption II for Playstation 4 (now $25).

Samsung: Get 47% off its 24-inch CRG5 Curved Gaming Monitor (now $149.99) and 29% off its 27-inch Odyssey G7 Gaming Monitor (now $499.99).

Square Enix: Save 50% on Marvel's Avengers for Playstation 4 and the Day One Edition of Outriders for PS5 (now $19.93 each).

SteelSeries: Take up to 25% off select gaming headsets, including the wireless Arctis 7 (now $127.33), the RGB-lit Arctis 5 (now $74.99), and the wired Arctis 1 (now $38.95).

Turtle Beach: Get half off the Recon 200 gaming headset (now $29.99).

MORE BLACK FRIDAY GAMING DEALS


Best kitchen deals

an illustration of a teapot, a mug, a salt shaker, and various kitchen utensils surrounded by a red bow
Air fryers, Instant Pots, and other kitchen gadgets are some of the stars of this year's Black Friday sales. Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

Bella Essentials: JC Penney has several Bella appliances on sale for just $7.99 (after a $10 mail-in rebate), including a waffle maker and a 4-quart slow cooker.

Breville: Take 20% off the 3X Bluicer and the 3X Bluicer Pro (now $239.95 and $319.95, respectively).

Chefman: Save $50 on the family-size, 26-quart French Door Air Fryer+ Oven (now $99.99) and $30.99 on its 8-quart TurboFry Air Fryer (now $69).

Cuisinart: Get a $50 Bed Bath & Beyond gift card when you buy a 5-quart Precision Master Stand Mixer for $249.99.

Hamilton Beach: Save $50 on the Digital Sure-Crisp Air Fry Toaster Oven (now $79.99).

Instant Pot: Get 17% off the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus and 33% off the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Crisp (now $99.99 each).

Keurig: Save 50% on a limited-edition K-Mini (now $49.99), 33% on the K-Slim (now $79.99), 20% on the K-Duo Essentials (now $79), and 13% on the brand new K-Supreme Plus Smart (now $174.49).

Le Creuset: Take 40% off the fancy French brand's 3.5-quart Sauteuse (now $179.95).

Ninja: Take $80 off the 6.5-quart Foodi TenderCrisp Pressure Cooker (now $149), save $50 on the new 8-quart Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer (now $279.99), and get 42% off the brand's 4-quart Air Fryer (now $69).

PowerXL: Get 40% off the 7-quart Vortex Air Fryer (now $89.99).

Pyrex: Save 60% on a 22-piece set of glass storage containers (now $19.99).

SodaStream: Get up to 22% off select bundles.

MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON INSTANT POTS AND AIR FRYERS


Best house and home deals

illustration of a bedroom
Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable

Amazon: Get up to 30% off select rugs.

Birch: Get $400 off a mattress and two free Eco-Rest pillows with the code BFSALE400.

Brooklyn Bedding: Take 25% off sitewide using the code BLACKFRIDAY25.

Casper: Save up to 20% on select bundles, mattresses, and sleep accessories.

Homesick: Get up to 25% off select candles (starting at $20.23).

JCPenney: Take up to 60% off select mattresses and up to 40% off select furniture.

Layla Sleep: Get up to $200 off mattresses and up to $950 off bundles.

Leesa: Get up to $400 off mattresses and 15% off bundles.

Purple: Save up to $600 when you bundle a mattress with pillows, sheets, and a mattress protector.

Target: Take up to 20% off bedding.

Tuft & Needle: Save up to 20% on select mattresses and sleep accessories.

MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON MATTRESSES


Best toy deals

an illustration of various toys (including a barbie camper, a teddy bear, a lego, and a crayon) surrounded by a red bow
Barbies and LEGOs are popular presents year after year, and 2021 is no exception. Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

Amazon: Save up to 42% on Star Wars toys and apparel and get up to 50% off a handful of children's books.

Baby Alive: Take 25% off the Baby Alive Lulu Achoo Doll (now $39.97).

Barbie: Save 40% on the Barbie 3-in-1 DreamCamper at Walmart (now $60).

Disney: Select toys and kids' clothes are buy two, get one free at Target.

Hover-1: Save 38% on the iridescent Aviator eScooter and 26% on the iridescent Self-Balancing Scooter (now $199.99 each).

KidKraft: Get 50% off the Uptown Espresso Kitchen Playset (now $99) and 37% off the Majestic Mansion Dollhouse (now $139).

Kinetic Sand: Save 15% on the Kinetic Sand Sandisfactory Set (now $16.97).

LEGO: Get half off the 1,500-piece LEGO Bricks and Animals set at Walmart (now $29), or head over to Target to save 20% on select building sets.

Little Tikes: Save 34% on the Activity Garden Playhouse (now $59).

Osmo: Get 25% off select kits and games (starting at $22.49).

Ruko: Take 23% off the voice-controlled Ruko Smart Robot (now $100.49) with an extra savings coupon.

Tamagotchi: Get 34% off the floral/pink Tamagotchi Pix (now $39.46).

Target: Save 10% on kids' craft supplies.

MORE BLACK FRIDAY TOY DEALS


Best pet deals

a leashed rottweiler wearing a pink whistle go explore pet tracker
Treat your good boy/girl this Black Friday. Credit: Whistle

Amazon: Save up to 23% on Amazon Basics pet products (including dog poop bags, a de-shedding tool, and a cat tree).

Basepaws: Get $50 off its Breed + Health Cat DNA Test (now $79) with the code DNAFRIDAY.

Chewy: Select pet products are buy three, get one free.

ChuckIt!: Take 70% off the ChuckIt! Sports Ball Launcher (now just $3.96) with an extra savings coupon.

Doggy Do Good: Save 17% on a 60-count pack of its biodegradable dog poop bags (now $9.99), our favorite eco-friendly option for pet waste disposal.

Embark: Take $30 off its Breed Identification Kit (now $99) or $50 off its Breed + Health and Purebred kits (now $149 each) with the code HARK.

KONG: Save 15% on the medium-sized KONG Classic (now $10.99), a stuffable and durable rubber chew toy.

Petco: Get $30 off select pet supplies purchases of $100 or more.

Petcube: Save $24.05 on the Bites 2 Lite (now $124.95), an 1080p HD pet camera with night vision, two-way audio, and a treat dispenser.

PetSafe: Save 29% on the ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box (now $149.95) and 23% on the Healthy Pet Simply Feed (now $99.99).

ThunderShirt: Get 15% off a small ThunderShirt (now $34), which will fit most dogs in the 15- to 25-pound range.

Whistle: Take 25% off all GPS pet trackers and monitoring devices (with a one- or two-year plan) using the code BRAND25.

MORE BLACK FRIDAY PET DEALS

Illustration of a man smiling while opening up a box
Don't forget to order a little something nice for yourself this year. You earned it. Credit: Vicky Leta / Mashable

Ready or not, Black Friday is here

Stores began cramming our inboxes with Black Friday-worthy deals in early October (starting with Amazon's "Epic Daily Deals" event, which kicked off Oct. 4). It probably felt a bit preemptive, like those neighbors who insist on putting up their Christmas lights while the trees are still green, but they actually had a very good reason to get a jump on this year's sales.

And no, it wasn't just a good, old-fashioned cash grab in response to some strong holiday spending forecasts.

Shipping delays and supply chain chaos

The global economy is grappling with some unprecedented supply chain challenges as the result of the Delta variant, which continues to inflame pandemic-related material scarcities, labor shortages, and shipping bottlenecks across industries of all kinds. (Under circumstances absolutely no one had on their bingo card, pickles and paper bags have gotten as elusive as Playstation 5s.)

Unsurprisingly, the ordeal has left most major manufacturers and retailers scrambling. Amazon is trying to lure in an extra 150,000 seasonal employees with the promise of $3,000 sign-on bonuses and higher pay for certain shifts, while Walmart, Home Depot, and Ikea have all gone so far as to charter private cargo ships to make sure their shelves are stocked for the season. Apple, meanwhile, is "predicting that we're going to be short of demand by larger than $6 billion" heading into the holidays, CEO Tim Cook said in a recent interview with Reuters.

For us consumers, this all means that finding the best deals this holiday season will likely be an ongoing issue of availability.

As Canalys analyst Runar Bjørhovde wrote in an email to Mashable, “It will be very possible to buy devices, it’s more of a question to what cost and when.(Read more about supply chain issues.)

If you missed out on October's whirlwind of early sales, fret not. Backorders and "sold out" notices haven't besieged stores just yet, but mapping out a game plan now will help you avoid them when they inevitably crop up in the coming week. Here are all the must-know details you can use to strategize this holiday shopping season:

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is a shopping holiday that takes place every year on the day right after Thanksgiving. It used to be synonymous with viral fistfights and stampedes and lines that stretched around city blocks before 3 a.m., but COVID-19 has turned it into a mostly online event.

When is Black Friday?

While Black Friday proper falls on Nov. 26 this year, most stores have already begun rolling out their holiday doorbusters.

Black Friday versus Cyber Monday — what's the difference?

The National Retail Federation officially coined the term "Cyber Monday" in 2005 after it noticed that in previous years, the Monday after Thanksgiving saw a massive uptick in online sales. It credited the phenomenon to two factors: Online retailers were starting to vie for a piece of the Black Friday pie, and shoppers were waiting to peruse the deals on their faster work computers come Monday morning. (At the time, office PCs had better broadband than home setups.)

Last year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales effectively bled together since in-person shopping wasn't really a thing. We'll almost certainly see that repeat this year.

What stores will be open for in-person shopping this Black Friday, if any?

All major retailers with brick-and-mortar locations have made the call to stay closed on Thanksgiving Day. That's another big change from pre-pandemic years, when many stayed open on the federal holiday so that eager shoppers could start perusing their best deals early. (If you feel the urgent need to do some post-pie shopping that day, you'll have to crack open your laptop instead.) In-person shopping is making a comeback for Black Friday, but be mindful of COVID-related safety procedures and limited store capacities:

  • Bed Bath & Beyond: Closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours TBD. Masks are required for all customers (unless you're fully vaccinated) as well as associates, and all stores are following safety plans that include extra cleaning, free wipes and hand sanitizers, employee health screenings, and occupancy limits. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.

  • Best Buy: Closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours TBD. Face coverings (available in stores) are recommended for all customers and required for all employees, who are abiding by enhanced safety procedures such as daily wellness checks and regular cleaning of high-touch areas. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.

  • JCPenney: Closed on Thanksgiving; doors open at 5 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Its mask policy varies based on local and state mandates, but all locations are following safety measures like regular nightly cleanings, socially distanced queues, contactless checkout, and capacity limits. Curbside pickup is available.

  • Kohl's: Closed on Thanksgiving; stores open at 5 a.m. local time on Black Friday. The company is requiring all associates to mask up, recommending that customers in high-risk counties do the same; it's also implemented extra cleaning and safety measures that include placing sanitizer at every register, removing beauty testers, and installing signage that encourages social distancing. Drive-up and in-store pickup are available.

  • Macy's: Closed on Thanksgiving; stores are open from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time on Black Friday. Its COVID-19 safety policy includes pre-shift wellness checks for all associates, readily available hand sanitizer, increased cleaning in high-touch areas, extra ventilation, and social distancing; masks are recommended but not required for vaccinated customers except where mandated. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.

  • Target: Closed on Thanksgiving; most stores open at 7 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Face masks are required for team members and strongly recommended for shoppers in areas with a substantial or high risk of transmission, per CDC guidelines, and increased cleanliness/disinfecting measures have been implemented. (Haven't gotten a vaccine yet? You can do so at select CVS locations within Target stores.) Drive-up and in-store pickup are available.

  • Walmart: Closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours TBD. All associates are required to wear a mask (regardless of vaccination status) in areas where there are mandates, and customers are strongly encouraged to do so, too. Stores are spraying carts after use and keeping plastic shields at registers, among other enhanced safety procedures. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.


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