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Best Black Friday deals available to buy now, according to a shopping expert

I’ve found the best offers offers ahead of the main event, from Dyson, Apple, The Ordinary and more

Daisy Lester
Thursday 14 November 2024 15:20 GMT
From beauty to tech, there are plenty of deals to get us excited
From beauty to tech, there are plenty of deals to get us excited (iStock/The Independent )

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The biggest shopping event of the year, Black Friday 2024 is now just two weeks away. But you don’t have to wait until the main event, as there are early offers on everything from technologyTVs, laptops and gaming gear to mattressesbeauty and air fryers available to shop now.

Whether you’re after Apple Airpods, Ninja air fryers, Shark cordless vacuums, Simba mattresses, Lego sets, Charlotte Tilbury beauty and more, all the biggest brands and retailers take part – think Asos, Lookfantastic, Amazon and Pandora.

This year, the sale lands on Friday 29 November, and will last a full four days before concluding on Cyber Monday (2 December). However, myriad retailers have kicked off their Black Friday sales early – see Boots, Argos, John Lewis, AO and Currys. Amazon is the latest to join the party, with the retailer launching early deals on 8 November (its main sale will start on 21 November).

So, in the weeks leading up to Black Friday, along with my fellow IndyBest shopping experts, I will be busy hunting down the crème de la crème of early deals, spanning tech, beauty, fashion and more.

Whether you’re in the market for a new moisturiser or cordless vacuum, we’ve rounded up the best early Black Friday offers below, plus the deals we can expect during the main event. Happy shopping.

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday traditionally falls the day after Thanksgiving in the US, so, the mammoth sale will kick off on Friday 29 November this year. Lasting a full four days, the deals will end on Cyber Monday, falling on 2 December 2024.

What are the best Black Friday deals to shop now?

Black Friday doesn’t kick off until the end of November, but I’ve found a number of impressive savings that I’d recommend you get your hands on.

Apple AirPods 4: Was £179, now £169, Amazon.co.uk

(Apple)

Apple’s brand new Airpods only launched last month, but Amazon has slashed its price on the earbuds in the run-up to Black Friday. In tech critic David Phelan’s review of the Airpods 4, he described them as “amazingly small and light.” He added that the audio quality, noise cancelling and microphone are all strong, while the fit is snug and comfortable. “The new AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are excellent and the price is great: just £10 more than AirPods third-generation, which didn’t have noise-cancelling on board,” he said.

Shark flexstyle: Was £269.99, now £199.99, Sharkclean.co.uk

(Maisie Bovingdon/The Independent)

This nifty hair tool took the top spot in our guide to the best Dyson airwrap alternatives, with our reviewer describing it as a “game changer” for their hair routine. “The lightweight, versatile and multifunctional tool made drying and styling a breeze – so much so, we think it is on par with the airwrap, even though it’s £200 cheaper,” our tester said. Now, the Shark flexstyle is even cheaper, thanks to this early Black Friday deal.

Lego Harry Potter Hagrid’s hut, 76428: Was £65, now £48.50, Argos.co.uk

(Argos)

You don’t have to be a wizard to uncover some great Lego Black Friday deals. Argos has sliced 25 per cent off the price of this Harry Potter Lego set, which comes with seven characters, including Harry, Hermione, Ron and Hagrid. The 896-piece set is suitable for Potterheads and Lego fans aged eight and above, and it will make a great addition under the Christmas tree.

Simba hybrid luxe mattress, king: £1,799 with free pillows, duvet and mattress protector, Simbasleep.com

(Simba)

Simba’s hybrid ultra featured in our review of the best mattresses of 2024 and, while there isn’t a discount on the mattress per se, right now Simba is giving away a bunch of freebies with every purchase. As part of its Black Friday sale, if you purchase this particular mattress you will get two Simba hybrid pillows, a hybrid 3-in-1 duvet, and a mattress protector all for free, saving you a whopping £766. Each one of these products comes IndyBest approved, too, featuring in our round-ups of the best pillows, best winter duvets and best mattress protectors for 2024, so you can rest assured you’re getting a high-quality sleep set-up.

The Oodie, black: Was £65, now £32.50, Theoodie.co.uk

(Oodie)

The brand’s hoodies were rated highly in our review of the best blanket hoodies, where we found the oversized hoodie to be “very oversized, cocooning our 6ft tester down to the knees”. Complete with a hood, sleeves and practical front pouch, the hoodie is finished in a plush soft-to-touch flannel fleece with sherpa fleece lining the inside. “Large enough to curl beneath it on the sofa but still sufficiently fitted and lightweight to move around the house while working from home, the Oodie will be a saviour when temperatures plummet,” said our tester. Right now, you can save 50 per cent.

Nintendo Switch neon red/neon blue with Nintendo Switch Sports and 12-month Switch Online membership: Was £324.99 , now £249, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

If you don’t need the larger or more vibrant OLED display, then this bundle deal on the OG Nintendo Switch will serve you well. It comes with Nintendo Switch Sports, a leg-strap accessory and a 12-month Switch Online membership thrown in for free. If you buy the bundle from Amazon, the retailer knocks off a further £10 on the cost of console, saving you a total of £76.

Shark anti-hair-wrap cordless upright pet vacuum, ICZ300UKT: Was £429.99, now £299, Sharkclean.co.uk

(Shark)

In the run up to Black Friday, you can clear up with a discount on this cordless vacuum from Shark. With an hour-long run-time, this cordless vacuum cleaner comes complete with a pet tool and anti-hair-wrap technology, which is ideal if you want to prevent hairs from getting tangled up in the brush-roll while you’re hoovering. Plus, while using it as a handheld, it’s said to be lightweight, so you should be able to clean hard-to-reach spots more easily.

Ninja foodi dual zone air fryer: Was £199.99, now £129, Currys.co.uk

(Currys)

This stylish black and silver air fryer from Ninja is reduced by £50 in the run-up to Black Friday, thanks to Currys. As functional as it is sleek-looking, the appliance features a nifty dual drawer design that enables you to cook separate dishes simultaneously, as well as a huge 7.6l capacity, making it a great choice for larger households. The different functions mean you can air fry, crisp, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate and prove, all with just one handy tool.

Dyson supersonic hair dryer nickel/copper: Was £329.99, now £279.99, Dyson.co.uk

(Dyson)

Dyson’s supersonic hair dryer was hailed as “incredibly lightweight and cute” in our review, where its compact size “cemented it as a go-to for gold-standard styling”. Praised for being easy to use, our tester also found that it delivers “a real punch of power for fast drying times”. With this direct from Dyson, you can save £50 on the luxury hair tool.

Dusk Hampshire chaise sofa: Was £1,399, now £847, Dusk.com

(Dusk)

Dusk has just kicked off its mega Black Friday event with up to 70 per cent off everything, plus an extra 20 per cent off at checkout with the code “BF20”. So, there’s no better time for a sofa upgrade. The brand’s Hampshire style secured a spot in our round-up of tried and tested corner sofas, where our reviewer named it the best traditional-style chaise sofa. “Dusk’s Hampshire chaise sofa is a triumph of both form and function – and, as with all of the brand’s offerings, it is enticingly affordable, given its high quality,” they said. Now, you can get it for less than £900 thanks to the Black Friday event.

Barista express bean-to-cup coffee machine: Was £629.99, now £499, Johnlewis.com

(John Lewis)

Our tester named this the best bean-to-cup coffee machine in their review. Now, you can snap it up in John Lewis’s Black Friday sale with a discount just shy of £130. “You can tinker with the settings to your heart’s content, including the grind size of the bean and the volume of coffee, plus, of course, creating microfoam, using the steam wand”, our reviewer noted. “We found we made dreamy cups of coffee with little fuss right from the get-go”, they added. What more could you want when making your morning brew?

Meta Quest 3, 512GB: Was £619.99, now £469, Amazon.co.uk

(Meta)

Save a huge 24 per cent on the Meta Quest 3 VR headset in this deal that has just dropped after the release of the Meta Quest 3S. “The Meta Quest 3 is an astounding virtual-reality headset, and is arguably the best consumer VR device currently out there,” our tech writer Alex said in his review. “With full-colour passthrough, a faster processor, a more comfortable and ergonomic fit, as well as better hand tracking and, of course, those sweet, sweet pancake lenses that make everything so much more stable, this is the VR headset to beat.”

Nespresso vertuo pop coffee pod machine: Was £100, now £59, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

The vertuo pop is Nespresso’s most affordable coffee machine – and, naturally, it’s been tried and tested by the team at IndyBest. Spoiler alert: Lauren loved it. Now, Amazon has slashed the price of the machine by nearly 50 per cent. Receiving a glowing five-star review, she praised the “small but mighty” machine that will slot seamlessly into most people’s kitchen countertops. “Weighing in at just 3.5kg, if you have a large cupboard and won’t be using the machine every day, it’s also incredibly easy to store away until you need it,” she added.

Samsung QN95D 55in 4K smart TV: Was £1,699, now £1,499 plus a free soundbar, Samsung.com

(Samsung)

Samsung is giving away a free soundbar worth up to £400 with select TVs from now until Black Friday. The 55in QN95D uses Samsung’s “neo QLED” pixel technology, which offers improved contrast, inky dark blacks and vibrant image quality versus LED panels – the similar QN90D appears in our round-up of the best 4K televisions of 2024.

Virgin Media broadband: Free for three months, Virginmedia.com

(Virgin Media)

Looking for a new broadband provider? Virgin Media is offering a stellar deal for Black Friday, which will see you get three months of free broadband. Choose from broadband on its own to deals bundled with TV and a SIM. Even offers on Sky Sports and Sky Cinema are up for grabs in this year’s sale. Plus, you can get three months of Disney+ thrown in for free. Simply enter your postcode to see if you’re eligible.

Benefit brow haul of fame brow basics kit: Was £55, now £27.50, Lookfantastic.com

(benefit/The Independent)

A haul of fame indeed, this trio of products is quite literally my go-to brow selection for every day, not to mention the gimme brow, specifically, being IndyBest’s best brow gel for adding volume. In the review, our tester commented that it “is light enough that you can wear it alone or over other brow products, and it gives good hold and lift”. As for the precisely, my brow detailer, it also comes IndyBest-approved as the best brow pencil for volume. Our reviewer praised how it “boasts an extra small tip (0.8mm to be precise) for fine strokes that mimic hairs”. The set is not to be missed with 50 per cent off.

MacBook Air (13.6in, M2, 2022): Was £899, now £799.97, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Looking for a laptop upgrade? Black Friday is your best chance to save on premium Apple models. Case in point: this £100 saving on the previous generation MacBook air, which launched in 2022 with the then-latest M2 processor. Still an impressively fast machine, the thin, lightweight, 13in laptop is now the cheapest device in the MacBook air range. In tech critic David Phelan’s review of the laptop, he said: “The new MacBook air shines because of its superb light weight and bright display, its great keyboard and fast performance, and its sheer drop-dead glorious design.”

Le Creuset enamelled cast iron round casserole dish: Was £209, now £178, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

French brand Le Creuset’s cast iron casserole dish has taken on family-heirloom status in many people’s homes, but cookware like this doesn’t come cheap, so this sizeable price cut is not to be sniffed at. Discounted by nearly 30 per cent in Amazon’s early Black Friday sale, the dish is suitable for one-pot meals and can be used on any cooking surface. In their review, Rachael said: “It was perfect for making slow-roasted dishes such as casseroles, but we also whipped up a loaf of bread, which cooked evenly and with a nice, crispy crust.” Available in a number of colourways, the cerise shade currently has the lowest price point.

Lululemon align high-rise pant, sakura pink: Was £88, now £64, Lululemon.co.uk

(Lululemon)

Lululemon’s align leggings range is the fitness world’s worst kept secret. Comfortable, supportive and available in plenty of playful colourways, the leggings are the ultimate studio-to-socialising choice. This pair earned a spot in our round-up of the best yoga leggings, in which our tester said: “These leggings wick sweat perfectly, so you don’t need to shower straight after class – keep these on while you grab a coffee or do brunch.” Right now, you can save more than £20 on the sakura pink style.

CeraVe facial moisturising lotion: Was £16.99, now £9.99, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Our tester dubbed this CeraVe lotion as one of the best SPF moisturisers, praising how “it instantly absorbs into the skin, for long-lasting moisture that’s neither sticky nor shiny”. The cream includes hyaluronic acid and glycerin, for all-day hydration, with our reviewer adding: “It’s easy to apply and small enough to be popped in a bag.” Now just shy of £10, investing in this two-in-one formula is a no-brainer.

Dyson V8 advanced: Was £329.99, now £229.99, Dyson.co.uk

(Dyson)

Dyson’s sleek V8 range is among our favourite budget vacuum cleaners. Better yet, you can now save £100 on the advanced model in the run-up to Black Friday. In our review of the similar V8 absolute vacuum, our tester said: “Just like the priciest models, you won’t have any problem with this machine’s power, thanks to a digital motor that spins at up to 110,000rmp, and Dyson’s standard cyclone technology.” The advanced model is touted as Dyson’s most powerful V8 model yet, complete with 40 minutes of run time and trapping 99.99 per cent of microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns. Characterised by the brand’s distinctive sophisticated style, this vacuum is one to snap up pronto.

Sol de Janeiro Rio body retreat set: Was £49, now £39, Lookfantastic.com

(Lookfantastic)

Containing products on my wishlist, Sol de Janeiro’s Rio retreat gift set is reduced by 20 per cent right now, thanks to Lookfantastic’s early Black Friday sale. Inside, you’re treated to the 4play shower cream, the cult Brazilian bum bum cream, and the viral cheirosa 62 body mist. In Lauren’s review of the scent, she described the mist as “incredibly light and airy, meaning it won’t last for the longest time but will work wonders when topped up throughout the day.” Pistachio, salted caramel and almond are among the key notes – it’s enough to make your mouth water.

Read more: Best Boots early Black Friday deals 2024

Oral-B Pro 3 electric toothbrush: Was £100, now £35, Boots.com

(Boots)

We rated the Oral-B Pro 3 the best electric toothbrush in our round-up, thanks to its low price and effective cleaning power. The brush is noisier than the premium iO range but cleans just as well, according to our tester. “This budget-friendly electric toothbrush might lack the bells and whistles of its pricier iO siblings, but the oscillating head still delivers a reliably thorough clean.”

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s award-winning complexion trio: Was £85, now £59, CharlotteTilbury.com

(Charlotte Tilbury/The Independent)

Featuring three of Charlotte Tilbury’s most cult product, there’s 30 per cent off this bundle right now. As well as a travel-sized magic cream and setting spray, you’re treated to a full-size beautiful skin foundation. In our review of the foundation, our tested found it “buffs into the skin beautifully, leaving a subtle radiance to the skin that catches the light naturally”. Meanwhile the airbrush flawless setting spray is another IndyBest favourite, with our tester saying: “Whether we were in the rain or doing a workout, the setting mist kept everything in place, from morning to night.” When it came to reviewing the magic cream, our tester found their skin “looked plumper, dewier, firmer and, above all, far healthier”. Glowing reviews all round.

Toniebox starter set featuring Peppa Pig: Was £79.99, now £69.99, Very.co.uk

(Very)

Right now, you can snap up this starter set, which includes a Toniebox and a Peppa Pig figure, with £10 off. One of the top toys that’s always on our radar at IndyBest, the Toniebox has featured in several of our gift guides for children, including the best gifts for 2-year-olds and 4-year-olds. A great option for kids of all ages, it’s essentially an audio player that helps bring music and stories to life – you simply swap out the Tonie character that sits on top – of which there are more than 100 to choose from – and a different tale will be read to your child.

Audible: Was £7.99, now 99p per month, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Audiobook subscription service Audible is currently 99p per month for three months for Amazon Prime subscribers who’ve never had Audible before (or haven’t been a member in the past 12 months). You can listen to thousands of select Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks. Once your trial period comes to an end, an Audible subscription will cost £7.99 each month, which will pay for one audiobook (each month) as well as the above. The offer will end on 21 January 2025, so, you’ve still got plenty of time to subscribe, even after Black Friday ends.

Lego wildflower bouquet set: Was £54.99, now £40.99, Johnlewis.com

(Amazon)

Let your creativity blossom, with Lego’s colourful wildflower arrangement. Designed to stand tall in your home, the 939-piece build features 16 stems with a mix of flower and leaf varieties – such as lavender, Welsh poppies, gerbera daisies and lupins – that can be freely arranged and placed in a vase. It would make an ideal gift for any flower fan, regardless of their green finger potential. Plus, as the blooms are made using sustainably sourced sugarcane, they have less of an environmental impact, compared with other standard Lego sets.

Marc Jacobs daisy eau de toilette: Was £69.99, now £37.97, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Our favourite floral perfume from masters in fragrance Marc Jacobs is now 48 per cent off. “Offering a sweet floral scent, it combines white violet and jasmine for a flowery fragrance, berries for sweetness and sandalwood to make it seem deeper and warmer,” noted our writer. Impressed with the versatility of the scent they said that “it has a little bit of everything while still staying nice and light”.

Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones: Was £379, now £296.15, Amazon.co.uk

(Amazon)

Sony sits at the top of our round-up of the best wireless headphones with the WH-1000XM5. With impressive noise cancellation and impeccable sound quality, they’re the headphones to beat. “Whether it’s orchestral music, rap, podcasts or your favourite pop tracks, the WH-1000XM5 handle it all with poise and gumption,” our writer said in their review.

GucciFlora gorgeous magnolia eau de parfum,100ml: Was £135, now £108, Johnlewis.com

(John Lewis)

The newest addition to Gucci’s bestselling FloraFantasy collection, the flora gorgeous magnolia is perfect for brightening up winter days. A pleasing blend of patchouli essence, magnolia Essence and a dewberry Accord, the scent is feminine, fruity and floral. A signature of the range, the maximalist bottle adds the final flourish. Finished in a rich purple shade and adorned with the Flora pattern, it will take pride of place on any vanity table. You can save 20 per cent in John Lewis’s Black Friday sale.

What deals can we expect?

Black Friday sees deals on products from pretty much every category you can think of. When it comes to tech, it’s a great chance to score a saving on Apple AirPods, Samsung TVs, Amazon’s own devices (think Kindles and Echo dot speakers), as well as deals on Android phones and Apple iPhones. As for home appliances, we can expect big savings on Ninja air fryers and Sage coffee machines, as well as Shark cordless vacuums.

If you’re a fashion fan, Black Friday is not to be missed, with high street labels, including Zara, Mango and H&M, hosting mega sales with up to 70 per cent off. It’s a similar story with beauty, with the likes of Cult Beauty, Boots and Lookfantastic offering discounts on Charlotte Tilbury, Sol De Janeiro, ghd and CeraVe.

What brands have started their Black Friday sales?

While there’s still a few weeks to go until the main event, myriad brands and retailers are ramping up excitement by launching their Black Friday sales early. Boots was the first to kick off proceedings, with John Lewis and Argos closely behind. In the days since, Ao, Currys, Shark, Ninja, Oodie, Superdrug, Habitat and Dyson have all followed suit. Amazon is among the latest to join in, with the retailer launching its early Black Friday offers on 8 November 2024. To be in-the-know as soon as more brands kick off their sales, make sure to follow along with our liveblog.

The best brands with Black Friday sales I recommend shopping

Some brands host just a couple of sales during the year, and Black Friday is often their biggest. So, if you’re looking to bag a rare bargain, I recommend making a beeline for brands and retailers like Pandora, Zara, Shark, Dyson, Nintendo, Sonos and The North Face. Apple is also one to watch, with Black Friday being the best time to save on the tech giant at third party retailers like Amazon, John Lewis and Carphone Warehouse.

When it comes to variety and choice, Amazon and John Lewis are your best bets. The retailers sell everything from beauty and fashion to tech, so you can tick off your Christmas shopping list all in one go and save on multiple shipping fees. If you’re after beauty, Boots is hosting its biggest sale yet while Currys should be your go-to for appliances and Amazon for tech.

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday will fall on Monday 2 December this year. The main difference between the two sales is that Cyber Monday – as the name suggests – historically only takes place online, while Black Friday sees deals both online and in-store. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, however, with plenty of brands continuing their in-store sales into the following week.

When does Black Friday end?

If you miss out on bagging a Black Friday deal, the sale continues over the weekend before concluding on Cyber Monday – which is your final chance to score a saving.Typically, the best deals on tech and home appliances can be found on Black Friday, while Cyber Monday sees bigger savings across beauty, fashion and toys – so, this is worth bearing in mind when ticking off your pre-Christmas shopping list.

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Looking for more savings? We’ve rounded up the best early Black Friday mattress deals

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