Tech / Technology

What should you buy on Black Friday? Here’s what we want to see on sale.

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Mashable’s reporters and editors have a long wish list of products they want to buy on Black Friday — if they go on sale at the right prices.
a collage of products the mashable staff wants to buy on black friday 2023

Not sure what to buy on Black Friday? The post-Thanksgiving shopping event is one of the best times of the year to take care of big-ticket purchases like TVs, robot vacuums, Apple devices, and gaming consoles, as they often hit record-low prices ahead of the holidays. However, it’s important to go in with a game plan: Impulse-purchasing something just because it’s on sale is an easy way to get buyer’s remorse.

SEE ALSO:

Black Friday sales are already live. Here are the best early deals we’ve found so far.

As early Black Friday deals start popping up at major retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and soon Amazon, some of Mashable’s writers and editors are keeping close eyes on items topping our wish lists. Here’s what we want to buy this Black Friday — and what sorts of discounts we’re holding out for (if any).

1. A premium e-reader

“I bought myself a Kindle Paperwhite during July’s Prime Day at $89.99. My boyfriend was a big ‘physical books are better’ kind of guy until he tried out my Kindle, so I want to buy him one for his birthday in December. I was excited for October’s Prime Day, but imagine my disappointment when the Paperwhite only dropped to $94.99. I held off on buying the e-reader in hopes that Black Friday would see that $89.99 sale price. If it doesn’t drop back down that low, I’ll still buy it. I’ll just be mad that I could have saved an extra $5.” — Miller Kern, Deputy Reviews Editor


the front and back of a kindle paperwhite

Credit: Amazon


Kindle Paperwhite (8GB)

$139.99 at Amazon

2. Some upgraded earbuds

“I’m probably going to buy a pair of Bose earbuds for my partner, since he’s currently down to one (1) first-gen AirPod. I’ll likely compare the sale price of the new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to the previous-gen QC Earbuds II before buying. I’m guessing the older ones will have a better discount on Black Friday since the new version just came out, but I might spring for the new ones instead if they get down to $250 or less — that’s the sale price the QC IIs regularly sit at on Amazon.” — Jae Thomas, Deputy Shopping Editor


a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Credit: Bose


Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

$299 at Amazon

3. A better Dyson vacuum

“I currently own an old Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 that I absolutely hate: It’s heavy, hard to maneuver, and its hose is too taut to be useful. I’m thinking about upgrading to the V12 Detect Slim, a cordless and extremely lightweight stick model that’s Dyson’s cheapest laser-equipped model vacuum. (My colleague Leah Stodart won me over with her review.) The Absolute variant that tacks on HEPA filtration and a cool gold finish is down to $400 at Walmart during its first Black Friday Deals event, which is the price I’d hoped we’d see for the holidays, but I’d rather order it from Best Buy to make good use of a birthday gift card. Fingers crossed it matches that deal soon.” — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter


the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute next to a hepa logo

Credit: Dyson


Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute

$399.99 at Walmart (save $250)

4. A high-end hairdryer

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t a Dyson hair tool on a holiday wishlist. I’ve put off this investment for as long as I could, but I’m taking my hair health too seriously now to keep relying on the extreme heat of my current curling irons and straighteners. (I’m also tired of wrestling with the four tools crowding my drawer and would rather just have a go-to tool to reach for with only attachment swapping to worry about.) Walmart’s early Black Friday price on a refurbished model is ridiculously good considering a brand-new one costs $200 more, but I’m also seeing new ones for sale from regular people on Mercari for even cheaper. I’ll take return policies into consideration and make a decision based on vibes in the moment.” — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter


a dyson supersonic hair dryer with its accessories

Credit: Dyson


Dyson Supersonic hair dryer (Refurbished)

$229.99 at Walmart (save $200)

5. A Dyson Airwrap dupe

“My super fine, stick-straight hair doesn’t want to do much besides lay flat. I’ve been using a first-generation Revlon One-Step for the past few years to add some volume and a little shape, but it’s clunky and gets pretty hot, so I want to graduate to the Shark FlexStyle: The Coanda-powered multistyler is over $300 cheaper than a Dyson Airwrap, and its base can swivel to turn it into a hair dryer. Shark’s build-your-own FlexStyle bundle kits have been on sale for $260 since Prime Big Deal Days; a Black Friday deal of $200 or less would make me finally pull the plug, but that’s probably wishful thinking.” — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter


a shark flexstyle next to its accessories

Credit: Shark


Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System

$259.99 at Shark.com (save $20)

6. An eco-friendly electric toothbrush

“Hygiene TikTok has made me well aware that not using an electric toothbrush is sinful. That’s another product that I have avoided buying, this time because I, a person who uses chewable toothpaste tablets over a plastic tube of toothpaste, was not about to enter a cycle of buying plastic replacement toothbrush heads and sending the old ones to rot in a landfill for hundreds of years. The SURI toothbrush not only uses recyclable plant-based brush heads, but SURI recycles them for you (via mail backs with free shipping) so that you personally don’t have to mess around with recycling rules in your area. I’ll grab it if there’s any deal at all on Black Friday.” — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter


a green SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush against a beige background

Credit: SURI


SURI Sustainable Electric Toothbrush

$92 at SURI.com

7. Some TikTok-famous fitness gear

“Just about every item in Cassey Ho’s expertly crafted athleisure collection POPFLEX has gone viral on TikTok, and I’m dying to try them for myself. Ho, a former fitness YouTuber, creates clothes that are made for working out, but cute and comfy enough to wear all day. She infuses feedback from her loyal customer base of women into each piece, adding elements like larger ‘princess’ hoods, thumb holes, and seams to flatter every body. I’ve been eyeing the Zip Cloud Hoodie for at least a year after hearing about how celestially soft it is. I also plan to nab one of her 32-inch yoga mats, which are thicker than traditional mats for added joint support, at any discounted price.” — Elizabeth de Luna, Tech Reporter


a woman modeling a POPFLEX Zip Cloud Hoodie

Credit: POPFLEX


POPFLEX Zip Cloud Hoodie

$70 at POPFLEX.com


the POPFLEX Super Wide 32-inch Vegan Suede Yoga Mat

Credit: POPFLEX


POPFLEX Super Wide 32-inch Vegan Suede Yoga Mat

$75 at POPFLEX.com

8. An automatic cat feeder

“As much as I want to wean my cats off dry food completely, it just doesn’t seem feasible with my schedule or their preferences. Simply letting them free feed on dry food when I’m out and about all day isn’t the move, either — so when I saw cat parents on TikTok using an automatic feeder to release freeze-dried chicken or salmon into their cat’s bowl (rather than kibble), I knew Black Friday would be the time to find a cheap-ish one (since I’m buying the expensive wet food now, apparently). I’ll be looking for a deal on the PETLIBRO AIR Automatic Pet Feeder that brings it down to at least $39.99, which is the current record-low I saw at the time of writing thanks to a $10 coupon.” — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter


the petlibro AIR Automatic Pet Feeder

Credit: PETLIBRO


PETLIBRO AIR Automatic Pet Feeder

$39.99 at Amazon (save $10 with on-page coupon)

9. A cozy open-world game

“I’m currently jumping between Elden Ring, The Last of Us Part II, and Resident Evil Village, so while I technically don’t need something new to play, I could also use a bit of a breather. (Maybe therapy, too.) Tchia is a breezy open-world indie game for PlayStation and PC that comes highly recommended by Mashable Tech and Games Reporter Alex Perry as a ‘really fun little adventure with hardly any combat,’ and I’ve been meaning to add it to my rotation for the winter. It’s been hanging out at $19.49 in the PlayStation Store for a few weeks now, but I’m greedily hoping it gets at least $5 cheaper on Black Friday.” — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter


cover art for the video game 'Tchia'

Credit: Awaceb


‘Tchia’

$19.49 in the PlayStation Store (save $10.50)

10. Some stress-saving Bluetooth trackers

“My partner loses his wallet, keys, phone (you name it) with such regularity that a Tile tracker is at the top of my shopping list this year. I know these always go on sale, but I’m waiting for Black Friday to snag a package deal at $50 or less when I know they will certainly be at their best pricing. In reality, this is truly a gift for me since I’m getting tired of tearing the house apart looking for lost items. A win-win!” — Nicole Cammorata, Executive Commerce Editor


a Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack

Credit: Tile


Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack

$69.88 at Amazon (save $10.11 with on-page coupon)

Tech / Technology

Best early Kohl’s Black Friday deals: Home and kitchen, toys, outdoor, and more

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Kohl’s has dropped some early Black Friday deals during its Black Friday Early Access Event from Nov. 3 through Nov. 9. Black Friday Week at Kohl’s officially begins Sunday, Nov. 19.
Barbie car, SodaStream Terra, Shark vacuum, and Blink camera with colorful background

A glimpse at the best early Kohl’s Black Friday deals:
BEST KITCHEN DEAL

SodaStream Terra sparkling water maker bundle

$59.99
(save $40)

soda stream terra

BEST TOY DEAL

Barbie Fiat 500 Doll and Vehicle

$19.99
(save $20)

barbie fiat 500

BEST VACUUM DEAL

Shark Stratos upright vacuum

$299.99
(save $200)

Shark Stratos vacuum

BEST TECH DEAL

Amazon Blink wired floodlight smart security camera

$49.99
(save $50)

Amazon Blink floodlight camera

Black Friday season is upon us. Retailers started rolling out plans for the annual shopping holiday as early as Oct. 27 (looking at you, Best Buy) and early deals have already begun flooding the online retail space. While Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy immediately come to mind as Cyber Week hotspots for saving money, don’t sleep on underdogs like Kohl’s.

Kohl’s Black Friday plans kicked off on Nov. 3 with its Black Friday Early Access Event, which runs through Nov. 9. During this pre-season sale, early birds can score discounts on gifts like toys and kitchen appliances. Not to mention you can take an extra 15% off qualifying items with the code YOUGET15 and get free shipping on all purchases over $25.

Besides its early Black Friday deals, Kohl’s has a secret weapon that makes it worth spending your money there as opposed to other retailers: Kohl’s Cash. On top of big savings, shoppers can also earn $10 of Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent from Nov. 4 through Nov. 9. You can stockpile that Kohl’s Cash and treat yourself to a little something between Nov. 10 and 16.

If you miss out on the early rush, don’t sweat it. Kohl’s has big plans for the entire Black Friday season, including:

  • Super Saturday events on Nov. 11 and Nov. 18, which will feature the same Kohl’s Cash rewards, plus an extra 20% off qualifying purchases (between Nov. 10 and Nov. 18) and $10 off $25 purchases on Nov. 10 and 11.

  • Black Friday Week from Nov. 19 through Nov. 24, which will feature deals on Amazon Smart Home gadgets, toys, and more, plus an extra 15% off qualifying purchases, $10 in Kohl’s Cash rewards for every $50 spent, and free shipping on orders over $25.

  • Black Friday Super Deals on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24, which includes Beats Studio Buds, Amazon Kindle, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Sky Rider GPS Drones, and more, plus $15 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent.

Below, we’ve compiled a running list of some of the best early Kohl’s Black Friday deals. Be sure to check back in regularly as we update it — Kohl’s has yet to reach its peak shining Black Friday moment.

Early Black Friday kitchen deals


soda stream terra

Credit: SodaStream


Our pick: SodaStream Terra sparkling water maker bundle

$59.99 at Kohl’s (save $40)

Why we like it

A great gift idea for soda lovers or a solid addition to your own kitchen, the SodaStream Terra lets you make fresh sparkling water with the push of a button. It comes with a Quick Connect 60L CO2 cylinder and a 1-liter carbonating bottle for the very low price of $59.99 — that’s $40 off its usual cost and matches the lowest price we’ve seen.

More early Black Friday kitchen deals at Kohl’s

Early Black Friday toy deals


barbie fiat 500

Credit: Mattel


Our pick: Barbie Fiat 500 doll and vehicle

$19.99 at Kohl’s (save $20)

Why we like it

It’s no secret that Barbie is having a moment. If you’re looking for a great gift idea, this Barbie Fiat 500 set comes with a cute pink convertible with working doors and rolling wheels and a Barbie dressed in a lemon-print sundress — all for under 20 bucks. Save $20 for a limited time ahead of Black Friday.

More early Black Friday toy deals at Kohl’s

Early Black Friday vacuum deals


Shark Stratos vacuum

Credit: Shark


Our pick: Shark Stratos upright vacuum

$299.99 (save $200)

Why we like it

At its lowest price since Prime Day, the Shark Stratos is a steal at $299.99. It’s equipped with DuoClean PowerFins HairPro, a self-cleaning brushroll, and odor-neutralizing technology, which all work together to create a powerful cleaning experience — particularly for pet owners. The Stratos is Shark’s most advanced range of vacuums, so it’s no surprise that the regular price tag is pretty steep at nearly $500. But ahead of Black Friday, you can save $200 at Kohl’s and get $60 in Kohl’s Cash.

More early Black Friday vacuum deals at Kohl’s

Early Black Friday tech deals


Amazon Blink floodlight camera

Credit: Amazon


Our pick: Amazon Blink wired floodlight smart security camera

$49.99 at Kohl’s (save $50)

Why we like it

Not only is the Blink wired floodlight security camera on sale for half off, but it’s also matching its lowest price ever. It’s currently sitting at full price on Amazon, so if you’re in the market for a smart and simple security system, snagging this deal at Kohl’s is the way to go. With 2600 lumens of LED lighting, enhanced motion detection, a built-in security siren, and two-way audio through the Blink app, you’ll essentially have another set of eyes outside your home at all times. For what it’s worth, you’ll also score $10 back in Kohl’s Cash with your purchase.

More early Black Friday tech deals at Kohl’s

Tech / Technology

Best Black Friday Kindle Unlimited deal: 67% off (UK)

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A three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited is on sale for £9.49 this Black Friday, saving you 67% on list price.
Kindle in hands

TL;DR: A three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited is on sale for £9.49 this Black Friday, saving you 67% on list price.


Kindle Unlimited logo

Credit: Kindle Unlimited


Kindle Unlimited (3-Month Subscription)

£9.49 at Amazon (save 67%)

Black Friday feels like a long way away, but it’s really not. The deals are already dropping, which means you should be shopping.

Until Nov. 27, a three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited is on sale for under £10. This Black Friday deal saves you 67% on list price. That’s a significant saving on a service that offers so much.

A Kindle Unlimited subscription provides access to over 1 million titles, thousands of audiobooks, and selected magazine subscriptions available on any device. You can read anytime and on any device with the Kindle app.

After the three-month promotional period, your subscription will automatically renew for £9.49 per month. You can cancel this automatic renewal function at anytime though, so there’s no pressure to pay anything more than the deal price. If you know that you won’t want to renew, we recommend doing this right away.

Get three months of Kindle Unlimited for under £10 this Black Friday.

Tech / Technology

Best Audible deal: 60% off 3-month subscription (UK)

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A three-month subscription to Audible is on sale for just £2.99 per month, saving you 60% on list price.
Girl with earbuds and laptop

TL;DR: A three-month subscription to Audible is on sale for just £2.99 per month, saving you 60% on list price.


Audible logo

Credit: Audible


Audible (3-Month Subscription)

£2.99 per month at Amazon (60% off)

What can you expect from Black Friday? You can never count on deals on headphones, speakers, laptops, and tablets, although these are still highly likely. What you can always rely on are deals on Amazon’s range of services. That means discounts on Amazon Music, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible.

A three-month subscription to Audible is already on sale for just £2.99 per month, saving you 60% on list price. This Black Friday deal includes a credit each month to purchase any audiobook from the world’s largest selection of material, regardless of price and including the latest best sellers.

This special offers is not available to current Audible members (or anyone who cancelled their membership within the past month). After the promotional period, the subscription will automatically renew for £7.99 per month. You can cancel this function at anytime though, so there is no pressure to pay anything more than the deal price.

Audible members get unlimited access to thousands of select Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks. Save 60% on a three-month subscription to Audible this Black Friday.