When is Black Friday? 

This year, Black Friday falls on Friday, Nov. 28. Cyber Monday follows shortly after on Monday, Dec. 1. 

Are deals really cheaper during Black Friday? 

The holiday season, including Black Friday, is generally a great time to scoop up deals on a multitude of products, including flagship tech. While it’s true to shop smart you need to be aware of sly tactics like markups and faux discounts, price tracking tools like Keepa and CamelCamelCamel make it easier than ever to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible. Black Friday is also an excellent time to save on last year’s latest tech, as we’ve seen dozens of new releases in phones, TVs, laptops, tablets and more over the last 6 months. 

Also: Worried about rising tech prices? Try these 5 easy ways to shop smarter right now

How did we choose these early Black Friday deals?

ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. 

We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.