Target Black Friday 2013: Best and Worst Deals
Target opens at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and doesn't close until 11 p.m. on Black Friday. That's 27 straight hours of continuous shopping. On top of its many sales, Target is also offering a 20 percent off coupon valid Dec. 1-7 for those who spend more than $75 on Black Friday. Plus, if you have Target's "REDcard" credit card, you can take an extra 5 percent off the sale price.
But how on-target are Target's tech deals? Here's a run-down of the retailer’s electronics bull's-eye sales and off-the-mark flops.
TVs
Samsung 50-inch 1080p LED HDTV ($597)
If you don't yet have an HDTV, this holiday season is probably the time to get one. Target has plenty of great sets on sale, but the best deal is the Samsung 50-inch LED HDTV. It may not be "smart," but with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, USB and HDMI ports and 30000:1 contrast ratio, you know you're going to get a beautiful picture. At $597, you're saving $152 on the full price, and on Black Friday, the TV also comes with a $50 Target gift card.
Verdict: Deal (See deal on Target.com)
MORE: The Best TVs of 2013
Westinghouse 40-inch LED HDTV ($199)
For a good, dependable HDTV that gets the job done without breaking the bank, Target's offer of a 40-inch Westinghouse HDTV for $199 is pretty sweet. The TV can be mounted on a wall or set on a stand, and the picture is 1080p with a 120Hz refresh rate. The price is normally $429, so you’ll save $230.
Verdict: Deal
Tablets
Barnes & Noble Nook 7 HD ($79)
For shoppers on a budget, the Nook 7 HD is the best of both worlds: a robust e-reader that also functions as an Android tablet equipped with all the best Google Play apps. This weekend, in-store only while supplies last, Target is selling Barnes & Noble's Nook 7 HD for just $79, marked down from $129. With 8.5 hours of battery life, it's hard to go wrong with the Nook 7 at this price.
Verdict: Deal
Apple iPad Mini ($299)
The iPad Mini is a good device, but even with the $75 Target gift card, we're giving this one a pass. With only 16GB, Wi-Fi only and no Retina display, there's little about this tablet or its price that makes it a must-have purchase for Black Friday.
Verdict: No Deal
MORE: Best Black Friday Tablet Deals 2013
Smartphones
Virgin ZTE Awe
A $19.99 price tag on a smartphone always stands out, but a second look at the Virgin ZTE Awe is all it takes to see that this phone is hardly worth that. You’ll be getting a small 4-inch 800 x 480-pixel screen in a thick 0.4-inch chassis. The 1.2-GHz processor is sluggish, too. Yes, Virgin Mobile offers cheap monthly data, but this handset doesn’t make for a good gift on that network.
Verdict: No Deal
Samsung Galaxy S4 ($39.99)
This powerful and tricked-out phone, available only on Verizon or AT&T, is just $39.99 at Target this Black Friday. That's $60 less than Walmart's best deal. That’s a great price for a smartphone with a bold 5-inch 1080p display and an excellent 13-MP camera. The S4 also offers a ton of great features, including gesture control and a built-in TV remote. For the real penny-pincher, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is just 1 cent (also only available for Verizon or AT&T customers).
Verdict: Deal
MORE: Best Smartphone Camera Gifts
Gaming
Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle ($189)
Just because the next-gen video game consoles Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have hit shelves doesn't mean their predecessors are out of the game. There are plenty of great Xbox 360 deals out there — but Target's Xbox 360 Kinect bundle isn't one of them. For $189, an Xbox 360 plus a Kinect seems like a good deal, but take a closer look — this console only has 4GB of memory. That might be enough to play "Kinect Sports 2" and "Kinect Adventures," the two mediocre games that come with the Bundle, but it's not enough to do much else. Plus, right now, you can get a similar bundle from Best Buy — without having to stand in line.
Verdict: No Deal
Nintendo 3DS XL ($149)
The Nintendo 3DS was Tom's Guide's best handheld game console of the year, and on Black Friday, Target is selling it for just $149. That’s $50 off the regular price.
Combine that with Target's other game sales ($25 for "Lego Marvel Superheroes" and a $10 gift card when you buy "Mario & Luigi: Dream Team," both for 3DS) and the Nintendo 3DS looks even better.
Verdict: Deal
MORE: Top 10 Coolest Nintendo 3DS Games
Cameras Nikon D3200 2-Lens Bundle ($499)
This high-performance camera boasts HD movie recording (1080p), a 24.2-MP CMOS sensor and a battery life of about 540 photos. Usually, it sells for $799, but at Target this Black Friday, the Nikon D3200 will cost $499, which includes an 18-55 mm lens and a 55-200mm lens. Right now, a similar bundle goes for $679 on Costco. Both lenses have vibration reduction, so it's easier than ever to get that perfect shot.
Verdict: Deal (See deal on Target.com)
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