Best Early Black Friday Deals at Best Buy
CR's experts have found the best discounts on top-rated products at Best Buy
By Consumer Reports
Best Buy always has plenty of discounts and other offers on electronics including laptops, headphones, and TVs, as well as large appliances, home and kitchen items, fitness equipment, and more. As we head into the holiday shopping season and approach Black Friday, there will be more discounts and offers to choose from, so check back often for the latest deals.
Consumer Reports is always tracking deals and sorting through all the offers to find the best prices on quality products that have scored well in our tests. We want you to be able to shop confidently, knowing that your purchase will be worth the money and that you’re actually saving. (To see more offers for a particular product, click on “+ More” to expand the options.)
Viewing on a mobile device? Click on the links below to skip to each section:
• Countertop Appliances
• TVs and Soundbars
• Laptops, Chromebooks, and Tablets
• Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches
• More Deals
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Countertop Appliances
Oster DiamondForce Nonstick XL 5 Quart Digital Air Fryer
The Oster DiamondForce Nonstick XL 5 Quart Digital Air Fryer’s digital touchscreen is easy to read and its programmed settings are easy to use, earning it a favorable score in our controls test. This model also doesn’t make too much noise, and cleaning the inside and outside doesn’t take a lot of elbow grease. Despite the air fryer’s name, the basket has a measured capacity of 3.6 quarts. Like other models we’ve tested, this one comes with a 1-year warranty.
Why it’s a good deal: At only $10 more than the best price we’ve seen, it may be worth it if you need it right away.
Ninja BL770
This Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System ranks in the middle of CR’s ratings. It earns above-average scores for chopping onions for salsa or almonds for pies but gets only an average score for puréeing soups and scores below average for grating Parmesan cheese. It’s also a bit noisy. The 8-cup-capacity chopper has convenient touch-button controls and three speeds, and comes with accessories including a dough blade, a blender attachment, and a recipe book.
Why it’s a good deal: This $100 discount from Best Buy is the lowest price we’ve seen on this model in a long time.
Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew BVMC-PSTX91
For a brewer with a thermal carafe, consider this deal on the Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew BVMC-PSTX91. Our tests show thermal carafes aren’t as easy to hold and pour as glass carafes, but this machine still performs decently for handling. It also offers great brew performance and is quite easy to clean and use.
Why it’s a good deal: This is the best discount we’ve seen in weeks, and it just dropped $20 this week at Best Buy.
TVs and Soundbars
Toshiba 65M550KU
The Toshiba 65M550KU may be a good choice if you want a smart TV with 4K and don’t want to deal with a streaming device. It comes with the Fire TV platform built in, so you’re ready to stream as soon as you set the unit up. And while it doesn’t perform quite well enough to live among the best TVs CR has tested, it does get above-average scores for 4K UHD performance. It has a wide viewing angle, too, making it suitable for a family room or other commonly used space in your home.
Why it’s a good deal: This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen for this model.
Insignia NS-32DF310NA19
This Insignia TV may be a good option for budget shoppers who don’t need all the bells and whistles. It offers HD picture quality—no 4K here—but at a great price, particularly if you need a set for a guest room or playroom. The 32-inch smart TV offers above-average picture quality, but as with many sets this size, the viewing angle is fairly narrow. The model uses Amazon’s Fire TV platform for access to streaming services, and it has built-in support for Amazon’s Alexa voice-powered digital assistant.
Why it’s a good deal: This is a decent discount. It was $100 during recent sales, so you may want to wait and see if the price drops again.
Insignia NS-70DF710NA21
This 70-inch 4K smart TV from Insignia, Best Buy’s house brand, is a fine overall performer, but its HDR (high dynamic range) performance is ineffective, mainly because of peak brightness limitations. It uses the Amazon Fire TV smart TV system, and Alexa is built in for using voice commands.
Why it’s a good deal: This is the best price we’ve seen for this TV, an especially impressive bargain for the size.
LG S65Q
The LG S65Q is a fairly basic 3.1-channel soundbar in LG’s 2022 lineup that delivers impressive overall sound quality. It can connect to a TV using either an HDMI or an optical audio connection, and if you have a compatible LG TV, it can use LG’s Sound Sync feature to connect via Bluetooth.
Why it’s a good deal: We haven’t seen this model on sale in some time, especially at such a steep discount.
Laptops, Chromebooks, and Tablets
Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2020, M1)
Thin, light, and powerful, this MacBook Air model—unveiled in 2020—offers a compelling combination of performance and battery life. Instead of using an Intel chip, as all Apple computers had done since 2006, it’s powered by an M1 processor developed by Apple itself. In our tests, the new processor performed with admirable speed, placing the laptop in the august company of devices powered by Intel Core i7 processors. It also improved the model’s efficiency, resulting in less drag on the battery and an impressive 10.75 hours of web browsing per charge.
Why it’s a good deal: $200 off a top-rated laptop is nothing to sneeze at.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (10 Core)
Beyond the powerful, efficient M1 processor, this MacBook Pro—introduced in 2021—has a bright, vibrant display that makes photos and videos truly pop, long battery life (14 hours), plus ample storage (512GB) and memory (16GB). Add handy slots for SD Cards and HDMI cables and you have a very versatile notebook designed to meet the demands of professional filmmakers, gamers, and other high-level users. The model we tested had a 10-core processor. This one has a more advanced 14-core chip.
Why it’s a good deal: This model is selling for as much as $2,500 elsewhere, so this is a definite score.
Asus Chromebook C536EA-BI3T3
The Asus Chromebook C536EA-BI3T3 has one of the fastest processing speeds among the Chromebooks we’ve tested. The battery life is below average in our web-browsing tests at 9.75 hours, and the 4.3-pound weight makes it less portable than other models. But the convertible form allows you to fold it into tent mode for watching videos.
Why it’s a good deal: This is a significant discount if you’re looking for a Chromebook with fast processing speed.
HP Chromebook 13C-CA0013DX x360
This HP Chromebook 13C-CA0013DX x360 has an impressive battery life, lasting 16.75 hours in our web-browsing tests. It’s an excellent choice for keeping up on work while out on your travels, especially at its lower-than-average weight of just 2.8 pounds. It’s also a touchscreen convertible model for added versatility.
Why it’s a good deal: This model originally retailed for close to $1,000, making this a solid discount.
Apple iPad Mini (64GB)-2021
Smaller size and lighter weight make this tablet easier to hold for extended periods than its larger brethren. The model has a bright, sharp display with a large viewing angle, meaning you don’t need to hold it dead center in front of your face to see it clearly. The A15 Bionic chip is blazing fast, so web browsing and watching movies seem smooth and stutter-free. The battery life is impressive, too. Other features include a USB-C port and upgraded cameras.
Why it’s a good deal: If you’re in the market for an iPad, this $200 discount might be too good to pass up.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus
The Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is a solid option if you’re looking for a strong performer in a tablet. It aces CR’s tests for performance, convenience, and versatility. And Samsung as a brand gets great scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction in our member survey. The 128GB machine boasts impressive speeds for everyday tasks as well as a bright screen with a wide viewing angle. Our testers found it easy to use.
Why it’s a good deal: This tablet’s sale price is $70 more than the best we’ve seen, so keep an eye on it to see if the price drops lower again closer to Black Friday.
Headphones
beats by dre Beats Studio Buds
The Studio Buds are true wireless noise-canceling earbuds that hit the sweet spot between price and performance. Sure, there are some earbuds that perform somewhat better, but only a few—notably the Sennheiser CX Plus and the OnePlus Buds Pro—are in the same price range as the Studio Buds. While these earbuds aren’t particularly feature-packed, our expert testers report that the noise canceling works really well, and Studio Buds do sound really good, especially given their modest price.
Why it’s a good deal: These headphones are a great pick at their usual price, so $50 off makes them a steal of a deal.
Bluetooth and Smart Speakers
Edifier S1000MKII
The Edifier S1000MKII has long been our favorite wireless speaker and is the best-sounding model we’ve tested. It’s pretty straightforward–it comes in a matched, powered pair that can pair by Bluetooth and a variety of inputs, but offers no multiroom capability. But Edifiers sound sublime, with plenty of volume and bass, and a bit of magic in the midrange that can almost convince you that the musicians are standing right in front of you.
Why it’s a good deal: The Edifier rarely goes on sale, so any discount is worth a look. We usually see this for about $300 during big sales like Black Friday and Prime Day, however.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
The latest orblike Amazon Echo tops its predecessor, the classic cylindrical Echo, in a number of important ways. The sonics are significantly improved, with a strong but slightly boomy bass and enough volume to fill a midsized room. Our testers also found that two Echo speakers sound good when paired in stereo, delivering you-are-there appeal.
Why it’s a good deal: This is the same low price we’ve seen during major Amazon sales.
Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen)
The Echo Show 5 is Amazon’s smallest smart screen. Our testers report that the sound is subpar for a music-listening device, but there are reasons you should consider this device. It’s a utility machine that works well on a night table or desk. And you get all the Amazon Alexa functionality you’d have in other Echo devices, including the super-cheap Dot, and some added value, thanks to the small screen and camera.
Why it’s a good deal: This speaker is back down to its lowest price right now.
Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches
Samsung Galaxy Watch4 (44mm)
The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 has a bright, round 1.3-inch AMOLED display that can showcase a variety of interesting watch faces. And it has a mic and speaker for handling phone calls. It offers a robust suite of health and fitness options, including a blood oxygen sensor, EKG monitoring (which could detect irregularities in heart rhythm), and even a sensor that’s claimed to measure body fat. It works best if you have a Samsung Android phone because that gives you access to all the Samsung Health features.
Why it’s a good deal: This is a good discount, but Best Buy did have it for $30 less recently, so the price may drop again closer to Black Friday.
More Deals
SimpliSafe The Essentials SS3-01
The SimpliSafe security system is one of the best options out there for DIY home security systems. It receives above-average ratings across the board, with the exception of a less-than-ideal rating for data privacy (a common result for a majority of systems we’ve tested). Of course, the system also works with SimpliSafe’s security cameras, the CR-tested SimpliSafe Doorbell Pro SS3 video doorbell, and the smart lock. You can opt for self-monitoring or pay a subscription fee for professional monitoring. And you can purchase extra contact and motion sensors to cover your whole home.
Why it’s a good deal: This is the best discount we’ve seen for this system all year.
Eufy Solo Cam S40
The Eufy SoloCam S40 is the first security camera CR has tested with a built-in solar panel to recharge its battery. In our tests, it offers superb video quality and data security, as well as speedy response times. The camera doesn’t offer great data privacy, though, which is common among these devices. It features monitoring zones; person alerts; voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant; a built-in siren; color night vision (thanks to its built-in spotlight); and 8 gigabytes of memory to store footage locally.
Why it’s a good deal: This sale price matches the lowest we’ve seen all year.
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