With Black Friday around the corner, what tech and toys are the right choice to gift your family?
Not looking forward to another hectic search for gifts? You are not alone.
Many shoppers get at least a little bit anxious picking out the right gifts for their friends and loved ones. It can be challenging to know what is trending and what to avoid. You might forget about a gift you had in mind months prior or miss out on a great deal.
We have compiled a list of tech and toys you will want to keep your eyes on. Whether it’s TVs, earbuds, air fryers or Barbies and Blueys, here is what we highlighted:
Best tech choices for Black Friday
Every year brings the latest and greatest in technology. What is trending this time around?
Earbuds are a hot commodity. Apple AirPods Pro are $20 off at Walmart for $159. For cheaper options, Samsung Galaxy Buds Live have a 41% markdown on Amazon for $99, while Beats Studio Buds have a similar drop in price from $149 to $99. For affordable, simple wireless earbuds, look no further than JBL’s Vibe at $29, or Skullcandy’s Dime XT 2 for $19, down from $29.
How about laptops or tablets? If all you will be doing is answering emails and using Facebook, the Lenovo IdeaPad 15″ Touch Screen Laptop is on sale at Best Buy for nearly half off at $279. Apple has their standard MacBooks as well, including their highly rated 2021 MacBook Pro 14″ laptop. It is $500 off on Amazon, but you will still be paying $1,999. There are some great gaming options, too, like Asus’s TUF Dash 15.6″ 144Hz Gaming Laptop. It comes with an i7 processor, 165 GB of ram, and the new NVIDIA 3070 GPU at a surprisingly low price of $999, thanks to a $500 markdown by Best Buy.
For tablets, it is hard to beat Apple’s line of iPads. Their new 2022 10.9″ iPad with 256GB of storage is a great choice, so long as you are fine with the $599 price tag. Otherwise, like with laptops, there are far more affordable options outside of Apple. Amazon’s all new Fire HD 8″ HD tablet is great for everyday use and comes in at a more affordable price of $99. For more of a middle ground, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A8 10.5″ Android Tablet is a great deal: you will be saving $130 at just $199.
How about some video game tech? Nintendo recently came out with an OLED model of their Switch console, making for more striking, beautiful colors if you have yet to pick up the handheld. The Steam Deck is another great choice, too. Produced by Valve, it has been making waves as a Nintendo Switch-like handheld console that can play a myriad of PC games.
As for video games, there are a lot to choose from: God of War: Ragnarok, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Sonic Frontiers, Splatoon 3, Pokémon Violet and Scarlet, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, Just Dance 2023 Edition, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, to name a few.
Let’s cover some miscellaneous options. If you are looking for a smart vacuum, eufy by Anker has one ideal for pet owners that’s 37% off on Amazon. There is also the Kalado Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for $149, down from $199. Pick up some smartwatch tech with the affordable iTOUCH Air 3 Smart Watch Fitness Tracker for $59 at Walmart, the Apple Watch Series 7 Smart Watch for $349 (a $180 sale), or the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 for $169, down from $279. Looking for a fun pair of portable speakers? JBL’s Flip 5 is a stellar choice at $99, with a higher end XTREME3 option as well for $299, $80 off.
Kitchen Tech
Kitchen tech is always a great choice too. It has gotten more affordable, like this Bella Pro Series 8 Quart Digital Air Fryer for $49 at Best Buy, a $60 drop in price. Looking for one with a bit more oomph? Check out Bella Pro Series 12.6 Quart option for $79, down from $169, or the Chefman TurboFry 9 Quart Dual Basket Air Fryer for $99, down from $179.
A quality mixer, like KitchenAid’s Classic Series, will still run you upwards of $300, but there are more affordable options on the market nowadays. AILESSOM’s 3-in-1 Electric Stand Mixer has been getting rave reviews at $169. There are also hand mixers that get the job done in most situations. KitchenAid makes a Cordless 7 Speed version in a set of different colors for $79.
Best Buy’s Insignia 8 Quart Mutli Cooker is down $80, costing you $39. Want a cup of espresso? KitchenAid’s Espresso Machine is on sale for $120 off at $279. Get yourself a classic Crock-Pot 7 Quart Slow Cooker for $39, or Bella’s 14 ounce Personal Blender for $14, down from $25.
TVs: QLED or OLED?
If you have swung by the electronics section of your local Target or Walmart, you might have noticed a suite of impressive looking TVs labeled OLED or QLED. Not sure what the difference is or which is best for your home? Here is a quick rundown:
OLEDs have better image quality and contrast, in particular with displaying deep black colors (thanks to their ability to turn off individual pixels).
QLEDs have better brightness, making them a good choice in rooms with a lot of natural light.
QLEDs are less expensive, a gap that is more noticeable with bigger TVs.
OLED pixels change color quicker, meaning gaming or watching sports or action movies makes for a more accurate display.
OLEDs have better viewing angles if you have got a myriad of couches and chairs filling out your living room.
Overall, OLEDs are the better choice, so long as the price tag is not too outrageous. If you are looking for a TV with all the bells and whistles, check out LG’s OLED C1 Series 65″ 4K Alexa Smart TV, complete with a 120Hz refresh rate, Gaming Mode, and more. Amazon has it marked down a thousand dollars, bringing it from $2,499 to $1,499.
Want something that will not break your bank but does not sacrifice image quality? Samsung’s QLED 65″ 4K Alexa Smart TV is a great choice at $847.
What to get your kids for Black Friday
It can be tough to know what is trending for kids, especially if you are buying for nephews or nieces. Here is a varied list to get things started:
Paw Patrol True Metal Total City Rescue Movie Track Set: $28
Barbie Dreamtopia Brush ‘n Sparkle Unicorn with Lights and Sounds: $33
Let’s talk about some other choices, too.
Pokémon cards are always popular, and might just be valuable once your kids are all grown up. There are plenty of choices online but you will want to make sure to avoid bulk or other “deals.” Look for unopened Pokémon card products, like the Sword & Shield Lost Origin Booster Bundle, Shining Fates Elite Trainer Box, or Pikachu V Box.
If your kid is a fan of science and nature, National Geographic has a fantastic suite of kits to check out. There is the Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit and Break Your Own Geode Kit for rock collectors, the Amazing Chemistry Set with over 15 science experiments, Light Up Air Rockets Activity Set, Herb Garden Growing Kit, and plenty more.
You cannot go wrong with some classic choices, either. Lite-Brite is ranked #8 on Amazon’s Best Selling Toys and Games at $12. Pick up a colorful spread of Play-Doh for $22 (and make sure they do not try and eat it!). Snag a board game like Connect 4, Candy Land, Guess Who?, Kerplunk, or Twister.
Still not too sure what to get? Amazon has a nifty list of top toys and games to scroll through. Good luck!
