The best early Black Friday deals 2024: hi-fi, home theater, headphones and more

We're well into fall now, which means Black Friday is on the way. In a little over a month, the year's biggest sales event will be here, with discounts on all kinds of AV devices – if it plays music or shows a picture, chances are it will be included in the sale.

But not all the deals are worth considering. Because while a big saving might be tempting, remember you are still spending money with each purchase, and the last thing you want is to buy a dud.

We've been through all the major retailers and have compiled a list of the best early Black Friday deals worth your time. If a deal is on this list you can rest assured that firstly, the product is actually good, and secondly, the discount is worthwhile compared to its usual price.

Outside of some very special exceptions, which we’ll flag, every deal is on a product we’ve had in our test rooms and can personally recommend.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for, make sure to keep checking back with us regularly, as our team of experts will be updating this page with all the latest discounts up to and through Cyber Monday.

Best Black Friday deals quick links

Editor's picks – best early Black Friday deals overall

Apple AirPods (2019)was $159now $89 at Walmart (save $60)Read our Apple AirPods (2019) review

Apple AirPods (2019) was $159 now $89 at Walmart (save $60)
These currently sell for $159, but Walmart is slashing the price for the Black Friday sale. That's a decent deal – these are tonally balanced, with more sophisticated sonics and flawless wireless tech.
Read our Apple AirPods (2019) review

Sony WH-1000XM4 was $348 now $238 at Walmart (save $110)Five starsRead our Sony WH-1000XM4 review

Sony WH-1000XM4 was $348 now $238 at Walmart (save $110)
These comfortable and lightweight headphones offer up sensational audio quality. Plus, you get good noise-cancelling and battery life. This is a great price for these five-star headphones. Five stars
Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review

LG C3 OLED was $2500 now $1489 at Walmart (save $1011)Read our LG OLED65C3 review

LG C3 OLED was $2500 now $1489 at Walmart (save $1011)
This LG TV offers up some impressive image quality, absolutely superb gaming performance, and a user-friendly interface, too. With this discount, it's hard to say no to this four-star set.
Read our LG OLED65C3 review

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Maxwas $59now $40 (save $19)Read our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max was $59 now $40 (save $19)
With an impressive spec list, full range of streaming apps, and an easy-to-navigate interface (particularly when using the bundled Alexa remote) the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers plug-and-play streaming at its lowest-ever price.
Read our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review

Sony BDP-S6700 4K Blu-ray player was $178 now $119 at BestBuyFive starsRead our Sony BDP-S6700 review

Sony BDP-S6700 4K Blu-ray player was $178 now $119 at BestBuy
The BDP-S6700 scored a coveted five-star rating in our tests. Budget by price but not by nature, the 4K upscaling performance belies its low price tag. Built-in Wi-Fi provides access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Spotify. Five stars
Read our
Sony BDP-S6700 review

Beats Solo 3 Wireless was $199now $99 at Walmart (save $100)Read our Beats Solo 3 review

Beats Solo 3 Wireless was $199 now $99 at Walmart (save $100)
With impressive wireless technology courtesy of Apple's W1 chip, a famously stylish design in a choice of three colours, a 40-hour battery life, and – of course – this saving, any shortcomings when it comes to ultimate sound quality can be more easily overlooked.
Read our Beats Solo 3 review

Roku Streaming Stick 4K:was $50now $34 at Walmart (save $16)

Roku Streaming Stick 4K: was $50 now $34 at Walmart (save $16)
Roku's smart stick supports HDR and promises 30% faster streaming as well as all the apps you could need. At this discount, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more full-featured streamer for the money, especially one that's so small and portable.

UE Wonderboom 3 was $100now$72 at Amazon (save $28)Read our UE Wonderboom 3 review

UE Wonderboom 3 was $100 now $72 at Amazon (save $28)
We gave the Wonderboom and Wonderboom 2 five-stars in our reviews, while the Wonderboom 3 brings battery life upgrades, improved Bluetooth tech, and a more sustainable design. If you need a hardy waterproof speaker, the Wonderboom is always a strong choice.
Read our UE Wonderboom 3 review

Sony WH-1000XM5 was $400 now $348 at Amazon (save $52)What Hi-Fi? Award winnerRead our Sony WH-1000XM5 review

Sony WH-1000XM5 was $400 now $348 at Amazon (save $52)
The best pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones you can buy at this price. The Sony XM5 headphones might feel a little less premium than before, but the jump in sound quality from the previous generation is a big one. What Hi-Fi? Award winner
Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review

Apple AirPods Max was $549now $429 at Amazon (save $120)Five starsRead our AirPods Max review
was £549 now £430 at Amazon US

Apple AirPods Max was $549 now $429 at Amazon (save $120)
Yes, even with this fantastic deal Apple's wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones are still quite expensive. But they are wonderful to use, boast spatial audio support and are one of the very best-sounding wireless headphones we've heard. Worth it. Five stars
Read our
AirPods Max review

Best early Black Friday deals: TVs

TCL 32S335 was $230 now $142 at Amazon (save $88)Read our TCL 32S335 review

TCL 32S335 was $230 now $142 at Amazon (save $88)
No one is claiming that this little TCL TV is even in the same league as the big boys that fill out the rest of this list, but if you're looking for a very cheap TV, we've not tested anything better. For a very low price, you get a 32-inch 720p TV with the Roku operating system and surprisingly decent picture quality. A bargain.
Read our TCL 32S335 review

42-inch LG C2 OLED was $1200 now $896 at Amazon (save $304)Five starsRead our LG OLED42C2 review

42-inch LG C2 OLED was $1200 now $896 at Amazon (save $304)
The 42-inch version of LG's C2 OLED is so brilliant, we gave it an Award, and that was when it was new and therefore pretty expensive. Now that it's been out for a couple of years, there are massive discounts to be had, as you can see. Five stars
Read our LG OLED42C2 review

42-inch LG C3 OLED was $1400 now $976 at Amazon (save $424)Five starsRead our LG OLED42C3 review

42-inch LG C3 OLED was $1400 now $976 at Amazon (save $424)
The C2 above was succeeded by the C3. It's another great TV, but the improvements are slight so we recommend you buy the C2 while it's still available and cheaper (or better yet, spend a little more on the C4). Five stars
Read our LG OLED42C3 review

Sony XR-42A90K was $1400 now $1298 at Amazon (save $102)Five starsRead our Sony XR-42A90K review

Sony XR-42A90K was $1400 now $1298 at Amazon (save $102)
This 42-inch OLED TV lacks the flawless gaming spec of the LGs above, but its movie performance is superb and it sounds significantly better, thanks to Sony's clever Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which features actuators that vibrate the whole screen in order to make sound. Five stars
Read our Sony XR-42A90K review

Sony Bravia 8 55inwas $1999now $1399 at Best Buy (save $600)Read our Sony Bravia 8 (65in) review

Sony Bravia 8 55in was $1999 now $1399 at Best Buy (save $600)
The 65in version of the Bravia 8 won an Award for its immersive picture quality and decent sound, so this slightly smaller model should still be a great buy. Especially with this discount.
Read our Sony Bravia 8 (65in) review

LG C4 48inwas $1599now $1096 at Walmart (save $503)What Hi-Fi? Awards winnerRead our LG OLED48C4 review

LG C4 48in was $1599 now $1096 at Walmart (save $503)
With a rich, engaging picture and typically unbeatable gaming spec, the C4 is one of the standout TVs of 2024. Many will love the 48-inch size, as it's perfect for smaller rooms. What Hi-Fi? Awards winner
Read our
LG OLED48C4 review

Sony XR-55A95K was $3000 now $2479 at Walmart (save $521)Five starsRead our Sony XR-55A95K review

Sony XR-55A95K was $3000 now $2479 at Walmart (save $521)
The Sony A95K was the first QD-OLED we tested. Its combination of Quantum Dot and OLED technologies results in a picture with incredible contrast and colors, all tied together with Sony's usual cinematic subtlety. It sounds very good by TV standards, too. Very expensive at launch, this trailblazer is now a little more attainable with this deal. Five stars
Read our Sony XR-55A95K review

Samsung S90C OLED was $1900 now $1299 at Best Buy (save $601)

Samsung S90C OLED was $1900 now $1299 at Best Buy (save $601)
This Samsung TV comes packed with 4K/120Hz support, HDR, Dolby Atmos and more, making it a solid choice for movie buffs and hardcore gamers alike. Definitely worth a look if you want a solid set that doesn't appear to make many compromises. If it's anything like its predecessor, this is a very good TV indeed.

58-inch 4K QLED TV was $600now$299 at Amazon (save $301)

58-inch 4K QLED TV was $600 now $299 at Amazon (save $301)
If you're looking for a modern QLED 4K smart TV that'll handle all your streaming needs as well as casual next-gen gaming, this Hisense TV will get the job done. What's more is that with this deal you'll get a great value, too.

Best early Black Friday deals: headphones

Apple AirPods (2019)was$159now $89 at Walmart (save $70)Read our Apple AirPods (2019) review

Apple AirPods (2019) was $159 now $89 at Walmart (save $70)
These AirPods did drop to $99 for a while, and are now even cheaper still. If you aren't bothered about spatial audio and those slightly longer stems, these veterans still offer unbeatable usability and decent sound quality for Apple users for a much lower price. Now they're two generations old, don't expect stock to be replenished.
Read our Apple AirPods (2019) review

Beats Solo 3 Wireless was $199now $99 at Walmart (save $100)Read our Beats Solo 3 Wireless review

Beats Solo 3 Wireless was $199 now $99 at Walmart (save $100)
With impressive wireless technology courtesy of Apple's W1 chip, a famously stylish design in a choice of three colours, a 40-hour battery life, and – of course – this saving, any shortcomings when it comes to ultimate sound quality can be more easily overlooked.
Read our Beats Solo 3 Wireless review

AirPods Max was $549now $429 at Amazon (save $120)Five starsRead our AirPods Max review
was $549 now $449 at Amazon US

AirPods Max was $549 now $429 at Amazon (save $120)
Yes, even with a fantastic deal Apple's wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones are still quite expensive. But they are wonderful to use, boast spatial audio support and are one of the very best-sounding wireless headphones we've heard. Worth it. This is the older model with Lightning instead of a USB-C port. Five stars
Read our
AirPods Max review

Best early Black Friday deals: soundbars

Samsung HW-Q600A was $600now $397 at Amazon (save $203)Read our Samsung HW-Q600A review

Samsung HW-Q600A was $600 now $397 at Amazon (save $203)
If you want seriously-cinematic sound at a reasonable price, this could be worth considering. The soundbar/sub combo includes up-firing channels and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound.
Read our Samsung HW-Q600A review

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9was $1400now $1218 at Walmart (save $182)What Hi-Fi Awards winnerRead our Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 review

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 was $1400 now $1218 at Walmart (save $182)
Sony followed its three-time Award winner with this, another Award winner. It's a surprisingly substantial upgrade, with excellent clarity and detail, and impressive 3D processing. Any discount is welcome. What Hi-Fi Awards winner
Read our
Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 review

Best early Black Friday deals: projectors

BenQ X3100iwas $2399now $2199 at best Buy (save $200)What Hi-Fi? Awards winnerRead our BenQ X3100i review

BenQ X3100i was $2399 now $2199 at best Buy (save $200)
This Award winner might look boxy, but don't let that fool you – it's sold as a gaming projector, but is actually very good with movies, too. Sometimes, it's hip to be square. What Hi-Fi? Awards winner
Read our
BenQ X3100i review

Leisure 470 Mini was $149now$100 at Best Buy (save $49)

Leisure 470 Mini was $149 now $100 at Best Buy (save $49)
Not one we've reviewed but this cheap projector has proved popular. It connects to your tablet or smartphone wirelessly and will produce a picture of up to 250 inches across. Its native resolution is 720p, but it supports 1080p, too.

Samsung LSP7T was $3500now$2497 at Samsung (save $1003)

Samsung LSP7T was $3500 now $2497 at Samsung (save $1003)
If the LSP9T below is a little big for your budget, Samsung's more reasonable UST offers a very decent compromise without having to miss out on the brilliant Tizen OS and the very handy aerial socket for terrestrial TV.

Best early Black Friday deals: Bluetooth speakers

JBL Xtreme 2 was $350now$199 at Amazon (save $151) "Five starsRead our JBL Xtreme 2 review

JBL Xtreme 2 was $350 now $199 at Amazon (save $151)
When we reviewed this larger portable speaker, we concluded: "One of the best portable speakers around, the Xtreme 2 offers sonic subtlety you wouldn’t expect from first impressions". And look at that discount! Five stars
Read our JBL Xtreme 2 review

Best early Black Friday deals: hi-fi speakers

Klipsch R-41PM was $499now $217 at Amazon (save $282)

Klipsch R-41PM was $499 now $217 at Amazon (save $282)
These are very well equipped active speakers by Klipsch that offer an integrated phono pre-amp, Bluetooth, digital optical, analog RCA and USB inputs.

Dali Oberon 5 was $1500 now $1300 at Amazon (save $200)Five starsRead our Dali Oberon 5 review

Dali Oberon 5 was $1500 now $1300 at Amazon (save $200)
The Oberons have the dynamic subtlety, rhythmic precision and sheer transparency to pull the listener into the musical experience. Superb floorstanders. Five stars
Read our
Dali Oberon 5 review

Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2 was $330 now $259 at Amazon (save $71)Five starsRead our Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2 review

Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2 was $330 now $259 at Amazon (save $71)
Under review, we praised Elac's already budget bookshelf bobby dazzlers for their 'detailed and organised sound', 'solid build' and 'unfussy nature', leaving us with no choice but to give them five sweet stars and a subsequent award – for four years running. At this price, they are a steal. Five stars
Read our
Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2 review

Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 was $399 now $319 at Amazon (save $80)Five starsRead our Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 review

Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 was $399 now $319 at Amazon (save $80)
The B6.2 speakers take what we loved about their Award-winning siblings and build on it with an even fuller-bodied and more mature presentation. If you want a faithful representation of what the rest of your system can do, the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers will deliver just that. Five stars
Read our
Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 review

Best early Black Friday deals: turntables

Sony PS-LX310BT was $250now $198 at Amazon (save $52)Five starsRead our Sony PS-LX310BT review

Sony PS-LX310BT was $250 now $198 at Amazon (save $52)
Here, Sony has generously given us a ‘plug and play’ fully automatic deck, including a phono stage, thrown in Bluetooth and priced it at the low end of the market. Five stars
Read our
Sony PS-LX310BT review

Denon DP-400 was $589now $499 at Crutchfield (save $90)

Denon DP-400 was $589 now $499 at Crutchfield (save $90)
We haven't tested this for ourselves, but Denon is a hugely respected audio brand so it could be worth trying this one out. The DP-400 has a built-in phono preamp and spins at 33 1/3, 45 and 78rpm – perfect for those older collections.

Fluance RT81 was $350now$249 at Amazon (save $101)Read our Fluance RT81 review

Fluance RT81 was $350 now $249 at Amazon (save $101)
The RT81 is an instantly likeable deck that won't let you down. It sounds good out of the box and can be easily upgraded at a later stage. A talented musical turntable.
Read our Fluance RT81 review

Best early Black Friday deals: systems

Sony HT-A9 was $2000 now $1498 at Amazon (save $502)Five starsRead our Sony HT-A9 review

Sony HT-A9 was $2000 now $1498 at Amazon (save $502)
A brilliant and compact Dolby Atmos speaker system that redefines accessible home cinema sound with an innovative, immersive and flexible solution. The Sony HT-A9 packs in a wealth of features as well as delivering great sound. Five stars
Read our
Sony HT-A9 review

Naim Mu-so 2 was 1599now$999 at Amazon (save $600)Five starsRead our Naim Mu-so 2 review

Naim Mu-so 2 was 1599 now $999 at Amazon (save $600)
This previous Award-winning speaker might cost a pretty penny, but it's got a robust feature list, a great all-in-one design, a rich, detailed sound, and a easy-to-use app. What's more is that this Black Friday you can pick up the Mu-so 2 for $300 off, so you'd better act fast! Five stars
Read our Naim Mu-so 2 review

Audiolab 6000A was $1200 now $749 at Amazon (save $451)Five starsRead our Audiolab 6000A review

Audiolab 6000A was $1200 now $749 at Amazon (save $451)
The Audiolab 6000A is an excellent amplifier that takes the fight to any formidable class leader. This is the most affordable amp Audiolab has produced in recent years, and also one of its most capable, confident and competitive efforts. This is its lowest price ever. Five stars
Read our
Audiolab 6000A review

Onkyo TX-8220 was $349now $199 at Amazon (save $151)Read our Onkyo TX-8250 review

Onkyo TX-8220 was $349 now $199 at Amazon (save $151)
This stereo receiver features two powerful amplifiers, digital audio inputs for TV and BD/DVD player connection, analog inputs for your audio devices and built-in Bluetooth connectivity. There is even a dedicated phono input for your vinyl record player.
Read our Onkyo TX-8250 review

Best early Black Friday deals: home theater

Sony BDP-S6700 4K Blu-ray player was $178 now $119 at BestBuyFive starsRead our Sony BDP-S6700 review

Sony BDP-S6700 4K Blu-ray player was $178 now $119 at BestBuy
The BDP-S6700 scored a coveted five-star rating in our tests. Budget by price but not by nature, the 4K upscaling performance belies its low price tag. Built-in Wi-Fi provides access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Spotify. Five stars
Read our
Sony BDP-S6700 review

Sony STR-DH590was $389now $248 at Walmart (save $141)Read our Sony STR-DH790 review

Sony STR-DH590 was $389 now $248 at Walmart (save $141)
This Sony receiver packs in 4K support, robust HDR support, tons of HDMI inputs (with ARC, too), support for 5.2 channels, and even FM radio, Bluetooth, and virtual surround support, too. Whatever you want to watch, this piece of kit can handle it.
Read our Sony STR-DH790 review

Denon AVR-X2800H was $1200 now $872 (save $328)Five starsRead our Denon AVR-X2800H review

Denon AVR-X2800H was $1200 now $872 (save $328)
With an open soundstage, clear vocals and quick timing, the AVR-X2800H has a great sound and the connectivity options to match. No wonder it's a past What Hi-Fi? Awards winner. Five stars
Read our
Denon AVR-X2800H review

Denon AVR-X2700H was $1099 now$644 at Amazon (save $455)Five starsRead our Denon AVR-X2700H review

Denon AVR-X2700H was $1099 now $644 at Amazon (save $455)
This five-star AVR comes packed with fantastic spatial audio control, an amazing sense of rhythm, and supports 8K as well as HDMI 2.1. With this massive Black Friday discount, this AVR is a phenomenal deal. Five stars
Read our Denon AVR-X2700H review

Sony BDP-S6700 was $178now$118 at Crutchfield (save $60)Five starsRead our Sony BDP-S6700 review

Sony BDP-S6700 was $178 now $118 at Crutchfield (save $60)
The BDP-S6700 scored five-stars in our review. Budget by price but not by nature, this player's 4K upscaling performance belies its low price tag. Built-in Wi-Fi provides access to all your favorite services. Five stars
Read our Sony BDP-S6700 review

Black Friday FAQ

When is Black Friday 2024?

The Black Friday 2024 date is Friday 29th November.
Cyber Monday 2024 is Monday 2nd December.

Black Friday always takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving, which means this year it will fall on Friday 29th November. Most retailers will want to make the most of what will typically be the busiest 24 hours of the event, meaning we can expect deals going live at midnight and running until the end of the day.

Of course, you can rest assured that Black Friday won't be simply one day of deals – those days are long gone. Instead, expect at least a week of build-up, maybe longer, from many retailers. And of course, the Black Friday sales continue through to Cyber Monday, which is always the Monday after Black Friday.

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday began in the US but in recent years has very much become a worldwide shopping phenomena. It's regarded (and backed up by stats) as the busiest shopping day of the year – both online and in-store – and officially kicks off the holiday season.

Why is it called Black Friday? The date was traditionally the start of the Christmas shopping season, when retailers hoped to move out of the "red" (loss) and in to the "black" (profit). Hence Black Friday.

What about Cyber Monday?

The term 'Cyber Monday', meanwhile, was coined by Scott Silverman and the National Retail Federation's Ellen Davis in a bid to encourage people to take their shopping online during the Black Friday event. That was back in 2005, when people needed such encouragement! It's always the Monday after Black Friday.

Where to get the best Black Friday deals?

The dominant names in retail, such as Best Buy, Walmart and Target will no doubt want to go big during Black Friday 2024, while the Sony WF-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM5 are likely to be some of the biggest sellers when it comes to headphones.

We won't forget hi-fi and home theater devices, so will be on the lookout for deals on B&W and KEF speakers, not to mention 4K and portable projectors, AVRs, turntables, CD players, hi-res music players and more. World Wide Stereo usually has lots of specialist deals.

We're confident the specialist audio and home theater retailers will deliver some great bargains – this year's What Hi-Fi? Award winners are a good place to start when it comes to finding a price reduction.

How long will Black Friday last?

Well, Black Friday is 24 hours. And Cyber Monday is 24 hours. But like other big sales events, you always have preliminary and aftermath offers.

For one, deals will run during the weekend sandwiched in the middle of the two days. And in the days and weeks building up to them, there will be plenty of 'early Black Friday' savings serenading the sites.

Are the Black Friday deals any good?

After the initial few years of excitement around Black Friday, we naturally moved to the apathy stage, as people began to question whether the offers were genuinely good deals. And it remains up for debate.

For example, it's not unusual to see discounted products rise in price in the summer months ahead of a "price cut" come Black Friday. This means you're just getting the original discounted price from earlier in the year. That said, there are always genuine deals to be had – it's just finding them among the onslaught of offers. The phrase 'needle in a haystack' comes to mind.

That's where we come in. We'll handpick the best TV, audio and AV deals across retailers to find the ones that are really worth your hard-earned dollars.

We'd suggest having a rough idea of what you want in mind – whether that be wireless noise-cancelling headphones under $100, a discounted 55 inch 4K OLED TV or a portable, outdoor-friendly Bluetooth speaker – but restricting yourself only to specific models will reduce your chance of being lucky on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Pick the features you fancy, then see what ticks your boxes and has the best Black Friday sale price.

MORE:

Black Friday vs Cyber Monday: what's the difference?

Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.

With contributions from
  • JamesCM1978
    Shame the Philips 65" has been out of stock at Currys (and everywhere else) for at least two weeks...
    Reply
  • JamesCM1978
    JamesCM1978 said:
    Shame the Philips 65" has been out of stock at Currys (and everywhere else) for at least two weeks...

    Better yet, from Currys this morning via email:

    "...the item you asked us to email you about, 65OLED806/12 65" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TV with Google Assistant, won’t be coming back in stock "

    I didn't really want to give those muppets my money anyway, but does anyone know when or where I can get one of these? And can WHF update its 'deal' info?
    Reply
  • Markmaguire
    Headphomes?
    Reply
  • Friesiansam
    Clickbait articles about Black Friday, starting in August?

    This is ridiculous…
    Reply
  • Wales1
    Sony XR-55A80L 2023 best deal.
    Reply