How to Tell If a Black Friday Sale Is Just Hype

Black Friday sales officially kick off on Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber ​​Monday, December 1. Before they end, Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price tracking tools.

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• Sales data is current at the time of publication, but prices and stock levels are subject to change.

Black Friday is just around the corner . From November 28th to December 1st, you’ll find deals on products from companies large and small, all vying for your clicks and the contents of your bank account. Many of these offers will claim to be great deals, implying that skipping the Black Friday deal means you’ll miss out on huge savings. But not all Black Friday deals are actually that great—just because an item is discounted on Black Friday doesn’t mean it wasn’t cheaper before and won’t be cheaper later. Luckily, there are a few strategies you can use to quickly figure out whether that “amazing deal” really is.

How to distinguish a good price from a bad one on Black Friday

One of the best ways to check if a Black Friday deal is truly a good deal is to use a price tracker . These websites and tools track prices on any item across various stores and retailers to offer you the best possible price and also show whether the current “deal” is truly that much lower than the original price or other offers.

A common trick for creating the appearance of discounts is to inflate the price of a product . So, when a company lowers the price, for example on Black Friday, it can claim a significant discount even if the overall price of the product isn’t much lower than the original (if at all). If something originally cost $60, a company might raise the price to $75, then lower it back to $60, claiming a 20% discount. This is true, but dishonest, so be careful.

You can use a browser extension like CamelCamelCamel to track product price history on Amazon. Other trackers, like Capital One Shopping , help you find prices and price history across multiple stores. Their browser extensions are especially helpful: if another store sells the same item you’re looking for on Amazon at a lower price, you’ll see a pop-up with a direct link to that store’s product page.

However, understanding whether a deal is a good deal involves more than just finding the best price. You might notice that an item isn’t cheaper elsewhere online, but you need to consider more than just the overall price.

Make sure you don’t buy outdated equipment out of ignorance.

I’m a firm believer in old technology: I think we should keep our devices longer than most of us do. However, I don’t think companies should sell you old technology as new, especially when new technology is just around the corner.

In particular, Amazon is sometimes really helpful in this regard: if you’re looking for an outdated version of a product, Amazon will notify you and provide a link to the current version. However, this only applies if Amazon offers a new version of the device or if it has a direct successor. These days, the lines are blurred: last year’s device isn’t necessarily obsolete just because a new version has been released, so Amazon isn’t always trying to sell you a newer product.

And that might be okay! Latest-generation laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and phones are often excellent choices: technology advances so quickly that it can be economical and practical to buy older tech that still works well. Just look at the AirPods Pro 2 : they’re not Apple’s newest earbuds, but they’re still excellent and currently $80 less than the AirPods Pro 3 on sale. However, a store telling you to buy something that won’t be able to update to the latest software later this year is wrong. If you’re looking to buy tech on Black Friday, research is your friend. It’s perfectly fine to buy something that came out last year or the year before; what’s more important is to ensure the product will still work as it should in 2025 and will last as long as you reasonably expect.

If the reason a device sells so well is because it’s outdated, then it’s a bad deal.

Not everything that is “cheap” is good

Likewise, be wary of cheap technology that’s simply not very good. It may be affordable, but if it doesn’t perform well, it’s not worth the money.

This problem often arises when dealing with a multitude of brands you’ve never heard of that sell products at prices comparable to other companies. Sure, you can save money and choose these brands, but what about the long-term investment? If a return policy is in place, you’re doomed to fail without a customer support channel, which many of these small companies lack.

On the other hand, you may have heard of this brand, but the product itself isn’t very good. It might seem like a great deal to buy a huge 65-inch 4K TV for under $300, but if the picture quality is truly poor, is it worth it? (No.)

Read reviews

One way to make sure a TV is worth its steep discount and whether those cheap headphones will hold up to the listening test is to read reviews of the products you’re considering buying. I’m not just talking about Amazon reviews: Amazon ratings can be helpful, but they can also be biased. Sometimes reviews don’t even reflect the product’s claims, which undermines their objectivity. And in the age of artificial intelligence, you never know for sure who’s writing the review.

When it comes to technology, the best approach is to listen to experts with tech experience who put these products through their paces before passing judgment. A resource like our sister site PCMag can help you quickly figure out whether a TV is truly worth the hype. They even demonstrate their work so you can understand how they reached their conclusions.

Ultimately, the key is to take your time and do your research—it’s the complete opposite of the “BUY NOW” strategy on Black Friday. Resist the urge to buy impulsively and ensure your money is spent on the item that best meets your needs.

Which stores have the biggest discounts on Black Friday?

With both large retailers and small businesses competing for Black Friday shoppers, you can expect sales at virtually every store until Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” discounts depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to be offered by large retailers that can afford lower prices, such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our blog .

Are Black Friday deals worth it?

In short, yes, Black Friday still offers deals you rarely see the rest of the year. If you’re shopping or looking for gifts, now is the time to look for deals on essentials, especially tech , home goods , and fitness equipment . Of course, if you’re looking to save money, the best way to save is to buy nothing.

Are Cyber ​​Monday deals better than Black Friday?

Black Friday used to favor large retailers and higher-end appliances, while Cyber ​​Monday favored cheaper appliances and gave small businesses a chance to compete online. However, today, this distinction has become virtually meaningless. Every major retailer runs sales on both days, so it’s best to know what you need, use price trackers, or consult guides like our blog , which uses price trackers, and not worry about finding the perfect time.

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