Black Friday 2024 is nearly here: Everything you need to know about holiday shopping

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Tharon Green/ZDNET

Black Friday is officially about two weeks away, but early Black Friday sales and holiday offers are already here, and there's even more savings on the way.

Also: The best Black Friday deals 2024: Early sales live now

That's right folks, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the weekend of savings in between is nearly here, and there's plenty of seasonal savings at some of the biggest retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. We've been covering the best deals across the biggest tech categories all year, from tablets, laptops, and phones, to smart home tech, headphones, and mobile accessories, and we'll be keeping up our coverage every week through the end of the holiday shopping season.

Also: The best Black Friday Amazon deals 2024: Early sales live now

Here's everything you need to know before shopping early Black Friday deals and other seasonal savings offers.

When is Black Friday?

This year in the US, Black Friday is on Nov. 29, 2024, one day after Thanksgiving, which falls on Thursday, Nov. 28.

When is Cyber Monday?

This year in the US, Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 2, 2024, just a few days after Thanksgiving and Black Friday 2024.

What is Cyber Week?

A more recent term in the last decade, "Cyber Week" refers to the days of savings in late November and/or early December that occur yearly just after Thanksgiving. During this period, many online and in-store retailers offer significant savings and discounts across nearly every product category. Cyber Week 2024 begins on Black Friday (one day after Thanksgiving in the US), and extends through the end of Cyber Monday of the following week. For 2024, Cyber Week will kick off on Nov. 28 and run through Dec. 2, though we're already anticipating lots of sales that start even earlier and linger beyond Cyber Monday's close.

What is the Cyber 5?

The "Cyber 5" is essentially just another popular name for Cyber Week. These are the five days of seasonal savings that kick off with Black Friday on Nov. 29 this year and end with Cyber Monday on Dec. 2. This Friday-to-Monday stretch each year falls right after Thanksgiving and serves as the historic kickoff for holiday shopping.

When will Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals be live?

This year, Black Friday will be on Nov. 29, 2024. That means Cyber Monday will fall on Dec. 2, 2024, and the days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday are dubbed "Cyber Week." That's when you can expect to see some major holiday sales and discounts, and as always, ZDNET will deliver extensive coverage of the top deals across the shopping extravaganza at multiple retailers.

Expect to see the largest amount of deals live likely during this window, from Nov. 29-Dec. 2, but keep in mind that retailers roll out deals early and early every season, so there's still going to be numerous instances for savings throughout the month of November ahead of Black Friday and through December ahead of the winter holidays.

How long will these holiday deals be available?

Black Friday savings are already slated to begin earlier in the month of November, and wind down by Cyber Monday on Dec. 2. However, keep in mind that Cyber Week isn't the only time to save and even if some deals end, it's likely that others will linger for a few days post Black Friday weekend. Plus, we will certainly see more savings events and sales in December, too.

What is the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Semantics, really. Black Friday is a decades-old shopping extravaganza traditionally associated with in-store savings and discounts following the Thanksgiving holiday in the US. Cyber Monday, like Cyber Week, is a much more modern term that was born as a result of the online shopping boom thanks to the likes of Amazon and other retailers shifting to online modes of sale.

Cyber Monday more closely reflects seasonal savings offered online only, especially on tech products like laptops, tablets, phones, and more. But the bottom line? In 2024, both terms are pretty synonymous with early holiday savings, and Black Friday has certainly grown to include a much larger online presence, too.

What are the best products to shop during Black Friday?

Black Friday is the traditional opening of the holiday shopping season, and is perhaps one of the busiest times of year for both in-person and online retailers. There will be plenty of products to shop during Black Friday, and you'll be able to find savings in basically every item category. You'll be able to snag savings on tech products like streaming services, gift cards, video games and consoles, TVs, laptops, tablets, headphones and speakers, and robot vacuums. Plus savings on broader categories like luggage, clothing, beauty, kitchen and household, toys, and more. There will even be opportunities to save on products that don't often see sales, like on flagship Apple devices.

How do I make the most of Black Friday?

The best way to maximize Black Friday and other holiday sales is to shop with a clear direction of what you want (and need). Of course, it's helpful to have a plan in mind before you add to cart, too. Here's a few helpful tips I recommend as a commerce and advice editor.

Make a list of "want" items and "need items" you're interested in shopping. Need items can include products you plan to gift this season, things you need to replace, or items you've been waiting to buy on sale. Want items are those products that maybe aren't your main target, but you'd perhaps consider purchasing if the deal was right. Research products you are looking to buy before Black Friday. Don't wait to scour the reviews and specs on products you're interested in -- it amps up the shopping anxiety and can result in possibly losing out on a deal thanks to quickly-selling stock. Plan what you want to buy ahead of time, and read up on key information so you can ensure you're making an informed purchase. Then all you have to do is checkout when the sales go live. Don't rely on price matching. Don't plan on purchasing items at other retailers and matching prices during Black Friday. While some retailers may allow you to do so, more so than not, most retailers won't honor Black Friday sales rates. So if you see a good deal somewhere, it may be worth snagging it while you can. Plus, if you take our advice to research ahead of time, you won't need to ponder whether or not you want to buy a product, you'll have already done a bulk of your decision making. Set a budget. Black Friday and holiday sales are a great time to catch deals, but they can also be an easy time to buy unnecessary items just for the sake of "savings." Don't waste your money on things you don't need or want just because of a discount. I promise you, most of the products you'll see on sale will be on sale at other times during the year, and there's no reason to spend without a plan if you don't have to. Set a spending budget for yourself to help curtail extra shopping and avoid splurge shopping.

Do stores still have Black Friday sales in person?

While a bulk of holiday shopping has certainly shifted online, Black Friday sales are still available in many stores, including popular options like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and more. However, there's certainly still some sale offers that will only be available online (and vice-versa), and it's a good idea to keep in mind that if you're shopping for popular tech products, you might have better opportunities to score the models, colors, or sizes of products online if you shop early, or in-store if products are selling out fast online. Whether or not you shop in person is really a personal preference, but as a tech editor with experience covering Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I find it easier to shop online as soon as possible on Black Friday, presuming you've already researched and planned your purchases.

When is the next Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon's October Prime Big Deal Days event ended on Oct. 9, 2024. If Amazon sticks to its traditional sale calendar, the next Prime Day won't return until sometime in July, likely after Independence Day. However, this isn't the only time Amazon offers deals and discounts. The retailer has expanded its sale event calendar in the last year, offering the Big Spring Sale in March of 2023, a mini-Prime Day of the sorts that ZDNET extensively covered and saw some great discounts during.

We're expecting the Big Spring Sale to make a return, likely in March again. Plus, Amazon also offers savings during smaller holidays like Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day, Labor Day, and more. Of course, Amazon will certainly be offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday savings as well.

When is the best time of the year to save the most?

Generally, some of the best deals of the year fall during the holiday shopping period, before the December holidays. Most notoriously, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the rest of Cyber Week are great times to grab savings on top tech, especially last year's (or prior) device models. This is because tons of new tech is released from the spring into late summer, making the fall and winter ideal times to slash prices. However, the holiday season isn't the only time to save. Thanks to the growth of online shopping, retailers can leverage savings whenever they want, and many turn to members-only discount events like Prime Day to do so.

Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days, and other exclusive events like those from Walmart event can be great opportunities to score exclusive products or offers, and for Amazon, that often includes flagship tech products like Echo devices, Fire tablets, and more -- many of which aren't sold at other major retailers. So while the holiday season likely remains your best chance at scoring savings on the most amount of products, keep in mind that you can genuinely save whenever, as long as you know how to keep a watchful eye on products, compare prices, use helpful shopping tools and trusted brands that do the grunt work for you (that's us).

How do I pick the best deals for Black Friday 2024?

Throughout the holiday shopping season, we'll be extensively updating ZDNET.com live with all the best deals on products we've tested and would recommend. We'll also curate, share, and update hand-picked lists of top deals in several product categories, including laptops, security cameras, tablets, and more.

What retailers will have Black Friday sales?

Nearly every major retailer will undoubtedly offer competing sales, deals, and discounts during Black Friday and through the holiday season. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Costco, and other retailers (like Kohls and Macy's) will try to compete with each other's offerings, often price-cutting the same items during the same periods, extending their own sales, or offering member-exclusive sales or access. But don't worry -- we'll cover all the best deals on top tech through the season, including deals surfacing elsewhere beyond the usual culprits (Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy).

Walmart Black Friday Deals 2024

Walmart will host a series of staggered Black Friday Deals events in November, starting with its first event, which kicked off on Nov. 11. Early Black Friday sales will includes early access for paid Walmart+ members, new surprise deal drops, and a beta test of its new generative AI shopping assistant this year. Walmart's in-store hours are from 6 a.m.- 11 p.m., with no indications of expanded hours for the holiday shopping season. Walmart will additionally be closed on Thanksgiving. Here's all the details on Walmart's upcoming Black Friday sale events:

Event 1: Deals begin online Monday, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. ET for Walmart+ members, at 5 p.m. ET for all customers and in stores Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 a.m. local time.
Event 2: Deals begin online Monday, Nov. 25 at 12 p.m. ET for Walmart+ members, at 5 p.m. ET for all customers and in stores Friday, Nov. 29 at 6 a.m. local time. Live soonCyber Monday: Deals begin Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. ET for Walmart+ members and 8 p.m. ET for all customers on Walmart.com and the Walmart app. (Walmart+ members will receive early access three hours early).

Annual Walmart+ subscriptions are on sale for $49 (or 50% off) through Dec. 2 to snag new subscribers ahead of the sale events, and most items purchased at Walmart now through Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 31, 2025 under Walmart's extended holiday return policy.

Best Buy Black Friday Sale 2024

Best Buy is also offering staggered savings throughout November before capitalizing on the popular Cyber Week sale. Its early Black Friday savings events will kick off on Nov. 8 (that's this week), when the retailer plans to unveil a fresh set of deals. Best Buy will also offer new doorbuster deals each Friday leading up to the retailer's official Black Friday event, which begins Nov. 21. The Best Buy Cyber Monday sale will begin on Dec. 1.

Also: The top Best Buy early Black Friday deals

Best Buy's regular store hours are from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., though extended hours may be available during the holiday season. It's best to check with your local retailer. The retailers typical return policy is 15 days, but it's likely Best Buy will honor extended holiday return policies as they did in the past. Last year, customers could return holiday purchases through Jan.13.

Amazon Black Friday 2024

After confirming ahead of Halloween that it will be participating in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Amazon finally announced sale dates on Nov. 13. Amazon has launched its Holiday Deals page, and has began offering select products at a discount, well ahead of Black Friday. Amazon customers can enjoy official Black Friday deals from Nov. 21 at 12:01 a.m. PST through Nov. 29 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The retailer is promising tons of offers across 35 product categories, and significant savings on their flagship devices like the latest Kindles, Fire tablets, Echo devices, Fire TVs, and more. Plus, some savings may even be live as early as Nov. 19, and tons are available right now.

Since Black Friday 2024 does fall late on the calendar this year, we fully expected that retailers like Amazon would begin offering staggered savings much earlier than Nov. 29, and they did. We'll keep you posted with any updates on Amazon's Black Friday sales, including the best vetted deals and savings.

Also: The best Black Friday Amazon deals 2024: Early sales live now

Target Black Friday 2024

Target, like Amazon, has already rolled out confirmation of Black Friday sales by launching early deals across their stores and website. Of course, it's also a good assumption that they'll be offering staggering competing sales throughout the month, too. Some Redditors predicted the retailer to begin savings as early as Nov. 3, and they may have been on to something. You can shop early Black Friday savings now, including Deal of the Day offers at Target.com. Most Target stores across the nation are open from 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. local time.

Do brands offer price matching during Black Friday?

Yes and no. Some major retailers don't offer price matching at all (like Costco and Walmart) and other major retailers, like Best Buy, do not offer price matching during member-exclusive events, like Prime Day. The good news is that at most places, you won't need to worry about grabbing the best price -- most of the retailers are already doing that for you. Black Friday and early holiday sale periods are the most competitive times of the year and are great opportunities for major retailers to offer the very same deals on the same products to compete for your purchase. If you find something on sale at one retailer, you're likely going to find the same offer at another store, with exceptions only for retailer-exclusive items. However, some retailers, like Lowe's, will offer price matches, but your best bet is to read each retailer's policy before making a decision to rely on price matching elsewhere.

Walmart confirmed to Mashable that they will not match pricing if an item purchased at Walmart during a Black Friday Deals event gets cheaper later on. Best Buy and Target both will do so during their holiday sales.

Will there be any early Black Friday deals on flagship Apple devices?

Black Friday is the kick-off to the holiday shopping season for many, so it is likely we'll see Apple products at a price cut. Keep in mind that most Apple products don't see major discounts throughout the year, and 15-20% is typically the most savings you'll see -- especially on newer products. Apple released the new iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10, and more this fall, so it is possible some of those products may see promotional offers or discounts.

Last year, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) saw its first price cut during Amazon's October Prime Day, and more Apple products saw drops closer to Black Friday.

Also: The best Black Friday Apple deals 2024: Early sales available now

Why should you trust ZDNET?

As a member of the ZDNET staff, I only write about deals myself or a team member would want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. I look for deals that are at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.

I also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals I recommend. These recommendations may also be based on my own testing (or testing by another ZDNET expert) -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we're brining the best of tech to you.

ZDNET's full early Black Friday coverage

ZDNET is covering early Black Friday and holiday deals from start to finish, including pre-coverage of early deals, everything you need to know to shop savvy, and the best deals across our core, expert-tested categories, from smart home tech to laptops to tablets and beyond. We'll cover the key tech categories you want to shop, from Apple products, Amazon devices, and more.

Plus, ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. We'll continue updating these lists throughout the entire holiday season.