Best Black Friday deals of 2018
The countdown to Black Friday, arguably the biggest shopping day of the year, has officially begun. A sales frenzy that has seen queues stretch into shopping centre car parks and fights break out over televisions in previous years, Black Friday is the perfect opportunity to get your hands on some of the best deals as retailers promise to slash prices on a wide range of products.
Last year, 91 per cent of stores took part in the UK and we predict the same for 2018 with the very best discounts to be found online. So, whether you’re after a new television, a laptop or even a new phone, here’s everything you need to know about Black Friday, including how to get the best deals.
Which stores will be taking part?
Although we can’t predict exactly what stores will be taking part, we can make an educated guess based on last year’s offering and those that have already set up dedicated Black Friday pages.
Here's our roundup of some of the retailers to watch out for and quick links to their Black Friday landing pages:
Amazon – The online giant's 10 day Black Friday sale begins at midnight from 16 November and runs until 25 November. The online retailer makes a big deal of Black Friday, promising to launch “Lightening Deals” of discounted products available for short periods of time. This year, we expect that Amazon’s sale will include major discounts on everything from electronics to this year’s must-have toys, games, fashion, jewellery and beauty products. You can find the latest Amazon deals here.
AO – This online electrical retailer have started Black Friday early, with daily deals already available. AO are promising their biggest Black Friday yet with deals across a wide range of electricals across the weekend as well as on the big day. You can even sign up for WhatsApp alerts on offers. You can find the latest AO deals here.
Argos – To allow Black Friday shoppers to find deals and shower at the same time, Argos are giving away 100 free shower curtains with built-in pockets for tablets and mobile phones. The finer details of Argos' discounts are still under wraps but expect big savings on everything from toys to homeware and electricals. Last year they sold 15,394 TVs. You can find the latest Argos deals here.
Asos – Fashion fans will be pleased to hear that online retailer Asos takes part in Black Friday every year, their sale will start on 23 November. In 2017, it offered customers 20 per cent on everything on the site. You can find the latest Asos deals here.
Boots – If you're looking out for discounts on perfume, gifting, skincare and electrical beauty then Boots should be your go-to destination. They'll be kicking off their sale both online and in store on Friday 23 November. You can find the latest Boots deals here.
BT – If you're looking for a new broadband package, you should seriously consider BT's Black Friday deals. They have already launched their offers, with up to £440 to save on broadband, TV, sport and mobile. To find their deals, visit here.
Currys PC World – Last year Currys PC World offers savings on thousands of products and is a must-have destination for anyone looking for discounted tech and electronics like laptops and TVs. They have already started slashing their prices. You can find the latest Currys PC World deals here.
Debenhams – Kicking off their sale from Tuesday 20 November, this year the department store is promising fantastic savings with its best online offers including amazing deals and discounts from your favourite brands. You can find the best Debenhams deals here.
Game – Starting from 6pm on the 22 November, we’re expecting big discounts on the latest games and console bundles from this retailer for Black Friday 2018. They also have an Early Black Friday Sale for those who cannot wait. You can find the latest Game deals here.
GTech – British company GTech will have offers on all your floor cleaning needs, from vacuum cleaners to power sweepers. They haven't announced their Black Friday deals yet, but you can sign up to receive exclusive offers to your inbox here.
Halfords – Starting with a bang, the hardware store started their big Black Friday sale early, from the 16th of November. You can also get your hands on £1000 worth of gift vouchers to spend in store with their Black Friday competition. You can find the latest Halfords deals here.
John Lewis – With offers available in-store and online, John Lewis is expected to price match rivals on popular tech, home and fashion lines thanks to its ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ tag line. Brands that the retailer are currently matching are 30% off Levi's, Radley, Ralph Lauren, 25% off Karen Millen, 20% off Barbour and much more. They are also running their own beauty and fashion deals, including 17% off selected fragrances. You can find the best John Lewis deals here.
M&S – Despite not taking part in Black Friday last year, M&S still offered discounts for as much as 60% on selected lines during the event. We're hopeful of similar deals this year. You can find the latest M&S deals here.
Now TV – The popular subscription-free TV service has already launched their Black Friday deals, with 12 month's worth of Sky Cinema for £55, which is worth over £115. Find the rest of their deals here.
Sky – With a free 43" UHD LG TV up for grabs when purchasing their Black Friday Bundle, Sky aren't waiting around for next Friday to announce their deals. You can find the latest Sky deals here.
Shark – You can save up to £200 on Shark's vacuum cleaners in their Black Friday sale, their offers are already live but are selling out fast. You can find Shark's latest deals here.
Superdrug – The health and beauty retailer is set to offer huge deals both in store and online for Black Friday this year, members get sent exclusive offers before the big day, too. You can find the latest Superdrug deals here.
Topshop – Black Friday 2018 is coming to Topshop and the retailer even has a sign up page so you can be the first to know what discounts and deals will be coming your way. You can find the latest Topshop deals here.
Very – With discounts already available on a range of products covering fashion, home, tech and gifts, Very should be on your list this Black Friday, they are running deals all the way up to Tuesday 27 November. You can find the latest Very deals here.
Vodafone – From smartphones to tablets, Vodafone didn't disappoint last year with their Black Friday deals, with this year set to be even bigger. They have already launched their broadband deals, its Superfast 1 deal comes with an average speed of 35Mbps for just £21 a month for new customers. You can find the rest of their deals here.
Smart speaker deals
Alexa has become a household name this year, with Amazon's smart speaker range becoming hugely popular along with Google Assistant and Apple Home Pod's. Simply put, they are a speaker that you can interact with just like you would with your smartphone. They connect via the internet to virtual assistants, (the likes of Siri and Alexa) and help you control all your other smart technology in your home, from door locks to heating. They can also play music, control your TV, give you daily news updates and more.
Amazon are offering their second gen Echo speaker for £54.99, down from £89.99, while Apple's Home Pod is down to £299 from £319 at Currys. For more smart speaker deals, visit our best Amazon deals and best Apple deals for Black Friday.
Smartphone deals
What better time to treat yourself to the latest phone that you've had your eye on? Carphone Warehouse have kicked off their Black Friday with their Black Tag sale, offering £200 off the Samsung Galaxy S8 and £120 off the Huawei P20 Pro. You can see all of their deals here.
Sky are selling the iPhone SE and iPad for just £10 a month with 2GB of data and the iPhone XS for £43 a month with 2GB of data, you can find their Black Friday deals here. For more iPhone deals, visit our best Black Friday Apple deals here.
Tablet deals
Still a Christmas present staple, tablets were popularised with the launch of Apple's iPad in 2010 and have expanded ever since. There's far more on the market nowadays than Apple's offering, with Samsung, Amazon, and Microsoft being big contenders.
Very are selling the Samsung 10" Galaxy Tab for £159 down from £229, AO are offering a £700 saving on the Microsoft Surface Pro, and Amazon are selling the iPad Mini 4 for £335, down from £469. For more tablet deals, visit our Black Friday Apple deals and Amazon deals.
Kitchen appliance deals
Who doesn't love saving money on pricey kitchen appliances? Curry's are currently offering 10% off the marked price on all Kenwood Freezers with the code KEN10, you can find the deals here. AO are offering a £300 saving on the De'Longhi Autentica Bean to Cup Coffee Machine at £399 down from £699. Curry's have slashed £400 off the Rangemaster Kitchener 90 Dual Fuel Range Cooker with the code RANGE10 at checkout, down from £1,399.99 to £999. You can find more kitchen appliance deals here.
Home appliance deals
Spruce up your home with some top savings. Shark are selling their DuoClean Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner for £339.99 down from £449.99. Phillips are offering up to 67% off their electric toothbrushes in their pre-Black Friday sale, but only until the 20 November. Curry's are offering a £275.99 saving on the Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer at £274 down from £549.
Mattress deals
Choosing a new mattress is a huge investment, especially when you're supposed to spend eight hours of your day sleeping on it. Grab the best deal this Black Friday. Leesa are offering £140 off their Leesa Mattress plus free delivery with the code 'BLACKFRIDAY'. Dreams are offering £430 off the Kendall Pocket Sprung mattress, down from £719 to £289. Tweak are offering £130 off its range with the code 'SLEEPTIGHT with a free sleep tracker thrown in too, worth £69.99. For more mattress deals, visit here.
When does Black Friday start?
Black Friday has nothing to do with the UK’s traditional winter sales and instead originates from America. In the US, it traditionally follows Thanksgiving and is widely regarded as the beginning of he Christmas shopping season.
This year, the event falls on Friday 23 November. However, many stores will be offering deals and discounts in the weeks leading up to the big day.
How can you get the best deals?
When it comes to making the most of Black Friday, preparation is key and, with 98 per cent of the UK’s shoppers planning to buy online, that’s where you can expect to find the very best deals.
But, whether you’re shopping in-store or bargain hunting from the comfort of your sofa, it’s important to shop around and research items you want to buy well in advance rather than splashing out on a whim.
We suggest sticking to a shopping list of items that you know you actually want, setting yourself a budget and watching out for additional discount codes online.
It’s also a good idea to check retailer’s returns policies before buying and to check terms and conditions for sites you’ve not used before.
For your one-stop shop of all the very best deals, make sure to keep checking our Black Friday pages where we will be constantly updating the best deals.
How long will the discounts last?
Black Friday 2018 looks set to be one of the longest-running yet. Last year, it went from just one weekend to an entire week, so you can expect that trend to continue this time round.
What were the best deals last year?
Last year, there was some impressive deals on the then-new Nintendo Switch and a number of discounts on mobile phones including the iPhone 7 and X, the Google Pixel 2 and Samsung Galaxy S8.
Amazon’s own product range – including Echo devices, Fire tablets and Kindles –had massive discounts too, as did PS4 and Xbox One bundles, OLED TVs and 2-in-1 laptops.
Can I get cashback on Black Friday deals?
This all depends on your debit or credit card provider. During the Black Friday period, a number of companies offer cashback on purchases while websites such as Quidco also offer cashback for new customers of big brands.
What is Cyber Monday?
A continuation of Black Friday, Cyber Monday is an online-only sale – hence the name.
It always takes place on the Monday following Black Friday which this year falls on 26 November.
What’s the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
There isn’t much of a difference between the two at all. Originally, Cyber Monday was completely unconnected to Black Friday as it focused on all of its deals being online.
However, with the growing popularity of Black Friday, both in store and online, the lines have become more and more blurred.
Am I protected on Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
As well as genuine deals, Black Friday and Cyber Monday can bring out fraudsters so it’s important to be vigilant.
Make sure you check any emails you receive properly before clicking links to make sure they’re legitimate.
If you’re shopping from a computer, it’s also a good idea to ensure your anti-malware software is up to date.
