‘I'm a shopping editor and this is what I'd buy in the Amazon Black Friday sale’
Start your engines because the Amazon Prime Big Deals Day sale is here. It's the third Amazon Prime Day sale of the year and it's running from now until midnight on 9 October.
As head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, it's my job to scour all the best deals on our editors' and experts' favourite products and bring you the latest savings throughout the day.
And with Christmas only 78 sleeps away, I've been making a list of all the great gift ideas I'm spotting as I go, from Medik8 skincare, Neom wellbeing pods and cosy weighted blankets to the latest tech (AirPods Pro 2nd gen headphones for under £180 anyone?).
These are my top buys at a glance, but first a little housekeeping...
When does the Amazon Prime Day sale end?
The October sale is running from now until midnight on Wednesday 9 October, so don't leave it too late to shop!
Do you have to be an Amazon Prime member to shop?
Yes, if you want to take advantage of any savings marked as Prime Day deals, then you do have to be a member. But, don't worry, you can simply sign up to a 30-day free trial to shop. Just remember to cancel it before the end of the trial period if you don't want to be charged the £8.99 membership fee.
Best Amazon Prime Christmas gifts
While Black Friday technically runs from 29 November (the Friday after Thanksgiving in the US) to Cyber Monday on 2 December, the sales event is now so big, many retailers have started offering discounts throughout the whole month of November.
Amazon reduces its prices significantly for Black Friday every year. The online marketplace has already announced that its sale will officially take place from 21 November to 2 December, with savings on tech, beauty tools, toys, kitchen appliances and cleaning tools promised. However, it has also started releasing early deals so you can already grab some bargains on popular brands such as Ninja, Bose, Tefal, and LG.
As head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, it's my job to scour all the latest savings on our editors' and testers' favourite products and bring you the very best buys, hour by hour, throughout the month. And with Christmas just around the corner, I'm making a list of all the great gift ideas I'm spotting as I go.
These are the ones I've already found below, but keep an eye on this page as I'll be updating it as I add to my wish list.
Best Christmas gifts to shop on Amazon
AirPods Pro 2nd gen
I bought these AirPods last year and I can't live without them now. I love the snap of the little rechargeable case when you shut it, I love the sound quality and I love how easy they are to use.
I once put them through a full wash cycle and they still worked (aside for a little initial squeaking!). I wouldn't recommend doing that, but, still, these are robust little earbuds. I bought a pair for my mum for her birthday and she's equally obsessed (she uses them to listen to audiobooks). So, I recommend snapping them up for any family member with an iPhone or iPad this Christmas. Don't just take my word for it though; our tech editor's also a fan.
SD-YR2540HXC Automatic Breadmaker
A breadmaker is a great gift for anyone who loves to bake, filling their home with the scent of fresh loaves, or getting creative with pizza dough and jam settings.
This Panasonic model scored 89/100 with our testers in the lab and was rated 'best for range of programmes‘ so there are plenty of settings for them to experiment with. You can even make cakes in it. I bought my parents a breadmaker one Christmas and it was a 10/10 hit.
Signature Enamelled Cast Iron Round Casserole Dish (20cm)
Complete transparency here, I don't really cook. But what I lack in culinary skills, I make up for in my obsession with gorgeous cookware. This classic red casserole dish would look stunning on any hob, and would make the perfect gift for home lovers and foodies this Christmas. The GHI has also tested Le Creuset's cast iron dish against its claims and we can confirm it's a classy buy.
Terra Sparkling Water Maker Machine
This one goes out to all the millennials who either had a Mr Frosty or a SodaStream at their top of their Christmas list every year. It may look a little fancier these days, with its slick, compact design, but it's still all about those bubbles.
Scoring 86/100 in GHI testing, our experts found it intuitive to use and super quiet – so they won't wake up the whole house on Christmas morning when they're making their sparkling water. Buy for anyone who loves a little walk down memory lane.
Air Fryer & Dehydrator AF100UK
This is the cheapest we've seen this neat air fryer from Ninja, arguably the market leaders when it comes to these mini super ovens. It's perfect for anyone who lives on their own or for couples as it's got a smaller capacity than some (3.8L), which also makes it compact and lightweight.
It was a solid performer in our test kitchen with a score of 91/100, and it comes with lots of recipes and guidance so it's a good pick for beginners.
Wellbeing Pod
I received one of these myself as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and it feels like a real treat. You can buy it as part of a starter pack with a range of oils targeted at different needs, whether you want something to energise you or help you wind down before bed.
It looks premium, is easy to use and fills your room with scent. I like that it lights up too, helping to add a little extra cosiness to your space. It was a joint runner-up in our GHI tests, with one panellist telling us it made them feel like they were in a high-end spa. Surely, no one can be disappointed with that.
Weighted Blanket 5kg
This recommendation comes courtesy of GH's SEO manager. “Like many insomniacs, I’ve tried every sleep solution on the market, from masks to supplements, but the thing that has had the biggest impact is my Kudd.ly weighted blanket,” she says
“I asked for one last Christmas (after I heard our testers singing its praises), and it has immensely improved my bedtime routine. Made of fleece material, it’s incredibly soft, and the weight makes it feel like being enveloped in a giant hug! Plus, it’s machine washable, making it a perfect low-maintenance gift.”
Multi-Active Day Cream SPF15 50ml
This is a lovely stocking filler for someone who's serious about their skincare. Named 'Best hydrating day cream' in our tests, our panellists loved the luxurious formula, which is packed with niacinamide and sea holly extract to tackle signs of fine lines and fatigue (just what we need by the time we get to December!). We love the shelfie-ready packaging, too.
Vertuo Pop Automatic Pod Coffee Machine
Super cute and less than £60 in the sale, this is a lovely gift for coffee lovers or new home owners. It took just 30 seconds to pre-heat in our tests and it made wonderfully consistent espressos. It will need topping up with water regularly as it's a compact machine and you have to buy a milk frother separately, but this is a lovely little machine.
SmoothStyle Heated Brush
If they love a bouncy blow-out, may we recommended this heated brush from Shark. It can be used to style wet and dry hair (so ideal for anyone who's always running late...) and delivered sleek, shiny locks in our Good Housekeeping Institute tests.
3-Story Townhouse Dollhouse
If you know a young Barbie fan, they will love this townhouse (we're older Barbie fans and we sort of want one!). It comes fully accessorised with its own lift and a swinging chair in the living room (naturally). Dreamy.
10.9-inch iPad (Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Pink (10th generation)
I have this iPad (in pink as well) and I love it for reading, browsing online and doing work when I'm on the move. With a larger screen, it's much easier to read books and long-form features on than your iPhone.
I'm also a big fan of the colour options – they beat the range of metallics you get in other models. This is a good one to club together with other family members on if you want to buy something extra special for Mum or Dad.
Tumbler 40oz
For the TikToker in your life (or just the chronically dehydrated – guilty), this rival to the viral Stanley Quencher comes in a range of lovely pastel shades and comes with thousands of five-star Amazon reviews. With a 1.2L capacity, there will be no more round trips to the water fountain at work (unless you're only going to chat of course).
Echo Spot (2024 release)
Our tech editor tells me this is a great deal on Amazon's new smart alarm clock, and I think it would make a smart Christmas gift for tech fans. It is an alarm clock, but it does so much more. You can play your music through it, get news and weather updates and listen to audiobooks on it.
It also has Alexa integration, so you can control your smart home tech from it. Also available in a blue colourway, it will look chic on their bedside table, too – all for under £50.
Cosy Up Silky Soft Faux Fur Warming Throw/Electric Blanket
Know someone who's always cold? This stylish, faux-fur heated blanket is perfect for cosying up under, whether they're in bed or curled up on the sofa. It scored 91/100 with the Good Housekeeping Institute testing panel, who thought it was the perfect combination of lightweight and snuggly.
CREAMi Ice Cream Maker & Frozen Dessert Maker
Know an ice cream fan? They will love this viral ice cream maker, which lets you create your own custom flavours (and was a big hit with our expert testers). This model comes with three tubs, so you can pre-freeze your base (it has to be frozen for 24 hours) and then you can transform it into a delicious frozen treat in just two minutes. Anyone for Christmas pudding ice cream this year?
Tamagotchi Connection
Yes, Tamagotchi are back. So, you have the chance to redeem yourself after you left yours in the drawer to die in the noughties. You may want to buy it for any little ones in your life or you may just want to get one for yourself.
They now come with a connection feature that allows you to link up to friends' pets and send them on dates together. They can even get married.
AirTag (4 pack)
It's perhaps not the sexiest gift out there (although these are as sexy as trackers get), but it's certainly a useful one. I bought these for someone – who shall remain nameless – who constantly leaves their bag behind on trains, planes and automobiles, and has a habit of misplacing their keys.
They're super easy to set up and then they just pop them in their pocket and they'll always know where their valuables are. If you think they'll want to use them for keys, you can also get a nice keyring, which is designed specially for an AirTag (which feels like a slightly fancier gift).
by Google Charge 6 Activity Tracker with 6-months Premium Membership
If you're looking for a straightforward and affordable fitness tracker to gift this year, this Fitbit is a savvy buy. It gives accurate activity tracking and will measure stress levels, menstrual cycle and sleep patterns via the Fitbit app. The GHI testers particularly liked the smart alarm, which will wake you up at the optimal time.
When is Black Friday 2024?
Black Friday 2024 takes place on Friday 29 November with deals continuing to drop throughout the weekend and Cyber Monday on 2 December. However, with the sales event growing every year, many retailers now run discounts throughout November with some already dropping early deals, Amazon included.
What else can I shop in the Black Friday sales?
Best Black Friday bed deals | Best Black Friday suitcase deals | Best Black Friday vacuum cleaner deals | Best Black Friday sofa deals | Best Black Friday coffee machine deals | Best Black Friday steam cleaner deals
You Might Also Like
