‘I'm a shopping editor and this is what I'd buy in Amazon's Cyber Monday sale’
It's the last day of the Black Friday sales (aka Cyber Monday) and the deals end at midnight, so it's your final chance to snap up some amazing savings on that Christmas shopping list.
Amazon's huge Black Friday sale features reductions on tech, beauty tools, toys, kitchen appliances and cleaning essentials. You can also grab brilliant bargains on popular brands such as Ninja, Bose, Tefal, and LG, with many at their lowest price all year.
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 day. And with Christmas just around the corner, I'm making a list of all the great gift ideas I'm spotting as I go.
Here's what's on my wish list.
Best Christmas gifts to shop in the Amazon Cyber Monday sale
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.
Bodyclock Shine 300 Wake up to Daylight SAD Light
This Lumie sunrise alarm clock scored 91/100 with our panel who loved its versatility – it's also an FM radio and a reading lamp. It takes a little while to set up (that will keep them busy on Christmas Day) but once it is, the controls are intuitive and you can be woken by one of 15 soothing sounds. We like the goats.
A good gift for someone who hates that morning alarm as it will wake them gradually rather than jolting them from sleep.
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.
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.
The Movie Doll, President Barbie Collectible
If you have any young Barbie fans to buy for, this President Barbie doll, inspired by Issa Rae's character from last year's film, will fulfil all their shiny, frothy Barbie dreams. You can also buy the Margot Robbie doll for less right now if you think she needs a running mate.
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.
3Q Hair Dryer
If they need a new hair dryer, this one is a great buy. It was runner-up to the new Dyson Supersonic Nural in our tests and while it doesn't have the bells and whistles, it has a scalp sensor that automatically adjusts the temperature when it gets too close to your hairline, helping to minimise damage.
It also left our panellists' hair shiny and smooth. ‘“It's the best hair dryer I've ever used,” one told us. Sold.
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.
Blast Portable Blender
This portable blender makes a cute Christmas gift for smoothies on the go. You can pop it in your bag or car cup holder and it's a powerful little machine – it crushed ice and hard fruits with ease. It's also easy to clean and leakproof. Our testers loved it for easy morning smoothies.
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.
Mini 12 Instant Camera Bundle
This bundle has everything they need to get snapping on Christmas Day, from display stickers to batteries. The Instax Mini is also super fun to use and lets them take real-life selfies. Imagine! Picture quality may require a little trial and error but this is lovely gift for mini snappers.
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.
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
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