Every single year I tell myself that I’m not going to go overboard for the holidays. Then I start shopping for 20 people. A big list of people, a genuine love of gift-giving, and a gear reviewer job that means I spend all day thinking products is a recipe for blowing through my budget.
If you’re in the same boat, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of reviewer-approved gadgets and goodies available for $50 or less. No random third-party sellers or too-good-to-be-true gear—just the stuff we actually like that’s actually affordable.
WIRED’s Top Deals Right Now
We test products year-round and handpicked these deals. Products that are sold out or no longer discounted as of publishing will be crossed out. We’ll update this guide throughout the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend.
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Black Friday Tech Deals
Photograph: Best Buy
If you watch mainly Amazon Prime content, the Fire TV Stick is the streaming device you need, and this one was just released at the end of September. You can stream from any service, of course, but it’s heavily geared toward the company’s own content. This 4K Max is faster, with 16 gigabytes of storage versus 8, but if you want to spend less and still stay in the Amazon ecosystem, the also-new 4K Stick is on sale for $25 ($25 off).
The Echo Show 5 is typically overpriced at $90, but the deal price of $40 matches the best we have tracked. Just keep in mind that it goes on sale quite frequently. We prefer the Echo Show 10 for its larger size, but the smaller footprint of the Echo Show 5 is good for a nightstand or tiny kitchen.
We’re not sure if smart displays will be around forever, but if you want one, Google makes some of the best. This 2nd-gen Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) doesn’t have a camera, so you have some privacy peace of mind. It’s compact with a 7-inch screen, which makes it ideal for your bedside table, and it has sleep-sensing tech to track your sleep quality.
Photograph: Amazon
Even with the subscription ($3/month or $30/year), this video doorbell is one of the cheapest options around, and it made the honorable mentions section in our Best Video Doorbells guide. Video quality is 1080p with a limited field of view, and notifications aren’t the fastest, but it performs reliably. If you don’t want a subscription, consider buying it bundled with the Sync Module 2 ($47), which is also half-price right now.
If you just need a cheap way to monitor an entrance area, this wired security camera can stream and record at up to 2K and reliably detects motion. The frame rate is low, and there’s lag on the two-way audio. You also need to insert a microSD card to record locally or pony up for a subscription (from $3.50 a month). As the budget pick in our Best Indoor Security Cameras guide, the Tapo C110 is frequently discounted, but we have never seen it this low.
We called the Blink Mini cheap, compact, and versatile, with good video quality, in our Best Indoor Security Cams guide. It has two-way audio, accurate motion detection, and integration with Alexa. Like other Blink products, the best features are locked behind a premium subscription that starts at $3 a month. But that’s still pretty cheap compared to other security camera systems.
Photograph: Google
This is the lowest price we’ve tracked for the Google Chromecast 4K (8/10, WIRED Recommends). Just plug the HDMI dongle into your TV and you’ll get a snazzy and easy-to-use interface that you can control with the color-matched remote. There’s even built-in Google Assistant. Just keep in mind that you may have to manually clear the cache frequently, since there’s not a lot of onboard storage. The HD version of the Chromecast is also on sale for $20, and it’s ideal for anyone with a 1080p TV.
Smart bulbs are best when you can fill the entire room (or a couple rooms!) with them. This four-pack of our favorite smart bulbs is a winner. It’s at a price we do see from time to time for this bundle, but it’s a good deal.
You can get Hulu for 99 cents per month for a full year with this Black Friday offer. It is one of the Best Streaming Services with an enormous choice of new and classic TV shows, movies, and live TV. You can also bundle it with Disney+ for $2.99 per month for a year ($10 off). The offer is open to new and eligible returning customers who have not been subscribers in the past month. At the end of the year prices revert to $8/month and $13/month, respectively.
Superstars is very much a classic Sonic sidescroller brought to a modern console with slicker graphics. It looks great on the OLED Switch’s screen. It’s normally sold for its list price of $60 and can be had for barely more than half that right now.
Black Friday Accessory Deals
Photograph: Anker
This compact power bank slides into the USB-C port of your phone to top up the battery. In fact, it’s our top pick for phones in our Best Portable Chargers guide. Only the shell-white color is on sale, but it’s a nifty way to add 5,000 mAh of capacity. However, it might not be a good pick if you have a thick case. The pink Lightning port version is also discounted to $20 right now.
This solid option from Anker made the honorable mentions in our Best Portable Chargers guide. It has a 10,000-mAh capacity, good for just shy of two full charges for most phones, a built-in USB-C cable that doubles as a loop for easy carrying, and an additional USB-C and USB-A port. It maxes out at 30 watts each way and can be fully charged in around two hours.
We like Anker’s chargers, and its Prime range employs GaN technology to shrink the size down. This 67-watt charger has fold-out prongs and offers two USB-C ports and one USB-A. It can charge a MacBook, and it supports fast charging for iPhones, Samsung Galaxy S phones, and Pixel phones.
Photograph: iOttie
What we like best about this phone mount is that you can use it one-handed. The arms automatically close around the phone when you place it against the trigger button. To remove it, press the release bars. There’s also a telescopic arm and ball joint that allows you to tweak the placement and set an ideal angle. We also love the clever magnetic tab that attaches the charging cable to the back of the mount, to keep from having to fish around for it. Plus, it’s super sturdy—even on bumpy roads.
Apple’s dual USB-C port power adapter is an essential accessory if you have a tendency to forget to pack chargers for your devices on the go. With two USB-C ports, you can use it to recharge both your iPhone and MacBook simultaneously. Rated at 35 watts, it’s also powerful enough to recharge an iPad Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.
This is a price match of the discounts we’ve seen on other shopping holidays. It’s still a good deal on an excellent controller, and the price extends to several different color options. Our favorite part about the DualSense controller is the way the haptic feedback works. Rather than random rumbles, you’ll feel directional and immersive feedback—almost like surround sound, but in a controller. Read more about it in our Best PlayStation 5 Accessories guide.
Photograph: Baggu
The 16-inch version Baggu Laptop Sleeve in Sherbert Cherry looks just as cute in person as it does online. The puffiness provides plenty of protection, and the velcro closure is strong enough you don’t have to worry the laptop will slide out. We tested it with the 15-inch MacBook Air, which left space to squeeze a keyboard and mouse into the sleeve as well. There’s also a 13-inch/14-inch version for those who have smaller MacBooks or want a sleeve for their iPads.
You get a good balance of speed and reliability with this USB 3.2 flash drive from SanDisk, and we have never seen it lower. As the top pick in our Best USB Flash Drives guide, we like the sleek and durable aluminum case, handy loop for attaching it to a key ring, and the fact it delivers the advertised speeds (420 megabytes per second read, 380 MB/s write). This has been performing well for us for a couple of years now and comes with a lifetime warranty.
The PNY Pro Elite V2 sports a compact design and zippy performance (read speeds up to 600 MB/s and write speeds up to 250 MB/s). The plastic cover slides to protect the USB-A plug and there’s a handy opening for a lanyard of keyring. This is the compact pick in our Best USB Flash Drives guide. Sadly, it only comes with a one-year limited warranty, but this is as low as we’ve seen it.
If you’re looking for storage that can survive the elements and come through tumbles or bumps unscathed, the Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth is the most durable pick in our Best USB Flash Drives guide. It’s not that fast (85 MB/s read, 70 MB/s write), but it is tough. You can also get the 128 GB model for $30 ($16 off) or the 256 GB model for $55 ($29 off). Discounts on these are common, but this as low as we’ve seen them go.
Home, Personal Care, and Kitchen Deals
Photograph: Lodge
The enameled Dutch oven does away with bare cast iron’s needy tendencies. You can scrub away at the interior and exterior of this Lodge with all the dish soap you like and never have to wipe it down with vegetable oil to keep it from rusting overnight. The nonstick, nonreactive surface is perfect for slow-cooking stews, oysters, and practically anything else on the stovetop for long periods.
Low on caffeine—and counter space? The K-Express is a mere 6.5 inches wide and 12 inches deep, yet its removable reservoir holds 36 fluid ounces of water, enough to make a round of coffee for you and your friends without having to constantly refill it. Just do the planet a solid and make sure to use Keurig Reusable Pods, to cut down on single-use plastic waste.
Let’s be real. This is a five-piece set. Nobody counts the lids as their own pieces. Still, this is a good deal for Pyrex, a (mostly) drop-proof tempered glass storage set that I’ve (Matt Jancer) been using this year for leftovers. Each piece is thick and burly, cuts out single-use plastics for storing leftovers, and washes up easily in the dishwasher.
Photograph: Godiva
Imagine if those chocolate-based Advent calendars from your childhood didn’t suck. This Godiva calendar has 25 pieces of decadent chocolate nestled behind its cardboard doors. It made our list of the Best Advent Calendars. If you choose to shop at Macy’s you may be able to opt for free in-store pickup.
Target makes some of reviewer Nena Farrell’s favorite Christmas decor, and it being on sale before the holiday instead of immediately after is a nice way to add a few things to your rotation this year. From string lights to miniature ceramic figurines, this is an easy way to save on decking the halls.
Like the decor, Target also makes great ornaments from pretty, to silly, to just plain cute. This deal includes single ornaments as well as multi-packs.
Reviewer Matt Jancer wouldn’t go so far as to say that Werner is the only brand that makes a solid ladder, but he says he has stood on more of them than any other brand in his 30 years of, to put it broadly, doing stuff up high in the air. From painting walls to putting up insulation, he’s never had a Werner ladder fail on him, and that level of trust is worth gold when you’re talking about ladders. This 4-foot step ladder is a little guy, perfect for keeping in the home for jobs that require you to reach the ceiling, without the bulk of a standard 8-foot ladder. It holds up to 250 pounds, and remember to never stand on the top “step.” Ladders aren’t built for that.
Annoyingly, each color set costs slightly different amounts, ranging from $44 to $55 for a queen size. Most typically cost $60, not the $95 list price, but some have hovered at $55 for the last few months. Still, these are great budget sheets made from bamboo that feel cool and comfortable. There are a lot of very pricey sheets out there, but you don’t need to sacrifice comfort.
Sateen is another type of cotton weave, like percale, but uses extra threads to make it feel silkier. It’s also a little heavier. JCPenney’s sateen sheets are our favorite ones. We typically see them for $90, rather than the $140 list price, but this is still one of the cheapest prices we’ve tracked. All the sizes are $50 too, which is nice if you have a larger bed. They’re soft and cool, with the silky finish sateen is known for without being slippery. We can barely tell the difference between these ones and the sateen sheets that cost double the price.
Apparel Deals
Photograph: Verloop
We like basically everything we’ve tried from Verloop, and the whole site is 30 percent off with code HOLIDAY. (The Flower Knit Sock Slippers are pictured above.) Verloop’s mini tote is one of reviewer Medea Giordano’s favorites when she doesn’t need to carry much. This is a slightly bigger option from the brand, and it’s made from paper-thin nylon stuffed with scrap yarn. The result is a cool, colorful explosion reminiscent of the ’90s. There is a matching pouch too that you can use in whatever other bag you prefer. While it won’t fit your laptop, you could comfortably carry a tablet or a Kindle. The biggest issue is just how loud the nylon is when you touch it. It’s like walking with a chip bag.
We like a lot of Pit Viper’s sunglasses. The brand is known for its neon, oversized sunnies and goggles. Styles we’ve tried successfully include the heart-shaped Admirers and the polarized Fondue, but there are oodles of styles to choose from. Discounts are applied automatically during checkout based on what you spend, ranging from 20 percent off to 50 percent off. Thanks to the savings, some pairs are on sale for less than $50. You can filter by price on the left-hand side of this page.
Updated November 23: We’ve added a handful of new deals on flash drives, tech accessories, and sunglasses.