Black Friday 2022 is right around the corner. That means Black Friday deals will be here before you know it. Yes, Halloween and Thanksgiving come first, but this year we’re expecting to see Black Friday deals start earlier than ever. In fact, Target has already confirmed its early Black Friday sales will begin on October 6.
Additionally, Amazon is rumored to be holding a Prime Early Access Sale, which is essentially Amazon’s Black Friday 2022 preview. (They held a similar retail event last October).
We expect that inflation, fears of a recession, and ongoing stock shortages will cause retailers to offer earlier and bigger-than-average Black Friday deals on everything from the latest iPhones to our favorite mattresses. That’s great news for shoppers looking to cut down on spending as it gives you more options to buy the things you need at the prices you want.
Below you’ll find some of our favorite Black Friday deals from the previous year, along with tips and predictions on what to expect from Black Friday 2022.
Black Friday deals to expect in 2022
Black Friday is traditionally the best time of year to make any major purchase. From TVs to mattresses, retailers save their best deals for the holidays with the majority of sales starting the first week of November. However, 2022 will be slightly different in that the pandemic is still causing shortages of labor and essential material/parts.
PS5 restock, for instance, is much easier to find, but tends to sell out from time to time. Numerous furniture companies are also backed up with delivery dates that are taking months instead of just a few days.
You can expect these shortages and delays to last through the end of the year, which means Black Friday deals may be in large demand, but low supply this year. So we recommend consumers get their shopping done earlier than usual this year.
Black Friday deals and Apple
iPhone 14: The iPhone 14 will be on many people’s shopping list this year. This Black Friday, expect retailers to offer Apple’s new phone for next to nothing. Already, carriers like Verizon and AT&T are offering iPhone 14 deals that offers the phone for free with trade-in and/or eligible unlimited plans. As we approach Black Friday, you can expect to see better trade-in deals, wherein you’ll get a better/higher credit for your older phone. We also expect to see Apple’s older phones get steeper price cuts.
Massive MacBook deals: It’s been an interesting end of summer for MacBook deals. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros have been $400 off each at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Meanwhile, the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 fell to an all-time price low of $949 back in August. Could we see an $899 MacBook Pro M1 come Black Friday? It’s possible. We also expect to see more deals on the new MacBook Air M2 and MacBook Pro M2.
Black Friday deals and next-gen consoles
Let’s be honest: There will be no Black Friday deals on next-gen consoles. Sure, we’ll see plenty of deals on PS5 and Xbox Series X games/accessories, but the PS5 and Xbox Series X will not see any price cuts. That said, we do expect to see Black Friday restocks. Retailers like Best Buy and GameStop are already experimenting with in-store only restocks and we expect these in-store events to pick up as we get closer to Thanksgiving. If you prefer to shop online, no need to worry. We expect to see online restocks as well. Just be prepared for fierce competition as the PS5 and Xbox Series X will be high on many shoppers’ holiday lists. In the meantime, you can still register for invite-only Sony Direct PS5 restocks planned for this month.
When is Black Friday 2022?
Black Friday 2022 is on Friday, November 25. However, Black Friday deals will start well before the official Black Friday 2022 date. Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are just a handful of the major retailers that’ll kick off the season with early deals.
Who has the best Black Friday deals in 2022?
Every retailer will hav e Black Friday deals available in November. However, if you’re wondering who has the best Black Friday deals — the answer varies based on what you want to buy. For instance, Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart tend to dominate when it comes to deals on 4K TVs, laptops, and smartwatches.
For deals on apparel and home goods, we recommend turning to stores like Macy’s, Wayfair, and Bed Bath & Beyond. Home goods is a broad topic and also includes mattresses. If you’re shopping for the latter, mattress manufacturers tend to offer the best and biggest discounts, oftentimes undercutting box retailers like Macy’s and Amazon.
Does Apple offer Black Friday deals?
The Apple Store is renown for not offering deals. However, every November it offers its annual Apple Black Friday sale. The sale varies each year offering free Beats headphones with the purchase of select devices or discounts of up to 10% off on select Mac purchases.
Last year, Apple offered a free Apple Store gift card with the purchase of select devices. For instance, buy an Apple Watch 3 and you’ll get a $25 Apple gift card. To maximize the gift card value, Apple wants you to spend more. So to get the biggest gift card — a $150 Apple gift card — required that you purchase an iMac or a MacBook Pro. This year, iPhone 13 deals will play a big role on Black Friday. Expect to see epic Black Friday deals on Apple’s latest iPhones and iPads. (The best deals will come from retailers and not from Apple).
Are stores doing Black Friday 2022?
The majority of brick-and-mortar stores skipped their traditional Thanksgiving Day in-store events the last few years. Other stores offered curbside pickup to avoid having customers congregate outside their stories. This year things are different. As a result, in-store shopping could make a comeback this year, as could early bird deals that requires shoppers to line up outside stores.
Black Friday deals and what to expect
Black Friday deals are in full force now and the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, projects that the average consumer will spend $997.73 on holiday gifts (opens in new tab) for themselves and their families. This is on par with what consumers spent last year. Over half (57%) will shop online in 2021, which is slightly down from the 60% who shopped online during the pandemic in 2020. That said, 47% of holiday shoppers are worried they’ll have difficulty finding the items they want. The top items consumers are worried about are electronics (44%), clothes (40%), and toys (28%).
Why is it called Black Friday?
The use of the term “Black Friday” to describe the retail holiday dates back to 1961 in Philadelphia. It was used to describe the crowded pedestrian and vehicle traffic that resulted the day after Thanksgiving. By 1975, the term had gained traction and was being used outside of Philadelphia.
These days, retailers have a different explanation for the term. For many companies, Black Friday marks the point in the calendar year when companies go “in the black,” or finally begin to turn a profit for the year. The profit they make is due to the surge in shoppers looking for holiday deals.
