The holiday shopping season is just around the corner, and you may already be looking to find the best deals on gifts and gadgets that won't empty your wallet. If you want to stick to a strict budget this year, don't worry -- you can find some very useful tech products and other gadgets for under $25 that make great gifts, even before the Black Friday shopping weekend begins later this month.
Also: The best Black Friday deals live now
We scoured retailers across the internet to find the best early Black Friday deals under $25 so you can start saving on your shopping list early.
For 58% off, this TP-Link extender is dual-band and offers up to 44% more bandwidth than a single-band extender, according to the company. It can handle connections from up to 30 devices. It's also easy to set up and includes a smart indicator light to help you install it in the optimal place in your home, such as the basement which never gets as good of a connection.
Pair this smart scale with fitness apps like Samsung Health, Fitbit, Apple Health, and more to easily keep track of your progress. Aside from your weight, it analyzes key body composition areas such as body fat, muscle mass, bone mass, body water, etc.
The Apple AirTag is still the best Bluetooth tracker if you're an Apple user. Since it uses the Find My network, this coin-sized tracker can find anything it's attached to, including keys, wallets, and bags.
Also: Apple AirTag review
Even if you lose something in your home, your phone can direct you to the AirTag's exact location.
Along with more than 20 EQ customizations, these earbuds have two built-in mics and an AI algorithm that work together to pick up your voice so you never have to shout during a call.
Note that this deal only applies to the blue earbuds.
Black Friday always occurs the day after Thanksgiving in the US. This year, it falls on Friday, Nov. 29. However, you can expect deals the week leading up to the day, as well as all weekend long.
Cyber Monday is the Monday following the Thanksgiving holiday and only applies to online deals. This year, it falls on Monday, Dec. 2.
For some big-name brands, Black Friday is the only time specific devices go on sale all year. It's also the time of year that you'll see the biggest discounts on bigger devices such as phones, laptops, TVs, tablets, etc. So yes, it's definitely a better time to snag a deal than other sales events.
The main difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday historically is that Black Friday deals can be found both in-store and online, while Cyber Monday deals are almost exclusively online that Monday. However, in recent years, more deals are found online both days.
ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.
We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.
All major retailers should have sales and discounts leading up to and during Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Expect deals from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, B&H Photo, and more. If you prefer to shop in person, there will be plenty of in-store deals as well, but we've also found that some of the best deals are exclusive to online.
ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by category:
You can also find the best Black Friday deals by price:
Black Friday deals under $25
Black Friday deals under $100
And the best Black Friday deals by retailer:
Black Friday Amazon deals
Black Friday Best Buy deals
Black Friday Walmart deals
Black Friday Apple deals
Black Friday Samsung deals