Amazo is the go-to retailer for many thanks to its massive product selection, shipping options, and exclusive membership perks, including deals and discounts. While it's true that some of Amazon's best deals drop during the brand's big shopping events like Amazon Prime Day, the retail giant is also a major player during sale events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Lucky for you, Amazon's Black Friday sale kicked off last week ahead of the official sale day, so you can shop top deals ahead right now.
Also: The best Black Friday deals live now
And with Black Friday just three days away, there's really no better time to snag savings. That's why we rounded up the best Amazon deals you can shop before Black Friday and Cyber Monday officially arrive.
Amazon's brand new base Kindle was just released in October, but you can snag first-time savings on the e-reader at Amazon. Save 23% on the new Kindle and 19% on the new Paperwhite.
This season's most popular health wearable is available for up $100 off (save 22%). Choose from six finishes and pay as little as $249 depending on your selection.
Blink's popular Mini 2 indoor cam is on sale for 50% off right now. Grab one camera for $20, and keep track of pets, kids, and more inside your home, or upgrade to a double or triple pack, which are also half off. ZDNET's home expert Maria Diaz recommends these mini cameras over the Wyze Cam, and says it's a "feature-rich," smart camera.
This lipstick-sized battery booster plugs right into the bottom of your phone for quick, portable charging. Plus, it comes in several fun colors and makes a perfect stocking stuffer. There's a lighting version, too.
If you are forever losing your keys, consider this discount on a pack of Apple's AirTag tracker, our tested pick for the best Bluetooth tracker you can buy.
Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month, or you can purchase an annual membership for $139, which will save you a few dollars.
College students and those aged 18-24 can get a discount and pay $7.49 per month or $69 per year. In addition, those with qualified government assistance (which may include select seniors) can receive a Prime membership for just $6.99 after their free trial.
Black Friday always falls the day after Thanksgiving in the US. This year, Black Friday will be on Nov. 29, 2024.
Cyber Monday is the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend, and the end of the "Cyber 5" savings week. This year, Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 2, 2024.
Black Friday certainly brings seasonal savings and, of course, some artificial deals you need to be aware of. But for the most part, it is a good time to score savings on a majority of products across tons of categories, from tech to home, to name a few. Perhaps the best part about Black Friday is the enormous amount of sales occurring at nearly every major retailer, both in-store and online, giving you the best opportunity to find savings at basically everywhere you like to shop. And while Amazon has great deals year-round, just like any other retailer, they're looking to maximize their sale traffic, too, meaning you can definitely expect savings.
Semantics, mostly. Black Friday traditionally refers to the day of savings that follows Thanksgiving, which at one point was an in-stores-only event. Over the years, Black Friday sales have expanded and lengthened to include online retailers, hence "Cyber Week" and "Cyber Monday." Cyber Monday refers to the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend, and originally referred to online savings on lots of products. These days, both Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer similar savings in-store and online.
Each holiday season, we carefully select the range of products we focus our coverage on, so we can be sure we're bringing you the best deals and the most information on products we're experts on. ZDNET also 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.
You can find Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals pretty much anywhere (that means in store and online). Popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Macy's, and more will all be offering holiday savings online and in their brick-and-mortar stores.
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: