With a record 50,000 advertised deals expected this Black Friday, and the largest-ever pre-holiday release of new smartphones, tablets, streaming-media players and other in-demand tech, the extended Thanksgiving/Cyber Monday weekend may prove to be the biggest five-day shopping period history.
So saith FatWallet, the consumer savings site that publishes thousands of current online discounts and coupon codes that stack with cash-back rewards from 1,700 retailers including Amazon, Walmart, eBay and Kohl’s.
Going further out on a limb, the company has released Black Friday pricing projections on seven tech and home categories, based on reviews of current retails, major year-to-date sales events, and previous fourth-quarter promotions.
Its conclusion: “It’s going to be the year to buy consumer electronics,” said spokesman Brent Shelton. “Yes, we say that every year, but the tech market is ripe with newness, leaving last year’s models prime for super low pricing.”
You be the judge. Without further ado, here then are FatWallet’s best guesses for Black Friday (lowest 2014 prices in parentheses):
TVs
• 40-inch LED TVs under $100 ($119)
• 50-inch LED TVs under $200 ($200)
• 50-inch 4K TVs under $300 ($399)
• 60-inch LED TVs under $400 ($498)
Laptops
• Doorbuster laptops under $100 ($100)
• Touchscreen laptops under $200 ($279)
• Two-in-one hybrid laptops under $300 ($300)
• Macbook Pro under $700 ($849)
Tablets
• Amazon Fire HD 7 under $100 ($109)
• 50 tablet deals under $50 (40 in 2104)
$100 off new Samsung Galaxy Tab S2
$100 off all iPad Air, Mini and new iPad Pro models
Video games
• 25 percent off new releases
• Wii U bundles under $200 ($249)
• Xbox One bundles under $275 ($299)
• PS4 bundles under $350 ($389)
Smartphones
• T-Mobile Family Plans under $100/month
• Sprint Forever plans for $5/month
• $100 gift cards from big-box stores with iPhone 6S purchase
• $100 gift cards from big-box stores with Galaxy S6 purchase
Major appliances
• Discounts of up to 60 percent on refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges and laundry pairs
• Miscellaneous
• Beats Solo 2 under $100 ($149)
• New 4K streaming-media devices 25 percent off
• $100 gift cards with Apple Watch purchase
• Nano Drones w/HD cameras under $25 ($49)
