Black Friday 2026 is on Friday 27 November, and Cyber Monday on the 30th. They're great days to buy tech… and to fall for discounts that aren't quite what they seem. Here's our checklist.
1. Check the price history
A "40% off" label means nothing if the price went up the week before. Before you buy:
- On Amazon, use a price-history tracker (such as Keepa or CamelCamelCamel) to see how the price has moved over recent months.
- For other shops, note down the price now of what you want. That way you'll know if it genuinely drops on the 27th.
2. Be sceptical of "was" prices
UK consumer law bans misleading prices, and the Competition and Markets Authority has warned retailers about inflated "was" prices more than once. If a crossed-out price looks like it never existed, it probably didn't.
3. Compare the exact model, not the name
A classic trick: "iPhone" or "gaming laptop" at a bargain price… that turns out to be an old model or low on storage. Check:
- The model year (an iPhone 13 isn't an iPhone 16).
- Storage (128GB or 256GB) and RAM on laptops.
- Whether it's new or refurbished and, if refurbished, its grade.
4. Sometimes refurbished still wins
Often, a regular refurbished price is lower than the discounted new one. A two-year-old model bought refurbished usually costs less than the same model new, even on sale. We compare both on every product page.
5. Check the warranty, returns and who's selling
- On marketplaces, check who's selling and who's shipping.
- Check the returns window: many shops extend it over Christmas.
- Buying from a business, you're covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, new or refurbished.
6. Watch out for random codes
Be wary of "secret codes" doing the rounds on social media or unknown sites. We never publish coupons: we only link to each shop's official deals.
Our Black Friday page
We've gathered links to the official deals on phones, consoles and laptops in one place, and we'll keep it updated: Black Friday 2026 on NiceTwiceTech.
Summary
Note prices now, compare the exact model and don't trust the percentage. If the discount doesn't beat the refurbished option, it might not be such a great deal.