The best Black Friday deals you may want to get before Trump’s tariffs

By The Verge | Created at 2024-11-29 21:28:48 | Updated at 2024-11-29 23:59:44 2 hours ago

There’s no telling exactly what the new year and new administration in the US will bring. But there are likely big changes afoot in the world of tech, especially if President-elect Donald Trump enacts all the tariffs he threatened on the campaign trail. We don’t have a crystal ball that tells us exactly what may get pricier or by how much, but there are several categories of big-ticket products that are at serious risk of being priced out of reach for many folks.

Trump said on Monday that he’d put “an additional 10 percent tariff above any additional tariffs” on all products coming in from China, after campaigning on the pledge to implement 60 percent tariffs on Chinese imports. A lot of tech products are imported from China, including components used in products assembled elsewhere.

If you’re already in the market for tech and gadgets like TVs, laptops, or phones, the good news is many great options are currently on sale for Black Friday. So it may be smart to make a move on that big purchase now if you’re concerned about mitigating any regret in the new year if prices do, indeed, go up.

Let me be very candid with you here: The idea for this article stemmed from many of us at The Verge getting asked directly by friends and family, “What should I buy now before the tariffs come?” There’s no telling what companies will do if US tariffs against countries like China and Mexico really are enacted — they could eat the cost, or pass along some or all of it to us consumers. But if I had to guess, gadgets are going to get more expensive in the new year, not less.

We’re not saying you should go crazy and panic-buy stuff or go into debt over something you’re not even certain you’ll use. Trump has a long history of failing to follow through on campaign promises, business contracts, and policy announcements; the same thing could happen here. But if you’re trying to game out which products to buy this year instead of in 2025, hopefully this list can be of help.

The best laptop and tablet deals

The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro starts with 24GB of RAM and offers more computing cores (14 for the CPU and 20 for the GPU) compared to the 14-inch model. It also picks up Thunderbolt 5 ports and a new 12-megapixel Center Stage camera.

The entry-level MacBook Pro with M4 starts with 16GB of RAM — double that of its predecessor — and a 512GB SSD for the same starting price of $1,599. It also gets a third USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 port and comes in a new space black option. Read our review.

The ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is one of the fastest gaming laptops you can get, thanks to its AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D processor and Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU. With 32GB of RAM, 1TB storage, and a 240Hz 1440p screen, it’s the high-end laptop to beat.

The latest 11-inch iPad Pro with M4 processor, 256GB of storage, and that lovely OLED display is $849 ($150 off) at Amazon when you click the on-page coupon. And if you prefer the larger model, the 12.9-inch M4 iPad Pro is $1,099 ($200 off) at Amazon. The latest round of iPad Pros are incredibly thin and sleek, making them easier to hold during note-taking, drawing, or if you’re using one as a laptop replacement with added accessories. Of course, they don’t do much more than previous generations, but they certainly look great doing it. Read our review.

Apple’s 10th-gen iPad is the successor to the older ninth-gen model. In exchange for its revised design, landscape-oriented webcam, USB-C port, larger 10.9-inch screen, and faster processor, it ditched the headphone jack and home button. Read our review.

The newest iPad Pro comes in either an 11- or 13-inch configuration with Apple’s M4 processor. Both models also feature an OLED display, a much thinner and lighter build, new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. Read our review.

The Apple Studio Display is down to an all-time low of $1,299.99 ($300 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The 27-inch display boasts impressive 5K picture quality and pixel scaling for macOS computers, along with great speakers. However, be mindful that while it is a decent monitor, it lacks a variable refresh rate and HDR, which are features you’d expect to find in a display this expensive. Read our review.

The best TV and audio deals

The LG C4 is similar to its predecessor, with support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync variable refresh rate tech. However, it now sports a max 144Hz refresh rate, a brighter panel, and overall better picture quality.

LG’s G4 OLED TV is on sale in the 55-inch configuration starting at $1,796.99 (about $803 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is its best price yet. The 4K TV sports many of the C4’s standout features — including a 144Hz refresh rate — but it offers brighter picture quality and more accurate colors.
The LG B4 OLED is another solid gaming TV, and you can get a 48-inch model for $599.99 ($200 off) at Best Buy or a 55-inch model for $999.99 ($400 off). It has an older processor and a dimmer screen than the costlier “Evo” models, but it’s a fine option if you’re looking for a relatively affordable way to experience 4K 120Hz gaming on an OLED panel.

The Sony A95L is the flagship in Sony’s OLED lineup and arguably the best TV available, full stop. It has a rich 4K QD-OLED panel that offers lifelike visuals for movies, shows, and gaming. It also supports Google’s excellent TV platform and pairs great with a PlayStation, thanks to automatic game modes that enhance playback and performance.

The Sony Bravia 8 OLED, which is the 2024 successor to the solid Sony A80L, is matching its all-time low of $1,398 ($402 off) in the 55-inch configuration at Amazon and Best Buy. You can also get a 65-inch panel for $1,698 ($301 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. It’s 31 percent thinner in depth and offers thinner bezels than the model it’s meant to replace. You also get 120Hz gaming capabilities with automatic picture optimization on PS5 consoles, along with a handy multi-view mode that lets you game and view apps like YouTube at the same time.

The QM85 is TCL’s flagship 4K TV for 2024 and features a bright QD-Mini LED panel, a 144Hz refresh rate, up-firing Atmos and DTS Virtual:X speakers with a subwoofer, Google excellent smart TV platform, and Wi-Fi 6 support.

You can get the 65-inch Samsung S90D OLED starting at $1,397.99 ($800 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung, which is the lowest price we’ve seen on the 4K TV. It’s just a small step down from the S95D OLED, as it doesn’t have a glare reduction panel, but you still get sharp picture quality and a slew of gaming features, including a 120Hz variable refresh rate. Unfortunately, Samsung TVs still exclude Dolby Vision, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if that’s important to you.

The Sonos Arc is a powerful Dolby Atmos speaker that also integrates with the company’s multiroom audio platform. With extra capabilities like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s AirPlay 2, it’s a feature-rich soundbar that sounds just as good when playing music. Read our review.

The latest Sonos Beam fits into the middle of Sonos’ soundbar lineup. It supports Dolby Atmos through virtualized surround sound and offers eARC compatibility with newer TVs. Read our review.

The best phone deals

The OnePlus Open is going for $1,199.99, down from $1,699.99, which is an excellent price for a great folding phone. It’s a year old at this point, but it should still receive another four years of security updates. You can get an extra $100 off with a trade-in if you go through OnePlus directly, but the discounted price is also available from Amazon and Best Buy.

The 2024 Razr Plus is Motorola’s best foldable yet, with an improved cover screen UI and one of the biggest front displays on any modern flip phone. Read our review.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a 6.3-inch outer screen and an eight-inch inner screen once it’s unfolded — both of which are larger than the original Pixel Fold. The new foldable also lays flat when opened, sports IPX8 weather resistance, and offers a thinner design than the last-gen model. Read our review.

Google’s new Pixel 9 has a slightly larger 6.3-inch OLED display than its predecessor, along with a new Tensor G4 processor, a bigger battery, 12GB of RAM, and a dual rear camera setup with a new 48-megapixel sensor for its ultrawide. Read our review.

The best deals on headphones and wearables

The second-gen AirPods Pro improve upon Apple’s original pair with much better noise cancellation, sound quality, and onboard volume controls. The latest refresh also ships with a USB-C charging case, as opposed to Lightning. Read our review.

Compared to their predecessors, the Beats Studio Pro feature improved noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfort. They were the first Apple headphones to support lossless audio over USB-C, too, and probably are your best option if you frequently switch between iOS and Android devices. Read our review.

The Sonos Ace are the company’s first wireless headphones. They feature a premium comfortable build and active noise cancellation, along with compatibility with Sonos Arc and other Sonos soundbars. Read our review.

You can buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with an Ocean Band starting at $699.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, which is $10 shy of its best price to date. The new black model is also on sale for $20 more at Amazon and Best Buy. The rugged wearable offers better performance than the original Ultra thanks to Apple’s S9 SiP, which lets you take advantage of the newer double tap feature. It continues to offer a wide range of features that’ll appeal to outdoorsy types as well, including robust water resistance, sensors for measuring dive metrics, a battery that lasts for days, and the brightest display of any wearable in Apple’s lineup. Read our review.

The Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, wide-angle OLED display with up to 30 percent more screen area. It’s also thinner and lighter than its predecessors. Read our review.

The Garmin Fenix 7S Pro, one of the best fitness trackers you can buy, is on sale exclusively for Verge readers. Now through Cyber Monday, you can get the multi-sport fitness watch for just $529.99 ($270 off) at Wellbots with promo code VERGEBF270. In addition to a smorgasbord of health sensors and workout tracking, it has reliable multiband GPS, solar charging, military-grade durability, and weeks-long battery life. Read our review.

Google’s new Pixel Watch 3 is bigger and brighter than its predecessor. It also features more advanced running capabilities, offline Google Maps functionality, and deeper integration with other Google devices. Read our review.

The best deals on other big-ticket tech items

DJI’s last-gen Mini 3 remains a great drone for beginners. The lightweight quadcopter offers a 4K sensor, excellent image stabilization, and 38 minutes of flight time on a standard battery. It’s also light enough that it doesn’t require a permit — a boon for first-time flyers.

With top-notch vacuuming performance, an easy-to-use app, and built-in voice control, the S8 MaxV Ultra is a superb vacuum and good mop. It features Roborock’s best obstacle avoidance, innovative features like dirt detection, and a hands-free dock that makes it an expensive but excellent choice.

With a handy ability to remove and reattach its mop pads, the Dreame X40 solves the problem of vacuuming carpets while also mopping hard floors. Its mops can also swing out and under low furniture, getting where most bots can’t reach. An extendable side brush helps get dirt out of corners and a whopping 12,000Pa of suction makes this a great vac.

Developed by both Ray-Ban and Meta, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses can perform a range of tasks, including playing music and capturing photos and videos. Read our review.

The latest version of Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat offers a new, sleeker design, support for Matter, and a Soli radar sensor to detect a person approaching it. It also includes one remote Temperature Sensor (second-gen) for monitoring the temp in a room of your choosing. Read our hands-on impressions.

One of Best Buy’s early doorbusters is the Asus ROG Ally, which is matching its all-time low of $499.99 ($150 off) with a Z1 Extreme processor and 512GB of storage (My Best Buy Plus and Total members can save another $50). The handheld lets you play PC games on the go thanks to its 7-inch 1080p display, and while there are faster alternatives, it’s still serviceable for esports shooters, indie gems, and other lightweight titles. Read our review.

With an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, a 1TB SSD, and 24GB of RAM, the ROG Ally X is one of the most powerful PC gaming handhelds available. It also features a 7-inch 1080p variable refresh rate display and longer battery life than the original Ally. Read our review.

Sony’s new standard PlayStation 5 includes a removable disc drive, dual front-facing USB-C ports, 1TB of storage, and a slightly smaller and lighter design.

Sony sells a bundle consisting of its PSVR 2, controllers, and a physical copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain for the PS5.

The Nintendo Switch OLED Model: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle includes a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online, saving you an additional $79.98 when it’s not on sale.

The Xbox Series X is Microsoft’s flagship console, serving as its most powerful (and biggest) option focused on fast, 4K gameplay. Read our review.

Proprietary SSD expansion for the Xbox Series X / S consoles. The plug-and-play drives are designed to be as fast as the Xbox internal SSD and are sold in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations.