Wirecutter’s Jason Chen Breaks Down Your Biggest Black Friday & Holiday Shopping Doubts

Jason Chen answers your top Black Friday shopping questions. Jason Chen answers your top Black Friday shopping questions.

5. Product Categories That Truly Offer the BEST Black Friday Value

Certain product categories consistently deliver the biggest Black Friday savings.
Certain product categories consistently deliver the biggest Black Friday savings.

Based on historical analysis, Jason Chen explains that some product categories consistently offer real, significant, meaningful price cuts.

Top categories worth buying:

A. Electronics

Black Friday is the ideal time of year for:

  • Noise-canceling headphones (Bose/Sony)
  • Smartwatches
  • Tablets (iPads/Fire Tablets)
  • Streaming devices
  • Mid-range and high-end laptops
  • External SSDs and memory cards

B. Smart Home Products

Prices hit their lowest on:

  • Smart speakers
  • Smart bulbs
  • Video doorbells
  • Home security cameras
  • Wi-Fi mesh systems

These often reach “all-time low” pricing.

C. Kitchen Appliances

Black Friday is ideal for:

  • Air fryers
  • Robot vacuums
  • Espresso machines
  • Instant Pots
  • Countertop ovens
  • Food processors

These regularly have year-low discounts.

D. Home & Lifestyle

  • Weighted blankets
  • Air purifiers
  • Humidifiers
  • Mattress toppers
  • Air quality monitors

Jason Chen notes that home appliances typically hit their deepest discounts in November.