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Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over. 

• Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.

• Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. 

Black Friday is already in full swing, with many tech products hitting record low prices. A surprising deal is on the latest AirPods Max, which were refreshed last year during the Apple Event in September. Apple has updated them with personalized spatial audio support, new colors, and a USB-C port. The latest AirPods Max offers one of the highest-tier listening experiences but is also one of the most expensive headphones you can buy, normally at half a grand. This update was long-awaited, and now you can get them for $399 (originally $449), a record-low price according to price-checking tools.

Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Pro-Level Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio, USB-C Charging, Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone – Midnight

$399.99
at Amazon

$549.00
Save $149.01

Get Deal

Get Deal

$399.99
at Amazon

$549.00
Save $149.01

When the AirPods Max came out in 2020, there wasn’t a lot of competition for headphones that could do active noise-cancelling (ANC) and ambient awareness and provide top-tier audio as well. These days, there’s stiff competition in all of those categories, especially at this price point. However, buying AirPods Max is a statement. Even though they don’t have the Apple logo, you’re paying a premium price for the recognition. If that’s what you’re after, these headphones are it.

When it comes to features, the AirPods Max aren’t jam-packed. But the few they do have are excellent quality (on-brand from Apple’s minimalist standard). They are one of the best ANC headphones you can buy (they don’t give you that weird pressure sensation when you turn them on), have very good ambient awareness to hear your surroundings well, have adaptive EQ and spatial audio, which adjusts the audio automatically to you and your environment, and hands-free Siri, according to PCMag’s “excellent” review.

Some of the downsides are that they are heavier than regular headphones, at 13.6 ounces. This comes from the use of metal for the design material. You also can’t manually adjust the EQ to your liking, so if you don’t like the sound signature, you’re out of luck. Finally, the smart case it comes with is ugly and doesn’t protect the mesh that rests on your head (a delicate part of the headphones). You also need that smart case to put your headphones in “sleep” mode so your 20 hours of battery aren’t drained.

Does Apple do Black Friday?

Yes, Apple participates in Black Friday, though you may want to compare their sales with other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart. Apple is offering an exclusive $250 gift card for eligible purchases, but so far, the best Black Friday sale on an Apple product is the M4 MacBook on sale for cheaper than ever.

Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?

Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.

What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?

Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.