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Engadget's Black Friday 2013 roundup

Jon Fingas
Reporter
Updated ·7 min read
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Don't think that the Black Friday shopping rush this year is all about the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. We've rounded up a smorgasbord of Thanksgiving week deals that should appeal to tech-savvy shoppers of all stripes, whether they're looking for entry-level smartphones or giant 4K TVs. Hop past the break and you'll find bargains that could please the gadget lovers in your life -- and just might spare you from battling the crowds at the mall.

[Image credit: AP]

Phones

HTC One

  • Looking for a cheap smartphone? It doesn't get much cheaper than the Nokia Lumia 520 for AT&T, which is already on sale for $49 off-contract at the Microsoft Store.

  • Windows Phone lovers with some extra cash can splurge on a $230 unlocked Samsung ATIV S at Expansys.

  • Sprint subscribers will have extra reason to be jolly, since the carrier is offering the LG G2 for $50 on-contract (and after rebate) on Friday and Saturday. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini will be free on similar terms.

  • Those who've been jonesing for the HTC One on Sprint or Verizon can pick one up this Friday or Saturday for $30 on-contract.

  • Should you prefer that other flagship Android phone, Staples will offer the Galaxy S 4 for a penny on-contract through AT&T and Verizon. Best Buy's online store will let you get a GS4 for free through AT&T, Sprint and Verizon.

  • If you don't mind an older device, Amazon is selling the Galaxy S III for Boost Mobile for $310 contract-free.

Tablets

Dell Venue 8 Pro

  • Those getting their feet wet with Windows 8 tablets will want a 32GB Dell Venue 8 Pro, which is dropping to $230 at Costco and TigerDirect.

  • But wait, it gets better: The Microsoft Store and Best Buy will be selling the 32GB Surface RT for just $199, while $249 will get you either the 32GB model with a Touch Cover (at Staples and TigerDirect) or an accessory-free 64GB variant (at Walmart).

  • Fancy an Android tablet instead? TigerDirect is discounting all Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 models by up to $100. Newegg also has the 10.1-inch Tab 3 for $300.

  • Should you prefer LG's speedier G Pad 8.3, it's available at Newegg for just $279.

  • Fans of 10-inch slates will want to visit the Sony Store, where the Xperia Tablet Z's price is down to $450 ($580 for an LTE version).

  • Folks holding out for a good Nexus 7 deal will want to swing by Google Play for $25 in store credit; you can also buy the tablet at Staples for $199.

  • HP may have the lowest price among major tablet makers, as it's planning to sell a 7-inch slate for just $89 at Walmart.

  • Historically, Apple has discounted its latest iPads on Black Friday. If it doesn't, though, you can always save $41 on an iPad Air at MacMall.

  • Meanwhile, thrifty shoppers can get the previous-generation iPad from Walmart for $399.

Home entertainment

  • If you've been put off by the high prices of 4K TVs, now's the time to buy. Sony is selling a 55-inch XBR X850A set for $3,000, or $1,500 off its original price.

  • Not to be outdone, however, Seiki is discounting its 4K sets. Visit Sears this Friday and you can buy a 39-inch TV for $500, a 50-inch model for $750 and a 55-inch flagship for just $850.

  • Should you be happy with conventional 1080p screens, Newegg will be selling LG's 42-inch LN5200 for $340.

  • Amazon is discounting Samsung TVs during Black Friday week, including a 46-inch F8000 series set for $1,698; the lower-end F6300's price has dropped in half to $648.

  • Shoppers who scoop up a Chromecast from Amazon, Best Buy or Google Play can claim either an HD movie rental or $6 in Google Play credit.

  • Portable-audio junkies can score a Jawbone Jambox speaker for $100 at Best Buy with the code JAMBOXDEAL.

PCs

ASUS VivoBook S400

  • If you're looking for an affordable, touch-friendly Windows laptop, ASUS' 14-inch VivoBook S400 is available for $480 through Amazon and Newegg.

  • Willing to splurge a bit? HP is discounting many of its laptops, with the biggest deals on higher-end systems like the Envy TouchSmart 15 (down to $930) and Envy Leap Motion 17 (down to $900). The Split tablet will cost $230 less at Best Buy.

  • Lenovo is knocking $200 off the price of its convertible Yoga 2 Pro, which now starts at $1,099.

  • Head to the Microsoft Store and you'll get Samsung's ATIV Book 9 Lite for $699, while ASUS' entry-level X102BA costs a mere $299.

  • Dell's Black Friday discounts primarily court the cheap-and-cheerful crowd with deals like a $380 Inspiron 11 3000, although it's also reducing the game-ready Alienware 14 to $1,250.

  • TigerDirect will carry an entry-level version of Dell's XPS 12 convertible Ultrabook for just $1,000.

  • Apple typically slashes prices on most Macs by $101 on Black Friday, so expect some good deals on MacBooks. MacMall is already taking $102 or more off the price of the iMac, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina display.

  • Gamers will want to swing by Origin PC. Configure one of the company's systems at "select prices" and you'll get a bundle of extras that includes a free Samsung 840 EVO SSD, a Plantronics headset, overclocking and four games.

Cameras

Sony NEX-6 camera

  • If you're looking for a camcorder to immortalize the family holiday, check out Canon's official store. The company is slashing as much as $100 off the price of recent VIXIA models.

  • Should you prefer still images, Amazon has whittled $102 off the price of Sony's premium RX100 compact, bringing it down to $548.

  • Nikon's Coolpix L820 superzoom camera is down to $175 at Amazon, while the Coolpix L610 compact now costs just $150 at Walmart.

  • Sony has shaved $150 off the price of its NEX-6, and it's trimming the prices of the NEX-3N, NEX-5T and NEX-7 if you bundle them with both a lens and an accessory.

Gaming

Xbox 360 2013

  • Neither the PlayStation 4 nor the Xbox One are getting discounts, but stores will receive fresh stock. Toys R Us says it will let online shoppers buy both the PS4 and XBO starting at midnight on Thanksgiving Day, while retail customers can pick up an XBO on November 30th.

  • You're in for big bargains if you prefer last-generation consoles. GameStop is selling a $199 Xbox 360 bundle with a 250GB drive, Halo 4 and Tomb Raider; there's also a similarly priced 250GB PlayStation 3 pack that includes The Last of Us and Batman: Arkham Origins.

  • The store is also selling Battlefield 4 for $25, and Just Dance 4 for $15.

  • Nintendo fans aren't left out -- Walmart will sell the 2DS for $100 on Black Friday, and Target is cutting the 3DS XL's price to $150.

  • Microsoft has already discounted Gears of War: Judgment for the Xbox 360 to $20, and it's teasing Black Friday savings for the X360 versions of both Call of Duty: Ghosts and Halo 4.

  • Take a gander at the Xbox Live game store and you'll get 50 percent off games like Skyrim, Fallout 3, Tomb Raider and Metro: Last Light.

Etc.

  • It'll be easy to get an SSD on the cheap this Friday, as Newegg will be offering Kingston's 120GB SSDNow V300 for $70.

  • Watch out if you're looking for a 3D printer, for that matter. Microsoft is hinting at a Black Friday deal for MakerBot's normally pricey Replicator 2.

  • Frugal media player fans can snag a current-generation, 32GB iPod touch for $250 from Best Buy with the code IPODDEAL.