Why is it called black friday?
Black Friday is the biggest sales event of the year. It falls on the fourth Friday of November (the day after Thanksgiving in the US), and is seen as the best time to snap up deals ahead of Christmas. Typically, discounts will continue right through the weekend, until Cyber Monday.
The name refers to being “in the black”, which in accounting terms means making a profit. “In the red” in comparison, means losing money. By the 1980s, retailers had dubbed the huge surge of Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving as Black Friday, as it pushed shops from “red” to “black”. It’s as simple as that.
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 19:45
Sizzling Black Friday saving on an air fryer
Daewoo actuate smart AI air fryer: Was £88.99, now £59.99, Currys.co.uk
(Daewoo)
Rachael was impressed with its built-in camera that can recognise what food you’ve put in and adjust the time and temperature accordingly. “This air fryer consistently provided good results during testing, especially with chips and chicken,” she said. “It’s a joy to use, too – the digital display is bright and clear, and there’s a handy viewing window, so you can check on the progress of your food.”
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 19:15
This Playstation VR headset is £130 off
Want to lose yourself in a virtual world? The PS VR2 transforms your PlayStation 5 into a truly immersive gaming machine, and it’s now available for £130 off ahead of Black Friday.
(PlayStation)
In his PS VR2 review, Steve called it “one of the best and easiest-to-use VR headsets”. You’ll be able to play exclusive titles such as Horizon Call of the Mountain and “spectacular” VR modes for existing games such as Gran Turismo 7 and No Man’s Sky.
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 18:45
Our top beer dispenser is on sale at Currys
If you’ve had your eye on the PerfectDraft pro, it’s currently £100 off in Currys Black Friday sale – just in time for festivities and party season.
(PerfectDraft)
Perfect for entertaining, a beer dispenser offers a convenient way to enjoy your favourite drinks from the comfort of your home. This model is pricey, even with the discount, but it’s the best beer dispenser we tested.“Easy to use, this appliance can be temperature-controlled from the easy-to-navigate PerfectDraft app,” said our testers. “We found it was a real party starter.”
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 18:15
Shark’s Dyson airwrap alternative is on sale
Dyson’s airwrap changed the game when it launched, thanks to its multi function ability. Plenty of brands have debuted similar hair tools in the years since – and Shark’s flex style is my favourite affordable alternative. It’s now even cheaper for Black Friday.
Shark flexstyle 5-in-1 hot air styler and hair dryer: Was £299.99, now £219.99, Argos.co.uk
(Shark)
Streamlining your haircare routine, Shark’s flexstyle multi-tool boasts diffuser, hair dryer, hair curler, hot brush and hair straightener features, all in one compact device. In my review of the Shark flexstyle, I described it as perhaps the best airwrap dupe you can buy – and it’s now more than £100 cheaper than Dyson’s luxury tool, thanks to Argos’s early Black Friday sale.
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 17:45
Best Black Friday sofa deals for 2025
A sofa is the centrepiece of any cosy living room – and Black Friday is delivering big discounts to spruce up your set-up. If you’re undecided about what you’re looking for, our interiors experts have created a guide to the best sofas – many of which will be discounted during Black Friday.
Swyft model 06 three-seater corner sofa: Was £3,996, now £2,996, Swyfthome.com
(Swyft)
With its plump cushions and “generously wide” seat pads, the Swyft model 06 also made it into interiors expert Ali Howard’s review of the best corner sofas. Ali rated this design as the best corner sofa for families – it’s upholstered in stain-resistant fabrics, so there’s no need to panic over inevitable spills.This sofa comes in seven colourways, and the discount you get will vary depending on which colour you choose. For example, you can get more than 20 per cent off the sofa in this green shade.
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 17:15
Save £52 on a Nespresso coffee machine in the Black Friday sales
Struggling to give yourself a boost at the start of the week? This deal on a nespresso coffee machine will perk you right up.
Nespresso vertuo pop coffee machine: Was £99, now £57, Johnlewis.com
(Nespresso)
The vertuo pop is Nespresso’s most affordable coffee machine – and, naturally, it’s been tried and tested by the team at IndyBest. Spoiler alert: Lauren loved it. Now, you can invest for nearly half price thanks to John Lewis. Receiving a glowing five-star review, she praised the “small but mighty” machine that will slot seamlessly into most people’s kitchen countertops. “Weighing in at just 3.5kg, if you have a large cupboard and won’t be using the machine every day, it’s also incredibly easy to store away until you need it,” she added. I love the colours available, too, with the blue and yellow brightening up your kitchen surfaces.
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 16:45
Get a Sky Glass Air TV for cheap this Black Friday
Earlier this summer, Sky introduced a brand-new, more affordable version of its smart TV – the Sky Glass Air. Designed as a slimmer, lighter alternative to the original Sky Glass, it delivers the same built-in Sky experience without needing a dish. And now, with Sky’s Black Friday deals, it’s available for even less.
Sky Glass Air 43in plus Essential TV and 500Mbps full-fibre broadband: £39 per month, Sky.com
(Sky )
This package gives you Sky’s latest all-in-one TV and broadband setup at one of its lowest-ever monthly prices. As with all Sky bundles, it also includes free Netflix and Discovery+ subscriptions, so you can stream your favourite shows straight out of the box. It’s an excellent deal for anyone looking to upgrade their home entertainment without splashing out up-front.
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 16:15
This tried and tested electric toothbrush costs just £34
IndyBest tech writer Steve Hogarty has rounded up the best electric toothbrushes, and he found this one the smartest choice for most people. It’s not the fanciest toothbrush around, but it doesn’t have to be – and it costs less than £40 thanks to this Amazon discount.
Oral-B iO2 electric toothbrush: Was £64.38, now £34.99, Amazon.co.uk
(Steve Hogarty)
Steve says it “balances powerful cleaning action with an affordable price”. Right now, the toothbrush is available for £34 at Amazon, which is about the lowest it drops too at the online retailer. Toothbrushes often fluctuate in price, but this is a genuine deal.
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 15:45
Best Black Friday deals on laptops, chosen by a tech expert
As The Independent’s tech writer, Steve has been covering Black Friday for years. A top tip? “I’d recommend choosing which laptop you want to buy before you scour the deals – this way, you’re less likely to be sucked in by the steepest discount on a model that doesn’t fit your needs.” In his expert shopping guide, you’ll find a curated list of the very best early laptop discounts, plus advice to help you secure the right machine for your needs and budget.
Microsoft Surface laptop: Was £1,749, now £1,146.91, Amazon.co.uk
(Amazon)
This laptop comes with a 120Hz display, more than 1080px resolution, and a 3:2 aspect ratio that makes it taller than most – a godsend if you spend your days writing essays or emails. Right now, it also comes with a discount of more than 30 per cent. Paired with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage by default, it has enough power to see you through most tasks, as Steve noted in his review of the Microsoft Surface laptop.
Daisy Lester17 November 2025 15:15
