10 High-Tech Black Friday Deals, Cyber Monday Deals

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Forget birthdays, anniversaries and even Thanksgiving — Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the most important dates on the technology lover’s calendar.

Black Friday tech deals amazon com inc
Source: Amazon

Between them, Black Friday tech deals and Cyber Monday tech deals represent the biggest buying opportunities of the year.

Some of the most coveted gear is practically guaranteed to go on sale as manufacturers clear out previous generation models and battle for market share and holiday sales record bragging rights. Retailers often discount the big ticket items hoping you’ll also stock up on accessories.

Here are 10 of the high-tech products you can expect to see featured as part of 2014’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Black Friday Tech Deals: First-Generation iPad Air

Black Friday tech deals cyber monday deals iPad Air
Source: Apple

Apple Inc. (AAPL) has the new iPad Air 2 to sell, but not everyone is willing to pay $499 and its tablet sales are under pressure.

At the same time, retailers know the public loves it when Apple gear is on sale.

As a result, expect to see the first-generation iPad Air — still a formidable tablet — to be a featured product on Friday and in Cyber Monday tech deals.

Black Friday Tech Deals: Samsung Gear Smartwatches

Black Friday tech deals cyber monday deals Galaxy Gear
Source: Samsung

How many smartwatches has Samsung (SSNLF) released this year? I’ve lost count at this point. But it’s a lot. Most of them aren’t selling as well as Samsung hoped.

The company will want to move as many as possible over the holiday season in a mad dash to build market share before the Apple iWatch arrives in the spring.

You know what that means…

Black Friday tech deals and Cyber Monday deals are bound to feature Galaxy Gear watches with slashed prices.

Black Friday Tech Deals: Fitbit Flex Fitness Tracker

Black Friday tech deals cyber monday deals Fitbit Flex
Source: Fitbit

Fitbit had a disastrous year after its flagship Force fitness tracker was recalled because of rashes.

The company has finally announced three new fitness trackers: the Charge, Charge HR and Surge.

However, only the first will be available in time for the holidays, and with its products kicked out of Apple Stores and that Apple Watch looming, expect Fitbit to follow Samsung’s lead in scrambling to sell as many as possible over the holidays.

If nothing else, it needs to clear space for the new models in the spring.

Look for the nearly two-year-old Fitbit Flex to be featured in Black Friday and Cyber Monday tech deals.

Black Friday Tech Deals: Chromebooks

Black Friday tech deals cyber monday deals buy Google Inc Chromebook

Google Inc (GOOG, GOOGL) has had great success in pushing Chromebooks into the educational channel this year. So much so that Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is fighting back with a promotion on cheap Windows laptops.

Schools love Chromebooks, and parents are looking for affordable tech gifts this holiday season (if it’s something that can also be used for school, even better). Consider the fact that Google wants to prevent Microsoft and its cheap PC partners from regaining ground, and Chromebooks are ripe for some price slashes.

Look for discounted Chromebooks to be part of the Black Friday tech discounts, and expect Google to throw in freebies like online storage and maybe even Google Play credits.

Black Friday Tech Deals: Apple TV

Black Friday tech deals cyber monday deals Apple TV
Source: Apple

The Apple TV is another Apple product that’s virtually guaranteed to be on sale on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Apple’s set-top streamer is facing the stiffest competition yet this holiday season, with the Amazon (AMZN) Fire TV and Google Nexus Player selling for the same price, but offering additional features like playing games.

Streaming sticks like the Chromecast cost a fraction of the Apple TV’s $99 price tag.

Apple wants to preserve its living room foothold, so expect to see the Apple TV discounted, especially on Black Friday (Apple’s traditional sale day).

Black Friday Tech Deals: 4K TVs

Black Friday tech deals, 4K TV
Source: Samsung

Manufacturers like Sony Corp (ADR) (SNE) were hoping consumers would happily fork over $5k or $10k for a big, new 4K flatscreen to save the flailing TV business.

Unfortunately for them, Chinese manufacturers crashed the party and started selling 4K TVs for under $1,000 on Amazon and at discount retailers.

Look for 4K TVs to be featured prominently in Black Friday tech deals and Cyber Monday sales.

Retailers know shoppers love a big ticket deal, Chinese manufacturers would love to gain more ground and traditional TV manufacturers are desperate to keep them out.

That’s the perfect recipe for dirt-cheap 4K TVs.

Black Friday Tech Deals: Bluetooth Speakers

Black Friday tech deals cyber monday deals Bluetooth speakers
Source: Apple

What’s the most popular accessory for smartphone and tablet owners? Protective cases are big, but Bluetooth speakers are bigger when it comes to Black Friday tech deals.

Sales of these wireless speakers have been through the roof and they’re expected to be among the top-selling consumer electronics categories this holiday season.

However, competition is fierce. Besides the usual names, Amazon is getting in on the game with its Echo connected speaker and Apple will be flogging its newly acquired Beats Pill speakers.

With so many to choose from, look for Bluetooth speakers to be big sellers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Just watch out for deeply discounted speaker docks featuring Apple 30-pin connectors — they won’t work with Lightning-equipped iOS devices (basically anything sold in the past two years).

Black Friday Tech Deals: Video Game Consoles

Black Friday tech deals cyber monday deals video game consoles
Source: Microsoft

When it comes to consumer electronics, there are few battles more fiercely fought than the video game console wars.

Market share for consoles isn’t just about bragging rights or revenue, it can spell life or death for manufacturers because game developers flock to the top-selling consoles and ignore the less popular ones.

Sony is fighting to maintain the PlayStation 4’s position as the top-selling console of the newest generation. Meanwhile Microsoft would love nothing better than to have the Xbox One catch up or even dethrone it and Nintendo’s (NTDOY) Wii U is suddenly showing signs of life after being written off as an also-ran.

Many families skipped the new consoles last holiday season (after all, there were few games available) but this year, millions of kids are hoping for a PS4, Xbox One or Wii U. Retailers know a good price — or sales on games and accessories — will bring parents in droves.

For shoppers, this means game consoles and everything to do with them should be prominently splashed across the flyers advertising Black Friday tech deals.

Black Friday Tech Deals: “Virtual” Gift Cards

Black Friday tech deals cyber monday deals gift cards

The plastic cards are perfect for slipping in a holiday card or a stocking, they’re available in a range of denominations, and when you use one of these to buy virtual goods like music, e-books or games, you don’t have to use your credit card online.

Last year’s Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday tech deals included plenty of discounts on these gift cards and we can expect to see them again this year.

Whether it’s iTunes credit, Xbox Live points or money toward Google Play, gift cards for digital services are always in demand.

Black Friday Tech Deals: Android Smartphones

Black Friday tech deals cyber monday deals android smartphones
Source: Samsung

Apple is cruising into the holiday season with the recently released iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus — which is still regularly back-ordered.

Meanwhile, top Android manufacturers like Samsung and HTC released their flagship devices months ago. Demand has slowed and there are still a few months before the 2015 models are released.

What’s the answer to boost sales?

Look for lots of door crasher-priced Galaxy S5s, HTC One M8s and LG G3s being featured as Black Friday deals.

As of this writing, Robert Martin did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2014/11/black-friday-tech-deals-cyber-monday-tech-deals/.

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