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Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: Which day is better for shopping?

When to snag the best deal this year.
By Haley Henschel and Christina Buff  on 
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UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2023, 9:00 p.m. EST This post has been updated with information about Cyber Monday deals that are better than Black Friday as well as Cyber Monday deals across 10+ categories that are still live.

Once two distinct deal shopping days, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have basically merged into one massive shopping extravaganza. The lines really began to blur when the world shut down in 2020 and brick-and-mortar stores hosted online sales in lieu of in-person Black Friday events. In 2023, those lines are practically nonexistent. We certainly can't see them.

While major retailers have been running holiday sales throughout all of November, savvy shoppers know that Black Friday, Cyber Monday, (and the few days surrounding them) still remain two of the absolute biggest shopping days of the year for their ability to reliably trigger record-low prices on big-ticket items (like 4K TVs, Apple devices, robot vacuums, headphones, and video games). That includes discounts that beat Amazon's massively-hyped fall Prime Day deals.

Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday — what's the difference?

Way back in the age of MySpace and AIM — aka 2005 — the National Retail Federation debuted the term "Cyber Monday" after realizing that the Monday after Thanksgiving saw a flood of online sales. This was likely due to shoppers using their faster internet connections at work on Monday morning to snag deals, or at least that's what they credited it to. That, of course, and the fact that online retailers wanted some of that holiday shopping bread, too. Thus, two distinct deal shopping days were born: Black Friday, for those who wanted to shop in stores the day after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday, for those who liked shopping from the comfort of their homes.

The best Cyber Monday deals at a glance:
Best headphones deal
Bose QuietComfort 45
$199 at Amazon (Save $130)
white smoke bose qc 45 headphones
Best Apple deal
Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS)
$329 at Amazon (Save $70)
apple watch
Best robot vacuum deal
iRobot Roomba Combo j5+
$499 at Amazon (Save $300)
Roomba on self emptying dock with external water tank and smartphone with green iRobot screen
Best gaming deal
Xbox Series S starter bundle
$249.99 at Best Buy (save $50)
Xbox Series S starter bundle
Best Dyson deal
Dyson V15 Detect Absolute
$499.99 at Walmart (save $250)
Dyson cordless vacuum with gold extender and green laser coming out of cleaning head
Best streaming deal
Hulu
One year of Hulu (with ads) ($0.99/month (save $7/month))
hulu logo
Best TV deal
Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV
$1,999.99 at Samsung (save $1,300)
Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV

These days, there's little — if any — real difference between the two due to the alleged "death of retail." Everyone and everything is online, so why wouldn't Black Friday be? Based on our years of experience covering both, we can truly say neither is a "better" day to shop. It really comes down to what you're looking for and how much demand there is for it.

Are there better deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

If you see a solid deal, grab it, no matter which sale title it falls under. There's not a tremendous amount of distinction anymore in terms of discounts on particular products as there has been in previous years. However, there are still rules to follow in some product categories: TV deals tend to be more dramatic and widespread for Black Friday with a higher likelihood of selling out before the clock even turns to Cyber Monday, while waiting for Cyber Monday to double-check that there's not a new, better laptop deal is often wise.

But with the blurred lines of Cyber Week, many of these deals will cross over. As noted at BlackFriday.com, "Some TV deals will feature flashy discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but they might not have the specs you're after." TL;DR: The deals will be great for both shopping days, but it all depends on what you're after. If you see the specs you like listed under a product sitting at a price that you like, grab it to be safe.

These 2023 Cyber Monday deals are better than Black Friday

  • Marshall Major IV — $79.99 $149.99 (save $70) These have dropped $20 cheaper since Black Friday and hit a new record-low by a lot.

  • Dyson V15 Detect Absolute Vacuum — $499.99 $749.99 (save $250) This well-reviewed vacuum dropped by another $50 since Black Friday.

  • Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro — $159.99 $229.99 (save $70 and get a free $10 Amazon gift card) That gift card is new since Black Friday.

  • Govee LED Smart Light Bulbs (4-pack) — $23.99 $39.99 (save $16 with on-page coupon) This coupon is new, making them $6 cheaper than they were on Black Friday.

  • Ruko F11PRO Drone — $159.99 $397.99 (save $238) We found an $80 price drop on this drone thanks to an on-page coupon.

How long is Black Friday?

It's honestly silly at this point to even call it Black Friday. It's no longer just on Friday — it's a full two-month affair. Major retailers like Walmart and Best Buy started dropping official Black Friday deals as early as October and will continue until the clock strikes midnight at the close of the Friday following Thanksgiving. At that point, it's Cyber Monday (yes, even though it's actually Saturday). We don't make the rules. The deals won't change too much, but the search terms and official site banners will.

When do Cyber Monday deals start?

Officially, Cyber Monday started on Monday, Nov. 27 in 2023. Unofficially, it basically started the second Black Friday ended, with retailers coining sales as "Cyber Monday" deals as early as Saturday, Nov. 25. So basically, semantics — and it's easier to just think of the Cyber Week language as interchangeable.

More great Cyber Monday deals:

If you're searching for a massive list of Cyber Monday deals across all retail behemoths, check out our giant Cyber Monday deals post. We'll be updating it throughout the remainder of Monday (and past that, if deals are still lingering). Below, we've curated a list of the Mashable editors' favorite deals for Cyber Week 2023:

Best Cyber Monday Apple deals

apple watch
Credit: Apple
Our pick: Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS)

Why we like it

Just under two short weeks ago, Walmart's first Black Friday sales event brought the Series 9 down to its lowest-ever price at $349. We weren't sure we'd see this price hit any lower — after all, $50 off the latest Apple Watch during Black Friday is the sale we've seen in years past. But if everyone running a Black Friday sale for the entire month is any indication, the ante has been upped this year. The Series 9 is now at a new low of $329, saving you $70 on the smartwatch that was released just this past fall. Along with the new S9 chip, the Series 9 comes with a brighter display than the previous generation, the same 18-hour battery life, and Double Tap.

Read Mashable's review of the Apple Watch Series 9.

More Apple deals

AirTags

Apple Watches

AirPods

Best Cyber Monday laptop deals

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
Credit: Microsoft
Our pick: Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3

Why we like it

"[The new Surface Laptop Go 3] isn't a performance beast nor a battery-life champ," writes Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon, "but it's ideal for students and busy-bee travelers in need of a portable notebook with one of the best keyboards I've ever tested." This is a new record-low price for the base configuration and a pretty significant discount for a laptop that came out only two months ago. We're excited to see it more firmly in "budget laptop" territory. (Note that Amazon had it listed as "temporarily out of stock" at the time of writing, but you could still order it and lock in the deal — you won't be charged until it ships.)

Read Mashable's review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3.

More Cyber Monday laptop deals

Mac & MacBook

Traditional laptops

2-in-1 laptops

Gaming laptops

Chromebooks

Best Cyber Monday Amazon device deal

Echo Show 5 and smart bulb
Credit: Amazon
Our pick: Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) with TP-Link Kasa Smart Color Bulb

Why we like it

Amazon is notorious for putting out great Echo bundles on Black Friday, and this year is no exception. This bundle would normally cost you about $113, but was marked down to just $39.99 at the time of writing. You'll score the 2023 version of the Echo Show 5 plus a Kasa Smart Color bulb. This bundle is the perfect budget-friendly way to test the smart home waters, but would also make an excellent white elephant gift.

SEE ALSO: Echo vs. Echo Dot: Which one should you buy on Black Friday?

More Cyber Monday Amazon device deals

Fire tablets

Echo devices

Fire TV sticks

Eero devices

Kindle

Best Cyber Monday robot vacuum deal

Roomba on self emptying dock with external water tank and smartphone with green iRobot screen
Credit: iRobot
Our pick: iRobot Roomba Combo j5+

Why we like it

You can bring home the triple threat that is automatic emptying, mopping, and small obstacle avoidance for less than $500 with this stellar deal on a mopping Roomba that just came out in September.

Compared to the Roomba j7+, the j5+'s obstacle detection cameras aren't quite as precise, and still may require you to pick up things like towels or socks, or put a virtual barrier around pet bowls. But to be able to skip skimming the floor for rogue cords and enjoy automatic emptying for less than $400, you can probably deal with ensuring laundry gets into the basket. As for the mopping, this is one of iRobot's new Swap and Mop models, which does require you to be home to physically click on the water tank when you want to mop.

More Cyber Monday robot vacuum deals

Standalone robot vacuums

Self-emptying robot vacuums

Self-emptying mopping robot vacuums

Best early Cyber Monday headphones deal

white smoke bose qc 45 headphones
Credit: Bose
Our pick: Bose QuietComfort 45

Why we like it

Narrowing down a headphones upgrade from so many on-sale options is less overwhelming when you've confirmed that you want to stick with a super premium, super reputable brand like Bose — but also that you want to stick to a budget. There's only one pair of Bose over-ear headphones you can grab for just under $200, and that's the QuietComfort 45s at a record low price of $199. This classic pair secures top-of-the-line ANC, 20 hours of battery life, and all-day comfort for less than half the price of the AirPods Max.

More Cyber Monday headphone deals

Over-ear and on-ear headphones

Earbuds

Speakers

Best Cyber Monday streaming deal

hulu logo
Credit: hulu
Our pick: Hulu (with ads), one year

Why we like it

Hulu has resurrected its epic 99-cent deal from two Black Fridays ago. Through Nov. 28, you can lock in an entire year of Hulu with ads for $0.99 per month (compared to the $1.99/month deal during Black Friday 2022 and National Streaming Day in May 2023). That's less than $12 total for the year (typically $95.88 for the year or $7.99/month) — less than what it'd typically cost to fund two months of Hulu with ads.

Hulu is the spot to watch The Bear, Love Island UK, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, RuPaul's Drag Race, and Lost as well as movies like I, Tonya, Alien, The Menu, Dazed and Confused, and a huge list of both classic and original holiday options. New stuff is being added constantly, including episodes of shows on ABC like The Golden Bachelor and Abbott Elementary the day after they air, plus movies that are fresh out of theaters, like A Haunting in Venice.

More streaming deals and ongoing bundles

Amazon Prime Video

Apple TV+

Disney+

Max

Hulu

  • Eligible college students can get a monthly subscription for $1.99 per month (save $6 per month)

  • Try for free with a 30-day trial

Netflix

Related Stories

NFL Sunday Ticket

  • YouTube TV members with a monthly Base Plan subscription can add NFL Sunday Ticket for $22.25/month or $89 total (save $260 compared to the original package price of $349)

  • Eligible users get two free months of Max when they bundle NFL Sunday Ticket and Youtube TV through Nov. 30

Paramount+

Mashable Deals
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Peacock

  • Peacock Premium — get one year for $19.99 ($1.66/month) with code YEARLONG (save $40) or go month to month for $1.99/month for 12 months (save $4/month)

  • Peacock Premium for students — $1.99/month for 12 months (save $3/month)

Sling TV

Best Cyber Monday TV deal

Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV
Credit: Samsung
Our top pick: Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV

Why we like it

Of the bunch of 85-inch Samsung TVs still on sale after Black Friday, we think the deal on the Q80C is the best bang for your buck. An 85-inch Samsung QLED for less than $2,000 should speak for itself, but let's quickly get into why this is such a steal: The Q80C is Samsung's most advanced QLED (before meeting the Neo QLED side of the family), packing 96 precisely-lit local dimming zones for the meticulous brightness necessary for watching sports in the daylight. Also present are advanced gaming features like a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support.

More Cyber Monday TV deals

43 inches

55 to 58 inches

65 inches

75 to 77 inches

83 to 85 inches

Best Cyber Monday kitchen deals

white Stanley the Quick Flip Go Bottle
Credit: Stanley
Our pick: Stanley the Quick Flip Go Bottle (36 oz)

Why we like it

Is it the Stanley cup that became internet famous? No, it's not. But is it double insulated, able to keep warm drinks hot for up to 10 hours, cold drinks cold for up to 18, cup-holder friendly, and overall more practical for on-the-go use? Absolutely.

More Cyber Monday kitchen deals

Best Cyber Monday gaming deal

Xbox Series S starter bundle
Credit: Microsoft
Xbox Series S starter bundle

Why we like it

This Xbox Series S starter bundle comes with everything you need to hop into the Xbox ecosystem. You'll get the console and a controller, of course, but this package deal also includes a three-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass, which we consider a necessity at this point. Who wouldn't want a membership to the Netflix of video games? At just $249.99 ($50 off), this bundle is an absolute steal and a no-brainer Cyber Monday purchase.

More Cyber Monday gaming deals

Xbox games

Xbox consoles

Xbox accessories and more

PlayStation games

PlayStation consoles

PlayStation accessories and more

Nintendo Switch games

Nintendo Switch consoles

Nintendo Switch accessories and more

Topics Black Friday Cyber Monday

Frequently Asked Questions

Black Friday has basically been on for a solid month already, but come Saturday, Nov. 25, it's Cyber Monday time. As we mentioned above, since Black Friday and Cyber Monday are basically one massive shopping holiday, you likely won't see that many changes in deals, just changes in the banners and advertising of them.

Cyber Monday sales will last from Saturday, Nov. 25 to midnight on Monday, Nov. 27. There's not a hard stop, as there's always deals that stay live for at least the day or two following, but the large bulk of the sale is over once Monday ends.

Target stores were closed on Thanksgiving, but are open for Black Friday beginning at 6 a.m. on Nov. 24.

Walmart was closed on Thanksgiving but is open for Black Friday. Last year, the Black Friday hours for Walmart were the normal store hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.. As far as we know this year, the mega-retailer will once again be opening at 6 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 24.

All physical Best Buy locations will be closed on Thanksgiving, but many locations will be open for "extended hours" during the holiday season. Last year, in-store shopping at Best Buy began at 5 a.m.

All Kohl's stores were closed on Thanksgiving but are open for in-store shopping beginning at 5 a.m. local time on Nov. 24, per a press release.

Mashable Image
Haley Henschel
Senior Shopping Reporter

Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what’s actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.

Haley received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and honed her sifting and winnowing skills at The Daily Cardinal. She previously covered politics for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, investigated exotic pet ownership for Wisconsin Watch, and blogged for some of your favorite reality stars.

In her free time, Haley enjoys playing video games, drawing, taking walks on Lake Michigan, and spending time with her parrot (Melon) and dog (Pierogi). She really, really wants to get back into horseback riding. You can follow her on X at @haleyhenschel or reach her via email at [email protected].

Mashable Image
Christina Buff

Christina Buff is a Nashville-based freelance writer for who covers shopping with a splash of entertainment. If you’re ever wondering what streaming service you need to watch something (and the cheapest way to sign up for it), she’s your girl.

Christina received a B.S. in Business Communication (concentration in writing) from Stevenson University and began her professional journey writing and editing press releases. Since then, she’s written content for a marketing agency, blogged for celebrities, and covered local news, politics, women’s lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and just about everything in between for various publications.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably enjoying live music, studying human design, or embroidering and upcycling clothes. You can follow her on Instagram at @touchinfinity.

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