4 days ago
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Black Friday is nearly here, and as ZDNET's deals and shopping editor, I know this time of year is one of the best to score savings on almost every major category. As someone in the process of building their first home, I'll need all the deals I can get to save on settling into my new place. Luckily, construction is far from over, and I've been spending the last few months scouring every major retailer for the best offers on smart home gear, including smart locks, security cameras, video doorbells, TVs, appliances, Echo devices, and more.
Also: Our favorite Black Friday deals live now
While shopping holiday savings isn't groundbreaking, not everyone has the option to access some of the best experts and product reviewers across the tech field. I do! That's why I'm sharing with you the best products my ZDNET colleagues recommended that are on sale for Black Friday. Here's what they said.
- Current price: $650 (35% off)
- Original price: $1,000
I've wanted a "frame" TV probably longer than I've wanted a house. I love the idea of displaying art sneakily and shifting the focal point of a living room away from a giant screen that spends a lot of time completely off.
Also: Hisense Canvas vs. Samsung Frame TV: I've seen both, and here's how Hisense wins
I've been comparing the Samsung Frame TV (the OG of sorts) and Hisense's more affordable Canvas TV, and while the Canvas TV has less size and bezel options, ZDNET managing editor Kerry Wan (who tested the TV last year) says the Hisense competes well, especially at this discounted price.
Both the 55-inch and 65-inch models are on sale for $650 and $900, respectively. Our TV reviewer Taylor Clemons also told me that Samsung's TV OS isn't as easy or smooth to work with as Google's OS, which is built into the Canvas. The Hisense Canvas may not be as sleek, thin, or refined, but for this sub-$700 price, it's really tough to even justify a Samsung Frame anyway (though those models are on sale, too).
If you are shopping TVs, Clemons is tracking our favorite TV deals live through Dec. 2.
- Current price: $900 (40% off)
- Original price: $1,500
Robot vacuum and smart home reviewer Maria Diaz told me a few weeks back that if I was looking to purchase the absolute best of the best robot vac and mop combo on the market, the Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone is it. It's insanely pricey, but Diaz called it "near perfect" in her review this year, and she's tested dozens of the best models from brands like Roborock, Dreame, and more. If anyone knows what robot vac is worth spending $900 on -- it's her. Plus, this robot vac just hit the market only a few months ago, and these 40% savings are the lowest it's dropped since its launch.
Also: The Ecovacs X11 OmniCyclone is near perfect
Don't fret if this isn't in your budget. Diaz is tracking our favorite robot vac and mop deals through Dec. 2.
- Current price: $280 (30% off)
- Original price: $400
A smart lock and a video doorbell are both essentials I plan to purchase for my house. It's 2025, and it seems irresponsible to not invest in them at this point. My home already comes equipped with Ecobee smart thermostats, and Maria Diaz, who specializes in our smart home gear at ZDNET, recommended Eufy's line of products to make managing these smart gadgets from my iPhone as easy as possible.
Also: I tested a palm recognition lock that doubles as a video doorbell - and it's stylish and smart
Diaz told me that Eufy's product family is great to continually add onto as your needs grow, and that there are many starter kits and bundle options on the market. She's also tested several Eufy products, like the E340 video doorbell and the FamiLock S3 Max.
I like that the FamiLock S3 Max combines a video doorbell and smart lock into one, which makes the still-pricey lock easier to swallow. This lock also has palm recognition and a keypad, which is a big plus. This is also the lowest price this lock has sold for in three months, so I'll definitely be adding this deal to my cart.
- Current price: $699 (13% off)
- Original price: $799
If you're a cat owner, you've probably contemplated buying this litter box, too. Whisker's robot litter box is extremely enticing, and the perfect product to put in my new home to keep dirty litter off my floors. But like many other items on this list, it is expensive, and Whisker is only offering small discounts on its website.
Also: I made the switch to a smart litter box, and my cat loves it
Still, my coworker Allison Murray absolutely swears by this litter box for her cats Norbert and Gilligan. She says it's totally worth the investment. There is a new model of this on the market, the Litter-Robot 5, so I may hold out on this holiday offer to see if I can grab the Litter-Robot 4 for any cheaper in the new year.
- Current price: $30/month (39% off per month)
- Original price: $45/month
Everyone and their mother has reminded me to condense my streaming platforms and subscriptions before moving in, and now is quite literally the perfect time to do so. There are tons of streaming deals live now for the holiday season, like this bundle, which lets you save 39% per month for your first year of the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle.
Also: I found the best Black Friday streaming deals live now
With the deal, new and eligible returning subscribers will pay $30/month for the ad-supported versions of the three streaming services, or $39/month for the ad-free versions, both for the first 12 months of service. Plus, managing editor Alison DeNisco Rayome is covering all the best Black Friday streaming deals through Dec. 2.
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