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The products worth buying in today's Cyber Monday sales

Expert tips for bagging a genuine Cyber Monday bargain, plus exclusively for members, the products worth buying in the sales.

products you should buy in black friday sales vacuum tv smartphone mattress airfryer
Last updated: 27 November 2023

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably been bombarded with ads for discounted products over the weekend. And if you're the more measured type, you might be holding out until the final day of the sales – Cyber Monday – to make your move. 

If this is the case, and you want to avoid an impulse purchase you might regret, you've come to the right place. There's no doubt that there are bargains to be found – as long as you do you research and know what you're looking for.

Our CHOICE experts share their advice on what to consider when you're looking for deals on TVs, mattresses, stick vacuums, air fryers, kitchenware and whitegoods. 

And exclusively for CHOICE members, we reveal the highest scoring products in some of these categories, plus insider tips from our experts.

Buying a TV in the Black Friday sales

Sales such as Black Friday are the perfect time to look for discounts on tech products, in particular big-ticket items like TVs. There are already big discounts on offer from major home appliance retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, Bing Lee, The Good Guys and Appliances Online, and direct from brands such as Samsung.

CHOICE TV expert Denis Gallagher says, "Black Friday is a great time to update your TV as the 2023 models that were released in April and May have now been on the shelves for some time."

"Companies have lots of stock that they want to move on before the end of the year."

So, there'll be plenty of TVs on sale – but how can you make sure you're getting a good deal, and getting the best TV?

Companies have lots of stock that want to move before the end of the year

"Black Friday is not the time to go looking for any old TV at rock bottom prices," Denis says. 

"You're better off looking at mid-range and premium-priced TVs where there's enough of a profit margin that the companies can knock sizeable amounts off the normal price while still making good coin."

And even though the sales officially start on Friday 24 November, keep an eye out in the lead-up: "Many retailers jump the gun and start discounting early, so keep an eye out from now," says Denis.

"Looking at the model numbers and product codes on the back of the TVs will tell you if it's a new model or an older one that you might be able to nab cheaply," says Denis.

Here's how to read the model codes to get a bargain TV.

Don't get caught with a dud

Check our expert TV reviews before you buy to make sure you're getting the best model. CHOICE members have full access to our detailed reviews. You can filter by size, price, brand and other attributes to find the right TV for you. Members can also check out our top-performing models below.

Buying an air fryer and cookware in the Black Friday sales

Black Friday sales are a great time to pick up that pricey Dutch oven, frying pan or air fryer that you've had your eye on but perhaps haven't been able to stretch the budget to cover.

Our testing of cookware items such as Dutch ovens, saucepans and nonstick frypans shows that there are many cheaper items that still perform well. But the sales can be a good time to nab a particular colour from that pricey cast-iron cookware brand, or upgrade to a luxe stainless steel saucepan or fancy copper frying pan that are at the higher end of the price scale. 

These cookware items are usually among those offered in the sales by retailers such as Myer, David Jones and specialist shops. 

Buying an air fryer?

Are you ready to jump on the air fryer bandwagon or upgrade your older model to something bigger or fancier? First, find out what our CHOICE experts had to say about the most recent batch of air fryer models they tested: 5 things we found in our latest air fryer review.

Prices range from $89 for a basic Kmart model through to $629 for a top-of-the-line Philips, so it can be confusing knowing how much to spend.

Well, you don't need to spend a fortune to find a great one. Many expensive models performed well, but some models we recommend cost less than a third of the price of the most expensive air fryer we tested.

Some models we recommend cost less than a third of the price of the most expensive air fryer we tested

We've rounded up a list of the best air fryers under $250 to give you an idea of what your money can buy if you're on a budget. 

But your best bet is to check our expert air fryer reviews so you can find the perfect air fryer for your home and family. 

You can filter by price, capacity and style, and we'll give you detailed scores on things like how well they cook crumbed chicken, roast pork, marinated chicken wings and hot chips, plus how easy they are to use and other criteria. 

For CHOICE members, we'll reveal the top performing air fryers from our tests – see below. 

Buying a mattress in the Black Friday sales

If planning all this shopping is making you weary, your thoughts may be turning to a nice new mattress. There are a few deals around – brands such as Sealy, Ecosa, Emma and Koala are already promoting Black Friday deals, as well as retailers such as Snooze, Forty Winks and Appliances Online. 

But how can you tell if you're getting a good deal? The mattress market can be confusing and complex, with a huge range of brands, materials, prices and marketing spin – and the same products sometimes carry different labels at different retailers, so it can be tricky to compare. 

First things first, read the 6 surprising things CHOICE experts discovered in our latest mattress review

Many retailers have lots of room to move on price. So don't be afraid to ask for a better deal, especially if you're in the store, where it's easier to haggle

One of the key things to know when shopping for a mattress is: don't be afraid to haggle! Many retailers have lots of room to move on price. So don't be afraid to ask for a better deal, especially if you're in a store and buying a traditional mattress, which are easier to haggle on as opposed to buying a mattress in a box from an online retailer.

And the best way to avoid making a costly mistake is to check our expert mattress reviews first. We've tested mattresses from both popular retailers and online bed-in-a-box brands, including Sleeping Duck, Sealy, Emma, Snooze, Sleepmaker, Avatar and more. 

And for CHOICE members only, see below for the best mattress on the market. 

Can you get a quality mattress for under $1000?

We spoke to people who recently bought a mattress and also to CHOICE experts to find out how to get the best prices, what to look for and if it's really possible. 

Buying a stick vacuum in the Black Friday sales

It's easy to assume that Dyson is the best brand in the stick vacuum market, but again, you don't have to spend a fortune to find a star performer. 

Yes, Dyson models perform strongly in our tests and are worth considering if your budget allows. But they're not the only player in the market – and other brands are hot on their heels. 

If you want Dyson performance without the exxy price tag, check our expert stick vacuum review to find a model that delivers on both price and performance. 

And for CHOICE members, we reveal the best stick vacuums you can buy below. 

Buying whitegoods in the Black Friday sales

Our whitegood experts at CHOICE have some quick-fire tips for you if you're looking to buy a large appliance in the Black Friday sales –and we've noticed many retailers discounting these types of products already in the lead up to the sales. You can find more tips for each of these categories in our buying guides.

Washing machines

Don't pay for features you're not going to use, and don't worry too much about capacity. You probably only wash about 3.5kg at a time, so don't stress about paying more for a 10kg machine over a 9kg. 

Front loaders generally perform better than top loaders and are more energy- and water-efficient, but they do cost more upfront, and remember you'll have to bend down to use them.

Dryers 

Vented dryers are cheap to buy but expensive to run, while heat pump dryers on the whole are cheaper to run but expensive to buy. 

What's best for you? It depends how often you run it – if you only use your dryer once a month or so you'll never recoup the cost of the more expensive heat pump one. 

And don't buy a washer dryer combo if a separate washer and dryer is an option – they wash just fine but their drying leaves a lot to be desired. 

Fridges

Most importantly, before you buy, measure up and make sure the fridge will fit through your door and in your kitchen. And as with other whitegoods, don't pay more for features you won't use. 

Take note of the energy star rating – your fridge is always on so you want one that's energy efficient. 

Use our expert fridge reviews to find one that performs well too, so you're not wasting money on prematurely spoiled food down the track. 

Finally, consider colour: fridges are big and noticeable so you might want something flash, but stainless steel usually costs about $100 more than white, and other fancy finishes more again. A graphite glass finish will get oohs and aahs, but consider whether you'd prefer the savings instead.

Buying good-quality products that last

No matter what you're buying in the sales, one thing to keep in mind is that a product is only a good deal if it's going to perform well and last. If a product is made with cheap components or is likely to develop faults quickly, you may find yourself sending it to landfill within a short period of time or forking out money for expensive repairs sooner than you'd like.

To help you buy good-quality products that last, from reliable brands, CHOICE has included insights on what you can expect in terms of faults over time with certain products for eight appliance categories on our site, including fridges and dishwashers. CHOICE members can view these insights in the product review tables. Over time we'll be measuring the lifespan of products till people experience their first major fault that needs a repair, which will then keep that product ticking. It's another reason to check CHOICE reviews before you buy to ensure you're getting the best value for money.

To help you find the best Black Friday products, we've compiled the top performers from our tests. 

Consider becoming a CHOICE member to access our results, as well as our full test results for more than 200 product categories, including whitegoods, tech products, home entertainment, kitchen appliances and much more. 

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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.

The top-scoring TVs to look out for

LG and Samsung dominate the list of TV models we recommend in our review, with 12 of the 17 models we recommend in this category being from these brands. But if you keep an open mind, you could find a quality TV from another brand in the sales that ticks all the boxes. 

Keep an eye out for these models so you can make sure you're picking up a diamond, not a dud:

You can also check out our comparison of LG and Samsung TVs to help you choose between these two popular brands.

Want more? Check out our full expert TV reviews to find the best TV for your budget and needs. 

The top-scoring mattresses to look out for

The two best performing mattresses in our test were a foam mattress-in-a-box type and a traditional spring type. Which goes to show that you shouldn't avoid one style because you're not familiar with it, or it seems old-fashioned. 

Both mattresses were from the Emma brand. Despite their excellent performance in our test, we're unable to recommend them due to member feedback we've received around poor delivery times and their subsequent communications. We're speaking to Emma about this and watching the situation.

If you're still interested, these are the models that topped our test with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 81%:

In third place with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 79% was the great-value Breeze Firm Queen Mattress, RRP $479. 

We recommend mattresses that score 75% and above, but previously we recommended models scoring 70% and above. Peter Zaluzny, our resident mattress expert, says that 70% is still a great score: "Mattresses that score between 70 and 74% are still worth considering," he says. 

Finding the right mattress for you can be complicated – you need to consider factors like firmness, breathability, sagging over time and comfort retention. Our expert mattress reviews cover all these and more.

philips airfryer compact digital hd974293

Philips air fryers have previously topped our tests, but now there are a few new players in town.

The top-scoring air fryers to look out for

In previous years, Philips has dominated the top spots in our air fryer reviews, but that's no longer the case with other brands now stepping up to the plate. 

In our most recent testing, we recommend five models with prices ranging from $269 to $500. 

Our two best performers were also multi-cookers that include an air fryer function, giving you more bang for your buck.

We've already seen retailers such as The Good Guys, Harvey Norman and Bing Lee cutting prices on air fryers ahead of Black Friday and trying to clear stock. 

And, if you have a smaller budget, keep an eye out for some of the cheaper models our expert testing identified as offering good bang for your buck. Read more in the best airfryers for under $250.

The top-scoring stick vacuums to look out for

Dyson has long dominated the top performers in our stick vac testing, but in our latest review we also saw some great models from other brands such as LG, Samsung and Shark sneak into our list of nine recommended models. 

There are some eye-watering prices in our top-scorer list – $1200 and higher – so it pays to shop around, consider alternative brands, and take advantage of any models which may be on sale. 

The Dyson website currently has some models marked down from their recommended retail price. The top three performers in our latest stick vacuum review are:

"Dyson is definitely a great performer when it comes to stick vacs, but there are other brands that are worth considering if you have a lower budget," says CHOICE expert tester Adrian Lini. "Although you may be able to pick up an older Dyson model in the sales at a reduced price as well, which could also be a good option." 

But Adrian has a warning about new Dysons at the cheaper end of the brand's price range.

"The cheaper Dysons still perform quite well in our tests on carpet, but they often don't come with the new head attachment specifically designed for hard floors, which is why they don't perform as well overall. But if carpet is your main concern, Dysons at the lower end of the price range are a good buy," says Adrian.

Happy Dyson owner

CHOICE staff member Pru splashed out on one of the top performers in our tests: the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute. Does she think it was worth the cash? 

"This is the first stick vacuum I have ever owned, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I'm so impressed with how this one performs," she says. "I absolutely love it. I use it almost everyday for quick top-up cleans on my hard floors and it picks up everything.

Pru isn't concerned by the limited battery life of a stick vac. "I often use the highest power which means battery life is cut down to just 7 minutes after a full charge (the battery life on the Eco setting is over 50 minutes after a full charge, and over 30 minutes on the Auto setting), however I only have a smallish house so this is no problem for me," she says. 

"The green LED illumination light may seem gimmicky but it actually shows up a load of dust that I can't see with my naked eye so it helps me do a more thorough clean."

If you can't quite stretch to a pricier model, CHOICE members can check out our tips on the best stick vacuums under $250.

As always, check our full stick vac reviews to make sure you're buying the best stick vacuum for your needs. 

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.