Shoppers across the UK start marking their calendars every fourth Friday of November, and 2026 is no different. Black Friday 2026 falls on 27 November, with Cyber Monday following on the 30th, and together they kick off the busiest discount season of the year. Back Market is the largest online marketplace dedicated to refurbished electronics, and it’s one of several names worth knowing before the sales begin, sitting alongside high street staples and online-only retailers all competing for your attention. Below is a rundown of where to look across the main categories, plus a few pointers to help you tell a bargain from an inflated one.
Best tech deals, smartphones, laptops and tablets
Tech tends to dominate Black Friday headlines, and UK shoppers have no shortage of places to compare.
- Currys – strong on laptops, TVs and general electronics
- AO.com – reliable for tech and larger appliances alike
- John Lewis – its Price Promise can help you shop with confidence, although it applies only to eligible, identical in-stock products from qualifying retailers
- Back Market – the refurbished specialist, offering tested, warrantied smartphones, laptops and tablets from major brands at a fraction of retail cost
- Amazon – rarely sits out a major discount weekend
Refurbished electronics, the smart Black Friday alternative
Buying refurbished has quietly become one of the smarter moves when it comes to Black Friday deals, mostly because the savings hold up under scrutiny rather than relying on a marked-up “was” price. This Black Friday, Back Market offers refurbished iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, MacBooks and iPads with warranty and guaranteed quality, so you’re not gambling on a mystery listing from an unverified seller. Every device is graded, tested and backed by a minimum one-year warranty, which means the discount comes without the usual risk that puts people off buying second-hand tech in the first place, and the savings against a brand-new equivalent are often substantial rather than marginal.
Where to buy an iPhone on Black Friday
iPhones are consistently among the most searched items over Black Friday weekend, and the price you end up paying can vary enormously depending on where you look. Back Market is worth putting at the top of that list, since it offers unlocked, refurbished iPhones across several generations, from recent models to older favourites that are still going strong. Every handset is graded by condition, fully tested, and backed by a minimum one-year warranty, so the lower price doesn’t come with the usual guesswork of buying second-hand; rather than committing to a lengthy network contract just to bring the upfront cost down, you get the phone outright, at a price that undercuts new models by a wide margin, and with quality assurance built in from the start.
Best fashion deals
Fashion retailers rarely miss a Black Friday opportunity, and 2026 should be no exception.
- ASOS – sitewide percentage discounts across most brands
- Next – consistent markdowns on both own-brand and stocked labels
- Marks & Spencer – broad discounts across clothing and homeware crossover lines
- End. and Very – offers concentrated on footwear and outerwear
- Zalando – worth checking for European brands that don’t always discount elsewhere
Best home and appliance deals
Home and appliance deals tend to reward a bit of patience, since prices often dip further in the days after the initial Friday rush.
- Dunelm – dependable for furniture and smaller home pieces
- Argos – broad range of small appliances at competitive prices
- John Lewis – price-match promise applies here too, for bigger purchases
- AO.com – strong on washing machines, fridges and other big-ticket kitchen items
How to spot genuine discounts vs inflated pricing
Not every red banner marked “50% off” reflects an honest saving, and UK shoppers have grown rightly sceptical after years of retailers quietly nudging prices up before slashing them back down again. The simplest way to check is comparing today’s price against what the item cost a few weeks earlier, using a price-history tool or the retailer’s own past listings. A genuine deal withstands scrutiny, while an inflated one typically reveals itself upon closer examination.
