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27 pre-Black Friday tech deals you can start buying now

You don't need to wait for the Walmart stampede to save on gadgets this holiday. Here are the best electronics deals you can get ahead of Black Friday 2015.

Sean Hollister
When his parents denied him a Super NES, he got mad. When they traded a prize Sega Genesis for a 2400 baud modem, he got even. Years of Internet shareware, eBay'd possessions and video game testing jobs after that, he joined Engadget. He helped found The Verge, and later served as Gizmodo's reviews editor. When he's not madly testing laptops, apps, virtual reality experiences, and whatever new gadget will supposedly change the world, he likes to kick back with some games, a good Nerf blaster, and a bottle of Tejava.
Sean Hollister
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1 of 28

DJI Phantom 3 Standard for $600 (DJI)

Want one of DJI's aerial photography drones? Here are the best prices we've ever seen: just $500 for a DJI Phantom 3 Standard (down from $800) or $1,060 for a DJI Phantom 3 Professional (down from $1,260) with an extra $150 battery for free. You can get both at Adorama right now using the coupon code MBT1236001 at checkout.

Those deals beat the ones that DJI is offering direct from its website, starting at 2 p.m. PT on Thursday. The top-of-the-line Phantom 3 Professional drone is $100 off for a total of $1,160 (with the extra $150 battery) and the entry-level Phantom 3 Standard is $600. While it's definitely not as feature-packed as the Professional, the Standard is still a really nice camera drone for nearly half the price.

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2 of 28

Nintendo Wii U Deluxe with Splatoon and Smash Bros for $250 (eBay via Target)

If you've ever wanted a Nintendo Wii U, now's the time. This bundle comes with two of the system's best games preinstalled, for just $250 from Target via eBay. That's the best price we've seen on a Wii U (normally $300), period, to say nothing of one with two great games in the box.

Buy the Wii U here

Editor's note: Originally published earlier, last updated November 25, 11:02 a.m. PT.

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3 of 28

16GB iPad Mini 2 for $199 (Walmart)

There are a fair number of iPad deals this year, but this is the best price we've seen on Apple's most affordable tablet. Walmart is offering it for $199 (down from $269).

Target has another deal you might consider, though: an $80 Target giftcard with any iPad Mini 2 purchase.

Buy the iPad Mini 2 from Walmat here

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4 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Dyson V6 stick vacuum for $199 (Walmart)

When the Dyson V6 dropped to $300, it carved out an excellent niche in the stick vacuum market. But at just $199 from Walmart, it's an amazing deal.

If you miss out on that price, you can also find it at Best Buy, Target for $224, which is still a great bargain. It's also just one of the many Dyson vacuums you can find for 25 percent off through Wednesday -- check Dyson's website for more deals.

Buy the Dyson V6 from Walmart here

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5 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Lenovo IdeaPad S100 for $130 (Best Buy, eBay)

If you're looking for a tiny bare-bones Windows laptop, it won't get much better (read: cheaper) than the Lenovo IdeaPad 100S, and right now you can find it for just $130 (normally $200) at Best Buy and eBay.

Buy the IdeaPad 100S from Best Buy here

Buy it from eBay here

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6 of 28

Sony A6000 for $398 (Amazon, Adorama, Crutchfield)

The Sony A6000 interchangeable-lens camera will be two years old in February -- presuming that Sony doesn't replace it in the interim -- but it's still a really good choice for family and enthusiast photographers who want something smaller than a dSLR. You can find the camera body for just $398 from Amazon, Adorama or Crutchfield today, and kits that come with two lenses can be had for under $700.

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7 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

$100 Target giftcard with any Apple Watch purchase (Target)

Apple products rarely go on sale, but Target has a great deal if you're looking for an Apple Watch this holiday. No matter which model or style (they start at $350), you'll get a free $100 Target giftcard with your purchase.

Buy the Apple Watch here

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8 of 28 Asus

Asus Zenbook UX305LA for $700 (Amazon)

The UX305 is an excellent thin-and-light laptop with an all-metal frame. This version comes with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage for just $700 (down from $900). You can also find the much less powerful Core M version for $530 at eBay.

Buy the Asus UX305 with Core i5 here

Buy the Asus UX305 with Core M here.

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9 of 28 Joshua Goldman/CNET

GoPro Hero4 Silver for $329, Hero4 Black for $400 (Amazon, Adorama)

The best action camera for the money now costs less. The GoPro Hero4 Silver is now on sale for just $324 at Amazon and $329 at Adorama (down from $400).

You can also find the pricier GoPro Hero4 Black for $400 (down from $500).

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10 of 28 Activision

Guitar Hero Live for $70 (Amazon, Best Buy)

Video games with fake musical instruments usually cost quite a bit. But now, you can grab Guitar Hero Live -- with the guitar -- for $70 at Amazon or at Best Buy for any game console of your choice. Normally it costs $100. There's also a two-guitar package for $110 at Amazon (down from $150).

Update: The $65 Amazon price seems to have expired (now $70), and some of the two-guitar packages are now full price.

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11 of 28

The Godfather Collection (Coppola Restoration) for $10 from iTunes

Three of the best films of all time, retouched frame by frame, in a high-definition digital download edition. The Godfather Collection: The Coppola Restoration is now just $10 on iTunes (normally $45).

You can also find the collection on Blu-ray for $25 at Barnes & Noble, or $30 at Best Buy.

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12 of 28 Dong Ngo/CNET

SanDisk SSDs (240GB for $60, 480GB for $110, 960GB for $200)

Need some faster storage in your PC? These solid-state drives are nice and cheap. Amazon and Best Buy have the 240GB SSD Plus for $60 (down from $115). Adorama has the 480GB Ultra II for $110 (down from $200). And both Newegg and Adorama have the 960GB Ultra II for $200 (down from $320).

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13 of 28 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Samsung ActiveWash washing machine for $600 (Home Depot)

This washing machine has a built-in sink for pretreating fabrics. The white, 4.8-cubic-foot model of the appliance usually costs $900, but Home Depot is now selling it for $600. The gray, 5.2-cubic-foot-model is marked down from $1,200 to $750.

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14 of 28

Fitbit Charge HR for $120 (eBay, Target)

Many retailers will sell this well-liked fitness tracker for $120 (normally $150) during their Black Friday sales, but you don't have to wait. You can find it for that same price right now at eBay. It's also $119 at Target and $135 right now at Amazon, in case eBay runs out.

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15 of 28

Nintendo 2DS for $79 (Walmar)

The Nintendo 2DS doesn't fold, and it doesn't show games in stereo 3D. But it does play the vast majority of Nintendo mobile games (including 3D titles) with its stylus and two flat screens. For just $79 at Walmart (normally $100) it's a good deal and an easy pick for kids on your list.

A better deal, if you're lucky: A 2DS bundle with Mario Kart 7 is $80 at Target (online only), and you can stack a 15 percent coupon code (TGTKZN2T) to bring the total to $68.

Buy the Nintendo 2DS here.

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16 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch for $200 (Best Buy)

The brand-new Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch can already be had for a discount: $200 at Best Buy, instead of the $250 it usually costs. Note that the model with the leather band and scalloped dial costs more.

Update: The Best Buy deal is over, but you can get it from Adorama for $209 after mail-in rebate.

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17 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Amazon Kindle for $50 (Amazon)

The cheapest Kindle is now even cheaper: just $50. It regularly costs $80. You can also find the Kindle Paperwhite for $100 (down from $120). Note that both of these prices are for the versions with "Special Offers," advertising that appears on the lock screen.

Buy the $50 Kindle here

Buy the Kindle Paperwhite here

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18 of 28

Panasonic Lumix CM1 smartphone for $499 (Adorama, Amazon)

The Panasonic Lumix CM1 might have the best camera ever put into a smartphone, but $1,000? Crazy. Now you can have it for $499 at Adorama or Amazon.

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19 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

UE Boom Bluetooth speaker for $100 (Crutchfield)

The loud, rugged and water resistant UE Boom Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $100 (down from $200) at Crutchfield. Other stores will have it for that price on Black Friday, but why wait?

Update: Crutchfield's price seems to have changed; it's now $150. That's still a $50 discount, but prices might be better on Friday.

Buy the UE Boom here

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20 of 28 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 for $350-$400 (Amazon, Adorama, Best Buy)

The best iPad knockoff yet, Samsung's Tab S2 is a great pick if you need a premium Android tablet. Amazon, Adorama and Best Buy are offering the 8-inch model for $350, a $50 savings, and the 9.7-inch model for $400 (down from $500).

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21 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Pebble Time smartwatch for $130 (Pebble)

The fun, functional Pebble Time smartwatch can now be had for $130 direct from Pebble's website. It normally retails for $200, but it's recently gone on sale for $150 as well. Target will also have it on sale for $130, starting Thursday at 6 p.m. PT.

Note that this is not the Pebble Time Steel, which is slightly thicker, with a metal casing and longer battery life. The Steel is on sale for $200, a $50 savings.

Buy the Pebble Time here

Buy the Pebble Time Steel here

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22 of 28 Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung UD590 28-inch 4K monitor for $400 (Amazon, Best Buy)

Here's a 28-inch 4K monitor with 60Hz refresh rate and 1 millisecond response time for just $400, compared to its usual $600 price. That's a great deal for gamers, if their video cards are up to the challenge. Find it at Amazon or Best Buy.

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Xbox One for $300 starting Wednesday (Target) or Thursday (Microsoft)

The Xbox One is now an excellent game console, a capable streaming box and a Blu-ray player, too -- and it's getting a $50 price cut. This Wednesday, Target will be the first to offer it for just $300 (down from $350), with a $60 Target gift card as an added bonus.

If you miss out, the Microsoft Store will sell all Xbox One bundles at a $50 discount starting Wednesday at 9 p.m. PT.

Here's a better deal, but one sure to go fast: Dell will have an Xbox One plus a copy of Fallout 4 and an extra controller for $300 at 3 p.m. PT Thursday. That's a $170 savings.

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24 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Surface 3 for $479 (Microsoft Store)

The Surface 3 is no Surface Pro, but it's a capable lightweight computer. Starting Wednesday at 9 p.m. PT (midnight ET on Thursday), the Microsoft Store will sell you any Surface 3 plus a Type Cover keyboard for $150 off. That means you can nab the base 64GB Surface 3, with the keyboard, for just $479 (down from $629).

Find the Surface 3 deal here

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25 of 28 Dell

Dell Inspiron 15 for $399 (Microsoft)

This Microsoft Store doorbuster will probably go fast at 9 p.m. PT on Wednesday: a 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen computer with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and 1TB of storage for just $399 (down from $749).

Find the Inspiron 15 deal here, starting Wednesday at 9 p.m. PT.

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26 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

Alienware 15 gaming laptop for $1,200 starting Thursday (Dell)

The Alienware 15 is a solid gaming machine, and you can get a well-equipped version for just $1,200 (down from $1,500) this Thursday. It comes with a 6th-gen Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory, 1TB of storage, GeForce GTX 970M graphics and a 15.6-inch 1080p display.

Buy it from Dell here.

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27 of 28 Sarah Tew/CNET

iPad Air 2 for $374 starting Thursday (Staples)

We call it "the best iPad you can buy right now" and Staples is making it even better with a big discount. Starting on Thursday, you can get a 16GB iPad Air 2 for $374 (down from $499 -- a $125 savings) or a 32GB iPad Air 2 for $449 (down from $599 -- a $150 discount).

The new iPad Mini 4 can also be had for $299, a $100 savings.

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28 of 28 Ron Pruitt/Demotix/Corbis

Even more Black Friday

Looking for even more deals? There's plenty more where these came from. Check out our entire Black Friday hub and our Holiday Gift Guide.

See all of CNET's Black Friday coverage

Check out CNET's Holiday Gift Guide

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