Early Black Friday Tech Deals You Shouldn't Miss (October 2026)
Black Friday 2026 lands on November 27, but the price cuts have already started. Every year, a handful of products dip to near-holiday prices in mid-October, then bounce back up before the big weekend. We check our tracked Amazon list every morning, and today's run turned up a few deals that already look like Black Friday prices. We've only included items that were in stock this morning and priced below what we last tracked. We also tell you who's selling each one, because "on sale" doesn't always mean "sold by Amazon."
1. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): the best early smartwatch deal
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, GPS, 40mm) is $219.99 today. That's $29 below the $249 we last tracked and its $249 list price, and it's sold by Amazon.com. You get crash and fall detection, heart-rate alerts, sleep tracking and the same watchOS apps as pricier models. It's the simplest way to add an Apple Watch to an iPhone setup.
The honest catch: this is the older SE. Apple has released a newer SE since, with an always-on display and faster charging. If those features matter, wait for Black Friday pricing on the newer model. If you just want notifications, workouts and safety features, this deal is solid.
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) GPS 40mm, Midnight
Price when checked (Oct 16, 2026): $219.99 — $29.01 below our last check, sold by Amazon.com
Check price on Amazon2. Renewed Galaxy S24 Ultra: down again
We reviewed the renewed Galaxy S24 Ultra yesterday at $610.48. This morning it's even lower: $596.18 for the 512GB unlocked model. That's $33.81 below the $629.99 we tracked a few days ago. You still get the 200MP camera, the built-in S Pen and Samsung's seven-year update promise.
It's sold by a third-party seller (MartMania today) and covered by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee. Check battery health and the screen in the first week, and use the 90-day return window if anything is off.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G, 512GB, Unlocked (Renewed)
Price when checked (Oct 16, 2026): $596.18 — $33.81 below our last check, third-party seller with the Amazon Renewed Guarantee
Check price on Amazon3. Renewed iPhone 15 Pro: the iPhone alternative
Want an iPhone instead? The renewed iPhone 15 Pro (256GB, Natural Titanium, unlocked) is $576.42 today. That's down $23.53 from our last tracked price. It has a titanium frame, USB-C, the Action button and a 3x telephoto camera, and it supports Apple Intelligence.
It's also sold by a third party (Macalegin Electronics this morning), and the listing's 3.8-star rating is lower than we'd like. That usually reflects how much condition varies between renewed units. Buy it only if you're comfortable checking the phone yourself and returning it if needed.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 256GB, Unlocked (Renewed)
Price when checked (Oct 16, 2026): $576.42 — $23.53 below our last check, third-party seller
Check price on Amazon4. Anker 65W charger: the stocking-stuffer deal
Not every early deal is a big-ticket item. The Anker 65W 3-Port USB-C Charger is $29.99, $6.01 below our tracked price, and sold by AnkerDirect. It's a foldable GaN charger that can run a laptop, phone and earbuds from one outlet. It works great with either phone above, since neither comes with a charger in the box. For more options, see our best USB-C chargers for travel guide.
Anker 65W 3-Port USB-C Charger (Foldable GaN)
Price when checked (Oct 16, 2026): $29.99 — $6.01 below our last check, sold by AnkerDirect
Check price on Amazon5. Philips Hue Starter Kit: about half of list
The Philips Hue Starter Kit (Hue Bridge plus two 60W A19 bulbs) is $72.99. Amazon shows a $142.99 list price, and it's $7 below what we last tracked. The Bridge is the real value here: it unlocks schedules, scenes, away-from-home control and Matter support, and you can add more bulbs later.
Two caveats. It's currently sold by a third party (Electronics Club), not Philips or Amazon. And if you only want simple on/off control, smart plugs are much cheaper. Our Hue vs Kasa comparison breaks down which is right for you.
Philips Hue Smart Bulb Starter Kit (Bridge + 2 Bulbs)
Price when checked (Oct 16, 2026): $72.99 — $7 below our last check, list $142.99, third-party seller
Check price on AmazonWhat to skip right now
Not everything is cheaper. Several popular products cost more this morning than they did a few weeks ago: Echo Dot ($79.99), Fire TV Stick 4K Max ($84.99), Kindle Paperwhite ($199.99) and Samsung's T7 1TB SSD ($244.99) are all well above their earlier lows. Amazon devices in particular tend to get their deepest cuts closer to Black Friday, so we'd wait on those. A few others, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Nintendo Switch OLED, had no add-to-cart button on Amazon this morning.
Buy now or wait? Pros and cons
- Prices above are already below our tracked levels
- Better stock and shipping times than Black Friday week
- Most items still come with Amazon's standard return window (check the terms on each listing)
- No racing a countdown timer on the day
- Some prices could drop further by November 27
- Three of these five picks are from third-party sellers
- Renewed phones vary in battery and cosmetic condition
- The Apple Watch SE deal is on an older model
The bottom line
If you've been waiting on an Apple Watch, the Apple Watch SE at $219.99 sold by Amazon is today's cleanest early Black Friday deal. Phone shoppers should look at the renewed Galaxy S24 Ultra at $596.18, and the Anker 65W charger is an easy add-on under $30. For more picks, check our weekly deals and best tech deals under $50. We'll keep tracking prices every morning through Black Friday.