Boxing Day vs Black Friday: Which sale has the best deals?

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Black Friday and Boxing Day are two of the biggest shopping events of the year, but which sale has the best discounts?

Black Friday vs Boxing Day: An in-depth look.

Aussies are set to spend an estimated 3.8 billion dollars over Black Friday weekend this year. For the first time ever, the annual shopping event is tipped to overtake Boxing Day in Australia, with over 6 million people planning to take part.

But which will come out on top when we put Black Friday up against Boxing Day? Let's find out.

DON'T MISS OUT: The Best Black Friday 2023 deals

One key difference this year: many retailers started their Black Friday sales early, so there have been multiple opportunities for bargains. Boxing Day bargains generally don't start before 26 December, though a handful actually launch on Christmas Day.

Here's how some of the most popular product categories compare.

Black Friday vs Boxing Day: Laptops

We're seeing some major savings in Black Friday laptop sales this year, with heaps of deals offering 20% or more off. For instance, during Black Friday last year you could pick up the MSI GE66 Raider 15.6-inch for just $3,499, down from $5,399. That meant there was a whopping 35% off the RRP.

That said, last year's Boxing Day sales saw some equally tasty discounts, including a staggering $900 off the Dell G7 17 Gaming Laptop. Our advice is to buy in November, but if you need to save up some money or accidentally forget about the sale, Boxing Day should have some decent deals too.

4K TVs

For those looking to upgrade and save on a new 4K TV, Black Friday is great. For instance, during the Black Friday sales last year you could score 26% off Sony 4K TVs at eBay. But, competition from Boxing Day sales was in good health, with savings of more than 50% at online retailers including eBay and Kogan.

Black Friday has a well-deserved reputation for big TV discounts, and that's the case with the discounts we're seeing in 2023. There should be plenty of opportunity to score a great deal on Boxing Day if you're prepared to wait a little longer.

Nintendo Switch

Gamers hunting for a Nintendo Switch for Christmas could be in luck with based on the tempting Black Friday deals on offer already. Last year's deals included $50 off the Nintendo Switch Lite at Amazon and competitive pricing on the Switch OLED.

If you're willing to wait out until Boxing Day, you can expect equally attractive deals. Last year saw console prices as low as $369 with some great bundles on games and controllers. If you're not buying a Switch specifically for Christmas, Boxing Day is a pretty safe bet, assuming availability doesn't dry up.

Apple AirPods

Those looking to save some money on a new pair of Apple AirPods would do well to keep their eyes peeled for Black Friday deals. The stubbornly priced headphones have were slashed by up to 20% off in last year's event and you can expect even bigger drops on 29 November.

Last year, Boxing Day saw slashes of up to $90 on select AirPods models from the likes of Kogan and Amazon. In other words, there will be ample opportunity to bag a bargain during either shopping event.

iPhones

Apple isn't really known for slashing its iPhone prices during Black Friday, which means we're unlikely to see drastic savings on the newly dropped iPhone 13. But there will be heaps of Black Friday discounts on older iPhone models, especially when you shop through other retailers rather than Apple itself.

Boxing Day takes place just 1 month after Black Friday. In other words, the iPhone 13 range will almost certainly be the same price. If you're anxious to get your hands on an older iPhone, prices similar to the example mentioned above will be available.

Sneakers

Alongside gaming and tech, sneakers are one of the hottest sale items on Black Friday. If you need some new kicks, it makes sense to strike during the Black Friday event and save up to a massive 60% off while stocks last.

If you prefer to try sneakers on before you buy them, Boxing Day may have a slight edge on Black Friday. There is likely to be a higher volume of sales at physical stores on 26 December compared to 29 November. Most big retail chains will be offering up big shoe discounts, so keep an eye on stores like Paul's Warehouse and Foot Locker.

Dyson

If previous Black Fridays are anything to go by, premium products from Dyson will see reductions of up to $300 during Black Friday's sale. You'll be able to get discounts from the official Dyson site or third-party retailers like Amazon, The Good Guys and Harvey Norman. For a sneak peak at some early offers, head to our dedicated article on Black Friday Dyson deals.

Fashion

Good news for those looking to dress up, down and everything in between, with massive discounts a safe bet in both sales across your favourite clothing brands. Last year saw Amazon knock 40% off select fashion. ASOS offered a huge 60% off selected items in the Boxing Day sales, while THE ICONIC offered 30% off Tommy Hilfiger and Doc Martens.

There are will also be bags of opportunities to grab a bargain as we approach Black Friday with up to 80% off at multiple clothing stores including ASOS, THE ICONIC and PrettyLittleThing. For more info, take a look at a collection of our best early Black Friday fashion deals.

Verdict

Black Friday vs Boxing Day: Our verdict?

Well, with both sales offering plenty of big discounts, the plunge comes down to what you're looking to buy. If it's a specific bit of tech you're after, then Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a good bet with great deals on laptops and video game consoles available right now. There's also the added benefit of getting your goods before Christmas.

Without the hype of Christmas shopping, Boxing Day deals really have to compete for your eye. It's also the time of year that traditional retailers are trying to get rid of existing stock, resulting in bigger discounts. If it's a compulsive steal you're after, you might get the edge by hanging on until 26 December. This is particularly true if you prefer to see products in person prior to purchasing them. (In Australia, Black Friday has a much stronger focus on online deals.)

So it really depends on how you like to shop and what you're actually buying. For online deals across games, tech and fashion, Black Friday is unlikely to be outpriced by Boxing Day. But for in-store purchases – especially big ticket items like TVs – Boxing Day is arguably worth the wait.

Whichever shopping event you go with, be sure to check prices at multiple retailers before you buy. When shopping in physical stores, it's also worth asking for a price match. Here's a list of popular retailers offering price match guarantees in Australia.

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