Many of us are spending more time inside now that it’s fall and winter is approaching, so if you’re bored and in dire need of some entertainment, now’s the time to start thinking about this year’s Black Friday Roku deals. These devices are super affordable, easy to install, and offer a cheap way to turn almost any TV with an HDMI port into a full-fledged streaming machine so you can watch Netflix, Hulu, and your other favorite content services.
The 2021 Black Friday deals won’t officially arrive until November 26 this year, but with many retailers increasingly starting their sales early, it’s not a bad time to start planning your shopping ahead of time so you can get ready to snatch up the best Roku Black Friday deals as soon as they become available. We’ve got your back, too, with this handy shopping guide that can help you get ready for the event, and you can rest assured we’ll be keeping you posted about the Black Friday Roku deals the minute they start going live (that will likely begin before Thanksgiving, so stay tuned).
Best Black Friday Roku deals we saw last year
The Roku lineup of streaming devices grows larger each year, and pretty much all of its devices (and even Roku smart TVs from various brands) get discounted each year during Black Friday and other big seasonal sales of this kind. That was no exception in 2020, where shoppers were able to save on everything from cheap Roku streaming sticks to 4K smart TVs running the Roku OS.
First up were the external streaming devices like the Roku Express and the Roku Streaming Stick+, which are likely what you imagine when you think of the Roku brand. These basic streaming sticks are already pretty cheap even at their normal prices, but last year’s Black Friday Roku deals gave you the chance to score one for even less, with discounts of 20% to 30% being common throughout Black Friday weekend and Cyber Week.
The Roku Ultra 2019 streaming box was also on sale for up to 50% off at various retailers, which came to an even bigger cash savings as this device retails for $100. This was one of our favorite Roku Black Friday deals of 2020 considering that we named the Roku Ultra the best premium streaming box in our roundup of the best streaming devices. The excellent Roku Streambar saw a nice $30 price cut, too, and is a great addition to any TV.
Smart TVs featured heavily among the 2020 Black Friday Roku deals, and pretty much all the brands were present including TCL, Hisense, and Westinghouse. One of the best deals was on a 50-inch Westinghouse Roku TV which was on sale for $250 ($100 down from its normal $350 price), and that offer ran through Cyber Monday as well. The 65-inch TCL Roku TV saw a more modest discount of $40 which knocked it down to $430, but that was still a pretty good price for those looking for something a bit larger.
What Black Friday Roku deals we expect to see this year
We expect just about all of the best Roku devices to be on sale this year, so it’s a good idea to figure out which one you want (or at least make a short list of models you’re willing to pick from) before the Black Friday Roku deals arrive in earnest. Narrow down your selection so you don’t get overwhelmed and end up buying a Roku streaming device that isn’t optimal for your home theater setup and streaming habits.
The more basic Roku models like the Roku Express and Roku Streaming Stick are likely to receive discounts similar to what we saw last year, with price cuts of 20% to 30% being common at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. If all you’re after is a simple streaming stick to enable your TV to stream from services like Netflix, you’ll have multiple chances to pick up one of these Roku sticks for as little as $25 during Black Friday weekend and Cyber Week.
However, if you’re after features like voice controls and 4K support, then these Black Friday Roku deals are a great chance to score an upgraded model (such as the Roku Express 4K or Streaming Stick+) if you’re willing to spend just a little more. Expect to see these on sale for somewhere in the $30 to $50 region. Devices released last year like the Roku Streambar and 2020 Roku Ultra weren’t discounted as heavily last time around considering they were still new, but we expect to see some worthy Roku Black Friday deals on these models for 2021, and hopefully the same 50% savings that the last-gen model received during the 2020 sales.
There are sure to be plenty of Roku TVs featured among the Black Friday Roku deals this holiday shopping season, which is a great time to grab a new television and possibly save hundreds. Roku TVs from TCL and Hisense are solid and come loaded with everything you need to get streaming right out of the box. The best Roku TVs span a wide range of price points, from as low as $200 to as high as $2,000 or above, depending on the size of the TV and its panel type.
Should you buy a Roku device on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
If you’ve been thinking about buying a Roku, you might be wondering when the best time to buy is. With so many retailers rolling out early deals and running their sales at different times throughout Black Friday weekend and Cyber Week, it can be tough to know when exactly the best bargains can be found. We know from previous years that Black Friday Roku deals are going to offer the best prices you’re likely to find all year round, so we recommend you go ahead and take advantage of any hot Roku Black Friday deals as soon as they’re available. Don’t wait around thinking you’ll see a better deal come around during Cyber Week.
You shouldn’t have to worry about buying at the perfect time, though. Last year, owing to the surge in online shopping, many stores offered Black Friday price guarantees. In the event that an item that you bought (which was covered by this guarantee) got discounted to an even lower price during the sales, the retailer would refund you the difference to ensure you got the best bargain. This greatly reduced the risk of buying too early. We expect to see this again this year, so if you’re worried about this, look for Roku Black Friday deals from outlets offering these guarantees. Just double-check to make sure the item you’re buying is covered.
There are going to be a ton of Roku Black Friday deals available, but you should be careful when making a purchase that you only buy from trusted, reputable retailers. You want to make sure you do your research before buying, and select a retailer with a fair returns policy and one who will send you a genuine product. (Be careful when buying from third-party sellers that are common on Amazon and Walmart.) Finally, don’t let gimmicky pressure tactics like countdown clocks and “low stock” warnings push you into making a decision before you’re ready. Buy when you’re certain you’re getting the exact item you want at your desired price target, and you shouldn’t end up disappointed with your holiday shopping haul.
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