Best Early Black Friday Deals Under $50

The Papillon Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager Pillow checks a lot of the boxes for being the perfect massager. It’s effective and lightweight. In fact, it’s the lightest of all the electric massagers we tried, according to our measurements. It’s also fairly inexpensive. You can use the massager on different body parts, such as your back, neck, shoulders, legs, and feet. It also offers a good amount of heat.

The Easy-Take Skincare Fridge is the only skincare fridge we evaluated that has an LED mirror on the front door that has three brightness levels, which comes in handy if you’re trying to save space on your vanity. The fridge has one removable shelf, but the height can’t be adjusted. The door closes securely with a magnetic closure, but its capacity is smaller than other models we tried, and it was unable to fit a 13.5 fluid ounce bottle of micellar water.

Originally, this fridge sold for about $80. But we haven’t seen it sell for higher than $48.99 recently.

The Roku Express 4K+ has been at this price for a while now and will likely drop perhaps only a few bucks more for the holiday season (we’ve seen it sell for as low as $24.99). It is a small set-top box that offers 4K picture quality, plus support for both HDR10 and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats, though not Dolby Vision, which is found in some pricier models. The included WiFi voice remote control has TV controls that let you turn on the TV, adjust the set’s volume, and use Roku Voice to search and launch channels.

This stick-style player is down to a new low price, $2 less than during the last sale. It has a slightly faster processor and more storage (16GB instead of 8GB) than its predecessor. It also has a newer WiFi technology—WiFi 6e—though you’ll also need a WiFi 6e router to take advantage of it. It also has a new feature, called the Fire TV Ambient Experience that lets you see information, such as calendars and reminders, control smart devices, or view artwork and photos, on the screen when you’re not watching TV.

We expect this price to remain steady through the holiday season. Situated right below the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ model, the Streaming Stick 4K has most of the same features—including improved WiFi, support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, and the ability to work with Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay, and Google Assistant voice assistant—but not the new rechargeable Voice Remote Pro remote control.

The Elegear Revolutionary Cooling Blanket kept us the coolest in our tests and was comfortable, soft, and well-made. It features smooth Arc-Chill 3.0 Cool Fabric on one side and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified cotton on the other side.

This is about $5 more than the best price we’ve ever seen for this blanket, but it’s also the least expensive colorway of the available options on Amazon right now.

Lacking an outdoor space doesn’t have to prevent you from grilling your favorite foods, like burgers, chicken, and veggies. This indoor grill from George Foreman heats up fast, features upper and lower grill plates for grill marks, and can make three to four servings at one time.

The Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 is perfect for anyone with limited counterspace. We did see it selling for $40 earlier this year, so we’re willing to bet it will dip down again for Black Friday if you can wait. This measured 1.7-quart air fryer is packed with appealing features such as a dishwasher-safe basket, preprogrammed settings, and a digital display, but, with a footprint of just 9x11 inches, it comes in a small package (and a fairly small price tag, too). What’s more, this model was a standout in our tests, receiving high marks for being easy to use and to clean and remaining at low volume while cooking. The Cosori Lite comes with a two-year warranty.

This durable set of Bayco glass storage containers includes 12 containers and lids in a range of shapes and sizes. The seals use clamps and a removable silicone gasket. You can use the glass containers in the oven and microwave, and the containers with their lids are safe to use in the freezer and dishwasher (though Bayco notes that it’s better to wash the lids by hand to prevent deterioration).

The Kaqinu 12.6-inch carbon steel wok, now at the best price we’ve seen, is flat-bottomed, has a hammered texture, and comes pre-seasoned, with a wooden lid and a variety of stainless steel tools. It heats evenly and with speed. Cleaning, however, is a bit of a challenge. And while easy to use, the wok lacks an extra handle, making it harder to move when full.

ThermoPro’s SmartBT Meat Thermometer TP920 is one of the lower-priced leave-in two-probe wireless thermometers. This is the typical sale price, which comes and goes frequently. It sends instant temperature readings to your smartphone via Bluetooth, offering excellent response time and accuracy. The easy-to-use app estimates the remaining cook time for nearly all cuts and varieties of meat based on built-in Department of Agriculture guidelines.

This Leidawn 12.8-inch carbon steel wok is flat-bottomed, has a hammered texture, and comes seasoned. Like some other woks we’ve tested, the metal section of its handle is short, making it less likely to be grabbed by unwary cooks. The pan lacks an extra handle that would make it easier to move when full. But it comes with a wooden lid and a variety of stainless steel utensils.

This label maker is a workhorse; it’s heavy, sturdy, bulky, and runs on six AAA batteries. A quick push of the cutting button makes a clean, precise cut each time. Because the cutting button requires little hand strength, children, older people, and those with disabilities may find it easier to use. The high-quality labels should stay well adhered to your spice jars. The corresponding Brother app itself is well-organized and intuitive, and saves templates you might want to use again. It doesn’t require any personal information and asks to send notifications, which you can easily opt out of. The directions include a “next project” idea book for labels to organize your home, office, and more.

The Phomemo M110, which typically retails for $50, is the bigger, bulkier version of the Phomemo D30, which we also evaluated and liked. The M110 offers a bit more flexibility with the size of the label you’re creating. It uses the same app and has a wide variety of fonts, styles, and images, with quick creation and easy label cutting. Its size, compared with the smaller Phomemo, makes it a bit less portable, and its alignment isn’t as precise when it comes to cutting the label exactly on the cut line compared with other label printers. But it’s still a solid option.

The Labigo Electric Spin Scrubber comes with four different cleaning heads (large flat, small flat, pointed corner, and large round). It has a single speed and weighs 26 ounces with its extension handle. The unit’s battery is located in the handle, and its head is fixed at 45 degrees, so this unit may not fit into tighter spaces.

While Amazon lists the usual price here as $70, this scrubber is usually $49.99.

This is $5 more than it was during the big sale, but still a great price. Amazfit’s fitness trackers are some of the most affordable options CR has tested, and the Band 7 earns a spot among CR’s recommended models. It has an impressive 18-day claimed battery life and pairs easily with recent versions of both iPhone and Android phones. That said, our testers found that it wasn’t quite as accurate at step tracking as other models, but its heart rate accuracy was adequate.

The TP-Link Kasa Smart KD110 is a great video doorbell for the money, with strong data security, fast response times, and decent video quality. It comes with a plug-in doorbell chime and features monitoring zones, voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant, person detection, and local video storage using a microSD card (sold separately). Video clips can also be stored in the cloud by subscribing to a Kasa Care plan.

The Aqara Camera E1 is a strong performer, especially for video quality and response time of alerts. It can store footage on a microSD card (up to 512 gigabytes; sold separately) and offers plenty of features, including person detection, motorized pan-and-tilt so you can remotely change the camera’s view, and a privacy mode that will point the camera at a wall or ceiling. It was $40 during the last big sale, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the price drop for Black Friday—this is definitely one to wait and watch.

One of the best (and least expensive!) doorbell cameras you can buy, the TP-Link Tapo D130 offers a bunch of features—even without a subscription. They include local video storage on a microSD card (up to 512 gigabytes, sold separately), AI object recognition (for people, vehicles, packages, and pets), activity zones, and color night vision. The model needs low-voltage doorbell wiring for power. Cloud video storage available via subscription.

The TP-Link Kasa Cam Outdoor KC420WS offers impeccable video quality, speedy alerts, and strong data security in our tests. Its many features include two-way audio, voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant, monitoring zones, person alerts, a built-in siren, color night vision, and local video storage when you insert a microSD card (not included).

If you want to monitor a handful of trouble spots in your home, the X-Sense Wi-Fi Water Leak Detector SWS54 provides the best bang for your buck. You get a hub with a siren and three wireless sensors you can place throughout your home. The sensors are unique in that they can detect both water on the ground and water that drips and lands on top of them, making them great for monitoring exposed pipes. The individual sensors have their own sirens, allowing you to easily figure out which sensor is going off without checking the X-Sense app.

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim EP25 is very easy to set up and use, based on our expert evaluations, and it offers decent data security. It’s also one of the most versatile smart plugs on the market, offering energy monitoring and compatibility with all four major smart-home systems: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home/Siri, Google Home/Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings.

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Pan & Tilt KC410S 24/7 security camera offers stellar video quality and quickly sends alerts when motion is detected, CR’s tests have found. This low-priced camera also earns a strong rating for data security and a midrange rating for data privacy. It features voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant, two-way audio, monitoring zones, person alerts, and alerts for loud noises.

We’ve seen this model sell for as low as $23.99, so it could drop in price closer to Black Friday.

The Tractive GPS Dog LTE, now about $7 less than it was recently, is the top-scoring model in our testing and is especially easy to set up and use. Light and compact yet sturdy, the slender unit easily attaches to any dog collar and will fit comfortably on most small dogs and even cats. The app is among the best of the bunch, with a clean and intuitive interface. It’s also worth noting that the Tractive’s claimed battery life is seven days. That’s a fairly long time, and recharging is easy.

The Lucky Dog poop bags are made with at least 30 percent GMO-free corn and other natural, non-harmful ingredients, according to the brand. Unlike most poop bag rolls that have a cardboard or plastic inner core—taking up unnecessary space and limiting dispensing—Lucky Dog eliminates this, ensuring hassle-free dispensing. The bags have a slippery feel but are otherwise similar to standard poop bags.

Although the rolls feature perforated ends to aid separation, our reviewer found them harder to tear than other rolls they tried, likely due to the plant-based composition. However, they could still successfully tear the bag and open it with ease, even with winter gloves on. They function well, picking up waste, securing it with no leaks, and tying beautifully.

These adorable dog shoes will keep your pooch’s feet protected from the snow, rain, and hot pavement. They have a rubber sole with grips and adjustable fabric fasteners with reflective strips, making them safe on nightly walks. They were a few dollars less recently, so hold off and check back to see if the price drops if you can wait and you’d like to save a little more.

The Momcozy Retractable mesh gate is unrolled by pushing down a button and sliding the latch to the open position. It earns top marks in our tests for ease of installation and security, which measures how well the gate resists when being dislodged.

Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Milk Spa uses a warm water bath to warm bottles, but setup is a bit more involved than with other models we tested. Once that’s done, it warms bottles with no sign of overheating long after the warming program has ended. The controls on this model allow users to select the type of bottle and starting temperature of the milk or formula (frozen, refrigerated, or room temperature) and to adjust the time of the program. Even though the display is a bit crowded, according to our usability expert, it was relatively easy to use and understand. If you like to reuse settings, this model remembers any adjustments to time that are made for your next bottle warming. 

This neck fan, which is a great price right now, may be a great tool to keep in your arsenal for hot days. For the price, you don’t get any bells and whistles like cooling or mist that you can find in pricier models. It simply blows air at three speeds. It’s also not adjustable, so you can’t aim the airflow, but the vents wrap all the way around the fan to cool your face and neck.

The JSOT Outdoor Solar Deck Lights topped our test as the only deck light that earned top marks for light duration. Designed to be mounted to a stair riser or other solid surface and attached with screws, it emits a medium-bright light, and each light contains three LEDs. While the lights can’t be charged with a cable, they have an on/off switch so that you can turn them off to build up power if you’re concerned about their charge.