Holiday shopping

Black Friday 2026: check the catch before you buy

Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30. A discount doesn't fix a product's biggest flaw, so this page lists the one thing owners complain about most for our top pick in every category we cover. We don't track deal prices — check the retailer for the current price.

Five checks before you check out

  1. Compare the full model number. Some sale listings are a different model, bundle or older version than the one that was reviewed.
  2. Read the #1 complaint. If you can't live with it, the deal isn't a deal.
  3. Count the subscription. Some products need a paid plan to do what the box promises — for example in home security cameras, video doorbells, pet cameras, dash cams.
  4. Check what's in the box. Tool-only versions don't include a battery or charger (tire inflators, handheld & car vacuums, snow blowers).
  5. Know the return window before you open the box, especially for big or heavy items.

Categories with the most 1–2 star ratings

The average share of 1–2 star Amazon ratings across the models we checked. A high number doesn't mean every model is bad — it means it's worth reading the complaints first.

Our top pick in every category, and its catch

Kitchen

Air fryersCosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air FryerThe catch: Coating and no replacement partsCoffee makersBonavita Enthusiast 8-Cup Drip Coffee Brewer with Thermal CarafeThe catch: Short warranty, durability doubtsEspresso machinesBreville Bambino PlusThe catch: Stops working within monthsBlendersVitamix Ascent X2 Professional-Grade BlenderThe catch: LoudElectric kettlesOXO Brew Adjustable Temperature Pour-Over KettleThe catch: Drips from the lid when fullToaster ovensBreville Smart Oven ProThe catch: Mixed durability reportsElectric pressure cookersNinja HyperHeat 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker, 6.5 QtThe catch: Ceramic-coated pot durabilityStand mixersKitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand MixerThe catch: Strains or walks with stiff doughRice cookersZojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker & Warmer, 5.5-CupThe catch: Very expensiveFood processorsCuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food ProcessorThe catch: Plastic parts crack over timeNonstick pansTramontina Professional 10-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan (Restaurant)The catch: Not induction-compatibleCast-iron skilletsLodge Chef Collection 12-Inch Cast Iron SkilletThe catch: Shallow for frying and braisingVacuum sealersAvid Armor USV20 Chamber Vacuum SealerThe catch: Small chamberCountertop ice makersFrigidaire Gallery Countertop Nugget Ice MakerThe catch: Breaks within monthsMeat thermometersThermoWorks Thermapen ONEThe catch: Hard to justify the priceSlow cookersHamilton Beach Portable 6-Quart Set & Forget Programmable Slow CookerThe catch: Small handles, short probe, heavy crockCoffee grindersTimemore Chestnut C5 Pro Manual Hand GrinderThe catch: Small batches, slow at fine settingsWater filter pitchersBrita Standard Everyday 10-Cup Pitcher with Elite FilterThe catch: Elite filter clogs and slows downHand mixersBreville Handy Mix Scraper Hand MixerThe catch: Silicone beater coating cracksToastersBreville Bit More 2-Slice ToasterThe catch: Breaks or starts toasting one sideWaffle makersBreville the No-Mess WaffleThe catch: Pricey for one waffle at a timePizza ovensBreville Smart Oven PizzaioloThe catch: Expensive single-purpose applianceChef's knivesMercer Culinary Millennia 8-Inch Chef's KnifeThe catch: Not very sharp in one testCookware setsAll-Clad D3 Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware SetThe catch: Expensive for the piece countBread machinesZojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker, 2 lbThe catch: Very expensiveBaby bottle warmersBaby Brezza Safe & Smart Bottle WarmerThe catch: Can overheat (steam mode, high settings)Ice cream makersLello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream MakerThe catch: Hard to clean built-in bowlSous vide cookersAnova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker ProThe catch: Big, heavy and pricey

Cleaning

Robot vacuumsRoborock Saros 10R Robot Vacuum and MopThe catch: Poor pet-hair pickup on carpetCordless vacuumsDyson V10 Konical Cordless VacuumThe catch: Owners report much shorter runtimeCarpet cleanersBissell Little Green Pet Pro Portable Carpet CleanerThe catch: Cleans a bit worse than the cheaper modelWet-dry floor cleanersTineco Floor One S9 Artist Steam Wet Dry VacuumThe catch: Very expensiveGarment steamersSteamery Cirrus 3 Handheld Clothes SteamerThe catch: ExpensiveSteam mopsBissell PowerFresh Steam MopThe catch: Tank cap cracks; some units stop workingWindow-cleaning robotsEcovacs WINBOT W2S OMNI Window Cleaning RobotThe catch: Needs watching, saves little time

Home comfort

Space heatersDr Infrared Heater DR-968 Portable Space HeaterThe catch: Units failing over timeHumidifiersLevoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier (Warm & Cool Mist)The catch: Breaks or cracks within a season or twoAir purifiersBlueair Blue Pure 211i MaxThe catch: Short filter lifeDehumidifiersWaykar 80-Pint Energy Star DehumidifierThe catch: Stops working or stops pulling waterElectric fireplacesDuraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace StoveThe catch: Front grill gets hotFansVornado EOS9 Large Air CirculatorThe catch: Confusing controlsHeated vestsGobi Heat Dune Heated Vest (men's and women's)The catch: No heated collar

Audio & tech

Wireless earbudsSoundcore Liberty 5 ProThe catch: Battery shorter than rivalsNoise-cancelling headphonesBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)The catch: Bluetooth pairing and connection troubleBluetooth speakersJBL Charge 6The catch: Battery below the claim for someSmartwatches & fitness trackersGoogle Pixel Watch 4The catch: Battery and value split ownersPortable chargersAnker Prime Power Bank (26K, 300W)The catch: Very expensivePortable power stationsAnker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2The catch: Loud fan at high loadE-readersAmazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024)The catch: Pricey for what you getGaming headsetsSteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 WirelessThe catch: Connection issues and units that stop workingProjectorsHisense C2 UltraThe catch: Bulky stand you must useSmart ringsOura Ring 5The catch: Membership on top of a $399 ringSoundbarsSonos Arc UltraThe catch: Expensive, and a full system costs far moreBluetooth item trackersApple AirTag (2nd Generation)The catch: iPhone only, and it can't find your phoneKids' tabletsAmazon Fire HD 10 KidsThe catch: Limited app selection, no Google PlayInstant camerasFujifilm Instax Mini EvoThe catch: Costs much more than analog MinisTurntablesFluance RT85NThe catch: No built-in preampKids' headphonesPuro Sound Labs BT2200-PlusThe catch: Stops working, or plays from one side onlyWireless chargersBelkin UltraCharge Magnetic Charger with Qi2 25WThe catch: Some units stopped workingStreaming devicesApple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 2022)The catch: Expensive, and now pricierFitness trackersXiaomi Smart Band 10The catch: Battery well short of 21 daysKids' smartwatchesGarmin Bounce 2The catch: Message delays and dropped calls

Smart home

Home security camerasTP-Link Tapo C120The catch: Wi-Fi drops for some ownersVideo doorbellsTP-Link Tapo D225 Video Doorbell CameraThe catch: Bulky with a fish-eye lookMesh Wi-Fi systemsTP-Link Deco 7 Pro (BE63)The catch: Random disconnections for some ownersBaby monitorsBabysense Pro Baby MonitorThe catch: Battery falls short of the claimDigital photo framesAura Carver (10.1-inch)The catch: Wi-Fi drops and units that stop workingSmart locksSchlage Arrive Smart WiFi DeadboltThe catch: Slow app, settings only in Bluetooth rangeSmart thermostatsecobee Smart Thermostat PremiumThe catch: Expensive, with paid security extrasSmart displaysAmazon Echo Show 11The catch: Lots of ads on screenSmart plugsTapo Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug (P125M)The catch: No energy reporting

Personal care

Electric toothbrushesOral-B Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric ToothbrushThe catch: Stops holding a charge or dies earlyWater flossersWaterpik Aquarius Countertop Water FlosserThe catch: Pump quits after about a yearHair dryersRusk W8less Professional 2000 Watt Hair DryerThe catch: No diffuser includedHair straightenersRemington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin)The catch: Feels cheapElectric shaversBraun Series 9 PRO+ Electric ShaverThe catch: Expensive to buy and to maintainMassage gunsBob and Brad Q2 MiniThe catch: Shallow, light massageHair clippers & beard trimmersWahl Elite Pro High Performance Hair Clipper KitThe catch: Heavy, corded, no detail trimmerMulti-stylers & Airwrap alternativesShark FlexStyle IonCurl Air Styler & CurlerThe catch: No storage caseBidets & bidet seatsTOTO Washlet S2 Electronic Bidet Toilet SeatThe catch: Needs an outlet near the toiletFoot massagersMiko Shiatsu Foot MassagerThe catch: Heat could be betterSmart scalesWithings Body SmartThe catch: Some features need a subscriptionNeck & shoulder massagersMirakel Shiatsu Neck Massager with HeatThe catch: Heat can be weak or missingAt-home IPL hair removalBraun Skin i·expert Smart IPLThe catch: ExpensiveMassage chairsMassaMax MT339 4DThe catch: Cramped for taller users

Bedroom

PillowsCoop Original Adjustable PillowThe catch: Chemical smell out of the boxMattress toppersViscoSoft 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Select High Density)The catch: Too firm for some, too sinky for othersWeighted blanketsLayla Weighted BlanketThe catch: Can run warmHeated blanketsSerta Luxuriously Soft Plush Electric BlanketThe catch: Bulky controllers; cord too short for someWhite noise & sound machinesSNOOZ OriginalThe catch: Pricey for one main soundAir mattressesSoundAsleep Dream Series Air MattressThe catch: Some owners say it slowly loses airBed sheetsMellanni Iconic Collection Microfiber Sheet SetThe catch: Fitted sheet may not stay onMattressesDreamCloud Classic Hybrid MattressThe catch: Firmness and support are hit-or-miss

Car & travel

Dash camsViofo A229 ProThe catch: Some units or rear cameras failTire inflatorsMilwaukee M18 InflatorThe catch: Battery and charger not includedPortable jump startersGOOLOO GT4000S Jump StarterThe catch: BulkyHandheld & car vacuumsBlack+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet Hand VacuumThe catch: Units die within a year; battery not replaceableCarry-on luggageTravelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner (21")The catch: Zippers and wheels breakingElectric scootersSegway Ninebot E3 Pro Electric ScooterThe catch: Range well short of the claimRechargeable hand warmersUNIHAND AI Hand Warmers Rechargeable 2 PackThe catch: Run time is far below the claimCar phone mountsLamicall MagSafe Air Vent MountThe catch: Doesn't fit every ventE-bikesRide1Up Roadster V3The catch: Battery drains fast at high assist

Pets

Self-cleaning litter boxesWhisker Litter-Robot 4The catch: Finicky sensors and glitchesPet camerasTP-Link Tapo C120The catch: Wi-Fi drops for some ownersPet water fountainsPETKIT EverSweet Solo 2 Cat Water Fountain (Wireless Pump)The catch: Pump dies after a few monthsPet GPS trackersFi Series 3+ Smart Dog CollarThe catch: Needs its own collar, which can rattleAutomatic pet feedersPetlibro Air WiFi Smart Feeder (2 L, rechargeable)The catch: Wi-Fi drops and early failuresDog bedsK&H Outdoor Elevated Dog BedThe catch: Fabric can tear or come apartPet grooming clippersWahl Bravura Lithium Ion Cordless ClipperThe catch: Clogs or stalls on some coats

Home office, tools & yard

Office chairsSteelcase Gesture Office ChairThe catch: Very expensiveGaming chairsSecretlab Titan EvoThe catch: Firm seat, slow to break inStanding desksUplift V3 Standing DeskThe catch: Price climbs and it's heavyWalking padsMerach UltraWalk W60 Plus Walking TreadmillThe catch: Mixed noise and durability reportsWebcamsObsbot Tiny 3The catch: Very expensiveComputer monitorsDell UltraSharp U2725QEThe catch: Wobbly standDesk lamps & monitor light barsBenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 Monitor Light BarThe catch: ExpensiveLabel makersBrother P-touch PT-D460BT Business Expert Connected Label MakerThe catch: Pricey machine and refillsCordless drillsMilwaukee M18 Compact Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver KitThe catch: Bulky battery, basic LEDCordless leaf blowersHusqvarna Leaf Blaster 350iB Cordless Leaf BlowerThe catch: ExpensiveSnow blowersEGO Power+ 21-Inch Single-Stage Cordless Snow BlowerThe catch: Mixed battery lifePressure washersEGO Power+ 3200 PSI Cordless Pressure Washer KitThe catch: Very expensivePortable generatorsHonda EU7000iSThe catch: Very expensiveString trimmersEGO Power+ 15" POWERLOAD String Trimmer with Telescopic ShaftThe catch: Mixed durability