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25 Black Friday deals that are worth the splurge: Kate Spade, Barbie, Le Creuset, Apple and more

25 Black Friday deals that are worth the splurge: Kate Spade, Barbie, Le Creuset, Apple and more

Black Friday has ushered in some of the very best prices of the season this weekend on some of the year's most giftable items. But where to start with so many deals going on right now? Fortunately for you, that's where we come in. As AOL's shopping experts, we spend our days testing products, reviewing deals and overall browsing products on the internet to make life just a little bit easier. And sometimes, those life-changing products going on sale, making once splurgy items, well, slightly less splurgy.

Quick Overview

Whether you're looking for a gift for your friend who's on her feet all day or need swap to an e-reader once and for all, there are plenty of pricey (but worth it!) items on sale that could fit the bill. Even if you're just looking snag some gifts you've been eye like a Le Creuset cookware set or a gift for your three-year-old grandchild, there's no shortage of good deals to browse right now.

From the cheapest price on our top-recommended smart coffee mug to the red light device dermatologists told us should be part of an anti-aging skin care routine, these are the crème de la crème of Black Friday deals that you don't want to overlook.

AOL-editor owned and approved

This Aura digital frame is one of our top gift picks of the year. It's a great way to connect with family and friends both near and far. Just connect to an app via your phone and uploaded photos from wherever you are. It's easy to use and setup and will delight people of all ages. 

$139 at Amazon

We're seeing a lot of great tech deals during Amazon's Black Friday sale. Tablets, laptops, phones, and smartwatches have been marked down to some record-low prices. You'll see a few of them dip lower on Friday itself, but we're not anticipating too many more decreases as Black Friday week continues.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is only $129.99 today, or $30 off. It allows you to read all your favorite digital titles with a soft, well-lit screen that looks nearly identical to paperback books. 

$130 at Amazon

Designed with an A14 Bionic chip, a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 64GB of storage and both a front and back camera, this powerful iPad will earn a place in your electronics arsenal.

Save $99 with coupon
$250 at Amazon

When AOL Editor Kate Ellsworth tells people she tests products for a living, they always ask her the best product she's ever tested, and her answer is always the same: The Big Blanket. Her reasoning? It's huge, it's pet safe and it's extraordinarily comfortable. 

$90 at The Big Blanket

We tested out and loved the Bird Buddy. It's a digital bird feeder that allows you to watch the little visitors who stop by your home. During Black Friday, it's $40 off, so you can try it out for yourself. 

$199 at Amazon

Ages: 3+

Barbie can host the pool party of her dreams with her home's spectacular three-story spiral slide. Watch as Barbie doll and her friends swirl down the slide into the pool of this 75-piece toy playhouse.

$125 at Walmart

Over 10,000 Amazon shoppers bought these earbuds in the past month, so it may be an understatement to say they're a customer favorite. Released just this year, they come with more features than you may expect given their tiny package: active noise cancellation, transparency mode, USB-C charging and a snug, customizable fit. 

"The noise cancellation amazed me," one shopper wrote. "I have a window A/C unit to cool my office and when I put these in, I thought it turned off. It took me two or three times of taking them in and out of my ear to realize the headphones were eliminating the sound."

$154 at Amazon

Summer may be over, but that doesn't meet your cold dessert cravings need to be. This wildly popular ice cream churns out everything from ice cream and sorbet to milkshakes and more — just add your ingredients freeze overnight, press a button and ... ta-da! Plus, you'll be able to customize your creation with your favorite mix-ins. (Try flavors like pumpkin and apple cinnamon for fall.) It's $31 cheaper than at Amazon, so "scoop" it up while you can.

$149 at Walmart

When we spoke to dermatologists about building an anti-aging skin care routine, they recommended NuFACE skin care devices. They're especially designed to firm the face and neck, improve cheek contour, lift brows and smooth lines using microcurrents to stimulate cell turnover. It's a splurgy skin-care tool that'll more than earn its place in your beauty bag.

$175 at Nordstrom

This two-part set includes a cordless drill and a cordless impact driver, each with their own battery. The set also comes with a battery charger and a carrying case. DIY just got a whole lot easier.

Save $110 with Prime
$129 at Amazon

If you shop one Black Friday purse deal, let it be this one. This iconic Kate Spade tote is a whopping 50% off right now — only $124! It's 13.75" wide, so it will fit your laptop, while it's 11" handle is padded enough to keep your shoulder protected during your commute. Get it in six different colors.

$124 at Kate Spade

AOL-editor owned and approved

When you have little kids around, it's inevitable you'll end up with a spill or two eventually. Make sure your car, sofa and carpet look good as new afterward with the Bissell Little Green portable carpet cleaner, which removes spots and stains by lifting away messes from carpets, upholstery, car interiors and more. It has a strong spray and suction design that helps you target stuck-in stains and work them out.

More than 10,000 reviews on Walmart are obsessed with this stain-fighting tool, too.

"After months of my kids trashing my car and spilling smoothies, milk, lemonade, etc., the backseats in my car looked awful," said one parent. "I used this carpet cleaner for my seats and, wow, the difference speaks for itself."

$81 at Amazon

Made of a sustainable eucalyptus tree fiber upper, natural rubber outsole, shoe laces crafted from recycled plastic bottles, and a Merino wool heel cushion, these sneakers don't just look good, they're made of materials you can feel good about, too.

$94 at Allbirds

If you've been waiting for an Apple Watch to go on sale, this deal has your name written all over it. The 2023-released SE has everything you need, from trackers for your heart rate and steps to crash detection. This is only $20 more than its all-time low.

"The durability is outstanding," said one five-star reviewer. "I was a bit careless and forgot the watch in my pants when I was doing laundry. Luckily, after a 40-minute wash and a 50-minute dry on high heat, the watch worked perfectly fine."

$149 at Amazon

Le Creuset — the ultimate hostess brand. This French brand is synonymous with longevity and quality, making it an excellent gift for anyone who loves to cook and host a feast for their friends and family. This three-piece set comes with everything one needs for holiday cooking: 12.5-inch dish holds that holds 4 quarts; a 10-inch dish that holds 2.5 quarts; and a 7.5-inch dish that holds 1.1 quart.

$135 at Nordstrom

The Cocoon by Sealy is an excellent cooling mattress ideal for sleepers who run hot or live in warmer climates. The Cocoon Chill usually costs over $1,000, but during Black Friday, it's down to just $700.

The Chill is wildly popular among shoppers, earning a near-perfect five-star rating after more than 8k reviews. During Black Friday, you can score the mattress for 35% off, plus two free pillows, a sheet set, and a mattress protector for free. It does not, however, come with set-up service, so if you order this mattress, it will arrive rolled up in a box. You will be responsible for removing your old mattress and setting up your new one.

$699 at Sealy

A few years ago I wrote about how weighted blankets give me my best sleep, even at my most anxious. And it's still true today. While most weighted blankets are weighed down with glass or plastic beads to provide the Deep Touch Pressure (DTP) therapy they're known for, these are designed with a weighted, open-knit that keeps you cool and comfortable while you sleep.

Choose from cream or gray in 10- or 15-pound weights.

Save $61 with code
$139 at Brooklyn Bedding

For the coffee lover who really hates when their cuppa goes cold, the Ember temperature-control mug is a no brainer. I'm a long-time owner of the original Ember mug (this is the model No. 2) and I love it because it prevents me from having to heat up my drink over and over when I'm having a leisurely morning.

In fact, we ranked this as one of our best heated coffee mugs of the year because it's "the self-heating mug that made me fall in love with self-heating mugs," according to our tester Rick Broida.

The charging base keeps your drink warm to your preferred temperature for up to 80 minutes. It comes with an app where you can set temperature preferences, make presets and more. The charging base also works without an app and remembers your last preference settings.

$110 at Amazon

If you prefer a little texture on your handbag, you'll enjoy this crocodile leather tote from Coach. It features a large interior supported by four metallic feet at its base, providing support if you want to carry heavy objects (like your laptop). It's 50% off during Black Friday, down to just shy of $200. Get it in five colors in this crocodile-embossed leather.

$198 at Coach

This enameled-cast-iron pot delivers exceptional heat distribution and retention so you can use it for everything from slow cooking to braising or roasting. The smooth interior easily releases food, while the enamel coating allows use in the dishwasher to make cleanup a breeze.

$110 at Nordstrom

The Solawave Radiant Renewal Wand is a red light therapy device that's been recommended to us by dermatologists over the years. It is best used daily when paired with your preferred serums to stimulate collagen, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and decrease redness and inflammation of the skin. It's a more affordable alternative to pricey red light therapy masks that sit on your skin.

The Solawave is a 4-in-1 wand that provides red light therapy, therapeutic warmth to soothe skin and reduce dark circles, a facial massage to reduce puffiness and a stimulating galvanic current to aide in the absorption of serums.

$115 at Amazon

We're a big fan of these Nordstrom PJs, which are consistently a bestsellers during Nordstrom's big sales events. They're made of breathable Tencel modal, which is an ideal material for maintaining a comfortable sleeping temperature, and a kiss of spandex for stretch and comfort. Available in sizes XXS to XL, but note that there are only three colorways on sale: pink, black and navy.

$47 at Nordstrom

A well-made robe is something he'll use for years. I highly recommend these “super plush” robes from Brooklinen that are made with 100% Turkish cotton and feature deep pockets, cuffed edges and a piped collar. I've owned one for years and it's still still the robe I reach for every morning. I love that it's thick enough to keep you warm on a cold morning, and plush enough to use like a bath towel after a shower, if that's your jam. Best of all, it keeps its fluffy feel even after dozens of washes.

$74 at Brooklinen

Ages: 3+

If you're unfamiliar, the Toniebox is an imagination-building, screen-free digital audio toy that plays stories, sings songs and more. It is designed to foster imagination and independent active play for children of all ages, but especially those three and up. This easy-to-use audio player is great for kids to use on their own for things like bedtime stories, music and education without using a screen. 

There's also a pink Toniesbox starter set with Moana and a red Tonies Cocomelon starter set with JJ — all on sale for 30% off.

For little ones who already own a Toniebox starter set, there are lots of Tonies character bundles on sale right now that would make great stocking stuffers, like Marvel's Spidey & His Amazing Friends and a Disney bundle that includes Elsa, Moana and Mirabel, both on sale for $99.

$69 at Walmart

Relieve tension and melt away stress with Amazon's No. 1 best-selling foot massager. This deep-kneading shiatsu foot massager has two adjustable intensity levels and three massage modes that boost the blood circulation and reduce muscle stiffness in your soles and feet. The warmth feature can be turned on or off.

with Prime
$90 at Amazon
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$90 at Walmart