Black Friday 2025 has exploded into a month-long tech bonanza, and South Africans are shopping smarter than ever. With early-bird specials starting mid-November and retailers like Takealot, Game and Incredible Connection dropping new doorbusters daily, the frenzy is real, but so is the strategy.
Searches for “gaming deals SA” spiked 45% week-on-week, while mid-range phones and wireless audio gear dominate local cart adds. Instead of guessing, shoppers are cross-checking price histories on platforms like PriceCheck and setting alarms for midnight online drops. With today, 26 November, marking the official Black Friday peak, even MTN’s extended “Black FriYAY” campaign has amplified the hype across social media.
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We scanned the trends, retailer sites and real-time community chatter to pinpoint the tech categories that are ruling South Africa’s wishlist. Here are the deals flying off virtual shelves today.
Gaming Takes the Crown — Again, and Harder
Gaming remains the undisputed heavyweight champion of Black Friday in South Africa, accounting for more than 30% of tech searches this month. With eSports exploding, creator culture growing and end-of-year streams underway, upgrades are high priority for gamers, students and casual weekend players alike.
Bundles are outselling standalone devices at a 2:1 ratio, helped by the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and renewed FIFA series hype.
2025’s standout gaming deals (26 November, live at time of writing):
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Entry-level gaming laptops: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (Ryzen 5, RTX 3050, 16GB RAM) at R11,999 (down from R15,999) on Takealot. A reliable pick for Valorant or Apex Legends without the premium price tag.
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Accessory bundles: Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro keyboard + Viper mouse kit for R2,499 (save R800) at Game, with free RGB lighting strips included.
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Consoles: PS5 Slim Digital Edition + Spider-Man 2 for R9,999 (R1,500 off) at Incredible Connection. Xbox Series X + 3-month Xbox Game Pass at R10,499.
If you’re trying to keep up, GLITCHED’s Black Friday live tracker remains one of the most SA-specific resources for hour-by-hour gaming price drops. Creator kits — USB mic, ring light, webcam — are also climbing fast as more young South Africans dive into TikTok and Twitch side-hustles.
Smartphones: The Mid-Range Rebellion Heats Up
Flagships still turn heads, but this year’s real battleground is the mid-range market. With 5,000mAh+ batteries, strong 50MP cameras and on-device AI enhancements becoming standard, South Africans are asking a simple question: why pay R20,000 when R8,000 gets you almost everything?
Google Trends reports a 60% year-on-year spike for “best Black Friday phone under R10k”, and bundle deals (phone + case + charger) are topping conversion charts.
Top smartphone deals today include:
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Samsung Galaxy A55 5G (128GB): R9,499 (usually R12,999) at Hi on Bash, plus free Galaxy Buds A-Series in the box.
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HONOR X9b (256GB): R7,999 (R2,000 off) via MTN’s nationwide Black FriYAY campaign, bundled with 50GB of data for three months. Its ultra-durable, drop-resistant design is a win for commuters and clumsy phone-droppers.
Mid-range is officially the new flagship for Black Friday shoppers — and these deals prove it.
Audio Stays Hot as Wireless Gear Leads
Premium wireless audio is holding its Black Friday momentum, with shoppers looking for better sound at accessible prices. Sony, Samsung and JBL continue to lead the pack, while compact Bluetooth speakers and soundbars are trending alongside smart TVs.
Expect sharp price drops on ANC earbuds, home cinema soundbars and wireless speaker sets throughout the weekend, especially during Cyber Monday.
Connectivity Upgrades Surge as Fibre Delays Continue
With fibre rollouts still slow in some neighbourhoods, South Africans are grabbing deals on Wi-Fi 6 routers, mesh systems and 5G home routers at an unusually high rate. LTE-A routers paired with big once-off data bundles are also trending for remote workers and students.
This category is expected to peak across Saturday and Cyber Monday, especially for multi-device households and streaming-heavy users.
What to Expect for the Rest of the Weekend
Retailers will push their strongest deals during:
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Thursday–Friday midnight online drops
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Saturday flash sales on big-ticket tech
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Cyber Monday accessory blowouts
If you want phones, laptops or routers, buy early. If you want accessories, gaming gear or audio, Cyber Monday may be even better.
Black Friday 2025 has arrived — and South Africa’s tech wishlist has never looked sharper.
