Black Friday 2020 in Australia: the best PC gaming deals you can pick up today
Welcome to Black Friday week! We may have Thanksgiving sitting between us and the big Black Friday deals, but there are still a host of discounts live right now, and coming in over the next few days. What a time to be alive. With the alluring promise of deals on the finest of PC gaming gear, the annual consumer shopping frenzy represents a tempting time to either pick up a bargain to round off your perfect PC setup, or else get ahead of the Christmas gifting rush.
Where to find Black Friday deals...
As usual, Black Friday 2020 itself occurs on the last Friday of November, which this year makes it November 27. But that is, of course, not telling the full story about the true extent of this shopaholism-inducing sales event. Really, we're talking about Black November because as soon as the calendar ticks over to the first of that month, lots of Aussie retailers start looking to paint it black, which continues to ramp up as the month proceeds.
On the plus side, it does mean you don't necessarily have to jump into the maelstrom over the Black Friday weekend to find the best deals on PC gaming goodies. There will be different offers across the month, with a host of different retailers aiming to get the jump on each other with the best offers.
Mostly, that means they'll all be trying to beat big retailers like Amazon. But that is generally an exercise in futility as Jeff knows all, Jeff sees all, and will price match everyone into oblivion. He's probably plugged directly, meatily into a vast datacentre at the start of November, with neurons firing hither and thither, matching or beating the likes of JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and the rest in deals... until he's bodily removed by his minions at some point in January to recuperate in a Bacta tank until Prime Day 2021. Probably.
The best early Black Friday deals in Australia
Yes, you can already make some savings on techie goodies right now, with a number of different early Black Friday deals on offer. Sure, we've still got a long time to wait until Black Friday itself, and with a load more deals set to drop too, but if you need something right now there are discounts to be had.
Black Friday game deals in Australia
Green Man Gaming Black Friday Sale - huge discounts on hundreds of titles
As usual, Green Man Gaming is heavily reducing games as part of Black Friday, ranging recent blockbuster titles through to indies. Here are some highlights:
Borderlands 3 - AU$25.53 (usually AU89.95)
Doom Eternal - AU$32.98 (usually AU$99.95)
Red Dead Redemption 2 - AU$55.45 (usually AU89.95)
NBA 2K21 - AU$38.68 (usually AU$89.95)View Deal
Black Friday gaming laptop deals in Australia
Gigabyte Aero 15 | i7-10875H | RTX 2070 Super | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD - AU$2,499 (usually AU$3,499)
A very generous AU$1000 off this powerful gaming laptop, which boasts a 1080p 15.6 inch IPS display and RGB backlit keyboard. In addition to the model above, there's also one with an i7-10750H and RTX 2060 for AU$2,399, though given the price difference you're probably better off with the RTX 2070 Super wielding beast. Via MWave.
View Deal
Razer Blade Stealth 13 (RZ09-03102) | i7-1065G7 | GTX 1650 Ti | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD - AU$1,999 (usually AU$3,299)
The specs may not scream "brilliant 2020 gaming laptop" but the Razer Blade Stealth line-up fares far better as an everyday laptop with gaming capabilities. Need a work laptop that can also run games? AU$2,000 is a bit of a steal. Via Microsoft.View Deal
HP Omen 15 | i7-9750H | RTX 2080 | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD - AU$2,699 (usually AU$2,999)
For a gaming laptop wielding an RTX 2080, this is a great deal at AU$300 off the regular price. In addition to the specs above, this 15 inch 1080p lappie has a 144Hz refresh rate and a fancy RGB backlit keyboard. Via HP.View Deal
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA401) gaming laptop | Ryzen 7 | GTX 1660 Ti | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD - AU$2,299 (usually AU$2,499)
It may not be what you're after if a high spec gaming laptop is what you want, but this Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a brilliant all-rounder that can also run modern games, albeit not at the very highest settings. Via PC Case Gear.View Deal
Alienware Area-51M | RTX 2080 Super | i7-10700 | 32GB RAM | 512GB SSD - AU$4,638.99 (usually AU$5,799)
This laptop is an absolute wallet eviscerator, as you'd expect given the specs. Maybe a AU$1,160 discount will tip you over the edge though, as this 17 inch beast also boasts a whooping 300Hz refresh rate at 1080p resolution. If you want to go even bigger, the model with an i9-10900K and frankly ridiculous 64GB RAM is currently AU$5,919, down from AU$7,399.View Deal
Alienware M15 R3 | RTX 2060 | i7-10750H | 16GB RAM | 512 SSD - AU$2,959 (usually AU$3,999)
This 15 inch, 1080p gaming monitor boasts a 144Hz refresh rate in addition to the above listed specs. These Alienware M15 gaming laptops have a pretty stylish look (if you're into lunar blue) and are pretty light, as far as high spec lappies go. Via Dell. If you'd prefer the RTX 2070 Super model, that's currently discounted too at AU$3,519 (usually AU$4,399).View Deal
Dell G7 17 | i7-10750H | RTX 2070 | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | AU$2,099 (usually AU$2,999)
This was available cheaper just last week for Ebay subscribers, but for everyone else this is still a good price for these specs. The 17 inch 1080p screen boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, too. Via Dell.View Deal
Asus ROG Strix G15 (G512) |i7-10750H | GTX 1650 Ti | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | AU$1,709 (usually AU$1,999)
If you're after a gaming laptop on the cheaper side of the spectrum, this ROG Strix is well worth a look. It has a 1080p IPS display with 144Hz refresh rate, in addition to the specs listed above. This should run most modern games at medium quality. Via Wireless1.View Deal
Lenovo Legion Y7000 15-inch gaming laptop | i7 | 16GB | 512GB SSD | GTX 1660Ti | AU$1,519 (usually AU$2,599)
By today's standards this is a pretty low-key laptop, specs-wise, but if you're after a workhorse that can also play games at 1080p, this is priced decently. Use the BLACKFRIDAY coupon to reduce this AU$1,899 deal to a AU$1,519 deal. Via Lenovo.View Deal
Black Friday gaming keyboard deals in Australia
Razer Huntsman Elite | AU$249 (usually AU$379)
If it's opto-mechanical switches and a metric crap tonne of RGB colour schemes you're after, this Huntsman Elite is hard to pass up at this price. The deal above is via the Microsoft Store, however it is nearly AU$20 cheaper on Amazon. The catch if you go with Amazon? Since it ships from the UK, you'll get the UK layout - pound signs and all.View Deal
Razer Cynosa V2 Chroma | AU$75 (usually AU$119.95)
In our round-up of the best gaming keyboards the Cynosa Chroma comes third, mostly because it has the "best feeling membrane keys available" and, well, look at the light show on this thing. This V2 model is rarely had for under AU$100, so this is a good opportunity. Via Microsoft.View Deal
Black Friday gaming mouse deals in Australia
Razer Viper Ultimate | AU$156.09 (usually ~AU$250)
We highly rated this rather price-y gaming mouse last year: the 20K CPI sensor is "the best we've seen" and it has an extraordinary battery life. The street price on this one is around AU$250, so this Amazon deal is brilliant. Note that it ships from the US, but if you're an Amazon Prime member that won't cost you an extra cent. View Deal
Logitech G305 Lightspeed gaming mouse | AU$57.56 ( usually ~AU$90)
A great discount on this elegant wireless gaming mouse, which usually ranges in price between AU$89 and AU$100. It boasts six programmable buttons a 12,000 DPI, and a reported 250 hour battery life. This deal ships from the UK, via Amazon.
View Deal
Razer DeathAdder V2 gaming mouse | AU$58.76 (usually AU$139.95)
Nearly AU$82 off this swish Razer gaming mouse, which scored 88% in our review. Back in May we praised its "best in-class 20,000 CPI sensor and optical click sensors. Via Amazon.View Deal
Roccat Kain 120 | AU$57.47 (usually AU$76)
This mouse fared well under our reviewer's scrutiny, with its responsive 16,000 DPI and elegant design. This unit normally goes for anywhere between AU$70 and AU$85 in Australia, so if you're in the market for a new mouse, this is a good deal. Via Amazon.View Deal
Black Friday gaming monitors deals in Australia
Alienware 34 curved | AU$1,499.25 (usually AU$1,999)
Here's a slightly bent WQHD monitor with a 120hz refresh rate and G-Sync. Two grand is a lot for a monitor, but maybe just under AU$500 off will tip you over the edge. Via Dell.View Deal
Dell 27 curved gaming monitor | AU$279.29 (usually AU$399)
This 27 inch curved monitor has a 144Hz refresh rate and 1080p resolution. If you're after a modest gaming screen with a bit of a bend in it, this is a nice AU$119.70 off. Via Dell.View Deal
Black Friday gaming headset deals in Australia
HyperX Cloud Revolver S | AU$179 (usually AU$269)
These comfy cans boast virtual 7.1 Surround Sound, with 50mm drivers boasting a 12Hz–28Hz frequency response. In other words, they pack a kick in the gut, and at AU$90 off the RRP may seal the deal for you. Via MWave.View Deal
HyperX Cloud Orbit Planar Magnetic USB Gaming Headset | AU$299 (usually AU$489)
A very substantial $190 off these unique cans will come as pleasant surprise to anyone coveting them. They use planar speaker technology, which is usually tech reserved for audiophiles and provides more audio compared to the usual speaker cones. It also boasts 3D audio positioning with head tracking, which sounds terrifying - but useful. Via MWave.
Razer Kraken X | AU$59 (usually AU$99)
This Kraken X does a good job for not a lot of money: it has great 7.1 virtual surround sound, it's comfortable, and since it's wired, it just works. The headset normally goes for around AU$85 in Australia, so this is a very decent price for a set of cans you can use for gaming and on the go. Via Microsoft.View Deal
Black Friday storage deals in Australia
Samsung 970 Evo Plus SSD 1TB | AU$203.22 (usually ~AU$260)
A nice discount on this fast NVMe SSD, which boasts an advertised 3500MB/s sequential read. Samsung released these last year as a speedier (and more pricey) alternative to the regular Evo line, so if you've been looking for that marginal boost this is as cheap as we've seen it of late. This deal ships from the UK, via Amazon. If you don't need a full terabyte, the 500GB is also on sale for AU$118.53 - usually you'd pay around AU$130.View Deal
Crucial P5 NVMe SSD - 2TB | AU$379.37 (usually ~AU$450)
If you're after 2 terabytes of blazing fast NVMe storage, Crucial's P5 series are highly regarded and rarely this cheap. A quick glance around the 'net suggests that most local retailers are sticking to the AU$450 region on this one, but thanks to Amazon's UK deals shipping to Australia, you can take advantage of this discount. Via Amazon.View Deal
Black Friday hardware deals in Australia
Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Master | AU$523.44 (usually ~AU$580)
Save nearly AU$60 off the usual street price on this Z490 motherboard, which ranks decently in our list of the best Intel Z490 motherboards, especially if you're after quality audio and a near-overkill amount of USB ports. Via Amazon.View Deal
Black Friday gaming chair deals in Australia
Secretlab gaming chairs | From AU$539 (save up to AU$150)
The Secretlab Omega is our favourite gaming chair of 2020, and it's among the products deeply discounted during Secretlab's Black Friday sale. The standard Omega model is currently AU$539, down from the usual AU$634. And don't despair: all orders come with free shipping. Via Secretlab.View Deal
Black Friday streaming gear deals in Australia
Razer Seiren Emote | AU$179 (usually AU$299)
Razer Seiren USB condenser mics are widely used and highly regarded, but if you're after something with more... emotion, this model has an LED panel that can display emotes as selected by your viewers. Necessary? No. Cool? Some might think so. The current street price on this is around AU$219, so this is a pretty nice deal on a unique piece of kit. Via Microsoft.View Deal
When is Black Friday 2020?
In this inauspicious year Black Friday itself falls on November 27, 2020, and effectively carries through the weekend into Cyber Monday on November 30, 2020. We expect certain retailers will hold back on key deal until this final weekend, though as we pointed out earlier, you will find the whole dealsgasm going on throughout the month.
To be honest, with Amazon Prime Day 2020 hitting sometime in October, you could almost see it actually kicking off in earnest with that two-day, members-only event and then running through to the end of November.
That's a lot of shopping time.
What can I expect discounts on this Black Friday 2020?
When it comes to PC gaming, we're expecting you'll be able to find discounts on pretty much every facet of your rig this year. Traditionally it's a great time to keep an eye out for gaming laptop deals, with companies keen to clear older, but still high-quality, stock before the end of the year and new generations are released.
There may also be some deals on the best gaming PCs over the month too, for the same reason. A new generation of Nvidia Ampere and AMD RDNA 2 graphics cards, as well as AMD Zen 3 processors, will be shipping before the year end, and that means last-gen machines might get their final hurrah.
It also means the best graphics cards of the existing GeForce and Radeon generations, which are mostly still available in the shops, could see some meaty discounts too. I would expect that, most especially, AMD Ryzen 3000 CPUs will be the key components to receive stellar deals throughout November.
The price of memory, and therefore the best SSDs, is in a bit of a freefall state right now, and that bodes well for some tasty deals this Black Friday. Again, we're expecting the PCIe 4.0 generation of solid state drives to really push on going into 2021, with new memory controllers and the first next-gen Samsung drive dropping soon, so we expect to see existing PCIe 3.0 SSDs getting their own suite of discounts too.
The gaming monitor market has been mildly stagnant over the last year, but traditionally you'll find Black Friday a good time to be looking for either a straight monitor or for a big-screen 4K TV for gaming.
The PC peripheral market goes into overdrive around Black Friday too, and so the likes of Logitech and Razer are bound to be slashing prices on their existing stock of gaming keyboards, gaming headsets, and the not-so humble gaming mouse.
What should I avoid buying on Black Friday 2020?
Basically anything you don't need. It's distressingly easy to be duped into dropping cash on something just because there's a hefty discount attached to it… even though you have absolutely no use for it.
If you're considering making a purchase around Black Friday, we would absolutely recommend going into November with a plan of attack. That probably sounds needlessly aggressive, but you need to know what you actually want to buy first or you'll end up with no end of crap.
Cheap crap, maybe, but crap nonetheless.
Do some research on the products you'd like to pick up in the sales, and maybe some alternatives in case those don't pop up, and set yourself a strict budget too.
Products like graphics cards and processors have obvious tiers (though the different companies work damned hard to make product names as confusing as possible), and SSDs have rated speeds, but for peripherals it's tougher to tell from the specs whether they're worth the money. Checking for reviews, from such luminaries as ourselves, should guide you on your way, and also checking price comparison sites such as Getprice will let you know if a deal's more than just skin deep.
Any other Black Friday 2020 tips and tricks?
If you haven't already used it up during a credit card splurge around Amazon Prime Day, then you ought to take the opportunity to sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. That will get you early access to the Lightning Deals, and help you grab some of Jeff's best deals of the day. It will also net you free shipping on a host of products and speedy delivery too, and at the very worst it'll be handy when it comes to bagging some last-minute Christmas gifts for that aunt you always forget about.
Whatever happens around Black Friday 2020, we'll be on hand throughout November to make sure that you're told about the best PC gaming deals going down around the event, and hopefully put a stop to any potential buyer's remorse.
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