Some of the best Samsung tech I’ve ever used is on sale for Black Friday – here are my 3 recommendations
I’ll be the first to say that brand loyalty is a pitfall. I’m not really one to find a brand I like and buy everything related to it just to show off the logo or name. Instead, I’d say it’s better to get the best product for your needs, regardless of who made it. Maybe that’s Apple, maybe that’s Sony, maybe that’s Dyson.
However, I realized that I have been drawn to a lot of Samsung technology lately. Not because I have any devotion to a faceless company based in South Korea, but because it has knocked it out of the park with some of the best TVs, phones and earbuds available today.
And now a lot of that great Samsung tech is on sale in this year’s Black Friday deals. So I’m here with some strong recommendations, based on my experience enjoying and appreciating these products over the past few months. Hopefully this practical personal perspective can help you with some of your purchasing decisions this year.
Samsung S90C TV
I’ll start here with a large one that I bought at the beginning of this month and which I am very impressed with. Previously I had an almost five year old Samsung Q70R as my existing screen, so I took up this offer on the Samsung S90C as it’s a fantastic price for a new TV of this size.
What finally made me make the move was the fact that we also awarded it the Ny Breaking Choice Award for the best TV of the year – and it now proudly sits at number one in our best TV guide.
The clear, vibrant and detailed picture quality of the Samsung S90C means it’s also ideal for all the movies I watch, while gaming features such as a dedicated game mode and HDMI 2.1 ports ensure I get the best performance and experience from the PS5.
The S90C made Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse absolutely shine, bringing out all the stunning visual highlights of that animated opus to full effect. And it’s also a star when it comes to gaming. It has skillfully enhanced the eerie imagery and disturbing forests of the American Northwest in Alan Wake 2 to make that experience even more immersive. And the brilliantly bizarre musical interlude was even more triumphant on the big screen.
If you’re looking for a premium large-screen TV, the Samsung S90C is a fantastic choice that you would love to have in your living room for all your viewing needs.
Samsung Galaxy S23Plus
When my old phone ran low on battery after less than half a day of moderate use, I knew it was time for an upgrade. It was around this time that the Samsung Galaxy S23 range was launched, so I thought the timing might be right to finally pick up a new device.
With a wonderful trade-in discount, a free storage upgrade and an extra voucher code, I was able to save a lot of money by pre-purchasing the Samsung Galaxy S3 Plus and linking it to a cheap monthly SIM card.
Now I can stream videos, play games and share the latest Baldur’s Gate 3 memes in the group chat all day long and still have plenty of battery left when I tuck myself into bed at night. Problem solved.
But that’s not just what this phone impresses. It takes great photos, the performance is fast and responsive, and the screen is a great size for everything I want to do. A little big perhaps, but not too oppressive or difficult to put in a pocket.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2
Finally, here are a pair of earbuds that I like to rely on when I don’t need or want my over-ears.
I use my Bose QuietComfort 45s for most everyday things, whether that’s commuting, listening to music, gaming late at night, or just blocking out background noise when I want to focus and get some work done. But the bulky frame isn’t all that useful when I want to watch some YouTube in bed or go bouldering – and that’s where these buttons come into play.
Honestly, for the reasons I use the Galaxy Buds Pro 2, I probably could have bought something much cheaper. Then again, these ended up being a bit of a bargain as part of a deal during Prime Day. All I had to do was trade in a random pair of old wired headphones and I got these for a third of the price.
That upgrade will likely be worth it in the long run, too, as the Buds Pro 2 have already proven to be admirable all-round performers. The sound quality is solid, the noise cancellation is surprisingly good for earbuds, and the battery life is great for fairly frequent use.
I definitely recommend checking them out if you want earbuds that are better than any old, cheap pair, offer decent sound quality, and have a reasonable budget to spend.