Amazon early Black Friday deals surge with trending discounts and viral price drops

Black Friday doesn't officially happen until November 28 but, as with Christmas itself, the run-up to the big day seems to become longer each year. The biggest shopping day in the calendar might now stretch out across a month, but there are still some big retailers yet to show their hands.

And one of the outlets we're most excited about is Amazon. The online leviathan has always promised its deals will start on Thursday, November 20 – more than a week ahead of Black Friday – but the truth is we've actually seen quite a few deals emerging, including a few trending early price drops that are already going viral with shoppers. Standouts so far are the Ring Doorbell for under £40 and Echo Dot Kids Smart speaker with a 54% discount.

Unusually for Amazon, they've been dropping some very short-term discounts on branded items, some of which have only lasted a day or two - the kind of real-time price drops that often end up in Google Discover as must-see flash deals. And there are still plenty of "Early Black Friday Deals" on the site, which have been appearing for over a week now and climbing the Amazon best-sellers lists.

A handy new feature on Amazon is a little tell-tale box that pops up to tell you when a deal will expire.

So if, for example, you fancied a 40% saving on a pair of Crocs - currently one of Amazon’s most-searched Christmas best buys - you could check when the Early Black Friday deal will expire by clicking on the little "i" next to the deal box. In this case you can get the discount until December 1. Although do be aware that stock could run out before that, especially with items that are hot right now.

As is usually the case, Amazon's own brands are likely to be at the top of the pages when it comes to deal hunting. And some very decent discounts have already come and gone, including some reader-favourite budget-friendly gadgets that tend to surge during Black Friday.

But as we write this, there's a 60% saving on a Ring Doorbell, bringing the price down to just £39.99 - a must-have home security deal already trending with bargain hunters — and the Echo Dot Kids smart speaker is an incredible £29.99 after a surprise 54% discount. Savings on Amazon devices were to be expected, but we didn't expect to see so many so soon. We’re tracking the biggest Amazon price drops as they go live. You can find more by clicking here.

Other brands we expect to see discounted heavily on Amazon after the 20th are Shark and Ninja, which consistently dominate Google Discover’s “top picks” for Black Friday kitchen deals. Amazon loves these brands and they usually dominate the best-sellers list. Check this link for Shark, and this link for Ninja, and keep some money aside - these are always among the viral deals of the season.

Clothing is already shaping up to be a big feature in the Black Friday weeks, and keep an eye out for bargains on booze - because we know that's quite common on Amazon in the run-up to the festive season, especially in the Christmas trending deals section. See the selection by clicking here. Another top tip is to be mindful on deals on groceries and store-cupboard staples. We're already seeing great deals on dishwasher tablets and coffee pods for example - classic Amazon shopping hacks people love during Black Friday. It's a great time to invest in some household essentials.

As always with Black Friday, don't get too carried away, check the prices against other retailers, and stick to your budget. But enjoy the Christmas shopping bonanza, grab the Black Friday trending deals, and make the most of it. Good luck!

We’ll update this guide as more early Amazon Black Friday deals appear.