Black Friday 2026: Xbox deals
worth waiting for (and what to skip)
Our best buy is the Xbox Series X (1 TB). Microsoft raised Xbox console prices in 2025 and again in August 2026, so any Black Friday 2026 deal starts from a higher number. Here is our buy, wait or skip call on the Xbox Series X, Series S, the Wireless Controller, a storage card and Game Pass, before the sale starts.
How we picked: we shortlist by Amazon Best Seller rank and number of ratings, then compare published specs. We don't test these products hands-on.
By Jamilur Rahman, Founder & Editor · Updated October 21, 2026
- Owner reviews checked
- Features side by side
- Quick & easy compare
- Smarter purchase
The short answer
When do Black Friday 2026 deals start? Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30. Amazon has not announced its 2026 Black Friday sale dates yet (we checked on October 21). In past years its Black Friday deals started about a week before Black Friday and ran through Cyber Monday, so early Xbox deals could show up around November 20. That is a pattern, not an announcement.
Console prices are higher than they were. Microsoft raised Xbox prices in 2025 and again in August 2026, so a Black Friday cut now starts from a bigger number, and nobody can promise one. Our plan: wait on the Xbox Series X and the 512 GB Series S, wait on the storage card, buy a Wireless Controller only if you need a pad now, and skip the 1 TB Series S and the Game Pass code at today’s prices.
Waiting is not for everyone. If an Xbox is the main holiday gift and you would be upset to miss it, do not gamble on a sale: set a price you would accept, check the listing on Black Friday week and buy if it hits that number. If a store sells out, the next sale may be a long way off. The prices on these listings are in price bands we checked on October 21, 2026, and they can change at any time.
Compare them side by side
Everything that matters, in one table. Swipe to see all 6.
| Product | Best Xbox to Wait For Xbox Series X (1 TB) Home console (1 TB, disc drive) |  Best Value Xbox to Wait For Xbox Series S (512 GB) Home console (512 GB, all-digital) | Skip at This Price Xbox Series S (1 TB) Home console (1 TB, all-digital) |  Best Cheap Add-On Xbox Wireless Controller (Carbon Black) Xbox and PC controller |  Best Storage Fix to Wait For SanDisk Optimus GX C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox (512 GB) Xbox storage expansion card |  Skip Buying It Now Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, 3 Months Digital code, 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore | 92 / 100 | 90 / 100 | 84 / 100 | 88 / 100 | 86 / 100 | 82 / 100 |
| Our call | Wait | Wait | Skip | Buy | Wait | Skip |
| Best for | True 4K gaming and a disc drive | The cheapest way into Xbox | A digital console with more storage | A second controller for couch co-op | Series S owners who run out of space | Trying a big library of games |
| Typical price (checked October 21, 2026) | $790–$810 | $480–$500 | $580–$600 | $50–$60 | $120–$130 | $60–$70 |
| Model | Series X, 1 TB (current) | Series S, 512 GB (current) | Series S, 1 TB (current) | Wireless Controller (current) | Optimus GX C50, 512 GB | Digital code, 3 months |
| Newer model out? | No | No | No | No | No | Not stated |
| Why it’s here | The Xbox most buyers want to see discounted | The cheapest Xbox and a likely sale item | Close to Series X money, with a weaker console | A cheap add-on that stores often mark down | Storage is a classic sale item | A fixed-price code, so a deal is a gamble |
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BeastScore here is our overall rating out of 100, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Prices change daily, so tap "View on Amazon" for today's price. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Why each one made the list
What each pick does best, where it falls short, and the typical Amazon price when we checked.
- 1. Best Xbox to Wait For
Xbox Series X (1 TB)
BeastScore 92 / 100Typically $790–$810 on Amazon (checked October 21, 2026)The Series X is Microsoft’s most powerful console. The listing says it has 12 teraflops, true 4K at up to 120 fps, hardware ray tracing and a 1 TB SSD, and it comes with a Wireless Controller. It also has a disc drive, so you can buy used games. Microsoft raised Xbox prices in 2025 and again in August 2026, which makes this a big purchase. Amazon sold it directly when we checked, and it was in stock. We say wait for the sale, and decide the price you would accept first.
Pros- The most powerful Xbox, built for 4K TVs
- Disc drive plus 1 TB of storage
- Amazon sold it directly when we checked
Cons- Priced far above the Series S
- A 4K TV is needed to get the most from it
- Big games fill 1 TB faster than you expect
- 2. Best Value Xbox to Wait For
Xbox Series S (512 GB)
BeastScore 90 / 100Typically $480–$500 on Amazon (checked October 21, 2026)The Series S is the cheapest way to play new Xbox games. The listing calls it the smallest Xbox ever: it has no disc drive, a 512 GB SSD and up to 120 fps gameplay, and it includes a controller. It suits a bedroom TV, a kid’s room or a second console. The catch is storage, because 512 GB fills up quickly with modern games, so many buyers add a storage card. A Black Friday cut would help, but Microsoft raised prices in 2025 and again in August 2026, so we say wait and set a price limit.
Pros- The cheapest Xbox and the smallest
- Plays the same new games as the Series X
- Includes a Wireless Controller in the box
Cons- No disc drive, so no used games or Blu-rays
- Only 512 GB of storage
- Runs at lower detail than the Series X on a 4K TV
- 3. Skip at This Price
Xbox Series S (1 TB)
BeastScore 84 / 100Typically $580–$600 on Amazon (checked October 21, 2026)The 1 TB Series S is the same console as the 512 GB model with double the storage. That sounds nice, but the price lands within a couple of hundred dollars of the Series X, which has a faster chip, a disc drive and the same 1 TB of storage. At the price we saw, it does not make sense for most buyers. If you want the cheap Series S, buy the 512 GB model and add a storage card later. Only a real Black Friday cut would change our call on this one.
Pros- Twice the storage of the 512 GB Series S
- Same small size and quiet design
- Includes a Wireless Controller
Cons- Costs much more than the 512 GB Series S
- Close to Series X money for a weaker console
- No disc drive
- 4. Best Cheap Add-On
Xbox Wireless Controller (Carbon Black)
BeastScore 88 / 100Typically $50–$60 on Amazon (checked October 21, 2026)The Wireless Controller is the pad that ships with every Xbox console, and the one most people buy as a second pad. The listing describes a hybrid D-pad, textured grips, a Share button, USB-C and Bluetooth, and a 3.5 mm headset jack. It also works with PC and supported phones. Controllers are among the items stores often mark down in a console sale, but a controller is cheap in dollars, so waiting saves little. If you need a pad for a gift before the sale, buy it. Otherwise watch Cyber Monday.
Pros- The standard pad that every Xbox game is built around
- Works with PC and Bluetooth devices, not only Xbox
- Cheap enough that waiting risks little
Cons- A small saving in dollars compared with a console deal
- Needs AA batteries or a charging kit, so budget a little more
- 5. Best Storage Fix to Wait For
SanDisk Optimus GX C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox (512 GB)
BeastScore 86 / 100Typically $120–$130 on Amazon (checked October 21, 2026)A storage card plugs into the back of a Series X or Series S and adds space that runs games at the same speed as the internal drive. This SanDisk card is officially licensed, and the listing says games play directly from the card and that Quick Resume works. SanDisk also lists 1 TB and 2 TB sizes, though we only checked the 512 GB and 2 TB listings. Storage is a classic sale item, so we say wait for Black Friday week, unless your console is already full.
Pros- Officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S
- Games run from the card, not just sit on it
- Slots in with no tools
Cons- Costs more per gigabyte than a regular USB drive
- The 512 GB size is small for a big library
- 6. Skip Buying It Now
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, 3 Months
BeastScore 82 / 100Typically $60–$70 on Amazon (checked October 21, 2026)Game Pass Ultimate gives you a rotating library of games on console, PC and cloud, plus online console multiplayer and EA Play. This listing is a 3 month digital code. We would skip buying it now: a code is a short-term purchase and the library changes every month. Subscription codes sometimes go on sale around the holidays, but nobody has announced a Game Pass deal for 2026. If you are buying a console, check what the console listing includes before you buy a separate code.
Pros- A big library for one price
- Includes online console multiplayer
- Delivered by code, so nothing ships
Cons- It runs out after three months
- The library changes, so games can leave the service
All 6 compared, in one look
See every pick on one chart, or tap one to put it head to head with Xbox Series X (1 TB). Ratings out of 10 are our estimates from published specs and Amazon owner reviews, not hands-on tests. Bigger shape = better.
- Value todayXbox Wireless Controller (Carbon Black) · 8.8/10
- Sale upsideSanDisk Optimus GX C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox (512 GB) · 8.2/10
- Gaming qualityXbox Series X (1 TB) · 9.6/10
- Years of useXbox Series X (1 TB) · 9.2/10
- Easy to buyTie
Which one should you buy?
Find your situation below. That's your pick.
WaitThe Xbox most likely to get a Black Friday cut or bundle, but nobody has announced one. Set a price you would accept and buy only at that number.
- You have a 4K TV
- You want a disc drive and 1 TB of storage
- You can wait for a sale or a bundle
WaitA likely sale item and the easiest Xbox to afford. Wait for Black Friday week, and add a storage card only if you need it.
- You want the cheapest Xbox
- You buy games digitally
- It is for a bedroom, a kid’s room or a second TV
SkipAt today’s price you are better off with the Series X, or the 512 GB Series S plus a storage card. Revisit only if a real discount lands.
- You want a Series S with more storage
- You will only buy at a real discount
- You do not want a disc drive
BuyIt is cheap, and a deal saves little. If you need a second pad now, buy it, and treat a Cyber Monday cut as a bonus.
- You need a second pad for family play
- You want a pad that also works on PC
- You want a low-risk add-on
WaitStorage cards are a classic Black Friday and Cyber Monday item. Wait unless your console is already full.
- Your Series S is nearly full
- You want games to run from the card
- You can wait for a Black Friday offer
SkipA short code gives you no lasting value, and a sale is only a guess. Wait for a real Black Friday offer, or buy a month at a time.
- You want to try many games cheaply
- You play online multiplayer on Xbox
- You will only buy at a real discount
Xbox Series X (1 TB)
The most powerful Xbox and the console most likely to get a Black Friday cut or bundle. Wait for the sale, and set a price you would accept first.
- True 4K up to 120 fps
- 1 TB SSD and a disc drive
- Amazon sold it directly
Quick tips before you buy
Console listings with marketplace sellers can sit far above the normal price. Look for “Shipper / Seller: Amazon.com” on the buy box before you buy a console.
Decide the most you would pay for the console you want. On Black Friday week, buy if the listing hits that number, and walk away if it does not.
Console deals often come as bundles with a game or a second controller. Compare the bundle price with the console and each add-on bought on its own.
The Series X helps most on a 4K TV with a 120 Hz mode. On a 1080p TV, a Series S looks nearly as good for much less money.
Quick answers
When does Black Friday 2026 start on Amazon?+
Black Friday is November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving on November 26. Amazon has not announced its 2026 sale dates yet. In past years its Black Friday deals started about a week before Black Friday and ran through Cyber Monday, which is November 30.
Will the Xbox Series X be on sale for Black Friday?+
Nobody knows until Amazon and Microsoft announce their plans. Microsoft raised Xbox prices in 2025 and again in August 2026, so any deal starts from a higher number. Treat a Series X deal as possible, not guaranteed, and decide your price limit before the sale starts.
Is it better to buy an Xbox on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?+
Neither day is always better. Amazon’s deals usually run for a few days, so early offers can appear before Black Friday and last through Cyber Monday. Consoles can sell out, so if you see your price on Friday, buy it. Cyber Monday is usually the better day for accessories and storage.
Should I buy the Xbox Series X or Series S?+
Buy the Series X if you have a 4K TV and want a disc drive and 1 TB of storage. Buy the Series S if you want the cheapest Xbox, play on a smaller TV and buy games digitally. The Series S has 512 GB of storage, so many buyers add a storage card.
Will Xbox controllers be cheaper on Cyber Monday?+
Possibly. Controllers are among the items stores often mark down in a console sale, but nobody can promise it. A standard Wireless Controller is cheap in dollars, so waiting saves little. If you need one for a gift, buy it now.
Will Xbox storage cards go on sale on Black Friday?+
They might. Storage is a common Black Friday and Cyber Monday item, but we cannot promise a discount. If your Series S is already full, buy the card now. Otherwise wait for Black Friday week and compare sizes, because a bigger card can cost more per gigabyte.
Is it worth buying a Game Pass code on Black Friday?+
Only at a real discount. A code is a short-term purchase and the library changes every month. Nobody has announced a Game Pass deal for 2026, so we would not buy a 3 month code just because it is the holiday season.
Keep comparing
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Best Gifts for Gamers: PC, PS5, Switch and phoneGifts gamers actually use, from $60 controllers to a VR headset.
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