Best Buy Launches Black Friday in July With 8,000 Items 50% Off

Q: Amazon's record-low prices are tempting, but is the Kindle a trap that locks you into its restrictive ecosystem?

Yes—but only partly. A Kindle Paperwhite at a record-low price is a strong hardware deal, but it does tie buyers more closely to Amazon than rival e-readers do. The lock-in is real in three ways. Books bought from the Kindle Store are usually wrapped in Amazon’s DRM, so they are not easily moved to non-Amazon devices. Kindle hardware also does not natively read EPUB, the most common open e-book format, though Amazon’s Send to Kindle service now converts EPUB files for personal use. And Amazon has shown it can limit older devices over time: support for some older Kindles has ended, and Amazon removed the old “Download & Transfer via USB” option for Kindle books in 2025. That said, calling it a total trap overstates the case. For many readers, Kindle remains the easiest ecosystem to live in. The Paperwhite is widely praised by reviewers for its 7-inch glare-free display, waterproofing, long battery life, speed, and tight integration with Amazon’s large bookstore. It also works with Libby in many markets, letting users borrow library e-books, and sideloading personal documents is much easier than it used to be. The real trade-off is convenience versus flexibility. If you mainly buy from Amazon, want Audible and Kindle Unlimited, and value a polished reading experience, the discounted Paperwhite is a smart buy. If you want broader file support, easier library integration, or less dependence on one company, Kobo or Android-based e-readers offer more freedom.

3 articles · Updated · Mashable · Jul 21

Best Buy’s Black Friday in July sale is live through July 26, with more than 8,000 products discounted by at least 50%.
The event spans major electronics categories including TVs, iPads, MacBooks, unlocked phones, smartwatches and accessories, with a dedicated section for half-off deals and deeper markdowns.
Best Buy is expected to add new doorbusters multiple times before the sale ends, extending a second major summer promotion just a month after its Tech Fest event.
The retailer had used Black Friday in July last year to counter Prime Day, but Amazon moved Prime Day to June in 2026, leaving Best Buy with two separate summer sales.