Black Friday is just around the corner and we're already seeing some early discounts on star projectors. But how much do you stand to save, and is it actually worth buying one on Black Friday / Cyber Monday?
Whether you want help relaxing, or you want an astronomically accurate display to help identify constellations and planets, we've rounded up the best star projectors in 2024.
However, if you have a specific model in mind, you'll want to know if it's best to take advantage of the current and upcoming Black Friday deals or wait for another offer.
The short answer is yes, because we've seen some superb Black Friday deals on projectors. Last year, the Encalife Aurora Star Projector was $30 off at Amazon and the Blisslights Star Projector was also $30 off. But let's take a closer look at how much you can save on a star projector.
Top early Black Friday star projector deal
What is a star projector?
Star projectors, as the name suggests, use light-based projection to illuminate your room with patterns in the form of stars, galaxies, and more. Depending on the model you buy, those projectors may be scientifically accurate images of the night sky, or they may just be pretty cosmic patterns.
When it comes to star projectors, you're spoilt for choice. There are basic but beautiful budget models that are perfect for relaxation, right through to top-end projectors that rival traditional planetariums.
We've reviewed a wide range of available options and selected some of the best, covering all budgetary options, from those designed to get your newborn to sleep, novelty designs, voice-controlled star projectors and the ones that’ll please you with shooting or twinkly stars.
What is the best early Black Friday star projector deal?
Looking for a scientifically accurate star projector? Amazon has a coupon for $25 off the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector, making it $94.99. In our review of the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector, we were impressed by how well it compares to its higher-priced competition (like the Sega Toys Homestar Flux). We also love how you can expand this projector with additional, fairly-priced image discs.
Or, if mindfulness and relaxation are more your thing, the BlissLights Sky Lite Evolve, now $34 at Amazon, offers some beautiful cosmic displays. We reviewed the BlissLights Sky Evolve and found its color-blending technology and app control to be a real boon for creating beautiful displays. We think it's the best star projector for pastel shades.
For a super pocket-friendly star projector, this Astronaut Star Projector is $14.99 at Amazon with the on-page coupon. In our review of the near-identical Astronaut Starry Sky Projector, we were impressed by how the adorable projector punched above its price tag.
Why you should buy a star projector on Black Friday
While different star projectors address different wants, from mindfulness to astronomical curiosity, the overall technology doesn’t tend to move on a great deal year after year.
The Sega Toys Homestar Flux is still our pick for the best overall star projector, and while it's always possible a new competitor or some brand new technology will emerge to usurp it, it's retained its crown for now.
So star projectors, more so than TVs, cameras, laptops, and any other consumer technologies that are quickly superseded by newer models, are an easier purchase, especially during events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You can trust that your star projector isn't going to be obsolete any time soon.
Why you should wait to buy a star projector
While your star projector won't suddenly be out of date, you might find something cheaper that fulfills the same purpose. Black Friday prices are rarely bettered, but remember there are also significant price drops around and especially after Christmas.
We'd also recommend you think twice about laser star projectors, if those have caught your eye on Black Friday (pun absolutely intended), then you may be worth looking for an alternative, especially if buying as a gift for a child.
Why? Because there's the possibility of eye damage if the laser is powerful enough. The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ‘recognizes four major hazard classes (I to IV) of lasers, including three subclasses (IIa, IIIa, and IIIb). The higher the class, the more powerful the laser is and the greater the potential to pose serious injury if used improperly.'
So while, as with a laser pointer, you wouldn't normally stare into the end, there's still a hint of risk, especially with unsupervised children.
Which star projectors are likely to be discounted for Black Friday?
Discounts vary yearly, so there's every chance of bagging a bargain this Black Friday. However, unlike drones and cameras, star projectors aren't often superseded by better models from the same brand, so manufacturers are less likely to have 'old' or 'less desirable' stock to sell. They are also small and easy to store — more reasons retailers won't be in as much of a rush to empty their warehouses of them.
So what price drops could we see, on top of these early Black Friday deals? Encalife's Aurora Star Projector was $30 off last Black Friday, making it $79.97 and recently saw a similar dip. Don't be fooled by the $200+ price tag on Encalife's own website, though, they seem to have an eternal half-price sale happening.
In our review of the Sega Homestar Flux we praised its realistic depiction of the night sky. We haven't seen a Black Friday discount yet, but perhaps with the increasing amount of impressive competition, this might be the year.
We have historically seen small discounts on the flash-drive-sized BlissLights StarPort and on another of our favorite rechargeable models — The Orzors Galaxy Lite.
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