Ah, the merry month of June – a time when many of us will be scrambling to get our finances in order so we can file our taxes on time. But it’s also when Aussie shoppers are tempted into retail therapy with a plethora of bargains offered by several retailers looking to offload old stock and hit sales targets.
The end-of-financial-year sale is one of the biggest shopping events in Australia, with a wide range of products discounted quite steeply, including cars, household appliances and, of course consumer electronics.
Shopping during Australia’s end-of-financial-year sales means you’ll be able to make relevant work-related purchases before filing your tax paperwork as a lot of the discounted items will be tax deductible. So not only will you save some cash on the purchase, you’ll also be able to pocket some extra savings in the form of your tax returns.
And while lockdown restrictions are slowly being lifted, it’s still a very good idea to shop online. After all, you’ll be able to stay off your feet and shop from the comfort of your own home, and you’ll have more time and energy to trawl through various online storefronts for the best offers. Or, you could let us do the hard work.
With some early EOFY deals already beginning to appear online, TechRadar’s Australian team is on hand to sift the chaff and find the best bargains on electronics over the entire month of June. We’ll list them all right here and keep this page updated with all the new offers as and when they’re made available. There is a strong possibility that a lot of the EOFY sales will end before June 30, so you will need to be quick to snag a great deal.
EOFY 2020 sale: what and when is it?
Unlike the calendar year, Australia’s end of financial year is June 30. That means, from July 1 to the end of October, individuals and businesses will need to file their tax forms with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Prior to that retailers will be racing to shift old stock to make way for fresh ones, and they’ll be slashing prices on plenty of items, many of which will be tax deductible.
Australia’s EOFY sales traditionally begin June 1 and end on June 30, although many retailers tend to jump the gun, offering a few tempting morsels to lure shoppers in. However, the best EOFY offers are during the month of June, although not all retailers have month-long sales. Moreover, the offers also change through the month, so you will need to keep checking back to see if whatever you need is being discounted or not.
Early EOFY 2020 deals
It’s not quite June yet but some EOFY offers have begun to trickle in. They’re not the best bargains we’ve seen but the bigger discounts will come shortly. For now, if you’re in dire need of a new laptop, then Microsoft is offering 15% off a few Surface devices, while HP will throw in a bonus prepaid gift card worth up to AU$200 when you buy selected HP devices. The retailers currently offering some EOFY deals are:
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 256GB | AU$1,295 (RRP AU$1,699; save AU$404)
This is an excellent early deal on one of the best smartphones available right now. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 is a productivity-focused handset with powerhouse specs, so you can expect to use this phone for both work and play. The AMOLED screen is lovely to look at, and the four-camera array is sure to please. The Good Guys has slashed 23% off this premium handset in both Aura Glow and Aura Black.View Deal
GoPro Hero 8 Black | AU$499 (RRP AU$599; save AU$100)
The GoPro Hero 8 Black is our favourite action camera, and while this isn’t a huge discount, it’s not a bad price for the manufacturer’s flagship model. The digital stabilisation is best-in-class, and with movement restrictions beginning to ease, you’ll have the perfect companion to capture your adventures. Pocket AU$100 worth of savings when you pick it up from The Good Guys.View Deal
Australia’s EOFY 2020 sale: what to expect
If you’re looking to save some money on electronics during Australia’s annual EOFY sale, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve had our finger on the pulse of tax-time deals for a few years now and can safely predict what you can get for a cheaper price.
So, what kind of tech can you find during EOFY sales Down Under? Plenty. From computers to gaming gear, the best flagship smartphones to personal audio. To get an idea of what to expect in 2020, let’s take a look at what was on offer last year.
Laptops and PCs: Computing gear has always been some of the most popular items to purchase during EOFY. Manufacturers like Microsoft, Lenovo, Dell and HP will host their own sales on their sites, but you’ll also be able to grab laptops and desktop PCs from major retailers as well, with average discounts of about 15% to 20%. You’ll even be able to snag bargains on accessories as well, with printers, keyboards, SSDs and external hard drives all going on sale during this time.
Gaming
From Nintendo to Sony and Microsoft – there were plenty of deep discounts on gaming gear last year and we’re expecting to see more of the same again in 2020. The best price we saw on the Switch during EOFY 2019 was AU$379, which isn’t quite as low as it’s gone during other big sales like Black Friday, but it’s still a darn good price. There’ll also be some blockbuster gaming titles available for cheap, if you’d like to expand your gaming library, but keep an eye out for console bundles.
Smartphones and tablets
While there’s usually not a lot of variety when it comes to smartphone discounts, there are always some very intriguing offers to consider during EOFY if you’re looking to upgrade your handset. Last year saw some great discounts on Samsung’s flagships, as well as the Google Pixel 3, so if you’re an Android user, you may be able to score a new phone without having to pay full retail price.
It’s also a great time to see if you need a tablet as well, as more often than not they too are tax deductible if you use them for work.
Home entertainment and personal audio
There were plenty of TVs, sound bars and speakers on sale during the last couple of EOFY sales, and we don’t expect that trend to change any time soon. And with some excellent 4K UHD smart TVs already seeing price drops outside of big sales, we’re looking forward to seeing how much more affordable they’ll be during the 2020 tax-time sale.
It’s not just home entertainment setups that you’ll be able to save on but portable Bluetooth speakers and the best wireless headphones as well. The premium audio products retail for about AU$500 a pop, but there’s a good chance you’ll see them drop well below the AU$400 mark. While discounted prices may not match Black Friday offers, tax-time deals still see a decent chunk of change saved on premium products.
Cameras
The EOFY sales are also a great time for photographers – beginners, pros or hobbyists – to grab the latest gear. Last year saw plenty of cameras go on sale, particularly from Fujifilm and Nikon. In 2018, we saw action cameras also drop in price, so keep your eyes peeled for some excellent bargains on DSLRs, compacts and more. If you’re happy with the camera body you already own but need some accessories, we’re also expecting lenses, tripods, filters, bags and SD cards to see some decent price drops as well.
Smart home devices
These nifty voice-activated products have been flooding the market – from internet-connected lights to smart security systems, and the speakers and displays to control them all. Amazon discounted its Echo range of smart speakers last year and we’re quite sure that will happen again, along with the other smart devices the e-commerce giant stocks, such as Philips Hue smart lights. You’ll also find plenty of retailers offering discounts on Google’s range of smart speakers as well.
Home appliances
If you’re looking to renovate your home, the EOFY sales will help you save plenty on the new appliances you’ll need. You can expect to see bargains on not just Dyson vacuum cleaners, but also fridges, dishwashers, washing machines and plenty more.