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TVs may be an investment, but they are one of the most used gadgets in your home. You don’t want to get some cheap screen with lackluster picture quality and a short lifespan just to save a few bucks. Instead, you should look for ways to spend less on the best TV ready for all your gaming and streaming needs. Luckily there are TV deals all year, so you never really have to pay full price for a new TV if you know when to look.
Everyone’s aware of the discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and admittedly those sales often render the most savings if you can score the best deals. However, there are other times throughout the year you can find major savings on the best gaming TVs or quality 4K TVs.
Beyond those November deals, in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, the biggest TV-watching event of the year, you’ll often enjoy savings. Come springtime, most manufacturers release new models, so older ones will drop in price. Holiday weekends and Amazon Prime Day are also great times to shop around for savings. It’s clear there are opportunities in every season to find discounted TVs, but timing is everything.
Best Times to Buy a TV
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
What was once a huge shopping day following Thanksgiving has now expanded into a couple weeks in November for sales on everything you can think of. TVs often have some of the deepest discounts of the year, and it’s one of the best times to look out for one. You’ll find many lower-quality TVs for rock bottom prices, which could be handy for a guest bedroom or kid's playroom. Higher-end and newer models of TVs that came out in the spring are also often discounted, so you’re bound to find a deal suited for you.
Black Friday used to be exclusively for in-store shopping, where you’d see people camping outside retailers like Best Buy and Walmart the night before to score the limited inventory and low prices. There are still some incredible TV deals only for in-store purchases, but they’re mostly just advertised to get people in the store, and the stock will more than likely be gone unless you get there early. If you have a specific TV you’re searching for, just be sure to snag it quickly.
Cyber Monday is online shopping's answer to Black Friday. It’s simply when you’ll find the best deals shopping from online retailers. Amazon offers sales similar to Prime Day, which happens in the summer, where you’ll find a variety of TV deals that are often available for a very limited time with a small stock. Other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart participate in Cyber Monday, and those stores will also have similar sales in-store.
Before the Super Bowl
After the holiday rush comes one of the biggest TV-watching events of the year: The Super Bowl. Many retailers have better TV availability around mid-January and early February, as stock should be back after shoppers made their purchases during the holiday sales events. Therefore, in the weeks leading up to the big game, you’ll see great savings on TVs, including many massive screens. Typically, older models will go on sale first with better discounts, but you can still find a great deal on a newer TV.
Early January is also when many TV manufacturers announce their newest models at the Consumer Electronics Show or CES. That means some stores will be looking to get rid of their stock of older models to make room for the latest televisions coming in spring.
Springtime
If you’re seeking out a specific brand of television, be it Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, etc., many of those manufacturers release their latest TVs in the Springtime, starting around March. That means you may find deals on the older models of those TVs at that time as retailers want to make room for the new crop. Most manufacturers usually make minimal changes to the older model’s successor, so you won’t miss out on many features if you choose to purchase last year's version.
Amazon Prime Day
Prime Day was once an Amazon Prime exclusive sale that started in mid-July to celebrate their birthday, but now other retailers join in with similar deals. Walmart, Best Buy, and a variety of other retailers put on their own sales around the same time, attempting to compete with the online retail giant. Some will even match prices.
Amazon Prime Day generally lasts a few days in July and is only for Prime members. Amazon doesn’t announce the actual sale dates until a few weeks before it kicks off. Some sales last the entire sale period, while others have a limited amount of time to purchase the item.
When it comes to TVs, you’ll often find deep discounts similar to the sales seen around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, many of the best TV deals are on older models. Be sure to keep your eye on the site, as deals are constantly added throughout the two-day sales event.
Holiday Weekends
If you’re desperate for a new TV and don’t want to wait, many retailers will have special sales during long holiday weekends, like President’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. These discounts often aren’t as great, and your TV selection is more limited, but you’ll still be able to score a decent deal on a TV.
TV Release Cycles Matter
It’s important to pay attention to the TV release cycle to find the best discounts on TVs, especially if you’re looking to buy the latest and greatest releases. In January, at the massive consumer tech conference, CES, is when many manufacturers will announce their upcoming models. Come springtime, starting around March, those new models start to roll out, with many retailers placing deeper discounts on older models. You’ll still see releases into the summer. If you’re looking to grab one of the newest models, prices often don’t drop until the fall. When you hold out until Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you’ll see the best deals on the latest TVs.
TV Brands With New Products
Most of the notable TV brands release updated and new models of their TVs every year. We go over them below:
Samsung
Samsung has shifted its focus to higher-end models of TVs, and therefore, there's a limited selection when it comes to more budget-friendly options. We don’t see a very big change from last year's lineup, with many new models offering minor upgrades from their predecessors. This crop of Samsung televisions promise better brightness, improvements to the mini-LED and Quantum Dot (QD-OLED) backlighting, along with upgrades to their already excellent gaming features. Samsung also added a 77-inch model to their QD-OLED options for those that want a massive screen with insane clarity. To differentiate between most of the 2022 and 2023 models, you’ll find a “c” rather than a “b” in their names. For example, the QN95C is the newer version of the QN95B.
LG
LG is shrinking its lineup of LED TVs and adding one new model, the M3 OLED. The M3 is a massive 97-inch display that can receive visual and audio without any wires, thanks to a wireless HDMI transmitter box. Its OLED evo TVs also have a few upgrades, including a multiview mode to see content from two separate devices connected over HDMI and an improved processor. Its G3 model also sees a significant improvement in brightness.
Sony
Similar to Samsung, Sony has made some upgrades to their 2023 models. Most of their TVs have improved gaming features and processors, along with a higher brightness and more local dimming. There are no significant changes to any of the TVs and no brand new models, but there is now a 77-inch version of the Sony A95, which uses QD-OLED technology. You’ll know you’ve got a 2023 model based on the “L” in its name.
Hisense
Hisense continues to make a name for itself in the TV game with its 2023 lineup of TVs. Many of their higher-end ULED models now offer a 144Hz refresh rate for a better gaming experience. A new flagship TV, the UX is a stunning, large 85-inch display that utilizes mini-LED technology for exceptional brightness and an excess of local dimming zones.
Vizio
Vizio has made a few small improvements to its 2023 TVs with some added features and better LED performance. They have also removed the top-line P-series model from their roster. You’ll still get to choose from the mid-range M-series and the more budget-minded V-series. If you’re okay with a 1080p resolution and a smaller screen, you can also grab the D-series on the cheap.
TCL
TCL is the one manufacturer to make major changes to its TV lineup. There is now the Q- and S-series, with their flagship model being the TCL QM8. This TV is full of gaming features, along with a Mini LED, quantum dot display that competes with OLEDs. The Q7 and Q6 are a step-down but still use quantum dot technology, and make solid budget gaming TVs. The S series of TVs are the cheapest models, with the S4 being the lowest-priced TCL TV offering a 4K resolution. The S3 drops its resolution to 1080p, while the S2 has a 720p resolution, making it a super affordable option.
Roku
Yes, that’s right. Roku, the brand known for streaming devices and putting their smart technology into many other manufacturers' TVs has decided to branch out with its own lineup of Roku TVs. 11 different models range in size from 24 to 75 inches that are all designed for streaming first and foremost. The Roku Plus options will come with the Voice Remote Pro which features hands-free voice commands and rechargeable batteries, while the Roku Select models come with the more basic Roku Voice Remote.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
