Best Time to Buy a TV? Let Us Guide You

TVs are on sale throughout the year. Unfortunately, most of the best models are usually way expensive for an Average Joe to afford. But did you know that you can get your dream big-screen TV at a discounted price? All you need to do is wait!

So, what is the best time to buy a TV in order to nab the lowest prices?

Black Friday takes place in November, usually a day after Thanksgiving – the fourth Thursday of every November. It’s regarded as the unofficial opening of the country’s festive season.

Most of the major retailers – like Walmart and Amazon – open as early as midnight and discount just about everything. TVs and smartphones are some of the most sought-after items, so you can’t fail to get an amazing deal during this day.

According to Consumer Reports, discounts on TVs can go as low as 50 percent of their initial price during Black Fridays. Sometimes, shopping physically can be nearly impossible. But you can skip crowds with online shopping. Just make sure that you have reliable internet and your credit card is loaded.

If you are keen enough, you will notice that prices change throughout the day. This is because major retailers usually try to compete during Black Fridays. And with the age of online shopping, prices can be quite reactive.

Therefore, be on the lookout. If you are lucky, you might land a better deal at the end of the day. However, if you are comfortable with the price point of a TV set at a particular time, don’t hesitate to take it. Black Fridays can are very unpredictable.

Black Fridays have become so big that some TV manufacturers make special models for this specific day. These sets are known as derivatives – they can be almost identical to already available models but may lack some features.

In order to know which TV is a derivative and which is the original model, search for the advertised model number online. If you don’t see it sold anywhere else or cannot find user reviews about it, then it most likely is a derivative model.

Cyber Monday started as a hangover sale from the gigantic Black Friday.

Retailers noticed that they still had a lot of items left even after the huge Black Friday sales. This led them to come up with the “Cyber Monday” moniker to draw the attention of consumers. It usually takes place on the first Monday after Thanksgiving.

Cyber Monday is considered to be the best time to buy a TV as it majorly focusses on electronics and e-commerce.

You will find all types and sizes of TVs during this period – small and big, budget to high-end brands – all at discounted prices. Nonetheless, the best deals will be on lower- to mid-priced TV sets, so this would be the best time to buy a TV for your bedroom.

The sheer amount of TV models at this time of the year can be overwhelming to dig through. But you can always go for top brands – like Samsung, Sony, and LG – and buy from reputable retailers to be on the safe side. They usually have good warranty terms and have reliable customer care service in case something goes wrong.

The biggest football season in the country comes with big TV discounts. Running from January to February, the Super Bowl is arguably the best time for retailers to stock TV sets. And because everybody is selling them, discounts will be plenty.

The football-inspired TV sales will run throughout the season with 49- to 65-inch sets being the most sought-after items.

Spring is the best time to buy a TV because this is the period when most TV manufacturers are clearing out their older stocks in order to make room for newer models. This means that you can get a TV at a significantly lower price than they were a few months ago.

Keep in mind that most TVs sold during this time are old models – probably one or two years since they were released. Therefore, if you are eyeing newer models, its best that you wait until the end of the year.

Typically, new models are launched during spring at very high prices and then fall gradually over the course of the year. Their lowest price points are usually during Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays.

Amazon created its own “Black Friday” known as Prime Day. It is a one-day shopping extravaganza in which all types of products are discounted on Amazon. If you love Black Fridays, then Prime Day should certainly be at the top of your radar.

Ever since it was started, it has been offering great TV deals. However, compared to the periods above, Prime Day is not loaded with the best TVs on the market. You will most probably get cheaper models. But there is still a lot to be surveyed. Who knows? You might just run into the model you are looking for.

If you urgently need to replace your TV before the end-of-year and Super Bowl ​deals ​arrive, there are several ways you can still save on your TV purchase. They include:

If you don’t need a new TV or your budget is too low for a new set, you can consider buying a used TV. Check Craigslist and your local newspaper for well-maintained TV sets.

There is no guarantee that the secondhand TV will last as long as a new set, but if it is better priced, then it’s worth the gamble.

Since you will be transacting with strangers, it is important to meet in a public space or your lobby. If the set does not come with a manual, you can easily search for it online.

Again, if you are not looking for a brand new set, then a refurbished TV could be another great option. Unlike what most people think, refurbished TVs are not used TVs. They are TVs that were returned to the manufacturer because they had a specific defect and repaired.

While purchasing a repaired TV may seem risky, it’s actually really safe. Just ensure that the unit has a warranty and you are covered. To get the exact model you want, do a web search for that specific model and add the word “refurbished”.

Amazon has some great deals on refurbished TVs.

Since we are approaching the best time to buy a TV – Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) – it is important that you know what to look for when buying one. Here are some useful tips:

How much are you willing to spend on a new TV?

Having a realistic budget – not too low and not too high – should help you find the right TV for your home. TVs come in different designs and features, hence, you’ll get what you pay for.

When you are on a budget, try to stick to it as much as possible. For instance, don’t set a budget of $$$$ and end up buying a $$$ TV just because it was on offer. You’ll regret this decision.

When buying a TV, the most important consideration will most probably be the screen display size. To know what size is suitable for your home, consider the number of people in your household and the space available in your living room.

Considering the performance, price, and the size of a typical living room, the best TV size is between 48 to 65 inches.

Today, there are two main fan-favorites when it comes to display technologies – OLED and QLED.

OLED is the latest TV screen technology that is only incorporated by high-end brands. High demand and limited production continue to make TVs with this screen tech quite expensive. Nonetheless, prices are much cheaper today than they were when the technology was first launched.

The QLED display is mainly used by Samsung TVs. They improve the color performance and extend the range of the panel. However, if you are not a huge Samsung fan, then this display technology might not be for you.

When choosing between Full HD 1080p and 4K UHD, always go for 4K – especially if you a buying a big screen TV (48 inches and above). 4K UHD TVs upscale HD videos. Furthermore, with the growing number of online 4K content, it’s clever to be on the safe side. However, you’ll find that 4K TVs are more expensive than Full HD 1080p sets.