Investing in a TV is a significant decision, given its central role in your home entertainment setup. Opting for a budget model might seem tempting, but it often leads to compromises in picture quality and durability. Instead, aim to find the best TV for your gaming and streaming needs without breaking the bank. Fortunately, TV deals are available throughout the year, ensuring you don't have to pay full price if you time your purchase right.
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are renowned for their substantial discounts, they're not the only times to snag a great deal. These sales events are perfect for securing the deepest savings, especially on the best gaming TVs and quality 4K TVs. However, other periods offer significant savings as well.
In the lead-up to the Super Bowl, the year's biggest TV-watching event, you can find impressive deals. This time coincides with manufacturers launching new models in the spring, making it an ideal moment to purchase older TVs at a discount. Keep an eye out for upcoming sales events like holiday weekends and Amazon Prime Day, which also present excellent opportunities for savings.
Best Times to Buy a TV
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Originally a single day of shopping post-Thanksgiving, Black Friday has evolved into weeks of sales in November, offering deep discounts on TVs. You'll find budget-friendly options perfect for secondary rooms, as well as deals on higher-end models released earlier in the year. Black Friday traditionally focused on in-store shopping, with early birds camping out to grab limited stock. While some in-store deals still exist, most are now online, so act quickly to secure your desired TV during these 2025 sales.
Cyber Monday, the online counterpart to Black Friday, features similar deals from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Amazon's Prime Day, occurring in summer and now October, offers limited-time TV deals with restricted stock, akin to Cyber Monday.
Before the Super Bowl
Following the holiday rush, the Super Bowl prompts retailers to restock TVs around mid-January to early February. This period offers great savings, particularly on larger screens. Older models often see the best discounts, but you can still find deals on newer TVs. Currently, Super Bowl deals on Samsung OLED TVs are already available.
Early January also marks the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where manufacturers unveil new models. Retailers then discount older models to clear space for the spring arrivals.
Springtime
Spring, from March to Memorial Day, is when brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and TCL release their latest TVs. This is an excellent time to find deals on last year's models as retailers make room for new stock. The changes between model years are often minor, so you won't miss out on significant features by opting for an older model.
Amazon Prime Day
Originally an Amazon Prime exclusive, Prime Day now sees participation from other retailers like Walmart and Best Buy, offering competitive deals. Prime Day, typically in mid-July, features deep discounts on TVs, though primarily on older models. Keep an eye on the site, as deals are frequently updated during the event. While Prime Day offers great deals, Black Friday remains the peak time for overall savings across all retailers.
Holiday Weekends
If you can't wait for major sales events, holiday weekends like President's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day offer decent TV deals. These discounts may not be as substantial, and selection might be limited, but you can still find good deals. Currently, President's Day sales at Best Buy, ending February 17, are a great opportunity to find discounts.
TV Release Cycles Matter
Understanding TV release cycles is key to finding the best discounts. Manufacturers announce new models at CES in January, with releases starting in March. Older models see deeper discounts in spring, while new models' prices often drop in the fall. Waiting until Black Friday and Cyber Monday can yield the best deals on the latest TVs.
TV Brands With New Products
Samsung
Samsung focuses on high-end TVs, with limited budget options. The 2025 lineup offers minor upgrades from last year, including better brightness, enhancements in mini-LED and Quantum Dot (QD-OLED) backlighting, and improved gaming features.
LG
LG's 2025 OLED evo TVs feature AI personalization and "Brightness Booster Ultimate" technology. The new G5 model offers a 4K 165Hz variable refresh rate, reducing lag and frame stuttering for gamers.
Hisense
Hisense's 2025 lineup includes ULED models with a 144Hz refresh rate for enhanced gaming. The 136" MicroLED TV uses mini-LED technology to overcome traditional backlight limitations.
Vizio
Vizio made minor improvements to its 2024 TVs, removing the top-line P-series. The mid-range M-series and budget V-series remain, with the D-series offering affordable 1080p options.
TCL
TCL revamped its lineup in 2024 with Q- and S-series, introducing the flagship QM8. At CES 2025, they unveiled the entry-level Mini LED QM6K, available in 65", 75", and 85" sizes, with smaller options coming later.
Roku
Roku, known for streaming devices, launched its own TV lineup in 2024, ranging from 24 to 75 inches. The Roku Plus models feature the Voice Remote Pro with hands-free voice commands and rechargeable batteries, while the Roku Select models come with the basic Roku Voice Remote. You can access the Roku Channel without a Roku streaming device.
Top Budget TVs You Can Buy Now
If you're ready to shop, here are some of our top budget TV picks for 2025:
Hisense 65U6N
Grab this TV for accurate colors, solid contrast, and a wealth of features at a surprisingly low price. See it at Amazon.
TCL 55Q750G
This stunning QLED TV delivers impressive contrast and brightness, hitting 144Hz in 4K with VRR enabled, all while remaining affordable. See it at Amazon.
Hisense 50U6HF
An ultra-affordable TV offering Amazon Fire TV OS for simple streaming and smart home capabilities. See it at Amazon.