Need a new TV? If you do, we have all kinds of great posts to help you find the best TV for you, as well as the best options for TVs under $1,000, under $500, and even TVs with specific operating systems like Roku and Google TV. But you’re here because you want to make sure you don’t lose the farm when buying one and to do that, you want to know: When exactly is the best time to buy a new TV?
If you believe the hype and marketing tactics from TV manufacturers and retailers, you’d think it’s always a great time to buy a TV. This, of course, isn’t true. You can save significant money on a TV if you bide your time and strike when the deals are to be had. And while it’s also a good idea to bookmark our regularly-updated best TV deals posts, a few key times during the year to be extra vigilant include: Springtime when the new TVs of the year start arriving, making for some good deals on last year’s models; Amazon Prime Day, which typically lands in the mid-summer; Black Friday/Cyber Monday at the end of November; and the lead-up to Super Bowl because when’s a better time to get a big new TV? We’re going to get into all of those right now.
Follow the new TV release cycle
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One great option to find the best TV deals is to simply follow the release schedule. New TVs tend to come out between February and Apriland while that’s a great time to get the latest in TV tech, it’s also when manufacturers slash prices on last year’s models to make way for the new ones. This may give you the feeling that you’re not buying the latest and greatest, but keep in mind that these TVs were top of the line just a few short months earlier.
Basically, we suggest keeping an eye out for sales starting around March. While not all manufacturers follow the same exact release cycle, most manufacturers do unveil their new TV lineups at the massive Consumer Electronics Show in early January, with release dates often announced in the weeks that follow. If you know a new lineup is coming from a TV brand you’re interested in, start keeping an eye out for news detailing when the new models will arrive in stores. As soon as those hit (or even right before), you can expect big discounts on last year’s models.
Conversely, if you’re looking for the latest and greatest, this is still an excellent time of the year to buy a TV. If you want to be the first on your block to show off the latest features or that gorgeous OLED display, here’s your chance.
Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day has produced its fair share of solid TV deals, but compared to other events, Prime Day isn’t absolutely loaded with TVs, and they’re usually cheaper models, but there’s still plenty to browse. This year, with Amazon’s own Fire TV Omni QLED TVs making a splash, and seeing as Amazon likes to favor its own products on Prime Day, fingers crossed that we could see some decent deals on Omni and other TV brands.
A 48-hour affair, the last few years of the event have hopped around a bit from its usual place in July. The 2020 installment was moved to October due to the pandemic, but in 2021 it returned to the summer, taking place in June. Last year’s Prime Day made its way back to its July home, and while Amazon has yet to officially announce the dates for Prime Day 2023, we’re expecting this year’s dates to be sometime in June or July.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Sure, you saw this coming, but you don’t have to risk serious injury at the mall or your local electronics store to land a major bargain during Black Friday sales. While you’ll typically find the best deals on the big day after Thanksgiving, sales will often begin creeping up in early November. And if you miss your chance on Friday, Cyber Monday — aka, the first Monday after Thanksgiving — has been getting better and better over the past few years when it comes to TV sales, too.
Unlike the Super Bowl sales, you’ll find all manner of sizes and types of TVs on sale during this period — big to small, high-end to budget brands, and the best TV tech like OLED and QLED — and some go for as little as half their original price. That said, most of the best deals will be mid- to lower-priced TVs, so this is a great time to buy that bedroom TV you’ve been eyeing on the cheap. The sheer amount of models on sale can be daunting to dig through, so keep an eye on tech sites (like this one) that curate the best deals.
Super Bowl sales
The Super Bowl isn’t just an excuse to stock up on chips, dip, and those little hot dogs you’ll still be stuck eating for weeks after the game. Manufacturers and retailers often mark down their current lines of TVs in January for the NFL’s clash of the conferences, often keeping them priced low until just days before the festivities commence. Since screen size always factors in heavily to a good Super Bowl party, the most common sales you’ll see this time of year will be on models from around 49 inches and up. In other words, it’s a good time to go big. You’re going to want to set that TV up for perfect Super Bowl viewing, too, and we’ve got a guide on how to do it.
Father’s Day
Nothing screams stereotypical dad quite like a new TV, which is probably why businesses tend to throw out a few deals oriented toward the father figure in your life around or on the third Sunday of June. This is a great time to check out Best Buy, Target, Amazon, and other popular retailers to see if they are discounting any of their screens for potential father-oriented gifts, whether they be big or small.
Back-to-school sales
August isn’t a special event, per se, but something very important happens this time of the year for tech sellers. Midway through the year, a new crop of graduates prepares to go off to college, and that means they’ll be looking to upgrade their dorm rooms and apartments. The latter half of August tends to see a smorgasbord of deals tailored to student life, including TV deals. Manufacturers are more likely to focus discounts on dorm-friendly TVs — meaning you probably won’t find many deals on extra-large models — but for those looking for a smaller TV or a secondary TV for another room, this is a great time to shop.
Tips for finding the best TV for your dollars
- Check multiple outlets: This applies to both online and in-store. It’s easy to simply rely on Amazon, but we recommend shopping around both on the internet and in person.
- Social media is your friend: While you may be wary about following stores on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, retailers will often notify their followers of deals ahead of the general public, and you can use this to your advantage. After all, you can always unfollow them later.
- Know the market: Clicking the “Buy” button on the first good deal you find might cause trouble if you only find out your TV doesn’t support features you want, like HDR or an intuitive user interface, until after you get it home. Check our TV buying guide and our list of the best TVs you can buy for a better idea of what to look for. We have lists of the best TVs under $1,000 and the best 4K TVs under $500 as well if you’re on a budget. Keep in mind these will be priced even lower during sale periods.
- Understand unique deals: Companies may offer unique discounts on specific models. For example, open-box deals for returned products or products that arrived at the store in the right condition can be a great way to save, especially if you’re flexible about what specific model you want.
A little patience goes a long way
We get it: You want to set up your new TV today, not in a few months. And if you don’t mind paying a little more, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But just like any major purchase, it pays to be patient when picking out a new TV. Waiting for just the right moment can save you big money, and you’ll also get that special satisfaction of knowing you’re a sharp shopper. Then you can either tuck the savings away, or use the money to pick up a new AV receiver, soundbar, or a new Sonos speaker to upgrade your entire home theater.
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