A new TV is one of the larger investments you'll make. While it's not quite up there with a new car or house, a new TV is still a big-ticket item, especially if you want one of the best TVs around. And with inflation reaching a 30-year high, saving money is more important than ever.
There are always TV deals around, but did you know that when you look is just as important as where you look? Certain times of the year throw up better bargains than others – here, we'll explain why, and help you find the best TV deals for you.
Generally speaking, there are three times of year that are best to buy a new TV: big sales events, spring and big sporting events.
New TVs arrive in spring
While some device announcements still come as a surprise, some are as certain as night follows day. CES, the world's biggest tech show, takes place every January in Las Vegas, and sees the major TV manufacturers show off their new wares.
We start to see teasers for some of the new TVs in the winter, before CES kicks off. And the new models tend to go on sale in the spring, usually around March or April time. This makes it a great time to shop for a new TV – not only do you have the new TVs to choose from, it's also the time when the previous year's models see some heavy discounts to clear space for the new stock.
So you have a choice – pay top dollar for the latest and greatest TV tech available, or save big and opt for last year's model, which in many cases could be the sensible thing to do.
Don't forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday
The same big sales events happen every year: Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While Amazon Prime Day moves around a bit – in 2020 the pandemic shifted it to October from its usual summer spot – we do know when Black Friday and Cyber Monday take place every year. That's because they happen on the first Friday and Monday after Thanksgiving, respectively.
This year, Black Friday should take place on Friday 25th November. And Cyber Monday? Monday 28th November.
Amazon Prime Day is more unpredictable. It usually takes place in July, though last year ran from 21st-22nd June (it always lasts more than one day). The year before that it took place in October for reasons we've already mentioned. But every Prime Day from 2015 (when the first one was held) until 2019 took place in July. This year? It's early days, but predictions are for 18-19th July.
These sales events discount a huge number of products, but TVs often see the biggest savings.
Big sporting event? Big TV discounts
Big sporting events also throw up big promotions from some of the major manufacturers and retailers, as they try and get you to shell out on a shiny new set to enjoy the action. Think Wimbledon, the Olympics and of course football tournaments like the World Cup, Euros and FA Cup. And our friends across the pond are always guaranteed a decent selection of Super Bowl TV deals too.
This year sees Wimbledon take place from 27th June to 10th July, while the FA Cup Final is on 14th May. For the first time, the World Cup takes place in the winter, due to host nation Qatar's sweltering summer heat, so look out for it starting on 21st November – that's Black Friday week. Expect deals aplenty.
Which TVs get the biggest discounts?
Generally speaking, the bigger the TV, the better the discount. That leads to headline-grabbing savings on 77- and 83-inch TVs – which is great, but those kinds of TVs just aren't practical for most people. Thankfully, there are plenty of decent deals on more reasonably-sized sets too.
Obviously older TVs are more likely to be discounted than brand new ones – you're more likely to find a hefty discount on a 2021 model than one that's box-fresh this year. That's only an issue if you're an early adopter and want the newest TVs with the latest tech such as QD-OLED and Mini LED, but if you're happy to forego the absolute latest and greatest tech, there's the potential to save big.
Thankfully, the big brands aren't immune to discounts either. In fact, some of the best TV deals are on models from Sony, LG, Samsung and Philips. Though you shouldn't discount (ahem) discounts with lower-end fare from the likes of Hisense, TCL and Toshiba. For more, check out the best cheap TVs currently available.
The best UK TV deals available right now
The best US TV deals available right now
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