When to Buy a TV: The Annual Price Cycle Explained

TVs are the most seasonal electronics purchase. The same TV can cost $1,500 in March and $900 in November. Understanding the annual price cycle puts hundreds of dollars back in your pocket. Here's the complete timeline.

The TV Calendar

January-February: CES Announcements + Clearance

New TV models are announced at CES in early January. Current-gen models start getting modest discounts (10-15%) as retailers prepare for new inventory. Last year's models can be found at 20-30% off.

Strategy: If you're happy with a 2025 model TV, January-February offers good deals as retailers clear stock. The TCL QM8 65-inch from 2025 might drop to its second-best price of the year during this clearance.

March-April: New Models Ship

New model year TVs arrive in stores at MSRP. Current-gen clearance accelerates. This is the WORST time to buy a new model — you're paying maximum price.

Strategy: Only buy if you're getting a last-gen model at clearance pricing. Never buy a brand-new model in March-April.

May (Memorial Day): First Real Sale

Memorial Day weekend brings the first meaningful discounts on new model year TVs. Expect 10-15% off from major retailers.

Strategy: Decent time to buy if you can't wait for Black Friday. The deals are real but not the year's best.

June: Super Bowl Hangover + Father's Day

A quiet period for TV deals. Small Father's Day promotions on soundbars and accessories, but TV prices return to near-MSRP.

July (Prime Day): Strong Online Deals

Amazon Prime Day brings aggressive TV pricing, especially on TCL, Hisense, and Amazon-brand Fire TVs. Premium brands (LG, Samsung, Sony) see moderate 15-20% discounts.

Strategy: Great time to buy a budget or mid-range TV. Premium OLEDs get modest discounts — wait for Black Friday if you want LG or Samsung OLED.

August-September: Pre-Football Season

TV sales pick up as football season approaches. Retailers know sports fans are buying. Modest promotions but nothing spectacular.

October: Pre-Black Friday Lull

Prices are relatively stable. Retailers are holding their best deals for Black Friday. This is the second-worst time to buy a TV (after March-April).

Strategy: DON'T buy a TV in October. Black Friday is 4 weeks away with 25-40% better deals.

November (Black Friday): Annual Low

The absolute best time to buy any TV. No exceptions.

OLED TVs: The LG C4 OLED 55-inch hit $899 on Black Friday 2025 (from ~$1,296). The 65-inch dropped from ~$1,796 to ~$1,299.

Mini-LED TVs: 25-35% off across TCL, Hisense, and Samsung.

Budget TVs: 40-50% off is common for no-name and budget brands. But be cautious — some Black Friday TVs are special low-spec models made specifically for the event.

December: Post-Black Friday

Prices rise 5-10% from Black Friday lows but remain below regular retail through mid-December. After December 15, prices normalize as retailers focus on in-stock availability over discounts.

The Super Bowl Factor

Super Bowl Sunday (early February) drives TV sales but NOT TV deals. Retailers raise prices in January because demand increases. The real TV deals happen AFTER the Super Bowl when demand drops.

Size-Specific Timing

55-inch TVs

The most popular size has the most competition and the best deals year-round. You can find decent prices almost any time, but Black Friday is still 20-30% below the average.

65-inch TVs

The fastest-growing size category. Deals closely mirror the 55-inch cycle but at higher dollar amounts. The savings from timing are larger in absolute terms — saving 25% on a $1,500 65-inch TV saves $375.

75-inch and above

Large TVs are priced at a premium year-round. Black Friday is the ONLY time to buy. A 75-inch Samsung S90D OLED might drop $400-600 on Black Friday — savings that don't appear at any other time.

Where to Buy

Amazon: Consistently lowest online prices, especially during Prime Day and Black Friday.

Best Buy: Price matches Amazon and offers free installation on large TVs. The Geek Squad protection plan adds real value if you're worried about OLED burn-in.

Costco: Includes a 2-year warranty on all TVs (extended from the manufacturer's 1-year). TVs purchased at Costco can be returned within 90 days. Worth the slight price premium for the warranty and return policy.

Walmart: Aggressive pricing on budget brands. Often the cheapest place to buy a basic 55-65 inch TV.

Read our full OLED TV guide →

Read our full TV comparison guide →

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