Best Time to Buy TVs — Seasonal Price Guide
TV pricing follows predictable seasonal and product-cycle patterns. Knowing when to buy can save you $200–1,000 on a new television. This guide covers the major sale events, new model release timing, and strategic buying windows for each TV category.
How TV Pricing Works
TV pricing follows two distinct cycles:
- Product cycle: New TV models launch in the spring; previous generations drop significantly when successors arrive
- Seasonal cycle: Sale events (Black Friday, Super Bowl clearance) bring predictable discounts
The best time to buy depends on your category — OLED TVs follow different patterns than budget LCD TVs.
Major Sale Events
Black Friday (November)
The single biggest discount event for TVs globally. US retailers offer 20–40% off on TVs.
What to expect: Significant discounts on 4K LCD TVs, OLED TVs from previous generations, and mid-range smart TVs. High-end TVs that rarely discount see their best prices of the year.
Best for: 4K LCD TVs, previous-gen OLED, mid-range smart TVs.
Super Bowl Clearance (February)
The TV market's hidden gem. After Super Bowl Sunday, retailers aggressively clear TV inventory to make room for spring models.
What to expect: 15–30% off on 4K LCD TVs, with some previous-year models discounted up to 40%.
Best for: 4K LCD TVs, budget and mid-range smart TVs.
Why it's underused: Most buyers don't know to look in February. Inventory is limited to what retailers have left from holiday stock, but the deals are real.
Amazon Prime Day (July)
Amazon's biggest sale event features discounts on Amazon-titled TVs and smart TV accessories.
What to expect: 10–20% off on selected TVs. Best deals on Amazon-branded and Amazon-listed models.
Best for: Budget TVs, smart TV accessories, streaming device add-ons.
Mega Sales (Singapore — March/April, June, September, November)
Singapore's major e-commerce platforms run seasonal Mega Sales.
What to expect: 10–25% off on TVs from local authorised distributors. Bundle deals (TV + soundbar + wall mount) often outperform standalone discounts.
Best for: LG OLED TVs, Samsung QLED TVs from authorised Singapore distributors.
TV Category Patterns
OLED TVs
Best models to watch: LG C4, LG G4, Sony A95L, Samsung S95D, LG B4
Best months: January–February (post-Super Bowl clearance), November (Black Friday), January (clearance).
New model releases:
- LG OLED: Refreshes annually, typically in March/April at CES or independently. Previous generation (C3, C4) discounts appear when new C-series launches.
- Sony OLED: Similar annual cycle, with new A-series announced at CES.
- Samsung QD-OLED: Refreshes annually, typically spring.
Pattern: Previous-generation OLED TVs see their best discounts in two windows: immediately after the new model launches (spring), and at Black Friday. The LG C3 sees 30–40% discounts when the C4 launched.
QLED / LCD TVs
Best models to watch: Samsung QN90D, TCL QM8, Hisense U8N, Sony X90L
Best months: November (Black Friday), January–February (post-Super Bowl clearance), July (Prime Day).
New model releases: QLED/LCD TVs refresh annually, typically announced at CES (January) and shipping by spring.
Pattern: QLED TVs from previous years discount significantly when new models launch. The Samsung QN90C was discounted heavily after the QN90D launched.
8K TVs
Best months: November, January clearance.
Pattern: 8K content remains scarce, limiting 8K TV value. Previous-generation 8K TVs discount heavily as retailers clear inventory. The Samsung QN900C saw 40% discounts after the QN900D launched.
Caveat: Unless you have an 8K source, a high-end 4K TV is better value than an entry 8K TV.
Budget TVs (Under $500 / $700)
Best months: Any major sale event — Black Friday, Prime Day, Super Bowl clearance, January.
Pattern: Budget TVs discount at every major sale event. The best deals are typically Black Friday and Prime Day.
Best for: Secondary TVs, guest rooms, budget-conscious buyers.
New Model Release Timing
2025–2026 TV Calendar
| Month | Typical Events |
|---|---|
| January | CES announcements — new TV models revealed |
| February | Super Bowl clearance — best LCD/LED deals |
| March | New models begin shipping, previous-gen discounts start |
| April | Spring sales, previous-gen clearance |
| May | Pre-summer clearance |
| June | Mid-year Mega Sales |
| July | Prime Day — budget TV deals |
| August | Back-to-school, pre-fall positioning |
| September | IFA Berlin (new TVs announced), pre-Black Friday positioning |
| October | Pre-Black Friday pricing, new model stock arriving |
| November | Black Friday — best overall TV deals |
| December | Year-end clearance, but hot items sell out |
Strategic Buying Table
| TV Type | Best Time to Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| OLED (previous-gen) | January–February or November | Post-Super Bowl clearance or Black Friday |
| QLED/LCD (previous-gen) | November or February | Black Friday or Super Bowl clearance |
| Current-gen OLED | After new model launches (April–June) | Retailers clearing current-gen stock |
| 8K TV | November or January | Clearance pricing |
| Budget LCD | Any major sale | Frequent discounting |
| Streaming devices | Prime Day or Black Friday | Deepest accessory discounts |
How Price Tracking Helps
TV prices fluctuate based on:
- New model announcements (previous-gen discounts)
- Sporting events (Super Bowl, March Madness)
- Retailer promotions (Black Friday, Prime Day)
- Panel production cycles (OLED prices slowly decline over product lifetime)
Price tracking helps you:
- Monitor specific models — Track the exact TV you want
- Catch post-launch discounts — Get alerted when previous-gen drops after new model
- Compare across retailers — Same TV can vary $100–300 between stores
- Verify deal depth — Check if a "30% off" is genuinely competitive vs historical pricing
Key Buying Tips
1. Buy Previous Generation for Best Value
On OLED TVs, the previous generation delivers nearly identical picture quality at a significant discount. LG C3 at $999 (from $1,499 launch) after C4 launches is a better value than the C4 at $1,499.
2. Focus on Picture Quality, Not Features
A mid-range TV from last year with excellent panel quality beats a budget TV with more features but inferior picture. Don't pay for features (HDMI 2.1, VRR) you won't use.
3. Consider Size First
Price and value are meaningless without size. A 55" TV at $400 is a better deal than a 48" TV at $350 if you have the space. Decide on size before comparing prices.
4. Check Panel Quality Consistency
Same model can have different panel suppliers (e.g., some LG OLED TVs use WOLED from LG Display, others from different suppliers). Check reviews for your specific production run.
5. Factor in Sound
Most TVs have mediocre built-in speakers. A $500 TV with a $100 soundbar is better than a $600 TV with poor audio. Budget for audio when calculating total cost.
Related Guides
- Best Time to Buy Electronics — General electronics seasonal patterns
- Best Price Tracking Tools Singapore — Tools to monitor prices
- How to Compare Prices Across Retailers — Getting the best deal