When Is the Best Time to Buy a TV? According to an Expert, Black Friday Isn’t the Only Time to Score Big

It’s almost that time of year again where everyone is shopping like mad, and we’re gearing up for those major sales (ahem, Black Friday and Cyber Monday) to buy some big-ticket items, like, say, a shiny new 60-inch TV? OK, make it a 50-incher. But there’s more to consider than price. Depending on your needs, a great deal can be the icing on the cake or it can be the entire cake.  So, whether you’re wondering “When is the best time to buy a TV?” Or, “What do I look for when shopping for a new TV or TV accessories?” We have the inside scoop on all of it below.

Meet the Expert:

• John Couling, Senior Vice President of Dolby Laboratories

We’re glad you asked, because the answer isn't quite as straight forward as you might have thought. If best price overall is your goal, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are, hands down, two of the best days to buy a TV. Why? For one, there's the obvious can’t-miss sales, but there's also a ton of stock available since retailers are prepared for the incoming demand.

If great price and features are important to you, there are two other times of the year we tend to see money-saving offers aligned with in-demand features. Those times are January and February, leading up to the Super Bowl, as well as springtime when new models are released. “In general, prices have come down significantly for TVs packing premium features like HDR,” says John Couling, Senior Vice President of Dolby Laboratories. This is good news for consumers because even if you can’t grab a television on sale, values are higher and retail prices are lower.

Advanced Features

According to Couling, one of the most important features when it comes to television advances is high dynamic range, aka, HDR. “HDR is one of the biggest advancements in picture performance of the last decade, just ask any leading content creator,” he says. HDR heightens the visual features on your TV from contrast to brighter color and picturesque details. Other features you might want to consider are QLED 4K, app compatibility or a smart TV and a mount kit if you plan to hang your television.

Size

Before you hit “place order” make sure you have the right measurements for the TV and your space. You may be looking for a 65-inch television, but that is the length from opposite corners, the horizontal width of a TV is what you need to keep in mind for your wall or entertainment stand. You don’t want your television to be wider than its stand, especially if it’s not being mounted.

Price

You’ll find that most TVs from different brands have similar pricing because of their like features. If you have a specific price range, the best way to find a TV that’s right for you is to filter by your maximum budget and then select the television that meets your specification standards.

When it comes to watching out for upcoming sales, these TVs are at the top of our list: