If your current TV works and you can wait, Black Friday is a sensible time to shop—but it is not a guarantee that every model will hit its lowest price. Some TVs are already close to their eventual lows before the sale period. If you need a set now, compare the exact model and size, its price history, competing offers, stock, and the retailer’s return and price-match terms rather than relying on a countdown or crossed-out price.
Is Black Friday a good time to buy a TV?
Generally, yes. TV prices are often close to their lowest around Black Friday, according to RTINGS’ TV buying timing guide. But that describes a broad pattern, not a promise for any one television. Tom’s Guide notes that sale prices vary by model and are difficult to predict; its advice is that many TVs may already be relatively close to their eventual lowest price before Black Friday.
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That means the choice is not simply “full price now” versus “a huge discount later.” A good offer today may be worth taking if it is on the exact TV you want, while waiting makes more sense when your current set is usable and you have flexibility.
What might waiting save?
There is no representative 2026 estimate establishing how much shoppers generally save by waiting for Black Friday. Tom’s Guide Senior Editor for TVs Michael Desjardin offered “probably a few hundred bucks,” but explicitly described that as a “not-so-scientific, vibes-based answer,” not a measured average.
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His example illustrates why one figure cannot predict another model’s discount: he cited records showing a 65-inch LG C5 at Best Buy for $1,699 in late September 2025 and about $1,399 around Black Friday. That is one model’s prior-year price history, not a forecast for 2026 or for other TVs. The same Tom’s Guide article’s projection for an LG C6 was a hunch, not a known future sale price. See Tom’s Guide’s discussion of Black Friday TV timing for the context.
Why prices can change before Black Friday
New-model cycles create discounts
Most TV brands release most of their new models in spring. As retailers make room for replacements, prior-year TVs may be discounted, while new models commonly begin at higher prices. RTINGS outlines this cycle in its buying timing guide. A late-season price on an older model can therefore be competitive even before Black Friday arrives.
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Some advertised deals are hard to judge
A discount percentage or crossed-out “was” price does not by itself prove that an offer is good. Tom’s Guide points out that some Black Friday-specific models may debut already marked down, and a reference price may not be one at which the TV was regularly sold. Compare the exact model’s actual recent prices and specifications instead of treating the advertised markdown as evidence of value.
What are the risks of waiting?
The model or screen size you want may sell out. RTINGS notes that older TVs are discontinued as new generations arrive, and particular models or sizes can disappear. Waiting is less attractive if you need a specific set and would not be satisfied with an alternative.
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There is also a practical cost to waiting: if your TV has failed or is disrupting daily use, a possible future discount may not be worth going without a replacement. Conversely, when your current set works and you can be flexible about the model, watching prices through Black Friday gives you more chances to compare.
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Best Value
- A treat for the eyes: Sharp 4K brings out rich detail on our 43" flat screen TV, while colors pop off in lifelike clarity with HDR10. Roku Smart Picture cleans up incoming TV signals, optimizes them, and chooses the right picture mode.
- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- A world of free entertainment: Enjoy a huge selection of free live TV, news, sports, movies, shows, and much more—all just a click away.
- More streaming, less searching: With personalized picks right on your Home Screen, quick access to the sports and entertainment you watch most, and fast and easy search in one place—the days of endless scrolling are over.
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- CRYSTAL PROCESSOR: Powerful processor enhances colors and sharpens details for a vibrant 4K viewing experience. Experience every shade of color as it was meant to be seen in dazzling 4K. Plus, make your movies, TV shows, games and sports look even better with powerful 4K upscaling.
- ENDLESS FREE CONTENT: Watch 2,700+ free streaming options, including 750+ subscription-free channels on Samsung TV Plus. Enjoy news, sports, movies, kids' shows and reality TV — all without a subscription. Discover endless entertainment with new content added regularly, tailored to your mood and interests.*
- MOTION XCELERATOR: Experience clear picture and smooth motion in games and sports. Enjoy smooth motion and clear visuals with technology that estimates and adjusts frame transitions in real time. Whether gaming or watching sports, enjoy up to 4K 60Hz performance that brings every play, move and scene to life with realistic clarity and motion.
- COLOR BOOSTER: Supercharge your color. From fiery reds to sparkling blues, make every color come to life with intensity. Color Booster transforms your content into a visual masterpiece.
- 4K UPSCALING: Upgrades what you watch to crisp 4K clarity. Upgrade your favorite shows, movies and more. Experience incredible details and clarity in every frame, even from lower-quality sources, with advanced upscaling technology.
How to decide for your situation
- Identify the exact TV you would buy. Compare the model number and screen size, not just the brand or “4K” label. Check that its picture quality, features, and connections meet your needs.
- Check its recent price history. Look at the same model and size over time. A current price near its recent lows may be more meaningful than a large advertised discount.
- Compare current alternatives. Check competing offers for comparable TVs, including differences in features and model generation. Do not assume a discount makes a TV the best value.
- Consider stock and timing. If you need a particular model soon or it is being replaced, waiting risks losing that option. If your present TV is fine, you can monitor the price and reassess closer to Black Friday.
- Read the retailer’s terms. Check the return window, exclusions, and whether the seller offers a price match if the price drops after purchase. Consumer Reports advises shoppers to ask whether a 30-day price-match policy is available; it is not a policy every retailer or item necessarily qualifies for. Its 2026 TV buying guide also gives example prices—55-inch 4K sets starting as low as $300 and 65-inch 4K models starting around $450. Those are guide figures, not live offers.
Buy now or wait: a practical rule
- Wait if your current TV works, you are not set on one increasingly scarce model, and saving money matters more than getting a replacement immediately.
- Buy now if you need a TV, have found a fair price on the exact model you want, and its price history and current competing offers support the value.
- Either choice can be reasonable when the price looks good but you are unsure: the retailer’s return and price-match terms may affect how much risk you take by buying early.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
