Black Friday TV deals are already in full motion. Sure, you can score some excellent TV deals any time of the year, but Black Friday TV deals are the creme de la creme of TV sales with epic price drops you simply won’t spot any other time of the year.
For example, one of last year’s most memorable Black Friday deals knocked the Vizio 55-inch 4K OLED TV to just $899. (Heads up: it’s on sale for $999 right now; link provided below). That remains one of the best Black Friday TV deals of all time. Not only did we give that TV a good rating, but a 55-inch OLED for $899 is just unheard of.
And as we inch closer to Thanksgiving, we’re seeing more epic deals that push TV prices to all-time lows. For instance, Best Buy has a 55-inch 4K TV for $299. Meanwhile, 70-inch 4K TVs are now as cheap as $579.
Amazon is also taking $300 off an LG OLED 4K TV. Plus, Samsung’s massive 75-inch QLED 4K TV is also $900 off right now. These early Black Friday TV sales are among the best prices of 2021. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s available right now.
Early Black Friday TV deals — best sales now
Black Friday TV deals — what to expect in 2021
As we said earlier, you can find good TV sales any time of the year. However, Black Friday TV deals tend to break all price records and 2021 will be no exception.
55-inch 4K TVs: Hats off to Best Buy for offering some of the best Black Friday TV deals of the season last year. It’s likely the retailer will hold on to that title once again in 2021, but Walmart and Amazon won’t be far behind.
Best Buy offered two epic sales last year. In addition to the aforementioned OLED TV deal, the retailer also had a TCL 55-inch 4K TV for just $199. It was groundbreaking then and it’s a price we haven’t seen once throughout all of 2021. We expect Best Buy to resurrect this deal again in 2021, likely on a newer model. We may even see a 55-inch 4K TV go for as low as $179, though don’t expect it to be one of the newer models.
For example, Walmart had an Onn 50-inch Roku 4K TV on sale for $128. Onn is an off-brand and Walmart’s own line of TVs. (Similar to how Insignia is Best Buy’s house brand).
OLED TVs: If you’re looking for a premium TV, I think we’ll see Vizio’s 55-inch 4K OLED for $899 once again this year. LG’s budget OLEDs may hit $999 as well, but prices won’t drop lower than $899 for a 55-inch OLED TV. That said, Best Buy offered a lot of OLED TV deals last year, so expect them to offer the best discounts again in 2021.
Amazon Fire TVs: Amazon just unveiled a new line of Omni and 4-Series Fire TVs. These new sets offer premium features and it’s even possible they’re made by TCL. We expect these TVs will get deep price cuts on Black Friday. Currently, you can pre-order the Amazon Omni Series 4K TV from $409 or the Fire TV 4-Series from $369. Both started selling on October 27. However, that means Amazon’s other Fire TVs will likely get steeper price cuts this holiday season. TVs such as the 2021 Toshiba C350 Fire TV — which is typically from $30 to $100 off on any given day — could see discounts that are significantly cheaper than their current sale price. This bodes well for anyone who wants an inexpensive 4K TV, but doesn’t require premium features. In other words, if you want an inexpensive big-screen 4K TV this holiday, Amazon’s Fire TVs are poised to break all sorts of price records.
When will Black Friday TV deals begin in 2021
Black Friday falls on Friday, November 26. However, Black Friday TV deals will start way in advance of that date. You might see some faux Black Friday TV deals in late October, but the noteworthy deals will start on November 1.
A quick note on these early deals: Some of these deals were very limited last year and we didn’t see those prices again all month. So it’s worth paying attention to these early November sales as they could be cheaper than deals we see on November 26. (We’ll bring you the best deals throughout the season).
Who has the best TV deals on Black Friday?
Who has the best Black Friday TV deals depends on the type of set you’re interested in. In general, Best Buy has the best Black Friday TV deals, especially on our favorite brands like LG, Samsung and Sony. Meanwhile, we’ve seen excellent sales on more affordable brands like Hisense and Onn from Walmart. Amazon typically tries to price-match both Best Buy and Walmart, so be sure to run comparisons if you tend to favor one retailer over another.
Remember, Black Friday TV deals are designed to generate excitement around sales, so don’t let the hype from every retailer confuse you. The basics of buying a great TV on sale are the same as regular priced models: Know what features you should expect, what extras you may want, and read up on reviews to get a feel for what’s good or bad about specific models.
Should I wait till Black Friday to buy a TV?
If you can afford to wait till November, you should absolutely avoid any TV purchases. Black Friday TV prices are unmatched and you could save from an extra $50 to $300 off current sale price. If you’ve been eyeing a premium QLED TV or an OLED TV, we’d also recommend you wait till November. However, things are different this year. Supply and labor shortages are causing shipping delays, which means shoppers should take advantage of any early deals they see now.
What Black Friday TV deals can I get right now?
If possible, we recommend consumers do their Black Friday TV shopping early this year. That way you can avoid any supply shortages or shipping delays that may arise over the holiday season. Below are the best deals we recommend buying right now.
Smart TVs: deals from $99 @ Best Buy
Insignia 55″ 4K Fire TV: was $549 now $369 @ Amazon
Vizio 55″ 4K QLED TV: was $799 now $579 @ Best Buy
TCL 55″ 4K Mini-LED QLED TV: was $949 now $699 @ Amazon
Insignia 70″ F30 4K Fire TV: was $749 now $579 @ Best Buy
Black Friday cheap TVs: Bargain hunters, beware
Watch the fine print on those deals. You may see some TVs selling for $100 or less, but they all have some pretty severe limitations. Small sizes are common, and 32-inches is pretty small compared to the 65-inch models we usually review. (Check out our guide to choosing the right TV size to find the best size for your home.)
Most are lacking smart features or rely on off-brand software with limited app selection. But the biggest gotcha you’ll see on Black Friday is low resolution — some don’t even offer full HD, opting for 720p resolution. While you may see TVs listed for amazingly low prices — some for less than $100 — don’t expect any of the smart functions or 4K panels we see in the best TVs.
The other thing to watch for are refurbished and open box units. These can be a source of enormous savings, but they come with wear and tear before you ever set it up, and warranty coverage may not be as robust as a new model will offer. Refurbs are a good way to save a buck during the rest of the year, but as we get into the holidays, the best deals are on new units.
Just remember the old saying about things that look too good to be true. Not all Black Friday cheap TVs are great deals, even when the prices are enticing.