Holiday lights are still twinkling, but retailers have already flipped the switch on deep TV discounts. Whether you want a monster panel for a basement theater, a compact 55-inch for the living room, or a gaming-ready display for next‑gen consoles, this week’s sales make it much easier to pick the size you actually want — not just what you can afford.
Deals that actually change the math
If one sentence could sum up the season: big screens are suddenly cheap. Retailers are clearing inventory and the numbers are jaw‑dropping. A few standouts across the sale landscape:
- A 58‑inch Westinghouse 4K smart TV has been spotted at around $199.99 — a scale-and-price combo that used to be rare outside clearance bins. (That kind of price makes a second‑room 4K upgrade a no‑brainer.)
- Walmart's big‑screen roster includes an onn 75" 4K for roughly $384 and an LG 86" 4K for about $798, giving you a genuine choice between budget and premium scale.
- Best Buy and Amazon are pushing OLED and mini‑LED discounts hard: LG’s 48" B series OLEDs fell to around $599, while Samsung and Sony 65" OLEDs are at some of their lowest prices of the year.
- If you want humongous for less, an 85" Samsung Crystal UHD has dropped to the high‑$700s — under $800 for an 85‑inch 4K set is still rare outside of major clearance events.
- Match size to distance. A 55‑inch is the sweet spot for many living rooms; 75‑inch and above make sense in dedicated media rooms or open plans. If you’re up close, the jump from 50" to 58" or 65" is noticeable — and often worth it.
- Panel type matters at night. QLED and mini‑LED models bring brighter highlights and deeper contrast for HDR films; OLED still owns the perfect‑black crown but often costs more unless it’s one of these rare sale prices.
- Refresh rate and ports for gamers. If you play on a console or PC, look for HDMI 2.1, variable refresh rate (VRR), and native 120Hz. That’s where the TCL mini‑LED and some higher‑end QLEDs shine.
- Smart platform is your daily experience. Google TV, webOS, and Fire TV all do the job — but they feel different in daily use. Pick the one everyone in the household finds intuitive.
- Buy a huge cheap set if you need scale: 75–85" Samsung and Toshiba models are delivering massive screens for entry‑level money. These are great for sports or casual viewing.
- Choose QD‑Mini LED or high‑end QLED if you want HDR pop without OLED price. TCL’s mini‑LED offerings have been particularly competitive on contrast and gaming features.
- Grab a compact OLED on sale if film and perfect blacks matter most; 48–55" models from LG and Sony have reached historically low prices during this clearance.
- Measure where the TV will sit and pick a size that matches viewing distance.
- Verify HDR formats (Dolby Vision vs HDR10) if you’re picky about streaming fidelity.
- Look for HDMI 2.1 if you own or plan to buy a current‑gen console with 4K/120Hz support.
- Read a couple of recent user reviews to catch any recurring panel or firmware issues.
- Factor in audio: add a modest soundbar if the TV’s speakers are thin.
Those price points came from a mix of retailers and deal roundups across the week; what’s important is the pattern: sizes and technologies that felt aspirational a few months ago are suddenly within reach.
Picking the right screen for how you watch
Price is irresistible, but the right TV depends on a few simple questions: where will it live? What do you watch most? Do you want it for gaming? Answering those will save you buyer’s remorse.
And if you’re buying a TV partly for games, remember to think beyond the screen: streaming and remote play are changing how people use consoles. For example, the new streaming options that let you access your console library from other devices make a living‑room display even more central to gaming life; see how the PlayStation Portal can now stream your PS5 library for a glimpse of that shift.
If you're keeping an eye on console generations, note that hardware makers are projecting strong demand — which often brings both better software support and more pressure on display makers to add gaming‑friendly features. Nintendo’s recent optimism about Switch 2 sales is another reason buyers might prioritize refresh rates and low latency when choosing a TV for the next few years: manufacturers will tune panels with those consoles in mind (/news/nintendo-switch-2-sales-surge).
Where to splurge and where to save
Spend more where it changes the experience: OLED for dark‑room cinema lovers and mini‑LED/QLED for HDR brightness and punch. Save when the gains are marginal: many midrange LED 4K TVs now offer decent upscaling, HDR10/Dolby Vision support, and feature‑rich smart platforms at bargain prices.
Practical picks from this wave of sales:If you’re pairing a new TV with a modern console, remember accessories too. Players who are upgrading for new consoles might want to consider the PS5 Pro ecosystem when choosing HDMI 2.1 inputs and sound setups.
Don’t forget audio and long‑term support
Slim TVs rarely deliver room‑filling sound. If you care about immersion, plan to add a soundbar or a compact AV setup — many sales pair TVs with discounted soundbars, so watch for bundle deals.
Also check warranty and software update promises. Some budget brands undercut prices but offer limited long‑term software polish; big brands like Sony and LG tend to keep their platforms updated longer, which can matter over several years.
Quick checklist before you hit buy
This season’s sales make upgrading a realistic move rather than a treat-yourself fantasy. Whether you want a giant 85‑inch for movie nights, a 55‑inch that finally does justice to 4K streaming, or a budget 75‑inch that looks huge on game day, there’s probably a deal that fits. Shop with the room and use case in mind, and you can snag real value without buying features you won’t use.