Black Friday shopping? Consider buying a 2021 TV to save more money

With Black Friday fast approaching, it’s worth keeping an eye out for TV deals that might otherwise be overlooked. It’s possible that there are still some 2021 models left that stores and brands want to remove, so they will likely cut prices significantly. Is it worth considering a TV that is already over a year old? likely. =

TVs (at least the ones that will go on sale) are a mature technologyWhich means that more premium and newer features are slow to roll out and hardly everyone sees discounts. So, if you’re not shopping for the best TV ever, the 2021 models will appear and work quite similarly to the 2022 and 2023 models.

TV changes are incremental. A 2021 TV of a certain size or price will have similar picture quality and features to its 2022 and 2023 counterparts. There are still deals on 2021 TVs, and they’re big deals Less expensive than current models. As we head into 2022, there won’t be many 2021 models still available, but the ones that remain will almost certainly be deeply discounted.

It’s also worth considering the annual TV pricing cycle. start in CESthe huge tech show that happens every January, when new TVs (as well as other technologies like laptops And the automotive technology) every year. Later in the spring and summer many new models It is already on the shelves. But these new sets are at their highest prices this year. During the fall, as now, Manufacturers start cutting prices To make way for next year’s crop of new TVs. Black Friday and holiday sales often cut some models hard to clear their shelves in the new year.

if you want The latest and greatest technology You may have already set a file Model 2022 And you will definitely be able to save money for those in the fall. But if you’re looking to get a new TV right now, getting a deal on the 2021 set will be the least expensive option. Just know that you’ll likely have to jump on a deal when you see it, as manufacturers will eventually sell their 2021 models.

Read more: LG C1 vs LG C2: Which OLED TV Should You Buy?

If I buy a 2021 model now, what new features am I missing?

To put it succinctly, not too much. There is always something new around the corner, but changes from year to year are usually gradual. If you are worried about missing out on the latest and greatest technology, it should give you peace of mind that even if something new hits the market, it will be very costly.

new QD-OLED TVs From Samsung And the Sony best example. It combines OLED displays with quantum dot technology, and demands higher brightness and better color compared to current OLED TVs. One of these new combinations may look attractive, but QD-OLEDs come at a premium price, so it can be difficult to recommend them more than more affordable OLEDs like LG C2.

Read more: QD-OLED: Everything we know about the latest TV technology from Samsung and Sony

In 2022, traditional OLED TVs arrive in unconventional sizes. This year, LG . presented 42 inch C2 Series TVthe smallest OLED on the market, while also claiming the largest OLED available with G2 TV 97 Inch.

Mini LED Televisions are also on the rise and can offer picture quality close to OLED, but the new models we know so far will also be expensive. Sony Z9K and X95K They are the company’s first models with mini-LED and TCL X925pro A new kind of mini LED backlight that’s slimmer, but none of it will be cheap. Samsung, TCL, and Vizio are expected to announce more TVs later this year, many of which will use mini-LED, but we doubt they’ll make huge improvements over the 2021 models.

It’s also being rolled out across the country NextGen TV, also known as ATSC 3.0. This is free 4K TV over the air, and it’s progressing very quickly – it may already be available in your city. In 2022 we will see more TVs With built in tuners Lower cost than ever. Don’t feel like you need to rush to upgrade, or get those specific models, because in the worst case you’ll be able to buy a cheap external tuner and connect it to your TV.

Read more: Game modes, webcams, and QD-OLED: What are the featured 2022 TV trends?

There is, too HDMI 2.1. While 2.1 contains many great new technologies, it will not make any existing TV obsolete (unless Current 8K TVBut that’s another story.) As long as your current TV works with your current sources, you should be fine.

Already old TVs, over 10 years old, may have problems connecting to talk flow And the Disk sources, but there is no real solution to that. If your TV does not work with a file year or blu ray playerYou may need to upgrade if you want to use one of these.

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Do I need an upgrade?

Forget all the new technologies. If your TV is working and you’re happy with it, keep it. Don’t feel any pressure to upgrade.

Modern TVs are, on average, much brighter and have better picture quality than TVs of a few years ago. Unless you’re a video fan who wants it tablet everywhere and install on nits And the color accuracyHowever, you probably don’t need a new TV.

The pressure to upgrade is pervasive in our tech culture, but TVs tend to last (and function perfectly) longer than most devices. They do not have, for example, batteries that lose capacity like mobile phones – Or have wires that wear out like headphones. A TV from five or even 10 years ago would probably work just fine, even though it might not look like it Good as the current 4K HDR TVs. So again, if that’s not a huge deal for you, you should probably keep what you have for a few more years.

Read more: Best TVs for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Series S

This is true even when considering the new consoles, the PlayStation 5 And the Xbox Xbox X. If you have a PS4, Xbox One, or any console connected via HDMI, your new consoles should work just fine. It might look better on a new TV, but They will still be great on you.

If your TV is having issues, or you just want something bigger, that’s a different story. New TVs are much cheaper per inch than TVs of the past. You will be able to replace your current TV with something of the same size that looks better and is cheaper than your old TV. Or you can pay the same amount as your old TV and get something much bigger.

What is the best time to buy a TV?

TV sales were the biggest in the fall and peaked Black Friday And two internet. There are always some incredibly cheap prices 4K TVs Shown, but that’s not the full story.

First of all, the TVs that get huge discounts are usually either nameless brands or low-cost models from popular brands. They’re fine if you just want a cheap TV, but they won’t offer picture quality For a slightly higher model. The best TVs Go on sale too, but big discounts on those are less common.

Second, massive discounts on TVs are generally rare. It may not make sense, but TVs usually don’t have a lot of coding. There isn’t much profit in a $500 TV. So unless the store is trying to weed out, you shouldn’t expect a huge drop in price even during sales. Lots of good discounts are available, and they won’t be “50% off” or something like that, unless there’s a specific reason the model is getting such a heavy discount. Or it is a door saw in limited quantities.

Third, most major companies do not allow stores to offer their own prices. This is called UPP, or Unilateral Pricing Policy. This means that the cost of a TV from that company is the same, whether it’s on Amazon, Best Buy, or elsewhere. Well, where else would he like to continue selling TVs from that company. If this sounds superficial, it is, but that’s a topic for a different article.

In general, is it worth upgrading my TV?

Here is the short version:

Get a new TV now if:

• Your current TV is having problems, or is too old to connect to a streaming service like Netflix.
• You are willing to buy from a place that has a price match policy, in case there is a sale.
• You want something bigger than what you have right now.

Don’t get a TV now if:

• The current TV is working fine.
• Is there anything else you need or want to spend money on.

If you feel the need for something new, but are still on the fence, consider giving your TV a makeover. If you never modify the settings, easy to do It will probably make your TV look better than it ever has. It might push you for a while.

And if you finally decide, yes, you’re ready to buy a new TV now, we at CNET have some guiding rules And the Suggested models.

Editor’s note: This story was first published in 2019 but is updated regularly with new information.

In addition to covering television and other display technologies, Geoff takes photo tours of Great museums and sites around the worldIncluding nuclear submarinesAnd the Large aircraft carriersAnd the Medieval castlesepic Road trips of 10,000 miles, and more. paying off technology trips For all his rides and adventures.

. wrote Bestselling science fiction novel About city-sized submarines and sequel. You can follow his adventures Instagram so is YouTube channel.