Should you buy a TV now or wait until Black Friday? After covering TVs for over 10 years, here's what I recommend

When summer fades and foliage turns, that is when questions about Black Friday begin to flood in. As someone who covers the TV industry, I am frequently asked whether it is worthwhile to wait for Black Friday to purchase a new television. In the months leading up to November, some individuals feel as though they are in a pre-sale season limbo, and with the hype surrounding holiday sales events, it is easy to understand why.

Before deciding to postpone a purchase or to buy a new big screen immediately, there are some factors to consider. Shopping for a TV around Black Friday has its advantages (Image credit: Shutterstock). There are two main benefits to buying a TV around Black Friday. The first is obvious: retailers slash prices during their Black Friday sales events to attract shoppers ahead of the holidays.

The second benefit is less apparent but still important: since these sales occur at the end of the year, many newly released TVs have already experienced several rounds of price cuts by the time the sale begins. This creates a situation where savings opportunities abound, as stores further discount already-decreased sets, bringing some TVs down to their lowest price on record.

So, when evaluating whether to shop ahead of Black Friday, one must consider how much money they might be leaving on the table by not waiting. Based on my experience testing, reviewing, and tracking TV sales over the past decade, my recommendation is usually a few hundred dollars in savings. But how much exactly is a few hundred?

It can vary, sometimes amounting to $200 and other times to $500. Some TVs may even drop by over $1,000, while others unexpectedly increase in price. However, it is important to note that these sale prices can be unpredictable. Brands are influenced by various factors that impact when products go on sale, and it is impossible to predict exact price reductions.

Therefore, when asked how much more one might spend by purchasing a TV now instead of waiting until Black Friday, I tell people to expect approximately a few hundred dollars. This leads me to my final point: if you desire a new TV right away, it is not advisable to wait until Black Friday (Image credit: Shutterstock). While this advice may seem like a cop-out, the truth is that only you can determine if spending a few hundred dollars is worth having a new TV in your home before the holiday season.

Additionally, predicting which models are likely to receive the biggest discounts during these sales events is challenging. If you would like more information, I suggest exploring ways to determine when it is the right time to buy a new TV. I can assure you of two things: most new TVs will be on sale during Black Friday, but most of these models are already close to their lowest price.

Ultimately, your specific circumstances and preferences should take precedence in this situation. For instance, consider the LG C5 OLED, one of the most popular TVs among our readers during last year's Black Friday sales. In late September 2025, the 65-inch C5 model was priced at $1,699 at Best Buy, but by Black Friday, the same model had dropped to $1,399.

The successor to the C5, the LG C6 OLED, appears to follow a similar discount pattern. As of publishing time, the 65-inch LG C6 is priced at $1,599, with a likely sale price ranging from $1,299 to $1,399 at major retailers during Black Friday events. Skipping the wait might cost around $200 to $300, which still equates to a few hundred dollars in savings.