WASHINGTON — This is one of the best times of the year to get a discount on a TV, according to a leading consumer publication.
“We found that in the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, prices were, on average, about 22 percent less than they were two weeks earlier,” said Jim Willcox, senior electronics editor at Consumer Reports.
The findings are based on two years of data during the time period from just after Black Friday through the day the NFL’s annual big game is played. The price reductions reflect year-end closeouts and promotions for this weekend’s game.
No revolutionary changes are happening this year with TV features, Willcox said, so you’re not missing out on anything by choosing to buy a set left over from 2017.
“So it’s just a really good time between now and the end of February to buy a set,” he said.
Every year the TV industry delivers products that are better, bigger and cheaper, and Willcox said that’s “good news” for consumers. People are buying larger sets now, he said, because they’re super thin, can be wall mounted and don’t appear intrusive.
“It wasn’t so long ago that a 42-inch TV was considered gigantic, but now we’re seeing more sets that are 65, 70 and even 80 inches,” Willcox said.
As for what “lower prices” means, you can get a good, big TV now for under a grand.
“The range is anywhere from $800 to $2,000 for a 65-inch TV that can perform well with almost any kind of content,” Willcox said.
Consumer Reports evaluated 65-inch TVs. Well-performing major brands earning the group’s “recommended” status started in the $800–$850 range, with higher-priced models ranging up to $3,000.
“One of the flagship TVs we reviewed this year was an OLED from LG, and it cost $7,000,” Willcox said, detailing an extreme example.
Things to consider before you buy:
- Viewing angle. LCD/LED TVs don’t always have wide viewing angles, Willcox said, and the picture can look washed out if you’re too far off-center from the screen.
- Refresh rate. Some LCD TVs can have a hard time keeping up with fast action, and images can appear blurred. To avoid that, Willcox suggested a TV with a native refresh rate of 120 hertz.
- Listen to the speaker system. Some TVs provide better pictures than sound. Fans of sound-rich sports programming and action movies might benefit from buying a sound bar.
Because Willcox expects sales to continue through the end of February, he recommends anyone buying now to try getting a price-match guarantee.
“A 30 day price guarantee will typically have the retailer refund the difference between what you paid and what the TV is selling for if you do see it for less,” Willcox said.
