You may be spending a lot of time outside this summer, but now is actually a fantastic time to buy a new TV. The latest models are just starting to hit stores, which means you can find great deals on older (and still great-looking!) screens. And thanks to Amazon’s annual Prime Day event, there’s plenty on sale. We’ve rounded up all the best TV deals below.
Updated July 13: We’ve crossed out the Toshiba M550 (55-inch), Hisense U8G (55-inch), and LG NanoCell 80 Series (55-inch) because they’re either sold out or have gone up in price. We also added a Vizio M-Series Quantum 55-inch and an LG HU85LA projector, plus a few streaming sticks and soundbars.
The WIRED Gear team tests products throughout the year. We sorted through hundreds of thousands of deals by hand to make these picks. Crossed out products are out of stock or no longer discounted. Our Amazon Prime Day coverage page has the latest stories, and our Prime Day shopping tips will help you avoid bad deals. You can also get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 here.
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TV deals
Read our best TVs and best soundbars guides for more recommendations, as well as our tips on how to get the most out of your home theatre.
TCL 6 Series
Photo: TCL
The TCL 6-Series (55-inch) is our favorite TV for most people (9/10, WIRED recommends), but it’s currently sold out. But the larger, 65-inch version is still in stock. It features a quantum dot panel that offers vivid colors, plus local dimming zones for deeper blacks, Micro-LED backlighting so you get really great contrast, and a built-in Roku interface for easy navigation.
It’s a small deal, but this TCL also includes quantum dot technology that makes colors pop more than traditional LED displays. Pair this with the built-in Google TV, and you’ll be able to watch any of the major high-definition streaming services with ease (and ask Google Assistant for everything). Don’t let the price fool you: You’re getting exceptional value.
This one is slightly smaller than the TCL above and is Hisense’s entry-level option. We haven’t tested this particular model yet, but we like many of the Hisense TVs we’ve tried. You get Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range support (better colors), and Amazon Fire TV is built in as the primary interface. You can always use another streaming stick if you prefer the Roku or another.
Hisense U8G
Photo: Hisense
Here’s another one that Amazon doesn’t want you to know is a deal (for some reason). This is one of the lowest prices we’ve tracked for this TV, and it’s the lowest compared to all the retailers it’s sold at. The U8G (8/10, WIRED Recommends) looks sleek and has an Android TV interface, and the stand is raised enough that you can fit a soundbar underneath. It has a 120-Hz screen refresh rate (with AMD FreeSync support), so it’s a great budget option for gamers.
LG’s patented NanoCell technology gives this model deeper blacks and better lighting than many similarly priced screens, and we like that the screen’s legs are a few inches from the edges, making it more suitable for furniture. Another perk of this model is LG’s Magic Remote, which lets you point and click apps and the keyboard as if it were the old Wii remote.
The M-Series Quantum 55-inch (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great mid-range TV. It has an improved Smartcast interface (which makes it easy to stream sections from mobile phones and laptops), stable gaming performance and excellent contrast thanks to local dimming technology. This is a great option if you’re looking for something under $1,000.
If you need a smaller TV for your kitchen, bedroom, or other compact space, this Android TV from TCL is a decent choice. It even has Google Assistant built in, so you can use it to set timers, play music and get sports scores without finding the remote.
Big and beautiful TVs
LG C1 OLED
Photo: LG
Such a massive screen at this price? Not to mention the fact that it’s an OLED panel! Really, it’s a spectacular deal. Organic LED means each pixel acts as its own backlight, which means positively epic black levels and contrast. Couple that with a 120-Hz refresh rate, with Google Assistant and Alexa built in, and you’ve got yourself a great home theater experience. The equally excellent 65-inch version retails for $1,697 ($49 off).
This deal is for Prime members only (and availability seems to vary based on your location). It’s rare to find good 55-inch TVs from reputable brands at this price, so this is a great option for anyone who wants to spend as little as possible but still wants a big screen. It comes with a built-in Amazon Fire TV interface and full-array local dimming for solid black levels.
It’s probably the best looking TV on this list, although you’ll need a really long TV stand as the legs stick out at the very ends (unless you mount it on a wall). It’s another OLED panel, so you get vibrant colors and inky blacks, and it has an Android TV interface.
Technically not a TV, but still able to produce a big, beautiful picture, this short-throw projector from LG is the whole package in one box. It can project up to a 120-inch screen while sitting as close to the wall as your typical TV now. It also includes a built-in soundbar, LG’s smart TV interface, and support for Google Assistant or Alexa. Considering how little else you have to buy for this projector, it’s almost a reasonable price.
Soundbar Deals
Samsung HW-Q950A
Photo: Samsung
This flagship soundbar from Samsung (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has an impressive 11.1.4 speaker array that includes two satellites, a subwoofer, and the bar itself. It’s an excellent option for people who want stable sound and have a big budget, but don’t have room for traditional speaker systems.
It might not be that common for a soundbar to double as a video streaming device, but with Roku’s Streambar, it makes perfect sense. It’s an inexpensive sound system that also includes a built-in Roku streaming player—one less gadget to buy.
If you love deep, thunderous bass – and hate your neighbors – then this Nakamichi soundbar is our bassiest pick. It comes with two massive subwoofers as well as a set of satellite speakers giving it a very accurate system. It also supports all major object-based surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Offers on streaming devices
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Photo: Roku
This Roku streaming stick is one of our favorites thanks to its voice remote control and Dolby Vision HDR support. This is one of the cheapest ways to upgrade to a better smart TV setup than the one that probably came with your TV.
The Roku Ultra is the Roku device to turn to if you want the fastest and most responsive experience. It has dual-band Wi-Fi, a powerful processor, and even an Ethernet port if you want to get the best bandwidth possible. The remote also includes a rechargeable battery, but if you don’t care about that feature, the 2021 model also sells for $70.
Google has had its ups and downs with its TV offerings, but Chromecast with Google TV (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of their best efforts. Google has finally given Chromecast a physical remote, plus an intuitive interface with convenient voice controls. It doesn’t have a lot of storage, but it makes up for it by making it trivially easy to search across most major streaming services.
Amazon has been more aggressive in promoting its own products like Prime Video on its streaming devices than most other companies. If you’re heavily invested in the Amazon ecosystem, then it might be worth it, in which case this Fire TV Stick is our top pick for you. Otherwise, a Roku or Chromecast might offer a better balance of streaming services.
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