This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET’s guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
Bottom row? Prime Day sales on cheap Amazon Fire TVs are usually great, but if you want a different smart TV system or are shopping for a mid-range or high-end model, the prices might be better—and you’ll have more choices—if you wait until later. late in the year.
If you’re in the market for a new TV, it’s still worth taking a look at Amazon’s Prime Day sale prices. The giant retailer’s annual summer extravaganza won’t have the wide variety of brands and price drops of Black Friday or the holiday season, but if you don’t want to wait for a new screen, this is the next best thing.
This is because TV prices follow a predictable pattern. In the spring and summer, the new models from 2022 are presented for the first time, and then the prices are the highest. The first big price drop opportunity of the year is often Prime Day, but it only lasts a few days, and once it’s over, TV prices will stay relatively high until late fall, when the Black Friday sales begin. These sales typically last longer and are spread across more retailers and brands.
If you’re considering a new TV on Prime Day, here are some trends to watch for, based on my years of reviewing TVs and tracking sales. They’re not set in stone, but they can give you some pointers to get in.
The 43-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series.
Amazon
Amazon Fire TVs will dominate
Prime Day deals often include Amazon’s own gadgets, from Echo speakers to Ring doorbells, and that group includes smart TVs that run Amazon’s own Fire TV system. Featured on brands including Toshiba, Insignia, and Hisense, Fire TV is also available on Amazon-branded TVs, including the Fire TV Omni and 4-Series (which my colleague Jared DiPane spotted marked down to just $100 for the 50-inch model) . Everyone could get big discounts on Prime Day.
Prime Day TV sales will likely include a few non-Fire TV screens as well. Samsung, LG, Sony, and TCL TVs can get discounts, but they likely won’t be as steep as those offered on the Fire TV. This is because Amazon tends to favor its own products, especially those that cater to its own ecosystem. However, many compatible TVs have Alexa voice built-in, including most Samsung and LG TVs, and almost all smart TVs work with the Prime Video app.
Expect much smaller, cheaper TVs
If you’re in the market for a high-performance model like an OLED TV or even a mid-range LCD with a few added perks like next-gen console gaming support or full-array local dimming, don’t hold your breath. These features are largely absent from Fire TV models (with one exception), and the non-Fire TVs that go on sale on prime day are often relatively entry-level as well. Of course, you may see some exceptions, especially with 2021 TVs to clear inventory, but smaller and cheaper TVs are the rule.
Also check out Best Buy, Walmart, Target and other retailers
Amazon’s competitors are also running sales around Prime Day to ride on the hype. Many also offer TV deals, and since they don’t have a Fire TV ax to grind, they often offer a wider variety of brands, sizes, and feature sets.
Inflation is a wild card in 2022
TV prices rose for the first time in almost a decade last year, and that was before the current spike in inflation. That doesn’t mean you won’t find deals and discounts on TVs during Prime Day and Black Friday, but it may mean prices are a bit higher than in the past. If you don’t find a deal you like on Prime Day TV, it might be worth waiting until those sales later in the year to pull the trigger.
Add Comment