Best Holiday TV Deals/Sales

This is a lower line plasma from Panasonic but still quality oriented. It’s going to give you the best picture quality of this list, but is better suited for medium to darker room lighting. It is on a little over 2.55 inches in depth.

Prices

Now for a 60 inch TV you do want that higher 1080p resolution for sure. This plasma from Samsung is priced exceptionally well and will give you a great home theater type picture experience in dark to low light rooms. It has extras as well like Internet TV capability.

Prices

While on this list we are trying to keep the cost down and not offer too many extras this TV is 3D capable (passive 3D) and has Vizio’s Internet TV Apps and a special Gaming mode all for a less than $500 buck price point.

Prices

This is a great value with a higher 120Hz refresh rate to stop some of that judder during fast motion. We felt one of these should be represented on this list. The TV is lit with traditional LCD lighting rather than LED. It’s also a very nice looking TV.

Prices

A very consistent performer and reliable as the day is long. The 32C120U is a hot seller this year and has an updated speaker system and good black levels with an anti-glare black screen.

Prices

TCL may not be a brand you know well but the TVs are reliable and come with a 2 year warranty. This is an LED backlit unit has has a unique modern look to it. There is more inconsistency from the edge lit LEDs but also more brightness.

Prices

This is the big bro to the 42” LG listed above still with the plasma technology and 720p resolution. The price is smoking for 50 inches and there is a new Triple HXD video processing video chipset to smooth that picture.

Prices

OK a plasma is a must consider in the 42 inch size range. The prices are too good to pass up and though LG typically does not get much consideration in plasma, how can you lose at this price point. This plasma has hot looks to boot, with only .55 inch frame cabinet. The picture is not as bright for daytime viewing.

Prices

OK it’s not 1080p resolution but try to beat the $270 price tag. This little 32 inch unit has clean lines and solid performance even with HD signals. On a TV this size I doubt you will even notice the difference when you have that HD signal pumped into it. It’s a traditional LCD which you might think is not good but they actually have a more uniform color performance than LED backlit TVs.

Prices

For $400 this traditional LCD has lots to offer. It’s not the best looking TV in the market but 40 inches is just a whole lot bigger than what you can get in other brands for $400. It has an anti-glare screen finish otherwise called a matte finish which somewhat inhibits clarity.

Prices

3 Steps Finding the Right Black Friday
Holiday TV Deal Special

How to find the right sale special and not be fooled

People have the perception that it’s easy to find a great deal on black friday or during the holidays but nothing could be farther from the truth. Stores know that bargain hunters abound with cash to spend, so there are lots of tricks to get you to release those funds such as:

1. Bait and Switch
   Stores try to bait you in with that seemingly too good to be true TV price $399 for a 40” LCD TV. Right? Then you get there and, ups, all the $399 off-brand TVs on sale are gone. Sold out. So they steer you toward that “brand” name unit they have great margins in instead.
2. Watch out for Off-brands
   Lot’s of the seemingly great deals promoted are of brands you’ve never heard of (Handspree? Sceptre?) and the quality is just not there. Steer toward your trusted brands and you will have better reliability in general and also be able to get it repaired two years down the road because there are parts available. Even though I have recommended a couple of TCL TVs on this list they both come with a 2 year warranty on labor.
3. Consider your room situation
   Whether or not you get a brighter TV for a brightly lit room is important. It’s good to know a plasma is OK for a darker low light room. Consider the perfect size that you need. Thinking more about exactly what you need will prevent you from “pulling the trigger” on an impulse buy just because it’s on sale.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

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