TVs are the hottest category of electronics purchase around the holidays and this year will be no exception. But which one is right for you?
Picking the right TV for you
While most retailers are rolling out deals all month long, the best TV deals will continue to be concentrated in roughly a 48-hour period around Black Friday.
The old truism that you get what you pay for remains true. The most expensive model — the LG 65EF9500 — got the highest score in a Consumer Reports tally and is listed at a whopping $5,000. Yet the magazine also found multiple ‘best buys’ ranging in price from the low $100s to the mid $1,000s among other LCD, LED and OLED TVs! So there’s a screen size and a price point to fit everybody’s budget.
Here are the nine criteria the magazine looked at to determine their rankings: HD picture quality, Ultra HD performance, 3D performance, viewing angle, motion blur, sound quality, first-time setup, everyday use and versatility.
Oh, one more thing before we get into this highlight of this Consumer Reports list: The prices represented below for the ‘best buy’ TVs are approximate retail prices. But we all know no one ever pays retail during the holidays for a TV. So keep your eyes open for these particular models, but don’t be surprised when you see them at substantially lower price points than listed below!
Read more: Apps to find the best deals and make holiday shopping easier
Here are the best TVs for your dollar this Christmas season
60-inch and larger screens
- Samsung UN60JU6500 TV – $1,400
- LG 60UF7700 – $1,500
- Samsung UN60H6350 – $1,400
- Sony Bravia KDL-65W850C – $1,500
- LG 60LF6100 – $900
55 to 59 inch screens
- Samsung UN55J620D – $740
- Sony Bravia KDL-55W800C – $800
- LG 55LF6000 – $600
- LG 55LF6090 – $660
46 to 52 inch screens
- LG 49UF6700 – $550
- Vizio E48-C2 – $480
- LG 50LF6100 – $550
29 inch and smaller
- LG 22LF4520 – $140
Keep these pointers in mind when shopping
Brands
People often way overpay for flatscreens because they think they are hurting themselves if they buy a brand they don’t know much about. But the reality is you hurt yourself more if you pay more for a TV since as prices drop screen size gets larger and capability gets better. So you’re best off going down on brand and up on screen size, or down on brand, keep the same screen size, and keep more money in your pocket. In Clark’s house, they have a Dynex TV (which is a Best Buy private label), a Magnavox TV, a Westinghouse TV, and a Vizio. Not a premium brand among them!
Read more: Best times to buy everything you need this holiday season!
Screen Size
The battle of the sexes often plays out over the size of the big-screen TV in your home. The Boston Globe reports men and women often have to negotiate about the size of the screen or screens in their home. As you might expect, men tend to favor bigger screens than women do! Whatever side of the debate you fall on, remember this truism: Most people regret the screen size they got because later they always wish they’d gotten a larger screen.
The Boston Globe reports men and women are having to negotiate about the size of the television screen or screens in their home. As you might expect, men tend to favor bigger screens than women do.
I saw a 60-inch yesterday on sale for $599. A guy sees that and pictures that TV being in his home. But most homes aren’t big enough to have a man cave that could comfortably accommodate a screen that big tucked away somewhere. So you have to put that TV right out in the open in the house where a wife or girlfriend may not want a giant TV. – See more at: http://m.tie1.clark.com/mobile/2013-02-05/#sthash.6IXll5S7.dpuf
The Boston Globe reports men and women are having to negotiate about the size of the television screen or screens in their home. As you might expect, men tend to favor bigger screens than women do.
I saw a 60-inch yesterday on sale for $599. A guy sees that and pictures that TV being in his home. But most homes aren’t big enough to have a man cave that could comfortably accommodate a screen that big tucked away somewhere. So you have to put that TV right out in the open in the house where a wife or girlfriend may not want a giant TV. – See more at: http://m.tie1.clark.com/mobile/2013-02-05/#sthash.6IXll5S7.dpuf
HD Antennaes
With all the talk of where TV is going in the future, it’s easy to forget that it’s also extra cheap where it’s been in the past. Don’t overlook the original cheapo programming option: Using an old-fashion pair of rabbit ear antennae to pick up local channels over the air for free! Go to AntennaWeb.org, click the ‘choose an antenna’ button and enter your street address. They’ll tell you what channels will be available to you and what kind of antenna and other equipment would be best for you.
Read more: 5 Black Friday deals that you can get cheaper if you wait
For more money-saving advice, see our Deals section.
