Black Friday’s focus will be more online than ever this year, but nothing will change when it comes to TV deals. We’re expecting good prices and plenty of them.
A good deal comes down to more than just price though; some TVs aren’t worth buying, no matter how big the discount is.
Hundreds of TVs are released every year, so a plan is what you need to avoid being overwhelmed by the bombardment of Black Friday deals. A shortlist of TVs is a great way to start, and we’ve picked out five we think will get cheaper on the big day – or even before then.
Choosing the right size of TV should be your main consideration, so use our TV size tool to see how big a TV you should buy on Black Friday.
LG OLED48CX6LB: high-end OLED TV
- Display: OLED
- Size: 48-inch
- Resolution: 4K
- Current price: £1,489
- Potential Black Friday price: £1,199
High-end OLEDs are often excellent, but always expensive, which is why waiting until Black Friday is a good bet if you’re tempted.
Until 2020, OLEDs were all at least 55 inches, which is too big for many homes but LG has finally launched a 48-inch model. It’s pricey though, and it was released later in the year than bigger models so it hasn’t had a chance to drop in price yet.
We think there’s a good chance that a price drop is due on 27 November, particularly when you consider that the 55-inch version of this TV (LG OLED55CX6LB) is actually cheaper, at £1,299.
You should also look out for the Currys PC World exclusive version of this TV, the OLED48CX5LC, which might also get a price drop.
Does OLED quality translate well onto smaller screens, or do you need to buy bigger for an OLED Best Buy? Check our LG OLED48CX6LB review to find out.
Sony KD-55XH9005BU: high-end LCD TV
- Display: LCD
- Size: 55-inch
- Resolution: 4K
- Current price: £999
- Potential Black Friday price: £799
Sony TVs tend to cost more than LG’s and Samsung’s, but a Black Friday discount could change matters. This TV’s small bezel and narrow feet create a sleek, modern profile and that style carries through to the 4K picture, which is scalpel-sharp.
It’s sound, not picture, that has proved problematic for Sony’s LCD sets in the past – and few people will want a TV that looks great but sounds terrible. Sony’s now moved the position of the tweeter speakers to increase ‘positional specificity’ of its sound. In theory, a character’s voice should sound like it’s coming from their mouth rather than all the audio coming from the same place.
Does the 55XH9005 deliver on its promises? Check our full Sony KD-55XH9005BU review to find out.
LG 65NANO866NA: mid-range nanocell TV
- Display: LCD
- Size: 65-inch
- Resolution: 4K
- Current price: £949
- Potential Black Friday price: £819
The ‘NANO’ part of this model’s name refers to the nanocell layer in LG’s TVs that filters out impure colours. This should create a more natural picture, as the colours left over look more believable. And it works – in some TVs, at least. This sort of added technology can be hit and miss, so it’s never enough to guarantee success, but we did find the colours natural on this model.
It’s not a bad price either, considering how big it is, but we still think the price could drop come Black Friday. LG’s 2020 line-up is one of the biggest though, so there are plenty of nanocell alternatives as well as cheaper traditional LCD TVs.
Can you spend a bit less to get a good LG, or is the 65NANO866NA your best bet? Find out in our full LG 65NANO866NA review.
Philips 50PUS8505/12: mid-range LCD TV
- Display: LCD
- Size: 50-inch
- Resolution: 4K
- Current price: £550
- Potential Black Friday price: £450
Philips is a household name, but not primarily for its TVs, which is precisely why we think its TVs could get cheaper on Black Friday.
This one’s pretty cheap to start with and also full-featured. It supports both advanced HDR formats – HDR10+ and Dolby Vision – which adjust contrast to suit each scene to avoid content looking too dark or bright while still providing a boost to darker and lighter shades.
There’s a row of Philips’ colour-changing LEDs built into the case. They shine light onto the wall behind the TV to complement the content you’re watching, so you’d see some soothing blues while watching Blue Planet or some green if you’re watching Predator.
It’s an interesting idea, but it won’t save this TV if it doesn’t look or sound good enough, so is the 50PUS8505/12 an expensive lamp or an excellent telly? Our Philips 50PUS8505/12 review reveals all.
Samsung QE43Q60T: mid-range QLED TV
- Display: QLED
- Size: 43-inch
- Resolution: 4K
- Current price: £549
- Potential Black Friday price: £479
Samsung is releasing more QLEDs than ever. When it first started making them they were all high-end and expensive, but now the colour-boosting quantum dots are available in smaller, cheaper TVs.
43 inches is small by modern standards, but TVs of this size are still popular, and the Q60T is a tempting TV for anyone after high-end features at a low price.
In addition to the quantum dots, it also has ambient mode, which lets the screen copy the pattern of the wall to blend in or display a range of artworks, and the Universal Guide to recommend shows to watch.
Most of these things have no bearing on picture or sound, though, so check our Samsung QE43Q60T review to see if the cheapest, smallest QLED is good enough.
Best Black Friday TV deals for 2020
We’ll be monitoring TV retailers closely in the run-up to Black Friday to identify the best deals as they becomes available.
Watch this space to find out how good our price drop predictions on these five TVs prove to be.
In the meantime, if none of these TVs quite hits the mark, our full quota of TV reviews can help you find the perfect model for your living room.
Best Black Friday deals: take a look at our pick of the Best Black Friday deals on coffee machines, mobile phones, mattresses and more.
