LG and Samsung are the most popular TV manufacturers in the world, and their latest ranges have new processors, new features, and even new displays in some cases.
At launch, there’s no denying they’re expensive. April and May is when many TVs launch, and they tend to come out of the blocks with hefty prices that can drop by many hundreds of pounds after just a few months – there’s little reason to buy a TV at its launch price.
But when you compare their costs to the initial price of equivalent 2020 TVs, it seems that – in some cases – TV manufacturers have found ways to economise.
We’ve analysed how the launch prices of 2021 TVs compare with those of their 2020 counterparts, and hypothesised what that means for where 2021 TV prices might end up this time next year. You can probably expect prices to drop to somewhere between the launch price and the ‘one-year-on’ price in a few months’ time.
2020 TVs are currently selling for well below their launch prices, making now a great time to snap up an older model. Check our round up of the current deals to be had on 2020 models.
2021 vs 2020 TV prices compared
Where possible we’ve compared models that have the same naming convention, as this is the clearest indicator that a TV is a similar spec. The recently released Samsung QE55Q80A is likely a direct successor to the QE55Q80T from 2020, for example. Where there isn’t an exact naming match, we’ve selected the closest equivalent.
The technology will, of course, be different, otherwise LG and Samsung couldn’t justify releasing new TVs at all, but the TVs we’re comparing occupy similar positions in each brand’s respective 2020 and 2021 lineups.
All the models we’ve listed have 55-inch screens. In each comparison table, we’ve highlighted the cheaper launch price in bold.
If you’re looking for a new TV, start your search by working out what size TV is best for your room.
LG TV prices compared
For two of the three pairs of LG TVs we’ve looked at, the 2021 models are cheaper at launch than their 2020 counterparts, and we expect their prices to come down significantly over time.
LG OLED55C14LB (2021) vs LG OLED55CX6LB (2020)
The 2021 OLED55C14LB is one of LG’s most popular and widely-available OLED TVs – part of the ‘C’ range (as indicated by the ‘C’ after the ’55’ in the product names). TVs in the series aren’t LG’s most high-end sets, but they aren’t far off, so it’s reasonable to expect cutting-edge tech and a four figure price.
And a four-figure price there is – but the 2021 OLED55C14LB is £100 cheaper than its closest 2020 equivalent was at launch.
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| Model | OLED55C14LB | OLED55CX6LA |
| Price at launch | £1,699 | £1,799 |
OLED TVs have historically been part of LG’s premium line-up, and in 2021 it’s launched a ‘super-premium’ OLED range – the OLED evo G1s (take a look at our guide on how to buy the best LG TV for more on evo). This could, in part, explain be why some of its non-evo OLED TVs are a bit cheaper this year.
Price prediction: We reckon the price of the OLED55C14LB will get to around £1,199 in a year’s time.
Read our 2020 LG OLED55CX6LA review to see if LG’s C range earns its popularity.
LG OLED55B16LA (2021) vs LG OLED55BX6LB (2020)
As well as introducing its super-premium OLED evos, LG’s also launched a range of ‘budget’ OLEDs (well, as budget as OLEDs come) – the A1 range. Previously, the B range comprised LG’s cheapest OLEDs – though they were far from low-end. Now we have the A1 range occupying the low(er)-cost OLED slot, does that mean the B range will be more costly in 2021?
Well, at first glance, yes, as the 2021 OLED55B16LA is £200 more than its 2020 predecessor was at launch.
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| Model | OLED55B16LA | OLED55BX6LB |
| Price at launch | £1,599 | £1,399 |
However, the figures don’t necessarily tell the full picture, as the £200 price difference is largely down to when the earlier version was released.
The 2020 OLED55BX6LB launched in October, so its launch price had to compete with that of sets that had already been on sale for up to six months, and which had already seen a steady price decline.
The 2021 model, however, has launched early in the year, when TVs are at their most expensive, and it has a higher price to match.
Price prediction: We think the OLED55B16LA will cost around £999 this time next year.
The 2020 OLED55BX6LB will currently set you back less than £1,000 thanks to its price dropping over time. Read our LG OLED55BX6LB review to see if it’s worth it.
LG 55NANO806PA (2021) vs LG 55NANO816NA (2020)
Below the OLEDs in LG’s lineup we have the Nanocell sets. These TVs are essentially LCD TVs with backlights, but an extra layer of nanocells boost colour. The Nanocell bracket is wide, with some models costing more than £1,000 and others going for less than £500. The models we’ve compared sit towards the higher end of that price range.
At launch, the 2021 55NANO806PA costs £50 less than its 2020 predecessor did.
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| Model | 55NANO806PA | 55NANO816NA |
| Price at launch | £949 | £999 |
Price prediction: Based on the current typical cost of the 2020 model, we’d expect the 2021 55NANO806PA to cost around £550 this time next year.
Does that nanocell layer make a big difference? Read our 2020 LG 55NANO816NA review to find out.
Samsung TV prices compared
Of the three pairs we’ve compared, Samsung’s two more premium sets have a lower launch price in 2021 than they did in 2020, but – to our surprise – the lower-end set is a touch more expensive this year.
Samsung QE55Q80A (2021) vs QE55Q80T (2020)
QLED TVs are Samsung’s answer to OLEDs; they use miniscule ‘quantum dots’ (the Q in QLED) to form a layer in front of the backlight and create the colours you see on screen (find out more in our guide to QLED TV).
These two QLEDs are high-end, with prices to match, but the 2021 QE55Q80A has launched at a substantially cheaper price than its older sibling, costing £200 less at launch than its 2020 predecessor.
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| Model | QE55Q80A | QE55Q80T |
| Price at launch | £1,399 | £1,599 |
Price prediction: The Q80T dropped below the £900 mark after roughly a year on sale and we’d expect the Q80A to do the same. It may even sneak below £800 by the time February 2022 rolls around.
Check our Samsung QE55Q80T review to see whether it’s worth snapping up this outgoing model while it’s still available.
Samsung QE55Q60A (2021) vs QE55Q60T (2020)
These are Samsung’s entry-level QLEDs, which means they are essentially mid-range TVs. When QLEDs were a new part of Samsung’s lineup they were all high-end, but now they are gradually overlapping with the cheaper LCD ranges.
The 2021 QE55Q60A is £200 cheaper than its 2020 predecessor was at launch.
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| Model | QE55Q60A | QE55Q60T |
| Price at launch | £999 | £1,199 |
Price prediction: At time of writing, the QE55Q60T from 2020 is available for around £699, so we should at least see the QE55Q60A reach at least the same point in a year’s time. Given the lower starting point, it may get even cheaper. £500 would be a stretch, but £599 is possible.
Is one of Samsung’s cheapest QLEDs from 2020 worth buying? Read our Samsung QE55Q60T review to find out.
Samsung UE55AU8000 (2021) vs Samsung UE55TU8000 (2020)
These LCD sets are some of Samsung’s cheapest. They don’t have the quantum dots that make QLED ranges special, but this doesn’t necessarily make them worse buys, especially given the lower price points.
If you’re keen to buy new, though, you’ll pay more this year than you would have last year; the 2021 UE55AU8000 is £50 more expensive than its 2020 predecessor was at launch.
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| Model | UE55AU8000 | UE55TU8000 |
| Price at launch | £749 | £699 |
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As TVs get cheaper there’s clearly fewer price economies to be made, but given that Samsung’s QLEDs appear to be launching for less, it was a surprise to see the LCD AU8000 cost more than its predecessor did.
Price prediction: The price of these TVs don’t tend to fall as sharply as more high-end models over time, so we’d expect the UE55AU8000 to reach around £600 by this time next year.
Do you need to buy a QLED to get a high-quality Samsung TV, or will an LCD set do? Here’s our Samsung UE55TU8000 review.
When’s the best time to buy a TV?
Never at launch. Unless you’re in desperate need of a new TV, it’s best to wait until around January before you buy. The TVs will be far cheaper. If you can’t wait quite that long, though, Black Friday is also a good time for a bargain.
If you are in the market for a new model right now then you’ve still got time to get a 2020 TV. The differences in quality between TVs released in 2020 and 2021 won’t be seismic and you won’t be missing out on any essential features by choosing a TV from last year.
Every year we test hundreds of TVs from leading brands including Hisense, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony, so have a rummage round our full TV reviews to find a set that’s perfect for you.
