Despite the countless different ways for us to stay entertained, TVs continue to take up a huge part of our lives. Out of 6.6 screens in a typical Australian home, TVs still take up a significant role, and are among the primary purchases. While that has remained the same, the viewing habits have undergone changes.
This was partly because of the advancements in technology, and partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic that we were faced with recently. On average, Australians spend about 51 hours and 14 minutes per month of their lives catching up with shows on broadcast TV, streaming platforms, or media platforms like YouTube.
Whether using your favourite entertaining device for relaxation and unwinding, or relieving stress from the daily life, all that matters is that you have the model fit for your viewing needs. Compromising on image quality for the sake of price means setting yourself up for a not-so-immersive viewing experience and possibly eye strain and discomfort as a result.
Then again, splurging on the latest and greatest can itself be a problem as most viewers don’t require the best of the best features, resolution, or sound like you would want to get in a theatre. There’s also the fact content isn’t always readily available for the newest models as in the case with 8K models.
Getting the best of both worlds depends on knowing when there are TV sales deals plus the kind of trends there are and whether or not they’re suitable for you. Consider things like:
When Should You Buy a New TV?
Although it may seem like any time is the best time to get a new telly, that’s not exactly true – especially not if you count on a tight budget for this investment. One piece of advice is to be in tune with new releases, so you’d know when you’d be able to come across great deals on older models.
Mind you, older doesn’t mean CRT (cathode-ray tube) models that lack the features you look for in a smart TV, but simply refers to those that were among the best just a few months ago. Due to restoking needs with new models, stores and retailers include these in the TV sales for the time being to clear up some space for the upcoming supplies. This is usually in the months from February to April, so keep an eye on offers. Look for stores that specialise in tech sales and stay notified through their social media by signing up as a follower.
Special occasions like some major sports events with football, cricket, tennis, and Olympics are times you should be alert about TV deals in electronics as many famous brands offer great prices on some of their top-tier models. Then you also have the major festivities as the perfect opportunities to go for a newer and wider screen. Boxing Day and Easter sales are days when you can expect price slashes, but they’re certainly not the only ones.
If you miss out on these two, you should remember to keep your eyes open during Free Shipping Day, Afterpay Day, End of Financial Year and Winter sales in June and July, Mother and Father’s Day, as much as Valentine’s Day, and Singles’ Day. And of course, even though it wasn’t part of our culture, Black Friday TV deals and the following Cyber Monday have become a huge part of the TV market revenue. In some cases, even August’s Back-to-School sales are an option to get your hands on a standard-sized model.
Unique Deals with Price Cuts
If you don’t care too much about buying a brand new TV, then why not get an even lower price by looking at one of the open box or refurbished options. Open boxes are simply screens that were returned by clients or those used as in-store displays. The refurbished are models that were returned for some issue but were repaired before being up for sale again. If you choose any of these two, just be sure you also get convenient warranty coverage.
Your Budget
Sometimes buying a TV during TV sales isn’t the only investment you intend to make, there are the accessories too. With this in mind, it takes more consideration of the budget than merely the screen. Perhaps you want to boost your viewing experience with a new set of soundbars, or maybe you prefer getting a digital media player – it’s all part of the budget that should be carefully planned out prior to the shopping.
The Features
TVs with higher price tags come with more features and that’s something you ought to think about when it comes to what it is you find to be a requirement, and how much you’re willing to pay. An HDR (high dynamic range) TV is better than non-HDRs because of the incredible image colours and contrast but this comes at a cost.
The sound is another crucial component you need to look into if you don’t want to end up spending more than you bargained for on an external sound system. The audio setup is enough to give you an idea on what it is you’re buying, with the number indicating main and bass speakers respectively. For example, a 2.1 setup is a model with two main speakers and one bass speaker.
The size and location of the speakers are additional factors that can help you decide if you find yourself buying online without the chance to hear the sound of the desired choice at the store. Next up, the image. Resolution may be something most of us focus on, especially when considering the size of the screen and how great a 4K or 8K TV would look like in our living rooms, and yet it’s not the only indicator of the image quality as there’s also the refresh rate.
Slower refresh rate can indicate a jittery or fuzzy image, so you should go higher with this – the higher the better. But be aware it can affect the price. This is of importance especially for gamers, so if you do go for a lower refresh rate, at least make sure you choose a model that’s got HFR (high frame rate) compatibility.
Amanda Dudley is a lecturer and writer with a Ph.D. in History from Stanford University. After earning her doctorate in 2001, she decided to pursue a fulfilling career in the educational sector. So far, she has made giant strides by working as an essay writer for EssayUSA, where she delivers high-quality academic papers to students who need them.