Cheap TV deals of Black Friday 2016 (plus our favorite picks)
Buying a dirt-cheap TVs on Black Friday is an American tradition, and here are the absolute dirt-cheapest TVs we've found.
David Katzmaier
Doors, prepare to be busted
Nothing brings shoppers out like a deal on a new TV and the big stores all have some crazy prices. The catch? If it's a retail store, you'll probably have to get to the store in person to snap one up.
Here are the cheapest TVs we've found, and while we haven't reviewed any of them, we have included our picks at every screen size level. Thanks as usual to BestBlackFriday.com for the assist.
Updated November 15 with deals from hhgregg, Meijer and H-E-B. Updated November 17 with deals from Amazon. Updated November 23 with the 4K Roku TV deal.
32-inch TV, $70
TV Brand: Unknown
Model: Unknown
Store: Amazon
Our take: Amazon doesn't provide a brand, model or picture of this TV, but it is the cheapest TV on the list, and the cheapest we've ever seen for this size television.
Since this is Amazon, you'll have to just keep checking the site if you want one. At least you can do it in your PJs.
32-inch TV, $80
TV Brand: Unknown
Model: Unknown
Store: Shopko
Our take: The cheapest TV on this list (so far) that isn't from Amazon. Shopko stores are in only 25 states, plus there's that whole mail-in rebate issue. But WOW DOORBUSTER, right?
32-inch TV, $85
Brand: Polaroid
Model: Unknown
Store: Target
Our take: Another five bucks gets you a Polaroid TV, but be quick to get this deal.
32-inch Roku TV, $125 (CNET pick)
Brand: TCL Roku TV
Model: 32S3750
Store: Walmart or Amazon
Our take: If I wanted a 32-inch TV I'd get this one. Built-in Roku smarts and simple operation means you won't have to buy an external streaming device and juggle another remote.
Note that Amazon lists simply "32-inch TCL 720p Smart TV - Amazon's Choice, $125" but I'm making an educated guess that it's this model.
40-inch TV, $125 (CNET pick)
Brand: Element or Hisense
Model: Unknown
Store: Walmart
Our take: The cheapest TV in this size range we've seen is, of course, in-store only, and brands vary per store. It wins our pick in this size category by virtue of its insane price.
40-inch TV, $130
Brand: Proscan
Model: PLED4018A
Store: HHGregg
Our take: Just $5 less insane, this set has the advantage of NOT being sold in-store only at Walmart. If you're near an HHGregg and want to pay almost as little as possible for a 40-inch TV, it makes a tempting target.
40-inch TV, $150
Brand: LG
Model: 40LH5000
Store: Best Buy
Our Take: No, we don't think it's worth another $20 to 25 to get an LG over an off-brand TV at this level, but if you do, the LH500 is a steal. And an in-store-only doorbuster, of course.
40-inch 4K TV, $300
Brand: Samsung
Model: UN40KU6290
Store: BJ's
Our take: At this size 4K resolution is a waste in a TV, but this sure is a tempting price for a big computer monitor. But Samsung's UN40KU6290 is not the cheapest 4K TV on this list.
43-inch TV, $150
Brand: Element
Model: Unknown
Store: Meijer
Our take: This Midwest regional superstore is the only one on the list to offer a 43-inch size (so far), challenging the others with a seriously crazy dollar-per-inch cost. But not as crazy as the next TV...
43-inch 4K TV, $200
Brand: Unknown
Model: Unknown
Store: Amazon
Our take: We have no idea what this TV is beyond its size, price and the fact that it has 4K resolution.
49-inch 4K TV, $200 (CNET pick)
Brand: Toshiba
Model: 49L621U
Store: Best Buy
Our take: The cheapest 4K TV we've seen this season is one of the cheapest, period. And it actually has "Chromecast built in" (a $35 value), but it's in-store only.
50-inch TV, $200
Brand: Vizio
Model: Unknown
Store: Meijer
Our take: Meijer earns a spot again with this major-brand mid-size TV, the cheapest at this dimension on the list.
50-inch TV, $225
Brand: Emerson or Element
Model: Unknown
Store: Walmart
Our take: The two previous TVs have better names for better prices, but this one is probably a lot more attainable, and still dirt cheap. Is Emerson better than Element? Your guess is as good as ours.
50-inch 4K TV, $250
Brand: Hisense
Model: Unknown
Store: Target
Our take: At 50 inches, 4K resolution won't make any difference in image quality (unless you connect a computer), but that might not matter to you at this price. This is the only TV on page one of Target's Black Friday circular, so it will probably sell out very quickly.
55-inch TV, $250
Brand: Sharp
Model: Unknown
Store: Best Buy
Our take: The lowest price for a 55-inch TV we've seen anywhere, ever. Be prepared to fight for this doorbuster. $100 computer not included.
55-inch TV, $300
Brand: "Premium"
Model: Unknown
Store: Amazon
Our take: Why is this image so generic? Because the only thing Amazon will say about this deal is that it's a "Premium brand 55-inch 1080p Smart LED TV." It's actually more expensive than many of the 4K sets at this size or smaller, but that doesn't really matter in terms of picture quality. On the other hand maybe its "Premium"-ness is enough for you.
55-inch 4K TV, $300
Brand: JVC
Model: LT55UE76
Store: Sam's Club
Our take: This price seems to be the cheapest for 4K at this size, and now there are three on this list from different stores. At this size and up we're seeing more 4K TVs than standard 1080p ones. This deal is an online exclusive
55-inch 4K TV, $300
Brand: Philips
Model: Unknown
Store: Walmart
Our take: Philips adds Smart TV to the mix but keeps the price on this 4K set as low as anywhere. This doorbuster, featured on the front page of Walmart's flyer, will go fast.
55-inch 4K TV, $300
Brand: Quasar
Model: 5Q5505U
Store: H-E-B
Our take: The third 55-inch 4K TV we've seen at this price and also the one with the least name recognition. That means it's probably the least likely to sell out immediately. H-E-B, a regional chain in Texas, also has a 32-inch Quasar for $98.
55-inch 4K TV, $400
Brand: LG
Model: Unknown
Store: Amazon
Our take: One of Amazon's highlighted rotating bargains costs a bit more than some of the other 4K sets at this size, and the fact that it's an LG doesn't necessarily mean it's any better than the others in terms of picture quality.
60-inch TV, $400
Brand: Vizio
Model: D60N-E3
Store: Walmart
Our take: Speaking of going fast, this 1080p Vizio is ridiculously cheap for a big-screen TV. Unlike the company's SmartCast sets it actually has smart TV apps built-in, but no local dimming.
60-inch TV, $500 (CNET pick)
Brand: Vizio
Model: D60-D3
Store: Dell
Our take: Local dimming is worth another $100 in our book. It's an online exclusive.
60-inch 4K TV, $550
Brand: Vizio
Model: E60-E3
Store: Sam's Club
Our take: The E60-E3 augments that local dimming with 4K resolution and Vizio's SmartCast technology, although you'll have to use your own phone instead of built-in apps.
65-inch 4K TV, $550
Brand: Haier
Model: 65UF2505
Store: HHGregg
Our take: The cheapest price yet for 65-inch TV, this in-store-only deal might be reason enough to hhead to Gregg. Interestingly, I haven't seen any great prices on 1080p 65-inch sets this year. It's 4K all the way at this size and larger.
65-inch 4K TV, $600
Brand: Hitachi
Model: Unknown
Store: Walmart
Our take: Like many brands on this list Hitachi is no longer the storied purveyor of electronica it once was. That won't stop the crowds from flocking to this in-store-only doorbuster.
65-inch 4K TV, $600
Brand: Hisense
Model: 65CU6200
Store: Sam's Club
Our take: 4K resolution in a 65-inch smart TV for this price? You can bet the 65CU6200, an online exclusive, won't last long.
65-inch 4K TV, $690 (CNET pick)
Brand: Vizio
Model: E65-E0
Store: BJ's
Our take: We like Vizio's local dimming enough to pick this 4K resolution set with SmartCast over the others, despite its higher cost and doorbuster status.
70-inch 4K TV, $930 (CNET pick)
Brand: Vizio
Model: E70-E3
Store: Sam's Club
Our take: Another local dimming 4K Vizio for a tremendously cheap price, the E70-E3 is our favorite (and only) set on the list at this screen size. So far.
55-inch 4K Roku TV, $400 (CNET pick)
Store: Amazon and Target
Brand: TCL
Model: 55US5800
Our take: Notice a pattern? We really like Roku TVs at the budget level , and this example is the cheapest yet. We doubt its image quality is any better than any of the other no-name brands, but we guarantee its built-in Smart TV suite is.