Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday TV deals so far
Black Friday offers a rare opportunity to save thousands of pounds upgrading your tech collection and TVs are no exception to the rule. The annual reductions seem to get larger as screen depths get smaller and this year's Cyber Weekend - starting November 23rd - is set to follow suit.
Whether you're looking to upgrade from HD or you're thinking about a new TV for a new home, there are an abundance of Black Friday TV deals heading your way and a lot of overwhelming technical jargon to sift through.
To help you buy the best TV for you, we have broken down the TV spec slang you need to understand and used industry insights to predict the best Black Friday TV deals of 2018.
The best early Black Friday deals
LG 49 Inch 49UK6400PLF Smart Ultra HD 4K TV with HDR
Ultra HD doesn't come cheap but Argos have made it as affordable as possible with this deal on the 49-inch LG Smart Ultra HD TV.
The TV has the intelligence to respond to your questions with built-in ThinQ AI and offers every 'smart' feature you could imagine - Ultra Surround sound, HDR, apps including Netflix, Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer), multiple USB and HDMI sockets, and more.
SHARP LC-32HI5332KF 32" Smart LED TV
Was £269, Now £159 from Currys PC World
This super cheap 32-inch TV is a fantastic option for small spaces or additional rooms. The HD ready TV may not be fit with all the latest technology, but it is more than enough to offer entertainment on demand.
The 32-inch Sharp LC-32HI5332KF comes equipped with all popular streaming apps, works with Miracast enabled devices, includes Freeview Play (which allows you to catch up on the last seven days of Freeview TV), and more.
Toshiba 75U6863DB 75" 4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision HDR LED Smart TV with Freeview HD
Was £1619.98, Now £1299 from Appliances Direct
It quite literally doesn't get bigger or better than the Toshiba 75U6863DB. This gargantuan 75-inch Smart TV is brand new for 2018 and comes with the year's most impressive and highest-spec technology.
The LED offers a 4K Ultra HD resolution, built-in WiFi, and Dolby Vision HDR, HLG & HDR10. Inclusive of preffered extras like Netflix, YouTube, Freeview Play, and more.
Philips 50PUS7303/12 50-Inch 4K Ultra HD Android Smart TV with HDR Plus
Was £700, Now £450 from Amazon
If high-tech specs inside the TV itself don't impress you, the addition of a three-sided Ambilight might be just what you're looking for.
This 50-inch Philips TV is a showstopper. Alongside the most impressive HD technology available to consumers, the Ambilight emits a wide glow from your TV screen onto the wall for a more immersive viewing experience. As a fully-fledged Android TV, it is even box-ready with Google Assistant, Google Play store and Chromecast built in.
Hitachi 43 Inch Smart 4K Ultra HD TV with HDR
Was £369.99, Now £289.99 from Argos
For a cinematic experience in your own living room, this Hitachi 43-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD TV now comes cheaper than many of its lesser-tech competitors. The HDR-ready TV boasts 2 USB ports, 3 HDMI sockets, 4K Ultra HD Certification, and can be mounted with ease.
As a Smart TV, it also includes built-in access to Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, Freeview Play (so you can catch up on TV you would otherwise miss when it suits you best), and more.
LG 65SK8000PLB 65-Inch Super UHD 4K HDR Premium Smart LED TV with Freeview Play
Was £2,199.99, Now £999 from Amazon
Amazon have taken an unbelievable £1,200 off this 65-inch lg in the run up to Black Friday and those with around 65 inches of wall space to spare are going to be thrilled.
The 65SK8000PLB features an IPS 4K Nano Cell Display (read: the modern picture quality barometer), an Alpha 7 processor (for seamless use of all its entertainment options), ThinQ AI (like an all-knowing assistant living in your TV), and 4K cinema HDR for the most dynamic viewing available.
All the products mentioned in this article are chosen and reviewed independently by our journalists. The Telegraph makes money by adding affiliate links to some of the products.
TV Buying Guide
Decide on screen size
Though your living room might fit a 56-inch television, you'll want to make sure your seating area is at least three metres away to view a super-sized screen comfortably. Balance your personal preference with the layout of your room to ensure you invest in the most suitable size.
One general priority of a larger screen is the associated boost in picture quality because many manufacturers reserve premium OLED and QLED displays for their largest models.
It's worth remembering that screen size is not measured by width. It's measured diagonally, from the bottom left corner to the top right.
An extra tip - if possible, your TV should be positioned parallel to your eyes for the best experience, with no more than a 15-degree angle up or down and no more than a 40-degree angle to the right or left.
Get to know OLED, QLED, and LED
Screen technology is much easier to understand than its acronyms might have you believe.
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) uses individual, light source-creating pixels to display visuals. OLED TVs can show deep blacks by turning themselves off completely, and otherwise create vibrant colours with improved viewing angles, making them great for watching the TV in the dark. They also have a lower energy consumption than LED TVs and are very responsive.
On the other hand, Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode (or D-dropped QLEDs) have a microscopic particle filter which controls a true-to-life colour output.
While LED (Light Emitting Diodes) technology is not as advanced as its OLED or QLED rivals, it still creates a fantastic, vivid picture and they're great value. Because a backlight is used against a LCD panel, sets which include HDR will rival OLED and QLED models by improving colour and contrast. Keep an eye out for LED sets with otherwise high tech specs for a Black Friday bargain.
Understanding the difference between Full HD 1080p, 4K, 8K, Ultra HD, and HDR
In short, these confusing consumer ciphers are there to explain the TV’s picture quality.
Where possible, avoid TVs with anything less than a 4k resolution because the next step down - Full HD 1080p - is four times smaller and more difficult to future-proof. TVs with a 4K resolution (often labelled 'Ultra HD') show incredible detail and have been priced as low as £500 in recent sales, making it a perfect time to invest and upgrade.
4K sets with the certified logo will always be of superior quality, but so-called "Premium" versions can also include support for contrast-boosting HDR (ideal for fans of Amazon Prime, Netflix and Blu-ray as all apply HDR scene-by-scene).
As HDR (or High Dynamic Range) refers specifically to the 'dynamic' contrast between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks, a TV can be both 4k/Ultra HD and HDR. The latter simply means the visuals and colours displayed will be increasingly realistic.
8K TVs have a 7,680 x 4,320 resolution (16 times greater than HD) but are relatively new to market, meaning you're unlikely to see any on sale just yet.
Should you buy a Smart TV?
Smart TVs will typically have all your favourite streaming services (everything from BBC iPlayer to YouTube) built in alongside social media platforms and gaming apps. Most manufacturers feature different apps so be sure to check they have your favourites beforehand.
Does sound matter?
Absolutely. As screens get thinner and bezel disappears, room for front-facing speakers is diminished. It is advised to look out for TVs equipped with Dolby Atmos to reclaim the audio that design can impair, or opt for a sound bar (which, thankfully, often feature throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals) to secure cinema-worthy sound.
What about connectivity?
Look out for the number of HDMI and USB ports. Four HDMI ports may be necessary if you have several gaming devices.
Predictions on the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday TV deals
Curved TVs sometimes prioritise style over function, but a few sets - like the Samsung QE55Q8C - are the full package; QLED, Ultra HD Premium, HDR, Smart and curved. Any such sets sold for less than £1k will be worth snapping up.
There will be a huge number of ‘full HD’ TVs on sale as the technology becomes outdated. Follow the buying guide above and commit to televisions with better all-round specifications. It is not a deal if you spend twice as much on newer technology next year.
Looking for a smaller TV? Sony manufacture a great selection and sets like the Sony Bravia KDL32WE613BU have already had up to £150 off in the last six months, meaning the discount could increase come Black Friday.
TCL are renowned for touting the best ‘bang for your buck’ models in the 4K market. Recent sales have already knocked £50 off many sets and their 65-inch model was reduced to £749 from £900 last month. Expect deals of roughly£360 (or less) for a 50-inch TV.
LED TVs were popular in last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. John Lewis sold the Toshiba 4K Ultra HD 55” LED Smart TV for £120 under its RRP and are likely to double down for 2018.
We expect Panasonic, LG, Sony and Samsung to also lead deals across Amazon, Currys PC World, Argos, AO and John Lewis. While you may come across drastic discounts on lesser-known brands, we advise you stick to retailers and brands you recognise.
Think big screens, big discounts. Currys have already knocked £600 off the Samsung QE55Q6FNATXXU 55" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV and are likely to do the same with other supersized screens.
All the products mentioned in this article are chosen and reviewed independently by our journalists. The Telegraph makes money by adding affiliate links to some of the products.
