You can usually get genuinely cheap TVs by combining the right places with the right timing and a few smart tricks. Here’s a Quick Scoop–style breakdown.

📰 Quick Scoop: where to get cheap TVs

1. Big online retailers (constant deals)

These are where most of the aggressive TV discounts happen:

  • Amazon – Regularly runs TV sales, with smaller smart TVs sometimes dropping to around the 40–50 USD mark during promos, and frequent lightning/limited‑time deals on 4K sets.
  • Best Buy – Has “TV sale” pages and weekly ads with budget sets starting around the same low price range as Amazon, plus frequent bundle and open‑box offers.
  • Walmart – Often matches or undercuts entry‑level prices from Amazon and Best Buy, especially on house and value brands during big events.

These three are where you should start if you want new TVs at the lowest mainstream prices.

2. Refurbished and clearance specialists

If you’re comfortable with open‑box or refurbished, you can go even cheaper:

  • Open‑box sections at big chains – Users on frugal forums report saving 100 USD or more on TVs by watching open‑box listings at stores like Best Buy or Walmart.
  • Refurbished‑TV retailers – Some online shops specialize in discounted or refurbished TVs and advertise savings of several hundred pounds or dollars off list price, sometimes with extra coupon codes.

This route is ideal if you want a higher‑end brand/model for a budget price and don’t mind previous ownership or a non‑retail box.

3. Budget‑friendly brands and models

You’ll stretch your money more if you target cheap lines on purpose instead of chasing premium flagships:

  • Review sites and buying guides highlight Hisense, TCL, Roku‑branded sets, Amazon Fire TVs, and Samsung entry lines as strong budget choices, often under 500 USD for large 4K models.
  • Expert roundups frequently mention 65‑inch or even 75‑inch TVs priced under 1,000 USD and smaller guest‑room/bedroom TVs under 250 USD.

If the listing says things like “U6,” “QM” (TCL), or “A‑series”/“DU‑series” at a discount, that’s often the sweet spot between cheap and decent.

4. When to buy (timing = big savings)

Cheap TVs become very cheap at a few key times:

  • Big sale events – Black Friday, Cyber Monday, early‑year clearance, and major sports events (like the big game) usually trigger aggressive discounting on budget and midrange models.
  • Early Prime‑style events – Some retailers run “early deal” or “Prime Day‑type” promotions with specific 4K sets getting triple‑digit discounts.

If you’re not in a rush, watching these periods can turn a “decent price” into a “crazy deal.”

5. Tips from frugal/forum communities

People focused on saving money repeat a few common strategies:

  • Watch open‑box listings every few days to jump on a good unit when it appears; buyers report big savings doing this.
  • Skip fancy built‑in smart platforms and plan to add a cheap Roku/Fire/Chromecast stick instead, since even the least expensive external streaming devices are often better than bargain smart‑TV software.
  • Use review sites (like dedicated TV‑testing sites) to check whether a cheap model is actually good before you commit, especially for long‑term use.

These steps help you avoid buying a “cheap but miserable” TV.

6. Short, practical playbook

If you just want quick steps:

  1. Decide your max budget and size (e.g., “under 300 USD, at least 50 inch”).
  1. Check sale pages on Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for TVs in that band.
  1. Look specifically at Hisense, TCL, Roku TV, and entry‑level Samsung or similar lines.
  1. Peek at open‑box/clearance listings once or twice a week for an even better deal.
  1. Use a review source to confirm picture quality and reliability before you click “buy.”

TL;DR:
Start with Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart sale pages, then layer on open‑box/refurbished options and budget‑brand models (Hisense, TCL, Roku/Amazon Fire TV) around big sale periods for the cheapest viable TVs.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.