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Black Friday vs January Bargains: Which Seasonal Sales Give You the Best TV and Monitor Discounts?

UUnknown

2026-02-11

9 min read

Black Friday often wins for new flagship TVs, but January can beat it on last‑gen monitors — learn when to buy and how to lock the best price.

Stop losing hours hunting deals: which season actually gives you the best TV and monitor discounts?

If you’re a value-first shopper tired of expired coupon codes, scattered flash sales, and the anxiety of buying right before a deeper discount appears, you’re not alone. Retailers now spread promotions across the year and use AI-driven pricing to nudge impulse buys — so the old rule of “wait for Black Friday” doesn’t always hold. Below I compare Black Friday, Prime Day, and January bargain cycles using real 2025–2026 examples (including the Samsung Odyssey G5 January plunge) and give a clear playbook: when to buy, when to wait, and how to lock the best TV and monitor prices.

Executive summary: the short answer

For TVs: Black Friday usually yields the broadest selection and deepest discounts on major TV categories (OLED, mini-LED, and big-screen LCD). But if you’re flexible on model year, January clearance can match or beat Black Friday on last-gen sets. For monitors: Prime Day and mid-year vendor promotions often hit gaming monitors hard; however, January flash discounts (like the 42% Odyssey sale in January 2026) show that waiting can pay off — especially for last-year gaming and midrange monitors. Your best strategy depends on model generation, real need, and willingness to track prices.

Why the seasonal lines blurred in 2024–2026

Retailers no longer confine big discounts to one week. Since late 2024 and through 2025, we’ve seen three forces reshape sale cycles:

Calendar creep: Black Friday promotions start earlier and Prime Day/other flash events moved around, producing second “peaks” of discounts.
Inventory management post-2023–2024: Brands overstocked after supply chain normalization; that created heavier January clearance windows in 2025 and into 2026.
AI pricing & flash algorithms: Retailers use dynamic pricing to test lower prices at non-traditional times — so deep discounts can appear mid-January or in short-lived flash slots. Operators combining edge signals and personalization are using real-time analytics to detect these flash windows faster.

What that means for you

Black Friday is still reliably deep for mainstream and high-ticket TVs, but monitors and some TVs (especially last-gen models) can see equal-or-better dips in January. Don't assume a single seasonal rule — use price history and smart alerts, and pair those alerts with analytics methods tuned for edge signals and real-time discovery.

Case studies: Odyssey and January winners that challenge the “wait for Black Friday” rule

Concrete examples give the clearest guidance. Here are recent, verifiable patterns from late 2025 and early 2026.

Samsung Odyssey G5 (32" G50D) — January 2026 flash cut

In mid-January 2026 Amazon listed the 32" Samsung Odyssey G50D at about 42% off — a drop usually associated with flash/clearance events rather than typical post-holiday markdowns. That level of discount is significant for gaming monitors and demonstrates two points:

Retailers will aggressively clear gaming monitor inventory after the holiday season if newer SKUs are inbound.
High-percentage discounts can arrive outside Black Friday or Prime Day windows — especially for last-year models.

“The massive 42% price drop on the 32-inch Odyssey G50D QHD could expire any day now.”

Apple Mac mini M4 and broader January tech discounts

January 2026 deals on products like the Mac mini M4 illustrate that some high-demand items only dip slightly from Black Friday levels (e.g., 10–20%), while others match or beat Black Friday depending on stock levels and the product’s refresh cycle. The Mac mini example shows how retailers balance margins and demand: deeper discounts on entry configs; smaller cuts on upgraded SKUs. If you also care about streaming hardware or home-theater compatibility, check companion device guides and low-cost streaming device reviews for a full picture of total system cost.

Electrek-style clearance on big-ticket gear

January’s Green Deals in 2026 included exclusive new lows on power stations and high-ticket items. That signals a broader behavior: categories with slower turnover (home power, some TVs) can see major mid-January markdowns as warehouses clear space for spring models. When hunting big-ticket items like power stations, also track accessories and warranty bundles — and consider how cashback and rewards affect net cost.

Price history analysis: what tracking data consistently shows

Use price trackers (Keepa, CamelCamelCamel, PriceSpy) to validate patterns for specific models. Across hundreds of monitored TV and monitor SKUs between 2023 and January 2026, common trends emerge:

Black Friday/holiday peak discounts: Large selection and aggressive discounts on current- and last-gen TVs — deepest prices on flagship lines occur here more often than not.
Mid-year/Prime Day: Gaming monitors and PC peripherals often hit second-best prices during Prime Day or manufacturer mid-year promos.
January clearance: Last-year models frequently drop further after returns and retailer restocking; rare, steep flash deals (30%–45%) can appear on monitors and midrange TVs.

That means: if the model you want is a current-year flagship with predictable demand, Black Friday/Prime Day remain your safest bets. If it’s a last-year gaming monitor or a mainstream TV where specs didn’t advance dramatically, January may deliver deeper bargain basement pricing.

Category-by-category playbook: when to pull the trigger

OLED TVs (high-end, slower refresh)

Best time: Black Friday for best mix of selection and price on current-year sets.
January scenario: Good for last-year models and open-box/warehouse deals; rarely beats Black Friday on brand-new OLEDs.
Action: If you want the newest panel, buy Black Friday. If you’ll accept last-gen, wait for January clearance and set alerts.

Mini-LED and flagship LCD

Best time: Black Friday or manufacturer bundle events (fall/winter).
January scenario: Select inventory clearances can match BF; monitor price history for specific SKUs.
Action: Use price trackers and check manufacturer deals in fall — if you miss Black Friday, watch January flash sales.

Gaming monitors (high-refresh, VRR, HDR)

Best time: Prime Day or mid-year vendor promos often target gaming peripherals with big cuts.
January scenario: Last-gen gaming monitors frequently see deep discounts (Odyssey example), sometimes beating BF/Prime Day.
Action: If a specific gaming model is essential, track it year-round and set alerts for Prime Day and January; pull the trigger at 30%+ off. Engage gaming communities for early signals and member-reported drops — community-sourced alerts often spot transient flashes.

Budget/second-screen monitors

Best time: Black Friday and January — both yield strong offers.
Action: For budget buys, patience pays. January often clears retailer overstock with doorbuster-level prices.

Advanced strategies: get the lowest price without the stress

Seasonal timing is just one piece. Combine these tactics to guarantee the best deal whether you buy on Black Friday, Prime Day, or in January.

1. Set multi-tool alerts

Use Keepa/CamelCamelCamel/PriceSpy for historical charts and alerts on price thresholds.
Subscribe to brand newsletters and your favorite deal sites for exclusive coupon codes and early drops — sometimes small promo hacks or coupon tactics unlock extra savings during a flash window.

2. Know model cycles

Manufacturers typically announce new TV lines in spring and at CES. If a new model lands, last year’s models will be targeted for clearance in Q4 and January.
For monitors, major refreshes often coincide with GPU launches and gaming events — watch those calendars and the communities that track them for early signals.

3. Use price-match and return windows

Buy on Black Friday if a retailer offers a generous return window or price match for post-purchase drops (some big retailers extend price guarantees through Jan).
Keep receipts and alerts active: if the price drops after purchase and the retailer honors price adjustments, request a refund for the difference. Portable checkout and fulfillment reviews can help if you’re buying from smaller sellers or marketplaces.

4. Calculate total cost

Evaluate shipping, extended warranty costs, and bundles (soundbars, cables) — sometimes a slightly higher price with a bundle is better than waiting for a discount that doesn’t include accessories.

5. Consider refurbished & open-box

Open-box units and manufacturer-refurbished items can be 20–40% cheaper and often come with meaningful warranties; great option if you want savings now.

Thresholds: when a deal is genuinely worth seizing

Based on historic patterns and recent 2025–2026 events:

TVs: Snap up the deal at 25%+ on current-year mid-to-high models; 35%+ on OLEDs and mini-LEDs is exceptional.
Monitors: For gaming monitors, 30%+ off is generally a steal; for budget monitors, 20%+ off is solid.
If you see a 40%+ drop on a mainstream or gaming monitor outside Black Friday (like the Odyssey case), act fast — those often expire within days. Use community-sourced reporting and analytics tuned to edge signals to catch these bursts.

Predictions: what 2026 will bring for seasonal tech sales

From late 2025 signals and early 2026 patterns, expect these trends:

More staggered promotions: Retailers will continue to fragment big events into multiple mini-waves across Q4 and January.
Stronger January clearance windows: If 2025 overstock patterns repeat, January will remain fertile ground for monitors and last-gen TVs.
AI-fueled flash deals: Expect more unpredictable, short-duration deep cuts detected first by price trackers and deal aggregators — analytics and edge personalization playbooks help spot them.
Better bundles, loyalty perks: Retailers and manufacturers will lean into bundles and membership discounts (Prime, retailer memberships) rather than pure list-price cuts — micro-subscriptions and loyalty programs will shift how savings are delivered.

Quick decision guide: one-page checklist

Do you need it now? If yes, buy on Black Friday if available or take an open-box/refurb option.
Is it last-year tech? Wait for January clearance — set alerts now.
Is it a gaming monitor or peripheral? Track for Prime Day and January flash windows; pull the trigger at 30%+ off.
Want the newest flagship OLED? Black Friday or immediate post-launch promos are safest.
Use price-match, extended return windows, and card protections to hedge timing risk.

Actionable checklist before you buy

Set a Keepa/Camel alert for your exact model and desired price.
Create a short list of three retailers and note their price-match/return policies.
Decide your minimum acceptable discount (use thresholds above).
Check for manufacturer refurb and open-box stock weekly in January.
Bookmark deal pages and sign up for retailer SMS alerts during Black Friday and January weeks.

Final verdict: Black Friday vs January — which wins for you?

Both seasons can win. For cutting-edge flagship TVs, Black Friday typically offers the best combination of selection and price. For gaming monitors and last-gen TVs, January has proven capable of delivering equal or better discounts — sometimes dramatically so, as the 42% Samsung Odyssey drop in January 2026 showed.

Your optimal approach: combine timing intelligence with active tracking. Treat Black Friday as the primary target if you want the newest models or the broadest selection; treat January as a second strike zone for clearance steals and rare flash markdowns. Play both — and use price trackers and price-match policies to protect yourself. For hardware-specific buying guidance, consult a hardware buyers guide for streamers and content creators to ensure accessory compatibility and performance expectations.

Takeaways

Black Friday: Best for new- and current-year flagship TVs, broadest inventory.
Prime Day / mid-year: Often best for gaming monitors and peripherals.
January: Best for last-gen models, open-box, and rare flash markdowns (watch for big percentage cuts like the Odyssey case).
Always: Use price trackers, set alerts, and know retailer policies.

Ready to save on your next TV or monitor?

Start by adding the exact model you want to a price tracker and setting alerts at the thresholds above. If you’d like, we’ll monitor a shortlist for you and send curated, verified alerts (no spam) when a real bargain appears — including flash coupons and exclusive bundles. Click below to get started and never miss a verified deal again.

Call to action: Sign up for flashdeal.xyz alerts or add your models to our monitored list — we’ll notify you when a price hits your target so you can buy with confidence.

Unknown

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.