The Best Time of Year to Buy Electronics

Electronics prices follow predictable patterns. Knowing when to buy can save you $50 to $300 on a single purchase.

TVs — Best Time: January and Black Friday

TV prices drop most significantly in two windows. January is the best month to buy a TV — manufacturers release new models at CES in early January which causes last year's models to drop in price immediately. Black Friday is the other major window, with retailers competing heavily on TV deals.

Avoid buying TVs in September and October — new models have just launched and prices are at their highest.

Laptops — Best Time: Back to School and Black Friday

August and September are the best months for laptop deals as retailers target students heading back to school. Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart all run significant promotions. Black Friday is the second best window.

Apple MacBooks specifically see their best discounts at Best Buy during Black Friday and back to school season.

Smartphones — Best Time: After New Model Launch

The best time to buy any smartphone is immediately after the next model launches. When Apple releases the iPhone 17, iPhone 16 prices drop significantly. The same applies to Samsung Galaxy phones.

Trade-in promotions at carriers like Verizon and AT&T can also dramatically reduce the effective cost, often more than any retail sale.

Gaming Consoles — Best Time: Holiday Season

PS5 and Xbox bundles with games are most common during the holiday shopping season from November through December. Costco and GameStop tend to have the best bundle deals.

Headphones — Best Time: Prime Day and Black Friday

Sony, Bose, and Apple headphones see their biggest discounts during Amazon Prime Day in July and Black Friday. These are often genuine discounts of $50-$100 on premium models.

The Universal Rule

Regardless of category, use CheapestFinder to check current prices across all major retailers before buying. Prices fluctuate daily and the cheapest retailer today might not be the cheapest tomorrow.