{"id":35168,"date":"2025-11-25T14:35:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T14:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=35168"},"modified":"2025-11-25T14:35:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T14:35:02","slug":"the-best-black-friday-tv-deals-in-the-uk-and-how-to-avoid-a-bad-one-the-filter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=35168","title":{"rendered":"The best Black Friday TV deals in the UK \u2013 and how to avoid a bad one | The Filter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><span style=\"color:var(--drop-cap);font-weight:700\" class=\"dcr-15rw6c2\">W<\/span>hen it comes to buying a new TV during Black Friday, careful prep and a canny eye for detail are everything. Sometimes that big-screen bargain isn\u2019t quite the steal you might think, and even if the price is right, niggling problems could sour long-term satisfaction.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1iz7gbk\"><\/p>\n<p>The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.\u00a0Learn more.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And it may be that you don\u2019t need a new TV at all \u2013 don\u2019t let the Black Friday FOMO fool you. Read our guide to making the most out of the TV you already have.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But if you are set on a new TV, the trick is to know what you want, and why, before you start shortlisting. Here we round up some of the best TV deals in this year\u2019s Black Friday sales, before giving detailed advice on what to look out for.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1ypwo6h\">Q&amp;A<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"dcr-1fa5dcn\">How is the Filter covering Black Friday?<\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-55zfp0\"><span class=\"dcr-3j53am\"><span class=\"dcr-41evle\"><\/span>Show<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>At the Filter, we believe in buying sustainably, and the excessive consumerism encouraged by Black Friday doesn\u2019t sit easily with us. However, we also believe in shopping smarter, and there\u2019s no denying that it\u2019s often the best time of year to buy big-ticket items that you genuinely need and have planned to buy in advance, or stock up on regular buys such as skincare and cleaning products.<\/p>\n<p>Retailers often push offers that are not as good as they seem, with the intention of clearing out old stock, so we only recommend genuine deals. We assess the price history of every product where it\u2019s available, and we won\u2019t feature anything unless it is genuinely lower than its average price \u2013 and we will always specify this in our articles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>We only recommend deals on products that we\u2019ve tested or have been recommended by product experts. What we choose to feature is based on the best products at the best prices chosen by our editorially independent team, free of commercial influence.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-best-4k-tv-deals-this-black-friday\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">The best 4K TV deals this Black Friday<\/h2>\n<h2 id=\"amazons-budget-4k-tv-goes-under-300\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">Amazon\u2019s budget 4K TV goes under \u00a3300<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Amazon Fire TV 4-Series, 55<\/strong><strong>in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3289.99 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Amazon\u2019s own budget 4K TV has dropped to its lowest price ever for Black Friday Week, and is a decent offer for its modest price tag. This deal is on the mid-size 55in model, which provides good detail alongside decent HDR support with HDR10 and HLG supported. It\u2019s a smart TV, and uses Amazon\u2019s Fire system, which will be familiar to anyone who owns a Fire Stick \u2013 it\u2019s like having one built in to your telly, providing access to streaming apps and Amazon\u2019s Prime Video service at the touch of a button.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-cheaper-smaller-fire-tv-option\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">A cheaper, smaller Fire TV option<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>TCL <\/strong><strong>PF650K, 43in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3187 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This 43in 4K TCL TV is at its best price in a few months. As has become common for TCL\u2019s TVs, it punches above its weight in terms of specs, supporting Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio with its built-in speakers. It also has three HDMI ports, with support for HDMI 2.1 with ALLM and VRR for gaming. It maxes out at 60Hz, though, so if you\u2019re looking specifically for a gaming TV there are better choices on this list.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price. It was discounted in July, but only to \u00a3199.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"an-affordable-55in-tv\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">An affordable 55in TV<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Hisense A6Q LED, 55in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3299 at Argos<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3299 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">For such an affordable mid-sized TV, this Hisense A6Q ticks most of the boxes, with a 4K resolution and a pleasant complement of HDR standards (Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG) that can provide vivid highlights in supported content. Freely is built in to provide access to live and on-demand TV out of the box, with no aerial or set-top box required. For gaming, there\u2019s support for Auto Low Latency Mode, although the refresh rate tops out at 60Hz (120Hz or higher is preferable for smoother onscreen action with recent consoles). Connectivity is limited to three HDMI 2.1 ports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-bargain-tcl-tv\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">A bargain TCL TV<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>TCL C6KS <\/strong><strong>QD-Mini LED, 50in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3349 at Argos<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3349 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The TCL C6KS seems too good to be true, packed with higher-end features at a bargain-basement price. It\u2019s a modest 50 inches, but its Mini LED panel is bright and sharp with 160 dimming zones, allowing for surprisingly vibrant and saturated images for a television at this price point. Its new HVA panel helps in providing more depth to its overall images, top. For this price, the fact that it supports HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision is excellent. Many TVs several times more expensive can\u2019t say that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Gaming performance is fine \u2013 it\u2019ll do up to 4K\/60Hz with VRR and ALLM \u2013 although the lack of higher-refresh-rate output means it isn\u2019t optimal for powerful home consoles or PCs. In terms of connectivity, there are three HDMI ports, one of which supports eARC to hook up a soundbar or speakers for improved audio. The Onkyo-branded system with this TV is surprisingly detailed, though \u2013 you may be able to get away with using it for some time before feeling the need to upgrade to separate speakers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-quality-sony-tv-for-a-low-price\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">A quality Sony TV for a low price<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Sony Bravia KD55X75WL<\/strong><strong>, 55in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3499 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">While this isn\u2019t Sony\u2019s latest and greatest option, it\u2019s a quality telly for a great price. It\u2019s a moderate size that should be good for most rooms, and HDR support is reasonable, with HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision all supported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This Sony TV also comes with four HDMI ports for inputs, plus support for eARC to connect a soundbar or supported speakers. For gaming, it has ALLM, a custom screen size setting, a black equaliser and an onscreen crosshair \u2013 features more commonly seen in monitors than TVs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Smart TV duties are handled by the familiar Google TV OS, providing good access to smart apps, and it bundles in 15 credits of Sony Pictures Core and a 24-month streaming package.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"an-affordable-tv-for-gaming\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">An affordable TV for gaming<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>TCL <\/strong><strong>T8C<\/strong><strong>, 55in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3356.73 at Amazon<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3357 at Hughes<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This is an excellent value pick if you\u2019re after a TV for gaming. It features four HDMI ports, with two that support full 4K\/144Hz HDMI 2.1 output, making it ideal to pair with a games console or living-room PC. It also supports VRR and ALLM for the most optimal experience. This screen also has rich HDR support \u2013 supporting Dolby Vision, HLG, HDR10 and HDR10+ \u2013 and it has a decent Onkyo-tuned Atmos-capable speaker setup. For well under \u00a3400, this feels like quite a steal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-bright-mini-led-tv\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">A bright Mini LED TV<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Hisense U7Q Pro <\/strong><strong>Mini LED, 65in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3899 at John Lewis<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3899 at Currys<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This large, feature-rich Mini LED TV looks like a capable option for everything from games to films.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There\u2019s a rich set of HDR support (Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision IQ, plus HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG) and the Mini LED screen allows for some serious depth and searing brightness (Hisense claims a peak brightness of 2,000 nits).<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The integrated speakers provide up to 50W of power and support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround standards. There are different sound modes to dig into, too, as well as different picture modes, so you can optimise image quality as you wish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It has four HDMI 2.1 ports with full support for 4K\/120Hz gaming, so will play nicely with modern games consoles (and if you\u2019re a PC gamer looking for a living-room monitor, you\u2019ll be glad to know that refresh rate can be overclocked further up to 165Hz). Support for variable refresh rate and ALLM further enhances the gaming experience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history: <\/strong>not available, but this is its lowest ever price at Currys.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"an-entry-level-lg-oled-for-less\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">An entry-level LG OLED for less<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>LG B5 <\/strong><strong>OLED, 55in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3899 at John Lewis<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3899 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">LG\u2019s B5 OLED is the most affordable entry in the brand\u2019s 2025 OLED lineup, adding a new processor, improved connectivity and an updated UI to last year\u2019s B4 model.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It comes with four HDMI 2.1 ports with full support for 4K\/120Hz output, and also offers VRR and ALLM for gaming. In terms of HDR, the B5 supports Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG and Cinema HDR, offering impactful highlights in supported content. It also comes with LG\u2019s slick and easy-to-use webOS operating system, with a wide range of streaming apps, plus different picture modes. The 20W speakers support Dolby Atmos.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you want a larger version, the 65in version is currently \u00a31,299 at AO.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is the lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-philips-ambilight-bargain\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">A Philips Ambilight bargain<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Philips Ambilight 65PUS8200, 65in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3459 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If all you\u2019re after is a serviceable and hardy larger-screen TV, then this 65in Philips Ambilight model could be a good choice \u2013 especially for sub-\u00a3500. It provides you with plenty of screen real estate and Philips\u2019 own TitanOS smart system for accessing smart TV apps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There is decent HDR support for such an affordable television, with HDR10 and HLG, plus compatibility with HDR10+, and it has three HDMI ports \u2013 one of which is an eARC port for soundbars. It also supports HDMI VRR and ALLM for gaming. With this in mind, though, its maximum refresh rate is 60Hz rather than 120Hz. Its 20W speakers also have Atmos support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">What\u2019s unique about Philips TVs is the presence of the company\u2019s Ambilight system, which provides atmospheric lighting on the rear of the unit that projects on to the surface behind it. Aimed at reducing eye strain, this is also useful if you want to add a splash of colour to your room.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"an-ambilight-oled\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">An Ambilight OLED<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Philips Ambilight <\/strong><strong>OLED760, 65in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a31,099 at Currys<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a31,099 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Philips Ambilight 65OLED760 might not be one of the brand\u2019s flagship OLED choices, but as more of a mid-range one provides a very rich set of features for its price point. It\u2019s a solid OLED screen that provides great depth and good contrast while supporting all four of the main HDR formats \u2013 Dolby Vision, HLG, HDR10 and HDR10+, and comes with various picture modes to choose from. This Philips screen also benefits from four HDMI 2.1-capable ports for gaming use, with full 4K\/120Hz powers with ALLM and VRR so it\u2019ll play nicely with console or PC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">What\u2019s quite unique about this Philips TV is the presence of its Ambilight system, providing atmospheric lighting on the rear of the unit that projects onto the surface behind it. This is useful if you want to add a splash of colour to your setup through your TV, which not many others can do.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<p>skip past newsletter promotion<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1xjndtj\">Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1eusqlu\"><strong>Privacy Notice: <\/strong>Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"EmailSignup-skip-link-94\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"after newsletter promotion\" role=\"note\" class=\"dcr-jzxpee\">after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-smart-samsung-oled\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">A smart Samsung OLED<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Samsung S90F <\/strong><strong>OLED, 65in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a31,395 at Amazon<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a31,599 at John Lewis<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The S90F is one of the only QD-OLED TVs Samsung offers \u2013 combining the inky blacks and virtually infinite contrast of an OLED with the higher peak brightness of a QLED. It means this telly provides sublime image quality. HDR support consists of HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG; Samsung still isn\u2019t supporting Dolby Vision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The four HDMI 2.1 ports are welcome, and offer support for proper 4K\/120Hz gaming, with up to 144Hz for PC gaming. There is also support for variable refresh and ALLM, alongside Samsung\u2019s Game Hub menu.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price at Amazon.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sonys-best-oled-tv\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">Sony\u2019s best OLED TV<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Sony Bravia 8 II <\/strong><strong>QD-OLED, 65in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a32,199 at John Lewis<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a32,199 at Currys<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sony\u2019s Bravia 8 II is one of the best TVs currently available \u2013 with a price to match. The QD-OLED panel is 25% brighter than on the A95L model it replaces, with even sharper picture quality, not least with HDR enabled. There\u2019s support for Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR10, and claimed peak brightness is a searing 4,000 nits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Acoustic Surface Audio+ speaker system is widely well reviewed, providing surprisingly solid audio for a set of TV speakers. Gaming support is strong, too, with 4K\/120Hz input supported over HDMI 2.1, plus VRR and ALLM. There\u2019s even an \u2018optimised for PS5\u2019 mode that automatically optimises the TV\u2019s settings when it detects that the PlayStation is plugged in. Unlike Samsung and LG\u2019s flagships, however, there are only two HDMI 2.1 ports here (one of which is an eARC, if you did want to connect a soundbar).<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"an-lg-mid-range-tv-for-a-little-cheaper\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">An LG mid-range TV for a little cheaper<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>LG C5 <\/strong><strong>OLED, 55in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a31,099 at John Lewis<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a31,099 at Currys<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">LG\u2019s latest mid-range C-series model OLED offers an improved operating system and a new processor over last year\u2019s C4. The new processor helps it to better upscale content to 4K than previous models, too, which is handy if you watch a lot of older and lower-definition content.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There are four HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K\/144Hz gaming (or up to 4K\/120Hz on consoles), with VRR and ALLM supported on all of them. HDR support comes in the form of HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision, and this 55in model benefits from LG\u2019s Evo panel for even stronger brightness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As you\u2019d expect from an LG OLED, it comes with dazzling image quality with inky blacks, sublime contrast and wonderfully accurate colours that make viewing everything from games to movies a pleasure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> it\u2019s been available slightly cheaper but this is its lowest price at a mainstream retailer.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-great-mid-range-sony-oled\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">A great mid-range Sony OLED<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Sony Bravia 8A OLED, 55in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a31,299 at John Lewis<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a31,299 at Argos<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Sony Bravia 8A was initially more expensive than the standard Bravia 8, but as pricing has settled, this A variant has become a more compelling choice. One of Sony\u2019s 2024 TV models, it comes with an OLED panel that it claims is 10% brighter than its predecessor. HDR support comes in with Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG (no HDR10+). It also comes with Sony\u2019s AI-enabled Bravia XR processor inside, plus the same Acoustic Surface Audio+ sound system for surprisingly decent audio. The Google TV operating system also provides a familiar experience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As an OLED, image quality looks to be rather excellent, and gamers should be decently happy with HDMI 2.1 support for 4K\/120Hz output with VRR and ALLM. As with the other Bravia above, this comes with the caveat that HDMI 2.1 is supported on only two of this TV\u2019s four HDMI inputs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-small-42in-smart-oled-tv\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">The small 42in smart OLED TV<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>LG C5 <\/strong><strong>OLED, 42in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3849 at Argos<\/span><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3849 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This 42in TV is the most compact OLED you can buy in the current LG range, making it a dead cert if you\u2019ve got a smaller room like me, or want to use this TV as a super-size monitor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There are four HDMI 2.1-enabled ports with 4K\/144Hz capability (and up to 120Hz on consoles), plus VRR and ALLM support for gaming. There\u2019s also solid HDR support with HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG. LG\u2019s new webOS 25 brings small upgrades, such as the ability to hide apps on the front screen, and it\u2019s a reasonable smart TV system to use every day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It also comes with a new AI Magic Remote with what LG calls \u2018AI buttons\u2019 \u2013 voice controls and drag-and-drop functions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history: <\/strong>this is its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-surprising-mini-led-standout-65in-tv\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">The surprising Mini LED standout 65in TV<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>TCL C7K <\/strong><strong>QD-Mini LED, 65in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a3749 at Currys<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">TCL has become known for its more affordable, feature-rich televisions in recent years. The C7K is a shining example of this, providing excellent image quality at a modest price point for its 65in size. A particular highlight is its fantastic black levels, contrast and dynamic range, helped along by a bright QD-Mini LED panel with 1,008 dimming zones and a claimed peak brightness of up to 2,600 nits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It also has a full complement of HDR support, with HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for impactful highlights. Gaming support is great, with two out of the four HDMI ports supporting 4K\/144Hz HDMI 2.1 powers with VRR and ALLM. Plus, if you\u2019re willing to drop the resolution down to Full HD from 4K, it can double the refresh rate to 288Hz. That\u2019s a feature more typically found on a PC monitor than a TV, but if you have a powerful PC connected and want to maximise performance in high-refresh-rate games, then the C7K should allow you to do so.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This new model also adds in a Bang &amp; Olufsen stereo with 60W of power, replacing TCL\u2019s previous collaboration with Onkyo, as well as support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you\u2019re after an even bigger screen, the 75in version is \u00a3948 at Amazon and AO.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> it\u2019s only \u00a340 cheaper than it\u2019s been at Currys all month, but it\u2019s still its lowest ever price.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-big-screen-lg-oled\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">A big-screen LG OLED<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>LG C4 <\/strong><strong>OLED, 77in<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1szxb63\">\u00a31,799 at Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Last year\u2019s mid-range LG OLED, the C4 was the first LG C-series OLED to support native 4K\/144Hz output over its four HDMI 2.1 ports \u2013 a boon for gamers. It also brings proper Nvidia G-Sync certification for one of its supported VRR standards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The presence of webOS 24 brings benefits such as a built-in Chromecast for easy wireless casting right out of the box, and the Alpha 9 processor brings AI smarts to enhance the clarity of onscreen dialogue and to bring even more channels of virtual surround sound. The internal 40W speakers have Atmos support to provide more cinematic audio in supported content.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Price history:<\/strong> this is higher than it was during Prime Day \u2013 but only by 2p.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Reece Bithrey<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em><strong>For more:<br \/><\/strong><span data-dcr-style=\"bullet\"\/> How to shop smart this Black Friday <br \/><span data-dcr-style=\"bullet\"\/> How to avoid bad Black Friday laptop deals<br \/><span data-dcr-style=\"bullet\"\/> The best early Black Friday deals<br \/><span data-dcr-style=\"bullet\"\/> The best Black Friday beauty deals<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"black-friday-tv-deals-what-to-look-out-for-and-how-to-avoid-the-bad-ones\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">Black Friday TV deals: what to look out for \u2013 and how to avoid the bad ones<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Steer clear of the bargain aisle if you want your new TV to make a statement.<\/span> Photograph: Pressmaster\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Design is important<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Design counts. If you want that new TV to be a statement in your living space, stay clear of the bargain aisle \u2013 that\u2019s where you\u2019ll find cookie-cutter designs with flimsy plastic pedestal stands. If you\u2019re not wall mounting, pay particular attention to the feet. Are they placed close to each edge? On a TV 55 inches and larger, that could mean you\u2019ll also have to factor in new furniture just to accommodate it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Central pedestal stands are always the easiest to live with, and some models also have a swivel so that you can angle the screen to best suit your seating. It\u2019s a little bonus well worth having.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Think about when you\u2019ll use it<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Are you buying a TV for everyday use, or do you hanker after a special screen for movies? If it\u2019s the latter, buying an OLED will generally be your best bet. Unlike LED-based TVs, there\u2019s no need for a backlight, because OLED pixels are self-emitting. This means when you dim the lights, black levels stay nice and inky and shadow detail is retained, giving your pictures cinematic depth. Conversely, LED models (be they LCD LED, QLED or Mini LED) tend to look their best in rooms with ambient light, and therefore make better daytime TVs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Connectivity counts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Don\u2019t just look at the front. The cheapest TVs you\u2019ll see during the Black Friday sales will only offer three HDMI inputs at the back. This may be fine if you don\u2019t plan on connecting much equipment, but it could prove limiting in the long term. Cheap televisions tend to offer poor audio, so one of those HDMI ports will probably be assigned to a soundbar. That just leaves two to share between games consoles, set-top boxes and Blu-ray\/DVD players.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Maximise gaming performance by playing at a higher refresh rate.<\/span> Photograph: simpson33\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Consider what you need for gaming<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you plan to play video games on your new set, check to see if those HDMIs support a 120Hz high refresh rate. If you own a PlayStation 5 or current Xbox, you can maximise performance (and therefore improve your chances of winning against your mates) by playing at a higher refresh rate. These 120Hz-capable TVs also tend to offer VRR (variable refresh rate) and ALLM (auto low latency mode), acronyms that add to the gaming experience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Incidentally, if you buy a Sony Bravia, there\u2019s a good chance it will also have PS Remote Play, meaning you can enjoy your PlayStation console while it\u2019s not even in the same room as the TV.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Of course, you can always play games on standard 60Hz TVs, and if you have an older console or just like casual family games, you\u2019ve nothing to worry about.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Don\u2019t avoid last year\u2019s models<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Many TV makers use Black Friday to offer cheap deals on older stock, to clear inventory. This is where you really can grab a killer deal, particularly at the mid-to-higher end of the market.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">For example, a 2024 LG OLED C5 55in screen has a sale price of \u00a31,199. The 2025 G5 OLED, also on sale, still commands a premium of \u00a31,599. Last year\u2019s top models will still impress 12 months after release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Buying a well-reviewed older TV is almost always better than buying a newer model that\u2019s been stockpiled to shift in volume during the sales.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Not all HDR is worth having<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It\u2019s worth bearing in mind that not all HDR (high dynamic range) TVs are created equal. While every 4K model sporting a Black Friday price tag will boast HDR compatibility, there can be huge differences in performance. Entry-level screens \u2013 typically those 50in models selling for little more than \u00a3200 \u2013 will invariably lack the brightness to make HDR programmes really shine. Indeed, in their attempt to make HDR details (such as bright street lights, fireworks, explosions and so on) pop, the rest of the show can look unnaturally dark. These HDR \u2018lite\u2019 TVs are actually better suited to non-HDR programmes, such as regular SDR (standard dynamic range) channels on Freeview, rather than streams from Netflix and Co.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The good news is that HDR performance improves dramatically from the mid-range upwards, and is a real differentiator at the posh end of the market.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Be aware also that HDR comes in different flavours. In addition to standard HDR10, there\u2019s HDR10+, Dolby Vision and cleverly \u2018Adaptive\u2019 versions of each on top, able to react to the light levels in your living room. Film fans favour screens that offer Dolby Vision, but not every brand has it. Samsung is the most prominent outlier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Sound advice<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Finally, listen out for audio. It\u2019s a fact that thin, inexpensive TVs generally tend to sound awful. They lack bass and become painful when you crank the volume. But there are exceptions that could save you from shelling out on a soundbar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Samsung QLED TVs boasting object tracking sound (OTS) offer far better audio than you might expect, and tend to have innovative processing that can enhance dialogue and combat extraneous noise, making them great for family use. Meanwhile, Sony OLED TVs have a clever Acoustic Surface Audio sound system, which uses actuators on the rear of the OLED panel to produce impressive high-fidelity audio. And if you want the full home theatre audio enchilada, Panasonic\u2019s best sets have a full 360-degree sound system with front, side and up-firing speakers tuned by sister brand Technics, able to produce convincing Dolby Atmos cinema sound.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And here\u2019s a closing tip. Even if your Black Friday bargain TV doesn\u2019t have decent sound onboard, check to see if it passes a Dolby Atmos signal out over the e-ARC HDMI connection, because you can always add a great-sounding Dolby Atmos soundbar during the January sales. <strong>Steve May<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to buying a new TV during Black Friday, careful prep and a canny eye for detail are everything. Sometimes that big-screen bargain isn\u2019t quite the steal you might think, and even if the price is right, niggling problems could sour long-term satisfaction. The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[2718,1295,706,3568,3999,1042],"class_list":{"0":"post-35168","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-avoid","9":"tag-bad","10":"tag-black","11":"tag-deals","12":"tag-filter","13":"tag-friday"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35168"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35168\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}