Those in the market for an LCD TV will have more choices, since plasma TVs are only available in 42-inch and larger screen sizes. Here are some of the deals we found in researching the Black Friday specials.
Best deals on 32-inch LCDs
If you’re looking for a 32-inch set, Sears offers Vizio’s 32-inch ECO-series set (model VO320E) for $350—$50 better than Costco's price with a coupon—and a 1080p AOC model for $380. RadioShack has Samsung’s LN32B360 for $400, while Sears, Walmart and Kmart have Sony’s KDL-32L504, a derivative 720p model, for about $380. Kmart will also have a Funai-made Sylvania-brand 32-inch 720p LCD TV with a built-in DVD player for $350. But Target may have the lowest price we’ve seen: an unnamed 32-inch Westinghouse LCD for just $246.
Best Buy has several 32-inch sets on sale, including a 720p Dynex (DX-L321-10A) for $300, a 720p Insignia (NS-L32Q-10A) for $340, and Samsung’s LN32B360C5D 720p model for $398. Toshiba’s 32AV502R/U is $400. Walmart has a Viore-brand 32-inch 720p set (LC32VX60HDT) for $298.
Best deals on 37-inch LCDs
We didn’t come across as many deals on 37-inch LCDs, but Sears has Sylvania’s LC37OSS9 for $400 as a doorbuster special. Amazon is pricing an LG step-up 1080p model (37LH55) with the company’s TruMotion 240Hz technology at $650. The set was $900 when we tested it last month.
Best deals on 40-inch LCD TVs
There’s a fair amount of activity in the 40-inch 1080p LCD category, with Samsung’s price cuts affecting its LN40B500 models, which are available for about $600 at several retailers, again including Best Buy, Sears and Walmart. The latter also has Sony’s KDL-40S504 1080p LCD for $598, well below Sears’ price, and a bundle including a 42-inch Sanyo 1080p set, an RCA DVD sound system and HDMI cable for $728. Target has a $449 Apex-brand 40-inch 1080p (LD4088) LCD as an in-store early bird special.
Dell Home has been offering a few TV deals, including Sony’s 40-inch KDL-40V5100 set for $989. But don’t buy it there: Abe’s of Maine has the same Sony set for just over $845, and Samsung’s 1080p LN40B550 is priced at $795 at the dealer. Those near a Meijer can get a 42-inch 1080p Sylvania for $500 as a doorbuster special, while a stroll over to Sears could yield Toshiba’s 40-inch 1080p 40RV525U/R set for $590 as a doorbuster special. For those looking for an LED-backlit model, both Sears and Best Buy have Samsung’s UN40B6000 LCD set for $1,400, though that’s only about $100 less than the price listing in our TV Ratings.
Best deals on 46-inch LCDs
Moving up to the 46-inch category, Samsung’s 46-inch B500-series 1080p sets (LN46B500), also part of its price cuts, are widely available for $850, including at Walmart as a Saturday-only special. Also available on Saturday is Sony’s KDL-46S504 set for $798 or about $55 less than Sears’ $855 sale price. If you prefer not to brave the crowds, Walmart is selling a 46-inch 1080p LCD TV, from RCA, for $688 as part of its online sale. A 1080p Sceptre-brand set, also available online, is $698. Moving upscale a bit, both Sears and Best Buy have Samsung’s 46-inch LED backlight set (model UN46B6000) for $1,600, almost $250 less than the price in our Ratings. Best Buy has Samsung’s LN46B640, a 1080p 120Hz model, for $1,000 on Black Friday. Toshiba’s 46-inch 1080p 46XV640U model is $898 at Walmart’s online sale.
Best deals on bigger LCDs
Looking to go an even bigger? Sears and Walmart have Samsung’s 52-inch LN52B530 1080p set for about $1,300, and the even larger LED-backlit UN55B6000 model for $2,470. Abe’s of Maine has the step-up set, the 55-inch UNB7000 Luxia model, for even less, at $2,218. Dell Home bundles an unnamed 55-inch Vizio 1080p set (my guess is it’s the VF550M) with a Blu-ray player for $1,650. But Dell sells the TV for $1,379 every day—and Costco will have it for $1,200 as a Black Friday special with a coupon—and Vizio’s Blu-ray player will be $99 that day, so I’m not sure how great a deal it is. Other big-screen deals at Sears include LG’s 55-inch 55LH40 set, which was listed in our Ratings at $2,500, for $1, 500. Walmart’s online sale includes a 52-inch 1080p RCA model (L52FHD2X48) for $1,118.
We’ll be closely monitoring TV prices through the Black Friday shopping period and well into the holiday buying season. Keep checking back with our Electronics Blog for more TV deals, Black Friday specials on Blu-ray players, and some general Black Friday shopping tips to help you get the best deals. —James K. Willcox
Related: "Black Friday TV sales: Where are the best plasma TV sales?"
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