Guide to Buying a TV - How Much Should You Spend?

According to Finder, in 2022, roughly 27.3 million households in the UK, or nearly 97% of all households, owned a TV. On average, Brits spend about 28 hours each week watching TV and streaming content, which is around 4 hours daily, so buying a good TV that suits our needs for a reasonable price is essential.

But it can be tough for some because television technology has come a long way, bringing us dazzling features like 4K resolution, OLED displays, and built-in smart capabilities that improve how we watch our favourite shows and movies. While these inventions offer a better viewing experience, they can also be pricey. In this guide to buying a TV, we’ll share some practical tips on saving money when buying a television and discuss how much you should spend.

How much you should spend on a TV?

According to Statista, most people pay between £300 and £499 for their TV. So, if you are in the market for a budget television, plan to spend up to £500. For a mid-range TV, which may be more extensive and have extras such as HDR, expect to pay around £500 to £1000, and for the high-end curved TVs with all the added features, they can easily reach £1000+.

Currys and AO.com often have deals and discount codes on TVs that may help you save money when purchasing a new TV. You may also save money and get a higher-quality TV if you buy certified refurbished from sites such as eBay, which often has deals on refurbished tech that comes with a warranty. 

Understand your needs

Before you begin shopping, take some time to consider what you need in a television. Bigger isn’t always better, and the most expensive model may not suit your needs. For instance, a top-tier model may not be necessary if you mostly use your television to watch the news and the odd show. 

And don’t buy the first TV you see. Take some time, do some research and compare the different brands and features. Consider aspects like screen size, resolution and refresh rates, if you need help we go over all these topics in our guide to buying a TV. 

How can I save on a TV?

From price matching to open-box deals, by adopting these money-saving techniques, you will not only be able to enjoy a quality viewing experience but be proud of the financial savings you achieved. 

Skip the extended warranty

Many retailers will try and upsell you an extended warranty and according to rtings.com most televisions last between 5-10 years, making the extra coverage unnecessary in many cases. Plus your credit card company may offer additional warranty protection on purchases. 

Leverage Price Matching

Many retailers such as Currys offer price-matching policies. If you find your TV for a lower price at a different retailer, the store you’re shopping at may match and beat that price. Make sure to check the store’s policy beforehand just in case. 

Time Your Purchase

Televisions often go on sale during certain times of the year. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and January sales are excellent shopping times. Also, new TV models tend to be released between February and April, so slightly older models may be discounted for the new ones. However, be wary of big sales like Black Friday because several manufacturers have been caught producing cheaper models that look like their more expensive counterparts. If you want to be sure you’re getting the best deal, read our How to be sure you’re saving with Black Friday guide. 

Also, try to time your purchase around payday, which sounds obvious. Still, it's because many top retailers such as ao.com, Currys and eBay offer payday voucher codes, saving you loads of money.

Consider Last Year’s Model

As mentioned above, new TV models are usually released in the Spring. This means previous models are discounted to make room for new stock. While you may not get the absolute latest features, these TVs are still relatively current and may offer the best value for money. 

Buy Refurbished or Open Box

Consider buying a refurbished or open-box TV. These are significantly cheaper than brand-new models; many come with warranties for peace of mind. Just buy them from reputable sellers such as Currys, eBay or AO. If you want to know more about how to save with refurbished tech, check out our guide to refurbished tech. 

For example, I bought a refurbished 43" LG 4K UHD TV for my parents to use in their bedroom for £169.99. It was closer to £200, but I used an eBay payday discount code to save 20%, which made an already great deal better; it also comes with a 12-month warranty with eBays refurbished guarantee.

Gaming Televisions

Do you game on your TV? If you plan on connecting your PlayStation or Xbox to your television, it’ll be worth paying attention to the frequency (Hz) of the screen. For the avid gamer, you will want between 60hz and 120hz. However, a higher refresh rate means higher cost, so if you can, I recommend skipping some of the smart features, such as apps, commands and other extras, to cut the costs down. You can do all this on the console you’re planning on connecting anyway, so you aren’t missing out.

For example, I bought a 42” 4K 60hz QLED TV with Android by TCL for just £213 from eBay by using a discount code on tech from here at MyVoucherCodes that saved me a whopping £53. I use this TV for bedroom gaming. It doesn’t have too many fancy features like LED lights and a webcam like leading brands, but it's fantastic quality for cheap and has Dolby Vision for gaming. 

Energy Costs

Energy prices nowadays aren’t cheap, so maybe you’re looking for an energy-efficient television to reduce costs. Generally, TVs are pretty bad on the new rating scale, with the best being D-rated and the majority being F and G-rated. Also, the more efficient TVs are more expensive but offer little savings because of the nature of TVs as power hogs. So you’re better off buying a lower-rated TV because the energy costs aren’t very different, but the initial cost is cheaper.

If energy usage is a concern for you, don't worry. Most budget TVs from brands such as Hisense and TCL have an energy-saving mode, which helps compensate for their slightly higher energy usage, and most modern TVs have an automatic switch-off function if you fall asleep watching something. So, for most people, your best bet is getting a cheaper TV and not paying extra for energy rating because you're not likely to see the savings for the lifetime of the television.

For more information visit our article on energy-efficient appliances and if they save money. 

Where to Buy a TV?

I bought my TV from eBay using a coupon from here at MyVoucherCodes on one of their regular sales. But other great stores, such as Currys, Amazon, AO and Appliances Direct, have seasonal sales, vouchers and price matching that can save you money. 

Amazon and eBay tend to offer the most significant discounts. However, the prices fluctuate wildly, and you may need to determine whether the deal is legit. I suggest using a price-checking site such as camelcamelcamel or Price Runner. 

For a more in-depth guide, check out our article on where to buy cheap tech online or our guide on where to buy cheap refurbished tech to maximise your savings.

Do I need OLED or QLED?

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) and QLED (Quantum dot LED TV closer in quality to regular LED) are the two types of television screen often reserved for the higher end of TVs. For avid movie buffs they have better quality and colour then regular LED TVs. 

However, unless you're sharp-eyed and pay extra for the 4K Netflix or NowTV plan, the everyday person won't see enough difference to justify the huge price hike. I am a big gamer and spend hours upon hours each week watching TV and playing video games, and I can safely say that a regular 4k UHD LED TV is enough for my needs, and I paid under £250 for it. 

So, no, the average person doesn't need a fancy QLED or OLED TV. For a more in-depth explanation of the different types of TV, please visit our article on how the different features affect the price.

How much does a good Tv cost?

Now that we better understand which factors make a TV more expensive, where to buy it, and more, I'll round up which type of TV you should buy and how much you should spend.

Budget TV: For a budget 40"+ living room TV, aim for between £200 and £300 for a brand new one. You can easily do this by opting for brands such as TCL, HiSense, or Toshiba and buying during a payday discount code offer on eBay. Do not opt for OLED or QLED, as they are more expensive. You may be able to get one for under £200 if you time it well and buy refurbished, and honestly, you won't notice a difference in quality.

Mid-Range: Aim for a mid-range living room TV for £400-700 for a brand-new one. On the low end, you can often pick up a TCL or HiSense QLED TV on sale for around £400 and sometimes around £350, depending on the sale and discounts available. For bigger brands such as Samsung, wait for a sale and discount code; you can likely get one for around £650-£700. But personally, I recommend saving the money and going with HiSense QLED. They are amazing value for money.

High-End: When it comes to high-end TVs, there isn't really an upper limit, but expect to pay over £1000 easily. These TVs have HDR, OLED screens, larger sizes, webcams and more. Outside of sales and discount codes during Black Friday, Prime Day and January sales, you cannot do much to save on these luxury goods. However, check the original prices on camelcamelcamel or PriceRunner before buying because high-end TVs are often inflated in price.

Buying a TV doesn’t have to break the bank. By understanding your needs, researching and shopping smart, you can find a great TV that fits your budget. Want to know which features affect the price? Check out our guide to buying a TV for helpful tips and tricks.