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Short answer: the Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, and Hisense prices in the original roundup were historical deals from November 30, 2025—not prices that can be assumed available on September 5, 2026. Black Friday 2026 is still in the future. Treat the prices below as benchmarks for judging future offers, not as live shopping links.
The strongest historical values were the TCL QM6K for budget shoppers, the TCL QM7K for a brighter midrange set, the LG C5 and Samsung S90F for OLED buyers, and the TCL QM8K for large bright rooms. Which one was best depended on room lighting, gaming hardware, preferred HDR format, and whether perfect OLED blacks mattered more than size and brightness.
What happened to the deals?
The source roundup was published on November 30, 2025, immediately after Black Friday. It listed prices reported at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Samsung, LG, and Sony, but retailer mentions from that period do not establish availability today. Black Friday and Cyber Monday pricing is volatile: products sell out, prices revert, and replacement offers appear. Engadget’s original roundup should therefore be read as a dated pricing record.
As of September 5, 2026, none of the following historical prices should be described as live unless a retailer independently confirms the exact model, size, seller, condition, and checkout price on the same day.
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Historical deal guide
| TV and size | Technology | Reported price | Best suited to | Main trade-off | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCL QM6K, 55-inch | Mini-LED | $398 | Budget buyers and casual gaming | Weaker contrast, brightness, color volume, and HDR than higher tiers; two HDMI 2.1 ports | Historical November 2025 price; not verified current |
| Hisense U65QF, 55-inch | Mini-LED | $398 | Low-cost bright-room viewing | Weaker contrast, gaming features, and accuracy; Fire TV interface | Historical November 2025 price; not verified current |
| TCL QM7K, 65-inch | Mini-LED | $797.99 | Midrange brightness, size, and gaming | Two HDMI 2.1 ports; blacks and viewing angles do not match OLED | Reported tracked low; not verified current |
| Hisense U75QG, 55-inch | Mini-LED | $498 | Very bright rooms and multi-device gaming | Less consistent contrast and more motion blur than the TCL QM7K | Historical November 2025 price; not verified current |
| LG B5, 48-inch | OLED | $530 | Affordable OLED ownership | Dimmer and less colorful than the C5; 120Hz rather than 144Hz | Historical November 2025 price; not verified current |
| LG C5, 65-inch | OLED | $1,247 | Balanced movies, streaming, and gaming | No HDR10+; less color-rich than QD-OLED alternatives | Reported tracked low; not verified current |
| Samsung S90F, 65-inch | QD-OLED | $1,398 | Colorful HDR and serious gaming | No Dolby Vision; panel type varies by size | Reported lowest price apart from a brief $1,248 price; not verified current |
| Samsung S95F, 65-inch | QD-OLED | $2,298 | Premium HDR and bright-room use | No Dolby Vision; matte coating can make blacks look less perfect in ambient light | Reported tracked low; not verified current |
| LG G5, 65-inch | OLED | $1,997 | Very bright OLED viewing and Dolby Vision | More reflective and less color-rich than QD-OLED models | Reported tracked low; not verified current |
| Sony Bravia A95L, 55-inch | QD-OLED | $1,600 | Processing, upscaling, and accurate movie presentation | Older 2023 design, two HDMI 2.1 ports, higher input lag, and a high price | Historical November 2025 price; not verified current |
| TCL QM8K, 75-inch | Mini-LED | $1,398 | Large bright-room viewing without OLED pricing | Weaker blacks and viewing angles than OLED; two HDMI 2.1 ports | Reported best 75-inch price; not verified current |
| Samsung Frame, 2024, 55-inch | Art-focused LED | $798 | Design and art display | No local dimming or Dolby Vision; weaker picture value than conventional TVs | Historical November 2025 price; not verified current |
These prices and product assessments come from the November 2025 Engadget coverage. The article used different terms—such as “new all-time low,” “matches the all-time low,” and “lowest price we’ve seen”—so they should not be collapsed into one universal record claim.
What “all-time low” really means
In deal coverage, “all-time low” normally means the lowest price tracked by that publication for that exact product and screen size during its monitoring period. It does not necessarily mean the lowest price ever charged by every retailer.
A tracked low may not include a coupon, credit-card promotion, membership discount, trade-in, financing offer, or temporary checkout adjustment. It also does not prove that every size in the product family reached the same price. A 55-inch record is not evidence of a 65-inch or 77-inch record.
Compare the exact model number with a price-history chart and distinguish MSRP savings from genuine recent street-price savings. An old television with a large discount from an inflated MSRP may be worse value than a newer model with a smaller discount.
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Which historical deals offered the best value?
Best low-cost mini-LED options
The 55-inch TCL QM6K at $398 was the most compelling budget all-rounder in the roundup. It combined quantum-dot color, mini-LED backlighting, local dimming, relatively low input lag, and 144Hz gaming support. Its limitations were lower contrast, brightness, color volume, and HDR performance than the QM7K, plus only two HDMI 2.1 ports.
The 55-inch Hisense U65QF at $398 was an alternative for shoppers who valued brightness and Amazon’s Fire TV platform. It was less attractive for buyers prioritizing contrast, gaming features, or accurate picture quality. Buyers who prefer Google TV should treat the operating-system difference as a real part of the purchase decision.
Moving up to the 65-inch TCL QM7K at $797.99 bought a meaningful improvement in contrast, brightness, and color volume while retaining 144Hz support and 288Hz support at 1080p. It remained limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports.
The 55-inch Hisense U75QG at $498 emphasized brightness and offered four HDMI 2.1 ports. It was less consistent in contrast and showed more motion blur than the QM7K, making it a better fit for bright-room or connectivity needs than for demanding movie viewing.
Rank #3
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Best OLED values
The 48-inch LG B5 at $530 was the entry point for OLED’s near-perfect blacks, wide viewing angles, and fast response. It was less bright and colorful than the C5 and topped out at 120Hz, but it made sense when picture quality mattered more than screen size or peak brightness.
The 65-inch LG C5 at $1,247 was the broadest OLED recommendation: strong brightness, Dolby Vision, gaming features, and overall picture quality. It lacked HDR10+ and did not offer the same color volume as Samsung’s QD-OLED alternatives.
The 65-inch Samsung S90F at $1,398 was the better fit for shoppers who wanted QD-OLED color, 144Hz gaming, and four HDMI 2.1 ports. It did not support Dolby Vision. Critically, the original coverage said that only the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch US versions used the superior QD-OLED panel. Never infer the panel type from the family name alone.
Premium OLED choices
The 65-inch Samsung S95F at $2,298 paired a bright QD-OLED panel with a matte finish, 165Hz refresh, and four HDMI 2.1 ports. Samsung’s lack of Dolby Vision remains a drawback. In a bright room, the matte screen can reduce reflections, but ambient light may make blacks appear less perfect.
Rank #4
- CRYSTAL PROCESSOR: Powerful processor enhances colors and sharpens details for a vibrant 4K viewing experience. Experience every shade of color as it was meant to be seen in dazzling 4K. Plus, make your movies, TV shows, games and sports look even better with powerful 4K upscaling.
- ENDLESS FREE CONTENT: Watch 2,700+ free streaming options, including 750+ subscription-free channels on Samsung TV Plus. Enjoy news, sports, movies, kids' shows and reality TV — all without a subscription. Discover endless entertainment with new content added regularly, tailored to your mood and interests.*
- MOTION XCELERATOR: Experience clear picture and smooth motion in games and sports. Enjoy smooth motion and clear visuals with technology that estimates and adjusts frame transitions in real time. Whether gaming or watching sports, enjoy up to 4K 60Hz performance that brings every play, move and scene to life with realistic clarity and motion.
- COLOR BOOSTER: Supercharge your color. From fiery reds to sparkling blues, make every color come to life with intensity. Color Booster transforms your content into a visual masterpiece.
- 4K UPSCALING: Upgrades what you watch to crisp 4K clarity. Upgrade your favorite shows, movies and more. Experience incredible details and clarity in every frame, even from lower-quality sources, with advanced upscaling technology.
The 65-inch LG G5 at $1,997 was the premium LG alternative, with unusually high OLED brightness and Dolby Vision support. It was more reflective and less color-rich than QD-OLED rivals.
The 55-inch Sony A95L at $1,600 appealed to movie viewers who valued Sony’s processing, upscaling, accuracy, vivid QD-OLED color, and Dolby Vision. But it was a 2023 design in the original roundup, had only two HDMI 2.1 ports, higher input lag than rivals, and a price that was difficult to justify unless those processing strengths mattered more than specifications or value.
Best large-screen LED alternative
The 75-inch TCL QM8K at $1,398 was aimed at buyers who wanted a large screen and high brightness without OLED pricing. Its 144Hz and 288Hz-at-1080p gaming support were useful, but LED local dimming cannot provide OLED’s pixel-level blacks. Blooming, narrower viewing angles, and two HDMI 2.1 ports were the main compromises.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose by room and viewing habits
- Dark-room movies: Favor the LG C5 or G5, Samsung S90F or S95F, or Sony A95L. OLED and QD-OLED provide the strongest black-level performance.
- Bright rooms and daytime sports: Look first at a capable mini-LED such as the TCL QM7K or QM8K, or a particularly bright OLED such as the LG G5. A matte Samsung can help with glare, but inspect how blacks look under ambient light.
- Wide seating: OLED generally maintains picture quality better off-axis than LED alternatives.
- Colorful HDR: Samsung’s QD-OLED models were the natural fit, provided Dolby Vision was not important.
- Dolby Vision: Favor LG or Sony from this historical group. Samsung models did not support it.
- Multiple consoles and a soundbar: Count HDMI 2.1 ports. Samsung S90F and S95F and Hisense U75QG offered four; TCL QM6K, QM7K, and QM8K and Sony A95L offered two. An eARC soundbar connection can consume one of the available high-bandwidth ports.
- Art and interior design: The Samsung Frame was an aesthetic purchase, not a picture-quality-per-dollar winner. Its matte finish helped with reflections, but it lacked local dimming and Dolby Vision.
OLED, QD-OLED, or mini-LED?
OLED
OLED is strongest for dark-room viewing, near-perfect blacks, wide viewing angles, fast response, and premium gaming. It typically costs more than comparable LED sets, may be less bright across a full screen, and deserves more care when displaying static logos or interfaces for long periods. Screen coatings also differ in how they handle reflections.
Best Value
- A treat for the eyes: Sharp 4K brings out rich detail on our 43" flat screen TV, while colors pop off in lifelike clarity with HDR10. Roku Smart Picture cleans up incoming TV signals, optimizes them, and chooses the right picture mode.
- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- A world of free entertainment: Enjoy a huge selection of free live TV, news, sports, movies, shows, and much more—all just a click away.
- More streaming, less searching: With personalized picks right on your Home Screen, quick access to the sports and entertainment you watch most, and fast and easy search in one place—the days of endless scrolling are over.
QD-OLED
QD-OLED can deliver more saturated colors than conventional WOLED and is attractive for HDR and high-refresh-rate gaming. Samsung’s models in this group lacked Dolby Vision, and panel technology could vary by screen size. Matte finishes can reduce glare but may make blacks look lifted in a bright room.
Mini-LED and advanced LED
Mini-LED is usually the practical choice for bright rooms, large screens, and buyers concerned about OLED image retention. It can be substantially brighter and cheaper, but black levels, blooming, and viewing angles depend heavily on the local-dimming implementation.
Checklist for evaluating a future deal
- Confirm the exact model number, US version, and diagonal size.
- Verify the panel technology for that specific size; do not assume every size in a series uses the same panel.
- Check 4K refresh rate, VRR, ALLM, input lag, and whether a claimed 144Hz, 165Hz, or 288Hz mode applies only to PC input or a lower resolution.
- Count HDMI 2.1 ports and account for consoles, a PC, and an eARC soundbar.
- Check Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and other HDR-format support against the content you watch.
- Confirm that the listing is new rather than refurbished, open-box, or marketplace-sold.
- Identify the actual seller and fulfillment company on Amazon or Walmart.
- Read the return policy, warranty terms, and procedure for reporting shipping or panel damage.
- Measure the stand footprint, wall-mount pattern, doorway clearance, stairways, and delivery path.
- Compare the price with a tracker’s recent history rather than relying on the claimed MSRP discount.
Bottom line for Black Friday 2026 shoppers
Do not buy—or publish—one of the 2025 prices simply because an old page still displays it. Use $398 for the TCL QM6K or Hisense U65QF, $797.99 for the TCL QM7K, $1,247 for the LG C5, $1,398 for the Samsung S90F, and $1,398 for the 75-inch TCL QM8K as historical reference points for future promotions. A new deal should be judged by exact size, current street price, panel type, room conditions, gaming requirements, and return protection—not by a large percentage off MSRP.
For the next sale, the practical short list is: TCL QM6K for the cheapest capable set, TCL QM7K for a stronger midrange mini-LED, LG C5 for an all-purpose OLED with Dolby Vision, Samsung S90F for QD-OLED color and four HDMI 2.1 ports, and TCL QM8K for a large bright-room screen. Those are use-case recommendations, not guarantees that the models or prices will return.
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Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
