The Best Time to Buy Tech: A Month-by-Month Calendar for Laptops, TVs and Phones
Tech prices follow a surprisingly predictable calendar. Here's when laptops, TVs, phones and other gadgets usually get cheaper, and when to wait.
The best time to buy most tech is right after a new model launches (when the old one gets discounted) or during a major sale: back-to-school for laptops, late November for TVs and almost everything else, and Amazon’s summer and October events for gadgets. If you need something now, buy it now; if you can wait a few weeks, check whether a launch or sale is coming first.
Here’s how the calendar usually works for US shoppers, plus the 2026 dates we could confirm. Exact sale dates change every year, so treat the patterns as a guide rather than a guarantee.
The tech sales calendar at a glance
| When | What tends to be cheaper | Why |
|---|---|---|
| January | TVs, last year’s laptops | New models are shown at CES; retailers clear older stock |
| Late January to early February | TVs | Pre-Super Bowl TV promotions |
| Early in the year | Previous Samsung Galaxy S phones | Samsung usually launches its new Galaxy S lineup early in the year |
| Spring (March to May) | Outgoing TV models, some laptops | New TV lines reach stores; Memorial Day sales in late May |
| Summer (June to July) | Amazon devices, headphones, smart home, some laptops | Amazon’s Prime Day and competing sales from other retailers |
| July to September | Laptops, tablets, Macs, iPads | Back-to-school promotions, including education pricing |
| August to September | Older Pixels and iPhones | New Google and Apple phones are typically announced |
| October | Amazon devices, assorted electronics | Amazon’s fall Prime event and early holiday sales |
| Late November | TVs, laptops, headphones, game consoles, tablets | Black Friday and Cyber Monday |
Laptops: back-to-school and Black Friday
Laptop deals cluster around two windows. July through early September brings back-to-school sales and education discounts from Apple, Microsoft, Dell, HP, Lenovo and others. Apple’s 2026 US college student offer, for example, ran from mid-July and was extended into late September. Late November brings the deepest discounts on mainstream Windows laptops and Chromebooks.
Laptop makers also refresh models around CES in January and through the spring. When a new generation arrives, the outgoing model often drops in price while stock lasts. If you’re a student, see our guide to student discounts on tech, which can stack with seasonal sales.
TVs: Black Friday, the Super Bowl and spring clearance
TVs follow a yearly cycle. Manufacturers show new models at CES in January, and those sets reach stores in the spring at full price. That’s when the previous year’s models get cheaper, with more clearance around Memorial Day.
The other big TV moments are the weeks before the Super Bowl and, especially, Black Friday. Be careful with Black Friday doorbusters: some are store-specific derivative models with slightly different specs. Our guide to spotting a real Black Friday deal explains how to check.
iPhones and other phones: watch the launch calendar
Apple has long announced new iPhones at an event in September. In 2026 the pattern shifted: Apple’s September 9 event focused on the iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable, and multiple reports say the standard iPhone 18 is expected in spring 2027 instead. If you’re waiting for a non-Pro model, factor that in. See when new iPhones come out for the details.
Other phones have their own rhythm:
- Samsung Galaxy S phones usually launch early in the year, and the previous model gets cheaper.
- Samsung foldables typically arrive in the summer.
- Google Pixel phones have been announced in August in recent years.
Right after a launch, the outgoing model may get a price cut or a trade-in promotion, and the new model is often bundled with gift cards or storage upgrades. Buying a phone a few weeks before its replacement arrives is usually the worst timing.
Prime Day and October sales
Amazon’s summer Prime Day moves around. In 2026 it ran in the US from June 23 to 26, and the fall Prime Big Deal Days event was reported for October 6 to 7. Amazon’s own devices (Echo, Kindle, Fire TV, Ring) typically see their lowest prices during these events and on Black Friday. Other retailers usually run competing sales at the same time.
Prime Day prices are not always lower than Black Friday prices. If you’re unsure, check the product’s history with a tool from our guide on tracking Amazon price history.
Why waiting for a launch often beats waiting for a sale
A sale takes some money off one product. A new model launch can do two things at once: drop the price of the old model and give you a better product for the same money. Before buying anything that’s been out for close to a year, search for news about its successor. Rumor sites aren’t always right, but a model that’s about to be replaced is rarely a smart full-price buy.
The flip side: don’t wait forever. Products that are already discounted, in stock and right for your needs are usually worth buying, especially if the store refunds price drops within the return window.
Bottom line
For laptops, aim for back-to-school or Black Friday. For TVs, Black Friday or the spring clearance after new models arrive. For phones, buy shortly after a new launch rather than just before. And for anything else, set a price alert and let the history tell you when it’s genuinely low.
FAQ
When is Black Friday 2026?
Thanksgiving is November 26, 2026, so Black Friday is November 27 and Cyber Monday is November 30. Many stores start deals earlier in November.
Is it better to buy a TV on Black Friday or in the spring?
Black Friday usually has the broadest discounts, especially on mid-range sets. Spring is good for last year’s higher-end models as new ones arrive. Compare the specific model’s price history.
Do Apple products go on sale?
Apple rarely discounts its own store prices, but other retailers often do, and Apple runs education and trade-in promotions. Apple’s Certified Refurbished store is another way to pay less.
Should I wait for a new phone to come out?
If the launch is weeks away, usually yes: either you get the new model or the old one gets cheaper. If it’s many months away and your current phone is failing, buy what you need now.
