The Super Bowl is less than two weeks away, and you may have your sights set on a new TV, especially if you contemplated buying one during October or Black Friday sales. But how much are you willing to pay for the TV you really want?
CNET's TechPulse findings show that US adults plan to spend an average of $1,177 on a new TV. In fact, that's how much CNET's TV editor, Ty Pendlebury, said he would spend.
Yet 42% expect to make some sacrifices on their TV wish list, including a bigger screen (11%) and high-quality pictures (6%). Luckily, since the 2026 models will come out this spring, now's a good time to score a deal on a 2025 model.
For example, the Samsung S90F OLED TV is our Editor's Choice for the best all-around TV. Last year, it cost $2,500 at retail price. Now, you can find the same TV for $500 to $1,000 less, depending on the size and retailer. It has top-notch OLED picture quality and fast motion.
Here's a deep dive into what else CNET's findings show and expert advice on how to get the best TV for your money.
Key takeaways US adults expect to spend an average of $1,177 on a new TV, and CNET's TV expert isn't surprised.
on a new TV, and CNET's TV expert isn't surprised. The top reason for buying a new TV is a bigger screen (37%). Half of US adults are shopping for a TV that's 65-inch or bigger (50%) .
. The most important features Americans are considering are a high-quality picture (72%) and a large screen (60%) . 42% want smart features, but even fewer want AI integrations (12%).
. 42% want smart features, but even fewer want AI integrations (12%). Over 4 in 10 (42%) of TV shoppers anticipate they'll need to make some sacrifices to stay within budget, but CNET experts say you can still get a good TV despite trade-offs.
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