hdtv - The Checkout presented by Ben's Bargains

5 Best / 5 Worst Products to Find on Sale at Target

Kristin Cook — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 21:14:45 +0000

Looking for the best deals before your next trip to the store with the big red bullseye on it? We’ve identified some of the best products that you can find on sale at Target as well as some of the worst that you will want to avoid. These picks are based on the average discounts as well as the potential for additional coupons.

Target’s Five Best:

1. Toys

Especially strong during November / December (the last two holiday seasons they blew all other competition out of the water), but Target has great deals on toys all year long. Look for $10 off $50 toy coupons every couple of months, as well as daily or weekly Cartwheel offers on popular toys (often 40% to 50% off the listed price).

Target’s clearance section is also a great place to check, especially at the end of any season (Jan/Feb for winter, August for summer, etc); they usually go up to 70% off during the most aggressive clearance sales.

2. Groceries

Super Target is becoming more and more competitive with other grocery stores. Internal store brands (Market Panty, Archer Farms, Simply Balanced) are all really reasonably priced and good quality! The deals on groceries become even stronger with many Cartwheel offers on these items.

Target also frequently offers general $10 off $50 grocery paper coupons which you don’t see from the main grocery store chains. Combine these with Cartwheel offers for the best deal.

3. Home Goods / Furniture

Particularly aggressive with online sales, Target often offers extra % off codes specifically on furniture and other items available in the home decor section. In addition, you can also almost always find a $5 off $50 purchase coupon that stacks with those percentage discount codes.

Target’s store brand Threshold has some very nice pieces for a reasonable price (similar to Ikea in style and price). Look for more aggressive discounts on those items, when on sale, compared to third party items.

4. Video Games and Blu-rays

Target is known for frequently running BOGO Free promos on video games, especially around the holidays, but definitely not exclusively. It’s also common to see Buy 2, Get 1 free games for specific consoles.

Same goes for Blu-ray movies, which Target will often include gift cards with. Music, to a lesser extent, will also be on sale. However, digital music is likely a more economical option than physical discs these days.

5. Household Essentials

We see tons of great deals on things like paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent, diapers etc. When you combine target’s Subscription program with their frequent gift card offers on these types of items; they often give out $5 or $10 gift cards with the purchase of select items.

Target’s Up & Up brand is also a great alternative to the more expensive brands, especially for diapers!

Target’s Five Worst:

1. TVs and other Electronics

With the exception of Black Friday or November in general, Target is not a big player in the TV department. They mostly sell off-brand TVs, and you can usually find a better price on a similar brand name TV online at places like eBay or Best Buy.

The same advice goes for most electronics in general (cameras, headphones, printers, etc). It’s very rare to see discounts on electronics unless an item is being clearanced out in favor of a replacement model.

2. Mobile Accessories

If you buy a phone case or charging cable at Target, you’re going to pay way more for the convenience factor. Mobile accessories are rarely on sale, and you can get them for half the price on Amazon or eBay in many cases.

3. Craft / Party Supplies

Target recently started carrying craft supplies. While the quality is generally good, you can find much better deals at craft stores like Joann Fabrics or Michael’s, both of which almost always have 40% or 50% off coupons available to use in-store.

For party supplies, any dollar store chain will have significantly better prices for most items. That’s pretty standard for the core supplies, like wrapping paper, cards and decorations.

4. Gift Cards

Target sells a ton of gift cards, but again you’re paying for convenience and there are never any sales. You’re better off getting gift card deals on eBay or a gift card reseller site like Raise, usually offering discounts between 5 to 20 percent depending on the store.

For more tips on finding discounts on store gift cards, check out our guide for Managing your Gift Cards.

5. Shoes

I’ve found the price of Target’s shoes to be pretty high for the quality. Pretty much everything is made of fake leather and you are better off finding a deal on a brand name at a place like Nordstrom Rack or 6pm.com.

Check the latest deals from Target on Ben’s

5 Best / 5 Worst Products to Find on Sale at Target

5 Signs That You’ve Become a True Home Theater Enthusiast

Steven Cohen — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 19:26:00 +0000

Steven Cohen

So you’ve finally ponied up the money for that big, flat screen HDTV, invested in a surround sound speaker system, and amassed a solid collection of Blu-rays on your shelf — but at what point do you go from being a casual home theater owner to a full-blown, unashamedly proud audiovisual geek? You see, true home theater enthusiasm is about more than just the gear. It’s about an entire frame of mind, complete with a few key quirks, habits, and obsessions. If you’re unsure whether or not you fit the bill, here’s a handy list of 5 major signs that you should look out for.

1. You Have a “Sweet Spot”

Once thought to be only a myth, this term refers to the specific seat in your home theater room where the speakers perfectly align and the TV is perfectly centered. This miraculous spot gives the lucky individual who inhabits it the absolute best listening and viewing position, enhancing the full surround sound experience while eliminating any potential off-angle flaws in your HD display.

If you have one of these sweet spots, and find yourself racing over to seize it like a rabid animal claiming its territory whenever company comes over — then you’re already well on your way to true A/V obsession! Note to girlfriends, boyfriends, wives, and husbands: if your significant other is willing to give up their sweet spot for you, then it really is true love.

2. You Measured Angles

Going along with sign #1, properly setting up a home theater system requires a great level of precision when it comes to speaker placement. Various guidelines call for exact angles, heights, and distances between the speakers and primary listening position, which necessitates tools that go far beyond mere “eye-balling” it.

Basically, if you used any kind of chart, diagram, ruler, protractor, complicated algorithm, mounted laser beam, specially programmed robot, or ancient mystical incantation to help perfectly align your audio equipment, then I think it’s safe to say that you’re a real enthusiast… and possibly a super villain. Now God help anyone who accidentally bumps into something.

3. Light Has Become Your Enemy

It turns out that vampires aren’t the only creatures with a natural aversion to sunlight. In order to mimic the true theater experience, the best way to watch movies is in a completely dark environment. Not only does the lack of light help to immerse the audience in the film, but many TVs are prone to troublesome glare that can make daytime watching a nightmare.

To alleviate this problem, true home theater enthusiasts will go to any lengths to help cut down the light. From installing black-out drapes to enacting diabolical plots to permanently snuff out the sun, there is no real right or wrong strategy as long as it gets the job done. After all, an eternal globe-spanning ice age is but a small price to pay for the perfect movie watching environment. Those with the space and cash can even invest in a dedicated light-proof home theater area, creating the only situation where it’s socially acceptable to trap your guests in a dark, windowless room.

4. You’ve Invested in ISF Calibration

If those initials don’t mean anything to you, then you haven’t quite crossed the barrier into true home theater passion. The Imaging Science Foundation has developed a standardized system to properly calibrate video displays, ensuring the most accurate picture possible through the use of specifically designed test patterns and equipment. Without proper ISF calibration, many home theater owners can gradually grow suspicious of their displays, leading to paranoia and insecurity.

While manufacturer settings often feature high contrast, exaggerated sharpness, and impossibly vibrant colors, all that flash is really nothing more than an eye-straining lie! And since you’ve already bought and committed to your TV, who exactly is your display trying to doll itself up for with that “Vivid” setting anyway?! The first step toward any long lasting relationship is always trust, and until one can fully trust their TV’s picture settings, you might as well be strangers. Real home theater lovers realize this, and choose to alleviate any concerns through ISF calibration. It’s the only way to rest easy at night.

5. You Have Movie Watching Rules… and Consequences

Taking the home theater experience to the final level requires employing the same rules that any actual professional theater chain would — namely no talking or texting during the show. While the casual movie watcher might enjoy a laid back discussion during a film, for the A/V enthusiast, silence and full attention are non-negotiable stipulations.

Some might even go so far as to monitor their home audience like an amateur usher, escorting guests out who don’t follow the rules. In other words, you talk or text during the film — no movie for you!

So, there you have it. If you fit all of the criteria above, congratulations and welcome to the club! You are now officially a home theater enthusiast. If you haven’t experienced all five signs yet, then just give it some time, I’m sure you’ll come around. We’ll be waiting…

5 Signs That You’ve Become a True Home Theater Enthusiast

Here’s the cheapest 70-inch and larger 4K TVs on Black Friday 2019

Mike Flacy — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 21:49:44 +0000

Mike Flacy

Shopping for a 70-inch 4K TV this year? Or perhaps larger? We’ve looked through all the Black Friday ads and broken down where you can get the cheapest 70-inch TV, two of the cheapest 75-inch TVs and the cheapest 82-inch 4K TV.

Best Price on a 70-inch 4K TV: $549

Listed on the front page of the Best Buy ad, the 70-inch Samsung 6070 6 series will drop $350 from the $899 MSRP, matching the lowest Ben’s price posted earlier this month.

The Samsung UN70NU6070FXZA offers 4K / HDR 10+ / HLG functionality, Motion Rate 120 tech, and Samsung Smart TV interface. Be aware that this set only comes with two HDMI ports (one of which is ARC).

Best Buy: 70-inch Samsung 6070 6 series

Best Price on a 75-inch 4K TV: $599

Only available online at Sam’s Club, this Philips 75″ Android TV (75PFL5704/F7) appears to be a set exclusive to the warehouse chain. It’s not listed anywhere else beyond the Philips site.

Regarding specs, the set offers 4K / HDR 10 functionality, Android TV for smart apps (Oreo), and 3 HDMI inputs (one of which is ARC). It does appear to be limited to 60Hz though.

Sam’s Club: Philips 75″ Android TV

2nd Best Price on a 75-inch 4K TV: $749

Beating Best Buy’s price by $150, both Sam’s Club and Costco have a 75-inch Samsung in the 6900 6 series for $250 less than the MSRP. This price seems to be common among the warehouse chains, including BJ’s.

The Samsung UN75NU6950FXZA offers 4K / HDR 10+ functionality, Motion Rate 120 tech, and Samsung Smart TV interface. Similar to the 70-inch model listed above, there are only two HDMI inputs on the TV.

Sam’s Club: 75-inch Samsung 6900 6 series
Costco: 75-inch Samsung 6900 6 series

Best Deal on a 82-inch 4K TV: $1,599 + $150 Gift Card

Both Best Buy and Sam’s Club will be selling the LG 82″ 8070 series for $1,599 on Black Friday, but Sam’s Club is offering a bonus $150 gift card with the purchase. That’s a better overall deal than our last price low on this set, $1,569 on eBay.

The LG 82UM8070PUA offers 4K / HDR10 / HLG functionality, Motion Rate 240 tech (Native 120Hz), Dolby Atmos support, 4 HDMI inputs and LG’s webOS user interface for streaming.

Sam’s Club: LG 82″ 8070 series

Regarding online sales, be aware that Amazon (and other online retailers) will aggressively price-match or undercut many of these deals prior or during Black Friday. Watch the main Ben’s feed for the latest 4K TV deals.

Here’s the cheapest 70-inch and larger 4K TVs on Black Friday 2019

Here’s the cheapest 65-inch 4K TVs on Black Friday 2019

Mike Flacy — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 04:41:56 +0000

Mike Flacy

Shopping for a 65-inch 4K TV this year? We’ve looked through all the Black Friday ads and broken down where you can get the top 3 cheapest 65-inch 4K HDTV doorbusters as well as the best price on a mid-range 65-inch model, the best price on a higher-end 65-inch 4K TV and the best price on a 65-inch OLED.

Best Price on a 65″ 4K TV Doorbuster: $278

Walmart takes the crown for the cheapest 65-inch 4K TV this year, by a single dollar. This Philips 65″ 4K LED TV usually sells for $499, but will be $278 in store at Walmart and online on Walmart.com. It’s likely to sell out within minutes when Walmart’s online deals go live at 10 pm ET on Wed.

This Philips set offers 4K / HDR 10 functionality, Android to handle all smart streaming apps, Google Assistant for finding content, wireless 802.11ac MIMO for streaming and 3 HDMI inputs (including 1 ARC).

Walmart: Philips 65″ 4K LED TV

2nd Best Price on a 65″ 4K TV Doorbuster: $279

In second place, Target’s Element 65″ 4K Roku Smart TV will be sold at a $279 price point on Black Friday. This 4K TV is featured on the front page of Target’s ad, thus expect lots of interest both in the store and online.

This Element set offers 4K / HDR 10 functionality, 3 HDMI inputs (including 1 ARC), a 1200:1 dynamic contrast ratio and the Roku user interface for streaming video apps like Netflix.

Target: Element 65″ 4K Roku Smart TV

3rd Best Price on a 65″ 4K TV Doorbuster: $299

While Best Buy will be open on Thanksgiving, this Hisense 65″ model (MSRP $499) is strategically being held back until Best Buy opens on Black Friday at 8 a.m. According to the ad, tickets will be handed out to customers in line an hour prior to opening. There’s no indication Best Buy will offer the sales price online.

This Hisense 65″ set offers 4K / HDR functionality, 3 HDMI inputs,Motion Rate 120 tech, and includes the Android TV platform for streaming video as well as Google Assistant for finding TV shows or movies. Disclaimer: Best Buy has “Dolby Vision” in the product image, but no mention in the specifications. It is listed in the product specs on the Hisense page though.

Best Buy: Hisense 65″ LED H6500F Series

Best Price on a 65-inch mid-range 4K TV: $399

This deal already appeared at Target earlier in the month and will repeat at Target & Best Buy during Black Friday week. It’s a $350 reduction off TCL’s recommended $749 price point.

This TCL set offers 4K / HDR functionality, 3 HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 (One with HDMI ARC), 120Hz CMI effective refresh rate, Dual-band Wi-Fi and utilizes the Roku user interface for streaming video.

Target: TCL 65S425 65″ 4K TV
Best Buy: TCL 65S425 65″ 4K TV

Best Price on a 65-inch high-end 4K TV: $1199

While this sale has been going on for the entire month of November, it’s tough to ignore a $1,000 discount off the MSRP of the Samsung Q70 QLED. You won’t have any problem finding this set in stock at Best Buy and Amazon during Black Friday week. It’s unlikely that the TV will be dropped any lower.

This Samsung set offers 4K, HDR10, HDR10+ functionality,Motion Rate 240, the built-in Samsung smart TV interface and four HDMI inputs. Alternatively, you may also want to watch the Sam’s Club price on the 65″ Vizio Quantum X, which recently dropped to the same price as the Samsung Q70.

Best Buy: Samsung Q70 QLED
Amazon: Samsung Q70 QLED

Best Price on a 65-inch OLED 4K TV: $1799

Similar to the Samsung, Best Buy have been offering this price for most of November. Shaving $500 off the MSRP, the LG B9 is ranked number 1 in our Top 10 TV’s guide. It offers 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG functionality, LEG’s built-in webOS interface, 4 HDMI inputs, Dolby Atmos & DTS-HD decoder and a native refresh rate of 120Hz.

Alternatively, if you don’t mind buying last year’s model, watch the Ben’s feed for some excellent deals. For instance, the 65-inch LG C8 was recently posted for $1499. We also may see Amazon get creative with pricing on some of last year’s OLED models from LG and Sony in order to clear out inventory on Black Friday.

Best Buy: 65-inch LG B9 OLED
Amazon: 65-inch LG B9 OLED

Here’s the cheapest 65-inch 4K TVs on Black Friday 2019

Here’s the cheapest 55-inch to 60-inch 4K TVs on Black Friday 2019

Mike Flacy — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 02:19:12 +0000

Mike Flacy

Shopping for a 55-inch to 60-inch 4K TV this year? We’ve looked through all the Black Friday ads and broken down where you can get the cheapest 4K HDTV doorbusters as well as a couple backup doorbuster options, the best price on a mid-range model, the best price on a higher-end 4K TV and the best price on a OLED.

Best Price on a 55″ to 60″ 4K TV Doorbuster: $199.99 w/ bonus Echo Dot

On the first page of the Best Buy ad, you will find an Insignia 58″ LED 2160p Smart 4K TV that usually sells for $479. However, the price will drop $280 to $199.99 for Black Friday and come with a bonus 3rd gen, Echo Dot.

The Insignia TV offers 4K / HDR functionality, 3 HDMI inputs, 1 USB input and utilizes Amazon’s Fire TV interface for streaming video. In addition, the remote control includes a microphone for voice searching via Alexa.

Best Buy: Insignia 58″ LED 2160p Smart 4K TV

2nd Best Price on a 55″ to 60″ 4K TV Doorbuster: $198

Similar to the model featured in our 50-inch guide, Walmart has the least expensive model between 55″ and 60″ in size. The onn. 58″ 4K HDR10 Roku Smart LED TV offers 4K / HDR functionality as well as 3 HDMI inputs, a 60Hz refresh rate, and the Roku smart TV interface for streaming video.

It’s possible that Walmart will only sell this model in-stores, but the online listing page could also mean limited sales of the doorbuster when Black Friday prices launch on Wed night. There’s no additional bonus the

Walmart: onn. 58″ 4K TV for $198

Best Price on a mid-range 55″ to 60″ 4K TV: $279

Trimming $170 off the retail price (and $50 off the current sale price), the TCL 55″ Roku 4K UHD HDR Smart TV (55S425) will be on sale at both Target and Best Buy this year. The set offers a 120Hz effective refresh rate, 4K / HDR functionality, 3 HDMI inputs and the Roku interface for streaming apps.

I personally like this model for gaming, due to the low input lag and relatively low cost compared to other sets. The image does degrade a bit when viewed at an angle, but is excellent for direct viewing (like gaming). It’s highly likely that Amazon will price match this model.

Target: TCL 55″ Roku 4K TV
Best Buy: TCL 55″ Roku 4K TV

Best Price on a high-end 55″ to 60″ 4K TV: $699

This sale has actually been going on for the entire month on Best Buy & Amazon, but the pricing is excellent for the QLED series of televisions from Samsung. The Samsung 55″ Q60 Series offers edge backlighting, motion rate 240Hz, 4 HDMI inputs, HDR10+ functionality and Samsung’s smart app interface for streaming.

This set excels at motion handling (ideal for sports and video games) and is a solid performer in the bright room in regards to reflections. We doubt the price will drop any more for Black Friday, but sets may pop up on Rakuten or eBay with pricing that undercuts the $699 sale price.

Best Buy: Samsung 55″ Q60 Series
Amazon: Samsung 55″ Q60 Series

Best Deal on a 55″ high-end OLED: $1,499.99 + $450 Kohl’s cash

Featured in our favorite TV’s guide, the LG C9 55″ 4K TV is rated as the top OLED set of 2019 by many publications. I was surprised to stumble across it on the Kohl’s site. It’s currently being price matched to all other retailers, a $1,499.99 sale price point. The high end set offers 4K playback, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD, and 4 HDMI inputs.

We have featured the set on Ben’s before at a price low of $1,149. However, this deal would come out roughly $100 better overall with the Kohl’s cash bonus (assuming the sale price holds next week).

Kohl’s: LG C9 55″ 4K TV

Here’s the cheapest 55-inch to 60-inch 4K TVs on Black Friday 2019

Here’s the cheapest 50-inch 4K TVs on Black Friday 2019

Mike Flacy — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 16:20:23 +0000

Mike Flacy

Shopping for a 50″ 4K TV this year? We’ve looked through all the Black Friday ads and broken down where you can get the cheapest 50″ 4K HDTV doorbusters as well as a couple backup doorbuster options, the best price on a mid-range 50-inch model and the best price on a higher-end 50-inch 4K TV.

Best Price on a 50-inch 4K TV Doorbuster: $148

This is Walmart’s front page doorbuster. I can’t imagine it will last long in-store, but it may pop up online sporadically on Wed night (Nov 27). It has a 49.5″ screen size and it’s 4K / HDR10 capable. It comes with 3 HDMI inputs and a 60Hz refresh rate. It also comes with the Roku interface for smart apps.

Is this something of a gamble due to the relatively unknown manufacturer . Yep! But it’s a cheap gamble at $148 for a 50″ model. This could make for a fun upgrade to the guest room or bedroom for a relatively inexpensive cost.

Walmart: onn. 50″ Class 4K HDR10 Roku Smart LED TV

2nd Best Price on a 50-inch 4K TV Doorbuster: $149

Limited to in-store sales only, this Target doorbuster TV deal can be found on the last page of the ad. This Westinghouse 50″ 4K TV (usually $309.99) includes HDR-10 functionality, the Roku smart TV interface, and three HDMI inputs.

Target hasn’t advertised an online price for this model. It’s likely that the in-store price won’t be price-matched online at retailers like Amazon.

Target: Westinghouse 50″ 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart TV with HDR

3rd Best Price on a 50-inch 4K TV Doorbuster: $179

This is also a Target doorbuster, but not advertised on the front page of their ad, thus it could last a bit longer. Similar to the other doorbusters, you get 4K / HDR10 functionality as well as the Roku interface for smart apps and a 60Hz refresh rate.

Compared to the first, Philips is a recognizable brand name. Again, this is an inexpensive upgrade for a smaller set and is a solid price reduction at $150 knocked off the retail MSRP of $329.99.

Target: Philips 50″ 4K UHD Roku TV with HDR 10

Best Price on a 50-inch mid-range 4K TV: $249.99

This is going to be the sale price on the TCL 50S425 50-inch 4K TV at Best Buy. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Amazon pricematch it on Black Friday week (or perhaps sooner). It comes with 4K / HDR functionality as well as three HDMI inputs and a direct lit LED panel.

This is a really great set for people that play video games or really just want a well-rounded set. Personally, I have the 55-inch model in a bedroom and I love it. I really like the TCL models for guest rooms since all the smart apps are built into the Roku interface (no guests yelling at me to figure out how to change inputs).

Best Buy: LINK
Amazon: LINK

Best Price on a 50-inch high-end 4K TV: $349.99

If you are looking for a well-known brand name, check out the Samsung 7 Series (UN50RU7100FXZA). You will pay a premium for the size, but Best Buy is knocking $50 off the retail price. You get 4K / HDR, Samsung smart TV interface, 120Hz refresh rate, 3 HDMI inputs, 2 USB inputs and two 10-watt speakers.

Be sure to check Amazon’s pricing on this model as well. They typically undercut the price by a few bucks, based on the current pricing at their competitors.

Best Buy: LINK
Amazon: LINK

Here’s the cheapest 50-inch 4K TVs on Black Friday 2019

Must Have TV Accessories for the Super Bowl

Kyle Schurman — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 17:25:28 +0000

Kyle Schurman

If there’s ever a time to make sure you have the best of the best for your television, it’s on Super Sunday. Not only will you want to watch — and hear — all of the collisions of players during the Super Bowl, but you’ll also be riveted to your TV during halftime and commercial breaks … something that doesn’t happen during the regular season. Consider upgrading your television with these must have TV accessories before the Super Bowl broadcast begins!

Audio

Think about the tiny speakers built into the back of an HDTV, and you’ll understand why add-on audio options are the way to go, especially when you want a great audio signal for Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl halftime show. (And if you take a secret pleasure in hearing the pin-sharp sound of the crunching of Tom Brady by a Falcons defensive tackle during the game, we won’t judge you.)

If you already have a speaker system, you may want to invest in an HDMI A/V receiver, as it will properly port the audio feed from your HDTV to the right speakers.

A soundbar is a great option for those looking to get started with a TV sound system. A soundbar system is small and relatively inexpensive, yet it provides high-quality audio.

We at Ben’s Bargains have put together a nice list of deals on soundbars that will save you a lot of money on these must have tech accessories!

DVR

The Super Bowl is a challenge for those who don’t want to miss a minute of the game, halftime show, or commercials. With all of the great Super Bowl food and drink available, you’re going to be tempted to walk away from the TV at some point — OK, at multiple points — and potentially miss something memorable.

A DVR gives you the ability to pause, record, and rewind live TV. If you have a satellite or cable TV subscription, you may already have a DVR provided by the company. But if you’re a cord cutter or if you don’t want to pay the high price the cable or satellite company charges for using its DVR, you can always turn to a third-party DVR option, such as a TiVo brand. Just make sure the DVR you pick can record in HD.

If you’re interested in a TiVo DVR, Ben’s Bargains has collected some special pricing options for you.

HDMI Cables

Make sure that your HD video and audio quality is as high as possible by using HDMI cables to connect your devices to the TV. Just don’t overpay for HDMI cables. You’ll often find that traditional department stores will charge high prices for them versus the bargains you can find if you shop around for HDMI cables. And be sure to purchase a cable that’s long enough to reach from device to device, as some cables are as short as 3 feet in length.

Smartphone Streaming Options

An option for a cord cutter is to stream the game. The Fox Sports Go app will allow anyone to stream the Super Bowl for free.

But nobody wants to watch the big game on the small smartphone screen. If your smartphone and TV brand match up, you potentially can port your smartphone’s screen onto the HDTV screen wirelessly through DLNA technology. Or if you have an iPhone, you can connect it to the HDTV through the Apple TV hardware.

Just make sure that if you have a data limit on your smartphone plan, you aren’t going to be clobbered with overage fees by streaming the game.

TV Antenna

If you’re a cord cutter, you also have the option of watching the Super Bowl for free … with the right equipment. A TV antenna will provide the HDTV entertainment options you need, as you can pull in over-the-air broadcasts from your local TV stations, giving you shows from ABC, CBS, CW, NBC, and Fox, which has Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast.

You will need some technical know-how to connect the antenna to your TV. And you may have to buy an HD tuner, although newer HDTVs have tuners built into them. But many modern TV antennas can be set up in the attic of your home or even right next to the TV, meaning at least you don’t have to climb onto the roof and hook up one of those ugly, old-fashioned, bird-roosting monstrosities.

We at Ben’s Bargains have collected some great deals on TV antenna options.

TV Mount

When it comes to finding TV accessories, wall mount hardware is a great choice. If you’re going to be sitting in your favorite chair for three-plus hours on Super Sunday, you want the TV to be at the proper height for viewing comfortably. Use the TV wall mount to place the middle of the screen at eye level when you’re sitting in your favorite chair.

Because flat screen TVs don’t weigh much, you often can hang them yourself, if you’re comfortable working with common household tools. You also can hire a handyman to do the work, if you want to be sure to do it correctly. Just make sure the TV wall mount you select matches the model and size of television you want to hang, as each wall mount will only work with a handful of TVs.

The Most Important Accessory: The TV Itself

If you’re ready to make Super Bowl LI the best TV viewing experience you’ve ever had, coupling the accessories above with a new TV is the way to go.

Although Fox’s broadcast will be in HD resolution and not 4K resolution, you will be fine purchasing either type of flat screen TV. A 4K TV will upscale the HD signal, allowing it to fill the full 8 million pixel count on the 4K TV, giving you a better image than on an HDTV (with roughly 2 million pixels). New flat screen TVs also offer significant technological improvements in terms of screen brightness, contrast, and color accuracy over even an HDTV purchased a few years ago.

If you haven’t shopped for 4K or HDTVs recently, you’ll be shocked at the reasonable prices you can find. And to save even more, check out the list of great HDTV bargains we’ve researched and compiled.

Bonus TV accessory: If you’re watching the big game on a dirty television screen, you aren’t receiving all of the benefits of that high quality display. Consider purchasing some microfiber cloths to keep the screen clear, as these cloths are safe to use with your TV screen surface and they’re effective.

Must Have TV Accessories for the Super Bowl

Best Buy’s Black Friday ad brings deals on HDTVs, laptops & gaming systems

Mike Flacy — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 00:22:14 +0000

Mike Flacy

Rolling out a broad range of electronics deals per usual, Best Buy’s Black Friday 2015 ad isn’t as strong as previous years. However, we may see additional deals when the paper version of the Black Friday ad drops. In any case, we have looked through the entire 37-page scan to bring you the best of Best Buy’s Black Friday deals. Check out our top 10 below:

1. 49″ Toshiba 1080p LED HDTV ($150)

Definitely a fantastic price for a name-brand television, this 49″ Toshiba HDTV (49L310U)normally sells for $429. Prior to this point, the lowest price on the 1080p television was $350 based on our deal history. While it will likely be tough to snag this model without camping out in front of a local Best Buy store, it’s great to see a name brand television at this price rather than off-brand models.

This deal starts at 5:00 P.M. on Thanksgiving only in stores. Quantities limited.

2. Dell Inspiron 5000 Core i3 15.6″ Touchscreen Laptop ($300)

Beating a historical low of $375 for this model at Dell, this model actually comes with an additional 4GB of RAM (8GB total) and a 1TB hard drive. Definitely a solid model for teens or college students that need a start Windows 10 laptop.