I test TVs and these are the 3 deals to look for in Memorial Day sales

(Image credit: Future)

Memorial Day weekend is when our thoughts turn to summer and to summer-oriented activities like grilling, beach, camping… basically anything that happens outdoors. But it’s also a great opportunity to snag the big-screen TV of your dreams in the Memorial Day sales.

Memorial Day TV sales at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are starting to roll out now and will continue through Memorial Day proper on June 27. I’ve checked out some of the deals that have already gone live, and some of the best TVs TechRadar has tested can be found in the sales. With so many TVs to choose from, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you, so here are three models at various price points that I’d strongly recommend.

Roku Plus series

With the recent release of the Roku Pro series TVs, the company now offers three tiers of TVs with its built-in smart TV system: Pro, Plus, and Select. And while all three are affordable compared to the competition, the mid-range Roku Plus series hits a sweet spot in terms of performance and price.

The Plus series TVs feature a QLED display with a full-array local dimming backlight and support the Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG high dynamic range formats. With a 60Hz native refresh rate, they’re not the best option for gaming, and the sound quality of the built-in speakers is just average, though Roku lets you easily upgrade audio with its family of soundbars, wireless surround speakers, and subwoofers.

In my Roku Plus series review, I characterized its picture as “impressively dynamic for such an affordable TV” and remarked on its simple, uncluttered, yet effective smart TV interface. If you’re looking for a 4K TV that offers very good picture quality at a reasonable price, the Roku Plus series is worth seeking out.

Hisense U8K TV showing colorful trees — (Image credit: Future)

Hisense U8K series

The Hisense U8K is the mid-range option in our best TV guide for a good reason: it combines impressive picture quality with high value. This model uses a mini-LED backlight for high brightness, and its local dimming performance is good enough to bring out fine shadow detail in movies. The U8K uses the Google TV smart TV system for streaming and it also has a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner to receive 'NextGen' digital TV broadcasts.

With a 120Hz refresh rate and dual HDMI 2.1 inputs with up to 144Hz VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro, and Dolby Vision gaming support, the Hisense U8K is a great option for gaming. It has a built-in 2.1.2-channel speaker system that delivers Dolby Atmos sound with good dialogue clarity and decent bass, and a height-adjustable stand that can clear space for an external soundbar.

I called the U8K a “fantastic value” in my Hisense U8K review based on its high performance level and low price. It was a great deal when I first reviewed it and remains one of the best values in TVs.

Hisense U8K 65-inch 4K mini-LED TV: was $999.99 now $899 at Best Buy
Hisense's U8K series is a budget-friendly alternative to pricier mini-LED-backlit QLED TVs from Samsung and Sony, and this pre-Memorial Day deal on the 65-inch model lops $100 off the regular price. In our Hisense U8K review we praised its bright picture and impressive black levels, and also found it to be a great gaming option with 4K 144Hz, VRR, and FreeSync Premium Pro support. This is a new low price on a TechRadar-recommended TV, so it's a deal worth grabbing.

Samsung S90C on a table, next to a sign saying TechRadar Choice Awards 2023 — (Image credit: Future)

Samsung S90C series

Samsung’s mid-range OLED model impressed us so much in our Samsung S90C review that it immediately earned the title of best overall TV in our best TVs buying guide and ultimately was named TV of the Year in the TechRadar Choice Awards. With much of the same performance as the company’s flagship Samsung S95C but at a substantially lower price, the Samsung S90C OLED TV offers unbeatable value.

The Samsung S90C is a great TV for watching movies and sports alike, with a bright picture by OLED standards and rich, inky blacks. It’s also a powerhouse gaming TV, with four HDMI 2.1 ports with support for 4K 120Hz or 144Hz pictures, VRR with AMD FreeSync, a Game Bar onscreen menu, and Samsung’s Gaming Hub for cloud-based gaming services including Xbox.

Samsung recently introduced the S90C’s successor, the Samsung S90D, which is said to provide higher brightness but otherwise has mostly the same features as the S90C. But there’s still time to score a great deal on a Samsung S90C OLED, and Memorial Day sales should provide the opportunity.

Shop today's best Memorial Day sales

Amazon: 50% off TVs, clothing, vacuums & more
Adidas: clothing & sneakers from $14
Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $89
Appliances: save 30% on major appliances
Best Buy: up to $800 off TVs
Casper: 30% off all mattresses
DreamCloud: 50% off mattresses sitewide
Home Depot: up to 60% off patio furniture
Lowe's: 35% off appliances
Nectar: up to 40% off mattresses
Nike: 50% off sneakers, leggings & t-shirts
Nordstrom: up to 50% off shoes, clothing & beauty
Purple: save up to $800 on mattresses + a free base
Saatva: up to $600 off luxury mattresses
Samsung: $1,500 off major appliances
Target: 35% off patio furniture, appliances & clothing
Walmart: $400 off TVs, clothing & more
Wayfair: outdoor furniture from $100

See more Television Deals

Al Griffin has been writing about and reviewing A/V tech since the days LaserDiscs roamed the earth, and was previously the editor of Sound & Vision magazine.

When not reviewing the latest and greatest gear or watching movies at home, he can usually be found out and about on a bike.