Electronics prices follow a fairly predictable yearly pattern, driven by big shopping events and product launches. Here's when deals usually show up. Dates and sales change every year, so treat this as a guide, not a guarantee.
The big sale events
| When | Event | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Late November | Black Friday and Cyber Monday | Almost everything: TVs, laptops, consoles, headphones, smart home. |
| December 26 (Canada) | Boxing Day and Boxing Week | TVs, audio, laptops and gaming, especially in Canada. |
| Summer, often July | Amazon's Prime Day and competing sales at other retailers | Amazon devices, accessories, headphones, storage. |
| July to early September | Back-to-school | Laptops, tablets and student discounts on computers. |
| October | Fall member and early holiday sales | An early look at holiday prices. |
Product launch timing
- Phones: when a new model launches, the previous model often drops in price or gets better trade-in deals.
- TVs: new models are usually announced early in the year and arrive in spring, so the previous year's models are often cheapest from late winter into spring, as stores clear stock.
- Laptops: new chip generations push older configurations down. Watch for clearance on the previous generation.
- Gaming: consoles are rarely discounted heavily, but bundles and gift-card offers appear around the holidays. Games and accessories drop more often.
Tips for any time of year
- Track the price for a few weeks before a big purchase so you know a real drop when you see it.
- Check whether the retailer offers price adjustments if the price drops after you buy.
- Compare Canadian and U.S. prices only after currency conversion, shipping and any duties.
- Open-box and refurbished stock often has the deepest discounts of all. See our condition guide.
Cartlumen may earn a commission from some links on this site, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.