DealWatch: 42" and 50" 720p Plasma TVs

Published
Although they're losing ground to LCDs, aggressive deals on plasma TVs are still readily available. We examined the past year's deals (excluding refurbs) to see where pricing on these once expensive sets is heading next.

Verdict1
Since June of 2008, pricing on 42" plasma TVs has steadily dropped to the point where $600 will soon be the standard deal. Panasonic deals were the most abundant, closely followed by LG. It's also worth noting that choosing a 42" plasma TV over an LCD of the same size can save you about $200. (See our DealWatch on LCDs for LCD deal trends.) The LCD will have the better resolution (1080p), but if you're looking for a second set or if resolution isn't important to you, plasma TVs offer the better value. Click to see the latest deals on all plasma TVs.

1 We found no noteworthy 42" plasma deals in March, so data for that month is represented by dotted lines.

Verdict
Plasma TVs have become the flat-screen of choice for shoppers on a budget. The average 50" plasma costs roughly $800. (By comparison, deals on 52" LCDs have plateaued at $1,200.) Big box retailers like Fry's Electronics, Walmart, and Best Buy tend to offer the best deals on these TVs, with the most discounted brands coming from Samsung and Panasonic. Pricing on deals have ticked up recently, so if you see a 50" plasma for under $800, that would be the time to buy. Click to see the latest deals on all plasma TVs.

Shipping prices (when applicable) were factored into the pricing in our data. This data is based on deals listed on dealnews.com, which represent low points, not averages.

Louis Ramirez is dealnews' Features editor.

DealNews may be compensated by companies mentioned in this article. Please note that, although prices sometimes fluctuate or expire unexpectedly, all products and deals mentioned in this feature were available at the lowest total price we could find at the time of publication (unless otherwise specified).

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