Price Trends Show Huge Drops on 55" TVs, Especially 3D

Big screens require a big budget. Or so we used to think. Recent data we've collected from dealnews' exclusive databases* shows that in the past 12 months, name-brand 55" LCDs have fallen significantly. This is especially so for top-of-the-line models with built-in 3D; they have plummeted in price by a whopping 50%. So while $2,970 for a 55" 3D TV was a great deal in February 2010, $1,499 for a similar 3D TV in January 2011 is even better.

That's not the only good news for those who are thinking about buying a new TV in 2011. Prices for 55" LED LCD HDTVs (those that don't feature 3D, but still support Internet apps) have also dropped in the past 12 months by a respectable 42%. In fact, these sets are doing so well that they're cannibalizing their non-app supporting counterparts, much like when LCDs with 120Hz overtook those with 60Hz. While sales on non-Web-enabled LED LCDs are slowing down, deals on Web-enabled LEDs are going strong, with $1,117 being the best price we've seen in the past 12 months (back in November).

Is that still too expensive? You'll be happy to know that for the first time ever, we've seen name-brand 55" CCFL-based LCDs drop comfortably below the $1,000 mark. (Just so you know, older LCD HDTVs have Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp, or CCFL, backlighting, which is generally considered inferior to LED HDTVs.) We are now seeing them go for as little as $888.

Below are the one-year price drops worth noting:

• 55" 3D LED LCD HDTVs: 50% drop
• 55" LED LCD HDTVs (w/ Internet support): 42% drop
• 55" LED LCD HDTVs (w/o Internet support): 35% drop
• 55" CCFL-based LCD HDTVs: 23% drop

If you're wondering why 3D TVs are dropping so fast in price, then watch our video series on the future of 3D which explains:

• Why 3D TVs Are a Hard Sell
• When Will We Get 3D TV Without Glasses?
• Is Star Wars in 3D The New Hope?
• Can You Watch the Super Bowl in 3D and Would You Want to?

^{*This data is based on deals listed on dealnews.com, which represent low points, not averages. Shipping prices (where applicable) were factored into the pricing in our data. Name brands include: Samsung, Sony, Vizio, LG, and Toshiba.}