Hey,

I’m gonna come at this from the pure **performance / driving-the-TV perspective**, since you mentioned PS5 and motion handling.

**Background:** I’ve gone LCD → Sony A8H → A80J over the last few years, both bought around Black Friday/Cyber Monday. I’m not a calibration nerd, but I’m super picky about motion, input lag, and HDR pop for gaming.

**Why it matters:** With Sony, the “deal” isn’t just dollars off, it’s: *what level of performance are you getting for that price* vs waiting. Sony’s processing and motion handling are honestly fantastic, and each year the jump is smaller… but input lag, HDR tone‑mapping, and gaming features have quietly improved.

**What I’ve actually seen:**
- On my A80J 65", the big deal was about **$400–$500 off** the launch price by Black Friday, but the **performance per dollar** was best on the *previous-year* model once the new line hit.
- For gaming, the year Sony finally nailed 4K/120 + VRR properly on more HDMI ports was worth more to me than squeezing another $100 off.

**So for 2025:**
- If the 2025 mid‑range Sony has rock‑solid 4K/120, VRR with no weird dimming, and great HDR for PS5, I’d lean **current-year** if it drops into your $1.5–2k range.
- If not, grab the **2024 model on clearance** – you’ll probably get 90–95% of the performance and still hit that price bracket.

I’d watch reviews that focus on **input lag, VRR behavior, and motion** first, then see what Cyber Monday does to the price. Don’t overpay for “new year” if the actual gaming/performance gains are tiny.

Hope this helps!

Hey,

Since others already hit pricing/timing pretty hard, I’ll come at it from a **service / long-term-ownership** angle, because that can absolutely affect when and where you should buy your Sony OLED around Cyber Monday.

**1. Buy where service is easy, not just where it’s $50 cheaper**
If you’re worried about panel issues, I’d *definitely* prioritize:
- **Authorized dealer** (Best Buy, Amazon “Ships from and sold by Amazon”, Crutchfield, etc.)
- Clear **return + exchange policy** on large TVs (14–30 days minimum, free pickup if DOA/bad banding).
Cyber Monday sometimes pushes you toward random 3rd-party sellers — I’d skip those for OLEDs. One panel problem and you’ll wish you paid the extra $100.

**2. Extended warranty: when it actually makes sense**
For a ~$1.5–2k Sony OLED, I think an extended warranty from the retailer can be worth it *if*:
- It’s **in-home service** (they come to you)
- It explicitly covers **burn-in / image retention** (some do, some quietly don’t)
- Total cost is ~10–15% of TV price, not more.

Cyber Monday tip: those plans are often discounted then too. Factor that into your “deal” math.

**3. Panel health habits (especially with PS5)**
These don’t cost you anything and seriously extend panel life:
- Don’t disable Sony’s **pixel shift / screen saver / panel refresh**. They work well and I’ve had zero burn-in on a heavily-used A80J.
- For PS5, enable **HUD dimming** in games if possible, and use the **auto HDR tone mapping** with the PS5 – it tends to reduce the need to crank brightness to max.
- Avoid running static stuff (sports tickers, news channels, paused screens) for hours. If you walk away, just hit power.

**4. Check your panel HARD within the return window**
Once you get it (Cyber Monday or not):
- Run test slides (5%, 10%, 50% gray, solid red/green/blue) from YouTube/USB. Look for crazy banding or obvious tint.
- Try some dark scenes with slow pans (movies like “Blade Runner 2049”, “The Batman”).
If something bugs you now, it’ll bug you for 5 years. Return/exchange while it’s easy.

**5. Use Sony’s maintenance features on schedule**
- The **short panel refresh** runs automatically after a few hours of use when you power off — let it run. Don’t unplug the TV right after turning it off.
- The **manual long refresh** (in the menu) I’d only run maybe every 1,500–2,000 hours or if you notice mild retention. Don’t spam it; it ages the panel slightly each time.

**How this ties back to Cyber Monday 2025**
If you see a Cyber Monday deal from a **big, reputable retailer with good service and a discounted protection plan**, that’s honestly my “sweet spot”:
- Solid price
- Low-risk returns
- Better long-term support if anything goes wrong.

So yeah, I’d plan around Cyber Monday **but** treat it as the time to get a *good overall ownership package* (price + warranty + service), not just chase the lowest number. For a 65" Sony OLED in your budget, that combo is what’ll keep you happy and satisfied 3–5 years down the line.

Hope this helps!

Hey, long‑time Sony OLED owner here (A8F → A9G → A80J) and tbh my biggest lesson isn’t about **Cyber Monday**, it’s about **living with the TV for 3–5 years**.

My quick take for you:

**Tip:** If you care about long‑term ownership, aim for a **slightly older, better‑binned Sony OLED** on sale (2024/2025 model from the *previous* year’s lineup) around Black Friday–Cyber Monday, not the just‑released stuff.

**Why (from experience):**
- I’ve *unfortunately* had more issues with the very first year of a new panel / chipset (color banding, weird bugs, eARC dropouts) than with the “refined” year‑2 versions. Sony usually fixes it with firmware… but it can take months.
- Panel uniformity on my launch‑year sets was not as good as the discounted “last‑year” models I bought later. The A80J I grabbed a year after release has been rock solid vs my earlier day‑one A9G which had near‑black banding that never totally went away.
- For gaming, Sony’s early HDMI 2.1 firmware on one of my sets was honestly not as good as promised at launch. Buying after the first big firmware waves meant VRR/120Hz actually worked as advertised.

**Practically for you:**
- Watch **2024/2025 mid‑range Sony OLEDs** in fall 2025. The “L”/“M” equivalent (whatever they call it) that’s 1 generation old by then is your sweet spot.
- Cyber Monday is fine, but in my logs the **real price floor** for Sony OLEDs usually hits **mid‑November to early December**, and then again around **Super Bowl sales**. Don’t panic‑buy if Cyber Monday is only $100–150 off from deals a week earlier.
- With your $1,500–$2,000 budget, a 65" prior‑year Sony OLED should be totally realistic by late 2025 if you’re okay not having the brand‑new series name.

So yeah, I’d plan *around* Cyber Monday 2025, but prioritize: “stable, well‑patched, previous‑year Sony OLED with proven panel quality” over “latest badge.” That’s what’s kept me happiest long‑term.

Hope this helps! Feel free to ping back when 2025 models are actually announced and we can sanity‑check specific SKUs.

Hey,

I’ll throw in a slightly different angle: if you’re already waiting until 2025, you might want to factor in **energy use and “eco cost” per year**, not just the Cyber Monday price.

From what I’ve seen tracking sets since the A8F days, the newer Sony OLED generations have been quietly getting a bit more **power‑efficient per nit** of brightness. So:

- If the 2025 mid‑range OLED is meaningfully more efficient than the A80L line, it might be worth **paying a bit more** vs grabbing a heavy‑discounted older model.
- Check the **EnergyGuide / EU energy label equivalents** or wattage at SDR/HDR. Two 65" Sony OLEDs can differ by ~40–60W in real use. Over 5+ years, that’s not nothing.
- Be careful with “torch mode” in stores. Make sure to run in a calibrated or eco mode at home – that can chop power use a lot without killing picture quality.

Also, Cyber Monday often lines up with retailers pushing “eco” promos (extended recycling, haul‑away, sometimes rebates on efficient models), so you might want to:

- Look for **free haul‑away / recycling** of your old LCD – better than it ending in a random landfill.
- Check if any stores bundle **extended warranty + panel protection**, so you’re not replacing the TV prematurely (huge environmental win vs a tiny power difference).

In my opinion, if a 2025 Sony 65" hits your $1.5–2k target and is clearly more efficient than a 2024 closeout, I’d lean current‑year. Total cost of ownership (price + energy + lifespan) usually beats the rock‑bottom clearance deal.

Hope this helps!

Hey,

I’ll throw in a slightly different angle: **where you live and your local conditions can seriously change how “good” a Cyber Monday Sony OLED deal is** and how safe it is to buy.

**Option A – Big online retailer, average climate (US/EU, mild temps)**
Pros: usually the best headline discounts, easy price matching, decent return policies. Shipping stress is lower if you’re not in extreme heat/cold.
Cons: you’re still relying on freight handling; panel damage can happen, and you may have to re-box a 65" monster for returns.

**Option B – Local/regional retailer in harsher climates (very cold winters / hot & humid / high altitude)**
Pros: IMO this is underrated. Shorter transport, less time in unheated/overheated trucks and warehouses. Easier to refuse delivery or inspect on-site. Some regions (e.g. very humid coastal areas) have better local support/warranty add‑ons.
Cons: discounts can be slightly worse than Amazon/Best Buy online, and stock of Sony OLEDs might be limited.

**Option C – Shipping to remote/rural areas or countries with weak warranty coverage**
Pros: sometimes you can still hit your $1.5–2k target via importers.
Cons: honestly, high risk. Longer transit (temp swings aren’t great for OLED panels), more chance of rough handling, and returns can be a nightmare. I’d only do this if you’ve confirmed **in writing** how DOA panels and banding/line issues are handled.

For **Cyber Monday 2025 specifically**:
- In a mild climate, I’d chase the big online promos but insist on white‑glove or at least scheduled delivery and **immediate panel inspection** (dark room, gray slides, basic uniformity check).
- In very cold/hot regions, I’d consider waiting for a **post‑holiday/local promo** (January–February) when shipping volume drops and transit is a bit less chaotic. You sometimes lose $50–100 vs Cyber Monday but gain reliability.

Also, check **Sony’s regional warranty terms**. In some countries, burn‑in and some panel defects are handled very differently. That can matter more than an extra $200 off.

So, yeah, I’d still use Cyber Monday as your reference point for pricing, but I’d pick **where** you buy based heavily on climate + distance. A “smaller” discount from a local, climate‑sane delivery can be the better deal in the long run.

Hope this helps!

If you’re aiming for Cyber Monday 2025 on a Sony OLED, I’d *plan the deal around the warranty/insurance first*, not just the discount – especially with OLED burn-in and panel lottery stuff.

I’ve had issues with a 65" Sony OLED I grabbed on a “crazy” online deal: price was great, but it was through a third‑party seller and, unfortunately, the warranty situation was way worse than I expected. Sony *technically* covered it, but:

- The retailer wasn’t an **authorized dealer**, so Sony pushed back hard at first
- Their “extended protection plan” excluded burn‑in, banding and dead pixel clusters (basically all the stuff I was worried about)
- Returns were a nightmare because of shipping damage finger‑pointing

So, for what you’re planning:

1. **Stick to authorized dealers even on Cyber Monday** (Best Buy, Amazon *sold by Amazon*, Costco, etc.). Sony’s standard warranty is usually 1 year, but they’re much more chill when the invoice is from an authorized place.

2. **Compare extended warranties, not just prices.**
- Costco: usually 2 years manufacturer + 1–2 extra via Costco / Visa = solid, and they’re pretty lenient.
- Best Buy: Geek Squad can be pricey, but read the fine print on burn‑in and pixel defects. Some plans *explicitly* exclude burn‑in.
- Amazon: if you go with an Allstate/SquareTrade style plan, seriously read what’s covered for OLED. A lot of them call burn‑in “image retention” and dodge it.

3. **Use Cyber Monday to stack warranty + discount.** Instead of chasing the absolute lowest price, I’d look for:
- A decent discount (maybe $400–$700 off by then, if prices keep trending down)
- Plus: credit card warranty extension (some Visas/Amex double the manufacturer warranty)
- Plus: a retailer with easy returns if you get a bad panel (uniformity, dead pixels, tinting)

4. **Timing trick:** check **Black Friday → Cyber Monday → the next 1–2 weeks**.
- Sometimes Best Buy/Costco will have a “Black Friday price guarantee” + better financing or warranty promo *not* strictly tied to Cyber Monday.
- So if you see a good price + bonus warranty/return terms the week *before* Cyber Monday, I’d honestly grab it instead of gambling on that one day.

5. **Panel check ASAP.** Whatever day you buy:
- Unbox right away
- Run some grey slides / YouTube uniformity tests
- Check for banding, dead pixels, weird color tint
- If anything looks off, use that holiday‑season return window while it’s generous

In your $1,500–$2,000 range for a 65" by late 2025, I think that’s realistic *if* you’re okay with a previous‑year model on clearance. Just, in my opinion, don’t trade away:

- Authorized seller status
- A solid return policy (30–90 days ideally)
- Reasonable burn‑in coverage via extended plan + credit card

Because, tbh, the $200–$300 you “save” with some sketchy Cyber Monday seller can vanish the second you get a panel with issues and no one wants to claim responsibility.

So yeah: use Cyber Monday as a **warranty + retailer sweet spot day**, not just a price day. If you can get an A80L/2025 equivalent from Costco/Best Buy at ~1.7–1.9k with 3–4 years of total coverage, that’s the combo I’d personally jump on.

Hope this helps!