World Cup weekend TV buying guide, 2024 OLED and Mini LED models still offer the best value

With the World Cup on screens across North America this weekend, retailers are leaning on price cuts for last year’s premium TVs. For shoppers deciding today, 2024 OLED and Mini LED models remain the strongest value, with mature panels, broad app support, and gaming features already proven in reviews.

Analysts say major tournaments pull upgrades forward, and price history tools show meaningful drops from launch. LG’s 65 inch C4 carried a 2,399 dollar US launch price in spring 2024 according to LG, while TCL’s 65 inch QM8 listed at 1,699 dollars and Hisense’s 65 inch U8N at 1,499 dollars. Street prices have often fallen hundreds below those figures in recent months, according to Keepa and CamelCamelCamel tracking.

Prices on 2024 models

The OLED short list for sports and mixed use remains LG C3 or C4 and Samsung S90C or S90D. LG announced C4 at CES 2024 and began US shipments in March 2024, and both LG C series and Samsung S90 series have wide app catalogs on webOS and Tizen and low input lag documented by Rtings and multiple outlet tests.

For bright living rooms, Mini LED sets such as TCL QM8 and Hisense U8N deliver very high peak brightness and strong motion handling, with some blooming tradeoffs that vary by size. TCL and Hisense have grown share in the value tier, and Omdia ranked Samsung first in global TV revenue share at about 30 percent in 2023, with TCL and Hisense among the top three by unit shipments, which reflects why these models are heavily promoted.

What to look for this weekend

Check for at least two HDMI 2.1 inputs for 4K at 120 frames per second and for variable refresh rate, plus eARC on one port for a soundbar. LG’s C3 and C4 include four HDMI 2.1 inputs, while recent Samsung, TCL, and Hisense flagships provide multiple 2.1 inputs and eARC, according to manufacturer specifications.

Broadcast and streaming logistics matter. Fox Sports holds English language rights for the 2026 tournament in the United States and Telemundo holds Spanish language rights, and 4K streams typically require a compatible plan such as a 4K add on from YouTube TV or support from FuboTV, per each provider’s documentation.

Shoppers should also mind motion settings and logo dimming in picture menus during long matches. Reviewers at Rtings note that newer OLED panels have improved brightness and image retention protections, but static score bugs can still require sensible settings for long viewing sessions.

For the broader consumer hardware market, the current TV cycle shows that panel and backlight advances from 2022 to 2024 now define mid priced gear, and that software, update policies, and I O standards are differentiating factors. As panel costs ease and value brands climb the rankings, ecosystems like Tizen, webOS, and Google TV and reliable firmware support will weigh as much as raw panel specs in weekend purchase decisions.