Best Buy Cuts 70-Inch Insignia F50 TV to $350 Ahead of World Cup Quarterfinals

Q: Is buying last year's discounted TV model still smarter than purchasing a new 2026 budget television?

Yes—often, a discounted 2025 TV is the smarter buy than a new 2026 budget set, especially if the older model was a solid midrange TV and the discount is meaningful. The Insignia F50 deal illustrates why. At $350 for a 70-inch 4K TV, it delivered the core features most buyers actually use: Fire TV apps, Alexa voice control, HDR10, AirPlay, Bluetooth, HDMI eARC, and a 60Hz panel that is fine for streaming, sports, and casual gaming. Those are still standard on many 2026 budget TVs, so the newer model may not add much in everyday use. Expert guidance in the broader TV market points the same way. Reviews and deal trackers consistently note that year-to-year TV improvements are usually modest, while last year’s models often get steep clearance discounts. That means a 2025 set can offer very similar picture quality and smart features for less money than a 2026 budget model. The main exception is when a 2026 budget TV brings a real hardware upgrade at a similar price, such as Mini LED backlighting, better brightness, stronger local dimming, or higher refresh rates for gaming. If those features matter, the newer set can be worth it. For most shoppers, the practical rule is simple: buy last year’s discounted TV if it has the size, platform, and ports you want and the price gap is large. Buy the new 2026 budget model only if it clearly improves panel quality, gaming performance, or long-term software support.

2 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jul 9

$350 buys Best Buy’s 70-inch Insignia F50 smart TV after a $150 discount, positioning the deal as a pre-World Cup quarterfinals home-theater upgrade.
The set targets budget buyers with 4K resolution, HDR10, a 60Hz refresh rate and DTS Virtual:X audio, alongside Amazon’s Fire TV platform and built-in Alexa controls.
Fire TV support gives access to Prime Video and major streaming apps including Netflix, HBO Max and YouTube, while AirPlay, Bluetooth and HDMI eARC expand speaker and device options.
ZDNET rated the offer 4 out of 5, noting Insignia’s low-cost positioning makes a 70-inch screen under $500 stand out, though the deal could expire or sell out.