DealsAnalysisSavings

Price Tracking: Should You Wait for Black Friday or Buy These January Tech Deals?

eearpods

2026-02-15

10 min read

Data-driven advice on whether to buy now or wait, using January 2026 drops on LG C5, Mac mini M4, UGREEN charger, and Samsung monitor.

Should you wait for Black Friday or buy these January tech deals? A data-driven guide

Hook: You want the best price without endless monitoring. Between confusing sales cycles, coupon codes, and model refreshes, it feels impossible to know when to click buy. This guide uses real price moves from January 2026 — the LG C5 OLED, Apple Mac mini M4, UGREEN MagFlow charger, and Samsung Odyssey monitor — to give clear, actionable rules for when to pounce and when to wait.

The short answer, up front

If a product is at or below its all time low or at least as cheap as last Black Friday, buy it. If a discount is only a small percent off list price and the model is within six months of a known refresh, wait. For accessories and chargers, January clearance often matches or beats Black Friday. For big-ticket displays and consoles, deep drops can appear off-cycle but tend to be short lived.

Price snapshots: what actually dropped in January 2026

We tracked four representative January moves. Each illustrates a different retailer strategy and product life cycle.

LG Evo C5 65 inch OLED TV: A major authorized reseller applied a 20 percent code to bring the 65 inch model to about 1200 dollars, lower than many Black Friday 2025 prices. The C5 is LGs best selling OLED family, making this kind of flash coupon both impactful and fleeting.
Apple Mac mini M4: A January sale brought the base M4 model to roughly 500 dollars, about 17 percent off and only slightly worse than the best Black Friday price. Higher tier configs followed similar patterns, with modest single to low double digit discounts.
UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 3-in-1 charger: The 25W charger dipped to about 95 dollars, just above its all time low near 90 dollars. Peripherals like this routinely hit or beat Black Friday prices in January.
Samsung Odyssey G5 32 inch monitor: A 42 percent markdown made a popular QHD gaming panel cost like a no name model. Those are the kind of sudden inventory clearances that can outshine Black Friday — but stock disappears fast.

Why these moves matter: retailer behavior in January 2026

Retail strategies have evolved since 2020. By late 2025 and into 2026, several patterns are clear:

Extended promo windows: Black Friday no longer lives on one weekend. Discounts are spread from October through December, compressing some of Novembers savings and shifting certain inventory pressure into January.
Post-holiday clearance: Retailers discount overstock and last year models in January to make room for spring product cycles. This is why monitors and TVs sometimes hit deeper discounts in January than in November. For spotting genuine post-holiday clearances, see How to Spot a Genuine Deal.
Coupon stacking and dynamic pricing: Brands and large resellers use targeted coupons and algorithmic price changes. That 20 percent coupon on an LG came from a seller trying to move display inventory fast. For tactical use of flash sales and stacking, read practical examples of flash-sale tactics at How to Use Flash Sales.
Accessory stability: Chargers, cables, and small accessories frequently reach their historic low in January after holiday demand subsides. Expect repeat sales for items under 150 dollars.

Product-by-product recommendation

LG Evo C5 65 inch OLED TV

What happened: The 65 inch C5 dropped to about 1200 dollars with a site coupon, undercutting last years Black Friday low. The C5 is mid cycle in LGs lineup and remains highly sought after for gaming and movies.

Analysis: TVs are seasonal but also follow model refresh cycles. If the current price is below last Black Friday and near the model's all time low, it is a strong buy. Big discounts on name brand TVs from authorized sellers are rare and short lived, and the risk of missing a lower price later is low compared with stockouts or waiting for a sale that may never beat the historic low.

Action: Buy if the price is at or below your target threshold, which we recommend as the lower of last Black Friday price or 5 percent above the all time low. Otherwise set an alert and watch for coupon codes from authorized resellers.

Apple Mac mini M4

What happened: A modest 17 percent discount brought the base M4 to 500 dollars in January. Higher spec configurations saw similar single digit to mid teen percent drops.

Analysis: Apple devices see predictable discounts. New hardware rounds and holiday pushes set the floor. If you need Apple silicon now, a sale within 10 to 20 percent of the best Black Friday price is usually a good buy. If a rumored refresh is close, consider waiting if you need features tied to the new chip or Thunderbolt 5 expansions. For context on compact devices and mobile workstations consider this field review of compact mobile workstations: Field Review: Compact Mobile Workstations.

Action: For most buyers, January offers nearly Black Friday level savings on Macs. Buy if performance and ports meet your needs and the price is within 15 percent of the lowest historical price. If you can wait and have no urgent need, track rumors about new Apple silicon updates for potential extra savings or better future-proofing.

UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 3-in-1 charger

What happened: A popular 3-in-1 charger hit roughly 95 dollars, near its lowest recorded price of 90 dollars.

Analysis: Accessories and chargers are usually safe buys when near an all time low. They have short feature half lives and new versions rarely justify a big premium. If the price is within 5 to 10 percent of the all time low, buy now. For broader power and charging options, see guidance on picking the right portable power solutions at How to Pick the Right Portable Power Station.

Action: Snap it up if the price is near the historic low. Add a coupon stacking check and cashback via portals for extra savings.

Samsung Odyssey G5 32 inch monitor

What happened: An astonishing 42 percent discount turned a mainstream gaming monitor into a bargain. These deep cuts typically indicate retailer inventory clearing or a model replacement on the horizon.

Analysis: When monitors fall by 30 percent or more, it is often a one-time clearance. If the model meets your spec needs and the seller is reputable, treat the price drop as a rare opportunity. Expect stock to be limited.

Action: Buy if you need the monitor now and the price is significantly below Black Friday or the model is being replaced. Otherwise, set alerts and be prepared to act fast — these drops rarely last more than a day or two at major retailers.

Data-driven rules for buy now or wait

Rule 1: If price <= last Black Friday low, buy unless a known refresh is within 6 weeks.
Rule 2: If price <= all time low or within 5 percent of it, buy, especially for accessories and displays.
Rule 3: For new flagship hardware less than 6 months old, expect smaller margins — wait for a confirmed sale or authorized reseller coupon if you can.
Rule 4: If the discount is large but from a third party seller, verify seller authorization and warranty coverage before buying.
Rule 5: Use stock alerts for high-value doorbuster-style drops; these are usually short windows.

Buying principle: a historic-low price is a signal; a small, temporary discount is noise.

How to track prices like a pro

Tools and tactics matter more than luck. Here are practical tools and steps we use when monitoring products.

Price trackers: Use Keepa for Amazon history, CamelCamelCamel for alerts, and browser extensions that show price graphs on product pages. For in-store and shelf scanning tactics used by deal hunters, see Smart Shelf Scans.
Alert rules: Set alerts at the all time low and at your personal target price, not just a percent off MSRP.
Coupon monitoring: Follow authorized resellers social and newsletter lists for limited stackable coupon codes. Combine coupon and cashback for maximum savings.
Price match and return windows: Check retailer price match policies and extended holiday return dates. Some stores honor price drops within a short period.
Verification: Always confirm the seller is an authorized reseller for warranty coverage on TVs and monitors. For Apple products, prefer Apple store or authorized resellers unless the price is dramatically better and seller reputation is verified.
Cashback portals and cards: Stack cashback and rewards. Some credit cards offer additional price protection or return protection that can save you money if the price drops after purchase.

Risk management and non price considerations

Price is only part of the decision. Factor in warranty, shipping time, restock fees, and returns.

Warranty and service: For TVs and monitors, manufacturer warranty and local service availability matter more than 20 dollars saved. Be aware of changes in consumer protections and return law (see the March 2026 consumer-rights update) at News: 2026 Consumer Rights Law.
Open box and refurbished: These can be excellent value, especially for monitors and laptops, but verify return policy and warranty length. See our refurbished ultrabook buyer playbook at Refurbished Ultraportables.
Timing and need: If you need the device for work or school immediately, the value of immediate access can outweigh small additional savings.

2026 trends to watch that affect deal timing

The retail landscape in 2026 is shaped by algorithmic pricing and tighter product cycles. Here are trends that change how we time purchases.

AI-driven dynamic pricing: Retailers increasingly use AI to adjust prices by demand signals and inventory. That raises the frequency of short, targeted discounts. For infrastructure context on modern cloud-backed systems that enable these dynamics, see The Evolution of Cloud-Native Hosting in 2026.
Faster refresh cycles: Some categories, especially displays and earbuds, refresh faster. Expect deeper discounts on outgoing models earlier in the year.
Subscription and membership deals: Membership programs and credit card offers now include exclusive savings windows outside traditional sales events.
Consolidated holiday windows: With more promotions stretched into November and December, January is becoming the go-to for true clearance on overstock and last season models.

Practical checklist: what to do right now

Pin the four January deals you care about and record their current price and the all time low.
Set automated alerts at your target price and at 5 percent below last Black Friday price.
Verify seller authorization and warranty for TVs and computers before checkout.
Stack cashback and check for coupon codes from sellers newsletters.
If you see a >=30 percent drop on name brand displays or audio gear, be prepared to buy fast.

Final verdict: black friday vs january for 2026 buyers

Black Friday still delivers headline deals, but January 2026 proved that smart, targeted markdowns and coupons can beat those headlines. The deciding factor should be where the price sits in the product's historical range and whether a refresh is imminent.

Use our simple rule set: if a price is at or below the all time low or better than last Black Friday, and the seller is reputable, buy. If not, set alerts, follow coupon-fed resellers, and be prepared to act on deep short-term drops.

Actionable takeaway

Right now, pick the items you genuinely need and set two alerts per product: one at the all time low and one at last Black Friday low. For the LG C5 65 inch at 1200 dollars, the Mac mini at 500 dollars, the UGREEN charger at 95 dollars, and the Samsung monitor at a 42 percent drop, treat those January prices as real opportunities. If they match your personal value threshold, buy with confidence.

Want us to watch a model for you and send a price alert when it hits your target? Sign up for our curated deal tracker and get notified when January-style opportunities return.

Call to action

Sign up for price alerts, follow our curated January deals, and get real-time notifications when a product drops to your target price. Don’t wait for another rumor — let data decide when you buy.

earpods

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.