Early Presidents’ Day sales are live — what to buy now, what to wait for, and how to verify real savings
- Worth buying now: OLED and mini‑LED TV deals (many are historic lows), Meta Quest 3S bundle, a handful of laptops (MacBook Pro M5, Acer Aspire 14 AI) and select Apple accessories.
- Consider waiting for: Carrier phone promos tied to trade‑ins if you don’t already have an eligible device; some spring events could reprice last‑gen items.
- Quick shopping advice: Treat promos as math problems — check price history, confirm trade‑in/activation fine print, and prefer items vetted by lab tests or hands‑on reviews.
Prices accurate as of Feb. 11, 2026 — retailers include Walmart, Costco, Amazon, Best Buy and brand stores. Inventory and terms change fast; verify before you buy.
Editors’ Picks — Top 5 best value deals
- Samsung 77″ S90C OLED — $1,799 (save $1,800): Exceptional picture-for-price for a large-screen OLED.
- Meta Quest 3S + Batman bundle — $249 (save $50): Great VR headset value for casual and new users.
- TCL QM6K 85″ mini‑LED — $998 (save ≈$900): Big-screen mini‑LED at an aggressive price after CES (the annual consumer electronics show).
- MacBook Pro M5 (14″) — $1,549 (save $250): Solid buy for professionals who need long battery life and performance.
- Google Pixel 10 Pro — $700 (save $300): Strong Android flagship price, especially with Google Fi offers.
Best Presidents’ Day TV deals (OLED & mini‑LED)
TVs are the standout category this season — many manufacturers discounted older models after CES and to make room for spring lines. If picture quality matters, prioritize models tested in labs or covered in expert reviews.
- Samsung 77″ S90C OLED 4K: $1,799 — save $1,800 (orig. $3,599). Editor note: excellent value for picture quality for the money.
- Samsung S95F 65″ OLED: $2,500 — save $800 (orig. $3,300). Rich colors and strong HDR performance.
- Sony Bravia 8 II OLED 65″: $2,700 — save $800 (orig. $3,500).
- LG C5 OLED 65″: $1,400 — save $1,300 (orig. $2,700).
- TCL QM6K 85″ mini‑LED: $998 — save ≈$900 (orig. up to $2,000 for some sizes). Big screen, aggressive pricing after CES (the annual consumer electronics show).
TV buyer’s checklist
- Confirm the panel type (OLED vs mini‑LED) and whether HDR formats you use are supported.
- Check HDMI specs (HDMI 2.1) if you plan to use next‑gen game consoles.
- Look for lab measurements or longform reviews on color accuracy and contrast.
- Note warranty terms and return window — large TVs can be expensive to return.
Top laptop deals (including picks for businesses)
- MacBook Pro M5 (14″): $1,549 — save $250 (orig. $1,799). Good for creative professionals and teams needing macOS deployment.
- MacBook Air M4 (15″): $1,099 — save $100 (orig. $1,199).
- Acer Aspire 14 AI: $459 — save $370 (orig. $829). Strong budget pick for everyday tasks.
- HP OmniBook X Flip (16″): $898 — save $202 (orig. $1,099).
Best for business: Prioritize warranty length, management/MDM support, and portability. A lower sticker price can cost more in deployment if the vendor lacks enterprise support.
Phone deals and how to evaluate carrier promos
- iPhone 17 Pro: Appears free via Verizon promos — typically delivered as monthly installment credits. Caveat: usually requires eligible trade‑in and activation.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: $1,050 — save $250 (orig. $1,300).
- Google Pixel 10 Pro: $700 — save $300 (orig. $1,000) — often paired with Google Fi offers.
- Google Pixel 9a: $399 — save $100 (orig. $499).
Terminology quick‑define: “Installment credits” are monthly bill reductions applied over a fixed period; “trade‑in” means you must hand over an eligible device to receive the discounted balance.
Worked example: calculating the real cost of a carrier promo
Example structure (illustrative): MSRP $1,100. Carrier offers $36/month credit for 36 months = $1,296 total credits. Offer requires a $500 trade‑in value and new line activation.
- MSRP: $1,100
- Total installment credits: $36 × 36 = $1,296
- Trade‑in device value required: $500 (you must own a qualifying device)
- Net cost to carrier after credits: MSRP − credits + remainder on trade‑in = $1,100 − $1,296 + (if trade‑in is fully accepted, you effectively cover fees or activation costs). If trade‑in eligibility fails, you may be left with monthly charges or a prorated bill.
Bottom line: don’t assume “free.” Verify trade‑in eligibility, activation requirements, and whether credits stop if you cancel service.
VR headset, gaming, wearables and smart home
- Meta Quest 3S + Batman bundle: $249 — save $50 (orig. $299). One of the easiest VR headsets to recommend for new users because of ease of use and content ecosystem. — Kerry Wan
- PlayStation 5 Fortnite bundle: $449 — save $101 (orig. $550); PS5 Digital Edition bundle $400 — save $100.
- Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS 42mm): $299 — save $100 (orig. $399).
- Apple Watch SE (2nd gen): $159 — save $120 (orig. $279).
- AirPods Max: $450 — save $100 (orig. $550).
- Renpho Lynx Smart Ring: ~$169–$170 — save about $70 (orig. $229).
- Whisker Litter‑Robot 4 bundle: $816 — save $125 (orig. ~$932).
- KeySmart Smart Card: $30 with code (save $10).
- Eufy Security S350 Cam: $100 — save $40 (orig. $140).
“One of the easiest VR headsets to recommend, especially at the discounted price.”
“Among the best picture quality for the money.”
“Richer colors, deep contrast, HDR10 detail and gamer‑friendly features like variable refresh rate for smoother motion and low input lag for faster controller response.”
How deals were selected (short methodology)
Editors prioritize meaningful discounts — typically 20% or more — and items that rarely see markdowns. We use price trackers, hands‑on reviews and lab testing when available to separate genuine bargains from marketing noise. Deals listed come from major retailers and brand stores; always confirm the final checkout price and promo terms before buying.
Deal verification checklist
- Check price history (use a price tracker or historical listings).
- Confirm a lab test or hands‑on review exists for high‑ticket items.
- Read return and restocking policies.
- Verify warranty length and business support if buying for teams.
- For phones: confirm trade‑in eligibility and whether installment credits stop on cancellation.
Frequently asked questions
How long will these Presidents’ Day prices last?
Many promotions are time‑limited or while supplies last. Popular SKUs frequently sell out fast. Track the price and act when the math favors you.
Are these better than upcoming spring sales?
Some are as good or better, especially for last‑gen TVs and clearance stock after CES. Big spring events can reprice items — if you have patience and aren’t urgent, monitor trackers for a week or two.
Can businesses rely on these deals for procurement?
Yes, but validate warranty, volume discounts, and enterprise support. For fleet purchases, channel or reseller agreements often matter more than the public headline price.
Do carrier promos really make phones free?
“Free” often means cumulative credits equal or exceed MSRP, but trade‑in, activation, or contract conditions can reduce real savings. Calculate total dollars exchanged across credits, trade‑ins, and fees.
Smart buying guidance — quick decision tree
- If you need the item immediately (replacement or critical for business): buy now if the deal is ≥20% and verified by tests/reviews.
- If you’re chasing the absolute lowest historical price: monitor trackers for a few days, but remember some models may not dip lower if manufacturers have cut supply.
- If the deal requires an unfamiliar trade‑in or multi‑year activation: pause and do the math — don’t assume promo fine print is in your favor.
Some deals are headline-grabbing; the smartest purchases come from matching those headlines to your real needs and verifying the fine print. If you want alerts when prices drop or promotions change, sign up for our Presidents’ Day deal tracker.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on our pages may be affiliate links. Prices and availability are subject to change — all prices here were checked on Feb. 11, 2026.
Want to flag a price change or correction? Send feedback to our editorial team so we can keep deals current.