Uncover Incredible Savings with Best Buy's 2026 Clearance Deals

Top Clearance Categories to Watch in 2026

As we look ahead to 2026, the landscape of technology continues to shift at a rapid pace. This constant evolution is a massive benefit for savvy shoppers, as it means today's cutting-edge tech becomes tomorrow's incredible clearance deal. Navigating Best Buy's clearance events isn't about luck; it's about knowing which product categories are most likely to see deep discounts as retailers make room for the next big thing. By understanding these cycles, you can strategically plan your purchases and find exceptional value on high-quality electronics.

The key is to focus on items that have a regular annual or biannual refresh cycle. From televisions and laptops to smart home gadgets and appliances, manufacturers are constantly pushing new models with incremental upgrades. This creates a predictable pattern of price reductions on perfectly capable, slightly older inventory. Below, we'll explore the specific categories that are poised to offer the most significant savings in Best Buy's clearance aisles throughout 2026.

1. Last-Generation Laptops and Computers

The laptop market is one of the most reliable sources for clearance deals, driven by the relentless release of new processors from Intel, AMD, and Apple. By 2026, we can expect several new generations of chips to have hit the market, making laptops from 2025 and even late 2024 prime candidates for deep discounts. These machines are far from obsolete; a laptop with a high-end processor from the previous year is often more powerful than a budget-level model from the current year. Shoppers should look for deals on models with still-relevant features like ample RAM (16GB or more), fast solid-state drives (SSDs), and high-resolution displays.

These clearance deals are particularly valuable for students, professionals, and casual users who don't necessarily need the absolute latest processing power for their daily tasks of web browsing, document editing, and streaming. The savings on a last-generation premium ultrabook or a powerful gaming laptop can often be hundreds of dollars, allowing you to get a high-performance machine for the price of a mid-range one. Keep an eye out especially after major tech events like CES in January and back-to-school seasons, as this is when new models are heavily promoted and old stock needs to be moved.

2. 4K and 8K Televisions

The television industry is built on a model of constant, incremental improvement. Each year brings slightly better panel technology, smarter processors, and new buzzworthy features. This makes the TV section a goldmine for clearance shoppers. In 2026, while manufacturers will be heavily marketing their latest advancements—perhaps next-generation OLED, MicroLED, or even more advanced 8K technologies—the premium 4K OLED and QLED models from 2025 will be seeing significant price cuts. These TVs will still offer breathtaking picture quality, excellent smart features, and all the connectivity a typical user needs.

Floor models and open-box returns offer another layer of savings in this category. A television that was on display in a store for a few months is often sold at a steep discount but is otherwise in perfect working condition. When shopping for these deals, focus on the core specifications that matter most: panel type (OLED for perfect blacks, QLED for bright rooms), refresh rate (120Hz for smooth motion), and HDR support. Often, the year-over-year upgrades are minor, making a flagship TV from the previous year one of the smartest tech purchases you can make.

3. Smart Home Devices

The smart home category is constantly expanding, with companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple releasing new versions of their smart speakers, displays, security cameras, and thermostats almost annually. While the latest model might boast a slightly better speaker or a faster processor, the core functionality often remains the same. This means that previous-generation devices, which are still fully supported with software updates, become incredible bargains on the clearance rack.

A smart speaker from 2025 will still play music, answer questions, and control your smart lights just as well as its 2026 counterpart. The same logic applies to smart plugs, security cameras, and video doorbells. As long as the device is compatible with your chosen ecosystem (Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit), a clearance model provides virtually all the same benefits for a fraction of the price. These deals are perfect for anyone looking to expand their smart home setup or get started without a huge initial investment.

4. Major Home Appliances

Unlike smaller electronics, major appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and ovens don't see drastic technological leaps every year. However, manufacturers do release new models with updated aesthetics, slightly improved energy efficiency, or new "smart" features. To make room for this new inventory in their showrooms, retailers like Best Buy must clear out the previous year's models. This is where shoppers can find some of the best deals in the entire store.

A 2025 model refrigerator is functionally almost identical to its 2026 version, but it could be marked down by 20-40%. These clearance deals often apply to brand-new, in-box appliances. Even deeper discounts can be found on floor models or "scratch and dent" units, which may have minor cosmetic imperfections that don't affect performance at all. For anyone undertaking a kitchen or laundry room renovation, timing your purchases around these clearance cycles can lead to thousands of dollars in savings without compromising on quality or brand.

5. Smartphones and Wearables

The annual smartphone release cycle is a well-oiled machine. When the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy is announced, the value of the previous generation immediately drops. By 2026, a top-tier smartphone from 2025 will still be a powerhouse device with a fantastic camera, a beautiful display, and fast performance capable of handling any app you throw at it. Best Buy often offers these unlocked, previous-generation phones at a significant discount, making them a much smarter financial choice than paying full price for the newest model.

This trend extends to wearables like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch. The year-over-year upgrades are often focused on niche features like new health sensors or a slightly faster chip. For most users, a model from the prior year offers 95% of the experience for a much lower price. Clearance deals on these devices provide an accessible entry point into the world of wearables, allowing you to track fitness, receive notifications, and enjoy the convenience without breaking the bank.

The Anatomy of a Best Buy Clearance Sale

Understanding the "why" behind clearance sales can help you better predict the "when." These sales are not random; they are a critical part of the retail business model designed to manage inventory and cash flow. The primary driver is the need to make physical and financial space for new products. When a manufacturer like Sony or Samsung launches its new line of televisions for the year, retailers must sell off the remaining stock of the old models. This pressure creates the clearance pricing that benefits consumers.

These inventory-clearing events often align with specific times of the year. The period right after the holiday rush in late January and February is a prime time, as retailers are clearing out leftover holiday stock. Another key window is late summer, just before the new wave of products announced in the fall (like iPhones) hits the shelves. By keeping this retail calendar in mind, you can anticipate when the best selection of clearance items will become available and be ready to act before the best deals are gone.

Maximizing Your Savings: Beyond the Clearance Sticker

Finding a great clearance item is just the first step. To truly maximize your value, it's important to understand the different types of deals available and how they might affect things like warranties and return policies. Knowing the lingo and the store's policies can help you make a more informed decision and ensure your great deal doesn't come with any unwanted surprises.

Clearance vs. Open-Box vs. Refurbished: What's the Real Difference?

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they mean very different things. A Clearance item is typically brand-new, in its original sealed box. The product is simply being discontinued by the manufacturer or the retailer to make way for a newer model. It carries the full manufacturer's warranty and is essentially a new product at a lower price.

An Open-Box product is an item that was purchased and then returned by another customer. These items are inspected and tested by Best Buy's Geek Squad to ensure they are in working order. They are then sold at a discount, with the price varying based on condition (Excellent-Certified, Excellent, Satisfactory, or Fair). Open-box items usually retain a warranty, but it's crucial to check the specifics on the product page or label, as it can sometimes differ from that of a new product.

Finally, a Refurbished product was returned due to a defect, then repaired and restored to full working condition by the manufacturer or a certified third party. These can offer the steepest discounts but also carry the most uncertainty. Always ensure a refurbished product comes with a solid warranty before purchasing. The key difference is that an open-box item was likely returned for a reason of preference, while a refurbished item was returned because of a functional issue that has since been fixed.

Are Warranties Still Valid on Clearance Products?

This is a common and important question. For standard clearance items that are new-in-box, the answer is almost always yes. You receive the full, standard manufacturer's warranty, just as if you had paid full price. The warranty period begins from your date of purchase. This is one of the biggest advantages of buying clearance over used items from a private seller.

For open-box and refurbished items, the situation can be more varied. Most open-box products sold by Best Buy still include a warranty, but it's essential to verify its length and terms. Some refurbished products may come with a shorter warranty period (e.g., 90 days) instead of the full year. Always read the fine print on the product listing or ask a store associate to clarify the warranty status before you complete your purchase. This information is critical for protecting your investment, especially on a high-ticket item.

Conclusion

Navigating the Best Buy clearance deals of 2026 is an exercise in smart, strategic shopping. It's less about chasing every single discount and more about understanding the predictable cycles of the consumer electronics industry. By focusing on key categories like last-generation laptops, televisions, and major appliances, you can anticipate when the best value will emerge. Furthermore, understanding the distinctions between clearance, open-box, and refurbished items allows you to weigh the risks and rewards of each type of deal. With patience and knowledge, the clearance aisle can be the source of some of the best technology purchases you'll make all year.