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When it comes to Best Budget TVs, striking the perfect balance between affordability and quality is paramount. If you find yourself working within a tight budget, compromising on picture quality should not be the only option. In light of this, we’ve compiled a selection of the top Best Budget TVs offering exceptional features and excellent value. Tom’s Guide rigorously assessed each television on this roster, subjecting them to a battery of tests that encompassed evaluations for color precision, luminance, and response time.
We’ve also spent a lot of time with these TVs so we can give you real-world information. We suggest looking into top-of-the-line models like the new Roku Plus Series QLED TV, but there are also great options from well-known brands like TCL, Hisense, and Vizio that offer great value.
Best Budget TVs Comparison Table
| Product Name | Display Technology | HDR Support |
|---|---|---|
| Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV | QLED | Dolby Vision, HDR10 |
| TCL 6-Series Roku TV (R655) | QLED | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED | QLED | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Hisense A6H | LED | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Vizio V-Series | LED | HDR10, HLG |
Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV
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| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD |
| Display Technology | QLED |
| HDR Support | Dolby Vision, HDR10 |
| Smart Platform | Roku TV |
| Screen Size | Various options available |
After concentrating for a long time on software as well as set-top and plug-in devices, the streaming giant Roku has now made its first entry into sets with the Roku Plus Series 4K QLED Best Budget TVs. This move has proven to be a fruitful one. In addition to providing an impressively large screen for the starting price of $499, these televisions also provide unexpectedly good picture quality and sound, both of which are typically the first things to suffer when it comes to more affordable television sets.
In spite of its cost, the Plus Series does not have an unattractive appearance: A metal bezel that is gray in color and measures less than an eighth of an inch on the left, right, and top and about two-thirds of an inch on the bottom surrounds the screen on all sides. This creates space for a chrome Roku logo to be placed in the front and center of the screen.
The Good
- Stunning 4K picture quality with vibrant colors and sharp details.
- QLED display technology for enhanced contrast and brightness.
- Wide range of HDR support for immersive viewing experiences.
- Built-in Roku TV platform provides easy access to streaming services and apps.
- Various screen size options to suit different preferences and room sizes.
The Bad
- Limited availability of screen sizes may not cater to specific needs.
TCL 6-Series Roku TV (R655)
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD |
| Display Technology | QLED |
| HDR Support | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Roku TV |
| Screen Size | Various options available |
TCL Best Budget TVs has a long history of receiving praise for their ability to pack a lot of performance into televisions that do not cost a lot of money. This pattern continues with its most recent 6-Series Roku TV, the 65R655, which improves key parts of its performance particularly its brightness and capacity for gaming—while maintaining its previous price of $999.99.
You’re going to discover a lot to like about it whether you’re a gamer or if you can’t stand to miss out on the bright and dark details when you watch movies or shows on television. Its sound and color performance can’t match the top TVs on our list, but that won’t stop this set from punching well above its weight where it counts because it excels in all the other categories that matter more.
The Good
- Impressive 4K picture quality with excellent color accuracy.
- QLED display technology delivers vibrant and lifelike visuals.
- Wide range of HDR support for enhanced contrast and dynamic range.
- Integrated Roku TV platform offers a user-friendly and feature-rich smart experience.
- Multiple screen size options to accommodate different viewing preferences.
The Bad
- May suffer from some motion blur during fast-paced scenes.
TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD |
| Display Technology | QLED |
| HDR Support | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Roku TV |
| Screen Size | Various options available |
The TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED is the Best Budget TVs we’ve tried. It works surprisingly well for how much it costs. It looks great in a dark room thanks to its great contrast ratio, and it has a feature called “full-array local dimming” that makes dark scenes look better, but there is blooming around bright objects. If you want to use it in a bright room, it has great peak brightness in SDR and good reflection handling, so you won’t have to worry about glare even if there are lights on.
It uses the Roku OS smart interface, which has a large number of live channels, many of which are free. It’s a great TV for gaming because it has great low input lag and variable refresh rate (VRR) support. This makes gaming fast and almost tear-free. But it only has a refresh rate of 60Hz, which means you can’t get the most out of current-gen game consoles. It’s hard to find cheap TVs with a 120Hz refresh rate, so you’ll have to spend more to get one with that speed.
The Good
- Crisp and detailed 4K resolution for an immersive viewing experience.
- QLED technology provides vivid colors and enhanced brightness.
- Supports various HDR formats for improved contrast and realism.
The Bad
- May have limited availability in certain regions.
Hisense A6H
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD |
| Display Technology | LED |
| HDR Support | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Hisense Smart TV |
| Screen Size | Various options available |
The Hisense A6H is affordable and Best Budget TVs. It’s a decent entry-level TV, but if picture quality is crucial, go for the TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED. The greatest difference is that it has a poor contrast ratio and doesn’t have local dimming to improve picture quality in gloomy rooms. It’s a decent TV for the price.
It uses Google TV and has many streaming apps. It’s perfect for an office or guest bedroom because guests can watch their favorite shows without buying a streaming stick. Its broad viewing angle lets you watch TV while strolling about without losing visual quality.
The Good
- Crisp and detailed 4K resolution for sharp and clear visuals.
- Supports various HDR formats for improved contrast and color accuracy.
- Hisense Smart TV platform offers a range of streaming apps and services.
- Wide selection of screen sizes available to cater to different needs.
The Bad
- LED display technology may not provide the same level of color vibrancy as QLED.
Vizio V-Series
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD |
| Display Technology | LED |
| HDR Support | HDR10, HLG |
| Smart Platform | SmartCast |
| Screen Size | Various options available |
Just based on picture quality, it was clear that the Vizio V-Series was the best. During our side-by-side tests, the picture on the Vizio was the most accurate and well-balanced. It also has some useful extras, such as Dolby Vision support, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth compatibility, and a variable refresh rate that could make gaming smoother. The smart TV app, Vizio SmartCast, is the worst thing about the Vizio.
It’s busy, slow, and full of ads for sites like Kidoodle TV and Tubi. In the end, the Vizio V-Series has the best picture and some high-quality extras at a price that is very reasonable, even if you add the cost of a new streaming device. This is more than enough to make it the best TV I tested for people just starting out.
The Good
- Affordable yet delivers solid 4K picture quality.
- LED display technology with good brightness and contrast.
- Decent HDR support for improved dynamic range.
- SmartCast platform enables easy streaming and app access.
- Offers a range of screen sizes to choose from.
The Bad
- May have limited advanced features compared to higher-end models.
- Some users may experience issues with the SmartCast interface.
FAQs
A: Budget TVs may not be as well made as more expensive ones, but many well-known brands make budget TVs that work well and last a long time. Reading customer reviews and thinking about what the insurance covers can help you figure out how reliable a model is.
A: Yes, you can place most cheap TVs on the wall. They work with VESA wall mounts. But it’s important to check the TV’s specs to make sure it works with a VESA mount and that it’s installed correctly.
A: The right screen size relies on how far away you are and what you like. As a general rule, for average-sized rooms, you should look at HD TVs with screens between 32 and 49 inches. For bigger rooms or 4K TVs, a screen size between 50 and 65 inches is suggested.