Ignacy Giżyński
Not everyone is looking for a television that costs several thousand. We know that many of you simply want to buy a good screen that won't break the household budget and will allow you to enjoy watching a series, a match, or a movie in peace in the evening. That's why we decided to prepare our own overview of models worth considering if you are counting every penny. Here you will find specific proposals in various sizes and price ranges. We will also briefly explain why these models are, in our opinion, the best choice for today and why sometimes it's worth investing a bit more in better technology. If you're looking for something sensible at a good price, without unnecessary complications, you've come to the right place.
What is a cheap TV?
Before we move on to specific models, let’s pause for a moment and answer one question. What does a cheap TV even mean? For some, a cheap TV is one that costs less 300$. For others, a cheap TV will be a large 75-inch screen if it fits within five thousand. You see, everything depends on the point of view. So before someone starts turning their nose up at the thought of "how can a couple thousand be cheap?", let’s remind ourselves that in the world of big screens, that really is a good price. In our review, everyone will find something for themselves. Both a TV for under 300, and one that costs more but is still a great option for its size and capabilities.
Best Budget TV
If you simply want to buy a good television for a reasonable price and don't feel like spending hours browsing tables and comparing parameters, then this category is for you. We have selected a model that, in our opinion, best combines price, image quality, and features. In short – a safe choice that will work well in most homes and won't force you to take out a loan for the purchase 👌.
🏆 Best Budget TV
🏆 Best TV under 500 USD
🏆 Best 55-inch Budget TV
🏆 Best Budget MiniLED TV
🏆 Best Budget QLED TV
If you have browsed our tests on the site, you probably noticed that we have tested quite a few models – from super expensive ones to quite budget-friendly. But there are a few TVs that really stand out in their price range. Hisense U6NQ is one of them.
In our review, Hisense U6NQ received a score of 6.6 – the highest rating among TVs in its price category. So we can confidently say that it is also the best TV under 500 dollars.
The 55-inch variant is equipped with a VA panel, and combined with MiniLED backlighting, it handles black levels and evening binge-watching really well. The TV is quite bright, so watching HDR content or just during a sunny day shouldn't be a problem. Hisense has equipped the U6NQ with its proprietary Vidaa system (at least in Europe), which works very efficiently – it is fast, responsive, and you will find most popular apps here (you can check the specific list in the full test). It's also a great option for casual gamers. The TV can display 120 Hz images at 1080p resolution, which is a big plus – most games on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X work at higher fluidity in Full HD, not in full 4K. Therefore, we believe that the U6NQ will satisfy most people looking for budget equipment also for gaming. Of course, it is not a perfect TV. The standard 60 Hz refresh rate and average panel response time mean that there can be trailing in very dynamic scenes. For sports fans or more demanding gamers, this may be noticeable.
But it is important to remember that we are talking about one of the cheapest TVs in this size class. And one must take certain limitations into account. However, looking at the overall picture – Hisense U6NQ is one of the most reasonable options on the market under under 500$.
Best Super Budget TV
In this category, we present TVs from the lowest price range. These are options for people who count every penny or simply do not need advanced equipment. We have chosen a model that, despite its exceptionally low price, offers acceptable picture quality and will not discourage anyone from watching. 😉
🏆 Best Budget 43 / 50 -inch (Small TV) 43
🏆 Best Super Budget TV
🏆 Best TV under 300 USD
🏆 Best Budget Google TV
TCL C69B (also known as C655) is our choice for the best budget small TV. In our review, it received a rating of 6/10, which is a very good result for a TV priced 300. The C69B stands out with the Google TV system, which is simple, fast, and convenient. The picture is pleasing to the eye, and thanks to quantum dots (specifically, the PFS LED coating) and Dolby Vision support, HDR movies look quite good. The brightness is not overwhelming (though it's the best in its class), so in a heavily sunlit room, it may vary, but it will be adequate for daily viewing or evening screenings. The low input lag and Game Bar mode also deserve praise, which will be useful for occasional gamers. This is not equipment for demanding gamers or HDR enthusiasts, but at this price point, it's hard to expect more. In one sentence, it can be described as: a good, affordable TV for everyday use and occasional gaming. Perfect where a larger screen won't fit. However, if we look at the larger versions of this model, the situation is much more interesting. The variants from 55 to 85 inches offer noticeably higher brightness, and the largest, 98-inch model, is additionally equipped with a full-fledged 144 Hz panel. It's really one of the best very cheap TVs. For more details, we invite you to the full tests available on our website.
Best Budget 65/75-inch TV
In this category, we were looking for a large screen at a reasonable price that wouldn’t deter you with its picture quality upon unboxing. 65 inches or 75 inches is often a popular size for the living room today, so we wanted to find a model that offers good picture quality and decent features without spending a fortune.
🏆 Best Budget 65/75-inch TV – Best Cheap Large TV 65/75 inches
As we mentioned at the beginning of the comparison, everything depends on your point of view. For some, a cheap TV is something that costs a thousands, while for others, a reasonable choice for a living room in the size of 65 or 75 inches could cost significantly more.
That’s why we chose the Samsung Q80D in this category.
It’s not the cheapest model in our comparison, but when it comes to larger diagonals, it's really worth spending a bit more on a TV. There are problems here that simply can't be ignored when talking about such a large screen.
The first issue is motion smoothness. A large screen with a low refresh rate makes watching anything dynamic – a match, a race, a game – exhausting. The Q80D has a full-fledged 120 Hz panel, which is great for both sports and gaming. Additionally, it comes with HDMI 2.1, so we can easily connect next-generation consoles and take advantage of their capabilities. The second important issue is backlight quality. The larger the screen, the more its flaws become visible: halo effects, uneven brightness, and even the so-called "dirty screen" (DSE). The Q80D performs much better here than typical budget models because it has basic local dimming. It’s not at the level of top models, but it’s enough for blacks to look good and HDR viewing to have the right effect. The Q80D is a TV that should be considered as a "cheap premium" budget. It's gear for everyone, especially if you want a large screen, good smoothness, and solid image parameters without reaching for OLEDs or MiniLEDs. In our opinion, it's worth starting from this price level. When choosing such a large screen, it's really worth adding those few extra hundred bucks. While writing this ranking, we had a very simple thought in the back of our minds – if you decide to go for a TV like the Samsung Q80D, you won’t regret that we recommended something weak, especially in such a large size.
Best Budget OLED TV
🏆 Best Budget OLED TV – Best Affordable OLED TV
🏆 Best Budget Home Theater TV – Best Affordable Home Theater TV
The world of OLED televisions is becoming more affordable year by year. Entering this segment is – in our opinion – a point of no return.
Perfect blacks, infinite contrast, amazing panel responsiveness, excellent motion fluidity, and color reproduction – this is simply the recipe for a television that impresses from the very first viewing. This year in this category, we highlight two models: the LG B4 and the Samsung S85D, but we consider the LG B4 to be the better and safer choice. This OLED from the Korean manufacturer offers everything you could expect: a 120 Hz panel, support for Dolby Vision, HDMI 2.1, and very low input lag, making it suitable for both home theaters and gaming. It runs on the webOS system, which is fast and provides access to most popular applications. Of course – it’s not equipment for everyone. The risk of burn-in still exists (though it’s decreasing year by year), and the maximum brightness is not breathtaking, so we recommend it primarily for evening movie and series watching, where its advantages truly shine. But if you're looking for a cinematic effect and impeccable black levels, then B4 is the OLED that does the job and at an increasingly affordable price.
Best Budget Gaming TV
🏆 Best Budget Gaming TV / for consoles – Best cheap TV for gaming / for consoles
If you are looking for the best cheap TV for gaming – whether it's a PS5 or Xbox Series X – the Samsung Q70D really has everything you need: a 120 Hz panel, HDMI 2.1, ALLM, VRR, and one of the best motion smoothers in this price range. And it’s this motion smoother that does the job, especially where consoles struggle with frame rates. Thanks to it, many games simply look smoother than you would expect. It's the perfect option if you care about the lowest latency and smooth motion – in our opinion, the Samsung Q70D is the best cheap TV for the PS5 that won't break your budget. But to be fair: it's worth seriously considering paying extra for the previously mentioned Q80D model. It's just a bit more, and you gain better backlighting, deeper blacks, and a more versatile picture – not just for gaming, but also for movies and everyday viewing. Interestingly, the Q80D model is often cheaper than the Q70D – it all depends on current promotions. However, if you are looking for a TV for gaming with the least resistance – the Q70D will fulfill that task 100%.
