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The Best TV Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Maybe you haven’t made the upgrade to 4K yet. Maybe you’re looking for a second TV for the bedroom. Maybe you’re just exploring your options. Whatever your reasons, you might be searching for a good deal on a new TV. Something big, sharp, bright, colorful, and most importantly, something that won’t break the bank. We have you covered with a selection of affordable TVs that suit nearly any budget.We’ve generally considered “cheap” TVs to be less than $1,000 for a 65-inch screen. Stepping down to a 55-inch screen keeps prices well under a grand for several excellent models, but if you don’t mind some compromises in picture quality, you can still find a 65-inch TV that meets the mark. We highlight 65-inch models under $1,000 on this list when they’re available (and there’s even a 75-incher that’s less than $999).Read on for the top cheap TVs we’ve tested, along with everything you need to know about getting the best deal.
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Hisense U6K
Best Picture for the Price
Why We Picked ItThe sweet spot for excellent picture quality at an affordable price has hovered around $1,000 for 65-inch models for a few years. TVs below that price often force you to deal with significant compromises. The Hisense U6K certainly doesn’t offer top-of-the-line picture quality, but the compromises it makes are the most reasonable we’ve seen yet. This TV has fantastic color, covering almost all of the DCI-P3 digital cinema color space with excellent accuracy out of the box. It also offers tons of features because of its Google TV interface. You get far-field microphones for hands-free Google Assistant, as well as support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. It isn’t the brightest TV, which means you’ll need to spend more if you want a screen that can put out more light for better contrast.Who It’s ForIf you want lots of features and fairly strong picture quality, but that $1,000-for-65-inches price is a bit too high for your budget, this is one of the best choices. The AirPlay and Cast support make it appealing to households with both Android and iPhone users, too. Just understand that you can get a much brighter and higher-contrast picture for only a little bit more money.
PROS
Excellent color
Improved black levels and contrast from previous generation
Google TV, Google Cast, and hands-free Google Assistant
Apple AirPlay
Low input lag
CONS
Not particularly bright
Colors in Theater Day mode are inaccurate
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Type
LED
Screen Size
65 inches
Resolution
3,840 by 2,160
Video Inputs
HDMI, Composite, RF, USB
HDR
Dolby Vision, HDR-10
HDMI Ports
4
Streaming Services
Yes
Screen Brightness
591 nits
Black Level
0.02 cd/m^2
Contrast Ratio
39,400:1
Refresh Rate
60 Hz
VRR
Input Lag (Game Mode)
3.7 ms
AMD FreeSync
None
Nvidia G-Sync
None
Learn More
Hisense U6K Review
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED
Best Fire TV
Why We Picked ItAlthough Amazon’s original Fire TV Omni disappointed us, the Fire TV Omni QLED offers a much better picture for around the same low price. It still doesn’t get very bright, but its color performance is strong and it’s loaded with Fire TV features such as hands-free Alexa. It also supports Apple AirPlay.Who It’s ForThis is a budget TV for Amazon users who already have Echo smart speakers elsewhere in the house. It doesn’t cost much, and it works just like a Fire TV Cube, which is a bit pricey by itself.
PROS
Excellent color and strong contrast
Hands-free Amazon Alexa
Inexpensive
CONS
Not particularly bright
Light bloom can overpower shadow detail
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Type
LED
Screen Size
65 inches
Resolution
3,840 by 2,160
Video Inputs
HDMI, RF, USB
HDR
Dolby Vision, HDR-10
HDMI Ports
4
Streaming Services
Yes
Screen Brightness
474 nits
Black Level
0 cd/m^2
Contrast Ratio
118,500:1
Refresh Rate
60 Hz
VRR
Input Lag (Game Mode)
3.2 ms
AMD FreeSync
None
Nvidia G-Sync
None
Learn More
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Review
TCL Q7 Class TV
Best Midrange Cheap TV
Why We Picked ItTCL’s flagship QM8 Class of TVs are too pricey for this list, but the lower-tier Q7 Class falls right into the sweet spot of 65 inches for about $1,000. It’s a strong performer with excellent contrast and color, but it isn’t nearly as bright as the excellent 6-Series TVs TCL offered before it. It puts out more light than the Hisense U6K, though, and it’s available in sizes up to 85 inches while the Hisense stops at 75.Who It’s ForWhile we favor the Hisense U6K as the best budget pick, the Q7 Class is still a strong value. It’s good if you want a bit of a boost over the cheaper Hisense, but don’t want to pay quite as much as you would to reach TVs with brightness higher than 1,000 nits.
PROS
Strong contrast and color
Google TV with hands-free Google Assistant and Google Cast
Apple AirPlay
Solid gaming features
CONS
Not as bright as its predecessors
No ATSC 3.0 tuner
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Type
LED
Screen Size
65 inches
Resolution
3,840 by 2,160
Video Inputs
HDMI, Composite, RF, USB
HDR
Dolby Vision, HDR-10
HDMI Ports
4
Streaming Services
Yes
Screen Brightness
751 nits
Black Level
0.01 cd/m^2
Contrast Ratio
125167:1
Refresh Rate
120 Hz
VRR
Input Lag (Game Mode)
6.7 ms
AMD FreeSync
FreeSync Premium Pro
Nvidia G-Sync
Learn More
TCL Q7 Class TV Review
Vizio 50-Inch M-Series Quantum X TV
Best Cheap Gaming TV
Why We Picked ItThe Vizio M50QXM-K01 is one of the best inexpensive gaming TVs available, offering features that other cheap TVs like the Hisense U6K lack. Specifically, it has a 120Hz panel with both standard variable refresh rate (VRR) and AMD FreeSync Premium, and its input lag is quite low. The TV’s colors are incredibly wide (perhaps to a fault; without tweaks it can occasionally look oversaturated). It uses Vizio’s SmartCast platform, too, so it has both Apple AirPlay and Google Cast. Its only major weakness is contrast; this is a relatively dim panel with only modest black levels.Who It’s ForThis is for budget-minded gamers looking for a very big monitor or a medium-sized TV. 50 inches isn’t exactly small, but it’s still less screen than the more common 55- and 65-inch TV sizes. The big draw for the M50QXM-K01 is gaming; 120Hz panels are rare on budget TVs, and both VRR and FreeSync Premium are nice bonuses. The wide colors and occasionally washed-out black levels can also provide a bit of an advantage in gaming, making enemies in shadows stand out more than they would with a completely accurate picture with inky blacks.
PROS
Wide, balanced colors
Fast 120Hz panel with low input lag and several desirable gaming features including 1080p240 mode
SmartCast supports both Apple AirPlay and Google Cast
CONS
Doesn’t get particularly bright
Colors sometimes look slightly oversaturated
Shadow details can appear washed out
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Type
LCD
Screen Size
50 inches
Resolution
3,840 by 2,160
Video Inputs
HDMI, RF, USB
HDR
Dolby Vision, HDR-10
HDMI Ports
4
Streaming Services
Yes
Screen Brightness
443 nits
Black Level
6 cd/m^2
Contrast Ratio
8,054:1
Refresh Rate
120 Hz
VRR
Input Lag (Game Mode)
6.7 ms
AMD FreeSync
FreeSync Premium Pro
Nvidia G-Sync
None
Learn More
Vizio 50-Inch M-Series Quantum X TV Review
Amazon Fire TV 2-Series (40-Inch)
Cheapest TV Possible
Why We Picked It4K might be the standard TV resolution, but it isn’t as vital on smaller screens as it is on bigger ones. The 40-inch Amazon Fire TV 2-Series is a mere 1080p, but it still looks crisp and colorful. More importantly, it’s very cheap, costing a fraction of the other models on this list. The trade-off is that it’s also the dimmest of the bunch, and it doesn’t have hands-free Alexa like the Fire TV Omni QLED does.Who It’s ForIf you need a new TV and want to spend as little as possible, this one is worth consideration. We don’t recommend it as a main TV for your home, but if you want a really inexpensive screen in your garage or a spare room, it gets the job done.
PROS
Inexpensive
Good color performance
CONS
Dim picture
High input lag
No hands-free Alexa
SPECS
Name
Value
Panel Type
LED
Screen Size
40 inches
Resolution
1080p
Video Inputs
HDMI, USB, RF
HDR
HDR-10
HDMI Ports
3
Streaming Services
Yes
Screen Brightness
252 nits
Black Level
0.06 cd/m^2
Contrast Ratio
4,200:1
Refresh Rate
60 Hz
VRR
Input Lag (Game Mode)
27 ms
AMD FreeSync
None
Nvidia G-Sync
None
Learn More
Amazon Fire TV 2-Series (40-Inch) Review
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap TVs for 2024
What Is the Best Cheap TV Brand?The biggest names in TVs include LG, Samsung, Sony, and other brands that enjoy a global presence. Big names don’t always mean the best values, however. Although we’ve seen some incredible TVs from these manufacturers, they’re almost all flagship models that cost a few thousand dollars each. Their more affordable TVs are often less impressive and generally get much less attention.The best brands for budget TVs might be unfamiliar to you: Hisense and TCL. These Chinese companies have made inroads in the US over the last several years with highly affordable models that offer surprisingly good picture quality. They occupy the land Vizio used to dominate, one which that company has somewhat ceded to maintain its strong position in the midrange TV market.
TV Tips For New TV Buyers
The Best Cheap 4K TVsWe’re far past the point where 4K is a high-end luxury, especially with 8K gearing up to become a major force in a few years (emphasis on years; don’t worry about it yet). You might be able to find a smaller TV that’s still 1080p, but most screens on the market are 4K. With that in mind, we recommend you don’t go any lower than 4K.Simply put, there is no reason to buy a 1080p TV at this point. 4K models offer many advantages and no longer demand a premium price. In addition to being sharper, 4K TVs are more likely to support high dynamic range (HDR), which means they can be brighter and more colorful than 1080p TVs with standard dynamic range. And, since most major streaming services support 4K HDR now, you can get plenty of 4K content out of the box without worrying about replacing your DVD or Blu-ray collection.The Best Cheap Smart TVsLike 4K, smart TV platforms are now basically universal even for budget TVs. If you get a new TV, it likely has some way to watch Netflix, and probably many other streaming services, too. Because of Amazon Fire TV, Android/Google TV, and Roku TV, any television manufacturer can easily slot a connected interface into their product. This is part of how Hisense and TCL have made such strong gains in the budget TV market; they rely on the prebuilt Android/Google TV or Roku TV packages, which don’t require any internal development effort. The majority of TVs on this list use one of these three third-party smart TV platforms.
Top TVs of 2020
What’s the Difference Between Cheap and Expensive TVs?Cheaper TVs generally don’t get as bright as pricier panels; they have higher black levels that result in much lower contrast ratios; and they don’t have nearly as wide color ranges. Moreover, the devices are usually a bit thicker and typically look less streamlined than mid-range and high-end offerings.
Recommended by Our Editors
Near the high end of the budget range, you can find some excellent TVs with fairly bright panels, dark blacks, wide colors, and stylish designs. However, if you want to pay less, expect to get less in terms of picture quality and design. That said, you really can’t go wrong with any of the options we’ve tested here.Meanwhile, if money is no object, take a look at our list of the best TVs overall, the best 65-inch TVs, and the best 75-inch (and up) TVs. And if a fast response time is important to you, consider one of the best TVs for gaming.
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