TV pricing has come down a lot over the past few years. Gone are the days when buying a 4K TV meant having to shell out thousands of dollars.

These days, you can get a good 4K TV with basic HDR support for only a few hundred dollars. You can even find big-screen options in sizes as large as 65 inches without totally breaking the bank.

Of course, there are always some performance trade-offs to consider when buying a TV on a budget. A true home theater movie-watching experience still comes at a premium, but choosing an entry-level TV doesn’t mean you have to settle for awful picture quality, a tiny screen, or a dumb display without the latest smart features.

I’ve been covering the consumer electronics industry for seven years, and during that time I’ve demoed and reviewed numerous TV models at a variety of price points. After testing and researching all the latest TVs on the market, we’ve selected the best display models you can buy on a budget.

Here are the best affordable TVs you can buy:

Prices and links are current as of 03/11/2020. Added Hisense 40H4F TV. Added links to related TV guides and articles. Christian de Looper contributed to this guide.

The best affordable 4K TV overall

TCL's 55-inch 5 Series 4K Roku TV balances image performance, smart connectivity, screen size, and cost better than any other display in this price range.

If you're looking for a 55-inch 4K TV at an affordable price, then the TCL 5 Series is your best option overall. With solid picture quality, a screen size suitable for most rooms, and integrated support for Roku's simple and convenient smart TV system, this display hits the right sweet spot between features and cost.

The 5 Series uses a 4K resolution panel with HDR10 and Dolby Vision support. That latter feature is missing from a lot of other TVs in this class, and it can provide better contrast when watching Dolby Vision titles on 4K Blu-ray discs and streaming services like Netflix.

Another premium picture quality feature that the 5 Series offers but many other budget TVs lack, is expanded color support. This enables the TV to produce more realistic colors when watching HDR videos. You won't get quite as wide a color gamut as you would on a TV with quantum-dot technology, like the Vizio M-Series Quantum, but the 5 Series still offers a nice upgrade over a standard 4K TV.

Powered by Roku's easy-to-use interface, the 5 Series also offers access to a fantastic assortment of streaming apps, including popular services like Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Now. The Roku platform is fairly snappy and responsive as well, so you shouldn't run into any annoying lag when navigating menus. The 5 Series does not include a voice remote like some more expensive TVs, but the standard Roku remote gets the job done for basic controls.

Finally, when it comes to connectivity, you'll get four HDMI 2.0 inputs, along with a USB port, optical audio out, analog audio out, composite in, an Ethernet port, and Wi-Fi support - making it easy to connect media players, soundbars, and other devices.

Simply put, the 5 Series has everything that a modern 55-inch 4K TV in this price range should have - and then some.

Pros: 4K HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, Roku smart TV system, great price

Cons: Doesn't include a voice remote, doesn't use quantum dots

The best affordable 4K TV for HDR

Foto: Source: Best Buy

With local dimming and wide color support, Vizio's M-Series Quantum offers some of the best HDR performance you can get on a budget 50-inch TV.

Buying a TV on a budget typically means you have to miss out on a lot of the advanced picture quality features found on more expensive sets, but Vizio's 50-inch M-Series Quantum TV manages to pack in high-end technologies like local dimming and quantum dots while still maintaining a very affordable price.

When it comes to image performance, the M-Series Quantum is one of the most affordable TVs on the market to include quantum dot technology. This feature is missing from most competing budget TVs and it helps the display produce a very wide color gamut for more realistic and intense images when playing HDR10 and Dolby Vision videos.

You'll also get 16 zones of local dimming, which is another great picture quality feature missing from most budget displays. Local dimming allows the display to dim and brighten in specific parts of the screen, enabling bright parts of the picture to appear bright while dark parts remain nice and inky. More expensive TVs have hundreds of zones, but for this price, the M-Series Quantum offers very solid home theater performance.

Vizio's SmartCast system doesn't offer as many on-screen apps as other smart TV platforms like Roku's, but you can still access many popular services such as Netflix and Amazon. The TV also includes Chromecast built-in and Apple AirPlay support, so you stream even more apps to the display from a mobile device.

Due to its advanced picture performance, the M-Series Quantum can get pricey at bigger screen sizes, but the 50-inch model is very affordable. Of course, you can find other TV models at this size for less money, but if you're an enthusiast on a budget, features like quantum dots and local dimming are worth paying a bit more for.

Pros: 4K panel with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, local dimming for superior contrast, quantum dots for wide color support

Cons: Pricier than other budget models at this size, Vizio's smart TV system isn't the best

The best for wide viewing angles

Foto: Source: Amazon

The LG 49-inch 4K 49UM7300PUA TV boasts a 4K resolution IPS screen for wide viewing angles - plus, it has Google Assistant and Alexa built-in.

Voice assistants are a great feature to have on a display, and with the LG 4K 49UM7300PUA TV, you can choose between Alexa or Google Assistant. This model measures 49-inches, but if you can stretch your budget, there are 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, too. For a lower price, there's a 43-inch model, but we think the 49-inch size offers the best value.

Like many of LG's other TVs, this one supports apps like Netflix, Hulu, and many more streaming services. Perhaps even better is the fact that it comes with Google Assistant and Alexa built-in, so you can use your voice to change the channel, control volume, and control other connected devices - just pick the voice assistant you use the most.

On the back of the TV, you'll find a range of ports, including three HDMI ports, two USB ports, and more. The TV also supports basic HDR10 playback and features a 4K resolution screen. Unlike many TVs from other manufacturers, however, this LG model actually uses an IPS LCD panel rather than a VA LCD panel. This means that the TV's colors won't wash out or distort as much when you sit off to the side of the display, making it a great fit for buyers who can't position their couch right in the center of the TV.

On the downside, TVs with IPS panels like this one have worse black levels and contrast than other displays. So, while great for wide viewing angles, this TV doesn't have very good home theater performance in a dark room.

Pros: Smart operating system, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in, 4K, HDR10, IPS panel for wide viewing angles

Cons: Black levels and contrast aren't great

The best with a big screen

Foto: Source: Best Buy

The TCL 65-Inch 4 Series 4K Roku TV has a huge screen, 4K resolution, and Roku's excellent smart TV platform.

TCL is well-known for its great lineup of affordable TVs, and the company's competitive pricing even extends to many of its bigger screen models. In fact, the TCL 4 Series Roku TV offers one of the best values you can find for a 65-inch display. It's big, it's 4K, it supports HDR, and it uses Roku's simple and convenient smart TV system.

One of the best things about the TV is that it features the Roku streaming platform, so you'll get easy access to a range of apps, like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Now, and more. In our testing, we found that Roku works great, though the included remote isn't the best for accessing more complex TV features and it doesn't include voice search capabilities. It still works well under normal use, though.

Around the back of the TV, you'll find three HDMI ports, a USB 2.0 port, an Ethernet port, video composite, and an optical audio output. That should be everything you need for the vast majority of situations.

The image quality on this TV is also solid for its price, but not incredible. You get a 4K resolution LCD panel with basic HDR10 support. Brightness and contrast can't compete with more expensive TVs, though. Unlike the TCL 5 Series, the 4 Series does not support Dolby Vision or a wide color gamut. If you want those features on a budget, you'll have to go for the 5 Series or Vizio's M-Series Quantum in a smaller screen size.

For buyers who really want an affordable 65-inch 4K TV, however, there really isn't anything better than the TCL 4 Series at this price.

Pros: Huge display, 4K resolution, HDR10 support, Roku TV system, excellent value for money

Cons: Image quality is only average, remote is a little basic

The best TV under $200

Foto: Source: Best Buy

It lacks 4K resolution and other advanced features, but the Hisense 40-inch 40H4F HDTV is one of the cheapest 40-inch Roku TVs you can buy.

Hisense's 40-inch 40H4F HDTV is about as basic as a smart TV can be. It's the smallest display on this list, you get a 1080p resolution screen rather than 4K, and there's no HDR support - but when it comes to pure value, the TV is still a worthy option for budget buyers.

This modest 40-inch TV features a Full HD panel. While you'll have to look elsewhere if you want to watch 4K HDR movies, the reality is, most cable/satellite and streaming content are still presented in SDR high definition. With that in mind, this 1080p screen should actually be a good fit for most casual viewing needs. Overall image performance isn't as good as it would be on the more expensive TVs on this list, but at a screen size of 40 inches, it would actually be hard to see any benefits from an upgrade to 4K.

Three HDMI inputs are included, along with a USB port, optical audio out, composite video, and Wi-Fi connectivity. While the included remote does not feature voice control, you can pair the TV with a separate Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device.

At the end of the day, this clearly isn't a TV meant for buyers concerned about advanced picture quality or new display technologies. Instead, the 40H4F HDTV is meant to appeal to buyers who just want a simple and reliable 40-inch smart TV with easy access to all their favorite streaming services. In that context, the Hisense 40-inch 40H4F HDTV offers a lot of value.

Pros: Very affordable, Roku TV platform with easy access to streaming apps

Cons: Not 4K, no HDR or wide color support, no voice remote, smaller screen size

Check out our other TV buying guides

Foto: Source: Amazon

The best 4K TVs

4K TVs are now the norm for buyers looking to purchase a new display. Models are available in various sizes, with prices suitable for several different budgets. Picture quality and smart connectivity can vary a lot between different models, however. With that in mind, we tested several 4K TVs in order to select the best models you can buy:

The best OLED TVs

While they tend to be expensive, OLED TVs provide better black levels and viewing angles compared to most LCD displays. When it comes to image performance, all OLED TVs are actually pretty similar, but design and smart features can still vary a lot between different models. After testing and researching different OLED models, we've selected the best OLED TVs you can buy:

  • Best OLED TV overall: LG C9
  • Best high-end OLED TV: Sony A9G
  • Best premium design OLED TV: LG E9
  • Best OLED TV for large rooms: LG W9

The best Apple HomeKit-enabled TVs

HomeKit-enabled TVs are compatible with the Home app on iOS devices. This allows you to control your TV with an iPhone, complete with Siri support. When part of a larger HomeKit ecosystem, you can even configure automated tasks for your TV in tandem with other HomeKit products. Here are the best HomeKit TVs you can buy: