The Best Budget TVs for under $1000

When shopping for a TV on a strict three-figure budget, it’s usually not easy to separate the good and the bad (and the ugly) from the long list of available options. Also, apart from choosing based on reviews, evaluation, and measurements, determining if a specific TV is good overall value is the real headache for most shoppers.

Some of the best TVs in 2025 deliver fantastic picture quality and are best suited for watching movies, and TV shows, and many are also great for gaming. And while prices for top-tier TVs aren’t as high as they used to be – a flagship gaming 75-inch OLED would set you back $7,000 back in 2015 – they remain a massive investment, especially if you’re going for the absolute best in both screen technology and extra features.

On the other hand, budget-friendly TVs often make compromises compared to flagship counterparts, but you can still score a good-looking, feature-packed TV for under $1000 if you know where to look. And you should start here. I review gear for a living, and over time, I have put lots of TVs through the paces in terms of brightness, contrast, color accuracy, color range, and input lag.

Currently, the 65-inch Hisense U6N is the best budget TV for less than $700 but still offers the best picture quality and a ton of features and extras in addition to the robust Google TV platform. If you need something bigger, you can get a 75-inch TV for less than $1,000, and a decent guestroom TV for under $250 is also never far away. Read on and find the best budget TV we’ve tested, alongside tips on what to focus on while shopping in this category.

1. Hisense U6/U6N

Best Budget TV Overall

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$499.99 At Amazon

We’re big fans of the Hisense U8H mini-LED at Guirde, but the nod for the best value TV has to go to the Hisense U6N, thanks to a plethora of useful features, and excellent image quality at a very reasonable price. The Hisense U6N is a step-down model but it offers many of the same features as the Hisense U7N, but at a much lower price.

Compared to its previous models, the U6N bumps up brightness, colors are more accurate and its remote now has a sleeker, more premium look. For anyone looking for fairly strong picture quality and lots of features through Google TV -including far-field microphones for hands-free Google Assistant, this is your best choice. It supports Airplay and Google Cast, something that makes it ideal for households with both Android and iPhone users.

2. Hisense U7/U7N

Best Budget TV with Brightest Picture

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$699.99 At Amazon

If you find the Hisense U6N appealing but need even better quality and modern gaming features, but can’t reach the Hisense U8N, the Hisense U7N is the best choice. It delivers even better contrast than the U6N, meaning you’re getting deeper blacks in a dark room. The main difference from the Hisense U8N is that this flagship is an overachiever when it comes to brightness; whereas the U7N’s peak brightness is average for a mini-LED TV.

Its price, however, remains below what you’d pay for a TV from Sony, LG, or Samsung with similar features, and that makes the U7N a great deal overall. Remember, the U8N gets better built-in sound than the U7N, thanks to a pairing of some of the best soundbars on a TV. In other areas, however, the Hisense U7N punches above its weight – it runs the Google TV platform in the US, and Hisense’s VIDAA in the UK and Australia.

Elsewhere, you’re getting two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support for gaming, it has comprehensive high dynamic range support (with both Dolby Vision and HDR10+), and it is IMAX Enhanced.  

3. TCL S5 Series (43S551F)

Cheapest TV Possible

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$209.99 At Amazon

4K is easily the standard TV resolution, but it isn’t readily available on smaller screens as it is on bigger ones. The 43-inch TCL 43S551F delivers 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution, and it looks crisp and colorful. Of interest here, however, is how much this TV costs, it’s very affordable, costing a fraction of the other models on this list.

The tradeoff is that it doesn’t offer any gaming features including HDMI 2.1 inputs, but it features a Fire TV smart platform, supports Dolby Vision, HDR Pro+, Dolby Atmos, Alexa built-in and is Apple AirPlay 2 compatible.

If all you need is a new TV and want to spend as little as possible, this is as good as they get. We don’t recommend it fully as a main TV for your living room. But if you want an inexpensive screen for your spare or guest room, it gets the job done.

4. TCL QM6K

Best Budget Gaming TV

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$748.00 At Amazon

The TCL QM6K is the best budget TV for gamers who need a big screen, but don’t want to spend anything north of $1000. It delivers a solid feature set including a 144Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, high peak brightness, and extras such as Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos support, that you won’t find on budget TVs. Again, the company’s own Halo Control technology does a fine job minimizing backlight blooming in pictures.

For gamers looking to buy an affordable TV, the TCL QM6K is the best option for gamers looking to buy an affordable TV. It comes in sizes up to 86 inches, but then, even the largest in the range attracts a sub-$2,000 retail price.

How to buy the best budget TV

Getting the best budget TV can be great. And yet, you must be asking yourself what you’re missing by not spending top-dollar on a flagship model. Unfortunately, there are a few features you won’t be finding on a budget model, unless you’re willing to spend a little more.  

Screen size: As a rule of thumb, the bigger the screen size, the more you’re going to be spending. It’s rare to find a 75-inch or 85-inch TV for the same price as a 55-inch model. Now, you can find a 75-inch TCL 4-Series for around the cost of a 65-inch 6-Series, but there are a few tradeoffs, especially on picture quality and extra features that you’ll be missing in that bigger size.

Picture Quality: You’re not getting class-leading picture quality on a budget. The leading TV screen technologies for 2025 and beyond are OLED, QLED, and MicroLED – all these promise stunning picture quality with perfect blacks and vibrant colors. If you’re lucky, you can get close, just check out the TCL 6-Series, but you’re not getting an LG OLED or Samsung QLED TV’s level of picture performance at the same price, as say, the TCL 5-Series. For the affordable price, you’re missing the best contrast, best color saturation, gaming features such as upscaling and motion handling, as well as blazing fast speeds when navigating the UI.

Sound Quality: We’ve seen some fine-sounding budget TVs, but most of them are awful sounding and they ruin the entire experience. And while today’s budget TVs do a lot of things right, sound quality remains a major challenge. If you’re going for something super affordable, just plan on adding one of the best soundbars later to get better audio.

Gaming Features: If you’re a gamer, the most affordable TV may not give you the best experience, especially if you have a next-gen console or the latest gaming PC. The gaming features to look out for include HDMI 2.1, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), low input lag (below 20ms is fine), and refresh rate (120Hz and above is more recommended). Some premium models from LG, Samsung, and Sony are ‘Gamer Ready’ meaning they come with dedicated Game Modes and dashboards.

Smart TV Features: Today, almost all TVs in the market are ‘smart’ but the user experience varies greatly across the board.

• Google TV / Android TV: Extensive app support, Chromecast built-in.
• Roku TV: Simple interface, great app selection.
• Samsung Tizen and LG webOS: Fast and polished, though more limited app stores.

In addition to the smart features, also consider Voice assistant support (compatibility with Alexa or Google Assistant), App availability (Netflix, Disney+ YouTube, etc.), and ease of casting/air playing from phones or tablets.

Bottom Line: Which TV is right for you?

Having highlighted the main feature to look out for in your ideal TV, here is a breakdown of which TV is best for you based on user type:

Ultimately, buying the best TV is about balancing features with your personal preferences and viewing habits. Considering your environment, needs, and budget, you can confidently choose a TV that’ll serve as the centerpiece of your entertainment setup for years to come.

Last update on 2025-04-22 at 16:58 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API