The 4 Best TVs Under $500 – Summer 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best TV
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Best 43-Inch
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Best 65-Inch
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Best 70-Inch
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Jun 21, 2023 at 09:16 am
By Pierre-Olivier Jourdenais
If you wanted to buy a decent LCD TV a few years ago, chances were that you couldn’t find any good models for under $500. Although the best models are still priced higher, you can find cheap models that will serve you well in this price category, depending on your use. Finding the best 4k TV under $500 depends on your usage and space limitations. Cheaper TVs tend to be smaller, so if you want a bigger TV in this price range, you’ll have to sacrifice a bit in performance.
We’ve bought and tested more than 390 TVs, and below are our recommendations for the best TVs you can buy for under $500. You may also want to check out our picks for the best budget TVs, the best 4k TVs under $1,000, or the best TVs under $300 if you want something cheaper. Brands are releasing their 2023 models, so vote on which ones you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the 2023 models, check out our 2023 TV lineup page.
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Best TV Under $500
TCL 55S555
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Mixed Usage
7.6
TV Shows
6.9
Sports
7.1
Video Games
8.1
HDR Movies
7.
8
HDR Gaming
8.2
PC Monitor
8.1
Type
LED
Sub-Type
VA
Resolution
4k
See all our test results
The best TV under $500 we’ve tested is the TCL 55S555. It’s a great TV with a good selection of extra features, and it delivers surprisingly good picture quality for the price. This TV is a great choice for watching movies or shows at night in a dark room, thanks to its impressive contrast ratio. It’s one of the only TVs on the market at this price point to offer a full array local dimming feature to improve the appearance of dark scenes, and this helps it deliver a great overall HDR experience, as small bright highlights stand out.
It runs the Roku OS interface, which is simple but very easy to use, and has a great selection of streaming channels.
The TV has a great selection of gaming features, including low input lag, a fast response time, and variable refresh rate support to reduce tearing in games. The 55-inch model of the S555 is the best TV, but if you’re looking for the best 50-inch TV under $500, the TCL 50S555 is a great choice.
See our review
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Best 43-Inch TV Under $500
Samsung UN43CU7000FXZA
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Mixed Usage
6.7
TV Shows
6.4
Sports
6.6
Video Games
7.2
HDR Movies
6.
6
HDR Gaming
7.4
PC Monitor
7.2
Type
LED
Sub-Type
VA
Resolution
4k
See all our test results
Most TVs on this list aren’t available in smaller sizes, but if you’re looking for a small TV for a bedroom or office, the best 43-inch TV under $500 is the Samsung UN43CU7000FXZA. It’s especially good as a cheap gaming TV, as its response time is good, and it has superbly low input lag. It also runs the 2023 version of Samsung’s well-known Tizen OS, which is very easy to use. The TV delivers decent picture quality, with surprisingly good contrast and black uniformity, considering there’s no local dimming. Finally, it’s very well-priced.
However, if you’d rather have something with better image quality and don’t care about gaming performance, check out the Samsung CU8000.
It displays a wide color gamut in HDR, which is uncommon for TVs in this price range, but it’s not very bright in HDR, so highlights don’t stand out the way they should. The CU8000 also has very good upscaling and low-quality content smoothing, so it’s a great choice for DVD and streaming movie fans, especially as its slow response time results in very little stutter when watching movies. That said, as they’re nearly identical in quality but with different strengths and weaknesses, the cheaper CU7000 is our pick as it’s a better overall value.
See our review
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Best 65-Inch TV Under $500
TCL 65S455
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Finding Store
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Finding Store
Mixed Usage
7.6
Movies
8.
7
TV Shows
6.9
Sports
6.7
Video Games
7.8
HDR Movies
7.7
HDR Gaming
7.9
PC Monitor
7.1
Type
LED
Sub-Type
VA
Resolution
4k
See all our test results
Although the TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED is available in a 65-inch size, it costs more than $500. If you’re on a tight budget of under $500 and want a 65-inch TV, the best option is the TCL 65S455. As you go for larger sizes in this price range, you lose out on some features and performance, which is the case with this TV compared to the S555, but it’s still decent overall.
It runs the Roku TV interface, which is very easy to use and has a good selection of streaming apps.
The TV has a high contrast ratio and remarkable black uniformity, great considering it doesn’t have a local dimming feature to improve the picture quality in dark scenes. It also doesn’t get bright enough to fight glare, so it’s best to use it in a dim or moderately-lit room, as its reflection handling is decent enough to handle a light or two.
See our review
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Best 70-Inch TV Under $500
Hisense 70A6H
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Mixed Usage
6.3
TV Shows
6.9
Sports
6.
9
Video Games
6.2
HDR Movies
5.6
HDR Gaming
6.6
PC Monitor
7.4
Type
LED
Sub-Type
IPS
Resolution
4k
See all our test results
If you want the biggest TV possible on a tight budget and aren’t concerned about extra features, you can find the 70-inch Hisense A6H for under $500. It delivers worse picture quality overall compared to the smaller, higher-end models on this list, but the 70-inch model uses a VA panel and has much better contrast than the 65-inch model we bought and tested. It makes it a much better choice for use in a dark to moderately-lit room, as dark scenes look great, with deep, uniform blacks and no distracting blooming around bright areas of the scene.
The built-in Google TV platform is easy to use, with a nice, polished interface that makes it easy to find your favorite content. It has one of the widest selections of streaming apps available, so you can easily find your favorite streaming services. It doesn’t have much to offer gamers but has low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. Surprisingly, it even supports a variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- Hisense U7H:
The Hisense U7H is a slightly better TV than the TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED, especially in a dark room, as it has significantly less blooming around bright objects. It also gets significantly brighter in HDR, so bright highlights stand out better. It’s also a bit over $500, even for the 55-inch. If you can stretch your budget a bit, it’s worth getting it over the TCL.
See our review - Sony KD-43X80K:
The Sony KD-43X80K is a close runner-up for best 43-inch under $500.It’s a brighter and more accurate TV than the Samsung CU7000/CU7000D and Samsung CU8000, with a wider viewing angle. Unfortunately, it has an abysmal contrast ratio with no local dimming to help it, and it’s more expensive than both Samsung TVs.
See our review
Recent Updates
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Jun 21, 2023:
Moved the Sony KD-43X80K to the Notable Mentions and replaced our ‘Best 43-Inch TV Under $500’ with the Samsung UN43CU7000FXZA. Finally, added a mention of the Samsung CU8000 under the ‘Best 43-Inch TV Under $500’ category and refreshed the text for accuracy and consistency. -
Mar 27, 2023:
Verified our picks for accuracy and consistency and refreshed the text. Added the Hisense U7H as a Notable Mention. -
Jan 17, 2023:
Replaced most of our picks for models that are more widely available for around $500. -
Nov 11, 2022:
Restructured the article, adding the Hisense U7H as the ‘Best TV Under $500’. -
Sep 12, 2022:
Restructured article to reflect user needs; removed the Hisense U6G, Samsung AU8000, and the LG UP8000 because they aren’t the best TVs in this price range; separated the categories by size and added the TCL 5 Series/S546 2021 QLED, Hisense U6H, TCL 4 Series/S455 2022, and the Insignia F50 QLED; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best TVs for under $500 to buy for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no TVs that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our TV reviews, sorted by price from low to high. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
The best TVs under $500 in 2023
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Best Cheap TV: Quick Menu
(Image credit: Roku)
1. The list in brief
2. Best TV under $500
3. Best TV under $400
4. Best TV around $300
5. How to choose
6. How we test
The best TVs under $500 is a sort of promised land for TV buyers. We all want something incredible for our money, but often $500 isn’t enough to get you a cutting-edge OLED TV or a high-end QLED from Samsung.
While the sub-$500 TV market isn’t as rich in high-end models as we’d like, there’s no shortage of perfectly fine TVs that deliver great picture performance for the price. For example, our top picks, the Roku Plus Series and TCL 5-Series QLED TV, combine the category-leading color and brightness of QLED with easy-to-use smart TV interfaces. Both come highly recommended.
Below we’ve rounded up the best TVs under $500 that manage to find the balance between cost and performance, giving you better-than-basic features and above-average performance. We’ve even highlighted the best TV under $400 and the best TV under $300, too, alongside the best deals going on right now to give you options that stretch your dollar a bit more.
Why can you trust us? We put this list together after well-over 100 hours of lab testing and eyes-on viewing with the TVs you see below. On top of that, we test dozens more TVs each year and have been at this for over a decade.
Written by
Written by
Managing Editor, TV & AV
My name’s Nick and I look after our guides to the best TVs, best OLED TVs and best 4K TVs. Most of my day is spent watching and evaluating new screens from LG, Samsung, Sony, Hisense, TCL and Vizio. I have 10 years of experience in AV, and before I joined Tom’s Guide I was formerly the Senior Editor, TV and AV at TechRadar. I love helping people find the perfect TV, so please feel free to reach out over email or tag me on Twitter and I can help you out.
The best TVs you can buy under $500
Why you can trust Tom’s Guide
Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what’s best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
The quick list
Best TV under $500
1. Roku Plus Series QLED TV
The best cheap TV
For under $500, you can’t do any better than the Roku Plus Series TV. With a good smart interface and HDR color and sound capabilities never-before-seen for its class, it’s a surprisingly good budget buy.
Read more below
Best TV under $400
2. TCL 5-Series Google TV
Best TV under $400
The TCL 5-Series Google TV (S546) wowed us with its solid performance and great value for your dollar. The move to Google TV gives the affordable 4K smart TV a more premium smart TV platform.
Read more below
Best TV around $300
3. Hisense U6H QLED TV
The best TV around $300
The Hisense U6H is a budget TV that exceeds expectations at every turn. It delivers good brightness in our testing, low input lag for gaming and the intuitive Google TV interface. Just don’t expect good sound or HDMI 2.1 ports.
Read more below
The full list: Best TVs under $500
(Image credit: Roku)
1. Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV
Roku’s first QLED TV is the best TV under $500
Specifications
Available Screen Sizes: 55, 65, 75 inches
Screen Type: QLED
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
HDMI ports: 4 HDMI 2. 0
Size: 33.1 x 57 x 4 inches
Weight: 36.7 pounds
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
First-rate HDR color
+
Good sound
+
Solid Roku TV smart interface
Reasons to avoid
–
Only 60Hz refresh rate
–
No HDMI 2.1 ports
What if we told you that there’s a 55-inch 4K HDR TV that offers surprisingly good picture quality and sound for just $499? You’d be surprised, right? Well, let us introduce you to the Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV. It marks the streaming giant’s first foray into sets after long focusing on software and set-top and plug-in devices — and the move is a successful one.
Despite its price, the Plus Series does not look cheap: A gray, metal bezel surrounds the screen on all sides, measuring less than an eighth-inch on the left, right, and top, and about two-thirds inch on the bottom to allow for a front-and-center chrome Roku logo.
The Plus Series uses quantum-dot LED technology to produce more and more vivid colors and increased brightness. And in everything we watched, we found that the TV lived up to Roku’s claims. Picture vibrancy does start fading as you move away from the center of the screen, but it took a fair distance for the display to look unbearable.
All in all, the Plus Series is well-suited to watching just about anything except super-fast action such as sports, thanks to the panel’s limited 60Hz refresh rate.
Read our full Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV review.
Best TV under $400
(Image credit: TCL)
2. TCL 5-Series Google TV (S546)
Best Google TV under $500
Specifications
Available Screen Sizes: 50, 55, 65, 75 inches
Screen Type: QLED
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
HDMI ports: 3 HDMI (1 eARC)
Size: 43.8 x 25.5 x 3 inches
Weight: 26 pounds
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
QLED display with local dimming for excellent HDR performance
+
Great color quality and smooth motion
+
Google TV is a serious upgrade from Roku
Reasons to avoid
–
Limited viewing angles
–
Audio is good, but not great
Of course, not everyone is going to want a Roku TV. If you find yourself in that camp, check out the 50-inch TCL 5-Series Google TV. This one wowed us with its combination of smart TV features, solid performance and great value for your dollar. Building on the foundation of the already-good 5-Series, the move to Google TV gives the affordable 4K smart TV a more premium smart TV platform, one that offers personalized and customizable suggestions, a huge assortment of smart features, and deep Google Assistant integration that makes it a viable center for the entire home of connected gadgets.
But it also offers a step up in other aspects of the TV. As we found in our extensive testing, the 5-Series Google TV is a more polished version of the 5-Series TV when it comes to everything from color quality to lag times. And as well as delivering an excellent QLED 4K display, you also get a slick remote control, and a surprisingly wide array of gaming features for a 60Hz TV. For a smart TV that sells for under $500 for most size options, it’s easily one of the best TVs on the market.
Read our full TCL 5-Series Google TV (S546) review.
Best TV around $300
(Image credit: Hisense)
3. Hisense U6H Quantum
A fantastic 50-inch 4K TV for $329
Specifications
Available Screen size: 50, 55, 65, 75 inches
Screen type: LCD with quantum dots
Refresh rate: 60Hz
HDMI ports: 4 (1 ARC)
Size: 43.9 × 25.7 × 3.0 inches
Weight: 24.9 pounds
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Good brightness for its category
+
Low input lag
+
Uses Google TV
Reasons to avoid
–
No HDMI 2.1 ports
–
Poor audio
For a great value on a 50-inch TV, the Hisense U6H (50U6H) has plenty to offer. For a TV that costs as little as this one does, its brightness and color are above-average, and it has appealingly low input lag for gamers.
Additionally, Google TV is one of the most powerful smart TV interfaces out there, and the U6H is all the better for its inclusion. The U6H may not get quite as bright as its splashier siblings, the U7H and the Hisense U8H, but for its class, it fares pretty well. Its SDR brightness as measured in Filmmaker Mode (the mode that most closely matches out-of-the-box calibration) lands at 537 nits — decent but not spectacular, but enough to win against competitors such as the Amazon Fire TV Omni, the Samsung Q60B, the TCL Series-6 Roku TV, and the Vizio M-Series Quantum.
The Hisense U6H might be faced with some stiff competition, but in the end it’s able to deliver a result that exceeded our expectations for a TV that costs around $300.
Read our full Hisense U6H Quantum Series review.
How to choose the best cheap TV
How to choose the best TV under $500
Scoring a TV for less than $500 means giving up some of the nicer features and design touches for a more affordable price. But you can still get some excellent features without blowing the budget. Here are a few things you can still easily find in your price range.
4K resolution: 4K resolution is so affordable, and the quality so much better than 1080p or 720p, that we always recommend going for 4K. Unless you’re on a shoestring budget, getting a proper 4K TV won’t even save you much money, but you will notice the difference.
Screen size: You may not always be able to score a premium 65-inch TV for under $500, but you can still get a decent 55-inch model, so don’t settle for some dinky 43-inch set unless it’s the right size for the space.
HDR support: If there’s one feature we recommend, it’s high dynamic range (HDR). Even basic HDR support provides better color, brighter highlights and richer shadows, giving you a better picture in every respect. If you can find a set with Dolby Vision, that’s even better, but you may pay more for that feature.
Connectivity: More HDMI ports are always better, so you don’t find yourself having to awkwardly swap plugs on the TV every time you want to fire up a Blu-ray or jump into a game.
Gaming: For affordable gaming TVs, we recommend looking for sets with higher refresh rates of 60Hz, but the latest Xbox Series X and PS5 consoles can actually go higher. Lag time is another concern, so check out individual reviews to find sets that have a lag time of shorter than 20 milliseconds for the best performance.
What features are worth paying more for?
While budget-friendly TVs are pretty good, there’s no denying that spending more will get you some features that you just won’t be able to find for less than 500 bucks. If any of the below sound like a must-have for your new TV, consider spending a little bit more.
Screen size: If you’re lucky, you will find one or two 65-inch TVs selling below the $500 mark during sales events. And going larger than that will always cost more. If you want something like a 75-inch TV, the only option is to pony up more money.
Picture quality: 4K resolution is great, but today’s premium TVs have taken picture quality to new levels of excellence with better color, brightness and contrast, not to mention super-smooth motion handling. If you want the best picture quality, you’ll want to consider paying more for technologies like quantum dots, mini-LED and OLED.
Sound quality: Today’s budget TVs do a lot of things well, but sound quality usually isn’t one of them. We recommend pairing your new TV with one of the best soundbars to get better audio than the tiny speakers crammed into a thin TV chassis could ever produce.
How we test the best cheap TVs
How we test TVs
Evaluating TVs is about more than just kicking back to watch a movie. We lab test every TV, measuring color gamut, color accuracy and brightness to objectively see which sets are the best for these key indicators. We also test for lag time – a key detail for gaming – measuring to the millisecond how long it takes for content to travel from the original source to the screen. We use these results to make numbers-based comparisons about color and display quality.
We also spend time with each set for real-world evaluation and see how our lab results translate into more subjective performance. We also compare sets side by side and view samples from the latest movies, specialized test patterns that highlight strengths and weaknesses of each display, and a range of content across several sources. With that information, we can tell you which TVs look best, sound best and offer the best viewing experience.
Finally, we evaluate the smart TV functions and apps for each TV, looking at everything from the remote control design to the voice interaction.
We put all of that data together with our real-world testing and stack it against the price of the TV. The result is a score that we feel best represents the totality of that model, and how well it stands up against its contemporary rivals. A TV that scored highly five years ago may not score as highly against a newer model, but we do our best to update reviews when newer models become available.
Interested in a specific TV brand, price range or screen size? Check out our picks for the best TVs in each.
Best TVs | Best 4K TVs | Best smart TVs for streaming | Best TVs for gaming
The best TVs under $1000 | The best TVs under $500
Best TV brands | Best Samsung TVs | Best TCL TVs | Best LG TVs | Best Roku TVs | Best OLED TVs | Best QLED TVs | Best 8K TVs | Best HDMI 2. 1 TV | Best TVs with ATSC 3.0 | Best TVs with Chromecast
The smallest smart TVs | Best 43-inch TVs | Best 50-inch TVs | Best 55-inch TVs | Best 65-inch TVs | Best 70-inch TVs | Best 75-inch TVs | Best 85-inch TVs
Round up of today’s best deals
TCL 5-Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Google
$644.66
View
See all prices
Hisense 50U6H
$529.99
$484.30
View
See all prices
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Nick Pino heads up the TV and AV verticals at Tom’s Guide and covers everything from OLED TVs to the latest wireless headphones. He was formerly the Senior Editor, TV and AV at TechRadar (Tom’s Guide’s sister site) and has previously written for GamesRadar, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade. Not sure which TV you should buy? Drop him an email or tweet him on Twitter and he can help you out.
Top 4: Best TVs under $500
The truth is that we all want a cheap TV. Who wouldn’t want a 90-inch high-definition screen with brighter-than-life colors for a ridiculous price? Unfortunately, the entertainment market is not played by our rules. And when you buy a cheap TV, you usually get even less than what you paid for. It’s hard enough to get a quality TV for less than $500, but it’s possible, and we’ll show you how.
Value for money is key if you want to cut your costs. You don’t need the biggest, brightest TV. But for just a few hundred dollars, you can get as close to perfect as possible and get a TV that perfectly suits your needs. We have studied an unimaginably huge number of models, breaking our eyes, looking at the lowest quality screens to select the best for you. Multimedia connoisseurs, smart TV aficionados, small screen connoisseurs will surely choose their favorite TV from our selection of four models under $500.
LG TV 42LF5600 42″ – swindle
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Price: $369
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Pros: very economical power consumption
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Cons: difficult to mount on the wall
Not everyone wants to see dozens of buttons and levers on their TV. For those who are looking for a quality picture and a basic, uncluttered interface, and don’t mind saving a little money, this simple model from LG is the perfect purchase. And even though the picture refresh rate is only 60Hz, you’ll get above-average sharp pictures even if you use this TV for video games.
Two HDMI ports make it easy to connect any device you need without overloading your TV with dozens of outputs for equipment you haven’t even heard of. It’s side-lit, not back-lit, which reduces color depth, but allows for a thinner and lighter case, while keeping the price low.
Samsung UN40J6200 40″ TV – a prime example
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Price: $448
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Pros: DTS Premium Sound 5.
1
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Cons: weak smart TV options
The TV’s size is always impressive, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in clarity. Deep blacks and crisp, contrasting colors are very eye-catching and showcase the presence of Samsung’s range of models. The manufacturer also promises smart TV features, but we only find slow apps and average network connectivity.
Even without these options, however, this is a first-class model. The image will remain sharp and clear even for video games with a frame rate of 60 frames per second. The TV has a lot of great apps, and thanks to Anynet+ technology, you can control dozens of devices directly from your TV. We think this is a great model as the first TV to move into the bedroom once you can get something more advanced.
Sony KDL40W600B 40″ – extended package
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Price: $423
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Pros: powerful remote speakers
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Cons: “brick” power cord
This beautiful and inexpensive TV from Sony we could have bought a year ago, because now, apparently, the company’s goal was to produce only high-end TVs at inflated prices. If you’re willing to overlook the fact that the KDL40W600B is a little outdated, you’ll get a great model with 4 HDMI outputs and 3 USB ports, allowing you to connect as many media devices as you like.
It is surprisingly attractive considering the side lighting, and can become a decoration of the interior even when switched off. With a refresh rate of 60 Hz, this TV doesn’t compete well, but video games and Stanley Cup Hockey League matches are crisp. If you just want to enjoy a movie, X-Reality PRO technology will ensure the purity and depth of color.
Sharp LC-48LE653U 48″ – best balance
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Price: $429
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Pros: deep black, even in a dark room
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Cons: does not show very well in brightly lit rooms
For unknown reasons, all budget TV manufacturers face the same problem. Either video broadcasting and smart TV applications are simply ridiculously limited, or the picture quality is just not good enough. By choosing the LC-48LE653U, you get the best balance, shifted towards picture quality, complete with smart TV features.
Don’t get us wrong, both are top notch, but you can see why Sharp is one of the leaders when it comes to image clarity and skillful use of backlighting. This TV does not have the same vivid colors as other models, but shows deeper contrasting colors, which, however, can become washed out if the TV is exposed to direct sunlight.
Zharinova Ekaterina
70-inch Xiaomi Mi TV ES70 valued at $500
Xiaomi has launched the 70-inch Mi TV ES70 in China, which costs only $510! The novelty is characterized by a VA-panel with a resolution of UHD (3840:2160 pixels), a standard image refresh rate of 60 Hz, 94% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut, a maximum brightness of 700 cd / m2, a static contrast ratio of 5000: 1, HDR support, a single-chip a system with four Arm Cortex-A55 cores, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of flash memory, three HDMI 2.0 interfaces and two USB interfaces, support for wireless communication Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.