Ignacy Giżyński
Not everyone is looking for a television that costs several thousand dollars. We know that many of you just want to buy a good screen that won’t break the home budget and will allow you to peacefully watch a series, match, or movie in the evening. That's why we've decided to prepare our own review of models that are worth considering if you're counting every dollar. You'll find specific suggestions in various sizes and price ranges here. We'll also briefly explain why these models are, in our opinion, the best choice for today and why sometimes it's worth investing a little more in better technology. If you're looking for something sensible at a good price, without any unnecessary complications, you’ve come to the right place.
What is a cheap television?
Before we get into specific models, let's pause for a moment and answer one question. What does a cheap television even mean? For some, cheap is one that costs less than a thousand or one thousand five hundreds. For others, cheap could be a large 75-inch screen if it fits within five thousand. You see, it all depends on the perspective. So before someone starts grimacing that "what, a couple of thousand and cheap?", let's remind ourselves that in the world of large screens, that really is a good price. In our review, everyone will find something for themselves. Both a television for less than 1000, and one that costs more, but for its size and capabilities is still a great option.
Best cheap 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've selected a model that we believe best combines price, picture quality, and features. In short – a safe choice that will comfortably suit most homes and won't force you to take out a loan for the purchase 👌.
🏆 Best budget TV
🏆 Best TV up to 500$
🏆 Best budget 55-inch TV
🏆 Best budget MiniLED TV
🏆 Best budget QLED TV
If you have browsed our tests on the website, you have probably noticed that we have tested quite a number of models – from the very expensive to the quite budget-friendly. However, there are a few televisions that really stand out in their price range. Hisense U6NQ is one of them.
In our review, the Hisense U6NQ received a score of 6.6 – the highest rating among televisions in its price category. So we can confidently say, that it is also the best television under 500.
The 55-inch variant is equipped with a VA panel, and together with MiniLED backlighting, it really handles blacks and evening binge-watching well. The television is quite bright, so watching HDR content or simply during a sunny day shouldn’t be a problem. Hisense has equipped the U6NQ with its own 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 television can display images at 120 Hz at 1080p resolution, which is a big plus – most games on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X run at higher fluidity in Full HD rather than full 4K. Therefore, we believe that the U6NQ will comfortably satisfy most people looking for budget equipment for gaming as well. Of course, it is not a perfect television. The standard refresh rate of 60 Hz and average response time of the panel mean that in very dynamic scenes, smearing can be noticeable. For sports fans or more demanding gamers, this may be perceptible.
But we must remember that we are talking about one of the cheapest televisions in this size class. And one must reckon with certain limitations. However, looking at it overall – the Hisense U6NQ is one of the most sensible options on the market under 500$.
Best super cheap television
In this category, we present televisions from the lowest price range. These are options for those who count every penny or simply do not need advanced equipment. We have selected a model that, despite its exceptionally low price, offers acceptable picture quality and won't discourage anyone from watching. 😉
🏆 Best cheap small TV
🏆 Best super cheap TV
🏆 Best TV under 300
🏆 Best cheap TV with Google TV
TCL C69B (also known as C655) is our pick for the best cheap small TV. In our review, it received a score of 6/10, which is a very good result for a TV priced at around 300. The C69B stands out with its Google TV system, which is simple, fast, and convenient. The picture is pleasant to the eye, and thanks to quantum dots (precisely the PFS LED coating) and support for Dolby Vision, HDR films look quite decent. The brightness is not overwhelming (though it is the best in its class), so it may vary in a brightly lit room, but it is more than adequate for everyday viewing or evening sessions. It also deserves credit for its low input lag and Game Bar mode, which will be useful for occasional gamers. This is not equipment for demanding gamers or HDR enthusiasts, but at this price, it's hard to expect more. In one sentence, it can be described as: a good, affordable TV for daily use and occasional gaming. Ideal for places where a larger screen won't fit. However, if we look at the larger versions of this model, the situation becomes much more interesting.
Variants from 55 to 85 inches offer noticeably higher brightness, and the largest 98-inch model is additionally equipped with a full 144 Hz panel. It truly is one of the best very cheap TVs. For more details, we invite you to check out the full tests available on our site.
Best Cheap Large TV 65/75 Inch
In this category, we searched for a large screen at a reasonable price that wouldn’t put you off with its image quality after unboxing. 65 inches or 75 inches is a popular size for the living room today, so we wanted to find a model that offers good image quality and decent features without breaking the bank.
🏆 Best cheap large TV 65/75 inches
As we mentioned at the beginning of the ranking, everything depends on your viewpoint. For some, a cheap television is something for a thousands, while for others – a reasonable choice for a lounge in 65 or 75 inches may already cost significantly more.
That’s why in this category we opted for the Samsung Q80D.
It’s not the cheapest model in our ranking, but when it comes to larger screen sizes, it’s really worth spending a bit more on a television. There are issues here that simply can’t be ignored when talking about such a large screen.
The first issue is motion smoothness. A large screen with low refresh rates makes watching anything dynamic – a match, a race, a game – tiring. The Q80D has a proper 120 Hz panel that’s great for both sports and gaming. Additionally, it features HDMI 2.1, so we can easily connect next-generation consoles and take advantage of their capabilities. The second important aspect is backlight quality. The bigger the screen, the more its flaws are visible: halo effects, uneven brightness, and even the so-called “dirty screen” (DSE). The Q80D performs much better here than typical budget models, as it has basic local dimming. It’s not on par with top-tier models, but it’s enough to make blacks look good and HDR viewing have the right effect. The Q80D is a television that should be considered as a budget “cheap premium.” It’s a piece of gear for everyone, especially if you want a large screen, good smoothness, and solid picture parameters without reaching for OLEDs or MiniLEDs. In our opinion, this is exactly the price point where it’s worth starting. 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 on a television like the Samsung Q80D, you won’t regret that we recommended something subpar to you, especially in such a large size.
Best Cheap OLED TV
🏆 Best budget OLED TV
🏆 Best budget home cinema TV
The world of OLED TVs is becoming increasingly affordable year by year. Entering this segment is – in our opinion – a point of no return.
Perfect blacks, infinite contrast, superb panel responsiveness, excellent motion fluidity, and colour reproduction – it's simply a recipe for a television that impresses from the very first viewing. This year, we highlight two models in this category: the LG B4 and the Samsung S85D, but we consider 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 cinema and gaming. It runs on the webOS system, which is fast and provides access to most popular applications. Of course – this is not equipment for everyone. The risk of burn-in still exists (though it's decreasing year by year), and the maximum brightness isn't groundbreaking, so we recommend it primarily for evening movie and series watching, where its advantages really shine. But if you care about that cinematic effect and flawless black levels, then B4 is the OLED that gets the job done, and at an increasingly affordable price.
Best budget TV for gaming -
🏆 – Best budget TV for gaming / for consoles
If you're looking for the best budget TV for gaming – whether it's PS5 or Xbox Series X – the Samsung Q70D has pretty much everything you need: a 120 Hz panel, HDMI 2.1, ALLM, VRR, and one of the best motion smoothers in this price range. It's this motion smoother that really does the job, especially where consoles struggle with frame rates. Thanks to it, many games just look smoother than you might expect. It's the perfect option if you want the lowest latency and smooth motion – the Samsung Q70D is, in our opinion, the best budget TV for the PS5 that won’t break the bank.
But to be fair: it’s worth seriously considering paying extra for the previously mentioned Q80D model. It’s only a little bit more, and you gain better backlighting, deeper blacks, and a more versatile picture – not only for gaming but also for movies and everyday viewing. Interestingly, the Q80D can often be cheaper than the Q70D – it all depends on current promotions. However, if you want a TV for gaming with the least resistance, the Q70D will get the job done 100%.
