Ignacy Giżyński
Not everyone is looking for a television that costs several thousand pounds. We know that many of you simply want to buy a good screen that won't break the household budget and will allow you to peacefully watch a series, a match, or a film 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 penny. You'll find specific suggestions in various sizes and price ranges here. We'll also briefly explain why we believe these models are the best choice for today and why sometimes it's worth spending a bit more for slightly better technology. If you're looking for something sensible at a good price, without unnecessary complications, you've come to the right place.
What is a cheap television?
Before we move on to specific models, let's pause for a moment and answer one question. What does it actually mean to have a cheap television? For some, cheap is one that costs less than a thousand or a thousand five hundreds. For others, a cheap option will be a large 75-inch screen if it fits within five thousand. You see, it all depends on perspective. Therefore, before anyone starts to grimace, saying "how can that be cheap for a couple of thousand?", let's remind ourselves that in the world of large screens, that is indeed a good price. In our review, everyone will find something for themselves. A television for less than 1000, and one that costs more but is still a great option for its size and capabilities.
Best Cheap TV
If you simply want to buy a good television for a reasonable price and do not feel like spending hours browsing tables and comparing specifications, then this category is for you. We have selected a model that we believe best combines price, picture quality, and features. Simply put – a safe choice that will comfortably perform well in most households and won't force you to take out a loan to make a purchase 👌.
🏆 Best cheap television
🏆 Best television under 500
🏆 Best cheap 55-inch television
🏆 Best cheap MiniLED television
🏆 Best cheap QLED television
If you have browsed our reviews on the website, you probably noticed that we have tested quite a few models – from the super expensive to the reasonably budget-friendly. However, there are a few televisions that truly stand out in their price range. The 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 for up to 500 dollars
The 55-inch variant is equipped with a VA panel, and combined with MiniLED backlighting, it really handles black levels and evening series viewing very well. The television is quite bright, so watching content in HDR or simply on a sunny day should not be a problem. Hisense has equipped the U6NQ with its proprietary Vidaa system (at least in Europe), which works very smoothly – it is fast, responsive, and you will find most popular apps here (you can check the specific list in the full review). It is also a great option for casual gamers. The television can display a picture at 120 Hz at a resolution of 1080p, which is a big plus – most games on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X function with higher fluidity in Full HD rather than in 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 during very dynamic scenes, there is noticeable trailing. For sports fans or more demanding gamers, this may be noticeable.
However, it is important to remember that we are talking about one of the cheapest televisions in this size class. And you have to take certain limitations into account. Looking at it as a whole – the Hisense U6NQ is one of the most sensible options on the market for up to 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 models that, despite their exceptionally low price, offer acceptable picture quality and will not discourage anyone from watching. 😉
🏆 Best budget small TV
🏆 Best super budget TV
🏆 Best TV under 1000 zł
🏆 Best budget TV with Google TV
TCL C69B (also known as C655) is our choice for the best budget small television. In our review, it received a score of 6/10, which is a very good result for a television priced around 300. The C69B stands out with its Google TV system, which is simple, quick and convenient. The picture is pleasing to the eye, and thanks to quantum dots (specifically the PFS LED coating) and Dolby Vision support, HDR films look quite good. The brightness is not overwhelming (although it is the best in its class), so in a brightly lit room it may vary, but for everyday viewing or evening screenings, it is more than sufficient. Its low input lag and Game Bar mode are also positives, which will be useful for those who play from time to time. This is not equipment for demanding gamers or HDR enthusiasts, but at this price, it is hard to expect more. In one sentence, it can be described as a good, affordable television for everyday use and occasional gaming. Ideal 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-fledged 144 Hz panel. This is truly one of the best very cheap televisions. For more details, we invite you to check out the full tests available on our site.
Best Cheap Large TV 65/75 inches
In this category, we were looking for a large screen at a reasonable price that would not deter you with its picture quality upon unpacking. 65 inches or 75 inches is a size often chosen for the living room today, so we wanted to find a model that would offer good picture quality and decent features without spending a fortune.
🏆 Best cheap large TV 65/75 inches
As we mentioned at the beginning of the comparison, everything depends on the point of view. For some, a cheap television costs about a thousand, while for others, a reasonable choice for a living room in 65 or 75 inches can cost significantly more.
That is why we have opted for the Samsung Q80D in this category.
It is not the cheapest model in our comparison, but when it comes to larger screen sizes, it is really worth spending a bit more on a television. There are issues that simply cannot be ignored when talking about such a large screen.
The first issue is motion fluidity. A large screen with low refresh rates makes watching anything dynamic – a match, a race, a game – tiring. The Q80D has a full-fledged 120 Hz panel, which is excellent 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 factor is the quality of backlighting. The larger the screen, the more its flaws become apparent: 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 may not reach the level of top models, but it is sufficient for blacks to look good and for HDR viewing to have the desired effect. The Q80D is a television that should be considered as a "budget premium" option. It is a piece of equipment for everyone, especially if you want a large screen, good fluidity, and solid image parameters without resorting to OLEDs or Mini LEDs. In our opinion, this is exactly the price level where it is worth starting. By choosing such a large screen, it is really worth adding those extra few hundreds. While writing this ranking, we kept a very simple thought in mind – if you decide to go for a television like the Samsung Q80D, you won't regret that we recommended something weak, especially in such a large size.
Best Budget OLED TV
🏆 Best cheap OLED TV
🏆 Best cheap home cinema TV
The world of OLED televisions is becoming increasingly affordable year by year. Entering this segment is – in our opinion – a point of no return.
Perfect black, infinite contrast, remarkable panel responsiveness, excellent motion fluidity, and colour reproduction – this is simply the recipe for a television that impresses from the 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 one 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 (although it decreases year by year), and the maximum brightness is not overwhelming, so we recommend it primarily for evening viewing of films and series, where its advantages truly shine. But if you care about a cinematic effect and impeccable black levels, then B4 is the OLED that gets the job done and at an increasingly affordable price.
The best cheap television for gaming -
🏆 – The best budget TV for gaming / for consoles
If you're looking for the best budget television for consoles – whether it's PS5 or Xbox Series X – then the Samsung Q70D has pretty much everything you need: a 120 Hz panel, HDMI 2.1, ALLM, VRR, and one of the best smoothers in this price range. And it's this smoother that does the job, especially where consoles struggle with frame rates. Thanks to it, many games simply look smoother than you would expect. It's the ideal option if you care about the lowest possible latency and smooth motion – in our opinion, the Samsung Q70D is the best budget television for the PS5 that won't break the bank.
But to be fair: it's worth seriously considering the upgrade to the previously mentioned Q80D model. It's just a bit more, and you gain better backlighting, deeper blacks, and a more versatile picture – not just for gaming, but also for films and everyday viewing. Interestingly, the Q80D model is often cheaper than the Q70D – it all depends on current promotions. However, if you want a television for gaming with the least resistance – the Q70D will fulfil that task 100%.
