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Read moreIt’s a great time to buy a cheap TV. With TVs getting better and brighter each year, and the economy doing … whatever it’s doing, investing in the best cheap TV for your money could be the perfect thing for you. Don’t just grab the first random model that pops up on Amazon, though, as some just aren’t that great.
That’s why we spent hundreds of hours testing dozens of screens of all levels to ensure that only TVs with solid performance and great daily usability made the cut. Whether you need a primary 4K HDR display for your TV room or an extra screen for the bedroom or den, this tight list of the best cheap TVs we’ve tested has what you need. For more options, check out our main Best TVs and Best Soundbars lists, and hit up our guide on How to Choose the Right TV to get the inside scoop on all your TV questions.
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What does WIRED consider for the best cheap TVs?
The short answer is price, performance, and usability. Most regular folks who ask me about a new TV are looking for something around $500 or less. Jumping up a few hundred dollars can often get you a lot more performance value, but I understand that may not be in the budget, so this list generally aims for TVs at or below that magic number. To get there, we’ve made a slight sacrifice on size, generally recommending 55-inch models rather than the 65-inch size that’s becoming the industry standard. Not everyone needs a larger screen, and the larger you go, the more you’ll notice performance imperfections.
As TVs get increasingly bigger, it’s also getting harder to find good TVs smaller than 55-inches, especially if you want features like High Dynamic Range and quantum dot colors that make for a much more vibrant and impactful picture. These features often go hand-in-hand with 4K resolution, so while you may not mind getting an HDTV at smaller sizes, all the TVs we’ve recommended offer 4K resolution. Wherever possible, we look for models that offer various size options to cater to all buyers and use cases.
