If you have limited cash and are looking for the best budget 4k TV, you don't have to spend a ton of money to get a decent display that's good enough for watching your favorite shows and movies. There are many budget models on the market, and it can be hard to figure out which performs best. Whether a TV is high-end or entry-level, we put it through the same meticulous testing process to see how it performs. Through testing, we can determine which budget models stand out from the rest.
Below are our recommendations for the best budget televisions. Our picks reflect the market as it stands today, so you might still see some 2025 models in this article if they're still available. You can also see our recommendations for the best TVs under $500, the best TVs under $1,000, and the best-sounding TVs. Check out the best budget soundbars if you need a soundbar but don't want to spend too much. You can also vote on which TVs you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the latest televisions, check out our 2026 TV lineup page.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
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Best Budget TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:144HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:55" 65" 75" 85" 98"The best budget TV we've tested is the TCL QM6K. What separates it from similarly priced models from other brands is its ability to display deep blacks alongside brighter elements in a scene, which gives the image solid depth. However, there is a bit of a glow around bright lights and subtitles in otherwise dark scenes, which slightly bleeds into darker areas of the image. The TV displays a wide range of vibrant colors, leading to a colorful image whether you're watching movies or playing video games. It's bright enough to handle some glare in a room with a few overhead lights on, but its reflection handling isn't good enough to avoid mirror-like reflections in bright spaces. Still, the TV provides very good image quality for a budget model, whether you're watching sports on cable or high-quality HDR movies through streaming services like Apple TV and Netflix.
What's most impressive about this affordable model is its wide array of modern features. It has two HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4k @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 288Hz, and VRR to reduce screen tearing, making it a great option for gamers on a budget. Motion blur is also kept to a minimum, so fast-paced games look fairly crisp. The TV comes equipped with the Google TV OS, which has a ton of features and gives you access to a huge catalog of streaming apps. If you're looking for a budget-friendly TV that punches well above its weight class, the TCL QM6K is an excellent option.
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Best Premium Budget TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:165HzScreen Finish:MattePanel Type:LCDSub-Type:VADolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:55" 65" 75" 85" 100"If you're willing to spend a bit more because you want something better than the TCL QM6K, the Hisense U7SG is a great choice. The biggest advantage this TV has over the TCL is its bright room performance, since it's brighter and has a matte screen coating that makes reflections a thing of the past. It displays even deeper blacks than the TCL, and there's less glowing around bright lights and subtitles, so darker scenes look better overall. Colors are also punchier, so games and animated films look more vibrant. This model provides a noticeable uptick in image quality over the TCL, whether you're watching older movies on Tubi or the latest HDR movies on 4k Blu-ray.
This TV is also loaded with gaming features, such as four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4k @ 165Hz or 1080p @ 330Hz. On top of that, it supports VRR to reduce screen tearing, and there's only some subtle motion blur in fast-paced games. Like the TCL, it runs the popular Google TV OS, so you won't have any issues finding new apps. Although this TV fits firmly in the mid-range category, you can regularly find it on sale for just a bit more than the TCL, and it offers a ton of versatility for a relatively low price.
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Best Cheap TV
Mixed UsageHome TheaterBright RoomSportsGamingBrightnessBlack LevelColorMotion HandlingGame Mode ResponsivenessProcessing (In Development)Resolution:4kNative Refresh Rate:60HzScreen Finish:GlossyPanel Type:LCDSub-Type:IPSDolby Vision:YesSee all our test resultsSizes:43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"The best cheap TV is the Walmart-exclusive Vizio Mini LED Quantum 4K. Blacks aren't nearly as deep as they are on the TCL QM6K or the Hisense U7SG, but they avoid looking gray in most scenes. Unfortunately, there's a lot more glowing around bright lights and subtitles, and that glow can bleed into darker areas of the image, so some dark scenes don't look great. The TV is just bright enough to handle some glare from overhead lights in a moderately lit space, but reflections are quite distracting in bright rooms. Fortunately, colors are just as vibrant as they are on the TCL, so the image doesn't look dull. It doesn't offer the best image quality, but it looks better than other cheap models on the market.
The TV doesn't have any HDMI 2.1 ports, but it does have three HDMI 2.0 ports capable of 4k @ 60Hz and 1080p @ 120Hz, so you can give up some resolution to play games in higher frame rates. It supports VRR to help reduce screen tearing. However, motion is quite blurry on this model, especially when you're playing fast-paced games. The TV utilizes the Vizio OS, which has a much smaller catalog of apps compared to Google TV, but you still have access to popular streaming services like Prime Video, YouTube, and Disney+. This model performs better than other cheap TVs on the market, and you can get the 75-inch model for a very good price, making it the best budget 75-inch TV.
Notable Mentions
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Hisense U65QF:
The Hisense U65QF is a brighter alternative to the TCL QM6K. However, the TCL offers a more complete package, with deeper blacks, superior accuracy, 1080p @ 288Hz, and smoother motion.
See our review -
LG B5 OLED:
The LG B5 OLED is the closest thing to a budget OLED there is. It competes with a TV like the Hisense U7SG, and it offers deeper blacks, clearer motion, and a wider viewing angle. However, the Hisense is cheaper, and it performs much better in bright rooms, displays punchier colors, and offers more gaming features, making it the more versatile option.
See our review -
Hisense QD6QF:
The Hisense QD6QF competes with the Vizio Mini LED Quantum 4K. The Hisense has a couple small advantages, such as clearer motion and better processing. However, the Vizio is better overall since it displays deeper blacks, is noticeably brighter, has better colors, and offers a wider viewing angle.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jul 08, 2026:
We replaced the TCL QM7K with the Hisense U7SG and the Hisense QD6QF with the Vizio Mini LED Quantum 4K, since the newer models offer better performance. We also updated the Notable Mentions section to offer better alternatives to our current picks.
Mar 31, 2026:
We revised the introduction and updated some text throughout the article for clarity.
Jan 16, 2026:
We confirmed the availability and accuracy of our current picks, and updated some text for clarity.
Oct 24, 2025:
Replaced the Hisense U6N with the TCL QM6K, the Hisense U7N with the TCL QM7K, and the Hisense A7N with the Hisense QD6QF. We also refreshed the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think is currently the best budget smart TV for most people in each price range. 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, below is a list of budget TVs we've tested over the past couple of years, with a price limit of $650. 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.