These days, you can find very good TVs under $1,500. Prices of TVs are heading south, and new technology features are finding their way into the more mainstream models, making them available to a wider range of people.
We've tested more than 70 TVs in the past two years, and below are our recommendations for the best TVs under $1,500 you can buy. For more affordable options, check out our recommendations for the best TVs under $1,000, the best budget TVs, and the best smart TVs.
The best TV under $1,500 that we've tested is the LG OLED55BXPUA. It's an entry-level OLED in LG's 2020 lineup. It's extremely similar to the higher-end LG CX OLED, but it's available for cheaper, and the 55 inch model is available for under $1,500. It offers excellent all-around performance, and most people should be happy with it.
With its emissive OLED technology, it can turn off individual pixels, creating an infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity. This makes it ideal for watching movies in the dark, and if you watch HDR movies, it displays a really wide color gamut, but sadly, it has just okay gradient handling. Gamers should also appreciate the FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support, near-instant response time, and low input lag. It also has a Black Frame Insertion feature to clear up motion blur. Also, it has great out-of-the-box color accuracy, so you shouldn't need to pay extra to get it calibrated.
Unfortunately, like any OLED, it has the risk of permanent burn-in, which may be a problem if you constantly watch content with static elements, like the news, or you use your TV as a monitor. It doesn't get very bright either, but thankfully, it has outstanding reflection handling if you want to place it in a bright room. All in all, this is the best TV under $1,500 we've tested.
If you want an excellent gaming TV that doesn't have the risk of permanent burn-in, then the Samsung QN55Q80TAFXZC is a great alternative. It can't produce perfect blacks like the LG BX OLED, but it gets brighter and also has a few extra gaming features like FreeSync support to reduce screen tearing. The response time is excellent, there's a Black Frame Insertion feature to help reduce motion blur, and the input lag in 'Game' mode is incredibly low. It has Samsung's 'Ultra Viewing Angle' layer, improving the viewing angles at the cost of its contrast, but there's a local dimming feature to further deepen any blacks. Unfortunately, the edges of the screen are darker, and there's a dirty screen effect visible in the center. On the upside, it has excellent out-of-the-box color accuracy, so you likely won't need to get it calibrated.
Overall, the LG delivers excellent all-around performance, but if you're going to use your TV for gaming, you can't go wrong with the Samsung.
The best 65 inch TV under $1,500 that we've tested is the Vizio P65Q9-H1. An upper-mid range model, it's packed with features and offers similar performance to the higher-end Vizio P Series Quantum X 2020, which is also available in a 65 inch size, but harder to find.
It has a VA panel that provides an outstanding contrast ratio, resulting in deep blacks. It has a full-array local dimming feature, but there's blooming around bright objects that could be distracting. It has good out-of-the-box color accuracy and displays an extremely wide color gamut for HDR content. It gets bright enough in HDR to make highlights stand out the way the creator intended, and if you place it in a well-lit room, it has good reflection handling and excellent peak brightness in SDR. It has a 120Hz panel with VRR support, excellent low input lag, and quick response time, but you may notice image duplication due to the backlight's flicker frequency.
Unfortunately, it doesn't upscale 480p or 720p content well, so it's only suggested for watching native 1080p or 4k content. It has narrow viewing angles, which is expected from a VA panel, and it has a noticeable dirty screen in the center, but this may vary between units. The Vizio SmartCast system is easy-to-use, but it's laggy at times, and you can't download any extra apps besides the pre-installed ones. Regardless of these small problems, this is the best 65 inch TV under $1,500 that we've tested.
If you have a wide seating arrangement and want a TV with wide viewing angles, check out the LG 65NANO90UNA. It doesn't display deep blacks like the Vizio P Series Quantum 2020 and doesn't get as bright, but it upscales lower-resolution content better. It's also great for gaming due to its very quick response time, low input lag, and FreeSync support. Even though it has a full-array local dimming feature, it's not suggested for dark-room viewing as blacks still appear closer to gray, which is typical of an IPS panel. There's also some banding with gradients, and it doesn't get bright enough in HDR to bring out highlights. On the upside, it has decent built-in speakers, and LG's WebOS store offers a ton of apps to download, and it's easier to use than Vizio's SmartCast system.
If you're looking for the best 65 inch TV under $1,500, you can't go wrong with the Vizio, but if you want something with wide viewing angles, check out the LG.
The best 75 inch TV under $1,500 we've tested is the Hisense 75H8G. It's a VA panel TV that performs well in both dark and bright rooms. It has a high contrast ratio and a full-array local dimming to produce deep blacks, and it gets bright enough to overcome glare easily. It doesn't have the best viewing angles, which is expected of most VA panels, so it isn't ideal for wide seating areas.
It has a fast response time and a Black Frame Insertion feature to deliver clear images in fast-moving scenes. Low frame rate content doesn't stutter much, and it can remove judder from 24p sources and native apps. Its low input lag makes gaming feel incredibly responsive, but the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, and it lacks VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It supports most common resolutions and can display proper 4:4:4, making it a good choice for use as a PC monitor.
The overall HDR experience is okay. It has a good color gamut, but it doesn't get quite bright enough, and the brightness varies a lot depending on the scene, so small highlights don't pop as much in dark scenes. It runs on Android TV, which comes with access to the Google Play Store and voice control through the Google Assistant. All in all, this is a versatile model that should please most people and the best 75 inch TV under $1500 that we've tested.
If you prefer Roku's user-friendly interface over Android TV, then check out the TCL 75R635. It's very similar to the Hisense H8G, but it has a significantly higher contrast ratio and better motion handling. Plus, it gets much brighter to deliver a fantastic HDR experience. Unfortunately, it has slightly higher input lag, and its local dimming feature doesn't perform as well. Color accuracy is mediocre out of the box, so you may have to calibrate it to get the best viewing experience.
Overall, the Hisense and the TCL are very similar TVs, and there are pros and cons for each. The Hisense is a better choice if you plan on gaming on the TV, but if you want a Roku TV or a better HDR experience, then go with the TCL.
12/15/2020: Minor text and structure changes. No change in recommendations.
10/16/2020: Replaced the Vizio P Series Quantum X 2019 with the Vizio P Series Quantum 2020; added the TCL 6 Series 2020.
08/19/2020: Replaced the LG B9 OLED with the LG BX OLED; replaced the LG SM9000 with the LG NANO90; replaced the TCL 6 Series 2018 with the Hisense H8G.
06/16/2020: Replaced the Samsung Q70R with the Q80T and the LG SM9500 with the SM9000; updated Notable Mentions.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best TVs under $1,500 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 reviews of TVs. 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.