If you wanted to buy a decent TV a few years ago, chances were that you couldn't find any good models for under $500. Although the best models are still priced higher, you can find cheap models that will serve you well in this price category, depending on your usage and space limitations. Whether a TV is high-end or more affordable, we perform over 350 tests on each TV we review. Despite being cheaper, you still want a TV that gets bright enough to combat glare, displays a wide range of colors, and provides deep enough blacks so that you aren't looking at a very washed-out image in a dark room. Through our rigorous testing procedures, we can discover what models fit these criteria, which helps us determine what TVs under $500 are worth buying.
Below are our recommendations for the best TVs you can buy for under $500. You may also want to check out our picks for the best budget TVs, the best 4k TVs under $1,000, or the best TVs under $300 if you want something cheaper, or you can vote on which ones you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the current models from each TV brand, check out our 2025 TV lineup page.
Quick Look
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 are done with 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 55-Inch TV Under $500
Mixed Usage7.1Home Theater7.2Bright Room7.0Sports7.1Gaming7.2Brightness6.5Black Level7.6Color7.2Processing (In Development)7.0Game Mode Responsiveness7.9Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate144HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesThe best TV under $500 we've tested is the TCL 55QM6K. What separates this TV from similarly priced models from other brands is its local dimming feature, which makes blacks deep and bold, adds depth to the image, and prevents it from looking flat and dull. The TV's HDR brightness is just good enough for highlights to stand out slightly, and the TV displays a wide range of colors, so HDR content still looks quite good. The TV's SDR brightness is good, so it effectively reduces glare in a room with some overhead lights on. However, it's best to avoid placing any light sources directly opposite the screen, as reflections from those are very visible. It runs the popular Google TV OS, so finding apps is simple.
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, making it a great option for both console and PC gamers on a budget. It even has decently fast pixel transitions, so motion blur is kept to a minimum. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and DTS audio passthrough, making it a solid option for movie enthusiasts. If you're looking for a budget-friendly 55-inch TV that punches well above its weight class, the TCL QM6K is an excellent option.
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Best 65-Inch TV Under $500
Mixed Usage7.0Home Theater7.1Bright Room7.3Sports7.3Gaming6.5Brightness6.7Black Level7.6Color6.5Processing (In Development)7.1Game Mode Responsiveness7.2Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate60HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesThe Best Buy exclusive TCL 65QM5K offers the best image quality out of any other 65-inch model regularly sold for under $500. The TV features local dimming, which helps deepen blacks, resulting in an image with good depth. However, there's more noticeable haloing around highlights and subtitles. It also displays vibrant colors, and it's just bright enough in HDR to make highlights stand out when watching movies and shows. However, it loses a lot of HDR brightness in its gaming mode, which is a bit disappointing since that mode offers the best performance for gamers. Fortunately, the TV has good SDR brightness, so it handles glare from indirect lighting in a well-lit room. However, just like the TCL QM6K, it's best to avoid placing the TV screen directly in front of a lamp or other light source.
It runs the same version of the Google TV OS as the more expensive TCL model, which is a great feature. It also supports HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and DTS audio passthrough. On the other hand, it doesn't have the same set of gaming features, and you won't find support for 4k @ 120Hz or 1080p @ 288Hz. However, it does support 1080p and 1440p @ 144Hz with VRR, so you can still game in higher frame rates with minimal screen tearing if you're willing to sacrifice some resolution. This TV offers a lot for a relatively low price.
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Best Cheap TV Under $500
Mixed Usage6.0Home Theater5.8Bright Room6.3Sports6.0Gaming6.2Brightness5.6Black Level4.9Color6.8Processing (In Development)6.3Game Mode Responsiveness6.7Resolution4kNative Refresh Rate60HzScreen FinishGlossyTypeLEDSub-TypeVASee all our test resultsDolby VisionYesThe Hisense QD6QF is the best cheap smart TV we've tested if you want something affordable that gets the job done. You can get any size up to the 65-inch for well under $500, and you can even find the 75-inch model around that price when it's on sale. Unlike the two TCL models above, this TV doesn't have local dimming, so blacks appear gray during most scenes. It struggles a bit more with very dark and very bright colors, but it still offers a decently vibrant viewing experience. The biggest thing holding this model back is that it's pretty dim, so it's really only suitable for a room with a few overhead lights on, and reflections are visible on the screen in brighter environments. Furthermore, highlights barely stand out in HDR, resulting in a lackluster HDR experience.
It runs the Fire TV OS, which has a good selection of streaming apps, so it's easy to find movies and shows to watch. Like the TCL models, it supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and DTS audio passthrough, which is great for a cheap model. You won't find a ton of gaming features, but it still offers VRR to help reduce screen tearing. It has a 1440p @ 120Hz mode, but input lag is much higher than it is in 4k @ 60Hz, which partially defeats the purpose of gaming in a high refresh rate. You have a ton of size options to choose from, and it's also one of the only models on the market available in the rare 50-inch size, making it one of the best 50-inch TVs under $500.
Notable Mentions
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Hisense 55U65QF:
The Hisense U65QF is similar to the TCL QM6K, but it has higher peak brightness. However, the TCL offers a more comprehensive package with superior contrast, enhanced gaming performance, and significantly better HDR accuracy, making it the better option for most people.
See our review -
TCL S551G:
The TCL S551G is an alternative to the Hisense QD6QF if you care most about gaming performance. The Hisense is brighter and offers superior image quality overall, making it the better option for most people. However, the 1080p and 1440p @ 120Hz mode that the TCL offers has much lower input lag than the Hisense, which is enticing for gamers on a budget.
See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 17, 2025:
Replaced the TCL Q651G with the TCL QM5K in the 'Best 65-Inch TV Under $500' category, and replaced the Hisense A7N with the Hisense QD6QF in the 'Best Cheap TV Under $500' category. We also refreshed the Notable Mentions.
Aug 19, 2025:
We replaced the Hisense U6N with the TCL QM6K in the 'Best 55-Inch TV Under $500' category. We also updated the Notable Mentions and updated some text throughout the article for clarity.
Jan 20, 2025:
Replaced the Roku Select Series with the Hisense A7N in the 'Best Cheap TV Under $500' category. We also added the TCL S5/S551G to the Notable Mentions and updated some text throughout the article for accuracy.
Oct 29, 2024:
Swapped the TCL Q6/Q650G QLED for the TCL Q6/Q651G QLED in the 'Best 65-Inch TV Under $500' category. We also refreshed the Introduction section for clarity and added the Hisense A7N and the Hisense QD7N to the Notable Mentions section.
Aug 07, 2024: Replaced the Hisense U7K with the Hisense U6/U6N as our new pick for the 'Best 55-Inch TV Under $500' since the U7K is no longer available. We also replaced the Hisense U6/U6K with the TCL Q6/Q650G QLED as our pick for the 'Best 65-Inch TV Under $500' since the U6K is no longer available.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best TVs under $500 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 TV reviews, sorted by price from low to high. 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. Also, keep in mind that our scores aren't comparable across different test benches, so the older TVs in the list below score higher than they would today.