The 5 Best TVs Under $300 - Spring 2021 Reviews

If you're looking for the best TV under $300, we recommend the TCL 43S525. This budget model from TCL is a decent all-around TV, and while it doesn't have all the features of more expensive models, it performs well for its price point. The 4k resolution delivers a crisp image and comes with built-in Roku TV, so you have access to all your favorite streaming apps right away.

Its VA panel has a remarkable contrast ratio, producing blacks that look deep and uniform, ideal for watching movies in a dark room. However, there's no local dimming feature to further improve black levels. On the upside, it has fairly high peak brightness in SDR, meaning it can overcome glare in moderate lighting conditions. The TV also has a low input lag and a good response time, resulting in smooth-looking motion, great for watching sports or casual gaming. Finally, it has no issues upscaling lower resolution content and removes judder from any source.

Unfortunately, it has narrow viewing angles, so the image looks washed out when you move off-center. It also lacks extra features like variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, and the 43 inch, which falls under the $300 mark, doesn't come with motion settings. Also, while it has a wide color gamut for HDR, it simply doesn't get bright enough to make HDR content pop. All that said, you still get a lot of value for your money with this TV, and most people should be happy with it for the price.

The best 4k TV under $300 for gaming that we've tested is the Samsung UN43TU7000FXZA. It's an entry-level TV that performs reasonably well for most content. Like most Samsung TVs, it has a VA panel with a high contrast ratio, allowing it to produce deep blacks. It has okay reflection handling, but it doesn't get very bright, so it's better suited for a dark to moderately-lit room. It has sub-par viewing angles that cause the image to look washed out from the sides, which isn't ideal for large rooms with wide seating areas.

It upscales lower-resolution content well without causing any artifacts. The response time is okay, but it has a 120Hz backlight flicker that causes image duplication. On the upside, its somewhat slower response time results in fewer stutters in low frame rate content like movies. It has an exceptionally low input lag to provide a responsive gaming experience; however, the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, and it lacks VRR support to reduce screen tearing.

If you get your content mostly from streaming services, Samsung's Tizen OS is a good platform with plenty of available apps. The interface is user-friendly, and it runs smoothly for the most part. You have to put up with some ads and suggested content on the home screen, though, and there's no mic built into the remote for voice control. Overall, while it lacks advanced gaming features like VRR, it should satisfy most casual gamers on a tight budget.

The Hisense 50R6090G is the best smart TV under $300 that provides a good value for the size. The 50 inch can frequently be found for under $300, giving you solid performance for a decent-sized TV. It comes with Roku TV, which is very smooth and user-friendly with a ton of apps to choose from. While it doesn't have as many features as higher-end TVs, it's a decent overall TV that's hard to beat for value at this price and size.

While it doesn't have a local dimming feature, its VA panel has an amazing contrast ratio, producing deep blacks that look great in the dark, which is ideal for watching movies. Its peak brightness is not bad, and it has good reflection handling, so it's best suited to dark to moderately-lit rooms. Our unit also has good out-of-the-box color accuracy, so you don't necessarily need to get it calibrated. It has a decent response time resulting in fairly smooth motion, and its input lag is low. It doesn't have any extra features like Black Frame Insertion or VRR support, but most people should be satisfied with it.

Unfortunately, it has poor viewing angles, making the image look washed out from the side, but that's to be expected from a VA panel. Also, while it supports HDR, it doesn't get nearly bright enough to make HDR content pop, and it doesn't have a wide color gamut. That said, it upscales lower-resolution content, from DVDs to cable TV and Blu-rays, without issue. All in all, most people should be pleased with it, especially if you need a slightly larger TV for under $300.