The 5 Best TVs Under $300 - Summer 2022 Reviews

The best smart TV under $300 is the Amazon 4K50M600A, otherwise known as the Fire TV Omni Series. It's an okay overall TV that provides good value for its price, and even if the 50 inch model is slightly over $50 and is too expensive for you, the 43 inch variant is under this price threshold. Both models perform like the 65 inch model we tested.

This TV comes with the Amazon Fire TV smart platform built-in, which is user-friendly and has a ton of apps available to download. It also has a few extra features like the built-in mic on the remote that you can use to ask it to open apps, change inputs, and search for content. There's also a mic built into the TV, meaning you can use it for hands-free voice control, but you can disable it if you're concerned about privacy. In terms of picture quality, it has excellent contrast and good black uniformity, but it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve the black level.

Sadly, it's not a good choice for watching HDR content because the smaller sizes only support HDR10 and not Dolby Vision or HDR10+, and it doesn't display a wide range of colors in HDR. Also, it has low HDR peak brightness, so highlights don't pop. If that isn't a problem for you, it's the best TV in this price range.

If you want something smaller or cheaper, look into the Amazon Fire TV 4-Series. It has terrible out-of-the-box accuracy, which is much worse than the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series, so you'll likely need to get it calibrated. This TV doesn't get as bright either, but with decent reflection handling, it's still good enough if you have a few lights around. It comes with the same smart features as it has a remote with voice control, and you get all the same apps available to download on the Fire TV interface. Sadly, it's not advanced for even casual gamers as it has a mediocre response time and doesn't display clear text, but it has low input lag for responsive gaming.

If you want the best TV for under $300, the Omni Series is a good choice, but if you want something for even less, then check out the 4-Series. All the variants of the 4-Series perform like the 55 inch model we tested.

The Vizio D32f-J04 is the best 32 inch TV under $300. It's a basic entry-level TV with good enough picture quality for people looking for a small TV to put in a kitchen or bedroom. It's available in smaller sizes, from 24 to 40 inches, and the 32 inch D32f-J04 variant performs like the 40 inch model we tested because it has a 1080p resolution. However, some smaller sizes have a 720p resolution, so they perform differently.

It has a VA panel with a remarkable native contrast ratio for deep blacks, and the black uniformity is decent. Although it doesn't get bright enough in SDR to fight glare, it still has good reflection handling if you want to use it in a room with a few lights around. It has amazing out-of-the-box accuracy, so colors appear as they should, so you likely won't need to get it calibrated. Also, it doesn't have trouble upscaling lower-resolution content, which is important for watching cable TV or DVDs.

Unfortunately, it doesn't support any HDR, but that's normal for an entry-level TV with a 1080p resolution. Also, its smart interface isn't the best as it feels slow, and you can't download any extra apps besides the pre-installed ones. Still, you can cast anything you want from your phone. Overall, it's one of the best TVs you can get for under $300.

If you prefer a better smart platform, look into the TCL 32S327. It has a worse native contrast ratio than the Vizio D3 Series 2021, so blacks don't look as deep in dark rooms. However, the included Roku TV is easier to use, and it has a ton of apps available to download, but it also may feel laggy at times. The S327 variant has a 1080p resolution, and it doesn't have any trouble upscaling lower-resolution content. We expect it to perform like the 40 inch model we tested, but keep in mind there are some 32 inch variants with a 720p resolution instead. It also has excellent out-of-the-box accuracy, which is important because you can't calibrate it. Sadly, it has some uniformity issues with dirty screen effect in the center.

If you want the best 32 inch TV under $300, the Vizio is a great choice, but if you care about smart features, then look into the TCL.

The best TV with a wide viewing angle under $300 is the Hisense 43A6G. It's an okay all-around model whose 43 inch model has the same panel type as the 65 inch model we tested, so the results are valid for the smaller size. It's well-built with a simple design that looks good in most setups.

It uses an IPS-like panel with a wide viewing angle, so the image remains accurate when viewing from the sides, which is great if you have a wide seating arrangement. It's decent for watching TV shows because it upscales 720p content well, and while its peak brightness is disappointing, it still has decent reflection handling. It comes with Android TV, which like many of the other smart platforms, has an excellent selection of apps through the Google Play Store, and the built-in mic in the remote gives you access to Alexa and Google Assistant.

The main downside to a TV with an IPS-like panel is the low contrast ratio. It means that blacks look gray when viewed in a dark room, and it has disappointing black uniformity, and there's no local dimming feature to improve it. If you don't mind spending a bit more on something bigger, the 50 inch model should have a VA panel with higher contrast, but that means it has a worse viewing angle. Overall, this is the best wide viewing angle TV for under $300.