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The best budget TVs of 2023
If you think the best budget TV on the market is small and low quality without the full array of features, you'd be surprised by the spacious screens you can buy for just a few hundred dollars. Even the most basic best TVs offer the razor-sharp 4K resolution, onboard Wi-Fi wireless connectivity and built-in streaming software of high-end TVs; some add voice controls and Dolby-powered audio to the mix. For a bit more, you can get a so-called budget TV with a screen that fills even the biggest living room.
Insignia F30 Series 4K UHD Smart Fire TV
TCL 65S455 4-Series UHD Roku TV
Amazon Fire TV Omni Series
Below I've rounded up my buying guide for the best 65-inch budget Smart TVs you can buy right now from Roku to Amazon and Samsung. That size represents the current "sweet spot" in terms of an affordable price: Dropping down to a 55-inch model wouldn't save you much, but jumping to a 70- or 75-inch would cost a fair bit more. Plus, I think a 65-inch is "just right" for the average living room, offering a really good viewing experience for movies, sports, video games and the like without overwhelming the space.
What to look for in a budget TV
On paper, most modern 65-inch TVs, whether they’re expensive TVs or entry-level TVs, may list the same specs: 4K ultra-high definition (aka UHD), HDR10, Wi-Fi, Dolby this-or-that, 3-4 HDMI inputs and so on. OLED TV display technology will yield the best possible image quality, but that's hard to find in budget models. Thankfully, QLED and ULED tech, which definitely raises the image-quality game versus a standard LED TV, is available in some of the models listed here.
Speaking of games, gamers planning to connect a current-generation PlayStation or Xbox should look for a new TV with a 120Hz refresh rate and, if possible, support for HDMI 2.1 to reduce input lag. That will ensure you get the best visual experience your game console has to offer.
Crazy though it may sound, the first thing I look for in any budget TV is the built-in software. Does it run Amazon's Fire TV operating system? Google's Android TV? Roku? Or perhaps there's a proprietary operating system like the ones found in LG and Samsung TVs.
This didn't matter in the old days, when you just flipped channels or used the cable-box TV guide. Now, the OS dictates the look, feel and features of the TV, particularly the streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu. Some interfaces are easier to use than others; some can go beyond basic streaming (like offering games or Zoom calls).
Of course, if you decide you're not happy with the built-in OS functionality, you can easily plug in a different one: There are streaming sticks and boxes available from Amazon, Apple, Google and Roku, among others. Most game consoles have streaming capabilities as well. So while it's wise to choose a TV with the operating system you like best, it's not a forever decision.
Read more: The best streaming devices of 2023
But that does bring us back to the number of HDMI ports, something to think about before buying. If you decide to plug in, say, an Apple TV, that's one. A cable box? That's two. Game console? Three. Sound bar? That can plug into an optical audio port, but HDMI is the better option. And that would mean you'd need four HDMI inputs to cover your bases. Figure out how much hardware you're bringing to the TV table, because running out of ports is no fun.
Beyond that, I'd definitely look for hands-free voice controls, and if you're planning to add surround-sound speakers, consider a model offering Dolby Atmos.
Best budget TV picks (65-inch) for 2023
A top pick for affordability, Best Buy's house-brand TV delivers a solid 4K viewing experience with onboard Fire TV to boot. Watch for a sale that might net you an even lower price than this.
Proof-positive that screen size doesn't have to break the bank, Best Buy's Insignia F30 is currently priced at just $342. And if you think this model means compromises, think again: It earned a 4.5-star average rating from around 1,800 buyers.
Make no mistake, it doesn't have fancy features like QLED or Dolby Atmos, but it delivers a solid 4K viewing experience — which is all that matters for many buyers, especially those upgrading from an older and/or smaller TV.
The F30 uses Amazon's Fire TV OS, which gives access to not only streaming services but also some pretty cool games. There's Apple AirPlay support as well, great for viewing iPhone photos and the like on your big screen for optimal picture quality. Plus, press a button on the remote and you've got Alexa at your disposal, ready to act on your spoken commands.
Though far from the most advanced TV in the roundup, TCL's trusty 4-Series is a customer favorite — due in no small part to the excellent Roku interface.
I'd argue that the Roku TV interface is the easiest to use, and therefore the most novice-friendly pick for best budget TV. That's something to think about if you're fairly new to streaming or haven't used a smart TV platform like this before. Roku makes it a breeze to switch between different apps and inputs, and the built-in Roku Channel provides access to a wealth of free movies and TV shows.
This model is also notable for including four HDMI inputs, one of them supporting eARC — important if you plan to connect, say, a sound bar, audio receiver or other home entertainment. And although the included infrared remote doesn't support voice commands, the Roku app (for Android and iOS) does. It also makes for a good backup remote in case the regular one gets lost in the couch cushions. I especially like the app's Private Listening feature, which routes TV audio to your favorite earbuds or headphones.
This is definitely the budget TV in TCL's lineup, so don't expect features like quantum dot or local dimming. But user ratings on Amazon, Best Buy and elsewhere are overwhelmingly positive, so if you just want a basic 4K TV with an excellent interface, look no further.
Packed with features like hands-free Alexa, webcam support and Dolby Vision, Amazon's Fire TV-powered model is a top choice — especially when it goes on sale, which is often.
I first reviewed Amazon's Fire TV Omni Series last year, and I remain impressed by the picture quality and breadth of features — not the least of which is webcam support, which allows for big-screen Zoom calls. Just plug in a compatible camera and you can enjoy video chats from the comfort of your couch.
Beyond that, the Fire TV operating system — which I dinged in my review for its somewhat unintuitive design — is newly overhauled and better organized than ever. And it plays very nicely with any other Alexa-capable devices you might have in your home, though you certainly don't need any. On its own, it has very handy voice-powered TV controls (and hands-free at that).
And you can't help taking into account Amazon customer ratings, which currently number over 21,000 and average out to 4.5 stars. That means most buyers have been extremely happy with the TV, good to know when you're making a major purchase.
However, here's the really important part: Like most Amazon-branded hardware, this frequently goes on sale. It's rare to see it at $760, the list price; right now, for example, it's down to $540, but I've seen it as low as $500. Bottom line: If you want this TV deal (and it's definitely worth considering), wait for a sale.
If you're a Google-ecosystem fan (Android phone, Nest smart speakers, etc.), it might make sense to choose a TV with the familiar Google TV operating system baked in. That's what you get from the Hisense U6H Series, which is notable not just for its Google TV features, but also for frequently discounted pricing and the surprising inclusion of quantum dot technology (which promises a wider color spectrum than you get from standard 4K HDR).
In addition, the U6H offers local dimming for better picture quality, which helps improve the contrast in individual areas of the screen (rather than just "across the board"). There's also Dolby Atmos sound support, great if you're planning to pair your budget TV with a surround speaker system. Dolby Vision and variable refresh rate (VRR) round out the impressive feature set — the latter an important gaming feature.
Hisense backs the U6H series with a two-year warranty, which is double what you get with most TVs (and, for that matter, most consumer electronics).
I've owned a similar version of this TV for nearly a year and can't think of a bad thing to say about it. (OK, it's not as bright as a few other models I've tested, but in a vacuum it's plenty bright.) I continue to consider it a remarkable "budget" TV, especially when you're able to get it on sale.
What about a budget projector?
Before you pull the trigger on buying the best budget TV for your needs, should you look at a projector instead? For about the same money you’d spent on the best cheap TV (anywhere from $500 to $800), you can enjoy an image of up to 100 inches or even larger, provided you have a blank wall available (or you hang a screen). I'm a big fan of this option, but there's one key consideration on the list of specs: resolution.
As noted above, all modern TVs are capable of 4K resolution, or 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. The vast majority of under-$1,000 projectors top out their best picture at 1080p resolution, or 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. That's not bad, but it simply doesn't measure up to 4K picture quality. And the bigger your projection, the more pixels you want. So gamers won’t likely consider it the best gaming TV.
Plus, brightness is always a concern: If you're looking for something for your living room, a projector may not be bright enough for daytime viewing with the curtains open.
That said, if you want to give this a try, consider the ViewSonic PX701-4K, a native-4K projector that normally sells for $900 but is currently marked down to $800. (Remember, you want native 4K resolution, not simply "supported," which is the marketing language used with a lot of low-cost projectors.) It's super bright and features dedicated modes for movies and gaming.
