While flagship TVs get a lot of attention, it’s easy to be put off by how expensive they are. Top-tier models from LG, Sony, and Samsung may include cutting-edge technology such as OLED panels and 4K 120Hz support for gamers, but they can cost thousands of dollars. Fortunately, cheap TV’s have gotten better with each passing year, with technology once reserved for flagship models dropping down to the more affordable models.
Although, they may not be cutting-edge in terms of design or features, many low-cost televisions are adopting 4K, HDR, and even advanced panel technology such as Quantum Dots (QLED). Cheap TVs are also frequently smaller, so if you don’t require a screen in the 55 to 75-inch range, you’re in luck. This is ideal for those who are limited on both space and budget, and the good news is that you don’t have to settle for a subpar model. Simply looking at our picks for the best cheap TV’s will show you that you can still get a great TV without breaking the bank.
Quick Overview
The list below provides a quick overview of all the low-cost televisions we recommend in this article. Every TV in it has been thoroughly tested by our expert team, so you can rely on our recommendations.
Samsung UE43AU7100
- The UE43AU7100 has more features and better picture quality than you’d expect from a TV at this price.
TCL 55C735K
- This is the best big screen cheap TV’s we’ve tested, with a large 55-inch screen, good picture quality for the price, and a low RRP.
Hisense 43A6GTUK
- A fantastic option for next-generation gamers on a tight budget.
List of Best Cheap TV’s in 2023
You can scroll down to see a detailed explanation of why, based on our personal use of each TV in our dedicated test rooms, we recommend each one on this list.
Samsung UE43AU7100 – Best One
If you look up “unassuming” in the dictionary, the Samsung UE43AU7100 is probably shown. This 43-inch LCD TV doesn’t have a particularly flamboyant design, it doesn’t have a particularly outrageous price, and it doesn’t have a particularly epic feature list. But after spending just a short while with the UE43AU7100, you’ll see that a TV doesn’t have to be an extrovert to stand out from the crowd. It can be more than enough to have good processing and a thoughtful, balanced image that actually appears to have received some care and attention.
Although it unavoidably has some drawbacks relative to its price range, the UE43AU7100 offers an impressively well-balanced, reliable, and immersive image. Its blacks are exceptionally deep, which is fantastic to see at this price point. Full-on dark scenes appear with unexpectedly little of that grey or blue wash over them that so often blights such scenes on mixed light and dark images, which enjoy rich and deep black tones.
The UE43AU7100 demonstrates that good black levels are frequently accompanied by good colour, for the most part. The delivery of colour blends is impressively subtle, with almost no “banding.” The colours of the sun-drenched HDR woods, vivid blue skies, and busy city streets still have an agreeable sense of daylight lustre, even though the set isn’t bright enough to drive colours off the screen with particularly spectacular volumes.
The UE43AU7100 even shows a greater tolerance for wide viewing angles than most low-cost LCD TVs, resulting in a picture performance that we wholeheartedly recommend trades showiness and aggression for immersiveness and consistency. The sound quality of the AU7100 is only passable; it lacks volume and projection, which results in a presentation with little impact. Don’t expect a stirring rendition of action movie soundtracks, though the presentation is certainly good enough for daily TV viewing despite the fact that it is hardly cinematic.
Finally, while the UE43AU7100 cannot compete with a top OLED or QLED, it is excellent for its size and price.
TCL 55C735K – Best 55 inch TV
It’s difficult to find a TV with as many features as the TCL 55C735K for less than £500 (approximately $600 / AU$900). Typically, 55-inch TVs this cheap are firmly in bog-standard, no-frills territory, with the best you can hope for being some half-decent picture quality.
The 55C735K, on the other hand, provides far more than you have any right to expect in terms of both hardware and software. Its Quantum Dot colours, in particular, and impressive set of gaming features undercut the specifications of nearly all similarly priced competitors. And many sets that are hundreds of pounds more expensive.
The 55C735K represents a watershed moment in TCL’s European fortunes, as it finally sees the brand combining a feature count that embarrasses several expensive TVs with some properly decent picture and sound quality. All at a price that will make more established competitors think.
Hisense 43A6GTUK – Most Affordbale
If you’re on a tight budget but want a TV that’s about the size of a standard lounge, the Hisense 43A6GTUK is the best we’ve tested. Its main selling point is that, despite its low price, it supports a number of features that would normally cost much more. The most notable of these are Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos sound, as well as 120Hz gaming support. The latter makes it a compelling option for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S gamers on a tight budget looking for a new TV to take advantage of the consoles’ high refresh rate support.
Another unusual feature for a set at this price is that the set’s three HDMIs support eARC lossless Dolby Atmos pass-through. In terms of picture quality, it is excellent for the price. The maximum brightness levels are particularly impressive, allowing it to deliver good HDR performance for the money during our tests. However, there are always trade-offs at this price, and we did notice some banding in HDR. Even for a TV at this price, the colours are slightly pale. However, if you’re on a tight budget, you won’t find a better TV at this price.
