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With all the new movies and TV shows being released on different streaming platforms, many people want a valuable smart TV in their homes. Gone are the days when you get a big square TV with disappointing quality because most TVs now support 4K resolution. Many TVs come with HDR and a wide color gamut, so users get to enjoy detailed content with the most vibrant and realistic colors. Since top-of-the-line smart TVs come with a pretty hefty price tag, some might assume that you can only achieve a cinematic experience at home if you have the budget for it. Thankfully, many brands have been releasing more budget-friendly options that come with decent specs. You can find affordable TVs that have impressive picture quality for their price, and many of them come with app stores for you to quickly download famous apps like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, etc. You might not get the same futuristic features high-end TVs have, but these budget-friendly TVs will still elevate your entire viewing experience. Here are some of the best TVs you can purchase in 2022 that won’t break the bank.
Hisense has long been a reliable brand when it comes to more affordable TVs, and their U6G smart TV is undoubtedly a fantastic option. The 55-inch model comes at a budget-friendly price of $449.99, and its size is perfect for binge-watching your favorite series and films at home. The TV features a 4K display with ULED technologies that chances motion, contrast, color, and brightness. It has a 600-nit peak brightness, so the TV gets pretty bright. The U6G has 36 local dimming zones that deliver better contrast. It features a Quantum Dot wide color gamut, so you get more than a billion shades. You can expect more dynamic and rich colors from the TV. Thanks to its Dolby Vision HDR, your content will get even more detailed, and the TV can deliver a cinematic audio experience since it supports Dolby Atmos. The TV comes with a Filmmaker Mode that ensures you see your movies with the appropriate settings to make it look like the original vision of the film’s director. If you’re a gamer, you will find the TV’s Auto Low Latency Mode helpful because it can get rid of lag and make your entire gaming experience smoother. This feature is essential since the TV only has a 60 Hz refresh rate. The U6G excels in the connectivity department because it has Bluetooth, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, HDMI ports, and a USB port. It comes with a user-friendly voice remote, but you also can use an Alexa-enabled device. The TV is an Android TV, so you can easily download various apps from the Google Play Store. You can also cast content directly from your devices since it has Chromecast built-in.
4K ULED displayQuantum Dot ColorDolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos600-nit peak brightness and full array local dimmingChromecast built-inAlexa-compatible
Some reported that the TV's smart interface has many ads60 Hz refresh rate
There’s no denying that Samsung has many TVs with a pretty hefty price. Thankfully, their older TVs have been getting cheaper, and you can get their 55-inch AU8000 Smart TV (2021) for less than $500. It looks like a premium TV right off the bat because of its slim design, and you can even purchase the slim fit wall-mount if you want it to blend into your walls like a frame or art piece. The TV has a superb 4K UHD display, and you can expect it to have millions of realistic colors because of its Dynamic Crystal Color capabilities. It comes with a Crystal Processor 4K that does a fantastic job of upscaling all your content to a 4K resolution. The TV’s HDR ensures that all the bright and dark areas of your content will look crisp and vibrant all throughout. The AU8000 handles fast-paced scenes well because its Motion Xcelerator enhances motion clarity and reduces blur. Customers get a free smart remote upon purchase, and the TV also supports voice-control since it has Alexa built-in. The TV has HDMI ports, an ethernet port, two USB ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
Dynamic Crystal ColorCrystal Processor 4KSlim and modern designAlexa built-in
60 Hz refresh rateLacks Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support
TCL cares about its customers, and it’s why many of its TVs are budget-friendly. Their 5-Series Smart TV is a superb choice, and their 55-inch variant will cost you about $500. They also have 50-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch models available. The TV features a 4K Ultra HD display with Dolby Vision HDR, so you’re content’s quality will look true-to-life. All the content you watch will have immense depth because of the TV’s contrast control zones. Thanks to the TV’s Quantum dot technology, you also get wider color volume and enhanced brightness. The TV runs on the Roku Smart TV Platform, so you can get easy and quick access to tons of streaming services. Like other affordable options, the 5-Series also has a refresh rate of 60 Hz, but its auto game mode will still help you get smoother gameplay. You can use your voice to control the TV when you download the Roku mobile app, but you can also connect to a Google Assistant or Alexa-enabled device. Users can quickly connect other devices to the TV using its USB or HDMI ports. One unique feature the 5-Series has is a cable management system that will allow you to have a cleaner and more organized TV setup at home.
4K Ultra HD display with Dolby Vision HDRRoku Smart TV PlatformCompatible with Amazon Alexa and Google AssistantCable management system
60 Hz refresh rateLacks Dolby Atmos supportDoesn't come with a voice-enabled remote
LG is another brand that offers a ton of high-end smart TVs, but they have models from 2021 that come with a more budget-friendly price. Their 80 Series TV is an excellent choice because you can get a 55-inch 4K UHD display for about $450. The TV’s Quad-Core Processor 4K upscales all of your content to a 4K resolution, and it delivers enhanced contrast and color. Its Active HDR capabilities allow you to get more accurate details, resulting in an enjoyable, at-home cinematic experience. Like many modern TVs, the 80 Series has a Filmmaker Mode to get the settings the movie’s director intended for you to have. The TV also has a Sports Alert feature, so you can get updates about your favorite sports teams while watching your films or shows. Gamers will also enjoy the TV’s Game Optimizer because you get all the necessary settings in one place for you to have a better gaming experience. Its HGiG function, TruMotion 120, and Low Input Lag also guarantee the best detail and performance for your gameplay. The 80 Series comes with LG’s magic remote, but it’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Homekit. You can also quickly stream videos from your Apple smartphone via Apple AirPlay 2. The TV has a total of three HDMI ports and two USB ports.
4K UHD display with Quad-Core Processor 4KActive HDRFilmmaker Mode and Sports AlertGame Optimizer, HGiG, TruMotion 120, and Low Input LagSupports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomekitApple AirPlay 2
Lacks support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision60 Hz refresh rate
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly TV for gaming, the Vizio M7 Series won’t disappoint. It may have a limited refresh rate of 60 Hz, but it comes with AMD FreeSync VRR support that improves your gameplay by reducing screen tearing. The 58-inch variant of the TV will cost you less than $600, and you get a TV with a 4K Ultra HD Quantum display. It has about four times the resolution of standard 1080p displays, and it delivers more than eight million pixels. Users can expect superb detail, contrast, and brightness from the TV because it supports Dolby Vision HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. The color performance of the TV is impressive because it delivers over a billion hues of color through its Quantum Color capabilities. The TV promises deep blacks and fantastic depth since it has an active full array backlight with 27 local dimming zones. It will also give you detailed highlights because of its 600-nit peak brightness. You can access all your favorite streaming apps on the TV, but you can also watch a wide range of channels via WatchFree+. The M7 Series comes with Vizio’s voice remote, but you can also connect Google Home, Alexa, or Apple Homekit devices. The TV also allows you to cast content from your laptops, smartphones, and tablets through Apple Airplay or Google Chromecast.
AMD FreeSync VRR supportWorks with Apple Homekit, Amazon Alexa, and Google HomeApple AirPlay and Chromecast built-inImpressive native contrast ratioFantastic reflection handling and SDR brightness
60 Hz displayViewing angles are narrowLocal dimming feature could lead to some blooming
The TCL 4-Series is perfect for those who want to have more savings because you will spend less than $400 on their 55-inch model. The TV features a 4K Ultra HD display that can deliver realistic and vibrant colors through its High Dynamic Range technology. It only has a 60 Hz refresh rate, but it’s a fair compromise, mainly because it comes with an affordable price tag. The TV runs on the Roku platform, so you can conveniently download all the top streaming services available on the market for free. You get a free remote upon purchase, but if you want to use your voice to control the TV, you can connect it to a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa-enabled device. Roku also has a user-friendly mobile app that you can turn into a voice-control remote and keyboard. The app even allows you to shift the audio output of your content to the earphones or headphones you plug into your phone. Many smart TVs come with overwhelming interfaces, but the TCL 4-Series has a personalized and simple home screen that gives you convenient access to all the apps you visit frequently.
Reflection handling is decentImpressive content upscalingExcellent native contrastUser-friendly interface and mobile app4K Ultra HD display with HDR
Lacks a wide color gamutDisplay isn't that brightViewing angles are narrow60 Hz refresh rate
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